It had been a busy week. On Monday, the stock market took off like I thought it would. Because of my quick well time maneuvers I made good money for my clients and me. Once again, I had proved to myself that I had done my job and successfully done my homework. Every day this week Bridget and I met for lunch to discuss what was going on in our day. Every night I took home little thank you gifts from clients who had a lot of extra money thanks to me.

There was a side benefit with things going so well because with satisfied clients word of mouth does wonders because of their bragging. I was pleased with how well things were working. I had a lot of interest being shown by investors who they had talked to wanting me to manage their accounts.

Most were surprised when I demanded full disclosure to all their assets and debts before I would agree to meet with them. I did that to ensure that I was well aware the kind of things that would create panic in them which would force them to sell on short notice.

Quite a few by the time we had reviewed things or restructured their debt load found that even with using the balanced approach I had created for them that their cash flow actually increased. The increase of people coming into our brokerage to see me was noticed.

For Dinah and me when we were home together it was ice cold. Nothing she tried to make thaw worked. I wouldn’t give an inch until she could prove that she was not involved with someone else. Dinah said I was being a horse’s ass about our situation because she had done nothing wrong and felt she did not have to answer to anyone. I said we shall see about that. It was mid-week before things started to break. The nice part was that I had to do nothing but sit and wait.

You see it had been my great grandfather that had told me that the only thing in the walk of life that did not lie was what our overall long term conduct showed. He further explained that who we associated with showed others who noticed what type of person we were.

Another thing he taught me was that when certain ones were given enough rope, they would end up hanging themselves. Sadly, without realizing it by not demanding my wife to make changes in her live to clear up the problems she had created she had in her conduct laid a foundation that she could never reverse.

The New York Times gossip reporter had captured Dinah and the boy toy she got to go with her boarding the plane on Wednesday afternoon. It came out in the Thursday paper. I could not have asked for a greater gift. He was now totally outed according to the paper as her latest romantic interest. The way the article was laid out it looked like the gossip reporter had taken the bait.

She also now had part of Dinah’s entourage publicly saying that Dinah and I had been in an open marriage for a few years. It was nice to be able to read actual quotes when they disclosed that it had been a mutual decision between the two of us to keep our lifestyle choices private. Those who were in the know knew it to be total bullshit. They had a close up of Dinah's left hand lacking her wedding rings just before she loaded the plane. The gossip’s page lead with the line “Another marriage has just ended.”

When I was contacted about the article as it was printed all I said to all who inquired, “Well if it’s in the New York Times it must be the truth that Dinah is telling everybody. So why would I dispute it? If it is, it’s news to me because it was never discussed with me. I think it was a well-played media moment by her to end our marriage. It will be the talk of the social media for weeks.”

Somehow by Friday my comments had gotten back to the gossip lady. She had a whole piece on my personal views about Dinah’s and my relationship. Amazingly she had never talked to me. Those who read it just assumed she had. The perception was that I had just found out about being dumped in such a public way and was having a hard time coming to terms with it. I got phone calls from both of my in-laws concerned about my wellbeing because of it.

Emerson Stevens called me that Friday afternoon trying to figure out what his daughter was doing. I replied proving my feelings right. He threatened to lower the boom on his daughter right away and was planning a weekend flight to do it.

I got him calmed down and told him that until we get actual proof that can’t be denied, the truth means nothing because perception meant everything. Besides the truth means nothing except to a few. Most will buy the views of the media without questioning it.

“Dad,” I said into the phone. “Let her believe that she’s getting away with it. Dinah feels she is in the driver’s seat, but she had no clue about what we all as family knows. Nor does she know about what the New York Times is reporting. When she returns let her deal with the questions all will be asking?”

Her meeting with the prospective new client was on Monday. They would be wining and dining her for the next few days to smooth her into signing. It was going to be promoted to the extreme because the free publicity generated meant everything. For both sides, it made it possible for big money to be made without much cost. I wondered if the boy toy on her arms would be stupid enough to make a serious move upon my loving and apparently willing wife.

Dinah had learned from Bridget just the day before she left that I was now becoming her father and her financial advisors. Quietly behind the drama, Bridget without my knowledge was beginning to make her starting moves towards me. Somehow, she got Dinah’s blessing to keep my mind off our situation until she was able to return to deal with it.

Dinah as she started her business trip still thought we could resolve our differences if she could sit down and lead me through it. All she thought she had to do was to set my thinking right about what the media was reporting. I knew that because before she left, she had told me we would resolve our little problem when she arrived back home.

The updates from my divorce lawyer were looking good. The background material she was gathering was outstanding. The hospital and health insurance company had both provided documented proof that the operation to have her tubes tied had taken place. The surgeon's lawyer was now in negotiations to resolve the issue to our satisfaction and was preparing to have a statement notarized.

Thursday night Bridget and I spent the evening together. I found it enjoyment because it being an evening were we were enjoying learning to be us. Making popcorn, drinking hot chocolate, and watching a good couple of comedies as we shared our laughter made the hours pass to quickly.

As a result, I got informed by Bridget late Friday afternoon that she would like me to spend the next day with her doing something she always wanted to do. I pointed out it would not look good for her to be with a married man for that long.

She replied in a way that almost took my breathe away by saying, ‘Dinah gave me her approval for us to spend as much time together as possible. She feels that since I have been favored with a listening ear from you that I might be able to sway your feelings.”

I ended up scratching my head on that.

When she told me what she had planned for us to do on Saturday. I readily agreed because it had been something, I had thought of doing but never had. The chance to go with someone just as interested in it as I was, was something I could not say no to.

My in-laws had me go out for dinner with them that night just to make sure that I was not hiding from them what was really going on with me. My mother in law who loved me dearly was genuinely concerned and made it clear that her support of me was unshakable. During the meal they asked me to get the divorce done as quick as possible if what we now believed had happened had indeed been done.

I picked Bridget up at nine am on Saturday and off we went to Coney Island. We spent the day at the New York Aquarium going through three of its exhibits: the Aquatheater, Conservation Hall, and Ocean Wonders.

For both of us, it was the first time we had been there. It was fun to discuss the things we were seeing since we both were developing new interests together while learning more about each other. I must admit the I found quite a few of the exhibits quite stunning. It was a fun relaxing day because we both agreed to shut our cellphones off and leave them locked in the glove box.

It's nice when you share a day with someone you respect because it ends up drawing you closer. Not having the cellphone constantly bothering us was refreshing because it allowed us to focus our attention on each other. It seemed to be a day we both needed for different reasons.

