"Jim, you haven't spent enough time with Gail Marie to find out everything. Right after I confronted her, I went to see my sister here in Milwaukee. I knew she had a very close friend in admissions at the nursing school. I begged and pleaded my sister to talk with that woman. We got her transcripts and found out she could be accepted. My sister agreed to host her until she found some roommates.
"When you exposed Gail Marie, you showed us that the Princess that we raised wasn't going to make it. She needed to step up to the plate, get on her own two feet, be responsible. We couldn't set her adrift, but we could set it up that she'd have to perform in life. And we did.
"My sister was giving us daily then after a couple of months, twice weekly reports on her. Then at 6 months, Gail Marie showed up on our doorstep. She was not the same girl we saw 6 months before. We saw a woman that was rapidly growing up. It wasn't only rough for her. It was as bad for us.
"Jim, you were the one that was grounding her. We had great hopes you would 'cure' what we allowed to happen with her. Then she fucked it all up." That's when Dot wacked his arm. She wasn't anti-vulgarity, it just had to be a damn good reason to use it.
Dot spoke to both of us, "Carl, you know how I feel, but Jim doesn't. Jim, I told you the last time I spoke to you that you were better than she was. I can say at this point, I think that you both are neck and neck. Before I hoped that your presence would cause her to grow. Your taking away that life she had actually did it. Thank you. It was painful for all of us, but she is such a better person than she ever was before."
Carl looked directly at me and asked, "Jim, may I ask you a real personal question that you don't have to answer? We have a good relationship and I don't want to put it into jeopardy."
"How about if I don't want to answer it, I'll tell you that?" They both nodded.
"Where are you at with Gail Marie? I'm not pushing." Then Dot broke in with "He's only probing" and we all laughed.
"I'll answer but you may not like the answer, only because I don't really know the answer. It's all been so new. But to be honest, I'm scared of getting involved with her again. I've been making it a point of not physically touching her in any way at all. Keeping that moat between us."
Dot replied, "Only with your hands you haven't touched her. You have no idea how much you have touched her that first day and since then. No idea. I am damn proud of you for that. Not damn proud." She looked at Carl and chuckled, "God Damn proud." And we all laughed. It wasn't a joke, it was a statement.
We ended opening up another bottle of bourbon and the sweet vermouth and finally got to bed by 3. It was all worth it. Dot cooked us brunch at 10:30 and they left at 11:30. Such fine people.
24 hours, 5 years, 10 months(romantic story series)
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romantic_story
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- Posts: 228
- Joined: 17 Aug 2015 17:28
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romantic_story
- Expert Member
- Posts: 228
- Joined: 17 Aug 2015 17:28
Re: 24 hours, 5 years, 10 months(romantic story series)
24 hours, 5 years, 10 months Ch. 05
bywieliczka©
5 years-10 weeks Again
"Jim, I'm heading to the can." Bill paused, " I'm going to be there for a bit, to take a.. " He laughed. Classic Bill when Terry wasn't around. He was a poet and did know it. "Why don't you plug your phone into the wall and see if you can call Terry. I didn't bring my plug-in charger."
"No problem Bill. It feels good just to sit down in some place half-way clean. This cafeteria is tiny by Milwaukee standards, but these little hospitals in the middle of nowhere, I guess it's just good enough for what they need."
After a few minutes, my phone finally picked enough of a charge and we're in a town. Finally, cell reception. That's when I realized I didn't have Terry's cell number. I can call Marie and have her call or get the number from her.
"Hello Marie, it's Jim, can you call Terry..."
"JIM. IT'S JIM. TERRY IT'S JIM. WHERE ARE YOU?"
"We're at the Emergency Room in ..."
"OH MY GOD, HOW BAD ARE YOU HURT?"
"Marie, I'm not in the hospital, we just ..."
"WHERE'S BILL? TERRY WANTS TO KNOW WHERE BILL'S AT. IS HE HURT? HOW BAD IS HE HURT?"
"He's in over in the..."
"HOW BAD IS HE HURT?"
"STOP. STOP..."
"HOW BAD ARE YOU HURT?. BILL..."
"S T O P"
"WAIT A ..."
I hear the phone being passed. Now it's Terry.
"JIM, HOW BAD ARE YOU GUYS HURT? WHERE ARE YOU AT? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT..."
"S T O P"
"HOW ARE..."
"S T O P"
"WHAT ABOUT..."
"S T O P"
There was a slight break in the call. "PUT ME ON SPEAKER PHONE NOW. THEN WAIT UNTIL I TALK." I hear a couple of buttons being pressed then the wonderful echo of speaker phone radiated from the phone.
"Are you both ready? YES OR NO ANSWERS ONLY." I hear two muted yes answers.
"NUMBER 1. NO ONE HERE IS HURT. UNDERSTAND? YES OR NO ONLY"
I hear two relieved yes answers.
"NUMBER 2. WE HIT A STORM AND HAD TO WAIT IT OUT FOR A DAY. UNDERSTAND? YES OR NO ONLY"
I hear two more relieved yes answers.
