She Took It All

  Chapter Two

  Ronnie did come on Sunday. I was the observer. When he came in, he grabbed Shelly for a passionate kiss, but she pulled away from him as soon as she could. I could see he loved his kids and they felt the same way about him. He ignored Jimmy and was cool toward me.

  After dinner, I suggested to Jimmy that he show me where he had been playing down by the brook. This would give my housekeeper a chance to reconnect with her ex-husband. A half hour later, the two girls came and found Jimmy and me. “Mom told us to go play with Jimmy. I hope Mom and Daddy aren’t going to fight like they did before he left last time.” They looked so sad. I took time to show the kids how to skip stones across the brook.

  When we returned to the house after an hour, Shelly and Ronnie were calm and it seemed as if things were fine between them. He fooled with Sandy and Kathy, laughing and joking with them. Before he left though, Kathy let her dad know how rough it was living when he didn’t send the money he was supposed to.

  “Jimmy used to bring us food from his house for us to eat and we almost had to go to a shelter, but Jimmy’s dad came just in time and gave Mom a job.”

  His only comment was that the Lord did provide when he couldn’t. Shelly’s face darkened, but she didn’t say anything. Ronnie left shortly after this exchange. The girls clung to him and cried as he left. Jimmy saved the day when he walked between them and held their hands as they waved good-bye.

  When the kids were in bed and sleeping, Shelly said, “I imagine you want to know what went on between Ronnie and me while you were out.”

  “Yes, but I don’t need to.”

  “I knew you would say that. John, I was hoping that things had changed, but Ron is worse instead of better. I will never go back to him. Would you believe he thought we should go to bed? I haven’t seen him for months and that is the first thing he wanted. That car he is driving belongs to his girlfriend. My mother-in-law told me that yesterday.

  “I asked him for some of the back money he owes, but he said he had to live and didn’t see how he could give me any. I have always said I would never say anything bad to the kids about him, but it is difficult. He is working and I am tempted to have his wages garnished. What should I do?”

  “Shelly, I can’t advise you.”

  “I know that. I guess that as long as I am working for you, I’m okay. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along with a job offer. I have only known you for six days and it has been the brightest time I’ve had for a long time.”

  “When is he coming to see the girls again?”

  “He said he would be back in two weeks on a Saturday to take the kids out. He intimated there might be a woman with him. I will be talking to my mother-in-law before then and I’ll know more about what Ronnie does and how he lives. She has always liked me and she loves her grandkids.”

  We sat on the couch and Shelly was staring into space, while I watched the show, 60 minutes. “You know I was so excited about seeing him again. I am not now. I’m just disappointed.”

  “I don’t know exactly how you feel, but I went through much the same thing. My wife dumped me. Don’t get me wrong, I was ready for our marriage to end. I wanted her to feel sorry or sad about what she was doing, but I never saw any indication of it until we saw her this week. There was never even any raising of voices because by that time she had taken all I had to give and when she wanted the divorce, that was it and there was no more.”

  “As you could see, she saw how much I have changed. That comes of me finally being in control of my own life. I think you are coming to something like that and will be the better for it.”

  “You are saying, when I set my own course in life I’ll feel a lot better?”

  “Something like that. You are going to be okay. You have been through the fire and although scorched a little, you have been tempered to a hardness it takes to see you through to the end. Just remember to leave a little softness for those who really cherish you. Shelly, I have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to sack in even though it is early. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, John. Thank you for pausing long enough to listen to me. I think I will go to bed myself.”

  Ronnie did come to see the girls every other weekend and took them out to a different fast food place. The girls wanted Jimmy with them so I gave him money. I knew Ronnie would not pay for his meal. All three kids would be going to the local school and we had that all arranged.

  Elizabeth did write to Jimmy. Often it was no more than a postcard showing some site she visited, but she was faithful in corresponding anyway. We never had an address where we could contact her. I received a support payment regularly. She doubled the amount and I freely used it for Sandy and Kathy.

  When I paid Shelly her wages, she returned 20% of it when she cashed her check. She had a ledger and showed me the balance she still owed me on the money she borrowed when I paid off her landlord.

  Shelly did go to court for an order so she could garnish Ronnie’s wages. He was some pissed. We all knew he would never pay what he owed in back support, but he was paying the current amount due each month. No more free lunch for him.

  We did meet his current girlfriend, Pam. She was older by five years than Ronnie. Personally, I liked her, as she seemed to have it all together. She was not particularly pretty, but attractive with her curly brown hair and bright brown eyes.

  She took no crap from Ronnie and bossed him unmercifully. It was what he needed, I suspect. Shelly had loved Ronnie and never had treated him with disrespect while they were married. I imagine if a balance could have been struck between the actions of the two, and Shelly had found it, she would still be married to him.

  Jimmy did not get a card the first week of September from his mother. None in the second week either. I called her attorney when there was nothing the third week. He informed me, “She’ll be contacting you shortly. She is fine, just busy. She sends her love to Jimmy. I should have relayed that sooner.”