With the stresses of a busy life going along with us because of the phones we had set them aside and focused on being comfortable with each other. I think we were both surprised to relearn what it was like not to have a phone blasting us in the ears.

It was nice watching some parents get caught up by the wonderment of their children in the things that they were seeing. At times Bridget would hold my hand extra tight as if she were trying to protect me. I think she was thinking that seeing children was reminding me of what my wife Dinah had done.

Before we called it a day, we took a walk down the Boardwalk as dusk was coming in. Even though it was a cool evening we seemed to be oblivious to it as we were lost in the joy of each other’s company. At one am we were sitting at an all-night pizzeria sharing a freshly made pizza with a couple of drafts.

When I dropped her off and walked her to her door, she invited me in, but I declined by saying, “My heart wants to but I best not. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Before I do anything, I want to be sure it’s for the right reasons. So, until I have served her because I know where we would end up, I will discipline myself because I don’t want anything to cheapen what we have started to build. That is why I haven’t made a move.”

With that, I wrapped her into my arms leaving her with a deep tongue exchanging a kiss as her body seemed to fold into mine. It blew me away because it was the first time, I had ever experienced that.

I didn’t realize that in Bridget’s eyes the dance of romance between the two of us was already in full swing. My words to her conveyed my deep respect for her as a person. I would later learn that she had texted her mom before going to bed to tell her that she had just experienced one of the most romantic days in her life. A second text to her a few minutes explained that she felt like she was falling in love.

********

I slept in on Sunday having nothing planned but doing some things around the house. Once I got the coffee brewing, I threw a load of laundry on. I finally turned my cellphone on after having a bite to eat. Since it was going to be a nice mild day I was going to rake and fertilize the yard. I had a text message from Bridget.

It read: Thank you for yesterday. It was a delightful, wonderful day. It surprised me to find it totally relaxing to be with you. You left me totally feeling content for the first time in a long time. To be honest it’s a feeling that I could get used to. When I hit the pillow, I was out instantly. My dad’s text woke me up this morning. He wants to meet you sometime today if that’s possible. Let me know if that’s okay.

I thought about what she said while I poured myself another coffee and reflected on our relationship so far. She was learning as I was that what we had assumed about each other had been quite wrong. It made me wonder why I had not met her earlier in my life. Once I decided I called her, Bridget answered right away.

“Good morning, I’m going to need two hours to rake the lawn otherwise the rest of the day I’m free,” I said, “and I have to agree with your text because I felt the same way. I’m still wearing the smile you put on my face. Yesterday was an experience I have not had in years and I have you to thank for that.”

Bridget said she would talk to her dad and let me know what the arrangement would be, I made myself a couple of bacon and egg sandwiches to eat before starting to work. I had finished raking the front yard and was working on the back. Being warm-blooded even though the temperature was in the forties I was working shirtless. I could not help noticing that Bridget was watching me work as she drank a hot beverage out of a mug leaning against her balcony’s railing fully clothed. When done I went and laid the fertilizer down.

I had gone back inside to have a coffee, before cleaning up when I saw a text from Bridget waiting for me. It read we are going for supper at my parents. Attached was a picture she had taken of me while I worked out in the yard.

I texted back; What should I wear?

She replied, clothes would be appropriate; Mom might have a heart attack if you walked in half-naked.

I typed back, smart ass.

She responded, Giggling, blue jeans fine, not a working day. Pick me up at four,

********

As soon as we were out of the neighborhood Bridget slid over from her side of the front seat to be right beside me saying, “I could get used to this.”

I laughed, “I would drive the car more if it didn’t cost so much for bridge tolls and parking in the city. But its paid for and still in good condition. That’s why I haven’t replaced it. I can’t justify the extra expense because of the cost of public transit. I can see losing thirty percent on something I use mainly on weekends.”

“You don’t like the city, do you?” Bridget noted.

“I’ve never felt like I fit in, my roots are from a farm in the mid-west,’ I said. “That’s where the professor and his partner are from.”

“Omg that’s where my dad started too,” Bridget said. “When he officially retires at sixty-five, he’s moving back. He claims it’s a different style of life back there.”

Bridget got quiet, I wondered why finally I asked her “What are you thinking about?”

“I spent years trying to find the right man to fall in love with,” Bridget said. “Being with you, talking with you has made me realize that the man I was looking for couldn’t have grown up here on the east coast. There’s something about your inner soul that sets you apart from most who grow up locally. I saw in my dad years ago, but I might not be able to explain it right.”

“I don’t know if I would call it depth. I first time I saw it, was in the way you related to the professor and his partner. Although I had just me them, I could tell that there was a closeness between the three of you. It was more than friendship and respect. It was clear if you needed them, they would be here tomorrow,” Bridget continued, “and you would do the same for them. That type of bonding is forged as if one were pounding on a piece of steel. It has to be earned because it can never be granted.”

“I found that making true friends even with neighbors is getting harder in our society on the coast,” I said. “Look how long it took for us to get to know each other. Just going to and getting back from work each day can take up to four hours. Here to protect themselves most speak in half-truths and don’t open up unless they have had lifelong relationships.”

“My father used to frustrate his staff to no ends because he would not stay a minute longer than absolutely necessary,” she replied. “The rest could wait until tomorrow. His home life came first.”

“Funny that you would say that my dad used to say, if a man is working long hours, he is looking for an excuse not to go home. When you see someone doing that you know their marriage is over, but they have not realized it,” I said. “I just realized that he could have been talking about me. I guess that explains how long I should have known that Dinah and my marriage was dead because she was no longer working at it.”

********

It’s a good thing I had punched her parent's address into the Google Maps because Bridget leaned her head on my shoulder and was soon fast asleep. To most, it would not mean anything but to me it said everything because to me it conveyed her trust in me. A fact that was noticed by her parents when we pulled into their driveway. She awoke as I brought my vehicle to a stop.

Clarence Smith and his wife were a very nice looking couple. I could clearly see that Bridget took after her mother. If Bridget looked as good as she did at her age the man who would end up being married to her was going to be one lucky feller.

Before we got into the house introductions were made. Clarence led me off to the kitchen so we could grab us a cold beer. He offered me a bud light, a regular miller, or a stout. I said the stout if I could be allowed to pour it myself into a beer glass. He took out two and then opened up the fridge freezer to take out two frosted mugs out. After pouring out our own we sat at the kitchen table.

“I want to thank you personally for giving my daughter the information you did,” he said. “She also told me about your situation, so I wanted to see how you're handling it.”

