Waterville

By Lois M. Lynds

WATERVILLE
This story begins in a small town in Maine. It is about several families, all fictional, who live, work, or go to school there, and whom you may follow as they go through many of lifes challenges, either succeeding or failing to conquer them.
People I have known, and who have lived through these situations, as well as events I myself have experienced, all figure into the various scenarios presented here.
It is a comfortable, relaxing read, which has been well
received by my readers, ages 24 to 80.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 14, 2007
• ISBN: 9781462824090

Lois M. Lynds

I was an only child, educated and married in a small town in Massachusetts. My education in a Parochial School, as well as my parents, influenced me in my development into adulthood. Following my marriage at eighteen, the birth of six children, and death of my young husband, I worked at a variety of jobs, to support and educate them. At age fifty, I returned to college, to complete the requirements for an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. My main interests were in Psychology and Journalism. I wrote a social column in a local bi-monthly newspaper, and later won first prize for a story printed in another small town newspaper. By that time, I had remarried, to a very fine gentleman who encouraged me in my endeavors. We raised our two families together, traveled a little in Europe, and eventually retired to Florida. After nearly thirty years of marriage, he passed on. Recently, I was encouraged by a fellow Author to write this, my first book, which I named: “WATERVILLE.”

Book preview

Copyright © 2007 by Lois M. Lynds.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

38664

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I first would like to thank Harvey Franklin Greenwell who encouraged me to write this book. He told me everyone has at least one book inside them and he knew I could do it, so I did!

Next, I wish to thank my main reader, Jennifer Dawn Garceau, who is also my twenty-something year old granddaughter whose first comment to me was: It’s awesome, Nana!

Several other readers, some of whom are members of our Red Hat Society, of which I am Queen Mum, as well as others who were kind enough to do their part: Thank you!

Rita Browning Lakeland, Fl.

Sandy Cramer Lakeland, Fl.

Joyce Fahan Pearl River, N.Y.

Alice Lindahl Lakeland, Fl.

Madge Powers Lakeland, Fl.

Ilene Thevenot Manitoba, Canada

Janel Trask Lakeland, Fl.

Jean Vollmer Lakeland, Fl.

Rita Yenney Lakeland, Fl.

I also would like to thank Harry Casey and Bob Haskins, both of Lakeland, Fl., who helped me with my computer problems.

This has been quite an adventure for me, and I am grateful for all the encouragement I have received from everyone mentioned here.

Cover photo by Barry James Garceau, Woodstock, Conn.

List of Characters

Jessica Ward is a wife and mother

Adam Ward is her husband

Nicholas (Nick) Ward is their eldest son

Charles (Chad) Ward is their youngest son

Bob and Emily Taylor are Jessica’s parents

Al and Jean Ward are Adam’s parents

Father Alex Baynor is the local priest, at St. Elizabeth’s Church

Tom Bell is a widower with two teenage daughters

Allie was his deceased wife and mother of their daughters

Victoria Bell is his older daughter

Deeni Bell is his younger daughter

Bill and Phyllis Bell are Tom’s parents

Carol Bell is Tom’s sister

Lizette Anderson is Jessica’s best friend

Danny and Alice Anderson are Lizette’s parents

Martha Evans is Nick’s girlfriend in Waterville, Maine

Bill Whiting is Nick’s roommate at Northwestern University

John Archer is Jessica’s friend from Buffalo, New York

Pam Archer is John’s daughter, at Oxford University in England

Mauri Whittemore is Jessica’s friend from Cambridge, Massachusetts

Charles Whittemore is Mauri’s husband from Oregon

Mimi Belisle is Deeni’s best friend in Waterville, Maine

Benny Gant is the flight instructor

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Evans are Martha’s parents

Todd Evans is Martha’s brother

Suzanne Blakely and Emily Dawes are friends of Nick’s, in Illinois

Mike Patton is Chad’s best friend

Amanda Simmons is Mike’s girlfriend in Waterville, Maine

Grace Patton is Mike’s sister, a friend of Deeni’s

Dr. Frank Carlson is a veterinarian in Waterville

Professor Matt Browning is at a gallery in London, England

Bernard Bernard is an artist and sculptor in London, England

Chief Petty Officer/ recruiter, John Baptist Girouard, Bangor, Maine

Assistant Dean, Paul Cote, Andover College, Portland, Maine

Mary Stone and Barbara Neely, students at Andover College

Mike O’Connor, Player Representative, Wildcat’s team, Evanston, Illinois.

