Gone To Texas
happyhugo
Romance
18,300 words
Copyright (c) 09/03/10
Readers score 7.64
Pete comes home after three months of working
on an oil platform. His mother meets him instead
of Betty, his wife. Will his wife be with him when
he heads back to Texas in six weeks? Hardly!
Chapter One
I’d been working on an oil rig out in the Gulf of Mexico several years, but this year I was out off the Pacific Coast. I hated it. Last year I was able to get off the platform and see my wife every three weeks, but arranging travel home was more difficult from where I was now. I signed up for ten-week clips and stayed on the rig the whole time. Now I was flying into Biloxi and headed for home. I had cleaned up just before getting on the plane and was hoping Betty wouldn’t be too turned off and would fool around just a little in the airport parking lot seeing as it was nighttime.
Instead of my wife meeting me, I came out and there was my Mom waiting, and I could tell there were tears about ready to fall. She rushed up and hugged me. “Pete, there is a man waiting for you. He has some papers to give you and then I will explain.”
“Peter Roydon, 502 Magnolia Avenue, Biloxi?”
“That’s me. What’s this all about?”
“You have been served. Thank you Mrs. Roydon, for pointing out your son to me. Goodnight.” He waved and walked off. I stood there with a brown paper 9x12 envelope in my hands.
“What is this, Mom?”
“Divorce papers. Elizabeth has left you. I don’t know much except what she has told me. Your house has been sold. She had your power of attorney for that because she deemed your work was high risk and you agreed. I have at home an envelope with an accounting of the assets you and she have. She claims she has treated you fairly. I also have a letter explaining why she has done this to you. I imagine she has all of the t’s crossed. She’s a lawyer, so why wouldn’t she?”
“From what you say, I’m sure she has. I never had a clue. We talked by e-mail just about every night. That’s why we both have laptops. Well I’ll find her and get this straightened out. Where is she now?”
“I have no idea. She left eight days ago. I promised her I wouldn’t call you because she said you might get depressed and jump off the platform.”
“I don’t think I would have, but thanks for the thought. You know me better than that. Well, there goes a few years down the tube. How long does this take to become finalized?”
“Six months, I think. No one ever got divorced in our family before.”
“How about Nancy and George? Have you talked to them?”
“I called them, but they wouldn’t talk about this at all. I think they are very upset with Betty, but she is their daughter.”
“Guess you’re right.”
“Come along home. You’ll be staying with your dad and me until you get another place to live.”
“The house really has been sold? That was fast.”
“We didn’t know it, but Betty had it on the market less than ten days after you left last time.” I turned silent and Mom respected it. We drove by my old home and there were lights on with a strange car in the yard. The garage door was open and the lights on inside. I could see kids’ toys scattered around the floor. No doubt about it, this wasn’t my home anymore.
“Where’s all of my stuff? She couldn’t have taken that with her.”
“It is all stored over in Bakers Storage Warehouse. We have the key. We went over after we received it and found out she had paid a year’s rent in advance.”
I could believe everything I was hearing. Betty was the most organized person I had ever known. When she made a decision, she went forward and carried it out, leaving no loose ends at all. This made her an exceptional lawyer and she knew she would advance up the corporate ladder. She had wanted to become a partner in four years, and I knew she would have to pay a premium for it. But still, she must be where she wanted to be.
I wondered how long she had worked on this, if that was her plan. Get settled and then get rid of me. Her parents paid for her college, but I had paid for most of her three years in law school. I’d take that up with a lawyer of my own. I had three weeks to get this settled before I had to return to the oil rig platform.
Right now I was too damned tired to think about my personal life. I had slept some on the plane, but there had been a lot of turbulence and I didn’t particularly enjoy flying. I didn’t mind being out in the ocean miles from land, but up in the air, not so much.
I tossed the papers the process server had given me on the sideboard and saw some more there with my name on them. I hesitated and then told Dad I was going to shower and go to bed. Dad was concerned. “You all right, Son?”
“Don’t know, Dad. Don’t have enough information yet. I’ll look at things in the morning. Mix me a big rum and coke. I’ll down that and maybe I can sleep and not think about this.” I was good at putting things off. I mean, when you are miles from shore and weeks from everything and everyone, you get into that habit.
In the morning I awoke and lay there in bed thinking. Betty. Well, we had a strange marriage in some ways, but I never anticipated the divorce. I mean, we were apart almost as much as we were together and lately more. I never doubted her love for me before this. I met her in college and we dated. Before we graduated we were married. I had concentrated on learning all I could about energy and how it was produced. The industry was waiting for me and I was recruited by the present oil company before I received my diploma.
Betty wanted to go on to be an attorney. Her folks had given her the basic education and it was up to her husband to pay if she wanted more. After all, it would be for the benefit of both. The company I worked for had both land and ocean rigs. Those on the sea paid considerably more. “Pete, if you could make more money out there, it makes more sense than to be on land.”
“But I would be away from you weeks and months at a time.”
“Yes, but we would both be working toward the same goal. I’ll be a good lawyer, I know I will. I’ll make you so proud of me and it won’t be forever.”
Three years we lived like this. She studied hard and her marks were exceptional. When I would come off the rig, we’d spend a day catching up. There was never much extra money. All I had was a battered old Ford pickup and she drove a five- year-old foreign vehicle. Hopefully she wouldn’t have any studying and we would be able to do things as man and wife.
She too was recruited before graduation by a firm that was the most prestigious in the city. Nothing was said about changing the way we had been living. I did enjoy what I was doing and when buying a house was mentioned, we had a new goal. With Betty employed now, we planned more enjoyable things to do when I was at home. Life was damned good while at home and there was always the carrot held before me of how things were to be when we reached our next goal.
The house we purchased was a four-bedroom, three-bath, much bigger, and in a more upscale neighborhood than either of our parents’ homes. It was expensive to maintain as well. When spring came in our eighth year of marriage, I was transferred out to the west coast. Things weren’t going quite so smoothly because we were apart longer and Betty was often on a case that demanded her time when I did get home.
Our home, I loved it and I didn’t need sea legs. It was a luxury that was denied me for too much of my present life. I did sometimes feel as if I was a stranger in it. Occasionally Betty would have a get-together or party while I was home. I resented these somewhat, because I wanted my wife to myself and felt I deserved her full attention. After the third time at the latest party, I mentioned it to Betty and she did schedule her next one when I was at sea.
I wasn’t comfortable with the lawyer types that attended either. I don’t think they had reason to, but I was considered a roughneck. Maybe because I was out in the weather all the time. My skin was almost a mahogany hue from the elements and I was basically a quiet person.
I mentioned this to Betty as well. “You intimidate the people I work with. You are so big and rugged looking, they know you could snap them in two if you had reason to. You’re my guardian whether you are with me or not. If anyone comes on to me, they soon get told what my husband is like and that’s the end of it.”
“Do you get hit on often?”
“All the time, Pete. Look at me. I’m tall and good looking, and yes, I have a good figure I’m proud of, and it is all for you. I have built a confident persona and it helps me win cases in court. I couldn’t be where I am without you. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m yours and yours alone for all of my life.” That conversation took place approximately six months ago.
Now downstairs were divorce papers. Something must have happened to radically change her mind. Did she fall in love with someone she worked with? If she had’ she must have known at the time she said she was mine forever. Was she knowingly lying to me? Could I live without Elizabeth? Of course I could. I just wouldn’t have anything to look forward to when I came off the platform, that was all. I let my mind drift over the months of the last year. If you counted all the time I had spent at home with my wife, it might total three months. This was no way to live.
I suspected though, from what Mom said, it was too late to save my marriage. What about her work? She absolutely loved what she was doing. No, she might divorce me, but she would never give that up. Well, millions of people were divorced every year, so I was just a number now. I got out of bed to look at the paperwork. I would soon be single. My life would change, but how much? Not too much. I would just have to fill in the three months I had every year with Betty. I’ll bet someone would be willing.
The papers were standard for a suit of divorce and dissolution of marriage through the courts. Irreconcilable differences. I’d go with that. Really, that said it all, even though in this case we hadn’t talked about divorcing. I opened the letter that was enclosed in another large flat envelope. It was thin, so I knew it didn’t hold much, but I could see a photograph that didn’t come out when I shook out the letter. I didn’t think I wanted to see it.
Betty was being blackmailed and I was going after the bastard who did it. That was my first thought. I opened the note. Pete, I know this is a surprise to you. You will just have to get over it and me. You see I am pregnant by another man. This is an intolerable situation for both you and me. Out of respect for you, I’m suing for a divorce. I will be married as soon as our divorce becomes final and my new husband will take care of both me and the baby.
My mind is made up that this is the best way to resolve this situation. Please don’t seek retribution on the man who is to marry me. He really is a kind person and I will come to love him for taking care of the baby.
Another sheet of the letter listed all of our assets and how they were to be divided. The sale of the real estate, Betty had listed in my column. Also she had included the sum of $30,000. A line at the end of the accounting had this for an explanation. $30,000, amount Peter Roydon contributed to pay for one Elizabeth Roydon to attend law school.
This was about a third of the total cost and I knew Betty had about the same amount left to pay for her education loan. She had divided the cost in thirds, she picking up one third, giving me one third and would pay off the balance of the student loan herself. Fair enough. I looked at the photograph. It was a 7x9 glossy showing Betty laying in bed beside a man. Both were covered, although Betty was looking into the camera. The man, I couldn’t make out who he was, because his head was turned away. He had some gray hair, giving me the clue he was older than we were.
I was coming out of this pretty damned well. The only thing I didn’t have was Betty. She would be missed, and I didn’t kid myself that I wouldn’t miss her. I signed the papers and put them into the postage paid envelop provided. “Hand this to the mailman when he comes by, would you Mom? Let me have the key to the storage facility and I’ll go see what I have left.”