“One day at a time, for now, it’s a waiting game until the lawyer confirms and gets to the truth. Once we have it, she will be kicked to the curve. I won’t live her life of lies, and I’m sure in her eyes I am not worth changing her ways for,” I said. “I will be going for an annulment instead of a divorce because as it looks now, that I was conned into the marriage.”

“And your relationship with my daughter for now,” Clarence asked.

“Strictly platonic until my divorce is granted, although I know in her own way, she has been trying her hardest to slowly rope me in,” I said. “And sir, more importantly, she knows that this is the way it has to be. If I expect honesty, I have to show it.”

Clarence smiled, “My daughter said I would be pleasantly surprised by you. I must admit that she is right. I knew the first time she talked about you, by the way her face lit up that there was more than just a casual interest in you. Thank you for making it clear that you’re not going to take advantage of her because many would.”

“Off the record sir, anyone who took the time needed to really know your daughter as I have these last few weeks would find her easy to love,” I said. “You should be proud you raised her well. Her morals reflect in everything she does as does my soon to be ex wifes.”

It was at that moment that Bridget and her mother joined us. I could see that Bridget seemed nervous that her father and I had been chatting for so long, but as soon as she saw the look on her father's face it began to dispel.

I took the time to discuss my plans about their investments going forward and chastised her father for not setting up a retirement account for his wife and using it to his advantage. I explained that sometimes we get so busy in life that we overlook the obvious.

“Sir I saw the size of your bonus’s to your upper management last year, when I was asked by the Vice President in charge of your employee’s four o ones to review a few things for him and I am ashamed to tell you there’s a better way,” I said. “Give them a choice, by suggesting that they direct the corporation to directly deposit it into their retirement account thus giving them the opportunity of avoiding losing it to the tax department because it boots them into a higher tax rate. That way you will be reinforcing in them your appreciation of them being a team player.”

“Bridget, your man pulls no punches, he tells it straight. That is so refreshing to see,” Clarence said. “I find his approach to things quite unique. His insight has given me a lot of things to think about because the way he explains it makes it simple to see. As he said earlier, he thinks you’re trying to rope him in. I find that on a lot of things that I must agree with him so you both have my approval going forward to see where your developing relationship goes.”

Both Bridget and her mom teared up. I was sitting there wondering why. Later as we fired the barbeque up to get it ready to cook steaks he explained why.

“I had you checked out when my daughter first mentioned you, so I knew you were married,” he revealed. “When I learned she had provided my assistant with the confidential information about your firm. I asked why she had been given such detailed information. She said she had to talk to you first before answering my question. When she did, she told me the whole story. It conveyed to me the trust you two were developing in each other.”

“It gave me a good idea of what kind of man you were,” he explained. “Your approach to me today proved to me that what I thought was right. You had no clue as to what I knew, yet you felt that you did not have to hid anything. That told me most of what I needed to know. I was shocked by your outright honesty. Through our chat it became obvious to me that you were not raised in this city that added to your credibility.”

I laughed and said, “When you get stuck in the Missouri red clay, you realize that no matter how smart you think you are you are never really in control because God does have a sense of humor and at his time, he will show it to you just to keep you humble.”

Clarence laughed and said, “To the south, you’re not south enough to the North you’re not the north you’re the south. Back home was the show me state, and to those from there that says it all, Trey you have shown me well.”

We got into a discussion about our state and the changes that were taking place within it because of time marching on. I pointed out the fact that the political motivators were doing there what they were trying to do everywhere and that was to further divide our society.

********

On the way back to our homes as Bridget sat beside me, I realized that her parents believed their daughter was in love with me. I knew that from today going forward that I had to tread carefully. Human emotions should not be played with as I had been reminded the hard way from Dinah.

I had spent most of the weekend with Bridget and it had been two of the best days I had spent in a long time. It had shown me what life could be like if I worked for it. The more I saw the possibility of it the more I wanted it.

Surprising the start of the week at work was quiet and steady, it allowed me the chance to review all of my client's accounts to ensure there was steady growth. On a few, I had to make a few minor adjustments but that was normal.

The day before Dinah was due back my divorce lawyer called and revealed somethings that she and her staff had uncovered. There was one piece of information so damaging she thought she should hold back on and save it as a trump card if needed. After learning what it was, I was guilt ridden because I thought I should have known and stopped it from being done. Sadly, it explained why Dinah thought her only choice was to have her tubes tied.

Although we didn’t talk during working hours Bridget kept checking on me via short texts. Every night until bedtime we were together. If we were at my place, I walked her home. I had given my word to her father and had taken the relationship no further. If Bridget would have had her way, we would have. But she respected me enough not to push our relationship for now. In honestly, I took a lot of cold showers.

I had to keep reminding myself what I had said to Bridget’s father because just having her near me was driving me crazy. I was also not going to be maneuvered into a relationship like I had been with Dinah. If I was going to do it all over again, I wanted to make sure it was for the right reason and not because I was being pushed into it.

Bridget that night picked up a change in my mood and asked, “Whats weighing on your mind? Don’t say nothing because you seem to be a bit off so whats causing that?”

“My lawyer informed me about something else Dinah had done medically,” I explained, “Until I have come to terms with it, I feel it’s something I should not discuss. I will tell you this, it is so profound that I find myself asking myself if I had ever truly known Dinah.”

********

Dinah had signed the agreement after four days of negations. For the next five years, she would be making millions. If it was as successful as they thought it would be, it could automatically be renewed for another five years. The luxury company was the fourth that had come on board. Her tweets and self-promotion with her perception of things was and would remain a market driving force for all concerned. As a signing bonus she got about ten thousand dollars’ worth of their purses, luggage, jewelry, and other feminine products.

Sad in building her marketing empire she had built herself into a box that she could get out of. She was about to realize that all her scheming, manipulations, and misdirection to present a certain perception to the masses was the trap that going to end up hurting her the most because it was taking a life of its own.

The gossip lady’s contacts had not disappointed, everything Dinah and her boy toy did while on their trip to Paris had made the printed pages back here. The New York Times every day was creating quite a few twitter discussions causing more to follower her because everyone wanted to keep up on Dinah’s latest romantic adventure. To some of her followers, this was better than watching the soap operas on tv. It had been a week of them doing nothing but flaunting their sensual relationship in a very public way.

Although there might have not been any sexual activity between the two; their contact, the physical touching, the soft sensual kisses left on cheeks, the eye contact, and gestures implied that Dinah’s and her boytoy were as a couple enjoying a new love in full bloom. The mass media was presenting it here as a spring Paris romance story. It had become so big that it had shared part of the front page.

