106 comments/ 144102 views/ 35 favorites The Ties That Bind Us By: Slirpuff PROLOGUE "Doctor Torres," he heard the nurse call loudly over his voice pager, "the patient in room 225 is starting to wake up." As he lifted one eyelid than the other, shining his light into her eyes, the doctor spoke to her in his normal monotone voice. "Mrs. Moore, can you hear me?" He checked her pulse and heart rate and glanced back at the monitor. "Nurse, she is waking up. Check for contacts in her file and call whoever is listed. Tell them it can be anywhere from one to five hours, but she is definitely waking up." About three hours later Laura was awake, groggy, but still awake. "Welcome back to the living. Don't try and talk just yet," the nurse said giving her clear fluids through a straw. "When you feel strong enough you can sit up, but be patient you've been asleep for quiet a while. And don't worry; your family has been notified. So, just relax and let your body fully wake up. In an hour or two you're going to feel much better," she said taking her pulse once more and writing the results on the chart. She shook her head and felt all the wires and things that were still attached to her. Laura could tell she was in a hospital of some sort but for the life of her she couldn't remember why. She could see and hear what was going around her, but her brain still wasn't processing the way it should just yet. Her body felt strange, weak, as she lifted her arms looking at all the tubes going into her. "Don't worry, we'll be taking out all of those things soon we just want to monitor you for a little while longer. Your arms, legs, and the rest of your muscles haven't been used in a while so it'll take a little time for them to get use to moving again. I know you've got a million questions but just be patient. You've been through quite an ordeal and you don't need any shocks to your system right now. Just relax, all your questions will be answered in due time." The nurse smiled once more and walked out of the room. She could see the bright sun coming in through the closed blinds. It was daytime but what time of day? Still too groggy to get her head around it she was starting to feel a little bit better. Looking around her room she saw a few magazines, a sweater, and some other personal items. That's when Laura noticed the photograph, the photograph of her and, she thought for a minute, Randi. It was a photograph of her and her daughter, Randi. It was on the dresser, too far away to grab, but at least she could see it clearly. She glanced around the room once more to see if there were any other photographs but there was none. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I'm alive," she said to herself. It was about four hours later, after she had done her best to finish her first real meal, a nurse walked in. "How are you feeling?" "Better, but next time could we order out for some Mexican food?" That brought a chuckle to her nurse. "Well, if you're getting your appetite back than I guess you're strong enough for a visitor or two," she said glancing towards the door. "There is a certain young lady out there whose been waiting here for the last three hours. She's been pacing up and down the hall like a caged cat and has informed me that if I didn't let her in here soon, I'd need three orderlies to hold her back. So, if you're up to it I'll let her in but," there was always a but, wasn't there? "But, if your vitals go up, I'm kicking her out. Do I make myself clear?" Laura nodded and sat up even more in the bed. She was right; Randi came rushing through the door. "Mom, Mom!" she cried out with tears in her eyes. She was kissing her mother's face and hugging her. Randi started to cry. "I thought we'd lost you. When they said you might never wake up I told them they were wrong and that you'd fight back. How are you feeling? Are you sore? Do you need anything?" The questions came nonstop as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve and sniffled. "You've lost a little bit of weight," Randi said. "But don't worry, when you get out of this place and start eating real food you'll gain it all back in no time. Mom, it's so good to have you back," she said with another bone crushing hug. "The doctor told me that if everything goes right you could probably be out of here by the end of the weekend. God, you look great mom." Randi was starting to simmer down a little. She was pumped seeing her mother awake for the first time in over six months. It had been a long journey with more than a few potholes. But her mother was back and she'd make sure her homecoming would be something special. When she noticed her mother starting to fidget and glancing over to the door a few times, Randi's face started to drop a little. Did she remember? And if she did remember, how much? These were only a few of the questions that eventually needed answers to. Then there was what Randi had been carrying in her purse for the last two months. Her dad had given it to her and asked that she take care of this one little task for him. She'd told him yes, but now with her mom awake, she wasn't so sure she could do it anymore. "Is everyone aware that I'm out of my coma and ready to receive visitors?" "Mom, I called everyone on my way over here but told most to give you a day or two to recoup. This way you wouldn't get hit all at once. The doctor told me to make sure that you were kept calm and threatened to throw me out if I upset you, so I'm trying my best not to." When her mom gave her this strange look she kind of knew what was coming next. Laura had gotten this far away look on her face. It looked like she was trying to think back and remember something. She finally asked Randi the question she had been dreading ever since she walked into her room. Please, please, please, let it be something else Randi prayed. It wasn't. "Mom, he's not coming. I called him on my way over so he knows you're awake, but he said he wasn't coming." Laura got a sad look on her face like she'd expected it but had hoped for a different answer. "Evan said he'd be over tomorrow after work, and grandma and grandpa will be over tomorrow night. Your sister, Patty, is on her way and should be here in about an hour. I told her to give us a little while together, alone, before she came. Mom, I'm so sorry," Randi told her and watched her mother's face fall. "It was pretty tough on all of us after the accident, but everything has pretty much settled down. Do you want to know what's happened in the world since you've been asleep? We elected our first black president, isn't that wonderful? The economy is still in the shitter but it's getting better, and your boss said your old job is waiting for you whenever you're ready to come back. Isn't that great?" Randi was trying to stay away from that one dreaded topic, but knew it wouldn't go away. Her purse felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, and she finally set it down on the bedside table. Randi knew she wasn't supposed to upset her mother, but she was getting that way and it wasn't her fault. They talked about everything and nothing for the next hour. They looked at one another, and Randi told her that someone had been here with her most of the time. Laura asked how everyone was holding up and said that she was sorry to have been such a burden. "Mom, you weren't a burden and if that man hadn't run that red light none of this would have happened. I don't know if anyone has told you, what the hell am I thinking, of course you don't know; he died in the crash. The report said he died on impact." That statement brought a sad look to Laura's face. "Well, enough talk about that, you're awake and are going to be as good as new. I'll make sure to fatten you up. It'll be just like old times." Laura looked at her daughter and said it would never be like it was ever again. She remembered now how she got here, not the accident mind you, but how it had happened. She remembered yelling for Ed to slow down. She remembered screaming when she saw the truck just before it plowed into them. After that everything was a blank slate until she woke up this morning. "Do you think your father will talk to me?" Laura asked, but Randi just shook her head no. "Mom, maybe later. Everything has been on the back burner with you being in here. It's still too new and raw. Maybe in a week or two dad will come around," Randi told her. They both knew that wasn't going to happen. "Dad wanted me to give this to you when you woke up." Randi handed her a white unmarked envelope. "I don't think you should look at it until at least tomorrow. Aunt Patty will be here soon and remember the doctors want