A Marriage Courting Quicksand

They were looking for a second home. Donna wanted a beach house on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Gary wasn’t keen on the idea. He had his heart set on a manufactured home development in Stuart, Florida, which catered to tennis players. “Honey, it’s a very unique setup. Most 55 and over communities have executive golf courses,” he said. “Whitestone Courts is a tennis player’s dream.”

Donna focused her emerald, green eyes on her husband, her lips pursed until she was certain she had his full attention. “Very unique. How marvelous. You convinced me. We should buy a double wide trailer in Stuart, Florida immediately. Had you just said unique, I might have refused.”

Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on Gary. Donna, who had just celebrated her 63rd birthday, was often a challenge. He married her four years ago on her birthday. She was a beautiful woman. Somehow, when they were dating, he’d missed her primary flaw. She had to have things her way. Not some things. Everything or it was war, an endless barrage of sarcasm, Scotch and if necessary, the silent treatment until she got her way. He had come to think of them as her version of the three musketeers of the apocalypse. 

A year younger than Donna, Gary was a mild-mannered man. Yet, while he seemed like a pushover, people who knew him well, recognized the steel hidden beneath his thin, wiry frame, if pushed too far. “Well, I am not taking up residence in Maryland. I know that’s your home state, but it’s very expensive there, even on a part time basis.”

“Do we know anyone who lives in Stuart, or Port Dt. Lucie, or Jupiter?” She asked. 

“No, but we would certainly meet people and make new friends.”

“I already have friends, not to mention relatives in Maryland,” Donna said. She pulled a fresh bottle of Johnnie Walker Black out of the liquor cabinet. 

He looked at his watch and rolled his eyes. It was only a few minutes after noon. He felt

exhausted by her antics. He found a coffee mug with the words Ocean City Maryland in bold blue lettering. Beneath the name it said, “Somewhere to Smile About.” He filled it half way with ice and handed it to her. “This calls for a drunken fiasco. Get started.” He pointed to the bottle of Scotch. “By the time you wake up, I’ll be packed and ready to move to Florida.” He headed toward their bedroom closet to find a suitcase.

“Where are you going?” She asked. 

“I just told you.”

She returned the bottle to the cabinet. “You are being very unreasonable,” she said.

He surprised himself, saying, “Very? I’m glad you added that word. Otherwise, I would have felt I was almost being reasonable.” He walked into their bedroom and found an extra-large duffel bag. She followed him.

“I’m not amused, Gary. Can we stop this nonsense and discuss our options like civilized adults?”

Gary started filling the bag with fistfuls of socks, and underwater, not bothering to count. He opened the bottom drawer of his dresser and reached for his jeans.

Donna grabbed the duffel bag and flipped it upside down, emptying the contents. “This is crazy. If you really don’t want to buy a house in Ocean City we don’t have to. We don’t even have to buy a second home, Baby.”

He laughed. He couldn’t help it. When was the last time she called him baby? “You’re right. It would be foolish to buy another home now, when our future, our marriage, in fact, is in trouble.”

“It is? Why are you saying that?” Tears were pooling in her eyes now. Tears were an effective tool. She always reserved them for moments when her other tactics didn’t work. She was convinced that her green eyes and copper red hair had always captivated men. And somehow, tears brightened her emerald eyes in a way that mesmerized them. She was as sure as she could be that her green eyes had extended her two previous marriages for a good five years each. 

Gary looked at her as if he was really seeing her for the first time. He sat on the bed and asked her to sit beside him. She complied and sat so their thighs were touching. “I’m sorry, Donna. This doesn’t seem to be working.”

“I thought we were happy. You’re not happy with me?” She wiped tears from her face. “I’m happy with you.”

He nodded. “You’re happy with me as long as we’re doing what you want. What I want doesn’t matter to you.”

“You’re wrong, Gary.” 

“No. I’m right and we both know it, Donna. I try to do what makes you happy but now I don’t know. Maybe I make things too easy for you.”

“Easy? It’s not easy, Gary.” She shivered and let out a long quiet sigh. “I know you’re right. I’ve always been willful. Did I ever tell you I saw a therapist?”

“No.” He lied. She had told him stories of her previous marriages a few times. Perhaps she needed to retell them to make a larger point. 

“Twice actually, once for my marriage to Cade and then when I was married to Myles.”

“Did it help?”

She offered a mirthless laugh. “I’ve always been like this, even when I was a little girl. My marriages? It’s always the same thing. I do my thing and everything seems fine until it isn’t. It’s like all of a sudden they were through with me, and I never saw it coming. Can you believe that?”

Gary didn’t say anything. He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. His resolve was firm, but his irritation was beginning to dissipate.

“Now, I guess it’s happening again. Strike three, right?”

Gary gently squeezed her shoulder. “I think we need to spend some time apart. We both need time to think, you know, figure out what we want or need at this stage of our lives.”

She nodded. “I thought we decided we needed each other. Isn’t that why we got married?”