The perception of the New York Times gossip pages was that Dinah Richards had thrown away her marriage for a romantic adventure that may not last. Even though they had separate suits they were adjoined. The hotel maid, it had been rumored had supposedly confirmed that only one bed was used by the two. Since it was published in the New York Times it was assumed to be true. After all, in the publics' eyes, the New York Times never lies.

As soon as she cleared customs that Friday morning Dinah Richards was served in a public manner like the way she had dumped me. It had been confirmed that there had been no need for Dinah to have medically had her tubes tied. Until that point, Dinah was completely functional and had been capable of carrying children full term. I had my lawyer courier Emerson Stevens a copy of the divorce petition.

The New York Times gossip reporter was there to capture it. So was a news crew assigned to one of the local Saturday morning talk shows. When the reporter asked Dinah all about it. She claimed it was all a huge misunderstanding. That once she talked it all out with her husband Trey Richards the misunderstanding would be straightened out and the petition for divorce would be withdrawn.

“After all,” she proclaimed, “we have an open marriage, so all this was, was a little fun on the side.”

The reporter responded, “for more than a week you appear to be flaunting your relationship with your boy toy. The perception is that you dumped your husband for a week of sexual pleasure in the city of romance.”

They caught a picture of Dinah’s face going white when she got served and published it online the same day. The New York Times gossip reporter stated the only reason that Dinah Richards's face went white was that she believed she would not be caught.

Dinah called Bridget as soon as she could, who listened to her claim that this was all a mistake. Bridget suggested the first thing she should do is go online and read the social pages of the New York Times from the day she left. It will show you the truth’s that we who know you have now come to believe. If the New York Times published it, she said numerous times it has to be the truth.

About two hours later Bridget answered her cellphone, “What do you want Dinah?”

“I read the article’s and they have been spun all the wrong way,” Dinah said. “What we did was for the publicity, none of it was real.”

“Dinah, you took of your wedding rings before you even left. That said more to everybody than anything else. Your problem is that because of that no one will believe you no matter what you say,” Bridget stated. “Have you read Trey’s divorce petition? If not, read it because your denial even to most of your followers comes across as the lie?”

“We all know that if the New York Times prints it, it must be the “truth.’ Otherwise why would much of what they say be carried by the television stations nationwide,” Bridget added. “Their words are quoted and supported by most of them.”

“Why? I haven’t had time. I’ve come home to find everything a mess,” She replied.

“Trey overheard you telling me about having your tube’s tied,” Bridget said. “That was your downfall. He hired a lawyer to get to the truth. When you read the papers, you were served with you will see what he found out. He’s going for an annulment because he believes you lied and conned him into marriage.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“But his thinking is all wrong. I married him because I did love him,” Dinah said.

“Dinah your own lies and conduct have caught up to you, it’s forcing him to see what you really are. Your action has destroyed what little love he had left for you. He was so upset he even talked to your father and mother,” Bridget said, “they told him to divorce you because what you did to all of them is unforgivable. They too have had enough of your bullshit.”

“Oh god, what am I going to do?” Dinah wondered. “My drive for monetary success has led to this. It was my friendship with one of the editors of the New York Times who taught me how to manipulate things so that the general public would accept it as the truth. It has taken four years, but it worked amazingly well. It was made perfectly clear by that editor that perception had more influence and power than anything else.”

“Live with it,” Bridget said. “Those perceptions have cost you your marriage, your relationship with your parents, and now our friendship. I can’t believe I bought your bull shit. It’s too late for the truth to have a value. In your case because you by your actions have made it worthless. So please don’t call me again. I don’t like what you did and who you have become. To satisfy your own goals you deliberately hurt and used the ones you claim to love. I have had to ask myself if you did this to them out of love what would you do to those you hate.”

Dinah had failed to understand that the power of perception came with the influence of suggestion caused by presenting something in such a way that one’s perception accepted it without question as to be the truth.

It was a tool used by the mass media to attempt to sway elections, beliefs, and understandings quite effectively to satisfy their agenda and create hype and tension out of simple things. They knew that most of the population was too lazy to search out the facts. Their truths became what the mass media led them into believing which in most cases had nothing to do with what really happened. It was that perception that governed the masses. Lies and truths were only used to aid the promotion of the perception they wanted the masses to believe.

The reason they did it was to gain readerships or viewers to increase the profit of their organizations. Only higher numbers of followers would satisfy their greed. That same type of tool was used to bring people into ISIS and other terrorist groups. Big business used the same tools when advertising their products because it worked so well. It was so easy to do because most walked through life unable to think critically.

Dinah realized after talking to her former girlfriend that she had one last chance and that was to talk to me. I was just leaving the office for the day when the receptionist informed me that my wife was there to see me. I said I would be right out.

I went out carrying the framed picture of her that I had on my desk along with my briefcase. Stopping in front of her I said, “Do you want this?”

Dinah said, “No.”

Handing it to the receptionist I said, “Could you please throw this picture in the trash as neither one of us has any reason to keep it.”

Dinah got teary-eyed as it had finally started to sink in and said, “Can we go somewhere private and talk?”

“No need, I wouldn’t believe a thing you said,” I said as I took off my wedding ring handing it to her. “You can put this with yours wherever you have it hidden because I can see it’s not on your hand. That tells me all I need to know. Our marriage ended the moment you told Bridget what you had done and why.”

“What you didn’t know was that I was working underneath our deck and heard it coming from your mouth because you couldn’t shut up,” I said. “You made it clear in what you said and did that you had to make sure your lies became the truth. If I talked to you, it would just be more of your mind games to put you back in control again.”

The look on Dinah’s face said it all. She now had full knowledge about what I knew. Until that moment she believed that Bridget had been explaining things to make her take a close look at herself.

“Email me where you want your personal belonging sent to, the rest can be decided by the lawyers. Don’t contact me again, were done. The New York Times and you have humiliated me enough. I guess that with your connections that you and the newspaper were working together to make me a laughingstock. To many of your followers, I’m nothing but a piece of shit that got exactly what he deserved.” I said in a raised voice.

“Telling all via the New York Times that what you were doing was acceptable because we had an open marriage was just like you because it was over the top and had no basis of truth. Like so much of the words that come from your mouth it was another statement made to fill your agenda,” I said. “And like all you have done, it had nothing to do with the facts. The New York Times made it quite clear that you were enjoying your romantic fling with your boy toy in Paris. I’m sure it will be accepted as a fact in divorce court. After all, if the New York Times reports it, it must be the truth.”

Without a further word, I went to the elevator and called for one to come. The receptionist couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had never seen me act this cold to anyone. I could hear Dinah sobbing as I walked away. Frankly I no longer gave a damn.

