The Ones That Got Away

by Lou Mindar

  “Yeah, she’ll be there,” he said. “Is everything set?”

  Their company closed a big deal, and they decided that it was a good time to have a little get together for all their employees. They chose happy hour and dinner at a new restaurant owned by Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith.

  “Ozzie’s is all set. It should be a fun night,” Scott said.

  On Thursday, they closed the office early. Melanie and Carla mingled with everyone at happy hour, while Scott and Randy visited with their employees to thank them for their work.

  After dinner, several employees left, but a few kept the party going. When Carla went home, Melanie wanted to leave, too. She and Scott had driven separately, and Melanie was too drunk to drive.

  “Give me a minute,” Scott said. “Just let me finish my drink.”

  “No, let’s go now,” Melanie said.

  Scott put his hand on her arm, but she shrugged it off. “Melanie, please, calm down,” he said. “We’re going to head home in a couple of minutes. Let me finish my drink and say goodbye to everyone.”

  “Take as long as you want,” she said. “I’m leaving right now.” She pushed Scott out of the way and headed for the door.

  “Melanie,” he said, then a little louder, “Melanie, stop.” Without turning around, she walked out the front doors.

  Scott went back to the bar and interrupted Randy’s conversation with one of their employees. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to leave.”

  “Is everything all right?” Randy asked.

  “Yeah, I just have to go. Can you take care of the bill?”

  “I’ve got it. I’ll see you in the morning,” Randy said.

  Scott walked quickly into the parking lot hoping to catch Melanie, but he couldn’t find her.

  Scott rushed home as quickly as he could. To his surprise, he beat Melanie home. He paid the babysitter, then waited for Melanie to return.

  Scott sat on the couch and waited. He worried about his wife’s safety, and he also resented the fact that he had to worry. He eventually fell asleep on the couch but was awoken by the ringing of the telephone. He glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight.

  “Hello.” Scott’s voice was groggy from sleep.

  “Can I speak to Scott Thompson,” a man asked.

  “This is Scott Thompson.”

  “This is Deputy Crandall from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.”

  “Oh God,” Scott said involuntarily.

  “Sir, we have your wife here at the station,” he said. “She was arrested earlier this evening for driving while intoxicated.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yes sir, she’s fine. But she’s going to have to stay here at the county jail tonight and then she’ll go before a judge in the morning. At that time, the judge will set bail and she’ll be allowed to go home.”

  “Can I speak to her,” Scott asked.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but while she was waiting to make her telephone call, Mrs. Thompson passed out.”

  Through Carla, Scott got the number for Gary Black, who Carla said was the best criminal defense attorney in town. Despite the late hour, he dialed the attorney’s number.

  *

  Scott was already sitting in court when they brought Melanie in. She still wore the clothes from Ozzie’s. Her hair was a mess, flattened on one side of her head, sticking up on the other. Their eyes met. Scott put his hand up to wave, but Melanie just stared at him.

  The courtroom reminded Scott of a factory assembly line. The defendant was brought into the room, the judge read the charges against them, the defendant or their attorney pled not guilty, then the judge set their bail and they moved on to the next case. Over and over.

  The judge read Melanie’s charge of driving while intoxicated, then added a charge for resisting arrest. Gary Black was next to Melanie. He pleaded not guilty on Melanie’s behalf. The judge asked for bail recommendations. The prosecutor requested bail of $20,000, and Gary asked that Melanie be released on her of recognizance, meaning she just signed a form promising that she would come back to court for her trial. The judge sided with Gary.

  The bailiff took Melanie out the back of the courtroom. In the hall, Gary and Scott introduced themselves.

  “They just took your wife back for processing,” Gary said. “She should be out in a few minutes. While we’re waiting, I want to go over what you can expect to happen from here on out and what my fees will be.”

  Gary wasn’t what Scott had expected. He thought Gary would be tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair. That’s how he had sounded on the phone the night before. Instead, Gary was short, bald, and wiry. He also had a rather abrupt and aggressive personality. But Scott trusted Carla.

  Melanie finally came out. Scott wanted to hug her, but she seemed standoffish. Gary explained what she could expect and then he was gone.

  “Let’s go,” Melanie said, and waited for him to lead the way.

  In the car, she stared out the window in silence. Scott felt compelled to say something. “Carla says Gary is the best criminal defense attorney in town. I’m sure this is going to all work out.”

  Melanie continued to stare out the window at the passing buildings.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything,” he asked.

  “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to tell you I’m sorry and that I’ll never do this again?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t…”

  “If you would have just left when I wanted you to, none of this would have happened.”

  “How can you say that? You’re the one who chose to drive after drinking so much. No one forced you.”

  “Of course, you’re not going to take any responsibility,” she said.

  “Why should I? You’re the one who drinks too much, not me.” Scott gripped the steering wheel tightly.

  “I do not need help,” Melanie screamed. “I don’t have a problem.”

  He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. “Melanie, you do have a problem, and you do need help.” His voice was soft now. “We need to discuss this…”

  “Just shut up.” She cried and turned away from him. “I don’t have a problem and I am not going to discuss this with you. Just leave me alone.”

