Arabella sensed a laborious future of trying to marry off Gladys to a man less interested in a woman's looks. Who that might be among her husband's friends and associates was anyone's guess. Although, Arabella did consider the possibility Gladys might make a suitable "vicar's wife."
Gladys loathed her mother's constant measuring looks. She knew it was really disapproval. Arabella kept her eyes focused on the possible choices of husband for Gladys now that she was near the end of her education. "James, what is your plan for Gladys' future? She will soon be completing her studies in art history," Arabella asked over dinner one evening. "I should think Gladys would already be seeking a position in an art museum. I understand there is one in Debbinsville," Jame said. Gladys hated that her parents spoke as if she was invisible. "Father, I was hoping to take a position at university. They have a wonderful art museum there. I could begin as an apprentice curator. You know the head of the art department, I presume? Professor Sheldon Quincy? I believe he is a member of your men's club in Somerton?" Gladys said. "Professor Sheldon Quincy? Why No! I had no idea he was the head of the art department, much less a professor. He is such a quiet, milque toast sort of man." "Well, he would be, wouldn't he? A man who studies art all day and deals in purchase of great works of art is not an orator, Father," Gladys said, defensively. Arabella's antennae perked up. Gladys defending a professor? Arabella knew this was out of character for her daughter "How old is Professor Quincy?" Arabella asked. "What difference does it make, Belle?" James asked. "Just inquiring. Nothing to become excited about," Arabella said "Hmmm..." was all James could say in response The constant lack of communication between husband and wife was almost a ritual by this point in their arranged marriage. Neither James nor Arabella realized the legacy they were handing to their now young adult children. So, it was no surprise Gwendolyn, more shy and retiring than her older sister and brother, was attracted to Karl von Strabb, a thrice removed relative of German Barony. Karl was so smitten by Gwendolyn that he proposed marriage nearly a month after they met. Karl met perfectly with Arabella's template for a husband for her youngest daughter. Karl was already well embedded into banking thanks to his father's presidency of the First Bank and Trust Company. James also saw this as an ideal liaison between the von Strabb and McCorkel families. Following her mother's example, Gwendolyn was the dutiful wife even when Karl's stern attitudes precluded affection between them. Still, Gwendolyn was not about to forego all of the benefits of being an upperclass society wife. A fact that caused her still unmarried sister, Gladys, to fume constantly. Even more so, when Linus married Dahlia Cointrelle, a flirtatious opportunist who was in a hurry to marry strictly for "luxury and comfort." She would find Linus to be the perfect target as the years past. Gladys' competitive nature was normally limited to sports; but, now that Gwendolyn had married so well and so early, she felt it necessary to hurry and find a husband. "Gladys, you must find a husband and settle down. You are nearly twenty-two years old. Your sister married at eighteen and your brother at twenty. Isn't there anyone you feel you could marry? What about that nice professor?" Arabella said. "Professor Quincy? He just recently went into business. Something to do with science is what I heard," Gladys said. "So much the better. It shows Professor Quincy has a lot of business sense. Let's invite him to dinner," Arabella said. Gladys smirked, but made no show of protest. When Professor Robert Quincy arrived for dinner, Arabella was aghast. It was clear he was at least ten years older than her daughter. James, on the other hand, took an instant disliking to what he considered an "overly educated" man who would spend his marriage with his nose in his books. James couldn't know Robert Quincy was about to break into a world of science that would keep Gladys and their children fairly well off. Robert Quincy was too quiet for James comfort. The fact was Robert was absorbing the general scenario of Gladys' family to see if she would be a good fit for marriage. He knew Gladys wasn't the most attractive woman he'd ever met. Quite the opposite. Still, he was raised to believe looks were not a reason to marry. As ungainly as Gladys was, Robert believed her family roots and her athletic physique would mean she would be healthy enough for children. One day in the far off future, Robert would come to regret this idea. Gladys and Robert became officially engaged one month after that dinner. Arabella and James, though not thoroughly thrilled with Robert Quincy for a son-in-law, gave restrained consent. Robert brought his fiancee home to meet his family, such as it was. Both Quincy parents were elderly, but still as mentally acute as their son. But, it was Robert's only sibling, William, who caught Gladys' eye. Where Robert was short and stocky, quiet and reserved, William was drop dead handsome in the manner of a dashing, debonaire movie star. Not that William ever noticed Gladys' interest in him. His soon-to-be- wife was the celebrated beauty, Diana Morbley. A woman of such elegance, grace and charm that Gladys instantly felt inadequate. "Your brother really expects Diana to be a high society wife?" Gladys asked. "Why not? Besides, William and I don't discuss our choices in women. We have always gotten on just fine. Mother and Father raised us to always rely on each other. As you can see, they are getting on in years," Robert said. "Why is that?" "My parents were both college graduates and each were involved in scientific research back in the day. So marriage didn't happen until they were a bit past middle age. My brother and I are only two years apart in age," Robert explained. Robert dismissed Gladys' remarks about his future sister-in-law. He would come to dismiss much of Gladys' remarks over the years of their marriage. Her barbs worsened after she bore him a son, Robert John, called "RJ" and a daughter, Jessica, within the first two years of their marriage. Gladys complained she simply couldn't be expected to managed the care of two children. Robert thought perhaps, his mother-in-law might help her daughter with child care. Arabella wanted no part of it. Although he was not in a position to hire a full time nanny, he managed to squeeze out enough funds to provide for a part-timer for three days a week. Nothwithstanding Gladys' complaints that the part-time nanny was of no help, Robert turned a deaf ear. He did notice though that Gladys had already begun to spoil RJ and seemed uninterested in giving equal parental time to Jessica. The two children constantly battled with each other for attention from Gladys. "Gladys, I do hope you are not partial to one of our children over the other," Robert admonished. "Don't be ridiculous! I would never show partiality to one child," Gladys said. "Yet, it seems so. You spend much more time with RJ than Jessica, even when the nanny is here to help," Robert said. ' "I take umbrage with your remarks. It's just that I don't want RJ to grow up feeling I favor his sister just because she's a girl. Besides, I might say the same of you. You shower Jessica with attention, even more so than your wife." The truth was that Jessica was an unusually pretty child. She had Robert's pale skin and deep azure eyes, set off by a delicate nose and chin. Her hair was like spun sugar. RJ had a sharp nose like Gladys and an angular face set off by thick, nearly black hair. Robert once remarked that it was nearly impossible to tell their two children were brother and sister. "If that is a backhanded accusation I may have conceived a child from other than my own husband, I do not appreciate it," Gladys sniped. Robert rose from his comfortable silk brocade wing chair and waved Gladys off as he left the room. "A man has no peace with a woman like Gladys. She is favoring our son and ignoring our daughter because she is jealous of Jessica's beauty," Robert muttered to himself. He wonder how long he could live with such an obstinate "battle axe," a term he thought of regularly, but never verbally gave air to. He couldn't know that every attempt at success he made, Gladys would find fault with and managed to make him feel inept and inadequate. He refused to stoop to her level. He insisted both children be successful, each in their own way and, contrary to Gladys dominance, each to their own choices. He gave both the opportunity to be educated, even though RJ barely managed to earn his college degree, while Jessica sailed through college with top honors, a fact Gladys played down by asking her husband, "What will a woman do with a liberal arts degree?" To which Robert responded, "The same thing RJ will do with his chemistry degree. Hopefully make use of them in decent positions that help them become self-reliant. Or, did you prefer two very financially dependent children we'd support for the rest of our lives?" Gladys hated when Robert took that tone with her. He was no ball of fire in business. She began the familiar litany of how successful Robert's brother had become. To Robert's shame, William Quincy had become CEO of his own very successful company that had just gone public. William made his first hundred million by the time he sent his first son, Darren, off to college and his daughter, Melanie to finishing school in Europe. His youngest child, Michael was about to graduate from the same military academy Darren had attended. Robert bumped along in his research lab, barely earning enough to keep bills paid. He didn't mention to Gladys that he loaned his brother money to start his now booming business. He didn't dare reveal that to a woman like Gladys. She already hated William's wife and was furious that Darren, Melanie and Michael were children of privilege while hers were not. Sadly, Robert saw in his son the beginning of a life of shady truths and distortions and the same air of entitlement to control of others as Gladys. It was no surprise RJ's new wife, Rhonda, prevailed upon Gladys to "speak to her son" about his failings.
Gladys saw none and turned the tables on Rhonda by implying that she "could do much more to encourage RJ by being a more active wife among his business associates."
Rhonda realized then and there she would never again discuss RJ or her family's business with Gladys. Rhonda didn't even bother to announce the birth of their first child, Ginger, to Gladys. Rather, she informed Robert.
"My dear! That's wonderful news! So...I'm to be a grandfather, am I?" Robert said, upon hearing the announcement.
"Yes. Do you hope for a grandson to carry on your family name?" Rhonda asked.
"I hope for a healthy grandchild, my dear and a healthy daughter-in-law," Robert answered.
Rhonda was warmed by her father-in-law's sincerity and honesty. She realized it was Robert, not Gladys, that she felt most fond of.
She admired his collegiate professionalism. She recognized he had a depth of wisdom and intelligence that could be confusing to the less aware. Still, she saw her father-in-law as a shining example of what she hoped her husband would be. She would come to realize that would never happen.
So, it was that Gladys received the information about the impending birth of her grandchild from her son, RJ. Coincidentally, Ginger's birth was overshadowed by Jessica's engagement and wedding to lawyer, Howard Richtson.
Oh how Gladys hated Richtson. She argued constantly with her daughter that Jessica would rue the day she fell for a lawyer.
"Mother what have you got against lawyers?'
"Lawyers are liars! They can't be trusted!" Gladys protested.
"That's ridiculous, Mother. Howard is very successful and already plans to start his own law firm with two other lawyers. He isn't like RJ, always dependent on Daddy for money," Jessica sniped.
"How did you know about that?" Gladys hissed.
"Lawyers have access to all sorts of information," Jessica said, slyly.f
Gladys had even more reason now to hate Howard Richtson. She knew that no matter what she or Robert did to help RJ, Jessica would find out. Gladys knew Jessica always took her father's side on everything.
"You are just jealous of your brother!" Gladys snarled.
"Jealous? Mother...Surely you jest. He is up to his eyeballs in debt and can't keep his books straight if the taxmen demanded it. I also better warn you that if I find out you are bankrupting Daddy to save RJ from himself, I will make sure Daddy is aware of that," Jessica said.
"I can have no further contact with a hateful daughter. I hope you have a place to live after you return from your honeymoon," Gladys said.
"Don't worry, Mother. We plan to honeymoon in Europe for a month and return to "Giddiston Mansion." That's the home "my" husband bought for "me." Jessica boasted.
Gladys was livid. So much so that she immediately hurried off to Robert's laboratory to take her anger out on him.
She stormed through the front doors like a tornado, waving off the receptionist's attempts to announce her to "Mr. Quincy."
"I AM MRS. QUINCY!" Gladys yelled, pushing open the double lab doors.
"Glady's, what is it? It better be fatal or a serious emergency to disrupt my lab work like this," Robert said, not looking up from the lab bench.
"God Damn You to Hell Robert Quincy! I've just had it out with Jessica. Did you know that she had our private business investigated by that legal beagle of hers?"
"Why yes. I did know. Jessica told me. I also know you have been draining what remains of our retirement savings to hand to our careless, irresponsible son. That the reason for your furor, my dear?
Gladys loathed when Robert tried to slather her with endearments she knew were disengenuous.
Robert's three other employees looked up from their work and quickly looked away.
"Gentleman, can you please take a fifteen minute break so I can deal with my wife?" Robert said.
The three hurried out of the lab feeling sorry for poor Mr. Quincy.
"Gladys, I am not going to tell you again. Stay the hell out of this lab! Don't you ever come here again and disrupt my work or my employees like this. Do I make myself clear or do I need to cut more of your allowance you spend like I am a multi millionaire?"
"You mean like your brother? That wife of his lives in the lap of luxury you can't begin to afford to give me. You are the worst mistake of my life."
"Well, my dear. There's the door. See that sign above it? Read it. No. Wait. Let me do it for you..."EXIT." Now do you think you need my help finding your way out the door?" Robert said, trying to retain his composure.
Gladys hurried for the exit door. But, took the opportunity to enter the front door again to berate the receptionist.
"Clean up that desk, Missy. If you can't keep my husband's business looking professional, maybe you should find another job...at a garbage dump!" Gladys bellowed.
When she saw Robert's face in the lab door window, she made haste for the front doors.
"Mrs. Quincy is in a dour mood. Please don't take what she says seriously. I am planning to have her examined by a doctor. She seems to lose her temper too often at others. I am so sorry," Robert said.
Anna Lindsay had been Robert's receptionist for nearly three years. Now, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor man married to such a battle axe.
Robert must have known what Anna was thinking and said, "I don't need to be a mind reader to agree with your thoughts. The two laughed and lightened the moment as Robert headed for the break room to alert his chemists that the "Quincy tornado" had blown out the door.
Gladys Quincy made a decision as she drove to the small home she hated. It really wasn't small by most people's standards. It had four bedrooms on the second floor, a large living room, smaller ante room, formal dining room and a huge kitchen, not that Gladys did much cooking.
When the Korean War ended, it brought Robert great sadness that his brother's youngest son, Michael, had been killed in action. Gladys fumed over the ceremony that awarded Michael a Purple Heart.
RJ found a way to avoid the draft in the Korean War. He was already realizing he had cataracts that had to surgically removed. Gladys breathed a sigh of relief at the same time she fawned over her son's medical problem. She refused to attend the military funeral for Corporal Michael Quincy flagrantly snubbing her nose at the sister-in-law, she hated.
When Robert realized he was better off attending without Gladys, he asked Jessica and Howard Richtson to accompany him, which they were both planning to do anyway.
"Let me guess. Mother is too busy tending to RJ? Doesn't Rhonda mind Mother always interferring?" Jessica asked.
"Jess, you know your mother. When she gets a bee in her bonnet, there's no stopping her," Robert replied.
By the time RJ was forty four years old, he had already bankrupted two of the companies his mother had spent her husband's retirement savings on. Gladys was hell bent that RJ would be more successful than his cousins, Darren and Melanie. Even if it meant spending every dime her husband earned.
The very last time was also the last straw for Robert. Gladys had withdrawn the last of what remained of their retirement savings and cashed in their life insurance policies. But when she tried to use their home as equity, Robert laid down the law. Gladys was totally cut off from touching any sources of Robert's income.
He was never sure who it was who concocted the idea to forge his name on a loan, RJ or Gladys. When Howard discovered what Gladys had done, he advised Robert to punish her legally by cutting her out of any spousal inheritance upon his death. Howard told Robert not to make Gladys aware of this. She'd find out soon enough when the time came.
