The Sins of Our Parents: A Novel

By Anne Drover

Jeffrey Coleman and Alison Goodrich, both college juniors when the story begins, are members of two wealthy and influential families from
Biltmore Forrest, North Carolina.
Jeffreys mother traces her family lineage back to ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower and some who were proud participants in the Civil War. Jeffreys dad, a North Carolina state senator, believes his destiny is to become president of the United States. His friend Alisons dad is the successful political force behind him.
The lifelong close relationship between Jeffrey and Alison fills the story with wonderful insights into their spiritual and intellectual growth. Both are determined to help make the world a better place and move beyond what they consider to be the selfish lives their parents have lived.
While Alison remains in Cambridge, Massachusetts, attending Harvard, Jeffrey spends his junior year at Kings College in London, England, where he meets and becomes intimately involved with Ala, a beautiful young woman from Saudi Arabia. Thus begins Jeffreys unwitting journey amid an intricate terrorist plot aimed at wreaking havoc on the United States. The resulting terrorist trial lays bare many of the family secrets of both Coleman and Goodrich family members.
This books twists and turns finally draw readers toward an ending that is surprising, poignant, and hopeful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493182428

Anne Drover

Anne Drover, the youngest of ten children, was born and raised in the Woodville section of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, where she also attended school, graduating from Hopkinton High School with the class of 1953. She is a 1957 graduate of the State College in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Although the author loved writing from an early age, prior to her book, ‘The Reluctant Cougar,” she has only published poetry. She is the mother of five children and a loving and interactive grandmother of ten.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The Coleman Parents

I T WAS A time of reflection, now that the crash had come and the lives of the Coleman family had been turned upside down. As parents, they could never have predicted that their once well-ordered life would take this turn and everything would become the antithesis of their expectations. In years past, Alicia Coleman found it boring hearing parents ask the rhetorical question, Where did we go wrong?

In her mind, conditioned by years of believing well-bred people don’t go wrong, she would never be in a position to ask that same question. Was that testing fate or was it simply the arrogance of one accustomed to deferential treatment and a life where money allows one any whim or wish?

Wouldn’t many people love to be spending the spring months in the city of Boston? As a southern woman, accustomed to the gentilities of people from the South, Alicia was finding the people of Boston rushed and rude. It was obvious to her that no one in that city knew how to walk or stroll. They only knew how to run or power walk. It’s now April of 2012 in Boston and Alicia knew she would personally rather be anywhere in the South rather than here, in this city that is noisy and dusty. Where have all the old moneyed Bostonians gone?

While attending college in London, the Coleman’s son Jeffrey had become involved with a young female student, A’la, a member of a terrorist cell. This cell had plans to wreak havoc on the United States. They are currently in the middle of the terrorists’ trial being held in a federal court house in Boston.

Oddly enough, the only part of the plot that worked out at all had been in a place not far from Boston: Gillette Stadium in a town called Foxboro. Soccer fans were killed while leaving the stadium and it was a sad time for people in Massachusetts. Alicia understood their anger toward all involved and their desire to hold someone accountable, as long as it’s not their son Jeffrey.

As the trial progressed, Jeffrey released skeletons from the Coleman family closet that are certainly eye-openers for her and many others, including their once close friends, the Goodrich family. Like other well-connected families after transgressions are laid bare, the Colemans are now newsworthy, and it isn’t pleasant.

Alicia’s husband and she have been forced to rent a small apartment in Boston and commute to North Carolina on weekends. As each day passes they become more aware of the background and circumstances of the charges against this group. The story is unbelievable to them and beyond anything they could ever have imagined their son capable of being associated with. After all, his father, John Coleman, is a North Carolina state senator. Why would Jeffrey do such a thing? her husband and she continued to ask themselves.

Fortunately for their family, her husband John is a well-trained lawyer and has many former classmates and longtime friends and business contacts who are competent criminal lawyers. Naturally John has hired the best lawyer to be found to protect Jeffrey’s interests. How all of this would affect John as a senator and his chances for an even higher office, no one could predict. That’s why it was urgent that Jeffrey be disassociated from any wrongdoing. Even so, there were apt to be some residual effects from this well-publicized incident and resulting trial.

Since this whole ordeal began, when Alicia and John have been home on weekends, neither her husband nor she has had any desire to leave their domestic fortress and venture out among the throngs of press people waiting outside their garden walls. In Alicia’s mind media people are vultures, anxious to shout to the world that another of the mighty has fallen. Having the press disturb the normally peaceful atmosphere in the town of Biltmore Forrest, North Carolina, has been distressful to all who live there.

