Scott continued his 'defense'. He had just admitted in front of witnesses of conspiring to falsify documents and personal records. It was the information my friend Roy needed to speed up his investigation of what could turn out to be a major scandal. Now, the old pervert was trying to weasel his way out of what he'd done to Carol.
"Looking back, I see how much I hurt you, which was not my intent. I just wanted him out of your life - permanently. I'm sorry, Baby. I'm sorry for what I did to him, but he seems to have responded to the adversity and risen above it. It made him stronger. I never told you the truth because I knew you would instantly crawl back to him, even after years had passed. I am sorry for what happened to you because of my hatred and jealousy of him. Please forgive me."
He looked like a pathetic little boy, but the look that came over Carol when he whined he was 'sorry, please forgive him', was terrible to behold. There was a radiance about her. The temperature in the room fell several degrees with that awful look.
Her right hand came out of nowhere, in a ferocious open handed slap. His head rocked from the blow and he staggered. The surprise and shock on his face was total. Before he could recover her left came up even faster, if that was possible, and sent him reeling. He recovered his balance, and continued to stand there in front of us, a look of realization, and a dawning fear, not just of me, but of her, appearing in his eyes. I couldn't see her clearly from the side, but I'm sure he saw Death in Carol's gaze.
The loud reports of her slaps silenced the laughter at the back. His face had two livid red splotches. I bet her hands were going to hurt later, but then you never know when the adrenalin surges. Carol took over completely now. She stepped right up to him, speaking very clearly in a voice I recognized as mimicking my own. She took complete control now, her sense of drama and poetry working to her advantage.
"Stand up and look at me, you pathetic excuse for a human being! For too long have I feared you and listened to your poisoned whisperings! No longer! Today I am free! I gave over my chance for love, happiness, children and career because of you!
"I gave up MY MAN and YES! My marriage! Because I listened to your lies!
"I lost the two people I loved the most because of you!
"I let you bribe me with tuition to College, thinking that would ease the pain of my loss and ease my shame, the shame you brought upon me! I am a Judas! I gave up my chance at Heaven for thirty pieces of silver!
"Since 1966, almost twenty years, my life has been a shambles of unfulfilled promises, hopes and dreams! I suffered needless years of shame and despair! I lost my self worth! I lost my ability to trust! I lost all this and more because of you, and your sick perverted hatred and jealousy of the only man I ever truly loved; and your own perverted lust!
"You make me sick! I hate you! If you need forgiveness, try your God, because I do not have it to give, nor I suspect does the Goddess! My soul may be damned for it, but I cannot forgive! You used up all the forgiveness in me that one night!"
She was on a roll. Her voice rose, not in pitch, just volume, frighteningly chilling, magnetic in its intensity. You had to listen to that voice, there was no other option.
"Look me in the eye when I tell you this:
"David and I were married on his birthday in August of 1965 under an ancient rite of the Old Ways and the Goddess. Bob and Riekie, Tante Pie, Tante Jo, Tante Kit, Oma and Opa were witness and/or party to it. Although not officially told, my mother knew, in her heart."
Bob Sr. went pale. Now he knew why I was so pissed and the depth of his injury to Carol Anne.
"Riekie was our official witness to the physical consummation of that union. The sheet from our marriage bed was presented to the family as proof of that consummation. Tante Pie still has it in her possession. The missing hymen you found was given freely with love to my husband.
"I gave him a ring. We may not have had benefit of clergy or state, but in the eyes of our family and his, who we told openly of our consummation and shared our joy, we were married".
I was fumbling idly in my pocket, playing with the loose change, a nervous habit most men have. I felt something, that old keepsake I found just before I left. My ring from Carol! I'd almost forgotten it was in my pocket until now. Something told me, now was the time to put it back on. It was almost like Bilbo's ring that somehow seemed to find its way onto his hand by itself. I slipped it over my middle finger, where I'd always worn it. I started to feel more whole at once -- like there was something there again. I didn't feel so abandoned. The Power was once again taking up the direction of our lives.
Scott had been looking somewhat mystified at the constant references Carol and I made to this other person we loved so much. Clarification was forthcoming and he would not like it one bit. <GRIN>
"You will be interested to know that not only did I marry David. A few days later, WE married Riekie under that same ancient rite. David and Riekie consummated the marriage in my presence. The blanket from her wedding bed is in Tante Pie's possession too.
