More of Chapter Five.

Charlene had figured out years ago why her mother’s health was failing. Charlene thought it a wonder that she was still living.

She understood later in life why her father had left.. It was easy to see when Charlene was more mature. Her friends had pointed it out to her often that her mother acted disconnected and odd. When she went to other homes, their mothers weren’t smelling of alcohol and slurring their words constantly.

Her mother’s failing health was obviously due to over drinking, lack of sleep, smoking endlessly and the failure to eat a decent meal now and then.

Her mother was totally absorbed in her drinking and her weight, while the world crumbled around her.

Nick listened to his daughter and then spoke again.

“That would be great dear. Are you happy with your work, Charlene?”

“Yes daddy, I never miss a day.” That was the truth. “And now with Joe and I becoming closer it’s much better.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that dear. However a work related relationship is filled with peril, honey.”

“This is different daddy.” “I do worry about your moods and choices sometimes, you know.”

Charlene bit her lip and tried to hold back tears. Her father often brought up her mental health issues when they talked.

She didn’t like it and it made her feel sad when she remembered all that she and her family had been through over the years. It was a sad experience for everyone involved. She wondered why he always did that.

She didn’t realize how much it had affected her father. Her mother was less affected due to her drinking, but her father, Nick, was right there in the middle of it with her all of the time.

“That new medicine that the doctor has given me seems much better than the last batch. I dn;pt feel so depressed or tired anymore.”

“I’m glad to hear that Charlene.”

Her father turned his large, leather swivel chair behind his antique desk and moved the mouse on his computer pad. He pulled up his daughters savings account and added twenty thousand-dollars to it from his large vacstion account.

“I just put the money in your savings account sweetie. You sound great at the moment, by the way.”

“Thanks daddy, I feel great.”

“Good dear.” Sadly depression ran in her mother’s family and Charlene had not been spared it’s hardships or difficulties.

Nick wondered why it seemed that the most beautiful women are are so often affected by that affliction, and are mentally disturbed? He would have to look into that at some point when he had a moment to spare. He been a victim of two women with this malady in his life already.

At that moment however, the time for research on the topic looked far off in the future. Work was getting busier and busier as the year was coming to a close.

“You need to take your meds everyday honey, promise me that, please.

“I k niow daddy, I’m being very diligent about that lately.”

“All right then dear. The money has been sent to your account. Please be careful out there. And by the way, I would like to meet your new man as soon as possible.”

“Sure daddy,” Charlene added. “I’ll make that happen soon.”

“Great honey, I have to go now. have a nice day. I love talking with you dear. I have to get back to work now. Let me know when you are about to leave on vacation and give me the itinerary so I will know where you are.

You might email now and then so I can keep track of you on your trip. That might be fun.”

“I will daddy, I promise and thanks again. The conversation ended with that promise from his daughter that Nick knew might never be kept. “Charlene is full of good intentions but seldom follows through,” he thought, sadly.

Joe thought about that night when he had argued with Suzan. Joe now remembered some of her departing words. They had something to do with and reminded him of his mantra, “I’ll get to it later honey.” Her constant response was, “no you won’t Joe, you’ll never change.”

Joe now remembered that he had swirled around to look at Suzan after that cutting insult. Suzan had set down her two Gucci suitcases down on the floor in the outer hallway outside of the front door of the apartment. She stood there between her two suitcases looking at Joe with disane.

She tossed her key onto the kitchen floor and closed the door as she stood in the hallway. She was truely finished. She didn’t even have the enregy to slam the door.

Charlene knew about Suzan’s issues with Joe. Joe had told her all about Suzan’s disappointments over their time spent together working or during a quick lunch.

Joe had told Suzan about the latest shot at him over the phone that morning a day ago. He remembered how much those words hurt him.

Charlene knew Suzan was right to some degree. Joe and Suzan weren’t a orefect match, that evident.

Joe had vowed to keep working harder at getting things done in a decent time frame and to stop procrastinating as he had done so often before. He was sure he would conquer his demons, in time. Joe saw the possibility of becoming a changed man.

He thought he had shown Suzan that he could get organized and make something of his life. But then reality reared its ugly head. His change hadn’t been enough for Suzan and was a little too late.

It was now no longer necessary for Joe to try to change.

Suzan had been dating men all the time that she and Joe were engaged. That was how she found Chad. He was enthralled with her and she with him from the start.

Charlene thought that she knew both Joe and Suzan and understood them. Over time she grew to love Joe, even as his marriage to Suzan loomed over her happiness like a dark cloud on a distant horizon.

Charlene thought that perhaps she knew too much about Joe and his life to work with him much longer. It was becoming painful. She was alone and life was passing her by, or so she was beginning to think. She had to take a stand and this failure of Joe’s relationship hd given her that opportunity.

“Perhaps this was fate showing itself to her at the very last possible moment.” Late in the afternoon she saw Joe leave his office and come her way.

“I gotta go Charlene, I have things to do. Have a good evening. “All right Joe, I won’t call you about work unless I have to. Have a good evening and relax if you can. I know this had been very difficult for you, especially with the wedding being so close at hand.

“Thanks Charlene, your a great secretary and a good friend.” that comment made her think that there might just be a chance for her, after all.

She had nearly given up all hope of having a relationship with Joe and then this godsend of their breakup arrived. It was too good to be true.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

There was a few monkeys on the porch when we arrived. They didn’t seem to want to leave. And what is that in the water. Is it a rock or a crocodile coming this way?