Hope you're all doing well.
I've been really busy and very sick lately, so I couldn't get the last part of the story up as quickly as I wanted. I hope you're still interested.
Take care.
~~~~~~
*Refresher - end of part 26
After dinner was finished the friends made themselves comfortable in front of the television in the den. After about an hour, Dee Dee found herself yawning and feeling sleepy. She checked the time on the wall clock and on her watch realized that the time might be right to call Rick. She desperately wanted to put off calling for another day, but as she told Celise; Alex could tell him everything; everything about her, but not himself. She’d put off calling for only about another half hour. She looked across the room to her friends. “I’ve decided to call Rick tonight.” Both Celise and Michael were surprised to hear that.
“Good.” Celise replied. “If you need me to be with you, let me know. You can take the cordless phone from our bedroom and take it to your room.”
“Okay, thanks. I’m going up to take a shower first. Hopefully it’ll help me relax a little more and give me time to build up my courage.” Dee Dee excused herself and did as she said. While the water poured down over her body, she tried to calm herself with every second that grew closer to making the call. While she rinsed the conditioner from her hair, she told herself that everything would be fine as long as she kept calm and could keep Rick from asking a lot of questions she didn’t want to answer just yet. Once she was wrapped in a towel, she stepped from the shower and walked across the hall to her room. After she slipped into her bathrobe and began to blow dry her hair, she felt movement from her belly; at least on of the babies made his or her presence known. She stopped the dryer for a second and caressed her belly; thinking of her children’s father. Before she’d lose any of her nerve, she quickly finished drying her hair, changed into her pajamas and picked up the telephone. Before dialing, she debated the idea of calling with or without Celise at her side. It was now or never, and she decided to go it alone.
[riiiing!] Hunter; dog-tired, had just finished an all-night stakeout and was just getting home. He could hear the phone ringing as he put the key in the front door. [riiiing!]
With each ring Dee Dee became a little closer to hanging up as her anxiety grew.
[riiiing!] “Hello, Hunter, here. Hello? Is anyone there?”
=======
(Part 27)
“Rick, it’s me, Dee Dee.”
“Dee Dee?” Rick’s tone softened. “Hey, I was about to hang up. I’m glad I didn’t. Couldn’t you hear me answer the phone?”
“No. I thought I’d lost the connection.” Dee Dee said, honestly. “I can hear you just fine, now.”
“Good. It’s about one in the morning over there, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is. I was trying to catch you before you went into work.”
“Great timing on your part. I was working all night on a stakeout and just got in. I’m off until tomorrow.”
“I hate to keep you from sleeping. I can call back later.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’m fine. What about you? Can’t you sleep? Is something wrong?” Rick asked with concern.
“No, I can’t sleep. I really haven’t tried, because I needed to talk to you first.” Dee Dee’s stomach twitched with nervous tension.
“Oh, then something is wrong? I figured things must being going really well since I haven’t heard from you in so long.” Holding the receiver between his shoulder and ear, Rick pulled off his jacket and tie, and settled into his recliner. “Now, tell me what’s on your mind. What’s keeping you awake?”
“Well, it’s about Alex and me.”
“What is it?”
Dee Dee exhaled deeply but quietly. “We’re separated. I moved out today.”
“What? You’re separated?” A confused and anxious Hunter sat on the edge of his seat. “Your marriage? I’m lost here. What’s happened?”
“A lot. It’s quite a long story. Are you up for at least part of it now?”
“Sure I am. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Alex is nothing like the man I thought he was. I was completely wrong about every hope I had with him. He’s an absolute asshole; only out for himself, and couldn’t care any less for me. He…”
“Did he hurt you, Dee Dee?” Rick interrupted. “I have to know this now.”
“Verbally, yes.” Dee Dee would continue to withhold the full story. “He was ruthless with verbal abuse. He said extremely hurtful things to me. I don’t want to go into every detail right now.”
“Okay. I won’t pressure you. Tell me whatever you want.”
“To start from the beginning, my marriage was an arranged scam.”
“Wait, I don’t think I’m following you. What do you mean by arranged scam?”
Dee Dee sighed nervously at the thought of Rick’s reaction. “I made a bad decision and got caught up into something awful. If you want to say ‘I told you so’, I won’t hold it against you.”
“I won’t say that. I swear.” Rick replied with sympathy. “Saying that would only hurt you more and you know I would never do that. Just tell me what you mean.”