“I could say people change, but that isn’t true. We don’t, not really. We reveal a part of ourselves that we kept hidden or maybe it was always there, but love does a masterful job of blinding us.”

“So, when you say we need time apart, are you really just trying to soften the blow? I’ll hear from your lawyer. Is that it?”

“You’re way ahead of me Donna. I was just thinking I’d go to Florida for a couple of weeks, play some tennis and do some thinking.”

“While I wait here for you to decide what you want?”

“No, you need to think about what you want too. When I get home we’ll talk.”

“I want you,” she whispered.

Gary picked up the duffel bag and started packing again, putting more thought into what he might actually need for a couple of weeks.

“You’re actually going through with this?”

He glanced at her. “I’m just as surprised as you are. Something snapped. Maybe it was when you tried to define unique for me.” He walked into their closet and grabbed a carry all bag to hold some ironed shirts and slacks. “It’s funny how we manage to overlook so many things, mostly I think it’s because we tell ourselves that nobody’s perfect. That there’s more good than bad, whatever.”

“Suddenly you’re a philosopher, I see. I never noticed that before.”

He looked at her, shaking his head, but didn’t offer a response.

That surprised her. She reached for an overnight bag. “I’m going to Maryland. If you’re still interested when you complete your sojourn, you know where to find me.”

Greg sat at the bar in a French bistro in Stuart, Florida. He had been in the Sunshine State for nine days. He ordered an old-fashioned and thought about his future. The idea of starting over, as if he could wipe the slate clean and reimagine his life, wasn’t a realistic option for him. For one thing, while he was comfortable financially, he wasn’t wealthy. He’d spent most of his life selling real estate. Donna spent many years working in management for the Opryland Hotel They both had some very good years, and he’d been wise enough to put money away when he was flush. Donna wasn’t a saver, but she put enough money into her 401k to enter their marriage on nearly an equal footing.    

The home he and Donna owned in Nashville was worth double what they paid for it four years ago. Still, they had a mortgage and if he and Donna divorced, by the time the dust settled, they would both need their Social Security checks to supplement any investment income they each had. The bottom line was, they were in great shape together but apart, in good shape at best.

It irritated him a little that money was an important factor in deciding what to do. Still, he had to admit he loved his wife and despite her self-centered ways, he was sure the feeling was mutual. She had called him a few times. He let her leave messages, which he checked as soon as his phone let him know he had a voice mail. She was fine, which was, after all, what he really wanted to know. She didn’t press him to come home or ask him what he was thinking. She stuck with newsy things like how delightful the late spring weather was in Ocean City. How her sister Glenda had lots of opinions about what she, Donna, should do next. She missed him, she said.

He and Donna met six months before he retired. He helped her sell her house, the one she lived in with her second husband, Myles. He asked her out after the closing. They had become aware of their mutual attraction quickly, probably on the day they met. He’d refrained from hitting on her, having learned years ago the value of keeping things businesslike. Gary had been married one other time to Melanie, an ICU nurse he met on a blind date. Their marriage lasted seventeen years until she succumbed to an emergency room physician five years her junior. They had one child together, Clare, who became a nurse too.

He finished his old-fashioned and ordered another one. That was his limit. He also ordered dinner. A woman sat down next to him. He’d seen her sitting at the other end of the bar the last time he ate at the bistro. She was younger, early 40s maybe and very attractive. She was well dressed in a Florida native way. Her sun-streaked hair and a serious countenance made her seem mysterious.

“Hello,” he said, “I’m Gary.”

“Hi Gary.” Since she didn’t offer her name, Gary turned to his drink and picked up one of the chef’s delicious French rolls. He sat quietly, trying again to think about what he should do with his life. He was considering giving Donna a call when the woman sat next to him. He heard her order her drink, a grasshopper, an unusual choice, he thought.

When her drink arrived, she turned to Gary and said, “Cheers!”

Gary raised his glass and touched hers. “Cheers.” He took a sip and added, “What’s your name?”

“Oh! I guess I didn’t tell you. It’s Mary Lynn, but my friends call me Daisy.”

They had a conversation then. It turned out that Dasy was a native of Utah, who recently relocated to Stuart by way of Las Vegas.

“What did you do in Vegas?” Gary asked.

“I was a dancer in one of the shows in a hotel on the old Vegas strip. Not exactly the big time, but I did alright.” She ordered steak frites. “What do you do?”

Gary was wearing a polo shirt and khakis. He was still wearing his reading glasses, which suddenly made him feel self-conscious. He removed them. “I retired recently. I’m here to scout retirement living options.” For just a moment he was tempted to lie about being retired, but the though shamed him. He had never shied away from his age.

“I like to play a little game when I dine out alone,” Daisy said, her smile showing off her shiny white teeth.

Gary laughed. He took a closer look at her now. She was indeed, somewhere in her forties, and there was no evidence of plastic surgery on her face or body. She had a natural look, the kind some women grow into as they age. He found her very attractive. “A game?”

“Sort of. I like to see if I can meet a nice man who over the course of dinner decides he will pick up my check without any expectations.”

