CHAPTER 34

I couldn’t believe it. The woman was deliberately figuring out ways to hurt me. If not by her words then her influence with the children, I was being cut out of their lives. I knew the children, the twins for sure, wouldn’t actually realize it, or believe me if I pointed such out; but it was a dead-mortal-lead-pipe cinch that that was exactly what Abigail Cord was doing. Well fuck her and the wild ass of Borneo that she rode in on. My hate for her would never die. Oh no, it would indeed not ever die.

I looked over at my sleeping wife. She did not deserve my angst. She deserved a man who was focused on her and only her. I determined to do just that from now on. I no longer had a family in Phoenix. They could all rot for all I cared. Was I being selfish and bitter? Many would say that I was. But, all the hot brown stuff that had been dumped on me was finally making an impact. I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I might be ugly but I was still a human being and deserved to at least be respected, and I wasn’t and hadn’t been, nor ever would be by the—how did Mia phrase it, oh yes—the evil witch of the East.

She stirred. “Good morning Mister Bradshaw,” she said.

“And good morning to you, Missus Bradshaw. No big hurry, but we’re going out to breakfast,” I said.

“Sounds good,” she said. “Denny’s?”

“I’m good with that. So yes, Denny’s it is.”

The ride to the diner was quiet—at first. Then it was pregnant with meaning.

“We’re about to have a serious conversation. That about right,” said Rina.

“Yes,” I said, “very serious.”

“Boy oh boy, she really stung you didn’t she,” said Rina, it was not a question.

“Not so much her as her mother. Her mother is the one who put her up to it. It’s her mother that is cutting me out of her life, and would cut me out of all of their lives if she got the chance. Well, now she won’t have to work so hard at it. I’m giving her a clear field,” I said.

******

We pulled into the parking lot of the diner and three minutes later were sitting at a table toward the back of the place. Tables were better than booths for me; I didn’t have to muscle myself out of my chair.

Melanie, her name tag announced left us menus, a coffee pot, and cups to make use of the coffee pot. We perused the menus.

A few minutes later Melanie returned.

“The lumberjack,” said Rina.

“Me too,” I said. “Over medium on the eggs.” Rina nodded her agreement with me on the eggs. We always seemed to be able to read each other's minds and agree on the same kinds of choices and things. She was twice the wife that Abigail ever was or could be. The best part was that I was certain that she would never leave me, and I sure as hell would never leave her.

We were hungry so, so far there was not a lot of conversation while we were actually chowing down. But then we were at the after breakfast coffee drinking stage.

“So husband mine, what’s next on the agenda?” said Rina.

“We move,” I said. “We move far enough away so that it becomes a problem for them to bother us which I am sure they would do if we stay here. I’m fed up with the woman and everything Cord.”

“You have any preference as to where this major choice in our physical venue might be?” she said.

“I was going to kinda ask you that question,” I said, “I mean do you have any preference we might want to consider?” I said.

“The coast,” she said. “Maybe we could get a place where we could kick back at the beach on a rare occasion. Whaddya think?”

“That sounds good to me. With both vehicles, we should be able to be packed up and ready to role in a day,” I said.

“Sounds good to me,” she said.

We’d no more than gotten home than we started the packing. We’d been renting not leasing, so leaving wasn’t going to be any big deal. I was getting the clothes packed up while she was down at Lowe’s getting boxes we would need for the kitchen stuff and et cetera. We’d be gone in the morning, the early morning.

******

“What the hell!” Abigail didn’t quite scream. “He did what, said what!”

“He was clearly hurt and upset. They just up and left as soon as I asked if he would be okay with Daddy walking me down the aisle,” said Mia.

“You told him he would still have a place of honor at your wedding right? I mean you made sure of that right?” She said.

“Mom, of course I did. I’m no idiot. I told him he would be at the front table with all of us, the family. But it didn’t make any difference. He looked kind of funny at first, and then started in about how he was always getting shit on and he was tired of it and he was leaving and didn’t want to see any of us again: his meaning my words,” said Mia.

“Oh my God. Shit, shit, shit!” said Abigail. “I was so sure that he would be agreeable being it is your day not his. I mean you guys were so close.”

