Few people ever fully reach their life's dream. Pieces of it, moments of it, false recognition of it, those are commonplace. But a true and complete realization of what a person deems the determining factor as to the success or failure of a life is rare, as much to do with perception as reality for most people. Rita was sure she was closing in on her dream at the tender age of seventeen. A husband she could love and a child she could mother would be everything to her. But as millions of people could attest to, that dream, unlike dreams of wealth and power, can only be confirmed by looking back. Rita, of course, didn't see it that way; no one does. When she awoke the morning after becoming Mrs. Rita Brown her thoughts were of her love for her sweet Eddie, still dead to the world, but at her side and to their soon to be beloved child gathering strength for its expected February birthdate.
While in a way Rita and Eddie's lives had certainly calmed down, they were more filled than ever before, especially Rita's. Continuing to work (now just three days a week) at the little Greenport souvenir shop, she was still in the process of converting the Brown's basement into a home. Add to that the several hours a week of studying she was conscientiously doing to be able to pass her high school equivalency test and, in November, when she reached the six-month point of her pregnancy she and Eddie would begin their weekly Lamaze classes.
Eddie worked his six day week at the store, played Friday and Saturday nights at Rosco's (until the week after Thanksgiving) and generally assumed the role of dutiful husband and father-to-be. Paint and wallpaper choices, ostensibly team decisions, taught Eddie one of the keys to a good marriage. That is, to figure out what the wife's preference is before she announces it and make it your own. For that he was in fact proving to be a fast learner. He even seemed to enjoy it, further confirming the accuracy of his Easy nickname.
And just as Rita had hoped, Tommy Mullen ceased to be in her thoughts with the exception of the times the ever trimmer and trimmer (if not quite yet slimmer and slimmer) Maryann brought him up. The combination of Sherry Brown's advice, Rita's support and Tommy's compliment had gotten Maryann to dramatically alter her eating habits, but not her infatuation with the studly young man of her dreams. In a way, while not being the best thing for Maryann, it was helpful to Rita. It made Tommy her friend's man, out of bounds, at least to her consciousness.
In early December, Randy Dunne got a tip that Julie Crandell, her friend and her friend's other lover had moved out of their Bronx apartment. Margaret called the apartment house and asked the superintendent if Julie or anyone had left a forwarding address. She was told that Jimmie Randell and company had disappeared owing three months back rent. Just as Randy had predicted, she left no forwarding address.
Big Bob was faithfully attending his weekly AA meetings and had, on more than one occasion, made emergency trips on other group's meetings nights. He was proving to be a fine student of the system and a good thing he was. For Bob Willis had a hunger and a need for alcohol beyond the typically troubled mind. Too much time on his hands wasn't helping matters and the loss of power and stature in his day to day existence hadn't stopped hurting. But an offer of a life-altering job had the potential to restore much of Big Bob's lost self-esteem.
On Christmas Eve, Big Bob had asked Rita and Eddie to come over to his home before the three of them would go to the Brown's. He wanted to give them his very special gift in private, work it all out before spending the evening with his in-laws, Margaret and Randy and Maryann and her dad.
"Come in guys, Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Daddy,"
"Merry Christmas Mr. Willis." Eddie still hadn't been able to take Big Bob up on his offer to call him "dad." The offer had been proffered a second time but Big Bob hadn't made an issue of it.
"Come sit down. We'll only be a few minutes and then we can get over to your mom's house and get into that buffet." He was looking at Rita when he said "your mom's house" and the words altered the mood only momentarily.
"Okay, here's the story. I'm sure you know being in charge of security over at Riverhead High hasn't exactly been stimulating. I finally found something I really want to do. I've made two trips to Charleston, West Virginia and as of January first I'm a member of the Charleston police force. I've got an apartment down there and I'm leaving right after Christmas."
"Congratulations Mr. Willis."
Rita sat quietly for a moment, gathering her thoughts. She took a deep breath before speaking.
"Daddy I'm gonna miss you but I know this is what you want. You're a cop. That's what you do. It's just that, well...."
"I know honey, just when I start being a decent father I leave. But it's not that far away, not too far to be together on holidays and all the big days." He looked at Rita's now very pronounced belly and smiled.
"Now here's the other half of the plan. I want you guys to live in this house. I've already sent two years of payments to the bank. So for two years you guys are free and clear. At the end of that time you can do whatever you want. Keep it, sell it, rent it, it's up to you. All I ask is to give your old man a bed to sleep in when I come up for a visit."
"Gee Daddy, I don't know what to say. You're giving up a tremendous amount of money by not selling it. Are you okay? You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Look, the force always paid for my life insurance so your mom figured we could afford a decent policy on her. Not a tremendous amount of money, I'm not wealthy from your mom's death, but I'm fine. My pension starts in five years and I'll be making a good livin' down in West Virginia. I want to do this for you now. Remember the movie we talked about? Please just live here and enjoy it."
Very little else was said, especially by Eddie who couldn't
help but flash back to the not very distant past when everything
about Big Bob scared the shit out of him. On their way out the
door Eddie took a quick look around at his house. "House" he
thought, "Jesus Christ, now I've got a house. What the hell else
could happen?"
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Material Copyright © 1998-2003 by Jim Bearden