Knocking on the door with the George Frankel, Owner plaque, Karl steps in uncertainly. Right behind him, Cindy follows him into the room. Vicky is already there; she looks like she has been crying.
George looks at Karl and then does a double take before motioning for he and Cindy to take their seats on either side of Vicky. Vicky reaches out to Karl, touching his soft, tanned arm and then gently taking his hand in hers. Karl looks over at Vicky uncertainly, suddenly even more nervous than before.
Looking down at the papers in front of him rather than at Karl, George sits silently trying to gather his wits. After an uncomfortable silence, he begins, Karl, this is not easy.
Thirty minutes later, Karl, Vicky, and Cindy emerge from the office, all with tissues in their hand and red puffy eyes. George, for his part, has kept it together, but is emotionally drained. Standing in the doorway, he sees Tank standing outside the office looking anxious. Tank looks back at George and then says quietly, Well, how did it go? George motions for him to follow him into the office and closes the door behind them.
Cindy looks at Karl and Vicky and says, Why do not you two take the rest of the day and figure out next steps? Vicky, you can take Karl to lunch and put the meal on your expense account. I know you have a lot to talk about. Karl, still with a stunned expression on his delicate face looks at Vicky. She nods at Karl and then turns to Cindy, Sounds like a good idea. Karl, let me get my files and we can meet in your office.
Ingrid, or Granny Ingrid to almost everyone who knows her, sits on her front porch with her morning cup of tea watching the neighbor kids waiting for the bus. This is her daily routine during the week. She sees the news and stories of children kidnapped off the street and now sits in her porch rocker every weekday watching to make sure that the little ones on her street get safely on the bus. It is not that she could do much if a dark van pulled up and men jumped out, but it makes her feel better, nevertheless, that she is there.
As the bus pulls away, her thoughts return, as they have several times a day recently, to her granddaughter Jeannie. Ingrid is worried that something is wrong with Jeannie and knows that, if she is right, it is related to the whole Karl thing.
When Jeannie's mother was killed thirteen years ago by an abusive husband, care of Jeannie fell to Ingrid. Suddenly, on the day Jeannie came to live with her, walking in with a little suitcase in one hand and her favorite doll in the other, the joy of being a doting grandmother changed for Ingrid to the burden of being a parent for the second time.
Jeannie was very withdrawn for several months after she came to stay. Ingrid did not ask many questions and Jeannie did not volunteer anything related to her prior home life. After a while, though, Jeannie realized that she was safe. She did not have to worry about an angry man coming into her room and spanking her in the middle of the night because of a toy left on the floor in the hallway or a dirty cereal bowl left on the table. That smell of bourbon that Jeannie had begun to believe was the house's natural odor was gone from her senses at Granny's little bungalow, and images of her mother with tears and bruises faded.
Eventually, Jeannie started to come out of her dark, lonely corner. She started to slowly open like a flower, and after about a year, Ingrid realized one day that Jeannie was actually happy.
She was mistrustful of men, especially bearded men, and on the few occasions where hard alcohol was around, she would appear to recede into the shadows. Overall, though, if you did not know her history, you would think Jeannie was a normal, well-adjusted little girl.
The biggest breakthrough for Jeannie came, though, when she met Lisa. They were in the same homeroom in the third grade, sitting two desks apart. One day, the boy behind Jeannie at the desk between her and Lisa started flicking Jeannie's long black hair with his pencil.
At first Jeannie did not react. The boy became frustrated at her lack of response and started kicking the back of her desk chair. It was really just the usual bad little boy antics, but, for Jeannie, it seemed like torture. Finally, Jeannie broke down in tears.
The boy pointed at her and laughed saying made you cry, my oh my in a sing song voice over and over again. The teacher, who had stepped out, came into the room moments later to find Jeannie crying and the little boy laying on his stomach, arm pinned behind his back, and Lisa sitting on him saying Do not you pick on her.