CHAPTER ONE

Father Baynor knelt down at the side of his bed, hands clasped lightly together. He was about to ask God to forgive him for the sin he had committed that afternoon. But, somehow, he could not quite feel that what had happened could be termed a sin, when it had all the connotations of magnificence.

Jessica stepped into her shower, turning the faucet to the hottest temperature her body could stand. All she could remember was his soft hands touching her shoulders, stroking her arms, and encircling her wrists. Then grasping her waist and touching her breasts. His warm lips brushed her eyelids, each side of her face, her neck, and, finally, her lips—which were parted slightly.

Adam’s drive home from work, tedious as it was, gave him a chance to calm down a bit and collect his thoughts after a particularly tough day. He had the feeling his job was on the line. His new boss was giving all the office personnel a hard time. Adam was so stressed out these days it was hard for him to leave it at the office.

Father Baynor, after an hour or so of vacillating between good and evil, promised himself and God that he would never allow that to happen again. He decided not to mention it to anyone, especially not to the monsignor.

Jessica dried her hair, dressed quickly, and looked in the refrigerator to see what she could make for supper. The boys had a late football practice and would be going to the pizzeria with the guys, so it would be just Adam and herself. She decided on a cheese omelet with a side salad and a glass of iced tea.

Adam drove into his driveway with a sigh of relief. Home, that was a safe haven for him. He decided to really concentrate on paying more attention to Jessica beginning right now.

The telephone rang just as he entered the front door. It stopped ringing just before he could pick it up. Yes, Father, he heard Jessica say. I know. Yes, I know. No, I’m sorry too. By then, Adam was at the kitchen doorway. He stood with a quizzical look on his face. Jessica saw him and continued speaking to Father Baynor. I’m glad you called to let me know. Good-bye.

With a lump in her throat and a sense of dryness in her mouth, she panicked for a moment, thinking of what to tell Adam about the conversation he partially overheard. She offered, One of the elderly patients at the nursing home passed away today. Father just called to tell me about it. Will you have to go out tonight? Adam asked. No, said Jessica, Father gave him the last rites. I will go to the wake tomorrow night. You can come with me if you’d like. No, thanks, answered Adam. You know how I feel about that stuff.

Father Baynor thought it was better to let Jessica know exactly how he felt. He would have said much more, but he guessed the timing was wrong. Adam was home. For a split second, he thought, I should be there with her. He does not appreciate what he has. But then, he chastised himself for even thinking such a thought. This was, after all, another man’s wife, and he was a priest.

The boys called for a ride home. Adam begged off. Jessica grabbed her keys and left for the pizzeria. Adam flopped on the couch and turned on the TV. He was asleep in minutes.

Nicholas—seventeen, firstborn son of a once-adoring couple—stripped off his clothes and was first in the shower before his brother, who had made a pit stop in the kitchen for a tall glass of ice-cold milk, could even make it up the hall stairs.

Nicholas thought about the practice session that afternoon and of the stupid plays his team had tried to pull off. The coach seemed oblivious to what was happening out on the field. Asshole! he muttered to himself.

Chad—sixteen, his younger brother, made after a mistake in calculation by his parents—was not so serious about the game as his older sibling, who had joined just for the sense of belonging. His main interest in life these days was a snip of a girl named Victoria, his same age.

Blond, blue-eyed, and long legged—a sassy biatch with nice tits. Her daddy owned a lumberyard outside of town, where both Nicholas and Chad worked during the summer months and school vacations.

