Chapter 3 – A New Reality
The NTSB decided not to re-interview Joel Winkman, so he was free to go his own way. Darryl McNoughton, the NTSB gopher, gave Joel the phone number for American Airlines' special services office. He told Joel to call that number to book his flight home. There were no direct flights from Richmond to Boston, so he flew out of Richmond at 7:30 that evening through LaGuardia in New York, and landed in Boston at 10:30, all at American Airlines' expense, of course.
When he arrived at the Richmond airport, Joel was surprised to learn they had booked him in a business class seat, complete with access to the lounge. While Joel waited in the business class lounge, he saw himself on TV. CNN was showing highlights from the press conference. The centerpiece of the press conference was Paul Granger's detailed explanation of the events that occurred during the flight, followed by an edited account of Joel's contribution to the flight, followed by Joel's declaration he was not a hero. It was a sideshow to the much bigger story – the fact that the aircraft had been intercepted by some ball of light that rendered thirty eight women and girls unconscious for eight to twelve hours. The story received nonstop coverage for two days. Pundits were making ridiculous speculations about what the ball of light actually was, and why only women passed out.
On the plane, the flight attendants smiled and fawned over Joel, making sure his business class accommodations were to his satisfaction. Clearly news had spread quickly about his role in the earlier stricken flight. Even the pilots came back to say hello on both his flights.
At La Guardia he checked his email. There was no reply from his ultimatum email to Derrek, not that Joel was expecting one until the next day. Sam Barrington from the Boston Times called again and left a message. Joel ignored it.
When he landed at Boston, Joel was torn between going home to Valerie, or stay in a hotel. Her threat to publicize his voice mail clinched the decision. He took an Uber home to see what damage control he could effect.
He opened the door to his apartment near midnight, which was an accomplishment in itself – he had wondered if she might have changed the lock. Rather than a
honey I'm home
approach, he walked quietly into the bedroom where she was sleeping.
Valerie rustled under the blankets, and then sensing him in the room, she suddenly sat up. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she called out.
"Valerie, I just want to talk."
"Get out!" she yelled, pointing to the door, and then stood up. "Get the fuck out!" she screamed.
"Val," Joel said with stern, controlled voice, "please calm down and stop yelling."
Val sat back in her bed. "Get out," she said quietly.
"Look, just listen, okay?" Joel pleaded gently. "Just listen to me, and then we can talk. Okay?" She fell silent, so he continued. "Val, you're not happy in this marriage. Anyone can see that. And I'm not happy. I'm not proud of leaving that voice mail this morning, but I knew this press conference was going to change everything. It turns out I was wrong. It didn't just change things, it ... I don't know ... transformed the entire universe around me. Instead of being big, it was massive."
Joel paused, wondering what to say next while Val waited silently. "I didn't want our marriage to be about this, because we both know it wouldn't last. You might not believe this, but I want you to be happy. And we both know I am not the man who will make you happy." Her eyes welled up. "If I didn't do what I did this morning, you and I would have been swept up in this whole press conference aftermath thing, and in two years, we'd be right back to where we are today, and we would have suffered two more years in a broken marriage."
"You know what I'm talking about," he continued. "I think deep down you know this isn't working. Did I treat you well when I left that voice mail?" Joel asked socratically. "No, but as I explained, I was certain we had to make a break now – before we get caught up in this hero bullshit – and it is bullshit, Val – I'm not a hero. What kind of hero would leave a voice mail like that?" Tears were running down Val's cheeks now.
Joel waited for her to speak, but she stayed silent. "Okay," he said, "your turn. What do you think? But can we please keep it calm."
Val took in a deep breath and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "I agree," she nodded. "I'm not happy, and maybe divorce is the right way to go, but Jesus fucking Christ, Joel – a voice message? You really hurt me Joel," she sobbed lightly. "You ripped my heart out!"
"I know," Joel nodded. "I am sorry I hurt you, but Val, you were hurting already. We both were. I guess I see it like pulling off a Band-Aid. Better fast and be over with it, than slow and making it hurt over a long time. If I came home some big hero, and then said I want a divorce, it would have been ten times harder, ten times more painful, and ten times more confusing. And if I didn't say anything, you and I would be unhappy for years to come. You may never believe me, but I honestly did this because this was the least painful way. I hope someday you will see that and forgive me."
"So," Val asked in a neutral voice, "did the pretty stewardess fuck the hero for saving her life?" There was no venom in her tone.
"It wasn't like that," Joel soothed.
No, silly, her sister gave me a hummer
. "It was professional, respectful, even honorable."
