Just Once….If You Don’t Mind?
My ending to the tale by Kalimaxos.
“So, Rick? What do we do?”
“We? We Leslie are going to do nothing, at least you’re not. I want you to go home as I need to think. If I want to talk to you or Vincent I will call on you.” Rick ushered Leslie out of the door. Leslie looked crestfallen, she had expected Jim to jump her as soon as he was offered her body.
There was no we in what Rick was going to do, He had already set a few things in motion before Marcy left. She had mistakenly left her phone lying around. Marcy didn’t know it but she sure would find out soon enough. Several years ago Rick was in Columbia with some troops, they were there to train the Columbian police. The team got good intel that the deputy chief of police, one Raoul Gomez and his family were to be executed. Things didn’t go the cartel’s way. Raoul’s family were moved to a safe place under the cover of darkness the previous night, When they burst into Raoul’s house they were met with gunfire from Recon Marines, at the same time another group attacked the home of the cartel leader. It was a bloodbath and the house was burnt to the ground. Raoul always said he owed Rick and anything I needed he would see to it.
Rick didn’t sleep too well that night but he was determined to see things through. In the morning he barged his way into the office of the hospital administrator, when Rick finished laying his story he was pissed to say the least.
Back at home Rick parked his truck in the garage. He didn’t want anyone to see what he was doing, especially Leslie.
Rick called his kids and told them what was going on. At first they wondered if he had done something wrong, but that changed when he sent them a scanned copy of Marcy’s letter. Both sets of parents thought Rick was the villain until he produced the letter again. Rick was getting seriously pissed off with everyone assuming he had done wrong, so much so that he never communicated to anyone what he had planned. Rick had purchased a small cabin on a lake. His original plan was to fix it up so they, as well as family members could use it at weekends. It looked like the cabin would be Rick’s new home.
Marcy
Marcy hated leaving Rick without saying goodbye. She knew if she had woken him they would have argued, Marcy really wanted him to let her have this one time, She knew if they argued Rick would never accept what she was doing. The plane touched down in Columbia, after gathering their luggage the six members of the team took cabs to their hotel. All of them were tired, the heat made it worse. When they had checked in they decided that dinner and an early night was a priority, Marcy knew that she and Trey wouldn’t be having sex tonight. After all, they had the next six weeks to enjoy themselves.
The call from Rick was a shock, and quite difficult to be honest. Marcy had planned to call him once he and Leslie had hooked up. Unusually she couldn’t work out from his voice what he planned to do, she found it somewhat reassuring when he ended the call with “I’ll see you when I see you.”
Trey wanted sex in the morning, Marcy told him no as they had to get breakfast and be at the hospital. If they were going to be doing any surgery it was important that as a team they knew who to contact and where we had to go. As the group left the restaurant a man in a suit approached them, he introduced himself as Raoul Gomez, Chief of Police. Once they confirmed their identities all six team members were told we were being arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling. They were booked in and held in custody pending enquiries. Trey protested but was told to shut up. The three women were taken to a local prison, and they soon discovered what a hellhole it was. All three hoped we were not going to be spending too much time there. They didn’t know what had happened to the men, they presumed they were in the same situation as themselves.
Rick
Rick had a realtor appraise the house. He worked out that once it was sold and all fees were paid Marcy would have about the same as what they jointly had in the bank. Rick went to the bank and took everything from both accounts, the rest of the day was spent getting the utilities transferred to Marcy’s name. Being a freelance consultant meant he had no job to resign from, Rick did call the people he worked for and told them he was unavailable until further notice. Rick had no idea how Marcy was doing in Columbia. He knew of the situation as Raoul had let him know the group had been arrested. It took Rick a day to get everything he wanted packed into his truck, what he left behind was Marcy’s problem. That evening Rick sat down and wrote Marcy a letter, if you can call it that.
Marcy
As you left me a letter telling me of your intentions, I feel it only fair that I do the same. You know me well enough to know that I was never going to agree with you fucking Doctor dipshit for six weeks, despite you arranging for Leslie to keep me company.
By the time you get home I will be long gone. Where? That is something only I know.
The kids and our parents know why I have left. I didn’t tell them to turn them against you, I did it so they knew I wasn’t the bad guy in all of this. Don’t try and pressure them for my whereabouts as they don’t know where I will be. In your letter you said you wanted a break from us, well you got your break. I hope you enjoy it.
The house has been appraised and a realtor will be in touch with you to arrange the sale. I suggest you sell it and keep any equity as I have taken everything from our bank accounts. By the way, the utilities are now in your name only.