Fortunately, John Coleman has arranged for his public relations people and lawyers to handle all questions pertaining to their current circumstances. That didn’t stop the media people from stalking them, especially whenever the Colemans attempt to leave their home. Their normal social life is in shambles and they feel like hunted animals. ‘Where is the humanity in these people, the sense of normal decency and proper manners?" Alicia asks herself

After all, they are the Colemans, well-known and well-respected, especially in the Asheville, North Carolina area. Perhaps once you’ve read some of their background information you’ll begin to understand why their current situation is so shocking. Something like this shouldn’t happen to people like us, Alicia decries.

John and Alicia Coleman had settled in Biltmore Forrest, within the area surrounding Asheville, North Carolina. The town of Biltmore Forest was incorporated in 1923 and was a planned residential community rich in cultural history. As the community had grown so had its lush green surroundings, providing privacy within natural boundaries.

For many generations, Alicia’s family has been an important part of society in the Asheville area. She can trace their roots back beyond the Civil War and even to descendants of the Mayflower. Although Asheville saw limited action during the Civil War, during the Battle of Asheville, and again later at Swannanoa Gap, some of her ancestors participated proudly, at great sacrifice to themselves and their family treasures.

Members of her family were among the most esteemed officers. Family stories have been repeated from generation to generation and as children they sat at the feet of their grandfathers, listening intently to tales of the bravery their forebears had demonstrated. Family plantations had been described and Alicia’s teenage years were filled with daydreams of the grand balls of yore. She grew up believing that life had been more civilized then and manners were at the forefront of societal behavior.

It never dawned on her to reflect on what slavery had meant to those in the past. Instead she thought it was how life was meant to be for each of them. Each person had their role to play in life and that was all predetermined by finances and family circumstances. Alicia believes there are still many living in the South who think that way. Most often that sentiment is spoken in softer tones, among those who agree.

While Alicia was growing up, when her parents thought she was in bed and couldn’t hear her father discussing slavery with his friends, she was listening from her stairway perch. That’s how she formed many of her thoughts regarding slavery. She grew up believing that keeping slaves was something that was proper for those who could afford to do so. The aftermath of the Civil War created many inconveniences to Southern customs and the accepted way of life among the privileged class. Alicia thought some from the south still believe they should find a way to bring slavery back.

As men from the South performed Civil War reenactments, they celebrated the courage of their ancestors who fought so bravely against the unruly northern fighters. The southern men thought there were many reasons why they should have won, and that certainly was a favorite topic for discussion among Alicia’s father and his friends.

Alicia guessed that conversation was repeated all over the South and continues to be so. Sometimes the discussions were so heated, it sounded like the men were readying themselves to return to the days of the war and fight until such time as they were victorious. We’ll show those Yankees! was their battle cry. Alicia thought the history textbooks were far too slanted toward the Union.

There was still talk of secession among some groups in the South. They were becoming more and more antigovernment. Many of the men loved or even worshiped their weapons. They often had very expensive collections, among which were some valuable antique rifles and pistols. Although Alicia was not a gun historian she did hear enough about the guns some possessed to know their collections were sizeable and valuable. She also heard men talk about the National Rifle Association and how they were planning to prepare those who loved guns to defend what they had.

Alicia thought some of that talk was a little overblown but they were men and they enjoyed talk of war and retribution for a war long ago yet never forgotten. Their Confederate flags were among their prized possessions, and waving them at rallies was something men taught their sons to do. It was part of advancing toward manhood in some parts of the South.

Because of the secrecy of the Klu Klux Klan, it was less discussed than other subjects. You really had to be part of the inside group to be privy to much information about them. They were still around, mainly in the outskirts of town, in areas that were more sparsely populated. Some called them hate groups but Alicia was never sure that was a fair characterization.

Like other organizations, they had their place, their cause, and their followers. Alicia saw it as another way for men to flex their muscles. Now that a black man was in the White House, strong feelings prevailed and made them feel more threatened. They could feel no trust toward him because he just wasn’t one of us. After all, his ancestors were more than likely slaves, whether here or in Africa.

Alicia believed that being a slave meant you were given the chance to have a warm home, a place to raise your family, and necessary jobs to do. That slavery was no longer allowed was more of an inconvenience than anything else. Even today, there are still some willing to do the menial tasks Alicia would never enjoy doing. Truthfully, she had more important things to do. There was certainly nothing wrong with that. To her way of thinking, that’s how life works best.

