Tarnished Armor
Part 66
Chandler Mansion. The living room.
Adam and Junior are on the couch.
Adam: Really?
Junior: Oh, yeah. Every time there was a big splash, you made a face. Like this.
Junior makes a face like he’s just smelled something awful.
Adam: I’m sure you’re mistaken.
Junior: No way. Uncle Stuart kept laughing. And then we stopped in a small town, and you bought Liza a present. ‘Cause she was pretty mad at you.
Adam: What did I buy?
Junior: It was this statue of some lady and a baby.
Adam: I see. How’d it look?
Junior: Kinda green.
Adam: Ah.
Junior: And Uncle Stuart sent Marian a fish.
Adam: Sounds practical.
Junior: He wrapped it in ice. Dad?
Adam: Yes?
Junior: How long is the trial going to last?
Adam: The trial?
Junior: Some kids were talking about it at school.
Adam: I’m sorry, Junior. I really can’t talk about this.
Liza comes down the stairs.
Liza: Talk about what?
Junior: The trial.
Liza: Oh, let’s talk about something more interesting. How’d your meeting go?
Junior: Good. I was showing Dad what he looked like when we went white water rafting. Like this.
Junior makes the face again.
Liza: Ah, yes, I’ve seen that face before.
Junior: You have?
Liza: Oh, yeah. Your father does not like anchovies.
The doorbell rings.
Adam: I’ll get it.
Adam goes to the front door.
Liza: AJ?
Junior: Yeah?
Liza: Only try the anchovies thing when he’s in a very good mood.
Dixie and Adam enter the living room.
Junior: Hi, Mom!
Dixie: How was your afternoon?
Junior: Pretty good. We did a lot.
Dixie: Good. Wait a minute. Come over here.
Junior goes over to Dixie. Dixie fusses with Junior’s collar.
Dixie: What is this?
Junior: I don’t know.
Dixie: You don’t know?
Dixie sniffs the collar.
Dixie: Smells like chocolate to me. Have you been ruining your appetite? We have a special dinner tonight, you know.
Adam: It’s my fault. I gave him a small bowl of ice cream when he arrived. Junior mentioned the dinner, but I thought it was still early enough in the day for a snack.
Dixie: Really? Junior, could you wait for me in the car?
Junior: Are you going to yell at Dad?
Dixie: Junior.
Junior: Okay. Bye, Dad. Bye, Liza. Neat trick with Colby.
Liza laughs.
Junior leaves.
Dixie: Adam. You did it on purpose. You gave him that ice cream so he’d have no appetite for dinner.
Adam: That’s ridiculous.
Dixie: No, it’s not. I know how that conniving mind of yours works.
Liza: It was a bowl of ice cream, Dixie, not a four course meal.
Dixie: Keep out of this, Liza.
Liza: Oh, loosen up, Dixie.
Dixie: Loosen up? You’re a fine one to talk. Busy day for you, Liza? Ripping into my husband and then painting Adam lily-white?
Liza: I’m not going to discuss this with you.
Dixie: I have three words for you, Liza: Get over it. And Adam? If you ever raise a hand to my husband again, we’ll have to re-think these visits of Junior’s.
Adam: What?
Dixie: You heard me. How dare you.
Liza: How dare Adam? You’ve got a lot of nerve.
Dixie: Nerve? Me? No, Liza, you’ve got a lot of nerve. Preaching to me about forgiving and forgetting, and then attacking Tad for a heartfelt apology.
Liza: Save it, Mellie. I’m not in the mood.
Dixie: Liza, you do not want to pick a fight with me.
Liza: You’re right. I don’t. So can’t we drop this?
Adam: Good idea.
Liza: Dixie, I may have some issues with Tad. And I know we have our differences. But you and Adam share a child. So from now on, I’d like to keep things civil. For Junior’s sake.
Dixie: Civil as in what? As in Adam’s hands at Tad’s throat?
Liza: I’m sorry about that. And I’m sure Adam is too. Aren’t you, Adam?
Adam is silent for a moment.
Adam: Yes. I deeply regret what happened this afternoon.
Dixie: Why? Because it might have an effect on your visits with Junior?
Adam: Liza? Would you leave Dixie and me alone for a few minutes?
Liza: No, I’m --
Adam: Please.
Liza: All right.
Liza heads upstairs. When Adam is certain that Liza is gone, he turns to Dixie.
Adam: Dixie, I’m very sorry for what happened in Liza’s office today. But put yourself in my place for a moment. Do you have any idea what happened in court yesterday?
Dixie: I know exactly what happened in court. In fact, I was the one who suggested that Tad apologize to Liza.
Adam: Well, your intentions were noble, but your timing was bad. Remember your experience with Billy Clyde? Well, imagine what Liza must be going through. She’s never dealt with the rape, not in all the years that followed. She’s vulnerable and confused. She was left beaten and ashamed. And she buried it. So right now, even though it seems like it was many years ago, it’s like a fresh wound. And Tad was not exactly gentle with her.
Dixie: That’s not what I heard.
Adam: Well, maybe he began the conversation gently, but by the time I arrived, he was not listening to Liza. And the last thing she needed was a new experience where she had no control and was being pressured. Tad needed to back off, and he didn’t. This was not some casual argument between two old friends, Dixie. It was a confrontation between someone in a lot of pain and someone who had just attacked her verbally a few days before.
Dixie: That’s no excuse for your behavior.
Adam: Dixie, I’m not trying to get into an argument with you, but what was Tad’s reaction when he found you alone with Braden?
Dixie: Braden was a rapist, Adam. Tad is not. He’s kind and gentle.
Adam: I’m sorry, Dixie, but when I find the woman I love alone with a man, and she’s yelling at him about being raped and begging to be left alone, and that man refuses to leave, my protective instincts take over. I was wrong, but I’m asking you to try and understand. And I promise you that it will never happen again.
Dixie: Oh, Adam, you and your promises.
Adam: I know. I’m still a work in progress. But I’m trying.
Dixie: Well, you’ll have to try harder, Adam, if you want anyone to believe you.
Adam: Actually, Dixie, speaking of promises, I have something to ask you.
Dixie: This ought to be good. What?
Adam: Junior mentioned tonight that he thinks I’d rather spend time with Colby than with him. And that’s not true. He’s afraid that I love Colby more than I love him, and the last thing I want to do is hurt Junior. I know it’s a lot to ask, but could I spend some time with Junior this Saturday? Not the whole day, just the afternoon. I’m in court all week, and I don’t have much of a chance to see him.
Dixie: Honestly, Adam, you’re the only person I know who could go from hitting my husband to asking for time with Junior in a heartbeat. You might try changing your approach sometime.
Adam: Sorry about that.
Dixie is quiet for a moment.
Dixie: I’ll check with Tad. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, let’s keep Junior out of any fighting.
Adam: I completely agree. Dixie, you should know that Junior asked me about the trial today. Apparently some of the other children were talking about it at school.
Dixie: What did you say?
Adam: I said I couldn’t talk about it and changed the subject.
Dixie: Good. Keep it that way.
Dixie turns to go, and then turns back one last time.
Dixie: I’d ask you to give my regards to Liza, but I’d choke on it.
Dixie leaves.
Adam begins to make his way up the stairs.