"Riekie and I got identical rings to match his, Christmas of 1965. I still wear mine, and she still wears hers as well. SEE? This is my wedding ring and after twenty years, we are still wed!"
Carol waved her ring under his nose, glaring the whole time, daring him to speak.
"David's mother, a priestess of the Goddess, remarried the three of us Christmas Eve 1965. That makes three times David and I exchanged our wedding vows. You can't get much more married than that!"
Bob Sr. looked like he was going to faint at her words. Then he looked angry, as if he was going to say something. His mouth had done enough damage over the years. I quickly shut him up, interrupting Carol.
"One word out of you, Shithead, that isn't asked for, could very well be your last. Save your words for your defense lawyer when the MP's come knocking, and they will, you can count on it."
He wisely kept his mouth shut. I was angry enough I really would have hurt him.
Carol continued.
"Your lies about David cheating started the destruction of our marriage! I believed you, when I knew in my heart of hearts David had so much integrity he just COULDN"T do what you said of him! Riekie has ALWAYS believed in David! But I listened to you for just a little too long! Riekie got angry. She knew you lied and I wouldn't, couldn't, see it! That's partly why she left your house and would not speak to you or me for years!
"I KNOW you tried to rape her too, but she somehow avoided it, which is the main reason for her moving out! She threatened to tell David, so you would pay her tuition. She should have told him anyway, then I would not have been put through these twenty years of hell but she was afraid he'd do something that would land him in jail. I think waiting for someone to get out of jail who got there for protecting us would have been a piece of cake compared to what we did go through."
This was real news to me! He tried to rape both My Girls! Now I understood Riekie's code of striking out the Scott in her name! She was trying to tell me about him! I roared again.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!!"
I was turned slightly toward Carol as she dropped the Riekie bombshell. As realization hit me, I spun and my arm lashed straight out, punching him in the guts with my full weight behind it and knocked him ass over teakettle. I would have beaten him to death. I was reaching to hit him more, when Carol's commanding voice stopped me cold.
"STOP! He's not worth it, David! That's why Riekie never told you; she knew you'd kill him."
I stepped away from him as Scott slowly picked himself up, trying hard to get his breath back. I could tell he was hurting as he rubbed his gut where I hit him. He couldn't stand straight, wincing as he tried. Carol continued as if nothing had happened.
"Bob was the one who finally convinced me David was telling the truth. He got very angry, calling me a 'stupid bitch' for listening to that 'son of a bitch' and lectured me long and hard about what David had taught us about truth and trust and friendship. His words, and David's hurt insistence he'd done nothing wrong finally made me listen to my heart of hearts. I was planning to reconcile with him that night when you raped me, or as I find out today, tried to rape me!
"The Goddess must have been protecting me all along. I was so ashamed, feeling dirty and used, convinced my own body had betrayed me, I couldn't in good conscience return to David and Riekie. I was so ashamed I couldn't tell them! I could hardly live with myself, let alone them! I've felt that way ever since, until today, when I learn you lied yet again. That final act ultimately did destroy our whole marriage, because we were three. Two couldn't maintain it. Like a three legged table, remove one, and the whole thing falls.
"Because of your filthy touch and worse, your lie that I fucked for you, I was ruined. I couldn't finish college. I couldn't find any other relationships. I wandered through life lost, alone and utterly ashamed. In my own mind I was a slut, just as you said. You — YOU — ruined my marriage and you utterly destroyed ME! I hope you're proud, because there's a special place in Hell reserved specifically for you.
"No man has ever touched me other than my husband, David, until I was violated by your filthy diseased claw. The man I legally married six years ago cannot consummate his marriage bed, and even if he could, I couldn't! The thought of any man's touch after your heinous act made me physically ill. Only my faith in the Goddess and David's Power somehow making it right has kept me from suicide all these years!"
What? Ben couldn't do it? I was still the only one?
.
"Now listen to me, and listen well! You people here are my witnesses. I, my sister, and brothers do herewith divorce you from our family and banish you from our sight."
Her wrath was a glorious thing to behold. I had said I'd put something in her eyes besides pain and guilt. They were dancing with her anger.
