Two Lives

By Nancy Friedt

Neil Wyatt, an accountant, dictates to his wife Leigh to file for a divorce. His unconventional actions have undermined their relationship and created increasing suspicion. Later that day an explosion in downtown Cleveland claims Neil. Leighs trauma deepens when she discovers that she is pregnant.
Nine years later Leigh continues teaching English and raising her son despite malicious interference from her in-laws. After completing a graduate-level statistics class Leigh encounters her professor many times with humorous and poignant consequences.
A dramatic event triggers Professor Garner Coles recall of his past. Leigh and Garner uncover the truth previously erased by amnesia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9781462830602

Nancy Friedt

Nancy Friedt shares her home near Mansfield, Ohio, with her toy fox terriers Tache and Dewey. She taught high school French for twenty years before changing her avocation of writing to her vocation. She writes contemporary and historical fiction, adult and children’s short stories. A Paris-trained gourmet cook, an amateur interior decorator, Nancy also practices Hatha yoga, plays all genres of piano, and enjoys tap and ballroom dancing. She is active in the community where she lectures on writing and holistic wellness. Two Lives follows a previous publication, A Special Bond, with four other novels completed and two in process.

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Copyright © 2010 by Nancy Friedt.

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.

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

SHORT AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

LONGER AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

BOOK SUMMARY

Two Lives is dedicated to the loving memory of Betty Luterick, who remained always a cherished friend, a trusted confidant, and an enthusiastic champion of this novel.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With great pleasure and thanks, I acknowledge these friends: Ray Tawse, an avid reader who hailed this novel the best he had ever read; Harvey Bank, PhD, who encouraged major manuscript changes; Alwine Stull, BA, who provided valuable advice and ideas; and Dan Rider, PhD, who edited this manuscript many times. Special gratitude goes to Cory Evans, whose technical support was invaluable.

CHAPTER ONE

Good morning, sweetheart.

Neil Wyatt ignored Leigh’s greeting. Instead, he set his briefcase in the foyer and pocketed his envelope wallet inside his suit jacket. He turned to his wife of two years. Call our lawyer today, he stated flatly.

Why?

For an appointment to start divorce proceedings.

Neil? After last night? After what we talked about?

Yes.

But, Neil, I don’t understand. I thought…

I will contest nothing. We split fifty-fifty. A separation will not work. He glanced at his gold Rolex. I’m running late. Neil picked up the briefcase, opened the front door, and left. Not even a see-you-this-evening, not even a good-bye, only a definitive click as the heavy brass latch shot into its place.

Leigh stood dazed. Any possibility of putting their marriage back together just blew up. The opposite of what she had anticipated had been delivered in such a cut-and-dried manner that she was stunned. No discussion. Nothing. Neil’s eyes had been dark and hooded, his mouth a straight line, his face expressionless.

She walked slowly back to her kitchen and sat in a chair in the breakfast alcove bay window. The warmth of the June sun streaming inside never reached her. Leigh felt intensely cold. It’s really over, she said aloud. But, Neil, I still love you. The last four words came out ragged and choked with emotion. Huge tears streamed from her eyes, tears of regret and longing and release. She had felt guilty about wanting a divorce for several months to end all the problems in their marriage and free both herself and Neil from their daily agony. Then what happened six weeks ago when Neil came to her in passion and love, and again last night. She had welcomed him both times because she missed him. She was disgusted with Neil and frustrated as to what was going on, but the love she had for him overrode her negative feelings both times. He gave her hope for their continued happiness. Now it was over. I feel like something died inside me, Leigh wailed. Why? She closed her eyes and sobbed.

Birds chirping loudly in the shrubs outside the window awoke Leigh to the reality of the task she must accomplish today. She glanced up at the wall clock and knew she had an hour and a half to wait until the law firm opened at nine o’clock.

More thoughts whizzed in and out of her mind. A divorce. Their marriage had lasted only two years. She had known Neil ever since her father and Merle Wyatt had merged their small office supply companies in the Cleveland area. Twenty years ago, the two men took the required training and hired the necessary staff to include computer software, support, and repair. Now the firm of Lawson and Wyatt prospered not only in Ohio but in neighboring states with tailor-made computer programs.