Alicia’s ancestral home was opulent yet decorated in muted colors, with lovely antique furnishings gracing the many rooms. These antiques had been handed down through the family. All of it added to the look of beauty and elegance.

They were fortunate to have large ancient shade trees surrounding their residence, which afforded them welcome relief as Alicia’s friends and she romped at play around their property. Lovely gardens graced their land, and like other properties within the boundaries of Biltmore Forrest, they had privacy and the sense of a protected environment. They never thought about what it took to maintain this large family estate simply because they didn’t have to do so.

As Alicia reflects on her earlier life in the South she remembers many happy times. She had a wonderfully full life with proper friends and many fun-filled activities to do. Her parents weren’t always around and her care was charged to a black woman named Bertha. To herself, because Bertha was birdlike in size and appearance, she called her Bertie Bird. Alicia would never let her parents know she called her that. They demanded respect and nicknames were forbidden.

Alicia was home-schooled by a very proper maiden lady, Ms. Prudence, who had been educated in the north yet had been well-trained in proper Southern manners and customs. There were still some in the South who considered northerners ill-mannered and rude. Alicia certainly had no desire to visit the north and be treated poorly. Ms. Prudence was strict yet fair, and in Alicia’s own strange way she truly liked her.

Although Alicia never received any show of affection from her parents, she could tell there were times when Ms. Prudence wanted to reach out to her, especially when she was very little and hurt myself. Alicia’s father insisted Ms. Prudence show none of that, and instead teach Alicia to remain strong and show no weakness to the outside world.

Alicia’s friends and she played well together and thought their carefree life would never end. They attended daily lessons while also taking classes in manners and other subjects appropriate for well-raised Southern young ladies. They were also taught dancing in preparation for their coming-out parties, to be held when they turned eighteen. From an early age, proper Southern girls looked forward to the time when they would be properly presented to society.

At the beginning of what would be the seventh grade for Alicia, she was sent to Salem Academy, a boarding school for young ladies, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Salem Academy had a proud two-hundred-year history of preparing young women for entering top colleges and universities. As young as she was upon entering, Alicia realized what her role was. As a result she immediately proceeded to attain high grades and add many accomplishments to her record. This led to acquiring entrance into a top-rated university and as many important contacts as possible.

Her parents, Charles and Jennifer Gladstone, were wealthy property owners. While Alicia was being raised, she heard stories about her father’s many properties and his chain of hotels located throughout the South. Never having been told so, she realized on her own that they were privileged, and she behaved accordingly.

Having a car and driver allowed Alicia the opportunity to visit safely, attending birthday celebrations and musical programs held at the homes of neighbors and friends. One of her favorite activities was being driven into a bordering town called Biltmore Village. While there, they would visit the quaint shops and stop at one of the local restaurants.

Because Alicia’s parents were away much of the time, these visits to the village were a rare treat. On Sundays they would attend services at All Souls Episcopal Church, surrounded by many of their friends and neighbors. In later years, Alicia remembers attending the Dickens Festival in Biltmore Village. Ah, what lovely memories!

Once Alicia reached the time to choose the college she would attend, it was decided that she would apply to Bryn Mawr College, located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The college was originally affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends but eventually became nondenominational. It was considered a proper school for educating a Southern young woman.

Once her application was approved, she would spend the next four years preparing for a future with a man acceptable to her parents. She had no ambition other than to attain excellent grades and mix with those appropriate as contacts. Alicia’s plan was to become the woman behind a great man.

During her college years Alicia joined school travel groups to further her preparation for familiarity with international travel. It was all part of her plan. She felt fortunate she had been born to parents who allowed her freedom of choice as long as her choices represented their values and goals. She was grateful they had prepared her to make proper choices and connections in her life.

As strong and as goal oriented as she was, Alicia also realized her parents were encouraging and preparing her to have a full life and not lose the good life to which she had grown accustomed. She knew what was expected and had no problem accepting her parents’ intentions for her. In fact, with the type of personality she has there was no room remaining for anything other than a well-ordered life with high-level goals and intentions. There was no end to the energy and drive she possessed to become successful.

As Alicia’s college years moved along, she was careful to protect her image and not put herself in any position that might leave her open to compromise now or at a later date. Looking back, she realizes she had the precision of a well-oiled machine, with well-tested output and exemplary results. That being said, she was also discerning and knew it was important to camouflage her intentions.

