Time dragged on for five years. Carrie had graduated from Auburn and married a Marine Lieutenant. They had a baby girl. She was born two months premature at 8 lbs. 4 ounces. They named her Ellie.
I was sitting in the hospital, talking with my Aunt Dorothy the day after Ellie was born. She was in her mid-eighties. I chuckled, "Aunt Dot, no one is going to buy an 8lb baby being born two months premature.
She took my hand and replied, "Suguh(sugar)" with her deep-southern lady accent, "There is an old saying in Alabama. It goes something like this. "The first baby born after the wedding can come anytime. The next one takes nine months from the conception."
I love my Grand Daughter. She looks like her grandmother with her red hair.
Mike is in his final year at the Air Force Academy studying engineering. Dam, that broke my heart. And Abby is a Freshman at Georgia. Dam traitor. I'll have to work on my grandkids. Annapolis or Alabama, either will be acceptable.
I got another bit of good news when the Augusta National Golf course found out what Randall did. They pulled his father's membership and gave it to me. I told them I couldn't afford the yearly dues.
It was agreed between us until I could financially afford the fees, there would be no membership dues. You might ask how much? Well, that's a secret that only us members know.
"Hey Carrie, I have arrived in Hartwell and staying at the Hampton for the evening. Wish me luck." She sent her love. "Thanks love you too."
The next morning. I was standing outside the prison leaning against the fender of my Chevelle. Waiting for my girl. My nerves were on edge like a high schooler with his first crush. I was wearing Dockers and a nice plaid button-down long sleeve shirt as Katrina walked thru the doors a free woman, at least a free woman on parole.
I had my arms and legs crossed, smiling when she walked out. I would never tell her this, but she looked terrible. When I saw her, my heart skipped a beat. God, I still loved her.
She stopped when she saw me. She started looking around to see if anyone else had come for her.
I uncrossed my arms, and with my hands stuck out, palms up and out. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "You're stuck with me."
I walked over to take her bag. It was amazing that after five years, one could put their whole life into one suitcase. I tried to take it from her, but she pulled back without saying a word. I walked around and opened the trunk for her. She placed her suitcase into the car, and I shut the trunk lid. I walked around and opened the door, and she slid into the front seat, never looking at me.
I ran around climbing in, I fastened my seat belt, and I started the car. I looked over to Kate and asked her to buckle up. She complied.
Katrina stared out the window. She was thinking to herself. "Dam, David looks good. I can see him, OMG, his ring finger. There is a tan line there, and it is fresh. Oh, shit, has he remarried? Is he just being nice? Calm down, I told myself. After the way I treated him, it would be better if he had just moved on."
David dropped the car into gear, and we started heading back to Hilton Head. I kept asking her if she needed anything, and no reply followed. Katrina sat staring out the passenger window, never looking at me. I could see her reflection in the passenger side window as we drove thru the countryside. She was expressionless.
I decided to go back the long way back home. It would give us more time to talk. I took highway 72 south. It skirts the west bank of the Savanah River by a few miles. As we passed through each small town, I would ask Katrina if I could get her anything. She kept ignoring me.
I was starting to lose my temper. Finally, just north of Lincolnton, Georgia, I had enough. I checked my review mirrors to make sure no one was around. I hit my brakes hard and skidded to a stop after a hundred feet. That got her attention.
Katrina gasped as she stuck out her hand and grabbed the dashboard. "Goddammit, Kat. And you're dammed right I am calling you Kat. I earned that right. I was married to you for 18 wonderful years. I was in the delivery room each time you gave me one of our three beautiful children. And if I am not mistaken, I was there when we created them. I was always a good faithful husband."
"I haven't been in another relationship since the last time I was with you. Oh lord, I had the opportunities. I didn't want anyone else. I am still in love with you, Kat." Kat gasped. David lowered his voice, "Kat, if the roles had been reversed, I would have done the exact same thing to you that you did to me."
Listen, if this continues between us, Randall has won. He has done everything he had set out to do. Do you want that? Is that what you want? Well, do you?" So you have to ask yourself, can you live with yourself if I die an old and lonely man living in misery because you refuse to talk to me?"
I dropped the clutch on the Chevelle and burned off 10,000 miles of tire tread on my tires as they smoked up the surrounding area. I looked over to see tears running down her cheeks, And then she started sobbing, and that's when the flood gates released, "I am sorry, David." gasping for air. "How can you even look at me after what I did to you?" I pulled over and set the brake. Grabbing the Kleenex box from the back that was always on hand, I handed it to her.
I undid my seat belt and slid over on the bench seat towards her. I put my arms around her shoulders. She turned and buried her head into my chest, crying. I was cuddling Kat in my arms, telling her I was still in love with her, and I wanted her back.
She looked up at me and asked. "Are you remarried?
I was shocked. I asked Kat, "Why do you think that?" She pointed to the tan line on my left hand.
I smiled and replied, "No, I wear my wedding ring to ward off predators. Do you remember what happened the last time I wasn't wearing one?" I winked, "I was hunted down and hogtied by a certain redhead. She gave a teary smile back at me.
I was so happy that I took my father's advice and had a bench seat installed in my car. Not as sexy as bucket seats. But then it is sexy to have your favorite girl sitting next to you while you're driving.
After 15 minutes, she had calmed down. And we pulled away. She looked up and asked with an almost childlike request, "Can I have a Starbucks, please?"
I smiled and replied. "Your wish is my command, my queen." My face hurt from the smile I had on it.
We pulled out, "Kat, it is about 40 minutes to Augusta. Can you wait?"
She was looking ahead as she said, "Ok."
She finally started talking, "Nice car, I like the Metallic Blue, when did you get it?" she asked.
"It is the same one just built from scratch," I replied.
I could hear her speak in a low voice, "I am sorry."
"Oh, don't be, I had it completely rebuilt. It is pushing over 650 horses. It runs like a scalded dog."
"We can afford dozens of these now, one in each color. Kat, I won over $50 million in lawsuits against your old company and those assholes. I also negotiated that if you want your job back, they will let you start back right away."