Each of the four were as different from the other as they could be. They met unofficially at a rally in New Canaan and would forge lasting friendships, even after they returned to their hometowns.
Wearing flowered circlets in their long hair and ankle-length cotton dresses, bangles and beads in rainbow colors and sandals on their feet, the four young women cut ties with their families in their quest for freedom. Yet, their familial environments would continue to link their lives inescapably.
In 1963, there was the feeling of something "big" on the horizon for the four women. A year later, the four would find a symbiosis that subconsciously knitted their lives together.
Flowers in Their Hair
Francine Chapin Vestre, a petite, dark-haired, ebony-eyed beauty had the energy of a jet engine. She was born in the Corn Belt in a small Nebraska town.
Carole Lansfield, a tall mountain of a girl had honey blonde hair, grey-green eyes and pouty lips...even when she wasn't pouting. It was the set of her jaw others noticed most. Carole was born in one of those Pennsylvania towns you drove through and felt as if you missed completely. She was raised in a strict religious environment, being her father was a Methodist minister and her mother, a former traveling missionary.
Dina Fratello, half-Italian, half Gypsy, was even more petite than Francine. Unlike Francine, Dina had large brown eyes, reddish brown hair and a smile quicker than a lightning bolt.
Dina was born in New Jersey on a small farm. Both of Dina's parents were old school Europeans who survived World War I, II and the Great Depression.
Dina was sent to Catholic school at the age of four. She was surrounded by an army of brothers and sisters in one of those "His, Hers and Ours" families the 1940s and 50s were so famous for. A spouse dies and there was always haste to remarry to give children a "normal" home.
Of the four women, Judy Michowski was the most shy and retiring. She was not at all like Francine or Dina, who created enough energy and controversy to incite their own Atomic Age or Carole who, though she appeared reserved at first glance, was the real military might behind all four.
What the two, petite in stature Francine and Dina, lacked in mobilizing skills, Carole could always be counted on to astutely plot out their next move.
Not so Judy. She was thin to the point of appearing gaunt and undernourished. At five feet five inches tall, she weighed just under ninety five pounds. Her most striking feature was her natural platinum blonde, shoulder-length hair. Many of her school mates believed she lightened it. If she did, she'd never tell a soul. That was Judy. You could count on her to keep a secret to her grave.
Her eyes were another feature that were difficult to miss---emerald green. When they flashed bright green, it was the dawn of a new adventure. Always though, there was an uncanny sadness, a strange kind of pleading, even when her smile was wide and toothy.
Judy's parents were Polish immigrants who lived in the same town as Dina and her family.
Norich was barely a town at the time the first families began to build homes. This was "build" as in literally built by men who bought undeveloped properties, cut down trees, limbed them and sent them off to the nearby lumber mill to be dried and seasoned and used to build their homes.
Dina and Judy recalled their fathers and other "neighbor men" helping to pour foundations and raise the four main exterior walls of their homes. For all four women, their childhoods seemed a too rapid, idyllic fantasy.
Hidden behind walls of family pride, dysfunction ruled in these families. Dina, Francine, Carole and Judy's parents all battled constantly amid their ritual struggles to survive and rise above post-war hardship. The idea that all families lived in post war abundance was a myth the wealthy loved to promote. It would backfire by the 60s rebellious generation.
All four joked about using a telephone party line to snoop on neighbors until they got caught by their mothers. Dina and Judy attended Catholic school, given their fathers were strict Catholics. Dina and Francine were the apples of their fathers' eyes which strained their relationships with their mothers.
Mothers of the 1950s took a dim view of their daughters getting "too" close to their fathers. So, they went from the apples of their fathers' eyes to their mothers' biggest competition for attention. Mothers believed wives had a lock hold on any attention married men chose to dole out to women in their families. Dina often joked this was the "First Lady" syndrome.
Francine was the only child of Lydia and Peter Chapin. Coincidentally or not, her mother and grandmother also had no siblings. Carole had only one sibling, her brother Donald, whom she called, "Donny," to the dislike of her mother who always insisted he be called by his proper name.
Judy's parents, Mary and Stash Michowski, were typical blue collar parents. Stash worked at a nearby factory in Broadridge Township a few miles from their home. Mary was the dutiful, stay-at-home mother.
Judy adored her older brother, Thaddeus, who was called "Teddy," just two years older than she. Their younger sister, Basia, was a handful. So, it was left to Judy to keep an eye on her sister at all times, a demand made by Stash.
Judy Michowski Landowski
Tragedy struck the Michowski family the winter of 1959. Teddy and several of his friends decided to go ice skating on Metton Lake, an oblong pond with mysteriously deep depths. The five boys skated playfully for a few minutes when suddenly, Teddy Michowski and Tommy Rodgers fell through the ice at the dead center of the pond. The other three boys in their group struggled to free the two drowning boys, not realizing the current under the water had gone wild.
"Oh God! Jerry, quick run for help," Buck Delaney called to the younger boy in their group.
Jerry and Phil Vaccione, two burly Italian boys, held on tightly to Tommy as the current beneath the ice pulled Teddy out of their grasp. They watched in horror helplessly.
When help finally arrived, Teddy Michowski's near-lifeless body was found under a spill weir about a mile downstream. Ambulance, police and fire fighters, mostly comprised of men who lived in Norich, struggled to keep Tommy alive.
Chester Watson was the township's chief of police. It fell to him to inform Teddy's parents of the tragedy. Teddy's body was taken to Calaway Hospital, since the only morgue was five miles from Norich. There had never been a tragedy where the morgue was needed in the small village town.
Chester walked up to the white Cape Cod home of Stash and Mary Michowski. Stash, looking worn and exhausted, just returned from his second shift. He always insisted on answering the front door. This time, he saw Chester Watson standing on the top landing looking grim.
"Stash, Mary...I have some bad news," Chester said.
"Well? Tell us man. What is it?" Stash said, gruffly.
"It's Teddy. He...uh..he was skating out on Metton Lake. The ice must have been..." Chester started, his grey eyes misting over.
"My son? ...Is he alright?" Stash demanded.
Mary's face went ghostly white. She sensed what the next words would be.
"Stash, I'm sorry. Teddy didn't make it. The fire fighters found his body about a mile and a half downstream. I need you to identify his body," Chester said.
Stash stood, all six feet three inches of him, as stock still and rigid as Mary had ever seen. He shook his head and for a single moment, Mary Michowski thought perhaps she saw her husband reel slightly off balance.
"Where is my son? My Teddy?" Stash asked.
"He's at the morgue at Calaway Hospital. I can drive you there if you..." Chester said.
"No! I don't want your help! How many times have we warned you cops about those kids skating on the ice there? Now, my son's dead! Dead!" Stash shouted angrily, as he shoved Chester aside.
"Mary, this is your fault! Did you know he was going skating today?" Stash demanded, as he started out the door.
"No...I...I didn't know..Stash? Maybe, they have the wrong boy," she said.
"No! It's not the wrong boy. It's our son. My son. Our only son," Stash said, holding both hands to his head.
Judy and Basia had been upstairs doing their homework. Judy knew something was very wrong when she heard the shouting and her father's angry voice.
Chester Watson turned and walked with his shoulders down, to his police car. Stash got into his car and sped off to Calaway Hospital.
"Mom? What's happened?" Judy asked.
"Girls, I have some...bad news. Teddy fell through the ice at Metton Lake this afternoon," Mary said.
"Is Teddy in the hospital?" Basia asked.
"No, dear. Your brother didn't make it," Mary said, before dissolving into wracking sobs.
Judy went silent. As always when there was bad news, she learned to keep all the hurt inside. She ran up to her and Basia's room, closed the door behind her and flung herself on her bed.
"It can't be. It just can't be," she kept saying softly into her pillow.
When Stash returned home that night, it was as if his whole world died with Teddy. He was never the same man again. At first, Mary tried to keep her girls busy and tried to put their brother's death in the past.
After six months, she began to "take to her bed" more and more often. Listless, with a vapid glaze in her eyes, Mary preferred to stay away from her girls and Stash. She couldn't look at Judy. She had the same eyes as Teddy and it hurt to her marrow to be reminded of the son she lost.
For Judy, life would never be the same. Her father began treating her more and more like the son Teddy was. Judy worked harder and harder at her studies. School came easy to Teddy, not so Judy. Still, her father pushed and pushed her hard every day. When she felt as if she was edging closer to a break down, she thought about Teddy instead.
Two years after her brother's death, her life was an endless round of helping care for her sister and doing all the cleaning, dishes, laundry and cooking their meals. She managed to keep up her grades at school.
Then one day, her father insisted she learn to drive even though she was only fifteen years old. She could drive on a learner's permit for two years without a licensed driver in the vehicle. Stash hoped it would get his wife out of her bed and the house.
"I can't do everything around here now that your mother is ill," Stash told Judy.
The truth was the only thing Stash did every day was go to his job at the factory and stop off for a shot and a few beers at Magelski's Tavern on the way home every night.
Judy drove her sister to and from school and hurried off to her own senior year at Broadridge High School. She had only her learner's permit. In those days, a student could drive out of necessity without another adult in the vehicle.
Judy got a flat tire half way to school. Not knowing what to do, she pulled the car to the side of the road slowly. A few minutes later, a young man with a wry smile and a tow truck saw her situation and slowed down. He parked behind her vehicle.
"Got a problem, Miss?" he asked.
"Flat tire on the passenger side in front," she said.
"I can fix it for you," he answered.
"I can't pay you. I don't have more than a few bits of change in my purse. I'm already late for school," she said.
"No problem. Can't have a pretty girl like you being late for class, can we?" he said.
Judy never had time to think about boys. Mary and Stash kept her too busy with chores.
"Do you work for this towing company?" she asked.
"Sure do. I own it. Name's Danny Landowski. And yours?" he asked.
"Judy Michowski. It appears we both have Polish last names," she said.
"You know there's always a Pole around when a lady's in distress," Danny joked.
Judy didn't see Danny for a long time after the episode with the flat tire. Although, she was curious about such a young man owning his own business. He couldn't be more than a few years older.
She flipped through the yellow pages of the phone book and found the advertisement for DL's Towing. It was located in Calaway right on the highway. Judy drove past it several times; but, there was no sign of Danny Landowski.
Could be out on the road flirting with other young, foolish girls like me, she thought. Danny wasn't on the road. He was on the phone. Something that would be his lifelong obsession.
Francine Chapin Vestre
By the time Francine Chapin turned sixteen, her life at home consisted of hearing ongoing battles between her too needy Mom and sometime gambler, father.
Peter Chapin was the iconic handsome, dark-haired, dark-eyed Frenchmen with charm inherited from generations of Chapin men.
Lydia was raised by a flamboyant Italian father, Giovanni Fiorino and tough-as-nails German mother, Lottie Baltz. As unlikely a pair as Lydia and Peter were, it was a certainty their daughter, Francine, would be rebellious.
In high school, her beauty and bubbly personality were a magnet for those Greek god-type guys who felt a beauty on their arm was a boost to their egos.
The problems for Francine grew out of her mother's rage that Peter adored his little daughter. Lydia, fair of skin and cameo-type beauty, resented taking a back seat to her vivacious, energetic daughter.
Lydia, with no siblings, was accustomed to being the center of her parents' attention, particularly her father's. Now, seasoned by her own paternal relationship, she took a dim view of such fatherly attention toward her daughter.
As Francine grew in beauty year by year, Lydia recognized the division it was causing between herself and her husband.
Francine was sent each summer to live with Lydia's mother Lottie. Lydia hoped Lottie would be as strict with Francine as she had been with Lydia as a child.
The blessing for Lydia was being rid of Francine for an entire summer when school closed. Lottie doted on Francine in a way Lydia never intended. She resented that her own mother gave her granddaughter the affection and attention she refused to give Lydia.
Francine, like Judy, Carole and Dina stole away to their local town anti-war protests at their high schools or the state's college campuses. It was a simply matter of "hooking up" with their school friends who had cars or a van.
From the summer of 1961 to the fall of 1963, each of the four women felt freest when away from their families and in the company of a growing number of "hippies."
At first, these hippies were mostly set on changing the world they believed was totally inhibiting and destructive.
By 1963, hippies already began massing in various places in the northeast, midwest and Pacific rim states much to the chagrin and annoyance of their tight-laced, middle class parents and cops. Parental annoyance only buoyed these free spirits and energized their unity and strength. Though the groups were mainly contained, the day would come when they would reject the imposition of inequitable authority and mandates they felt lacked common sense. They would soon learn the value of public protests en masse.
For the four women, rejection of authority and autocratic obedience became deeply embedded. They would become the first generation of women to reject morals imposed on them by generations of men who dominated women's lives in the most oppressive manner.
The Summer of 1964 - A Meeting of Four Minds
When Spring Break 1964 arrived, Carole and her protest group were becoming more visible and getting a lot of public relations mention and attention. Her parents were aghast when they caught sight of her on TV during one of the protests at the university dean's office. They threatened to cut off their college funding. She was able to soothe them through her usual calm, placid demeanor, pointing out that she was just "in the crowd" like "a lot of other students." She knew her anti-war views ran counter to that of her father who believed service in the military to be nothing short of a religious rite of passage to manhood.
Carole, like so many other students her age, began to feel the threshold of adulthood with a torrent of emotional rebellion. For the first time in her life, she lied to her parents. She told them she found a job at the university as an assistant to an English lit professor. She was heading for California. All of her closest friends told her it was "a happening place" for one of the country's biggest war protests. That was one of the three protests she attended that summer. The last was to be held in New Canaan.
Francine, throwing all caution and obedience to the wind, felt the need to "escape" and boarded a protest bus for New Canaan. Dina wanted to go to New Canaan. She knew her mother would never allow it.
By all appearances, Dina was, externally, the good, obedient daughter. The minute an opportunity arose, her willful nature bolted. Then, she would do whatever it was she knew she wasn't allowed to do. She signed up for the ride to New Canaan. It was three hundred miles away.
Outside the local library, she saw a small group of high school seniors crowded around a familiar face. It was Judy Michowski. She'd been crying.
"Judy? What's wrong?" Dina asked.
"It's Danny. He's been drafted. He's headed for Viet Nam. I just know it," Judy wailed.
That year, girls whose boyfriends were a year or more older were being drafted into the military as if there was a Wall Street sell off. When Danny got his notice, the feeling of needing to have someone waiting for him engulfed him. He made Judy promise she's be there when he "came home."
Judy was livid Danny might be put in harm's way. From that point on, she was obsessed with fighting to end the war in Viet Nam. For Judy, such open rebellion was out of focus with her normally shy, retiring personality. It would also be the last time in her life when she would display a confrontational persona.
"Are any of you going to New Canaan next week?" Dina asked.
"Who isn't going would be the better question," Kathleen Lindon said, sarcastically.
"Dina, I didn't realize you were protesting," Judy said.
"So sorry to hear about your Danny getting drafted. Don't worry, Judy. I'm sure he'll make it back just fine," Dina said.
"I'm not so sure. Have you seen the last three guys in last year's senior class on the list of the dead? I hate this government. They're lying. They said the guys were being sent to Laos, not Viet Nam. I heard from Danny last week that one of the guys is a POW...in Laos? I don't believe that," Judy said.
"Nor do any of us. You remember when Diane Johannsen's boyfriend, Scott, was drafted last year in February? Four months later, his parents were contacted by the army that he was the victim of "friendly fire," Janey Dodd put in.
"It looks as if those of us left behind have to take on the US government and not let up until they stop this massacre of our guys," Dina said.
"At least, Don already served, Dina. We all thought he was too old for you. Looks like you had it right from the start. Find a guy who can't be maimed or blasted by napalm," Rafaella Giordano said.
Dina's odd silence didn't go unnoticed by Judy. Between the two, there was a bizarre kind of telepathy. Judy knew Dina's silence meant Dina was holding back.
The protest rally in New Canaan started out quietly enough. A few bard musicians kept the crowds rapt attention between speakers and kept the cops standing guard, off their backs.
Everyone knew cops were the establishment and would lash out at protesters, even though they had a constitutional right to protest government action. The cops didn't care. They stood in long blue lines at protests like brick walls, watching hungrily for a single protester to step one tiny inch beyond the boundaries of what cops considered "law enforcement." In reality, the cops acted more like starved lions drooling over their prey.
They were so sure all anti-protesters were drug-infested enclaves of "hippies." They waited to see the first puff of smoke with the "funny smell" or protesters on a "trip." That was their excuse to break up the protests. Another of the government's finely honed plans was to kill off as many of these young adults to make war as profitable as possible.
The climax for the New Canaan protest was a speaker well known in anti-war circles for his fiery sarcasm and ridicule of the government. He would speak exactly at three in the afternoon. Meanwhile, protesters massed on the streets near a park in peaceful demonstration.
For the first time, cops were at a loss to control the swell of the crowds.
Dina and Judy manned the tables and handed out fliers. The last bus to the protest rally was from the neighboring state of Pennsylvania. The air was filled with a kind of atomic energy that rippled through protesters' veins like hot lava.
Francine "hitched" with a few friends she knew from school. She really didn't care much about the protest. She just wanted to escape her grandmother's rules and her parents dictatorial edicts transmitted through her grandmother.
She arrived in a gaily covered "bus" painted with huge flowers and peace symbols. In those days, hitchhiking was a way to get from one part of the country to the other in relative safety without the need for money.
The era of violence, murders and rapes had not yet become a daily occurrence. Love was free and Francine embraced this with every fiber of her being. Love was free and in some odd way, meant less crime and less violence toward women.
Francine stopped by the table where Dina and Judy were busy distributing protest fliers and announcements of other planned protests. Her infectious smile and chatty manner caught the attention of Dina. Dina introduced herself and Judy.
"Can I help out? I'm Francine Chapin. Nice to meet ya" Francine said, with a hint of Nebraska twang.
"Sure, we can always use a little extra help. Here, you take that end of the table. Here's a bunch of fliers. Where's home for you," Dina asked.
"I'm an escapee from Nebraska. I know. I sound like a real cornball, don't I?" Francine said, laughing.