“’Were’ being the operative term: we aren’t anymore! He made the point that nobody had visited or contacted him in almost a year. And even so, he seemed to be okay about that at first, but then, well, not; I mean after I mentioned the walking down the aisle thing,” said Mia.

“Have you talked to your sister?” said Abigail.

“Not yet, she’s been out of town on some job for Daddy. I will be talking to her tomorrow or the next day. I don’t want to do this by phone, not even by phone,” said Mia, “Not this.” Her mother nodded.

“Mom, what if he doesn’t even come to my wedding I would feel just awful!

“Mort is actually thinking about trying to go to him and talk to him. Should I let him? I mean Mort...” said Mia.

“I don’t know, Mia. I guess maybe it wouldn’t hurt. But he, your dad, just has to realize that your daddy deserves to be the one walking you down the aisle,” said Abigail.

“Mom, what if they were to both walk me down the aisle? Wouldn’t that be a good way to do this? I mean I know we’ve talked about that a bit in the past, you me and Sarah,” said Mia.

“No, this is one time when your daddy, finally gets some recognition for who he is. He is not just some Johnny come lately. He’s a good man a generous man and the right man for this duty, not your dad. And when I see your dad again, I’m sure as hell going to tell him that,” said Abigail Cord.

******

I would hear later that they had a great time. I also heard that Mia asked after me, not me and Rina, just me; that bothered me. Rina and I were one, a fact that apparently wasn’t recognized or cared about; and it bothered me a lot. But, we weren’t part of them anymore, so fuck ‘em! Oh, and how did I hear about all of this? Why from my old bud, Sergeant Jeffrey Michaels and his wife Harriet Michaels who had attended Mia and Mort’s wedding. And yes, my bud and Abigail’s soul sister had gotten married too; they'd eloped during the year of negligence by one and all just past. Well, Harriet was my ex’s best friend so maybe I had to give my bud a pass for going to a ceremony that I wouldn’t.

******

“Daddy. He’s not coming. I am so sad and angry and mixed up!” said Mia.

“Yes, well it’s his choice, Mia. He was welcome to come and he knew that I know. I would have been happy to do a tandem with him; you know, like you and I have discussed. But, he had to be here to do that. So well, you did all you could,” said Owen Cord.

“I guess,” she said.

“Anyway, girl, you have to get in there and finish getting ready. I know Sarah was looking for you,” he said.

******

“He still might come,” said Sarah. “Stop worrying about it. If he doesn’t he doesn’t that’s all. I know you wanted to please Mom, Daddy, everybody; but that was just not possible. Relationships are almost always problematical.”

“I guess,” said Mia. “But, Sarah, what if he doesn’t come. I am going to be so bummed.”

“No you’re not! Mort deserves to be your focus today and for the next fifty years, not Dad or Daddy either. So, get that and enjoy the hell outta today,” said Sarah.

“Okay. Sarah you are the greatest! The greatest sister in the world,” said Mia.

She looked around one final time as they all took their seats at the table. No Dad was in evidence. But, Sarah was right. He hadn’t shown up, hadn’t been heard from, and so that was the end of the Bradshaw wing of the clan. It was sad, but today she would not allow herself to be sad. Not today.

“What the bride of the day also noticed was the look on the face of her mother. She was angry and clearly so. Her ex-dad was going to hear from her at some point that was for damn sure, though Mia.

******

“Well today was the day,” I said. Rina looked over at me.

“Yes,” she said. “You having second thoughts?”

“No, no, I won’t kid you; I feel very sad that we weren’t welcome at the wedding; but I refuse to be a second class dad; I simply refuse,” said Sam. “So she can have him; they all can. I am not going to be an afterthought.”

“Hmm,” she said.

“What’s that supposed to mean,” said Sam.

“Nothing. It’s just that I don’t think she didn’t want you to come. I think she did. But, she was trying to please everybody and didn’t realize that that was just not possible.

“Sam, someday, not now, but someday, you’re going to need to mend those fences. Mia and Sarah are you're daughters, not his not really. And Ronnie is your son, not his. You need to get that and claim your rightful place with them.

1. then there is Sarah. Who’s going to be walking her down the aisle when she marries. They gonna cut you out there too?” said Rina.

