Chapter 14

She liked the weight of it, the beautiful shine that would catch her eye as she assembled mannequins, hung backdrops, flipped the pages of newspapers and magazines. A ring she'd never imagined materializing, and now it was on her finger and it felt as if it might have always belonged there. Acquired so easily, easier than she'd thought possible, a little piece of the woman she loved with her at all times.

She liked it even as she poured over the daily newspaper again, searching in vain for the elusively perfect new home into which she and Mary would move. Two bedrooms seemed most logical, they would need the space, but two bedrooms were expensive. Rhoda nearly crossed off every one that day because while she and Mary could pool their money up to about $250 - $275 - if they really stretched their budget - they could not possibly reach the $300 minimum two bedrooms required.

"I need a new job." Rhoda whispered into the silent break room. Her pulse quickening as she stared again at the ads.

Two new listings caught her eye. One was a one-bedroom in a high rise downtown, close enough to both her and Mary's work. It was modestly priced at $200 which Rhoda found reasonable, practical. The other was a detached carriage house near the park. It was pushing their budget at $275 but it sounded so ideal. "$275, detached carriage house, roomy one-bedroom with large living space, small alcove, windows overlooking park, new appliances." Rhoda's imagination took flight, already envisioning Mary sitting atop a couch they'd purchase together, glasses at the end of her nose, embroidering little ducks on a baby jumper, as Rhoda played with their toddler at her feet. Her heart contracted, longing for a future that had not yet arrived.

She made arrangements to see both places, skipping out of work, feigning a doctor's appointment. She raced to WJM to collect up Mary, knowing that both places would be snatched up quickly if they didn't act soon.

Pressing her way into the busy news room Rhoda noticed Murray at his desk. "Heya Murray." Rhoda waved, moving to hug him.

"Hi there, Rho." Murray met her embrace.

"Where's Mary?" Rhoda glanced around as they parted.

"Had to run some errands for Lou. She'll be back in a bit." Murray pulled out a typed sheet of paper and replaced it with a new sheet. "Hey, Rhoda, you haven't - uh - noticed something a little, well, different about Mary? She's been a little off."

Oh, so Mary was keeping mum at the office now, was she? Rhoda supposed it made sense but she'd have to tell them at some point.

"I think it's best you ask her." Rhoda had learned her lesson about sticking her foot in her mouth at Mary's office. "But I know she's happy."

"Yeah?" Murray smiled up at Rhoda. "Has she met someone new?"

Rhoda twirled the ring on her finger. "Uh, something like that."

"Hey Rhoda, I wasn't expecting you." Mary's voice came from behind, hitting Rhoda right in the knees. How she longed to turn and embrace the woman, greet her with a kiss like Murray could his wife or Ted could Georgette. Instead she ran a hand through her hair and smiled at Mary.

"Yeah, kid. I found some places and thought we could go see them."

"Ah, so you're moving." Murray spoke up as if that explained all that had changed in Mary.

"Uh, yes, Murray. I've decided to move." Mary looked a little peeved about his interest. Rhoda felt her heart pounding; had she misspoken again?

"I think it's great!" Murray spoke brightly. "You two getting a place together makes sense."

Mary looked at him wide-eyed, then glanced at Rhoda. "I'm not sure I can to-"

"Oh, go on, Mare. I'll cover for you." Murray insisted.

"Rhoda!" Lou had stepped out of his office.

"Hey there Lou." Rhoda waved lightly.

"Hey, I've got a question for you. Could you come into my office?" Lou had that light sort of, condescending tone of voice and Rhoda glanced briefly at Mary, questioning her as to what this was about. Mary only shrugged, equally confused.

"Yeah, sure." Rhoda moved across the newsroom and Lou clapped her on the shoulder as he pulled her inside, as if she were his pal, just another guy.

"I've got tickets to a hockey game." He spoke loudly as he shut the door behind them.

"Oh, I'd love to..." but that wasn't his real intension, Rhoda could tell as he closed the door and moved away from her. She trailed off, lost, nerves fluttering in her stomach.

