77 comments/ 80519 views/ 12 favorites Wenatchee Ch. 07-08 By: coaster2 Ch. 7 The Unthinkable As Thanksgiving approached, I found myself conflicted with thoughts of Gisele and Joyce. Gisele was the desirable woman who was quite forward about admitting her interest in me. I was still married to Joyce, however. That might be more of a technicality, but just the same, I felt an obligation to my vows. Until our divorce was final, I was a married man and I intended to act like one. Pete had formally filed the divorce papers citing irreconcilable differences. If ever there was a proper name for what had destroyed our marriage, that was it. It would be six months before it was final since we did not expect any response to the petition. I wasn't happy signing the papers, but I knew it was inevitable and I had to get on with the rest of my life. At least with Gisele in the picture it didn't look quite as bleak as it might have. I was delighted that my parents had asked to host the Thanksgiving dinner and had invited Nora and Mike Fielding as well. The two parents were quite friendly to begin with, but I thought it was a wonderful gesture on my folks' part. Matt was unable to get away for the long weekend, but sent his best and let me know that everything was going well so far. His biggest adjustment was living away from home, but he wasn't alone and sounded like he would be fine. I was in despair over what to do at Christmas. Matt would be home, but I wasn't sure what to do about the Fieldings. I thought about inviting them, but then I worried that it might not be very comfortable for them. In the end I decided to have them over on Christmas Eve, while my parents would come on Christmas Day. I also had a thought about the shop. "Terry, this time last year this business was just you and I. Now, we have Jana, Jimmy, and Red. I'd like to suggest a staff Christmas party, our first. Christmas Eve is a Friday, so we could do a lunch and close up early. What do you think?" "Sure. Sounds like a hell of an idea. Just don't make it a big turkey dinner, okay?" "Agreed. We could do Chinese ... or maybe Mexican ... or something different." "Why don't we take a vote? See what they want?" I agreed. I went out to the front of the shop and gathered the three young people together. "We've decided to have a Christmas party for the shop and we were wondering what we should order for food. We can do sandwiches, or Chinese, or Mexican, or who knows. Everyone gets a vote, so speak up." "I'm for Chinese," Jimmy said immediately. "I'm good with that," Red said quickly. "Fine with me," Jana said. Well, that's a majority right there and I know Terry and I won't disagree, so Chinese it is." I reported back to Terry and he seemed pleased. "I'll leave the menu to you, Geoff. Just make sure you get lots. Why don't you invite that feller from the college? He did a hell of job findin' those three. "Damn good idea, Terry. I'll do it right now." I called Lowell Drummond, and while he had some duties scheduled that day, he said he'd be pleased to put in an appearance for the lunch. I let him know it was Chinese, but that didn't deter him at all. The party would be in a little over two weeks time, so there was plenty of time to get organized. It would be a little crowded in the shop, but with some rearranging of the desks and tables, we would be fine. The following Monday, we had a visitor. She was an attractive blonde with a dark suntan and a slim build. Dressed in a cotton military-style blouse and chinos, she was a very nice package. She appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She spotted me and decided I was the person she wanted to talk to. "Hi, I'm Anne Szmanski. I'm looking for Red Redmond. Is he here?" "No, actually, he's out on a call at the school board. He should be back any time now." "Oh. Would it be a problem if I waited?" "No ... but aside from coffee, we don't have much to offer in the way of hospitality." "No need. I can tell what's happening here. Red and I served together in Afghanistan. We were both techies and we worked together off and on." "So you were there when he was wounded?" "Yeah. I'd just re-upped for another two when he took the hit. I was sick about it. I've just finished my tour and I thought I'd look him up and see how he was doing. I heard some rumors back there." "You from around here?" "Ellensburg. Just got home a week ago. Thought I'd drop by and say hello." "I'm sure he'd appreciate that. He's kind of a loner as far as I can tell." "Really? He was married when he was over there." "She left him when she found out he lost his legs. He went through a bad patch for a while, but he's fine now. He's a hell of an addition to this little outfit." "Oh, man, that's harsh," she said. She appeared to be thinking about something for a moment or two. "You said he was out on a call. That means he's getting around?" "Yeah. Artificial legs and special crutches, but he's got a van and