The time did come sooner for Robert than expected. Just as he had hoped to retire at age 62, he became aware of shortness of breath. At first, he waved it off as "old age." But, when he was unable to lift the lab beakers without feeling dizzy and out of breath, he knew it was time to see a doctor. He also realized he had to enlist the aid of his son to run his lab, should he be hospitalized, a possibility he was definitely not looking forward to.
He discussed this possibility with RJ, which delighted Gladys. Robert's health was going downhill fast. He called Jessica and her family to visit for the Christmas holiday with the feeling it might be his last. He didn't need to do that with RJ and Rhonda. His son spent most of his time taking inventory of family assets for when "Dad" passed on.
Robert Quincy died one week after Christmas. RJ walked into the lab like a wild wind. He began to make changes he knew would have appalled his father. He fired two of the employees for no reason than that he decided they were "paid too much." He hired two entry level college students to replace them. That was the beginning of the end for Robert's business.
Gladys was thrilled that her son was now the owner of her husband's business. She visited more frequently and even suggested RJ fire Anna.
"RJ, she's an old biddy. She is long past her shelf life. Get someone who will run things in the office the way you want it run," Gladys said.
Rhonda saw her mother-in-law as the old biddy who was "long past her shelf life."
To Gladys shock and horror, RJ decided it was time his wife started to "earn her keep." He hired her to replace Anna with one major caveat: Rhonda would not be paid a wage.
Rhonda didn't balk at first, rationalizing that it would help RJ save money. Until that is, she saw RJ wasting money in ways she never believed possible. He often went out into the field to do his own lab sampling for their customers, only because he found excuses to fire his field technicians whenever the bills piled up.
Now that both of their children were in the upper grades of school, Rhonda began to think about returning to her former career as a librarian. She held a degree in Library Science and felt it was time to start earning her own money. The meager allowance RJ gave her barely covered her expense.
He expected her to pay all the bills, medical and grocery expenses out of the pittance he handed her or sometimes whined he couldn't hand her due to his bizarre management style.
When Rhonda announced she had a job in the town library as head librarian, RJ threw a fit. Naturally, his mother was ready to pounce as well.
"How dare you expect my son to do all the work, you lazy woman!" Gladys shrieked.
"Gladys, I have had just about enough of you and your son's constant cheapness. I can't pay all the bills while your son wastes more money in that lab business. I am sure Robert is rolling in his grave for the things RJ is doing."
Gladys' facial expression twisted and contorted in a way Rhonda had never seen before.
"Do you want to stay married to my son? Then, if I were you, I would do as I say and keep your job here," Gladys hissed.
"No. I will not and nothing you can do will stop me," Rhonda said, rising from her desk.
Gladys bolted through the lab doors and screeched:
"RJ, Get out here now!"
"Mother, what is it? I'm in the middle of a project," RJ whimpered in that tone he always used to soothe his angry mother.
RJ followed like an obedient puppy behind his mother to Rhonda's desk.
"I ordered Rhonda to stay on in her job here and she refuses," Gladys snarled.
"Yes. I did. I am taking the job as head librarian whether you like it or not. I want money of my own and I am fed up living on the paltry allowance your son hands me," Rhonda said.
"Rhonda, I can't afford to hire a receptionist. You know that," RJ said.
"You can't afford not to. I'm leaving as of the end of this week. You will never afford much of anything RJ Quincy. Face it. You are a failure and only your harridan mother thinks otherwise," Rhonda said.
"RJ, you must get rid of Rhonda. Divorce her! You can't stay married to a woman who can't help you when you need it," Gladys yelled.
Rhonda started to round her desk when Gladys shoved her. Rhonda fell backward and was stunned for a moment. When she rose, she slapped Gladys so hard across her face, Gladys swayed backward.
The two women got into a hair pulling match with RJ trying to separate them. The younger employees in the lab watched the commotion from the lab door windows.
When RJ finally managed to separate them, Rhonda grabbed her purse and yelled,
"Gladys, I never want to see you again. Unless RJ brings our kids to your house, you won't see them either. Now, YOU can do MY job," Rhonda said, shoving a pile of manila folders at the older woman.
"I NEVER!" Gladys snarled.
"Yes. And that is part of the problem. You have NEVER had to work your butt off. You just like everyone else to do it all for you. I am not your slave. Good luck trying to find my replacement. You son barely manages to pay his lab staff. He already has delayed paying them for the last three weeks," Rhonda said, as she walked out the door.
"Is this true, son? Are things really that bad?" Gladys asked more contritely.
"I'm afraid so, Mother. Is there any way you can lend me some money to tide things over?" RJ asked.
"All I have left is the house and your father already left me with a loan on it. Tell you what. If you agree to take me to run my errands, you can sell the family car. That ought to bring in something to help," Gladys said.
"Oh Mother! That's so kind of you."
"Just one thing. I want you to divorce Rhonda," Gladys said.
"But, who will look after our kids then?" RJ asked.
"Why...I will."
"Oh no. Mother, my daughter is quite a handful at school and so is my son. I don't want them upsetting you at this stage of your life."
"RJ, Have I ever given you bad advice?"
"No. Mother."
RJ filed for divorce, but soon found out he would have only visitation rights with his children. He decided the best thing was to hide the fact that he backed out of divorcing Rhonda by hiding away most of his time in the lab.
His marriage a shambles and his father's astute business management gone, RJ struggled with the burden of responsibilities he never knew existed. Now, he needed Gladys more than ever. He had no one he could trust...Not his employees, his wife and not even his children, whose behavior grew ever more unruly.
"Son, you've got to take those kids in hand. Now that you and Rhonda are "divorced," she isn't going to give them the attention they need," Gladys said, stiffly.
"Mother, that's good advice. I just can't bring them to the lab while I'm working," RJ replied.
"Bring them home to me. I'll take them off your hands in summer and after school while that ex-wife of yours spends her time in her library," Gladys said.
RJ didn't like to conceal the fact that he and Rhonda weren't divorced. So, he discussed Gladys' offer with Rhonda.
"I think that's a great idea. It's time your mother faced what managing your two children are like," Rhonda sniped.
Gladys' offer didn't last long. Rhonda figured her mother-in-law would look for some way out. She did. Now, she was claiming her health was "going down hill fast."
"My mother is not a well woman," RJ told Rhonda.
"No doubt. She has been off her rocker for years. That you only now discovered that is amazing to me," Rhonda said.
"Look, I don't want an argument. You need to make arrangements for your daughter and son while you are away at the library," RJ said.
"Oh I see. Now that your son is an uncontrollable mess and your daughter is constantly nasty like your mother, they are MY kids?"
RJ had to drive Gladys to the doctor.
"Son, what's the matter? You seem "out of sorts."
"Mother, it's Rhonda. She just refuses to take control of our kids," RJ whined.
"I'd normally suggest you take custody entirely, but you are not in a financial position to do that. You'd need a nanny to look after them. My medical bills are mounting and I can't loan you any more money," Gladys said.
"I know Mother. I was about to ask you if you could spot me $200 dollars. I got a speeding ticket and I need the money to pay the fine," RJ said, sheepishly.
He didn't really need the money for that at all. He needed it to pay for the lab operating license or the state could shut him down.
"Do you know of any pawn shops?" Gladys asked.
"Yes. Of course. Why?"
"I'll give you my mother's cameo to pawn. As soon as you get raise the money, you can get it back for me. I was planning on giving it to your daughter as an heirloom after I..."Gladys started.
"Mother, You are not going to die."
"I am not leaving anything to your sister. Everything will go to you. Your life has not been easy. When I think of how William's children were so spoiled rotten and your father couldn't even manage to buy you a car when you needed it, it makes me so angry," Gladys said.
RJ would be the sole inheritor of his mother's estate. Yet, he had no idea what the estate was even worth, if it was worth anything.
"Mother, I have no idea about inheriting anything."
"I don't have much anymore. Just really the house and oh, a few of my old war bonds you might be able to cash in," Gladys said.
"You are speaking as if you are going to pass on tomorrow. Mother, you'll live to dance at my daughter's wedding," RJ said.
RJ was wrong. In the year before she died, Gladys grew ever more hateful to her brother, Linus and her sister, Gwendolyn, both of whom moved as far from Gladys as possible. Gladys frequently babbled to herself about her siblings children and their successes.
When her brother-in-law, William and his wife, Diana, died, Gladys vengefully refused to attend their funeral. She used the excuse she was not "up to traveling."
"Don't you mean you are not attending because you can't face how successful Uncle Bill is" Rhonda asked, sardonically.
"Uncle Bill? Pshaw! The only reason he was successful is because "I" insisted your father-in-law help him to start his business...and I might add...at the expense of our future," Gladys hissed.
Rhonda saw Gladys as a bitter old woman who lived more of her life in solitude, except, of course for her favorite son, RJ.
Gladys died one year after Robert.
"Seems almost as if Robert has plans to deal with her for all eternity," Rhonda said.
"At least, she never knew we weren't divorced," RJ said.
"And that is somehow a eulogy of her life?" Rhonda asked.
"You always hated my mother!" RJ said.
"Yes. I did. But, I am not the only one and you know that to be true."
As Gladys body was lowered into her grave, only RJ shed a tear.
Norma Shapston Horsford
Born in Larchmont to Lila Carlyle and Arthur Shapston, Norma was quite aware of her too upper class family status. Lila Carlyle was born to the Knickerbocker New York society class. Norma, like her mother, was not a particularly beautiful woman. Most described her as "handsome," a rather masculine term for a female.
By society's standards, Arthur Shapston wasn't the most accomplished or opportunistic of men. Still, Lila's parents felt themselves fortunate their daughter had found a safe, financially secure future even if he was the son of first generation Welsh immigrants.
In years to come, however, the name "Arthur Shapston" was to become singularly important to the business community. From his humble background, Arthur managed to rise to the pinnacle of success by the time his daughter, Norma was sent to finishing school in Europe. Arthur saw the opportunity first in Yonkers, then Larchmont and Boston in real estate. From a non descript real estate agent barely making enough commissions on his sales to a real estate baron in the New York and Massachusetts area, Arthur realized how important "connections were."
George Horsford, Sr. was proud of his middle class status and, in fact, chose to emphasize it at every oppotunity. He was a decorated war veteran who had a nose for success. He took full advantage of education his military career offered him. When he retired in his late 30s from the military with full benefits, he realized the only thing missing was a wife, a business and a home in Yonkers.
George Horsford Jr. met his future wife at a relatively benign function, a retirement dinner for his father, George Sr.
George Sr. wasn't much for the kind of claptrap society his wife, Mildred Aimes Horsford seemed so enamored of.
When they met, it was over the punchbowl. George Jr. asked Norma for a dance and before he knew it, she was planning wedding arrangements not one month later.
The truth is, George didn't recall ever proposing marriage.
"George, beggars can't be choosy," his father warned.
"Norma is a rather handsome woman," Mildred Horsford said.
Mildred Horsford was herself, a diminutive strikingly pretty woman even as she reached age 61.
"Mother, I just don't think we have much in common," George said.
"What do you need to have in common?" George Sr. asked.
"Well, for one thing, she puts great stock into society events," George Jr. said.
"Pish Tosh! Her parents are middle class Yonkers people like we are," George Sr. said.
George was obviously unaware of how the career of Arthur Shapston had grown. Such was George Sr. intense focus on his own business. Oddly, the two fathers had never crossed paths. If Arthur Shapston was mostly a private man, even in the real estate business, George Horsford Sr. was anything but private. His world of journalism ensured him he had his fingers on the pulse of the most important people in politics, business and society.
Arthur and Lila placed little value on those they considered not in their "class."
"Father, do you have any idea how much she plans to spend on "her" wedding?" George Jr. asked.
"Parents of the bride pay. Besides, Norma's father, Arthur, is pretty "set" in business." Mildred put in.
"When is the wedding?" George Sr. asked.
"In a month from Sunday at St. George Anglican Church in Larchmont," George Jr. said.
"Larchmont? But that's out near the coast twenty-five miles from here!" Mildred said.
"Mother, it's her wedding. I guess if her parents are paying, they get to choose the church," George Jr. said.
"Where do they plan to hold the reception?" Mildred asked.
"She wants a "garden reception." Her parents have a two story Victorian on Suffolk Street with a large backyard. I'm guessing half of Yonkers society will attend," George Jr. said.
"Oh my!" was all Mildred could say.
Mildred and George Horsford felt they could take their lead from Norma's parents. The wedding was typical of the times. Only those with "good names" were in attendance. However, the wedding ceremony at St. George's was attended mostly by relatives in both families.
The organist played the traditional pre-wedding march aria, "Because God Made Thee Mine," sung by the top church soprana, Anna Lisa Contalta.
When the organ struck the first notes of the wedding march, the families rose from the pews as Norma, dressed in a white silk organza gown with a delicate French tulle veil with a ten foot train, made her way to George Horsford Jr. standing stiffly erect at the altar rail with George Sr., his best man at his side.
Mildred sat at the right side of the altar while sat to the left as was tradition. Norma was followed up the aisle to the altar by no more than ten bridesmaids and groomsmen and a matron of honor, all dressed in delicate dusty rose chiffon floor length gowns. Each carried bouquets of dusty roses, baby's breath and fern.
As soon as the ceremony ended at St. George's, the flotilla of hired limos took guests to the grandiose reception.
Under a huge white tent in the Shapston tudor style manor house, the entire front facade of the house was covered in fresh white flowers. The heady scent of flowers positioned under the tent created a perfumed hot house effect.
Mildred and George Horsford took their places at the top tables to the left as Arthur and Lila took theirs with Norma and George Jr. at the bridal table with the rest of the bridal party.
"Rather unusual for the mother and father of the bride to sit with the bridal party. Don't you think?" Mildred asked her husband.
George wasn't really interested in bridal protocol. He was more interested in the men Arthur Shapston was greeting after the meal was served, the liquor was dispensed and the women gathered in their usual circles to chat.
Seeing an advantage in the group of men standing nearest the opening to the large tent, George Horsford, a master of timing moved in on them.
"Gentlemen, good day to all of you," George began.
"You are the groom's father?" one of the men asked.
"Why yes. George Horsford's the name. And yours?"
"Peter Darrodsby. Clothier here in Larchmont and also New York City," the man responded.
George made the rounds introducing himself to the rest of the men who returned the favor.
Among them were two bankers, a real estate mogul and a financier.
Can't hurt to make my name known to this group. George thought.
Mildred remained at their table with three other women.
"I'm Mildred Horsford, the groom's mother," she said, hoping to introduce herself.