Alicia’s surface self was that of one who maintained high grades through diligence and dedication. She gained support from her fellow students through her willingness to help others and join in efforts to raise funds for noble causes. As she continues to reflect back, Alicia realizes and admits that each thing she did was simply a stepping stone along a well-planned pathway.

For a few minutes Alicia stopped, realizing all she was finally admitting to herself. "Was it so wrong to have such ambitious goals for myself?" Alicia thought. Was it worse than having no goals at all? Had my way of life had anything to do with how we raised our son Jeffrey or our daughter Marcia? I guess I’ll have to think more about all of this. Where might this reflection lead me?

As quickly as she had begun her self-questioning, although finding it uncomfortable, Alicia continued onward with her journey, assuring herself that she would come out of this unthinkable family crisis with no blemish against her role as mother.

Had there been fire within her for anything other than her planned goal to attain and maintain a position of power and control? Like many of her friends, she had decided early in life that sex was one of those tools that could advance a woman’s personal goals.

Men are truly weak creatures and can be so readily manipulated by a woman’s sexual control, Alicia thought. That form of control is so easily used for selfish purposes.

In her mind, producing children was strictly to ensure the continuation of one’s family line and to add color and interest to the family portrait. That thinking would probably sound cold to many but it was her honest self-appraisal and something for which she feels no inner shame.

"I am who I am," Alicia thought.

As a result of her attitude toward sex, Alicia could and would do whatever she needed to do. She had already been playing a role since birth. She was convinced she could fool any future mate. Along with her academic preparation, she had also spent time studying books on sexual performance and assured herself she could provide more than enough sexual excitement to entice a husband for as long as necessary.

Back then, the most pressing question was could she hold on to him? That was another good reason to produce one or two children. Wasn’t that one event that kept men around? Alicia wondered. Once I’ve found a suitable mate and married him, I have no intentions of spending my days and nights keeping an overly zealous sexual husband happy in bed. I was one woman who would gladly hand that role to an outsider as long as my husband was discreet and remained healthy. I wanted no sexually transmitted diseases brought into my house.

Although Alicia occasionally dated some of the young men she met while in college, either through her friends or at college mixers with men’s colleges in the area, she failed to meet the man she considered would be presentable to her parents or acceptable to her. She had high standards for herself and the man she would be with for the rest of her life. In her mind, she had a firm list of necessary attributes and a picture of how he would look. She held hard and fast to her list and never wavered.

Some of the young men Alicia met would cause hearts to flutter for most other young women and their families would be delighted with their backgrounds and already acquired honors. Alicia felt strongly that she deserved better. Thus the search continued. He was out there and it would take time and patience to find him. She was convinced the effort would be worth it in the end.

It was during Alicia’s senior year in college, during their Christmas break that she met the man who would become her future husband. Both John and she had come to the Raleigh-Durham area for a meeting of Young Republicans. There were to be some interesting speakers from the National Republican roster.

Alicia’s parents encouraged her to attend and she traveled to the area with some of her college friends. Once again she realized this would be one more opportunity to meet eligible men and acquire more connections with the right people. As prepared as she always believed herself to be, she had to admit that her initial introduction to John left her breathless.

Because of his already extraordinary accomplishments, especially in the areas of public speaking and college politics, John had been chosen as the keynote speaker at the college level. Even comparing him to the older, more polished Republican speakers, John was far and above the most effective of them all.

Besides the excellent content of his speech and his superb delivery, he was as charismatic as one could find. Even from the distance at which Alicia’s friends and she sat, John’s eyes sparkled and his face radiated with each word uttered. It was impossible for Alicia to take her eyes away from his face and yet she heard and later remembered his every word. As she listened to his speech, Alicia’s eyes quickly scanned the room and she realized he was having the same effect on the others in attendance.

The room was filled with an audience that appeared to be hypnotized by John’s every word. They were like people in a trance who wouldn’t move or speak until John told them to do so. Alicia had never before witnessed something like this and she instantly knew she had to meet John. She was sure he was the one who held every quality she had ever sought in a man. There he stood, the man she had always imagined as her future husband. In retrospect, Alicia supposed every eligible female in that room had the same reaction. She would also bet some ineligible women had thoughts foreign to them, and they weren’t all pure.

Of course there was no way to get near John after his speech. He was immediately surrounded by a gaggle of adoring females. At a safe distance away several Republican senators watched John in action. They were soon joined by some of our state leaders, and as they hovered and watched together, John immediately became a marked man. He was marked for further watching and following, with thoughts of preparing him for a future in Republican politics.