From that day forward, Lisa was an every day presence in Jeannie's life; sleepovers every weekend and play dates during the week. Granny Ingrid and Lisa's mother became great friends, with Lisa's mom viewing the older woman as something of a virtual sainted aunt. The relationships were positive for all four of them. As childhood evolved into adolescence and puberty kicked in, for Jeannie first, the relationship between Lisa and Jeannie had its highs and lows, but no matter what, they remained thick as thieves with the longest time without them speaking measured in days.
With Jeannie's early physical development, the roles switched somewhat with Lisa. Lisa had always been the confident tomboy protecting Jeannie. Now, Jeannie was the focus of attention as one of the first in their class to have breasts. Lisa, on the other hand still looked like a little girl and she stood a figurative step back from Jeannie. This new dynamic hurt Lisa's confidence somewhat as it was more than a year later before she finally began her far less dramatic change into womanhood.
Still though, the friendship remained. Through high school, working summer jobs around the beach, and then for the first year of college, Jeannie and Lisa did everything together. When it came time to move out, they naturally moved in together. At first it was in a small rental mobile home, but that proved to be in a less than desirable neighborhood, so Granny helped supplement their rental budget and they moved into their current apartment. Jeannie decided that college was not for her, at least right now, and took a job at the local book store. That job grew from stocking books to where she is now, managing the store and maintaining their used book website, specializing, no surprise, in books of the occult. This specialty was where most of their profits came. It also forced Jeannie into learning more about these books.
Around middle school, Jeannie realized that she was different. Though boys fawned over her for her looks, the boys thought she was the hottest girl in the school, she realized they did not interest her. She experimented with a couple of make-out dates with boys after a school dance or basketball game, but came home each time with no feelings or satisfaction.
It was during ninth grade that things came into focus for Jeannie. She met a girl one day in the library, and they struck up a conversation that was different than the ones she had with Lisa or her other few friends. Her name was Suzanne. That conversation turned into a short fling, and Jeannie, for the first time, felt passion for another person.
This relationship, kept totally private even from Lisa, went on for the rest of the spring. When Jeannie and Suzanne parted for the summer, they vowed their love for each other. But, it was not meant to be. That was the summer that Jeannie went with her grandmother to Europe.
Suzanne and Jeannie wrote letters, almost daily at first, but as the summer wore on, the frequency, length, and substance of their letters was reduced. For Jeannie, the heat was gone for Suzanne, but she felt another fire in its place. Jeannie realized as that fling ended and she spent those days away from home and from Lisa, that Suzanne was just a placeholder. The fire she really felt was for Lisa.
Jeannie knew that Lisa was only into boys. She fantasized and even had dreams that Lisa would come into her bedroom in the night and fulfill her desires, but it was just a fantasy. Once, right after they moved into the mobile home, they smoked a couple of joints given to them by the stoner next door. The two girls, inhibitions gone, had a passionate night together in Jeannie's bed. For that hazy moment in time, Jeannie was happy.
The next morning, though, Lisa was distant and Jeannie could tell she was bothered by what had happened. Jeannie was hurt. She tried to talk to Lisa about it, but Lisa demurred. Jeannie then worried that this evening of intimacy was going to drive them apart; a fate worse than death. However, the next day Lisa was back to normal around Jeannie and nothing more was ever said about their one night together.
This left Jeannie in a sort of purgatory. She realized she loved Lisa, loved loved Lisa, but also knew Lisa could never return that love. So, her only choices were to remain as friends, always knowing that is all they would ever be, or to end the friendship. The idea of ending her relationship with Lisa was an anathema. So, she was left with having the best friend in the world and nothing more.
When Karl came along, Jeannie was pleased for all of the right reasons. She was happy that Lisa was so happy. Seeing the person you care about more than anything smile with the joy that comes from being in love, Jeannie could not help but be pleased. But, as Karl was a presence in their lives more and more, Jeannie's Lisa time became shorter and shorter and her feelings regarding Karl started to sour.
She looked for flaws in Karl to subtly bring up to Lisa or would passive aggressively undermine his intentions. When the bistro incident happened, Jeannie was ready to drive a final wedge between them, but she had no plan for doing this and, when she saw how devastated Lisa was, relented and aided their reconciliation.
