Waking later that morning, I grabbed a quick shower before heading home. The sky was overcast but didn't appear to be threatening rain. The ride home was refreshing, cruising along with the flow of traffic. I wasn't in any hurry, knowing full Gary probably wouldn't be home. I hated being home alone. The house we shared was much too big for just two people but I'd pretty much ruled out ever having any children. At thirty-two years of age, I felt my timeline for bearing children had reached its closing stages.
Passing by Zachary's parents' home, I caught a glimpse of the young man standing in the driveway. He was leaning against a small import convertible driven by a girl about his age. Surprisingly, he looked up from the girl to wave at me as I rumbled by. I hoped he wouldn't show up unexpectedly again. The last thing I needed to have to deal with was some love-struck eighteen year old. Dealing with Gary and wondering what our extensive talk was going to be about was utmost on my mind.
I didn't have to wonder for long. I'd barely finished doing the laundry and straightening up the house when I heard the electric garage door opener being activated. Gary's Land Rover slowly eased into the open bay next to my Mercedes. Hearing voices, I realized he wasn't alone. I was standing in the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of iced tea when the two men entered through the garage.
Gary barely glanced my way as he and the other guy, an older man somewhere in his early forties, passed through. Neither of them spoke to me. I heard the two of them mumbling as they ascended the stairs to the second floor. I wasn't about to follow them to see what they were up to. I didn't want them to think I was the least bit curious as to what they were doing.
Sitting out on the patio, I scanned through the latest issue of a motorcycling magazine. Almost an hour passed before Gary and his friend came downstairs. I heard the door to the garage open but didn't hear it shut. A few minutes later, the two waltzed out onto the patio.
"Kaitlyn, I'd like you to meet Gerald." Gary spoke, his voice cracking nervously.
I extended my hand to shake Gerald's but he took a step back, giving me an ominous glare. Seeing him up close, he looked older than I originally thought. Gerald could be in his early fifties, maybe older. His receding hairline and the age wrinkles around his eyes were definitely that of an older man. He was medium height and slender build, someone you wouldn't look at twice in a room full of people.
"I think...I think it's time we talked...about us." Gary stammered.
"Us as in you and I or us as in you and your lover?" I questioned, realizing what was going on.
"Gerald and I are...well...we're close." Gary stuttered, looking to his companion for support.
"For Christ's sake, Gary! Be a fucking man for a change!" Gerald exclaimed, showing his ire at having to listen to Gary's whimpering manner.
"Yeah Gary, be a fucking man for a change." I reiterated, tossing the magazine onto the patio table. "Or is being the man in your relationship your friend's job?"
"Let's not get sarcastic." Gary asserted. "We can discuss this without being coy and cynical."
"What I wanna know is how much this house is worth?" Gerald chimed in. "What'll it bring on the present market? I'm thinking a quick sale so Gary can get his money and the two of us can be on our way to California."
"The house would probably bring three point two million in a quick sale." I replied. "It was appraised last fall for three point six."
"Split down the middle that's one point six million for each of you." Gerald affirmed, grinning like he'd just struck gold.
"That's zip!" I countered, trying my best to keep from jumping up and kicking the man's balls up to his throat.
"This house doesn't belong to me nor does it belong to Gary." I declared. "It's the sole property of the Regency Investment Group."
The shocked look on Gerald's face was one I'll never forget. He grew pale, almost as if he was going to faint. The look on Gary's face wasn't quite as stunned.
"The two of us have been living here at no cost." I added. "We don't even have to pay the taxes or the insurance. It's one of the perks of my job."
"If it's money you're interested in and I'm sure that's what you're after, you may wanna have a seat." I suggested, pointing to one of the patio chairs. "I'd hate to see you fall down when you discover just what's Gary's net worth really is.
I half expected Gerald to run but he didn't. Instead the two men sat down across from me.
"First off, Gary and I have a joint savings account with about thirty-eight grand in it." I stated in a matter of fact tone of voice. "At half, that's about nineteen thousand he can lay his hands on."
Gerald was about to say something but I wasn't going to let him interrupt me.
"Gary has a savings account at the credit union but I doubt if there's much money in it." I affirmed. "Less than ten thousand, if that."
"The Land Rover's in Gary and Gary's name only." I proclaimed. "That, his clothes and golf clubs are his only assets."
"What about stocks, bonds, CD's, real estate?" Gerald inquired, rising to his feet.
"Zip, zip, zip and zip." I responded. "Gary's never invested a dime in anything worthwhile. He's spent his entire income on cars, clothes and jewelry, golfing junkets and electronic crap."
"Money's not important!" Gary spoke up, looking at his companion. "What's important is our relationship. It's much too special to let money come between our love for each other."
I almost puked hearing Gary's words. It was sickening. Worse for Gary, Gerald wasn't buying any of it.
"We'll sue, that's what we'll do!" Gerald threatened, slamming his fist on the glass-topped table. "We'll ask for five-hundred thousand dollars, not a penny less!"
"You don't stand a chance of getting a fuckin' dime." I contradicted. "I'll drag a divorce settlement through the courts for so long; you'll be drawing social security before it's finalized. And even then, you won't get a dime. I can guarantee that."
"Let's go Gerald." Gary pleaded, grabbing Gerald's wrist. "We won't settle anything by arguing with her. We'll get us a good attorney."
"Fuck you Gary!" Gerald shouted, jerking from his grasp. "You're nothing but a fucking twink! You're not the man I thought you were!"
Gerald got to his feet, kicked Gary in the shins and sprinted off across the yard. Gary's eyes welled with tears but he fought letting them stream down his sullen face.
"Well, looks like the old adage, money talks and bullshit walks isn't far off." I smarted off.
"And as for you, I'll expect you out of this house and out of my life by the end of the day." I stated in a threatening tone.
"My attorney will contact your mother about arranging a meeting to discuss a divorce settlement." I stated. "I'll make one offer, a cash settlement. I'd advise you both to take it without hesitation."
With that said, I walked back into the house. A flood of emotions was going through my mind, anger being the most prominent with disgust running a close second. I felt I'd failed Gary as a wife and a lover. I blamed myself for his turn in sexual preference. Still, I wasn't going to offer him a generous settlement in an effort to ease my guilt.
By 10:30 that evening, Gary had packed all his clothes in his Land Rover and left. His golf clubs and other household items he'd have to return for. The house felt eerily empty, more so now than ever before. What my next move would be, I wasn't sure. Getting a good night's sleep was what I needed but it wasn't going to happen.