"Mrs. Horsford, of course! My son, Anthony, has spoken of your family often. I'm Anita Vastino. My husband is Anthony Sr. My son and yours are acquaintances on the "bride's side," Anita said.
"I'm Katharine Vonegan. Nice to meet you Mildred. My husband is Charles Vonegan. He's in real estate," Katharine said.
"I'm Sarah Romersford Lyons. My husband is William Lyons. He's in banking," Sarah added.
"This is certainly a lovely wedding, Mildred. I'm not familiar with your husband, George? Is it?" Katherine said.
"Well, we are from Yonkers," Mildred said.
Mildred felt a sense of inadequacy being among these women. Larchmont was the notorious playground of the well to do who had no reservations about making their wealth known to the world, if need be.
"Your son is quite the attractive young man," Anita said, smiling graciously.
"How is my son an acquaintance of your son?" Mildred asked.
"The bride introduced them at a family dinner in her home," Anita responded.
Mildred didn't recall George Jr. mentioning Anthony Vastino to his father or herself.
"What business is your husband in?" Mildred asked.
"I'm afraid we don't fit the stereotype of typical upper class Larchmont people. My husband's business is limited to industrial plumbing," Anita said.
Mildred would have breathed a sigh of relief had it not been for the fact that it would have been so obvious.
"What is the nature of your husband's business, Mildred?" Sarah Romerford Lyons asked.
"George is a publisher. Actually, he owns a Yonkers newspaper, The Yonkers Gazette," she replied.
"Oh my. I don't believe I've ever met a newspaper man," Katherine interjected.
Mildred wanted to laugh at how high in the air these two snobbish women's noses were. She didn't miss the knowing glances between Katherine and Sarah. Anita seemed not to notice at all.
"Mildred, I realize you live a distance away. But, how would you feel about becoming a member of our Ladies Afternoon Social Club?" Katherine asked.
It was clear Sarah was caught off guard. Mildred didn't miss Sarah's nudging of Katherine's elbow.
"Why, I would love it!" Mildred said, feeling some small measure of acceptance.
"I'm sure our husbands will forge quite a business bond," Katherine said.
"Excuse me. I need to powder my nose. Katherine?"
Mildred knew that this was Sarah's excuse to find out why Katherine made such an invitation to Mildred Horsford.
The two women walked off to the powder room, heads held high enough to touch the inner ceiling of the tent.
"Anita, are you a member of that club?" Mildred asked.
"Why no. I'm sure I would never be invited. My husband is a plumber contractor. Not exactly the type to fit into high brow society, if you know what I mean," Anita said.
"Why do you suppose they invited me, then?"
"I am sure it has to do with your husband's being a newspaper business owner," Anita said.
Anita saw that Mildred wasn't clear on the reason.
"The Ladies Afternoon Social Club gets very little in the way of social reporting. They hold their cotillions, charity events and afternoon card parties. But, they need to have access to someone who will print what they want about their social events," Anita said.
Mildred realized she answered rashly without discussing it with George. Yonkers was twenty six miles from Larchmont. She was sure George would object to taking time from his work to drive her to Larchmont. He certainly wouldn't pay for car service.
"I see," was all Mildred could say.
On their return home from their son's wedding, Mildred notice the self-satisfied expression on her husband's face.
"Well, our son is off on his honeymoon," Mildred began.
George didn't respond.
"The Ladies Afternoon Social Club invited me to become a member," Mildred said.
"Yes? That's good news Milly," George said.
Her husband rarely called her "Milly," unless he was about to take her into his confidence. She waited for further information.
"My dear, we are about to leave our middle class, thanks to our son's marriage," George said.
"Why, dear?"
"It seems as though I now have at my disposal, the possibility of several long term advertising contracts that ought to increase our finances suitably," George said.
He realized his wife didn't understand. He smirked and his oblong shaped, pale face seemed somehow misshapen at that moment. He sighed as he kept his eyes on the road ahead.
"Mildred, I have made an inroad into Shapton's social circle. I knew how to "grease the wheels" enough to make sure they knew how valuable advertising in our Yonkers paper would be," George said.
"Mildred! For heaven's sake, I think I may have set up a verbal contract between a Larchmont real estate titan and a fancy clothier. I convinced them that their businesses would flourish with the right advertising at the fingertips," George said.
Mildred could only respond with a shrug. Women of her age had little interest in the business of men.
George Jr. and his wife, Norma, returned from their honeymoon at Niagara Falls. They set up housekeeping in a Yonkers apartment Norma considered less than palatable. George chose it without discussing it first with Norma.
His job at his father's paper didn't stretch far enough to keep Norma in the style to which she was accustomed.
"Dad, I'm wondering. Is it possible for me to get a raise and a promotion?" George asked.
"Why son, you bet there is! I know the hardships in the first years of marriage. I intend to see to it you don't have to go through the tough times as I did," George Sr. said.
"Oh Dad! I am so grateful! But, uh...How is it you have the financial means to do this?"
"Your wedding was the best thing that has happened to us."
"My wedding? How so?"
"We Horsfords are leaving middle class behind. Your mother was invited to join one of those fancy women's clubs in Larchmont. I made a few contacts at your wedding that is bringing in quite a few extra sources of income. We're set.
In fact? I'm thinking of turning our newspaper into a conglomerate in Larchmont. After all that is where our clients with the biggest advertising contracts are located," George Sr. said.
"Dad! Why that's wonderful. How can I help?"
"You will be running our Larchmont "division. Your new title is "editor-in-chief" of the Larchmont Star."
George Jr. couldn't wait to tell Norma about his good fortune. He knew that if he had not chosen Norma for a wife, none of this would have ever happened. Norma was aware of this more so than her new husband.
George spent much of his time at the Larchmont Star with enough free time for Norma to bear their first of four children a year after they wed, Daniel Shapston Horsford. He was followed in lineage by his brother, James Avery and two sisters, Irene Laurel and Virginia Caroline.
Norma did her part for her husband by inviting women to tea at their home. George did the same by joining business men's organizations and civic groups in Larchmont. He was welcomed as his father had been. George Sr. was quite proud of the easy acceptances into society his son had managed.
Mildred was aloof with Norma. She felt that Norma harbored resentment that the Horsfords were not upper class enough. Still, Mildred did appreciate her newly found status as a "grandmother." Now, she fit in perfectly with the other grand dames of Larchmont society.
"Norma, now that my grandchildren are no longer infants, you would do well to join the Ladies Afternoon Social Club, as I have. After all, you want your husband to advance his standing here in Larchmont, don't you?"
"Of course, I do. I do my part, Mother Horsford. I invite the wives of George's business associates to tea," Norma said.
"Yes, but you see. the Ladies Afternoon Social Club has other "benefits" as you know. Why I'm rather surprised Lila hasn't already urged you to join," Mildred said.
"I certainly shall look into it Mother Horsford."
"You don't really need to be so very domesticated, you know."
"Yes. I do know."
"Well then? Make arrangements tomorrow for membership," Mildred said.
Norma realized her mother-n-law was right. She desired to serve her husband is whatever way seemed most appropriate.
Norma donned her finest social daywear and hurried off to meet with Callista Kennedy Lassiter, the president of the Ladies Afternoon Social Club. Moira Lassiter was surprised that Norma Horsford would be so forward about wanting to become a member. That's just not how it was done in blue nose society.
"Mrs. Horsford, you realize that we of the Ladies Afternoon Social Club have a reputation to protect?" Callista Lassiter said.
"I assure you, Mrs. Lassiter, neither my husband nor I have skeletons hiding in our closet," Norma said.
"I don't wish to imply any such thing. It is just that we always do a thorough check on our candidates for membership before we make a final decision. You do understand our position?" Moiro Lassiter asked.
"Why, of course. You can't accept membership from just any one," Norma said.
When Norma and George dined that evening, George sensed Norma was in a fit of pique. She had these episodes frequently lately. George believed it was a sign his wife was entering middle age and was just preoccupied as women her age always were. He waited for a sign from his wife to safely ask the question on the tip of his tongue: "Is something amiss?"
As soon as the maid placed their coffee and dessert in front of them, George felt it was time.
"Norma? I cannot help but notice you seem a bit "ruffled." Is something amiss?"
"George, as you know, I placed a call to the Ladies Afternoon Social Club to apply for membership," Norma began.
"Yes. I did recall we discussed this late last night."
"Well, I met with Callista Kennedy Lassiter this afternoon and the meeting was quite unfriendly," Norma said.
"In what way, my dear?"
"She implied that "we" needed to be "checked" before they could approve "my" membership."
"Is that so unusual?"
"Our family name is impeccable. I can't imagine what there would be to "check"," Norma said.
"I am sure you will be approved for membership," George said soothingly.
Norma smirked.
"For heaven's sake! My mother was a blueblooded Knickerbocker. What more proof of my upper class status do they need?" Norma wailed.
George rolled his eyes. Norma knew this was his way of ending the conversation. George, on the other hand, had never realized Norma's capacity to be so openly hostile. He wasn't certain he liked this new side of his wife.
When more than a week passed and Norma hadn't been contacted by the Ladies Afternoon Social Club, she was quite ruffled. Finally, the phone rang. It was Callista Lassiter.
"Mrs. Horsford? I'm sorry to be so tardy in getting back to you regarding your membership. Our membership committee meets once every two weeks. As you know the Ladies Afternoon Social Club has quite a few requests for membership and we take care to check each prospective member's background thoroughly. I'm regret to inform you that we are unable to approve your request for membership," Callista Lassiter said.
"On what basis? My mother is Lila Carlyle Shapston, a member of the Blue List Knickerbockers," Norma protested.
"It wasn't your mother's excellent status. It was your father's. You see. When we checked on your father's "heritage," we found that your paternal great grandfather had been involved in some type of business deal that clouded his character," Callista said.
Norma knew of no such issue and protested loudly that the membership committee's findings were unwarranted. Yet, no amount of insistence or pressure from Norma made a difference. She was rejected by the Ladies Afternoon Social Club and could only imagine what Mildred Horsford would have to say about that.
Norma phoned her mother to rant on about this major societal wound.
"Norma, your father's grandfather was a member of the upper middle class even by those late 1800 standards. There has to be another reason you were rejected. You know I don't like to give advice; but, I should find out who else is on that membership committee. Isn't Mildred a member? Ask her to find out who sits on the membership committee. That will give you a clue to why you were rejected," Lila said.
"But, Mother...I would have to admit to Mildred I was rejected. She's a member of that club. I really only approached the club on Mildred's insistence that it would help my husband," Norma whined.
"Still. My suspicion is that someone on that committee blackballed your request for membership. It only takes one."
Norma knew of only one possibility: Her husband's mother, Mildred. Was this Mildred's payback to her for stealing her son away from her? From her own husband's lips, Norma understood that Mildred was not really thrilled with her son's alliance with the Shapton family.
Unlike Mildred, Lila Carlyle Shapston never had to work to add to family income. Not that Mildred wasn't a somewhat astute businesswoman in her own right. Still, George Sr. would not have made much of an income as a newspaper research clerk later promoted to journalist, if it had not been for Mildred nagging at him to get into a wider realm break out on his own.
With Mildred's scheming, George Sr. elevated himself to editor-in-chief and soon earned enough to buy the Larchment paper he now owned. Mildred's "business" was filling him in on gossip useful to his front page news. She was keen on how to place herself among those whom she knew would drop "secrets" and "gossip."
So yes. It was highly possible Mildred had Norma blackballed. But, Norma was bewildered by why her mother-in-law would suggest becoming a member of the club in the first place. Was this another way Mildred hoped she would remain the family's only matriarch?
Years would come and go with a publicly polite loathing between Norma and Mildred. For Norma, however, the club rejection was to become a huge open wound.
I'll get even with Mildred, somehow, some way, some day. Norma thought every day.
She refused to discuss the matter with Mildred, even as Mildred hinted at the subject at dinners and social events.
So, Norma realized she had to divert her attention to these ladies social club activities and invent a few interests of her own she knew would help her husband. One of these was the budding opera and ballet company that had just been established in Larchmont.
Norma knew attention to the arts could gain a lot of prominence for George and the family name. What Norma wanted most was for the name Horsford to be synonymous ONLY with George Jr., not his father or mother. She would accomplish this even if it meant having to make huge donations her husband would likely not agree to.
She immediately saw to it her daughters, Irene and Virginia were members of the Larchmont School of Ballet and her sons, Daniel and his brother were members of the Larchmont School of Art, all of which were under the auspices of the Larchmont Arts Council. Norma Shapston Horsford, as one of the top ten donors, was now a doyenne of this arts council.
From that point on Norma realized that money could buy anything, including a higher rank in society than Mildred could ever aspire to and higher even than Callista Lassiter.
When all six of the Horsfords sat down to dinner, George Horsford Jr., felt proud of his now preteen "tribe," as he referred to them.
"So, which of my sons will step into my shoes when I'm ready to retire?" George asked.
"Oh my! George! Retirement is at least another 30 years away," Norma said.
"That long, is it? Well, it wouldn't hurt to get a jump start on having my sons learn journalism as I did with my father," George said, cutting into his veal chop.
"I don't think the Horsford name will do well with sons as journalism clerks," Norma sniped.
"Norma, the cost of your patronization of the arts on that arts council means I need all the free help I can get," George responded.
Daniel Shapston Horsford stuffed his mouth until his father reminded him of his manners.
"I'm hungry Father. May I not enjoy what cook has prepared?" Daniel asked.
"George, leave the boy alone. He needs his nourishment. He's a growing boy!" Norma countered.
The other three siblings stared at Daniel. Irene and Virginia glanced furtively at each other and snickered while James Avery gave Daniel a poke in the gut.
"James Avery Horsford! Don't you dare poke your brother like that! You know I don't allow rough housing," Norma chided.
George was getting quite tired of Norma's favoritism toward Daniel to the exclusion of the other three Horsford children.
George was so busy at the newspaper he didn't have time to spend with Irene, Virginia or James to compensate for Norma's showering Daniel with attention. He also saw that his son, Daniel, was beginning to feel "special" in ways his father disliked. He knew one thing: He must discuss the subject of favoritism with Norma.
Finding Norma at home was growing more and more difficult. Now that George could afford a full staff for housekeeping and landscaping, Norma was free to attend fashion shows where she purchased some of the most expensive designer clothing for herself.
These fashion shows were held mainly in New York City. For George, that meant Norma was spending quite a sum on limos to take her to these events.
"Mr. Horsford, here are this week's invoices. Which do you wish me to pay?" Arthur Randall, CPA asked.
"Just leave it on my desk. I'll review it in a few minutes. I have several phones calls to make," George said.