  Two days after this conversation, I came home to see Elizabeth’s car sitting in my driveway. I guess neither she nor Shelly heard me drive in and I stepped into the living room where the two women were sitting on the couch.

  Elizabeth came bounding off the couch and into my arms. She kissed me before saying, “Johnny, I’m so glad to see you.” Two things struck me as being different. She rarely called me Johnny and she rarely was demonstrative in front of anyone unless it was Jimmy.

  I backed her up so I could look into her eyes. “This is a surprise. I didn’t expect you back in this country for another three months or so.”

  “Oh, I have had an awful time. I don’t know what to believe about anyone anymore. I even had a hard time getting home.”

  “Calm down. You can tell me all about it, maybe this evening. Have you seen Jimmy?”

  “No. Shelly said he and the girls went down to the neighbors to play when they got home from school.”

  “She’ll give you directions if you want to go meet him. He has been wondering why you haven’t written for the last three weeks. You can gauge how he feels about you when you walk in on him. I have to take a shower as I have been out to the pig farm with a truckload of bread. I might not smell the best.”

  “You smell good to me.”

  I looked over her shoulder at Shelly who was staring at the back of Elizabeth’s head. The thought flashed through me. Shelly is jealous. Then she looked at my face and flushed. Another thought, she is not just jealous. I recognized in that glance that she had feelings for me.

  To me this was a new and welcomed development. When we had time, I might ask about these feelings I had and see if hers matched mine. I had been waiting for the right opening for weeks. I still hadn’t got over my habit of letting others control my life and I needed to change that.

  Elizabeth went looking for Jimmy and I went to take a shower while Shelly made dinner. I invited Elizabeth to stay the night. She would have Jimmy’s bed and he would bunk in with me. Shelly then ru
shed the kids through dinner so they could catch the early show as it was Friday night and no school tomorrow.

  “Jimmy your Dad wants to talk to your Mom. We’ll give them some time together. We’ll go to the movies so they can.”

  “Okay, but I want to stay here with Dad. I don’t want to move back with you, Mom.”

  “Jimmy, I promise I won’t ask you to. I would like to have you visit me over Christmas though.”

  “Maybe, but I want to spend Christmas with Kathy and Sandy. Can they come with me?”

  “We’ll talk about it. It is a long time from now.” That seemed to satisfy Jimmy and away they went with Shelly.

  I turned to Elizabeth. “Okay, tell me about the last three months. I take it is what you came here for.”

  “John I should never have divorced you. You were always there for me and did just what I wanted you to do. Brian was more of a take-charge person. I didn’t realize this until we traveled overseas. I suppose I didn’t think you equaled me in class and I thought Brian did.

  “I did budget how much money I planned on spending on our sojourn. Brian spent it freely. Then I woke up two weeks ago and he was gone. He took everything of value, including his clothes and my jewelry. He stuck me with the hotel bills and several other items I agreed he could buy which I thought were already paid for.

  “The bastard even took my credit cards and maxed them out in that one evening between the time I went to bed and when I woke up. I am now a quarter of a million dollars poorer than when I said good-bye to you last summer. Christ, you didn’t cost me that in the twelve years I knew you.” Elizabeth went into details of what had transpired during the last three months.

  “He was a con man then, and you were his mark.”

  “Yes and if when he tries to get back into the United States, he may have trouble.”

  “Oh, he’ll be back and some day he’ll be caught, because crooks are always apprehended. I can almost guarantee you’ll never get your money back though.”

  “I don’t care about the money, but you can bet I’ll be the prosecution’s best witness.”

  “So why are you here to see me?”

  “Just to see Jimmy and cry on your shoulder, I guess. Maybe you can tell me how to straighten out my life. Looking back, I can see where you never bucked against me. You always made sure I was happy in our life together. That is until I thought I wanted someone more exciting than you appeared to be. I screwed up royally didn’t I?”

  “No, my leaving you was coming. I wasn’t happy being in your shadow and I sometimes felt like I was your lap dog. When I realized I was better than that, it was inevitable we part. I am happy now. I do have to watch my money because my business is growing all of the time. I haven’t taken time for any personal happiness either, but I’m going to change that soon.”

  “Shelly?”

  “Maybe. I haven’t spoken to her about how I feel.”

  “I talked to her this afternoon and I have no idea what is in her mind, except she wants her two girls and Jimmy to grow up together. I think she would marry you just to make that happen.”

  “It would have to be more than that.”

  “I guess you are right. You tried marriage with the love unequal between the partners. We know that doesn’t work.” Elizabeth looked sad realizing that if she had not been quite so demanding, we might still be married.

  I listened to a scene-by-scene story of the movie when Shelly and the kids came home. Elizabeth was going to bed after telling Jimmy good night. She was a long time in saying good night to him and Shelly had time to ask me if I was going back to her.

  “No, our time is behind us even though she has changed for the better. She is discovering that other people besides her have wants and needs.” Elizabeth came back in and said good night to us. “John, we do have a great son. I am so proud. Shelly, I love Kathy and Sandy almost as much as I do Jimmy. I will see you in the morning. Good night.” She left us.

