Prologue:
The following is the first in what will be a long series. At least three installments, most likely more once I'm done documenting everything. What transpired at the time was too lengthy to even think about publishing in a single narrative so please bear with it. Thank you.
As always, comments are welcome as long as they are constructive.
*
Out of the blue one day I got a troubling phone call from my one and only sister Brenda, who lives back east. While we keep in regular contact, I never had an inkling of how depressed she'd become, and seemed during our conversation. When I questioned her about it she broke down and started crying.
A little background is probably necessary. Brenda's divorced and has been for two years from her second husband. Her first husband was a literal scumbag who treated her like crap. Up to and including physically. He was the proverbial Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The perfect gentleman before they married, but treated her like dirt afterwards. I don't know why she stayed with him as long as she did, but long enough to have three children. Her second husband was the complete opposite. But only in certain ways. And little did I know from her not sharing it with me, their marriage was all but sexless. Had been from the start, which was okay with her at first because of how her first husband sexually abused her. The reason it was, her husband had more "affairs" and mistresses than you could count. Before, and more so after they married. I was surprised it took so long for her to find out, except I think she knew all along and accepted it since he was a "good" husband in most other ways. What finally prompted her to get a divorce was everyone else eventually finding out about it since he was screwing around with anyone and everyone. Including some of her close friends. It got so bad in the end he didn't even bother being discreet about his extramarital affairs. If you could call them that. More like dalliances since he was the worst kind of philanderer there was. I hate to think of how many other marriages he might have ruined.
When it finally dawned on my sister how much of a fool he was making of her she filed for a divorce. It was consummated quickly and very amicably in her case by getting the house and half of everything else. And it left her pretty much set for life financially since he was a wealthy man who owned a thriving local business.
After my sister regained her composure she said she had a big favor to ask.
"And what would that be? You know I'd do anything for you."
"Would you mind if I come stay with you and Walter for a while?"
It was the last thing I expected, especially since all her family, being her three daughters and their families, live back east.
"Why would you want to come stay with us and be so far from your family?"
"I need to get away for awhile. And I don't have anyone else to turn to. Been two years since my divorce and I still can't get my act together. And to be honest, being close to my daughters only makes matters worse. They treat me like an 80 year old and as though I'm senile. Sometimes I think all they care about is whose kids I'm going to babysit, and when. Plus when I once found someone, which wasn't easy, they had a hundred reasons why he wasn't for me and eventually scared him off. They seem to feel my whole life should revolve around them and their families versus me having one of my own. I'm not blaming them entirely for my state of mind as it's mostly my fault, but I'm stuck in a rut. If I don't do something I'm going to end up being a lonely old woman before I know it."
"I always wondered why you never found someone else. Not necessarily to get married, but for companionship...or at least some occasional sex. As I said before, you know I'd do anything for you. How long do you expect you'll need to stay with us to get your head screwed back on straight?"
"I like the way you put that. Sounds like something Walter would say. As for how long, a month or two. Hopefully not any longer."
Oh my is all I could think. Plus I couldn't imagine how Walter was going to react to a month or two, or even longer. Especially since our "lifestyle" has changed in recent years.
"What about your house? Who's going to take care of it while you stay with us?"
"I've decided to sell it and move into a condo or something in a 55 or older community. It's way too big for me, and a hassle to maintain since I have to hire someone to do just about everything in spite of having three son-in-laws. So while it's on the market the real estate company agreed to take care of things until it sells. Which they claim shouldn't take long because of the location and asking price."
"Sounds like you've given things a lot of thought. So when do you want to come and stay with us?"
"Hopefully I can get a flight and be there by the end of the week. Earlier if possible. I know, not much notice, but I'm at the end of my rope and I don't have many options. At least viable ones. I need a change in environment, and the sooner the better."
I had a number of options she could give some thought, but didn't attempt to share them. The last thing I wanted was to give her the impression I was trying to avoid her staying with us.
"You're right, you don't, and it isn't much notice. But it does give me enough time to get things organized here for you."
"Please don't go through a lot of trouble just for me. Now I hate to be rude, but I have to go. One of my daughters has called three times since we've been on the phone. Most likely it's one of her bogus emergencies again. I'll call you as soon as I have my travel arrangements made. I love you, and I can't tell you how much it means to me letting me stay with you and Walter for a while. Damn! She just called again, so I better go."
After the call ended, I sat there for the longest time with a zillion things going through my mind. First and foremost was how Walter was going to react. He loves my sister dearly and I know when we were still living back east, which was years ago, he was infatuated with her in some ways. And her with him, especially between marriages. They always seemed to flirt with each other and I'd be the archetypal jealous wife. Whenever I'd mentioned something to Walter about it he always said it was just my imagination. And it very well could have been since I wasn't the most secure or confident person back then. Not that I blame him since my sister was quite the head turner. I can't tell you how many boys we competed for and she always won out. Not that she still isn't. While older, she's still a knock-out. But unlike me, she's lost all confidence in herself and has become very insecure after two failed marriages.
During dinner I broke the news to Walter.
"One to two months you say...and maybe longer. My guess is it will be the latter."
"It's what she said. Not that I could have put a time limit on her staying with us."