As I waited, I heard the office receptionist say, “Ms. Richards your no longer recognized as being acceptable in this office. Please leave and never return. The next time I see you here I will call building security and have you escorted out. I won’t allow a whore like you smell up this place. Trey Richards is the most respected person in this office and a friend to us all. None of us find it humorous that you used the New York Times to end your marriage. He did not deserve being dumped by you in such a public way.”

Dinah was shocked, she hadn’t dumped her husband as far as she was concerned but the office receptionist believed she did. The very tool she used to created her social media presence was hitting her hard in the face.

As I rode down the elevator, I removed her from my contacts on my cellphone. By the time I had gotten to the bottom she had called. Before answering her, I had blocked her calls. I went into settings and shut the GPS off because I knew that with it turned on my phone would be easy to track. All it would take was someone with a bit of intelligence with the right kind of app.”

I was headed to the subway which would take me to the nearest exit so I could catch the bus home when Bridget called.

“Dinner at seven my house. I’m already home. I took the afternoon off after I heard the great news directly from Dinah that she’d been served. You could have told me,” she said. “Pick up some red wine as I got a roast of beef already in the oven.”

“Sounds good,” I said with excitement. “I will take a taxi after I get the wine so I should arrive early.”

It was about half an hour walk to my favorite beverage store. I bought two bottles of a better quality of the red wine, a bottle of Crown Royal, and a two-liter bottle of coke before flagging down a taxi.

I was about ten minutes from home when Bridget texted me. Garage open run from the taxi in. Dinah and her entourage are at your home most likely waiting for you. The situation does not look good.

Taxi’s in New York are famous for dropping you at the curb. It took an extra twenty for him to agree to pull into the driveway. As soon as I ran in, she began shutting down the bay door.

We were both hoping I wasn’t seen because we both understood the Queen Bee was now a Drama Queen who had lost control of her personal life and would do anything to bring back its balance. We both assumed that in Dinah’s state of mind and with her view of how marriage was supposed to be anything was possible.

“Make yourself at home,” Bridget said, “Then pour us some of the wine. I’m going to change quickly in case what was going on was noticed.”

I did as Bridget asked. I undid the suit jacket and vest taking them off along with my tie lying them over her living room couch. I then undid the three top buttons on my dress shirt. Before getting the wine glasses out I rolled up my sleeve’s. Let me tell you that there are times that you wish you were elsewhere. This was not one of them because right in front of me I knew I was seeing the kind of life I wanted being offered to me if I wanted it.

When Bridget returned, she took my breath away. She had let her red hair down, removed her makeup, and changed into sensual evening wear. The sheer full-length black nightgown was designed as if it were a fine screen allowing one a glimpse of her sweet flesh. I could spend hours worshiping her full soft inviting breasts. My instant hard-on told us both I was caught in a losing battle. Bridget’s bright eyes showed me that she was pleased with my automatic response. Little did I know she would tease me about it all night.

We had just kissed and were sharing the first taste of the medium wine I had bought when there was a knock at the door. I moved from the view of the front door as Bridget went to answer it.

“Hi, Dinah, what do you want,” Bridget said. “As you can see, I am kind of busy my boyfriend is here and is staying the night.”

“It was noticed that a taxi dropped someone off at your house,” Dinah said. “Since Trey has not shown up, I instantly thought it might be him.”

“So, you got one of your entourages watching my place. Why am I not surprised? When you talk to Trey do me a favor let him know that thanks to him my new relationship is working out great,” Trish requested. “Even my parents have given us their blessing because they think he may be my perfect mate. My mom is already dreaming about babysitting the grandchildren.”

“Is he someone we both know? Dinah asked.

“Based on what I now know about the man I’m falling in love with I would have to say definitely not,” Bridget responded with truth as she closed the door in her face.

She walked towards me trying to hold in her giggles. I held up my left hand to see if she would notice. She did.

“When did that happen,” she asked?

I told her what had transpired in the office before she went back into the bedroom to change because she was still cooking our dinner. When she came out, she discovered me peeling the potatoes she had set out for supper.

“Were going to have to figure out how to get me some clean clothing,” I said. “Thank god I wear a standard size.”

“You just might be stuck here until Monday,” Bridget said. “I don’t think Dinah will be going anywhere this weekend because she believes you have to come home sometime. I believe that she thinks she can salvage the situation. I guess she didn’t get the message when you threw your wedding band in her face.”

“It’s going to take her a few more days to come to the realization that our relationship is coming to an end,” I said. “She’s still in the stage that she only hears and sees what she wants to.”

“Let me call my dad’s tailor’s shop and see what they can deliver for you on short notice,” Bridget said.

I reached into my pocket and took out my wallet handing it to her I said. “Have him deliver a size forty-two jacket, thirty-four-inch waist, thirty-inch leg, shirts fifteen and a half neck, vest, and tie. Best add a second set and a pair of silk pajamas if he has it. Blue jeans, t-shirts, and whatever else I have not mentioned.”

“What about underwear and socks,” Bridget asked.

“Of course,” I replied. “Have it applied to my credit card.”

I listened as she placed the order. It was surprising what color she decided I would look good in. They said they would pull the order as soon as possible and it would be delivered in a rush via a courier within two hours if we were willing to pay the fee.

It was fun working together as a couple finishing what she had started. Bridget seemed surprised at how adept I was in the kitchen. I set the table as she transferred the food into bowls and serving plates for the table, Gravy made from drippings, Yorkshire pudding, mash potatoes with lumps, corn on the cob, and of course the beef roast.

Joking she said as the head of the house it’s your job to slice the roast. So, I surprised her and did. I ate like a horse going back for seconds and thirds. I knew if she continued to feed me like this, I would end up rounder than ‘Boss Hog.’ I told her so. Her response said it all because her face was glowing.

After dinner as we cleaned up, she asked me if we had a small kitchenette at work. I told her yes, she said good because I can pack you lunch on Sunday night for you to take with you on Monday. Doing the dishes together took a long time because we were doing a lot of kissing.

I was impressed my new clothes were delivered within two hours. Bridget signed for them. We unpacked them in the living room. I was impressed because the quality of the clothing was top notch, and the bill was a lot less than I expected. The first three-piece suit came with and extra pair of pants and was a black pin-striped suit. The second a dark navy blue. I had enough new socks and underwear to last me for two weeks. Whoever had put the overall order together had color-coordinated it well?