he's great with the customers, so hell, he's a field man now." The smile on her face was a mile wide. "Damn that's good to hear. I can't wait to see him. We spent a lot of time together. He's a great guy," she enthused. I got the impression there was more than admiration for Red in her mind. It would be interesting to see what happened when he got back. I didn't have long to wait. She saw him as he pulled the van up to the front of the store. You couldn't miss the red hair. She stood in the middle of the shop with her hands on her hips and her feet spread. From the back I could almost see her in uniform. She was a soldier. As Red pushed his way through the front door, he didn't see her right away. "You always come to work this late, soldier?" she said in her best military voice. His head snapped up and a look of complete surprise covered his face. "Annie? Is that you?" He began to stumble and rush forward to her awkwardly. She quickly moved to him and grabbed him in an embrace. I saw tears in both their eyes and knew it was time for me to go back into my office and leave them for a while. There was more to this than just comrades-in-arms. I was working on a proposal for the police to modernize their communications with onboard computers in all the patrol cars. We would supply the units and the service, making sure they had the best system available. Their budget was coming up early next year and I wanted them to put this proposal into their submission. It would be a very nice piece of business for us. I was busy thinking about what else we could include to make the package more enticing when there was a soft knock on my door. It was Red and Anne, standing together, looking very happy. "Geoff, you've already met Anne, but I just wanted you to know that she is the best computer analyst I've ever come across. If you hear of any work around here that could use her, we'd appreciate it." "Are you working now, Anne?" I asked. "No, sir. I'm staying with my folks in Ellensburg. I'm looking for a job like Red has. Something I can use my training on." "What do you know about PLCs?" I asked. "Quite a bit. I did some repairs and reconditioning in the field. That place was what you would call a hostile environment." "What about moisture and cold?" "Same problem. Instead of sand it's water. Instead of a hundred and twenty degrees, it's freezing." "Let me think about it. We might be able to use another person beginning next year. We've fairly busy right now, but I'd like to see us busier. If there's a job, it would be in January. Can you wait that long?" "Yes, sir. Especially if I was working with Red. He's the best, sir." "Uhhm, Anne, it took me a while to break Red from calling me 'sir,' so if it's okay with you, please call me Geoff." She grinned. "Sure thing, Geoff." "So you think this girl has got what it takes, do you?" Terry asked. "Yeah. Pretty sure. She and Red are close buddies and I think she has the skills. On top of that, she's says she's a pro at PLCs, so that would fit right into our plans to get more business at the packing houses." "Well, it's a bit of a gamble since we don't have that business yet, but ... if you think so ... I'm willin' to take a chance. You haven't been wrong very often. Go ahead if you want to hire her for January." "You realize that will up the body count to six don't you?" "Yeah ... I know. This damn business is gettin' too big for me. Why'd you do this to me, Geoff?" he grinned. "Just couldn't help myself, I guess. On the other hand, what are our sales for this year look like compared to last year?" He looked at me with a characteristic squint, then chuckled. "Better than double. We might not make as much profit this year, but next year ... shit ... I'm afraid to think how much we might take in." "So ... you're okay with what we're doing?" He nodded. "Yeah ... I'm okay with it. It's kind of like we were just waitin' for something to happen, then it did. We're goin' to be fine, Geoff. Just fine." I met with Anne Szmanski for an hour the week before Christmas and let her know that she would have a job effective January 3rd. She was delighted, and couldn't wait to tell Red. I was happy too. I could now confidently work with the many packing houses, cold storage operations, and miscellaneous manufacturing plants on servicing and repairing PLCs. It would add to our growing arsenal of services. Two days before Christmas, I got a call from Sam Hildebrand. It turned my Christmas into something I'd rather forget. "Mr. Nelson, I'm calling to inform you that your wife has been arrested in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is being held for extradition back to the United States. She will be held in detention in Seattle until her arraignment and trial. I'll try to keep you informed of the times and dates as they become available to me." "Thank you, Mr. Hildebrand," I said weakly. I hung up the phone in a trance, wondering what was to come next. I sat