“You’re not going to try to talk to your wife?”
“What’s the point? I was thinking it has been almost three months since I left the last time. It will just make me angry if I see her now. She wants things to play out the way she has planned. Besides I would hate to upset a pregnant woman.”
“She is pregnant?”
“So she says. I got a bunch of bullshit about how she respects me too much to do other than divorce me.”
“You have done an awful lot for her and maybe she does respect you enough to leave this way. How much is this divorce going to cost you?”
“Nothing. In fact, if she pays all of the bills we have still owing, it will be split with 70 percent for me and 30 percent for her. She must have a terrible feeling of guilt or she sold herself to further her career.”
“Don’t be bitter, Pete. She has left you and it hasn’t cost you anything.”
“No Mom, I think it has. I feel as if I have a hole ripped in my heart, but I know it will heal, so I’ll get on with my life and chalk it all up to a bad experience.”
I was supposed to return to the West Coast in three weeks. I didn’t want to go out on the oil platform so soon. I had to get over this. This was the first time I had ever missed my schedule, but what the hell, I called and said I had a family crisis. I was granted three extra weeks.
Betty hadn’t just made the accounting, she made it easy for me by making the distribution ahead of the divorce.
There was nothing to hold me here and truth be told I really didn’t need the extra money that working on the platform brought either. I looked around my folks’ house, I hadn’t lived here for a long time. I knew they loved me, but I didn’t think they would be comfortable having me for a long-term guest.
There was a little town not far out of the city. It had a nice park in the center and only a couple of fast food restaurants. There were a couple of barrooms that looked as if they hadn’t changed hands in ages. The diner opened early for breakfast, had local patronage for lunch, and catered to families in the evening. I used to go up there and hang out in one of them when Betty had a case she was working on.
The homes were mostly occupied by people who worked here in the city. Kind of like a bedroom community. Maybe I could find a house that was for sale. When I drove out of the city I drove by Betty’s parents’ house. There was a small Cadillac with paper plates parked in the driveway. Betty was losing no time in trading up or maybe her parents’ had struck it rich, I didn’t know which.
It burned me a little to think she was confident in doing this so soon after I had received the papers. It was as if she would know exactly how I would react. Well why wouldn’t she, she had lived with me long enough.
I parked at the diner and ordered a sandwich of pulled pork. I sat at the window where I could look out. When the waitress came over, she asked me what I wanted to drink and I said if it was something cold and wet, I’d try it. It was almost noon and the locals were coming in. One of the cars was parked where I could see a sign on the vehicle door. “Hometown Realty, Rawson Proctor owner.”
Two men came in, one younger, and the other apparently the owner or manager. With them was a young woman with a logo on her blouse, saying Hometown Realty. I finished my sandwich and beer and stopped at their table. “You got some listings I could look at?”
The older man looked up from his meal. “Gail, go get the man our book out of the car. Hell, take him to the office, you can eat later.”
“But Pa, I’m hungry.”
“Go girl, who knows this man might be buying and you don’t want to lose him. Go!”
“I’m in no hurry, so finish your lunch.” The woman wasn’t about to disobey her father. She ended up with a doggie bag and we proceeded out the door. She looked around and her heart sank when she saw my old beat up pickup.
“Don’t mind the truck, it won’t fall apart. You should see my other car, it’s a junk.” I paused to see how she would take my attempt at humor. I was flashed a glance and she saw I was smiling. “Seriously, Sunshine, I do have enough money to buy property if I see something I want. What are houses going for, generally?”
“Anywhere from $55,000 to $125,000. The agency owns some of these we have listed. Anything over that, Pa would have to show you. You got a limit?”
“Well, I’m just looking for a place to lay my weary head off and on. I won’t be here all that much. Say we start at what you have listed for around $75,000. I’m soon to be single, so nothing fancy.”
The third house Gail took me to was a two-bedroom on a quiet street. It had a semi-detached garage and a third of an acre in back that was at one time lawn, but now was overgrown with weeds. It was a sturdy stucco with an almost new roof. I liked it because it was empty and immediately available. There was another next to this one that was for sale as well, but would not be available for a month. “The woman who lives there now is being evicted. Sad really. She has one little girl and lost her husband in the military.”
I thought to myself, another tragedy, just like being divorced by a cheating wife. “I like this house. The price is $89,900. I’ll make an offer of $80,000. Call your Pa and see how long before I can find out if it is accepted. I’m not going to be in town very long.”
“Can you put a binder on it? Pa would push this right along if you did.”
“Sure can Sunshine, in fact I’ll use my credit card. My limit is high enough to stand it.” We drove back to the office and did the paperwork. The minute I signed and the card was swiped, Gail got on the phone to her Pa. I ended up buying the house for $81,500.
I suspected the house was owned by the Realty Company because of a slip of something said early on in our negotiations. That made me hang tough and yet wind up owning the house before I sat down with my folks for the evening meal.
I had left one happy real estate salesperson behind me. I was the first client she had been able to sell a house to. The last thing she said was that she would have the electricity turned on now that she had the information.
I was back the next day, looking over my purchase. I was going to get a brush cutter for the back yard or hire it cleaned off. The agency had kept the front yard mowed, and I would have to get a lawn mower. Tomorrow I was going to bring a bed from storage if my father would help me. Then I could move in anytime. I saw the lady from next door leave, heading toward where I knew the park was located. It would be quite a walk for the little girl with her. A young child, maybe three or four.
I was pretty damned tickled with my home. The one I owned before was always more Betty’s than mine. This one I had pride of possession in and I hadn’t done it under the direction of her either. I tried fast food today. Afterward I drifted over to the park where I knew there was an ice cream wagon. I wasn’t sure, but I sat down on a park bench beside the woman who lived next to me. The child was begging for a cone, but her mother was having to deny her.
“Hi, I think I saw you come out of the house next to one I just bought. My name is Pete Roydon.”
“I did see the Realtor lady there. They own the house I’m renting. I’m leaving in a couple of weeks.”
“That’s too bad. I just get to meet you and you’re leaving.”
“Yes, I am moving away. I have to find a job somewhere.”
“Mommy, please can’t I?”
“I told you no. We don’t have an extra dollar. I’m sorry.”
The girl was younger than I thought, maybe just barely four. “What’s your name, little one?” I guess I scared her a little, for she wouldn’t answer. I tried a different tack. “I’m your new neighbor and I’m going to be seeing you occasionally. I stopped here to get an ice cream cone. Would you ask your mother to join me in having one? What kind do you like? I bet you like sprinkles on yours, don’t you?” Her little head was bobbing up and down.
“Mommy, can we? The man said he would pay and then we all can have one. Please?”
“Okay, all right we’ll join you. I hate to deny Sandy, but there is never enough money for her every time she wants one. I haven’t had a cone in quite some time myself.”
We got our confections and returned to the bench to sit down. I think I made both mother and daughter happy. “This would be about the time you told me your name, isn’t it?”
“It is Rain Tuttle. Don’t laugh at my name. My dad was a great joker and it was raining the day I was born. He put Rain on the birth certificate and mother said okay Pa, you named her and she will have to live with it. I hope she doesn’t hate you for it.
“I haven’t. My only regret is he didn’t live long enough to be a joker around Sandy. She would have loved him as much as I do. He worked in a coal mine in the hills of West Virginia and that can tell you how he died. Mom died shortly after him. Broken heart, although no one would believe it.”
“May I call you Rainy?”
“Sure, after buying me this cone, you can call me anything you want to.”
“I take it you are up against it?” I was afraid I had been too personal, for Rainy just stared at me. “I’m asking because I’ll be moving furniture into my house tomorrow and I need someone to arrange it for me. I’d like to hire you. If you are working, maybe I can get you to help me in the evening.”
There was no hesitation now. “I’d love to earn a little money and I am up against it. I have nothing and I have to rent furnished and that costs extra. I don’t have a car so I can’t get a job too far away even if I found one. Also, I don’t let just anyone take care of Sandy. She is all I have left of my husband. That and some wonderful memories of him. I said I was moving, when actually I’m being evicted, because I can’t pay my rent.”
“Well, I’d be glad to hire you to put the house in order. The windows need washing and there is any number of things that need doing. Why don’t you ride back with me and see what you need for cleaning stuff? You tell me what you need and I’ll get it on the way here in the morning. My father will be with me, I hope, to help move in a bed.”
“You are from the city?”
“Yeah, all my life. I’m not around much. I work for an oil company off the West Coast. That may change after I finish this year’s contract. That’s up in October.”
“I take it you’re not married, but have been. You have a white ring on your finger.”
“The ring has been off only three days. I took it off when I was served. On paper I’m still married, and someday I suppose, I will be informed I’m not.”
“Why did she have you served?”
“I have no idea. She did something. Well she must have cheated on me because she said she was pregnant and it isn’t mine. We could have talked about it and I possibly would have lived with it under certain conditions. That’s what hurts the most, not talking about it. But then, that is Betty all the way. Decide what to do and then do it. That has been our whole life.”
“For instance?”
“She wanted to become a lawyer. This was after we were married, so the only way it could be paid for was for me to get a job that paid enough. I worked the oil rigs in the Gulf. Then we had to have a big house to entertain, so I worked some more. Now she wanted to become a partner in her law firm and you have to buy your way in. I’m still working, but I suspect someone else has given that to her along with the baby, or she wouldn’t have dumped me like she did.”
“How could you afford to buy the house next door if she took you for everything?”
I paused before answering. Then, “I think whoever bought her, bought me as well. I am leaving the marriage with more money than I probably should deserve. I even had the money I paid for her education returned. So you see, I sold out as well.”
“Do you still love her?”
