Dreams of Paradise

by R. B. Conroy

  For some reason on Wednesday nights, she and Joe always ended up tied up in knots in Joe’s master bedroom. It was the one day of the week when their lovemaking just always seemed to happen. Oh, they had their other times in bed, that’s for sure, but Wednesday seemed to be a no brainer. Maybe it was because she had the habit of patting his upper thigh several times during the cart ride home after dinner on Wednesdays. By the time they arrived in Joe’s garage, the poor guy was almost too embarrassed to stand up and walk inside. Wednesday was the only night when Joe turned the cart to the right in the garage just before stopping, protecting his front side when he got out of the cart and hurried inside. Susan giggled quietly at the thought--she knew where her power lay and she loved it.

  She glanced at the pretty yellow clock above the kitchen sink. It was a little before 8 a.m. and time for Joe to get up. Joe rarely used an alarm clock, bragging that he had some internal clock inside that woke him up at eight sharp every morning. Sure enough, just before the old grandfather clock in the family room began to chime, she could hear him whistling in the master bathroom. He always whistled the same song after their nights together. It was the popular old hymn, “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!” Susan thought his selection of songs was a little corny, but she thought it was probably the only song Joe knew with hallelujah in it. She really liked the fact that he wanted to shout hallelujah on the mornings after.

  A few minutes later, Joe came bouncing out of the bedroom in his robe, with a big smile plastered all over his face. “Good morning, Susan. It looks like you’ve got the coffee on and it smells wonderful.” He paused and took a deep breath next to the groaning coffee maker. A look of satisfaction spread across his face. He lifted the carafe and splashed the black hot liquid in his cup and ambled over next to Susan. She was seated in the nook with the morning newspaper across from her. Susan always walked out to the end of the driveway every Thursday to get the Daily Sun, much to the delight of Joe’s male neighbors, who always seemed to have some sort of yard work to do around 7:30 a.m. on Thursdays. She would give them a big smile and a friendly “good morning” while adding a little more arch to her back on the way back to the house.

  Joe took a seat and peered through the window at the sun glistening off the dew covered lawn. “Look’s like another beautiful day in Paradise,” he quipped. “And oh, there’s Harry out trimming his bushes.”

  “It felt wonderful outside when I went to get the paper.”

  Joe rolled his eyes, “I wondered why Harry was out working in his yard so early. He usually sleeps ‘til noon.”

  “Oh don’t be silly, Joe, I’m sure he didn’t even notice me out there.”

  Joe cleared his throat, “Oh, I’m sure he didn’t, the horny old geezer.”

  “Joe! If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re jealous.”

  “Jealous? Who me? Are you kidding?” Joe looked down at the paper trying to hide the little smile on his face.

  Susan crossed her legs under the table and bumped her foot gently against Joe’s bare leg a couple of times. Nothing serious, she just wanted to get his attention. Joe kept reading the paper as if totally unaware of the action going on under the table. Susan took a deep breath. It was time to make her case and talk with him about the issue that she had been rehearsing over and over again in her mind. No better time than right now.

  “Anything interesting there in the sports page?”

  Joe kept his eyes fastened on the newspaper, “Tiger is playing this week, says he wants to test out his new swing that he and Shawn Foley have been working on.”

  “Who’s Shawn Foley?”

  “His swing coach.”

  “Oh,” she replied, raking her foot ever so softly along his calf a few times. “I remember the first time that you brought me here to your house, Joe.”

  “So do I.”

  “I couldn’t believe what a beautiful house you had. I felt like I was living a dream.”

  The doctor glanced over the top of the paper at Susan and smiled, “Why thank you, I’m glad that you like it here.”

  “I feel so comfortable here, it’s starting to feel more and more like home. I’m even getting to know many of your neighbors.”

  “Harry knows you’re here, that’s for sure.” Joe shook his head.

  Susan sat up, feet on floor, placing her elbows firmly on the table and looked directly at the somewhat preoccupied doctor and boldly announced. “Do you love me, Joe?”

  Joe pulled the paper down, giving her his undivided attention. “Why I…uh we get along wonderfully well, and you’re gorgeous and I…uh I love being with you.”

  Susan’s eyes narrowed, “And?”

  “Oh boy.” Hands shaking, Joe lifted his cup for a quick sip of coffee. “Things are really escalating around here all of a sudden,” he moaned almost inaudibly.

  Susan had him back on his heels. She pushed on. “I think it’s a very appropriate question at this point in our relationship, Joe. I love you and I need to know how you feel about me. I hope you understand. I mean, I cherish our life together, and I too am having a wonderful time, but I guess at some point a girl needs more than that. I’ve given myself to you completely, Joe, and I deserve to know just where I stand.” Susan’s eyes widened, she couldn’t believe that she had finally mustered the courage to tell him exactly how she felt.

  Joe dropped the paper and fell back against the soft cushion. A sense of calm seemed to invade his round face. With eyes glistening, he spoke softly never taking his eyes off Susan. “This is hard for me with my memories of Adele and all. I always struggle with my feelings about you and whether they are appropriate for a man in my situation.” He slid his fingers under her hand and squeezed it tenderly, a tear rolled down his face. “But I know in my heart of hearts that I do love you, Susan, I love you very much.”