  “See what I mean? She would have never said that before to either me or you.”

  “She does seem thoughtful. How long is she staying?”

  “I don’t know. For a few days, I guess. Say, I have to go to Gainesville on business Wednesday, and I am planning to be back home late Friday. It isn’t that far away, but I am going to be gone overnight Wednesday and Thursday. Would you like to go with me? I’ll ask Elizabeth to watch the kids.”

  “The kids will miss us.”

  “Elizabeth will get them ready for school and take them out to eat every night.”

  “Okay, if you really want me to tag along.”

  I looked her in the face. “I can’t think of anything I would like better.”

  “I’ll do it. Let me ask Elizabeth now. She can’t have gone to sleep yet.” I heard the two women laughing and it was a half hour later before Shelly came out and sat across the room from me.

  “Well, will she?” Shelly’s face was flushed and she was smiling broadly.

  “Yes she will. You know, I was prepared to hate your wife, but I think I like her. She seems so full of it.”

  I looked back at her blankly. “That’s not the wife I knew. Wow, is she finally becoming human?”

  “Oh, she’s human. John, let’s make her our friend. We will be seeing her quite often. She wants to keep seeing Jimmy.”

  “I hope she isn’t planning on taking custody away from me.”

  “No she isn’t, I asked her. She also has invited us to spend Christmas with her, you know. She’s planning a bash so I can see all of my old neighbors whom I was friendly with when I lived here. You’ll see yours from two years ago as well.” I just shook my head in disbelief.

  There was more. Elizabeth went into the kitchen while Shelly was getting Sunday dinner. Food preparation was all new to my ex-wife. She was so proud when I complimented Shelly on the baking powder biscuits and Shelly said that Elizabeth had been the one to make them. “I may have put them together, but Shelly told me exactly how.”

  Monday, I took Elizabeth to work with me. We first went to the store and then about eleven we went to the warehouse where the day-old food was coming in to be separated, marked, and transported to the discount store. We went back and watched as the wrappers were removed, the older stuff going into the pig farm tubs to be processed. “Would you like to ride out there with me? Shelly often drives the truck for me, but it is mine to do today.”

  “Sure, I might as well see your whole operation. It must cost you a lot to rent this old warehouse.”

  “It is expensive, but I have an option to buy just as soon as my profit allows me to.”

  “Why don’t you borrow the money?”

  “Because the business as it is, just won’t support so large an expenditure yet. I can buy it in two years if I continue to grow at the same pace as I am now.”

  “That seems like a long time to wait.”

  “Not long in the scheme of things.”

  “I could lend you the money. Hell, I could give you the money.”

  An explosive no came from me. “Elizabeth, I don’t want that kind of help from you. I’m just getting comfortable with you being here to visit our son. I don’t want to be beholden to you in any other way. If I took money from you, I would be right back to feeling as I did before we divorced. Don’t do this to me.”


  “Our relationship bothered you that much?”

  “Not at first, but then I began to get the feeling you bought me and you began acting as if you had.”

  “Give me an example.”

  “I can easily.”

  “Do it.”

  “Okay, here goes and this is a quote, ‘John we are expected at the club for dinner at eight. After dinner, try to converse with the other men we are joining. You have a habit of finding a corner and looking as if you want to be alone. You could dance with the other spouses. Some of the women wonder about our marriage and why I married you. You’re making me look bad.’ Elizabeth, something like that happened more often than not.
r />   “I admit you had some cause, but you were the one that put me into that situation. In case you forgot, I warned you that my being married to you would never work because you were so rich. It would have been so easy for me to take advantage of you just like this Brian who just took you for a ride.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “For one thing, I knew you didn’t know what you were doing to me. When I tried to talk to you about it, you wouldn’t listen. Another reason was I had to live and respect myself. I made the same vows you did and when it became obvious I didn’t respect myself any longer, it was time to leave. You made it easy for me by instituting the suit. I did it without breaking any of my vows.”

  We rode along without either of us saying anything. Just as we pulled into the hog ranch, Elizabeth said, “I should have listened to you when I had the chance. Too late now. John, at least I know now why you left without being nasty or mean. I’m glad we had this talk.” She was staring out the window. “My God, look at the pigs! There are hundreds of them.”

  “Ye and I own a little piece of each one.”

  “You aren’t planning on going into politics are you John?”

  “No, what do you mean?”

  “I mean you have your own private pork barrel.” This was the first time Elizabeth had ever tried to make a joke. It was a weak one, but she made the effort, anyway.

  I stepped down from the truck and faced her. I stood there staring at her shaking my head. “It was really bad, huh?”

  “The joke wasn’t that great, but I’m beginning to have hope for you.”

  “Stop for a minute. John, I always thought I was an intelligent person, but I’ve learned you are more so than I am. I do know one thing that you might not be aware of and I am passing it on to you. Shelly Waters loves you very deeply. Don’t let her get away. Now let’s go play with the piggies.”