“Yes and no. I’m going to miss her for awhile and like you said about your husband, I’ll carry some very good memories. I guess I’ll keep those. There is nothing else after I spend the money. What do you think about my situation?”
“Not my place to say. I do think she has let someone go she will regret. I think you’re pretty nice.” I got a smile. “Besides you just bought two strangers ice cream cones.”
When we reached Rainy’s house, Sandy was asleep and I carried her in. This house was spotless and the curtains were washed. The furniture was what you would expect in a furnished rental. She had the cushions covered so as to keep them clean. I was getting a gem of an idea when she asked, “Can we go over to your house to see what you want done?”
“Will Sandy be okay for the time we will be gone?”
“Yes.”
The house had a simple layout. Living room in the front, then side-by-side dining room and kitchen. Next came the bathroom on one side of a little hall. On the other side there was a big closet for storage and a set of cellar stairs going down. Then two large bedrooms. There was an exit out to the side from the kitchen. There were hard pine floors throughout the house excepting the bedrooms and those were carpeted.
“I have a vacuum. I better do those tonight if you are bringing a bed tomorrow. Will you have a bed for the other room?”
“Not yet. What do you charge when you work out?”
“Minimum wage. By the time they take taxes it isn’t hardly worth it unless I get six hours or more.”
“Would you consider working and getting paid under the table? I won’t squeal if you won’t.”
“That’s like getting a raise. You bet I will.”
“Okay, as far as to what the wage will be, I really need this done. I’ll give you $9 an hour. You keep your own time and I pay for all necessary supplies.”
“You don’t have to pay me that much.”
“Cheap at the price. Don’t argue with your employer. You better get back over and see to Sandy. Here is $200 to get what you need and I’ll see you in the morning, probably not before ten anyway. I’ll leave the key with you. Maybe if you are in the hardware store you can get a couple extra keys made. Oh crap, you don’t have transportation. You do have a license don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ll go find you some transportation. If you are working for me you got to have wheels. If not tonight, I’ll see to it tomorrow. Is there anything I have forgotten?”
“Can I have your telephone number?”
I gave her my parents’ number. On the way out of town, I stopped at a used car dealer and purchased a seven-year-old Honda. “This better be reliable. This is for a friend of mine and I’ll be all over you like grass stains on your jeans if it isn’t.”
“Got it. It’s good, we stand behind every sale. This the address you want it delivered to?”
“Yes, and tell the lady it is hers to use.”
I drove along to Mom and Dad’s. I was feeling pretty damned good about myself. I was in charge, something I seldom was when I was home and off the platform. Betty had always been before. Why hadn’t I stood up to Betty when she was my wife. I could have felt like this back when I had someone to hold in my arms and love. Crap, I don’t want to think about Betty. She is now in the past.
My thoughts swung to Rainy and Sandy. They were having it tough. Sandy, I seduced her into friendship with one little ice cream cone. It went a long way with Rainy as well. Rain was a scrawny little thing, but she tried to keep herself well. What would she look like if she had the advantages that Betty thought were her due? She wouldn’t have the classic beauty that my wife had, but I bet she would be cute.
Cones, that is how you would describe her breasts. I changed my thoughts, knowing these were coming from not having any loving for three months. It looked like it was going to be another six months anyway, before I felt comfortable about doing some pub crawling and woman hunting.
I related my day’s adventures to Mom and Dad. The only thing I left out was buying a car for Rainy to get around in. “Mom, why don’t you come up in your car and meet this woman. I’m thinking I’ll hire her to house sit for me while I’m away. It will give her a home and the little girl won’t be denied what she needs.”
“Is it the little girl or the woman who has turned you into a do-gooder?”
“Sandy. You didn’t see the longing for that ice cream cone like I did. I think the woman is good people as well. It isn’t going to hurt me to lend them a hand.”
“Do what you want. At least you aren’t sitting around crying over Betty, the cheap slut.”
“Mom, we know nothing about this. Sure she dumped me, but I’m sure she had a good reason. In her mind that is.”
“Okay, okay, I do know how much you loved her. That feeling won’t go away for awhile. Getting involved with this other person may turn out to be good for you.”
“Mom, I’m not getting involved with this other woman as you put it. I’m giving her a hand that is all. The kid is part of it. Sure, I can remember when I begged for something and didn’t get it, but it wasn’t because you couldn’t afford to give it to me. Those two, mother and daughter, have come along just at the time when I could have turned bitter at women in general. I’m not feeling that way and I’ll go back to my job knowing I may not have a wife, but I’ve got a couple of friends back here thinking well of me.”
“You’re talking bull hockey. Mark my word Son. She’ll have you in her bed and you won’t be all the way out of one mess before you have got yourself into another and with a kid to support to boot.”
“You haven’t met her yet, Mom. Hell, I haven’t hardly met her either. You will tomorrow. We can talk tomorrow evening, and I’ll bet you will have changed your mind.”
I had no answer whether Rainy was trying to get me into bed. “Give me your address and I‘ll find the house.” I went to bed and slept good. Mom put pancakes and bacon on the table and was doing dishes when Dad and I left to get the bed out of the storage units.
I had a choice of furniture to choose from. Evidently Betty had moved in with her lover and there wasn’t need for much of what we had together. There were a couple of pieces that belonged to her parents that were missing. That was fine. Dad and I managed to put the guestroom queen-size on the truck and then we also loaded on a pair of single beds for the other room. There was room for two bureaus and a couple of night stands.
Mom’s car was already at the house when Dad and I backed across the lawn to unload. She wasn’t there, but Sandy came skipping over from the house next door. “Mommy says to come over for coffee before you start to unload.” We followed her into the kitchen. Sandy immediately climbed onto Mom’s lap and got hugged between her arms. Mom stared defiantly at me and I grinned back at her.
“Good morning, Rainy.”
“Hi Pete. Your bedroom is already for you to move into. You can take your pick. Both have been cleaned. I was doing the windows on the inside when your Mom came. I didn’t hear her arrive and I jumped out of my skin when she spoke to me. Sandy thought it was the funniest thing. Your Mom and I went down to the grocery and got coffee and doughnuts at her suggestion. I haven’t had a chance to go shopping yet this week or I would have had coffee on hand.”
“That’s great. We’ll drink up and get a move on.” No one got it, until I said, “I mean that literally.”
The twin beds had never been slept on and the queen rarely unless someone was too drunk to drive after one of our infrequent parties. We had owned that massive house and for what reason. Just show that was all. This house, I hadn’t moved into fully yet, and I already felt more at home.
Dad and I left to get the kitchen furniture. The appliances had come with the house, so if I got a kitchen table and four chairs I was all set. I would need help with the living room, but that could wait, I decided. The kitchen was more important. I brought back sheets and blankets for the beds and everything I could grab for the kitchen. “Mom, you and Dad can leave, as there is nothing here I can’t handle.”
Rainy spoke, “I’ll help. I’ll make the beds while Pete is moving in the kitchen chairs and stuff.”
I walked Mom out to the car. “Peter, maybe I was too quick about what I said concerning this next door woman. She seems very nice. I love little Sandy. She is so sweet. Did you see how she snuggled right into my arms? You used to do that when you were small.”
“I told you.”
“Yes you did, but Son, get to know Rainy better before you make any long term commitments.”
“That I will do. Thanks for coming up. Drop into my new home anytime.”
“We will, Pete.” Dad was driving and Mom waved good-bye.
Chapter Two
I helped Rainy make the beds. “Pete, you sure have some really nice furniture here.”
“I should have, I paid enough for it. I shouldn’t criticize, because I still have most of it.”
“You want to talk about your wife?”
“Not really, but if you want to listen I guess, yes, I do. It will be better to think about it now than when out of sight of land with only my own thoughts.” I filled Rainy in on my early years going to school and stuff like that.
“I met Betty at a dance while I was in college. I was taking courses all related to energy and was serious about getting good marks. Betty wasn’t a very good student when I first met her, but after we were going together for awhile, she got real serious. Her first couple of years were a waste, but when she graduated, she decided she liked to be in the spotlight. She settled on being a lawyer.
“There wasn’t enough money from her parents for her to continue into law school and I already had been recruited. We were married with the understanding, now that I was her husband, I would put her through and help her pass the bar.”
“What did you get out of this?”
“Sex, what else? Betty can be the most sexual person there is when she wants to be. When I think closely, I think maybe she had this plan and her words of love were empty. Maybe me being away from her for periods of time was planned. Planned for me to come home to boundless sex, become satiated and then willing to leave so I could come home and experience it all over again. Sounds cold, I know. Foolish me, I loved her. I probably will never know for sure if she felt the same way about me.”
“She must have felt something or she wouldn’t have left you with all of this nice furniture and things. You said you came out of the divorce settlement pretty good too.”
“Rainy, that is what puzzles me. There are so many contradictions. I just don’t know.”
“Well, leave it for tomorrow. Come on over and watch me make macaroni and cheese. I bought hot dogs as well. Sandy loves them. Oh, I have to make an accounting and there is one thing we haven’t mentioned either. You know what that is don’t you?”
I grinned. “I didn’t say anything because Mom was here and if I said I bought a car for you to use, she would think I did it just to get you into bed. That wouldn’t look good for either you or me.”
“Did you?”
“Nope. I do have a proposal to make to you and I will do it in a couple of days. It has nothing to do with sex and won’t have.”
“Okay. I’ll take the car to use because I need to get around so I can get a job. That’s for Sandy’s sake more than for my own. I’m not saying someday you and I might jump into bed, but it won’t be other than because we wanted to enjoy each other. That wouldn’t work if I owed you or you owed me for something.”
“I like the way you think. Mom was concerned that you would try to entice me when I started helping you. I will have to tell her the concerns are without merit.”
“I’d like it better if you didn’t discuss it at all.”