Victoria’s sister, Deeni, fourteen, thought Nicholas was a hunk, but, of course, he wouldn’t give her the time of day. Football was his thing, and he was hoping for a full scholarship to his father’s alumnus. The girls’ mother had died two years earlier, leaving the responsibility of bringing up two young daughters to their father.

Tom, who had an older sister, Carol, never paid much attention to her when he was growing up, but he certainly appreciated all of her help with the girls after Allie died. He could still count on her whenever a problem arose, and the girls felt comfortable talking with her about stuff. He had kept himself busy, trying to smother the pain of losing Allie; but, no matter how hard he tried, the memories of her, the wonderful times they spent together, the smell and feel of her, and now that she was gone, he felt totally alone.

He never allowed himself to cry, because if he ever started, he was afraid he would never be able to stop; and his heart would surely burst. He was alone, even in a crowd. He performed all his fatherly duties well; and on the surface, it looked as though he really cared; but he was in a vacuum that he had created for himself. It was his armor against the world.

Lizette was Jessica’s closest friend. They had known each other since their college freshmen days. Unlike Jessica, Lizette knew from the beginning she wanted to have a successful career, and she made it happen. She had several opportunities in college and afterward, in the business world, to marry well, but she chose not to. She was a very independent woman.

Now, a twentieth college reunion was in the planning. Lizette would be arriving soon and would be staying with Jessica and Adam. Jessica needed someone to talk with about her indiscretion, and who would be better than her closest friend, Lizette?

Adam had some vacation days coming to him, and he had to take them before the end of the year. He thought it would be a perfect time for him and Jessica to get away by themselves for a few days. He called his parents to come and stay at the house while they were away, just to be there for the two boys. They told him they would be only too happy to come and stay. Then he made arrangements with a travel agency for a flight, hotel, and some of their meals on one of the islands.

After supper that evening, while he was helping her to clear the table, Adam told Jessica about his plans for the two of them. She was really surprised, and her eyes sparkled with excitement while they talked about it. Their trip was planned for the first weekend in December. Football season would have ended by then, so they would not have to miss any of their sons’ games. Jessica’s college reunion, which was coming up in October, along with Lizette’s visit would be behind her.

Adam could easily arrange for his time off from work, and if he no longer had a job at the agency when he returned, then so be it! He was ready for a change anyway; and with his vast experience, his talents would be easily recognized and appreciated by any number of successful companies.

Father Baynor led the rosary at Timothy Ready’s wake. At his age of death, ninety-two, there were very few of his old friends left to mourn for him. Most of those attending that evening, other than his own family, were the sons and daughters or grandchildren of his former friends. After the rosary, the people began to leave, some shaking hands with the good father and nodding to the representatives from the nursing home, where Timothy had spent the last six months of his life.

Jessica walked out to the parking lot and unlocked her car door. She had spoken briefly to one of the couples from church and agreed to ride with them to the cemetery after Timothy’s Mass the following day. She noticed, in her rearview mirror as she drove away, Father Baynor was staring after her car.

Victoria was waiting for Chad in the library after school the next day. Football practice had been called off because of a heavy rainstorm with a lot of thunder and lightning. Chad was not too disappointed because he pretty much knew what was in store for him. When he first spotted Victoria, his heart skipped a beat. God, she’s hot, he thought. She was wearing a low-necked light blue top with a matching short skirt that showed off her long legs and a pair of tan sandals. Her long blond hair hung loosely down her back, and she smiled broadly and cocked her head to one side when she saw him, her bright blue eyes sparkling.

Hi, I wondered if you were going to show up, she said.

Of course, on a day like this, where else would I go? Chad replied.

Victoria and Chad chose a table toward a back corner of the library, near a set of stairs that led to an upper room used by the librarian and volunteers for meetings. They sat close together, shoulder to shoulder, arms touching. When he kissed her lightly on the lips, she parted hers slightly and kissed him back. He touched her breast and squeezed it slightly. She whimpered softly, and he asked, Did I hurt you?

No, I liked it, she answered.

Encouraged, Adam rubbed her belly and slid his hand down under her skirt and inside her panties. She writhed and raised her leg up and outward as he moved his fingers closer to her moist, dark, and secret place.

