Greetings, and welcome to chapter two of my story. "Two Broken Roads" is presented in five chapters that are all interconnected. Readers are welcome to enjoy the story any way they want, but it will make more sense if read in order.
Other than some steamy conversations, there's not much sex until the end. And fair warning for those readers who are offended by any religious content, the main characters are people of faith and their dialogue and actions will reflect their beliefs.
I am extremely thankful for my friends and editors who helped me. NoraFares and MsCherylTerra did their best to make my words work. If you want to read high-quality writing, check out their catalogues.
Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy "Two Broken Roads."
©BarryJames1952
January 2020
Two Broken Roads - Chapter Two
Two weeks after Megan's cruel departure, I felt I was at a place where I could cope with my turmoil. I decided to drive three hours to see my mom and dad. Both of my brothers and my youngest sister were there as well. We visited for a few hours over dinner while I convinced everyone I was good. No one believed it, but I was glad they pretended to be satisfied.
Dad was Dad. He had little to say but his eyes betrayed his love for me and deep anger toward Megan. I imagined in his mind he was considering organizing a biblical stoning of the guilty woman. Mom tried to avoid talking about Megan at all. I think she would still like to get a pound of flesh from the woman that hurt her boy. My brothers and sisters all wanted to hug me and pound Megan to a pulp. The hugs and affection really did feel reassuring, and my visit home made me even more thankful for having a loving family.
As I drove home from my parents, plans for my future started to form in my brain. I decided Megan's actions set the stage for me to evaluate lots of things in my life. She forced the big change. Now, I was going to determine how things would go in other key areas of my life.
The first on my mind... I had a job I loved with a company I couldn't stand. My direct supervisor was a prime example of the "Peter Principle." He was in over his head and tried to cover his shortcomings with bluster, bad attitude, and constant ridicule of his charges. I started the New Year with a new life, and I wouldn't be held back by working for fools. I was headed out on my own. Those were heavy-hearted days in my life, but I felt a great weight lifted off of me as I organized my future.
*****
As the months passed, Bobby and Sarah continued to keep me secure through their friendship. I said it before, but if you Googled "perfect friends," they were the benchmark that popped up on the screen. I didn't have dinner with them every night, but Friday became a regular time together along with weekend gatherings. Since I was no longer a "couple," many of the other couples that Megan and I used to hang with drifted away. I sort of expected that.
I noticed a trend in my visits with Bobby and Sarah. They both found time to pull me aside to tell me about some great woman that I should ask on a date.
"Would you two match-maker-wannabes please stop? I'm not ready to date yet."
Sarah looked hurt. "Ben, you're not the type of guy that can be alone. We just want you to be open to finding somebody new."
"I know your hearts are in the right place, but it's too soon for me. And now that I'm starting my own business, I can't spare the time to do a lot of trial dating. I'll know when I'm ready and I'll be more open to your suggestions. But for now, let nature take its course."
I was twenty-seven years old and was not planning to be a life-long bachelor, but my trust in the fairer sex was deeply shaken. I wanted to be sure not to bring too much of that baggage into the next phase of my love life.
*****
Megan was true to her word. There was very little that she wanted beyond what she had packed that day. I pondered a thought of thankfulness, but a bitter taste covered it up quickly. Sarah mentioned Megan had asked her to talk to me about a few furnishings that were heirlooms from her family, and some kitchen supplies that were gifts. I told Sarah to bring her and whoever she needed to move them on Saturday morning, and let her know I wouldn't be there. I totally trusted Sarah, and I didn't think Megan would abuse the opportunity. What I did know for sure was that I didn't want to see her.
Several months later, the divorce was final. I followed the advice of my Pastor and friends. I had to find a way to forgive Megan. She needed it, and I needed it to let my heart move on. With lots of prayers and introspection, I searched my soul and truly forgave her. I would never forget, and I thought I would always have a trace of anger, but I was convinced that Megan was fighting something within her. I didn't think she could even begin to explain it.
Sarah notice some kind of change in my attitude and decided to talk to me about it.
"Ben, it's been a few months. Are you coming to grip with the whole Megan fiasco?"
"I think I've reached the point where I've accepted the whole mess. I can't change it, but I know I can move forward and choose to live well."
"Early on you were pretty angry but you remained gentlemanly about the whole thing. I'm curious if you ever had thoughts of revenge."
Her question struck me as humorous. I imagined she was testing me.
"In all honesty, there were times my inner thoughts were not so kind. I guess we're all like that or revenge movies wouldn't be so popular. What Megan did was totally unfair to me. I didn't deserve what she did. Even she said that. But what would justice even look like, and how could I live with something bad happening to a woman I used to love."
"Do you still have feelings for her? I mean, if her new partner turned out to be a creep and she tried to come back, would you take her?"
"I've considered the same question. No, I couldn't take her back nor could I ever feel the same way I did about her. I'll always care, I'm not able to turn that off, but I'll never trust her with my heart again. But I can say for sure that I've forgiven her. I'm moving forward and I hope she is too."