Again, he laughed. “Really? How has that been working out for you?”

“Pretty well, I’d say. Let me put it this way, I haven’t had to pay for dinner once in this bistro.”

“The pressure! I could break your winning streak.”

She touched his hand. “Do you plan to do that?” She asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. “This may surprise you. In fact, I’m sure it will. I play the same game.”

She laughed a surprisingly hearty laugh for a petite, demure woman. “How has that been working out for you?”

“I don’t know yet. You’re my first candidate. Are you leaning toward picking up my check, Daisy?”

The bartender was standing there holding Daisy’s dinner plate. He had overheard their banter. While he was placing the steak frites in front of Daisy, he gave Gary a look that seemed to be aimed at warning him off. “How’s your dinner, sir? I notice you barely touched your Ratatouille.”

“It’s fine, thank you.” Gary took a bite.

Again, the bartender gave him a look. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Gary turned to face Daisy. “Where were we?” he asked.

“I think Woody was trying to tell you that I’m a sex worker.”

“How would he know that?”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t, but he suspects it.”

Gary suddenly wished he still smoked, a habit he quit twenty years ago. “Okay, Mary Lynn, are you a sex worker?”

“It’s Daisy, please. Not tonight. But if you keep my dinner streak going, I’ll spend the night with you, no charge. I like you. You’re not like most men. You actually listen and you haven’t tried to impress me even a little bit.”

“Well, I’m impressed,” Gary said. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll buy your dinner and in exchange you will give me your thoughts on my screwed-up marriage.” He paused for a moment. “I could use some advice.”

“It’s a deal, but I should warn you. I’ve never been married.”

“You’re a woman. That’s good enough.” He almost said she was an experienced woman, but he thought better of it.

Donna was packed and ready to go home. Her sister, Glenda, wanted her to stay, but Donna missed sleeping in her own bed and going to her morning workouts. “Maybe Gary will surprise you. Come up here, checkbook in hand,” Glenda said.

But Donna had already come to the conclusion that Gary wasn’t going to show up in Ocean City with a plan.

“You know, the guy loves you,” her sister said on the way to the airport. “I know it’s not your style but you’re going to have to bend a little.”

“He walked out on me, Glenda. It will be nine days tomorrow. What can I do about it?”

“Why not go to Florida? I’ll bet as soon as he sees you, your problems will be solved.” They pulled up to the departure area. Donna opened the door and said, “If I go to him he’ll feel like he has the upper hand. You know what happens when men think they have the upper hand, don’t you?”

Glenda smiled. “I think I do. They bend over backwards to give you what you want.” The sisters laughed.

Donna quickly got settled in at home. She scheduled an appointment to get her hair done, and arranged for the housekeeper to clean the house. She went through the mail that had piled up. She made a cup of chamomile tea and sat in her sunroom, thinking about Gary and what she should do. Maybe her sister had a point. She could fly down to Florida and surprise her husband. But she also felt he overreacted when he decided to leave simply because they couldn’t agree on where to buy a second home. They could have found a compromise. Then again, maybe it wasn’t about the home’s location. Was there something about their marriage that was troubling him? Had he used their argument as an excuse to get away from her?

She blew on her tea to cool it off a bit. She loved him, of course. She’d married him because he was kind and gentle with her. He always saw to her satisfaction when they made love. He was generous with his money despite the fact that he wasn’t so well off that money was irrelevant to his decision making. That alone made him a good catch. She had known men, including her two previous husbands, who kept score when it came to spending. Not Gary. When he gave her a gift, Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries, he was never a cheapskate. That made his gifts all the more precious in her eyes.

She had called him again as soon as she got home. Like the other calls she made, it went to voice mail. Was the man really through with her? Did he want a divorce?

She was wise enough to know that having things her way was her nature. It’s not like she wasn’t aware of who she was. Changing was unlikely. If she had worn him out, like she had the others, so be it. Maybe living life alone, on her terms, was what she needed. Of course, her sister couldn’t help but point out that she always lived life on her terms, with or without a partner.  Weren’t there compensations though that benefited the men in her life? Certainly, but apparently not enough to keep them in the fold.

She decided to call Myles. They had remained friendly once the dust settled on their divorce. She put her teacup down, sat up straight on her wicker chair and called him. 

“What’s up, Donna Bwana?”

“I’m not sure. Gary may be leaving me.”

“Oh boy. I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said. “Well, I didn’t think it would be this soon, anyway. Did you push him too hard?”

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” She sipped more tea and contemplated just hanging up.

“Sorry, maybe you need some company?”

“Not the kind you’re suggesting Mister.”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“Your tone of voice. As hard as I’ve tried, I haven’t forgotten everything about your ways.”

