A big 'thank you' goes out to my editors and friends, LadyCibelle and Techsan. They always make my stories a much better read. I made quite a few changes after editing. Any errors are mine. There isn't a lot of sex in this story.
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As we get older I think we all look back and wonder "What if" I did things differently? Even small things like taking the spouse out for dinner a couple of extra times, or playing catch with the kids instead of just watching them. Then there's the bigger things; what if I had a different job, followed my heart. Would I be where I am today? Would life have been better or worse? Questions, questions, and more questions, but never any real answers. There's no answers because all the results are based on 'What if's' and what might have been instead of what is real.
There I go rambling on again. All I know is, I have some decisions to make. I have cancer and am lying in a bed. The hospital is waiting for my decisions. I guess I should start at the other end of my life. Or this will be an awfully short story.
I was born and raised in a good home, actually a very good home. I have one sibling, a sister who now lives somewhere out west. In high school I was part of the geek set. I was proud of it and still am. I was always able to handle myself and had very few fights. I was named 'Most likely to succeed' and had a number of friends who were also of the geek set. I had a lot of jock friends but wasn't really good enough to play sports. I liked to watch sports but just didn't have the athletic ability to succeed in that arena.
My arena was the computer industry. I remember thirty years ago when it took a whole room of computers to do what one PC (personal computer) can do today. I went straight to the tech schools and kept learning everything I could about computers. I grew in knowledge as the computer industry was making all the big changes. I was there through it all. I didn't want to just program a computer or run a little software. I wanted to know it all, how to build them from the ground up, to learn of their inner workings.
I succeeded and worked for some of the largest computer companies. I spent a lot of time repairing, and inventing new programs and parts to make the computer more user-friendly. Eventually I went out on my own and ran my own business. I still am a major stock holder in the businesses today. I'll get into that later.
My personal life isn't exactly that of a stud or a player. I didn't date a lot in school but there were a few gals I liked. A date for me was just that; we would go to a movie, maybe go somewhere and eat. With some I had sex, and it was good. I didn't particularly fall in love or anything like that. To me some were better than others, but sex just wasn't first in my life. My inventions and learning seemed to come first.
When I turned twenty six my parents wondered why I still lived a home. It was because I felt comfortable there and Mom was the greatest cook in the world. I paid them rent even though they weren't hurting for money. It was just the right thing to do.
When I started making the big bucks, I completely remodeled their home and added a hot tub and a pool for them. I wasn't cheap or insecure, I was just happy living there.
Everyone was trying to set me up with someone. I started dating Katie who worked at one of the local banks. She seemed like a nice person but did have a little girl out of wedlock when she was in her first year of college. She never told the father but quit college and came back home to raise her child. I do have to say I enjoyed being around her. To cut to the chase, we did get married and bought a nice condo with a pool and all.
Life was different then. I'd come home to a family life which I wasn't accustomed to. I would get late night calls to go help businesses with their computer problems and Katie didn't like it. It just wasn't working out except the pretty much sex on demand, which I did like. She loved sex and was always willing.
I went to quite a few computer class updates. There was always something new coming out. When I came home from my last trip, Katie said she needed to talk. It didn't sound good.
"Harley, I met someone and I want a divorce," she said staring down at the floor.
"Do I get more information or is that it?" I asked. It really didn't bother me the way I thought it should.
"It's Carrie's father. I saw him and we talked and I still have feelings for him and he wants to see his daughter."
"He hasn't seen his daughter in six years, you see him one time and now everything is peachy? What's the real story, Katie? You can have your divorce but I want the truth."
"I've been seeing him for about four months now. You never noticed because you're never here. I'm sorry but we've been married for two years now and I'm just not happy and I don't think you are either. So just let me go." She was crying, wondering what I would say next.
"Fine. I won't pay child support or alimony. You're welcome to leave with what you brought with you. I know you set up a savings account and put money into it. I know you're surprised that I know but then you saved over sixty thousand dollars in less than two years. The bank has to report that kind of money and since you're my wife, they checked with me. You ought to have known better, working there."
She looked stunned. "That was for Carrie's education. I put it there for her."
"Fine then, transfer it to an educational account in her name and it will be there for her when she starts school in about twelve years. With the compounded interest, it should do quite well."
"You bastard, you knew about the money and never told me," she replied.
"I'm the bastard? I just gave you the money you hid from me. Why did you marry me in the first place?"
"I wanted a father for my daughter. I wanted her to have a real life and nice things but you weren't a good father. You hardly ever even played with her. It was always business with you."
"You're right about that. She is a good little girl and, believe it or not, I will miss her. I know I never treated her like a father but I never treated her badly either. Maybe her real father will do a much better job. None of this is her fault. She's only six and deserves a good life."
That was the end of my marriage and she moved out the following week. She moved out west with her boyfriend and daughter. They were going to get married when our divorce was final. I checked with the bank and she didn't touch her daughter's educational account. Each year I added five thousand dollars to it so Carrie would get a good education and start in life when she turned eighteen.
Marriage number two came when I was thirty-two. I met Trish while putting new equipment in an insurance office. She was twenty-four and a very nice looking gal. I asked her out and she accepted. We dated for about a year and decided to get hitched. Within the next couple of months she got pregnant and eventually Darren, our son, was born.
I didn't want to make the same mistake I made in my first marriage so I sold my business to all my partners. I kept a major portion of the stock and all royalty rights to the products I had invented. I was asked by the local college to be a professor at the college, teaching computer science and technology.
It started out pretty good. I figured I would have more time at home with my wife and son and wouldn't have to worry about the late night calls. My wife left the insurance company and got a job at my old business. She was a secretary for the senior partners. Of course, I stopped in once in awhile to say hello to everyone but again I had a full plate. I taught school and went back to school myself. I decided to get degrees in the technological teaching industry. In simple words I was working toward a Doctorate degree in computers.
School for me was simple. In the computer field I actually knew more than my teachers; after all I was a teacher also. I was able to test out of most every class and it moved my degree process right along.
I spent any available time with my son. He was my pride and joy. Since I always had tickets to all the sporting events, I made sure to take him to all I could. We were pretty good buddies. We attended all the events we could after he turned five. My wife on the other hand didn't like sports and didn't care to go with us.
Trish was the business woman. She was more interested in money and power than she was in our family get-together's. During one of our many arguments she told me she married me for the powerful person I was.
"What power?" I asked. "I just ran a business. I never sought any kind of power."
"It comes with the territory. You are well respected and known for your computer abilities. Now you're just a teacher. Teaching wannabe computer geeks."
"So what are you saying? You want out of our marriage because I'm a teacher and not this big power seeking exec you want?"
"Harley, it's not just that. We don't do anything together."
"You mean party and rub shoulders with the big boys? We're not the center of attention anymore. Trish, that's not me anymore. I'm a teacher, a professor of computers. I'm going to get my Doctorate soon. You will be able to call me doctor." I tried to smile but she wasn't smiling back.
"I want out, Harley, out of this marriage. The only problem is our son. We both love him and we have to do what's best for him."
"... and what's that Trish? For him to live with you?"