Terri knocked on the door to Nell's office and popped her head in. Nell was on the phone and motioned her in with a wave of her hand. She rolled her eyes and held the phone away from her ear. Terri could make out a monotone voice with a West Virginia accent going on and on about ordinances and permits and special exceptions. “I understand that you have your way of doin things that require lots of red tape and more or less making the life of a normal business person's life miserable and I can definitely say that you have done your job well today. But in the last twenty minutes that I have been on the phone with your office, the original question that I asked still has not been addressed. So instead of us wasting anymore time, just send me the forms in the mail and I will find the answer that I am lookin for." Nell wearily responded to the faceless voice. Then she hung up the phone as the voice continued to drone on. “Government officials" she said sarcastically and she needed not to say anything more as Terri nodded in sympathy. “Have you seen Jess today?" Terri asked hopefully. "Yeah, she came flying in here this mornin like a lil whirlwind, all excited and gabbin bout a letter, some kinda check or something, grabbed some paperwork from her desk and was gone before I could get a word in. What gives?" Nell inquired. “Well the short version is she got an inheritance from her Aunt Bell's estate." Terri relayed dryly. “Well...... good for her. Hopes she invests in wisely. I'm happy for her," Nell narrowed her eyes and looked over the rim of her glasses. "You're happy for her too, right?" "Yeah....sure I am, I mean that's pretty cool that she got the money and I........" Terri started to explain “Funny, I hear a but in there somewhere....." Nell observed. “Normally we talk out the finances, like when in cashed in my 401k, I put in the bank for the both of us, we paid bills and used some of it to buy into the partnership, I guess I just thought that she was going to talk it over with me before she made any decisions." Terri shook her head. “I just wasn't expecting her to take the money and run, so to speak" she said ruefully. “Are you worried bout what Jess is gonna do with the money?" Nell asked gently "No.....it's not that......and we aren't hurting for anything right now, the bills are getting paid and all, I was just surprised that she didn't talk about it all with me.......guess there is just no figuring out women huh....." Terri laughed half-heartedly. “Terri, you know as well as I do that Jesse will do something good with that windfall. She's a smart gal, just give her some time and wait it out. If all else fails, just ask her.... don't let doubts eat at you....it is not good for relationships. You know money and sex will get us every time......." Nell advised. "I know....look, thanks for listening....how much do I owe for the therapy session?" Terri joked. “The usual, coffee, black and 'Equal'," Nell smiled. Terri went into the office and started a fresh pot of coffee, she saw that Jess had let her laptop on and she went over to shut it down and close the lid. An email was opened from a screen name called "Don'tchawantit". Terri couldn't believe what she was reading......."Congrats on the money… can't wait to meet you. Will be in touch later....” With a sick feeling she closed the email and shut down the computer and her trembling hand closed the lid of the laptop. She went to her desk and sat down, there was a folder and paperwork that she needed to attend to, but she sat there and tried to figure out what she should do next. She got out her cell phone, punched up Jesse's number and dialed it. The call went straight to her voice mail. She canceled the call when she flipped the phone closed. Her eyes wandered across her desk and she saw the picture of Jesse that she had taken when they bought the new camper. She was laughing at the camera, her eyes bright; the wind was blowing her hair. It was her favorite picture. Slowly she picked it up and looked closely at Jesse all the while wondering if she really knew the woman in the frame. Then she felt the guilt wash over her as the disconcerting doubts started to surface. They had been together for over eight years. The years were a mixture of highs and lows, but mostly and steadily highs. They both had the same sense of humor; a little perverted at times they teased each other. They had laughed and cried, fought at times, mostly over money or lack thereof, but they had settled into a comfortable and loving relationship. Compared to the straight world they were more "normal" than the so-called hetro'd married couples. There wasn't anything that Jesse even hinted for that Terri did not move heaven and mountains to get and visa versa. Her favorite saying to Jess was "What baby wants.....baby gets....." Nell was right, this was just gonna eat at her. It came down to trust....and in her heart she trusted Jesse, she had from the very beginning. Terri got up from her desk and fixed her Therapist's cup of coffee and delivered it as promised. She went back to her office, picked up the paperwork and started calling for material estimates for a couple of her jobs she was planning. Concentrating on the job at hand was the priority now. Click On The River To Continue To Chapter 24 © Labinky Park 2008 Labinky Enterprises 2008 |
Chapter 23
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