in my office for an undetermined amount of time before Terry came in to see it I was still there. "What's goin' on, Geoff. You look like you've seen a ghost." "No ... not a ghost. The FBI just called to say that Joyce has been arrested in Brazil and will be extradited to Seattle." "Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that, Geoff. I'm guessin' that's got to hurt somethin' fierce." "Right now, Terry, I'm numb. It all seems like some strange movie that I'm in. I don't have any control over what happens or who it happens to. I'm just a spectator. I almost wish they hadn't caught her. At least then, she wouldn't be around to drive me crazy." "Yeah ... I can see that. Hell of a Christmas present that is." "This is no present, man. This is the original lump of coal when Santa is pissed." He laughed softly at my wisecrack, then went back to his office. I called Pete to let him know the latest development and he said he'd keep an eye on the court docket in Seattle to see when Joyce would be arraigned. He was not advising me to be there, but he did want to know what her plea would be and who her lawyer was. He would keep me informed. For the first time in my memory, Christmas was a downer. I was missing Joyce, as were her parents and the boys. We tried like hell to make it a nice occasion, but the overriding mood was gloomy. I felt bad for Matt. He was home for the first time since he'd left for Eugene, but it wasn't a happy homecoming. He was doing fine in his classes, but the trauma of his mother's arrest was hanging over him just as it was for all of us. On the Tuesday following Christmas, Agent Hildebrand called to tell me that Joyce had been arraigned in the Seattle Federal Courthouse and had entered a plea of guilty to all charges. Because of her extradition, she was considered a flight risk and bail was denied. She would spend the next weeks in the federal detention centre. I called Pete to tell him what I knew. "They didn't waste any time, Geoff. She was barely off the plane when they held the arraignment. Since she pled guilty, I'm guessing she might get anything between three and ten years. If she makes some restitution, she might get the lesser. Otherwise, she's going to be put away for a long time." I had tears in my eyes when I was talking to Pete. It was the end of a big part of my life. For more than twenty years I had loved Joyce and I felt I had given her everything she needed for a happy life. How I had failed her I couldn't figure out. Part of me wanted to believe that she was mentally ill ... not responsible for her actions. It was very unlikely that she could claim that in her defense. I hoped that she had a good lawyer. I didn't want to see her suffer any more than the law allowed. Even a day in jail would change her, and not for the better. Matt went back to school the day after New Years and our life, Ross' and mine, returned to what passed for normal. Since Joyce had pled guilty, there would be no trial. There would be a sentencing hearing, then the sentence would be handed down. I really didn't want to be there for that, but I felt an obligation, even if for the last time, to see her. The sentencing was scheduled for January 25th, a Tuesday. I checked with Pete and learned that I would be permitted to attend the court. I made my plans and left for Seattle on the Monday, trying desperately to prepare myself mentally for what I knew would be a traumatic experience. The sentencing would take place about ten the next morning and I spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning, knowing this would be the most unhappy moment of our lives. It would be little different from a death, I felt. I sat in the courtroom as the judge and the lawyers called the room to order. Then I saw Joyce, led in by a matron and seated by her lawyer. She looked like hell. Thin, drawn, dark shadows under her eyes, hair graying, shaking I thought ... perhaps in fear. My heart went out to her. I never in my worst moment wanted this to happen to her, but there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop it. She was sentenced to three to five years in the Dublin Federal Women's Institution in California. Without causing any problems, she would be out in three years and could get on with her life. I later learned it was a medium security prison, and that gave me some relief that she wasn't going to be in with the worst dregs of society. Nevertheless, it would be a painful and soul-scorching experience for her. I wondered who she would be when it was over. I drove back to Wenatchee that afternoon, knowing that a big part of my previous life was now over. Although the divorce would not be final for another two months, this was truly the end of my marriage to Joyce Fielding. She never saw me in the court room, so she couldn't know that I was there for the last chapter in our lives. I wonder if, in three years, she would return to Wenatchee, at least to see her