Whatever the reason, life was tough for those first few years. After Julie reached school age, the state assistance stopped and Gail got a job. She started working in a supermarket across town. Because she had no car she was forced to ride the bus to and from work. On her late nights she didn’t arrive home until well after dark. This meant the responsibility of keeping the house clean; cooking dinner and getting the kids to bed fell on Lori. After several weeks of hard work, the management of the supermarket saw what a good worker Gail was and promoted her to manager. The raise in pay allowed her to buy a cheap used car from a relative. Her new means of transportation together with the added stress of the job soon had her stopping at a small neighborhood bar on her way home in the evenings. She knew things would be well taken care of at home with Lori in charge.
It was at this bar where Gail met Bill. He struck up a conversation with her one evening, and seemed genuinely interested in stories about her work, home, and family. They talked and drank until almost closing time. Gail was so hung over the next morning she was almost late for work. That Friday evening Gail, once again met Bill at the bar. She had found out that he was in charge of taking care of horses and hunting dogs for a well to do country club. This was in a ritzy titzy part of town called Oakwood Hills. Gail chuckled when he told her he lived in a horse barn. After explaining to her it was an apartment made in the loft of the barn, Gail said she would like to see it. Before she knew it they were in Bill’s car and on their way to Oakwood Hills.