“They’re not going to cut me out. I’m cutting me out. I don’t want to be around any of them. They ignored me for a year. Yeah, yeah I know we kind of ignored them too. But they were the more at fault than were we. Anyway, that’s what I think,” I said.

“Well, it might be treasonous, but I do hope Mia had a nice wedding, you know a good day. No woman should be sad on her wedding day. Family and friends might be at odds, but on a day like that, they need to come together and support the woman. Well that’s what I think,” said my ever lovin’.

“No, no, you’re not a traitor. And, maybe someday, as you say, I’ll need to mend some fences. As for Sarah’s wedding, It’ll just be a replay of Mia’s I’m sure of that much. That’ll be Abigail's influence I’m sure. But, as for that, it doesn’t matter. I know we’ve been written off by them by now. That’s a given,” I said.

******

“I’m going to find him and stomp on his weeny to make sure he understands just what a shit he is,” said Abigail.

“You think that’s the best way to handle this?” said Owen, “because I don’t.”

“Yes, sir, I do. He has to realize that he is not the only one with an ax to grind. Yes he’s hurt bad and his handicaps entitle him a lot of latitude, but there are limits,” she said.

“I wonder if he knows that Sarah is planning her wedding in the not too distant future. How about if he walks her down the aisle?” said Owen.

“It’s been almost a year, Owen. And anyway, that should be you doing that. You’re the one who’s done everything for the two of them, Sam Bradshaw, not so much. But, if that would ensure that there would finally be peace in the valley; I guess we could consider it; but in the end it would be Sarah’s choice, not his not ours,” she said.

“I suppose,” he said.

CHAPTER 35

It’d been months since the great divide! I was almost forty and feeling older. Did any of it matter? Not really. Over the past while, my ass had damn near turned to concrete sitting in this goddamn chair. But I suppose it wasn’t all bad. I had a good woman. I had peace here in the San Fernando Valley of California. The weather was uniformly good. And I was eating regular. Hell, I had it made.

But life is full of surprises and interruptions and distractions even here in our previously inviolate sanctuary. I say previously because I could see the man—he sure had aged—trudging up the walkway to our little two bedroom mid-range apartment complex. Oh him? Why Owen Cord of course.

Rina was inside putting hot dogs together for our midday caloric crime.

“Well, well, well, I guess there is just no way to escape a man when he’s got a much money as I’m sure you’ve got,” I said, as the man approached our gate.

Our new place was a one story complex. It had the apartment’s patio in the front as opposed to the more usual rear location.

“Yes, I’m very well, thank you,” said Owen.

Well, he was always quick with the retort.

“And you’re here why after all of this time?” I said.

“Look, can I come in. Standing out here in the walkway carrying on a conversation seems a bit odd or something,” he said.

“Not to be obvious Mister Cord, but why after all of this time would you want to be bothering us?” I said.

“It’s Sarah, she’s getting married—finally. She wants to see you,” he said. For the life of me I was pretty much instantly curious. I motioned him to come in a take a seat under my totally inadequate umbrella.

“It’s lunch time. You wanna join us?” I said. He gave me a look.

“Yes, sure, if your offering,” he said. I nodded.

“Soups on,” yelled my wife from inside the house.

He followed me in and the look on my wife’s face was totally precious.

“Yes, it’s really him,” I said, “and no I hadn’t invited him. He looks older huh?” Okay I was being a trifle snide and daring him to reciprocate—memories of a spitting contest of a generation gone came flooding back. But, he didn’t pick up the gauntlet, not this time.

“Hello to you, Rina. Hope you’re well,” he said.

“And hello to you, Owen. I can’t say I’m not surprised,” she said.

“Hmm, yes, I can imagine,” he said.

“You’re having lunch with us?” she said, looking at me not him when she said it.

“Yes,” I said, “he’s starving.”

After the fact, He had appeared to have actually been hungry: he had three hot dogs; I only had two and the woman one.

Done, he and I headed outside to talk under my still inadequate “sunbrella.”

“And Sarah wanted to see me why?” I said. “She’s made no effort in over the past two years to do so; none of you have except Mia last year. So why now?”

“It’s complicated, but there’s the wedding of course. And as hard as it may be for you to believe, you do come up in conversation fairly regularly. Oh, and not always in a positive vein I’d have to say if I’m going to be honest,” he said. “Oh, and Abigail wants to stomp on your weenie and get you to see reason, her exact words actually.”