How could she meet John? was Alicia’s immediate thought that afternoon. There had to be a way.

As conniving as Alicia probably was, she couldn’t have imagined a better mode of meeting than the one that presented itself. It was so simple it was ridiculous. Her friends had left to return to their rooms, wanting plenty of time to get dressed for tonight’s social event. It would be a social hour of college mixing with a band playing in the background.

This was strictly planned as a night of fun. Alicia had decided to go to the coffee shop for a quick soft drink before heading to her room. She wanted a few minutes to think about John’s speech and plan how and when she would meet him. Her mind was so intent on her planning, she failed to notice when John entered the coffee shop alone.

While John was walking by her table, he accidentally hit the edge of Alicia’s notebook and it went crashing to the floor with her carefully organized papers spreading in all directions, including under her table. As both John and she bent down to retrieve her papers, they banged their heads together with such force that John pitched sideward, landing on a nearby chair, narrowly avoiding what might have been a more serious fall. Holding their injured heads, they looked at each other and started to laugh.

I’m glad your adoring audience from this afternoon wasn’t present to witness this latest performance, Alicia found herself saying. I hope you have no encore planned that includes me and my body parts.

Would you mind if I sit at your table until the pounding in my head subsides? John asked. I’m sorry for what just happened. I’m usually more aware of my surroundings and don’t usually cause such destruction along my pathway, he added.

Please sit, Alicia offered. Are you OK? Although Alicia realized she might end up with a mark on her forehead, how could she not appreciate this opportunity handed to her so easily? She considered it a wonderful omen that this was all meant to be and her search was over. It was up to her to move her plan along now that the prize was within reach. "I can handle this." she thought. "After all, I had been planning and preparing for this most of my life."

From that accidental meeting forward, it was pretty simple. As John and Alicia sat talking at that table, they began to realize how much they had in common and had similar goals and aspirations. Alicia realized that John found her more than attractive and she carefully used every thing she could to entice him and draw him into her net. She was careful though; he had to believe the whole thing was his idea and that he needed to court her. Before their conversation had ended, they had made plans to meet at that night’s social. That was a beginning.

As Alicia dressed and readied herself for what she hoped would be her greatest performance yet, she kept in mind what the stakes were and that everything had to be as perfect as possible. When she had worked her magic on John, the poor boy would never know what hit him. She’d use every trick in her book to land this one, yet she knew she had to be careful and convincing. Alicia had already seen that John was very intelligent and would not be easily fooled. Once they were married, she knew she’d have to teach him how to protect himself against women like she. She had plenty of time for that.

That night things went as smoothly as was possible and by the end of that evening, Alicia knew John was hers to have. Of course the other girls were overcome by the green-eyed monster when they saw Alicia arrive and immediately take John under her wing. He was much easier prey than she had anticipated yet the other girls kept circling them, just waiting for an opportunity to cut in.

Alicia made sure that didn’t happen. Whenever she saw any female headed their way with that certain look in her eyes and readying herself to pounce, Alicia took John’s arm and led him toward the dance floor. Looking back, Alicia realizes how shameless she was that night. She had already learned that All’s fair in love and war.

As John and Alicia danced slowly together, she snuggled right into his waiting arms, and oh, how well they fit and how perfectly they danced together. She knew John was already succumbing to her heightened charms. She had to admit that he was pretty charming himself.

By night’s end, John and Alicia were already exchanging telephone numbers and making plans for their next meeting, and from that night forward, they spent as much time as they could afford, either talking or writing, while still maintaining top grades. That John was attending college in Connecticut and Alicia in Pennsylvania didn’t seem to deter either of them. They were in love, or as in love as Alicia could be, and that was all that mattered. By now, they had already exchanged information about their family members, friends, goals, and anything else they deemed important to their relationship.

Admittedly, John’s background was somewhat different from Alicia’s. He had grown up the youngest in a large family. He was extremely intelligent, handsome, and a fine athlete, especially in tennis. During his high school years, John had been a class leader, serving as class president for his four years in high school. He was a young man filled with natural charm and destined for success in whatever field he chose to enter.

Because of John’s superb high school record and his unusually high SAT scores, he applied to Yale and received his acceptance. Although Yale had no merit scholarships available for under graduates, they assisted John in applying for what is called outside scholarships. There was money available from organizations and businesses for students deserving and willing to take the time to apply.