you to stay calm. I'll stop by tomorrow morning. Say hi to Aunt Patty for me." As Randi was exiting the hospital she noticed her Aunt Patty walking in. "Does she know?" was the first question out of Patty's mouth. "Not yet, but I gave her the letter from dad. I told her not to read it until tomorrow, but I'm positive she's reading it as we speak." "Maybe I should wait a little bit before going up. You know, give her a little alone time." "Aunt Patty, the last thing she needs right now is alone time. She's been alone in her mind for the last six months. Right now she needs our support and plenty of it if she going to get through the next couple of months." "I guess you're right. It's just that I don't know how I can face her after all that's happened these last couple of months. My parents are still angry with me, your dad says he never wants to see my face ever again, and even your brother hasn't forgiven me yet. You're the only one who still talks to me." "Aunt Patty, I found out months ago it doesn't do anyone any good to judge others all it brings about is anger and hate. I'm done with both. So go say hi to your sister, tell her you love her, and I'll see you both later." Patty walked upstairs and slowly walked down the hall. She'd be upbeat and not say a word about Steve. However, when she walked into her room the tears were streaming down Laura's face. She tried to duck back out of the doorway but Laura had seen her. With tearful eyes and arms out stretched she ran to her. For the next half hour Laura poured out her heart and soul onto her shoulder, and Patty too started to cry. Laura was exhausted beyond what she could bear. The nurse monitoring her vitals had called the doctor and pushing Patty aside he injected Laura with something to calm her down and put her back to sleep. The doctor wasn't happy when Patty told him she wasn't leaving. He said Laura would probably sleep until tomorrow morning sometime so she could sit there, however, before he left he gave her a firm warning. "If she get's upset one more time, I'm going to restrict everyone from visiting. She's not a well woman and what she needs more than anything else is calm." The doctor scolded Patty like he was disciplining one of his nurses. Patty told him that she would just sit in the chair next to the bed and read. He warned her once more before he left not to get Laura agitated. Little did he know it wasn't Patty but the letter Laura held in her hand that had upset her so much. Laura was back in la la land. She looked peaceful like she had for the last six months, but this time she was going to wake up to a whole new life. There was a pile of papers on the floor next to her bed. Patty picked them up and put them on her lap. She looked at the first page and cringed. No wonder Laura had been so upset. Flipping through a couple of pages she came to one that was wet from tears and knew this is how far Laura had gotten before losing it. Patty felt deeply sorry for her sister but angry with herself. It didn't have to have ended this way, but knowing Steve this was the only way it could have ended. She turned off the overhead light and turned on the small light by the night table. It gave just enough illumination to see what was written on the pages. Thankfully, they were all stapled together, so she flipped back to page one and started to read. "Oh my God," was all Patty could say to herself after reading just the first paragraph. CHAPTER ONE '******************** I had been watching and listening to that monitor on and off for the last three weeks, but that constant beep, beep, beep, was about to drive me over the edge. I'd gotten permission from the hospital to basically come and go as I pleased, but I was starting to get a little punch drunk from lack of sleep. I was leaving shortly to go home and for once I was going to try to get a good eight hours of sleep. The doctors were very optimistic after the surgery. They all said that they had relieved the pressure on the brain but that it would take time for the swelling to go down. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too long, but they could not say for sure. "Does that mean she'll wake up then?" I asked the doctor. He could tell I was pleading for the answer I was hoping for. "Mr. Moore, your wife is in a coma and even though it isn't a deep one, nonetheless it could be one day, one week, or three months. There's no way for us to determine when she'll come out of it. Her injuries have been repaired, but the body sometimes does this on its own as a way of healing itself. Her head trauma is the likely cause and we're just going to have to wait. Just be thankful she's alive." I was thankful Laura was alive unlike the driver of the car she was riding in. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt and took the brunt of the crash. The paramedics said he died almost instantly, and they weren't too sure about my wife's chances until the firefighters cut her out of what was left of the car. So, here I sit and wonder why. "Dad," my son Evan yelled running into the room that first day. "How's mom doing? Randi is on her way but said to call her as soon as I found out something." I told them that their mother had been in surgery for sixteen hours and was doing as well as could be expected. Cracked ribs, head trauma, a broken ankle, and multiple fractures rounded out her list of extensive injuries. I told them that the biggest problem was that she had hit both the front and side of her head, and the surgeon had to drill holes in her skull to relieve the internal pressure. "Look Son, I don't understand it all, but if I believe only half of what they're telling me, your mom is going to make a full recovery. It's going to take a while, but she'll be just fine." I wish I could say that about myself. The kids stopped in everyday to see how she was doing; praying to God she'd wake up. Me, I became a fixture around the hospital for the first couple of weeks eating most of my dinners in my wife's room. I'd stop off at McDonald's, Chinese, or bring in a large pizza that I would share with the nursing staff. All in all, I was just marking time until she woke up. "How's Laura doing?" Keith, my boss asked. "She's healing and the doctors say she should wake up any day now," I lied about that part of it. "Well, she's in our prayers," he said patting me on the shoulder. "If you need any extra time off just say the word." "Thanks for the offer, but being here at work is keeping me sane and grounded. It's the only place I can get it off my mind and be somewhat normal." "Well, if something comes up just let me know." I thanked him again. Everyone was being overly nice to me. Five days after the accident I was at the police station getting a copy of the accident report. I could have gotten it earlier but I needed time to get my head together before reading what had gone down. The police report stated that the Lincoln Town car, Laura was riding in had been traveling at a high rate of speed down Boylston Street. The car had run the red light at the corner of Boylston and Fifth Avenue. A UPS delivery truck, that had the green light, plowed into the driver's side of the Lincoln. There were some skid marks, but the UPS driver said that by the time he saw the car it was too late to stop. The driver estimates that he hit them going approximately twenty-five to thirty miles per hour. The driver of the Lincoln, a Mr. Edward Carver, was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed by the medical examiner. I thought for a minute and for the life of me I couldn't place the name. I looked at his home address and saw that it was all the way across town from where we lived. Later that night I looked online and found that he had been married to a woman named Carol and had an eight year old daughter. When I went to the hospital after work I found Randi there giving my wife a hand and foot massage. "Dad, I read that physical stimulation sometimes can bring a person out of a coma. Why don't you get on the other side and do her other hand," she said passing the massage oil over to me. We rubbed for the better part of an hour before finally stopping. "I plan on doing this a couple times a week until she wakes up. Also, I made a tape of her favorite songs and put it on her iPod. I picked up a headset and will have the nurse start it every night; something's got to work." "Honey, the doctor said it's going to take time. Her brain is still not totally healed. It's only been three weeks since the accident." "I hope you sue the pants off that UPS driver dad, he could have killed mom." "Sweetheart, the driver of car your mom was in ran a red light. He