86. Fatherhood
Chapter 2
It was a quarter to seven in the morning. Actor was leaning against the kitchen counter nursing his second double espresso with precious sugar. He watched Teresa making toast and fork beating some eggs in a bowl for omelets.
Actor doubted either one of them had managed much sleep. He knew Teresa was not used to sleeping with the twelve-year-old and was probably concerned about what the day would bring. Actor had been overly tired to begin with and the problem of what to do about Julie had weighed heavily on his mind most of the night.
The auburn-haired woman turned to get her cup of espresso and looked up at the whiskered face of Julie's father. She smiled.
"You know, I could wash my razor and put a new blade in it if you want to shave," she offered. "I even have a little tube of shaving cream."
Actor gave her a look which spoke of his feelings about that. "I would still know you have used it on your legs and underarms," he said sourly.
Teresa chuckled. "Actor, you are so fussy about things."
She had said it with affection, so he took no umbrage. She liked to tease him, and he really did not mind that, though he acted as if he did. He watched her take a sip of her drink and her demeaner changed to a more serious level. Actor waited to see what she was going to come up with now.
"I was thinking," she began.
"That's dangerous," he countered drolly.
"Touché," Teresa added before continuing. "We are both tired yet. Maybe we aren't seeing everything, or at least not in the proper light." She looked at him.
"Go on," he said.
"What if we just go to the Mansion and bring Craig in on this like we did before?" She paused. "We could call the school and let them know Julie is safe . . . and tell them we are deciding on what to do about this situation."
"That would give us some time," said Actor amenably. And put off the long drive to Milton Keynes.
"You haven't gotten the whole story yet either," said Teresa cautiously.
"There's more?" He was afraid of that and what it might mean.
"Yes."
When nothing more was forthcoming, Actor impatiently asked, "Are you going to tell me?"
The woman frowned. "I was thinking maybe you take Julie in the Packard and I'll follow in my car. Then you can hear her tell it. We can compare notes in front of Craig. She might say even more to you than she did to me."
Actor sighed. "Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like this?"
Terry looked up at him with a serious expression. "Because you're not going to like this. And it's another reason I would like to get Craig's input."
They heard a door open in the hall. Julie was up and the sound of her footsteps headed for the bathroom. Teresa set her cup on the counter and turned back to the stove to begin making the omelets.
"Sorry, caro," she said, melting a dab of butter in the pan. "There isn't much cheese."
"Divide it between yourself and Julie," said Actor.
"You two are my houseguests," said the woman. "I'm dividing it between you two, but there still isn't going to be much."
"Houseguest, cara? I am a houseguest?" teased Actor, with mock umbrage.
"Better than calling you my paramour," Terry replied with an impish grin.
"Paramour," repeated the Italian. "Who taught you that?"
"Probably you."
The con man shook his head. Pazza. She was definitely pazza. He took advantage of his daughter being in the bathroom down the hall, to shift Teresa's hair away from the nape of her neck and kiss her in that spot. She gave a little shiver, which was the reaction he was used to getting from her when he did that. He had discovered that was one of her 'little sweet spots' as she called them, and he enjoyed teasing her with his lips. With that, he went out to the table with the dregs of his espresso to wait for his daughter.
Actor didn't have long to wait. The girl came down the hall and slowed at the sight of her father. She tentatively approached him. He held an arm out in invitation and she moved in for a hug. To his surprise, when she pulled back, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"You are prickly," she said with a tiny smile.
"I know," he said. "Only until we get back to the Mansion."
She sat down on a chair beside him and turned to him. Now there was worry on her face again. "Are you taking me back to school today?" she asked.
"No, not today," he said. "Teresa and I discussed it and we think there are some things that we need to work through first. Do you want to go back to that school?"
"Yes, and no," Julie said. "I'm not sure."
"Well, we will figure it out later," said Actor.
"Papa?" the girl whispered stealthily. "Why didn't you and Terry sleep together last night?"
Actor almost choked on his coffee. "It would not have been appropriate," he hedged. He was used to sleeping with any woman who struck his fancy, whenever he wanted to. He would not have minded sleeping with Teresa last night, but somehow it just did not feel right to do that in front of his young daughter. Was he acquiring scruples? Now?
"Why?" asked Julie in confusion. "They do it all the time in France."
"This is not France," he said lamely. Then he tried to explain. "This is Great Britain. Things are – different - here." Not much. "Teresa and I are not married." And not likely to be. "It is not appropriate to sleep with a woman I am not married to." 'Teresa, get out here!' his mind screamed.
"Oh."
Change the subject, Actor, he thought to himself. "We will discuss later, why you left, but perhaps you can tell me how you got here from Milton Keynes?"
Julie gave him the same explanation she had given Terry. It amazed him the slip of a girl had done that alone and unaided. If this got out people would never believe Teresa wasn't her real mother.