  Susan instantly became teary-eyed. “It’s so wonderful to hear those words from you, Joe. I can’t tell you how good I feel inside right now. I know that I come from a different world than you do, Joe, but I have my pride also, just like you.”

  Joe laid his free hand on top of their clasped hands. “Oh my goodness, have I made you feel like less of a person? Please tell me no!”

  “No, Joe, it’s nothing like that--you always treat me like a lady. It’s just that I feel like we are approaching a time in our relationship where we need to consider going to the next level. I love you, Joe, and I want to be with you all the time.”

  Joe’s face drained white and he pulled his hands back. “I was hoping that you weren’t going there. It’s such a delicate issue. The thought of being with you here in this house every day makes sense in so many ways, but, you see, it’s just not that simple.”

  A slight trace of despair appeared on Susan’s face. “I know Heather is against it. She has made that very clear to me in so many subtle ways and I understand how she feels, being your daughter and all, but this is your life, Joe, and we love each other! Sometimes the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest thing to do. You need to put yourself first for once in your life! You need to do what’s best for you! Who knows where we will be in a few years. You need someone here with you twenty-four seven who loves you and will take care of you no matter what challenges life brings our way.”

  “You make a strong case, my dear, and I find it very difficult to disagree with you. And, you are right about Heather--she is very much against our living together, but its more than just Heather. I’m Catholic, Susan, and good Catholics don’t live together out of wedlock. Why the Catholic priest I grew up with would roll over in his grave if he knew I was even contemplating such a thing.” He pushed back the few strands of hair dangling on his forehead, “I just feel so torn about all of this.”

  Susan’s face went blank. “How would that priest from your past feel if he knew that you were sleeping with someone out of wedlock? We’ve been together time and time again over the past several weeks; so to me, living together is just the next logical step. It’s no more of a
moral dilemma than our decision to become intimate. At least I don’t think it is.”

  Joe smiled affectionately, “I feel like I’ve pushed you against the wall with all of my self-righteousness. I didn’t mean to do that. You’re fighting to be with the one you love and I love and respect you for that, but I just need more time. Can you give me a little more time?”

  Susan’s eyes rolled slightly toward the ceiling. She pulled her hand away. “You’ve got me, Joe, you know that. My world has become your world and I love being a part of it.” A tiny smile appeared on her face. “I’m not happy with your answer, but I will accept it and I won’t pout about it. I think I can live without knowing for awhile longer.”

  Joe lifted his coffee cup for a toast.

  Her eyes lingered on his face for a second and then she smiled and somewhat reluctantly lifted her cup and gently tapped his.

  “To us,” Joe said with a hint of gusto.

  “To us,” came Susan’s placid reply.

  Chapter 28

  Joe was on the phone talking to Heather later that morning while driving Susan home. He and Heather were discussing an overnight with Mark on Friday night. With Joe’s attention diverted, Susan was able to reflect on the talk she and Joe had earlier that morning. She was disappointed by his foot dragging on the cohabitation issue, but she felt there was little she could do about it right now.

  Still under pressure from ex-beau, Dusty, to pay him the twenty-two thousand he was demanding, she was starting to feel the heat. Her only real hope to acquire that kind of money was to ask Joe at some point, but Susan didn’t want to bring up money to Joe until she was certain that she would be living with him. If she brought the subject up before she convinced him to let her move in and Joe paid the judgment for her, it would give him some leverage on the living together issue. Susan figured that after such a magnanimous gesture, it would be very difficult for her to ask for anything else from Joe. It might create an unspoken understanding in their relationship that shouted, “Hey, look at all I’ve done for you, so let’s not go there.” She would feel it, he would feel it, and so she felt that her chances of moving to Sunset Ridge Drive would be greatly diminished.

  After much thought, Susan came to the conclusion that the best way to fulfill her dream of living with a rich man in The Villages was to lock up the living together issue first and then bring up the twenty-two thousand. Time was starting to become an issue. Dusty had called her recently to tell her that the bank was continuing to foreclose on them. After this morning’s discussion with Joe, she wasn’t at all certain that she would have enough time to change his mind. Susan had pushed on the issue as hard as she could and didn’t feel it would be suitable to bring it up again. If Joe didn’t come around in due time, she would be forced to go ahead and beg for the money and take her chances on the living together issue.

  Susan looked through the windshield at the passing landscape as they left the beautifully landscaped boulevard and stunning entryway to The Villages and drove past the scrub covered fields just outside the well-appointed enclave. A smile appeared on her face, Oh well, I’ve got a pretty good gig anyway. She laid her hand on Joe’s forearm and gave it a little squeeze. He turned her way, phone to ear, and gave her a wink, mouthing the words, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She mouthed in return.

  Chapter 29

  His black hair rustled in the cool morning breeze. The sun felt warm on his arm that was protruding out the car window. His head bobbed to the heavy metal music on the radio as he rolled down Sunset Ridge Drive. He reached forward and turned the music down just before rolling to a stop in Dr. Joe’s driveway. Willie jumped out, pushed the car door shut and hurried to the nearby garage door. He punched in the code to the garage door and ducked under the rising door. On his way to the back door, he noticed that the doctor’s cart was not in its usual spot next to the shiny red tool box. He’s out golfing, he thought.