As editor-in-chief of the Larchmont Star, George had begun to make contacts that expanded the paper to a much wider reach than he expected. His father was thrilled with his talent at ingratiating himself with big name business associates. Still, he did have to keep the bills paid and with Norma spending wildly lately, the bills were mounting.
He glanced over at the large pile of invoices that needed to be paid.
"How could there be this many invoices, Arthur," George asked, as Arthur began to walk away.
"Mr. Horsford, not all of those invoices are for business. I don't know how many of the non-business invoices I can keep listing as "business expenses," Arthur said.
"Such as?"
"Well, that fur wrap for example. I don't think that will get past the state tax department," Arthur said.
"You need to be a lot more creative then," George said.
In order to keep pace with his wife's extravagances, George began to "stretch" accounting facts, something he found distasteful at best and worrisome at worst. He hated going to bed at night wondering if he would be caught and all of his hard work to build up the Larchmont Star would be for nothing.
If there was a reason for the widening gap in the relationship between George Horsford, Jr. and Norma Shapston, it began when George felt most seriously the loss of control in their marriage.
Frequently, George would bring up Norma's latest expenses at dinner with Daniel, James Avery, Irene and Virginia all seated in their places at the ostentatiouisly appointed dining room table. George hated the pretense of it all. Still, he knew it would impress his associates to see fine silver candelabra, elegant porcelain dinnerware, Bulgarian stemware and heavy weight silverware.
It was the rest of the room that made him feel uncomfortable. Norma spent a fortune on a large, hand woven Oriental rug with the most awful colors: red, purple, green and gold. To make the room even more stifling, she had a huge mirrored wall added to the only full wall.
The furniture was most ostentatious, if not garishly uncomfortable. The dining table was inlaid with marble and was made from genuine African teakwood. Apparently, the server and buffet tables were imported from a royal French summer home. It had to be refinished at great cost.
"Mother, I realize we have risen above middle class station. But, you must take caution with how much you are spending," George said.
He always referred to her as "Mother" in front of the children, as his father had done.
"Father, I cannot keep our family name above our station in a home that reflects middle class style," Norma said.
Immediately, she glanced toward Daniel who beamed supportively at his mother.
"Our children wear the finest designer clothes directly from the fashion house runways. You don't want them to look like street urchins, do you? Besides, you don't spare any expense with those suits you have custom made," Norma said, preening at Daniel.
George didn't miss the almost telepathic conversation between Norma and Daniel.
"Father, I must inform you that Daniel's teacher wants to speak with you. When shall I say you can visit with her?" Norma asked.
"Why must "I" be the one to speak with Daniel's teacher? You have all the free time to do so. I do not."
"Be that as it may, I believe Daniel's teacher just wants to meet you because, after all, she is aware of your position at the newspaper," Norma said.
"Why do I feel you are omitting to tell me the real reason for this meeting," George asked.
"Don't be ridiculous. Why would I do such a thing?"
George knew there was no point in pursuing the subject with Norma in front of the children. But, he also had no wish to allow Norma to believe she had "put one over on him."
Later that night as the two sat in the library before the huge quarry stone fireplace, George decided to force Norma to tell the truth.
"Norma, I doubt Daniel's teacher just wants to meet with the owner of a newspaper like the Larchmont Star. It would do you well to tell me the "real" reason," George said.
Norma pretended she didn't hear George's inquiry.
"Norma, it will suit no purpose for you to ignore my questions. I can cut off your expense accounts, you know!" George said.
"You wouldn't dare! I would make certain you are exposed as a man who denies his wife and children a few luxuries while you wallow in all that big money," Norma said.
"Which is about to be even bigger, by the by. I'm purchasing a small paper in New York City that is going under for lack of reader interest. It will add to the expansion of the Larchmont Star immeasurably," George said.
"Well then..You can afford to take the time to meet with your own son's teacher."
"I haven't said I wouldn't. I want to know "WHY!" And don't make me ask again, Norma," George said.
Norma was nothing if not a master of finding escapes and options to avoid answering direct questions.
"Miss Rathlin feels Daniel may be better advantaged in a more upscale private school," Norma said.
"He already is in an expensive upscale private school!"
"Oh pish tosh! You know that Hartley School for Boys is not exactly a pre-university school. How do you expect Daniel to take over your business when you retire if he has a second rate education?"
"Hartley School for Boys is far more expensive than the public school I attended. Let me take a wild guess at the "pre-university more upscale, private school you have in mind..."
"I was thinking Daniel could attend Delbarton."
"Delbarton! That's nearly 50 miles from here upstate. The worst snobs send their children there."
"I've already contacted Delbarton. Discuss it with Miss Rathlin."
"Norma, I do not want you making decisions about our children's educations. I am the one who pays for their tuitions, not you!"
"George Horsford! How can you be so obtuse and irascible?"
"I can and I will. From now on, you make no more contacts without my knowledge. Is there anything about this you wish repeated, my dear?"
Norma smirked and fumed.
"I'm going to bed. Since you want to make "ALL" the decisions, you make the appointment to visit Miss Rathlin," Norma said.
George heard her heavy stomping of her feet on the stairs all the way into her bedroom. They no longer slept in the same room because Norma complained George snored and kept her awake all night long. Their years of few and far between intimacy were long gone and now it was more a relationship of convenience.
George needed the optics of a man with a wife and children and Norma needed George's money. Or, so she always believed.
George would much have preferred Daniel attend a more regimented military school for boys. Acquiescing to Norma, he phoned Miss Rathlin the next day.
"Mr. Horsford, we are so pleased you chose Delbarton for your son. I am sure you will be most pleased with the education your son will receive here. May I suggest you and Mrs. Horsford come in tomorrow to discuss your son's specific curriculum?" Dora Rathlin asked.
"What time?" George asked curtly.
"I'd suggest nine o'clock. Mornings can give you a clearer picture of the school's daily activities,"
"Shall we bring Daniel?"
"I think that would be a good idea."
Daniel Horsford was already quite a contrary child. Having to wake at seven o'clock was not to his liking.
"Daniel, time to dress and eat your breakfast. We will be leaving in one hour. We need to arrive at Delbarton for our nine o'clock appointment," Norma said.
"Mother, I don't feel like any appointment today."
"Now Daniel, let's not get your father into a lather over this. It's just for a few hours. Besides, you have the entire summer to rest and relax," Norma said.
Daniel grumbled as the housekeeper set out his clothing. He grumbled even louder in the shower and as he thundered down the stairs to breakfast.
"Must that boy rumble downstairs like a heard of buffalo?" George asked.
George made a point of the family eating a formal breakfast together. Normally, during the school year, breakfast was at eight. Due to having the appointment with Miss Rathlin, cook prepared breakfast on the sideboard at seven thirty this day.
Daniel shoved himself into the heavy dark pine chair, waiting to be served.
"Mrs. Durman isn't serving today. She has a day off, If it isn't too much trouble for your lordship, you can serve yourself" George said.
"That's just great! First, I'm rousted out of bed at seven and now I get to serve myself?"
"James Avery, Virginia and Irene served themselves. Why can't you?"
"Father, maybe they don't mind being "common." I do."
"Norma, I do wish you would not implant ideas of grandeur into our son's head."
"What have I to do with the way Daniel feels?"
"You know very well Daniel manages to get ideas from your own high and mighty perceptions that because I own a successful business, you and he are more "entitled" to luxuries and privileges," George said.
"That's nonsense and you know it. Daniel just has a more elevated sense of purpose and class than his three siblings."
"James Avery, Virginia and Irene all work harder at their school work and after school activities," George said.
"That's because they have to work harder. Daniel doesn't have to because education comes easier to him," Norma said.
"Does it indeed? So that explains why his grades are not as high as his siblings," George said.
"George, we shouldn't discuss our children in front of them," Norma chided.
The day was already off to a bad start and it was about to get even worse. With James Avery, Virginia and Irene already off to their day's activities, only Daniel dawdled about. George, in their new family automobile, fumed as he waited for Norma and Daniel.
"Mother, why do we need a family car? Why can't we use a limo service like our neighbors?" Daniel asked.
"You know how your father is. He still thinks he is middle class. I also suspect this is a new toy for him, Norma said.
Norma heard the blast of George's car horn. She was livid. Was he trying to alert the entire neighborhood of his newest acquisition?
Norma gave Daniel a second glance, smiled approvingly at his choice of suit, shirt and tie. The two marched in lockstep toward George awaiting them in the driver's seat.
"Father, please don't blast the car horn. It is so "middle class, you know," Daniel said from the back seat.
"You ARE middle class, Daniel. We are not the wealthiest people in this town," George said.
Norma snuggled closer to her son to soothe him. She patted his hand, rolled her eyes signifying to her son to ignore his father's assessment of their family status.
George parked the car in the oval shaped lot of Delbarton. As always, he prided himself on punctuality and entered the building with Norma and Daniel in tow precisely five minutes before their appointment schedule.
"You see how important punctuality is, Daniel?" George asked.
"It's just school, Father. Not the Halls of Congress," Daniel said.
George asked the student at the reception desk to direct him to Miss Rathlin's office. Norma sighed deeply at this flaw. George should know where her office was located.
When they arrived at Dora Rathlin's office, she was positioned at her oversized oak desk surrounded by files. George registered this clutter as a potential flaw in the school.
"Mr. and Mrs. Horsford, welcome to Delbarton. This must be Daniel?"
George barely nodded assent. Norma grinned from ear to ear at her son.
"May I ask Daniel to wait in the anteroom until we are through discussing his enrollment?" Dora Rathlin asked.
Daniel was furious. His long pouting expression stunned Miss Rathlin, not so George Horsford.
"Why can't he remain with us?" Norma asked.
"Well, there are several things we need to go over that I feel would not be of interest to your son," Miss Rathlin said.
George saw Norma roll her eyes.
"You will have to forgive my wife. She often feels Daniel is more mature than his chronological age," George said sarcastically.
Dora Rathlin sensed already Daniel could become a problem student at Delbarton.
"The first issue is whether you wish your son to have a private room or room with another student."
"Oh a private room, I think," Norma said.
"A room with another student is fine," George interrupted.
"About is tuition, we at Delbarton prefer the amount paid in one annual lump sum to avoid any accounting problems."
"I can give you a check when we are through here," George said.
"Will "my" son be allowed to come home on weekends?" Norma asked.
"No. You see we believe that in order to provide the very best training, we need students to learn a certain independence from their parents. As you know, Delbarton is a private school and the students are all from upper class families who want the best for their children."
Norma wasn't happy that her son would be miles away from home. George was thrilled that the responsibility for his precocious son would no longer be a thorn in his side.
"You may bring your son in now," Miss Rathlin said.
Daniel was still pouting. He assumed wrongly that he would be allowed to be driven home every evening by a limo service.
"Daniel? I think you will enjoy rooming with Clifford Lethersby III. As you know Mr. and Mrs. Horsford, his father is an industrialist in metals," Dora Rathlin said.
"Rooming! But, I thought I would be driven home every night," Daniel said.
"Daniel, this is a boarding school. You are required to remain here until you are allowed home on holidays," George said.
Norma shifted in her seat.
"Mother! I don't want to attend a boarding school! Did you know Delbarton was such a school when you chose it?" Daniel screeched angrily.
"Well, I..Daniel...no. Like you I thought you would be coming home at the end of your school day," Norma said.
George tried desperately to stifle his amusement, not missed by Dora Rathlin.
"Father! You did this!"
"No son. This was entirely your Mother's idea. I wanted a military school for you," George said.
"Mother, I am your favorite. How can you send me so far away?"
"Delbarton isn't in another country, Daniel. You'll be just fine in the capable hands of Delbarton teachers," George insisted.
From that minute on, Daniel knew he had to plot a way to stop this entire plot against him.
"I won't stay here. I'll run away!" Daniel threatened.
Norma began to cry.
"Son, I am so sorry. I didn't realize Delbarton was a boarding school. Please, please...forgive me?" Norma asked.
"Enough of the dramatics. Miss Rathlin, can you go over the curriculum so Daniel will know what we expect of his time here?" George said, stiffly.
It appeared that the slate of subjects Daniel was to study were those he hated most: math, science, economics, history, Latin and, of all things, gymnastics.
Daniel knew he had to find a way out of this. His first night rooming with Clifford Lethersby III began his plotting.
"Hello, I'm Clifford..."
"I know who you are. I'm Daniel Horsford. My father is the richest man in the state. Don't assume we will be friends. I choose my friends very carefully. So, let's just try to make this rooming situation as pleasant as we can," Daniel snorted.
Clifford Lethersby III realized for the next few months Daniel didn't always see things as they were. For example, when their gymnastic instructor began to teach the boys how to use gym apparatus, Daniel refused saying it was "sissy stuff" for girls. Clifford also noticed months later when the first coed school dance was planned that Daniel acted charming at first to the girls bused in from Mountmartin Girls School.
But, the minute he would begin a dance with one of them, he became rough and had to sit out the rest of the dance. Sit out he did. Fuming on the sidelines that he was treated unfairly and the girls were liars.
Daniel lasted only one year at Delbarton. His numerous warnings from teachers notwithstanding and the memos to his parents about his bullying behavior with other students, Daniel was quite self satisfied that enduring this school plot against him, he was about to be expelled to the horror of his mother, but to no surprise of his father.
"Well Norma? Your son was expelled from the school YOU chose for him. Do you realize what an embarrassment that is to my business reputation?"
"Delbarton just expected too much of my Daniel. You know Daniel is not like other boys," Norma said.
"Keep telling yourself that. You chose Delbarton. NOW, I CHOOSE a military school where Daniel will get the discipline you seem incapable of teaching him."
"George! I want Daniel here. I am sure I can enroll him in a school that..."
"Norma! No! All your pleading and caterwalling isn't going to work in your favor this time," George said.
Daniel was livid when his father enrolled him in the General James Shipton Military Schools for Boys.
"I won't go!"
"Yes Daniel. You WILL go! Or, I will see to it you are enrolled in a school for wayward boys. Is that more palatable to you?" George asked.
"At least in that kind of school, I would learn how to fight with real boys, not the lilies in these schools."
"I assure you Shipton is not a school for lilies, as you call them."
When first Daniel was ordered to wear the military school uniform, he thought he would just object. This school was like boot camp. He had to rise at the same time as the others, eat food in a large "mess hall" Daniel whined to Norma was "substandard," had to do his own laundry and make his bed according to school rules.
He was allowed on phone call home on Sundays. Parents were not allowed more than one visit a month. Daniel was so furious he bashed his hand into the brick wall of the boys' lavatory. He hoped that would mean he could lay in bed for a week.
Instead, he had to nurse his injury without a single whimper. Oh how he hated Shipton. He went to bed every night wondering how he could get out of this predicament, hating his father for forcing this on him. Such was his hatred for his father that when he was allowed home during the Christmas holidays, he refused to speak to George Horsford, preferring to fawn all over Norma to the disgust of his father.
