Chapter 1

The Neighbor

"Finally" I said to my reflection in the pick up mirror as I pulled out of my office parking lot. After a week of Monday's, mercifully, it was 5:00 Friday. I intended to spend the weekend lazing about my little abode.

"Max, you have two glorious days to catch up on your reading, watch a movie or two, fix yourself something decadent yet delicious to eat, drink a few beers, and do whatever you want!"

The mirror stared back at me and reminded me, "You also have laundry to do, and food shopping, and you better scrub out the tub and wash and vacuum the floors."

I sighed at my reflection then grinned ruefully,

"Yeah, yeah ... I know, another weekend alone, with no one to spend time with, and plenty of chores to keep me from thinking too much about it."

I decided I had better stop talking to my reflection and pay attention to driving the five miles from my office to the complex I lived in. I lived in Pine Wood Estates, an upscale complex of condo-style, one story apartments ... at least that was how it was advertised when I checked it out a month after Bobbi insisted that I get my ass out of the home we had shared for 30 years. So, in a state of shock, I left and moved in with my brother for a couple of weeks, stayed drunk, and quit my job. When I sobered up, I realized I needed to reinvent myself. It wasn't going to be easy, but I figured I needed to begin a whole new life, somewhere else, or the pain was going to eat me up. I couldn't bear the thought of the wagging tongues, and the looks of pity from family and friends as I stumbled through the separation and divorce in the little town where I was born, and where I lived with Bobbi. We have three adult children who were trying to stay neutral in this ugly situation, and I didn't want them to suffer through this with me.

So, I hit the phones and called people in my business network, and discovered an opportunity in Bangor. Bangor is the largest city in Maine after Portland. It is the business center for the central and northern part of the state, and it is an hours drive from the little town I lived in. MasterClean, a national commercial janitorial company, with over 200 franchises nation-wide, one of which was located in Bangor, was seeking an individual with a strong management background. The following day, with an interview granted, I made the drive to their office, talked to the owner for over three hours, was offered the job on the spot, and I accepted.

I found a cheap motel to stay in and started my new career the next day. That weekend, with nothing else to do, feeling lonely and lost, I drove around the city and familiarized myself. I happened across a real estate guide while eating lunch at a diner, and found an add for Pine Wood Estates, "Upscale living at affordable prices!" The pictures of the complex look nice, so after I paid my tab, I decided to check this place out. Pine Wood was actually located in the next city over, Brewer, but only five miles from my office. A straight shot over I-395, which was very convenient. I pulled into the complex, located off a little residential street, and parked in the lot at the end of the Cul de' Sac. The place reminded me of a motel as it was two dead end streets, one running north and south, and intersecting at 90 degrees, with the other, that ran east and west. There were connecting rows of one story, single bedroom apartments on each side of the two streets, I located the office, went in and smiled at the middle aged bottle blond sitting at a desk watching a little portable TV perched on the counter.

"Good afternoon, my name is Max Libby. I stopped by to inquire about the apartments you are advertising."

Blondie reluctantly pried her eyes from the tear-jerker she was enamored with, and said,

"We have five apartments vacant right now, and three of those are ready to be occupied. Two are on Pine Cone Way, the street you came in on, the other is on Ponderosa Place- this street the office is on."

She stood and walked to the counter, grabbed a map off the stack of photo-copies sitting on the end of the counter, and circled the three apartments that were available. Her eyes darted back to the movie, so I asked,

"If I could get a key, I could take a look at them, to see if they will meet my needs. I promise I wont be more than 10 minutes or so, and I'll come right back with the key."

Her eyes flickered from the TV to me, debating whether she should accompany me with the key, or if she could stay and watch her movie while I toured the apartments.

"All the apartments are essentially alike ... you see one, you've seen 'em all." She grinned at me and held out the key.

I smiled at her innuendo and promised I be back in just a few minutes. Looking at the map, I walked back towards my truck on Pine Cone Way, as the apartment I wanted to see, apartment #12, was at the end of the row.

I figured it would be to my advantage to have only one common wall, instead of being in the middle of the row. Also, the laundry facility was only three doors down. Another plus. Additionally, the parking lot was directly across from #12. The apartments were cedar shingled, stained a light blue/gray, with large vinyl tip in windows, with manicured hedges and lawns. An asphalt sidewalk separated the edge of the lawns from the street, all in all very neat and well kept buildings. I slid the key in and turned the knob, walking into a ceramic tiled entry and dining area. To the right was a small carpeted living room with double windows, behind the dining area was a door leading to the small galley kitchen, complete with micro-wave, gas stove, large fridge, and automatic dishwasher. Adequate cupboard/counter space, double stainless steel sink, along with a small closet/pantry, and a door that led to the carpeted bedroom, essentially the same size as the living room, again with double windows and a large triple door closet for clothes and storage. There was a small bathroom off the bedroom with ceramic tile flooring, and the tub and toilet were sparkling white and clean.