After removing all the packaging, price stickers and unneeded labels I asked her where I should put it and she said in your side of the master bedroom clothes closet. We carried them in together. I was surprised she hadn’t used it all. I had lots of room to hang my two new suits. We hung the six new dress shirts, and my blue jean shirts. The rest went onto empty shelves.

She said I might as well get ready for bed since I was in here already. I gathered up my suit jacket, vest, and tie. As I undressed, I hung my suit up. I was thankful that she used Ivory soap instead of a woman’s scented one. I had a quick shower and put on clean new clothes. It was the first time I wore pajamas in years.

Coming out of the bedroom I said, “Bridget can I have a small garbage bag to put my laundry in?”

“Just throw it in the laundry basket,” she replied. “We will have to do the laundry before Monday anyway.”

After doing just that as I came back out, she caught me in my black silk pajamas with her cellphone camera and set it for her lock screen.

When Bridget came back out in the nightgown, she had worn earlier her underwear was missing. You would have to be a completed idiot not to see where this is going. There was no doubt that she was a true red head because her appearance answered that question.

Taking my hand in hers she said, “Before we go any further, I want to know your long term plans are.”

I laughed and replied seriously, “I want what your parents have!”

She looked at me with love in her eyes and said, “It’s taken them years of hard work together as a couple to get where they are now.”

I smiled, leaned down, wrapped my arms around her tight then kissed her with as much love and desire as I could before speaking. “Do you think we can put the needs of the other first like they did?”

I guess I said the words she needed to hear because she responded in glee. “I think that as a couple we are going to be having a lot of fun trying.”

Sometimes the most intimate thing you can do is just a little thing. For us it was not hopping into bed it was lying on the sofa cuddling each other, holding each other while sharing sweet tender kisses. The discovery of being a couple falling in love for all the right reasons was enough.

*********

We were still on the sofa when the knocking at the door rudely woke us up. It was after ten am in the morning. Bridget got up and went to answer the front door thankful that the chain lock was still on. Opening the door, the inch or two the chain allowed she discovered it was Dinah.

“What do you want Dinah,” Bridget said in anger. “You woke my intended and I out of a sound sleep.”

“My husband Trey didn’t come home last night, and none of his conducts have seen him,” Dinah said. “I’m starting to get worried about him. I was wondering if you had heard from him.”

“Too little too late, I’m afraid. I don’t buy your worry, sorry,” Bridget said, “you publicly dump him via the New York Times, have your entourage say you have an open marriage, and do everything you can in Paris to prove it. The perception of your many followers proves it. The only question is why did it take three years to dump him.”

“Look I’m not going to argue with you about Trey,” Dinah said. “My parents read me the riot act last night to and told me to accept the divorce. I get it you all feel that I got what I deserve for what you all think I have done. Perhaps you’re all right, perhaps you’re all wrong. There are always two sides to every story. Just let me know if you see him that he’s all right.”

With that said Bridget closed the door walked and walked back to me. I had found where the stuff was needed to make coffee and had started a pot.

“Do you think Dinah is really concerned?” Bridget asked.

“There was no concern in her voice at all,” I said. “She’s definitely trying to find out who you’re with. It’s a good thing I turned the GPS off otherwise she would know right where I was. It looks like she trying to figure out how to manage the situation instead of facing it. Until she faces the truth, I’m afraid we still will be having problems going forth.”

We were sitting on the couch side by side enjoying our closeness, still lounging around in our bedtime clothes enjoying our first cup when a smile came across Bridget’s face and with a giggle, she said: “We going to have some fun today if I can get a little help.”

Picking up her cellphone she called her dad.

“Are you and mom doing anything important today,” Bridget asked? “I ask because Trey and I could use your help.”

The next thing I heard was Bridget said, “Yeah he’s here, and yes the divorce has started. Can you come to pick up his phone take it downtown before turning the GPS on and then hit different spots every hour? We think his phone’s being tracked and if we're right it will give Trey a chance to get some of his personal belongings out of their house.”

Again, another pause then Bridget said, “Thanks we will see you in an hour.”

Bridget got dressed first, I followed. We both dressed casually in blue jeans and t-shirts. I had a blue jean shirt on but left it open and untucked as was the white t shirt. While getting ready for the day I called the New York Times tip line and left a message for the gossip lady.

Her parents were early. We talked for a few sharing a coffee at her kitchen table before they left. While we were sleeping on the sofa the spread, she had on had crumbled. As a result, her parents got the idea of where I had spent the night. When Bridget's father saw it, he smiled at me. It seemed he did that to convey is approval.

Clarence suggested I change my facial appearance for a while until things settled down. From the media coverage, he believed that Dinah was going to cause ongoing problems. That’s when Bridget decided a full beard and mustache would be started to see if she would like it.

They called Bridget when they turned on my cellphone and changed the settings turning the GPS on. It wasn’t fifteen minutes until two cars left my place and headed out. My ex-wife was in one of them. Just in case I climbed over the back yard fence and entered my home from the rear. A quick look proved it was empty.

Loading up my car with my belongings took about two hours. I left the items I knew that Dinah had bought for me behind along with all my socks and underwear. Outside of clothing the only thing I did was reset the home computer to its original factory condition. In doing that any connection to my office was permanently gone along with that avenue to Dinah’s social presence.

I took one last look around the house, as I took the house keys off of my key chain placing them with the garage door opener on the kitchen counter. For me, it symbolized putting the past behind me. Freeing me to move forward with the new life that was waiting in front of me.

I opened the garage door and fired up the car drove next door and backed it into hers. I then closed the bay doors. We had to move a few things around in the Master bedroom closet to fit my stuff in. The master bathroom had two sinks I took the side that was available.

Some of the things I owned had to go especially after Bridget saw them on me. If it didn’t compliment me, it wasn’t good enough. That showed me a lot about our lives going forward. Bridget was the type who would always take pride in how her family looked even if we were not out in the public.

*********

Her parents called Bridget at six and suggested we meet for dinner. We agreed. When we met them, it was apparent that they had had a day like no other. The first thing Clarence did was hand me back my cell phone. Bridget and I could tell they were in a really good mood.

“It was fun watching them walk into a place where we were,” Bridget’s mother said, “Spreading themselves throughout the location looking for Trey. They must have wasted an hour at Macy’s. Dinah was so well known publicly there were people taking pictures of her everywhere. People were shocked that a lady of her status would be caught in a place like that. They had all sorts of questions which only slowed down their progress. You could tell she was frustrated. Each stop they went to it got worse for them.”

“Once they showed up, we turned the GPS off,” Clarence said with a laugh. “After the fourth time, we heard one of her entourages say, “He’s not as dumb as she has convinced herself to believe he’s having us chase a ghost for some reason.”