The sound of voices with footsteps coming down the stairs squelched their passions immediately, and they tried their best to look bored and innocent as they both peered at the open pages of an encyclopedia that Chad had hurriedly moved from across the table.

Adam was sent to pick up Lizette at the airport because Jessica had a doctor’s appointment that afternoon. Lizette’s arrival was a day earlier because she had made a mistake, thinking it was a day later when she made her reservations with the airline; and it would have cost her $100 to change the day and time.

Over here! called Adam.

Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here, answered Lizette. You’re looking good, guy. You’ve lost some weight, haven’t you?

Not on purpose. I haven’t been trying. Jessica had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so she sent me to pick you up. You look great. Changed the color of your hair?

Yes, I needed a change.

Would you like a drink or something to eat?

I’d love a drink. They only gave us a diet something or other and a few pretzels on the plane.

The lounge was overcrowded, so Adam suggested they just drive on home. He would make them a couple of drinks when they got there. They talked about many different subjects on the way to the house. Adam told her about how dissatisfied he was with his job and the way his new boss was treating the entire office staff. She was sympathetic to his feelings, having been there many times in her rise as a woman up the ladder to success.

At the house, Adam carried Lizette’s bag up the stairs to the guestroom, where she would be staying during her visit.

Would you like to see the rest of the house? he asked.

Of course, she answered. He led the way, for he was very proud of his home and the way Jessica and he had decorated it. When they came to the master bedroom, Lizette sat down on the bed, patted a place beside her, and looked at Adam seductively. He returned her gaze sheepishly and grinned. Lizette laughed and stood up as he walked closer to her, and she put her two arms around his neck. He, quite unexpectedly for him, responded by kissing her hard and full on the lips.

I’m home! announced Jessica as she slammed the front door. Lizette kicked off her shoes and ran down the stairs for a hug.

Jessie, you look great! she squealed.

You do too, Lizzie; I love your hair!

Adam was just giving me the tour. Your place is gorgeous. If I ever settle down, this would be my idea of a perfect house to live in.

Thanks, Lizzie, we do love it here.

On Friday, with Adam at work and the boys in school, Jessica and Lizette had the whole day to catch up on all the latest news around town and also, Lizette’s latest happenings.

They decided to eat breakfast downtown at the local diner, where the old crowd hung out during their college days. It was about ten o’clock when they arrived at the diner, and it was usually about the time when the townies arrived for their morning coffee break, so they were bound to run into somebody they knew from school. They ordered a big breakfast of eggs, sausages, fried potatoes, muffins, and bottomless cups of coffee.

They were having such a good time, talking and laughing, between bites of their delicious breakfast, they didnt notice when Tom arrived. At first, he didn’t see them as he sat on a stool at the bar. But, hearing familiar-sounding laughter coming from across the way, he turned and looked into the booth beside the window.

My gosh, is that you, Lizette? Tom asked, walking over to their table carrying his hot mug of coffee.

Tom! I havent seen you in years. How are you?

I’m okay, and you, Lizette? Hey, Jessica, how’s Adam these days?

Good, Tom. Lizette just arrived last night. She’s here for the reunion. I hope you are planning to attend?

Have a seat, Tom, Lizette offered. He sat down beside her. She noticed how tired he looked. They exchanged smiles.

Yeah, he said, I am going. Not much else to do these days.

I heard about Allie. I’m so sorry. How are the girls?

They’re doing okay. Actually—better than me. You know kids.

No, I don’t have any, but I do hear people I work with talking among themselves.

You never married? Tom asked.

No, I guess I never met anyone I couldn’t live without. Besides, so many marriages end in divorce these days, and it’s the kids who suffer.

Father Baynor came in and, seeing everyone sitting at the booth near the window, strolled over to say hello. He was wearing a yellow golf shirt and jeans, so you’d never guess he was a priest.