parents. Somehow, I doubted it. I drove directly to Mike and Nora's home. They couldn't bring themselves to attend the sentencing. In fact, Nora was so distraught that she was undergoing therapy with a psychiatrist to help alleviate her depression. Mike was equally distressed, but managing it better. We shared a couple of beers when I filled him in on the proceedings at the courthouse. I think the principal tragedy of it all was that Joyce was an only child, and there was no sister or brother for their parents to transfer their love to. She was their one and only. Mike talked about driving to the prison to visit their daughter, but Nora wasn't in any condition to meet with her yet. I had given some thought to the same thing. I was beginning to think I might have to do it just for my own peace of mind. But not just yet. In the meantime, Gisele and I were keeping in touch with various coffee, lunch, dinner and social events. I was studiously avoiding any physical relationship with her until I felt I was free of my marital obligations to my wife. Old fashioned maybe, but that was the way I felt, and I think Gisele respected me for that. In any event, we enjoyed each other's company despite the lack of intimacy. Ross had settled down and was dating a young woman he had met last year. Sandy Pantuzzi was a dark-haired beauty with a very Italian complexion and temperament. I got the impression that Ross was under her thumb, despite the fact that he was sure it was the other way around. Anyhow, she was a nice girl from a good family and kept Ross on the straight and narrow. He was angling for a car of his own since I had given the truck to his brother. I was considering it, but I wanted something in return; good grades. I'd stayed in touch with Pete as I would anyway. He found out that very little of the money Joyce stole was recovered. That may have an affect on her parole, he told me. The FBI was sure it was hidden off-shore, but had nothing to substantiate their beliefs. They wouldn't quit trying to find it and would be watching Joyce when she was released. I went back to work, remembering we had somehow grown from a little two man operation with Terry and me, into four full-time staff and two part-time. All of this in just a few months. Red and Annie (I'd succumbed to calling her that) were working as a team to promote our PLC service plan and already had several customers. Terry spent most of his time prospecting for new business, and I was pretty much on my own to look after the day-to-day routine. Terry's prediction that the business was going to be something quite different was proving to be accurate. We seemed to be growing more quickly than ever before. Perhaps because we had the people resources, but also because we had the time to look for new opportunities. On top of that, we were becoming a much bigger factor in the affairs of the Wenatchee Valley business community. I could see a time coming when we would need to move into more suitable quarters, and of course, hire more people. I was working Tuesday to Saturday now, with the occasional visit on Monday if I needed to complete some work on time. It didn't matter to me at that point. I was alone at the house while Matt was away and Ross was in school. I had taken to dropping in on Gisele and her brother, Paul, just to talk and share a coffee. Paul was an interesting fellow. He was a big man, probably six-four and easily two hundred and fifty pounds. But it was almost immediately obvious that he was a friendly giant. A full head of sandy, curly hair, bright blue eyes, and an ever-present smile made him an easy guy to like. He had purchased a small apple orchard over fifteen years ago and had gradually replaced all the mature Red Delicious trees with specialty apples of higher value. Most were not eating apples, but used in the production of cider, some wines, and liqueurs. The soil and climate up on the hillside were ideal for his varieties, most of which were sold out of state. These varieties were virtually free of the ups and downs of the food apple market prices and provided him with a steady and substantial income. He was Gisele's older brother, and he was quite sociable with me. He knew Gisele and I were friends and seeing each other now and then. He was a widower, his wife having contracted spinal meningitis many years ago in Maine. Gisele informed me confidentially that he was quite close to a woman who lived not far from their orchard, but they had no plans to marry. It was a friends with benefits arrangement, she told me. It took me a while to realize how comfortable I was with Gisele. We just seemed to be so compatible and easy to be with each other. One minute I was thinking of her as a friend, the next I was imagining her as a lover. I didn't have to wonder what she was thinking. She made it plain that I was in her sights for a longer term relationship, but she was patient. As she so often said, "I waited this long for the right guy to come along, I can wait a little longer." Wenatchee Ch. 07-08 But I suppose for everyone there is a point when you want what you want, and you want it now. "Don't you think it's time we became better friends?" she said one evening after we had enjoyed a nice meal at the Italian restaurant we frequented. Her elbows were on the table and her hands were supporting her head. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was conspiratorial. I must have been very alert at that moment because I knew exactly what she meant. What I didn't know was how I was going respond. "You've been very patient with me, Gisele," I said, stalling for time. "I've been waiting for my divorce to become final ... but ... to be truthful ... it's just an excuse." "Well ... now that we've got that out of the way ... why don't you take me home. Paul's away in British Columbia selling his apples and Jana is out with Jimmy. We have a couple of hours to ourselves," she smiled. "Check please," I said as the waitress passed by. Gisele was right. I had been putting off the inevitable. I knew I had been falling for her, so what was I waiting for?" We entered her house and she immediately led me along to her bedroom and closed the door behind me. "Strip," she ordered softly. "You or me?" "Your choice?" I began to undo the buttons on her blouse and as calmly as I could, undress my soon-to-be lover. She had dressed for the occasion. The bra and panty set was right out of a Victoria's Secret shop and Gisele made a wonderful model for them. Unfortunately, they didn't stay on long enough to truly admire. In the meantime, she had been unbuttoning my shirt and removing my belt as I focused on her lovely mature form. I don't recall her removing the rest of my clothes since I was completely entranced with her beauty. As we climbed onto the bed, I began to kiss her and caress her breasts, beginning foreplay. Gisele's response was quite positive, both vocal and physical. I took my time and paid attention to every part of her body before I entered her. "Careful, Geoff. It's been a very long time." I calmed myself down and took it as slowly and carefully as I could. But Gisele was ready and within a few seconds she was responding and was welcoming my thrusts with her own. I lasted a good deal longer than I expected, mainly due to our pacing ourselves. But she left no doubt that she was being satisfied and that all our waiting for this moment had been worthwhile. We made love twice, with Gisele restoring me after the first time. When it was over, we lay in each other's arms, completely sated and happy. I know I was. I wondered what I had been delaying this for. We were meant for each other. That much I was sure of now. I looked at the bedside clock and saw that it was almost eleven o'clock. "Perhaps I should go," I suggested. "I wish you would stay," she murmured. "I want to wake up in the morning with you. I'm falling in love with you, you know." "That's a big step, Gisele. Love isn't something we should treat casually." "There's nothing casual about the way I feel about you, Geoff. You are the man I've been looking for all my adult life. You know yourself. You're a wonderful man. A great father. You look for the good in people. You made love to me tonight just the way I dreamed you would. You've come through a terrible time with that inner strength that I see every day. What more could a woman want?" "I can't cook worth a damn," I kidded. "Well ... that's where I come in. I'm not too bad in the kitchen." "You're even better in bed." "Hmmm ... you know what I think about your skills." Just then I heard a noise. It was a door closing. "What's that?" I said, propping my self up abruptly. "Relax ... it's Jana. She won't disturb us." I flopped back down on the bed, embarrassed at being caught in bed with my employee's aunt. I heard the footsteps on the stairs and then as they went by the door I heard, "Good night Aunt Gisele ... good night Geoff." "Oh shit," I groaned. "Relax, lover. Have you forgotten that your car is parked out front?" "Yeah ... I guess I did. How the hell am I going to face her at the shop?" "Geoff ... she's a grown woman ... and she's in a relationship too." "She is?" "Sure ... what did you think she and Jimmy were doing? Playing cards?" "I had no idea. I mean, she's changed so much in the past year, but ... I had no clue." She laughed softly. "So ... now that we've been discovered, can you stay the night?" "I'd love to, but Ross will be on his own." "How old is he?" "Uhhm ... almost eighteen." "Then he's a big boy and can look after himself." "Yeah ... I suppose he is. Just the same, I'll call him. You had this all planned out, didn't you?" It wasn't really a question. "Well ... I have to admit ... I did think it was time for us to move our relationship forward. Are you unhappy that I did?" "Of course not," I answered immediately. "Did it seem like I was unhappy?" She giggled and grabbed