135 comments/ 104871 views/ 18 favorites Suspicion - a Sequel By: Kezza67 CHAPTER 1 This is a sequel to Whiteone_Redones story Suspicion. That story needs to be read in order to understand this sequel. Whiteone_Redones invited readers to submit their own ending of his story. This is mine. I cannot hope to write as well as he, but everybody's got to try at sometime! Kathy sat on the Patio and reflected lazily on her life. She felt the greatest sorrow about the ending of her marriage to Paul. He was a good man, and she had loved him dearly, yet she had also loved Karl since they were at High school together. She was convinced that Karl and she would have been together for all their lives had his family not moved to Germany. They had lost touch despite her constant letters to him. When Paul came into her life he earned his place in her heart with his kindness and constancy. When she was twenty-three and Paul twenty-four they married, and her happiness was complete three years later with the birth of first Jason and then two years after that, Christi, their daughter. Paul had a good job, and when the children were old enough she managed to get a top-management position. They both earned well and life was good. Then Karl re-entered her life. Applying for a tendering position with her company, it fell to Kathy to interview him. Seeing his name, Karl Gerring, on the application shocked Kathy to the core, he did not know who he would meet until he entered her office. There was so much to catch up on, and they met for coffee, and then lunches. The sweetness of tender High school Love overcame them both, and with the need to complete the relationship that they had been unable to enjoy then, they became Lovers. Paul found out, as spouses do, and Kathy had told Paul everything when confronted and asked if she could enjoy both their loves. With retrospect her logic screams at her, did she ever expect Paul to agree to share her? But logic was not a function she could employ at that time of romantic bliss. Paul divorced her in a 'No Fault' action. Later she married Karl, and bore him a Son, they called Andrew. That was five years ago, and those were five years of happiness, only marred by the sense of bereavement she still carried for Paul. The Sun was warm, and she casually flicked through Cosmo. Karl was away on business for ten days, and she had taken a couple of vacations days to look after their Son. But Evelyn, her sister had called and asked if she could take Andrew, back to where she lived with Todd, her husband. Kathy's daughter Christi was staying with her, and she adored Andrew. As it would give all her children pleasure Kathy agreed. Since the divorce she had visitation rights with Christi and Jason, but they had tailed off. Christi was still pleased to see her, but she suspected that Jason used college as an excuse to keep contact at a minimum. So she had two days of relaxation, working out at the gym and no interruptions. She believed. Her reverie was interrupted by the Door Bell. She walked through the Family room and into the reception, looking through the big glass panel as she did. At the door was a mature Lady, there was a slight smile on her face. A car was on the drive, and a younger woman was sitting in the Drivers seat. Kathy felt a distant memory of the face, but she couldn't place it. She opened the Door. 'Can I help you?' Kathy enquired politely. The woman's smile became wider. And she opened her arms to Kathy, who stepped back to avoid an embrace. 'Good Heavens,' she thought. 'the woman wants to embrace me.' The woman dropped her arms, but kept the smile. 'You don't remember me, do you?' 'Should I remember you?' ''Well it was years ago, and I have aged a lot more than you, Kathy. I am Anita Gerring, Karl's mother.' Kathy dropped to the floor in a dead faint. She came to, on her sofa in the Family room. Both ladies were fussing over her, the younger one with a glass of water, and the older one patting her wrist. She was apologising profusely 'I knew I should have rung you, I knew, I knew. Oh dear, what must you think of me, please forgive me.' Kathy struggled to bring her thoughts into line. This woman claimed to be Karl's mother. 'You can't be Karl's mother!' 'Why not?' 'Karl's mother is dead!' 'Who told you that?' 'Karl did.' 'Well I can assure you that I am most certainly alive. Why he would say such a thing I don't know, but I suspect I can come up with a reason, but look at me closely, Kathy. I know it was over twenty years ago, but surely you can recognise me.' Kathy did look closely, and gradually those little signs that lead to recognition combined to place the face. She nodded her head happily and sadly. She was pleased to see Anita Gerring, but disturbed that Karl would lie to her. She turned her attention to the younger lady, expecting that it would be Karl's sister, who she had never met, and about whom Karl rarely spoke. She tried to cull the name from her memory. It came to her. 'I assume that you are Jennifer.' 'No I am Samantha, Samantha Gerring, Karl's wife.' Kathy almost fainted again. 'Would you repeat that please?' 'I'm Samantha, Karl's wife.' Kathy unsteadily got up from the Sofa, and walked towards the big windows leading out onto the Patio. She turned and smiled icily at this woman. 'No, I am sorry but you are mistaken. I am Karl's wife. Kathy Gerring, Karl's wife.' Anita looked at Kathy. 'Don't you mean partner? You can't have married Karl.' 'We married five years ago.' The look on both Anita's and Samantha's faces was troubled now. Samantha approached Kathy and took her hand. 'Kathy, I have been married to Karl for nine years. I was his second wife. He left me six years, and I haven't heard from him since. We never divorced.' 'Second wife?' 'Yes. Andrea, his first wife divorced him. I only found out recently that he beat her to a pulp, when she told him she was leaving him. He threatened me on more than one occasion, I counted it a good break when he left.' Kathy shook her head. 'No! No you are making this up.' The look on Samantha's face told her that this wasn't a lie. She turned to Anita, who had a look of absolute sympathy for Kathy. 