The families socialized together for holiday celebrations and summer picnics, where Leigh and Neil, who was three years older, became acquaintances. She was far too shy and he too outgoing to kindle a friendship. She had not seen Neil for over three years and had renewed the acquaintance during the summer before his senior year in college, the summer after her first college year. He had come to the annual Fourth of July gathering. Neil looked different, more approachable; and Leigh definitely exhibited remarkable changes. Gone were the shiny braces. Her skinny body had transformed into shapely curves and tantalizing endowments. At five-feet-seven with blue eyes and shoulder-length blond-brown hair, she was a beautiful lady. Her shyness had changed to a charming reserve, except with her mother and close friends.

Ivy League handsome Neil asked her on a date the following weekend after the national holiday, and they dated every weekend after that until they both returned to college. During the school year, he drove the hour northwest from Dennison University in Granville to Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, north of Columbus. They were together each weekend for dinners and movies and intimate moments. His refreshing wit, genuine kindness, and charming personality wrapped her heart in a warm cloak. She fell easily in love with him. By Christmas their friendship had grown, and by Valentine’s Day they professed their love. Neil landed a stellar job as an accountant in the Federal Building in downtown Cleveland. He and Leigh married the following April in a much-publicized, society wedding.

Leigh sighed deeply and looked around her state-of-the-art, white and stainless steel kitchen. The colors were as cold as her marriage had been the past six months. She made a cup of tea and moved to the living room, where she sought the sun coming through the Palladian window. Her thoughts drifted back to the first year of her marriage when she and Neil were deeply in love. She felt cherished by all the attention he paid her and all they shared in their lives. They planned to postpone having children for three years until they moved from an apartment into a house.

With Neil performing splendidly at work and Leigh continuing college classes, their first year of marriage proved busy. Their high level of activity increased to frenetic when Neil insisted they use the generous monetary wedding gifts from both sets of parents and began the construction of a new house. Little did she suspect that it was the beginning of the marriage collapse.

Leigh closed her eyes a few moments to savor the warmth of the sun on her face. If only that heat could penetrate her innermost being. She sighed heavily. Neil had been her trusted friend, her confidant, her lover. She reveled in being at his side whether at church, while shopping at the mall, on a picnic, or in bed. She used to be able to talk to him about anything. He sensed her needs without her voicing them and fulfilled them to perfection.

She looked around the flawlessly decorated living room. Neil’s mother had foisted an interior decorator on her. I’ve really hated this house, Leigh said out loud what she had longed to tell the decorator, Neil’s mother, and especially Neil.

Mildred Wyatt had tried to manage the wedding and all two years of Leigh’s marriage. The woman was a steamroller. Leigh wondered how Merle had ever fallen in love with her and if Mildred had changed for some reason over the years. Mildred’s probably got her own problems, Leigh guessed and returned to her previous thoughts of Neil.

This house! What has been wrong with this house? Leigh paused in her examining questions. What hasn’t been wrong! I wish we’d never built it. From Leigh’s perspective, the special unity between her and her husband began to seep away with the building of this house and all the decisions involved therein. It seemed that they could not agree on anything without a hassle. The hassles grew into arguments and the arguments into fights, especially when both came home from work and school exhausted. She still had meal preparation, cleaning, and laundry once she got home. Also for Leigh, there remained the added strain of keeping the marital conflicts from Neil’s parents and her father.

A bong from the mantel clock told her it was time to march to the daily living beat. She rose from the creamy-textured sofa in the elegant living room to head for the bedroom to dress for her day. Her steps were heavy. Walking the length of the expansive house, Leigh passed the formal dining room, the study-library, and two guest bedrooms with baths. She shook her head in disappointment. She had so hoped that once the house was completed the second summer of their marriage, her life would return to the joy and gentility of the first six months. Her idyllic dream had evaporated.

Leigh entered the master bedroom, surveying the blue and white toile. The coolness of the colors made her shiver. Neil had insisted on the choice of those colors and the very formal furniture, spearheaded by his mother’s suggestions. Leigh’s only say in the decorating scheme had been in the en suite bath of the second guest room. Guest room? Now that was a laugh. The first guest had yet to visit. Considering the state of their marriage, the conversion of a guest room into a nursery was sheer folly.

Leigh stopped in her tracks. A baby! she whispered. Our baby! Fresh tears trickled into her eyes, and she blinked them away. Neil had informed her ten months ago that a child was out of the question for several years. He claimed that he was too busy at work. The Neil whom she had known in college and the first year of their marriage would have been a wonderful father. This Neil would fail miserably; perhaps she would too.