“Okay, sounds about right, like something she’d say about me or want to do to me. But, so, wedding or no wedding why? What’s complicated?” I said.

“The whole clan knows how bummed you were about Mia choosing me over you. The two of them the twins figure, logically, that if you were to walk Sarah down the aisle that it would square things with you on that score. Plus, there is the matter of Ronald. Whom you barely know, and he wants to know you. He’s made that very clear actually,” said Owen.

“And why would Ronald give a damn about me. I know you’ve all but brought the lot of them off with your big bucks and all of that,” I said.

“Yes, they’ve all had pretty much everything that they’ve asked for or needed certainly. But, money isn’t the only thing there is to parenthood. Of course you can be forgiven for ignorance of those kinds of things since you—and it’s been your choice—chose to be absent from the lives of the children. I have damn little sympathy for you in that regard,” he said.

“Hmm, so if I’m such a lousy father figure, and I will admit to that lack in my character, why have you bothered, I mean you, to come here and bother me?” I said.

“The kids asked me too. They think that I have a better relationship with you than any of the rest of them. And yeah, I know how weird that sounds, but it is what they said, and it was them that prevailed upon me to find you and come out here to plead their case,” he said.

“Well, you’ve failed. Your idea of a plea sucks, and I’m not interested in having my heart ripped out again. My face and body is bad enough; I don’t need to be humiliated and insulted anymore. Tell them that. Really, tell them that,” I said. “Nice seeing you, goodbye.”

“What! You’re turning down your daughter when she is so willing...”

“Yeah, to sacrifice herself to make me feel a little less bad. I don’t need no mercy shit from any of you. I’m not good enough to even get a phone call from any of you for all this time? And now you show up to tell me how lousy a dad I am and to allow me to lead the parade for one of my daughters! Well fuck you, mister rich guy. I don’t need your mercy, or your money, or any other of your phony bullshit. Get the hell away from my house! Like now!”

I spun around in my chair headed back inside to my wife. I had to get out of there right then. I was beginning to break up. I did not want him to see that. Oh no, that would not have been good.

“Look, Sam...” he said to my back as the door to my place slammed behind me. I didn’t go back outside until it was dark. I was afraid the man might actually be outside waiting to confront me. I really could not have faced him had he been. But, he wasn’t.

******

“Sam, you’ve got mail,” said Rina. It was almost noon once again. Well, it did come around almost every day without fail.

I took the letter and opened it. It was a wedding invitation, from my daughter. The ceremony would be at the church on the 16th of next month, not quite four weeks away. I snickered and threw the invite into the trash.

“You’re really bummed about his visit aren’t you,” said Rina.

“Not anymore, yesterday, yes,” I said.

Hmm,” she said.

“And what is that supposed to mean?’ I said.

“It means you clearly are still bummed,” she said. “My mother may have raised an idiot but she sure as hell didn’t raise no fool. I got eyes. And, you didn’t ask, but you should go,” she said. “We should go.”

“What! Why the fuck would I open myself up to more hurt than they’ve already piled on me, on us, if it comes to that,” I said.

“Au contraire my husband, they would be doing their best to avoid any happenstance of that I am more than certain,” she said.

“Hmm, like that’s likely,” I said. “It’s too late now anyway. I kicked his ass the hell outta here yesterday.”

“Hmm, yes, but I have to think that he really did want to succeed in his mission, and would be more than happy if you changed your mind,” she said.

“You heard the whole thing, I mean him and me, didn’t you,” I said.

“Of course,” she said.

******

Well, you had to know it. My woman prevailed upon me. However I didn’t give in easily. She literally had to beat me with a wooden serving spoon to get me to surrender. But we would be going. And we’d be surprising them. There would be no RSVP from me. I did not want them putting on any phony welcoming show under any circumstances. I knew how and what my ex thought of me and I was not going to give lip service to any kind of phony rapprochement relating to her or them.

I had hoped to actually get there after the festivities started, but that decision had been taken out of my hands by my wife: she was driving, driving fast. And we were early.

Ronald, who was playing in the parking lot with some other kid, saw me, us, first. He ran inside the church no doubt to announce the arrival of the outsiders.