Daniel also ignore his siblings, even to refusing to purchase gifts for them. Passing his brother, James Avery in the hall, Daniel tripped him causing James to fall and break his nose.
"How does that feel brother dear?"
"Daniel, why did you do that to me? You might have broken my nose," James said.
It didn't go much better for Virginia and Irene either. Daniel was hellbent on getting even with his sisters for not pleading with his mother to return him from Shipton.
Daniel slyly entered his sisters' bedroom and smashed a hand mirror belonging to his grandmother who had made a gift of it to Virginia. He yanked one of Irene's favorite collectible dolls off the shelf and began to jump all over it until the face was no longer recognizable.
"Mother! Look what Daniel did to my priceless doll!" Irene said, in tears.
"Now now Reenee, how do you know it was Daniel who did that?" Norma asked.
"Because he did the same thing to Grandmother's hand mirror...the one she gave to Virginia."
"Daniel would never do such a thing!"
Virginia was first to recognize Daniel's grab for power by playing the role of their mother's favorite. No matter what the girls or James received for gifts, Daniel destroyed it.
"I do believe I will show this to Father," Irene said.
"Your father is a busy man. He has no time for your silly, childish complaints. Now, off with you."
Daniel, sitting quietly on the divan with Norma raised his eyebrows and turned his head so his sly grin wouldn't be noticed.
"You didn't do those things, did you Dear?" Norma asked.
"Mother you know I would never do such things. Mother when can I leave Shipton?," Daniel asked.
"Son, don't worry. Shipton is only a four-year school. It will be over before you know it," Norma said.
"Mother if I don't get out of Shipton in the next few months, I will kill myself!" Daniel threatened.
Norma was horrified. She reached for her son and cradled him in her arms just as George Horsford entered the room.
"Norma, I MUST speak with you," George said.
"No need. If your daughters are blaming Daniel again, you are playing favorites. I won't hear anymore blaming of Daniel," Norma said.
"It was Reenee or Ginny whom Daniel tripped in the upstairs hall. It was James Avery."
"Don't be absurd. Daniel wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, with all of his military training YOU chose for him, he is bound to be a little tougher now," Norma said.
George knew this was an argument for another day. He hurried out the door to his office. Life seemed more normal there. Home was just a place to hang his hat and make an impression on his business associates. He had to admit that Norma carried that out quite capably. And...at great cost to him.
Every event in their home meant Norma would go wild buying new clothes, looking for another expensive caterer, not to mention the cost of the booze George knew had to impress guests.
After every one of Norma's soirees, like clockwork, there was always a photo of his wife usually with Daniel in tow looking like the society belle of the country. His own reach within the news world was growing, even he had to admit that. The name, Horsford, was a welcome addition to any society gala or charity event. It was something else: free advertising.
Daniel was determined to get himself expelled from Shipton or die trying. He chose expulsion. In his senior year at Shipton, with all of his siblings either about to graduate from college or in their last two years before graduation, only Daniel was still uncertain which college he "could" attend.
Family dinners were now beginning to resemble an invitation to a governor's mansion. Norma spent most of her time entertaining while George was at his office. However, the minute he arrived home, he was assured of a sumptuous formal dinner of at least four courses in the English manor house style. Norma didn't even try to hide that she no longer was a part of his "domestic" household who once did all of the cooking, cleaning and had full responsibility for child care. Not that his children needed a nanny at this point.
George knew if his station in life had allowed for a nanny when his children were younger, Norma would have eventually found a way to justify it. For now, dinners were the only real Horsford family gathering and even that depended on which of the Horsford children were home from college. Mostly, though, it was dinner with Norma and Daniel.
George knew it was wrong to put so much hope and expectation into Daniel. No matter how George tried to teach the young man that he would soon need to be independent, Norma always jumped to Daniel's rescue. Now that college was one year away, George decided it was time to discuss where Daniel might attend school.
"Norma, your son's grades are making finding a suitable college for him impossible," George said.
"Use your "influence" to make sure he gets into an Ivy League school, not some state university. We have a family name to live up to, as you well know," Norma chided.
"Influence has nothing to do with qualifications for entry, my dear. I've been researching several potential schools. None are Ivy League. You need to forego that idea. Daniel's grades would need to be stellar for an Ivy League School to accept him.
"Father, my grades are not as important as my potential," Daniel put in.
"And...just what IS your potential, son? As far as I can see, you treat your fellow students like your personal servants. How do you propose an Ivy League school will consider that of any value?" George asked.
George glanced furtively at his wife. Her deep sigh of exasperation caused her chest to nearly become concave. George would have laughed if not for his son's next statement.
"Father, my plan is to just take over your job. I don't really need a college education for that. You don't have one. Why must I?"
"Your grandfather was not a wealthy man. I am financially well off and want my children to have what I didn't. You ARE going to college, young man. Even, if I have to drive you there every day to see you do," George said.
Daniel had never seen his father so insistent. He immediately sought his mother's alliance to his cause.
"Your father means well, my boy. I also want you to have a college education. You'll do that for your Mother, won't you Son?" Norma said, pleadingly.
Daniel rolled his eyes. George could stand no more and pushed himself hard away from the long, oak dining table, accidentally knocking over a crystal wine goblet. The deep scarlet liquid flowed onto the imported linen tablecloth.
"Now look what you did!" Norma screeched.
"No! Look what YOU did to your own son. He will only listen to you. Now, you will have to deal with the consequences of that. And don't come crying to me when Daniel fails in college like he's failing at Shipton. The only thing "your" son is good at is fighting with his fellow students. By the way, Norma, here. It's a notice from Shipton. Daniel got himself expelled from this school. Proud of your handiwork?"
George had never been so angry at Norma or Daniel. He headed for his room, packed a few things and called for a car to take him to his men's club. He knew he needed to cool off.
Norma had the kitchen maid clear away the dinner table.
"What shall I do with the tablecloth m'am? The wine stain may not come out," the maid said.
"Throw it in the garbage!"
"But, m'am this was your favorite."
"Order another one. Mr. Horsford ruined this one. He'll pay for another," Norma hissed.
Norma and Daniel retired to the library.
"Is it true, son? Shipton expelled you?" Norma asked.
"Mother, it wasn't "my" fault. I asked Kenneth Daughtrey to help me with my math homework. He got all nasty and told me to do it myself. That made me mad. All I did was push him out of my way and he ran to the Dean's office and told him I punched him."
"You didn't, did you?"
"Of course, not."
"I'll speak with that Dean tomorrow," Norma said.
"No. Mother. I would rather you don't. It's no big deal."
"Daniel, an expulsion from Shipton means you might not graduate with the rest of your class. I'll speak to your father to see what he can do."
This was precisely what Daniel hoped the outcome of his latest expulsion would be. His mother would demand his father pay the school to allow him to graduate with his class.
At the men's club, George would learn some pretty sordid things about how men in business work off their "frustrations." Not at the club mind you. Members of the club were too well known publicly to dare to be associated with anything lurid. In public, these were men of high standing in business, society and their churches.
The name Horsford had begun to be quite familiar. Familiar enough to allow George entry into membership in The Rockleigh Club for men. The dues were more than a blue collar worker's annual income. To Norma, this was met with wariness and yet, she viewed George's acceptance as a member to be an elevation of their family to society.
Now, that George had left his family, he spent a lot of time with the other members at dinner and enjoying the solitude he found relaxing to his nerves. He tried not to think about Norma or Daniel. Yet, as he lay in bed in his club bedroom, he knew something had to be done. Daniel was out of control thanks to Norma
He needn't have considered Norma wouldn't find some form of drama to entice him back to their home. Early the next morning, he was preparing for breakfast downstairs. He joined several other men in the breakfast room.
A uniformed butler, Kerns, took their orders. The men ate heartily while they discussed the encroachment of the government into their businesses.
"You know that Justice Department is after curtailing our businesses offshore," Thomas Lampton, an investment manager said.
"Why? I should think the government would be pleased to have business presence offshore," George said.
"This government only wants business their inner core approves. You know what that means. Businesses that are not located in our states, but theirs," Andrew Roberts, a real estate agency owner said.
"George, you have the only business with extensive advertisers. You have the power to influence the government by what you allow to be published in your papers," Thomas Nevers, a major building contractor said.
George Horsford had the distinct feeling he was being cornered. What was in it for him and his business?
"The newspaper business is not like any other business. What we claim in articles must have proof," George said.
"Surely, there is a way to write an article supporting our businesses with proof," Thomas Lampton said.
"Certainly. But, that takes research and validating," George answered.
"And if it was your business under the gun?" Andrew asked.
George was glad when Kerns brought him a small note. He stood up and walked toward the large cross paned french doors. He reached into his pocket for his glasses. He needn't have. He recognized Norma's scrawly hand on the envelope.
He read the note inside:
"George, you must come home at once. I cannot possibly manage these children. I had to call the doctor. James Avery has a broken nose. He and Daniel were rough housing and somehow James Avery fell and broke his nose. Irene and Virginia tried to pull James Avery away from Daniel. Come home immediately! Norma."
Must I come home immediately, indeed? Norma can't handle her children when she is the reason James Avery has a broken nose. Rough housing? I fail to believe that. James Avery is half Daniel's size and has never been aggressive, George mused.
He wondered if Norma resolved the issue with Daniel's education. He knew Norma would insist he intervene in the Shipton expulsion of Daniel.
He was about to return to the group of business men when Kerns announced luncheon. The men began a parade to the oak paneled luncheon room.
The Rockleigh Club had a room for everything. It had once been a mansion owned by a state Senator. It was half a block long and three stories high with antique brick facade covered in English Ivy. Although it was listed as a state historical building, the interior had been upgraded to modern conveniences in the kitchens and baths.
The oak paneled luncheon room was twice the size of the breakfast room and half the size of the formal dining room. A library, conservatory and smoking room were on the first floor with the bedroom suites on the second floor. Staff rented on the third floor.
"Bad news, George?" Andrew Roberts asked.
"Only if a note from my wife can be considered "bad news," George said, with an air of disgust.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry," Andrew replied.
"No, no. No offense taken. In fact, well...let's discuss this over luncheon," George said.
George didn't really have many real friends. He never had much time. His father had been his best friend and advisor. He felt ambivalent about sharing his personal problems with anyone outside his family circle. Still, he had pangs of anxiety he realized could affect his business.
George made a point of seating himself at the luncheon table beside Andrew Roberts. The men at the table exchanged small talk either with the man seated next to them or with the entire group of six at the table.
As the other four men finished their meal, they repaired to the smoking lounge.
"George? The others are gone. Is there something you wanted to discuss?" Andrew asked.
George only intended to tell Andrew about the latest altercation at home. Instead, all of his problems with Norma and Daniel gushed out without control.
"My dear man, I had a son just like your Daniel. Raymond, our son, was also his mother's favorite. Oh yes. She lavished praise upon him that made his small, round head a balloon about to burst," Andrew said.
"What did you do?" George asked.
"When I'd had enough, I put distance between my wife, Adeline, and Raymond. I had to. I'd have done something to Raymond I would have regretted, if I didn't."
"Do you have other children?"
"No. Adeline couldn't have any more children after Raymond. Or, so she said. You know how women are about sex and all. I don' t mean to be crude. Just truthful."
George would have laughed at Andrew proclaiming "truthfulness" when all real estate agents are known for exaggeration.
"Was your Raymond ever violent?"
"No, is your Daniel?"
"I'm ashamed to tell you that is what that note was about. Apparently, my wife claims my two sons were rough housing and the younger of them has a broken nose. I have two daughters, Virginia and Irene. Norma ignores them and James Avery. It's as if she has only one child, Daniel. His siblings already keep their distance from him. Now you think I should do the same?"
"If you don't want family business to interfere with your newspaper business," Andrew said.
"You said you had a son like our Daniel. What did you do?" George asked
"As soon as he finished high school, I made "sure" he was drafted into the military. But you know what he did? He never served a single day. He used his mother's knitting needle to piece his eardrum and that was his excuse to avoid the draft. By then, I had had it with him. I gave him a substantial allowance and told him he had to leave."
"But what did your wife do?"
"I have to tell you. At first, Adeline was glad he was on his own. Until she found out he was in prison for trying to bribe a government official and for illegal use of public funding. I know she still mourns his fate and visits him in prison. I want no part of him. To me, he never existed"
"That's harsh, don't you think?"
"George, you'll see how easy it is when Daniel's fate is the same," Andrew Roberts said.
George would soon discover how right Andrew had been. All during college, Daniel paid others to take his exams. He would tell his professors he was "too ill" and needed to take his exams in his college dorm. Why they ever allowed such a lie to pass as truth was a mystery to George.
As soon as Daniel graduated, George took Andrew's advice. But instead of an allowance, George gave Daniel a large stipend and told him to do with it as he pleased.
Competing with his own father was always Daniel's forte. George was not surprised when Daniel established a newspaper in Yonkers by buying a paper about to shut down for good. Within two years, Daniel's Yonker's Ledger had a subscription rate nearly as large as George's paper.
George had to admit he was surprised at the number of investors Daniel managed to acquire. He thought he might be mistaken about his son's talents and skills in business.
Until one day, a letter crossed George's desk. It was from Thomas Lampton. George knew Thomas well since Thomas handled the investments for George and Norma and also for some of George's employees.
In essence, the letter from Thomas claimed that he felt George should know Daniel had used some of the Horsford investments as collateral to buy stocks and bonds.
George called Thomas immediately.
"Tom, how did this happen?"
"I am so sorry George. Daniel apparently falsified the information on the investment papers he filed and we didn't notice this because it was co signed by Daniel's lawyer, John Moringen."
"How did Daniel manage to get such a prominent lawyer to do that?"
"Moringen has a somewhat shady background. He only takes on clients he knows are tied to big piles of money. In this case yours..."
"But Daniel's paper is doing so well."
"Is it?" Thomas asked.
"You mean that too is a lie?" George asked.
"I'm afraid your son has very little left of the original investment put aside. He invested in some very risky deals somewhere in Europe."
"How has that affected his paper?"
"Mr. Horsford, forgive me; but, I feel I owe it to you to be frank."
George knew he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear about Daniel or his business.
"According to the rumor mill in the business sector, it seems your son has not hired qualified people. By that I mean, real journalists and real newsmen to run the machines."
"But, I helped him hire his staff."
"Yes. I am sure you did. When Daniel's debts began to pile up, he fired most of the staff thinking he would hire staff whose incomes were far below those he fired," Thomas said.
"Thomas, I appreciate your honesty. I'm sorry I have dumped my problems on you."