  We didn’t go where the pigs were, but Elizabeth showed interest in their production. This was especially when the food that I trucked in was mentioned by my partner, Sam Gembrowski. “You know this is classified as a free range hog operation and we are allowed to advertise as such. This brings us a few more cents a pound when we market the hogs.

  “It would be nice if we could advertise as an organic farm, but using the feed that John provides we can’t. There are too many preservatives and chemicals added to the bread and doughnuts to let us do that. However, we are careful and do make sure what we feed is good for the animals and for the humans who ultimately utilize the pork. Believe it or not, pigs are very close to man in their body makeup and organs.”

  Elizabeth interjected: “Maybe that accounts for so many obese people in the United States.”

  “Hey lady, you may have something in that.”

  On the way home, I said I might take Shelly dancing one night when we were away. Elizabeth thought that a grand idea.

  ———————

  We were up very early Wednesday morning. We had a three-hour drive and I had an early meeting. I planned to leave about five. Shelly and I had promised we would bring the kids back a present when we returned. We did get away on time. I had to go through the city to reach the state route I would be traveling.

  As we left the city, I asked what rooms Shelly had reserved. “Room! I have only reserved one room. You have slept in the same bed twice before with me when we first met. I am comfortable with the same arrangement.”

  I looked at Shelly. She had a gentle smirk on her face. I wanted to let her know I was willing to leave her in charge on this point. “I’m okay with that. You have to know, though, things have changed since that time.”

  “I’m counting on it. Change the subject. What is this business you have to conduct?”

  “I’m meeting with a bakery that makes all sorts of bakery products. There will be other men here so I’m told, but I don’t know in what capacity. Getting the bread discards and mistakes made in baking is what I am aiming for. I’m looking for a contract that will direct more out of date product my way.

  “We have enough day old items to stock our discount store, but I know there is a lot of stuff that would go to pig feed. Rather than have the factory handle it, I thought maybe I could set up a collection point and it would come right to me from the factory to handle.

  “If that happens, then I can buy the warehouse and process it right there.”

  “Always thinking aren’t you?”

  “Yes. Look, I want my business to grow, but I don’t want it to get so big but what I still have time enough to enjoy family. At some point, I will come to that and stop expanding. When I stop expanding, I will hire someone to manage it and just do consulting. I know you worked in accounting, would you care to take on more duties as my accountant?”

  “I would. I know I can help you so you can reach your goals sooner.”

  “I don’t want to get rich, say like Elizabeth is, but I do want to be comfortable and send my kids to college, have a vacation every year, and buy the items to be comfortable when I need them.”

  “Kids, you only have one.”

  “Oh, but I plan on having more just as soon as I find someone to spend the rest of my life with. It is time to change the subject again. What are you going to be doing while I’m in the meeting?”

  “I’m going shopping. Elizabeth gave me money for being such a good surrogate mother to Jimmy. I shouldn’t have taken it, but she gave several reasons why I should. She convinced me.”

  It was companionable as we rode along. “Tell me about your life while you were growing up, if you would? I know it is personal, but I would like to know.”

  “I don’t mind. I had a happy childhood. We never had much money, but always found enough for the necessities. You haven’t met my parents yet. My dad will like you and you will like him, I think. Mom is sweet, just like you want a mother to be. I have a brother who is smarter than the rest of us. He is a lawyer and lives in California with his wife and their two children.

  “My dad has a small moving company with three trucks. He doesn’t do any long haul moves, just local. He has one full time employee. I used to fill in when he had all three trucks out. You’ll meet him next week when they come to visit.”

  “What about you and Ronnie? How did you meet him?”

  “He was my childhood sweetheart. His mother sent him off to school after we graduated. He did not do well there. Too many parties I guess, so he flunked out and came home. He found a job and started courting me. I was working so we got married. His folks moved to where they live now and Ronnie had a chance to work in the town where I met you.

  “Shortly after we got situated, he lost his job. I worked and he was supposed to take care of Kathy and Sandy. He couldn’t even do that. I came home a couple of times and the girls were home alone. We argued about it until I said I had enough. My mother and father paid for the divorce and he went back to live with his folks.

  “So here I am with two kids and all the expenses because I couldn’t count on Ronnie to help at all. He really was a big disappointment to me. I lost my job and that is when Jimmy started helping out by bringing us some food. Then you arrived. End of story.’’

  “Have you dated at all?”

  “No, how could I? Too much baggage. Have you dated since your divorce from Elizabeth?”

  “No. Christ that makes us almost virgin again doesn’t it?”

  “Maybe so, but I’ll bet that is going to change. Let’s move on to a different subject.”

  “Okay.” We went another few miles. Then I asked, “We will get to the hotel about eight. I think we should stop at a diner somewhere and eat breakfast. Then I will get us checked in. When we check in, is it going to be as Mr. and Mrs. Rheingold or otherwise?”

  “I think Mrs. Rheingold would be perfect.”

  I looked sideways. “Good. Shelly, I’m going somewhat slowly with you. I don’t want to rush you into anything, but I would like to have a relationship with you.”

