The Farewell Tour

By Tish Cook

Diana Wanless is leaving Las Vegas, and a broken marriage. She’ll drive over two thousand miles in her motorhome to Reston, Virginia, where she plans to put her life back together.
Diana will also do a favor for her big brother. Transport the cremated remains of World War II U.S. Army Nurse Corps First Lieutenant Mildred Hall for inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery.
Plenty of things can happen on a two-thousand-mile trip. Things that might change a person’s life – or things that might snuff it out. Diana may have to decide which one it will be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tish Cook
• Release date: Jul 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886273328

Tish Cook

Self-published author. Novels include: When You Speak My Name, The Parrot In the Parlor, Wednesdays At the Red Pepper Cafe. Also writes under pen name Hinds Beverley for her latest Chicago homicide detective Lora Cannan series.

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The Farewell Tour

Tish Cook

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2022 Tish Cook

Other titles by Tish Cook:

When You Speak My Name

The Parrot in the Parlor

Wednesdays at the Red Pepper Café

The Journey

Other titles by Tish Cook writing as Hinds Beverley:

Dead Head

Dead Ringers

Dead at the Wheel

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Chapter 1 - Thursday, May 11, Las Vegas, Nevada

It was only Thursday but Diana Wanless had already completed most of her plan. However, the critical part of it had to be executed by Friday morning. Her husband Eric’s flight from Reno to Las Vegas International was due to arrive at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and she wanted to be a thousand miles away by then.

She was just a tic under 5’6", slightly plump (thanks to a diagnosis of hypothyroidism a few years ago), with a thick mane of auburn hair that lapped playfully at her shoulders, inquisitive green eyes, a narrow nose, and a few laugh wrinkles on her barely-freckled face. She was wearing a maroon short-sleeve cotton top, ankle-length jeans and comfy slip-on shoes.

Leaving Eric hadn’t been a rash decision. A rash decision probably would have put her in a six-by-eight cell at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center for twenty-five-to-life. Better to just walk away.

Diana and Eric had met over thirty years ago. It was late February of her senior year at the University of California Los Angeles where she was majoring in economics. She was with a group of friends, having a fun evening and a few beers at the local college hangout after a basketball game. Her Alma Mater, U.C.L.A. had beaten Stanford as the regular college hoops season was coming to an end and March Madness was on the horizon.

Eric Wanless strolled in, grabbed a beer, and joined the celebration. He was tall and lean with hazel eyes and a sexy smile. She thought he was handsome. He came across as nice. He was also a senior, majoring in communications. They hit it off and started dating. It got serious pretty fast. Her parents had reservations about such a rapid romance and wanted her to wait. Diana and Eric married a month after graduation.

The newlyweds moved to Las Vegas where Eric joined his dad’s real estate firm, and Diana found work as an analyst at Mason & Robbins Wealth Management.

Things were good for a while, but soon the fun evenings started to disappear. Eric flipped from ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ to the Frankenstein Monster when he drank too much, and he did that often when he wined and dined potential home buyers, or investors in Las Vegas real estate. As the months and years passed, the nice, friendly realtor stayed that way while the nice guy at home went away altogether, regardless of the state of his sobriety. What used to be simple suggestions on how she could do something better became condescending remarks or demands. As far as he was concerned, whatever it was it would be better if it was done his way. Because her way was stupid and his way was the best.

He was an angry, mean drunk. He slammed doors, kicked furniture, barked orders, demanded sex, peppered her with verbal abuse and threats. Recently his tirades had reached the point where she was afraid that things would escalate. He’d raised his hand to her once a few months ago, but never followed through. She wasn’t so sure he’d stop the next time.

She couldn’t explain why she had stayed with him all those years. Maybe it was because she wanted to show her parents that they were wrong about him, that her marriage was as good as theirs. Her parents lived in Oregon so it was easy keeping the bad parts hidden. Or maybe it was just that she was afraid to go it alone. After years of Eric, her self-esteem was at a low point.

In any event, she’d stayed with him all those years, kept her mouth shut when she was around him, never looked outside of her marriage for another partner, and convinced herself that this was as good as it was going to get.

Those who knew Eric Wanless professionally or had worked with him thought he was the nicest real estate agent in Vegas. Yeah. Sure.

She’d been contemplating leaving for a long time, but never had the guts to do it.

A single event finally moved that needle . . .

Two days earlier, on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon, Diana’s world as she knew it took an abrupt turn.

