Twenty One
Rick and Alison sat in the visiting room and marveled at the fact that they had been sitting in that room every weekend for the past two years. It was hard to believe so much time had passed. She had met his parents and his children, all of whom clearly cared about her and were happy to have her in Rick’s life. His lawyer also met Alison, who tried to figure out a way she could help Rick. Without him knowing it, she gave his attorney a check for $100,000 to let her have some of her unpaid salary and use it for any items she had to pay for. Melinda Hayes was a prominent defense attorney who was appointed by the court to help Rick, but she was an exceptional person and she and Alison had become friends.
The conversation naturally turned to the issue of Rick and Alison getting married, not waiting until he was released. He had one more year of his sentence and then he would be free. There was no parole attached, which made life easier. Alison had been flying to Boston every Tuesday, spending the rest of the week through Sunday with Rick. She thought about getting an apartment and just staying there. They talked about her moving to Boston, but they also talked about moving to San Francisco when Rick got out so that he didn’t have to go through the community wrath that would face him. They had already discussed the fact that he would have to live off Alison’s money until he could write something, do some kind of work to produce income.
It was the middle of October, a time when Alison loved the New England area. Since the heat of summer was over, she decided it would be best to rent her apartment in San Francisco, then find an apartment for herself close to Rick. She and Rick decided to get married in November and he would find someone who would do the ceremony. His case manager would help him with the arrangements. Alison would now have to face the truth with her parents and friends, the reason why she was in Boston every week. It was time.
And it was time to tell Rick the truth. She had to do that before they married or she could not live with herself. He had dealt with so much of his pain and regret, but he could not get over what had happened, that he had lost control of his life to the point that someone possibly could have set him up for disaster. He could never answer the why, or the who. Alison decided she would tell Rick on their next visit, before she signed a lease on the apartment she had found in Boston.
It was time to make some notes to guide her through the conversation, explaining her decision to do what she did, how she went about it, Rick’s secretary and all that happened with her death. Rick needs to know that. And he needs to know about the year he spent with Charla.
Alison spent the next week making notes, clearing her head, preparing to tell Rick the truth. She had decided to stay home for one week so that she could get her life in order, as she exclaimed to Rick. Then she decided to go in a day early for the next visit and meet with his children and parents. They had to know and let her know whether or not they would be able to support the relationship and marriage.
All she told them was that she wanted to talk something over with them. No, she was not abandoning Rick. Nothing of the sort, reassuring them that she was going forward with the marriage, that she loved Rick every much. Alison had a horrible feeling about the conversation, but it had to be done no matter what.
The phone rang. Alison looked at her clock. It was 2:00 a.m. She knew instantly that something had happened to one of her parents. The voice on the other end of the line was strange to her – at first.
“Alison, it’s Adele Hammond. I’m sorry but I have some bad news for you. Rick died two hours ago of a massive heart attack. He didn’t suffer. The doctor said it was instant.”
She couldn’t say a word, was frozen on the edge of her bed.
“I’ve called
Rick and Alison sat in the visiting room and marveled at the fact that they had been sitting in that room every weekend for the past two years. It was hard to believe so much time had passed. She had met his parents and his children, all of whom clearly cared about her and were happy to have her in Rick’s life. His lawyer also met Alison, who tried to figure out a way she could help Rick. Without him knowing it, she gave his attorney a check for $100,000 to let her have some of her unpaid salary and use it for any items she had to pay for. Melinda Hayes was a prominent defense attorney who was appointed by the court to help Rick, but she was an exceptional person and she and Alison had become friends.
The conversation naturally turned to the issue of Rick and Alison getting married, not waiting until he was released. He had one more year of his sentence and then he would be free. There was no parole attached, which made life easier. Alison had been flying to Boston every Tuesday, spending the rest of the week through Sunday with Rick. She thought about getting an apartment and just staying there. They talked about her moving to Boston, but they also talked about moving to San Francisco when Rick got out so that he didn’t have to go through the community wrath that would face him. They had already discussed the fact that he would have to live off Alison’s money until he could write something, do some kind of work to produce income.
It was the middle of October, a time when Alison loved the New England area. Since the heat of summer was over, she decided it would be best to rent her apartment in San Francisco, then find an apartment for herself close to Rick. She and Rick decided to get married in November and he would find someone who would do the ceremony. His case manager would help him with the arrangements. Alison would now have to face the truth with her parents and friends, the reason why she was in Boston every week. It was time.
And it was time to tell Rick the truth. She had to do that before they married or she could not live with herself. He had dealt with so much of his pain and regret, but he could not get over what had happened, that he had lost control of his life to the point that someone possibly could have set him up for disaster. He could never answer the why, or the who. Alison decided she would tell Rick on their next visit, before she signed a lease on the apartment she had found in Boston.
It was time to make some notes to guide her through the conversation, explaining her decision to do what she did, how she went about it, Rick’s secretary and all that happened with her death. Rick needs to know that. And he needs to know about the year he spent with Charla.
Alison spent the next week making notes, clearing her head, preparing to tell Rick the truth. She had decided to stay home for one week so that she could get her life in order, as she exclaimed to Rick. Then she decided to go in a day early for the next visit and meet with his children and parents. They had to know and let her know whether or not they would be able to support the relationship and marriage.
All she told them was that she wanted to talk something over with them. No, she was not abandoning Rick. Nothing of the sort, reassuring them that she was going forward with the marriage, that she loved Rick every much. Alison had a horrible feeling about the conversation, but it had to be done no matter what.
The phone rang. Alison looked at her clock. It was 2:00 a.m. She knew instantly that something had happened to one of her parents. The voice on the other end of the line was strange to her – at first.
“Alison, it’s Adele Hammond. I’m sorry but I have some bad news for you. Rick died two hours ago of a massive heart attack. He didn’t suffer. The doctor said it was instant.”
She couldn’t say a word, was frozen on the edge of her bed.
“I’ve called
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