Shocked wasn’t the right word, but for lack of a better term, I was shocked. Abigail was the one who came to greet us, and no one else: not Owen, not Mia, not anybody else, not even Ronald.

“You here to cause trouble or to honor our girl?” she said, about as coldly as anyone ever said anything to me.

I didn’t answer her. I just stared. I’d already gotten down from the car and was in my chair. I wheeled back to it, the car. I started to collapse it in preparation for leaving. But the woman came to me and literally forced me to stop doin so. Rina was standing back, clearly in shock at the greeting I’d been tendered.

“I’m sorry, okay. But I am also angry,” she said. “I did what you wanted before and now . . .”

I didn’t utter a word to her, but Rina did; finally taking the initiative.

“Are we welcome or not,” said Rina. “If you’re going to continue to be an asshole, we’ll just go,” she said.

“No, no, stay. It’s his daughter’s wedding not mine. So stay,” she said.

“Then get out of the way, and let us go inside,” said Rina. I was surprised that no one else had yet appeared, and I was glad for it.

******

Inside we found seat in the middle of the church. The people already in the pew moved to the middle so we could have the outside aisle seats therein; well, Rina could. I was in my chair of course actually in the aisle against the wall. I could see the family and Jeff and Harriet too, up in the front pew. I was glad that no one tried to come back and get us.

I saw Abigail take her seat in the pew. She never looked back to see where we were. Neither Mia nor Owen was in evidence. But that made sense. Mia would be assisting Sarah and maybe gonna be her maid of honor. Owen of course would be at the front of the church waiting for his daughter to come out so he could walk her down the aisle.

The wedding march began. I never liked the song—I’d never been a big fan of Richard Wagner—though I did appreciate the tradition, I supposed.

Everyone looked back down the center aisle. The bride, escorted by Owen, was smiling as she came down the aisle. Owen was smiling and looking around and acknowledging the assembled throng. He spotted me, and stopped cold in his tracks. He whispered something to Sarah. Her head snapped around. She smiled and nodded. The big man came around to where I was in my chair.

“Come on Dad, you’re doing this. And don’t even think of telling me to go to hell. I mean it,” he said. He pushed me, and I was unresisting, to where Sarah waited to finish the march to the altar.

Sarah smiled down at me, and put her hand on my shoulder. The march continued. I saw Owen take his place next to the woman. Abigail just kept her eyes on the proceedings.

“And who gives this woman in marriage?” said the man with the book.

I looked up at Sarah. “I do,” I said.

Sarah navigated the two steps to where her intended waited. I wheeled myself back to where Rina was. It was too late for us to be seated in the first row with the family, but I was glad for that. I didn’t want to be anywhere near my ex.

We, Rina and I, watched while the deed was done. It occurred to me that I didn’t even know what the groom’s name was. Owen hadn’t clued me, and though I’d seen it on the invitation, I couldn’t remember it and neither could Rina, and we couldn’t hear the minister when he asked “Do you take... a helluva thing, but it was what it was.

CHAPTER 36

The ceremony over, the crowd began to exit the church. Rina had read in the invitation that the reception was going to be in the auditorium of the parish a block away, and she remembered it. It was close enough that we decided not to drive to it and have to mess with parking at the same time everybody else was.

Rina took over propelling me along. We made it in less than five minutes.

Owen was waiting for me outside. “Sam, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you. But I will anyway. I am really glad to see you, and I can tell you so is the bride. Let’s go in. You’re going to be in the reception line,” he said. I shrugged.

“Don’t worry, stud, I’ll find a table for us,” said Rina.

“That’s already taken care of,” said Mia, coming up behind us. “I’ll take care of my mother-in-law, Dad. You just do your duty.”

Owen didn’t wait for me to comment. He just wheeled me up the wheelchair ramp and into the foyer of the place where a parade was already congratulating the couple. I was placed near, but not next to my ex. Owen took that position. It was the first time I was ever glad that he was with her instead of me. I would have hated to be next to the woman. And, given everything, I was certain that she would have hated being next to me.

I got a lot of looks from people who didn’t know me. But all of them had seen me give my daughter away, so they probably figured who I was.

The reception per se over, we all headed into the hall and were escorted by various ushers to our designated seats. Rina was already seated next to Mia and Mortimer and to the right of the bride and groom. Owen steered me over next to her. Abigail on the brides left, never even glanced my way. I was amused by her obvious rudeness.