  “I want one with you too. So
metimes I wonder why you want one with me. I hope you aren’t just feeling sorry for me. I don’t need pity.”

  “Sorry for you? Hell, I admire you. Look at the troubles and set-backs you have had? I’ve had it easy compared to you and yet here we are ready for a relationship. One I hope will last a long time and maybe for the rest of our lives.

  “You know when I left Elizabeth I was going to show that I didn’t need her or her money. She is taking care of our kids right now and she does not cross my mind that often. I think of you all the time and how I’m going to make you happy enough to stay in my life.”

  We were coming to the diner where I had in mind to eat breakfast. That cut off our discussion. I parked in the second row of vehicles. “Shelly?”

  It was a question. She unbuckled her seat belt and came into my arms, saying, “I’ve wanted to do that for so long. It was just as perfect as I imagined it would be.”

  Just then, someone walked by and stopped to look in at us and then he smiled. “Pretty early in the day for that.” We both laughed up at him and pecked each other before following him into the diner.

  My meeting was in room 409. Our room was 607. I followed the bellhop into the elevator and got off on the fourth floor, kissing Shelly on the cheek as she did so. “I’ll meet you for lunch in the lobby. I may have to return for an hour or so after lunch. Would you please ask around and get dinner reservation somewhere nice?”

  “You got it.”

  I walked into room 409. There were three men sitting at a small round conference table. It was suggested I get coffee before sitting down if I wished. The oldest, a man in his sixties, introduced himself as Tim Reardon, the manager of the bakery I was going to be dealing with if things progressed as I hoped.

  There was Mike Haslund, a year or two younger than I was. He was interested in my workforce of the homeless, and the part-time welfare workers, and those on unemployment. The third person, looking to be the same age as Mike, was introduced as Neil, no last name given.

  I started my spiel, “Gentlemen, much of what I’ll be telling you, you know already. My operation is small and right now has three components to it. I own a portion of a good-sized convenience store. It has bakery products that go out of date before they are sold. I looked for a way to salvage these goods.

  “Some I can salvage as food for human consumption. Not a big portion, but some. The rest is stripped of packaging and processed as animal feed and that is the second component. The third component is that I also own part of a hog ranch that utilizes the animal feed.”

  “My store doesn’t enter into this only to show where the product comes from. Tim’s bakery could be said to be the same as my convenience store, just a lot bigger. I have leased an old factory warehouse and that is where most of the action is. It is large enough to process fifty times what I am doing right now. To do that, I need more people and I need more equipment.

  “I’ve hesitated to even think about expanding until I can lock up a supply. I need a contract to do that. Then I can go to the city and state and look for grant money and tax abatement. There should be some money available for that. Just think if I provided six jobs to the homeless, twelve to fifteen for those on welfare and as many as that to the unemployed. Some of these jobs could be performed by the disabled.”

  Neil asked, “What happens if you lose the lease on your warehouse?”

  “I think I have that locked in. I have an option to buy if it is ever sold. Not only that, it is for whatever the city’s appraisal is.”

  “Smart. Where will you be getting all of these people to man your operation if you expand?”

  “The city used to have bus service down into this section when the factories were operating. I’m sure they would again. Maybe some of those closed down factory buildings would open up if the area were revitalized for manufacturing new products.

  “This isn’t a bad section of the city. The beltway comes close and the area is easy to reach. Some of the better constructed factory buildings could even be rehabbed for living quarters. This has been done in other areas.”

  “You sound like a man of vision. Where do you see this all going for you?”

  “Thanks Mike, I hope I have the correct vision. The operation will not be too different from what it is right now, just bigger. I am looking to accomplish this in the next five years. By that time, I will own the warehouse. The hog ranch has room to expand and that can come about if what is fed to the hogs is cheap enough.

  “Believe it or not, this bakery stuff can’t be fed as a diet wholly. It can be combined with other normal feed for a saving of at least twenty percent. That can enhance the bottom line considerably.”

  “And then what for you?”

  “I’ll do consulting, leaving a manager in place to operate the warehouse. I’ll still be short of forty years. I will never give up this that I have started. I will have invested too much time and thought into it to let it go out of my hands entirely. Besides I have a family and children to help educate.”

  “You’re married then I take it?”

  “No Neil, I’m not, but I do have a lady in mind. She has two beautiful little girls and I have a son by a woman whom I divorced years ago. Actually, she divorced me. She is super rich and for a few years, I lived her lifestyle. I felt cramped because I felt so unproductive. I don’t have that problem now. In fact, we are still friends and she is staying at my house caring for our son while I am here today.

  “Tim, let’s get down to details on what if anything you can do for me.”

  “Okay. Basically, I like what you have done so far. I think you should write this up into a business model. That should get you financing at any institution. You are going to need more equipment and some changes to this warehouse you are located in.”

  “I have done the paperwork already. All I need to get started is a contract, or at least a letter of intent.”