That comment made both Bridget and I smile. Bridget’s parents had been followed around all day. Each stop was further down the social ladder for Dinah and her entourage. It made me wonder if Dinah would clue into what was really happening. If she ever got to talk to me again, I knew that one of the excuses she would use was ‘I did it all for you.’

As we ate our dinner, we explained what had happened since Dinah got served.

Bridget said to her parents, “We were talking last night about our relationship going forward. Trey said, ‘Do you think we can put the needs of the other first like they did?’ I said that they had been working at it for years. What you don’t know mom and dad, is that we were both talking about you.”

Clarence got a big smile on his face, his wife got teary-eyed. That one simple statement had told them the direction our relationship was heading towards. Bridget would later tell me that she thought her parents had already accepted the possibility of it happening.

“I got my clothing and personal items out and back to Bridget’s house thanks to your help. Bridget said I had to try every piece on,” I said. “What your daughter thought didn’t compliment me got put in a pile for goodwill. We dropped them off on the way here.”

“Get used to it Trey,” Clarence said. “I’ve been married to her mother for thirty-five years and my wife still does it.”

“DAD,” Bridget said.

He responded in laughter, “What we all know it’s the truth.”

Both her father and I started to laugh. I went to pay for the meal and her father went to stop me. It ended up with both of us holding the ticket, so I said, “Let us, you have already done so much for us today, so give us a chance to show you, our appreciation.”

“Clarence, just listen to him,” she said, “He wants to be your equal. You wanted to be treated the same way by my dad. Do you want to play the game of one-up manship with him? Remember it took years for my dad and you to come to an understanding.”

Clarence smiled and so did I because we both had to admit she was right.

He said “That wisdom over the years has talked me through a lot of things. Each time she does it, it’s done out of love and with a knowledge that sees things from both sides. Some of my greatest accomplishments have come because I listened to her.”

With that said he took his hand off the ticket. Bridget whispered, “thanks, dad.”

Bridget’s mother's face glowed in a visible blush before she said, “Don’t worry about these two they’re going to make it. After all, he is like us made from the Missouri red mud. He will listen to reason like you always have and won’t be corrupted into believing perception.”

********

Dinah Richards was exhausted. It had been a day of chasing a ghost around the city. Every time they located him; he was gone. She felt that after a few hours they would be able to sit down and talk about why he had it all wrong. Perhaps there was a chance that she could have the operation reversed since it appeared to be the problem that had started all of this. Now all she wanted to do was go home and soak in the tub.

Thankfully, the event she had to attend she could sit and allow others to come to her otherwise she would not have made it through the early part of the evening. The twitters of the event and what she had found interesting had been received well. Because of the long day she had come home early It was when her entourage dropped her off that she realized they all had been played. The bay doors of the garage were open. Trey’s pride and joy was gone. He had outmaneuvered them all. It was he that had them all looking like fools.

Entering the house, she found the garage door opener and the house keys when she set down her purse. Walking into the spare bedroom she saw that most of his clothing was gone. To Dinah that was the moment she realized there was no hope. Trey had found a way to move on with his life. It was then that she realized that in the pursuit of her dream she had slowly driven him out of her life.

Dinah was sitting in the dark crying because in her own way she truly still loved Trey. In a big way, she began to realize it was who and what she associated that had pushed her directions, activities, and thoughts as she built her new persona. Dinah had never seen that in doing so she had lost sight of who and what she was.

********

Bridget clicked the door garage door opener as I backed my car in. We had been so busy talking about the dinner we had shared with her parents that we forgot to check to see if anyone was home at my former residence.

Sunday, we got up early and went out for the day, again it was a day of discovery that drew us closer. It was almost ten at night by the time we got back.

As soon as we were in the house Bridget took the roast beef out and started making the sandwiches for me to take to work.

“What do you want on them,” Bridget asked.

“Butter and a little bit of salt and pepper,” I said. “Anything else makes the bread soggy by lunchtime.”

I watched her make three sandwiches for me and placed them in separate zip lock bags. Then taking a brown sandwich bag out she printed my name on it. Bridget saw me tear up.

“What’s wrong,” She asked.

“Nothing, I just see you packing my lunch for what it is,” I replied. “That’s all.”

“What's that? My mom still does it for my dad all the time,” Bridget replied.

“A simple act that is done out of love,” I replied.

“Mom, after she caught me with my head on your shoulder sound asleep warned me that you had a gentle soul. I asked her why it was a warning. She replied my grandfather was like that and he and grandmother had ten children.”

I couldn’t help it, I started laughing and said, “Those were the days before birth control, and it was the twinkle in his wife’s eyes that caused it all to start.”

She had just finished cleaning up when her phone rang. Her dad worried about the neighbor had arranged for a limo to pick us up and drop us off at work for the next month.

Talking her into my arms I leaned down and kissed her passionately. She responded in kind. Slowly things progressed as we began moving slowly to the bedroom. It was time and we were ready. It was a night when we both put the needs of the other first. By the time we were done discovering all we could about each other it was almost time to get up.

While showering together for the first time as we got ready for the day the first time as a couple, I washed her body down. She went to work glowing in frustration because by the time I was done she was just as ready as I was to hop back into bed.

********

The limo dropped me off at my firm first. I was wearing a black pin-striped suit for the first time. With my briefcase I was carrying the bagged lunch Bridget had made for me. On the way to my office, I stopped at our luncheon room to put my bag in the fridge. The receptionist who was making the first pot of coffee for the day looked at me and whistled.

“A new suit, a new image, and a huge smile so early in the morning,” she said. “Who is she and how long has it been going on?”

I just laughed and responded, “What makes you think it’s that? Maybe it’s just being free from the past.”

“No Trey, you have the look of a man who is discovering real love for the first time,” she said. “I’m happy for you and her. I hope she feels the same way.”

I was in the luncheon room eating the first of my three sandwiches at the mid-morning point when the receptionist came in saying, “Are you expecting a client this morning.”

I said, “No Mondays are usually set aside for reviewing my clients' accounts to make sure they're still heading in the right direction.”

“Emerson Stevens is here wanting to talk to you,” she said. “What should I tell him?”

“Tell him where I am,” I said. “And find me a cup he can use.”

When Emerson came in. I stood up to greet him.

“Well Trey you’re finally dressing for success, I like the new look,” he laughed. “Roast beef sandwiches that are homemade, I’m impressed.”

“I guess you’re here to talk about Dinah,” I said. “How are you and the better half handling it.”