Judy looked over at Francine shyly. She wished she could be as vivacious.
"This is just the grooviest scene I've ever been to," Francine said.
"For sure, for me as well," Judy said.
The soon to be four girls couldn't know what lay ahead in their futures would forge their lives and their friendships.
Dina was the first to marry in late winter of 1964, a shot gun wedding she arrogantly refused to admit. Francine followed in marriage in summer of 1965, also the year Judy married.
Carole, two years older than Francine and three years older than Judy and Dina, held out the longest and married in 1966 soon after she finished college. She was the first to divorce, followed by Francine in 1979 and Dina in 1980.
Only Judy remained married to Danny until his death. She became the only "widow" among the four.
Carole managed to remarry a decade after her divorce to the same man who had promised he had "changed." She was reluctant to make it legal and in typical hippie fashion, they lived together until his death.
Dina, Francine and Judy each had children. Carole suffered one miscarriage after another until, in her forty-first year, finally gave up the idea of bringing a child into the world.
Coming from troubled post WWII families that hid their dysfunction under the veil of "family" pride, each of the four had yet to experience the realities and impact their decisions made on their futures.
In 1964, they protested for the first time what they would protest for the rest of their natural lives: wrongheaded authority that sought to imprison and oppress them as freedom-loving, thinking women.
Fates of the Flowers
Like cellophane flowers, their fates were transparent to everyone but them. They would recall that New Canaan protest as the pivotal point that validated their identities forever. These four women thought they knew then who they were and wanted to be, with as much certainty as their determination to empower themselves in a way their own mothers never dared.
Later on, when Dina and Judy met again in the shopping mall by chance, both women were married and their lives were nearly identical.
The 1970s were as turbulent as the 60s had been. Women were fighting for equal rights, burning their bras in protest and struggling with a generation of men who saw their comrades in arms incinerated before their eyes in Viet Nam.
They lived through the shame of the Mi Lai massacres, the U2 spy plane incident, one president assassinated, along with his brother and Martin Luther King.
They looked on in shock and horror at the violence of bigots and racists who bombed churches in black neighborhoods and killed innocent people of color. They watched as more jobs were lost and men in business played games that stacked the cards against workers at every possible opportunity.
In the hearts of all four women, they knew change had to come. But, the price of change for the better is often so high, it causes more war, more death and more violence. The years from 1964 to 1969 were a constant round of anti-war protests and shocking news on a daily basis.
Murder became so prevalent and serial murders desensitized the world around these women.
Many who eventually married saw the war in Viet Nam seriously impacted their mates and friends in ways they never imagined possible. Class reunions were more like funeral wakes where maimed vets were so seriously shocked by the horror of that war they were mostly catatonic vegetables. Those who weren't refused to talk about their experience.
Francine and Randy
The summer of 1963 was Francine's first step into adulthood. She fell "madly" in love with Randy Vestre. He was the handsomest boy in the Nebraska town of Hillstrom. Like Francine, Randy was part German and French. Unlike Francine, he was studious and had big dreams of becoming an aeronautical engineer. The Viet Nam war changed his plans only slightly.
He enjoyed the attentions of the now ravishing Francine, her huge dark eyes framed by a naturally thick fringe of lashes and her petite little body. Whenever she looked up at his six foot frame with those adoring eyes, he felt like a king.
Randy and Francine dated for barely six months when Randy just out of high school was drafted into the military. He chose the Air Force. Flying had always been his passion. Francine was beside herself with anguish and grief that she might lose Randy in some godforsaken Asian rice paddy.
Randy worried Francine, being the extraordinary beauty she was, wouldn't be faithful and he'd lose her. He proposed marriage. When she told Lydia and Peter, they naturally refused to allow their daughter to marry so young.
When Francine insisted she would do it anyway, Lydia saw her final chance to be rid of the only obstacle to her husband's attention. She threw Francine out.
Francine went to live with Grandmother Lottie out of desperation and to seek refuge.
Randy and Francine planned to marry. But, he was soon shipped off to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas before they had the chance. Francine wrote long love letters soon after Randy was sent to Germany.
By the time she was nineteen, she knew it was either marry Randy now or he might never make it back from the war. She had a plan all young girls in those days secretly contemplated, though many in their later years were loathe to admit it: she'd get herself pregnant. He'd have to marry her then.
Using her guile and charm, the minute Randy was home on leave and before his return to the military, they giggled and laughed in the back seat of his old car as they made passionate love. The military gave him three weeks rest and relaxation time.
The day before he was to ship out, Francine told him she was pregnant. They married in a small chapel, Lottie, Lydia and Peter totally unaware they were about to become grandparents of the infant Richard Vestre.
Francine's quick thinking had benefits. She was a military wife now. She was provided housing and a monthly military income. For extra money, she took a job in the local Hillmont diner waiting on tables until her pregnancy became all too obvious.
Francine was too young to know war changes men in unimaginable ways. Randy left a happy, well-adjusted young man. Francine did her part by attending anti-war protest rallies and fund raisers in the hope her man would be home soon.
Randy completed his tour of duty four years later in 1969. Francine saw the changes. He was tense and snarled at her constantly. He never mentioned he planned to use his GI benefits to go to college.
During his time away from the military, Francine bore him a daughter, Dara, in 1967 and another son, Devon in 1969. She now had full charge of three children and a husband with post traumatic war syndrome.
Secretly, Randy realized his marriage was a mistake. Francine was not the woman he wanted to spend his life with. Tenemore College located fifteen miles from Hillmount provided Randy with the space he needed. It also became his hunting ground for romantic affairs. Unknown to the wide-eyed and naive Francine, Randy was experimenting with pot.
"Randy, I know you have to study and be away from home a lot. But, Richie, Devon and Dara need a father. I can't take in ironing for extra cash and care for them too," Francine said.
"How is that my problem?" Randy bellowed.
"We need more than $15 a month to live on. The allowance you give me is barely enough to pay all the bills and feed your kids," she said.
"You'll make do with that or you can find yourself another sucker to marry you," Randy snarled.
Francine knew when he was in this angry mood there was no point arguing with him. Randy was fed up with that pathetic expression on her face. He stalked out of their one bedroom, over-crowded apartment and slammed the door behind him.
"So much for an intelligent discussion about finances," Francine mused.
Francine was forced to live on the paltry sum Randy handed her. Somehow, he always had money to pay for his own personal expenses. She decided to visit Grandmother Lottie with her kids in tow. Lottie was thrilled to have Richie, Dara and Devon, all three pre-school age, for company. She agreed Francine should take on a waitress job to earn the extra money she needed. Lottie would take care of the Vestre children.
Only Dara whined about having to stay at Lottie's. Richie, in his usual easy going manner loved the large expanse of property his grandmother owned. He could run and play and not have to worry about making too much noise to annoy the others "in the apartment building." Devon was always the loner even with an older brother for a playmate.
Randy was livid when he and his latest dalliance stopped for a late evening meal at the diner where Francine worked, unbeknownst to him.
Francine had never been more angry in her entire life. Anger was not something she wasted much time on. Revenge, on the other hand, was.
"What the hell are you doing working here? I give you money every month!" Randy screamed.
"Yes..a lousy $15 to pay the rent, buy food and anything else your cheap ass can manage to avoid paying. So..tell me..how are YOU able to afford this cheap little bit of pleasure on your arm?" Francine asked.
Randy would have slapped Francine then and there had it not been for the impression it would have made on his new lover.
Feeling totally alone and desperate after nine years of marriage, Francine wrote letters to her New Canaan friends, Dina and Judy.
When Randy dared to bring home one of his lovers right under Francine's nose, she filed for divorce. That kind of breach of trust was the last straw.
Carole Lansfield Doyle
Carole was the first to divorce her abusive husband. She worked as a substitute teacher. She came home from work early one night to find Jack Doyle, in bed with some tramp of a woman he picked up in a bar. Carole was livid.
"Get out of my house, you tramp," she screamed.
"Carole, knock it off," Jack warned.
"You bring a woman home in MY bed and I have to knock it off?" she snarled.
"You'd better if you don't want trouble. You know what I mean," Jack said.
Jack Doyle was not the man John and Irma Lansfield wanted for their daughter. They prided themselves on their blue collar hard work putting her through college.
Jack Doyle's family was well known in Linton. His father, Amos, was sent to prison for violent assault and his mother Jennie was left to raise their six children alone.
Jack was the youngest of the six and the only one who was always in trouble. Jennie tried hard to make Jack understand he couldn't do as he pleased. Yet, whenever he got into trouble for petty theft or some other misdemeanor, Jennie always took his side.
Jack grew to expect women would always allow him to get away with whatever he decided to do. Carole's parents were religious and made certain she understood how important ministering to the faithful was. Carole learned that any man or woman, bad or good, could be transformed to righteousness if only they followed the Ten Commandments. What her parents didn't explain was that not all people were willing to change themselves or believed religion was the answer. Jack Doyle was one of these.
Carole and Jack almost didn't meet. Had it not been for a Jack's drop dead good looks and charm, Carole might never have noticed the young man standing on the train platform. Carole had a job interview across the state in Pottsville. She was a typical, unassuming, traditionally raised girl on the outside. Inside, she felt as if she was living in a dull, deadly boring shell.
As he stood there, Jack glanced toward Carole, furtively eyeing her head to toe. Carole felt his eyes on her. She returned his appreciative looks with a wide grin on her perfect, oval shaped face with its perfect teeth and lips framed by shoulder-length honey blonde hair.
She wore a navy shift with a short, navy jacket and her favorite pendant with a single pearl dangling at just the right angle at her throat.
Jack paced slowly back and forth for a few minutes. Then, abruptly, he walked toward Carole.
"Morn'n," Jack said.
"Good morning to you," Carole answered.
"Where you heading?" Jack asked.
"Pottsville. I have a job interview there," Carole said.
"Guess you'll be seeing me Monday through Friday, then. I work in Pottsville. It's not much of a job. But, you know how lean jobs in this part of the state are," Jack said.
"What time do you usually board the morning train?" Carole asked.
"What time is it now?" Jack laughed.
"Oh...I see. I'm just taking this job until I finish college. I'm hoping to work as an education intern in Pottsville for the summer," Carole said.
"You're still in college, then?" Jack asked.
"Yes. My sophomore year. Two more years to go."
Carole aced that intern job and saw Jack Doyle every morning until summer ended. She told him she was attending the state university and hoped he might stay in touch. He didn't. That fall of 1963, Jack was drafted. Carole took the silence from Jack to mean he wasn't interested.
One beautiful autumn evening at the university, Carole saw a crowd of students massing in the quad. She had a lot of studying to do. But, she grew more curious when she heard the bullhorn shouts of "Stop the War!" and the crowd cheering the speaker on. The next thing she knew, she was invited to be on the student protest committee. Carole finally found something inside herself that moved her from her dull life of routine, to a life where she could freely express her thoughts.
By October of that year, Carole had already attended more than a dozen rallies, a fact her parents, especially her father were totally opposed to. Their opposition further determined Carole to become an "activist."
She might not have been one of the most vocal among her activist friends. She supported them best by her behind-the-scenes strategies and planning and organizing protests across the country.
Judy married Danny in 1965, a year after she met Carole, Francine and Dina. Danny turned out to be a monster.
When she was pregnant with their first child, Danny began physically abusing her. He still owned the tow shop. But, Judy noticed he spent most of his time on the phone "making deals."
She lived in mortal terror he was involved with the mob or some other unsavory activity. Danny drank himself into drunken stupors four nights out of seven. He was one of those "nasty drunks" whose rage was mostly aimed at those he could control easiest, or he considered weakest.
Judy tried desperately to stay out of his way. Her only outlet were letters she wrote to Francine, Carole and Dina. Dina grew ever more concerned for Judy's safety.
Dina Fratello McManus
Dina always had an odd sixth sense about things. It seemed to her three friends she had a highly developed intuition that nearly always was on the mark.
She left high school in her senior year and put aside a potential career as a professional dancer to marry a guy her parents knew well. Dina lost her beloved father when she was just eleven. Prior to his death, her home life, like that of Francine's, was also a war zone. Dina's mother and father saw eye to eye on nothing. Their battles often ended in physical abuse.
In the 1950s, marriages were all about "Father Knows Best....All the time! Every time!" Wives learned to keep silent or end up with black eyes, swollen lips or worse.
Dina was never very close to her mother. Margaret (Peggy) Wancz Fratello was too smart. She was an extremely independent woman born in the wrong year and the wrong time. In later years, Dina remarked to her mother that she was the original first "Feminist."
Dina's father, Angelo Fratello, an illiterate Italian immigrant was left to fend for himself with his maternal aunt in New York at the age of eight.
Angelo married the first time when he was just fifteen and his first wife was fourteen. They had six children. Peggy Wancz married at age nineteen to a second generation Portuguese guy, Pete deValle, from Massachusetts.
They had one child, Frederick, before she divorced her skirt chasing husband in an era when women just didn't ever consider divorce.
She learned to take the bull by the horns and make a life for herself even though she seemed to always choose the wrong kind of man. Her second marriage to Angelo was no better than her first to Pete.
Marriage to Don McManus was an escape from the prison Dina Fratello felt her life was. By all appearances, she was so "together" even at the age of sixteen when she first met Carole, Francine and Judy. She'd boarded a bus to New Canaan with a bunch of friends to demand they bring an end to the war in Viet Nam.
She'd already heard more than a dozen of her school mates and one of the sons of a neighbor was killed near Da Nang. Internally, Dina was livid. This was always how Dina managed to project her cool exterior amid most crises.
Don McManus was clearly out of Dina's league. Five years older and just out of the US Navy, Don was something of a bully. He managed to keep this facet of his personality under wraps until after he felt he had secured Dina as his wife.
Don had an unusual ability to do just as he pleased, even when it meant hostility toward others. Then, he made his targets of his anger and abuse feel sorry for him.
New Canaan Friends Forever
Dina kept in constant touch with Francine, her favorite of the three she'd met in New Canaan. Carole came to visit Dina only when she was certain Don was at work.
Don went out of his way to make Dina's friends feel uncomfortable, even as he unloaded most of his friends on her every weekend in their endless beer parties.
Although they stayed in touch by phone and mail, Dina and Judy saw little of each other for the five years since their New Canaan meeting.
Dina encountered Judy in a local shopping mall and a lifetime friendship was built. As married women with children, they realized they had much in common.
They attended the same schools growing up and were in and out of each other's classes.
Danny and Don were boozers who were physically abusive. Dina, unlike Judy, refused to take abuse. Judy's way was to make herself scarce.
As marital scars became part of their twenties and thirties, Dina and Judy communicated nearly three to four times a week by phone, always with Danny screaming at Judy to "get off the damn phone" because he had to use it.
"Judy...Why does Danny spend so much time on the phone?" Dina asked.
"You got me. He's on the phone from eight in the morning to six at night when he isn't at the shop," Judy responded.
"Who can he be talking to so often? You think he has another woman?" Dina asked.
"Have you seen Danny lately" Judy said, with a laugh.
Dina was amused hearing Judy's laughter. She laughed all too rarely.
"Not sure what you mean," Dina said.
"He won't go to the dentist. His teeth are a mess. He barely takes a shower and he reeks of booze even when he's not drunk. We both smoke; but he's a chain smoker. What woman would find that attractive unless she's "hard up?" Judy said into the phone.
"Listen, "Old Yeller" is about to blow a vein. I have to hang up. I'll call you when Danny goes out. Bye," Judy said hurriedly.
Dina saw Judy's life wasn't much better than her own.
Then, the first of many tragedies struck two of the four women. Danny came home drunk on the night of June 11, 1978. They had just bought a cape cod home and moved their son and daughter in.
Danny maintained his business while Judy worked part-time as a secretary to help out. She frequently told Dina how she felt Danny was spending his money on another woman. He never seemed to have enough to cover their bills.
"Are you sure, Judy?"
"Sure as I can be he can't make payments on the car we own this month," Judy said.
"Dina...I...need to tell you something...just in case," Judy said.
"Sure, go ahead. You know I never break the seal of secrecy," Dina said.
"Danny has gotten more violent. I didn't want to tell you this before. The last time he came home drunk, he beat me so badly I thought he broke my back," Judy said.
"Oh my God! Judy! Why didn't you call the police?" Dina said.
"What? And have the cops put him in jail for the night? Have him come back and beat me some more? You know Danny has a business and the cops won't touch him with a 10 foot pole, Dina. He makes deals with them to fix their cop cars for nothing. They are in his back pocket and he's in theirs. No. There's no way I'll call the cops."
Dina was silent for too long.
"Dina? Are you still there?" Judy asked.
"Yes. I need to tell you something. But, you have to promise not to breathe it to a soul."
"What is it?"
"Don's drinking is worse. I think he regrets marrying me and I think he is getting more violent. He threw an ashtray at me and it missed my face by only a few inches," Dina said.
"You didn't call the police either. Did you?" Judy said.
"Yes. I did. When the cops came, they suggested he just "sleep it off." He did. But when he woke up, he was so angry because I called the police and got him into trouble. He pulled off that leather belt he wears with that silly buckle with the metal truck on it and started beating me with it," Dina said.
Judy wondered how they'd gone from happy-go-lucky teenage girls to such horrible marriages.
"What are you going to do, Dina?"
"What can I do. You know I can't afford to keep a roof over my kids' heads. It comes down to staying so my kids don't have to live in a rat-infested slum on welfare. I won't do that. My youngest starts school in a year. I'm going to go back to my original plan and open my own dance school. I'll have my own money and not have to rely on Don's. What are you going to do, Judy?"
"Like you, there's not much women our age can do, especially when there are kids in the picture. I'm stuck here. I'll just try to stay out of Danny's way," Judy said.
After two weeks, Dina hadn't had a single phone call from Judy. She called Francine and Carole to see if Judy had spoken with either of them.
"Dina, you know Judy doesn't call me very often. You sound awfully worried. Is she in some kind of danger?" Francine asked.
"I don't know. It's just a feeling I have. Danny is not wrapped too tight mentally," Dina said.