"No matter, George, I hated the idea of you being the last to know. Believe me, I would never repeat idle gossip."
"How do you know it isn't?"
"You know well how attorneys are as thick as thieves. My lawyer, Jack Strussel knows "of" Moringen. So naturally, when he mentioned him, I recalled you saying he was your son's lawyer."
"I didn't want Moringen to represent anyone in my family. He has a way about him that sets my teeth on edge."
"With good reason," Thomas said.
"George, all I can offer is that you make sure you protect your investments. You may have to seek legal counsel on how to stop Daniel from getting his hands on any future investments."
With that George Horsford and Thomas Lampton rose, shook hands and left for their respective places of business.
George was uncertain whether he should tell Norma what Lampton told him about Daniel. He was sure Norma would find an excuse to take Daniel's side. She always found a way to make Daniel's wrongdoing look acceptable.
He immediately contacted his investment broker and advised him that no family member should be allowed any access to his investment account in any way.
George knew he needed to speak to a competent lawyer about what he should do. But, when Thomas Lampton said lawyers all know each other, George knew he had to choose a lawyer from another state with a license to practice in this state.
He called Thomas Lampton and asked if he would mind if he got a little advice about another lawyer to handle some of his legal matters. As always, Thomas was fully agreeable.
"George, why not use your own lawyer?"
"I need someone specifically with investment experience, hopefully from out of state who can practice here in this state," George replied.
"Oh, I see. Well, I am certain Jack Stussel is the man to help you there," Thomas said.
Thomas Lampton saw clearly what was ahead for George Horsford. He wanted to warn his good friend that a son who cuts corners in business and makes a practice of using money that belongs to others was headed in the wrong direction. Thomas wouldn't, of course,, offering any warning. Well born people just didn't meddle in family business.
But, his wife had already formed an opinion of Norma Horsford that wasn't exactly "positive." Thomas just assumed his wife, Myra, was gossiping as women in that Ladies Afternoon Social Club of hers.
When Andy Roberts, Thomas's closest friend, mentioned that his wife also had the same opinion, Thomas knew the rumors about Norma Horsford must be true.
Norma and George were rumored to fight a lot about their son, Daniel. According to Myra and Andy's wife, Norma refused to allow George a firmer hand when their son was young and now that he was a young adult, Daniel was no longer under George's rules and restrictions.
Myra claimed that Norma was always trying to make herself appear far above the league of other women, to the point where she was spending far more of George's money than he could afford. Myra said she suspected some of it was financing Daniel's failures in business.
Thomas wondered if George even knew about it.
George kept to himself, knowing every discussion with Norma he would have, she would run to Daniel to commiserate her sorrows. He wondered if she kept secrets from him as often as he found himself keeping them from her.
That answer would come in the following year. Daniel fancied himself the most eligible bachelor in the entire state. It didn't help that Norma encouraged this. Nor, that she had begun to direct Daniel toward only those young girls she considered "worthy" of her son.
By now, Daniel's siblings kept their distance from the constantly battling parents and their toxic brother, Daniel. They too were hearing about his constant borrowing of money and wanted no part of whatever it was he was spending it on.
In his father's view, Daniel simply couldn't apply himself. He knew Daniel had always had a short attention span. Whenever he tried to interest his son in activities his brother took part in like Scouting, sports or even board games at home in the evenings.
Norma, of course, made excuses for this as she did everything about Daniel. George found himself feeling sorry for his son James who felt estranged from his own mother. As children, James, Virginia and Irene seemed not to notice Norma's favoring Daniel.
Now as adults with their own lives and careers, they paid little attention and visited the family home only by invitation or for the holidays. Daniel loathed that his siblings had married and had children.
"Mother, why can't Virginia control her children better?" Daniel asked.
Norma just patted Daniel's shoulder to comfort him.
"This is OUR home, Mother. They run about it like wild animals!" Daniel bellowed.
"Shhhh...Virginia will hear you!"
"I hope she does. I'm not one to hold back when I have something to say."
Truthfully, Daniel was hoping to have it out with Virginia. That way, she'd stop coming to the Horsford family home for good.
As for Irene, Daniel always looked upon her as an after thought. Irene had married well. Her husband, Lawrence S. Rodenburg was none other than a prominent judge on the state supreme court. Daniel was not so sure he liked the idea of a "lawman" in the family.
That dislike would be prophetic. Daniel decided to marry. When he told Norma, she was not exactly thrilled.
"Daniel, make sure you choose someone in our social circle. Someone with status," Norma warned.
"Mother, I can have my pick of any many women as I want. A wife to me will only be for looks. She won't be a society lady like you. I plan to keep her busy with our social engagements."
Daniel began to frequent several city night clubs. He got bounced at the door of one them when he smart mouthed the doorman.
"Do you know who I am? I'm Daniel Horsford and if you aren't careful, you'll see your name in the papers. Now won't that lose a lot of business for you?" Daniel, quite drunk from previous stops at other clubs, taunted.
He was grabbed by two beefy club bouncers who tossed him to the curb. From that point on, Daniel hired personal "security" in case he should ever again be denied entry into these clubs.
His little melee at that club did, in fact, get into the newspapers. One of George Horsford's own journalists was just about to enter the club with his wife when he saw Daniel Horsford.
Unfortunately, George was away on a business trip and the assistant editor-in-chief, Ronald Keyler, okayed the article and photo.
There was no love lost between Daniel Horsford and Ronald Keyler. They'd gone through high school and college together and Ronald considered Daniel an overindulged, spoiled guy who never intended to grow up.
When Norma saw the photo, she hurried down to the newspaper office and demanded to know who was responsible for smearing her son's reputation. The code of silence among journalists held strong.
"You wait until MY husband hears of this. You will all be out looking for jobs," Norma said in a huff. Ron Keyler sat amused as he watched Norma's tirade through the large glass window of his office. It was like a silent movie version of "The Monster Who Ate Larchmont."
As soon as Norma was out the door, the entire room filled with gales of laughter. Oh sure. Ron knew there would be fallout when George returned. He was almost certain of that. He might even lose his job if Daniel got his way, which, he always did.
Daniel was about to make an even bigger fool of himself when he was seen leaving a "house of ill repute."
Norma got wind of it from her ladies club. George being away, Norma fumed that her husband was to blame for Daniel's behavior. An excuse the ladies knew was not true.
"Mother, I would like you to see to it we have the most elegant dinner," Daniel said,
"Don't I usually provide you with an elegant dinner?" she asked.
"I'm bringing home a guest, Mother. I'd like to impress her."
"Daniel! That's wonderful! What is her name?"
"Liana Volkstraub. Mother, wait till you see her! She is spectacular! We'll be there at seven."
Norma wanted to ask more questions, but Daniel rang off in his usual hurry. She hurried to the kitchen to speak with cook about a menu.
"We'll begin with caviar appetizers. Squab for the entree I think...with lobster Florentine and those tiny potatoes so popular now. Oh and promptly served at seven after pre-dinner savories and cocktails are served," Norma ordered.
Next, she summoned her maid, Turner, to prepare her wardrobe for dinner.
"My grey velvet gown and I'd like my feather boa clip for my hair."
Turner waited till Norma left to roll her eyes.
You'd think she was Queen of Larchmont. Turner thought as she drew the grey gown, emerald suede shoes, matching opera length gloves and the pale grey feather boa clip from among an entire room full of "Madame's" wardrobe.
Turner couldn't help feeling amused when she drew "Madame's" scanties from her lingerie draw. A strapless bustier that was hip length and a pair of silk panties.
She walked to the dressing table and wondered if she should lay out Norma's jewelry as well.
The entire Horsford staff was abuzz wondering who this special guest could be. Was it the governor of the state? A Senator? They decided it wasn't likely since George Horsford was still away.
He was "away" in more ways than Norma imagined. He'd met a lovely, young Irish girl in the hotel where he was staying. She was the daughter of another newspaper mogul whom George was only barely familiar. Her father's paper was in the big time in New York city.
When George first spied her, he was thinking that maybe Daniel might be interested in Maybelle Rourke. Maybelle seemed more interested in George to the point of making herself available whenever her father was out of sight.
George had to admit she was a refreshing change from Norma Shapton Horsford. On his last day at the convention, he felt sad that he would not see Maybelle again. Or not. Maybelle knew a good thing when she saw it.
Even though her father was a big time newsman, he was cheap and a skinflint. Maybelle set her sights for someone far more "generous." If she knew George Horsford, she'd have known he was a man of modest means.
On the night Daniel brought his new female friend home, George planned to surprise Norma with his return. Instead, he found her sitting like royalty in his place at the dining room table with only Daniel and a young woman whom George hadn't seen before.
"Oh George! We weren't expecting you," Norma said.
"I can see that. May I ask what the grandeur and celebration is to which I was not invited?"
"George, please. We have a guest, a very special guest. Daniel invited Miss Liana Volkstraub. Please make her welcome," Norma replied.
"I will retire to my room. I am exhausted. Miss Volkstraub, it's a pleasure meeting you, I'm sure."
"Liana, will you excuse me for a moment? I must speak with my father," Daniel said.
Norma knew what was coming. Daniel was irate at his father's behavior. She hoped they could keep their arguing down so Daniel's guest wouldn't overhear.
"Father? May I come in?"
"Yes but if it's about borrowing money, the answer is "NO!"
"It's not about that. It's about your rude behavior to my guest."
"May I ask you a question, Daniel?"
"Yes."
"Whose name is on the deed to the property where you brought your guest?"
"Father, that's a stupid questions and you know it. I'm merely pointing out that you were rude to Liana. And...by the way, I assume will fire that half wit Keyler?"
"That "half wit" as you call him is our best journalist and assistant editor. Why would I fire him""
Daniel grabbed the newspaper off his father's night table. Daniel placed it there to make sure George saw it.
"Here, read it. So much for Keyler's loyalty," Daniel hissed.
George scanned the news article.
"Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"Yes. I was drunk. So what? Keyler had no right to publish it. Fire him!"
"No, I won't. He did what I expect him to do. Report news that sells papers that put you through school or whatever that imitation of school you failed your way through was," George said.
"If you won't get rid of him, I will."
"Daniel. If that's a threat, it better be only an idle one. You didn't come up here to berate me about rudeness. You came up to make sure I saw that article so you'd have an excuse to go after Ron. Didn't you?"
George saw Daniel's face twist into that contortion he'd seen when Daniel was about to explode. Daniel huffed and puffed and snorted and then took the award for journalism he received several years before and threw it against the full length mirror.
"Daniel! Get back here!"
"Sorry, Father that was an "accident." I am not a child anymore. You don't give me orders. I will do just as I please about Ron. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Is your father alright Daniel?" Norma asked.
"Fine as he can be. Let's finish our dinner," Daniel said.
A few days later, Daniel dialed the number of an acquaintance he'd met at a club, Kyle Hilton. He was a bouncer when they first met but Club Celeste promoted him to director of "security." He'd given Daniel his business card and they joked about how one day Daniel Horsford "might" need some "protection."
"Kyle. This is Daniel Horsford. The guy who always has a bevy of girls on his arm at Club Celeste?"
"Oh yes. Daniel...What can I do for you?"
"Are you still in the security business?"
"Certainly. Men of your status always need protection. We talked about that before, remember?"
"That's what I'm calling about. I got a stalker, papparazzi. You know the kind. Always after a story?"
"Sure. What do you need?"
"I just want him roughed up a little. Nothing that will put him in the hospital, mind."
"Sure. My fee for that is a little high," Kyle said.
"I'll pay whatever the fee is," Daniel said.
"Well, that kind of thing can take time in order to do the job without prying eyes or the cops," Kyle said.
"Of course. What's your fee?"
"$10,000?"
"Fine. Come to my office and I'll pay you when the "job" is done."
"What's his name? What does he look like? Where does he live?"
"No need to worry about that. His name is Ron Keyler. He works late at the Larchment newspaper. I think he's a printer."
Kyle knew Daniel Horsford's type. He knew what he really wanted was to get even with someone. Kyle remembered that news article. He hurried out to the back door and untied a neatly piled bundle of newspapers he was going to put out for trash. He hurried to find the one he was looking for.
Sure enough. There it was. Horsford drunk on the front page. Kyle noticed the byline of the article and the name Ronald Keyler. So Horsford lied to him. No matter. That $10,000 was the highest he ever been paid for security services before. So high, in fact, he wasn't sure Horsford would agree to that price.
Kyle kept Keyler under surveillance for three days before he made his move. He would pretend he was drunk, bumped into Keyler and got into a fist fight. If the cops caught him, he'd say he was drunk.
With Keyler sprawled out on the cement pavement unconscious, it was a passerby in a car who stopped and asked if he needed help. Ron could barely focus his eyes and he knew his ribs were broken because he felt a horrific, knifelike pain in his side. The passerby, seeing his bloodied face and battered body, drove him a few blocks to the hospital where he remained for three days.
George Horsford received a phone call from Ron's older brother, Tim.
"Ron was attacked you say? In front of our building? Can Ron identify the attacker?"
"No, Mr. Horsford. I'm sorry. Ron just wanted to make sure you knew why he didn't show up for work."
"I'll visit him at the hospital this very evening."
"Visiting hours begin at 7. I'll see you then."
George dialed Daniel's phone number and was surprised when Daniel answered.
"What happened to your secretary? Why didn't she answer the phone?"
"It's a long story, Father and frankly, none of your business."
"There is something that IS my business. Tell me you had nothing to do with Ron Keyler getting beaten up in front of our building!"
"Okay. I'll tell you. I had NOTHING to do with Ron Keyler getting beaten up in front of your building."
"Daniel, this is the last straw. Come to my office tomorrow. I want nothing more to do with you and I'm willing to pay you off to never set foot near me or your mother again!"
"Does Mother know about that? Because you know I have always been her favorite."
"Just come to the office tomorrow. I'll deal with MY wife."
Daniel immediately phoned Norma and told her he wouldn't be allowed to see her anymore. Norma began to cry.
"But why Daniel? I've always been so good to you!" Norma wailed almost incoherently.
"Father has blamed me for Ron Keyler getting himself beaten up by some thug in front of the paper's building.You know he has always blamed me for everything! Oh Mother, I will miss you so!"
"No you won't. We will meet for lunch and dinner as often as you like...my treat!"
"Oh Mother! That will be wonderful. May I bring Liana too? We are to be engaged soon."
"Daniel, when did you decide that? We never discussed it. I would have wanted to introduce her to all of Larchmont Society and have a grand engagement party!"
"Father won't allow that now! I'm supposed to see him at his office tomorrow. He is paying me to stay away from my own Mother!"
It wasn't true Daniel was to be engaged. He told his mother that so she would find a way to get him back into Horsford House, as Norma now called it. How he intended to fudge an engagement only Daniel knew.