Myles took a deep breath. Whether they ran into each other at the grocery store or spoke over the phone, it never took long for him to remember why they weren’t married anymore. She could be the most captivating woman on earth when she wanted to be. In their early years together, that word, captivating, described her well. Eventually, though, the harsh side of her surfaced. She could be very cutting at times. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been aware of that quality in her; it was just that as the years went by, that side of her began to become her predominate mood. “Listen Donna Bwana, I just got to the Gas Station. Why don’t you join me for lunch? They still have that fantastic club sandwich you like so much.”

The Gas Station was at one time an actual gas station. It had been expertly overhauled into a diner. “Half sandwich, Myles. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Gary and Daisy wound up at a place called the Library. They served good food and their drinks were considered top notch. They found a small table in the bar where the lighting was low. They both ordered Cokes and got down to business. Gary explained his situation, making it clear that while he loved Donna, he wasn’t sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with a woman who was never happy unless they were doing what she wanted.

“Frankly, it’s exhausting. Gratitude when I accede to her wishes is fleeting. She can really be acerbic at times. But then she can also be the greatest companion I could possibly imagine. When she’s in that mode, I’m a happy guy.”

Daisy looked around the bar. It was nearly deserted. She pulled what looked like a compact from her purse, opened it and narrowly spread two rows of white powder on the table, which she quickly sniffed into each nostril. “Sorry, it helps me to think clearly.”

“Put it away. If you do it again, I’m leaving.”

“Got it. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.” She returned the compact to her purse. “So, have you ever told Donna what you just said to me?”

“More or less, I have, yeah,” Gary said.

“I’ll bet it was less. Am I right?”

“Gary shrugged. “Probably.”

“Do you think she knows how much it bothers you when she’s, how did you say it, acerbic?”

“It means sarcastic, biting.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “I know what it means. I went to college. I have a degree in English.”

Gary smiled and nodded. “I apologize. I think so. I’m not sure she can help herself.”

“Do you think she really loves you?” Daisy spread her palms outward.

“I do. When she behaves badly she usually apologizes, sincerely, the next day. Of course, she kind of excuses her behavior. She says, ‘You know how I am.’’’

“I see. What about your behavior? Are you like St. Francis de Sales, full of kindness and patience?” The server was walking by. She stopped her and handed the woman her Coke. “Please put some rum in this.” She turned back to Gary. “I hope that didn’t sound sarcastic. I’ve only known you for about 90 minutes. You might really be a saint, considering that we aren’t in your hotel room.”

“I didn’t think you were being sarcastic. It’s true, I am a patient man. That might be my number one fault. But if I’m pushed too far, I can be very disagreeable.”

“Have you ever been very disagreeable with Donna?

“Yes, but not often.” Gary removed his glasses from his pocket. He cleaned the lenses, a nervous habit he had.

“How did she react?”

“I guess you could say she melts down. There are tears and she becomes inconsolable,” Gary said.

The server returned with the rum and Coke. She asked Gary if he needed his drink to be refreshed. He declined. Daisy excused herself and headed to the restroom. When she returned it was apparent that she’d freshened up her lipstick and applied a bit of makeup as well.

“Have you considered the possibility that your wife may be suffering from a mental disorder?” She asked.

“Mental disorder? Such as?”

“Oh no. Not going there my friend. I hate the fact that people think a Google search is the equivalent of a medical or law degree.”

He laughed. “It is a thing isn’t it? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health,” he said.

“Didn’t you tell me you were divorced once?”

“I was. My first wife’s idea.” He was about to tell her about the ER doctor, but he decided such accuracy wasn’t necessary. “She found her tennis pro irresistible.” He toyed with his cocktail napkin for a moment. “Regardless, I take my vows seriously.”

“I’ve noticed. You never strayed?” Daisy asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Gary didn’t take the bait. “It has occurred to me that there might be a mental health issue, but I suspect we all have one. Respectfully, is it possible you have a disorder?”

“We’re not here for my benefit. Let’s get back to you. Aside from being disagreeable at times, do you have any other faults?” She asked.

“Well, Daisy, I’m sure I do. I’ve been told I’m too analytical.”

“Are you?”

“That’s a great question. Most of us don’t recognize our faults. I would say no, but enough people have told me I am, so it’s probably true.”

“How does that affect your relationship?” Daisy asked.

“Wow, I’m beginning to think you’ve done some counseling before.”

“Ha! I minored in psychology and in my line of work, I’ve listened to a lot of she done me wrong stories.” She lowered her head, sensitive to the look he was giving her. It wasn’t judgment, unless maybe it was. She wasn’t sure.

“What I do know is that when she wants something I think is crazy, I tend to go down a path where I analyze her request and point out its shortcomings in detail. Her wanting to buy a home in Maryland, for example. It’s a highly taxed state and the cost of living is high in general.”

“Were those the only reasons you didn’t want to buy in Maryland?”

Gary lowered his head. “No.”

“Did you tell her why you don’t want to do it, aside from the cost?”

He let out a louder  groan than he intended. “I don’t like her family. Know it all types, every one of them.”

“Maybe you should consider a different approach. Aside from turning me down tonight, you don’t strike me as much of a challenge, if you know what I mean. Don’t be so predictably nice. Give her something to think about now and then.”