"Not unlike my Randy. Maybe, Judy talked to Carole. Let me know if you hear anything," Francine said, ringing off.
Dina knew Francine well enough to know she was in a hurry to cut the phone call short for a reason. There was only one reason that came to mind: Randy.
Dina called Carole. She got the same response. Judy hadn't spoken with Carole.
"Maybe, Judy thinks we are sticking our noses into her business and is chilling our jets for a while," Carole said.
"Maybe. How've you been, Car?" Dina asked.
"I'm divorcing Jack. Dina...it's a long story. Let's meet next week for lunch. I'll tell you all about it then," Carole said.
"Best you come to my house for lunch. Don takes the car every day now. He's afraid I'll meet guys while he's at work," Dina said.
"That's crazy! You barely have time to take a shower," Carole said.
"I know. But Don's drinking is getting really bad. I can't see myself staying with him for the next 50 years of my life, Car. I have to be honest. I'm just waiting out the time when I can be free of him," Dina said.
"What day will Don be away next week?" Carole asked.
"He's supposed to be over the road for two days from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon next week. Stop by then. I'll make your favorite luncheon treat...roasted chicken salad," Dina said.
"Swell. See you Tuesday then," Carole said.
The minute Dina hung up the phone, Francine phoned.
"Frannie, what is it? What's wrong?" Dina asked.
"I'm leaving Randy. I can't take it anymore. I moving to New Jersey. I got a job there. I'm coming out with my kids by train in a week. It's all arranged. I've got a place to stay and all," Francine said.
"Jeeze Frannie. You work fast. Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because...before...Randy was here and I couldn't talk."
"Does he know you're leaving and taking the kids?" Dina asked.
"No. But, I really think he'll be relieved. I've already filed for divorce and he'll get the papers the minute I'm in Jersey," Francine said.
"God, I just talked to Carole. She's divorcing Jack. She coming by for lunch next Tuesday. Why don't you stop by too? We can catch up on old times," Dina said.
"What old times? We're heading for the Big 3-0 and two of us are already divorcing and we have no idea where Judy has got to," Francine said.
"I'm worried about Judy, Frannie. Danny is a handful and she hides how abusive he really is," Dina said.
"You know Judy. She comes from a Polish family. Like Italians, Poles don't broadcast family problems for fear of being disgraced," Francine said.
When Francine rang off, Dina had the distinct feeling her own marriage didn't have long to last. She faced the reality that she had to put her plan of action into place immediately. She knew a woman without money didn't have a chance.
The three met for luncheon as planned at Dina's house. There was a feeling of such comraderie betwen them.
"We should do this again, real soon," Francine said.
"I agree. It's too bad Judy couldn't be here. Anyone hear from her?" Carole asked.
"No. That scares me. Danny is a beast to her. I told her I thought he had another woman. He's always on the phone or chasing the two of us off our phone calls," Dina said.
The three women decided they should celebrate their meeting by having luncheons every year on the anniversary of their meeting in New Canaan.
Dina began to teach dance again. She still had a dancer's body, which Don seemed to brag about to his friends. He resented it when his own body began to suffer the consequences of too much drinking.
Oddly, he didn't mind the extra money Dina earned. When his drinking money ran out, he no longer worried about the bills. Dina earned enough from teaching a few private lessons a week to pay most of the bills.
Dina often felt as if she was being squeezed in a vise. She woke every day, got the kids off to school, tended to cleaning, laundry and yard work in the mornings. She felt enormous guilt that she couldn't spend more time with her kids. By the end of the first year of teaching dance, she already enrolled more than the original six students she intended to be the limit of her teaching.
Her daughters, Allison and Chrissie, were both in grade school. She watched Allison tend to her younger sister's needs while Dina was busy teaching dance in the renovated garage. Both girls took lessons from the mother. Although, Allison was more interested in playing piano. Dina managed to arrange for Allison to take piano lessons from one of the mothers of her dance students who was a pianist.
For more than five years, there was no word from Judy. Francine phoned Dina two or three times a week. Though Frannie was a year older, she relied on Dina's wisdom and experience whenever a problem arose. Dina found Francine's phone calls a refreshing relief from the monotony her routine became day in and day out.
Carole phoned once or twice a month. Her divorce behind her, she returned to her job as a school teacher. She took more college classes and finished her Masters degree.
Whenever Dina was able, she and Carole had lunch together at the local diner in Dina's town. Carole didn't like Don. Dina was aware of that. She was also aware that Carole was more afraid of Don than she disliked him.
"Don is an attractive guy. How do you know he isn't spending his time with other women while you are breaking your neck earning a living for added household income?" Carole asked.
"Don? Other women? What kind of women would he find in a bar, except a bunch of bar flies. Besides, Don hates boozer women. He said so."
"You know as well as I do that female boozers get all too uninhibited under the influence. Don is enjoying freedom he knows you don't have," Carole said, rather sharply.
Dina knew Carole was just being a good friend. Carole had always been like the big sister in the group of four friends.
"Carole, have you heard from Jack?" Dina asked.
"No. Why would I? Jack hops from one woman's bed to another. The very idea of him makes me...puke. Besides, the last time he...oh...never mind," Carole said.
"He? What? Tell, tell Car,"
Carole rolled up the sleeve on her blouse to reveal a scar nearly seven inches long.
"Carole, what the hell is that?"
"That is the parting gift Jack gave me," Carole said.
"What are you talking about? You never mentioned this," Dina said.
"No. I didn't. Don was batting you around so often. I didn't want to add to your fears," Carole said.
"What do you mean?"
"The last night Jack and I saw each other...I went to a class at college. When I came home, Jack was in our bed with some bit of trash he picked up in a bar somewhere," Carole said.
"And?" Dina asked.
"And...when I tried to throw his tramp out of my bed, Jack and I scuffled. She ran out the door. Jack was furious that I spoiled "things" for him. We argued and struggled as he followed me into the kitchen. He picked up a carving knife and sliced my arm," she said.
"My God! Car...why?"
"He said he was going to teach me to keep my mouth shut. He aimed for my face. But, I raised my arms in front of me and the knife came down where you see the scar. It's a reminder of why I will never trust any man who drinks...ever again," Carole said.
Dina was speechless. And, she was, as Carole said, frightened Don might do the same. She knew she had no choice but hold onto her marriage a little while longer until she had enough money to escape Don's growing violence. The problem was that Don had more, not less freedom, now that Dina was bringing extra money into the household. He spent more and more time away from his daughters and Dina.
Not that Dina really minded him being away so much. It was actually a relief for her and the girls when he was out of the house. Allison felt oddly sorry for her father. Chrissie, as always, adored her mother and stayed clear of her father.
"Ally, sympathy is no substitute for love. You may feel sorry for your father. But one day, you may regret that sympathy," Dina told her daughter.
Dina's thoughts returned to the lunch with Carole.
"Carole, have you heard from Judy? She hasn't called me in nearly five years," Dina said, over lunch.
"Maybe, she and Danny and the kids moved out of state. You know how big a project moving can be. Finding another job and setting up house is a huge effort. That's probably why she hasn't called," Carole said.
Dina was intuitive to the max. She accepted what Carole said. Yet, somewhere deep inside she knew something had gone very wrong between Judy and Danny. She didn't like what she was thinking. What if Danny had battered Judy so bad she was dead?
"What are you thinking, Dina? That Danny would kill Judy? Danny is a lot of bad things...but a murderer? He talks a good line. He's just not really capable of living his life without a safety net like Judy. You know how many times when he's screwed up, it was Judy who pulled his fat out of the fire," Carole said.
"Yes. That seems to be a recurring theme among the guys we all married," Dina said, with a smirk.
"Yep, we cellophane flowers never do wilt when it comes to saving these guys from themselves. Do we?" Carole admitted.
Dina and Carole laughed.
"Well, girlfriend. I've got to head back to good ole PA. I'll call you soon," Carole said.
The two women hugged and parted ways.
Dina always felt buoyed by visits from Carole. It was like one of those lighthouses in a storm at sea. Dina's storms were ahead, though she didn't know it at that time.
When Francine phoned, Dina told her about her lunch with Carole.
"Jack did that to her?" Francine said.
"You had to see that scar. It's more than six inches long and ugly. She hides it under long sleeved blouses. I had no idea Jack was that violent," Dina said.
"What are you thinking? That Don will do that to you?"
"No. Of course not. Don is more apt to swing a punch that pick up a weapon," Dina said.
"Didn't you tell me he has his old man's shot guns in the house? Face facts, Dina ole girl, Don has a hair trigger temper. You think he wouldn't use one of those?" Francine asked.
Dina had forgotten she mentioned those shot guns to Francine. She didn't worry about the girls getting into the gun cabinet he kept them in. Neither Allison or Chrissie had any interest in guns.
Still, it was one more worry to add to all of the others related to Don's erratic behavior. She dare not sell them without his permission. She thought she would mention to him casually that those rifles were probably quite valuable and maybe he could use the extra money selling them would bring in.
The subject never came up. Dina's life was always filled with details...things that she had to do, never things she "wanted" to do. Living with a dominant personality like Don's, Dina learned to stay one step ahead and to be perfect in everything she did. Don expected no less of her, just never himself.
And Dina's Divorce Makes Three
Dina began receiving odd phone calls. Someone was on the line when she answered the phone. She could hear whoever it was breathing. At first, she hoped it was Judy. When the calls became more frequent, she knew it wasn't.
She received a strange phone call from a woman who claimed she heard Dina was divorcing and was looking for an apartment.
"Who is this?" Dina demanded.
"My name is Maria," the caller said with a slight accent.
"Where are you calling from?" Dina asked.
"Earlton," was the answer.
Earlton was not more than six miles from town. The caller's accent...was distinctively half urban Hispanic and half local colloquial.
Dina waited for several seconds.
"I'm not divorcing my husband. Who told you that?" Dina demanded.
"A friend of yours. That's how I got your phone number," the caller said.
Then, the phone went dead. Dina felt annoyed. For the rest of the day, she couldn't shake the feeling that something peculiar was going on.
When the phone rang at four in the afternoon a week later, the caller hung up before she reached it to answer. She mentioned to Francine that she'd been getting "odd" phone calls.
"Odd? In what way?" Francine asked.
"You know..the kind where the caller hangs up after I answer. And then last week, some woman from Earlton called to ask if I was interested in an apartment there. She said someone told her I was divorcing," Dina said.
In person, Dina could read the expression on Francine's face better than her friend realized. Francine may have always been the happy-go-lucky cellophane flower of the group; but, she was also the most experienced where men were concerned.
At lunch a week later, she reached for Dina's hand across the table in their favorite coffee shop.
"What is it, Frannie?" Dina asked.
"What time are you receiving these calls? Are they usually at the same time of day or night?" Francine asked.
Dina went silent and in deep thought.
"Now that you mention it? Yes. The calls seem to come in late afternoon or early evening," Dina said.
"Every day?"
"No. Usually, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays, the calls come in before noon," Dina said.
Francine glanced around the room trying not to reveal with her large brown eyes what she was thinking.
"Frannie..Out with it! What are you thinking?"
"Don...has he been acting strangely of late? You know...cranky when you ask him to stay home? Nice when he's heading out the door?"
"Yes. But, that's how he is all the time. You aren't thinking he is seeing someone are you?" Dina asked.
Francine remained silent. Dina burst out laughing. Francine felt confused.
"When was the last time you saw Don?" Dina asked.
"Not in a year or so. You know he doesn't like us to hang out together," Francine said.
"Frannie, Don looks worse for the wear these days. What woman in her right mind would take a second look at him unless she was a rip roaring boozer," Dina asked.
"And you think that isn't possible, given how much time he spends away from you and the girls?" Francine asked.
"Where could he meet a drunken lush? He only goes to the local bar to hang out with the guys," Dina said.
"Has he been going there more often than usual lately?" Francine asked.
"Yes. But that doesn't mean..." Dina said.
She realized Francine was right. Don had been spending more and more time away from home in the past year.
Dina, always the emotionally hardened woman, refused to cry in public. She felt angry with Francine for her implications that Don was cheating. She didn't speak to Francine for nearly two weeks after their meeting, even when Francine called and left messages with Chrissie or Allison to "please" call back.
She couldn't help eyeing Don as he sat down to dinner or when he was asleep. No. It can't be. He's not the young Adonis he once might have been. Yet, the phone calls and the hanging up continued. There was something else peculiar. Whenever she and the girls were outside mowing the lawn or raking, the same blue van passed by and slowed as it passed their house.
"Mom? Why is the woman in that van always driving past our house?" Allison asked.
"What woman?" Dina asked, distracted by the pile of leaves she was raking into a plastic bag.
"The woman in the blue van. She drives past several times a week and always does the same thing...she slows as she passes our house," Allison said.
"She's probably a new neighbor," Chrissie said absently.
"No. She's not. She might be a stalker," Allison said.
"Why do you think that, Allie?" Dina asked.
"Because, when Daddy takes us to our soccer practice, she always pulls her van into the parking lot at the soccer field," Allison said.
Dina felt as if a cannon ball had been hurled directly at her gut. Was this the other woman Don was seeing?
"Let's play a game with this stalker, okay girls? Next time you see her, write down her license plate number. I'll report her to the police. I can't have some strange woman stalking either of you," Dina said, faking the reason for wanting the license plate number.
Jimmy Sorvino was the father of Maria Sorvino, Dina's dance student. Jimmy was a cop and he could get any information Dina asked for. He'd said as much. Allison did as she was told. She handed the license plate number of the woman in the blue van to her mother, pleased as punch she was helping capture the "stalker."
Jimmy got the information Dina needed. He asked if the woman in the van was causing Dina any problems.
"No. It's just odd. She seems to drive by our house two or three times a week. Allison said she saw her several times at their soccer field," Dina answered.
Jimmy knew all about the woman in the van. He'd slept with her six months before. He dare not say as much to Dina.
Dina read the report Jimmy handed her after the girls were asleep. The owner of the van was "Michelle Gavin," age thirty. Her address was 18 East End Avenue...the other side of town.
Dina was nothing if not willful when it came to protecting family name. She would give this Michelle Gavin a taste of her own stalking. Dina drove over to East End Avenue. She found No. 18, a large two story with a blue van sitting in the driveway. She saw something else that nearly knocked her senseless: Don's pickup in the driveway.
She drove past the house in daylight, hoping the Gavin woman would notice. If she did, she played it pretty cool pretending she didn't.
So, Michelle Gavin wants my husband, does she? Well, she can have him...but I'll make her and his life so miserable before I divorce him, she'll wish she'd never met him. Oh, I'll divorce him alright. She's making that easy for me to do now. But, she'd better not dare scandalize my daughters.
Dina was an ace at revenge. All her life, she had to fight back against the tides that rushed at her and tried to drown her in the deep.
She dialed Francine's phone number.
"Frannie? Can we do lunch today? Mea culpa?" Dina asked.
"You know, don't you?" Francine asked.
Francine was never one to say "I told you so." She valued Dina's friendship and Dina valued hers. They'd forged a rock solid bond of friendship since they first met.
At the local cafe, the minute Francine hugged her friend, Dina sobbed hysterically. And then, typical for Dina, burst into gales of laughter.
"Dina? Are you alright? Why are you laughing?"
"I just realized this Michelle Gavin woman has let me out of Don's prison. Shouldn't I thank her?" Dina said, playfully.
"Only if you don't want Don to think you are dumping him. Men want divorces they don't ever really want," Francine said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that his little ball of fluff is hot to get him divorced. Divorce in haste...repent at leisure. Only Don is too infatuated to realize it," Francine said.
"Which bar floor did he pick her up from?" Francine asked, sardonically.
"Who knows? Any floozy in any bar...you know the story," Dina said.
"Was Don always such a heavy drinker?" Francine asked.
"Not so you could notice it at first. He reserved his heavy duty boozing until after he was sure my dance school could pay all the bills," Dina said.
"You know he has to pay child support, don't you?" Francine asked.
"He always said he'd jump state first," Dina said.
"That's just his way of saying he doesn't really want a divorce," Francine said.
"Hey, shouldn't we call Carole and Judy and have a "Freed from Prison" Divorce Party?" Dina asked.
"Oh God! Judy! I forgot to tell you...When Carole called recently, she said she saw Judy in a shopping mall near Carole's new sublet. Judy's living in her car. When Carole tried to talk to her, she said Judy was spooked and didn't recognize her," Dina said.
"Let's go out there this weekend and see if we can find her. Call Car and tell her we're on a hunt for one of our cellophane flowers. She'll understand," Francine said.
That weekend, Francine and Dina drove to the state line. Carole had taken a small sublet in a rural area of a college town there. The three women packed into Francine's car and set off for the mall where Carole last saw Judy.
"Car, do you remember what kind of car she had?" Dina asked.
"Yes. An old grey thing that looked beat up. She had all her belongings stuffed into the front and back seats. It's a wonder she wasn't arrested for vagrancy," Carole said.
"When you saw her, you told Dina she didn't recognize you?" Francine asked.
"That's right. In fact....it's not nice to say...but...she seemed disoriented...you know? Mentally confused," Carole added.
"Danny? He was no where in sight?" Dina asked.
"No. And thank God for that. She already looked as if he'd done a number on her," Carole said.
"Car, Francine wants to collect Judy and meet on Friday. My divorce is final early part of that week," Dina said.
"Divorce Party?" Carole asked
"Yes. Dina's Divorce Party. I'll buy the wine. We'll meet at my place," Francine said.
"Okay, Divorce Party Friday night. Dina? You okay with this?" Carole asked.
"Carol, I knew my marriage was over the minute I started earning my own money. I just couldn't see myself forty years from now taking four more decades of Don's abuse. I'm going to be free," Dina said.
"Or, as free as Don will ever allow," Carole put in.
"He's found himself a playmate, Car," Francine said.
"Here we are. If she isn't in the car, maybe she's moved inside. It is getting on to chillier September weather," Carol said.
It was Dina who spotted Judy inside the mall. She sat across from the juice and hot dog bar, eyeing the food as if she hadn't eaten in a long time.
"Judy? It's me. Dina?"