A deep sigh of regret came from the depths of her heart. She sat on the edge of the bed, took a final swallow of tea, and set the mug on the bedside table. She gazed over the width of the king-sized bed. She had slept there alone—except for a few glorious hours two different nights—for the past six months. Neil had moved into a guest bedroom.

When had he changed? What made him change? Leigh was sure that many factors played into it, many she never understood. Neil’s promotion and his increased responsibilities and longer hours all contributed to his 180-degree change. She had pressed her husband last night, Sweetheart, why can’t you tell me any more?

I already said that something important is going on at the Federal Building. That’s all I can tell you. Period.

But I need to know more. I thought everything changed six weeks ago when you came to me and we made love and… Leigh paused with a wistful expression. It was wonderful the first year of our marriage.

I know, Neil agreed.

Then why the change in you?

Neil remained taciturn.

I thought you still loved me, wanted me; but another month went by with no response from you until tonight.

I heard you crying, and I couldn’t stand it. I had to be with you.

And I have to be with you, Neil, each night. I refuse to be strung along knowing nothing about whatever is so important at work. I can’t take it any longer.

Maybe we should get a separation, he suggested, realizing that he could never get along without her. He loved her, for God’s sake.

Neil, I don’t want to be apart from you, Leigh protested.

Let’s talk about this in the morning. We’ve wasted too much of our time together tonight arguing. I desire you, Leigh. I need you.

And I need you, was her impassioned response. Now!

Leigh shook her head to clear her mind of last night’s conversation, the brief lovemaking, and Neil’s abrupt departure from her bedroom. It was over. This was today. She got up and walked to the dresser for her bra and panties. Her eyes drifted up to the wedding portrait of two happy people, deeply in love and excited to explore their future life together. What happened to us, Neil, to you and to me? Leigh stared at the gilt-framed color photo with a wistful longing. In the past six months, she had reached for that picture many times to stash it in a box on the top shelf of the closet, but she had hesitated. This morning there was no hesitation. This goes out of sight, Leigh said firmly. She grabbed the fancy frame and whisked the picture to the closet shelf. I’ll put more pictures there when I get back from the lawyer’s office.

She let out yet another sigh, this one of relief. Her marriage would soon be history, and her future would be free for her to plan as she desired. No more evasive answers from Neil or directives from his domineering mother would misguide her life. Leigh, for a fleeting moment, considered leaving Beachwood and buying a house of her choice in another town. The thought tempted her.

The ringing of the telephone diverted her thoughts. Hello?

Sweetheart, are you watching TV?

No, Mom. I’m getting ready to shower and go downtown before my afternoon classes. Why?

Turn on the television now and come back to the phone. I’ll wait.

Leigh pressed the power button on the remote for the flat screen in the bedroom and picked up the receiver. Okay, Mom. What’s so important? Oh, my god! No!

Leigh, I’m leaving right now, and I’ll be at your house in ten minutes. Leigh?

Yes, Mom. Hurry! Leigh hung up the phone and continued to stare in disbelief at the television. On the screen was the picture of the Federal Building in downtown Cleveland where her husband worked. Worked, past tense, was the operative word. There had been a massive explosion demolishing a third of the building. Gray and black smoke poured from the gaping facade. She saw pockets of red, orange, and yellow flames within the structure and angry tongues of flames protruding outside. No! she shrieked at the sight. Several cars and vans on the street in front of the building were burning. People were dashing everywhere, as were the first emergency teams of firemen, police, and EMS squads. Leigh heard screams and crying mixed with shouts of directions from emergency personnel. Various sirens of emergency vehicles stabbed through the background noises. Leigh listened intently to the news reporter and sat transfixed by the devastating pictures on the screen. She searched the faces of the fleeing people to hunt for Neil. Neil, where are you? she cried out to the television screen. Her chest tightened, and her heart thumped heavily. Tears spilling from her eyes also caught in her throat.

The reporter spoke anxiously. The explosion which took place twenty minutes ago has caused chaos. The scene looks like a hellish war zone in the Middle East. As you can see, EMS teams are already evacuating the injured. Their lives are in danger from falling debris and the insecure structure. It is difficult to obtain any information from the emergency people because they are needed on the site.

Leigh heard the doorbell and hurried to let her mother inside. They hugged briefly before going back to the bedroom. Anne Lawson held her daughter as they sat together on the bed and stared at the unfolding events on the television. Anne asked the question that had been foremost in her mind since she had seen the first announcement of the explosion. Leigh, where is Neil’s office located?

It’s on the sixth floor, but I don’t know where.

He never showed you his office?

