More Than Love by Natasha Gregson Wagner

Author:Natasha Gregson Wagner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2020-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

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I think I knew my dad would not be single for long. How could he be? There were women all over the world chasing after him. After my mom died, wild-eyed women penciled their eyes with dark liner in an attempt to look like her. They would hand me their phone numbers to give to him, hopeful tears glistening in their eyes. It was Valentine’s Day 1982 when my dad told me that Tom Mankiewicz was “bringing over a friend.” Courtney and I were in the pool house playing on a new Pac-Man machine when Jill St. John walked in, a svelte, stylish woman in a burgundy cashmere turtleneck sweater. She introduced herself and brought us each a handcrafted folding fan made with purple feathers. Courtney and I exchanged glances. Why is this woman bringing us presents? Later, Daddy, Jill, Tom, and Katie went out to dinner. I was left behind wondering, Why can’t I come? I felt betrayed by Tom. He had been my mom’s close friend, and now he was bringing home a date for my dad. Where was his loyalty?

My dad told me that when they were little girls, my mom and Jill had been in ballet class together with Stefanie Powers. He showed me the black-and-white photo of the three of them clad in leotards, their smooth hair knotted at the backs of their heads. Baba had been friends with Jill’s mom and Stefanie’s mom. Even though there was this connection to my mother, I found it very hard to bond with Jill. She didn’t have children of her own and was not a naturally maternal woman. Jill had bright red hair held in place with hairspray. She wore tight cashmere sweaters and figure-hugging leather pants to show off her incredible body. My mom was an intimate person who would lounge around the house in her nightie or robe, her hair tied in a pony or hanging loose around her face. I loved to touch my mom’s soft hair or snuggle up in her lap. Jill was not that kind of a woman. My mom was a furry kitten, whereas Jill was a smooth-haired cheetah. I was intimidated by her.

My dad was in an impossible position, because he really liked Jill and he needed her to help him through losing our mom. He tried so hard to be sensitive to his kids, always struggling to bridge the gap between Jill and us. “Jill was thinking of you today,” he’d tell me and Courtney, “and bought you a present.” Or, over the phone, he’d say, “Jill’s right here, let me put her on so you can say hello.” We would roll our eyes. Please, let us end the call without you bringing Jill up again, we would think to ourselves.

Soon, Jill was around constantly. She traveled with us every time we took a trip and started spending all the holidays with us. It became clear that she was here to stay, so we better get comfortable with this new arrangement.

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