I went home early that night. I got a hug from Sandy on leaving and a reminder to say hi to her special friend who let her sit on her lap. In the morning Dad rounded up some extra help who had a pickup and we headed for my new home with the living and dining room furniture. Rainy had come over and brewed a pot of coffee in my own kitchen.
One of the men started to flirt with her and Dad told him quickly to back off. “She’s Pete’s neighbor and he wants to keep her friendly. Besides Pete is bigger than you are.”
Rainy spoke up, “I don’t need Pete to fight my battles. I’ve been around men all of my life and I can handle any of them. Go ahead and flirt if you want, but it won’t get you anywhere and that includes Pete. He is smart enough not to even try. I’m just being neighborly.” She turned and went across the lawn.
“Feisty little thing isn’t she? Sorry if I caused trouble.”
“No trouble, she said she was moving in a couple of weeks.” After we got the furniture in, I gave everyone money for beer and many thanks. Dad rode home with them and I set about doing more organizing. Rainy was immediately over to help.
At lunch time I asked where we could get lunch. Sandy was jumping up and down as she seldom went anywhere, especially where she could eat. I ended up taking them to the diner where I first met Gail Proctor, the real estate saleslady. We had no more than sat down when she came in alone. Pleasure washed over me. Gail looked around and spotted me.
“Hi, Mr. Roydon, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Are you moved in yet?”
“Almost. Here sit with us, we haven’t ordered yet. I’ll even buy you lunch.”
Gail then looked closely at who was sitting with me. She had tried to collect rent from Rainy without success and probably would be directly involved in her eviction.
“Please sit. I need to ask you something.”
“Okay, I guess. Hello Mrs. Tuttle. Hi little girl. What is your name?”
“It’s Sandy and you’re the lady that wants money when we don’t have any.” Sandy was only repeating what she had heard her mother say.
“I guess I am, Sandy.” Gail was very uncomfortable. “I think I had better sit somewhere else.”
“No, the child doesn’t understand. Sandy, the lady has to come to ask for money and I imagine she doesn’t like to, but it is what her job is. I bet you would like her very much if you knew her better.”
“Maybe. You are very pretty.”
“I will come soon and I won’t mention money at all. I have some papers for your Mom to sign.”
“Goody.”
Just then the waitress came for our order. Gail was sitting next to me in the booth. It was like my leg was on fire. Sandy had to go potty and had to have her new friend Gail go with her. “Rainy, you have cleaned my house beautifully. Would you like to do that kind of work if I can find you some houses to clean?”
“I could now that I have a car. Sandy could be with me. But how would I find one to clean?” Just then Gail came back. In a few minutes our meal came and Sandy talked all the time, just so happy.
“Gail, you said your agency had several houses listed that you own or manage. Do you ever have need to get them cleaned?”
“All the time. It is a problem finding someone to do it. Most people we hire do sloppy work and want top money. We need someone we can depend on. We had one furnished apartment and the man stole every single thing in it.”
Rainy spoke before I could suggest her. “Could I have the job? I could pay my rent that way. It would pay off what I owe in back rent as well. Mr. Roydon mentioned that he would hire me to do his lawn when he isn’t here. I don’t want to owe anyone and it would be a way to get out of the hole I’m in.”
“Let me call Pa. We have a house we want to show the day after tomorrow. It’s a mess. I was going to have to do it myself, but I have to go out of town. My brother is coming back from overseas. He is getting out of the army.”
This brought tears to Rainy’s eyes. Gail looked mystified and I explained, “Rainy lost her husband while overseas. I think she has been handling it well.”
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. Are you going to be home later? I’ll come by and tell you if we can work out something.” Gail got up suddenly and left.
“Boy, when you take a body out to lunch, things happen. I was so afraid there was going to be a scene when she saw who I was. Do you think her father will give me some work?”
“I would bet on it. Between Sandy’s comments and your tears, Gail will get you the job.”
“Yes, and who set it up?” I just grinned. Sometimes luck played into a person’s hand. I didn’t know Gail was going to be at lunch, but I was hoping.
My house was now fully functional. I was relaxing in the living room when I saw Gail’s car drive up to Rainy’s. She was in there more than a half hour and then came out and walked toward my house. I let her knock. “Hi Mr. Roydon. I left so suddenly I didn’t thank you for lunch. I thought I had better.”
I broke in, “Pete, call me Pete, or Peter if you prefer. Come sit in the living room.”
Gail came through the door, and sat down just inside the kitchen. She wasn’t ready to go farther. “Okay, Pete it is. I have to thank you for more than lunch. Pa has been on me to sell a house and you show up and buy one right out of the blue. I must admit when I saw your truck, I never thought you a good prospect. And he has been on my butt to find someone to clean for us.
“I think Rainy Tuttle will work out great. We came to terms. She wanted what you were paying her to work for you. We couldn’t go that high, but I told Pa we had to pay for good service, so it comes up to nearly the same.”
She stood up to go. I didn’t want her to leave. “Come see how I have the house arranged.” She walked through and even looked through the bedroom doors.
“You have beautiful furniture.”
“Yes, my wife picked it out. It came to me in the settlement.”
“You’re divorced? I didn’t know.”
“Not yet. Six months. I just received the papers. You may have even seen her on TV. She is in court a lot. Elizabeth Roydon, attorney. She swapped me for a partnership in the firm she works for, but that’s more than you need to know.”
“What do you do?” Gail blushed as it wasn’t any of her business and she knew she was prying.
“I work on an oil rig out in California. I’m home right now and I go back out there in another five weeks. I have ten weeks after that before I will be home again.”
“I know a couple of people who are going to miss you. Rainy thinks you’re God and says you set me up so she could have a job.”
“And the other person?”
“Sandy, of course. I watched her with you at lunch and when your name was mentioned a few minutes ago while I was next door, she about turned handsprings.”
“Gail, thank you for coming over. Will I be seeing you again?”
“I’m sure you will. I’ll be coming next door off and on, and I’ll come by to say hi.”
I had been so busy I hadn’t opened my laptop since arriving home. Most of my e-mails were the usual spam. One from an older friend of Betty’s and mine was intriguing. We often went out together as couples. Phone me! Sarah.
I called. “Hi, you wanted me to call.”
“You took your time. Two days from now would have been too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Me, dummy. Look Pete, I know Betty has divorced you and moved out. I know your situation and know you most likely haven’t had any sex for months. Jim is out of town. Betty has often told me how good you are in bed and I want to know just how good. I can’t think of anything to hold us back from seeing how we fit together.”
“What about Jim?”
This gave her pause. “Jim and I have talked about expanding our horizons, and just recently your name was at the forefront because of your divorce. He said if I could contact you then go ahead. We play games in our minds and he wants to push it up a notch. We both are sadly disappointed in Betty and thought we might do a good turn for you as well. Pete, I’m over the hill as far as kids are concerned and we have never had another partner, either of us. It is something we have talked about for years, and you are the only one we would be comfortable with. Please.”
“Where?”
“Right here. Pull into Jim’s side of the garage.”
“Okay, I’ll come down. I’ve moved from the city. I’ll at least talk about it.” Sarah Johns was 54, but had retained her shape and worked out at the gym on a regular basis. Jim did too, and they made a handsome couple. I often kidded around with both and sometimes flirted with Sarah. In a way Sarah didn’t surprise me, for we had often discussed how people would feel after going to bed with someone other than their spouse. Evidently she and Jim wanted to find out. Betty already knew, that was for certain.
I think Sarah had belted a drink before I arrived, but she was still very nervous. This was new and uncharted territory for her, and she would have to deal not only with this, but with Jim when he came home. “Relax Sarah, we have been friends for years and I won’t hurt you.”
“I know, but how do we start? Do I just take off my clothes?”
“Sarah, why don’t you go into the shower and I will join you, or I will go first. You wash my back and I’ll wash yours. We can take it from there. Make this fun for both of us. I have to tell you though, I haven’t had sex since I left home three months ago. This is going to be a real treat for me and I do want to thank you for thinking of me.”
Sarah was shivering with anticipation before I finished speaking. We were together for sex, but Sarah was a friend and I wanted to keep her as such. I could only do that if I displayed some love as we joined. She was no neophyte in bed this was for sure. I did not think of Betty once as I concentrated on giving Sarah her first sexual experience other than with Jim, and something she would remember.
In the morning she said, “Before you came yesterday, I planned on asking you to come back tonight, but I’m not going to. I don’t need to. I’m calling Jim to come home and cuddle me. Pete, I don’t think we will ever do this again. I would be open to a call, but only as a friend, not for what we did last night. Don’t think too harsh of me and Jim, please.”
“I won’t Sarah. It is a wonderful thing you have done for me. I’m looking beyond my divorce and if the woman I have my eye on is still available I won’t be calling anyway. I will make sure you meet her and I just know Jim, you and I will be friends with one little secret.”
“Pete, Betty is a damned fool. Someday she will know she is. Go on, get out of here. I need to sleep after I call Jim.”
Wouldn’t you know I met Rainy carrying Sandy out to the car on her way to clean the house she had taken on? I was drowsy and could hardly keep my eyes open. “Late getting in aren’t you Pete? Woman? Good, maybe that will stop you from staring at my bubbies.”
I laughed. “Cones, Rainy. I call them cones.” I didn’t wait or look at her and I went in and flopped on top of the bed and didn’t remember anything else.
Sandy landed atop me and Rainy was standing in the doorway to my bedroom, laughing. “Come on, get up. I’ve got your supper almost ready. I had the house cleaned and I stopped by to find you still asleep. She must have been some woman. Prostitute?”
“No, a friend who knows what my situation is and had something to play out with her husband’s knowledge. Pretty kinky, but with minimal risk for everyone. I don’t think it will happen again, but it was very satisfying.”
