Chapter 8: A New Day

After the boys had their breakfast, Rosemary and Dan drove them to the Elementary School and went on to their first stop, the Department of Motor Vehicles. Without a prior appointment, they had to wait.

“What are you smiling about, Dale?”

“I woke up this morning in a real soft bed, with your ass in my lap and your tit in my hand. Paradise!”

“You’re not going to complain to me about the government?”

“Not a chance. That Dale is dead. You’ll never hear from him again, I promise.”

Over the PA: “Now serving, H52. Now serving, H52. At window 12.”

Dale got up with his paperwork, leaving his wife in the row of uncomfortable plastic chairs. Forty-five minutes later, he showed Rosemary his paper temporary license. Also, he had the forms to make his F-150 registered with plates and tabs.

“This is great! Next step, we need to get you a job. Do you want to try going back to Dynamic West Transport?”

Before being jailed, Dale had worked at DWT intermittently, as an independent contractor. He installed and repaired all kinds of electronic gear in their fleet of 18-wheel trucks. Dale asked for her phone.

“Hello, may I speak to Linda Deacon? It’s Dale Jordan calling.”

Over the course of the call, it became clear that DWT was in urgent need of someone with Dale’s skills. They were amenable to putting him on full-time with benefits. As a matter of fact, he could come in that afternoon to complete the paperwork and start working immediately!

And when Dale described the salary and benefits package, Rosie’s eyes got big and round. She plastered his face with kisses, practically climbing out of her driver’s seat to attack him.

“You are going to get so lucky, Dale! Let’s get something to eat. Then I need to check in at the office and take some work home. Finally, we’ll head over to DWT for your on-boarding.”

Tasks completed, Rosemary and Dale were waiting at the kitchen table when the boys and Erika arrived at 3:00. After another frosty greeting from Erika, she turned to leave, but was interrupted by Rosemary.

“Erika, please wait, have a seat. I want you to know Dale’s back working full-time starting tomorrow, so we need you back on the regular afternoon schedule. And, please, I hope you can get past what has been such a stressful time for all of us. He’s changed. He is showing me that he’s back to being the loving and responsible husband and father I know he can be.”

“I guess I have to go by the boys and what they think. You’re OK with the ‘David’ thing?”

Dale answered, “Yes, we are. He has every right to be furious with me and how I behaved, and this is a small step to building back his trust. If you take your cues from Allen and David, I think we can all get past the last couple of months. I hope so.”

“All right, well, I’m just going to go back and say goodbye to the boys and then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Erika.”

After Erika left and the boys returned to the kitchen, Rosemary asked, “Any homework?”

“No Mom.”

“OK. Allen and David, go play for a little while until Delia comes home.”

After they left, “Dale, I still have some of the gun money left. Let’s take everybody to the public pool, and then go out to eat, OK?”

“That’s a great idea! You still have that hot swimsuit?”

Delia came into the kitchen then. Dan was away at his team practice this afternoon. “Hello,” she said coolly.

Rosemary: “Have a seat, Dee. Listen, I want you to know today was a great day. Dale is going back to work tomorrow, and he has a full-time job with a great salary, insurance, and other benefits. Believe me, our future is very bright, and you will certainly be going to college.

“He has totally renounced all that anti-government bullshit. He renewed his driver’s license this morning.”