Seeing Karl the next time he came to the apartment, though, Jeannie flushed with anger, anger at herself. She had had a chance to get Lisa back to herself alone, but she took the high road and it appeared that, in the end, Karl was going to take her Lisa away. This fear was confirmed one day soon after when Karl pulled Jeannie aside and showed her a picture of the engagement ring he had picked out for Lisa. He was so excited and Jeannie felt her Lisa world, a world that she had lived in since third grade, coming to an end. Jeannie could not do anything in that moment, but vowed that if Karl ever slipped up, she would have a plan in place to make sure he was gone for good.
This vague plan to get rid of Karl brought into Jeannie's mind, for the first time since her summer in Europe, the idea of using her magical powers. Up until this time, Granny and the other witches had put the fear of goddesses in her head about misusing magic. They told her stories of witches that violated the coven vows and their resulting fates. The stories were effective and Jeannie had not dared try to use her gifts for fear she would cross the line.
But, if it meant getting Karl out of the way and Lisa back for good, she would be willing to take a chance. Within this loose idea of using her powers, were two unshakable tenets. First, she knew she could trust Granny to protect her, as she had all of her life, and not let any mistakes or magical overreaches hurt her. Second, if she did use her powers, there would be no half measures; Karl must be permanently out of Lisa's life with no chance of return.
The original plan Jeannie proposed that Friday night was simple. They would wipe Karl and Lisa's memories of each other. It would be as if they never met. When Jeannie put this idea to Granny and Artemis, it was explained to her that this was too far reaching and would damage both Lisa and Karl as there would be too many gaps in time.
You can sometimes alter memories, but you cannot just erase large blocks of time. Given the many hours and days Lisa and Karl were together, this made sense to Jeannie, though she was not entirely happy.
What followed between the three witches was a discussion about alternatives with them finally landing on turning Karl into a woman. This way, he could never use his masculinity to corrupt another woman and, knowing that Lisa had no interest in women, would make them incompatible. To make this work, the change had to be gradual, with time to let reality adjust to each alteration. Granny and Artemis laid out the change progression and estimated a two-week timeline. At the end of the two weeks, a final spell would effectively sever Karl and Lisa.
Jeannie accepted the plan, but she did not think it went far enough. Karl would end up an attractive and well adjusted woman while she, Jeannie, would be stuck, still unable to have Lisa love her.
No, if she was not going to be happy, neither was Karl. Jeannie knew this was selfish and counter to her vows, but there was so much acidic hatred for Karl and worry he might find a way back into Lisa's life, that logic and her commitments to her sister witches was set aside.
Granny Ingrid did not know all that was going on in Jeannie's head that Friday night at the coven and she did not know all that Jeannie had done altering the sanctified spells. If she knew, she would be mortified. Each spell Ingrid created and was sanctified by the coven was precise with a yin/yang balance between the change and its effect on reality.
By adding to or altering these spells, Jeannie is unknowingly throwing off the delicate balance and potentially causing far reaching effects. But Granny did suspect something was off. Jeannie had shut her out during this last ten days only talking to her by phone. And Jeannie did not sound right. Rather than her normal affectionate way, Jeannie was short-tempered with her and seemed distracted. Now, sitting on the porch, she contemplated what to do. If she waited until Saturday, then it might be too late to help Jeannie. If casting the spells was having an effect on Jeannie, then those effects would probably only grow worse. It never entered her mind that Jeannie was meddling with the magic. Her only worry was that the energy required to cast the spells was taking a toll. Sometimes love is blind.
The envelope George found that morning had been slipped under his door on Friday after he went home. It was from Vicky; it was her letter of resignation. The breakup with her fiance had prompted her to take a hard look at her goals and where she was in her life. Talking to a college friend the previous week, Vicky found out that a real estate company in Jacksonville was looking for a project manager.
Vicky had done two Zoom interviews with their human resources department and the vice president over the hiring area and had been offered the position. The salary was a little more than what she was currently making, but the idea of getting a fresh start was really the reason for accepting the job.