“That’s great for you.”
“Do you have the same problem?”
“Of course I do, but I’m not going to take care of it the same way you do. I loved my husband with all of my being and someday when I feel it is right with some certain person, I’ll give up and we’ll make love. Notice I said love. I haven’t found anyone to even give me a twinge yet.”
“Rainy, I admire you and I will stop staring at your chest. I guess you know it is a man thing to check out a woman.”
“I know. I’m flattered, really, but still no twinge.”
“Okay, we have that settled. I’ve got a question to ask you and this past little conversation will make it easier to ask. In five weeks I have to go back to my job for nearly three months. Would you come live here in this house and give up your own? I want a house sitter to keep the place up. You can live here free with just a few chores, and I’ll pay you a stipend. I was worried about the sexual aspect, you living here with me in the house some of the time.”
“It sounds wonderful, but I will have to think it over. Let me have a couple of days, okay? Come on over to the house, I have a salad to eat while I cook the meat.” As we walked across the lawn, she kept talking. “You know I have spent more money on good food in the last few days than I did for a week before. Sandy is thrilled that it isn’t cereal and milk two out of three meals.”
“It was that bad? I’m glad I came along when I did.”
“I am too.”
The days went by. Sometimes depending on what I had planned, I baby-sat Sandy. Sometimes Gail came home with Rainy to see me. I’d make a pitcher of tea or kool-aid and I always looked forward to seeing Gail. The two of them became fast friends. I had received my answer about Rainy doing house sitting and she agreed to move in a week before I left for the west coast. I was to pay Rainy $200 a week and pay all the bills connected to the house. In return she was to take care of any problems and keep the lawn mowed, front and back. She would also have the use of both my truck and the car if she needed it.
This left virtually all of her wages to pay off her past bills which included the back rent of the house she was moving out of. I was totally comfortable now being with Rainy. She was the sister Mom and Dad never gave me. My relationship with Sandy was of uncle and treasured niece. She always puckered up when I told her I was going to have to leave for a long time. “But you’re coming home so I can love you like I do now,” and then she would smile.
Gail sold her second house and had negotiated with Rainy on the back rent. Also she had found Rainy to do the housecleaning and upkeep on several houses that the agency owned or managed. “I’m getting so much respect from my father now. I thought he was always going to shout at me, ‘go girl, do it.’ Now he walks up to me and addresses me as Gail and asks me to do something.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, you sold me this house, and I think you are quite the gal as well as being very professional.”
“Pete, stop trying to fool with me. I give you all of the credit. Also, I would have had to put Rainy and Sandy out on the street, and Dad would have been hollering at me to do it. You know don’t you, I’m going to miss you terribly when you leave.”
“I’m going to miss you too. Gail, getting serious now, I want to say something. A person who is waiting for the final decree of his divorce is kind of in limbo. I can’t ask a girl out for dinner and dancing, because I’m still a married man. It would trash the girl’s reputation to be seen with me. Also I can’t ask you to wait for me because then you are the one in limbo. We can’t get married and shouldn’t even have sex in case you got pregnant and something happened to me before we are married.”
I knew I was rambling, but I was just trying to get the point across that I was interested even though I couldn’t commit yet.
“What about Rainy’s situation? She is moving into your house. What about her reputation?”
“That is a little different. She is a widow and she has a young child with her. I know it shouldn’t matter, but she would be my employee and a widow and expected to protect her daughter from even hearing anything sexual going on. Someone would have to complain before Social Services would take a look at it. This is our culture.”
“In other words, I couldn’t move in here and do what Rainy does without being trashed?”
“People might not say anything, but they certainly won’t believe you weren’t sleeping with me. Especially with me being a divorced man.”
“Not fair!”
“True. Let’s change the subject. Who knows, by the time I return, you may have found the love of your life and married already.”
“Okay. Poor subject to talk about. Say, I have a thought. I have to go into the city to file some papers. You must know your way around, so would you go in with me? It shouldn’t take too long.”
“I’d be glad to. You haven’t met my mother and father yet. We’ll swing by and I will introduce you.” Then my face got red. “No, I’m not taking you home for that reason.” I said "yet" under my breath.
Gail drove up in the morning, but she went to Rain’s house first. I thought maybe I could convince Gail to go out for lunch at an upscale place I knew so took my jacket with me. I walked over and Sandy came out. “We’re going with you.” This was great, for now I could ask all of them out for lunch. When I went to Gail’s car to get in, I realized there was a man in the back seat.
“Joe, get out and meet my friends.” Gail turned to me. “My brother is shy around strange women. Just for that I’m putting Rainy in the back seat with him. You are going to have to sit in front with me.” And then she giggled.
I shook hands with Joe Proctor, ex-soldier. He wasn’t paying any attention to me, as it was all for Rainy. Sandy helped him along. “My daddy was a soldier before he died.” Joe could talk to a child easily enough. Rainy was listening intently.
Gail said some things low to me the others couldn’t hear. “Pete, just call me cupid. Besides that takes Rainy out of your dating pool if things work out the way I want them to.”
“It looks as if I’m being backed into a corner.” A look of consternation crossed Gail’s features. “Gail, don’t worry. I’m right where I want to be. In fact I just had a thought about how I can bring you in closer, sooner. When we reach the courthouse, let me have a few minutes on the phone, privately. You can watch the developing attraction between Joe and Rainy.”
When we reached the courthouse, the parking was a quarter of a block away. “Meet me in front in ten minutes and I’ll go inside with you. Oh, and you can have Joe and Rainy come with you. There are benches in front. Maybe Sandy would like to watch the people come and go.”
I found a seat and started calling. First I made a call to Tonio’s for the reservation for lunch, requesting the alcove as I had a child with me. “I’m sorry, Senor Roydon, but there are two couples already booked for that section. Do you need privacy?”
“No, not at all. Two other couples would be fine. There may be as many as seven in our party, however, but only one will be a child.”
“You have your reservation. Thank you.”
Next, I made the call I was in one way dreading to my wife. “Elizabeth here. Is this Pete calling?”
“Hi Betty. I can see you haven’t forgotten your husband’s cell number.”
“What do you want? I thought I made everything clear and settled between us.”
“Oh you did all right. However, I have been thinking about cross filing and wanted to discuss the ramifications for you if I do. I’d also like to meet the father of the baby you claim to be carrying. I have reserved the alcove at Tonio’s. Do you think you could find time to take lunch with me?”
“Where are you now?”
“In front of the courthouse. I’m with a friend who has business inside.”
“I’ll see you in front of records in fifteen minutes with an answer if I can meet for lunch.” There was a pause. “Pete, this divorce isn’t going to get nasty is it?”
“I hope it isn’t, and I don’t want it to. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I didn’t say good-bye, figuring that had been said months before. Just then the four from the car came up to me.
Sandy came running to me and I held her off. “I have to meet someone inside in a little while. You sit here and watch the people and then we will go and get lunch. Today you can have anything you want.”
“Okay Pete, but don’t be too long.”
Gail and I walked up the steps. “May I ask who you are meeting?”
“Sure. I’ve asked my wife to lunch and she is meeting me in front of records.”
“That is where I’m going. Will I see her?”
“If you want to. If she comes to lunch, you will meet her then.”
“I want to see what she looks like, then I will decide if I want to meet her. I can stay in the car if I don’t want to see her.”
“Gail, you are just as good as she is. Better for me, anyway. Don’t revert to the person with so little confidence you were before you sold your first house.”
I was standing in the hall outside of records when Betty came up to me. There was a man, maybe twice her age, who paused at the corner, as if he was waiting for her. Betty was tall, trim, and looked like the confident attorney she was. She hadn’t started to show her pregnancy yet, although I could tell she had thickened just a little.
“Hello, Peter.” She searched my face to see what my mood was.
“Betty, it is good to see you. You are as beautiful as ever. Will you be having lunch with me?”
“Yes, of course. What you said over the phone sounded almost like a threat though. I need to know what you are up to, to counter it if need be.”
“Maybe what I said was just so I could see my wife again, but then maybe there was a threat. Anyway, you will find out soon enough. Will the father of your baby be having lunch with us?”
“Yes. Wasn’t he part of the threat as much as me?”
“Yes.” Just then I felt an arm go around my waist. “Gail, meet my wife. Elizabeth Roydon, Gail Proctor. Gail, Betty. Gail sold me a house and we have become friends. She will be with me at lunch with a few others.”
“I thought this was to be personal.”
“It is Betty, between you and me, but I have collected several friends and they know the situation you and I are in. They might just as well hear it as it develops. I think you will appreciate having them there more than if they weren’t. I’m only thinking of you.”
“I’ll bet.” She looked undecided for a minute, then she looked toward the person standing a little distance from us. “Bernard, you might as well meet my husband now. We will be sitting with him at lunch.”
The man, about the same height as Betty, came up and stuck out his hand. “Bernard Greenberg. Pleased to meet you. Call me Bernie.”
I shook his hand. I could see real intelligence in his eyes and face. That would make what I had to say later much easier. “I’m sure you know my name, so call me Pete. I am pleased to meet you as well. I’ll see you shortly. Do you want me to order for you? I know what Betty usually has. I am hurrying things along because I have a four-year-old child belonging to a friend of mine with me, who loves to eat and is always hungry.”
“Sure go ahead and order. I usually have the same as Elizabeth chooses.”
We turned and left the two standing watching us depart. I swear Gail was accentuating her walk. It was she who spoke first. “Boy, you know how to keep your wife off balance.”
“I never was able to before. I never thought how to do it before either.” I looked at Gail and asked, “What was the arm around my waist bit?”
“Just staking my claim, that was all. Not really maybe, but I wanted to show your wife that you are a commodity who has value.”
“You never touched me before.”