“I broke the news to her Friday afternoon right after getting a copy of your divorce papers. Did you know that my wife has a sister just as dirty and conniving as Dinah?” He explained. “I told her that you had warned me about what she had done to prepare me.”

“She wants you to know that we will always consider you part of the family,” Emerson explained, “The New York Times has an interesting story about Dinah and her entourage running all over the city Saturday looking for something that they couldn’t find. They were wondering why she was out of her normal high society spots and slumming down.”

“Guilty as charged I needed to get my clothing out of the house,” I said.” By the time I got home Friday night, she and her entourage were already there waiting to sandbag me so I ended up staying with a friend. So, I had someone holding my cellphone with the GPS on figuring she knew someone who could track it.”

“Just so you know, Dinah believes you have found someone new,” Dad explained, “because you had to have help to pull off what you did. All of your contacts that she knew said they hadn’t heard from you all weekend. She blames the person who helped you for making her look like a fool. She is bound and determined that when she finds the bitch, her words not mine, she’s going to put her in the hospital.”

“Thanks for the warning, Dad, she’s right because she pushed the two of us together. They were best friends for years,” I said. “Both Mom and you have met her a few times. It started after I had moved to the spare bedroom because Dinah felt I needed to be watched so whatever I did or said, did not interfere with her agenda. So, Dinah asked Bridget to monitor my movements thinking that while she produced a scheme to defuse the situation, she’d be able to be in total control. Little did she think in doing so that she was pushing us together. Bridget and I both learned that neither of us were what Dinah had led us to believe.”

He sat there looking at me for a few minutes and said with seriousness. “Dora and I think the world of Bridget. Do Clarence and Grace know?”

“They were the ones moving around the city with my cellphone,” I said, “Over dinner, they said it was the best fun they had in years. To be honest, neither Bridget nor I were looking for a relationship but with the situation, we were both put in by Dinah caused us to be together a lot and it happened.”

“Trey do you think it’s going to get serious between the two of you,” my father in law asked?

“I was on my way home on Friday to have the locks changed when Bridget informed me Dinah and her entourage were already there waiting to confront me when I got home. I ended up staying the weekend at Bridget’s. Both of us can see us achieving the kind of life we want but neither has had.”

My father in law picked up his cellphone and called Clarence Smith setting up a lunch meeting and then said, “I want to see if Clarence and I can get you both out of where you’re living. Dinah is on the warpath. She believes its outside interference that has caused all these problems, not her own conduct. Her Aunt caused a lot of problems when her marriage broke up and ended up doing time because of her extreme actions. She like Dinah could not accept responsibility for her own conduct. I think some separation of space might be the best prescription for now.”

“Dad I read the New York Times gossip ladies articles on Dinah to her before I moved to the spare bedroom and said who am I to argue with the truth of the most respected liberal paper in the United States,” I said. “Then I asked her to prove to me that she wasn’t having an affair knowing dam well that she couldn’t.”

It hit him for the first time that she by her own conduct had built a case against herself, so he said, “She marketed herself into millions and out of a marriage at the same time. It’s sad that she will never understand that.”

I was sitting in the little luncheon eating my last two roast beef sandwiches at lunchtime when the President walked in. “I hear you had Emerson Stevens sitting in here with you this morning, anything I should be concerned about?”

“No, not really, he was just touching base, catching up on a few things before his luncheon meeting with Clarence Smith,” I said as I stood up and closed the door to the room. “Off the record, they have been casual acquaintances for years. Their daughters used to be best friends.”

“And you have a personal relationship with both if my understanding is right,” the President said. “That explains a lot of things. Some in the business think their organizations would make a good merger.”

“Sir I don’t get involved with their actual business operations. If they want business advice, I tell them that its best that I stay out of it because it could cause a conflict of interest and affect my career.” I said in a serious tone. “But I have offered to put a few experts together if they need it because I have a few that are good clients.”

“Trey I think from now on you should just call me by my first name. A man who walks in the shadows of those two men is very trusted by them,” he said. “It also shows what they think of your character.”

“Ok Gordon I can do that,” I said.

As soon as he left the luncheon room I knew and understood fully this game we called life. My boss based on what his perception saw, had decided things about me based more on what he assumed than what he knew. It showed to me just how important truth and honestly were because his perception had nothing do to with what I knew to be the truth.

Bridget called me around one o’clock. Emerson and her father were gone for lunch together and she wanted to know what was going on. The first thing I told her was how much I had enjoyed my three sandwiches then I explained what Emerson had told me.

“To Dinah, I’ve become the reason for the end to her marriage,” Bridget said. “Her perception has distorted the reality of it all.”

“It’s sad when one's view won’t allow one to see their own part in a situation. Dinah is trying to manipulate, and control other's view of things has caused herself to lose the ability to see the truth,” I said. “It’s sad because she has proven that we as humans will only see what we want to see. The lies, truth, or facts mean nothing. It’s our perception of things the guide our thinking.”

“It’s been crazy here,” Bridget said. “I guess we were seen when we went to Coney Island. So, everyone knew thanks to the gossip that I was dating. Then my assistant saw my face today and asked who he was, and when did you realize that you were in love?”

“I got it too, the receptionist was making coffee when I put my lunch in the fridge. She said I looked like a man who had discovered real love for the first time. I told Dinah’s father about us this morning and how we got together. He’s meeting with your dad to figure out a way to get us out of being right next door to Dinah.”

“Emerson is worried about us, wow there must be something else going on in his wife and his mind,” Bridget said. “For him to take extreme steps like this. Does he believe she’s that dangerous?”

“Not to herself, but to us maybe,” I replied. “Because like so many in our society truth, honesty, and the facts don’t mean a thing. It’s their own perception that matters. I think Emerson sees that, and that’s what's leading his fear for our wellbeing.”

“But we haven’t done anything but fall in love, thanks to her own interference with our lives,” Bridget stated. “Can’t she see that?”

“Not in her perception,” I replied. “Because she has already erased it from her mind.”

The silence after my last remark was deafening. Bridget was realizing just how twisted Dinah was making this. I knew that Dinah believed in her own eyes that she walked on water and could do no wrong. She had no checks and balances in her life. As a result, she had lost her judgment between what was right or wrong,

Finally, after a few Bridget said, “Our mistake is that as a result of her conduct we fell in love. If what we see is right? What price is she going to force us to pay?”

I really didn’t have an answer to her question, and I told Bridget so. Our conversation brought out an understanding of our current situation and how serious it was.

“Emerson, I believe, has a right to be worried,” I said. “Neither one of us has a clue to what Dinah will do.”