“Thanks, Rick.” Dee Dee moved from the center of the bed to a more comfortable position with her back against the headboard. With a refreshing deep breath, she continued. “During the entire time I was with him, he was seeing another woman and never had any real love for me. He needed to have a cleaner image, so he married me just for that purpose. He said he needed to make an acceptable mark for himself with the foundation and the community. His plan was to have a wife, which would help his image and help eliminate the idea of what was true; that he was a liar and a cheat.”
Rick bolted from his seat and began pacing. “He married you to make himself look good?! Unbelievable! What the hell is wrong with him?! If I ever get near him again…”
“Calm down, Rick. I told you it’d be a lot to take in, but please try to calm down.”
“But this is just crazy!” Rick pounded the wall with his fist. “That bastard has some nerve, doesn’t he?! I mean, I never thought that much of him to begin with, but this is too much!”
“Yeah, I know. But I’m away from him, now. I’ve moved in with Celise and Michael.”
“Well, thank goodness for friends.” Rick began to settle down. “What else did Alex do?”
“He didn’t want me have anymore contact with you. That’s why I didn’t call as often as I’d like, and I’m sure if you left a message he’d have erased it from the machine or just didn’t tell me you called. I wasn’t ignoring you. It was just that I wasn’t getting your messages and couldn’t call you without him seeing it on the bill and blowing a gasket. And anything that dealt with my former life as a police officer was not to be a topic in his house.”
“He ruled what you could talk about?! That son of a bitch! I knew I hated him for a good reason. My judge of character seemed to be right-on with him.” Rick let out a sympathetic sigh for Dee Dee as he sat down. “I can’t imagine you having to be alone after all of this. You don’t have to be, you know? I can catch a plane over there right away.”
“No!” There was no way she could let Rick see that she’s pregnant.
“No?”
Dee Dee realized the tension in her answer and quickly calmed herself. “I mean, it’ll be too much trouble. I’m sure you’re really tied up with a huge caseload, and Charlie could really use you. I really appreciate the thought, though.”
“It won’t be any trouble, Dee Dee. Charlie could get along without me for a few days. You know I’d do anything for you, and I think you could use an extra friend; one you’ve known for a long time.”
“I understand that, and again, I appreciate it, but I think I’ll do better as I am right now. And I do have Celise and Michael. No offense, okay?”
Disappointed, Rick agreed. “Alright. If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“Oh, and no offense taken. But if you change your mind about me coming over, call me immediately.”
“Thanks, Rick. I will.”
“So, do you have any idea of how long you’ll be staying with Celise and Michael?”
“I’ll start looking in the papers for an apartment in the morning, and I’ll check out a few real estate agencies for help. I’ll also be looking for a job. I don’t want to give up my volunteer job at the community center, but I could use the cash now, definitely.”
“Did you get the money I sent to you?”
“Yes, I got it. And thanks. It actually went to a neighbor’s house by mistake, and I think I’m lucky it did. She stopped me as I walked from Celise’s one night and gave it to me.”
“Great. I’m glad you got it. Now, you said you’ll be looking for a paying job. So you’ll be staying in London for a while then?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Disappointed again, Rick hoped she’d return before too long. “I hope you’ll be happy over there, now that you’re done with Alex. At some point I’d like to visit, if you’re not over here first.”
“I’d like that too. I just need time to get myself together, okay?”
“Fair enough. How’d your parents take the news about Alex?”
“I haven’t told them yet. They’re out of the country right now, and I don’t expect to hear from them for at least another week.”
“I wish you’d tell me what else is going on with you, or what went on with you and Alex. I think you’d like that too.”
Dee Dee hesitated with a quiet sigh. “I really don’t feel like going into full detail tonight. I just wanted to touch base and let you know where I’m staying. I wouldn’t want you to have called and had Alex tell you his version of the story.”
“Okay, I understand. I’m glad you called and told me as much as you did. But I hope you’ll feel up to sharing the rest of the story soon. I want to help you get through any of the problems you can’t handle.”
“Thank you. And I’ll talk more about it when I’m ready.”
“Okay. No pressure. But I have to ask; how are doing right now? How are you coping, Dee Dee?”
“Today was quite an event. Alex and I had a huge blowout, and I left him. I knew there was no reason for me to stay, and I wanted out as soon as possible. It all happened so fast…kinda like a whirlwind. And being married, separated and headed for divorce, all in less than five months is really strange. But it’s reality…my reality. Thankfully I have friends here to lean on, and of course you too. So, although the whole experience has been surreal, I think I’m doing pretty well under the circumstances.”