“You think so?” Gary asked.

“Yes. Anyway, it’s getting late,” Daisy said. “For what it’s worth, I think you should go home and talk to her. Try being maddeningly truthful but not angry at the same time, you know?” She stood up and took a step toward him, kissing his cheek. “You obviously still have feelings for her.”  

“Where do you live?” he asked.  

“I’m renting a studio nearby. Would you like to see it?” She touched his hand.

“You’d be sorry if we got together. I’m pretty sure I’d lose my composure right in the middle of things.”

“You wouldn’t be the first.” She kissed his cheek again. “Go home Gary. If it doesn’t work, I’ll still be here.”

Myles was waiting for Donna at a table near a faux gas pump that actually allowed customers to pour a variety of soft drinks from a realistic looking hose. “Hi, you look pretty good for a damsel in distress,” Myles said.

“I only wish I felt so good. Did you order my sandwich?”

“Not yet. You might change your mind. Their avocado burger is supposed to be the bomb.”

Donna stifled a laugh. Myles tried hard to sound like a much younger man. The problem was he was always way behind the trends of the day, in this case, “the bomb” at least thirty years late. His appearance had changed a lot over the years. He sported a twenty-four-inch beach ball of a belly these days. He desperately needed dental work too. A hideous combover completed the picture.

When they met, she found him intoxicating. First of all, he was still a good-looking man with a full head of dirty blonde hair. He had a good sense of humor, and he was well to do. She was also struggling financially at the time, so all the pieces fell into place. She would discover later that he was tight with his money. Seven months after they met, they were married. The crazy thing was that the marriage worked well for almost five years. They had a child together, Brady, which helped. Ultimately, her demands wore him out.

Donna ordered the half-club sandwich and a diet Coke. Myles wanted a cheese burger with onions and extra pickles. “I don’t know what to do Myles. What if he’s really done with me?”

“I doubt that, Donna,” Myles said. “For one thing he’s now in a season in life that, let’s say is late in the game.” He paused. “I’m guessing he doesn’t have enough squirrel nuts saved to go it alone. Am I right?”

“Not exactly. We could both survive if we divorce, but it would probably be touch and go for both of us. Maybe not now, but ten years from now, maybe less.” Donna picked up her diet Coke and drank half of it.

“Stupid question, considering who I’m talking to, but do you love the guy?”

Donna let the snide remark pass. “I really do. You know I loved you once, too.”

“You had a funny way of showing it.” As he said this, Myles patted her hand as if to say she was forgiven.

Their food arrived and they ate in silence for a while. “What was it about me that you found so impossible to live with, Myles? I really want to know. I’m drowning here.”

Myles took another healthy bite of his burger and chewed it slowly. Donna watched him and remembered how that annoyed her. She silently counted one day as he ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. With every bite he chewed his food exactly 25 times. “The way you’re looking at me now. I’m doing something that displeases you. But if I asked, you would always deny it.”

“Would you like me to tell you now?”

“Well, that’s another thing you do. There is an edge to your voice. You want me to say yes because you take pleasure in putting me down,” Myles said.

“I see. Why then did you stay so long? Thirteen years. Was it for Brady?”

“Sure, that was one reason. But there was another side to you. I mean you could be more fun than a week at Disney World when you wanted to be. In the early years, you could go months without getting nasty. You might have a day here and there when you just weren’t the girl I married, but it wasn’t too bad. Later, though, I saw the anger, the silent treatments, the way you became so unreasonable if I said no to something you wanted. I don’t know, it just became too much. I didn’t think it was good for Brady to live in a household where his parents were constantly sniping at each other.” 

“It feels like we’ve had this conversation before,” Donna said.

“We have, Donna Bwana, more than once.” Myles took another bite of his burger. He fiddled with his napkin and studied the juke box play list that sat on their table. When he was ready, he asked, “Are you looking for advice or do you just need to blow off a little steam?”

She told him that she hadn’t heard from Gary since he left, despite her calling him a few times. Then she told him about the argument she had with Gary about buying a second home, how Ocean City, Maryland, made much better sense than buying something in Stuart, Florida. “We were doing pretty well before the fight, actually. I don’t know why a simple disagreement triggered such a strong reaction.”

“Why Stuart?”

“He found a tennis community there. He loves the game and he’s good at it.”

Myles smiled, already knowing the answer to his next question. “Do you play?’

“I tried the game a couple of times. It seemed pointless to just hit a ball back and forth over a net until somebody misses.”

“You want my advice?”

“I must sound desperate, asking my ex-husband for marital advice. Buy you know me better than anybody. What do you think I should do?”

“Give him a little more time. If you don’t hear from him, call him again and tell him you’re coming to Florida to talk and to look at the place he wants to buy. For what it’s worth, you should consider couples therapy too. What you have is worth fighting for.” He took his last bite of burger and chewed it 25 times. “We’re not so young anymore.”

“You think so? Therapy didn’t work for us.”