'Kathy, Karl is ill. Not physically, but mentally. A doctor could only give me a rough idea, as Karl would never submit to an Psychiatric examination. He has a horror of mental illness. The Doctor suspected that Karl was Paranoid, a violent paranoid. He ran away from Germany after his Father died, and I became ill. It was a simple case of Clinical Depression, but he called it insanity, and threatened to kill me if I had passed it on to him. I suspect that's why he told you I was dead. As far as he was concerned being insane is as good as dead. Kathy, we have come here to warn you.' 'Warn me?' Samantha reached into her bag, and pulled out a sheaf of papers. 'I think you should read this.' She handed the papers to Kathy, who immediately recognised Karl's handwriting. There was a lot of rambling sentences, that didn't seem to connect with one another, but some stood out, as if he had clarified his thoughts, and could make them in to a sense. They seem to have been written over a few years. One early on stood out. That bitch of a mother, she has the audacity to claim to be my mother, but she is sick, sick, sick. How can she be my mother when she is Mad. As far as I am concerned she cannot be my mother, I cannot possibly inherit her insanity. I deny her! Kathy turned over the page, and then another sentence jumped to her eyes. I know that slut of a wife, Andrea is cheating on me. But she is damned clever, I looked hard but I could never catch her. Even the P.I. I got couldn't find anything. He was useless. Bloody nerve, threatened to sue me when I wouldn't pay him. I told him, do the job and you will get paid. Still I got even with the Slut. I thoroughly enjoyed punching and kicking her. It was a lovely sound when my fist smashed her Jaw. Kathy was getting concerned now. Then she saw her name. I know where Kathy is. I have searched for years to find her, and now I know where she is. She's married, but that doesn't matter, I'll get her. If her husband doesn't like it I will give him a kicking, that should do the trick. Kathy will be with me. I know she loves me, she will always love me. If she can't see the sense in that, I shall have to kill her. She's mine, always has been and always will. If not with me, then there will never be anyone. I'll see to that. Kathy read this last sentence twice and looked up at Anita and Samantha. This was Karl's handwriting without doubt, and her beloved childhood sweetheart and husband had vowed to kill her. 'If all this is true, why have you waited so long to get in touch with me?' Anita answered. 'Karl has always been secretive. When you wrote to tell him that it was all over between you, I didn't know for months.' 'Pardon!' Kathy could not believe that his mother had said that. 'I never sent such a letter. I was writing every week, despite the fact that he rarely replied. In the last letter I got he expressed his undying Love for me, and that we would be together one day. I never heard from him again. When a letter I sent was returned 'addressee unknown' I took that as a sign that we were finished. But I never wrote to tell him that it was all over, never!' 'Oh dear, Kathy. That's Karl all over. He doesn't say anything, and when he does he twists it so that it is other people doing him harm. He covers his trail, moves and doesn't let anyone know where he is.' Kathy started to understand what she was saying. When she started her affair with him, Karl had magnanimously agreed to share Kathy with Paul. 'As long as I get some time with you Kathy, my Love, that's will content me.' When Paul had understandably refused, Karl took the opportunity of subtly twisting his words. 'See he can't love you as much as I.' Anita was still speaking. 'It took us months to find you. Samantha got in touch with me, just after she found those papers, she managed to contact Jennifer, and through her got in touch with me. I had never met Samantha, although I did know of her existence. Not from Karl I might say. So together we started to track you down. We eventually got your location from the Crestview High School directory, it was simple, but we didn't think of it at first. I suspect that Karl did it the same way.' Samantha then asked a odd question. 'Tell me Kathy, you don't have a home computer do you?' 'No, why do you ask?' 'Let me guess. When the subject was raised, Karl was so against the idea, vehemently so, that you dropped it.' 'Yes. That exactly it. How do you know that?' 'Andrea had one, and Karl, threw it out. I had one and Karl hated it when I used it. I opened an email one day which looked as if it came from a friend. Instead it contained a Virus which completely destroyed the Hard Drive. I never bothered to replace the computer. I can't prove it but I suspect that Karl organised for that email to be sent.' 'Yes he was so adamant that we didn't need one of those things in the house, that I just went along with it. I could never understand why.' Samantha leaned forward. 'So you could never access any of those sites where school friends could link up. He didn't want anyone knowing where he was, and with whom.' 'That's silly. I have a computer at work, with internet access.' 'Yes, but I bet you can't use without all traffic going through the IT dept. Would you not get questions if you used it for personal stuff, you know that Corporations get antsy with that.' Kathy nodded. Everything Anita and Samantha were saying had been placing bricks in odd places, suddenly she saw that the bricks were making a wall, and a little tremor of fear ran through her. This wasn't just a misunderstanding to sort out, this was starting to look serious. Kathy didn't know what to do. 'Look I need some time to think this through. Karl's away on business, and won't be back for eight days. Are you staying in Gilmore?' 'Yes. We are at the Marriot.' Samantha replied. Kathy nodded. 'Ok, can I phone you there in a couple of days?' That night Kathy didn't sleep at all. She was up wandering around the house at four, drinking coffee after coffee, and going over all she had learnt. It wasn't just what Anita and Samantha had said, she could now add to that information lots of other little things that Karl had said and done. Just shortly after they were married, he approached her about making KG construction the preferred sub-contractor for all of Cablenex needs. Kathy recoiled in horror. 