"I do see her once in a while, and she always asks about you."
"I'm glad you've stayed friends with her. I'm sure she needs a rock like you in her circle of friends. Do me a favor, though."
"Sure. What?"
"Don't tell her that I've forgiven her... at least not yet. For her own good, I think she needs to ask for forgiveness directly from me."
*****
Sarah, Bobby, and other friends tried to fill the void in my life. I was not good at being alone, but the energy going into my business kept my thoughts occupied.
I knew when the time was right, love would be out there somewhere for me. I wondered what it would be like. Would it just be a comfortable love or a hot and heavy passion-filled love? I hoped for the latter but felt myself willing to settle for a companion and friend. My prayers started to include a request for the right woman to come my way, and I asked that I would clearly recognize her when I saw her.
As I slowly worked my way out of my self-imposed shell I started to make more friends in the neighborhood. Megan and I moved there in September, which was about three months before she left. The fall and winter in Illinois didn't provide the ideal setting for outdoor cookouts or casual meetings, so I hadn't really met any neighbors since the lovely woman next door and an older couple welcomed us to the neighborhood with cookies and some freshly baked bread. Other than that, most neighborly contact consisted of friendly waves and smiles.
Warm weather made its welcomed return. With yard work and casual strolls, I started to get to know more of the folks in my neighborhood. Tom and Fran were the nice older couple that lived across the street and had greeted Megan and me with a loaf of bread when we moved in. Peg and Bill lived next to them on the right with their 3 teenage sons. They were good kids but dealing with three boys that age kept them hopping.
Joe lived next door to the right of my house. He was in his seventies and since his wife had passed several years earlier, he started considering selling to live near his son in a retirement community. He was a sweet guy but pretty lonely. I liked it when we could share a beer once in a while just to chat or watch the Cubs on my big screen. We were two lonely guys keeping each other company over adult beverages.
I frequently saw my neighbor to the left because our driveways ran parallel and only a few feet apart. I never saw the man-of-the house, only Laura and her two girls. Laura was the sweet woman that greeted our arrival in the neighborhood with homemade cookies. We exchanged a number of friendly waves and smiles and I felt an instant like for her. We talked briefly on occasion, but I never liked to interact with women when their husbands weren't there to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Even so, I couldn't help but watch her as she interacted with her children. In a brief conversation, as she loaded her girls in the car one cold winter day, she introduced her two daughters. Hanna was a bright and cheerful nine-year-old. Her three-year-old sister, Mattie, was the cutest thing ever and entirely precocious. Hanna and Mattie played outside a lot, so I saw them frequently and often had the chance to talk with them.
As the weeks passed, I often felt my mind drifting to warm thoughts about Laura. I still didn't know much about her, but what I knew for sure was that she was a beautiful woman. It wasn't hard to see how nice she was. She was always smiling. And as a mother... her girls were sweet and obedient to her. I never heard a raised voice from next door. In contrast, I heard Peg and Bill shouting a lot of threats and rebukes from across the street. Maybe it was the difference between raising boys and girls. Somehow, though, Laura seemed like gender wouldn't matter as to how her children were raised. I hoped I would meet her husband sometime so we could comfortably become friends.
Spring threatened to turn into early summer. I noticed I still hadn't seen nor met a man living in Laura's house. It became even more evident that there may not be one since Laura did all the yard work and maintenance chores including the trash. That was a dead giveaway that there was no man in the picture. But I wasn't going to jump to conclusions. Maybe he traveled a lot. But I never saw a car other than the one Laura drove. I considered asking Joe about her during one of our beer visits, but I shrugged it off and guessed I'd just figure out Laura's home dynamics at some point. Joe would tell me what he knew, but leaning on the gossip grapevine was not my style.
Mattie and Hanna constantly played outside as the weather warmed. Both were very outgoing and VERY talkative, so when I worked outside they often came over to see me. We enjoyed teasing each other and had a lot of marvelous chats. I found myself really looking forward to their impromptu visits. I learned of ballet, Veggie Tales, JoJo Bows, and tons of other things I never knew existed. These two girls were beyond adorable. They started calling me Mr. Ben and it warmed my heart every time they did. They adored their mom and mentioned her often, but never anything about Dad and I didn't feel I should broach the subject with them.
On a very hot Saturday late in May, I decided to do some weeding, which was a job I hated with a passion, but it had to be done. I was busy pulling the offending growth from the ground while I hummed quietly to myself to make the task seem more pleasant. Hanna and Mattie were playing hop-scotch in their driveway and decided that having a chat with me would be more fun.
As we talked, and by that I meant that they talked and I listened, I sat back on the lawn to take a welcomed break from my despised task and enjoyed my two visitors. The girls playfully plopped down with me on the grass. Hanna was telling me with great enthusiasm all about her favorite TV shows with Mattie chiming in. I was having a great time with these two treasures.
Then I noticed Laura wandering toward us.
