Chapter Eight
Joe called his father. Joe told him that he and Suzan were no more and that he still planned on going to Africa on a long needed vacation. Joe didn’t mention that another woman might be traveling with him as a platonic travel partner. It seemed to convoluted to try to explain. His dad was “old school.”
“Oh Joe, I’m so sorry. What happened?” were his first words. Joe’s father sounded genuinely concerned. “It just blew up dad. She had a sudden change of heart.” “Better now than ten years down the road and after two or three kids, son.” Joe thought his father was perhaps more concerned with Joe’s trip than the loss of his relationship with Suzan. He wasn’t sure if his father really cared for Suzan or not.
Joe explained that he was leaving in around three weeks and would be gone a month. Joe’s father was dubious as always about Joe’s plans. He was as excited for Joe as he could be, under the circumstances. Joe going to a remote continent like Africa at this moment didn’t sound like a good idea to him. He was cautious as always with what he said. “How are you taking all of this?”
“Well, like you said dad, better now than later, I suppose. I saved a ton on the wedding, so there is that.” Joe then went quiet. “I know it’s hard Joe. I’m here if you want or need to talk.” Joe held back tears and swallowed. “Perhaps Africa is a big reaction to this breakup. Maybe you should stay close to home for a while to get your feet under you again.” Joe’s father had forgotten that the honeymoon had always been planned to be in Africa.
“I’m just going on a trip that I have already taken the time off from work for dad. It’s already paid for, so why not?” Can you get the other half of the money back? Yes, that’s already been handled.” “Well, good.” Joe could hear the disappointment in his father’s voice. “I really liked Suzan, Joe.” “So did I dad. It’s sad for me that it didn’t work out. But I’ll use this trip to heal my heart, do some writing and get my head straight.” There was silence on the line for a moment. “I’m really sorry Joe.”
Joe was not going to be persuaded otherwise. He had tried to explain his reasoning, but he and his father were always or most always at opposing ends when it came to Joe’s life. Karl, his father, never liked what Joe had planned about anything in his life.
He never liked what his son did for a living. “It’s not a real job Joe, come on. Learn a trade so you can build things and not be leaning on others for a job,” he had said to him more than once over the years as Joe struggled to find a decent job writing. “Thanks dad, I just wanted get you caught up. I gotta go. Love you dad.” “Right Joe, talk to you soon, good bye.”
Charlene knew about the life insurance policies that Joe had bought for himself and Suzan for $350,000.00. It was a smart and proper move for an upwardly mobile couple to make according to Suzan. It wasn’t that expensive, but Joe saw it as just another added expense for him to carry. Suzan saw it as giving them security in case of an unforeseen disaster. “Unforeseen things happen all the time Joe,” was her mantra up until the policies had been purchased. “Turned out she was right.” Joe thought now.
Charlene wondered if the two former lovers had taken the time to cancel the policies. Knowing Joe, it would be months before he remembered to do that. That was Joe, no matter how much he thought he had changed. Joe was predictable if nothing else. Suzan was a different story, but she was very busy now with a new man and new life. So, even Suzan might have put that issue of the life insurance on the back burner for a while.
Charlene had called the travel agency and purchased her ticket for the trip. The woman on the phone was very helpful. “Yes, Suzan is no longer coming,” Charlene explained. “Yes we heard from Mr. Monroe already.” “I am now traveling with Mr. Monroe. I’m his executive secretary.” “That’s fine. Should we change the accommodations in any way?” “No, they will remain the same, thank you.” “Great, that makes things easier on our side.” Charlene didn’t care if it made things easier for the woman on the phone. It was just what had to be done.
“We haven’t heard from Mr. Monroe’s former traveling companion yet. What do you suppose she is gong to do about her reservations?” the woman asked. “I assume that since the marriage is off, she will most likely cancel, but I can’t speak for her.” “Fine then, you are scheduled to travel with Mr. Monroe on this trip to Africa at this time. Is there anything else we might do for you today?” “No thanks, I’m just glad to get this settled.”
“Well, there are just two places left on the trip so It will go now no matter what happens.” “That’s comforting to know. Thanks so much for all your help getting this sorted.” Charlene said as she hung up the phone with a hint of relief. “Well, it looks like I’m going to Africa With Joe,” she thought.
Charlene tried to remember the details of the insurance policies. “What were those policies worth again?” she wondered as she thought what she should and shouldn’t pack.
Chapter Nine
Suzan sat at the same table in the back corner of The Hobby Horse where she had met Chad. They always sat there now. This was where they had first met. It was by accident but the night had been set aside for meeting a man or men.
She had come with a girl friend from work that she knew quite well. Donna was discreet and attractive. Two great qualities in a friend when out looking for a new man. She had dated her boss more than once at different jobs and had done it successfully. That impressed Suzan. She had been in her before looking for someone interesting and well dressed. the place was in a neighborhood where well healed men often came looking for single women. Or not single women.
That’s how she had met Chad. She and her girlfriend had already discussed what might happen this evening and how the other woman would make an excuse to disappear, if things went well. Once things had been sorted out and one or the other had decided that the man they had come across wasn’t an ax murder, the other would receive a phone call and have to leave in a hurry. It was a pretty good plan, unless the man one of them met was an ax murder.
They knew who they were and laughed it off. Suzan was cheating on her fiance’ and Dorothy was a home wrecker. That was just who they were at this point in time. They knew it was just a phase while looking for the right man. They called themselves ” the better dealers” and laughed it off. But they were just that.
They were two women on the lookout for the right men who were going places and needed wives to go along with them and prod them when necessary. “If we’re going to fall in love, and surely we are, why not fall in love with a wealthy man. It mad perfect sense to both of them. They were kindred spirits.
Now Suzan sat waiting for Chad in their favorite booth. He had asked her with a little more excitement in his sweet voice than usual, for this date here tonight. Suzan had her suspicions about what this night might bring.
There dating life had taken a slow and methodical path since Suzan was already engaged to Joe. She did manage to keep a day or night open for seeing Chad for lunch or dinner each month. She had felt a little bad about it at first but she was a practical woman if nothing else and those feelings of guilt soon abated.
Joe was a great guy but had his short comings. Chad was already nearly where Suzan wished Joe to be. She was on a strict time line and Joe wasn’t moving fast enough for her.
Chad was already a partner at his father’s brokerage house, along with his brother. He was making great money and his future looked very bright indeed. Their dates were proof of that. They did whatever she desired when they had their dates now and then. No place or event were off limits. If they needed tickets for a play or a reservation somewhere special, Chad made it happen. He had connections, that was very clear to Suzan early on.
Chad had his suspicions that Suzan might still be connected to someone else in a serious relationship, but he didn’t ask. Her schedule made that fairly clear to him. She had caught his eye nearly a year ago in this very place and he decided that he would have her. She had made it clear to him that she was single early on, but he wasn’t sure he could believe her.
So here she sat in semi-darkness. Suzan waiting to make, perhaps, one of the biggest decisions in her life. Would she leave Joe, a known quantity for possibly a much better or at least wealthier life with someone she didn’t know quite as well?
She was ten minutes early.
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I might be early too if I thought the meal train was coming into my stop.
Suzan is no man’s fool. But does she have a heart or just a pump to move her blood to all the vital organs in her body?
More tomorrow afternoon.