Judy looked at Dina and burst into tears.
"Dina! What are you doing here?"
"Looking for a lost cellophane flower," Dina said, tears welling in her eyes.
"What on earth happened to you?" Dina asked.
Judy's clothes were wrinkled and her hair was matted.
"It's a long, long story, Dina. Best saved for a time when I can receive guests," Judy said.
"Receive guests? Hell...you're coming with us.
Carol, Judy, Francine and Dina met as they planned at Francines's new condo. Francine bought a single bottle of white wine and the others brought snacks and sandwiches.
"We haven't changed much since New Canaan have we?" Carole said, laughing.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Judy said, introspectively.
"Do you think we will still be in touch as we are now, in twenty years when we all have grandkids?" Francine asked.
"Don't see why not. Our teens were an adventure, our young adulthood a testing ground and now as we get near the big "4-0," we could fill an encyclopedia with the experiences we've had. Do you think there are other women our age just like us?" Dina asked.
"When things got so bad for me, I thought about letting go of the steering wheel in traffic. But, I couldn't do it. I could kill other innocent people doing that and maybe only cripple myself," Judy said.
"Judy? You need a place to stay. I have an extra bedroom you can use till you find work and a place of your own," Francine said.
"You have a full house, Frannie," Judy said.
"No..uh, actually I don't. Dara decided I don't make enough money to support her "expensive" tastes. My ex does. She went to live in Maine with him," Francine said.
"I'm so sorry Frannie," Dina said.
"I'm not worried. Dara will get in his way. Randy is a ladies man. He'll ship Dara back to me the minute she cuts in on his womanizing time," Francine said with a laugh.
"Things happen for a reason. We four should know that by now," Carole said.
"Judy, you want to come and stay with me, don't you?" Francine asked.
"Sure. I promise not to be a problem. I'll be out most of the time looking for a job anyway," Judy said.
The four women spent the rest of the evening laughing and joking about their lives, their kids and their former husbands.
Ugly Secrets - Sticks and Stones Don't Break Their Bones
When Dina mentioned her divorced again, Judy started to cry softly.
"I should tell you guys, all at the same time, what really happened with me and Danny," Judy said.
"Judy, you don't have to if you can't deal with it," Dina said.
"No. I want to. I can't move on until I come clean," Judy said.
"Where is Danny now?" Carole asked.
"In jail. At least, temporarily in jail. Two years ago, he came home really drunk and angry. I was downstairs when I heard him slam the back door. I walked up the stairs with a basket of laundry in my hand. Midway up the steps, he stood in the doorway bellowing that his supper was cold. Of course it was. I'd cooked it nearly six hours earlier that day. Anyway, I told him I'd reheat it. He got even angrier and pushed me down the stairs. I don't really remember the rest.
He must have come down the stairs and thought I was faking being unconscious. He kicked me in the ribs and broke two ribs. He must have also tried to punch me back to consciousness. The nurses in the hospital said I had a broken jaw too. They wired it shut to repair it.
"Carole? When I saw you, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. You three may not like to hear what else I have to say," Judy said.
"Judy, my God...certainly we do," Francine said, with tears in her eyes.
"I was in a coma for nearly two years. When I finally regained consciousness, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia...because I couldn't make myself speak coherently. I could only mutter quietly to the walls. I was sent to a mental institution to recuperate."
"They sent Danny to prison for this, I hope," Carole said, militantly.
"Not at first. He told them I fell backward down the stairs. The doctors at the hospital were suspicious. By then, Danny sold our house and put the money into his business," Judy said.
"What happened to your sons?" Dina asked.
"One of them is with my parents in Massachusetts. Danny has the older one working in his business," Judy said.
"How do you know this?" Carol asked.
"I drove past the business and saw my son working there," Judy said.
"Did Danny admit he'd caused your injuries?" Francine asked.
"No. But, the hospital showed the records of prior abuses to the cops. That clinched it for Danny," Judy said.
"Prior abuses? How many prior abuses?" Dina asked.
"You don't want to know. Danny can be a beast when he's drunk," Judy said.
"Well, good riddance," Dina replied.
"Actually, he's getting out of jail in a few weeks. I have a restraining order. But, you know that never stops these guys," Judy said.
"As long as we are into divulging "family" secrets, I think I need to tell you three something," Carole said.
"Car...what is it?" Francine asked.
"This scar on my arm? It isn't the first time Jack pulled a knife on me," Carole said.
"What?" the three women said in unison.
"No. I didn't mention it before. When I had the first miscarriage shortly after we were married, Jack blamed me. He accused me of getting an abortion. We got into a row and he reached for a knife on the kitchen table and started swinging it at me. I called the cops. But, you know how cops stick together with violent men. They try to sweet talk the woman every time into not reporting the attempted murder or violence," Carole said.
"That's so true. At least, it's true for Danny," Judy added.
"It's true for Don. He's got half the cop population in town sucking up to him because they all play on the same softball team," Dina said.
"At least, Don hasn't attacked you," Carole said.
"Oh no? Haven't you noticed that my nose is slightly straighter than it was? I have Don to thank for that?" Dina said.
"You mean he punched you in the face and you had to have surgery?" Francine asked.
"Yes. That's why I couldn't ever let him near me. Every time someone swung anything in front of my face, I was in mortal terror. He got drunk one night and broke my nose...after...I called the cops for him kicking me in the ribs so hard I could barely breathe. Other times, I just took the girls and left. Then, he'd come looking for me and make trouble with my Mom or other family members. It got so my own family didn't want me around anymore. My Mom was no help either. She kept telling me he'd change. For God's sake, the guy is thirty-eight, am I supposed to wait and hope he'll change till I'm eighty?" Dina asked.
"What's funny about Don is that Dina is kind of relieved he found himself a female drinking partner," Francine said.
"Have you heard from Randy, Francine?" Judy asked.
"No. And, I hope to never hear from him again. He's refusing to pay child support. This, from the guy earning six figures, right? Dara doesn't even bother to call her own mother. He has her believing "I" left her father. Why is it our kids always blame us and never their fathers?" Francine asked.
"Because if they did, they'd hate them as much as we do," Dina said.
"Ain't it grand? The Greaser Generation," Carole said, smirking.
"Yes...the Greaser Generation. How well we know," Dina said.
"How did they ever become Greasers? We met them in our home states. We didn't exactly live in an inner city...any of us. We were all middle class," Carole said.
"That's true. I think they just formed their own peer groups," Francine said.
"Don't you mean "gangs?" Dina asked, laughing.
"It is kind of funny to think of them as members of high school gangs. Remember those ugly, oily duck tail haircuts?" Francine said.
"How can we ever forget?" Judy asked.
"I wonder where all of Jack's "Lucky Ladies" are now?" Carole asked.
"Lucky Ladies?" Dina asked.
"Yes. They were the "groupies" who hung out with the Greasers. Don't you remember?" Carole asked.
"Oh God. So, yours were called "Lucky Ladies?" In my town, they called themselves "Devils Disciples," remember? Those stupid bobby socks, long skirts and tight, tight sweaters?" Judy said.
"With the rocket ship bras!" Carole put in.
Dina nudged Judy and Carole playfully and laughed.
"I'd almost forgotten that Don's Devils gang had those needy strumpets dangling from their arms. Don's was a platinum blonde with bad teeth," Dina said, roaring with laughter.
"Judy, you sound better already. Well gals, I think we've had our Happy Dina Divorce Party. I've got to get some papers graded. Time to go," Carole said, standing upright.
"Me too. Allison and Chrissie have a soccer game tomorrow. I'm manning the refreshment stand to pay for their soccer membership dues," Dina said.
"I'm working tomorrow even though it's Saturday. I finally found a part-time job. But, now that I'll be bunking in with Francine, I'll need a real job," Judy said.
"With my two sons under foot, expect a phone call from me tomorrow, Dina. I'll be the caller with my hair standing on end. Make book on it if it's raining," Francine said.
The four women laughed.
"Ex Marks the Spot"
The lives of the cellophane flowers were never easy. But, they managed to put blinders on and keep moving forward like jet streams.
Carol had the supreme pleasure of seeing Jack hauled off to jail shortly after they split. Jack made the huge mistake of "picking up" a too young girl in a go-go bar.
Go-go bars began to spring up in the mid 1970s like breeding rabbits. Every town suddenly had at least two. Randy, Danny and Don all "hung out" in them to pick up girls. Randy found his second wife in one. Danny was just an ogler of women with big boobs and, if he was lucky, a free "grope."
Don usually joined his guy friends to get "lap dances" for a price. Although, Don's favorite pick up joint was the local watering hole.
Randy seemed on a collision course. He only needed women. He didn't actually want one. He learned that women don't generally put out without some sense of a future in mind, usually marriage. His second wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Randy quickly exited that marriage when he realized his money was going to pay for enormous medical bills.
Francine always knew Randy was a money hungry fool. Beyond that, he always wanted something for nothing..usually from women. His third marriage took place shortly after his second. He congratulated himself on finding a woman who was "well off." To his shock and horror, she had a huge drinking problem.
Randy saw his money flying out the window trying to keep her in booze. She got dumped one year later. However, she was smart enough to make sure she got half of everything he owned and monthly alimony checks. This infuriated Randy and only fueled his natural hatred of women...all women.
Francine, bubbly and vivacious as always, managed to have scores of guys chasing her. She hadn't lost a single ounce of her girlish beauty, a fact that enraged Randy now this his hair was turning grey and he had a middle aged spread across his abdomen, not to mention burgeoning "love handles" no woman loved.
Danny remained somewhat reclusive, even with the help of his son in his business. Danny's attention was diverted to spending his time on the phone. So, his son did most of the running of the business. Danny handed him a few dollars on occasion. Danny hated that he had begun to need Judy's income from her full-time job. He didn't need it in reality. He was already secretly amassing a fortune in stocks and investments, though he never breathed a word to anyone, least of all Judy.
Carole, Dina and Francine were scared out of their wits when Judy announced Danny "needed" her help because his business wasn't doing so well. She had an apartment of her own now that she had a regular income. Against the protests of her three closest friends, Judy allowed Danny to move in. Their oldest son lived in the back office room of the tow shop.
Danny never again threatened her physically. He knew she mature enough now to make sure he ended up in jail for life this time. He found other, more subtle, ways of controlling her...like making her pay for a telephone he used more than she. Like moving getting her to move from one rat hole apartment to another. Judy had enormous tolerance for Danny's machinations. She realized to give attention to them was to give him the satisfaction of thinking he had total control.
Don's second wife gave the illusion of wealth, luxury and romance. In reality, her boozing was beginning to get on Don's nerve. There was the daily stop with her friends after work with her "girls" for some "girl bonding." And then, there was the "before dinner," "after dinner" drinks and nightly "nightcap."
Don tried to get his second wife to take an interest in caring for her children of her first marriage. Most of the time, she dumped them on Don, seriously incapacitating the freedom he once had with Dina.
Don realized he made a huge mistake. He didn't dare mention any of this to Dina. Yet, he had always known that Dina, more than any woman in his life was his best ear when he had problems. He felt humiliated Dina's life moved on in such a different direction. He'd always hoped he could make her regret their divorce and all he had to do to accomplish that was to make her life a financial struggle.
As soon as their daughters left school, both girls clearly felt more at home with their mother than Don's second wife. Don never really understood why. But, he also never pursued the subject with Allison or Chrissie.
Instead, he tried to exact revenge for their maternal favoritism by spending most of his time with Michelle's two children, Lance and Teddy.
Allison and Chrissie were too old now to care what their father did with his time. Yet, Dina refused to allow either of them to be disrespectful to their father.
"You will change many things in your life but one," Dina told them.
"You will never change your biological parents," she concluded.
Allison tried hardest to comply with Don's wishes that they spend more time with Michelle and her children. She gave up her free time from her college classes and then her job to have dinner with her father. She kept her mouth closed when Michelle's two children played show off.
"My mother gave us this big screen TV for me and Teddy," Lance told Allison.
"Really? Where did she get it from?" Allison asked coyly.
"One of her customers gave it to her. He also gave us two computers," Lance said.
"Yes and we get tickets to football and baseball games in the best seats too," Teddy said.
Chrissie was not as fond of being in the company of the woman she believed had ripped her family apart. Chrissie tagged along on visits to their father only at the urging of Allison.
The minute Chrissie was back home again, she reported to Dina all of the new things Michelle's customers had "given her."
"Frannie, it really hurts me to know I can't compete with the kinds of things Michelle gives her kids," Dina said, in one phone conversation.
"Boy are YOU naive! You told me Michelle is rarely home and that Don does most of the child care and cooking. You said she's away on "trips" for business a lot..." Francine started.
"I'm not catching your meaning, here," Dina said.
"Good grief! Those aren't gifts from business customers. They're payback. You know how she got Don's attention, don't you? Well? Do you think she isn't smart enough to buy off her sons with gifts so Don will think she's a good, hard working wife? You said yourself that Lance claimed the gifts came from a male customer, did he not?" Francine said.
"You really think she'd cheat on Don? After all she put me through to get him?" Dina said.
"You know the old saying: Once a cheat, always a cheat."
"I hadn't thought of it that way. But, now you mention it, Don's sisters seem not to like her that much. Only two of them hang around his house. Those were the two who didn't like me either," Dina said.
"So now those two are sucking up to Michelle to show you Don could get a woman "better" than you," Francine said.
"Thanks for making me feel more depressed," Dina replied.
"Dina, wake up. She isn't better than you. You don't go around plying men to "get" something from them. She's a gold digger. How did you miss that?"
"That doesn't make any sense. If Michelle is a gold digger, why Don? He lived off my income from my dance classes more than his own," Dina said.
"Michelle is into competing with any woman who gets in her way. She must have been a real bitch as a kid. Count on it. She "wanted" Don because she knew Don was faithful to you. It was a challenge for her to prove she could take him if she felt like it," Francine said.
"I didn't tell you this or Judy or Carole. But, shortly before my divorce was final Michelle's first husband contacted me by phone and by mail. He wanted me to testify that Michelle was with my ex at her home. I can't imagine how he found that out unless he was also parked on the street where she lived," Dina said.
"Did you testify?"
"No. I just wanted to be rid of Don and the whole mess. I wanted their scandalous behavior out of my girls' sight and I wanted some peace and quiet. I wanted to move on," Dina said.
"Smart gal, Dina."
"Don't worry about trying to compete with Michelle to give your girls what she gives her sons. Sooner or later, their dirty laundry will come out in the wash," Francine said.
Francine was hugely intuitive. She and Dina had a lot in common.
"By the way, how is Judy doing?"
"Well, you know she moved out some time ago. Dina, I swear to God, I don't get her. As you know, she moved right back in with the guy who nearly killed her," Francine said.
"Yes. Carole called and told me that some time ago," Dina answered.
"How's Car doing?"
"Don't tell anyone I said this, Frannie. I think she's planning to allow Jack to move back in with her," Dina said.
"Is she nuts?"
"I know. I can't believe it either. She tells me Jack has changed since he came out of jail two years ago. I wish I could believe it. But, you know Carole. She's head strong and won't care what we think," Dina said.
"Maybe, that's why..."
"That's why what, Frannie?"
"The last time I spoke to her, she never mentioned Jack was living with her again. I called to see if we could get together for our annual luncheon," Francine said.
"Annual? We haven't been to lunch in nearly four years. Time flies when you're having fun," Dina laughed.
"Or, in our case, time flies when you're having fun watching our "exes" screw up their lives. Randy married Wife No. 4 two years ago. They are divorcing already.
He dumped Wife No. Three; but, not without a huge settlement. He can afford it. He just refuses to pay me all that back child support he still owes. I guess he figures that since our kids are all grown and married, he is off the hook" Francine said, laughing hysterically.
"Jeeze...Randy sure can pick 'em," Dina said.
"Wife No. 4 is a gold digger, not unlike Don's Michelle." Francine said.
"How do you know for sure?" Dina asked.
"She got him to buy her an expensive luxury car and designer clothes. Dara told me," Francine said.
"How's Dara and her husband doing?" Dina asked.
"Gotta tell you Deens. Dara's husband Thad is a nice guy. But, she's fifteen years younger than him," Francine said.
"So? Lots of those May-December marriages work out just fine," Dina said.
"I hope so. But, when he's sixty, she'll still be young enough to want to have fun," Francine said.
"You know there isn't anything we can do about the choices our kids make. We resented when our parents did that. We can't be hypocrites now and do the same to our kids," Dina said.
"I know. Listen, let's do lunch next week. I found this great little restaurant just moved into the east side of town. Call Judy and Carole. Though I doubt Carole will come now that Jack is back in the picture. You know how he hated us hanging out together after so many years and so much turmoil in all of our lives," Francine said.
"Okay. I'll meet you at your place on Friday, next week," Dina said.
Dina called Judy several times. There was no answer. She feared the worst. Then, she called Carole.
"Car? Hi, it's Dina. Are you very busy next Friday? I'm meeting Frannie for lunch. Can you join us?" Dina asked.
"I..uh..Look, Dina. We've done this Flower Child thing long enough. I don't think I can make it. All we do is gossip about the men in our lives and our pasts. What's the point?" Carole asked.
Dina had never heard Carole speak so indifferently to a friend she'd known for three plus decades. She knew why Carole wasn't interested in meeting with her, Judy or Francine: Jack.
"Carole, I'll tell the others you won't be able to make it," Dina said, sheepishly.
"I won't be able to meet with any of you ever again. My life has moved on. Jack and I are very happy. He's a changed man, Dina. He really is. I want to try to work on this marriage. I can't do that hanging out with three divorced women," Carole said.
"Make what marriage work? Did you remarry Jack?" Dina asked.
"Yes. During my Christmas school vacation. It seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, how long can two people live together in sin without someone feeling dirty?" Carole said.
"What on earth are you talking about? Living in sin? Feeling dirty?" Dina asked.
"I'm a religious teacher in my parents church now. I teach Bible Studies to children in the parish," Carole said.
"Oh, that's wonderful. As you know, I also did that when my girls were in public school. They had religious classes on Saturdays and I volunteered to teach several different grades to pay for it," Dina said.