"NUMBER 3. The cell phones at the car were drained. I dropped the car charger in a puddle. We showed up here at the ER in a little town on the way home because we had to go to the washroom and try to plug in for a recharge. There's no cell phone coverage in the boonies. We're going to see if we can hit their cafeteria for something to eat. ok? Wait before you talk. Wait a minute, Bill just got back from the can. Here he is and it's my turn to go. Bye"
Relieving myself in a real bathroom was a treat after a week on the river. The northern Wisconsin state bird, the mosquito would attack every time. I was daydreaming one time when I even got a mosquito bite on my cock. It was worse if you had to take a shit because the deer flies would also attack. Now I get to wash my face and hands the first time in a day, unless you count the rain. Looking into the mirror, it's a week of beard and a calm face. A week on the Flambeau flowage is therapy. And on the Flambeau with a friend that will listen and ask an occasional difficult question, priceless.
bywieliczka©
5 years-10 weeks Again
"Jim, I'm heading to the can." Bill paused, " I'm going to be there for a bit, to take a.. " He laughed. Classic Bill when Terry wasn't around. He was a poet and did know it. "Why don't you plug your phone into the wall and see if you can call Terry. I didn't bring my plug-in charger."
"No problem Bill. It feels good just to sit down in some place half-way clean. This cafeteria is tiny by Milwaukee standards, but these little hospitals in the middle of nowhere, I guess it's just good enough for what they need."
After a few minutes, my phone finally picked enough of a charge and we're in a town. Finally, cell reception. That's when I realized I didn't have Terry's cell number. I can call Marie and have her call or get the number from her.
"Hello Marie, it's Jim, can you call Terry..."
"JIM. IT'S JIM. TERRY IT'S JIM. WHERE ARE YOU?"
"We're at the Emergency Room in ..."
"OH MY GOD, HOW BAD ARE YOU HURT?"
"Marie, I'm not in the hospital, we just ..."
"WHERE'S BILL? TERRY WANTS TO KNOW WHERE BILL'S AT. IS HE HURT? HOW BAD IS HE HURT?"
"He's in over in the..."
"HOW BAD IS HE HURT?"
"STOP. STOP..."
"HOW BAD ARE YOU HURT?. BILL..."
"S T O P"
"WAIT A ..."
I hear the phone being passed. Now it's Terry.
"JIM, HOW BAD ARE YOU GUYS HURT? WHERE ARE YOU AT? WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT..."
"S T O P"
"HOW ARE..."
"S T O P"
"WHAT ABOUT..."
"S T O P"
There was a slight break in the call. "PUT ME ON SPEAKER PHONE NOW. THEN WAIT UNTIL I TALK." I hear a couple of buttons being pressed then the wonderful echo of speaker phone radiated from the phone.
"Are you both ready? YES OR NO ANSWERS ONLY." I hear two muted yes answers.
"NUMBER 1. NO ONE HERE IS HURT. UNDERSTAND? YES OR NO ONLY"
I hear two relieved yes answers.
"NUMBER 2. WE HIT A STORM AND HAD TO WAIT IT OUT FOR A DAY. UNDERSTAND? YES OR NO ONLY"
I hear two more relieved yes answers.
"NUMBER 3. The cell phones at the car were drained. I dropped the car charger in a puddle. We showed up here at the ER in a little town on the way home because we had to go to the washroom and try to plug in for a recharge. There's no cell phone coverage in the boonies. We're going to see if we can hit their cafeteria for something to eat. ok? Wait before you talk. Wait a minute, Bill just got back from the can. Here he is and it's my turn to go. Bye"
Relieving myself in a real bathroom was a treat after a week on the river. The northern Wisconsin state bird, the mosquito would attack every time. I was daydreaming one time when I even got a mosquito bite on my cock. It was worse if you had to take a shit because the deer flies would also attack. Now I get to wash my face and hands the first time in a day, unless you count the rain. Looking into the mirror, it's a week of beard and a calm face. A week on the Flambeau flowage is therapy. And on the Flambeau with a friend that will listen and ask an occasional difficult question, priceless.
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romantic_story
- Expert Member
- Posts: 228
- Joined: 17 Aug 2015 17:28
Re: 24 hours, 5 years, 10 months(romantic story series)
By the time I got back from the washroom, Bill was ready to go. "We've got marching orders, we're going straight home."
"Bill, you can drop me off at my house and I'll get my stuff tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a long hot shower followed by a steak and a tall stout that I have in my fridge."
"Maybe you didn't hear me. I said WE are going straight home. WE do not pass go, WE do not collect $200. That is unless WE want to go to a funeral, either mine or yours, but probably both. My guess that WE would receive a slow and painful death if WE don't do this." He paused and gripped my shoulder and spoke a bit softer. "There was a massive tornado in our area the day it stormed and we were in the tent and didn't travel. We're about 30 hours late checking in. They thought they lost us. We have to go. OK?"
I nodded yes. Now it makes so much sense. "The cafeteria is going to close in a few minutes. You get the coffees and I'll get some food that isn't freeze dried or walleye. We have a three hour trip ahead of us. I have a feeling that they won't care that we haven't showered or shaved for the past week. I've been bending your ear about Marie half the trip. Can you handle another hour?"