Myles took Donna’s hands. “It’s true, our relationship failed, but this is about your life now. Aren’t you willing to try to make some changes?”

Donna gently pulled her hands away and placed them on her lap. “I guess I don’t have a choice.”

Gary got to his room and fell onto his bed. He fell asleep quickly, but he woke up just before one in the morning. He spent the rest of the night lying on his back and thinking about what Daisy had said. He wondered if he would ever see her again. Not likely, he thought, but just before they parted company she handed him a slip of paper with her contact information. He stuck it in his wallet. As crazy as her own life seemed to be, Daisy’s suggestion about his life made sense. He was ready to go home to face Donna and his future, with or without her.

As soon as the morning light peeked through his hotel room window, he got up. It was just after  six a.m. He shaved, showered and dressed, went to the lobby with his suitcases and checked out of the hotel. He bought a bran muffin and a cup of coffee and was on the road by 7:30, steering his gray Tahoe toward the Interstate. He was going home. He waited until nine o’clock before he called Donna. When she didn’t answer he left a message. He was coming home. He would arrive in time for a late dinner. They had a lot to talk about.

She slept in that morning and didn’t hear her phone ring. She’d been thinking seriously about booking a flight for the next day, but when she listened to Gary’s message she felt a school girl’s excitement. She quickly scheduled two salon appointments for later that morning, one to get her hair cut and the other to have her nails done.

Just as she sat in her chair, her phone rang. “Whoever that is I’ll get it when we’re finished,” Donna said to the stylist

“Good idea. This won’t take long.” An hour later, she was done. The beautician, who became aware of Donna’s marital situation while she styled her hair was very pleased. “It’s a bit of a new look for you. Your husband will be intrigued.”

“I am not sure about that, but I want to create the impression right off that we can make a fresh start.” She checked herself in the mirror. “It does look good, doesn’t it?”

The customer in the next chair chimed in. “You look fabulous. Ten years younger than when you walked in.” Donna ignored the remark. She wasn’t thrilled by the other woman’s comment.

She paid the stylist and walked to her car. She started it and then decided to check her message. It was from the Valdosta, Georgia Police Department. She thought, “What in the world. I don’t know anyone in Valdosta, do I?” But she knew. Instinctively she knew there was a problem.

The message was terse. “Hello, this is Sergeant Alan Browne from the Valdosta, Georgia Police Department. Mrs. Roberts I’m afraid your husband, Gary, has been in a serious automobile accident. He is in surgery now at SGMC, the hospital’s main campus in Valdosta. Please give me a call as soon as you receive this message.”

She couldn’t breathe. She dropped the phone trying to hit the return call number. When she got through, she explained who she was and asked, “Is my husband going to be all right?”

“We don’t have any details, Mrs. Roberts, other than what I told you in the message I left. As far as we know, his injuries were serious. He was in and out of consciousness at the scene of the accident. I can tell you he is in good hands.”

“What should I do?”

“Are you in Nashville?”

“I am.”

“Well, that’s about a seven-hour drive, Ma’am, but probably the fastest way you can get here. Even if you could fly to Atlanta you would still have about a three-and-a-half-hour ride to Valdosta,” Sergeant Gates said. “However, I would strongly advise you to get someone to drive you if at all possible.”

Donna hung up, in shock, tears running down her face. She had to think, but her mind was blank. Where did Gary’s daughter live? Houston? No, not Houston. She was in Boston now. She started driving home. She called Clare and told her that her father was in the hospital. “Maybe you should get to Valdosta right away.”

She was thinking clearly now. As soon as she got home she packed a bag, loaded it into her car and went to the gas station to fill her blue Hyundai’s tank. She considered calling Myles but thought better of it. He would offer to drive her to the hospital. That, she knew, wouldn’t work.  

Donna, usually a cautious driver, drove as fast as she could, arriving in Valdosta just before 8 p.m. She had not received any calls from the hospital staff, which concerned her. She had received a text from Clare letting her know she would fly to Atlanta and rent a car for the drive to Valdosta.    

She walked quickly to the facility’s reception area and learned that Gary was in the intensive care unit. He was alive so that was something. She arrived and was greeted immediately by the head ICU nurse.

“Are you Donna Roberts?”

“Yes,” Donna said, her green eyes pleading.

“My name is Stephanie Janson. The good news is your husband is very likely to survive the accident. I want to assure you of that. However, the extent of his injuries wasn’t minor. He suffered what appears to be a concussion and a ruptured spleen as well as several rib fractures. We expect to be able to move him to a regular med-surg room either tomorrow or the day after that, as long as he continues to improve.” Donna was crying softly. The nurse gave her a quick hug. “Do you have any questions Mrs. Roberts?”

Donna listened intently to the nurse’s words, but she struggled to grasp the implications. How serious was his concussion? “I don’t know much about concussions, but when you say serious, what exactly does that mean?”

“Well, there doesn’t appear to have been any bleeding. Your husband has been in and out of consciousness, but that is probably the result of having undergone surgery to repair his spleen. We won’t know for certain the extent of the problem for a little while. We will need to see how responsive he is in the morning.”