'I can't do that, it's a conflict of interest.' That started a really big row, their first, as Karl just would not understand that it would affect Kathy's position. After Andrew was born he argued vehemently when she wanted to return to work, as his son should have a full-time mother, later despite his professed feelings about Andrew, he hardly took any notice of the child. Before Andrew was born they enjoyed a good sex life, now sex was infrequent and usually it was she who made the approach. Karl was now taking far more business trips that he ever had. In themselves, these could be classed as insignificant, but added to all the new information, they became very significant, and alarming. Her state of mind was turmoil and bleak despair. 'Oh God! What have I done? What have I done? To Paul, to Jason, Christi and Evelyn. CHAPTER 2 Paul was just leaving to go to work, it was seven-thirty, and just as he opened the door, Evelyn turned up 'Good Morning Evelyn, I was just getting off to work.' 'Oh thank God I caught you in time.' cried Evelyn. ' I have to leave Christi and Andrew at home. Todd's away, so I wondered if you could call round from time to time, make sure they are ok. I am worried about Kathy.' 'Worried about Kathy/ Why?' 'She's not answering the phone. I know she's there, I saw her yesterday. Karl's away on business, won't be back until next week. She's supposed to come and pick up Andrew today.' 'Oh come on Evelyn. You know Kathy. If she said she was coming today she will come today at eleven o' clock, as she always does.' Evelyn shook her head. 'Yes, but we always speak to each other at this time to confirm.' Evelyn was evidently worried. 'I want to go over to see her, make sure she alright.' Paul gave this some thought. 'Yes, I can work from home today, so I'll call round a couple of times. Give me a call, when you get back though.' Evelyn hurried off. Unusual thought Paul. Evelyn was normally the most level-headed of people, the sort of woman that could cope with all of life's problems. He phoned in and told them he would be working at home today, took the luxury of another cup of coffee, and settled down with his lap-top. Right he thought, the new Rosters would be sorted today. At eight-thirty his phone rang. 'Paul? It's Evelyn. Look Kathy has collapsed, the Paramedics have just got her into the ambulance and I am going to follow down to Mercy Hospital.' Paul heart stopped for a moment, then his brain kicked in. 'I'll go and get Christi and Andrew straight away, and meet you down there. You can tell me everything when we get there.' He rang off. It took him forty minutes to get to Mercy Hospital, the rush hour traffic was at its worst. He fretted all the way, his churning stomach telling him that his Love for Kathy had never faltered. Christi and Andrew chatted animatedly all the time. He had seen Andrew a few times before, so wasn't a stranger. He had always acted kindly towards him, reasoning that the boy was innocent of the problems. But their chattering was getting on his nerves. For a moment he almost shouted at them to shut up, but realised that Christi was making the running to keep Andrew occupied. He smiled at her in the rear-view mirror, saying a mental 'thank you'. He parked at Mercy, and asked Christi to hang on with Andrew for a bit. He got some sweets from the vending machine just inside the entrance, and gave them to the little boy. 'I'll let you know what's happening as soon as.' He told Christi. He went to the R.& E. reception desk. 'I believe you have an admittance, a Mrs. Kathy Ma..sorry a Mrs. Kathy Gerring.' The girl checked her screen. 'Yes Sir, she's in number six. Are you a relative?' 'Ex-husband. Our daughter is in the car. I just wanted to know what the situation is so I can let her know.' 'Ok Sir. Just go down the corridor to the right, and you will find a waiting area. The Doctor will be able to tell you more.' 'Thanks.' Paul hurried off, and found Evelyn sitting on a chair. 'Where's Christi and Andrew?' 'They are in the car. I didn't think it good to bring a five year old in here.' 'No, you are right.' 'So tell me. What has happened?' 'I don't know fully. I found her lying on the floor in the kitchen. She looked terrible, she had obviously not been to bed last night, and her face and eyes were puffy from tears. I couldn't get her to wake up so I called 911. Paul! There were three open bottles of Paracetemol on the floor next to her! For God's sake, what has she done?' Paul knew that he would have to be the unflappable one now. 'Now don't go jumping to conclusions, it could be a mistake.' 'Paul! Three bottles of pain-killers is not a mistake.' 'You don't know that, perhaps some were empty anyway.' 'I hate to remind you Paul, but you know Kathy as well as anyone. She was very particular about empty drug bottles, she always threw them away.' 'I know,' said Paul, 'but I have to believe it was a mistake or I shall fall to pieces.' Evelyn looked at him with sympathy in her eyes. 'After all this time, after all that has happened, and you still Love her.' Paul nodded. 'Kathy doesn't know a good man when she had one.' Paul wanted out of this conversation. 'Do you want a coffee? There's a machine down the hall, I expect it's disgusting stuff, but it will be the right colour, and relatively warm.' Evelyn said yes. They sat and drank their coffee in silence. Half an hour stretched to an hour. They watched the medics go into the cubicle and come out. Almost every time they were viewed by the staff in that pitying manner that seems to go with the job. Eventually a Doctor came over and sat down. 'Mrs. Hunter?' Evelyn confirmed her name. Then the Doctor looked at Paul. 'I am Doctor Reynolds.' He looked at Paul. 'And you are?' 'Paul Matthews. I am Mrs. Gerrings ex-husband.' 'Well I am sorry, but I cannot discuss my patient whilst you are here.' Paul went to get up. 'No.' Cried Evelyn. Mr. Matthews is here at my invitation, and he has their children in his car. As he will have to tell them what is happening, at least he should hear it at first hand.' Evelyn cleverly forgot to mention that one of the children was not of his siring. The Doctor gave that some thought. 'Do you know where Mr. Gerring can be contacted?' 'He's away on business, and I do not have his cell number.' Doctor Reynolds gave that some thought and seemed to come to a decision. 'Very well. Mrs. Gerring is in a very bad way. She has ingested a large quantity of Paracetemol. We have flushed her stomach and we were happy to see that quite a number of tablets had not yet been digested. She is on a drip to get as much fluid into her as possible. It is very possible that her Kidneys have been damaged, but we won't know that for twenty four hours or so, but in the meantime we are administering Drugs that should help to keep them functioning. We are monitoring fluid intake and output, and she will shortly be moved to ICU.' 