She told the new company that she wanted to give the Frankels at least two weeks notice. She wanted to be sure they could find a replacement before she left them, especially with the new promotional campaign just starting up.
Vicky made the decision to leave Fortis Resort Services and Fortis Beach itself the previous Wednesday. The reason she decided to slip the resignation letter under the door Friday like a coward rather than delivering it herself or having a conversation with the Frankels earlier was that she was so conflicted.
Cindy and George had been great to her, first as employers and then as supportive friends. Leaving Fortis Resort Services felt like a betrayal, but, at the same time, she knew it was the right decision for her.
Friday afternoon, just after George left, Vicky stood outside his locked door with the envelope in hand. She argued with herself for several seconds but finally just bent down and slid it under the door. Immediately after, part of her wanted to break in and retrieve the letter, but the logical and rational part prevailed and she just went home. Over the weekend, she continued to wrestle with herself about this decision. When she got the email from George early Monday morning, she knew he had read the letter. Her only question was why George wanted to see both her and Karl together.
As sad as George and Cindy were to see Vicky go, her departure created an opening, an opening that Karl could fill. There was only one catch: Karl could not take the job because if Zachary Stone found out he was still working for George, there is no doubt that he would follow through with his threats. The good news was that Zachary had not heard correctly or had not remembered Karl's name. He had referred to Karl as Craig Simpson, well, actually as Craigina Simpson.
George had no idea how to approach Karl with his idea, but fate was smiling on him that day. When Vicky came to see him that morning, going into George's office with Cindy and telling them about her conversation with Karl earlier, George was dumbfounded. After listening to Vicky describe Karl's hair and piercings, he sheepishly asked, Do you think he would take your job and pretend to be a female?
It was Cindy who answered, smiling a wry, knowing smile and saying, You do know what Karl looks like, right? If he has done the things Vicky said to his hair and eyebrows and pierced his ears and nose, I do not think pretending to be female will be a problem. He was barely hanging onto any maleness as it is. We do need to be careful, though, for a couple of reasons.
First, we do not want to hurt Karl. He is taking a brave step by changing his look this way. We need to support his decision and be respectful of his feelings. Second, we need to be aware of the legal ramifications of our plan. We are asking an employee to pretend to be the opposite sex. I do not know of any legal precedent for something like this, but we need to make sure Karl is completely on board with this idea.
Vicky interjects, I do know Karl has male pride, despite everything we see. Losing Lisa has seriously damaged his psyche. I think what he did this weekend at the salon was a direct reaction to his emotional state. Otherwise, why would he do something like this now? I know to us, Karl is essentially a woman, but to him, he is still all man, well, mostly man. Eyes welling up a little, Vicky says, I really am worried about him.
Cindy then stands up, looking at the time, and then putting her hand on Vicky's shoulder. He should be here any minute. I will wait at my desk until he gets in.
A few minutes later Cindy hears high-heeled shoes coming down the hall. She knows it is Karl, but is not prepared for what she sees. The Karl that approaches her desk on the way to his office was not just female in appearance. Cindy forces a normal wave as he passes and smiles, but inside her head, Cindy is reeling.
This Karl was a walking advertisement for youthful femininity. After he passes by, Cindy mouths an exaggerated silent, Wow. Karl is hot. She thinks to herself, How can someone be that overtly female and yet remain male? How can that even happen? She shakes her head in wonder with a nagging thought just out of reach.
Cindy walks into George's office right behind Karl. She wants to see George's reaction to Karl, and she is not disappointed. Even Vicky's jaw drops seeing Karl as she wipes away a tear. After taking a seat, there is a long silence while everyone gathers themselves, and George begins stumbling through Vicky's resignation, the idea of moving Karl to Vicky's position, and what that would entail. Karl, this is not easy.
George says, I know this next part is a strange request and a lot to take in. So do not feel like you need to answer right now, glancing over at Cindy and receiving a nod. I want you to know that Cindy and I have been thinking about a future promotion for you. Vicky's departure only accelerates that timeline. However, there is something you need to think about and be honest with us about before we do anything.