was the one at fault." "Great, and he's dead. What an idiot. What the hell was he thinking? Have you contacted his widow yet?" "Randi, she just buried her husband. For Christ's sakes, leave the poor woman and her daughter alone to grieve." "I guess you're right. I am thankful Mom is still alive," I said nothing in reply. The only thing the police report failed to mention was that I was in the car right behind them and saw the whole thing first hand. THREE WEEKS EARLIER I was sitting at my desk just finishing up the production schedule for the rest of the week. I leaned back, stretched, and glanced at my watch. Eleven twenty-one. That's when the idea popped into my head; why not surprise my wife for lunch. Hell, it was going to be a boring afternoon now that the schedule was done, so right then and there I decided to take a couple of hours off and surprise my wife. Laura worked about twenty-five minutes from my office, and I figured that if I left right now I'd make it just in time for lunch. I debated about picking something up but decided that I'd grab her and let her make the decision on where to eat. "This is going to be so cool," I thought to myself making my way through the pre-lunch hour traffic. I got hung up at one light and was about to call her but fought the urge. I wanted to see the look on her face when I walked in. What's that phrase they say on television, priceless? It was five minutes to twelve when I turned the corner in front of her building, just in time to see her get into a black Lincoln Town car. "Shit, too late," I said hitting the steering wheel. She's probably having a business lunch with a vendor. I was kicking myself for not calling and was about to head back to work when I saw it, the kiss. It wasn't a big passionate tongue-piercing kiss more so just a peck, but it was one just the same. Now I had another reason to be there. They took off and I pulled in right behind them with my brain pelting me with question after question that I didn't have any answers for. I guess I'm not the most reserved or patient person in the world because at the first stoplight I got out of my car. I ran up to the driver's window and rapped on the glass with the back of my knuckles. The puzzled look on the driver's face was nothing compared to that look of horror I saw on Laura's. "Open the fucking door," I yelled through the glass. The light turned green and the car lunged forward and headed out fast. I ran back to my car and even though everyone was honking at me I heard nothing. I kept my eyes focused on the black Lincoln weaving through the traffic ahead of me. It didn't take me more than two minutes to catch back up to them because of the slow lunch hour traffic. I was flashing my brights at them trying to get them to stop, that's when he gunned it. The Ties That Bind Us I was stopping for the red light when he tried to plow through the intersection, tried being the key word. A UPS truck t-boned their car with a deafening crash. It pushed it all the way across the intersection. I saw the initial impact, but both vehicles were immediately pushed out of my line of sight. I just sat there not believing what had just taken place. By the time I had snapped out of my stupor and gotten out of my car I could hear the wail of police sirens. Someone was yelling at me to move my damn car. There must have been thirty people already huddled around the damaged car and the truck. I got back in and moved my car to the side of the road. I was more than a little afraid of what I'd find as I made my way over to the car. I pushed the gawkers to the side and made my way up to Laura's side of the car. There was blood everywhere and I could see she was out cold. I tried the door but it was locked. Before I could bust out the window a million uniformed police and emergency workers arrive on the scene. Everyone, including me, was pushed back while the rescue squad worked on getting the two out of the car. They had to use the Jaws of Life just to get the doors open. I could see that the driver was in bad shape and within minutes he was put on a stretcher and a sheet draped over him. With the sheet soaking up the blood, I knew he was gone. They worked on Laura for the better part of fifteen minutes. A paramedic was on the inside with her as two firefighters worked to open the door and pull the dashboard back and away from her. When they yelled for a stretcher my heart jumped a beat; she was still alive. "My name is Stephen Moore," I said to one of the paramedics. "That's my wife there. What hospital are they going to be taking her to?" "County General. It's the closest and she'll need immediate emergency care. Do you want to ride in the ambulance with her?" "No, I've got my car, I'll meet them there," I said running back to my car. They beat me there but not by much. In the emergency room I told them who I was and gave them all the pertinent information. Then I started filling out a multitude of forms. They said that she was already being taken into surgery and told me where I could wait. I must have sat there quiet, emotionless, and in a daze for at least the next couple of hours. A nurse came over to check on me once and the second time I gave her the completed forms. "How long will she be in there?" "I can't give you a time table but it'll be at least a few hours more. Your wife sustained a lot of injuries, but don't worry, she's got the best surgeons on our staff working on her as we speak." She smiled into my glazed over eyes and moved on to the next person. I didn't want to call our kids until I knew something definite, so I waited and waited and waited for the doctor to come through those damn swinging doors. "Mr. Moore, they're just finishing up," a nurse told me. "The doctor will be out in about twenty minutes to explain to you how she's doing." A half hour later a doctor in green scrubs gave me the low down on how she was and what I could expect. They were going to keep her sedated for now because they didn't want her to move. Her head would be strapped down to keep it immobilized and then he told me about having to drill into her skull. "Mr. Moore, it's not as bad as it looks and your wife came through the surgery quite well. She's not out of the woods just yet but everything went as expected. We'll know more in about twelve to twenty-four hours. Go home and get some rest there's nothing you can do here." He was right but I was staying anyway. "Evan, this is Dad," I said into my cell phone. "Mom has been in a car accident." I talked to him while he dressed and headed out. He said that he would call Randi and would see me in about twenty minutes or less. "Drive safe, I don't want to have to visit two people in here." He showed up, Randi showed up, and I brought them up to speed. After three cups of coffee I talked them into leaving. I said that I was staying until she was out of recovery and put into a room. "I'll call you if anything changes," I told the two of them. "Go home get some sleep. There's nothing you can do right now." I almost had to physically have them removed. When the doctor informed me the next day that Laura had slipped into a coma, I thought what else could go wrong? However, after the second day if I heard another person tell me it wasn't uncommon for someone to go into a coma after an accident like that I was going to scream. So it went from days to week after week without any change in her condition. She was healing but was still in that damn coma. I would watch her for hours. She looked so peaceful with a dozen tubes and wires protruding from so many parts of her body. The cuts on her face and forehead were almost totally healed, but she'd probably want some plastic surgery to lessen their appearance. I went to work, spent my evenings at the hospital, and only went home to sleep; life sucked. If it weren't for that phone call I got late one evening after returning from the hospital, I'd still be stuck in that same routine. "Mr. Moore?" a female voice on the other end asked in a slightly hesitant voice. "Yes, this is Stephen Moore, can I help you," I replied in my now normal tired voice. "Mr. Moore, my name is Carol Carver, my husband was Edward Carver." I stopped her right there. "Mrs. Carver, I know who you are and let me take this time to tell you how sorry I am about you and your daughter's loss." "Thank you. Can I ask you about your wife?" "She's still in a coma, but the doctors have said they expect her to come out of it soon and make a full recovery. Thank you for asking," I replied. "Mr. Moore, I need to ask you a delicate question. I know I might be out of line, but I need to ask anyway," she said, her voice quivered but