“No, and you never touched me before either. It was time we touched. I picked the time and the place. Your move.” She grinned. We went down the court steps with my arm around her.
There was a big surprise for me as we were ushered into the alcove. The two couples were Sarah, Jim Johns and her sister, Ruth with her husband. I had met Ruth Powers before, but not her husband. Jim bounced out of his chair and almost hugged me. “Pete, so good to see you. Give me two minutes alone after we have lunch, will you?”
“Sure.” While my party was being seated, I went back with Jim, and was introduced.
Jim made the introductions. “You know Sarah and you’ve met Ruth. This is Ryan Powers. He is in oil, the same as you are. This is Peter Roydon.”
I immediately placed him. In fact he was a higher-up in the company I worked for. We started to speak at the same time.
Ryan got there first. “Peter Roydon? I have you on my list of possibles. How’d you like to come off a platform and take a desk job?”
I knew Ryan worked in Alaska and I didn’t want to go there. “Where? I’m not going to Alaska.”
“No need. How about right here in the lower forty-eight. Texas or Oklahoma. I have openings in both.”
“I’ll talk to you after lunch if it is okay. I’ve got a four-year-old who is starving.”
“Enjoy your meal.” I looked over occasionally and could see Sarah with her head together with Ruth’s. My secret liaison with Sarah didn’t seem to be much of a secret anymore. That was okay, Sarah had seemed satisfied when I left and Jim didn’t appear ready to shoot me. There was a surprised look on Sarah’s face when Betty and Bernie came and joined us. Betty waved to Sarah, but didn’t go over.
It was Gail who made the introductions. I’m telling you this woman by my side was bursting with confidence. I think I was the one who peeled back her shell and exposed her as the strong, confident woman who was hidden inside.
Betty kept her eye on Gail, but then swung toward Rainy when Sandy blurted out that she and Mommy were going to be moving into Pete’s house. None of us explained the situation to my wife, and she couldn’t figure out the relationship between Rainy and me and wasn’t so certain about Gail either.
Finally Betty said, “You asked Bernard and me here for a reason. Would you explain?”
“Sure. In a way this came about because of my thoughts concerning Sandy. Rainy is widowed. Someday Rainy will marry again and Sandy will be adopted if the man she marries is wise. That part doesn’t matter. Sandy has always had a father. You on the other hand are pregnant. It will be several months before you can marry. That is when the divorce becomes final. The fetus you are carrying doesn’t really have a father yet and can’t until you are divorced. What would happen if something took Bernie? We aren’t divorced, and I won’t accept the child as mine in any instance I can think of.”
I could see Bernie’s face light up with where I was heading. “You lawyer types must know some judge who would give you a waiver so you could marry sooner. I would be willing to agree to that, and even appear before a judge to state the fact. The threat I mentioned to you Betty is if you didn’t seek a waiver, I would institute a cross filing using adultery for cause and that would hold up the desolution of our marriage an extra six months. By that time the baby would be born illegitimate and might cause you, and maybe Bernie, trouble if you should choose to seek public office.”
Betty sat there and stared at me. I had no idea what she was thinking. Bernie tugged at her sleeve and then said to me, “Excuse us for a minute, would you please?”
I waved my hand to go ahead. They went down to the end of the room and we could see them having an animated conversation. Suddenly they hugged each other and Bernie removed his cell phone from his pocket and started punching in numbers.
I leaned over and whispered in Gail’s ear. “Hey Sunshine, have you ever thought about living in Texas or Oklahoma?’’
“With you? Soon?”
“Yes to both.”
Big smile. “I’ve dreamed about living in Texas or Oklahoma ever since I was a little bitty baby.” Hey, I was making progress here. Gail was thinking about me and might consider going somewhere with me.
“Good, I’ll let you know which state before you go to bed tonight.”
I could see Jim Johns about ready to leave. I started walking over and Jim met me half way. “Pete, I want to thank you for being with Sarah the other night. It has opened up a whole new outlook to our lives. Ruth and Ryan arrived a couple of days after you were there and we told them about you and Sarah and how it affected both of us. Since then we all have become closer than we were before, if you get my meaning. Closer and exclusive, you know, kind of like a self contained unit. It is so exciting.”
“Congratulations Jim. It would be something I wouldn’t choose for myself because I’m too possessive. I was a little worried and hesitant when I woke up with Sarah beside me, especially about meeting you again, but now that I have, I think we are still friends.”
“We certainly are. You are going to talk to Ryan aren’t you?”
“Yes I am. I think I better meet him at home or here at the club. It would give me more time to find out what he has in mind.”
It took two minutes to set up the meeting and Ryan would come out to my place this evening.
Bernie and Betty were back at our table. He spoke, “Pete, first I think Elizabeth wants to apologize for cheating behind your back. I didn’t know fully what she had planned or how she was going to go about accomplishing her divorce from you. Even I can see it was somewhat underhanded. You just can’t treat people who love you in such a way. I’ll leave that for another time, though.
“As far as getting a waiver, I have set up a meeting with a judge the day after tomorrow. Elizabeth and I will get the paperwork ready, so if you would be so kind as to come to the courthouse and make the statement that this is of your own free will, I think it will happen.
“For myself, I don’t ever expect to be your friend, but I’m going to wish we could be.”
“You never know. The strangest things have been happening to me lately.”
Betty and Bernie picked up and started to leave. Sandy ran to Betty. “I think you are a very pretty lady.”
“Maybe I will see you again Dearie. When I have a baby, I hope she is just like you. Come with me. I know someone who has some little mints to eat after they have lunch.” Betty didn’t return to us when Sandy came running back with a fistful of after dinner mints.
Chapter Three
When we reached the car, I said to Gail, “I think I’ll wait before we visit my parents. Maybe we will have something to tell them.” Gail reached over and put her hand on my thigh. It was a warm gesture and a promise of more to come.
Joe followed Rainy into her house and Gail came in with me. “Pete, is this all going to come together?”
“I certainly hope so, but things are moving very fast. I can’t believe I may have an offer of a job change. I have been with this company for eight years and I had no idea anyone higher than my immediate boss knew me. Gail, how can you consider leaving your family, especially with me? We have only known each other existed about three weeks.”
“A woman knows who she will be happy with.”
“Maybe, but we are going to date and get to know each other better before we get too serious.”
“Okay Pete, tell me something about yourself I don’t know. That will get this thing started.”
“My grandfather was a full blooded Cherokee Indian on my father’s side. How is that?”
“I can do you one better. My great-grandmother was a black woman.”
She knew this would give me pause. I didn’t hesitate, though. “I’ll bet she was the most beautiful woman and your great-grandfather saw her and immediately fell in love and generations later, here comes Gail Proctor to fall in love with a man named Pete. You are going to fall in love with me aren’t you?”
“Pete, I don’t know how I can not help falling in love with you. I didn’t mean to shock you with the fact about my great-grandmother, but I have had two boyfriends dump me when they found out. My father didn’t like one of them and spit it out when we were having a family meal together. It embarrassed the boy terribly. That is the only reason I’m pretty defensive about the subject. In a way, I’m proud of my heritage. Just think of all the trouble falling in love with a white man caused her. She must have been a brave soul.”
“I think you are brave too, given your past experience when you shined a light on your ancestor.”
“Somehow I knew you would understand. Here’s another, you know sometime I’m going to have to confess that in the biblical sense I know man.”
“Oh great, an experienced lover.”
“I don’t know if I can qualify as experienced, but I do know that A goes into B and if you do this to C you might have rockets going off. Will that do?”
“Very well, thank you.”
Gail got up and said she had to check into the office. “I’ll be back this evening to find out if I’m going to be living in Texas or Oklahoma. You said the Powers guy was coming about six. I’ll come back about eight.”
“I’ll be waiting for you. Park your car in Rainy’s driveway and say goodnight to Sandy. Did you ever see such a sweet little kid?” By this time Gail was in my arms and we were having our first intimate moment.
“I shouldn’t be doing this and it is dangerous. You are a married man. What would my mommy say?”
“You’re safe with me, Gail, always safe.” We pulled apart and she went reluctantly out the door. I looked across and saw Joe come from Rainy’s. He was walking backward and waving.
God, what a day! So many things resolved for so many people. I would have to remember to ask if Rainy was getting twinges when she was around Joe. She said that was her criteria.
I wondered about Jim and Ryan. Being intimate with each other’s spouses was ordinarily a perilous practice, but with Sarah and Ruth being sisters, it might dilute the danger.
It looked as if I was going to be a divorced man much sooner than I expected. Bernie Greenberg certainly jumped at the chance to be able to marry Betty sooner than he expected. I almost felt sorry for him. I doubted Betty had much love for him. She just had too much ambition and didn’t care who she stepped on to achieve her goals. Not my problem now, thank God.
My thoughts turned to Gail. I approved of the way she told me she had some Black ancestry. This didn’t trouble me at all. Over the years I had worked with all of the races, being miles out in the ocean where a person had to depend on his coworker to survive. The work was inherently dangerous and one slip could get you injured or killed in the blink of an eye. If Gail were Asian or Latina, I would have felt the same.
I went over and begged supper from Rainy. She was flying high with excitement. At first I thought it was all about Joe. It was in a way, but it was more. Joe and his father had seen where there was an opportunity to add to the management part of the agency. They were exploring the possibility of creating a cleaning services business. Pa wanted Joe to approach the woman who had showed how it could work and work so well.
Pa Proctor thought this just might lead to a profitable sideline. Some plans had already been made before Joe had even met Rainy and a salary had already been proposed to pay a manager. Joe didn’t want to sell real estate, and needed something to work at. Rain and Joe were going to see if they could get the business started. Joe had some money and she had worked for a service company like this before. He was going to tap into her knowledge to try and make it work. Best of all they promised Rainy a partnership with her as manager.