Due to its reputation as one of the top colleges and universities in the country, Yale’s level of applicants was exceedingly high. Along with the expectation of prior high levels of academic achievement, applicants were also expected to be high achievers in other areas. As a result of all of this, they offered little financial assistance. The additional assistance for John was a tribute to the rare qualities John possessed. Naturally John performed with the excellence innate to him. He had high expectations for himself, with goals he listed and met with the aplomb of a seasoned warrior. His college friends often remarked that John made everything look easy.

In the back of his mind, John had vowed he would never return to the small Southern town from which he had come unless it was during a whistle stop on his journey to the top of the political mountain. John very rarely visited his family and they were not a family who strayed far from home to visit anyone else, including our family. I guess that worked out well for all of us.

Because he rarely talked to their children about his family, Marcia and Jeffrey grew up knowing very little about them. John did return home for the funerals of his parents yet never invited Alicia or their children to attend with him. Now after reflection on all of this, at best John’s behavior toward his family was probably strange, and at worst, selfish and self-serving. Being ashamed of ones family and roots is not a message someone running for public office wants to become well-known.

Like other things in his life, John had an innate sense of self-preservation and knowledge of how to camouflage facts that seemed potentially damaging to his aspirations. If knowledge of his family were ever discovered, they would protect him and John would find a way to talk around them, making it become beneficial to him and his career.

Yes, John had aspirations to one day be president of the United States. Graduating from Yale’s undergraduate school and then its law school were a must on his advancement list. As far back in his school career as he could remember, he had been interested in politics and had studied every presidency in history. He learned as much as he could about each and spent time deciding who he wanted to emulate. Over time, he changed his mind several times as he added new information about each.

Although he intended to be a great president, deep in his heart John knew it was the power he wanted. In the final analysis, he wanted to answer to no man. Of course he never considered women a threat. They had their place. Although John knew he was at the mercy of the electorate at the time of each new election, he knew he had a charming way about him and could sway people to come around to his way of thinking. He used whatever was necessary to get what he wanted and where he wanted to be.

While attending undergraduate school at Yale, John had met the man who would move his plans forward in a big way. His name was Tyler Goodrich and his family credentials were impeccable, equal to Alicia’s, if not better. His family had been in the Southern banking business for generations. Tyler and his family had lived in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, area for many years.

His family had a reputation for being king-makers and Tyler was determined to hold that same position. That was a role he had been preparing for all of his life. He wanted the power of holding the fate of others in his hands. There was money and power available to those who could perform such feats. What more could any good Southern gentleman want? It would come down to who could put him in the best position to accomplish those goals?

Although Tyler was average-looking in appearance, even during his college years he had the look of one who was heading to great heights in his career and knew how to get there. Because of his demeanor, he seemed taller than he actually was and certainly more mature and self-assured. He gathered those around him who could move him forward, and had a method of accomplishing his goals that were those of a seasoned manipulator.

Tyler weaved his magic in such a way that others believed he was sincere and not self-serving. Others seemed happy to be in Tyler’s company and just be part of his entourage.

He was a young man on the move and many fellow students were content to rise with him, if even in his shadow.

As soon as Tyler met John, he recognized that John was a great candidate. John was goal oriented, ambitious, and attending Yale on outside scholarships. That made John somewhat needy. He was also an intellectual snob who kept it well hidden. Considering John’s humble background, it was amazing he had formed such well-honed subtleties. He was a man of many talents, all of which would work well in the political arena.

Although Tyler recognized John’s talents, he formed an odd allegiance to John based predominantly on his recognition that he could use John to build and maintain a successful future for himself. Tyler never accepted that John would ever become his equal. He would always maintain the upper hand in their relationship. In-bred power allowed that and almost dictated it.

All of these things just mentioned about the true relationship between Alicia’s husband and his friend Tyler Goodrich were unknown to Alicia until much later. As a matter of fact, there were many things about their lives that had remained unknown to Alicia until they were revealed during the terrorists’ trial. Then it had begun to come out as if it became part of a rapidly moving tsunami, advancing with force from the sea and across the land. Nothing could stop it and everything in its way was battered. Alicia had much to learn and a rude awakening ahead of her.

With the advent of their son’s legal entanglement, Alicia was finding out that even her marriage was not as idyllic as she had originally thought. She was finding it amazing that she, like others before her, had been traveling through life with blinders on. She wondered how and why her husband had been so blatant with his tawdry love affair?

Alicia believed herself to be a good and faithful wife and her husband knew their ground rules from the start: discretion was a must and certainly their friends were out of bounds as lovers. As their life begins to crumble around them, like the walls of Jericho it will all come tumbling down. While their life is falling apart, each day and each new