'Is it too early to give a prognosis?' Paul asked. 'Well on the Kidneys, yes. We have saved her life, if that's what you are asking, although if her kidneys fail, she will be on dialysis three times a week for the rest of her life. We are doing everything that is possible.' Suspicion - a Sequel 'When can Mrs. Hunter, and her children see her?' 'She should be going up to ICU in about twenty minutes. Give them an hour to get her comfortable, and you should be able to see her then. But only for a short time. We have a lot of work to do to get her better. Give us a couple of days. She has a long and hard road to travel. One of the Nurses will let you know when she goes up. Her Doctor there will be Doctor Masters, she's good, you can trust her.' Evelyn thanked the Doctor as he rushed away, another Gurney came flying through, with the Paramedics shouting the symptoms as they pushed. Evelyn turned to Paul. 'You don't want to see her?' 'More than anything in the world, but it wouldn't be right for me to see her before that man.' She smiled at him sadly. 'You have never liked saying that name, have you?' 'Can you blame me? I'll go and tell Christi and Andrew.' 'Paul!' She said in alarm. 'You can't tell Andrew the truth.' 'Trust me Evelyn, I had no intention of doing so. But I will tell Christi when I can get her on her own.' 'That will be difficult. He clings to her like she made from Glue.' Paul grinned. 'I noticed.' Evelyn saw Kathy for just twenty minutes that day. She managed to have a word with Dr. Masters who told her pretty well as much as Dr. Reynolds. She did say that Kathy would be in drug-induced sleep for at least twenty-four hours, maybe longer. The next day Evelyn went again, while Christi looked after Andrew, with Paul supervising from time to time. He had phoned work and explained what was happening, and the CEO gave him a weeks compassionate leave, The day after, Paul drove them all to Mercy. Paul waited in the car for two hours after Evelyn and the children had gone up to see Kathy. Eventually Christi came to find him with a very tired Andrew in tow. 'Dad, you are to go and see Mum.' 'No. I can't see her.' 'Dad, if you still Love Mum, you have to go and see her. She needs you.' 'She needs her Husband, and that is not me.' 'Go and see her, Dad.' Paul got out of the car. 'Christi, can't you understand that it will break me up to see her. It will be like a knife through the Heart.' 'And it will be like a knife through her heart if you don't. I know it will give you a lot of pain, but she is suffering right now, and when have you been the one who has never offered comfort and love to those who needed it?' Paul squared his shoulders. 'I don't want to do it, but I suppose if she needs comfort I will have to go.' Evelyn put a finger to her lips as Paul entered the room. 'She's sleeping. She keeps drifting in and out, muttering something about Mrs. Gerring, and then another Mrs. Gerring. I have no idea what she is on about.' Paul looked down at his ex-wife. Her face was thin and drawn, all colour washed out, and the eyes and mouth revealed that she was in some pain. Tubes ran from bottles suspended over the bed into both her arms, which lay almost as if lifeless on the covers. Electrodes on her chest and arms sent messages to the life support machine which beeped constantly measuring out Kathy's life. Her hair, that wondrous hair, lay lank upon the pillow. Paul's eyes filled with tears. This was the first time in five years that he had seen his wife this close. She was beautiful in his eyes. He sat down by the bed and reaching out took her hand in his. Evelyn retreated to the back of the room, a smile on her face. The touch brought Kathy up from the shallow but troubled sleep. She looked at him, and huge tears rolled down her cheeks. He brushed them away with his hand. 'Paul, oh Paul, why is it that when I'm in trouble it is you that comes.' 'He should be here, not me.' 'No Paul, not him. You, my true husband.' She was drifting off to sleep again. Evelyn came over and took Kathy's other hand. It seemed to rouse her for a moment. 'Go and see Mrs. Gerring, Anita Gerring, and Samantha Gerring. They are at the M..Ma.' the drugs took her off once more into the healing sleep. Paul looked at Evelyn. 'Was that what she said before?' 'Yes. But she said something more this time. They are at the M something. What do you think that could be?' 'The Marriot! I'll bet she was going to say the Marriot.' He paused not wanting to know the answer to his question, yet wanting to like it was life and death. 'Evelyn, what do you think Kathy meant when she said I was her true husband?' 'I don't really know. But my woman's intuition tells me that there is serious trouble here. Trying to commit suicide is a last resort.' Paul made up his mind. 'I am going to the Marriot, and see if there is these Mrs. Gerring's staying there. I'll leave you the car keys, and take a cab.' Chapter 3 There were two Mrs. Gerrings staying at the Marriot. The desk called up to them, and at first there was a blank response. The Clerk asked Paul if he could state his business. 'Tell them that I am Kathy's first husband.' The Clerk passed on that information and told Paul to go on up. 'It's suite 1603 sir. And would you mind if one of our staff went up with you.' Paul understood the caution immediately. One of the Mrs. Gerrings opened the door, and looked at Paul expectantly. Paul introduced himself. 'Mrs. Gerring, I am Paul Matthews, Kathy's first husband.' She smiled politely and asked Paul to come in, saying to the Porter 'thank you, it will be alright.' Waving him to a chair she introduced herself. 'I am Anita, Karl's mother.' There was the same shock on Paul's face as Kathy had shown, but she was expecting it this time. 'Yes I know, I am supposed to be dead. I explained to Kathy yesterday. She's a lovely woman, it's such a pity she got mixed up with that Son of mine.' Paul had managed to catch his breath now, and could say most truthfully 'Well I certainly agree with that.' Mrs. Gerring turned away, as another woman walked into the suite. 'Oh and this is also Mrs. Gerring. She is Karl's wife.' This was too much for Paul. For the first time in many years he used the name. 'Karl's wife?' 'Yes.' 