me and planted a passionate kiss on me that I couldn't remember ever having a better one. I woke up at my usual six-thirty and suddenly realized I wasn't in my own bed, or my own home. In the dark, I could see the outline of Gisele, and memories of last night came flooding back. Good memories. Wonderful memories. My arm was draped over her hip and I gently pulled her back to me, her lovely round backside tucked into my belly. I heard a soft groan and my hand moved gently over her body and reached for her breast. I remember when Joyce and I were first married, she and I made love in the dark before I persuaded her I wanted to see her when we did it. Gisele was different. I got the impression that we could make love on the kitchen table in broad daylight. She was far less inhibited than Joyce was then ... even today for that matter. I had a lot to learn about Gisele. I wanted my hands to know every part of her body and to know what aroused her. A moment later, I felt her wiggle herself back up against me, now pushing back against my growing erection. I always was a morning person, and I especially liked starting the day with a nice loving session. We made love, with me not completely sure Gisele was awake. It didn't matter, of course. She was responding, fully conscious or not. As I slipped into her, I thought how much I was going to enjoy being with her. She made it so easy to be with her, sexually or otherwise. I had to admit she chose me, but I wasn't very far behind her in agreement. Ch. 8 Closing the Door Gisele and I were sitting in the kitchen, drinking a coffee while she heated some muffins. It was still early on a quiet Sunday morning, not that every morning in February wouldn't be quiet in the hills overlooking Wenatchee. We had made love for the first time, been discovered by Jana, and slept naked, something I never did. I had a feeling there would be more firsts in our relationship. I had pulled on my briefs and Gisele had given me a guest bathrobe from the bathroom closet. She was similarly dressed. We had pretty much just gone straight to the bedroom last night, so I was looking around this big ranch-style home to see what it was like. "Paul put an addition on for me when I moved out here. It used to be an "L" shaped house, but now it's a "U." I have my own bedroom and bathroom. Paul sleeps at the other end of the house and Jana's room is next to the main bathroom, just before you get to the kitchen. When Jana's up, I'll give you the tour," she said. "Jana's up," the young girl announced, shuffling into the kitchen in her bathrobe and floppy slippers. "Good morning, Aunt Gisele," she said sleepily, wrapping her arms around the older woman from behind and kissing her cheek. "Good morning, dear." Gisele was watching me for my reaction. "Good morning, Geoff," Jana said with a smile and gave me a kiss on the cheek too. "What ... no hug," I said, immediately wondering if that had been a bad idea. She giggled and came over and hugged me and I got another buss on the cheek. "How was your date?" Gisele asked. "Not as good as yours," she said with a cheeky smile. Her aunt ignored the remark and we continued our breakfast. I couldn't get over the change in Jana. It was a remarkable transformation. Gisele insisted I was responsible for it, but I thought it was a combination of things; the job, Jimmy, and her feeling more confident in herself. Whatever the reason, she was a lovely young lady with a brilliant mind, and we were lucky as hell to have her at the shop. Over the next six weeks we began dating more regularly, and as our relationship grew, Gisele became more outspoken about my past and how I had handled it. She wasn't critical at all, but she did question why I did what I did. It took me a while to figure out what the questions and probing were all about, and then the light went on. "You're still thinking I'm not over Joyce, aren't you?" I challenged her one evening. We were relaxing on the sofa in the great room and talking about our day's activities. "In some way ... I think you haven't quite finished with her," she said. "She's still there, like a ghost from your past. It comes out once in a while and you have to deal with it. You've done a great job of hiding it, but sooner or later, Geoff, you will have to deal with it." I sat considering her observation and knew she was right. Every now and then I would find myself comparing the two women, or wondering what Joyce would think about something I did. Somehow, I had to exorcise that ghost. "What do you think I should do about it?" I asked, knowing I had my own solution. "I think you should go to Dublin and see her. Try and find out as much as you can about what happened to her. Some kind of explanation might put this out of your mind once and for all. It isn't killing us, Geoff. But it is there. I can feel it." "There's an old saying about great minds thinking alike," I said. "I was going to mention it to you. I was