got a bit louder. "Why was your wife in the car with my husband?" I paused for a minute. "That is the ten thousand dollars question now, isn't it?" I finally replied. For the next hour we talked or should I say exchanged bits of information. If, and I do mean if, they were having an affair neither one of us had any idea. "Ed wasn't supposed to be back in town until later that night. When I got the phone call I told them that they had the wrong Edward Carver. My Ed Carver's plane wasn't due back in until nine thirty that night. When the police said that they'd confirmed his identification through his drivers license and credit cards I lost it." I questioned myself and thought about telling her that I had a lot to do with her husband's death but she probably would have hung up on me. If that were the case then I'd never know if the affair was real or if he'd just been a close working friend. "Carol, what did your husband do for a living exactly?" "He worked for Canon. He leased copiers and printers to businesses in the southeast. The last I heard was that he was finishing up in Macon, Georgia, and would be home somewhere around ten forty-five that night. I haven't brought it up to his boss since I'm still on Ed's health insurance policy for the next three months. I can't jeopardize that in any way." "Did you look at his e-mails and the text messages on his phone?" "I got his laptop and cell phone from the impound lot and although your wife's company is listed there wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I don't want to believe he was cheating on me but at this point I'd just like to know for sure." "Carol, why don't I check out a few things on my own and get back with you in a couple of days. There may have been something going on but to what extent I can't be sure." We exchanged cell phone numbers and I went on a search mission. Nothing. I didn't find a damn thing. If they were having an affair I couldn't find anything. The only time we weren't together outside of work was when she and her sister went out together to dinner or shopping. Hell, sometimes I'd even tagged along, so I knew there was nothing funny going on there. Friday night I tore my bedroom, den, and garage apart looking for something. I didn't know what I was looking for; just something out of the ordinary. No e-mails, no texts, no sexy lingerie, that I hadn't seen before and no unaccounted for expenses like hotel rooms or anything like that. I was drawing a real blank, thank God. I even went so far as to go to her work and look through her desk. I used the excuse that I was missing one of Laura's credit cards and needed to either find it or list it as stolen. Like I said, nothing. I talked to Carol and even invited her out to lunch to compare notes, but she thought it wouldn't be appropriate considering the circumstances, so we just talked on the phone. After about six weeks neither one of us could find any connection between the two of them other than the fact that Ed's company held the lease to the copiers at Laura's work place. "They were probably just going to lunch to discuss the renewal of the lease," I said not totally believing what I had said to her; after all, I'd seen the kiss. If it had been a kiss on the cheek like the one two friends gave one another it would have been purged from my mind by now, but it wasn't. It was on the lips and looked like it wasn't the first one she'd given him. It was too automatic and casual almost like it had been expected. "You don't believe that anymore than I do," Carol said. "Carol, neither one of us has found anything; nothing to connect them together." "Steve, deep down inside I know there was something going on, but I guess you're right. Anyway, what's the point now? I only wish I could put closure to it. You've got your wife and even though she's in a coma she's still alive. Mine's dead, buried, but not forgotten. Now when I hear someone say what a good husband and father Ed was I cringe because I think that he may have been cheating behind my back, and it's driving me nuts. I guess it doesn't make any difference now, but will you do me a favor?" "If I can." "If and when your wife does wake up, please find out for me what was really going on. I guess right now it doesn't make a difference one way or another to me except that these lingering thoughts are going to drive me crazy. If he was cheating, oh well, he paid the ultimate price. However, if he wasn't I don't want to feel ill towards him for the rest of my life. You see what I mean?" "Don't worry, I'll get you some type of closure because I'm going to need it for myself also." So life went on for the next couple of months. I went to work, to the hospital, and finally home to sleep. Day in and day out you could set your watch by my schedule. Then out of the blue Carol called me. "Steve, Ed's work sent over a box of some personal effects that I'd missed along with some mail that he had going directly to his work. Included in all this stuff were two Visa bills on an account I never knew about. Listed on the bill are charges for the Hilton Hotel just off the downtown area. As best as I can ascertain he rented a room there once a month. The only problem I have is that he was supposed to be on the road every one of those days." I had started to forget about how this had all gone down, but now this new information brought me back to reality. "Carol, can you give the last three or four dates, and I'll try to somehow cross reference them to what we were doing at the time." She gave me the last four and I told her I'd get back with her. I can remember what I was doing two weeks ago but the last date was almost eighteen weeks ago. I went home and looked at our kitchen calendar, and over a Corona I tried to remember back that far. I bombed on that one but I'd found where she and her sister had gone out to dinner on the previous date. Then I remembered something that Carol had said; she had checked Ed's planner. Everyone at Laura's work place wanted to know how she was doing and the only answer I could give them was that she was stable, but her condition was unchanged. This time I knew exactly what I was looking for and found it in her desktop drawer, her daily planner. I grabbed it and headed back out to my car. On the way home I grabbed some Chinese because cooking for one had gotten to be a real drag. With our kitchen calendar, her work planner, and the dates Carol had given me I started cross-referencing. Of the four dates, Laura had gone out with her sister to dinner on one, and shopping with her on the other. The other two dates I didn't have a clue what had been happening, and they didn't fit into the pattern of the others. I called Carol. "I've got some good news and bad news both," I told her. "On two of the dates you gave me my wife was out with her sister, but I struck out on the other two." "Are you sure that she actually went out with her sister?" Now Carol had opened up another can of worms. "I guess, I can't stake my life on it, but they've been going out with each other for years." "Steve, that's not what I'm asking and you know it. Would her sister have lied for her if she was having an affair?" Damn, why won't this whole thing go away? "That I can't be sure of. I know her sister pretty well, but I don't have a clue if she would lie for her." "Steve, I know I'm being a pain in the ass, but I'm trying to put some type of closure on my marriage and to what use to be my wonderful life. I can't tell you how to proceed from here, that's up to you, but I'd sure want to know if it was me. Call me if you find out anything." I wanted it to just go away and die but Carol wasn't going to let that happen. However, the next step was going to be tricky at best, and it had the distinct possibility of changing my life forever. Three Coronas gave me just enough courage without dulling my brain too much. I thought about doing it face to face but had dismissed that idea right away. I didn't want Laura's sister, Patty, seeing the look in my eyes as I set the hook and got ready to gaff her. I swallowed hard when I heard her answer her cell phone. I wondered if I'd still be whole by the end of this conversation. "Steve, is anything wrong?" I forgot she could see who was calling. "Not with Laura, there's no change and the doctor said she could come out of it any day Of course, that's what they've been telling me every day for months." "Well then, what can I do for you tonight?" I took all the slack out of my line and got ready to set the hook. "I know about Laura and Ed." I stopped with that statement and waited for her reaction. "Who is Ed, and what about Laura? Steve, I don't