"If you so much as show your face around me ever again, you won't have to worry about David hurting you; I'll castrate you with a tin can lid myself! And don't even think about attending the funeral tomorrow. I think David is right. Mom died of a broken heart over what you did to us. She always did defend him, even to her dying breath, and even when I wouldn't listen, because of the hurt you caused and the poison you planted in my heart. I shun you! You no longer exist!"
What a speech! She always did have a flair for drama, and a poetic streak that showed in times of stress or need, and like I said her time as a legal secretary revealed itself. Who do you think writes up all that legal mumbo jumbo anyway, the lawyers? Hell no! That's why they have legal secretaries! The lawyers may know the Law, but the secretaries know the words and how to string them together.
The shunning was her Dutch heritage showing. She turned her back, walked away from him, and kept her back to him. Her slim shoulders were wracked with huge sobs as the anger was replaced by the sadness of realization and loss. I wanted to go to her, but I had a job to finish. I stepped in front of him, still resisting the urge to finish what I'd started, my fists clenched so hard, the nails were biting into my palms.
"Listen up, Asshole! Your former daughter has divorced and disavowed you from her family! As the official representative of your now former sons, Robert, Iain, and Alexander, I say also to all present that you are now divorced and banished from the family! You will NOT, I say again, you will NOT attend the funeral tomorrow on pain of injury or worse! Legal action for your slander and character assassination is seriously being considered. The MP's are looking into those altered files. Charges may be laid. I will suggest to My Wives and your other victim that they press sexual assault charges against you. There is no Statute of Limitations in this country. And if I ever see your scrawny hide again, I will personally separate it from your bones. NOW GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"
The reference to 'My Wives' rattled him. And he shuddered at the open suggestion he be charged with rape and attempted rape. In the last twenty years, attitudes had greatly changed. He looked toward the aunts. They had taken their cue from Carol, and turned their backs, as had Joanne. He looked back at me. What he saw must have convinced him, because he hit the street running, my foot helping him out the door, at a damn good clip for a man his age and favouring an injured gut. Privately I hoped I'd ruptured something that caused a slow painful death and save the taxpayers the cost of two trials.
They all tried to speak at once: "Is he gone?"
"Yes, but his legacy remains. Pie, Jo, I owe you an apology for the language I used and for bringing violence into your home. I was VERY upset. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me for causing such a scene in your home, embarrassing you to your neighbours? My language and violence was unacceptable, and I apologize."
Tante Pie spoke quietly, in her stiff schoolmarm manner.
"There is nothing to forgive. You said what needed to be said. If it took strong language and a stern physical reminder to say it, so what? We are glad to have provided the venue when your opportunity to address the injuries to yourself, Carol and Riekie, and that other arose. This day has been too long coming."
Tante Jo broke the tension. She said, "Well said, Pie. Now, is anyone other than me hungry?"
I realized I was starved. I felt a warm body move up next to me, and a hand grasping mine. A fair head laid itself on my shoulder, as in years past. Unconsciously, my arm went around her waist and pulled her close. I kissed the top of her head. Completely rudderless, I had no idea where I was going from here.
This whole scene had taken less than an hour, it was still only a little before nine. It seemed like an eternity while it was happening. I was just living the moment, once again holding my first love. I was staring into space. I'm sure Carol was too. We were just kind of swaying in the breeze, winding down in the emptiness of spent anger and a waning adrenalin rush.
I felt a hand touch my arm -- Joanne. She looked at me with admiration and wonder. "After all these years, you can still command the room. Do you remember your speech about friendship, trust and truth, that June?"
"Yes. In various forms I still use it, although it has even deeper meaning for me now, since Bob and I had a conversation later that same summer. Ah! Joanne! That was the best summer of my life! I'm sorry you weren't part of it, but you chose another path. What about that speech?"
"Your speech had more impact on me than you might realize. After I left, your words kept running around in my head. I made them go away, but they always came back, especially at times when I saw or heard of an injustice. It took a few years, but I finally realized the wisdom in those words. I found Carol when she was still in College and asked her to forgive me. She interviewed me as if you were standing with her. I answered all her questions to her satisfaction, but she only gave me conditional forgiveness. That was eighteen years or so ago. The condition was that you had to forgive me too, in her presence. I thought that day would never happen. Dave, will you now forgive me for breaking trust with you and Carol, and allow me to be your friend again?"
