Page 33 of Private Pleasures

“Look, Dad, I don’t want to know her, and I’ll never like her. Got it?” J. J. told his father. “I’m eighteen now. I won’t have to come to you every other weekend like some of my friends do with their parents. It’s over between us. You gave me life, but not much more. You never came to my games, or the plays I was in, or the mountain house.” He turned to Heidi Millar. “I hope you aren’t planning on kids, ma’am. He’s a lousy father.”

Heidi Millar’s cold gray eyes looked directly at J. J. “I don’t think you have the right to speak to your father like that. You obviously have no idea what a wonderful and talented man he is. You’re angry because he won’t pay for your schooling. Why should he pay for a boy who obviously has no respect for him? You, your sister, and your mother have lived off of Jeff’s hard work and generosity long enough. It’s past time you took care of yourselves.”

J. J. stood up. “So long, Dad,” he said.

Jeff stood up too, holding out his hand to his son. J. J. looked at the hand, laughed, and then turned away. Jeff Buckley’s face grew florid with his anger at the snub. “Your mother,” he snarled, “is obviously working very hard to turn you against me. It won’t help her to do it at all.”

J. J. turned, his fists clenched, to glare at his father, and it was then that Taylor Bradford stepped into the fray. He put his arm about the boy, murmuring as he did, “The man ain’t worth it, son. Go on with those two pretty girls waiting for you,” and he gently pushed J. J. in the direction of Lily and Mo. Then he turned back to Jeff Buckley. “I think you’ve just about worn out your welcome here today, sir. Why don’t you take the young lady and head back to town?”

“Who the hell are you?” Jeff demanded to know.

“Taylor Bradford of Bradford, South Carolina, sir. I’m planning on being Margo’s husband one of these days real soon. So as the patriarch of this family, I’m telling you to git.”

“Taylor Bradford of Bradford Industries?” Heidi said, and when he nodded she continued eagerly, smiling her best smile at him. “We’ve been trying to get your business, Mr. Bradford, for our agency, Buckley, Coutts and Wickham.”

“I don’t think I’d count on my business now, missy,” the older man said. “Your driver’s waiting.”

“I haven’t seen my daughter yet,” Jeff said stubbornly.

“You can say your heys on the way out.” Taylor Bradford smiled.

Heidi Millar stood up. “Come on, Jeff. This is already old, and I’m bored.” She took his arm and they moved off, but Jeff guided them to Nora, determined to have his say before he left.

Nora was sitting with her mother and daughter when Jeff approached. She stood, smiling weakly. “Going so soon?”

“You’re going to be sorry, Nora, for turning my son against me,” he growled at her. “I’m not going to forget this, and come Monday you’re going to wish you hadn’t done it, you embittered bitch.”

The look of surprise on Nora’s face was instant. “I didn’t turn J. J. against you. What happened?”

“He was rude to me, and Heidi,” Jeff said angrily.

“He was incredibly awful to his father,” Heidi Millar added. “He said the most terrible things. It’s no wonder Jeff is washing his hands of him!”

“My brother is a good kid,” Jill said, jumping up to defend her sibling. “He’s hurt because of what’s happened. You can’t blame him.”

“He’s a nasty little brat,” Heidi responded.

“Do you hate me, Jilly?” her father asked.

“Of course not, Daddy, and neither does J. J. I’m just upset that you are being so unfair to Mom. How is she supposed to live if you won’t pay her alimony, at least for a little while? And where is she supposed to live if you sell our house?”

“Jill!” Nora put a hand on her daughter’s arm, in a warning gesture.

“Your mother has a college degree. Let her get a job like everyone else these days,” Jeff said, ignoring his daughter’s query about the house.

“You just better be careful, Jill,” Heidi said. “If your father hadn’t already paid your tuition at Duke this year, you wouldn’t be going. And it’s the last time he’s going to pay for you. I hope you understand that.”

“Get out!” Nora said. Her eyes were filled with tears, which were beginning to spill down her cheeks. “Get out, Jeff, and please, don’t come back. And take that girl with you. I wanted you to come to J. J.’s graduation today. You’re his father. But you’ve spoiled the day for us all. I hope you’re satisfied.”

“You’ve gotten old and bitter, Nora,” he said cruelly.

“Jeff, you wanted a divorce. I said you could have one. But just bear this in mind—I will not let you have my house. Do you understand me? You will never have this house! If you want to start again, then do it all the way. Take a mortgage like all young couples do,” Nora sneered at him, the tears still pouring down her cheeks.

“You will get nothing from me, bitch! Nothing!” And then he spun about and dragged Heidi with him as he headed for the limo.

Nora was shaking with anger now, but she couldn’t stop crying. Taylor Bradford pushed a paper cup into her hand. Nora drank, and then began to cough. “It’s whiskey!” she gasped.

“Yep,” he agreed. “Nothing like a little drink to calm the nerves, honey.”