The nurse led Donna to his bedside. She was shocked by how much swelling and bruising there was on her husband’s face. He was receiving supplemental oxygen and, of course, they were monitoring his vital signs. Donna bent toward him and kissed his hand.

“I’ll leave you with him for a few minutes, but not too long. It’s okay to talk to him. Let him know you’re here. Speak softly, though.”

Donna sat beside Gary’s bed, exhausted from worry and the long road trip. She was relieved though, that Gary’s condition sounded promising, at least cautiously so. She looked at her husband for any sign of movement, hoping that against all odds, he would open his eyes and reach out to her. Certainly, they had problems to work through. Just let him recover completely, she thought. 

It was time to leave. It suddenly occurred to her that she had not reserved a hotel room. She called Clare and gave her an update about her father. Clare didn’t say much. She listened, taking the information in. As a nurse, she realized that there are times when it is possible to know too much. This was one of those times.

Her relationship with her father had been strained during her teens and well into her twenties. But as her thirties approached she began to appreciate her father more. Then, when she was 32, she went through a divorce. Her ex-husband moved to Paris to learn painting, leaving her alone with a five-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. Gary had been, and remained, very supportive, more than her mother. When Donna suggested they share a hotel room, making it clear that she would pick up the tab, Clare was grateful.

The next morning Donna got to the ICU unit before 8 a.m. She was met by the neurosurgeon who was managing Gary’s case. The general surgeon had been in to see Gary earlier and was satisfied that Gary was doing well, at least in terms of his surgery.

“Mrs. Roberts, I’m Doctor Lapinski. Your husband was awake earlier. While I wouldn’t say he was alert, he showed signs that I consider encouraging. He spoke and he understood he is in the hospital. He has no memory of the accident, but that is not uncommon at this stage of his recovery.”

Donna listened attentively and asked about her husband’s prognosis, but the doctor told her it was too soon to tell. When the doctor left, she sat beside Gary’s bed and tried talking to him, letting him know that Clare was on her way, that they were in Valdosta and he was getting excellent care. She also said, “I need you, Baby. I love you and I would be lost without you. Please know that I’m sorry for so many things. I’ll make it up to you. Just get better and you’ll see.” Whether he could hear what she was saying while he slept or make sense of it, she didn’t know.

Clare arrived at 1:30 that afternoon. She spent time talking with Stephanie Janson who gladly extended professional courtesy to Clare, knowing she too was an ICU nurse. It was certainly easier than it was in many cases when the patient’s condition was much more precarious. She was happy that she could offer an optimistic assessment.

Two weeks later, Gary was discharged from the hospital. He was feeling better. His concussion wasn’t as serious as the doctors first thought it was and he was healing nicely from his surgery. Naturally, his ribs were still taped and painful, but progress had been made. Clare had been able to stay for four days, which was just enough time for her to see that her father was likely to make a full recovery. He was delighted to see her and coherent enough to insist she get home to be with her children and return to work. Donna assured her that she would schedule home health care for as long as her father needed it. The two women got along better than they had every done, thanks to the crisis.

During his hospital stay, Donna made an appointment to meet with the highway patrol officer, Janice Wronko, who had handled the accident scene. She told Donna that the weather had been foggy, which caused a pileup. “Your husband was caught in the middle of it. He was hit from behind and thrust into the car in front of him,” trooper Wronko said. “There were several deaths. Two due to a fire and one as a result of high-speed impact. It’s a miracle there weren’t more. Mr. Roberts was very lucky he was driving that Tahoe. Had he been in a smaller vehicle, I doubt that we would be having this conversation.” Of course, their car was totaled.

Finally, back together under one roof, Gary and Donna were tender with each other. She surprised herself, demonstrating patience and a sincere desire to see her husband through his crisis. Over the next six weeks, he made rapid strides toward full recovery. They even shopped for a new car, purchasing another Tahoe.

However, Donna had been harboring a secret. She was struggling with whether to say anything. And if she did, when would be the appropriate time? While Gary was still hospitalized, the nurses gave her his personal belongings for safe keeping. One night, sitting in her hotel room, wishing they could go home, she went through his belongings.

She was thinking that she needed to get more cash. She had taken very little with her when she rushed to Valdosta. When she noticed his wallet, it occurred to her that rather than go to an ATM machine, perhaps Gary had been carrying some cash. In fact, he had always believed in carrying more than was necessary. She felt that it stemmed from his childhood, because his parents always struggled financially. Sure enough, he had six hundred dollars. But she also found a hand written note that said, If you change your mind my offer still stands, but don’t wait too long it has an expiration date, handsome. It was signed, yours, Daisy. (Mary Lynn.) There was a phone number with a Las Vegas area code and a carefully drawn heart next to it.

Obviously, her husband was in no condition to discuss the meaning of the message while he was in the hospital. His memory was recovering, but it was coming along slowly. Now, though, home for a full six weeks, she felt the time was right. The night before he suggested trying intimacy. She told him, “Your ribs need a little more time to recover, Mister.”