“Pete, I could kiss you. This all happened because of your suggestion to approach Gail for part time work. I just never had a friend like you before.”
“I may not be such a good friend. You know I may move and you won’t have the job of house sitting I promised you.”
“I heard. I’m going to miss you so much. I can come visit you can’t I? You can’t forget Sandy either, so you will have to come see us sometimes.”
“I won’t ever forget either of you. Oh, I was going to ask you something personal. May I?”
“Anything.”
“Do you get the twinge that you said indicated you were attracted to a person when you look at Gail’s brother?”
Rainy’s face flamed bright red. “Stop it Pete. Be nice to this poor widow woman. Any feelings I get are my own and I’m not going to share them with you.” She had a smirk on her face now. “Oh, all right, you are my friend. Yes, I do get a nice warm feeling when I’m near him.”
You know, I didn’t feel as this was flirting with Rainy, because it wasn’t for myself. I just wanted her to feel happy and I think I succeeded. She had it rough for so long she needed someone to kid with her.
Ryan Powers was right on time. I opened him a beer, although I guessed he preferred something hard which I hadn’t stocked in yet. Ryan had me run through what my duties consisted of in the past. He didn’t know me personally, just that my name had been bandied about as possible management material.
After discussing this he said, “I think you would best be suited to work in our oil holdings around Midland in west Texas. This is one of the oldest fields in the country after Pennsylvania. We still pump a considerable amount of oil from the ground out there. Why don’t you go out with me next week and we will look around. Get the lay of the land and our operation. By that time I will know more about you and what you are capable of. If you do take the job, it will mean a transfer from the West Coast. How does that sound?”
“I intend to fulfill the contract I have already, but this was the last time I was going to go to sea. I figured I could find a job within the company or a different one in the same line of work.”
“I can see you are anxious to get off the water so I’m going to find something and I can speed things up for you. So, we will hop out to Texas next week. I think I can promise the pay will be equal to what you are receiving now and might even be more. Of course living on land will be more expensive, but you know that.
“Pete, you are aware of some things in my personal life that are going on. It is something new to all of us and I love my wife totally, but it came out that we all might want to explore just a little. You won’t discuss what you know with anyone will you?”
“Absolutely not. I’ve been friends with Sarah and Jim for several years. Sarah did me a favor with the full knowledge of Jim and I’m thankful to both. They are really a nice couple and I wouldn’t want them hurt in any way. Whatever you and Ruth do is not my business and I hope it makes all of you very happy.”
“That is what Jim and Sarah said you would say, but I had to mention it. Good, that’s off my mind, and I’ll get back to you with the travel plans.” As Ryan was leaving I saw Gail and Joe arrive next door. In ten minutes, Gail was in my arms.
“I didn’t bring my toothbrush and Joe is going to call when he is ready to go home. Has Rainy told you about what Pa and Joe are planning with her help?”
“Yes she told me.”
“I’m a little pissed at Pa. Damn it, just because I’m a woman, I’m kept out of the loop. If I wore pants, I’d be in on everything. I feel like I’m just someone on the outskirts. I thought I was included as I should be, and then Joe gets out of the service and suddenly it is all about him.”
“I don’t blame you. It isn’t fair. I guess I’ll just have to move you to West Texas and love you a whole lot to make up for what you aren’t getting here.”
“When?”
“I’m going out there next week and with this job I won’t be away for weeks at a time either. I’ll be home every night and working a forty-five hour week.”
“What could I do while you are working?”
“You’ve got your feet wet selling real estate. There are agencies in just about every little town. I think you would do really well away from your father and can jump right in as a salesperson. That is if you want to. Betty was high maintenance, but I don’t feel you are going to be. I can fully support you.”
“Oh no, that isn’t going to happen. This is going to be a partnership marriage. I have one question though, and it doesn’t really matter, but are you going to formally ask me to marry you? A girl likes to be asked. You know, down on one knee, ring in hand and before witnesses.”
“You are going to have all of that, just as soon as I am divorced. I can’t ask you until I am. I thought as soon as that happens, I would see if you would invite me for dinner at your house and I would ask you right in front of your parents. Actually I don’t even think I have to marry you. It seems to me you have been talking about moving to Oklahoma or Texas even before I knew if I had a job. I assumed it would be with me.”
“I am going with you, with or without a ring, but you know, convention and all that stuff.”
“Gail, even if I haven’t formally asked you, it is my intent.”
“I wish I had brought my toothbrush.”
“Soon sweet, very soon.” We were sealing this with a kiss when the doorbell chimed.
“That’s not Joe, he was going to call. I’ll step into the bedroom while you see who it is.”
I waited until the bell chimed three times and then opened the door. “Betty?”
“Hi Pete, I had to call your mother to find out where you live. You neglected to give me your address at lunch time.”
“I didn’t neglect to give it to you. I didn’t want you to have it.”
“That’s mean, after all I am your wife.”
“Not for much longer, I hope.”
“You sound bitter. Didn’t the generous settlement I made on you satisfy you? It should have. No court would have given you as much.”
“No they wouldn’t have, I admit that. After thinking it over though, I know why you gave me so much.”
“Tell me.”
“It was to assuage the guilt you feel for using me all the years we were married. Your thought was, give Pete three weeks of superior sex every three months and I can stay here where the weather is good and with my friends while I move up the ladder. At the end of three months, he’ll be so horny, he’ll be willing to do it all over again. Eight years you played this game, and I was too dumb to get onto it. That was the plan wasn’t it?”
“So what if it was? You got everything back. Yes, and a lot of that superior sex you mention at the same time. You shouldn’t have any complaint. By the way, the sex I had with you tops anything I have had with anyone else, or expect to have with anyone in the future. If this is as you say, how did you figure it out?”
“It was the photograph. It looked so posed. I’ll bet Bernie doesn’t know about the picture. I was supposed to be so crushed, I wouldn’t challenge the divorce. Well I didn’t make the challenge, but it led me to figure you out. Let’s see, I haven’t checked up on Bernie, but I bet he is in a position to push you further up the ladder. I’m guessing he is a senior partner in your law firm.”
“Dead on, Pete.”
“Okay, you didn’t make the change for lust, and I think you are incapable of love, and you admit you are ambitious. Tell me why you needed to get pregnant.”
“Bernie is the last of his line. He wants someone to carry on his name. When I found that out, I had a partnership in the bag. I wouldn’t admit that to you except we are alone.”
This made me smile, but I let it go. “So why are you here tonight? I’ll bet Bernie doesn’t know you came to see me.”
“No, he doesn’t know. Actually I thought one last vigorous romp while we are still husband and wife would be fun. I am still good, that hasn’t changed.”
I stared at my wife. She was unbelievable. “No Betty, I’m not going to be part of your plans anymore. I think you had better leave. I also know I’m feeling sorry for the man you chose to make a patsy. Yes, and I feel sorry for you as well.”
“Oh, do tell why you feel sorry for me. I’m getting everything I planned for and also I am getting rid of you.”
“Because Betty, you cheated on me. Bernie, although not now, will wake up someday to the fact that you might possibly cheat on him. He’ll have you watched and if you are cheating on him, he’ll remember me and kick your butt to the curb. The career you have so carefully planned for will go down with you. So Dear, I don’t envy you your life ahead at all.”
“I could scream rape, you make me that mad with your predictions.”
From the bedroom came a voice, “Tell the slut to leave. She is cutting into my time with you. I may not be much, but my standards are higher than hers.”
“Pete, you have a prostitute in there.”
“Not any of your business, Betty. I will see you in court the day after tomorrow.”
“You won’t tell Bernie I was here tonight?”
“No.”
“Well enjoy your whore, Pete. You could have had the best.”
“Leave Betty, please.” I watched my wife get into her car and back out of the driveway.
I turned to where Gail had come out of the bedroom. With a great big grin she said, “I didn’t know you frequented prostitutes. I may have to reconsider your proposal of marriage.”
“I think the prostitute just left and the only two people here now are those in love.”
I was at the court as promised. The judge thought I should have appeared with representation. After he questioned me he decided I was fully aware of what I was doing and a lawyer wasn’t needed. Betty was cool toward me and Bernie was reserved. Betty kept between me and Bernie, making sure we couldn’t easily converse. The two supplicants stated their case and the judge looked over the paperwork they had presented.
“Mr. Roydon, do you have any objection to my granting an early divorce to Elizabeth Roydon and for the reason stated, that she being with child by a man other than yourself?”
“Your Honor, this was at my suggestion that Mrs. Roydon and Bernard Greenberg, make supplication and apply for a waiver. I will give you the same reason I gave them. I recently became acquainted with a four-year-old child who lost her father fighting in the military. She had a father and loved him very much. She is waiting for another man to come along and claim her mother’s heart, knowing then she will have a father again.
“If Mr. Greenberg should succumb from sickness or injury before the child is born, that child would be denied the right to have a father and would forever be deemed illegitimate. This has nothing to do with the difficulties Mrs. Roydon and myself have had. Those have been resolved to the satisfaction of both of us. Those are my true feelings.”
“Quite an eloquent speech, Mr. Roydon. I will take this under advisement and you will have my decision within three days.” The judge rose and went into his chambers.
Bernie pushed Betty toward me. “Bernard wants me to tell you I am sorry for causing you pain by being unfaithful. I am sorry and I know you understand why I can’t say more. I have tried to be as fair in this breakup as I possibly can.”
“You have been Betty. Thank you for saying you are sorry. I doubt we will be seeing each other very much, and I wish you the best.”
Bernie was standing there with his hand outstretched. “I wish we had met under different circumstances. We could have become good friends. I think if you had not insisted in being away from Elizabeth so much and so often, you would still have her for a loving wife. Good luck to you for the future.” I stared at Bernie, not believing he had been told it was I who had insisted on us being apart.