Carole remained silent on the phone. Dina wondered if she was even listening.
"Well, I'm really sorry we'll be losing you, Carole. You have to do what you think is best. You have my sincerest best wishes for you and Jack," Dina said, ringing off.
"Ever the ultimate optimist," Carole sniffed, as Dina hung up the phone.
Immediately, Dina called Judy again. Still, there was no answer.
Dina and Francine met for lunch as planned.
The two women seated themselves at a booth in their newest favorite diner/restaurant, Audrey's Red Rocket, just out on the highway. The two women hadn't changed much in appearance since their high school days.
When Francine removed her giant floppy hat, Dina nearly fell over. Raven haired Francine was now a redhead with hair like a bon fire of flames.
"You dyed your hair!" Dina said.
"Yes. As you know, I'm soon to have another...ugh...birthday. I'll have reach the Big "4-0" and oh how I hate it," Francine said.
"But why? Age is just really a number. You still have your girlish figure and your skin is as flawless as it has always been. Not a wrinkle in yon little face," Dina joked.
"So you say. You'll be happy to know that I've now just been dumped by the sixth guy in the last sixth months. Good to know I can get dumped once every month," Francine said, sarcastically.
"You were NOT dumped. We both know neither Tony or Al were the right guys for you. Don't you know that Italian guys are fickle and can't be "one women men?" Dina said.
"Oh, that's just an old wives tale," Francine said.
"Is it? Then, my dear friend, do explain why all of my Italian uncles have mistresses, even the ones with six kids," Dina said, laughing.
"So you are saying, "Stay away from Italian guys?" Francine asked.
"I'm saying you take your chances with guys who can't honor their commitments. We are divorced women now, except Judy of course," Dina said.
"I'm not like you. I need a man...if...you know what I mean," Francine said.
"Frannie, listen. Yes. I do know what you mean. You have to learn to treat men like men treat women," Dina said.
"You mean "use them and dump them?"
"If that's what they do, yes," Dina said.
"I don't know...you have a lot of guy friends. You always have had," Francine said.
"Yes. F-R-I-E-N-D-S...just that. They are fun to be with. Most of them are interesting. But, and here's the big "but," I am just not marriage material. I realized after I divorced Don I'm just not cut out to be part of any man's life. It's tooooo much work," Dina said, with emphasis.
"Well, I'll give you that much. They are a lot of work," Francine agreed.
"They always want everything their way. I always want my way. How would that ever work out? I know who I am and I like who I am. Get involved with a guy romantically and all he does is try to remodel me. No thanks to that," Dina said.
"Dina, that judge who gave you your divorce set a monster loose. I've never heard you speak so candidly."
"I do not plan to ever remarry. I already know what a His, Hers and Ours family is like. I also know that I don't want any more children. But, that's just me. You can't live my life. You have to take control of your own," Dina said.
Dina always admired how Francine's facial expression could go from happy to pensive. It was like day turning into night.
"I can't believe Carol is taking Jack back again. Can you?" Dina asked, changing the subject.
"No. For sure. I can't. I think that is not going to end well. Is Judy coming?" Francine asked.
"I phoned her several times; but, there was no answer. I left a message on her answering machine. I can't imagine where she could be," Dina said.
Just as the two women were about to order, the platinum blonde figure they knew so well strode toward their table.
"Judy! We so glad to see you. I tried to call you several times. You must have gotten my message," Dina said.
"I..yes. I did, Dina," Judy said, sitting down.
"We were just about to order. We can wait till you read the menu," Francine said.
"I have to tell you both something. I'm going to have to fly down to Sarasota. My dad is very ill and well, you know my mother has never been much help to him. He's not expected to live much longer," Judy said.
"Oh Judy! I'm so sorry to hear," Dina said.
"Yes. Me too, Judy. How long will you be away?" Francine asked.
"Not sure. I just had another three ring session with Danny. He is livid that I have to do this," Judy said.
"Livid or not, your dad needs you," Dina said.
"Yes. I suppose he does. After my brother died, he tried to reinvent me into Teddy," Judy said.
"How is your mom doing?" Francine asked.
"You know my Mom. Has more aches and pains. Mostly in her head. I think she expects me to live down there until...until..."
Judy started to cry softly.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to dump on you two," Judy said.
"For Pete's sake, Judy, if you can't dump on us, who else can you trust?" Francine said.
"I just want you to know I am so grateful to both of you for being listeners," Judy said.
Dina and Francine gave each other a knowing glance.
When lunch was through, the three women all hugged each other.
"Guess it will be another five years until we meet again," Judy said.
"We always stay in touch, no matter how busy we are," Dina said.
When times got tough for the Cellophane Flowers, it seemed to be like one more nail in their coffins. Carol continued to stay in touch with Dina by sending Christmas cards. Judy, Dina and Francine phoned each other nearly every week.
Their conversations were about their struggles to avoid employers who took advantage of their desperate need to live like the middle class people they were. They'd lost most of the friends they'd had when they were married. Married women don't like divorced women in their groups as the three women soon learned.
"Dina, I am really, really furious!" Francine said.
"Uh-oh. What have I done now?" Dina responded.
"Not you, silly! It's that damn Jessica at work. She hates me. She does everything she can to sabotage my job. I need this damn job. She doesn't. She already has her old man's income to support her and her kids. All I have is my income. Why don't these idiot married women know that means I have to work twice as hard to compensate for the loss of the second incomes they take for granted?" Francine wailed.
"Frannie, listen to me. Every office has a First Lady who fights like hell to keep her position. Ignore Jessica. The more you pay attention to her silly machinations, the worse she'll make it for you. She wants you to be fired so she can say, "See? These single moms are lazy," Dina said.
"But, Deens, she is driving me bananas. What can I do? I can't leave this job. I've only been with the company a year. That looks bad on my resume to leave so soon," Francine said.
"Did it ever occur to you that Jessica is jealous of you?" Dina asked.
"What do mean? How can she be jealous of me? I'm the one struggling to keep my head above water, not her."
"You have something she doesn't...no husband under your feet, telling you what to do and how to do it every minute of your life. When I said she was jealous, I meant she is jealous of your freedom. Don't think for a minute she doesn't wish she couldn't make her old man disappear," Dina said.
"So why is she hanging on to him then?"
"His money. Some women are so financially dependent that a man in their life is their only sense of security," Dina said.
"You mean Jessica is really a gold digger?" Francine asked.
"Unless she is a nympho who can't make it without a man, yes. She's something of a gold digger. Take away his income and she wouldn't last a week," Dina said.
"Why do I let her get to me, then?" Francine asked.
"You are this wonderfully happy-go-lucky personality that seems to be a magnet for some of the most miserable people on earth," Dina said, laughing.
It always ended the same with these two. They would go through the rest of their lives thrashing out their problems and then ending their contact in gales of laughter.
Dina became a peculiar kind of cog in the wheel to Francine and Judy. Judy called Dina regularly from Sarasota. Dina sensed Judy wouldn't remain there for long.
Judy's father died about two months after Judy arrived in Sarasota. Her mother was totally depressed without him and died not two months later. This surprised Judy because she never saw any display of affection between her parents. Judy moved back home after spending several months tending to her parents' final effects.
Judy wasn't surprised that anything of value, which wasn't much, was left to her sister, Basia. She hated that Polish name and changed it to Barbara, using "Barbie" as her nickname. To the very end, Judy didn't expect her father to realize he was never going to be able to replace the son he lost with Judy. In truth, her mother could have left Judy part of the real estate that was their only asset.
Instead, Judy scraped together what money she had to pay for her mother's burial. The only thing her mother left her was an old brooch belonging to Judy's grandmother and an old fashioned triple strand pearl necklace Judy loathed the sight of.
When she returned home, Judy decided to find a small second floor walk up in the town nearest where Dina and Francine lived. Without telling Danny.
While in Sarasota, she saved a bit of the money her mother gave her for household "expenses." There were none other than the utilities and food. She had a little nest egg she could rely on for the first time in her life. It wouldn't be the last time.
Of the four women, Dina, Judy and Francine stayed in touch most often. When they met again in 1989 for their annual luncheon, Carol was missing.
"Deens, have you heard from Car?" Francine asked?
"No. We can assume either she's in prison for killing Jack or Jack is in prison for killing her."
"Did you tell her where we were meeting for lunch this year?" Judy asked.
"Sure. I got no response. You know how Car can be. Half the time she is secretive, other times like a broadcasting station on radio," Dina said.
Francine sat with an amused smile on her face.
"What?" Dina asked taking notice of Francine's expression.
"I was just thinking. We are all officially empty nesters," Francine said.
"And thank God for that!" Dina said.
"Dina, your girls stay in touch with you more than my kids," Francine said.
"And you think that's great?" Dina said, laughing.
"Why not?" Judy asked.
"If all life was bad relationships, my two would be champions in a heartbeat. Fortunately, they both have fairly stable careers," Dina said.
"Ah, they'll do what we did...marry in haste, divorce at leisure," Judy said, smiling.
"Judy, you seem to be quite content at present. Did you come into a fortune or find a rich man to carry you off?" Francine asked.
"Oh puhlease! That is the very last thing I want at this point in my life," Judy said.
A waiter came to their table and handed them menus.
"Guess Carole isn't going to make it," Dina said.
She was wrong. The words were not out of her mouth before the tall, statuesque familiar figure of the fourth Cellophane Flower approached their table.
"Car! It's you! We are soooo glad you could make it!" Dina said.
"I've kind of seriously missed you three. Dina, about our last contact. I'm so sorry I sounded like such a prig," Carole said.
"I knew you were not in a good place then," Dina responded.
Francine noticed the gold wedding band on Carole's hand.
"You got married?" Francine asked.
"More like remarried. For the second time. Jack is a changed man. I am not sure what brought about the big changes in him. He gave up his womanizing almost as soon as he discovered his first grey hair and the receding hairline," Carole said.
"But, Car...he was such a violent guy. He nearly sliced off your arm. Aren't you afraid he might do it again if he gets angry?" Judy asked.
"Not this time. I've become a Unitarian minister in "our" church. About six months ago, I asked Jack to come with me to services. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he found religion to be his salvation," Carole said.
Dina, Francine and Judy all looked at each other and then at Carole.
"Let's order, I'm starving," Carole said.
When they finished dessert and two cups of coffee they dawdled over, Carole was first to stand up.
"Girls, I won't be attending anymore of these. I realize hanging onto our pasts is not constructive and for me, I have my religion to rely on. I hope you three understand," Carole said.
"Will you stay in touch?" Dina asked.
"Probably. But, don't hold me to it. Jack is looking at maybe moving out west and helping me start a Unitarian community out there," Carole said.
Francine, Judy and Dina all knew that would be the last time they heard from Carole. Dina tried to stay in touch with birthday and holiday cards. Carole returned them all. It was as if she was alienating herself from three women who were a reminder of her ugly past with Jack.
Jack didn't change much, even though Carole believed he had become religious. He had. With one of the female members of the church group. While Carole taught in the children's religion classes, Jack was "busy" with Elena Howard, a pretty redhead ten years younger than his wife.
Carole sensed the affair; but, chose to ignore it. It was true Jack was no longer the social butterfly he had been in their earlier marriages. Still, she couldn't afford to risk his temper that might escalate into physical abuse. There was also the fact that Carole had distanced herself from the three women she relied on most for emotional support. She simply couldn't face them if Jack attacked her again.
Francine's son, Richie, moved about twenty five miles from where Carole and Jack bought a small cottage style home. Carole consoled herself with her pet poodle, Lincoln, an adorable two year old who followed on her coat tails wherever she went.
Jack loathed the creature. He never was a man who cared much for pets. Carole noticed Jack becoming more and more agitated about Lincoln. He used her pet as the excuse to high tail it out the door to Elena Howard.
Carole fell into a deep depression. She no longer had anyone she could talk to about her feelings or her suspicions about Jack.
Francine decided to make the 100 mile trip to see Richie's newly purchased home. In doing so, her path crossed with Carole's at a gas station.
At first, Carole pretended not to notice Francine. When she saw Francine approaching her, her expression changed from annoyed to surprise.
"What are you doing here?" Carole asked.
"Richie lives about 25 miles from here. He just bought a new home."
"So he's married now? I always thought he loved bachelorhood," Carole said.
"No. Not married. Just a long time live in girlfriend. She's older than him and has kids from her first husband. These days, they don't marry like we did."
"Too many things have changed since we were young," Carole added.
"So, tell, tell. How are you? I thought you and Jack were going to move out west."
"I thought that too. I was all ready to do that. Somehow, daily details of one kind or another just kept us here in Plattsville," Carole said.
"Richie lives in Brent Haven," Francine said.
"That's a pretty upscale place."
"My son is a Yuppie. Upwardly mobile and more money hungry than his father ever was. Dara has four kids of her own now. It's so difficult to watch her make mistakes with her kids. But, hell, I wasn't a perfect mother either, I guess."
"You did what you could, Frannie. We all did. All around I'm seeing young adults who act as if middle age is some kind of rare disease without a cure," Carole said.
"Yep. That's my complaint too. They would rather live high on the hog than to have to settle for what we considered middle class. Listen, why don't you come to our annual luncheon?"
"Frannie, I am past all of that. What do we really have to say to each other anymore?"
"Well, Judy and Dina are doing pretty well; but, it isn't the same without our fourth cellophane flower," Francine said.
"Hummmph...Cellophane flowers? I can't remember what happened last week. The past should be a closed door never to be opened."
"I'm sorry you feel that way. May I tell Judy and Dina we bumped into each other?"
"Sure. No harm in that. I have to be on my way. I've got a part-time job as a substitute teacher and a tutor. My student is waiting for me. It was nice seeing you again, Frannie. Give my best to Judy and Dina."
That was the last time anyone would see or hear from Carole. With all four of the women now in their late fifties, the world around them seemed to change with breakneck speed.
Dina fought like hell to rise about the constant obstacles at her job. She often felt as if no matter how she succeeded there would always be a man to bring down her accomplishments. Her growing disgust with men in general, but not in particular, was becoming more and more virulent.
Francine found herself gravitating back to a slight balance between her love of social life and her need for a more introspective existence. She bought herself a new, attached cottage home about five miles from Dina's home.
Judy's life was about to change the most. Danny no longer abused her; but, he highly resented the annual meeting of the Cellophane Flowers. He viewed it as betrayal. Not that he was ever really transparent with Judy.
At their annual luncheon in 1998, they talked about nearly everything that was on their minds from politics to their personal lives.
"Girls, I think Danny is gambling," Judy blurted out.
Judy never got over her reticence of speaking boldly. Dina's boldness increased with each year of age. Even Francine was no longer afraid to speak her mind.
"Why do you think that?" Dina asked.
"He is on the phone constantly," Judy said.
"Maybe, it's because of business," Francine said.
"He doesn't have the business anymore. He had to close it. He said he was dead broke. I...uh...He lives with me in my apartment. I'm not sure I should have done that. But, that injury was such a long time ago and Danny isn't the brute he once was. In fact...well...maybe I shouldn't attract bad news...but I think he may be ill. He's lost a lot of weight for no real reason and he has other symptoms," Judy said.
"Like what?" Dina asked.
"Well, you know we both have been smokers. Danny is a three pack a day man. Always was. I've cut back a lot. I barely smoke two or three cigarettes a week anymore. Anyway, Danny has been coughing to the point where it sounds as if he is going to lose a lung," Judy said.
"Get him to the doctor," Francine said.
"You know he won't go. To him, that's an admission of weakness," Judy said.
"I think my ex is also very ill," Dina said.
"What makes you think that?" Judy asked.
"He looks so unhealthy. Critically overweight...you know? Bloated. His color is pretty bad too," Dina said.
"These guys always thought they'd live forever. Even Masters of the Universe get old and die," Francine said, laughing.
"That would be funny if we weren't also getting on in years," Dina replied.
"Oh God! I don't even want to think about being 80 years old...if I make it to 80," Francine said.
"You two haven't aged a day," Judy said.
The ate their lunch and parted with hugs.
"Carole should be here," Dina said.
"She thinks friendships like ours are past her," Francine said.
"Maybe for her, not for me. You two are the only anchors I've ever had," Judy said, her eyes misting over.
"Okay girls. Let's not get maudlin about it," Dina said, trying to break from the heavy atmosphere.
"Just remember one thing, "Cellophane Flowers never lose their color or die," Judy said.
"Great observation. Now, let us away and back to reality," Dina said.
Life, even for cellophane flowers, isn't predictable. As it begins to wind down, there is a gnawing sense of getting closer and closer to some final chapter of a book.
Dina, Judy and Francine were devastated when Richie caught sight of Carole's obituary in the local paper.
"Mom? Didn't you have a friend named Carole who lived in Plattsville?"
"Yes. Carole Lansfield Doyle. Why do you ask?"
"She died. Her funeral is on Wednesday," Richie said.
"Give me the rest of the information," Francine said.
Francine hurried to phone Dina and Judy.
"Dina...terrible news. Richie just found Carole's obituary. I didn't know she was ill, did you?" Francine said.
"We haven't spoken in over a decade...since the last time when I bumped into her in Plattsville. Do you want to go to her funeral? After all, she was one of "us."
"Absolutely. If only to pay our respects. I haven't called Judy yet. You were my first call. I wanted to know what we should do. I'll call you back after I speak to Judy," Francine said.
Francine hated placing calls to Judy. Danny always answered and tried to engage her in conversation, usually with his snarly tone. It always took three or more minutes to actually get him to allow Judy to speak to her.
"Judy, why does Danny act as if he owns your telephone in your home?" Francine asked.
"Danny isn't well, Frannie. What's up? Can't be time for our annual luncheon yet," Judy said.
"No. It's bad news. Carole's dead," Francine said.
"What!!! I didn't know she was ill. Dina said she looked great the last time she saw her. Of course, that was quite a while ago," Judy said.
"The reason I'm calling is that Dina agrees we should attend her funeral. I'll drive to Plattsville since my son lives near there anyway," Francine said.
