11. Grady - The Entertainer
Chapter eleven
Grady - The Entertainer
E die was suffering; it was obvious to me. We’d been through so much together that her quietness, the lack of sparkle in her eyes, and the laughter that usually rolled off her tongue made it too clear to me, yet I didn’t know how to help her. My heart was breaking. So many details needed to be completed, from returning Sean’s photography equipment to the large insurance company he worked for to trying to get some federal assistance to get on her feet. I tried to help take some of the pressure off of her but most of the legal issues were hers alone. Edie moved back to our hometown so I invited her and the girls for dinner often to give them a break and a change of scenery. They were living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment that Edie admitted was closing in on her. She was buried under the weight of all the agony they’d been through not knowing which way to turn. A couple of months after Sean’s death, as she was going through mounds of mail that accumulated each day, she noticed a postcard with a picture of the ocean, palm trees, and tropical flowers. Intrigued, she read:
Edie, you don’t know me but this is Grady
from the musical group The High-Tones.
I got your address from the venue where I
sang to you and watched that man drag
you outside. If you ever need a break, I’ll
give you the comfort you deserve and
treat you like the lady you are.
Call me. (213)- 766-2113 Grady.
There are lots of excuses that come to mind as I write this but Edie offered none of them that will change what she did or why. It was too soon, she felt she needed to respect Sean’s memory, she had to get her head cleared, determine how to secure her financial future for the girls, and most of all, she had a good idea of what she was getting herself into but, at this moment in her life, she didn’t give a crap. We talked about it and I hoped through waiting a few days her common sense would rise like yeast in a loaf of bread. She buried the card under a mountain of papers and distracted herself with chores and I was sure I didn’t have to worry about her leaving. I was mistaken; she was in a strange mindset and finally picked up the phone and said, “Let’s go, Grady!” My friend Edie was on to another phase of her life.
I knew she was still in love with Christopher so I questioned why she didn’t go to him or at least tell him about the accident. I believe it was fear that built the wall that kept her from Chris. When Sean died it felt like a punishment, not only for her but for Sean. Edie felt she was like a poison dart so getting close to Christopher again might, somewhere in the universe, set him up for tragedy and she couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to him because of her evil.
Her girls were safely secured with one of her best friends as the limo driver loaded her suitcase. She’d never been in a private jet so for this small-town girl, she was over the moon. I sucked in my breath when she said, “I know this is a nasty saying, Jenny but I can’t help myself. I’ve heard it all my life so I’ve decided to try it out. The best way to get over a man is to get under a new one, and that’s just what I intend to do”. I’m a small-town girl too, so when she told me about the mile-high club, I blushed, buried my head in my hands, and slugged down a shot of tequila and bit on my lime. That girl Edie is one of a kind. A five-day break was what she needed. I was anxious to hear the details if she would share with me. I sincerely hoped he would treat her like a lady. She deserved that after the hell she’d been through. Perhaps she could enjoy her good fortune and relax and not let herself feel ‘bought and paid for’.
California was beautiful and the view of the ocean comforted her. Edie did her best to bury her grief and refused to talk about what she had been through with Grady. There was no point and she didn’t want his sympathy or anyone else’s. Nothing would change the devastating facts. Edie was determined to leave the horror behind and soak in as much healing balm the palms, the ocean breeze, and Grady could bring her.
She and Grady ate the finest food, drank top-shelf liquor, and lay down naked in the most plush and expensive hotel in Santa Monica. He was gentle with a great sense of humor, friendly to everyone and he uplifted her spirits. He was proud to show her off to the thousands of fans who came to see the group and yes, she loved him in the moment and in her own unique way. I can’t say she was ‘in love’ with him, (there is a difference in my mind). A girl could get used to this but her life called to her. As she boarded that private jet to take her home, she was grateful for the experience and she would do her best to remember it for the positive effect it had on her instead of the guilt that always attempted to invade her life. As her friend, I could tell she seemed refreshed and a bit happier although she had lots of decisions to make regarding their future.
A month later Grady called and invited her on a Caribbean cruise. The group was playing on the ship and he assured her it would be fun. I didn’t like the idea of her meeting him again, but when did she ever listen to me? He made all the arrangements so she didn’t have to do anything but pack and walk up the steps of the private jet. Grady met the limo as it dropped her off at the pier. He was elated that she came and she was delighted with the experience.
The biggest boat she’d ever seen was her dad’s twenty-eight-foot fishing boat so everything about this five-day trip was amazing. She and Grady had the daytime free except for their rehearsal times so they explored several ports, and enjoyed their time together. She went to both of their shows each night and loved every minute of it. She never tired of their musical talent and Grady sang a special love song to her at each performance. He treated her like he belonged to her. He never seemed distracted by all the women who were vying for his attention.
I knew my friend carried some guilt but trying to justify her actions was pointless. She had to face her friend who had graciously let her girls stay with her family again, and she knew she would cock an eyebrow and insist on full details. She wasn’t good at detailing her sexual encounters but if she had to rate Grady on a scale of 1-10, with her limited experience, he would be a good firm 7. (Excuse the puns!) Not sure she could comply with all the details her friend tried to pry from her, but she must have done a fair job because she was crying with laughter at her good fortune. Edie was rejuvenated and I felt she had regained some self-worth. Somehow, she felt valued and not disposable. Grady kept in touch and invited her on several other trips all of which she declined. It was time for her to get on with her life. And just like that…Grady was gone.