“I wish the same for you.” There was only one thing remotely truthful that was said. I honestly thought Bernie meant it when he said good luck. For me when I said it, I meant it as well, but I so doubted he would have any luck. What my wife said and what I had said to her was pure crap.
Three days and I would know where I stood. It was up to the judge now, to tell me if I was still married or single. If still married, that would end in a few months and I knew Gail would wait for me. I drove over to tell Mom all about what was going on. Surprise, my in-laws were having coffee with her.
A look of pleasure and then sadness came over my mother-in-law. “Pete I’m so sorry you and Betty decided to divorce, but I can understand why. However, she told me you were in agreement for a hurry up divorce and I think that is so wonderful of you. So like you as well. You always thought first of your wife.”
“Yes, well, it is up to someone else to care for her now. I don’t really want to talk about her, but I do want to keep you as my friends. You have treated me as a son and I’d like to keep it that way. I will stop in occasionally and we can talk about anything, but maybe not about Betty.”
“You will always be welcome.”
I didn’t think much about how the judge would rule. I saw Gail most every day and sometimes we had hours and sometimes only long enough to get a steamy kiss. Ryan Powers made arrangements for us to fly to Texas for a first hand look at what I would be doing. I don’t know if he was aware that I had some clearance and could look at the corporation operations up to a certain level. I did and I spent much of my time reading about the company’s holdings in West Texas. I didn’t want to go into this blind.
We were gone three days. The day we were to return, I received a very early call from Gail. “Pete, in the morning paper it was announced the Bernard Greenberg and the former Mrs. Roydon were married last evening in a civil ceremony. The two were attorneys and both worked for the same firm. You didn’t tell me you are divorced.”
“I didn’t know I was. The decree must be in my mailbox. Why don’t you drive over and see if it is?”
“I’m at Rainy’s. I’ll call you back.” Fifteen minutes later, “Pete, you are single.”
“Well, I guess you better see if your Mom will invite me for dinner tonight. Pick me up at the airport and we’ll go directly there.”
“You’re really going to propose to me?”
“I am. Now don’t forget to pick me up. My flight will get in about four.”
“As if I would forget.”
There weren’t many people getting off the plane who got the welcome that I received. Ryan, who I hadn’t told anything, watched us. “Pete, what’s the occasion? I thought you were married?”
“I’m single two days and I’m proposing to this lady tonight right in front of her parents. Gail, this is the person I’m working for and that’s official. Ryan, this woman will be moving out to West Texas with me.”
“Well, go get cleaned up then. Don’t let me hold you up.”
When we got into Gail’s car, I asked if she would take one minute to meet my mother.
“Mom, you haven’t met Gail Proctor before, but I’m asking her to be my wife. We are going over to her parents now and I’m going to propose after dinner. I thought you would like to know.”
“I thought you would be marrying Rain Tuttle. You were so taken with Sandy.”
Gail was smiling. “No, Pete left her for my brother to marry. Pete’s all mine and he wants to father his own kids. He’s going to be uncle to Sandy instead of father, that’s all.”
“Mom, we’ll come back when Dad is home and spend some time later this evening.”
“You’d better, we will want to get to know this young lady.”
Pa Proctor was sitting outside on a deck where he could catch the breeze. I think Gail, even at twenty-three, was a little afraid of her father. “Who you got with you, Girl?”
Gail looked at me and could see I wasn’t intimidated in the least. “This is the man I’m going to marry, Pa. He’s got a job in West Texas and I’m going with him. Pete, I’ll get you a beer. You two get acquainted.” Gail went inside.
“That’s my beer the girl is getting for you.”
“I thank you.”
“What do you do?”
“My job in Texas is work in the oil fields. It’s a new job to me and I’m taking it so we can be together every night. I’ve been on a platform out in the Gulf for several years. No life for a married man.”
“You look familiar. Can’t place you though.”
“We met a month ago. It was at the diner. You told Gail to show me some listings.”
“I remember. Junk truck and then you bought the first house she sold. That wasn’t very long ago.”
“Not long, but long enough.” Just then Joe, Rainy and Sandy came up on the deck.
Sandy ran screaming, “Pete” and put her arms up to be hugged. Rainy came and hugged me, saying she missed me. Joe shook my hand, saying he was glad to see me again as well. Gail brought beer out and passed it around.
Mrs. Proctor was standing in the doorway. Now or never. I got up and stood in front of Gail. “Pete, don’t you dare get down on your knees. I was kidding when I said that is what I wanted.”
I did anyway to a flaming faced girl. “Gail, will you consent to be my wife?” I held out a ring for her to take.
“I already said I would, but yes I will marry you. The ring is beautiful. I will treasure it all of my life.” I got off my knee.
Sandy wanted to see the ring. Gail held out her hand. Sandy wasn’t that impressed. “It looks like glass.”
Mrs. Proctor looked at it and her reaction was different. “Oh my God, Gail, it is a treasure in itself.” She glanced at Rawson. Then she spoke to Sandy, “No Dear, this is a diamond. See how it catches the light and sparkles.” She led Gail by the hand over to Pa so he could inspect it. “You guys hurry and finish your beer. Supper is getting cold.”
I sat next to my fiancée and her hand came over and found mine under the table.
“You two haven’t known each other very long. I take it this will be a long engagement?”
“No Pa, I think we know enough about each other so our marriage will last.”
“You told him about your great-grandmother yet?”
“Yes I did. I wasn’t going to let you do to Pete what you did to my last boyfriend. You embarrassed him so.”
Pa Proctor grinned. “Best get something like that out in the open as soon as you can. It saves a lot of time. So what are your plans?”
“Pete has ten days before he has to leave for his new job. I’ll be working on the wedding plans with Mom. She’s going to make sure your check book is wide open. Pete’s going to give me a list of the friends he wants at the wedding. Pete thinks it best that he sells his house here, even though he just bought it. Then I’m going out there and find us a home to live in.
“A week before the wedding, I’ll be back to finalize all the plans. Pete will come back the Friday before Labor Day and we’ll be married on Saturday. We aren’t planning a honeymoon until he can get a week off which will be sometime in October.”
Gail paused and Joe spoke, “I’ll buy your house Pete. I have interests in the area.” Rainy reached over and punched him. “Rainy, we are starting a business together and we can discuss it in the evenings--or something.”
Pa ignored the interruption, “Well young lady, I can see you have this all planned out.”
“I sure have. Better planning than Pete’s last wife had.”
“You been married before?”
“Yes.”
“How long have you been single?”
“He’s been single two days, Pa. He didn’t even know he was single until I called him.”
“You’re moving too fast Gail.”
“I don’t think so. Pa, how long did you know Mom before you married her?”
“That was different.”
“It wasn’t either Rawson. Peter, Rawson met me and two days later he proposed. We were married three days after that. It has been a good marriage for both of us.”
Pa grinned. “Okay, you get married and I’ll stand up with you. At least Peter has a job, which is something I didn’t have when Stella and I were hitched.”
We didn’t stay long and we drove into the city to see my folks. Dad said little as usual and Mom and Gail rattled on about the wedding until almost eleven when I said I guessed I had better take her home.
After we headed back my way, Gail said, “We’ll stop at your house first. If I have to go home I have to get my toothbrush. I put it into your cabinet over the lavatory before I picked you up at the airport. It is expected I will be staying over, so it is your call.” Needless to say, I only had to drive home.
Five years later sitting in the shade with a brew in my hand
Gail and I still live in West Texas. I’m what you would call a seven to five worker and I still work for the same oil company. Our home is close enough so I can go home and see our little ones at noon, and that breaks up my day. Little Samantha is just a little younger now than when I first bought Sandy and Rainy an ice cream cone.
There are also twin boy babies, Joseph and Randy, in our house too. Samantha thinks she owns them (and us) and does everything to help her mother take care of the infants. We have kept in touch with just about everyone who was involved during that six weeks at the time I was served by my wife.
Ryan comes to dinner once a month. At first it was always with his wife Ruth, but over time he sometimes arrived with her sister Sarah, just stating that Ruth was visiting Jim for the weekend. I deduced Jim and Ryan keep alternating the exchange once every month. We enjoy having dinner with Jim when we visit Biloxi and are never sure which sister will be welcoming us. Works for them.
It is always a busy weekend when we do go there. Mom and Dad want us to stay with them, Pa and Stella Proctor love to have us stay over so she can play with her grandchildren just like Mom and Dad.
Joe and Rainy married, so Rainy is my sister-in-law. I am so glad I didn’t make a move on her as I can see that it wouldn’t have worked out between us. Sandy came and stayed with us last summer. She wants her parents to have a baby and the last time we visited, Rainy winked at me. She hasn’t told Sandy yet, but she had better soon or Sandy will figure it out for herself.
Betty? Yes, I do run into her occasionally. Most often at Jim and Sarah’s home or at one of their friends. These people were my friends when I was married to Betty, and I have kept up with some of them. I really enjoy talking with Bernie as he is a warm, likable person, and I suppose I have been able to be at ease around Betty. No love between Gail and Betty, though.
I don’t guess my predictions about Betty will come true. I think a person could say that my first marriage with Betty was a mismatch, for I see real affection and love blossoming between Bernie and Betty. The child she bore Bernie has made the difference and he has someone to carry on the Greenberg name. Betty withdrew from prosecuting and when she works, it’s usually mundane property disputes.
“Pete, come in here and hold Samantha. The boys are hungry and need to nurse.”
This was routine. My little girl would crawl into my lap and five minutes later would be asleep. I would sit and watch my wife with a baby in each arm, feeding and rocking in the chair with a contented smile on her face. It can’t get better than this.
The End
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