Just a Chance

Just a Chance

Suzanne Marsh

“What you did to me no one has the right to do to another human being!” She needed to prove to herself, that she was a human being; she thought her life was over; instead she was given a second chance to prove to herself that she had worth. She stared incredulously at him one last time as she tried to recall if they had ever been happy together. He just sat there, he made no move to stop her or speak to her. She felt nothing but revulsion, and contempt for him. She hated how scared she was; she hated what she became; a frustrated woman. Divorce court was unfair, she got nothing for thirteen years of a living hell.

She married right out of high school, she had disappointed her parents. She could still in her mind’s eye, the hurt in her dad’s eyes. She could still hear his voice as he pointed out the flaws of marrying him. Her mother although disappointed at least wanted her to have decent wedding. Vietnam loomed in the very near future for him. He spent a year in Vietnam, came home to her, he became a workaholic, hoping to avoid staying home with her. She began to hate her life with him. Finally she decided enough, the divorce began. Once they were divorced, she thought her life was over, she would never be happy.

“Boy have I got a brother for you.” Those seven words from a girl she worked with gave her a second chance at happiness. She met the brother, he was blond, blue eyed and so very handsome. She was not certain if she wanted to be involved with anyone especially a man that was eight years her junior. Any involvement might end in heartache. The young was persistent, she asked him what he saw in her after all he was eight years her junior. He said it was only a number. He asked her out on a date. She was so nervous, she had not been on a date in sixteen years. They went out for pizza, which seemed harmless, but she was so nervous, she spilled an entire glass of orange soda in his lap. She was so embarrassed; he smiled and told her not to worry. She began to relax, she dropped him in front of the door to his house; thinking he would never ask her out another date, not after the glass of orange soda incident. That was not the case however, he called her and asked if she could make it for Valentine’s Day. When she arrived he gave her a dozen long-stemmed red rose. This was a problem, she had not her dad about him yet, she gave most of the roses away except for one, she had a friend press it for her.

She knew she would have to tell her dad about him, she was not sure how. She had made a promise her dad she would keep her nose clean until the divorce was final. Somehow, she thought that there would be no problems after the divorce; instead he tried to run her off the road, angry she had set foot in their old home. She went to find silver ware that belonged to her parents, he was going to use them to pay for his divorce.

The judge in the divorce played gulf with his lawyer, the trial was not a fair one. Her lawyer tried to get a change of venue. The divorce was finally over, the fact finding was not the facts that were given. She was feeling the finality of the divorce; she was not prepared to lose everything she had.

True to form the judge sided with her former husband, she had been warned about the judge.

The new man in her life was more than willing to share whatever he had with her. She had moved in with him. Her dad, who had never liked her first husband, liked the new man. He talked to her dad, not at him. Her dad’s first encounter was the one highlight of the entire year. They drove the hour and half and had a very nice dinner with her dad. After dinner, she asked her dad what he thought. All her dad could attempt to get out of his was: “My God, he looks like Grizzly Adams.” He had a russet beard, he was tall and broad shouldered, built like Grizzly Adams more or less.

They went to the movies on the way, they saw The Jazz Singer. The music hit home with her, Love on the Rocks and Hello Again. She began to write again, something she had done in a long time. The farm house they lived in was on Lake Ontario, there she began to find the peace she sought for so long. She watched cargo ships from an upstairs window. Slowly she came to understand that she had not truly loved her former husband, they married as teenagers. They had been in “lust” not love in the true sense of the word. The man she was living with was the love of her life, he gave her back something she had not even known was missing, her dignity.

One afternoon she went to visit an old friend of her dad’s; she convinced her that marriage would now be of benefit. She was not convinced however, she kept repeating: “what if he changes like the first one, I don’t think I could go through another divorce.” She was finally convinced, he had quite a lot of talking to do.

The day finally arrived, they had their hair done, then went to the florist. They returned back to their apartment to dress. She wore a blue dress, they had both picked out. They arrived at her dad’s, he did not have a tie; her dad got one and helped him tie a Windsor knot. They drove to where they were to be married. When the ceremony was almost done, she took his hand, it was cold and clammy, placed the ring on his finger. They were married.

She was give a second chance at life and love; she is happy her former husband one guess is as good as another.