Taking Vicky's position means two things for you. First, you would obviously no longer be working in the field with your crew. Your role as sales person would mean seeing clients before we contract with them, while work is under way, and then afterwards as needed. You would be the face of Fortis Resort Services in the same way Vicky has been.
George takes a long pause, looking at both Vicky and Cindy before continuing. Second, and this is awkward to say, but I hope I can get it out without making a mess of it. Since you came to work here, your presence has been a positive influence on all of us. You are energetic and cheerful, hard working and determined. However, there are certain aspects of your of your George stumbles so Cindy inserts style and then George continues, Yes, style, that makes things more difficult. George is by now breaking out in flop sweat.
So, in order to make the transition to George immediately regrets the choice of words. Sorry, the move to sales, we need to ask you if you can make a further change in your, what was it? Oh, yes, style. Poor George is now officially rattled, a state the usually calm owner of the company is almost never in. Looking over at Cindy with a pleading look, she picks up the discussion.
What George is trying to ask is would you be willing to present yourself as a female while you are working here? There is no question that you can be accepted as a female, if you choose, but we want to be sure you are comfortable with playing the role while representing us. Even Cindy's mouth was starting to go dry. Looking at Karl as she spoke, he is inscrutable.
Then, it is Vicky's turn to row the boat. Look, Karl, you know Cindy and George and you know me. No one would ask you to do something that you are uncomfortable with. Though we talked briefly before you got here about this idea, I do not think we talked about all of our options. So, if George and Cindy will permit me, can I offer a suggestion?
Seeing doe eyed nods from both of the Frankels, Vicky continues saying, Why do we not do this on a trial basis for a week or so. I am going to stay with the company until you are comfortable in the position, and that means both comfortable in doing the work and comfortable in your new.
Karl then speaks for the first time, with a wan smile and big tears rolling down his cheek, Style.
All four burst out in a quick patter of laughter, the awkwardness of the discussion suddenly a little less tense. All eyes now on Karl's attractive face, he says nothing more for several seconds. Then, taking a short raspy breath he starts in softly. Um, you guys know what has been happening to me these last couple of weeks. You all know and love Lisa, too, and understand that losing her has been devastating. I made a mistake this weekend, Karl pointing at his face and touching his hair. And that mistake is unfortunately bound to affect how I do my job. Vicky was so sweet, Karl touches her arm again, to run interference for me today so you would not be surprised at my new style. I did not know what to expect when I came in, but I can tell you that your idea was nowhere in my thinking. And you are right, George, Mister Frankel, this is a lot to think about. Cindy and George continue to look at Karl, waiting for him to continue. Finally, he asks sheepishly, Can I take a day or two to figure this out?
Cindy says, Sure Karl, take the time you need. I like Vicky's idea about doing this as a trial and we can ease into that trial whenever you are ready.
Vicky smiles, glad that her suggestion is acceptable. Okay, Karl, let us start off by going through my duties. I will walk you through a sales pitch, contract scenarios, and also run through some of the job follow ups I do during and after the site work. We do not have to get into the other aspects of our discussion today.
Tank sits down at George's desk waiting for the older man to speak. Finally, George says, I think Karl will do it. No guarantees yet, but he did not say no and looking at him George trails off. Anyway, you are now officially the crew boss. I trust you can deal with Karl as his friend. I honestly cannot see him begrudging you the move.
Tank, exhaling for the first time since he walked in, says, Thanks Mister Frankel for the opportunity. I will not let you down, sir. If I can suggest, could we move Juan up to crew lead? He is ready.
George nods. Of course. Juan has been with us longer than anyone else on the crew. He deserves the opportunity. I will let him know when he gets in. Given today's discussions, I had not even put much thought into your replacement. I am glad you did. Also, feel free to get with Cindy to put out a job posting to replace Juan on the crew itself.
Tank nods. Will do, Mister Frankel. As for Karl, yes, I will talk to him. We go way back. I have had his back since we were kids and the bullies would pick on him. He is small, but tough. And I know he will be happy for me, too. And do not worry, I will never tell him about Zachary Stone, that jerk. It will stay between us. Karl does not need to know, especially if he goes along with your proposal.