The mass of humanity, read those guests who were not at the main table were lined up along the two walls of the room betaking themselves of the buffet style offerings. We at the bridal table were served.

I wondered how the wedding of my other daughter had been set up. I knew that they had had a different venue; well, her husband was Jewish not Catholic.

Dinner over, the dancing began. I couldn’t dance and Sarah didn’t embarrass me by trying to get me to do the wheelchair polka either. She did come over just as the music started and gave me a huge kiss on my cheek acknowledging me. She also hugged Rina. Oh, and Owen did dance with her the father daughter dance. I did not begrudge him that one. I knew he was doing his best.

We were finally introduced to the groom. After her dance with her other daddy, she brought Randell, Randell Davis age 23, 6’6” and around 250 to our place at the bridal table. He sure was big.

“Dad, this is Randell, your new son-in-law,” said Sarah.

“Very nice to meet you young man,” I said.

“Yes,” said Rina, “very nice.”

We talked for a few minutes and then my beautiful daughter and her new man were off and touring the tables and talking to everyone in sight.

We watched the festivities for some time. And, not once did I get so much as a glance from my ex. The irony in that? I glanced at her no less than a dozen times. It was clear to me that she wanted me gone and out of her life and the lives of our children.

The newlyweds left the party about an hour after dinner. They were on their way to Europe for their honeymoon. Italy, I was informed when we’d talked to them.

“Well the happy couple is gone. Maybe we should make ourselves scarce too,” I said. Rina gave me a look. And just as she was about to answer me, Mia and Mort came to us.

“Dad, Daddy asked me to ask you if you would please stay at the guest house tonight: he says he’d like to talk to you tomorrow if you would permit,” said Mia. I looked her askance.

“Mia, your mother...”

“Dad, yes, I’ve noticed her rudeness tonight. It is what it is. It’s not her who wants to talk to you. Can I tell Daddy that you’ll stay over?” she said. I glanced at Rina; she nodded.

“Okay, I guess. But, just for the one night. Okay?” I said.

“I’ll tell him,” she said. I wondered why we’d be waiting for the next day, but I guess it was obvious. The wedding might have been over, but not all of the falderal connected with it.

We were just on our way out when she finally did come up to us, yes, Abigail.

“So, you’ll be staying over?” she said.

“You want us gone, just say so, Abigail. And we’ll be gone,” I said.

“Sam,” said Rina, reproving me with her tone of voice.

“This is none of your business, lady,” said Abigail, “You have nothing to do with this family.” Her rudeness reaching new heights even for her.

“Okay, we’re gone. We won’t be staying over,” I said.

“I didn’t say you couldn’t stay over, I just wanted to make sure you understood where you and I and this person were at,” she said.

“Goodbye, ex-wife, have a nice life,” I said.

“Sam...” but we were gone.

******

“Daddy, he said he was staying over. I don’t know why he didn’t,” said Mia.

“Damn,” said Owen.

“Even mother went and talked to them. I saw her,” said Mia.

“What? Your mother went and talked to them? Do you know what about?” he said.

“No, I saw her, but I didn’t hear anything I was too far away,” she said.

“Oh shit!” he said.

“Daddy?” she said.

******

The ride back to Tucson had been mostly quiet, well it was a late night and we were both tired.

“You okay?” I said.

“Really tired, and I’m actually not feeling too well. I might go to the doctor tomorrow,” said Rina.

“Absolutely,” I said.

We got home in a little over two hours and went straight to bed. I was dog tired too.

It was the middle of the wee smalls. She was coughing. She was coughing up blood. I dialed 911. The paramedics took some minutes to arrive, maybe fifteen.

I trailed them to the hospital. I tried to follow her inside, but she was already being wheeled into the emergency triage before I even got my chair out of the truck and myself into it.

We had insurance, she did. I had my VA, but she had her Medicaid.

I’d fallen asleep in the way too cold waiting room. The sun was up and I stirred. A man was shaking me, gently shaking me, my shoulder.

“Sir? Mister Bradshaw?” he said.

“Yes, yes, my wife,” I said, trying to rub the sleep out of my eyes.