I do not intend to file for a divorce. I don’t see the point as I am not going to get married again, if you want a divorce to be with your doctor boyfriend then you file.
Like I said on the phone, see you when I see you. Which will probably be never again
Rick
Marcy
After a week in the roach and rat infested hole of a prison the women were informed that all three of them would be released, the shine was taken off the news when we discovered that they were being deported. Their luggage had been collected for them, the van they rode to the airport in was similar to the one that brought them to the prison.
Marcy asked what was happening with the doctors who were with them, she got told they didn’t know and that was it as far as an answer went. This sounds cold but she really didn’t care much at that point, so she didn’t push for a better answer. All Marcy wanted was to get home and straighten things out with Rick. God how could she have been so stupid to let herself think Rick would go along with this fucked up idea.
The flight back was quiet, nobody knew what to say to the others. Marcy spent the whole flight mentally rehearsing what I was going to say to Rick. As they walked away from baggage claim Marcy noticed a man holding a board with our names on it.
“I’m Marcy Weston. Are you here to take us home?” She asked.
“No Ma’am, I am just the messenger.” He passed each of them an envelope.
Marcy looked at hers apprehensively, Penny tore hers open and started to read it. “Oh fuck! The hospital knows all about what happened, we have to attend a meeting on Monday at 9am. I guess we will be fired.” The only member of the group who wasn’t worried was Laurel, she wasn’t married.
Just then another man approached them. “Mrs Penny Washington?” he asked as he looked at the three women. Penny stepped forward. The man handed her a manilla envelope. “You’ve been served!” he turned and walked away.
The three of them took separate cabs to their houses. Penny wasn’t sure what she would find waiting for her. At least Marcy hadn’t been served divorce papers, yet!
Marcy dropped her case at the bottom of the stairs, she called out for Rick several times but got no answer. Marcy grabbed a glass and poured herself a large scotch, after the last week or so she needed a drink. As she sat down Marcy noticed an envelope resting against the vase of flowers on the table, it had her name written on it. Picking it up she knew there was something besides a letter inside, as she opened it Rick’s wedding ring tumbled onto the table. At that moment Marcy knew that she had lost the man she loved, carefully Marcy unfolded the sheet of paper to read it.
Marcy
As you left me a letter telling me of your intentions, I feel it only fair that I do the same. You know me well enough to know that I was never going to agree with you fucking Doctor dipshit for six weeks, despite you arranging for Leslie to keep me company.
By the time you get home I will be long gone. Where? That is something only I know.
The kids and our parents know why I have left. I didn’t tell them to turn them against you, I did it so they knew I wasn’t the bad guy in all of this. Don’t try and pressure them for my whereabouts as they don’t know where I will be.
In your letter you said you wanted a break from us, well you got your break. I hope you enjoy it.
The house has been appraised and a realtor will be in touch with you to arrange the sale. I suggest you sell it and keep any equity as I have taken everything from our bank accounts. The utilities are now in your name only.
I do not intend to file for a divorce. I don’t see the point as I am not going to get married again, if you want a divorce to be with your doctor boyfriend then you file.
Like I said on the phone, see you when I see you. Which will probably be never again
Rick
Marcy spent the rest of the weekend trying to find out where Rick was. Leslie had no idea, she said she didn’t even see him leave. None of the family knew either, although Marcy’s parents did kindly let her know this was all her own fault. She had lost the one man she loved.
The meeting at the hospital went better than they hoped for. All three of them were suspended for a month without pay, Marcy was told she would never be considered for the head nurse position. Marcy was told that the doctors were being released the day after tomorrow, their hospital meeting was scheduled for the same day they arrived back.
The realtor contacted Marcy, and she agreed to sell the house. Marcy rented a small condo near the hospital to save her driving to work, she needed to save costs wherever now she only had her salary.
The doctors were all fired without reference, Marcy never spoke to Trey again. Two days after they were fired a detective came to see her at home. He asked if she knew where her husband was.
“I have no idea officer.” Marcy admitted. “May I ask what this is about, I didn’t even report him as missing.”
“We would like to speak with him about an assault on Dr Trey Cardosa. A witness said she saw a man attack Dr Cardosa and leave him beaten on the ground, can you describe your husband for me Mrs Weston?”
“I can do better than that detective,” Marcy pointed to a picture of Rick.
“The witness said the attacker was extremely tall, possibly almost seven feet in height and powerfully built. I can see your husband is about five eleven and of average build Mrs Weston. If you should hear from Mr Weston please ask him to give me a call.” Marcy explained that they were separated and said she would tell Rick if she saw him.