  “If you have it in hand, I will look at it this morning. Would you mind if Mike and Neil look at it with me?”

  “No, of course not, although I can’t see why.” I pulled the papers out and passed them to Reardon. As he finished reading a page, he passed it on to the others. I got up and refilled my coffee cup.

  “Well this is pretty thorough. I would suggest you lock in your lease on the property you are using. That seems like the only weak link in your plan.”

  I looked across the table at Neil. “Can we do business, Mr. Neil Fortier? Can I get the long-term lease I need? I already have the option to purchase it, but I don’t have the funds at present. I want to get the business expanded before I buy.”

  “I’d say you have done your homework, Mr. Rheingold. I wasn’t aware it was known that I own that particular property.”

  “Don’t blame the property manager who I have been dealing with. I had an investigator look into who owned property in the area. Actually, you don’t own it, I believe your mother does. A Mrs. Molly Fortier, correct? I told you I was married at one time to a super rich woman. She wasn’t that knowledgeable about things such as this, but many of the people she associates with are. I listened and learned from them.”

  “I’d say you learned well. I will advise my parent to do as you wish. She is pretty sharp herself. She has been after me to see if I couldn’t think of some way to upgrade the value of the old factory buildings she owns in our section of the city. I think you have pointed out a way to do this.”

  The rest of the meeting was just details. Tim Reardon promised a contract if I was going to be in town. I said I was not leaving until Friday afternoon. I agreed to go by his office to pick it up.

  I was curious how Neil Fortier was notified and involved in this meeting. Tim Reardon answered. “Mike Haslund is my son-in-law. We discussed this. When he learned what the meeting was about and where, he called up his buddy Neil from college, knowing he would be interested.”

  I shook hands all around, well satisfied on how the meeting went this morning. I believed I would be going home with a
ll that I came for. We all left the meeting together. Now for more personal business. Shelly was waiting in the lobby as agreed.

  I almost didn’t recognize her. She was dressed for lunch in heels, a white blouse and a straight skirt and matching jacket of beige. Her hair had been done. Where she had found time to have it styled, I had no idea. Maybe I harked back to when Elizabeth had hers done, which was at least a three-hour session. Shelly’s hair, dull gold always, had taken on a sheen from something applied, I was sure. Did she ever stand out!

  Shelly came up to me and kissed me on the cheek. “How did it go?”

  “Very well. Shelly, I would like to have you meet Tim Reardon who is giving me the contract I was looking for and his son-in-law Mike Haslund, and Neil Fortier. Neil is from our city and I will be involved with him in the business to some extent. Gentlemen, Shelly Waters, my intended.”

  All were pleased to meet Shelly and said so. “Mr. Fortier, if you and John are involved together in the future, you must come visit us. We have three children between us. I can send them down to the neighbors so they won’t be a distraction if you want to conduct business.”

  “Call me Neil. May I address you as Shelly?” Shelly nodded. “Would it be possible, if I came by Saturday afternoon for just a few minutes? I want to speak to my mother and then I can let John know what she says. She may want to meet with John herself.”

  “Certainly.” They shook hands and I turned to Shelly. God was she beautiful and was I proud. We went into the hotel dining room for lunch. I was almost giddy while telling her about my meeting. That done, “What are you planning for this afternoon and where are we dining tonight?”

  “It is nap time this afternoon. Tonight we are eating in a Country and Western dance hall and lounge. They have live music starting at nine. Have you ever done any line dancing?”

  “Yes, and I’m quite good at it.”

  “I knew that. Your ex told me and that is why I felt okay to get reservations at the bar. She also told me she hated being dragged out to such a place and wouldn’t go very often. Ronnie used to take me when we had the money, but it has been several years.”

  I used the key card to let us into room 607. Shelly preceded me, going in and turning as I closed the door. She came into my arms, kissing me passionately. “John, is it sleep or something else? I’ll go along with what you suggest.”

  “Is the reservation for the dinner or the dance?”

  “The dance.”

  “Good. That means there is time for both here in the hotel. I’ll have room service bring our dinner about seven-thirty. That something else you mentioned can happen and we will still have time for a short nap. Right now I’m going to take a shower.”

  Shelly took her shower first. When I came out of the bath after mine with a towel around me, Shelly was bending over a suitcase across the room. She wiggled her butt just a little and then looked over her shoulder. “Does this look familiar?”

  I advanced on this naked woman, dropping my towel as I approached. “This is where you are supposed to scream, who are you?” Shelly did scream just a little and then the scream turned to squeaks of pleasure. It was because I was finding those secret spots on her body that hadn’t been fondled for a while. The same was soon happening to me. We did make it to the bed, before continuing.

  There was an urgency about our coming together that could not be denied and it did not take forever either. Soon after the first fire had been quenched, we turned to exploring and then to making love. There were no inhibitions either as we reveled in each other. Finally, “This is an anniversary for us, you know?”

  “What’s the anniversary?”

  “It was four months ago today that you hired me to look after Jimmy. John, I have to tell you I am the happiest I have ever been. Hold me and hold me forever.” We went to sleep just like that, holding each other.