She stood awkwardly at the door for a second as he took his seat and reached down to his bottom drawer. "Drink?" He held up the bottle.

"Oh, no, Lou. No thanks." Rhoda shook her head and crossed awkwardly to sit across from him.

"Mary's been upset." His happy demeanor dropped entirely, he was so serious sitting there, cold.

"Yes." Rhoda nodded.

"She won't exactly come out and tell me what's happening but I'm a smart man. I can connect the dots."

Where was he going with this?

"Sure." Rhoda agreed.

"She's been sick. Missing work. It's not like her, Rhoda. Not like her at all."

"Listen, Lou." Rhoda scratched her forehead. "I'm not going to discuss Mary's personal life with you. I like you, I really do, but if she wants to tell you she will."

"I know that." Lou snapped.

"Well then what are you buttering me up for?"

"I think of Mary as a daughter, you see. I'm very protective of Mary. If anyone hurt her, if anyone even thought to do wrong by her I'd..." He paused, the wild look in his eyes enough to frighten Rhoda, make her heart leap. "I'd kill anyone who hurt her. She's special."

"She is special." Rhoda nodded, feeling more frightened than she had sitting across from Mary's own parents.

"I just need to know, well you're her closest, dearest friend and I need...I need to know that you'll take care of her." Lou looked down into the amber liquid.

Rhoda froze. Was he really...did he? What did Mary tell this man? "Of course...I would never...Lou, you know I love Mary. I would never want to see her hurt."

"I know that, Rhoda." Lou nodded, still not looking at her.

"Hey, Lou, you gotta promise me something." Lou looked up then. "You've got to promise me that whatever happens to Mary in the coming months, that she'll always have a job here at WJM. You have to promise me that you'll take care of her, too."

Lou smiled then. "I said she was like a daughter, didn't I?"

Rhoda smiled.

"Hey, about that hockey game."

"I'll see you Friday night." Rhoda stood and shook Lou's hand as if they'd completed some kind of business transaction. But they were agreeing on Mary, their love for Mary uniting them.

Mary was quiet until they got into the car. Rhoda couldn't take it, had to know that she hadn't ruined everything with her loud mouth. Not again. "Mare, I'm sorry if I –"

"What did Lou say to you?" Mary spoke at the same moment, as if the car offered them protection from the outside world.

Rhoda couldn't tell if she was hurt or not. "He just asked me to a hockey game, was all…"

"Oh, come on, Rhoda. I'm not dumb. You were in there longer than that." Mary rolled her eyes.

"Hey, kid. He just…he was worried about you. They're all worried about you. Murray even asked about you." Rhoda kept her distance, not sure how Mary might respond.

Mary slumped at the wheel. "I guess I should say something, shouldn't I?"

"You will have to, eventually." Rhoda eyed her stomach, the small little budge just beginning to show now. Almost imperceptible if you didn't know what you were looking for. Damn that woman, for Rhoda knew if she were nearly five months pregnant she'd be the size of a house. And here Mary was looking as sleek and chic and skinny as ever. Maybe Rhoda needed to feed her more.

"I suppose so." Mary conceded, parking in front of the apartment building. So tall, so sterile in contrast to the house they currently lived in. "How much did you say this was?"

"$200. Not bad." Rhoda shrugged.

They sat there for a moment in silence. Rhoda eyeing Mary as she collected herself. Reaching out she placed her hand over Mary's wrist, squeezing gently. "Hey, kid. You know they all love you."

"Yeah," Mary smiled a little. "I know." She sighed, "let's go see this place."

They entered through the grandiose front entrance, complete with doorman and marble finishes. It was so elegant, something Rhoda could see Mary living in. Not so much herself, but it suited Mary.

A man in a suit greeted them. "Hello ladies, so nice to meet you. I'm John Anderson. You've come to see 4F, haven't you?"