Through a friend at the hospital Marcy found out Trey had lost both of his testicles as well as having both his hands smashed up. He would recover but never operate on anyone again.
Their son Kyle called in on his mother regularly to see how she was, he admitted that he had spoken to his father, but had no idea where he was.
“It’s the same every time Mom. If I ask where he is or try and tell him you want to see him, he simply cuts the call. I promise if I get any idea of where he is I will let you know straight away.” Kyle assured his mother, silently Kyle knew his father wasn’t interested in his mother.
Their daughter Rhonda said pretty much the same thing. Rick would talk until they mentioned their mother, then he cut the call. Like Kyle, Rhonda had no idea of her father’s whereabouts.
Two Years Later
Rick swallowed the last of his beer. “C’mon Bruno. Let’s get inside, it’s getting cold out here.” Rick stood and turned to head inside the cabin, Bruno his labrador followed. Rick stopped when he saw Marcy standing in front of him.
“You are a hard man to find Rick Weston, you were well hidden out here.” She said and smiled.
“I wasn’t hiding Marcy, just keeping myself to myself.” Rick replied.
“Rick, can we at least talk?” Marcy asked, her tone of voice pleading for Rick to agree.
“I guess so.” Rick replied. “Not out here though, it’s getting cold.” Rick stepped indoors followed by Marcy and Bruno, his canine companion.
“So what made you come here Marcy? More to the point, how did you find me?” Rick asked.
“I came to speak with my husband. I found out where you were when you cut your hand badly and needed treatment, I kept checking the records to see if you used your medical insurance.”
“I didn’t think I was your husband anymore. You cast me aside quick enough when you ran to Columbia with your doctor boyfriend.
“Trey was never my boyfriend Rick. All he was to me was a tool, something I could use for a few weeks. For what it’s worth Columbia was a fucking disaster from the moment we landed.”
Rick motioned for Marcy to sit, he offered her a drink. “I don’t know what to say Marcy, you had better start this conversation.”
For the next hour or so Rick listened as Marcy explained that nothing happened between her and Trey in Columbia, when she had finished she asked if Rick had any part in what happened in Columbia or what happened to Trey when they returned.
“Nope nothing.” He lied. “What happened to you had nothing to do with me. Maybe someone else found out about his wife and the good doctor. I can assure it wasn’t me. As you know I just walked away and left the two of you to get on with your lives.”
“But that’s the point, Rick. There never was going to be anything between Trey and I. This was a one and done. It was also the biggest goddamn mistake of my life!” Marcy pleaded, almost in tears. “I don’t know if you will believe me or not, but Trey and I never got to have sex at all. The first night we stayed in our own rooms as we were all tired, we were arrested the following morning. I haven’t seen Trey since I got back to the U.S.
“You didn’t have to drive all the way out here to tell me that Marcy. You could have written me a letter.” Rick said sarcastically.
“I guess I asked for that. Is there any chance for us Rick? You know I love you.”
“You love me Marcy, or you say you do. I love you as well but I just don’t feel I can trust you anymore. If we were to get back together how will I know you won’t pull this shit again in the future?”
“If you give me another chance I promise I will never do anything like this again. I will live under whatever conditions you want. I love you Rick and I need you with me.”
“I don’t know Marcy. If you want me to make a decision on us, I can tell you it won’t be made in a hurry. I presume you have to drive back for work tomorrow, give me time and I will let you know what I decide, when I decide it.”
“I don’t have to go back Rick. I have taken a week’s leave, I will go and find a motel for the night.” Marcy was pleased that Rick might even considering them as a couple again
“There isn’t a motel in miles.” Rick replied. “You might as well stay in the spare room tonight.”
Marcy did stay in the spare room that night and several other nights. She and Rick spent the week talking and reconnecting. Rick felt some relief when Marcy explained that she never got to sleep with the good doctor. Before she left to return home Rick laid out his terms for them getting back together. Marcy accepted them all without hesitation.
Two weeks later they were living as a couple again, in the cabin. Rick was adamant he would not return to the city, subsequently Marcy had to quit her job. There was a hospital twenty miles away that needed nurses, Marcy took a position that meant her working three days a week. Rick was able to do most of his work from home, if he made the occasional business trip, Marcy went along with him.
Would they make it? Who knows? Their kids were happy that they were going to try and sort things out. Rhonda said she would like to think that if they loved each other as much as they both say, they might get through this.