  Willie arrived at the backdoor, pushed it open and walked into the house. The sound of the air conditioner kicking on broke the silence inside the expansive home. He immediately headed toward the guest bathroom at the back of the house to check out the drainage pipe under the sink that he had repaired the day before. It would only take a few minutes and then he would be on his way.

  Nearing the bathroom, Willie heard Dr. Joe’s voice coming from the bedroom that had been converted into his den. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the doctor’s familiar voice. It sounded to Willie as if he was on the phone. Amazingly, Willie heard his name mentioned. He had been ready to announce his presence to the doctor, but after hearing his name, he became mum and stopped to listen in for a second. He stood stone silent, positive that the doctor had not heard him come into the house and walk across the living area. He was stunned by what the doctor said next.

  “That’s right, Doug, I would like to leave Susan a million and her son two hundred fifty thousand.”

  Willie’s eyes widened, he leaned closer to the door.

  “Yes, yes, Doug, I know they’re not family.”

  There was an excruciating pause while the doctor listened to the reply.

  “Listen, Doug, by your own estimate, I have an estate of well over ten million dollars, so I will have plenty of assets left to leave to my family.”

  The doctor must have turned his head slightly because Willie could now hear the other voice on the phone. He listened with rapt attention.

  “I know all that, Joe, but that’s a lot of money.”

  “Not really, Doug, not in the overall scheme of things. Anyway, this poor woman has struggled her entire life to try and make ends meet, so I think it would be just wonderful for her to have a time in her life where she could feel financially secure. I would like to give her the money right now, but I’m certain that she wouldn’t take it. This is something I really want to do, Doug, it’s very important to me.”

  “Her son looks a little rough around the edges, if you ask me.”

  Joe sighed. “Willie’s had a tough go of it, that’s true, but once again, I have grown very fond of the scruffy fella and would like to leave him something also. I love Susan dearly, but I’m afraid Willie has suffered as a result of her struggles. I just feel that he deserves a little something also.”

  “Alright, alright, I know better than to argue with you when you’ve made up your mind to something. What are their full names?”

  “Susan Kay Harris and William Jeffrey Harris.”

  “I will have my secretary revise your will this afternoon. You can stop in later this week and pick up a copy.”

  Sensing that the conversation between Dr. Joe and his attorney was coming to an end, Willie quickly tip-toed backwards about twenty feet before announcing his arrival.

  “Hello! Hello! Is that you, Dr. Joe?”

  Joe stepped over and stuck his head out of the door of the den, smiled and waved at the approaching Willie, “Okay Doug, sounds good. Somebody’s here, I have to go.” He punched his phone off and stepped out of the den to greet Willie.

  “Sorry, Dr. Joe. I would have hollered sooner, but when I didn’t see your cart in the garage I thought you must be out golfing.” Willie smiled.

  The doctor chuckled, “No problem, Willie, my cart is at the dealer having some work done on it. Darn thing keeps dying out on me. They picked it up yesterday afternoon.”

  “I just wanted to stop by and turn the water on and check that connection under the sink for leaks. I hope I didn’t startle you.”

  “Oh no, no. I was just going over a few things with my attorney. I’m glad you’re here. I missed using that bathroom this morning. I had to go clear across the house. It will be nice to have it back in service.”

  “It should only take a few minutes, then I will be on my way.”

  Joe patted the top of Willie’s shoulder, “No problem, son, take your time. I was just leaving to play a little pickle ball with the guys down at Lake Miona. Make yourself at home.” The trusting doctor hurr
ied to the garage for his short trip to the Lake Miona Recreation Center.

  Still shaken by the recent revelations, Willie walked into the bathroom and fell down on his knees in front of the sink’s cabinet, paused momentarily, took a deep breath and exhaled. “Unbelievable!” he mumbled, shaking his head. “Fricking unbelievable!”

  He opened the cabinet doors, reached inside and twisted the hot and cold water valves open allowing water to flow to the sink once again. Then he reached above the sink and twisted the cold water faucet on and fell back on his heels to let the water drain briefly through the macaroni shaped joint. Then he reached underneath and felt the connection points on the elbow joint. Satisfied that they were dry and not leaking, he reached up on top of the cabinet again and began replacing the cleaning supplies he had removed from the cabinet the day before. He bumped the small door shut, stood and exited the guest bathroom and navigated through the living area and out to the driveway.

  Willie dropped into his Civic and backed carefully out of the driveway. His mind was racing. “A quarter mil!” he whispered excitedly. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He accelerated slowly to reduce the noise of his worn out mufflers and started for home. From the very beginning of his involvement with Dr. Stone, he had been trying to figure out a way to get some of the doctor’s money. His dependency on coke had been growing ever since the terrible incident with the guard at the Legion in Leesburg several weeks ago and it was raging out of control right now. His habit was costing him over a hundred dollars a day.