  He wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew that now wasn’t the time to deal with this. So, he did what she asked him to do. He left her alone.

  Chapter 25

  July 1994

  Melanie’s court case drug on month after month. Part of Gary’s strategy seemed to be to delay the case until the prosecutor’s office lost interest in pursuing it. His strategy worked. After more than four years, the prosecutor agreed to drop the driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest charges in exchange for Melanie pleading guilty to reckless driving.

  Getting out of the drunk driving charge seemed to embolden Melanie. She acted as if the incident never happened. She felt more comfortable drinking in front of Scott again. It was common for her to have a couple of cocktails before he came home from work, and to drink through the night. Many nights, she simply passed out on the couch.

  In a way, Scott was disappointed that Melanie didn’t suffer more severe consequences for her transgression. It wasn’t that he wanted her to serve time in jail, but he would have liked something to jolt her into realizing she had a problem.

  They seldom spoke, and when they did, Melanie was often confrontational, arguing with Scott and blaming him for imagined slights. Other times, she’d simply ignore him. Scott was also concerned about Melanie being home alone with the kids. He came home earlier and earlier. At night, he put the kids to bed, often because Melanie had already passed out. He and the kids spent most weekends together while Melanie stayed home.

  Scott didn’t like being away from the office when there was work to do, but he enjoyed time with the kids. They spent weekends hiking or camping or hanging out in the backyard. Their favorite weekend activity was kayaking. The kids had learned how to kayak at a young age, and
they got out on area rivers as often as they could.

  One trip, Allie asked, “Why doesn’t Mom come with us when we go kayaking or hiking?”

  “She doesn’t feel up to getting outside and being active.” Scott wasn’t exactly lying, but he wasn’t telling the whole truth either.

  “I think it would be good for her to come with us,” eight-year-old Robbie said. “She could use some exercise.”

  Because of her drinking, Melanie had become pale and gained an extra twenty pounds. She looked soft and she easily tired whenever doing anything physical.

  “Can we invite her next time?” Allie asked.

  “She’s always invited,” Scott said.

  “I know, but let’s try to talk her into coming with us next time.”

  Two weeks later, Melanie accepted the offer and they were all kayaking the Meramec River. Robbie and Allie were thrilled to have Melanie along for the trip.

  After a day of paddling and swimming, they camped for the night at Meramec State Park. Almost as soon as they got to the campground, Melanie rummaged through her backpack and found the vodka. She poured herself a generous drink and sat down to watch Scott and the kids set up camp. Then they built a fire and roasted hot dogs.

  “Do you want me to make one for you, Mom?” Allie asked.

  “No thanks, Honey,” Melanie slurred. “I’ll stick with my drink.” Allie glanced at Scott but didn’t say anything.

  They sat around the fire talking and telling jokes for a couple of hours. Melanie didn’t join in despite encouragement from the kids. She was content to simply stare into the fire and drink her vodka.

  “How about some s’mores?” Scott asked. The kids found the graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, then roasted the marshmallows over the fire.

  “Do you want a stick so you can roast a marshmallow?” Scott asked Melanie.

  “No, I’m fine,” she said.

  “Are you sure?” Allie asked. “It’s fun.”

  “I’m fine, Allie.” Melanie sounded irritated. The kids looked at each other and then at Scott, but nobody spoke. After eating her s’more, Allie made another one and took it to Melanie.

  “Here, Mom.” Allie held the s’more out toward Melanie. “I made one for you.”

  “No thanks,” Melanie said. “I don’t want one.”

  “They’re good. Try it.” Allie persisted.

  “Allie, I said I don’t want one.” There was an irritated edge to Melanie’s voice.

  Tears rolled down Allie’s cheeks and she continued to hold the s’more out to her mother. Melanie stood up unsteadily. “I’m going to make myself another drink.”

  “I don’t like it when you drink,” Allie said. “I wish you’d stop.”

  Melanie turned back toward her daughter. “I don’t care what you like and don’t like,” she yelled. “And I told you I don’t want that stupid s’more.” Melanie knocked the s’more from Allie’s hand, then stumbled backwards, falling to the ground.

  Scott rushed to Allie’s side. She sobbed as she stared at the s’more at her feet. Robbie hid behind his father.

  “Did you put her up to this?” Melanie screamed. “Are you trying to turn my children against me?”

  Allie cried louder. Scott felt the eyes of nearby campers on them. “Just settle down.” His voice was soft and calm. “Nobody is…”

  “I’m going to bed.” Melanie stumbled to the tent.

  Scott hugged the kids, and they sat back by the fire.

  Chapter 26

  August 1995

  Scott’s dad died in August. Scott had convinced his father to give up the cigarettes about a year after they first talked about it, but it didn’t change anything. When his dad quit, Scott felt like he had accomplished something; like he had used his second chance at life to make a positive change. Instead, his father died at the same time he had died previously.

  Melanie was concerned and distraught about her father-in-law’s death, but when she started packing to go to Chicago for the funeral, Scott said no. She pushed back, wanting to know why Scott wouldn’t want her at his father’s funeral.