"Oh, Daniel, I am sure you just misunderstood your father. Of course, you are always welcomed at Horsford House," Norma said.
"Mother, I'll meet you at the Hotel Bathenstir. You know where it is?"
"Of course. It's the most expensive restaurant in Larchmont."
"Well,, I do want to make the right impression on Liana."
"Oh, oh. I see. Yes. Let's meet tomorrow at 1 PM. I have an engagement in the morning."
"I'm meeting with Father at 10 AM. I'll pick up Liana after that."
George Horsford was not a man to be trifled with. Over the years, he had been generous to all of his children. But, there was something not quite adding up about Daniel's sudden loss of his secretary, Dorothy Quillan.
When Daniel walked into his father's office the next morning, he wasn't prepared to be face to face with Ron Keyler.
"Father, what is this? A trap? I told I had nothing to do with ..." Daniel began.
"Daniel, you are a liar! Ron has told me everything. I also did some checking on the state of your business. You are dead broke! How did you manage that?" George asked.
"Father, I won't discuss family business while he's in the room," Daniel said.
George nodded toward Ron and Ron rose and left.
"Now, I want to know just how you managed to bankrupt your business. Daniel, I know I said I wanted nothing more to do with you," George said.
"Yes, you made that perfectly clear. However, Mother does not accept your views. I'm having lunch with her at the Hotel Bathenstir tomorrow at 1 and you can't stop me."
"I won't stop you. But, I will bribe you."
Daniel had no idea what his father was planning. He saw him reach into his desk and pull out his checkbook. George tore off a check that was pre-written.
"This is payment for you to disappear. I can't have you making a spectacle of yourself. If you want to ruin your business, that's yours to deal with. Here is a check that seals the deal we made to stay away from me, my wife and our home," George said.
Daniel stared down at the check. He knew it must have taken a good portion of his father's savings. It was for $150,000.
"Now. Take that check and the last I want to see of you is the back of your head going out my door," George said.
Daniel took the check, called his mother and cancelled their lunch date. He lied and said Liana was "under the weather" and not able to leave her bed.
The truth was there was no engagement and no Liana. He planned to beg some money from his mother to get the creditors he owed money to off his back. But now, with his father's load of cash he could pay what he owed and still have enough left to buy a few of the luxuries he felt he deserved.
Secretly, he was amused his father couldn't stop him from seeing his mother. Daniel brazenly defying his father, phoned Norma.
"Mother, I was just thinking. You and I haven't spent much time alone together lately. Did you cancel the lunch reservations yet?"
"I was just after doing that," Norma said.
"Good. Don't. Let's have a mother/son lunch.Just you and I."
At lunch, the following day, mother and son reminisced over Daniel's full head of curly ringlets and how he loved shopping with his mother when his father was out of town and away on business.
"I surely did get a lot of things I know Father would never have allowed," Daniel said.
"Well, you were always such a doting son I felt a few little "rewards" couldn't hurt," Norma said.
Norma looked deeply into her son's eyes. It was as if they were made of steel.
"This has been such a lovely lunch, Daniel. We must do it more often."
"I'd love to Mother but I don't think Dad would approve."
"What do you mean, son?"
"He handed me a check this week and said he never wants to see me again," Daniel replied.
"You know your father. He tends to be impulsive. I'm sure he didn't mean it."
"Mother, I wish he didn't. But, the thing is Liana wants to have a grand wedding and the piddly amount Dad handed me won't get me through the next week."
Again, Daniel lied. In fact, he had already taken the trouble to put the $150,000 into a tax free, interest bearing account. It meant he could withdraw what he needed but only after 6 months.
Meanwhile, he planned to hit up his mother for more money.
"Mother...I was wondering if you could...."
He barely finished the sentence when Norma was already reaching for her checkbook in her handbag.
"How much do you think you will need to tide you over, son?"
Daniel knew not to answer too quickly and to make his case for his needs. One of those needs was to pay some of the bank loans he had taken out to try to keep his business afloat. Most of them were overdue and the banks were already hell hounds on his heels.
He didn't dare tell his mother that, in fact, one of those banks was threatening his with jail time.
"Well, let's see. I have been having a bit of trouble with my eyes. All that document reading for my business all day long has caused me some problems. I have a few bills I'd like to "keep current" so I don't lose my credit rating with the banks. I think $150,000 should about do it," he answered.
"$150,000? That seems like quite a lot..." Norma began.
"Mother we both know you have that in that "rainy day bank account" Dad doesn't know you've been stashing money in."
Norma read that as a threat that her son would reveal that account to his father whom she knew would be hugely displeased. Especially since George had easy access to friends in that bank who could reveal that she had almost $1 million she had managed to put away for the past 15 years.
She wrote the check quickly and handed it to Daniel.
Daniel rose. "Mother this has been a wonderful lunch. I'm sorry Dad will not allow me to see you again."
"Oh, but I will be at your wedding, won't I?"
Daniel didn't want to explain so he hurried off.
George Horsford was not a man given to suspicions of other and least of all his children. But, he had this feeling of foreboding about Daniel he just couldn't shake off.
At dinner the following week, Norma broached the subject of George forbidding Daniel to see his family.
"Norma, I am sorry to have to say this. Daniel has bankrupted his company. I gave him $150,000 and told him I never wanted to see him again. I meant every word. Your son is a liar. He is lying to all of us and to anyone else fool enough to believe him."
"George Horsford! How dare you say such a thing about our son?"
"Your son, Norma. You spoiled him rotten all these years. I want nothing more to do with him. Let's see how well he manages on his own."
"What about his wedding?"
"About that. Did you know he lied to you about that "girl" Liana he claims he was going to marry?"
"That's absurd. He mentioned her several times."
"But, you never actually saw Liana in person, did you?"
"Daniel is a busy business man like you are. He just hasn't had the time."
"Norma, for God's sake! Stop making excuses for him. I know there is NO Liana. I had one of my security boys do some checking. The nearest thing to a female your son has gotten is whichever trollop he finds for his one night stands in those clubs he loves to be seen in."
"I won't listen to anymore of this!" Norma said.
"No, of course you won't. It is your Danny boy after all isn't it I am talking about," George said as Norma stormed out of the room.
George knew he had crossed a line in his marriage to Norma Shapston Horsford. For the first time, he saw Norma as she really was. A cloying, grasping woman who favored only one of their children over all the others and a woman who was determined to fit into social circles where her only leverage was a successful husband.
George stewed about the coolness between himself and his wife. He had a meeting with clients at a high end restaurant and felt no real point in hurrying home to dinner with a wife he now could barely stand the sight of.
He noticed a well dressed woman of middle age sitting all alone as if she was waiting for someone. As she passed him, he realized Norma could never hold a candle to such an elegant woman with such grace and style.
He wondered who she was and why she was all alone. When the waiter brought his check, he decided to ask.
"The woman sitting at that table over there all alone. Is she a frequent patron here?"
"No, sir. That is the late Governor Felton's wife. She rarely dines here but I believe she was waiting for her daughter, Olivia. At least, that is what she told me."
George passed by the woman as he readied to leave. He knew it was a foolish move, but he deliberately dropped his key ring by her table.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to disturb you," he said, contritely as possible under the circumstances.
"No problem. I know who you are. You are George Horsford. The owner of the state's biggest newspaper. Am I correct?" she asked.
"Why yes. And you are?"
Barbara Felton, the late Governor's wife. I was waiting for my daughter, Olivia. But, as usual, she hasn't shown up. Would you like to join me?"
"Well, I might join you for a night cap. I've had my dinner with my clients. Advertisers...you know the kind of thing..."
"Not as well as you do, I am sure."
George sat down and Barbara signaled the waiter to their table.
"I'd like a Sazarac and my guest would like...What will you have?" she asked.
"Gin and tonic with a twist of lime," George answered.
That evening was the beginning of a solidly growing relationship that stunned even George. Barbara was a highly intelligent woman but admittedly was in need of male companionship. George knew he was no longer in love with his wife. But, the idea that he would be sitting with another woman having drinks in such a public place both titillated and worried him.
What if he was seen? What if Norma found out? By the time the second round of drinks was ordered, George no longer cared what happened next.
He just knew he was in the company of a woman with real class and charm. As the evening wound down, Barbara rose to leave.
"George, I know this is not usual for me, but I really would love to meet with you again...soon," she said.
"I would love that!"
George worried he sounded a little too enthusiastic. He needed the company of someone like Barbara. He was tired of putting out Daniel's fires, tired of having to hand over his hard earned money to fix the messes Daniel's got himself into and most of tired of his wife's constant excuses for Daniel's incorrigible behavior.
Daniel had the money he needed now. George felt that he could let go of it all and just for once in his too busy life find someone he could share his thoughts with. Barbara Felton was that "someone."
George and Barbara met more and more frequently before both began to admit to themselves they were smitten.
Daniel had the financial backing he needed now to do what he wanted to do for a long time. Daniel was sly enough to know that his former business was not going to be successful and it was time for a change.,.a really BIG change.
Daniel wanted to get even with his father. It was a revenge that kept him awake at night thinking of how he could do it. He knew being involved with the papers was not successful and he had to rethink where else he could make his bones.
He sat in front of the TV and noticed several news reporters looking as important as Daniel wished he was. He decided then and there that he would get into TV news reporting. He had newspaper contacts he could use to help him get top billing. All he needed to do was fabricate a few items on his professional bio.
He didn't want to be a reporter. He wanted to be the owner of the TV station and to do that he had to work himself up as a top of the line news reporter. He knew there were people who "owed" him for little favors he'd done by keeping their names out of the news. Now, it was time to call in those IOUs for all of that.
For the next week, he spent his time meeting with men he'd made deals with to keep negative publicity about them out of the news. Daniel realized he was now learning the fine art of keeping information about others in his back pocket for future reference.
One of those men was the now prestigious investment mogul, Thomas Lampton. Daniel discovered that some of those investments of Lampton's were not registered with the proper investment authorities.
Naturally Daniel was not about to let that juicy item slip past him. He knew a good piece of news when he saw it and how useful it could be to him when things were not going so well. Now was the time to remind Lampton of how Daniel kept that out of the papers.
Lampton had done quite a few TV interviews for those financial segments on news programs. So, Daniel knew Lampton had contacts.
Over time Daniel's skill at discovering things his associates didn't want to become public knowledge served him well. Often, he could begin contact for his financial needs by prefacing a "familiarity" with something hidden from public knowledge. That always got him the attention he needed and the "flexibility" So important to an up and coming entrepreneur.
He realized this kind of pressure on those he planned to make use of had a two fold benefit. The first was their loyalty to him and the second was their fear of exposure.
The day would come, however, when Daniel's limited insight would be his downfall. For several decades he was able to ride the crest of a wave he called success.
With that success came the usual luxuries a growing in wealth is drawn to. Daniel owned several luxury cars, a yacht and closets full of the most expensive clothes. He spent a lot of time in high end posh nightclubs, always alerting the press of his whereabouts so he could be "seen" as the wealthy, elite man he wanted to be.
Finally, Norma Horsford had the son she wanted. His siblings had long ago kept their distance from their cloying mother who took every opportunity to remind them how well their brother was doing.
Now and then, Daniel's newly hired press agent suggested that Daniel project the image of a man whose family was an important part of his success story. Most of these photo ops were of Daniel and his mother.
The fact that George Horsford had a solid romantic bond with Barbara Felton seemed not to cause Daniel any real problems. He knew decades ago his parent's marriage was one of convenience for both. George couldn't afford to lose everything he worked for to Norma whom he was sure would take him to the cleaners, leaving him bankrupt.
Norma could afford to look the other way at George's romantic indiscretion if it meant George lavishing on her the kind of luxurious lifestyle to which she had become accustomed. Since George controlled most of the news conglomerates in the entire state, Norma had no fear George would expose his extramarital affair.
However, that didn't stop Norma from nagging George to make certain he kept his son Daniel's successes in the public eye.
Daniel became well known as pushing the limits of his power over others. He was well traveled throughout Europe and South America. He realized that power equals profit and all he had to do was make sure he had "the goods" on those he used to increase his power and profit.
It didn't go unnoticed that over time he began to be seen with shady characters and seedy women. Daniel soon found use for them in his ever growing plan to be the most powerful business owner in the state, if not the entire country.
Thus far, Norma had been his best adviser on forward advancement and in return, Daniel helped Norma to double the generous stipend George provided her. Daniel figured that this was a reliable source of financial assistance should the need arise .
Norma also loved that her personal wealth was now past the level of six figures unbeknownst to her husband.
"It never hurts to keep a tidy nest egg, Son," she told Daniel numerous times. Daniel didn't disagree because he knew he could always remind her "who" helped her wealth grow.
What goes up, always comes down or so the story goes. Daniel had his pick of any of the beautiful women he wanted. But what he insisted upon was obedience and the ability to control the women in his life.
So, when he finally married in a relatively well published wedding held at one of the most elite castles in Austria, Norma was miffed at the choice of his bride, an Austrian girl, Svetlana Tomacz.
Svetlana claimed to be a high fashion model and it was true she had a gloriously model type figure. But Svetlana seemed not to be very bright. Daniel explained it only seemed that way because Svetlana was a foreigner.
It didn't really matter to Daniel since he planned to build his own mansion at Svetlana's request. So he bought the largest remaining property in the state in a very secluded area. He allowed Svetlana to spend as much money on furnishing it as she pleased.
And spend she did splendidly. She had whole walls brought in from various houses of the rich and royal to be installed in the 20 room mansion that sat high up on a hill and was reachable only by a mile long winding drive
The costly accoutrements cost even more due to the difficulty of bringing in the largest pieces via truck and van up the winding drive.
Daniel realized he loved having a crew of men he could berate and dictate orders to. As a result, he decided it was time to expand the number of his business employees. To his father's disgust, he watched from the sidelines as his son's business sank further and further into a morass of debt. It was as if Daniel thought he could never fail and money was in an inexhaustible supply. George saw the handwriting on the wall and took the trouble to safeguard his own personal and financial assets. All, unbeknownst to Norma. George learned over the years not to tell Norma anything about money. She instantly ran to Daniel with whatever information she learned. But at some point, Daniel found a way to get into one of the business bank accounts George thought he had secured. George found that Daniel forged his father's name to remove over $10,000 from one of the business bank accounts. George only discovered this when his accountant claimed he found a discrepancy in bank deposits that caused an overdraft of several of the checks the accounting department wrote to pay bills. George knew the bank president, Thomas Clevers well. He had been with the bank for many years and was a member of George's men's club. "Tom, I am so sorry about those bank overdrafts," George said, seated in Clevers private office "George, I knew from the start this was not an error on your part. May I be frank?" "Certainly." "This is such a delicate situation. I am not sure how to tell you," Thomas said. "At this point in my life, I think I can handle just about anything." "Well, it seems your wife requested that $10,000 be withdrawn from your account, Of course, I told her I would have to get your approval. She asked me if a signed withdrawal receipt would be acceptable. I had no choice but to honor it. It had your signature on it."