  We were talking to the kids on the phone when our dinner was wheeled into our room. I had a minute with Elizabeth, telling her I thought I had everything I was after. She congratulated me and turned the phone back to the kids.

  Sandy and Kathy had been bade by Elizabeth to call her Aunt Elizabeth. Jimmy thought this was a great joke and wanted to call his mother likewise. Unbelievably, she thought this was funny and agreed. She was connecting with Jimmy in ways I never thought she would stoop to. Exhibiting upper class actions had always meant so much to her.

  Shelly had bought us new clothes and laid them out. Pre-washed dungarees and western styled shirts. I said we would be laughed at, they were so new, but she said here in the city, there would be others dressed the same as us. She was right of course. The dances were a mix of the Texas two-step, the line dance and of course, these were interspersed with the waltz.

  We had no idea how much we would be drinking so had opted for a taxi to transport us. It was a good thing for both of us were well on the way to being loaded by the time it was time to return to the hotel. I took time to brush my teeth in the bathroom before crashing in bed. I didn’t even remember anything after seeing Shelly heading for her own absolutions.

  I was up three hours later for a pee break. When I crawled back into bed, I saw that Shelly’s eyes were open. “I woke you up getting back into bed I think. I’m sorry.”

  “No, I had to get up. I didn’t hear you. Shelly, as long as you are awake, I want to tell you that I love you. I’ll always love you.”

  “I’ll always love you too. Let me turn over so you can spoon against me. I can’t imagine anything better than you being snuggled up to me.”

  “I can’t either. Would you mind if I cupped your breast as we lie here?”

  “I’d like that.” When I awoke in the morning, I found I had turned over and it was Shelly who was snuggled up to me. It just could not get better than this. I lay there in bed making the decision that I wanted Shelly to be my wife. There was no time like the present to ask her.

  “Shelly, wake up.”

  “I’m awake.”

  “We have kind of had a little honeymoon, don’t you think it is time we were married?”

  “I do. When?”

  “How about next weekend, unless you want a big wedding?”

  “Next weekend is fine with me. Can we have it right in our own home? I mean we have a business to attend to and the kids have school. You can move from the back apartment right into my bed.”

  “Good. I couldn’t think of a better plan. Do you think your parents will come?”

  “They will. The girls see little enough of their Beals grandparents. What about your grandfather and grandmother?”

  “They’ll come. I’d like one other couple. Madie and Will. They should be with us. Are you going to inform Ronnie?”

  “I suppose I should, but I’m not inviting him or his parents to our wedding. I’m still friendly with them, but this is our wedding and they are not involved. What about Elizabeth?”

  “I don’t know. How do you feel about having her at our ceremony?”

  “I wouldn’t mind. She has been helpful, but I don’t want her involved at all. Okay, we have talked about getting married. It is about time we sealed the deal. I’ll freshen up first.” It took longer than I expected. I guess freshening up meant more than just brushing her teeth. Umm, she smelled nice and tasted nice—all over.

  I had planned this day for us. It was perfect. The weather was nice. We had promised the kids presents and now we had to deliver. Finally, in desperation, we bought Halloween costumes because we couldn’t come up with anything else. Feeling guilty, we purchased a book for each.

  Still we needed something to know we thought of them. We were passing a photography studio at the time. “Photos while you wait” were promised. We went in and a half hour later, we had a picture in a frame that was captioned, John and Shelly Rheingold, husband and wife, father and mother of Sandy, Jimmy, and Kathy. We made the obligatory call to the kids. They wondered why Shelly was so giggly. We promised to tell them tomorrow when we got home.

  In th
e evening we went to an upscale restaurant and then on to a ballroom for dancing. The night was just as enjoyable after returning to the hotel. We were still in bed when our phone rang the next morning. It was Tim Reardon telling me I could pick up the papers anytime. This was great for us, as we would arrive home about the time school let out.

  Elizabeth had gotten along good with the kids. She was some frazzled though, and declared they were hungry all the time. The biggest problem was that she had never done any cooking in her life. Well, maybe a slice of toast on occasion. She had thrown up her hands the first evening and let the kids get the meals.

  “I must have gained five pounds. I swear Jimmy is going to be a chef.” I laughed to myself. No way in hell would Elizabeth let that happen? I just could not see her talking to her rich friends about her son the chef.

  The kids got their presents as soon as we got home. I let Shelly spring the news that we planned to get married. “Kathy, Sandy and Jimmy, I have a picture of us that John and I took while we were away.” Believe it or not, it was Sandy the youngest, who took the time to read the caption. She came to me for a hug.

  “Can I call you Dad for real now? I’ve wanted to forever.”

  “It isn’t happening until a week from tomorrow, but you can call me Daddy right now.”

  “Goody!”

  Elizabeth came and took the photo from Kathy, looking first at the picture and then at Shelly and then at me. “Congratulations John and Shelly, I had a feeling this was coming. I couldn’t choose a better step-mother for Jimmy than Shelly. Have you made any plans yet?”