'I do not wish to be rude, but perhaps you are divorced.' 'No, Mr. Matthews, I am not divorced. I wish I was, but unfortunately for me, but fortunately for Kathy, I am not divorced from Karl.' Paul's head spun taking this in, and for the first time in five years the Sun came over the horizon. 'May I ask you a question, Mr. Matthews?' 'Paul, please.' 'Ok, Paul. Why are you here? I was expecting to hear from Kathy.' 'Mrs. Gerring.' 'Anita, please, and this is Samantha.' 'Kathy is in the ICU at Mercy Hospital. She took an overdose last night.' The total shock on both their faces could not be disguised. Immediately Anita blamed herself. 'We should have stayed longer to know that she was alright. Oh Damn, damn. How is she, please don't tell me she is in a dangerous condition, I will never forgive myself.' 'She will live. She may have some Kidney damage, it's too soon to say. But she will live. Samantha had watched Paul's face closely. 'Did Karl take her away from you, Paul?' He nodded sadly. 'Yes.' 'Did you love her a great deal.' 'Very much.' 'And you still love her, don't you?' 'I never stopped.' Samantha looked at Anita who then said. 'Paul, I am glad for that, she is going to need you very badly in the coming months.' 'I shall do all I can to help her recover.' 'And through the trial?' Anita asked. 'Trial?' 'Trial, yes. Karl married Kathy bigamously. We have been to the Police this morning and presented some documentary proof of that. When Karl gets back, they will be waiting to arrest him. And I don't think he will get bail, either.' 'Why?' Paul was trying to get his head round what Anita and Samantha were saying, because the only thought in his head was that Kathy was not married. 'Some of the documents suggest that Karl is mentally unfit, and that he is very likely to offer violence to Kathy if she parts from him, which incidentally, I hope she does. With this evidence I am sure that the court will not allow him bail.' 'Did you say mentally unfit?' Anita nodded. 'Yes Paul, he's a Paranoid schizophrenic or something. He can appear to be very sane, a charming companion, and suddenly, something flips him over the edge. He is devious, cunning and it would appear totally without morals. When my husband died, we were in Germany I had a few months of Depression, actual Clinical Depression. Karl badgered me until I allowed him and his sister, Jennifer to return to the US to stay with my parents. After he graduated he just vanished. Only occasionally would Jennifer hear something from him, that's how we knew of his first marriage.' 'First marriage?' Samantha replied. 'Yes Paul, I am his second wife. And I wouldn't have been that if I had known about his treatment of his first.' Paul looked alarmed. Anita told him. 'He was violent. It would appear that if there were any disagreements, Karl was in the habit of settling it with his fists.' Paul looked to Samantha. 'No I learned early on not to make waves, and I think from what she said Kathy learned also.' Paul could feel a vicious anger building within, and anger that he had never felt before. 'I am sorry to say this about your Son, Anita, but if I catch the slightest hint that he was violent to Kathy. He's Dog-Meat.' 'Paul, after talking with Kathy for a long time yesterday, I am certain that he wasn't violent to her. There was only one situation where he would have been, and that was if she had refused to leave you for him. He could never have walked away with your having won. These documents, which are in Karl's own hand, say quite clearly that under those circumstances he would kill her, so that you could not have her.' She paused, and suggested that coffee would be a good thing at this time, or looking at Paul, 'perhaps something stronger?' He waved his hand in refusal. 'Coffee would be great. Thanks.' With the cups in front of them, Paul wanted to continue this strange revelation. 'So how did he find her?' 'Simple, we used the same way as he. Crestview school website. They maintain as much as they can a database listing all old pupils, and their whereabouts. Kathy and her sister..' 'Evelyn.' he supplied. 'Yes, Evelyn are on there. And Kathy changed the database just before she married Karl to her married name. If Karl had realised that, she would definitely have been in trouble. Karl doesn't like to be found.' Paul had finished his coffee, and decide that he should leave. He wanted to get back to the hospital, but now happy that he would not have to give way to Karl at her bedside. Evelyn had gone, but because he had visited before, the staff were quite happy to let him visit. Kathy was asleep, so he just sat in the chair, and held her hand. He was overjoyed at being able to make this simple gesture, just to touch her as he once had, a simple gesture that spoke of Love. Kathy slept on in her drugged oblivion. Paul stayed there, just holding her hand. The only time he left was when the call of nature demanded a trip to the Men's room, he picked up coffee on the way back, and resumed his position. Evelyn came in a eight o' clock the next morning. Paul had dozed, but maintained his handhold. She stood in the doorway, and smiled. She had dreaded seeing Karl there. 'Paul.' she gently shook his shoulder. 'Paul.' he opened his eyes. 'Hello Evelyn, I must have dozed off.' 'Have you been here all night?' 'Yes I suppose I have.' Did you see them?' No need to ask who she meant. 'Yes, Anita Gerring is Karl's mother, and Samantha Gerring is his wife.' 'What!" Evelyn almost shouted. 'Shush, you'll wake Kathy.' 'His mother is dead.' 'No, unless I was able to communicate across the divide. Karl told Kathy that she was dead, but that was just one of the lies he told her.' 'And who is this other, Samantha Gerring?' 'His wife. He left her six years ago, that would be about the time he found Kathy. But they have never been divorced.' 'So Kathy isn't married to him?' 'No. he committed Bigamy, and Anita and Samantha have provided the detectives with documentary evidence.' 'Does Kathy know?' 'Yes. Anita and Samantha spent a long time with Kathy yesterday talking about it. Kathy knows it all, well all except about the police.' Evelyn at last could really let her feelings out. 'I hated that bastard from the moment I saw him with Kathy. I didn't know why, but I just loathed him. I tried to warn her off, but she wouldn't listen. Oh Paul, I shouldn't be going into this now, you must be beat. Go home, get something to eat, shower and sleep. I'll stay here until you come back. You will be back won't you?' 