Trouble And Money #14

Twillman's Burger Bar

I'm sitting across from Taveon, and we are waiting for our lunch burgers to arrive. "Hey, your face has cleared up since last we met," I said.

He was laughing and said to me, "Have you ever had a psycho ex-girlfriend do something to you after it was over?"

I thought for a second about the ex-wife who was glad for me to leave and how she said on the morning I packed up my truck, "Seeing you hit the highway is like having a tumor removed. I will begin my recovery as soon as you put that truck in drive." I never had a peep from her again, not even a drunk dial. 

What she didn't know was that the healing was all mine. That was four years ago, and I accepted that she was full of it, and I am still a good man.

The only thing that changed our marriage, her social status, and her opinion of me was that I got fired from my job as a Homicide Detective in Richmond, Virginia. 

That was hard, but I handled it better than she did.

Smiling, I told Taveon, "I had a girlfriend  at The Stumps when I was there for a six-week training course." She thought she was moving on with me when the course ended, but the truth was otherwise. I still receive  "No caller ID drunk dials from her occasionally."

He looked at me as the waitress was putting down our food. "My ex-girlfriend paid two locals to thump me because I am seeing someone else...Clarissa."

"She's mad because I gave her fifty reasons why I was leaving her instead of just saying I met someone I like better."

I laughed and asked him, "Do you think she'll do anything else?" 

"No, I called her the other night and apologized, and we both seemed relieved by the truth."

I stayed quiet and thought to myself, Case Closed. I was sad that I would not be sending someone a bill. 

It was worth it to end up with a good friend like Taveon.

Lunch was great, and I may take Tammy here sometime for a burger.

The Seawall, Rye, New Hampshire

Later in the day, after the gym and a run, I headed for home and stopped at the seawall.

I parked in my usual area, next to Tammy's jeep. 

She was on the wall facing the water with her gigantic "Hydration Cup." I was happy to see her but approached like I was headed for the chopping block. We did not have plans to meet tonight.

I looked at her, sporting a few tears not caused by the wind coming off the water.

"Being with me won't be easy. I get shot at, beat up, and sometimes I have to go away for weeks at a time, but you are always welcome to be with me. We can take it slow and figure it out." I said.

She smiled and said "Damn boy you are full of yourself today. I was hoping to go back to your place and eat the dinner I cooked, then screw your brains out and watch Netflix."

I guess I'm a little short of brains today. Again, her directness is refreshing.

Trouble And Money is published Monday through Friday. It is a serial fiction detective story with characters you will love. Read the adventures of Conrad Grange as he solves cases and contends with a harsh world.