“Sir...” he said. He clearly had something important to tell me, and also clearly, he didn’t want to.

“Huh?” I said.

“Sir, Mister Bradshaw, we did all we could,” he said.

“What? Huh?” I said.

“It was an aneurism,” he said. “There was nothing we could do to save her, sir.”

“I’d heard him, but I couldn’t have. He was saying that my woman was dead!”

I began rocking back and forth in my chair. I didn’t know what to do. I just rocked back and forth. The man sat down with me for some time.

After a while, he handed me a card. He called a nurse in to sit with me.

“Sir,” said Nurse Ann. “Is there someone we could call?”

I tried to think. There was no one. But then there was. I gave her the number. I knew he’d come right away no matter what, in spite of the distance. The nurse left for a few minutes and then returned.

“Your friend will be here in as soon as he can,” she said,” he’s driving. Can I get you some coffee, anything?” She was being so nice. One thing about being in a chair and looking like I looked: I sometimes did manage to get better service at hospitals and doctor’s offices.

“No, no, nothing,” I said.

******

He literally stormed in. “Sam, I came as soon as I could,” said Jeff Michaels. “Harriet’s parking the car. What happened?”

I broke down at his words. I couldn’t talk. “Jeffrey...”

“Oh my buddy, oh my,” he said.

Harriet joined us in no more than a few minutes. She kissed me on the cheek and went to talk to somebody. She returned after some long minutes.

“Sam, you are coming home with us tonight. We’ll take care of things. I promise,” she said. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t.

Harriet had gotten some medication or other for me to take. I slept.

I could tell it was afternoon already. It was easy to tell. I’d slept the night away. It all came back to me. The light had gone out of my life. First Abigail dumps me, Lana dumps me, and now my Rina has left me too. What was there that was worth living for. I had nothing and nobody, not really. The kids I guess, but even there....

******

“What did you say!” said Abigail.

“Yes, after they got home the other night, after the wedding: she suffered an aneurism and died in the hospital. The man is lost completely lost. He hasn’t stopped bawling for two days,” said Harriet.

“Sweet Jesus! That man can’t buy a break. And I treat them, her especially so badly. This is as bad as it gets. Owen and I will go down there. We’ll help him. We went through this with him once already, with his dad,” said Abigail.

“Abby, he said no. He doesn’t want any of the Cords around him, not any of you, not even the kids. He’s adamant,” she said.

“Oh my God! Owen is going to be fit to be tied,” she said. “I doubt if I can stop him from going down there when he hears. In fact I’m certain that I won’t be able to stop him!”

“I’m going to call him now. He’s working, but he’ll come home for this. And the children! The girls have their own places now. I’ll call them. Ronald is in school, but he’ll be home in a couple of hours. Their dad is going to need them, all of them. Oh yes, he’s definitely going to need them,” she said.

“Yes,” said Harriet, agreeing with her.

******

“Okay, Abby, what’s going on,” he said. He was a little bit miffed being called away from his always time sensitive job.

“Owen, some very bad news,” she said.

“What?” he said, his irritation clear in his tone.

“Owen, Rina is dead,” she said. The look on the man’s face morphed from one of personal self-interest to one of sympathetic horror.

“What did you say?” he said, and said it in a very low tone.

“An aneurism: it was sudden and well fatal,” said Abigail. “It happened right after they returned home from the wedding. He called Jeff and Harriet. Well, he’s his best friend. I guess they drove all morning to get to him.” He was nodding.

“Okay, I’ll get down there right away,” he said.

“No. He doesn’t want any of us to come down. Harriet said that he is adamant,” said Abigail.

“What the hell!” he said.

“It’s what she said,” she said.

“Shit!” he said. “It’s always something with him.”

“I feel so guilty, Owen. I do,” she said. “I was not very nice to them at the wedding and that’s why they ran off.”

“We have to do something. I am not going to not go down there. He might not want us around, but we have to be anyway,” he said. “He’s family. It’s the way it is regardless of anything else. But, Abigail...” he said.

“Yes?” she said.

“You, and I mean you above all, have to lighten up on the man. You just do,” he said. “I saw how you acted at the wedding. He was really bummed even though he would doubtless deny the fact. I mean really.”

“Okay. Consider me lightened up,” she said. He nodded.