understand what you are talking about." Was her cautious reply. "I think you do Patty, since you were her alibi all those times. How could you?" I felt the hook go deep into her flesh. "Steve, you're wrong, Laura would never..." I stopped her. "Ed's wife has the hotel receipts and on everyone of those dates my beloved wife was conviently having either dinner or shopping with you. If it wasn't for the hotel cameras I never would have believed it even myself. Right now I'm having a hard time believing that two people who I cared so deeply for would be lying to me all this time." I was lying through my teeth but there was nothing but silence on the other end. "Steve, it was just a one time thing." "Bullshit. I know of at least four times she met him for sex. How stupid do you think I am? I take that back, I guess I was pretty stupid. How I never saw or knew my wife was cheating on me all this time I'll never know. I guess when you're in love it truly does makes you deaf, dumb, blind, and stupid, but not anymore." "Steve, she was going to break it off the day of the accident. You've got to believe that. He was getting too possessive and what had started out as innocent flirting just went too far. You've got to believe me." "Patty, I saw them when Ed picked Laura up at her work that day. I watched her get into his fucking car and kiss him like she was greeting her long lost lover, for Christ's sakes. I followed them until we got stopped at a stoplight and then got out of my car to confront them, however, after seeing me he took off. I was there when he went through the damn red light and got hit by that fucking truck. So don't try to tell me that she was getting ready to dump him. The only thing she had on her mind was what she was going to do with him when they got inside that room." I was shouting now. "Steve, I'm so sorry. Laura loves you and this was nothing more than a stupid regrettable fling on her part. Please don't do anything until she can explain it to you in her own words." "You mean lie to me don't you? I have to admit you guys were good. I never would have imagined that my loving wife was capable of cheating on me, and my sister making it possible for her to do so. You disgust me." The phone went dead along with my marriage. Twenty minutes later, Bob, Patty's husband called. "Steve, I didn't fucking know what the two of them were doing. You've got to believe that. There is no way if I'd know that I ever would have put up with what Patty did. You have my sincere apology for what was done to you and I can guarantee you it'll never happen again." He was right about that. "Thanks Bob, I didn't think you knew, but you don't have to worry about it anymore." "Steve, I know you are pretty angry right now but don't do anything you're going to regret. Take a couple of days to cool off and if you need someone to talk with or drink with I'm available." I thanked him and said there was nothing I could do at this point right now, anyway. Laura was still in a coma but told him to tell his wife to keep the hell away from me. I had two more beers and then called it a night. I didn't sleep, just stared at a black ceiling. At about ten o'clock Thursday morning I called Carol and invited her out to lunch for the following day. I picked a place where I could get a semi-private room because I knew there was going to be a lot of screaming and forewarned the waiter. I was on my second drink when Carol arrived. She ordered a drink. I told the waiter to bring her two and to leave us alone unless he heard gunfire. "Carol, you were right, Ed and my wife were having some kind of an affair. Her sister was covering for her and I guess with Ed traveling it was easy to fool the two of us." "That bastard, how could he have done that to me, to us? Well, at least I know what kind of man he truly was. I just wish I could have confronted him and spit in his face and made him suffer the way he's made me suffer." "Carol, there's something else I haven't told you and I want you to hear me out totally before you speak. I don't know an easy way to say this so I'm just going to tell you." I looked at her once more before starting. "I saw them together the day of the accident. I was going to surprise Laura and take her to lunch, but when I got to her work she was getting into your husband's car. Through the car's back window I saw her kiss him and started following them. A couple of blocks later I got out of my car to confront them and it went downhill from that point. Your husband saw me and took off as my wife went nuts in the front seat. I stopped for the light they went through. I watched the UPS truck hit them and saw the firefighters remove your husband from his car. He died instantly. I'm so sorry. I guess I indirectly caused the accident but I never meant to." She started screaming at me and crying all at the same time. "Why didn't you tell me this months ago? You knew they were cheating on us and you said nothing." "Carol, all I saw was one kiss, that's all." But she still laid into me telling me that I'd killed her husband, and it was my fault she was now a widow. "Carol, back the fuck up. I didn't tell or give your fucking husband permission to sleep with my wife, and I sure as hell didn't push his foot down on that damn gas pedal and force him to run that goddamn red light. I was trying to find out what the hell was going on, and if it was what I thought, to stop it dead right there." I was shaking. I was so mad at Carol, at Laura, at Ed, at everyone, for everything. The Ties That Bind Us "But your wife's still alive while my husband's dead. You'll be able to get answers and have closure. Me? I'll have to just wonder why my husband did it." She continued crying. I went around the table and attempted to comfort her. She tried to push me away but I was persistent. "I know you don't want to hear this but in one way you're the lucky one. You can move forward with your life now. Find someone else, get married again, and never have to worry about seeing him again. But because of the kids I'm going to have to see my cheating wife's face, and be constantly reminded of what we once had and lost. I may find out the why but what difference will that make? My marriage is over and I'm going to have to grieve over it just like you are." We ordered and had lunch if for no other reason than we were already there. I stopped drinking alcohol because I didn't want to add a DUI to my already long list of issues. It took about fifteen minutes before we started talking again. We had a bond because of something that neither one of us had ever thought would happen. For the first time we talked about something other than our spouses. She told me about her daughter and I told her about my two kids. If it weren't for the real reason we were there it would have been a very nice lunch. Carol described her marriage as good but trying at times with Ed being on the road a lot. "Steve, every marriage had problems and ours was far from perfect, but I never expected to get blindsided like I was. If he'd just told me that he was unhappy or dissatisfied I know we could have worked it out one way or another. You can't solve your problems by bringing a third person into the mix. I'm sorry I went off on you. I am just so angry all the time now. The hurt is still there, but I just wish I could look him in the eye, shake him, and ask 'what were you thinking?' I know it's going to get easier but what do I do until then?" "I guess you do what I'm doing and that is take it one day at a time. Now with it all out in the open I'm going to have to make some hard decisions that's going to affect not only Laura and me, but also a whole lot of other people. And I, like you, want to know why she threw away a perfectly good marriage for a roll in the sack with someone else but unless she wakes up I'll never know either." We finished lunch and skipped dessert. Carol wasn't sure what she was going to do going forward but on top of her immediate list was to sell her house. She said that she could no longer afford it, and there were too many memories there. "I'll probably move back to Ohio and in with my mom and dad for right now. Thank God, Ed's life insurance and pension paid off everything we owed so I can start off fresh without anything hanging over my head. I was only working part time and told my boss yesterday I was giving my notice at the end of the week." "I know I've said it and had it said to me a million times before, I'm sorry any of this had to happen. You and your daughter don't deserve this type of hardship." She thanked me, and we walked out together. "You okay to drive?" I asked Carol "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for not hiding the truth from me. Even though I may not have wanted to hear it, I'd rather know than to continue thinking I could have been wrong." She kissed me on the cheek. "Don't be a stranger and good luck with your wife," she said getting into her car and pulling away. I was going to need more than luck when it came to Laura. For the next three days I went home after work and between dinner and quite a few beers I started to put a plan together. When Randi called me on day four and asked if anything was wrong I told her I was working on a problem. By Wednesday night, when I didn't show up at the hospital, both she and Evan came looking for me. "All right, Dad, what's going on? You haven't been to see Mom in almost a week. Is there something about her condition you're keeping from us?" Randi asked looking afraid of what I was going to tell her. "Dad, we're not kids," Evan added in. I wasn't going to bring it up just yet but thought what the hell, it would eventually come out anyway. "Kids, there is something. I didn't want to tell you just yet but." I started to explain when Randi started crying. "She's dying, isn't she? That's why you haven't been there. When did you find out? Why didn't you tell us?" she said as the tears began to flow. "Relax, your mom's not dying. Where did this all come from?" I asked. "Well, you haven't been to see her all week, and I just thought with you telling me that you were working on a problem it involved Mom." "Kids, I think you might want to sit down for what I'm about to tell you and maybe a drink might be in order." They both refused and told me to get on with it. I looked them both in the eye and started. "You're mother has been cheating on me for quite a while. She was with him when she got in that car accident." Randi was horrified at the idea. "No way. Mom would never cheat on you. She loves you too much." "Look, I thought the same thing, but I was following her and her lover in my car when they got in that accident." They just looked at me like I'd lost my mind. I spent the next hour going over everything Carol and I had found out. From the time I pulled up behind them at her work to my conversations with Patty. They were in shock like I'd been weeks ago. "Dad, there has to be some mistake. You know Mom, she'd never do what you're suggesting." Randi defended her mother hoping I was wrong about her guilt. Evan wasn't so nice. "Dad, she may be my mother but I can't excuse what she's done to you. And Aunt Patty, well she's every bit as guilty as Mom. I hope I don't see her before I have a chance to cool down or I'd probably lose it and tell her what I really think of her. I wonder if she's been cheating on Uncle Bob?" The questions were now coming from all angles. "Kids, the one thing I can tell you for sure is that I'm done with your mother. I can't divorce her right now because she's on my medical insurance, but I no longer consider her my wife. I'm going to get the papers started but won't serve her until, when, and if she comes out of her coma." "Dad, don't do anything until after you talk to Mom. I know it looks bad right now, but maybe there's some other explanation?" Randi pleaded with me. "You mean like they were just renting a room at the Hilton to talk and play board games?" I didn't want to hurt my daughter but come on; we all know what she was doing there. I told her I'd move slowly on it. That gave her a little relief. I was glad to see them leave. I hadn't wanted to have this discussion but was glad it was now out in the open. The one thing I didn't expect was when Evan laid into Laura's parents on the next trip to the hospital. They had made the observation that I was no longer coming to see their daughter. That's when he told them the sordid details leaving nothing out. I heard they were shocked. One of the nurses had to tell them to keep their voices down when Evan called Laura a fucking tramp and her dad took offense to that. "My daughter is not a tramp," his grandfather yelled back at him. "Steve must have done something." "Grandpa, my father did nothing to mom. He's always treated her like his loving wife. Why she decided to take a lover is anyone's guess, but I'll never forgive her for what she did to my father and our family." I guess it went downhill from that point on. Patty sent me an e-mail trying to explain the who, what, and why but after reading it I just replied that I never wanted to hear from her again and deleted it. How stupid did she think I was? So, from that night forward I started building a new life. I didn't go out of my way to tell anyone about my problems but when my boss kept bugging me about how Laura was doing, I took him aside and gave him the short version. If he was sorry for me before he was doubly sorry now. Everyone I told was sorry for me, but I was coming to grips with it. I was going to separate everything. I realized, though, if she did happen to die it would be that much harder to resolve everything. So I waited. The one thing I did do one weekend was to write a letter to Laura. I put down all my feelings, including my hurt into it, and asked my daughter Randi to give it to her mother if and when she came out of her coma. I had already stopped going to the hospital, and Evan was only going once in a while at Randi's insistence. Randi thought it would be better if I gave Laura the letter but when I said I never wanted to see her again she finally relented. Shortly there after, Laura woke up. '******************** CHAPTER TWO With Laura now asleep again, Patty began to read the letter Steve had written to her. Laura, If you're reading this, you've finally come out of your coma much to my dismay. I don't know how many times, since that faithful day, I had wished that you had died in that car crash. The look on your face when I came to the driver's window that day pretty much said it all; you were finally caught. Ed really was a dumb shit wasn't he? Only a real idiot would have tried to go through a busy intersection at lunchtime. If you don't know yet he died on impact. I'm only sorry I didn't get the chance to rearrange his face properly, but the UPS truck beat me to it. Patty and I had a heart to heart discussion and as you can imagine she's not on my list of favorites, anymore. Ed's wife found the credit card that he used to rent your little love nest. After cross-referencing the dates with your planner we put two and two together. Patty was still lying to me just before I told her I never wanted to speak to her again. Bob called back and apologized for his stupid wife, but the damage had already been done. I have to admit, you were good. I never saw it coming and even after Carol came up with the accusation of the two of you cheating on us I told her she was way off base. Even now I still have a problem believing it. How I could have been so naïve and blind still upsets me. I guess that when you love someone as much as I loved you, you just never think that that person could ever fuck you over. I hope it was worth it. Just so you're not blindsided both kids now know. Randi took the side that everyone makes mistakes and has basically forgiven you, but Evan and your father have had more than one knock down and drag out argument after he called you a tramp in front of him. Your parents aren't happy about it either, but eventually they'll forgive you; Evan is a whole other issue. Go easy with him, because he, along with more than a few others, are angry with you right now and don't understand what you were thinking. As for me, we're done. The first time you crossed that threshold with your new fuck buddy, Ed, it was over for us. Patty tried to tell me that it was only one time until I told her what I knew. Like I said you and Patty both really deserve academy awards for your roles of loving wife and caring sister. Don't expect my vote. You're still on my medical until we can work out the final details. That way you won't be saddled with thousands of dollars of medical bills. The house will be sold, and I've tossed our bed to the curb. You've probably been banging guys in our martial bed and as soon as I found out I couldn't bring myself to sleep in it any longer. We can split all our assets right down the middle and we can each keep our own 401K retirement plans. I highly suggest you don't make waves or fight this divorce or I'll drag your name through the mud. I'll let everyone know what a real slut you are. No one at your work knows a thing and your job is waiting for you when you recover. For me, I never want to see your face again. I never want to talk to you or for you to e-mail me either. At first I wanted to know