Chapter 6: Legalities

[Author’s Notes: I should have mentioned in the previous chapters that Carlo (Kitty’s soon-to-be ex-husband) had been secretly pocketing her fire insurance premiums. Consequently, both her home and her adjoining business (the roadside diner) were not covered and she faces a total loss.

Second, in order to obtain a divorce, Kitty must prove “fault” in a legal proceeding. The modern system of “No-Fault Divorce” did not go into effect in Colorado until 1971. A reminder: this story is set in the year 1954.

My thanks to those who commented after the first five chapters were posted on-line.]

The next morning, Kitty was in the kitchen when Allen finally appeared, padding into the kitchen in his stocking feet. She wore one of her new outfits suitable for the snowy weather, including a man’s thick flannel shirt under a pink sweater and a heavy woolen skirt down near her ankles.

“I guess the days of nakedness are over now.”

Allen displayed a pouting face and a sad tone.

“Oh, be quiet. You tried to drown me in sperm last night. Then you battered my pussy with your rude prong. You actually made me sore this morning. Are you going to help me with all these dishes, or just go off to work and leave them with me?”

“Kitty, I’m not working right now. This house is paid off, there’s no mortgage. Remember, I’ve got lots of money. I’ll help with the dishes.”

“Thank you, sweetie. I guess we’ve been moving really fast. I don’t know what pet names I can use. Should I call you ‘Al’?”

“Ew. Not ‘Al.’ But I’m fine with the usual words: sweetie, honey, baby, and I know you like calling me ‘butthead’ too.”

She looked at his face and saw his bright smile, and she giggled.

“Sorry about that. You’ll know when I’m really angry if I call you ‘Al,’ butthead.”

“I guess I like the same words, except for ‘butthead.’ You’re much too beautiful to be called a ‘butthead.’ I’ll help you with the pile of dishes.”

“Good boy. While you’re standing here with me, I want to know more about you. What kind of movies do you like? Favorite foods, pets, friends, all kinds of details.”

They chatted away, exchanging details and preferences, and other subjects.

“Stevenson or Eisenhower, Allen?”

“As a veteran, it’s hard to discount Ike’s military record. And after his election he stopped the war in Korea, finally. So I liked Ike, but I didn’t vote in ‘52 because I was being transferred from Korea to a military hospital and so forth.”

“Put that way, your preference is understandable. I don’t know, but I’m glad Truman has gone back to Missouri.”

“Kitty, I need to start plans for the new diner. Have you been in touch with your insurance company?”

“I will do that today. I need to file a change of address with the post office and collect any mail they didn’t deliver to the pile of burned wood next door. I need shoes; I can’t keep wearing your slippers. Finally, I was going to buy more food for us. I think my car still runs, it was parked away from my house.”

“Sweetie, it’s fine. I want to go with you, and I’ll bring some money with me, and my checkbook.”

A few minutes later, they stepped outside and stood on the scorched side of her pre-war car.

“Kitty, where are your keys?”

“Oh, no! They were in my house.”

“Yeah. Besides, this old heap is not roadworthy. Look, the tires are damaged.”

The whitewall tires on this side were heavily scorched from the conflagration. Allen kicked the right front tire, and it popped noisily.

“See what I mean. We should take my truck.”

“I am so screwed, Allen. I’m penniless, and I don’t have a car.”

“Sweetie, don’t fret. Let’s get going and find you some nice shoes for your pretty feet.”

“This is so embarrassing. How can I pay you back?”

“You can’t. All this is going to be your dowry, your bride price. I can’t pay your father for you, so instead I’m going to spoil you instead. C’mon, we have a lot of errands today.”

“Yes, dear.”

“I think we have to go into Colorado Springs, Kitty. There’s so many things to do and buy that aren’t available in this little community. You need to replace your driver’s license, for example.”

“Damn. Thank you for reminding me. I was going to drive naked. Well, you know what I mean. Allen, don’t smirk at me.”

“Yes, dear.”

They went for shoes, first. At his insistence, she walked out with four pairs in various styles from elegant heels to boots for striding through the snow and slush. Then, they drove to the motor vehicles office for her replacement driver’s license.

Kitty complained that she wasn’t prepared (hair, cosmetics) to be photographed, but Allen’s exasperated expression cowed her to comply. Next, they stopped at the Rexall Drugs for some basic cosmetics, toothbrushes, aspirin, tampons, and so forth. Allen found KY Jelly, a new product, and added it to the pile of items.

After checking out, Kitty locked her shopping bag into the truck and they walked two blocks to a coffee shop for lunch.

He enjoyed his patty melt, but Kitty complained quietly about her food.

“Louise (or I) could cook much better than this.”

“I think they get away with it because the county courthouse is only two blocks that way from here. You can see the domed clock tower to my left. That reminds me, we need to visit my lawyer. His office is convenient to the courthouse in that next block.”

“You need your lawyer?”

“Not me, for you, silly. Don’t you need a divorce before you get married?”

“Oh, damn. You’re right, of course. What about the fees?”

“Not to worry. He’s on retainer. That means, I pay him a load of money periodically to handle my legal needs.”

After their early lunch, they re-parked the truck and walked into the law offices at 11:40.

“Hello, my name is Allen Lewis, I’m here to chat with Arlen Saunders. Could you check if he’s available?”

Kitty noticed that she had some kind of electric speaking device on her desk with several buttons, new to her. Before she could ask, a balding man in a formal suit rushed out to greet them.

“Mr. Lewis! Always a pleasure. And who, may I ask, is this?”

“Arlen, this is my fiancée, Kitty Dawes.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Saunders.”

“Oh, no, please call me Arlen. Let’s step into my office, unless you would prefer to wait here in reception.”

“Arlen, she’s the reason we are here today. Let’s go into your office. Do you mind delaying your lunch?”