Jessica shivered in spite of herself. She hadn’t said anything to Lizette about him yet. He sat down beside her uninvited. She felt her face flush as he slid into the seat. The conversation went on around her, but she heard none of it until Lizette asked her, What do you think, Jessie?

Excuse me, what did you say?

Well, you were a million miles away. Do you think the town needs a new high school?

Well, yes and no. The population is growing, but the taxes will have to go up and that, I don’t like.

Tom said, I’ll have to be going. Got a big job coming up, and I need to read over the bid documents again. Patting Lizette on her shoulder, he said, I’ll see you tomorrow night. Save me a dance, will you?

Anything but the chicken dance! she laughed.

Oh god, that thing! He waved his hands in midair.

Saturday night arrived without fanfare. Everybody got dressed and was out of the house on time. This small New England town was usually not so active on a Saturday night, but this twentieth class reunion of Colby College was special. Cocktails were being offered when they arrived at the Planetarium. This would be the starting point for the evening’s planned entertainment. From here, they would go over to the Cafeteria, which had been transformed by the art department into an astronomer’s dream. It had constellations and planets and thousands of tiny sparkling stars hanging from the ceiling and attached to the walls.

The tables were covered with silver tablecloths, and each one had as its centerpiece a large rock, which had been sprayed black; and each one had several pieces of crystal attached to it. White candles in clear glass holders completed the scene. Everyone was enthralled as they entered the large room, even the city boys and girls. The orchestra began to play with the opening number from Star Wars. This type of music was played all during dinner.

Afterward, dance tunes from their college days brought back vivid memories. Jessica and Adam danced almost every dance together with time-out for a dance or two when Adam danced with Lizette at his wife’s urging. Lizette kept looking at Tom, waiting for him to ask her for a dance but got tired of that and asked him instead. Once she did, he kept her on the floor until the band announced it had a request for the chicken dance.

Tom took the last gulp of his drink and asked Lizette if she would like to leave with him. She decided to take him up on it and whispered to Jessica that she would not be going home with her and Adam. Jessica nodded an affirmative to her since it was too noisy to talk to each other and be heard over all the noise.

Tom drove in complete silence, and Lizette stared out her window at the darkness. He pulled into his driveway and parked his white SUV. Walking around to her side of the vehicle, he opened the door for her. He unlocked the door to his house; and as soon as she was inside, he took her into his arms and kissed her passionately. She responded in kind, and there, in the darkened kitchen, they groped each other like a couple of lust-filled high school kids.

In no time, they were in his bedroom, tearing each other’s clothes off. They stumbled into his unmade bed, tossing pillows out of the way as they simultaneously moved their hands all over each other’s body, searching for the magic. And, finding it, holding on for dear life, afraid to let go for fear it would disappear forever. Their frenzy eventually turned to a kind of softness with sweet kisses being exchanged, and lying close, each sighed in absolute contentment. They remained there, tangled up in each other’s arms until the sun found its way through the partly closed blinds the following morning.

Lizette looked at Tom as he lay sleeping, remembering all that had transpired between them the night before. She was dealing with emotions she had not imagined existed and wondered how she would ever be able to return to her life as it was in the business world.

Right now, all she wanted to do was be with this virile dark-haired man, who had needed and wanted her so desperately last night and who had satisfied her every known and unknown desire. She bent to kiss his eyelids and his face; and as she placed her lips upon his, he awoke and, realizing instantly what had happened between them, kissed her with a feeling of love he had forgotten was ever inside him. This time, they made love with a tenderness that she had never experienced before.

Around ten o’clock on Sunday morning, Lizette telephoned Jessica to tell her she and Tom would be there at noon if that wouldn’t interfere with their plans for the day.

Of course not, she answered, we were expecting you here for brunch anyway. I’m glad you convinced Tom to come too. What about the girls?

Tom. Where are the girls? Will they be coming with us over to Adam and Jessica’s for brunch?

No, Tom answered, they are away for the weekend, visiting their grandparents in Boston. They’ll be home late this afternoon.

Lizette relayed the information and told Jessica, We’ll see you at noon; is there anything we can bring?

