Chapter Seven....
Tracy was driving back to the office when she saw Lulu walking between buildings and head in the direction of the Metro Court. As she pulled closer she could tell that Lulu was upset and trying not to cry. Tracy didn't like the looks of that and knew only one person could get that kind of reaction from her step-daughter – Johnny Zacchara.
Lulu stopped momentarily to answer her phone, giving Tracy the opportunity to pull over and offer her a drive to work. Lulu didn't stop talking, but opened the back seat to deposit her load before she joined Tracy in the front. Tracy kept silent as she pulled out into traffic again and drove them both towards their destinations. She could hear Lulu speaking with someone about pictures and deadlines, and heard the girl getting more frustrated by the minute. After Lulu finally ended the call, she placed her head on the rest in the car and just closed her eyes. She didn't see Tracy take out her own cellphone and make a call.
"Kathleen, call Ms. Howard at Crimson and tell her Lulu will return to work later but she's having lunch with her step-mother. Ms. Howard will know what that means."
Lulu looked over at Tracy, confused, relieved, scared... "Kate isn't going to like that. When Carly told me to go on a lunch break I almost lost my job."
"Yes, well Carly is an annoyance Kate Howard wants removed. On the other hand, I have the power to sink her in her sleep so she won't say a word."
Lulu exhaled for the first time. "So, where are we going? I assume there's a reason for this lunch but right now I don't care."
"No reason except I know the hours you put in and I can't imagine Kate Howard pays you enough to eat properly. You know you can come by the mansion anytime, even if it's to eat and run. It's still your home."
"I know, I know..." Lulu had her eyes closed again and was trying to block out the first part of her day. Then another thought came to her – when had being with Tracy become her time to relax? Just being in the same room used to set her nerves on edge, but here she was alone in the same car and Lulu felt all her cares float away. "Do you want to hear about it?"
"In due time. Right now I'm more interested in what you want to eat. Your choice."
"Okay, how about a burger and fries from Kelly's?" Lulu could barely contain her grin.
"Don't push it, Sweetheart. Your choice of my options." Tracy was also smiling. It was getting easier and easier every day.
They drove on for several more minutes in silence, Lulu having yet to open her eyes. Every now and again Tracy would glance over at the girl and wonder what was going on in her head, but she knew Lulu would tell her only when she was ready. When it came to her step-daughter Tracy had all the time in the world.
As they drove into the restaurant's parking lot, Lulu finally opened her eyes to see where they were. The marquee told Lulu it was one of Tracy's favourites – not somewhere they went often. "Wow Tracy, you really want me to spill don't you."
"You think too much of yourself Little One. I've been wanting to get back here for some time and you've given me the excuse."
"If you say so."
Together they walked into the restaurant and were shown to their seats. Long gone were the days when Lulu gawked at everything around her, but Tracy was as imperious as ever. The Matre'D took care to see everything was in order and Tracy's first martini was rushed to the table. Once they had ordered Lulu settled in to wait for Tracy, and she wasn't disappointed.
"Okay, now I'm ready. What did he do?"
"Tracy..." Lulu rolled her eyes.
"Am I wrong?"
Lulu's bravado faltered and Tracy truly felt sorry for the girl. There was no other way to get life experience except to live it, but damn it was a bitch to acquire.
"Everything I do is wrong."
"Naturally."
"So you agree with him then." Lulu sighed.
"No, I'm agreeing with you. Continue."
Lulu looked at Tracy and decided to dive in. Tracy never liked Johnny anyway but she hadn't tried to break them up since Lulu left Shadybrook. In a complete roll out of emotions Lulu told Tracy everything from their fight the night of the hospital crisis to their current argument about Lulu helping Johnny with the garage.
"Why does he have to be so stubborn?"
Tracy laughed and choked on her drink. "He's a man. Does he need any other reason?"
"I know, but why can't he just see that I'm trying to help him. He doesn't have to scrape for everything."
"Tell me something Lulu. Who pays the rent?"
"I do."
"And who buys the food?"
"I do."
"And who found that pesty shoe-box you call an apartment?"
"I did."
"And who has the regular job?"
"I do...." Lulu could see where this was going and she didn't like it.
"And who has friends and family in this town?"
"I do."
"And who's parents, or in your case step-parent, is so highly connected she can make anything happen?"
"I am."
"And where is Johnny needed in any of this?"
"Why does he have to be needed?"
"Because he's a man, and unintentionally you have castrated him. Then without warning you try to set up your father and I to make his new business a success. Don't you think he might feel a little resentful of you handling everything?"
"But I'm just trying to help."
"That doesn't matter. Take it from me, it's very easy when you have all the resources in your control to forget that a man needs to feel like he's worthy. Your father reminded me of that last fall when I was pushing for a divorce. I had stopped being angry at him, but I still wanted to make him work for me. Eventually he said he'd bent as far as he could, that he had to have some dignity left. It was only then that I realized he was doing everything right and I was just being bitch because I could.
"One of the hardest things in the world for me to do is give my trust to someone else, especially a man. I don't do it well and I don't do it without great thought. But I can tell you that giving your father my trust has made all the difference for me. We are freer and more open with each other. But more importantly he walks and acts with more confidence."
"But you don't trust Dad. You are always on his case."
"True, but I'm selective. I give your father a long rope and if he hangs himself.... well, at least I'm there."
"So, you're saying just let Johnny fail on his own?"
"I thought you believed in him." Tracy gave Lulu a discerning look.
"I do. I do... but he will succeed so much faster if I help out."
"If you let Johnny do this completely his way, what are you going to lose?"
Lulu had to think about that. She wasn't dependent on Johnny – quite the opposite actually. It was completely about his ego.
"I won't lose anything."
"Exactly."
Their food arrived and Lulu was surprised to realize she no longer had a knot in her stomach. Tracy was right. Johnny had to do this and she had to trust him.
Their drive back into the city was fairly quiet, but as Tracy was dropping her off she asked if Lulu would come for dinner.
"Maybe. I might have to work later because of lunch.... So Tracy, you give Dad a long leash. Does he know it?"
"Of course Sweetheart. He might have his pride but he isn't stupid."
"And so he hangs himself a lot?"
"Daily."