Chapter 13: Apologies, Wishes, and Babies

Willow Mendez knocked on the door of the large home. This was her second visit. It was Saturday and another warm day, almost nine months after what The Courier newspaper internally called the Atkins Incident – an unfortunate set of events that ended up costing the paper several million dollars. She'd parked on the street and walked up the long driveway because she didn't want to impose on the people living there. There were many cars parked in the garages and spacious carport.

Zoey opened the front door. "May I help you?" She didn't recognize the smartly dressed and trim Hispanic woman in her mid-thirties, but could tell she was neither a religious crusader nor a sales person hawking goods. The Ferragamo shoes were a tip-off.

"My name is Willow Mendez. I used to work for The Courier, and I wanted to just speak with Matt Saddler and Nathan Pocher, if they still live here. I won't be long, and I promise that nothing bad will happen as a result of this visit. I met them a year ago, and just needed to say something to them – to apologize personally for what happened."

Zoey had stiffened and gone on guard at what the woman had said, especially mention of The Courier. She said in a stilted tone, "Come in, and I'll get them for you." The pair stepped into the living room, and Zoey gestured to a chair for the visitor. Willow stiffly sat.

Zoey left and a few minutes later reappeared with Matt and Nathan behind her. They were all casually dressed as befitted a Saturday in the summer. Zoey hung back to listen. Tracy suddenly appeared next to her.

Willow rose from her seat and snapped stiffly to attention. "Thank you for seeing me Mr. Saddler and Mr. Pocher." Her voice had a tremor in it betraying her nervousness; the corners of her mouth twitched in uncertainty.

Matt cordially said, "It's Matt and Nathan. I remember you." The two sat opposite Willow's chair on the sofa after getting her to sit again with a gesture.

Willow got tears in her eyes and choked up slightly. "I'm here ... to apologize. I know you won the court case and all of that, but I couldn't live with myself any longer without talking to you personally about what Dean Atkins did. I feel partially responsible for bringing him here, and getting him involved in this story."

Willow went on, "First, and please believe me, I knew nothing of the drone use or film when we came here to interview you about what happened at the convenience store; well, nothing until Dean pulled his phone out and showed you part of the video. When Dean asked that question about your lifestyle, I was shocked. When I learned of his use of the drone, I knew the newspaper was in for some deep and expensive lawsuits. Unfortunately that day, I was shocked to the point that I couldn't speak – to get him to shut up. I'd never been in a situation like that; I didn't know what to do or how to cope."

She continued, "I thought you responded well to his question, given the terrible situation he'd just put you in. I couldn't have done any better, and I know most of the facts now."

Willow continued, "When we got back to the paper that day Dean wrote the article about the shooting and hold-up as I'd requested. He'd written a number of paragraphs at the end, even going into explicit sexual detail about what he'd videoed with the drone. The piece came to me for final editing, and I struck out all the offensive ones. Fortunately, as you'll see in a minute, there was a record of that." She pulled per large purse open, and took out a sheaf of papers. It was the original article printed out, including a number of edits in red.

Willow turned to the next to last page. From the end of the story on the robbery every paragraph had been deleted with Willow's initials as the editor.

Matt read the paragraphs. "Wow. I'm glad these didn't get printed. They describe the people in the room, the specific acts taking place, the change of partners, everything. This is sexually explicit material. The paper would have gotten busted just for printing this."

Willow said, "I thought the article left my desk for layout without any of the offensive paragraphs, but something happened on the way. Dean got hold of my edits striking the offensive paragraphs, and reinserted the one that made it into the final print copy – and, of course, the online version. I didn't know about the change he made in the article copy until the next morning. I was livid, and insisted that he be fired."

"My boss, the editor in chief argued with me until I pointed out the liability about how that part of the news story had been gotten through illegal means – the drone. He wanted to think about what to do with Dean. The Courier got the lawsuit that afternoon, and the injunction on the online video was granted and Dean refused to comply; Dean was instantly fired."

Matt shook his head. "Willow, it's all water under the bridge now. I guess Atkins is gone, and you said you used to work for The Courier. What happened?"

Willow said in a sad tone, "I quit over the paper's ethics in this situation. I went to work for WWLX-TV in their news department. Fortunately, the stigma of what happened at the paper didn't follow me. As for Atkins, the news industry is a small, tight-knit group of people. His dirty deeds became known widely, including what he cost The Courier, and no one will hire him. He's still unemployed as far as I know. Last I knew, he moved to Chicago."

Nathan said with obvious sensitivity, "Your coming here to apologize and explain took a lot of courage. Thank you for that."

Willow nodded and stood, obviously with intent to leave.

Sheila appeared at the arch from the kitchen with a tray. "I brought coffee and cookies for everyone. Fresh baked too." She smiled at the group. Others in the house had heard the apologies and knew of the effort that it took Willow Mendez to appear under such circumstances.

Matt gestured, "Please sit, Willow. Don't rush off. You're forgiven. I can see how this whole thing upset you, and believe me, we're past it, especially as far as you are concerned now that we have the background." He gestured at the printed original article.

Zoey said in a friendlier tone, "What's it like to work in television news?"

Willow relaxed slightly and let herself be interviewed about her job, and enjoyed a cup of coffee. Others in the house came and went, and soon Willow had met the twelve live-ins as well as Michelle and Don, who'd come by to pick-up Monica for a family function in the nearby city.

After an hour, Willow said, "I ... this is kind of awkward ... but I've never visited a plural family before. You are all so marvelous together. I can feel the caring and love between each of you, even your kindness in how you're all treating me. This seems like such a peaceful and harmonious home, and there is a spiritual flow to this place."

Bob said, "A few years back I read about a constellation of friends. We modified it to lovers, and built this intentional family around that concept. If you're wed to the idea of monogamy or exclusivity we're not the place for you. If you believe you can love more than one person in mind, body, and spirit, and if you believe consenting adults can do what they want about sex, then this is the place to be." He explained about the constellation and where he'd read about it.

Willow stared at Bob a long time, and then said in a soft voice with only the hint of a Spanish accent, "That's amazing. You're living your philosophy. What if someone believed what you believe ... and wanted to be in this place?"

"Do you?" Bob asked, holding her gaze. In the seconds that their eyes locked together a nearly infinite amount of information passed between the pair.

Some people believe that each of us has an aura extending out from our body. When our auras intersect a subtle communication takes place – a sharing of the most intimate parts of one's mind and soul. Recognizing the communications, one can boost the amount of information shared, until a total sharing of selves takes place in only a fraction of a second. Some call the result gut instinct about someone, or chalk the feelings up to body language, for others they're sure that something much deeper occurred.

In the seconds that Bob and Willow became locked together in mind and spirit, a tremendous sharing of information, opinion, dreams, wishes, and fantasies took place, along with all the nuances of their personalities and feelings about the other.

In an almost inaudible voice she said, "I do." Willow's eyes got all glassy, but she looked every person in the eye one-by-one and all anyone saw was her sincerity and her unlimited capacity to love. The room danced with the joyous vibrations from the meetings of like-minded souls.

Matt calmly observed, "We've never been approached like this by a stranger."

Alex said, "Each of us arrived here with some kind of sponsor who was already in The Circle and who knew us." He looked over at Alice affectionately.

Alice said to the group and Willow, "None of us should move too fast, including you Willow. We need to date each other, and see if the rest of the chemistry that appears to be there can be trusted." She paused and turned to Willow. "I have to ask this, but did you see the video from the drone? Were you at all put off by any part of it?"