why. Why you did it. If it was me or if it was something I did or didn't do, but then I thought what the hell. I finally realized it didn't matter why, just that you had done what you did. If you had wanted out that bad, I would have felt bad, but I would have let you go. Now, all I just want you fucking gone and out of my life. I know there are going to be some issues over the next couple of months, but I'll send you my lawyer's name, when I get one, so you can go through him, not me. Like I said, I was waiting for you to wake up or die, whichever came first, before I went forward with this. So in closing, I hope you have a miserable fucking life, and when you look in the mirror and see all those damn scars you feel excursing pain at what you threw away. I don't plan on taking the high road because you sure as hell didn't. I'm angry, bitter, and like I said before; I wished you'd died in that damn accident. It wasn't even signed. Patty hadn't blinked once through the entire letter. Steve had pretty much hit the nail on the head, and although she knew the intimate details of Laura's affair she never would have mentioned them to another living soul. She felt that if you couldn't trust blood; who could you trust? But Laura hadn't made it all the way to the end of the letter, and Patty didn't know how she was going to react when she finally did. Patty was worried about Laura. Patty also knew that there was no way in hell Steve was going to take her back. Well, at least she'd still have her job when she got out of the hospital. She had told Laura more than once she was playing with fire, but Laura had insisted there was no way Steve was going to find out. She'd fully admitted the sex was nowhere near as good as what it was between her and Steve, but their love life had become boring, and she needed to interject a little spice. However, it turns out it wasn't spice more so acid. Laura had told her that she was going to break it off because Ed was getting too demanding and asking for more and more time with her. He wasn't happy with just an occasional roll in the sack now he wanted lunches and nights out with her. It was now common knowledge, at least throughout her family, that she'd cheated on Steve, and Patty only hoped that their parents and Evan would finally come around and forgive her; family, after all, was still family. CHAPTER THREE When Laura awoke she was sure she'd dreamed the whole thing. It had been one of those crazy drug induced dreams. She had coming in and out of consciousness over the last thirty-six hours. When she noticed Patty sleeping in the chair next to her bed she was relieved to see someone she'd shared so much of her life with. Laura touched Patty's shoulder and watched her jump and then looked at her. "How are you feeling?" Patty asked. "Much better. Have you been here all night?" "Yeah, I fell asleep a little after ten last night. Forget about me, how are you doing?" "I needed that sleep. I had the craziest dreams. Thankfully, they were just nightmares." Then she saw the letter on Patty's lap. "Oh fuck, it wasn't a dream," she said tearing up again. "Laura, look at me," Patty said calmly to her. "If you don't settle down, they're going to put you under again; do you understand?" Laura nodded. "What you have to understand is that Steve knows everything. Even though you guys were careful you left a paper trail and now everyone knows. He doesn't want you back and waited to divorce you until you woke up." "Patty, maybe there's a chance. If I could just speak to him I can make him understand it was just a stupid fling and only sex. Maybe he'll give me another chance. Will you talk to him?" "Laura, I'm one of the last people he wants to talk to. Remember you used me as an alibi. Hell, it took me weeks just to get my husband to forgive me after he found out what I'd done. Bob thought I was fooling around on him, also. No, the only one you have a chance with is Randi. She's forgiven both of us, and she has kept Steve informed of your progress. Steve may listen to her, but I sincerely doubt it. I told you what would happen if he found out." "I know, I know, but it was so naughty and exciting at first, then it just became something to do when Ed was in town. With someone actively pursuing me I kind of felt like a high school girl again only this time I was going to go all the way if he asked me. I know it was stupid, and I let it get out of hand, but I never thought I'd get caught. Patty, I never felt any love for Ed or loved Steve any less." "Laura, that was the problem, you didn't think." She was right. For the next two days Laura was poked, prodded, and tested. Everything was normal or normal enough for her to be discharged. She would need an additional surgery on her right hand and lower left leg to remove some small bone fragments, but it could be done any time in the future. Randi was there with her every step of the way and had a bedroom set up in her apartment waiting for her mother. "I got most of your clothes from the house, and Dad dropped off your car at my place a couple of days ago. He has paid the insurance on it until the end of the year. In a week or so Dad is going out of town and said that you could go into the house and take whatever you want. He said he wants to put it up for sale as soon as it's all cleaned out. I've got a ton of cards at my place for you from, I guess, everyone you know. After a week or so I told everyone no more flowers, your room was starting to look like a flower shop. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning in Evan's van. It will be easier for you to get in and out than my little car. Get some rest tonight we've got a big day tomorrow." With that said Randi was gone, at least for now. Laura spent the last night in the hospital lamenting what she had done and trying to figure out a way to win Steve back if possible, or at least get him to talk to her. Maybe after a good night's sleep she would figure out a way. After three weeks at Randi's, they were allowed back into the house. Steve and a few friends went out of town. Laura and Randi had all day Saturday and Sunday to look around. The house was kind of a mess. What caught their eyes were the partial ashes and broken glass in the family room fireplace. Pictures. All the pictures from their entire marriage were in there. Most were charred ashes but a few along the side still remained. It looks like Steve had just dumped them all in struck a match and walked away. Something like Laura had done to her marriage, she thought. The wedding pictures, the ones taken on family trips, and even two family portraits were gone. "How could Dad do this? If he didn't want them I would have taken them. Now we have nothing from all the vacations and trips we took." Randi looked forlornly at the charred remains in the fireplace. "Randi, I think that was the idea," Laura said sitting on the hearth pulling out any of them that were still left. Besides the furniture there wasn't much left. They filled up three large trash bags of stuff and while Randi loaded them into her car Laura took one last look around. Twenty-four years together and all that was left were some clothes, a few mementos, and two great kids, one of whom still wasn't talking to her much. The last thing Laura took was the nutcracker Steve had given to her for their first Christmas. Money had been a little tight, and they had agreed not to exchange gifts. But, Laura guessed, he saw the way she was looking at it in the store and somehow found the money. It was the first thing they put out during the holidays and the last thing they put away. She was kind of surprised he hadn't burnt that too. As old as it was it would have gone up like a stick match. With one more tear she shut the door and walked out of her old life into Randi's waiting car. Over the next four months Steve and Laura divided their life. Money, stocks, and their retirements all bit the dust. He was a lot fairer than she would have been if the conditions had been reversed. When the house sold they split the profits, and he filed the papers with the court. They were now a hundred percent separate, so there wasn't anything to argue about. The Ties That Bind Us Laura fought to see him before it became final, but Randi said that it was a non-issue with him. He had purchased a two-bedroom condo just off the downtown and had moved on without her. Evan came around, in time, but they were never as close as they had been before the accident. A year after the divorce became final Randi and her boyfriend became engaged, and Laura found a small one-bedroom condo in the historic section of town. She was back at work and although