'Yes I will get here as soon as I can. One thing puzzles me. Why?' he indicated Kathy laying there with tubes going into her, and coming out of her. Why would she do this?' 'You should know better than me. When did Kathy ever back down from accepting her culpability. When did she ever try to avoid any punishment that was coming to her.' 'Never.' 'There's your answer. She accepted the blame for all the hurt she put you and her children through, and sentenced herself and tried to be her own executioner.' Tears ran own Paul's face as he understood the pain that Kathy had felt, and that same pain hurt him as well. 'Didn't she know she was executing me as well.' At ten o'clock the medical team arrived, Asking Evelyn if she could leave for fifteen minutes while they checked everything. It took twenty minutes and Evelyn was getting unsettled, thinking that they had found something. Dr. Masters came out, with a satisfied expression. 'Mrs. Hunter.' she called to Evelyn, who didn't have to ask questions, those were self evident by the expression on her face. She's doing well now. She didn't seem to be fighting yesterday, but she started to battle now. We're not out of the wood yet, but her kidneys are not showing signs of failure at the moment. But that doesn't mean that they couldn't still give up. But we are hopeful. Strange how some patients suddenly decide they want to live. Did anything happen? 'Yes. Her first husband came to see her, and stopped.' 'Was he the one who stayed all night?' 'Yes.' 'And you say he was her first husband.' Evelyn nodded. 'Mmm. I suspect there is a story there, you must tell me some time. I am not far away, call me if you need me.' Evelyn returned to the room. The examination had woken Kathy up. 'Evelyn. The Doc says I am getting there.' 'Yes I know. So you have decided not to die after all?' Kathy looked embarrassingly guilty. 'I couldn't think of another way out of it. All the pain I have given to others, I didn't know what else to do. Now I have no choice, after all what they have done here, I have got to get better.' 'Good, there are a lot of people who want you to stay around. How do you feel now.?' 'Odd. They say they sedated me, but I am sure I dreamt that Paul was here, but that's all it was I suppose, just a dream.' 'He was here.' 'Paul?' 'Yes Paul. He stayed with you from late afternoon until I got here this morning at eight.' Tears now ran down Kathy's cheeks. 'Why would he do that, for me? Who gave him nothing but heartache, the wife who left him for another man. Why would he do that?' 'Because he loves you, because he never stopped loving you. He sacrificed his happiness so that you could be happy, and he carried on loving you through all the time you were with Karl, imagining you sleeping with Karl, imagining you accepting Karl's body into your body, taking him into your mouth and into your vagina and every time you did it, you pushed another knife into his heart, and yet he never stopped hoping that you were happy.' Tears cascaded down Kathy's face as if she were standing out in the pouring rain.' 'Don't, Evelyn, don't say those things.' Evelyn sat until the tears dried. 'Paul would never say that to you, so I have. Why do you think he never took you to the cleaners when you divorced. Why do you think he never made waves over you seeing Jason and Christi. Why do you think he never went after Karl for Alienation of Affection. His Attorney reckons it was cut and dried. He didn't because he felt that would affect you. Why do you think he has been so kind to Andrew when they meet. Because Andrew was your child. Why do you think he has never dated since you went, never had sex with anyone else.' 'Never?' Kathy was incredulous. 'Never. His priorities were the kids, his home, and his job. He's done well you know. Todd says he's got a very good contract now. He took this course because he knew he would never love any other woman, couldn't love any other woman.' Kathy's tears were once more pouring down her face. Evelyn wondered where they came from considering the state Kathy was in when she found her yesterday. She hated saying these things to her sister, but it was done with a purpose, to make Kathy so obligated to live and love Paul again. Whilst Kathy was drying her eyes, Evelyn thought it time to tell her. 'Paul saw Karl's mother and Wife yesterday.' 'He knows.' 'Yes he knows. He told me yesterday afternoon when he got back from seeing them. Paul was never kindly disposed to Karl, now I think he wants to tear him limb from limb.' 'Oh Evelyn, you must make sure they don't meet.' 'I don't think there is any chance of that. There is a warrant out for Karl's arrest.' 'Arrest?' 'Yes. For Bigamy. Anita and Samantha, went to the Police yesterday, and handed over some documents. When they arrest him I don't think they will give him bail, because of threats he has made against you, kindly written down in his own handwriting I believe. 'What am I going to do now, Evelyn?' There was despair in Kathy's voice. 'Ask Paul when he comes to visit you.' 'Is he going to come again?' 'If I know that man of yours you will find it difficult to keep him away.' 'He's not my man, Evelyn. He won't want me after all I have done to him. I don't deserve him.' 'Haven't you listened to a word I said?' 'Shall I tell you something Kathy. Yesterday when you woke up and Paul was here, you said something about his being your True Husband. I know you were foggy and dazed from the drugs, but if you could have seen his face then. It was the happiest he has been for six years. I agree you don't deserve him, but I am sure he will not listen if you tell him that. Think on, sister.' Paul came back at three o' clock. Fortified by food. Sleep, and a thirty minute shower. Kathy was asleep, a more natural sleep this time, and Evelyn quickly explained that Kathy was now aware that Paul had seen the two Mrs. Gerrings. She also gave him the encouraging news from Dr. Masters. She slipped quietly from the room. Paul took up the same seat as last night. Some time later Dr. Masters came in, Paul did not realise she was there at first, so intent was he on examining Kathy's face, which had got a better colour. 'So this is the miracle worker.' Paul jumped and looked around. She strode across the room holding out her hand to shake his. 