I liked it. This would do ... my own little place. It dawned on me that I had never actually lived alone before. Went from living with the 'rents to living with, then marrying, Bobbi. I felt a lifting of spirits, a new job, a new city, a new home, a new life ... an adventure!

Grinning, I locked up and walked back to the office. I went over the terms of the lease with Blondie, everything except electricity and cable was included in the lease ... nice! Water, sewer, heat, trash, snow removal(to my door!), mowing of the grass, maintenance of the grounds and my apartment ... the whole nine yards... $650 a month. Blondie looked over my application, accepted my check for first month and security, and said,

"Monday, I will run a background check and call your references, if everything checks out you can move in immediately."

She smiled and held out her hand. I smiled back and shook the proffered hand, and said.

"I'll give you a call Monday afternoon, OK?"

Monday night I slept on the floor in a sleeping bag in my apartment, feeling like a kid on a camping trip. By the following weekend I had my little apartment furnished, and had Internet and cable hooked up. I was stylin!

Over the next few months I got to know a few of the neighbors in the complex ... mostly guys my age with similar stories ... divorced and starting life over.

Birds of a feather.

Mostly I kept to myself, and my life became one of routine. I would get to the office by 7 am each morning, leave around 5 pm and go back to my apartment, fix myself dinner, the read or watch TV until I turned out the lights by 10pm. Pretty boring, but I was still healing and putting all my energy into learning an industry I had no experience in. Managing 150 accounts and an 85 person cleaning staff was certainly an adventure. On the weekends, I puttered around my apartment, went hiking, and exploring my new surrounding, telling myself I was happy, that I didn't need a woman in my life ... but, who was I kidding ... I was sorely missing intimacy. I didn't know what to do about it ... I didn't really know anyone ... had no social network, and I sure as hell wasn't going to dip into the ranks of the cleaning staff ... uh uh, that would not be a good thing. Same with my clients ... business was business ... no dallying with employees or customers. I hadn't "dated" in over 30 years, so I was lost on that front too. So I contented myself with dating my left hand.

Nine months after I moved into my apartment, Tom Reynolds, my next door neighbor moved back with his estranged wife, leaving the unit next to me vacant. A week later, on a Saturday morning I was strolling to the laundry facility with a clothes basket full of dirty laundry, when I noticed a moving van pulled up to the vacant unit.

"Huh ... new neighbor I'd guess" I thought to myself "Wonder if this guy is like the rest of us here ... banished from our past lives."

I went into the laundry, dumped my clothes into a washer, stuck in the required six quarters, added some detergent, hit the button, and headed back to my apartment. I saw a late model Toyota Corolla pull up behind the van and watched as a beautiful redhead emerged from the car. She was probably in her mid 40's, only about 5' 2'', and her tight white jeans and emerald green sleeveless sweater revealed a body that made me stop and gaze, and catch my breath.

Uh WOW!

Her auburn hair was long and wavy, and sparkled in the sunlight, she noticed me gazing at her and turned and smiled. Her eyes matched her sweater, amazingly green and luminescent. She proffered her hand,

"Hi, I'm Holly." nodding towards the vacant apartment, "I'm just moving in. Do you live in the complex?"

Snapping out of my daze, I cleared my throat, and took her hand in mine.

"Pardon my manners ... yes, I live right next door." Nodding towards my apartment. "My name is Max ... Max Libby, pleasure to meet you Holly, welcome to the neighborhood."

Her eyes swept over the complex, moved back to me, "Seems like a nice place, do you like it here?"

"I've been here about nine months now, and yes, I do like it here. It's quiet, a little secluded, so no traffic noise, and most of the residents here are 40's and 50's ... so no children." I smiled, "Not that I don't love children, I do ... but I've raised mine, and now I like the quiet. When I get the urge to play, I go grab one of my grandkids and become a child again for a day ... then ship 'em back to their parents, usually sugared up to the hilt." I winked "Revenge."

Holly giggled, a delightful sound, her bright eyes twinkled, "I admit to doing the same with my three year old granddaughter ... it's soooo much fun isn't it."