No, Mom. The two times I went downtown to have lunch with him, he met me in the lobby.

The newsman’s impassioned voice and the sound of sirens halted further conversation. We just positioned a second camera crew in another area to show more of the rescue efforts. The mayor is on the scene, and we have word that the governor is en route from Columbus. As soon as more information becomes available, we’ll report it immediately. In the meantime, we’ll have the cameras scan the building site.

Mom, look at that! Leigh gasped as the camera panned upward and she saw the sixth floor. Debris from half-blown-away offices tumbled downward. Chunks of concrete hung from bent rods and beams. Shreds of vertical blinds fluttered in the breeze. She closed her hands together in a silent prayer that Neil would be all right. Even though her love for him had lessened, and she wanted to be divorced as speedily as possible, she harbored no ill will against him. She wanted him to be safe so that after the divorce, he could freely lead his life the way he desired.

The divorce. Heavens, she had not told her mother about the events of that morning. Mom?

Yes, dear.

There’s something I should tell you.

Her mother switched her gaze from the television to her daughter’s tense face. What is it, sweetie?

This morning just before he left for work, Neil announced that I should see the lawyer to start divorce proceedings.

Oh my! Her mother sat there as if in a daze. You’ve had no other warning of his intent? Leigh shook her head. It was simple as that? Again Leigh nodded. And now this explosion and the possibility that…

That he could be gone, Leigh completed the sentence. Fresh tears welled in her eyes. If something happens to Neil, if he doesn’t make it through this, his wish to end our marriage will come true, only not the way either of us expected. A thought flashed in her mind. Neil’s request for a divorce will have to remain our secret if he turns out to be… to be dead.

Anne placed her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Of course, dear. I would never dream of telling your father. He and Merle Wyatt are in each other’s back pockets, so to speak; and if the worst happens to Neil, the information about your divorce would be crushing.

It’s going to be bad enough anyway, Leigh said. If Neil is seriously hurt, maybe permanently injured, and we divorce, he could tell his parents that the divorce was his idea; but they would still blame me for leaving him. I know their methods of reasoning. Mildred and Merle would think that I no longer wanted Neil because he was physically impaired. There’d be hell to pay.

You’re right, her mother agreed. Even the partnership between your father and Merle could be strained or broken. Anne patted Leigh’s hand. Let’s throw all of these what-if’s out the window and wait to see what actually happened to Neil.

The activity and the noise heightened on the TV screen, and Leigh and Anne glued themselves to the action. Both searched face after passing face to catch a glimpse of Neil. Mom, I’m so afraid for Neil. I still love him. Anne placed her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Leigh continued her thoughts, If he is hurt, maybe that will jar him enough to change him. Maybe I’ll get back the old Neil whom I loved so deeply.

Sweetie, I hope you get your wish, Anne encouraged her daughter, but she silently knew that Neil was undoubtedly killed in the explosion.

It doesn’t seem very realistic, Leigh added.

Let’s just wait and see, her mother suggested.

A half hour passed, then an hour. Anne fielded a call on her cell phone from her husband and another on the house phone from Mildred Wyatt. Neil’s mother was naturally beside herself and insisted on coming over to Leigh’s house to hold a vigil with them. Anne squelched the notion as diplomatically as possible. She knew that the last person her daughter wanted to see at the moment was overbearing, opinionated Mildred Wyatt.

Leigh sighed with relief when her mother hung up the phone. Thanks, Mom. I couldn’t face that woman now. The last time she was here for dinner a month ago, her eyes followed me everywhere, and she seemed to scrutinize every word I said. Neil put on a good front, as he always did for his parents, so I don’t imagine they suspected any hitch in our marriage. Today it would be just my luck to have her come over and go into the guest bath in Neil’s room and discover his clothes in the closet. Mildred would raise a royal fit. There would be hell to pay or worse if Neil doesn’t survive.

Another hour passed. Leigh longed to call the major hospitals in the greater Cleveland area to see if Neil had been admitted; however, she chose to wait. With all the casualties—the authorities were estimating over a hundred dead and even more injured—everyone at the hospitals would be too busy to talk to her. Leigh continued to hope that Neil would be all right.

The rest of the day progressed as no other. Mother and daughter relocated to the family room next to the kitchen, where the television was larger. They nibbled on a sketchy lunch of yogurt and crackers while watching developments. Bourke Lawson, who had phoned his wife at noon, stopped after work. He insisted that Anne bring Leigh home with them. His determined daughter convinced him that if anyone phoned her with information about Neil, she should not depend on call-forwarding to relay the message.