'Dr. Masters, and you would be Paul. Well Paul whatever you have got, I would like to bottle it. I could make a fortune.' 'I'm sorry I don't know what you are talking about.' 'Yesterday my patient was doing her level best to die, then all of a sudden she decides that that is not a good idea. I talked to the Nurses, and they told me that only one thing had changed. A visitor came, and then my patient starts fighting. Now I know that our medicine is good, but it will not help a patient live unless they want to. Kathy had a visitor, and now she wants to live. You, Paul were that visitor.' 'I think you are placing too much importance on that, Dr. Masters.' 'Sandra is the name. No I am not. But it does puzzle me as you are divorced aren't you. Mrs. Hunter tells me that Mrs. Gerring is actually not Mrs. Gerring, as the marriage is not valid. Do I understand from therefore that we will not be seeing Mr. Gerring?' Suspicion - a Sequel 'I doubt it, as the Police have a warrant out for his arrest.' 'I see. So you are doing your duty by your ex-wife.' 'You could say that.' 'Could I ask if this duty was a pleasure.' 'Yes, Sandra you could. I never wanted to divorce Kathy, but the situation left me no choice. I loved my wife then, and continued to love her during her marriage to Gerring. I love her now, and can not conceive of a situation where I shall ever cease to love Kathy.' A sudden howl from the bed brought them both to Kathy's side. It wasn't pain it was the onset of Kathy's tears. She had awoken to hear Paul's last words. 'Paul, you cannot love me,' she cried through her tears, 'not when I have treated you so badly.' Paul sat down and took her hand. 'Darling Kathy, I always loved you, even when we divorced, I could not stop loving you. I went to sleep with the pain of not having you there beside me, and woke up with the pain of not seeing you sleeping on the pillow next to mine. The only way I could cope was believing that one day you would come back to me.' Kathy's eyes opened wider. 'You hoped for that even though I was with him?' 'Yes Kathy.' 'But I am soiled now.' His sudden anger surprised her. 'Don't ever say that again. Ever. You are not soiled, you are all I ever wanted and will want. Anything that has happened is in the past and stays in the past. I want you home with me where you belong. That offer is on the table for the rest of my life. If you ever feel like taking it up, all you need to do is walk in the door and tell me you are home.' Dr Masters tapped Paul on the shoulder. Kathy is a bit distraught at the moment, would you give me five minutes or so, to calm her down. Paul nodded and walked out of the room. Kathy's eyes followed him as if her look alone could drag him back. 'He'll be back, Kathy, don't worry, and if I am any judge of character he will be sitting here through the night. Now lets get you comfortable. Soon Kathy was feeling better, a warm face cloth, and Dr. Masters even found her lipstick. She stood back and judged her efforts. 'Yup, definitely human again.' Kathy laughed a little, and the Doctor was rewarded by a little sparkle coming back into her eyes. She sat down. 'Right Kathy. I acted a bit dumb with Paul, but I know from your sister all about your problems. I am not concerned about your morals, nor your love-life. I am concerned about your health, and I want you to get better. I can prescribe all sorts of drugs to make your feel better, feel happier, get you back on your feet again, but that's all they are, Drugs. Take them away, and you will be back where you started. I have just seen the best medicine for you, and do you know what. It won't cost you a dime. Don't beat yourself up about the last few years. You know Shit happens, wipe your Butt and flush the crap down the lavatory. Grab that man and get him into the sack as quickly as possible. He won't fight you, I reckon that it will be a race between you as to who can get naked first. That's my prescription, trust me I'm a Doctor. I'll see you tomorrow, and I want some good news. That will make me happy, and as when I am happy I jump my husbands bones, it will make him happy as well. Just imagine the good you could be doing for the world.' She got up and left. Kathy had little time to think as Paul was soon back in her room. His smile gave her courage for what was to come. As he came beside her she lifted her face slightly, and without hesitation Paul bent and paced his lips on hers. It wasn't one of those great sexual kisses with tongues literally digging for each others tonsils, it was soft and gentle yet it contained so much love. It was the kiss of long time lovers. Kathy's eyes misted. She stirred herself to say what she had to say. 'Paul I don't know how to say this, but I will just get it over with. I'll make mistakes, I may not make sense, I may hurt you, if I do I am sorry because that is not my intention. As soon as I left our house that last time I knew that I had been totally unfair to you. As time went by I could not believe that I had asked you to share me with Karl. I know some people can do that but that was not us, and I say us intentionally, because I understand now that I deliberately pushed you to a position where you had no alternative but to kick me out. That was so I could get what I wanted. That was so bloody selfish, I can't believe it. Evelyn told me you had read my letter. My relationship with Karl was something that never came to a conclusion one way or another, and suddenly fate was offering me a chance to be eighteen again and experience the things I should have done. That opportunity blinded me to all else in my life. If you had loved me less you may have gone along with sharing me, but you loved me too much to consider that. It was after the birth of Andrew that the understanding of that fact hit me like an express train. Evelyn put it into words today, when she said that you loved me so much that you were prepared to sacrifice your happiness in order that I could be happy. I felt that small.' she held up her finger and thumb with a gap between them of a quarter inch. 