"That's great. I don't do much driving long distance. I've developed cataracts in my left eye. It scares me to drive more than 10 miles from home," Judy said.
"Her funeral is Wednesday, two days from now. I'll pick you up at your home and then we can get Dina at her house."
"Sounds like a plan," Judy said.
Now there were only three cellophane flowers remaining. The three women saw that Carole didn't have many other friends when they arrived at the funeral home.
"I guess Carole doesn't have much family now that her mother and father both passed, That grey haired man over there must be her brother," Dina said.
"The legacy of living...Our parents die and our siblings become distanced," Judy said.
"You two are really all of the siblings I've ever had. If it wasn't for you, I would never have gotten through my "trials and tribulations," Francine said.
"I second that. You and Dina truly rescued me. I have to be honest. Danny has only six months to live. Those three packs of cigarettes a day resulted in throat cancer. He's using a prosthetic voice box. But, he hates it and says he just wants to die. I know I should feel scared and sad. I just don't," Judy said.
"Let's face it, Judy. Danny hasn't been a gift from God for you, your entire life," Francine said.
The three started to laugh and then remembered to recover their composure appropriate for a funeral.
"Where the hell is Jack?" Dina asked.
"I was wondering that myself," Francine said.
An older woman sitting behind Judy tapped her on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry for eavesdropping; but, I couldn't help overhear you wondering where Jack Doyle is. I worked with Carole in the school where she taught. I knew something had gone deadly wrong with her marriage.
She came to work one day looking disheveled and without her little doggie. I asked her if she was unwell. She said she was "fine." I could tell she wasn't. When we went to lunch as we usually did, she removed her coat. She had a long sleeved blouse on even though the weather was quite warm. I didn't say anything until she reached for the menu and I saw she had bruises all over her left arm. I hoped she would say what happened. A fall maybe. Then, when she turned to the waitress to place her order, I saw she had what looked like claw marks at the base of her neck. Two days later, she was absent from her classes without any notice. We didn't need any. Apparently, her husband attacked and killed her," the woman said.
"Oh my God! I knew it! Carole was such a healthy, strong woman. How did you find out about this?" Dina asked.
"The papers. Although, I told the school principal what I saw when Carole and I had lunch that day. He drove over to her house. He was the one that found her. He called the police. They hunted Jack Doyle for about a week before they found him with his lover trying to make it to the Canadian border," the woman said.
Dina, Francine and Judy went dead silent.
"What did you mean when you said, "I knew it?" the woman asked.
"This isn't the first time Jack Doyle attacked her. He nearly cut off her right arm back in the early 1970s. We told her a leopard doesn't change its spots. Francine here met Carole a year ago. Carole seemed distant to her. Carole always went silent when she was afraid of Jack. Do you know why he killed her?"
"Seems Jack Doyle had a lover and was planning to move her in with Carole. According to the news accounts, he was out of work for a long time and...." the woman started.
"Say no more. This is the very thing he did the first time he attacked her," Dina said.
At Carole's gravesite, Dina, Francine and Judy all stood silently as Carole's body was lowered into the ground. Tears streamed down their faces.
As Francine drove them to a nearby Plattsville restaurant for lunch, Judy asked, "Do we gals from the 60s always have to fight for our rights?"
"It's a man's world," Francine said, as they sat down at a table.
"No. It is NOT! It's only a man's world if we allow it to be. Cellophane flowers never wilt. They never die and they never lose their beauty," Dina put in.
"Maybe so. But, one thing is certain...our cellophane flowers will end up on our graves and no one will remember our battle to be free of the chains of men," Judy said.
"Good thing there are no scars in heaven," Francine said.
Six months later Danny died. Judy called Dina. Dina knew she was excited over something big.
"Deens, you will never guess in a million years what has happened to me. You know how I've been so broke for so many years? You recall I told you I thought Danny was always on the phone because he was a gambler?"
"Judy out with it already! What's happened to you?" Dina asked.
"That cheap SOB Danny was playing the stock market! I'm a millionairess! Deens, I can't believe it!"
Dina couldn't either. She knew through Judy that Danny was something of a skin flint where money was concerned.
"But I thought you said Danny was trying to get government help to pay his medical bills," Dina said.
"Wait Deens. It gets better. He tried to cut me out of his will. He always said he'd leave me nothing. On his death bed he told me he really did love me. Love me? After he nearly killed me once before?
Anyway, at the reading of his will, he said he was leaving me nothing because he knew I couldn't "manage money. Do you believe it? Me? Making a penny scream for mercy being always so broke?"
"How did you manage to get the will overturned?" Dina asked.
"He lived with me for fifteen years room and board free. The court decided, given how he once sold our house without giving me my share and nearly left me for dead, I was to be given the entire fortune," Judy said.
"What are you going to do with all that money?" Dina asked.
"Oh Lord! I have NO idea! I know I'm getting out of this one bedroom rat trap. I'm looking at buying one of those cottage homes in a gated senior community," Judy said.
"Did you tell Frannie yet?"
"No. Maybe, you could do it for me? You know I'm not good at this kind of thing. The last thing I want to do is stir up jealousy."
"You know Frannie hasn't a jealous bone in her body. But, I'll tell her. In fact, how about we get together and Frannie and I can take you out to dinner?"
"No way! I'm a millionairess now. I will take you two out to dinner," Judy said, laughing.
"No argument on that from me. Too bad Carole isn't here to share this with you. You know you have my sincerest best wishes. I can think of no one who deserves this more than you!"
"Dina...Without you, it probably never would have happened."
"That's crazy. How can you say that?"
"I never told you, Frannie or Carole, but there were times when I considered letting go of the steering wheel into a tree and doing myself in. Then, I'd speak to you or Frannie and the depression would go. You know I love you guys...I'll always be there to help you if you need it. I feel I owe it to you," Judy said.
"That's nonsense. Friends always help friends without reservations. I used to be scared to death for you, because I knew Danny's temper and what he'd already done to you," Dina said.
"How's that book of yours coming along?" Judy asked.
"It's going to be published! I can't believe it!"
"Well then...we really DO have lots to celebrate," Judy said.
Dina phoned Frannie with the news. She noticed instantly that the usually bubbly Frannie was in a downer.
"What's wrong, Frannie," Dina asked.
"My Mom passed on yesterday," Francine said.
"Oh God Frannie, I am so sorry!"
"She was quite ill. You know I was taking over her care when she first became seriously ill. She told me just before she died she wants to be buried in my grandmother's plot out in Iowa. That's where my grandmother and mother's family are originally from.
So, I have to fly her back tomorrow. She's left everything to me. Looks as if my life's dream of owning a real home might come true. I haven't spoken with the attorney handling her estate yet. But, I know she had an inheritance from my grandmother who had an inheritance from her mother. On and on it goes, where it stops, nobody knows. What did you call me about?"
"You are never going to believe this. Judy is a millionairess. Remember how we all thought Danny was a gambling man? Turns out his gambling was on Wall Street. He tried to disinherit Judy, but she fought it and won. She wants to buy us dinner. I guess it will have to wait until you return," Dina said.
"I'll probably be in Iowa for about two weeks. I'll call you when I return home. You can help me find a new home, Deens. Take care. Speak with you soon. Call if you need me. Here's the number in Iowa," Francine said, rattling off the phone number.
"Love ya Deens!"
"Love ya Frannie!"
Dina knew Francine's mother had been seriously ill. Francine took on the job of caring for her for over four years. Francine never once complained. Dina couldn't figure out how Frannie managed to keep her job at Lockley Brander Health Products and take full care of her mother.
For all the years Dina had been Francine's friend, she knew her mother was a difficult woman. Not unlike her own, Judy's mother and Carole's. Dina saw the link. All four of them were women who just couldn't stand for the tried and true traditions of their mothers.
Dina was the only one of the four who had a decent relationship with her father. Judy always felt her father wished it was she who had drowned and not her brother. Carole's father was like a closed book, forever off limits to her, even though he had this secret relationship with her mother that made her feel she was an outcast in their little twosome.
Francine's father doted on her, mostly to the envy of her mother. That was the basis for their estrangement. Dina found it odd Francine could be so caring of a mother who so obviously objected to her daughter's carefree nature.
When Francine returned, the first person she called was Dina.
"Deens, oh my God! You are not going to guess what happened in Iowa?" Francine said breathlessly.
"Well, girl! For Pete's sake, out with it!" Dina said.
"I'm rich. I mean I am filthy rich!" Francine blurted out.
"What? How?"
"Well, you know I have no siblings. Remember I told you my Mom had an inheritance from my grandmother?"
"Yes."
"Well, Mom left everything to me. Everything Deens....every.....thing!"
"I can't think of anyone who deserves it more than you, Frannie. I mean that sincerely. All those years of nursing your Mom, raising your kids by yourself. Now you can buy that home you always wanted. No more rentals for you!" Dina said.
The world around the remaining three cellophane flowers had changed. To the three, it seemed to change over night. Gone was the music that was everywhere, the happy, cheerful faces of their peers.
Now, suddenly the world was like a snarling, voracious lion ready to make a meal of anyone not savvy enough to recognize corruption.
Dina, Francine and Judy met for lunch as Judy promised.
"Well, I feel kind of like a second hand Rose," Dina said.
"Oh Deens, why? You know we love you," Francine said.
"You two are very wealthy women. I just feel as if I'm getting to retirement with nothing to show for it," Dina said.
"What are you talking about? You were always so successful. I know I always wished I was as plucky as you and had the determination you did," Judy said.
"Where did it get me?"
"Deens, no matter what else, in good times and bad we had each other," Francine said.
"Maybe, it is the times we are living in now that makes you feel as if you've accomplished nothing," Judy said.
"These times make me wish I die before I get old...you know? Like that song said?"
"I can't disagree with you there. My daughter has a champagne appetite on a beer pocket book," Francine said.
"My sister, Basia, already hit me up for money. I won't give her a dime," Judy said.
"Why not?" Dina asked.
"I have no intentions of helping her stay drunk and on drugs," Judy said.
Dina and Francine didn't realize Judy's sister had any serious addiction problems.
"I told her I'd pay for rehab. She refuses to go. I'm not stupid. I know the minute I give her money she'll just get loaded or high. What scares me is if I don't give her money, she could end up in jail or dead," Judy said.
"Oh, Judy. I'm so sorry to hear this," Dina said.
"You say you feel as if you've accomplished nothing. You have the only two kids of the three of us that are "normal." How did that happen?" Francine asked.
"Simple, I didn't have the money to spoil them. So I spoiled them in other ways. You know? Doing little meaningful things for them."
The Cellophane Flowers celebrated their 60th year by treating themselves to a luxurious dinner in New York City.
"I have news gals!" Dina said.
"My book "The Trashmen" is going to be published! I can't believe it!" Dina added.
"I can. You worked so hard to become a writer. I am so happy for you!" Francine said, hugging her friend.
"Me too, Dina! Now can I have an autographed copy of the book?" Judy asked, laughing.
"As a matter of fact, I have two copies right here for both of you."
Dina reached into her oversized, black leather handbag and pulled out two copies of her book.
"Royalties ought to chase away the bill collectors," Dina said, handing them each a copy.
Francine was first to notice the dedication on the inside page:
"To the cellophane flowers I treasure,
With whom I've spent my leisure.
Without whom there is no treasure,
I dedicate this book with pleasure...To Francine, Judy and Carole."
Judy grinned ear to ear and Francine giggled in that old familiar way she always had.
"What is this book about?" Francine asked.
"The generation of greasers, how they aged and how they changed the world around them," Dina said.
"Well, what's left now for cellophane flowers?" Dina asked.
Judy and Francine laughed and said in unison: "Retirement!"
"Retire? How? Do you have any idea how many of our peers have their adult kids moving back home?" Dina asked.
"Oh Gawd! The last thing I want is for my kids to move back home with me!" Francine said.
"Me neither!" Judy put in.
"Deens, I thought people our age were supposed to have empty nests," Francine said.
"It's a conundrum. The younger generation wants to have it all and have it all now. They don't like the idea they have dues to pay in their lives. I see this attitude all the time with people I speak to among my writers' group. They all say their kids simply believe "bigger is better." Dina said.
"As opposed to our flower child days when "less was more?" Judy asked.
"Yes. That's it. They don't want two bedroom homes. Have you seen the sizes of the homes they buy?" Dina asked.
"But, how are they affording them?" Francine asked.
"They aren't. They end up in foreclosure and move back home with their kids and expect their parents to raise grandkids. Raising them wasn't enough," Dina said.
"I cannot begin to imagine trying to live with my grandchildren. They are too too mouthy. If I spoke to my mother like they do to Dara, she'd have smacked me silly," Francine said.
"All I hear from my kids is that they are tired. What are they all so tired from? We all worked a full time and part time job after we divorced. We weren't allowed to be tired," Judy said.
"If Dara is any example, these younger women are more like our mothers were...too financially dependent on their spouses and you know how that usually ends," Francine said.
"To them, divorce isn't an option. To us, it was that or live another 40 years with someone who had all the wrong baggage," Dina said.
"Let's make a pact. We resolve to let our kids help themselves like our parents did to us," Judy said.
"Judy, you and Francine haven't considered one thing: both of you are wealthy women. You know what money like that does to families. You'll be expected to hand over every dime to them," Dina said.
"My kids already are after my inheritance. I put it into a mutual fund they can't touch. Deens, it isn't as much as you might think. One serious surgery and I'd be wiped out," Francine said.
"And if that happened, can you count on your kids to be there when you need them?" Dina asked.
"My kids already are asking how much they'll get from their inheritance," Judy said.
"You need to make sure you tie it all up neatly so you can enjoy your wealth now while you still can. Who knows what our health will be like in our 70s?" Dina asked.
"I don't even like to think about it. When we were young, being broke wasn't a big thing. We had decades ahead of us to fill with the hope of bright future," Francine said.
"I know what you mean. Now that we are near retirement age, we have the financial stability we always hoped for; but, who knows how well our health will hold up? Or, who will be there to take care of us when we need it," Judy added.
"Well gals, it's true we don't have a whole lot of future ahead of us. But, we certainly can't shirk our sense of responsibility to our kids or our country. Remember how we fought the war back in the 60s? Equality is the next big fight. Look all around you. It's almost like a nest of hornets all ready to sting," Dina said.
"Oh I so agree. They call us "liberals" because we refuse to be greedy. Or, they say we are "bleeding hearts" because we "care." When did "caring" become a hated thing?" Francine asked.
"One thing I plan to do is make sure my investments are in things I know are transparent and have validation," Judy said.
"Judy! I'm so impressed. You never seemed to pay much attention to financial issues," Dina said.
"For women these days? What on earth could be more important than having financial savvy? Anyway, living with Danny for over 5 decades of my life, I was bound to pick something from that brain of his," Judy said, laughing.
"You know? If you think about it? We three are pretty dangerous. Two of us are filthy rich and can use our money like the big boys do...for power and one of us is a writer who can capture the issues of the times and make it go public," Judy said.
"I don't write non-fiction and I wouldn't know where to begin writing those kinds of issues," Dina said.
"Deens, the three of us have never shirked our feelings of obligation to set things straight since the day we met at New Canaan. Judy and I will do all the digging. All you have to do is the writing, okay?"
"How do you know any of it will make any difference...or for that matter even get published?" Dina asked.
"You must have some contacts. You've got publishers, don't you? Ask them where you can get our ideas published," Judy said.
It never really would have gone much further than idle chatter over an annual luncheon. But, these three women were like a virus gone epidemic. Something inside each of them was all too altruistic to suffer the slings and arrows of narrow minded authority.
For about three months, Judy and Francine began digging into hot button topics. It shouldn't have surprised Dina or Judy that it would be Francine who would uncover a thin line of corruption by a state judge who was not exactly playing by the rules of law.
One of the elective college courses Francine enjoyed most was Administrative Law. She only took the course to bulk up her credits. Yet, she sensed she had a deep interest in how those in positions of authority start down the wrong track.
Not that Francine was much of a stickler of the Golden Rule herself. She knew there were times in her past when that "grey area" lay between making a choice and suffering the consequences of making "no" choice at all.
Judy, on the other hand, wanted to be a lawyer. That all went awry the day she met her future husband. Like most women, her life filled up with daily details that required her attention more than a focus on her own needs or wants.
Still, she was thrilled when Francine phoned to say she needed to meet with her and Dina to disclose what she'd found out about Judge Thomas DeWitt, a federally appointed judge of the state's appellate division.
The three always joked about being the "ladies who lunch." Lately, the three seemed to be in more frequent contact than when they had husbands and children to keep them busy.
Francine told Judy they'd meet at the "Gold Star Diner" on the highway that was midpoint between all three women's homes. She told Judy she would phone Dina to make arrangements with her.
The Gold Star Diner was a retro style silver bullet shaped venue. Although, part of the front facade was remodel with a bit of bricking. It had an occupancy of over 100 and was usually quite busy at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The three met in the parking lot and entered together as they usually did.
"I made reservations to make sure we didn't get lost in the lunch crowd," Francine said.
"This place has the best lunch menus," Judy said.
"Judy, I thought you didn't like to eat alone," Dina said.
"I don't. But, when I don't feel like bothering with clean up after cooking, I come here," Judy explained.
Once seated by the host, a tall grey haired guy who seemed a bit stiff and officious, the three were handed menus by their waitress, a tall, middle aged red head.
"I'm your waitress, Anne," she told the three women.
"And we are your three customers and I am deadly hungry. What are today's specials?" Francine quipped.
"Never one to miss a chance at whimsy," Dina laughed.
Judy shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Judy? You okay?" Dina asked, as each placed their order with their waitress.
"Yes. Frannie, do you think you should have joked with that waitress like that?" Judy asked.
"Sure. Why not?"
"It's just that she is so busy and all," Judy said.
Francine shrugged and rolled her dark eyes, glancing covertly toward Dina.
Dina knew Judy's moods well.
"Judy what's bothering you?" Dina asked.
"Oh, I don't know. Just everything."
"You aren't hurting for money. So what can it be?" Dina asked.