A thrill went through me. The Power in my life that left me almost twenty years ago was now reasserting itself. Old issues were being resolved, almost as if a plan had been set back in motion.
Carol had come out of her reverie, and was listening. I turned her so I could look into those eyes that captured my soul not once, but twice. The shame and guilt were gone, replaced by love, but there was still underlying pain that would be a long time healing. I knew that from Diane's experience. We gazed long.
"Has Joanne been a good friend, faithful and true since she first asked you to forgive her?"
She nodded. "Yes!"
"Well, Joanne, sorry you missed the good summer, but welcome back in the one of our discontent."
I made a wry grin.
"Wanna hug?"
Joanne hugged me enthusiastically then hugged Carol.
A sweet voice beside me said, "I'm not discontented anymore." Giggle (music, sweet music to hear that giggle again!). "Kiss me!"
I looked in her eyes. The old Carol Anne was looking out at me. Where just a short time ago was dullness, pain and loss, here now was life, vitality, hope.
Without thinking I swept her into my arms. Our lips joined in one of our patented soul-searing French kisses. She even got that damn tongue suck thing going! I popped an instant massive erection, and her hips ground into it like we'd never parted. A noise brought us back. As we rejoined the world, I heard clapping. We looked. The aunts and Joanne were applauding us loudly. Their smiles would have lit up a London fog. Joanne blew one of her extremely loud wolf whistles, deafening us.
As we broke from the kiss, I asked, "Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are when you're angry?"
"Only when I'm angry?"
Tante Jo called us to eat. It was just sandwiches, but typical of the aunts, they were absolutely delicious. We all discovered we were famished. After eating, we volunteered to help with the cleanup.
"Pshaw! Carol Anne and David, you have a lot of catching up to do, we don't need any help tonight." Tante Pie was insistent.
Carol stood up from the table. She reached for my hand, saw the ring, did a double take, smiled happily, and pulled me up, wrapping herself in my arm.
"Yeah! We have some real catching up to do. David is going to take me to bed and make a baby with me. I don't know where he found it but he's wearing his ring again. We're still married. See?"
She held up my hand for them to see my ring. I was shocked at her other comment. The aunts beamed, as if they expected nothing less.
I hemmed and I hawed. "But... but... we're legally married, each of us, to some one else. I've never... You've never..."
"But me no buts, William David Lloyd. My 'legal' husband and your 'legal' wife both said we could. We are NOT cheating if they both know and approve."
"What? When did Diane give her permission, much less, approve?"
"That's who I was talking to on the phone earlier. Ben gave his approval before I left home. You can call them and verify it, if you want."
"Carol Anne, I don't need to do that. You've never lied to me before. I can't imagine you lying about something so important. But..."
'"David, I said but me no buts. You made a promise to me almost exactly twenty years ago. I told you I would hold you to it. The time is now, and the time is RIGHT."
I felt a thrill. When this girl says the time is right, she always KNOWS.
"Yes, Dear."
My imitation of a feline flogged husband got me a punch in the shoulder.
"Ow!"
This whole scene was played out in front of the aunts and Joanne. The aunts continued their almost ecstatic beaming. Joanne looked a little doubtful, but smiled nonetheless.
Carol directed her attention to her aunts.
"Thank you for having us. Thank you for tolerating that horrible scene with that awful man. Will you please call all my family and explain to them that their father is now banished from the family? And why? Tell them every sordid detail. Riekie knows most of it, but not why I withdrew from the world, because of her involvement with David and me. Bob knows part of the story, what he hasn't guessed. I would do it myself, but I am going to be extremely busy for the next several hours.
"Somehow David and I have to pack twenty years of love into less than forty eight hours. The truth must be known. Bob was barely on speaking terms with that person the last eighteen years. I think I know now why. Riekie has been barely civil, but that is understandable. Now, if you will excuse us, we're going back to our hotel, where MY MAN is going to make a baby in me. We'll see you in the morning. My Sweet Prince awaits me."
The aunts and Joanne thought she was referring to me. Little did they know what she called her Sweet Prince... Then again, Joanne had a funny look on her face. Had Carol told her about us? Note to self: tell her about Rascal and Pussy. She'll get a kick out of that.
I turned to her. "Your place or mine?"
She giggled. "OURS"