But in truth, she wasn’t going to do that until he explained the meaning of that note. The mere thought of him playing around turned her stomach. In fact, she had to will herself not to think about it while he was recovering. She had been completely faithful to him and she always trusted him.

“Gary, there is something we have to discuss.” She sat on the couch next to him. He was watching a tennis match on the Tennis Channel.

“Sounds serious,” he said. “Should I turn the TV off?”

“Yes.” She picked up the remote and punched the power button.

That surprised him. “What’s up?” Although they hadn’t spoken about it since the accident, he suspected she was about to introduce the topic of a second home again. Did her tone suggest Maryland wasn’t off the table? In the many quiet hours he spent resting, he realized he had been dismissive about her idea. He would listen closely this time. But that wasn’t the topic Donna had in mind.

Donna pulled Daisy’s note from her pocket. “Can you explain this?”

Gary read the note. Twice. “It looks like a note. Somebody named Daisy wants to do business with someone. Where did you find it?”

“In your wallet. Who is Daisy?” She was fighting back tears.

Gary read the note again. “I’m sorry, Donna. There’s something familiar about it, but I’m having trouble putting it together. I don’t know anyone named Daisy, do you?”

She looked at him, a mixture of uncertainty and suspicion on her face. “Were you seeing someone when you were in Florida? Maybe someone you met on the tennis court? At a bar?”

“I don’t recognize the writing. It can’t be from someone I knew for very long.”

“Is it possible you got together with someone and don’t remember it? Maybe we should call this Daisy and get to the bottom of it. It’s driving me crazy, Baby.”

Gary thought about that while he fingered the paper. He was confident that he would not have been with another woman while he was away, because he had never done something like that in either of his marriages. Since he got home, he felt that Donna had, perhaps, come to understand that their marriage would not survive unless they made some changes. He realized now that they both had room for improvement. Was she prepared to meet him half-way? He had noticed that since the accident, she had not even once said anything sarcastic to him. If this had happened before the accident, he was sure she would have accused him outright of having a dalliance. She would have made cutting remarks. Instead, she was approaching this situation in a reasonable manner.

“He handed her his cell phone. “Make the call,” he said. “Put it on speaker, ok?”

Daisy picked up on the third ring. “Hello stranger it’s been a while. I thought you forgot me.”

“Daisy, this is Donna Roberts. I’m Gary’s husband. He was in a terrible accident. He suffered a pretty serious concussion, which has affected his memory. He’s sitting here with me. I found your note in his wallet. He doesn’t remember you. I need to know what went on between you two.”

Daisy laughed. “My God!” She laughed again. “So, he didn’t tell you anything about me?”

“He says he doesn’t remember you. Are you in Las Vegas?” Donna asked, her voice still calm, but her insides shaking.

“I’m in Stuart, Florida, Donna. That’s where I met Gary. He bought me dinner. Your husband is very charming, but I’m sure you know that.” Daisy took a breath. The surprise of receiving such a call had settled a bit. “I want you to know he was a perfect gentleman, despite that fact that I was not exactly lady like.” 

“What does that mean?”

“I’m a business woman. I suppose you found the note I gave him when we said goodnight. If remember it right, I think I said something about giving him a freebee.” She laughed again. “I can assure you that he turned my offer down. Want to know what we talked about?”

Donna looked at Gary. He shrugged. “If you want to tell me.”

“You. The man loves you. I told him to go home and try to work things out. You didn’t ask, but in my extensive experience, I can say without a doubt that your husband is a rare breed.” She took a breath. “If I every write a book, this little moment will definitely be on page one.”

“One last question, if you don’t mind,” Donna noticed that Gary was smiling. Was it relief or was he feeling validated?

“Shoot, sister.” Daisy said.

“How did you meet and how many times did you meet?”

“Well, that’s two questions, but we met at the bar of a French bistro, and it was one time.”

“Thank you. Sorry to have bothered you.”

“No problem. This was a riot! May I say something to Gary?”

She looked at her husband. “Sure, why not?”

“Hi Gary. I’m sorry you don’t remember me. And I’m sorry about your accident. I hope you get better soon. If you and your wife ever visit the Stuart area, well. Never mind about that. Take care of yourself, my friend.”    

“Hello Daisy. Thank you. I’m sorry I don’t remember you.”

The couple sat quietly for a while, not sure what to say. Gary felt vindicated, but Donna wasn’t quite satisfied.

“You really don’t remember her?”

Gary shook his head. “No.”

“She certainly sounds lively,” Donna said, “Full of life,” right?”

“I don’t know. It’s like you’re describing someone I never met,”

“Would you like to meet her?”

Gary turned the TV on. The match was over. “What I’d like is for you to believe what she said about me is true. I love you.”

She hugged him tight. “I do.” They kissed. “Do you want to keep that note?”

Gary looked at Donna and grinned. He handed the note to his wife. “I don’t need it. I memorized her number already.”