Fifth Place
Copyright© 2006 by RPSuch
Chapter 13
Cooperation between Betty and I continued without a hitch.
Each time I saw her, I could see a sadness in her eyes and it gave me a little satisfaction. It also gave me a little dissatisfaction with myself that I could enjoy her suffering.
But each time a strength and determination to recover from her self-made unhappiness also showed in her. It gave me a little satisfaction that I was happy to see her on the path to recovery. It also gave me a little dissatisfaction that I could have any empathy with her situation. Basically, the whole thing generated a lot of ambivalence.
But that's how life is, isn't it? So little is clear and the consequence of actions taken or not taken are rarely what we expect. All you can do is the best you can.
Karen was getting pretty close and was not as spry as she had been. Our sex life was completely devoid of acrobatics. But then, acrobatics are overrated, especially for those of us who are not acrobats.
I answered the doorbell and Betty was there smiling broadly. I invited her in. The women exchanged greetings, though Karen didn't get up.
Betty lifted a piece of paper and shook it at us.
"I begged, wheedled and called in favors and got in to see our judge. He signed the decree. If you guys are still interested, you can get married now."
Alright, with this notice it wasn't going to be the big wedding that Karen, like almost every other girl, had dreamed of. We could do that later. But, it would be before our baby was born.
I know it's not that big a deal these days and we had agreed originally to have it long before we were married. But the announcement brought a smile to Karen's face.
"Let's do it," she said.
I went to the phone and called a judge I knew. I came in contact with lots of them in my work and even counted a few among my friends.
She was happy to be involved.
As we were discussing the date and time I heard Karen tell me, "Get off the damn phone!"
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