Nothing, we’re all set. See you then.

I’d like to take a shower if you don’t mind, Tom. Where are the towels? Tom gave her the towels and a hairdryer as well as a new toothbrush and some toothpaste. As he left her at the bathroom door, he gave her one last hug and kissed her lightly on her neck. Just so you won’t forget me! he said.

I’ll never forget you, Tom, not for one single moment. Because of you, I’m a different person than I was when I boarded my plane on Thursday afternoon to come here for our college reunion. Lizette smiled and felt a little catch in her throat. I’m in love! she thought. Oh my god!

Jessica and Adam sipped a second cup of coffee as they talked about the reunion the night before.

"It was a great party, wasn’t it? she asked.

Yes, it certainly was, Adam answered. But even better than that was after the party when you and I celebrated together. It’s been a long time since we’ve been that close, Jessie, and I, for one, have missed that closeness. You were beautiful!

Oh, Adam, you are so sweet! I’ve missed you too. We need to find more time to spend together. We’ve both been so busy.

Time has a way of rushing past, Adam said, the boys are growing up so fast; they’ll be gone one day, living their own lives; and then it will be just the two of us. We need to keep our love for each other alive.

I’m looking forward to our trip, Adam. It will be such a romantic weekend!

Tom drove Lizette to the airport on Sunday evening. They were planning to spend a weekend together in Boston toward the end of the month. It was hard for her to believe she had grown so close to Tom in such a short time. She wondered how she would ever return to her job with the same enthusiasm she had before leaving for her college reunion in Maine. As for Tom, he was on cloud nine and could hardly believe his good fortune in finding such a great gal as Lizette. For a long time after losing Allie, he was sure he could never fall in love again.

Saying good-bye was very difficult as the two new lovers clung to each other at the entrance to the baggage check gates. They would keep in touch through e-mail and telephone every day, but it would not be the same as being together.

Jessica was busy at the church office on Monday morning doing the books after Sunday’s collections during the Masses. Some weeks were better than others, and this was a good one. As she locked the checks and money in the safe until she could get to deposit it in the bank after lunch, she felt the presence of someone nearby. As she arose from her kneeling position, she turned to see it was Father Baynor, who had just closed the office door.

How are you, Jessica? he asked.

Just fine, Father, she answered.

I’ve been wanting to have a talk with you for a couple of weeks now, but there has been a lot going on.

Oh.

Yes, I thought we needed to . . . or, that is, I . . . needed to . . . I don’t understand what happened, or why it happened.

Do you really want to discuss this now, Father?

Yes, I do . . . I need to understand it, Jessie.

Well, where do we begin?

Did I seduce you, or did you seduce me? Father asked her.

I think we seduced each other, Jessica said. I’ve thought about it a million times; and no matter how busy I keep myself, I play it over and over in my mind.

Do you really? he asked. So do I, and I pray for forgiveness for us both all the time.

Do you really think it was a bad sin, Father? Will God forgive us?

I wish I knew, Jessica, although sometimes I think that anything so beautiful could not be a sin.

Oh god, I wish it had never happened. I blame myself because I was so lonely and just needed to be held for a little while. I didn’t think it would go that way. Especially not with you.

I should have been stronger . . . I broke my vow of celibacy. I was weak. It is my fault.

I broke my vows of marriage with my husband. It is my fault. I am the sinner.

Father said, Let’s kneel here and pray together that our Lord will give us his absolution.

They knelt side by side and prayed silently, each asking God to forgive them for their sin.

When Adam came home from work that night, Jessica had prepared an extra special dinner for him. His favorite—which was pot roast with browned potatoes, onions, and carrots. The boys liked it too, but then, they would eat almost anything their mother put in front of them; and they had good appetites. The conversation went well and covered everything from football practice to the latest news of world events. The last football game would be held on Thanksgiving Day at ten in the morning. It was a home game, which meant Jessica could get back early enough to baste the Turkey once or twice more before it would be ready to eat. Their two sets of parents had been invited along with Tom and his two girls and, of course, Lizette.

The weather had