“Wow. I’m proud of you, Dee Dee.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad you’re safe and with friends. From what you’ve told me about the Grey’s, I’m sure they’ll look out for you almost as well as I can.”
“Yeah, they’re great. I’m thankful to have them and you in my life. I love you all.”
“I love you too, Dee Dee.” Rick’s heart fluttered, and though he didn’t know it, Dee Dee’s did the same.
Clearing her throat of any build up of sadness, Dee Dee changed the subject. “Would you like to tell me the latest and most interesting events in your life?”
“There’s nothing major going on here. I’m doing the same job, only without you. There’s been talk of getting me another partner, but I’m not ready for that yet.”
“None will ever be as great as I was.” Dee Dee chuckled.
“Uh-huh. And you thought I was going to disagree. But don’t get all conceited about it, okay?” Rick joked.
“Okay. How are Charlie and the rest of the gang?”
“Everyone’s fine. They’ll be glad to know I’ve talked to you. They, especially Charlie have been asking me if we’d talked lately.”
“Well, when you see Charlie, you can tell him about my impending divorce, but I’d rather he didn’t call and try to console me. I know he’ll mean well if he chose to call, but it was hard enough telling you. I can’t go through it again with him and then later with my parents.”
“Got it. I’ll just tell him that you’ll call him when you’re up to it; that you need some time. That’ll be the truth anyway. And if anyone else asks, I’ll tell them that things just didn’t work out and leave it at that.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Have you been in touch with Brad or Kitty lately?”
“Kitty’s doing well back at Hollenbeck, and Brad’s trying his luck in juvenile.”
“Brad in juvenile? How can anyone tell which side he’s on?” Dee Dee laughed.
“Yeah, that’s a mystery to me, too.” Rick laughed, then changed to a more somber mode. Since we’ve been talking about failed marriages, it looks like he and Kathy aren’t balancing out too well again. I think they’ll wind up calling it quits for good really soon.”
“Oh, I hate to hear that. I was hoping they’d have worked it all out.”
“Yeah, well, Kathy’s always been the jealous type, and Brad didn’t help by being a flirt. He never did anything to break his vows I guess, but it was just too much for Kathy to deal with.”
“I know I never thought anything of his flirting with me, but I guess I can see where Kathy would wonder about his antics, especially after hearing rumors about him cheating. He never did that, of course. But if you’re insecure and feel threatened by the women your husband works with, I guess you have a problem. It’s gotta be hard to go through. Remember the lawsuit she had against Kitty and me?” Dee Dee laughed.
“Yeah, that was interesting. I still feel left out that she didn’t include me.” Rick laughed heartily.
“You poor man.” Dee Dee chuckled. “And, for some reason Kathy never really seemed to be Brad’s type. She wasn’t that easy to warm up to, either.”
“I hear ya. I always felt welcomed in your home when Steve was my partner, but whenever Brad invited me over, Kathy seemed to be anxious for me to leave and never made conversation. Kitty said she was even less friendly with her. Well, she is a woman, isn’t she?”
“That she is.” Both Dee Dee and Rick laughed, and then Dee Dee’s laugh became a yawn. “Excuse me.”
“Am I boring you?” Rick asked with feigned offense.
“No. I think you’ve actually been of help. Now that I’ve talked to you, I feel a little more relaxed.”
“Glad to hear it. You knew I was good for something.”
“True.”
“Alright, kiddo. You get yourself some well-deserved rest.”
“I’m sure you could use some sleep, too. Thank you so much for listening, Rick.”
“My pleasure. I just wish it was due to happier news. One day in the near future, I want to hear that something wonderful is about to, or has already happened for you.”
Dee Dee caressed her belly at the thought. “Yeah, I hope to tell you something like that too.”
“Remember to call me at anytime. I’m always here for you, Dee Dee. Always.”
“Thank you. And I’m always here for you, too.”
“Good night, Dee Dee. I hope we talk again soon.”
“We will. And, goodnight. Or in your case; good morning.”
After hanging up, both immediately sighed with contentment. Dee Dee was fairly satisfied for telling Rick a little of the truth, and managing to keep him in LA for while longer.
Rick was happy to know that Dee Dee was away from Alex and living with friends. But he wasn’t about to let go of the fact that Alex had done wrong by Dee Dee. He didn’t know everything, but he knew enough to know that he’d have to deal with Dr. Turnan at some point.
======