Chapter 23 - Pure Brandy, True Life
The next morning I dressed in a midnight blue lace blouse and
a snug leather mini while Kelly chose a cheerful ice-blue sundress.
We climbed up on our impossibly high heels and swayed arm-in-arm out
to meet Rocky who smiled in appreciation of our appearance. Kelly
readily confirmed the relationship Rocky and I had defined the night
before and we made plans for the day. Rocky was going to have to go
back to the Pacific Northwest so we took him to brunch on the way to
the airport. We laughed together at the envy in other men's eyes for
Rocky and at the envy in other women's eyes for our looks and our
massively masculine date. Finally we were at the airport, working to
maintain the cheerful mood and avoid a tearful good-bye. Kelly and I
placed matching lipstick marks on his cheeks before he went down the
jetway, the difference in our lipstick shades demonstrating that two
women had been involved, and I wondered who would be the first to let
him know about them.
I sold Ran's pickup truck and bought a wine-red 300ZX
convertible. That year I had to be Ran a couple of dozen times. The
next year it was four and the one after that I was only Ran on my
birthday when I went to renew my driver's license. Billie Jo's eyes
glinted with amusement as she helped me personally, but the amusement
now was not the coolness that promoted distance but a warm sharing of
our secret. My birthday present from Kelly was a complete laser hair
removal procedure for my face and body hair which eliminated the need
for me to shave. It was pretty expensive, but I never had to worry
about five-o'clock shadow again.
From somewhere Rocky obtained a Social Security card and
certified birth certificate made out to Brandy R. Dewinter (rich
people can accomplish amazing things) and I used these to become a
formal partner at Ran's investment firm. I pay taxes, for goodness
sake. The staff quit worrying about it after a few visits from Ran to
convince them he really wanted to work at home. My business keeps
expanding and I make a lot of money for my clients, though they think
my recluse brother does all the analysis. The word quickly got around
the up-scale men's clubs that Brandy Dewinter was the best investment
counselor around. I don't know if it's true but I don't think they
care as long as I give them lots of personal attention and they keep
making money. Rocky gradually moved more and more of his investments
to my firm, which gives us lots of good excuses to get together.
Kelly and I take a cruise on one of Rocky's ships two or three
times a year and he joins us when he can. We always have use of the
owner's cabin and wonderful care from the staff who really like
Rocky's ladies. I don't suppose it hurts his reputation to have two
beautiful women in his bed whenever we visit and while we sometimes
flirt with other men on the ship, our commitment to Rocky keeps
anything from going too far. I also meet him alone somewhere for a
long weekend every month or so which gives Kelly an opportunity to use
my absence for her own variety interests with Billie Jo.
We three ladies have become a hit at the restaurants and clubs
in the area. One year when Billie Jo's birthday rolled around we had
her handcuffed and up on stage at the stripper club, but she didn't
even try to play hard to get. Her burning hunger for the stripper
playing the cop was so powerful that every woman in the place must
have been flowing with juices. I know I didn't dare stand up for a
while. Kelly threatened us with all manner of dire consequences if we
ever do that to her but it's just a matter of time and she knows it.
Billie Jo and I are sure she really wants it but we're working on a
surprise approach. We may make Kelly a fake license and slip it in
her purse so we can get her a birthday show when she doesn't expect
it.
After a few months when we heard nothing from Dart Tanyon, I
figured he had left our life forever, until one year when I got a
photo Christmas card from a family I didn't recognize. A beaming,
portly man was surrounded by a nice-looking woman with light-brown
hair, a boy with a mischievous grin and a beautiful little girl with
long dark hair. Inside was a note.
"Dear Brandy, I wanted you to know that I turned my life
around after that night. I had never understood how ugly a thing a
bully is until then. Candy and I went away until the dye wore off and
somewhere during that time we realized that we ought to stay together
and we got married. I've never been happier. If you ever see that
big guy who helped you, tell him he was right. Thanks to you both."
It was signed, "Mr. and Mrs. Roger Tanyon, Dart and Brandy."
There was a post script as well. "By the way, we kept the
clothes. Candy thinks they're fun and I have to admit I do, too. Our
life is never dull. Thanks for opening my eyes to that particular
experience as well. Our best wishes will always be with you, Brandy,
the most beautiful lady we ever met."
I wonder if I should write to him with a terrific weight-loss
plan I know about.
THE END