The said woman came from the kitchen, balancing plates on her arm like a waitress. She set them down in front of the two and her chair.
"I'm not married to him," she said nonchalantly, "so it would not be appropriate to sleep with him." Actor stared up at her and she moved next to him, slipped her arm around his shoulders and patted the far one. "Besides, I know him too well."
Merda, he thought. He watched her take her seat and reached quickly for her plate. "Just one moment, cara." She sent him a startled look. He ignored it and cut her omelet in half before doing the same to his. One half of each was transferred to the other plate.
"Now we both have cheese," he said with a smile.
Julie was looking back and forth between the two adults.
Terry smiled at her. "Your papa is such a gallant gentleman."
A smile of affection was sent to him, but the twinkle in Teresa's eyes and the tone of voice told him there was a trace of teasing to that.
They ate breakfast quickly and Julie went back to the bathroom to freshen up a little. The two adults looked at each other.
"Use my phone," said Teresa. "The number is in the little book in the table drawer."
"You have been in contact with the school," said Actor. "I have no objections if you want to make the call."
Terry shook her head. "You're her father. And you can make a sterner voice of disapproval than I can."
Actor nodded and sat down beside the table, retrieving the address book. "I was merely making the offer, cara."
"I know," she assured him. "But I need to put the dishes in the sink to soak, while you do that."
Actor turned his attention to the telephone and dialed the number of the school that was in Teresa's book. He wished he knew what the part was that he was definitely not going to like. It took a bit for the call to go through. The secretary answered the phone.
"This is Victor Borghese," he said sternly. "I wish to speak with Mrs. Landers."
He waited for the headmistress to answer.
"Mr. Borghese," gushed Mrs. Lander's voice in his ear. "Have you located Julie?"
"Yes," replied Actor, "and I am very disturbed about your security in allowing the girl to leave unnoticed . . . among other issues she had informed myself and her godmother of. For the present she will be staying here with me until we reach a decision regarding whether or not to continue her education in your facility. We will keep in touch with you."
"Oh, I assure you nothing of this nature will happen again," said Mrs. Landers with fear in her voice.
"As I said," continued Actor, "we will be in touch. Good day."
He hung up without waiting for her reply. Terry picked up the last of the dishes and took them into the kitchen. Actor ambled in to join her. Waiting for the dishpan in the sink to fill with soapy water, she looked up at him.
"She's running scared now," said Actor with satisfaction.
"I'll just bet," said Terry.
The con man rolled up his sleeves. "You wash, I'll dry. Otherwise they will be slimy by the time you return to them. And don't you even think of telling anyone I have become your domestic slave," he added dramatically.
The woman burst out laughing. "You'd never hear the end of it from Casino."
"No doubt."
They finished washing and drying the dishes and put them away. Julie was sitting on the sofa with one of Teresa's numerous books, waiting patiently for the adults. Actor took both sets of keys and went downstairs to start the cars so they could warm up. He also gave Terry time to have a little chat with Julie.
GGG
"You are riding with your father," said Terry. "I want you to tell him what you told me about the girls, the documents, and Mrs. Landers. He is going to have questions. Answer him truthfully. This could have repercussions for him. We are going to talk with Craig for another viewpoint, and most likely the military because Actor's dossier has been leaked from somewhere." She paused and continued slowly but firmly. "You – are – not – in - trouble. I want you to understand that."
The girl still looked afraid. "Yes, Mama," she said quietly.
GGG
At the curb, Actor held the front passenger door open for Julie. Terry did not wait for him to open hers before getting behind the wheel of the MG. The two adults exchanged looks before the Italian got in the Packard. He pulled out first, and Terry followed.
Actor waited until they were outside of Brandonshire before asking Julie to tell him what had happened and why she had left the school. The girl repeated what she had told Terry the night before. He was disturbed by the papers on himself that could only be his dossier but did not allow it to show on his face.
"Do you like your school otherwise?" he asked.
"Oh yes!" she brightened up. "My roommate, Mary, and I are best friends. I like Mrs. Green, our house mother. And all my teachers are wonderful. I like my studies. It's just those girls who won't leave me alone. And Mrs. Landers took their side."
Money and social standing talk, thought Actor cynically. But so does the military. They will most definitely have to be brought into this. The girl's bright face fell again at his silence. Actor thought he would rather work a con in Berlin than try to figure this fatherhood thing out. No, he wanted to learn how to be a good father, so he tried to cheer her up again.
"Tell me about your classes," he said with a smile. "Which are your favorites?"
GGG
Actor parked the Packard in its usual spot close to the steps leading up to the front door. Terry parked next to the driver's side of the larger car. The three got out and started for the steps. They had not called beforehand to notify Garrison they were coming, but Actor knew Chief would have already mentioned they were here to the Warden.