"I miss Danny!" Judy wailed softly.
"Which part do you miss most? His big mouth? His bossy, overbearing attitude? Or, his ability to control your entire life?"
"I don't know. Maybe, it's that life has gotten all too predictable for me. I rarely see my kids now that both raised families of their own. It feels like something is missing," Judy said.
"Well, not to worry, Judy. We are about to embark on a hot bit of distraction that'll keep all three of us on the edge of our seats," Francine said.
"So, how do we go about getting the information we need so Dina can get it into print?" Judy asked, somewhat subdued.
"You can't just go walking into DeWitt's chambers and accuse him of wrongdoing. He'd find a way to put all three of us away for life," Dina said.
"I'm thinking we need to go through a back door to his judicial chambers," Francine said.
"Frannie, you never cease to amaze," Dina said, with a grin.
"Why? Because I know men well enough to know they always have a "dirty little secret" they always "think" they are hiding? Or because I have the most experience at being the "woman scorned" so often?" Francine said.
"Either. You'd have made a great detective," Judy said.
"Well, I do admit to "detecting" when my kids were lying about something they'd done," Francine said.
"Haven't we all?" Dina said.
The three women laughed.
"You know something? I wish our Carole was here to laugh with us," Judy said, wistfully.
"We all do. She would love this "project" we are working on," Dina said.
"Okay. Back to work, gals. What is the point of going after DeWitt?" Francine asked.
"One thing I know is that "someone" is always ready to unload on judges. You know? Like those who worked for him or people he might have used his judiciary powers to control in the shadows?" Dina said.
"So, we first need to find out about some of DeWitt's cases, then. That ought to be a safe place to start. Lots of law students go to the Law Library for references for their studies. I know I did when I took my college courses," Francine added.
"Now we're cooking!" Judy said.
"What specific cases should we look for without setting off any alarms?" Judy asked.
Dina grinned at Judy's question. She'd never seen Judy so "together" before or so engrossed.
The grin wasn't missed by Judy.
"Deens, I've been double crossed by lawyers my entire life. But, in the end I made them fight for my rights. Now, I'm going to help take down the ones who screw women over," Judy said, fiercely.
"Atta Girl! I always knew there was another Judy somewhere inside you," Dina said.
"We should look for old cases where DeWitt might have screwed up or made decisions that sound "shady," Francine said.
The three women couldn't know the extent of Judge DeWitt's impact on all three of their lives.
The three spent a lot of time gathering as much information as they could find on DeWitt's cases.
When they met for lunch to discuss their findings, Dina knew something was amiss with Judy.
"Judy? What is it? You look as if you've seen a ghost!"
"I have. Remember when I told you decades ago that Danny took advantage of my being hospitalized?"
"Yes. That was so awful for you," Francine said.
"It turns out that the judge who reviewed the custody claim and the property ownership was a "buddy" of DeWitt's, Judge Samuel Alton."
"Why does that bother you, Judy?" Dina asked.
"Because, it was rushed through by Alton at Danny's lawyer's "encouragement"...you know a few bucks under the table?" Judy said.
"How do you know?" Francine asked.
"Before Danny died, all the money he had used for those Wall Street investments came from the sale of the home Alton handed to Danny. After Danny died, my lawyer discovered that the ruling on the sale of our home was not legal since Danny caused my injuries."
"But, I don't get it. How is Alton tied to DeWitt?" Dina asked.
"They are married to sisters," Judy said.
"So they are brothers-in-law?" Dina asked.
"Yes. They were already married when Danny filed for power of attorney to sell our house. That means Alton and DeWitt could have discussed the case," Judy said.
A few more weeks went by and the three women finally got to the point where they could make phone calls to set up interviews with DeWitt's former employees. One of them, Conrad Helleman, lived in the same town, Lake Jeffreys, as DeWitt.
When Francine passed this information to Dina and Judy, she had the odd feeling of deja vu unrelated to what Judy had told them about Alton.
"So, which of us wants to do the honors and interview Helleman?" Francine asked.
"Franny, you know you are the only one among us who gets men to tell you things they wouldn't tell a priest in confession," Dina said.
"I've done a lot of things, but this is new to my "territory." What possible reason can I give Helleman for wanting an interview? I can't just tell him we are planning to out DeWitt, can I? " Francine asked.
"How is he tied to DeWitt?" Judy asked.
Francine flipped through her small note pad. Dina was amused that Frannie placed colored tabs on different pages of the note pad.
"What are those colored tabs for?" Dina asked.
"It's my "mini" filing system. Blue tabs are for men I found tied to DeWitt. Red are for the women," Francine answered.
"And the yellow and green?" Judy asked.
"Well, green, of course, are my notes on money and the yellow is for the notes that need more clarification...more "sunshine," Francine said, stifling a grin.
Judy and Dina looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny? Don't you keep your notes organized?" Francine said.
Just then, their lunch menu was served by a tall, red haired waitress with a tray of the sandwiches they ordered.
"Mmmm...Let's dig in. I'm starved," Francine said.
"Me too. I've gotten so engrossed in gathering information on Dewitt that I..." Judy started.
She was interrupted by the waitress.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help but overhear you mention Judge DeWitt's name," the waitress said.
"You know the judge?" Francine asked.
"Well, no. Not personally. He handled my father's will and estate case, rather badly, I might add. So I have no love lost for him," the waitress said.
Judy, Francine and Dina all glanced knowingly at each other.
"I see from your waitress name tag, you are Marlene Ernston," Dina said.
"Yes. Is there anything you ladies would like?" the waitress asked.
"Umm..Actually...there might be. Would you be interested in telling us more about your father's case with Judge DeWitt?" Dina asked.
"There isn't much to tell. But, I finish work around 5 o'clock. I'd be willing to meet you to talk about it," Marlene Ernston said.
"I live closest to this cafe. You know the cottage estates? I live at 24 North Parkington Rd. I'll see you then," Francine said.
"Francine, are you sure that was a good idea?" Judy asked.
"You heard her, didn't you? She must have an axe to grind with DeWitt. Anything she tells me would mostly be personal information and off the record. But, it will give me more depth into the legal strategy of DeWitt."
It always seemed funny to Dina how events and people seemed to mesh together in crazy quilt patterns. With Judy and Francine, Dina was about to discover at this late point in her life how entirely possible it is for their chance meeting so long ago would knit their lives together.
"Francine is our fearless warrior, Judy. She can handle any situation you and I might shrink from," Dina said.
Marlene Ernston was true to her word. She met Francine at her home promptly.
Francine admired Marlene's red hair and made a note to herself that maybe her "next" dye job would be that same red hue.
"Come in, won't you? I'm not the world's best housekeeper," Francine said.
"I live in an apartment. My kids are off on their own now. I guess I am not as ambitious about house keeping after being on my feet all day," Marlene said.
Francine as Marlene to have a seat in the living room.
"You love art, don't you?" Marlene asked, glancing at the framed photos on the wall.
"I love photography. Those are my own photos," Francine answered.
She placed a tea pot and china tea cups on the coffee table in front of her guest.
"I don't get to use these very often. They were my Mom's," Francine said.
"The tea set is just beautiful. But, don't your two friends visit often?"
"Actually? No. We three met back in our anti war protest days and we vowed to meet at least once a year for luncheon. There was a fourth. Her name was Carole. She died a few years ago. We all miss her. She was the engine behind the three of us," Francine said.
Marlene sipped her tea slowly.
"Now, you mentioned earlier today your father had business with Judge DeWitt?"
Marlene placed her tea cup on the tray in front of her.
"I should explain a bit about my father. He owned a small business. It was in a small building that was over a hundred years old. It wasn't a booming business..just enough to keep a roof over his family's head and food on the table. You know what I mean?" Marlene said.
"I sure do. You seem a bit younger than I am. Back in those days fathers didn't earn what men do today," Francine said.
"I'm older than I look. I'm fifty three. My Dad died five years ago. My family blames DeWitt for hastening his death," Marlene said.
"How so?"
"Shortly before my father died, the property on which the building he owned was sold to a developer. My father just assumed the building would remain. He was wrong. One day, there was a knock on the door and a man in a suit handed my father an order from the courts to vacate the building."
"Just like that?" Francine said, snapping her fingers.
"Yes. They gave my Dad thirty days to empty out a business he owned for thirty three years."
"That's awful."
"My Dad contacted his lawyer and was advised to try to get a full settlement for the loss of his business. It ended up in court because the land developer refused to pay market value for the building and property. You can guess which judge heard the case: DeWitt."
"You said it ended badly," Francine responded.
"Yes. My Dad's lawyer found out that DeWitt and the developer had been in cahoots with other land deals all across this county."
"Wasn't there anything your Dad and his lawyer could do?"
"Oh yes. They tried a lawsuit but the land developer buried them in paperwork and my father wasn't a rich man. They knew eventually he would have to settle for "their" price or he would go bankrupt paying legal fees."
"Why does your family think it hastened his death?" Francine asked.
"Between trying to continue to maintain his business and that legal action, he ended up in the hospital with a heart attack. He was so weakened by it all. We all pitched in and closed the business for him and sold off what we could. But, that was the last year of his life. That property the land developer wanted? It was worth millions more. The proof is the number of businesses he somehow got the zoning board to allow him to build on that single site," Marlene said.
"Didn't any of you challenged the lawsuit?"
"DeWitt ruled in the land developer's favor as everyone knew he would. DeWitt's predictability was clear to everyone but his cronies," Marlene said.
As soon as Marlene Ernston left, Francine made notes and called Dina.
"Oh my God! Deens. You are never going to guess what my visit from Marlene Ernston turned up. DeWitt is dirtier than the three of ever thought. It looks as if he's been on the take with some land developer half a decade ago," Francine said.
"Did Marlene tell you who?"
"Yes. We talked a little longer after she told me about her father's dealings with DeWitt. The developer's name is Sandor Bathington. Do you know it?"
"No, Frannie. I can't say I do. Maybe, Judy does. Did you set your interview yet with Conrad Helleman?"
"I'll do that in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm so sleepy and its barely nine o'clock," Francine said.
"We're not twenty-five anymore. When I get tired, I take "power naps" when I can. But, I also don't make it to stay up long enough to watch the late shows on TV. Get some rest. I'll speak with you in the morning," Dina said.
Actually, Dina made a note to herself to do some research on Sandor Bathington. The name had a familiar ring to it; but, she didn't know why. She fell asleep trying to recall why it sounded familiar.
The next day, Dina phoned Judy.
"Judy, that interview Frannie had with the waitress from the Gold Star Diner? It was a doozy! Turns out DeWitt was in cahoots with a land developer, named Sandor Bathington. I think we need to find out more about this guy. I'll pick you up and we can forage for more info on him," Dina said.
As Judy waited for Dina to arrive, she flipped through an old file of papers Danny once kept in the shop. She also felt haunted by the name Sandor Bathington. Just as Dina arrived, Judy found the paper she was looking for: the real estate agency that Danny used to sell their home forty-four years earlier.
"Dina, come on in. I'm in the den. I want to show you something," Judy said.
Dina saw Judy standing near a filing cabinet with a document of some kind in her hand.
"What's that?" Dina asked.
"Read it," Judy said.
"Oh my God! Sandor Bathington was the owner of the real estate agency that Danny placed your home for sale with?"
"Yes. Let's drive over to where our old house was. I think you might find it very interesting," Judy said.
"Have you driven past it before?" Dina asked.
"Yes. But, you need to see it to get a sense of who Sandor Bathington is," Judy said.
As the two women approached Judy's old home, Dina was stunned!
Where once the three bedroom Cape Cod stood on the three acre property, there were three two-story, four bedroom homes with brickface fronts and domed roofs.
"My Lord, Judy! That property is worth ten times what it was when you owned it," Dina said.
"Now you know who Sandor Bathington is. A liar, a cheat and a thief!" Judy said.
"How so?"
"Danny told me he asked Sandor Bathington if the property could be subdivided. Danny had the idea he could build two more homes on the remaining property and leave ours intact."
"Why didn't that happen?" Dina asked.
"Because...Bathington told Danny we'd never get zoning approval."
"But, he must have gotten it. These homes are not brand new," Dina said.
"You bet he did. He was as cuddly with the people on the zoning board as it can get. He even made sure one of his relatives got a position on the zoning board...just in case there was any objection," Judy said.
"Wow. How dirty these guys are!" Dina said.
"Dirty isn' the word for what these crooks pull off."
Judy, Dina and Francine all reviled the new ideas that bent rules to the advantage of so few. Yet, they felt as many did in the 1990s, that life seemed as satisfactory as could be expected.
Still, Judy now became the energizing spark that rippled into the veins of her two friends. From the once shy, submissive younger woman she had been, a woman of critical courage of her convictions had emerged. Dina was always something of the agitator when it come to anything she deemed unfair.
"Judy, Bathington screwed Danny over. Did Danny ever realize it?" Dina asked.
"If he did, his male ego wouldn't allow him to openly admit it. He stock answer to anything that turned out badly for him was, "What's done is done." I always knew there was something about Bathington that set my teeth on edge," Judy said.
"Back then, you were in no position to fight off Bathington. You did more of your fighting to stay alive, thanks to Danny. Odd isn't it? The one fighter we were all so close to, Carole, is the one who lost her battle with Jack," Dina said.
"That wasn't a battle so much as a surrender. Carole was probably feeling her age and figured if she restored her marriage, she'd have some measure of emotional security," Judy said.
"Quite right. You know something Judy? I think of the three of us who remain, you may have had it the roughest. But, it's completely changed you in the most incredibly strong ways."
"Or perhaps, money is power? Isn't that the same thing as what Bathington did for decades?"
"Of course not! You didn't plan to be wealthy. Bathington did. That's a huge difference," Dina said.
"Okay, so what can a writer like you do to stop guys like Bathington?" Judy asked.
"I'm thinking I don't want the three of us to be murder victims," Dina said.
Judy was taken aback by Dina's remark.
"Oh come on Judy. You know these guys would slice up their own mothers if it meant piling up more money in their bank accounts. Three women like us are not remotely a problem for them. They'll just get rid of us."
"How?"
"Their usual way. They'll start burying us in legal lawsuits and then if that kind of bankrupting pressure doesn't work, they'll make an example of one of us to scare the other two off," Dina said.
"I'm too old now to let any guy scare hell out of me! What have we really got to lose by trying to take them down?" Judy asked.
Francine was true to her word. She managed to get an interview with DeWitt who found that elfin face and those impossibly dark eyes absolutely irresistible. Francine deliberately stayed out of touch with Judy and Dina. She knew guys like DeWitt had spies on their payroll.
Still, she was playing her trump card, her face, her charm and her ability to lure men into bed and get them to say things they wouldn't tell a priest in confession.
Dina noticed it had been almost two weeks since Francine had been in touch. She worried DeWitt caught on to her. She dialed Judy's phone number.
"Judy? Has Frannie called you?"
"No. I'm getting worried. DeWitt is a prominent judge who can use his legal expertise on someone like Frannie who is legally uninformed," Judy said.
"I'm worried too. It's not like her to go off for two weeks and be so out of touch. What should we do?" Dina asked.
"What can we do? If we try to contact her and she's somehow gotten into DeWitt's good graces, we'll blow her cover," Judy said.
The two women needn't have worried about their long time friend. Francine Chapin Vestre was nobody's fool. She could play the sweet, naive, innocent lamb that might have won her an Oscar for her performance. If Francine was anything, she was a master of sizing up others just by looking at them. All else ever after was just the mechanics of how to fit them into a useful perspective.
Even men like DeWitt were not match for that femme fatale smile and those impossibly alluring eyes. It wasn't as if Francine actually ever plotted or scripted a role with others. She was just so unusually genuine to the core that people around her were always ready to find out why she was so attractively happy-go-lucky.
Francine was often a magnet for the miserable, as Dina once told her. But as she aged, some of her youthful exuberance manifested into a finely honed sense of peace and tranquility. Both of which she hid under a massive outer demeanor of the kind of energy you'd find in an atomic energy facility.
Dina and Judy enjoyed that immensely. When they were younger, Dina, Judy and Carole all thought Francine was just a bit "ditzy" and could, at times, be literally, if not figuratively, outrageous. They'd grown to love her deliberate mismatching of color schemes in her attire and her home decor. Somehow, it all worked out to create a sensationally eclectic domestic dimension that exuded comfort and yet, held captive those with whom Francine was friendly.
That was how she and DeWitt crossed paths. In her most subtle way, Francine located herself at the restaurant where DeWitt ate his lunch. She knew the waitress there, Norma Marron. They'd worked together at a diner when Francine was still married to Randy Vestre. As soon as her kids were in school, Francine took part time jobs, never daring to let on to Randy that she was saving her money to leave him. She always made sure the jobs gave her plenty of time to get back home before the kids came home from school and Randy from work.
Until one day when Randy came home from work as sick as a dog before Francine finished her waitress job at 2 PM that day. When she walked in the door and saw Randy, she knew the jig was up.
Now, Norma Marron was her contact at the restaurant. She scouted the week before to see what the possibilities were. That's when she saw Norma.
"Norma? How nice to see you! Wow! Been a long time hasn't it?"
"Yep. I'm still waitressing. You don't look as if you've held a tray full of food for quite a while. You still with Randy?"
Francine knew why Norma was asking. Francine always had to deflect the attentions of the male customers who fawned all over her when she worked with Norma. When she found out Randy wasn't exactly faithful to her, she returned the favor with guys she met at work. Not that any of them were much more of a benefit than Randy.
"That's what I want to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?" Francine asked.
"There's a older judge, not too hard on the eyes, if you know what I mean," Francine continued.
"Yes. I know what you mean."
"Well...anyway, what's the chances of you introducing me to him?" Francine asked.
"Which judge are you referring to?" Norma asked.
"Judge DeWitt. Do you know him?"
"I sure as hell do. That old geezer is trash. He's the reason my old man got off without paying any alimony. But, why do you want to meet him? I see him in here with big money men all the time," Norma said.
"Exactly," Francine said, with a wink of her eye.
"Oh, I see. You think you'll get in good with him and maybe, it'll pay off for you?" Norma asked.
