Chapter 5
For the rest of the evening I avoided Mark, sticking to Glen and Jenny
like a shadow while I nursed my emotional wounds. Not that Mark
noticed. He was standing with Brenda and one of the younger
congressmen, deep in discussion.

"I wonder what they're talking about now?" Glen asked, as we danced
around the room to one of the band's slow songs. "Saving water
mocassins," I muttered, my full lips pouting, my eyes dark as jade with
hurt.

Glen sighed. "What's he done now?"

"What?" I asked, lifting my flushed face to Glen's eyes.

"Mark. He hasn't been in the same room with you for ten minutes, and
the two of you are already avoiding each other. Talk about repeat
acts!"

My jaw clenched. "He hates me, I told you he did."

"What's he done?" Glen repeated.

I glared at his top shirt button. "He said...he said I couldn't be
promiscuous."

"Good for Mark." Glen said with annoying enthusiasm.

"You don't understand. That was just what started it," I explained.
"And I was teasing him about not being a monk and he jumped all over me
about digging into his personal life." I felt myself tense as I
remembered the heat of Mark's anger. "I didn't mean anything. I was
just joking."

"You didn't know about Cindy?" he asked softly.

I looked at him. "Cindy who?"

"Cindy Carter. He just broke up with her," he said.

A shiver went through my body, and I wondered why the thought of Mark
with another woman should cause a sensation like that. "Were they
engaged?"

He laughed. "No."

I blushed. "Oh."

"She's been bothering him ever since, calling up and crying, sending him letters...you know how that would affect him." He whirled me around in time to the music as we talked and brought me back against him loosely. "It hasn't helped his temper any. I think he was glad for the European trip. She hasn't called in over a week."

"Maybe he misses her." I said.

"Mark? Miss a woman? Honey, you know better than that. He never gets
emotionally attached with his women."

I played with the label of his evening jacket.

"He doesn't have to take his irritation out on me," I protested. "And
at my homecoming party, too."

"Jet lag," Glen told me. He stopped as the music did and frowned when
the hard rock blared again. "Let's sit this one out," he yelled above
the music. "My legs get tangled trying to dance to that."

He drew me off the floor and back to the open veranda, leading me onto
the balcony with a friendly hand over mine.

"Don't let Mark spoil this for you," he said gently as we leaned on the
banister, looking out over the city lights. "He's had a hard week. That
strike at the London mill wasn't easily settled."

I nodded, remembering that one of the biggest textile mills was located
there, and that this was nowhere near the first strike that had stopped
production.

"It's been nothing but trouble," Glen added. "I don't see why Mark
doesn't close it down. We have enough mills in New York and Alabama to
take up the slack."

M fingers played with the cool leaves of a plant near the balcony's edge as I listened to Glen's pleasant voice. He was telling me about
corporations and machines...and all I heard was Mark's deep, angry
voice.

It wasn't my fault his mistresses couldn't take no for an answer. My
face reddened, just thinking of Mark with a woman in his big arms, his
massive torso bare and a woman's soft body crushed against his chest
where muscles rippled and surged...

The blush got worse. I was shocked by my own thoughts. I'd only seen Mark stripped to the waist once or twice, but the sight had stayed with me. He was all muscle down to his belt buckle. It wasn't hard to understand the effect he had on women. I tried not to think about it. He knew too much about her.

"...Jaime!"

I jumped. "Sorry, Glen," I said quickly. "I was drinking tonight.
What did you say?"

He shook his head. "Never mind, honey. It wasn't important. Feeling
better now?"

"I'm not drunk."

"Just a little tipsy," he grinned. "Three glasses of punch, wasn't it?
And mother emptied the liquor cabinet into it."

"I didn't realize it was that strong," I admitted.

"It has an effect. Want to go back in?"

"Do we have to? Couldn't we slip out the side door and go see that new
movie downtown?"

"Run out on your own party? Shame on you!"

"I'm ashamed." I agreed. "Can we?"

