It was a long time ago, but it still haunts me. I had divorced my first husband, and my second when I met him. I owned a restaurant on Fourth Street in Hutch at the time. I had dated my soon to be third husband, but discarded him as a lost cause when I met Gene. He lived in a small town up near Kansas City. He loved to dance. He had a sense of humor. He loved my kids and most importantly, he loved me. He worked with my sister's husband and that was the downfall. He and his wife were in the middle of an amicable divorce and I was all set to become Mrs. Happy Wife when fate intervened in the shape of my sister.
He stopped calling. He changed his phone number. Communications back then were not the convenient little texts and stuff that they are now. So, I gave up on Gene. I started dating Charlie. I never for a minute forgot Gene. My sister told me he had gone back to his wife. But one night as I was alone after closing the cafe, there was a knock on the window. There he was. He came in and I made us coffee. It was a very strained conversation as he explained that he had gone back and he and his wife, although not happy, were comfortable in a marriage of convenience. It was then that he explained that my sister had called him and told him that I had married Charlie and we were very happy so he should just move on. She was married to his friend and co-worker, so why should he doubt her?
Maybe because she had lied? Now it was too late. Time had passed and while he still loved me and I him there was his wife to consider. And Charlie. He just wanted to see me one more time and tell me that while he was not happy, he and his wife were comfortable in their marriage of convenience. And of course, there were grandkids now..... I knew I would never forget him, and I was right. Here I am 50 years later and I can see him as clearly as that night in Lou's Kitchen on 4th street.
I confronted Josephine and she explained that she did what was best for me. Water under the bridge. There is no going back, is there?
I do not think of what might have been, although it does pop into my mind from time to time. My sister is gone and I am sure he is also. I came to Colorado and have now been here fifty years. I do think of the time we spent together and that will probably never stop as long as there is breathe in my body. I will remember how we danced and laughed. The last time I danced it was with him. I woke up in the night last night remembering him and I can not see that ever stopping.
I never really forgave Josephine for her duplicity, but we never spoke of it. It was a betrayal and a betrayal by any other name is still a betrayal.
I have had a good life in Colorado. I spent 20 years with a wonderful man whom I loved and he loved me in return. I would not give that up for all the dreams I had.
So rest in peace, my sister. Rest in peace Gene. When it is all said and done and the nails pounded in the coffin, it is all just a memory of what happened on our way to our destiny.
Good night sweet prince.