"Jim, that's what friends are for. But you owe me a bottle of cognac for that." Pollocks like cognac.
"Bill, only if it's a handle and we both empty it together." We laughed and I began the next leg of a trip that was over 5 years in the making.
It's been ten weeks since Marie came back into my life, and it's been a gut wrenching ten weeks. Gut wrenching in a good way... sometimes... maybe... occasionally?
This long planned trip with Bill to canoe and fish in the shallow flowages in northwestern Wisconsin was supposed to be a way to get away from it all. I brought it all with me and Bill got to hear it all, several times. I owe him more than a handle of great cognac. For what he did for me, a case of the best cognac still wouldn't be enough.
Marie and I have been dancing around each other for the past ten weeks. Neither of us willing to take a step to either end the dancing and go away, or get closer. Both are scary things.
Five years apart, we both married and divorced, both not seeing anyone else for the past year. Her parents came into town twice and stayed with me both times because I offered and had the extra bed. While she was at work, I got to hear from them about other things in her life, the great things she's done and hasn't told me. I've been afraid. Just fucking afraid to stay or go.
This trip was supposed to be a week of canoeing and fishing and not thinking about a damn thing. Now with a week of body grime covered by our only set of clean dry clothes, I'll be face to face with her again.
I can't deny what I heard today, the worry, the concern. I've seen her reaching out to me for the past two months, then checking herself. Thought that if I didn't physically touch her, we would keep our emotional distance from each other. Fat chance for that.
It was 2 AM when we finally arrived at Bill and Terry's house. All the lights were on and both women met us at the car when we drove up. Bill and I had to drive with the windows cracked in the cold night air. We were pretty fragrant. Getting out of the car, Bill got a big hug and a squeal of delight. I could see the relief in Terry's face. Marie looked at me pensively, not knowing what to do.
When you make up your mind, do it. Bill and I missed our traditional sauna after the trip. In the steamy sauna built over a lake, we used to sweat off the dirt and grime. The hard part was jumping into the cold lake. Run down the pier and just jump. If you wait, you might become afraid of the shock of cold water and never get refreshed to do it again and again. It might never happen.
"Bill, you can drop me off at my house and I'll get my stuff tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a long hot shower followed by a steak and a tall stout that I have in my fridge."
"Maybe you didn't hear me. I said WE are going straight home. WE do not pass go, WE do not collect $200. That is unless WE want to go to a funeral, either mine or yours, but probably both. My guess that WE would receive a slow and painful death if WE don't do this." He paused and gripped my shoulder and spoke a bit softer. "There was a massive tornado in our area the day it stormed and we were in the tent and didn't travel. We're about 30 hours late checking in. They thought they lost us. We have to go. OK?"
I nodded yes. Now it makes so much sense. "The cafeteria is going to close in a few minutes. You get the coffees and I'll get some food that isn't freeze dried or walleye. We have a three hour trip ahead of us. I have a feeling that they won't care that we haven't showered or shaved for the past week. I've been bending your ear about Marie half the trip. Can you handle another hour?"
"Jim, that's what friends are for. But you owe me a bottle of cognac for that." Pollocks like cognac.
"Bill, only if it's a handle and we both empty it together." We laughed and I began the next leg of a trip that was over 5 years in the making.
It's been ten weeks since Marie came back into my life, and it's been a gut wrenching ten weeks. Gut wrenching in a good way... sometimes... maybe... occasionally?
This long planned trip with Bill to canoe and fish in the shallow flowages in northwestern Wisconsin was supposed to be a way to get away from it all. I brought it all with me and Bill got to hear it all, several times. I owe him more than a handle of great cognac. For what he did for me, a case of the best cognac still wouldn't be enough.
Marie and I have been dancing around each other for the past ten weeks. Neither of us willing to take a step to either end the dancing and go away, or get closer. Both are scary things.
Five years apart, we both married and divorced, both not seeing anyone else for the past year. Her parents came into town twice and stayed with me both times because I offered and had the extra bed. While she was at work, I got to hear from them about other things in her life, the great things she's done and hasn't told me. I've been afraid. Just fucking afraid to stay or go.
This trip was supposed to be a week of canoeing and fishing and not thinking about a damn thing. Now with a week of body grime covered by our only set of clean dry clothes, I'll be face to face with her again.
I can't deny what I heard today, the worry, the concern. I've seen her reaching out to me for the past two months, then checking herself. Thought that if I didn't physically touch her, we would keep our emotional distance from each other. Fat chance for that.
It was 2 AM when we finally arrived at Bill and Terry's house. All the lights were on and both women met us at the car when we drove up. Bill and I had to drive with the windows cracked in the cold night air. We were pretty fragrant. Getting out of the car, Bill got a big hug and a squeal of delight. I could see the relief in Terry's face. Marie looked at me pensively, not knowing what to do.
When you make up your mind, do it. Bill and I missed our traditional sauna after the trip. In the steamy sauna built over a lake, we used to sweat off the dirt and grime. The hard part was jumping into the cold lake. Run down the pier and just jump. If you wait, you might become afraid of the shock of cold water and never get refreshed to do it again and again. It might never happen.