"Do you have a copy of that withdrawal receipt?"
"Yes. I had it drawn from your account files," Thomas said.
George wanted to maintain his composure, but when he saw the slip of paper
with his signature on it, he desperately tried to stifle his anger.
"Might I impose on you to make a copy of this for me?" George asked.
Thomas Clevers walked out of the office and in a few minutes, George had a
copy of the forged document.
George thanked Thomas and hurried home. There was some "business" he had to
tend to that simply couldn''t be delayed.
"Norma? Come down here please! Now!" George was so angry he felt as if he was
about to explode.
"George? What on earth is the matter?" Norma asked.
"What is the meaning of this ?"
George handed the forged receipt to Norma.
"Don't bother making excuses. It won't help you to lie either. We both know
you and Daniel did this."
Norma always knew when to keep silent and knew George would calm down and see her side of the situation.
"Well, Norma what have you to say about this? You know what you did was forgery and what Daniel did was extortion. I could have the lot of you arrested."
"Oh George, enough with the drama. If you did that, your business reputation would be ruined."
George needn't have worried about his business reputation. What Daniel was doing to make a profit was about to get him a prison sentence.
Thomas Clever phoned George to warn George that the bank auditors found discrepacies and reported it to federal bank examiners. The withdrawals Norma helped Daniel forge was a red flag on Daniel's business practices.
"George? Tom Clever here. I am calling to warn you that Daniel is under regulators microscope."
"Tom, was it that forged bank withdrawal?"
"That was only part of it. He's been using payroll tax deductions for personal expenses."
"How much will he have to pay back?"
"That's only the tip of the iceberg. There's more."
"More?"
"Yes. It seems Daniel has evaded business taxes and has charged off a lot of his high end purchases."
"My son Daniel always thought rules didn't apply to him."
"George, you may need a lawyer. Daniel will get a fine most likely."
"If he can't?"
"He'll go to prison."
George spent the next day trying to figure out how he could protect his name and business reputation from scandal. He purposely refused to tell Norma what Tom had told him.
George decided he would try to salvage the public trust he had worked so hard for decades in the news industry. He decided he would sell the business to his biggest competitor after he broke the news about his son's crimes. He knew that he could only retain his integrity by being upfront about Daniel.
On the day Daniel was visited by federal regulators, George published an editorial to end all editorials. He made sure Daniel's corruption got front page headlnes.
It was a sunny spring morning when Norma fell over in a faint with the newspaper in her hand.
"George! How could you?" Norma shrieked.
"You should be thankful you are not in the same trouble as Daniel."
"I? What did I do?"
"You are as guilty as he is of corruption."
"George your money was as much ours as yours. We were entitled to i as much as you are."
"Norma I'm done. I've sold the paper and leaving. I've left you the house and enough money to get by. As for me? I just want peace and quiet."
Daniel served 10 years in a federal prison. Norma couldn't face the loss of her social standing or Daniel's weekly calls begging her to help him. Some say Norma's auto accdent was "no accident.George retired to a log cabin in a mountain preserve in Western Canada where his greatest pleasure was solitude and tranquility.
Glynnis Morgan Wachtley
For a gal born in Ohio at a time when a world war was looming and her parents barely got through the Great Depression, Glynnis Morgan Wachtley, quiet, shy and relatively unassuming through her teen years would become a harridan from hell in a way that was akin to how her country ended World War II with an atom bomb.
Glynnis Morgan spent her youth oblivious to the world around her. This was deliberate. She recognized that passion must be kept under control. So Glynnis was the epitome of self discipline. As a result she excelled in school and women's sports like archery.
As most women did when World War II began, her mother insisted they do their part to help the servicemen who honored their country in the military.
Glynnis was just a toddler but Mother Deanna Bennet Morgan was nonetheless intent on raising a daughter who would be preented to society in the manner to which the Wachtley fortune was accustomed.
Her father, Lynford Morgan, was born to a wealthy Vermont family whose pedigree was diretly from the Mayflower. Lynford was the only son and heir to a metal casting fortune. So he attended the very best schools Morgan money could buy.
That was how he met the beautiful Deanna Bennet of the Boston Bennets, known for their contributions to educational
philanthropy.
The Bennet-Morgan wedding was the talk of the 1930s, given the extravagance and luxury protruding from every wedding detail.
Deanna Bennet knew she had landed quite a catch. Lynford Morgan had already begun his own law practice and their Victorian Mansion by the Cape seaside was as elegant, even for those pre war and post Depression years.
Deanna was expected to take her place in society to enhance her husband's notoriety. When two years after their marrige, the Morgans gave birth to their first and only child, Glynnis, Deanna realized she had resposibilities akin to a heavy saddle.
From the moment of her pregnancy and confinement, Deanna decided she would not make a child the only reason for marriage. Lynford wanted a son, though he doted on his baby daughter.
Glynnis had a nurse, a nanny and later a private tutor, French teacher, piano and ballet instructors.
Deanna realized quickly by exposing her daughter to these activities, Little Glynnis would be less in her mother's way.
Yet, Glynnis was expected to take her part in society helping roll badges for the local military medical group. "Glynn, you have to do much
better with those bandage rolls.
"Look how sloppy they are," Deanna said.
"I don't want to roll them, Mummy. Why can't I go outside and play?"
"Because we must help Daddy and we do that by showing the community how we spend time on worthy projects."
Glynnis yawned and kept rolling the bandages. Now and again, slamming them down on the work table.
She cried and cried when at age 5 Deanna had enough of mothering and shipped Glynnis off to a posh boarding school in England. Deanna saw just how a female child came between a husband and wife.
She and Lynwford spent less and less time together since Glynnis was born. Her society friends all told her boardng school was best for the child.
At Miss Brimley's School for Girls in Sussex, girls wore uniforms and spent hours every day learning proper breeding on everything from how to hold a spoon properly to the proper way to bathe.
There were also lessons in French, Latin and English Literature. Deanna Morgan Bennet was not thrilled when Glynnis graduated from Miss Brimley's and already had her daughter enrolled in art classes at a school in Paris.
It should be so noted that Glynnis appreciated art and artists but in Paris, her favored talents lay mostly with posing nude for artists and sculpterers.
None of which Deanna knew. For the four years Glynnis "atudied" in Paris, Deanna expended her energies entertaining at great expense all of society's most celebrated mavens, wives of some of the richest men and even a few countessas.
Glynnis loved Paris and all of its unbridled freedoms. When she invited, Jean Claude Rogine to move in to the luxury apartment paid for by her father's stipend, it was merely her first of many. JC as she called him, introduced her to Parisienne night life and a wonderful flavored drink, creme de violette. JC taught her to dance.
She especially loved Paris fashions. They made everything back home "recherche."
The death of her father, Lynford, was about to end Glynnis's party days.
At age 21, she, not her mother, was sole heir to the Morgan fortune and business. Lynford Morgan's law practice of his earlier years gave way to a far more commercial legal consulting and lobbying business for the most influential men in industry.
'
Glynnis was totally unprepared for the job, responsibilities notwithstanding, of chief executive officer of such a grandiose enterprise.
So it was that a female became one of the country's wealthiest female executives.
Glynnis had her father's grand office totally remodeled. Gone were all of her father's rmnants of hisfishing and hunting adventures.
She spent far more than was judicious or even practical. She had all of the heavy oak aneling yanked off the walls and floor and the walls rep-laced with im ported french silk chinoiserie for the walls and gleaming polished Versaiile tiles for the floor.
She chose an French Louis XIV desk and chair that replaced her father's clunky wood desk.
When the bills came due for her "remodeling" work, she waved off warnings from the firm's accoounting VP.
When she bothered to accept lient appointments, she padded their bills. If they questioned it, she reminded them she spared no expense for the luncheons she always made sure to provide at the most posh restaurants.
What she omitted was that those restauranteurs were clients whose bills she also padded and owed the firm for saving them from government nsoing around in their books.
The firm's other legal beagles were unaware of her covert legal games. Thus far it hadn't affected them and she insited the firm was asd profitable as it had been when her father wasd its CEO.
Only James Newsome knew the truth. He had been her father's CFO for several decades. He was aware as he saw clients entering Glynnis's office that they were not exactly exchanging pleasantries.
When on the rare occasions he inquired about certain accounting pecularities, Glynn always exoplained it away glibly.
"Miss Morgan, I uh..I have a problem with the Wachtley Account," James Newsome said hesitantly.
"Oh and what exactly IS the problem?"
"They are complaining their bills are somewhat excessive."
Have my secretary make an appointment with their accounting CFO."
"He already has an appointment to see you this afternoon."
"I can't possibly meet with ..What's his name?"
"Everett Wachtley..the son of the owner, Robert Wachtley."
"His son? I have a luncheon with the Ladies Club today. I can't possibly meet him today."
"He insisted you meet with him."
"Insisted? "HE" insisted?"
"Yes M'am. He indicaterd he could send his lawyer instead if you are unable to resolve the issue."
Glynnis knew a threat when she heard one. Her mother made her entire childhood a constant threat.
"Oh for pity's sake, alright. I'll see him!" she replied indignantly.
Not only did she see Everett Wachtley, but she was not prepared for how handsome and charming he was. He could sell snake oil to a snake oil salesman. At an imposing 6 feet and 4 inches, his dark, swarthy skin was set off by his sapphire eyes and prominent chin.
By comparison, Glynnis's dimunitive stature and her honey blonde tresses, her oval face with her jade green eyes was almost a perfect opposite. She would discover later that although opposites attract, it may not alwqays be a harmonious attraction.
Glynnis was smittten from the minute she laid her eyes on him. She didn't even need to go into battle with her mother when she announced she and Everett married in a quickie wedding in Las Vegas.
Deanna Morgan planned a huge wedding for her daughter from birth. Lynford left his wife a comfortable annual stipend. Everything else was left in trust for Glynnis when nshe turned 21.
Deanna knew Robert Wachtley was establishment insofar as business was concerned. Beyond that, he was just a Morgan client. Deanna knew Sophie Wachtley as a colient's wife only and not high society. Still, the son of Robert Wachtley was bound to be well off.
The truth was, Everett Wachtley hid his father's gambling debts. Sophie Wachtey knew nothing about, but suspected as much when her husband began selling off their most valuable antiques, including a 300 year old German clock that was a family heirloom.
For the Wachtleys, marriage to a Morgan was financial salvation.
Marriage to Glynn Morgan, a high society, well bred young woman, marriage was an escape from a life she hated. All that prim and properness was enough to make her feel lik e she was caged.
Her office was her escape until Everett appeared like a knight on a white horse.
He convinced Glynnis that a merger betweeen the Morgan and wachtley businesses was a coup for both companies.
It was with some trepidation Glynnis acquiesced to adding Everett to the morgan executive Board as CFO. For Everett, being chief financial officer meant he had the controlling interest in Morgan profits.
Deanna was outraged thsat her daughter would agree to such a change in business structure.
Glynnis announcement she was with child was not exactly what Everett wanted. The only benefit was that it kept Deanna from asking too many questions he didn't want to answer. Like why his father and mother were on the payroll when neither spent a day working there.
Glynnis was absent during her pregnancy for months. Everett took full charge of the company. Metal casting flourished during WWII but during the Cold War everett felt there was a need to downsize. He retired all employees over age 55 and kept only half of those needed to fill orders.
When her infant son, William was born, Glynnis, like her mother dumped her motherly duties on a nanny. Unannounced she returned to her father's business to find Everett had virtually taken over.
Glynnis was enraged. This was a marriage not just about to be on the rocks, but would become a national scandal. Glynnis, out of total bewilderment and espair, consulted with Deanna.
"Glynnis, you do realize your husband now control not only your father'sw business but also our personl finnces."
"Mother, I am fully aware of what he's done. I intend to seek legal options to overturn everything."
"From whom? You know he has legal connections all over the state."
"I'll find an out-of-state legal firm. Father knew several. I'm sure one of them will be available."
"Now you see why he wanted a quickie marriage," Deanna retorted angrily.
Glynnis remembered her father inviting a friend, James Sonnenerg for dinner several times. Sonnenberg was a famou lawyer who defended many wealthy clients.
"Mother, why don't you invite that friend of father's, Mr. Sonnenberg to luncheon? The weather is perfect for an outdoor repast."
Deanna knew exactly what her daughter was up to. For once, she agreed.
How will you keep Everett from finding out?" Deanna asked.
"Everett's father has to answer to a lawyer for non-payment of his gambling debt. Everett has to go with him. Everett has been using the business profits to keep his father's debtors at bay."
"What are you saying? Everett has been paying off gambling debts with our money"
"Yes. But as soon as we straightwen out the mess Everett created, I plnned to unload the Wachtley family."
"Unload?"
"Yes. as in divorce him and cut all of them off."
"You think everett will take all of that in his stride?"
"I'm sure he'll demand a profitable settlement."
"And if he refuses?"
"They need money, don't they? They can't afford to refuse. I'll see to that."
Everett was a fighter and he knew he had rights as William's father. He would sue Glynni s for custody of his so n.
To his shock and horror, Glynnis was more than happy to give Everett full custody of their son. Willaim was a stranger to Glynnis having been under the care of a Nanny. She found it amusing that Everett tried to back down from the custody issue and that she was saving the cost of a nanny even if it did mean paying all her son 's expenses until he graduated college.
Glynnis knew she could afford it. everett could not.
James Sonnenberg restored the Morgan business and all of its assets to Glynnis Morgan Wachtley. She in turn, became far more business savvy and less trusting where money was concerned.
Decades later. her son whom she had not seen since he was a toddler, graduated from Skyland School of Busines cum laude. When he appeared in her office, Glynnis was taken aback.
"I'm not here to beg or borrow Mother. Or do you prefer "Mrs. wachtley?"
"As you saw on my office door, I use my father's name. Morgan. What do you want?"
I just wanted to see the cold hearted harridan who paid my way while bankrupting my father and grndparents."
I did no such thing!"
"When your stipend ended when I graduated, the scandal you caused became a stain on my family name. I hope you die a painful, tortorous death and soon."
Williamm slammed her office door.
Glynnis died ironically a half decade later.
Though she was buried in the Morgan Mausoleum next to her father and mother, she didn't rest in peace. Her revenge on William was to leave him no inheritance. Her obituary was a scathing redoux of her earleir scandalous marriage and divorce.
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