"Can we what?"

"Go see the movie. Oh, come on, Glen." I pleaded. "Save me from him.
I'll lie for you. I'll tell Brenda I kidnapped you at gunpoint."

"Will you?" Brenda laughed, coming up behind us. "Why do you want to
kidnap Glen?"

"There's a new movie in town, and.." I began.

"..and it would keep you out of Mark's way until morning, is that how
this song and dance goes?"

I sighed, clasping my hands in front of me.

"That's the chorus." I admitted.

"Never mind, he's gone."

I looked up quickly. "Mark?"

Chapter 6

"Mark," Brenda laughed softly. "Cursing the band, the punch, the
politicians, jet lag, labor unions, smog and women with a lack of
respect until Dani almost cried in relief when he announced that he was
going home to go to bed."

"I hope the slats fall out from under him," I said with a smile.

"They're box springs," Brenda said. "I bought it for him last year for
his birthday, remember, when he complained that he coudn't get any
rest."

"I hope the box springs collapse then," I corrected.

"Evil little thing, aren't you?" Glen asked.

Brenda slumped. "Not again, Jaime Dawn, this never-ending war between
you and my eldest is going to give me ulcers! What's he done this
time?"

"He told her she couldn't be promiscuous," Glen said, "and got mad at
her when she pointed out that he believed in the double standard!"

"Jaime! You didn't say that to Mark." Brenda gasped.

I was embarrassed. "I was just teasing."

"Oh, honey, you're so lucky you weren't near any water that he could
have pitched you into," Brenda commented. "He's been bad-tempered ever
since that girl toy of his started getting possessive and he sent her
packing. You remember, Glen, it was about the time Jaime wrote that she
was going to London with Melissa and her brother Jeff Hardy."

"Speaking of Jeff," Glen said, drawling out the name, "What happened?"

"He's coming to see me when he flies down for that writers' convention," I said with a huge smile. "He just sold another book of poetry and he's so happy."

"Is he planning to spend a few days?" Brenda asked. "Mark has been
suspicious of writers, you know, ever since that reporter did a story
about his affair with that beauty contest girl...who was she, Glen?"

"Jeff isn't a reporter," I argued, "he only writes poetry..."

"That's not what Mark will say." Glen grinned.

"Will you listen?" Brenda yelled. "You simply can't invite Jeff into
the house while Mark's home. I've got the distinct impression he's
already prejudiced against this boy."

"Jeff is a great guy," I relied remembering his hot temper and beautiful words, as well as his beautiful body.

Brenda frowned, thinking. "Glen, maybe you could call that girl and
give her Mark's unlisted number just before Jaime's friend comes, and
I'll remind him of how lovely St. Martin is in the summer..."

"It will only be for two or three day," I protested. "I thought
Grey Oaks was my home, too..."

Brenda's face cleared and she grabbed me. "Oh, honey, of course it is,
and you know it is! It's just that it's Marks home as well, and that's
the problem.

"Just because Jeff writes..."

"That isn't the only reason," Brenda sighed. "Mark's very possessive of
you, Jaime. He doesn't like you dating older men especially like Hunter."

"He has to let go someday," I said. "I'm a woman now, not the child he
used to buy bubble gum for. I have a right to my own friends."

"You're asking for trouble if you start a rebellion with Mark in his
mood."

I lifted a hand to touch her dark hair. "Just don't tell him Jeff's
coming," I said, raising my head defiantly.

"Is her insurance paid up?" Glen asked Brenda.

"Mark controls the checkbook for all of us. You could find yourself
without an allowance at all; even without your car." Glen said, shrugging.

"No revolution succeeds without sacrifice," I said proudly.

"Oh, good grief," Glen said, turning away.

"Come back here," I called after him. "I'm not through!"

Brenda began to laugh. "I think he's going to light a candle for you.
IF you're planning to take Mark on, you may need a prayer or two."

"Or Mark may," I said back.

Brenda only laughed.