Standing up, George reaches out to Tank and says, Congratulations crew chief and call me George.
Vicky enters Karl's office. Both are still emotionally charged and, even though it is barely nine in the morning, feel like they have been through the wringer. Vicky decides that she might as well pull Karl into the deep end and puts down copies of sales pitches from the last few months. Dunes Bay was a particularly interesting project. I know you remember that weird sea wall.
Karl cuts her off. Can I do it, Vicky? Can I act like a woman full-time? I know what I look like, but I still feel like I always have. I am a man, damn it. Putting his head in his hands, he fights back tears again.
Vicky thinks, so we are going straight there, are we? Giving Karl a chance to compose himself, she says compassionately, Honestly, I know you can, Karl. And once you decide to, I do not even think it will be that hard for you. I know you are a guy and you know you are a guy. Tank and the Frankels know, too. Nothing is going to change there.
Yes it will, Karl says slowly. They will forget Karl is a man. I will have to act like like Karli all the time. I just do not know if I can do it, can live like that.
Vicky decides that compassion is not really working, so decides to try a different sales technique. Assuming a business like tone she says, Okay, you have a problem. And you have a solution to that problem in front of you and it is a solution that will make you more money, right? This is not rocket science, Karl. Look at you. You came in today like someone walking out of a fashion magazine. You are Karli. Not only can you do this, you are doing it. Put your male ego aside and embrace it.
Karl, taken aback by Vicky's tone and forcefulness, looks up with eyes filled and meekly says, Yes, ma'am.
Vicky reaches out to Karl and says, Come here. They embrace there standing by Karl's desk, Vicky running her hand up and down Karl's back, feeling the bra and top of his camisole under the blouse. Karl feels Vicky's large breasts pressing directly into his own small A plus cup chest. He notes a surge of heat and pressure under his gaff. Despite the emotions, another feeling, a feeling of desire, comes over him.
As the embrace ends and they stand, hands on each other's shoulders, Karl looks directly into Vicky's eyes. He wants to kiss her. He wants to show her how much he appreciates her helping him. He wants to pleasure her. A small bead of sweat forms at Karl's hairline and a deep hard breath escapes him as he resists the sensations.
Vicky says, Well, Karl, what do you want to do? Karl, still breathing heavily, thinks, I cannot tell you what I really want to do, but then actually says breathlessly, Call me Karli.
Vicky smiles and an idea pops into her head. Let me go talk to Cindy for a minute. Do not go anywhere. Be right back.
As Vicky leaves, Karli sits back down, another log having been placed on the emotional blaze that is her morning. Where did that come from? Vicky is a friend.
Vicky returns to the office with an arm behind her back. Got a surprise for you. She reaches out to Karli handing her a plastic credit card. It is the company purchase card. I talked to Cindy. You are getting a bonus and we are going shopping for you on the company. Grab your purse and let us go spend some of George's money.
Arriving back at Karli's apartment a little after five in the afternoon, Karli and Vicky make three trips to Karli's car bringing in what they had bought. The two thousand dollars spent on new wardrobe was a bit over what Vicky had asked Cindy to authorize, but she knew it would be okay.
For Karli's part, she felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman buying clothes. She could even hear Roy Orbison's tune echoing in her head as they visited the Fortis Beach shopping district and bought clothes, shoes, underwear, makeup, jewelry, everything a hot young sales executive might need, a hot young female sales executive that is. Karli was almost giddy. She had never had a day like this. It was heady and, for the time being, put out of her mind the big change she had just committed to making. She was with Vicky, her protector and confidant. Things would be okay.
As Karli puts away the new clothes, throwing some of Karl's manly clothes on the bed to later donate, Vicky opens a bottle of champagne to celebrate Karli's entrance into the working world. As the cork pops, there is a knock on the door. Karli yells from the bedroom, Can you see who it is, Vicky? I will be right out.
Vicky looks through the peephole and sees something gold on the other side. As the object shifts, she can see what it is. It is a gold shield that reads Deputy Sheriff, Fortis County.