"Yes, we have. I'm Rhoda." Rhoda stepped forward to shake his hand, then watched as his eyes trailed to Mary standing unawares at her side. She felt an odd twisting in the pit of her stomach, a gut reaction to this feeb and his wondering eye and the way he ignored Rhoda, the way he was staring now at Mary.

"And who might this be?" He stepped forward to shake Mary's hand.

She was staring at the decadent design of the place, her fingers absently playing with the pearl necklace about her neck. "I'm Mary Richards. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand to him without paying him much attention.

"So nice to meet you, Mary. The elevators are right this way." John ushered them over to the elevator bank. "And which one of you is looking to move in here?"

"Uh, we both are. Together." Rhoda responded, feeling a slight thrill when Mary placed her hand at the small of her back as they climbed onto the elevator.

John seemed flummoxed at this statement. "You know, we do have two bedrooms."

"Yeah, well we can't afford that. You know, us being working gals and all." Rhoda exclaimed, trying to cut the air with a joke, but John was not amused.

"I should think that such a beautiful woman would be married." He was still looking at Mary. Mary's who hand was still on Rhoda's back, hidden in the recesses of the elevator. Steadying her, because Rhoda was quite certain she might pummel the guy if he kept coming on to Mary.

"Well, sir, I am not." Mary gave him a charming grin.

The elevator dinged open. "Such a shame for so beautiful a woman to not be married. Right this way." John pointed them in the direction of the apartment. He pulled out the keys and opened the door. They stepped inside, taking in the brightly lit room, the tall ceilings, the simple kitchen, the door to the bedroom. It was a blank slate, and Rhoda had to admit she didn't hate it.

"It's very nice." Rhoda exclaimed.

"Yes, it's in very high-demand, you see." John watched as the two women looked the place over. "What did you say your last name was?" He asked as Rhoda stepped near him.

"Hmm? Morgenstern. Why?" She shot him a look, the feeling of unease returning. At full force.

"I see." He eyed her warily, moving to Mary who stood at the window. "Perhaps if you let me take you out tonight, I could cut the price a little. So you wouldn't need a roommate."

Mary turned on him, outrage coloring her cheeks. "Excuse me?"

"I just feel that this place is better suited for you. Not so much your friend." He kept his face straight, as if he were actually saving Mary from some horrible monster.

"What are you talking about? I want to move in with my friend." Mary was indignant.

John shrugged and shoved his hands in his pocket. "I'm afraid she's just not right for this apartment building. But you, wow, you are something. Why is it again you're not married?"

"I beg your pardon, but are you saying that you can't rent this apartment to my friend because you're not interested in her? Because you don't find her attractive?" Mary was confused.

"Mare, leave it alone. Let's get outta here. This guy is a real loser, you know that." Rhoda spat the words, moving to reach for Mary before she could do something rash. "I see what you're doing here." Rhoda got between Mary and John. "And it's not right. Not right at all. I could have you sued for it."

John held up his hands. "I never said anything. Just suggested that it wasn't the place for you."

"Yeah, well it's not the place for her either. Goodbye." Rhoda grabbed Mary and the two walked out of the apartment, walked the four flights of stairs down, Rhoda's heart racing, mind reeling. How could he? How, in this day and age, could he possibly deny her the right to live here? She'd seen it in New York. She'd known it as a practice, but here? Here in Minneapolis? In the 70s?

"Rhoda, Rho." Mary reached for her before they could get into the car. "What just happened in there?"

Rhoda steadied herself and then turned back to Mary. "It's nothing, just a little…ah, it's no problem really. It wasn't the right place for us." Rhoda climbed into the driver's side of the car, wanting to get far away as fast as possible.

Mary got in the car, turning to face Rhoda with a look of understanding on her face. "Rhoda, was that because…"

"Yeah, kid. It was." Rhoda nodded.

"I'll kill him." Mary frowned. "I mean who cares if you're Jewish or not."

"Just imagine if he knew who you were married to." Rhoda laughed, the tension melting away as they drove down the street towards the next apartment. Oh please, God. Please let this place be better.