she didn't have any real money issues the wedding was going to cost more than Laura could afford on my own. They were having a Sunday dinner, Evan, his wife Kate, Randy, her fiancé Dan, and Laura. They were discussing the wedding and going over the many checklists. "Here," Evan said as he pushed an envelope towards Randi and his mother. "Dad wanted me to give this to you. He said it should make things a little easier." Randi opened up the envelope and pulled out a check. It was a check for twenty thousand dollars. The short note enclosed just said, 'My girl deserves the wedding of her dreams.' Randi and Steve had barely talked these past fifteen months. They had more than a few arguments, and he told her that if her mother was going to attend the wedding he wasn't. That was three months ago and they hadn't talked since. Randi looked at the check in her hand and turned towards her mother. "Maybe this means he's had a change of heart and decided to come." Evan didn't look as optimistic as Randi and Laura. "Mom, even with this, I still think we should keep it small, no use going into debt for a wedding and reception party that no one but a few of us will remember five years down the road." Randi called to thank her dad, but he didn't answer. She left a message thanking him for his generosity. The message also informed him that her mother would be there to see her daughter married. Randi told her mother he never replied. After leaving her first unanswered message, her subsequent e-mails and calls were never returned either. I guess she got her answer but sent him an invitation anyway. Evan couldn't or wouldn't tell his mother and sister if Steve was going to show up or not. If he didn't show he was going to walk his sister down the aisle and give her away, and the night of the rehearsal that's how it was practiced. Randi was beaming but sad all at the same time. She'd hoped against hope that her dad would show but knowing him there wasn't much of a chance. "Tell him I won't be there," Laura told her daughter. "I've had the fun of planning your wedding and have even seen how it's all going to go down. He's your father; he deserves the right to give you away. It's because of me he's not coming, and I'll never be able to forgive myself if I ruin the most important day of your life," she told her daughter. "I've gone this far without him a few more steps won't make much difference." CHAPTER FOUR From day one, I wasn't going to attend Randi's wedding especially knowing Laura would be there. She'd made a mockery of our marriage, and I hated her with every fiber of my soul. I don't know how many nights I lay awake praying something bad would happen to her or she'd suffer a relapse because of the accident. Even the mere mention of her name would set me off. God, I hated that woman. It took me six months of therapy and anger management counseling sessions to even get a handle on my emotions when it concerned Laura. I'd hoped that she'd take the high road and skip the wedding after fucking up our happy family. But since Randi had forgiven her and her damn sister, she thought everyone should do the same, not in my book. Randi had worked on me for months and when she didn't succeed Evan started. When I heard money was getting tight I cashed in a bond or two and sent her enough money to make sure the day would be memorable. When Evan said he was going to walk her down the aisle and give her away I felt an emptiness in my gut. God damn her, when will it ever end? Two days later and a day before the wedding I figured it out; it would never end. Not until either she or I died. For the duration of our life I would have to deal with her for the sake of the kids. Did I still hate her? With a passion but at least now I could control it. I told no one I was coming. I made sure the tux was perfect and with a new haircut I looked good, better than I had in six months. I parked the car and snuck into the back of the church where Evan was waiting. "Jesus Christ, Dad, you made it. I'm going to go and tell Randi." "You'll do no such thing, I want this to be my surprise and a pre-wedding gift to her." "You know Mom's here, don't you?" "I'm aware of that. Why don't you go and sit next to her and I'll join you after I give my little girl away." He gave me a big hug and said that he was happy I had come. Randi looked beautiful, and it made my heart light up to look at her. It took her a minute or two before she noticed me while looking for her brother. "Dad!" she screamed out and rushed into my outstretched arms kissing me. "Do you really think I'd miss my own daughter's wedding? What kind of father would I be?" To her, she now had it all. With the music starting we waited our turn to walk as the bridesmaids and flower girl did their thing. "You ready for this?" "Dad, I've been ready for this for a long time." "Well then, let's begin the next chapter in your life." With her arm in mine we walked proudly down the aisle. None of the guests had any idea that I wasn't going to attend, but the people in the first rows were shocked by my presence including the groom. However, everyone smiled as we made our way up to the altar. I offered my daughter's hand to Dan, and whispered something in his ear, smiled, and sat down next to my son in the first pew. Laura looked at me, smiled, and mouthed, 'thank you', and went back to watching the two of them. Within twenty minutes it was all over. They were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Dan and Randi Cooper and strolled up the aisle husband and wife. We headed up the receiving line. I greeted our guests and thanked them for coming. Every once in a while I'd see Laura looking my way. When our eyes met she'd quickly look away. The reception went on without a hitch. The food was good, the band was a little loud for my taste, but I did dance with my daughter twice and even her new mother once. She said that she was glad I finally got my head out of my ass, her words not mine. It was close to eleven o'clock when Laura made her way over and came up behind me. I was just glancing at the people dancing and I guess reminiscing when I heard her voice behind me. "Thank you for coming, it meant the world to Randi." "I figured I owed her that much especially for the hard time I'd given her over the last two years. Besides, I do love a party especially when I'm paying for it." "Just so you know, it was never you, it was all me. You were everything I could have asked for. I'm just sorry I realized it too late." "It's all in the past .We can't go back and undue what has already been done so I've moved on with my life, and I no longer hate you anymore." I lied big time saying that but did it to be nice. "Maybe we can have lunch some time and talk? You never gave me the chance to explain." It took every fiber in me not to rip her fucking head off and spit down her neck. What'd she think; we'd now be friends? "Maybe, but not for a while, besides I'm seeing someone, and I don't think it would be appropriate." Lie number two I said to myself. With that said I went looking for Evan. I thanked Evan for all the help he gave his sister, kissed his wife, and told her not to let him drink too much. She smiled and said that they'd booked a room at the hotel. I tracked down Randi and Dan and told them I was heading out. "Dad, I love you so much. I saw you talking to Mom, I'm glad you two finally worked it out." I smiled through my gritted teeth, and told her to have a relaxing and fun honeymoon, and then slipped them ten one hundred dollar bills. A little extra spending money I told them. Two minutes later I was out the door and heading towards my car. I was glad I decided to go especially after facing my ex-wife and handling myself like a true adult. I'd come a long way and with tonight I had truly closed the final chapter on my marriage. For the first time I felt at peace with myself. EPILOGUE In the limo heading towards the airport a giddy Randi was exchanging spit and tongues with her new husband. She was still beaming at how well it had all gone especially with her parents. She felt a bit of pride knowing she'd played a big part in their at least being in the same room. "It really was nice wasn't it?" She asked Dan kissing him deeply looking into his eyes. "By the way, what did my dad whisper to you up at the altar when he handed me over to you?" she inquired of Dan while sipping on a glass of champagne. Dan got this look on his face. "He said that if I ever hurt you, he'd hunt me down like a dog, kill me, and eat my fucking heart." "Well, I think you better heed his wishes. I don't think my dad ever forgets anything," advised a very wise Randi.