  “You’re a mess, Melanie. Your drinking is out of control and I’m afraid you’ll make things worse if you go to the funeral.” Scott was surprised at his sternness, but he had all he could take. His suitcase was laid out on their bed and he kept packing.

  “That’s a horrible thing to say,” she said. “Why do you always…”

  “I don’t want to hear it. I need to be thinking about my mom, and I need to help her make the funeral arrangements. I don’t have time to babysit you right now.”

  Melanie froze, her eyes wide and hurt, but she quickly gathered herself and became defiant. “That’s fine. Have it your way. I’m going downstairs.” She left the room.

  “Yeah, go downstairs and get a drink,” Scott said under his breath. “You drunk.”

  At the funeral, Scott’s mom was distraught, just as she had been the first time her husband died. The difference was that at the first funeral, Kathy had been there to comfort her.

  As he looked at his father in the casket, Scott couldn’t help but think about that dream. Why had his father come to him in that dream? Why was he given a second chance at a happy marriage? How had he screwed it up so badly? Scott wanted his dad to sit up in the casket and take him away from his drunken wife and their mess of a marriage. But his kids meant everything to him, and he couldn’t stand the thought of leaving them with Melanie.

  After the funeral, there was a reception at the family’s church. Scott had gone through this before. He’d heard the heartfelt condolences from people he hadn’t seen in years, and he didn’t want to hear them again. While Scott’s sister attended to their mom, he stole away to a small courtyard around the side of the church. Randy and Carla had made the trip to Chicago for the funeral and found him in the courtyard.

  “How are you doing?” Randy asked.

  “I’m okay,” Scott said. He motioned for Randy and Carla to join him on the cement bench in the courtyard.

  “Where’s Melanie?” Carla asked.

  Although he should have expected the question, it still surprised him. “Oh, she’s at home.” He had told his mom that Melanie had the stomach flu, but he didn’t want to lie to Randy and Carla. “It’s her drinking. I was afraid of how she might act if she was here.”

  “It’s that bad?” Carla asked.

  “I’m afraid it is,” Scott said. “And I’m not sure what to do about it.”

  “You know, my dad was an alcoholic,” Carla said. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, Scott, but I see a lot of the same behavior in Melanie that I saw in my dad. At first, my mom put up with it. In some ways, she even helped him. You know, she’d drive him home from a party after he had had too much to drink or she’d pick up a bottle for him when she went to the store. She was the typical enabler. She was afraid to say anything to him about his drinking or to do anything about it. I think she was afraid that if she insisted that he choose between his drinking and his family, he’d choose his drinking.”

  “She must have said something at some point,” Randy said.

  “After several years, Dad’s health had deteriorated from so much drinking and he was missing work. Mom was afraid he’d lose his job. She’d talk to him about it, but Dad wouldn’t listen. He was too deep in his cup, as they say. Eventually, she told him that if he didn’t get help, he’d have to leave.”

  “Man, things had to get pretty bad before your dad went for help,” Randy said.

  “They say you can’t help an alcoholic,” Carla said. “He has to help himself. And he won’t help himself until he hits rock bottom. I guess potentially losing everything he cared about was rock bottom for my dad.”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I have to do something,” Scott said.

  “Just remember,” Carla said, “this isn’t your problem. It’s Melanie’s.”

  *

  Scott sat in his father’s chair. The
room was dark. His mother and sister had gone to bed early, so Scott was the only one awake.

  He wondered what Kathy was doing without him. He wished he could talk to her. He longed to hear her voice, even if just a few words.

  Although he had no idea where Kathy was, he did know where her parents were. He picked up the phone, dialed information, and asked for the number for Peter and Mary Fitzgerald in Naperville.

  On the third ring, Kathy’s mom picked up.

  “Hi, Mrs. Fitzgerald. This is Scott Thompson, a friend of Kathy’s from college. I was hoping to talk to her, and I was wondering if you have her current phone number.”

  There was a pause. Scott suddenly feared he had nothing to say.

  “You said your name’s Scott?” Mrs. Fitzgerald asked.

  “Yes. Scott Thompson.”

  “Scott, I’m sorry, but Kathy isn’t here anymore.”

  “She doesn’t live at home anymore?”

  “No. She’s not. . .” Mrs. Fitzgerald made a sound that came from the back of her throat. “Kathy was killed in a car accident several years ago.”

  “Oh my God,” Scott said. “I’m so, so sorry, Mrs. Fitzgerald. I had no idea.”

  Mrs. Fitzgerald’s breathing became more pronounced. Finally, she said, “I’m going to go now.” She softly hung up the phone.

  How could Kathy be dead? At this point in their previous lives, they were married, and she was very much alive. Instead of being with him in Chicago or New York or Connecticut, Kathy was wherever she had been when she was killed. The realization made Scott wonder what Melanie’s life would have been like if they had never married.

  The next day, Scott called Hal Ridley, a private detective he and Randy once used to track down the owners of a piece of property they were interested in.

  “Hal, I have another job for you,” Scott said.

  “Another fine citizen running away from taxes?”

  “Not this time. There are three women I’d like you to track down for me. I can give you their names—their maiden names—but I don’t have much more for you to go on.”

  “You just want me to find them for you?” Hal asked.