pretty much convinced that's what I'd have to do." "There's no guarantee," she added. "But I think you should try." I nodded. It was good that we agreed. I was worried that she would interpret my going there differently ... perhaps thinking that I might want to get back together with Joyce when she was released. That was never going to happen. "Nora and Mike want to do that too, but it's too early for Nora. Mike said there was a procedure you had to follow. You didn't just show up at the gate and get in. I'll look into it right away." She hugged me. "You're right ... great minds do think alike, but the rest of that quotation goes something like 'as do fools.'" I laughed as I turned to her again. "Which do you prefer?" "I don't care, sweetheart. As long as we are in tune, I really don't care." I looked up the visiting rules for FCI Dublin and applied on-line for permission to visit. In order to get that, I also had to get Joyce's permission. I thought that might be a stumbling block, but within a few days, I had what I needed. It was now a matter of scheduling my visit. I talked it over with Gisele, Terry, and of course, Ross. He would stay with Nora and Mike, while Terry would cover for me with Red and Annie. I would leave on Thursday for the two day drive, visit Joyce on Saturday, then leave for Oregon that afternoon. I planned on being with Matt on campus late Sunday morning, then head home Monday. Terry, Annie and Red could mind the shop Thursday and Friday, while Jana and Jimmy could cover for me on Saturday. I made it as far as Cottage Grove on Thursday and checked into a motel. I didn't sleep worth a damn. My mind was full of scenarios about what my meeting with Joyce would be like. Would we be segregated like they showed on the movies? I didn't think so. It looked more like there were lounges and outdoor patio areas where we could sit and talk. Just the same, my head was full of questions and I wondered how many of them Joyce would be willing or able to answer. The Dunsmuir Pass on I-5 over the Siskiyou Mountains was clear and dry, unusual for late February. I made good time and was in the Dublin area by three Friday afternoon. I had booked a motel in Pleasanton, a short fifteen minute drive from the prison. It was a much nicer area I was told, and at first look, that was the case. I wandered around the town and shopping center for the rest of the day, finally choosing a restaurant for my evening meal, then heading back to the motel to relax and watch some TV. My sleep deprived Thursday night caught up to me and sometime after nine o'clock I dropped off, not waking until a particularly obnoxious voice on an infomercial woke me at one in the morning. I got up, used the toilet, washed and brushed my teeth, stripped to my underwear and climbed under the covers. I was out almost immediately and didn't wake until my normal six-thirty the next morning. Visiting hours were from eight in the morning until two in the afternoon. I showered, dressed and checked out of the motel, stopped at a nearby chain restaurant for breakfast, then drove to the prison. I checked in at the gate and they asked for some identification, which I supplied. They ticked my name off on a list and logged the time. I was then directed to a parking area and the visitors' entrance. It was a brighter and more modern facility than I had expected. Surrounded by a metal fence with cut-wire along the top, it was still clearly a prison, and nothing about it would make an inmate feel good about being there. After waiting in line for several minutes, I showed my pass at the door and was ushered into the area they called the lounge. Since Joyce was still legally my wife, I was allowed to embrace and even kiss her on greeting and when leaving, but no more. I chose to give her a hug, but not a kiss. "Hello, Joyce. How are you?" "I'm coping, Geoff. It's a big adjustment, having your life regulated for you down to the minute. But, it's better than being on the run. Better than looking over my shoulder every day, wondering when someone would come for me." I nodded my understanding, but let her continue. "I ... I ... want to apologize, Geoff. I can't excuse my behavior or my actions. I wish I could give you a reason why I did what I did. Part of it was greed, part stupidity, part desperation. I've tried to explain it to myself, but none of it makes any sense. I stole the money, then decided I had to protect you and the boys. "The only thing I could think of was to divorce you and let you get on with your life. I had to make sure you knew I was serious about the divorce, so I refused to disclose the location and amount of money. I knew you would want to have the boys with you, so I didn't fight it when you took them to Orondo. "I was planning to leave at the end of summer anyway when I got a hint that the auditors were coming back to look at the corporate books again. I figured my time was up, so I took off. First to Mexico ... then to Brazil. What a waste of time. I hated both places. I was a prisoner even before I was captured. It was almost a relief when the Brazilian authorities arrested me." "Why did you take the money, Joyce? You were doing so well at Koch. They were paying you a terrific salary and a great bonus. Why?" "Greed, Geoff. Some is good, more is better. Besides, it was too easy. I had access to everything. They trusted me. At first, I wanted to put my money that I'd earned into a special savings account for us. I wanted it to be a surprise somewhere down the road. I knew you wanted to buy into Terry's business, and this would be a way I could help. "But I kept looking at it grow and grow and each year there was more. I didn't even think about what I was doing ... holding out on you and the boys. Then, in a moment I'll never understand, I thought I could really make a big difference. I'd skim off some of the income on the loans and add them to the legitimate earnings. I'd been doing it for some months when I began to realize that there was no going back. Sooner or later, the auditors or someone would find out and I wouldn't be able to explain it. "That's when I went off the rails, Geoff. That's when I dreamed up that cockamamie scheme to divorce you and then leave the country. I had some crazy idea I could find a nice place in the sun and live the rest of my life in relative luxury. Fat chance!" I sat there, absorbing every word she spoke. I could understand the words, but the motivation and action was so uncharacteristic of Joyce, I was still lost in how this all happened. "Pete told me that you haven't returned all the money, Joyce. He said that would affect your parole." "I know. I missed out on an opportunity, but ... I probably will return it as soon as I can separate what was really legally mine and what I stole. At least I'll have something to start my life with again when I do get out." "I don't think it works that way, Joyce. I think they'll want it all no matter if it was legit or not. If you don't give it back, they'll hound you after you're released and you'll never find peace." She nodded. "I kind of knew that, but I had hopes. Anyway, I'm seeing the prison psychologist now and I'll be taking some courses as well. When they do let me out of here, I want some chance of having a decent life, even if it isn't with you and the boys." I sat staring at her, wondering what I should say. I knew how I felt, but what should I tell her? "Uhhm, Joyce ... our divorce will be final next month. In a couple of weeks actually. I'm sorry ... but ... I don't see us getting back together. Too much has happened to us emotionally to make that work." "I know, Geoff. I blew it. I know. Don't be upset about it. I'm sorry I did this to you and the boys and my parents. I feel sick about it, but it's done and I can't undo it. Forget about me and go on with your life. You're still a young, good-looking guy and I'm sure some woman is going to want to scoop you up the first chance she gets." I had decided not to tell her about Gisele. She didn't need that piled on top of all the other things she had to deal with. As we sat there in the brightly lit hall, I felt a sense of release. In all my imaginations about what this meeting might be like, none of them were as calm and healing as this turned out to be. Joyce had made a mistake, one she couldn't take back. She admitted it to herself, and didn't expect any sympathy in return. I wasn't positive, but I thought maybe my ghosts had been expunged. When our time was up, I hugged her and this time I did kiss her. "Geoff ... please don't come back. I needed this meeting to tell you it wasn't your fault and apologize to you and our family. I've already told the authorities I don't want to see the boys. I don't think I could handle that, and I'm not sure they could either." "I understand, Joyce. Good luck. Goodbye." I turned and left the hall, tears trickling down my cheek. No matter what she had done, she had been my wife and lover for twenty years. I would hold onto the good memories, but it was over. Once and for all, it was over. I was less than a couple of hours from Eugene when I stopped in Medford, Oregon. I had called Matt earlier to confirm that I would be at his dorm door sometime near ten o'clock the next morning. I phoned Gisele that evening from my motel room. "Hi, babe. How are you?" "I'm fine, Geoff. How are you?" "Better than I expected. You were right. I needed to do it. Joyce needed it too. She knows it's over and we're never going to be back together again. She's getting some counseling and planning to take some courses. I hope she can get on with her life when she's released." "I'm glad, Geoff. Now ... maybe ... we can concentrate on each other." "I think that's a hell of a plan, girl. A hell of a plan. END Wenatchee Ch. 07-08 Editing by ErikThread and DaveT with my thanks for their thoroughness and helpful suggestions. Any errors are mine.