Thus at six o’clock in the evening of the longest day of her life, Leigh sat curled up in a leather club chair in the family room to watch the enfolding events of the horrendous disaster five miles away in downtown Cleveland. By eight o’clock, she resolved to find information about Neil. She picked up the phone to contact the hospitals.

An hour later, with no confirmation of his whereabouts, she walked to the bedroom closet and retrieved the wedding picture from the top shelf. She crawled onto the bed and sat cross-legged with the intricate frame in her hands. Tears flooded her eyes. Oh, Neil! she sobbed to his smiling image. We were so happy then. I wish we could find happiness again. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. More tears cascaded down her cheeks. She kissed the glass over his face.

A shudder passed through her body from head to toe. Leigh froze with realization. She wiped the tears with her fingers, opened her eyes, and spoke again to the picture. You are gone from me, Neil. I can feel it.

An opposite feeling, one of great warmth and peace, settled in her body. She thought that she heard his voice speak softly to her, I’m here. Leigh closed her eyes to savor the emotion. When she reopened them, the warmth had evaporated. In its place was the inner certainty that Neil had passed on.

Leigh lay back against the pillows and sobbed.

CHAPTER TWO

Neil Wyatt arrived at his office in the Federal Building with his usual promptness, and by eight o’clock, he had the computer running. The buzzing fax machine indicated an incoming message. The workday had begun with the activity and challenges on which he thrived. He hung his linen blend suit jacket in the closet and settled in for a busy morning.

Thoughts of his terse edict to Leigh this morning surfaced now. He had tamped them down during the commute so that he could concentrate fully on negotiating the heavy traffic. The look of shock and hurt in Leigh’s eyes had cut him to the quick, but he had to do it; a separation would have given her hope. A divorce was final with no ties to him, and, thus, Leigh would remain safe.

Neil felt horrid. He hated to hurt her, but he had to make a clean break for his sake and hers. This morning he desired to pull Leigh into his arms and tell her he adored her and explain in detail everything that had developed in his professional life the past six months. If I had remained at home one moment longer, I would have done that, Neil said aloud.

He stood up and went to the closet for his billfold. His fingers paused over the folded white paper in the compartment with Leigh’s picture. He withdrew the picture. Oh, Leigh, I adore you so much! I wish I could put a smile back on your gorgeous face and laughter in your beautiful eyes. Maybe someday. Neil kissed her face and returned the picture to its spot next to the paper. He started to slip his billfold in his back pocket but, instead, put it in the inside pocket of his jacket. He had been keeping it there because sitting on the leather lump all day had caused sciatic nerve problems.

A few minutes after nine, he decided to solve a serious dilemma the old-fashioned way: he would talk to the people in person. He had sent an e-mail, talked on the phone, and faxed materials, all to no avail. Neil got up from his desk and locked the office door. He informed his secretary, Mrs. Peters, I must talk to Chip Reed in person to come to a speedy solution to this complicated problem. All the faxes and e-mails aren’t accomplishing anything. I’ll be gone a half hour at most.

The warm sun made the two-block walk to Chip Reed’s office building a very pleasurable experience, until Neil reminded himself again about the decision he had handed to Leigh. Their marriage had become a farce the past six months with each of them going their separate ways out of necessity. She had returned to college to complete her degree, and he, well, he stayed at work until the last possible minute and frequented a different hangout each evening on his undercover business. In that way, he got home at eight and could sequester himself in the guest bedroom, away from Leigh’s questioning glance and his own mounting guilt in what he must keep from her suspicion. Neil vowed to protect her always from dangerous repercussions of his secret investigations. He had to protect Leigh at the expense of their marriage. The gnawing guilt of the heartache he had caused her became unbearable. How much more could they both endure?

To protect Leigh, he mumbled as he walked. His mind shifted to one extraordinary night six weeks ago. He had missed his wife so greatly, missed the laughter in her voice and her warm hugs. Hell, he missed making love to her! He missed everything about her. He had to be with her that night or go mad. Even this thought right now as he approached a busy traffic intersection made Neil tighten and begin to bulge. His hands tingled and became damp. Good Lord! he uttered under his breath. Here he was on the sidewalk in downtown Cleveland getting horny. He shook himself emotionally and forced himself to breathe deeply. His present state would fail to help him in the conference with Chip Reed.

Neil stood on the corner, waiting for the traffic light to change. Yes,