'It was also at that time that I stopped being the wife that Karl wanted. I wanted to get back to work, doing the job that gave me so much pleasure. You, my Darling, let me do that, encouraged me in fact, another examples of your accepting less in order that I could be happy. Karl did not approve of my working, and put lots of obstacles in the way. Gradually I realised that Karl wanted to treat me like pretty Canary, admired and loved, but in a cage nonetheless, a possession. When Andrew was two, Evelyn told me that when you saw Andrew you treated him equally with Jason and Christi. Ok, they were older but you talked to him when he came round with Christi and were kind but fair, exactly as you hade been with ours at that age. Why would you do that? He was the Son of a relationship that hurt you deeply. Why did you do that?' Paul knew but found it difficult to put into words. Then they came to him. 'He was your son, born of your flesh therefore he was precious to me.' Kathy's blinked rapidly, trying to stop the tears that threatened to flow. 'I think I knew that, but hearing you say those words was beautiful, Paul, Thank you. When Anita and Samantha came to see me you could probably imagine how I was hit. Yet in a strange way it was as if someone had suddenly found all the light switches together. All of the little things that had concerned me for some time assumed their rightful place in the arguments going on inside me. But it was the revelation that Karl would lie and cheat to get what he wanted, and what he threatened you with if you didn't agree to let me go, and what he threatened me if I didn't leave you for him. There was this clarity, that I had refused to see before, because I wanted my teenage dream to come true. Well it did come true, and in the end it was ugly. Yes, ugly, and I had connived with him to make it happen, hurting lots of others in the process, but most importantly hurting the man who had given me love, unstintingly, unselfishly and without reservation. How could I ever face you and say I was sorry. Yet sorrow was the abiding emotion. Sorrow for those things I had thrown away without thought. Sorrow for the pain that I gave you, when I gave the body that only you should possess to another man. I couldn't live with all the anger in me, the anger and the guilt.' Kathy paused and took some deep breathes. 'I was sorry I didn't succeed, and just let go, hoping that I had swallowed enough to complete the job. That was until I realised that you were here, I dreamt that you were here in the night, and Evelyn told me you had sat there for sixteen hours holding my hand. Dr. Masters said that at some time I subconsciously decided to fight to live. I think that was the time, when I knew you were here, that through all of this you still had some feelings for me. I had to live to show you how sorry I was, to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you in whatever way I could. I didn't think that you would allow totally back into your life, but I perhaps I could hope that one day you would allow that. Then you said those wonderful words, all I had to do was walk through the door and say I was home. Paul, when I get out of here can I come home please?' Paul somehow managed to smile and cry at the same time. 'Yes Kathy, please come home.' Three weeks later Paul did take Kathy home. Yes, it was difficult at first, but they worked at building a new relationship. Kathy slept in the guest bedroom for a while, allowing their new relationship to adapt and solidify. As it did they both felt the need to go to the next step. Kathy waited, it was for Paul to take the lead. That happened one night when Paul appeared at the door to the guest room as Kathy was just getting into bed. 'Kathy, please would you come and share our bed with me. It has never felt right without you.' 'Yes, Paul. I would love to.' They lay together, reminding themselves of the tender feelings that neither had forgotten. Kathy felt his hands on her body caressing her breasts, flanks, thighs, back, and she tentatively drew her hand up and down his thigh. They kissed, tongues searching out the sweet flavour of each others mouth. There was no hurry just being there together was as good as any orgasm. The warmth gathered slowly but undeniably. When she held his manhood there were no doubts that Paul was ready, and Kathy was equally. When Paul did enter her, Kathy almost froze, expecting a rejection, but there was none. He moved slowly and powerfully inside her, and those feelings started to overwhelm made more powerful by the throbbing and fullness of Paul moving inside her . Their orgasms coincided, not the strongest she had ever experienced but certainly the one which was the most enjoyable of all her life, enriched by the fact that this steadfast man, who had continued to love her when it seemed love was doomed, who had continued to hope when hopeless, and stayed by her when she was falling over the edge. This good man who was so capable, but now rendered incapable of control by her body, as he spurted his essence into her. There are words describing thoughts and feelings that no man and woman will speak anywhere or at any time, except in the aftermath of Loving. Kathy spoke of some of those feelings now. 'Paul, my true husband. I would like to offer you a gift. Something that is only for you. You have never taken my Anus, nor did he. If you should ever desire, it is yours. It would be a symbol for me, something that was never taken away from you, that you and you only will have as long as I live. I am your woman, you are my man for as long as you want. If you cast me aside at any time, I will accept it, thankful that I was able to have you for a little longer, when I don't deserve you. 'Kathy, if that ever happens it will be because we love each other, and will be because it will give us both pleasure. No other reason is required. I will never cast you aside, because that will entail me digging my heart out of my chest and sending it away with you. Karl Gerring was arrested, and as Anita forecast was not given bail. The District Attorney insisted that he had full medical reports on Karl, and that entailed a Psychiatric examination, which revealed his disturbed mental state. He was placed in a State Institution until such time as he was fit enough to face trail. That never happened. He was killed by another inmate who thought Karl had drunk from his coffee cup. By the time the nurses got to them, Karl's head had been stamped on so viciously that identification was impossible. So there you have it. Yes, call me a hopeless romantic, for wanting a happy ending for Paul and Kathy, but maybe it wasn't me. Cupid may play tricks, but Zeus is the most powerful of all the ancient Gods, so maybe he had a hand in it.