The tall Italian opened the door and held it for Teresa and Julie to enter. He followed them inside and heard Casino immediately.
"You went up and got her and got back already," asked the safecracker in disbelief.
"No," said Terry. "She got herself here."
"How?" asked Craig from the doorway to his office.
Terry smiled, "She took a page from Kelly's book at her age."
"She hopped a freight train?" exclaimed Garrison in disbelief.
"No," answered his sister. "She had money. She bought tickets. And took the scenic route."
Garrison's eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"
"Excuse me!" interrupted Actor. "Could we postpone this until I get a shower and shave? I would like to clean up."
"Go right ahead," said Terry magnanimously. "We can wait."
"Thank you!" Actor took the stairs two steps at a time.
GGG
Casino and the others were looking at Terry.
"You slept with him last night?" asked the safecracker.
Before either of the Garrison's could explode, Julie smiled and answered. "No she didn't. I slept with Terry last night. Papa slept by himself in the guest room. This isn't France. Sleeping together before marriage is not done in England."
That brought guffaws of laughter from all three of the cons. The Garrisons stared at the girl before looking at each other in disbelief.
"May we adjourn to your office so the adult children can settle down?" asked Terry pointedly.
"Come on in." Garrison motioned the two girls to come inside.
They went inside and Craig shut the door to keep the others out.
GGG
Actor took a quick shower, not waiting for the boiler to give him water at the hot temperature he preferred. Getting out, he toweled himself dry, towel-dried his hair, and went to the sink. While he let the water heat up again in the sink, he combed his hair to allow it to air dry.
When the water was warm enough, he wet the bristles of his shaving brush and rubbed it in a circular motion over his bar of shaving soap until a thick lather formed. He continued the circular motion of the brush in the shaving cup on his bathroom sink until the lather was the perfect consistency. Looking in the mirror, Actor lathered his face, remembering the times Teresa would watch him shave. For some reason, the woman found it fascinating. What amazed him more was she knew how to shave him with a straight razor, without nicking his face or slitting his throat. It only took him a couple minutes to give his face a close shave. A little aftershave was patted on his cheeks and neck. Another minute had everything cleaned up and put neatly away. Next was brushing his teeth and getting dressed. Then, he was ready to tackle the situation downstairs. Well, that thought was probably a little optimistic.
Downstairs, Garrison had made small talk with Julie and Terry. He was smiling and pleasant to the child to make her more at ease. She was avoiding eye contact and her voice and manner were subdued. His sister sat sideways in 'her' chair and waited, not speaking.
A still solemn Actor entered the office in clean clothes, with hair damp but combed, and face clean-shaven. He smiled reassuringly at his daughter.
"Julie, why don't you wait with the others while the Lieutenant, Teresa and I discuss this situation?" he urged her.
She turned worried eyes up to Actor. "What do I say if they want to know what happened?"
"Tell them you cannot talk about it right now."
Julie nodded and walked, with head down, to the door and out into the common room. Actor watched her back disappear and the door close. He could handle the entire German army, but he had found something with this child he did not know how to handle. It was a disturbing feeling.
Garrison took a pad of paper and a pencil from his desk and sat down in his seat at the table. Actor pulled his chair out and sat facing the officer. Terry swiveled around in her seat. Nobody said anything.
"I have a feeling this isn't a simple 'I-want-to-see-my-Dad' runaway incident," said Craig. "Would one of you like to tell me what is going on?"
Teresa looked at Actor and nodded he should begin. Between the two of them they outlined the problems at the school. Garrison took some notes but did not interrupt until they got to the part about the 'papers' on Actor.
"What?" he exclaimed.
Terry made a face. "I think Headmistress got her hands on a copy of his dossier."
"I agree," added Actor.
"How?" demanded Garrison.
"We don't know," answered Terry. "We're not done with the story yet."
Craig looked at the two. "Go on."
Terry took up the story and told him about the girls reading the papers and the bullying of Julie. Also the headmistress taking the side of the girls and not Julie.
Garrison had taken more notes and now looked at the two at the other end of the table. "What has been done about this?" he asked.
Actor looked Garrison in the eye. "I called the school and spoke to the headmistress. I told her Julie had been found and was safe. We have not decided yet what to do about the situation and could not say if or when we would bring Julie back." Now he gave his crocodile grin. "As I told Teresa, I believe Mrs. Landers is running scared."
"She'd better be," muttered Terry.
"We had better notify Major Richards," said Craig in frustration.
Terry looked at Actor. "You know the number."
Actor's eyebrows rose. "He is your handler."
"She's your daughter," shot back the woman.
"Terry," said Garrison sternly. "Actor's right. He's your handler, and you are the girl's godmother."
With a sigh, Terry pushed back from the table and went to take a seat in Garrison's desk chair. She picked up the receiver and dialed the number from memory.
9