It was one honorable blowjob, that's for sure
.
Oh, and I did an undead doctor, too
.
"So what?" Val asked. "This is it? Goodbye?"
"Well," Joel considered, "like the Band-Aid metaphor, I think it's better if we do this quickly instead of letting it drag on. I'm not saying we're done tonight. But I don't see why we can't sort everything out in the next week. I'd like us to work toward that."
"Where are you sleeping?" she asked.
"You sleep here," he said. "I'll take the couch."
Without saying another word, Val lay back down and pulled the covers back over her.
That was too easy
, Joel said to himself as he left the bedroom and closed the door behind him. He was expecting Valerie's screaming fit to last long into the night. Joel had visions of cops called by the neighbors.
Evidently the Quinton lawyers and bean counters had been up all night, because in response to his demand for one million dollars, a lawyer named Timothy Pinner phoned Joel on his personal cell at 8:30 in the morning. Val took a sick day off work, so she heard Joel's side of the phone call.
Pinner said he was authorized to offer a settlement of $317,624, with strict conditions attached. Without hesitating, Joel said to double it, or don't call back, and he hung up. Joel wondered how they arrived at such a specific number.
"What was that about?" Val asked.
"I am negotiating a severance package from work," he said. "Hopefully I can bring in a sweet farewell gift for us."
"For
us
?" she emphasized 'us'.
"We're still married," Joel replied. "Whatever you might think of me, I will do the right thing and you will get your fair share."
"My hero," she snapped, her tone thick with sarcastic ridicule.
That's why I'm divorcing you
.
In the morning Joel shopped for a lawyer who could review whatever document Quinton wanted him to sign. He found one specializing in labor relations law – Susan Prescott was a named partner in Jones, Pinney, and Prescott. She definitely was not cheap, clocking in at $1,300 per hour, but Joel had made it clear it would be a short engagement. He was prepared to spend ten thousand to protect half a million.
Timothy Pinner phoned at 1 PM, just before the 24 hour deadline, and offered $612,973.
How do they calculate these precise numbers
? It was not quite double the first offer, as Joel demanded, but it was close enough to let both sides save face. He told Pinner to send the details to his lawyer. Three hours later, Susan Prescott, sent him an email identifying three clauses she recommended changes to in order to protect his interests. He reviewed her logic, and agreed. The counteroffer went back before 5 PM.
Perhaps anticipating Prescott's changes, Pinner accepted within the hour. They had a deal, and Joel would get the money within two days. Susan Prescott recommended Joel hire a tax attorney, or an accountant at very least, who could advise him on how to process the money. Thinking about his impending divorce, it made sense to speak with a professional who could advise him on how to properly split the money with Valerie with the lowest tax burden.
That night, he sat down with Val at the table, and laid out his plan. He told her about the settlement, and Joel said Val should take one third of the after-tax settlement. His thinking was Joel made twice as much money as she did, and so he should keep twice the share of the settlement. Valerie agreed without protest, which surprised Joel.
Joel also said a simple and easy divorce was best for both of them. They had no kids and few assets – the apartment was rented, they had no car. They had nearly $50,000 between them they were saving as a down payment toward a house. Again, Joel suggested his contribution to that savings was twice hers, and he should take two thirds, and she should take one third. Valerie agreed.
Joel figured his after-tax share of the settlement would leave him about $260,000, including his share of their savings. Nowhere close to enough to retire on, but enough of a nest egg to give him breathing room while looking for another job. Valerie would walk away with $130,000 clear, which she seemed equally happy with.
The lease on their apartment was up in four months. Joel said he would move out, and pay for two thirds of the apartment rent during those four months, and after that, it was up to Valerie to decide to renew the lease or move out, but whatever she did, she would then pay 100% of her rent. Again, she agreed.
The only sticking points were the furniture, entertainment system, and the two laptop computers. He offered they each keep one laptop, and she keep the entertainment system and all furniture for a lump sum of $3,000. Again, Val agreed.
Joel said he would draw up a statement of understanding based on what they discussed, and use it as the basis to file a non-contested no-fault divorce. Val agreed to the whole process, and they filed the divorce one week later, on Friday, June 19, 2015. They were officially separated, and had to wait 120 days for their divorce to become finalized.
For a woman so bitterly scorned by his voice mail, Val was uncharacteristically agreeable to his divorce terms. She even agreed to erase his voice mail message when he suggested she should. This was not the Valerie he had known during their marriage – perhaps he could have learned to be happy with this Valerie, but there was too much bad blood between them to turn the clocks back. Joel was a happy bachelor again.