One of her college sorority sisters, Ellen Kain, had called from San Diego. Di, are you working right now? Ellen’s voice sounded strained.

I’m logged in, but it’s a slow day. What’s wrong?

I can’t believe I’m saying this . . . Christine died yesterday.

Oh, my God, Ellen, Diana gasped. What happened?

Ron called. He said they were walking the dog on the beach, watching the sunset. Ellen’s voice was still shaky. He . . . he said they were watching the dog run in the surf when she complained about a headache and said she wanted to go back to the car. They had just turned around to go back when she bent over and grabbed her head. Then she just fell down. Oh, God, Di. I just can’t believe it.

Diana hesitated a few seconds, trying to wrap her brain around what she was hearing. A high-pitched whine suddenly filled her ears. Her heart pounded. Had she been sick?

According to Ron, no. No, she was just fine. He called 911 and started CPR, but by the time they got there it was too late.

She swiped at the tears in her eyes. She never regained consciousness?

No. They told him that she was probably already gone when she fell. It sounds like it might have been a stroke, or an aneurism, but they’re doing an autopsy today. I just can’t believe it. She’s gone, Di.

All three women were the same age – 51. All three had met at U.C.L.A. and were sorority sisters. Diana and Christine had been roommates for a couple of those years. All three women talked often. The other two knew about Eric Wanless. Over the years both Ellen and Chris had urged Diana to leave him for her own mental and physical health.

When’s the funeral?

Saturday, but I don’t know the time yet. That’s the last I heard, anyway. Unless the autopsy takes longer. Maybe there’s something online, but I’m not sure. Try the San Diego News website.

I don’t care when the funeral is, El. I’ll be there.

I know, Ellen said tearfully. I have to go. I’ll see you at the funeral. I love you, Di.

I love you, too. She had held it together until she clicked off, then broke down and sobbed.

She went online and read the obituary. That’s when it hit her. One day you’re here, next day you’re gone. At that moment, reading about Christine Skinner’s too-short life, the loved ones she left behind, and the details of the visitation and funeral Diana had realized that life was all too short, and life with Eric wasn’t much of a life at all. It was as if her dear friend was reaching out from beyond saying, Haven’t you had enough of this ass? Chris was right. Time to do something about it.

Eric was at a week-long real estate conference in Reno. He went to conferences often, looking for the latest real estate hot spot that might bring in some money, and the latest party girl he could take to bed.

Diana was never invited to go with him. That was okay with her. She welcomed his absence.

She had called him with the news. Christine Skinner died yesterday.

Oh, that’s too bad, he replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. But can we talk about this later? I’m busy right now. You know, doing my job.

She told herself to just say it. The funeral’s this Saturday. I’m going.

Oh? And where might that be?

San Diego. Look, I know you don’t care, but I still want to go.

You’re right. I don’t care. As for the funeral, I don’t see any reason why you should go. I’m here until Saturday, Diana. You’ve got responsibilities at home. Aren’t you working today?

Sort of. We’re slow right now. Not a lot of calls coming in. And the funeral is Saturday.

Just like you. You don’t know what hard work is. And you know what? I just decided. I’m going to sell the Beemer, and I don’t want you putting unnecessary miles on it going to some stupid funeral.

She gnawed on her lower lip. It’s not that long of a drive, Eric. I can be there and home by Sunday afternoon.

What part of ‘you don’t need to go’ don’t you understand?

A chill shot down her spine. One day you’re here . . . Eric, Christine’s my best friend. I really want to go to the funeral.

You mean she was your best friend, he retorted. She’s dead now, so what’s the point? I told you I don’t see any reason for you to go. So, like I said, you’re not going.

She drew in a deep breath. Eric, I am going. I’ll be home Sunday night.

A pause. Then: You’d better be. The line went dead.

Fear swamped over her like a dark fog. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest. She blinked back tears. This craziness just had to stop. It was time to get out. Eric was already mad at her. He’d really be pissed by the time he got home, especially if he had any drinks on the plane. Eric’s paybacks sometimes could be uncomfortable. ‘The plan’ hit her like a bolt out of the blue.

Chapter 2

Diana had spent the rest of Tuesday and most of Wednesday finalizing that plan.

First things first. She would call her daughter, her parents, her brother, her boss, and her attorney.

Her daughter, Audrey, lived in Reston, Virginia a few miles from Arlington, Virginia.

Is everything okay, Mom? Audrey could hear the tenseness in