"Precisely! Norma, I can't tell you the real story. But, if you do me this favor, I'll make sure you can finally retire from waitressing," Francine promised.
"You do that and I'll introduce you to the Pope if you like!" Norma said, laughing.
Norma didn't really believe Francine could actually keep such a promise.
What the hell? If she pulls it off, why should I care "how" she managed it?" Norma thought.
"He comes in here every day at the stroke of 1 PM. He usually comes in alone and stays that way for about fifteen minutes. Then, he lunches with whomever he made arrangements with that particular day. Not giving you advice since I'm a novice at this; but, if I were you? I'd bump into his table and then take it from there," Norma said.
"Where does he sit?"
"Over there...at that table directly by the bay window. He likes people to see he is working even during lunch. He also knows that window gives him great visibility for anyone outside the restaurant who keeps track of him and his associates. But, I'd be careful if I were you. Some of those big money heavy weights are scary as hell," Norma said.
"Norma...You're a peach!" Francine said, hugging the woman.
"So long as I don't end up as a rotted peach!" Norma shot back.
The very next day, Norma Marron saw Francine Chapin Vestre enter the restaurant at 1:03 PM. She saw her head directly for DeWitt's table. Norma hurried to that table where the aisle was narrowed and deliberately bumped into Francine who then nearly fell onto DeWitt's table.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sir. I'm so sorry Miss," she said to DeWitt and Norma.
Norma tried not to laugh as she hurried to take an order at another table.
"I hope I didn't upset you, sir," Francine said in her most charming way.
DeWitt was taken aback. Before him stood a woman slightly younger than himself with the body of a woman 30 years younger, the darkest eyes he'd ever seen and her curly hair slightly askew.
"No. No. Don't give it another thought, young woman," DeWitt said.
Francine knew all the signs of a guy about to put the make on her.
"Young? Why sir...how kind of you. But, I must tell you I'm older than I look," Francine said.
"Oh come now. You can't be much older than I am," DeWitt said, his voice sounding flirty.
"Would you believe 80?" Francine joked.
"No! I would not!" DeWitt responded, realizing the woman was joking.
"Well, would you believe 70 then?"
"I would not believe a day over 50!" DeWitt answered.
The two of them laughed.
"Look, you have such a delightful sense of humor. I'd like to have dinner with you. I realize we've only just met. I'd invite you to lunch with me but, unfortunately, I have a meeting for lunch with a business associate. Here's my card, call me and we'll met for dinner," DeWitt said.
"Can't have too many friends, right? I'll phone you later this evening about that dinner. I'm looking forward to it!" Francine said cheerfully.
Norma led her to a table near the kitchen.
"It can't be this easy, Norma!" Francine said, as Norma took her order for lunch.
"For you? It is always a piece of cake. Which, by the way, will you be having your favorite chocolate cake for dessert?"
"You bet!"
Francine kept her eye on the man who joined DeWitt. It must have been something pretty serious. The two men poured over papers as if they were secret codes to the U.S. Treasury bank vault. She watched both of them leave together. The other man was at least a head taller than DeWitt and about the same age.
Got to make some notes. She wrote furiously what she saw in contemporaneous notes, refusing to allow her oft times faulty memory to miss a single detail.
She knew it wasn't wise to contact Judy or Dina while she was in the company of DeWitt. Guys like DeWitt always taped everything. She couldn't take any chances.
Francine waited the appropriate interval, five days, before contacting DeWitt. She had to make sure all her ducks were in order.
"Hello? Judge DeWitt please," Francine said to the female who answered the phone.
Oh God! I hope that's not his wife! Of course not! It has to be a secretary. He'd never give a woman his home number.
"DeWitt here, who is calling?"
"Oh, just that 80 year old lady you met at lunch the early part of the week," Francine joked.
"Well, how delightful to hear from you."
"I hope the woman who answered wasn't your wife," Francine said.
"No. That's Jessica, my law clerk. She often stays late to work on my cases," DeWitt said.
I'll just bet Jessica works on his cases! I'll bet she's a leggy blonde he drools over all day.
"Is that offer of dinner still open?" Francine asked.
"Certainly. Shall I pick you up at your home?" DeWitt asked.
Francine knew her home base needed to be kept invisible to DeWitt.
"I'll be in town late on Saturday. I've got a bit of social business I need to take care of. I'll meet you at your office, if that's okay," Francine said.
Francine, for all of her lightheartedness could be quite the calculating woman when times called for it. Usually though, few times had ever called for it.
She wasn't quite sure what exactly she would get from DeWitt; but, she knew that what she found could put her in quite a bad position. She decided to get what she could and hand it over to Dina. Francine had heard Dina say that investigative writers would go to jail before they'd ever disclose their sources or informants. Still, DeWitt and Sandor Bathington were too very powerful men who'd easily put two and two together and figure out she was the one who spilled her guts.
For almost a month, DeWitt enjoyed Francine's company as well as her other "charms." Francine always made sure DeWitt was pretty drunk before she swayed the conversation into the territory she, Judy and Dina had planned.
It turned out Sandor Bathington had connections with a state Senator whose campaign Bathington was funding in small increments so the total amount wouldn't exceed campaign donation limits.
My God! These guys go all the way when they play their games, Francine thought as she made notes furiously.
She was desperate to speak to Dina but thought better of it until she got what she was looking for. It was on a night when DeWitt was in a relatively good mood and he and Francine were enjoying a quiet evening in is home.
"You know, this home was actually a kind of "gift" from a friend and associate," DeWitt said.
"I'm sorry. I'm not much into real estate and that stuff," Francine said, playing her best dumb girl act.
"Well, sometimes in the legal circus, rewards come from the least expected people and places. Do you know the real estate mogul, Sandor Bathington?" DeWitt asked.
"I'm sorry, Judge. No. Never heard of him," Francine said, stroking his perfectly coiffed silver hair.
"Well, I'll tell you a secret. Mind...it has to be "our" little secret. Understand?"
Francine ran her finger across her lips signifying his secret was "safe" with her.
"Sandor Bathington is a soon to be billionaire, if he isn't already. Sometimes, we judges have to "look the other way" at the business deals they make...if you know what I mean. Oh, I guess you wouldn't, would you?" DeWitt said.
Francine feigned some modicum of disinterest, even to yawning as if she was bored.
"Am I boring you?" DeWitt asked.
"No. Of course not. It's just you have to break it down to my level. I'm okay with you telling secrets. I just need to make sense of them," Francine said.
"Of course, my dear. Most women are not specialists in the ways of business deals anyway. I'll try to be as basic as I can for you, dear."
Francine grizzled inwardly at that crack about women being too stupid to know anything about corrupt business deals. She leaned closer to DeWitt on his plush satin sofa.
"Sandor Bathington needed assistance to have a certain area of this region of the state declared a blighted area. He sees great financial value for all of us if the state approvals the declaration of blight on more than a dozen homes," DeWitt said.
"I don't get it," Francine said.
"Those homes were mostly built after World War II and just no longer fit into the revitalization plan for the state. Bathington thinks he can make a great deal of tax revenue for the state by tearing down all those homes and replacing them with more modern, fully appointed homes that would sell for ten times the value," DeWitt said.
"Oh. I...see. I think," Francine said, with a smile.
"Bathington got that approval mostly with my help. I have a few friends in high places in the state and I just convinced them that in the larger scheme of things, those homeowners could get a fair market price for their homes and move elsewhere to more modern homes," DeWitt said.
"So they don't mind their homes will be torn down?"
"Not exactly. There were a few homeowners who were sabotaging Bathington. They got hold of lawyers. Big mistake. There isn't a lawyer in this state I don't know well enough to twist their arm a little," DeWitt said.
Each time Francine met with DeWitt, she made notes. She wished she could tape their conversations. But, she didn't want to take the chance of creating suspicion. At this point in their relationship, DeWitt mostly considered Francine a good ear and he liked her flirty ways.
Francine knew something else about DeWitt, he was sexually impotent. There was never a time when she couldn't spot a guy backing away from a sexual encounter because he "couldn't perform." She made a mental note that impotence could be a weapon in her arsenal if DeWitt found her out.
After about three months of no contact with her two remaining Cellophane Flowers, Francine felt drained and totally cut off from them. She just had to speak with them.
She called Dina and in a somewhat subdued tone, asked if she and Judy would meet her at her son's home outside of the state where all three women lived.
"Deens, I can't talk. I don't know what's being bugged. Meet me at Richie's house this weekend. Richie can put us up if we decide to stay. Gotta run. See you at Richie's. Love Ya!"
Before Dina could ask any questions, Francine rang off. Immediately Dina dialed Judy's number.
"Judy? I just heard from Franny. She wants us to meet her at her son's house. God! Her call was all so hush hush. What in the world has she gotten us into? Can you make it this weekend? I'll drive," Dina said.
"A herd of wild elephants couldn't keep me away. Did she say why it had to be out of state?" Judy asked.
"All I know is that she has a HUGE bee in her bonnet or she wouldn't be so scared to meet us here in our own territory," Dina said.
Richie's house was located far enough from the city to be considered "secluded." The place was actually quite large and sat in the dead of the woods. In order to get to the house itself, Dina and Judy had to park the car in a small copse of trees with a well worn clearing.
Dina felt relieved when she saw Francine's small, black sports car already parked.
"I'm glad she arrived before us. I've only met Richie two times and I would feel uncomfortable with the lack of familiarity. All I know about Richie and his two siblings is the stuff Franny told us," Dina said.
"I know what you mean. In his younger days, Richie was a handful for Franny to manage," Judy responded.
They walked about 40 yards to a cedar shake, two story house that had a huge overhang over the first floor. It was supported by two very large stone and mortar columns.
"Oh my! How very rustic it looks!" Judy said.
"Yes. It certainly fits the look of a wooded cabin, doesn't it?" Dina said.
As they neared the house, Francine came out and called to them.
"So glad you two are here. How I have missed you!" Francine said.
"Let's sit outside and take the air, shall we?" Francine asked.
"Sounds okay to me. This is such a hidden place," Judy said.
"The reason I knew it was "safe" for us to meet here," Francine said.
"Franny, why didn't you contact us?" Dina asked.
"Couldn't. I didn't want DeWitt to get suspicious. But do I have stuff to tell you about him!" Francine said.
"First, tell us. Are we in any grave danger?" Dina asked.
"Not really. If this turns out as we hoped, we could see a windfall that would keep us in the money for the rest of our lives," Francine said.
"But, we didn't plan this as a get rich scheme. What have you learned?" Judy asked.
"What haven't I learned!" Francine said.
"For one thing, Judy, your instincts about Sandor Bathington were on the mark. He's a crook from the word go. Dina, you'll need to get the goods on Bathington about a deal he made to have the state declare a small town a "blighted area" so he could build multi million dollar homes there and pocket a huge profit," Francine said.
"I think I remember reading something about that about 15 years ago or so," Dina said.
"Yes. But do your investigating on the QT. What am I telling you? You already know how to do that," Francine said, realizing she was beginning to sound like an authority.
"Judy, you were ripped off by Bathington. You need to go after those families who filed a lawsuit against him for trying to underprice their homes. They were to be sold at market value, but Bathington found a way around that, just like he did with your home," Francine said.
"Oh my God! What on earth have we gotten ourselves into?" Dina said, shocked at Francine's discoveries.
"How did you get all of this out of DeWitt? Or don't I want to know that?" Dina said, grinning.
"The "how" isn't important. The weapon I got out of him is," Francine said.
"Weapon? You got something on DeWitt too?" Judy asked.
"Well, let's just say he isn't as "virile" as he likes to make out he is, if you know what I mean."
"You mean he's a limp noodle?" Dina said.
"Dina! For heaven sake! Let's not stoop to their slime level," Judy said, blushing.
"Oh for Pete's sake, Judy. It's not like we all don't know what impotence is," Dina said.
Judy shrugged and felt slightly embarrassed that her remark made her sound so prudish.
What have I got to be prudish about? Danny certainly wasn't a mirror of purity and virtue. She thought.
"Okay. Where do we go from here?" Francine asked.
"Well, first off. You need to take the heat off yourself before this whole thing blows wide open," Dina suggested.
"I agree. I'm thinking maybe a trip to Europe for a few months. It's just that I don't want to be too far away from you gals," Francine said.
"How long will it take you to put this into book form and get your publisher to print it?" Judy asked Dina.
"As long as it takes to gather the information you and I need to turn it into reading material. I can write a book in as long as Francine will be in Europe. That ought to work out in our favor. Judy, after you get the information you need on that lawsuit, you could follow Frannie to Europe. You two will have a ball and can make sure both of you stay safe...just in case DeWitt or one of his thugs get any ideas about making us disappear," Dina said.
"Deens, I don't like the idea of leaving you here in the states all alone with such incriminating information about these guys," Francine said.
"There's a lot of safety in being a writer. Not as much in being an author. I'll be fine. As soon as the book is due to be published, I'll meet the two of you in Europe. We'll meet in my father's hometown in Italy. I've always wanted to see that place. He always talked about it so longingly," Dina said.
"Out of sight won't be out of mind once your book gets to the best seller list," Francine said.
"Franny, I'll be lucky it makes much noise anywhere but in our own home state," Dina said.
"You know something? The three of us never talked about vacationing together. If you need to make ourselves scarce, trekking across Europe would be a first for us," Judy noted.
"Why not? I'll bet we would raise hell in Europe just like we did here," Francine said.
"Wait, I am not published yet. I don't have the kind of money you two have to travel," Dina said.
"But, you will Deens, you know you will," Francine said.
"Well, look. I'm in for vacationing in Europe. I need time to write this book. Let me talk to my publisher about it first and then you two can start pouring over travel brochures," Dina said.
"Dina and I still have a pile of investigating to do on those lawsuits. I don't know...Should we interview the people who brought the lawsuit against Sandor Bathington?" Judy asked.
"I don't see a way to avoid it, if we want to get the truth from the horse's mouth," Dina said.
The three women enjoyed their stay at Richie's house. They walked in the woods, dipped their feet in the nearby stream and Francine took landscape photos. Judy was fascinated by the sound of the birds. Dina loved the freedom to wander without the sound of highway traffic in her ears.
When their stay ended, they said their goodbyes and made final plans to wrap up their little "adventure" into the DeWitt/Bathington scandal.
Judy deftly managed to compile her notes and Dina's into a chronological format. They both borrowed Francine's idea of a pocket notebook with small tabs to keep their notes in order.
Judy found she liked interviewing several of the people involved in the Bathington lawsuit. She realized she wasn't the only one who "got screwed," as she told Dina.
"Judy! I've never heard you use that kind of language before!" Dina laughed.
"I'm an old woman. I earned the right to tell it like it is. I want my thoughts and words out there before I die," Judy said.
"Oh, Judy. You are not so old and death is a long ways away," Dina said.
"I'm older than you. Remember?"
"Oh big deal! One year older. If you are at death's door, so am I and so is Francine," Dina said.
"I wouldn't go telling Francine that, if I were you. You know how she is about aging," Judy said.
After interviewing half a dozen people for over three weeks and studying court transcipts of the lawsuit, Dina spotted something that set her teeth on edge.
"Judy! Look at this transcript of the court settlement with Sandor Bathington. Bathington paid only the court fees and no actual settlement," Dina said.
"We knew that. That's Bathington's way of paying for innocence," Judy said.
"No. I meant look at who the judge was in the case," Dina said.
"Judge Simon Verston...Yes? So?"
"Verston is now on the state supreme court!" Dina said.
The more the two women dug, the more they saw the connections between DeWitt, Bathington and officials at the highest state levels.
"Judy, I don't know about you, but I think we will need a lawyer of our own if this gets out. How didn't the press dig into this like it was prime rib?"
"Easy. Pay off someone to keep it out of the press. I agree. I think we three will need a lawyer. I'll pay for it. I know someone who is a fair, unbiased lawyer," Judy said.
"You do? Who might that be?"
"My son's friend Anthony Delgado. He is a trial lawyer. I'll contact my son tonight and ask if his friend will be our legal advisor," Judy said.
"Are you sure he isn't connected? Can we trust this lawyer?" Dina asked.
"I wouldn't have recommended him if we couldn't. Besides, he has an axe to grind with rip off pros," Judy said.
Dina felt a deep sense of insecurity in the pit of her brain. She knew they couldn't back down now. They were in it too deep. They'd come across the most damning evidence of judicial wrongdoing. She wondered if that would be enough to force the state court to reopen the cases against Sandor Bathington.
"Judy? What do you hope the end result of our poking around will be?" Dina asked.
"Justice. Firm, clean, unbiased justice. If such a thing is ever possible."
"How did it all come to this? These guys are our ages. How did we go from the Love Generation to the Criminal Generation?" Dina said.
"Every generation has miscreants and recidivists. We are just uncovering ours. If we do this in the best possible framework, it inspires others of our generation to get off their duffs and stop the growth of corruption," Judy said.
"That's a huge task," Dina replied.
"Can we just look the other way? Can we afford to remain silent? All three of us have the means to take these guys down. Sure, they can threaten our lives or try to intimidate us with bankruptcy. All that will do is make them look as guilty as we know they are," Judy said.
"Judy, you went from a frightened, submissive wife to a force to be reckoned with," Dina said, hugging her friend.
"I'm not doing this for personal reasons. I'm doing it for my grandkids," Judy said.
Prologue
The year spent in Europe by Dina, Judy and Francine was like an oasis from the news they were seeing and hearing about the crooked Judge DeWitt, a real estate mogul, Sandor Bathington and nearly a half dozen other of their so called associates being investigated and a case reopened.
"Oh my God!"
"What? What is it Dina?" Francine asked.
"They were found guilty of fraud!"
The three women poured over the article in the French news. Bathington is going to prison. DeWitt and Verston were summarily disbarred. The homeowners won a new settlement that bankrupted Bathington.
"I'd say we Cellophane Flowers have done a smashing job!" Francine said.
"Right as rain!" Judy said.
"Time for a flower power lunch!" Dina laughed.
No comments:
Post a Comment