  We explained who we wanted at our wedding. When I mentioned Madie and Will, Elizabeth said, “Make a deal with you, John. If you invite me to your service, I’ll have Madie and Will come and I’ll put them up in a motel. I have wanted to do something nice for them since I came back from Paris. This will make us all happy.”

  Kathy called her grandparents. Her father Ronnie was there and she told him the news. She could not contain her excitement and exclaimed how happy she and Sandy were to have a new dad. He growled at her and made her cry. I had to explain to her why he would not be happy with me marrying her mom. “Well, I don’t care. At least since we have been living with you we always have enough to eat and Mom doesn’t worry about paying her bills.”

  I had slept with Shelly for the last two nights. I had become addicted. No way was I going to sleep alone again. Sandy came through again and made it easy without having to explain anything. “Now that you are my Daddy, you have to sleep in the bed with Mommy.” That took care of that problem.

  Almost anyway. Elizabeth said she guessed she would move to a motel. Shelly said she wasn’t going to because she was our guest!

  She declared she was not. “I dropped out the sky and have imposed myself on my ex-husband. By rights, you didn’t have to let me in the door. I just won’t feel right staying here any longer. I do want to be at your wedding. That will be enough.”

  “Elizabeth, what is the problem?” Tears came to her eyes.

  “Just jealous seeing how happy you two are, I guess.”

  “I can understand and I can see why you feel this way. I felt a little like that when you were so excited about going off to Paris with that Brian person. How about sleeping in the back apartment? If you move out, I’m afraid Jimmy will feel I drove you away. Shelly, are you okay with her staying here?”

  “Of course. She could stay right where she is. I wouldn’t mind.”

  “You’re too good, both of you. Just for Jimmy’s sake, I will do as John suggests.”

  After Shelly and I got into bed, she said, “I’m glad she moved to the other room. Now we can make love and just have the kids to worry about hearing us.”

  For some reason I couldn’t sleep after Shelly kissed me and turned over. It soon became obvious she couldn’t either. “What is troubling you sweetheart?”

  “I just hope Ronnie doesn’t do anything to lower himself in the girls’ eyes. I have been so careful not to trash him.”

  “We will be careful that he doesn’t have a chance to. If we think that is likely to happen, we will see if we can keep them separate until he goes away.”

  “I hope so, but I don’t know. Ronnie can be an ass.”

  “Go to sleep unless you want to fool around some more.”

  “Okay, start fooling.” She had called my bluff. I was just too damned tired. I did get one more kiss and that is all I really wanted tonight.

  Jimmy’s signature breakfast for his mother was a Warwick. Where the name of this ever came from, I had no idea. The dish came from my father who got the recipe from my great-aunt. It was a slice of bread, pan fried in real butter on one side until brown. Butter the pan again, drop an egg into the butter, and break. The bread placed browned side on the egg and cooked until the white was done. Flip over to brown the remaining face. It was delicious!

  Madie had served it only one time to her employer when I was living there. It was too plebeian for her at the time. I was away the day Madie served one to Elizabeth. The fault lay in the replacement ingredient she used. She used whipped margarine in the pan instead of real butter, which made the egg tasteless. Madie was commanded to never serve one to her again.

  When Elizabeth was not in residence though, it became a staple of our breakfasts. I ate them, Jimmy loved and made them for himself, and Madie and Will ate them often during the week. The first ones that Jimmy made for Shelly and the girls when she became my housekeeper earned him a kiss from all three. Now we all made them.

  A quarter pound of butter, a loaf and half of bread, and two dozen large eggs would make twenty-four servings. Elizabeth raved and I thought to myself how much she was changing. I was glad to see this, but not so much for myself. Jimmy and his mother were connecting in ways I never thought possible. He had been without her demonstrated love most of his life. He had it now, and I think it was something he would cherish forever.

  Shelly was looking to Elizabeth to help organize getting our families here for the wedding and finding them a place to stay. This was my ex’s strong suit. She was used to throwing a party or a bash on the spur of the moment. This was something that had bothered me when I was married to her.

  That she, on a whim, could start calling her friends from all over the country and within a few hours have those arriving with quarters for them reserved. It seemed so pointless at the time knowing how to do this. That was then, but this was now. This was my wedding that was being arranged.

  I had forgotten that I had invited Neil Fortier to stop by this afternoon. He arrived about one thirty. I introduced him to Elizabeth. His eyebrows went up and he was somewhat puzzled when I introduced her as my ex. She looked at him, saying, “Oh we are still friends. I’m here visiting. Jimmy is our son together and I have been on the continent for a few months. John graciously has let me stay here. I’m helping his fiancée pull things together for their wedding next Saturday.”

  He turned to me. “I don’t imagine you want to talk business then, do you? I’m pretty excited about your vision for some of the old factory building. I’ll leave you alone and come back in a month or two.”

  “No, stay. How about a beer or even something stronger?”

  “Beer is good.”

  “Come out back and we’ll walk around while I tell you about some of the things I have in mind.”