Hello and welcome to Lost Love Chronicles how long does it really take to grab a few things for dinner I was parked outside the bigname superstore while Tara went in to pick up some items it was February and the van was getting unbearably cold she had the keys which she often did leaving me to wonder why she was taking so long curious I decided to go inside and find out why she had been in there for over 45 minutes after 35 minutes I saw her slipping out of The Back warehouse and heading towards me I
hit behind a tall rack of coats and kept watching soon snake came out too adjusting his shirt and pants as he walked away I didn't know him personally just by reputation once he was out of sight I made my way to the front of the store and went into the restroom when I came out Tera was near the exit doors looking for me David where on earth have you been she nearly shouted I was Wondering the same thing I replied I was left in the car for almost an hour while you were supposed to be
getting a few things it was too cold so I came inside to find you you were nowhere to be seen has it really been that long you've been in here for over an hour and a half I said I'm sorry I ran into Reverend Jones and we started talking I had no idea I had seen him leave about 35 minutes into my wait did you run into anyone else and stop to chat I asked a hint of sarcasm In my voice I said I was sorry there's no need for that tone she retorted as if
a good offense was her best defense I walked past her took the key and headed towards the car she just stood there staring at me as if I had two heads 10 minutes later she was still standing there I went back inside grabbed a cup of coffee and a snack from the other end of the store as I returned to the car a pickup pulled out of a spot nearby and went flying by me Tara was in the front Seat and snake was driving I got in the van and went home she never came home
that evening she never called and she didn't answer any of my calls to her cell phone the next morning I was sitting outside her job when snake dropped her off and kissed her goodbye I got good photos of the entire thing it was lucky I was scheduled to have that day off my next stop was to take all of my money out of the joint account and open a new one I called and removed her Name from the credit cards and bought new locks for the house the house was mine I grew up in it
and inherited it when my mother died dad had died years before in the war he knew of me but he never knew me I had her phone cut off it was my account the next morning when she had not called I reported her missing after 3 days she came home the spare key we hid did not work anymore I had the van locked in the garage the ignition disabled on it and two tires were flat The valve cores were out of them her clothes were in trash bags on the front porch she pounded on the
door for about a half an hour before she was interrupted by the police they called me on the house phone I did not pick up then they called my cell phone I answered that one I said sorry I am home to let anyone in then I hung up now Tera perspective I only went into the store for a few few things I spoke to Reverend Jones for 5 minutes and got everything I Needed as I headed to the checkout I heard someone call my name I looked around to see a high school friend walking after
me I had not seen snake for 4 years we spoke for a while and he was paged to come to the warehouse to unload a truck he asked me to follow him we talked a little each time he went by as he pulled 14 pallets off the truck to be honest I completely forgot David out in the van after I paid for the things I went out and found the van empty I went Back in to look for David I was starting to worry and feel a little guilty about the entire thing when he came
out of the restroom I called him and he came over to me he was a little less than Pleasant my first thought was I don't have to put up with that kind of behavior and just stood there while he snatched the keys and went back out to the van I was pissed at the way he had spoken to and treated me and was waiting for him to come back and apologize for his rudeness I could barely see the top of the van over the other cars out there I waited for a while and finally decided
to go out and give him hell when I got there the van was locked and he was not there now I was really pissed snake had just gotten off work and was heading to his truck he asked if I needed anything I told him I am cold and David has disappeared with the keys he offered me a ride home rather than go to our house I suggested that we go to his place and I would make the lasagna I was going to fix for David as we left the parking lot I saw a figure jump
back out of the traffic lane it looked a bit like David it was all so fast I was not sure oh well after supper we fell asleep on the sofa while we were talking I woke a little before I was due to work in the morning he offered to drop me off as he drove I saw the messages from David the evening before and decided I was too angry to look at them yet snake gave me A friendly kiss as I got out and ran into work I tried to look at the messages at lunch
the phone would not work I called the provider and was told it was not in service now I was beyond pissed I called home and the phone just rang and rang David's cell phone would not take my calls I called snake and left him a message to please me up that evening I slept at his place the next two nights finally I decided that I had to speak to David after work I called a Cab and had him Dro me at the house it appeared that no one was home and the extra key no longer
fit the locks I pounded on the door in frustration the police showed up and told me I would be arrested if I continued they tried to call the house phone it just rang I could hear it then they called David cell he answered it and told them he was not at home then he hung up I asked them to call and see if snake would come and get me he did I was starting to get the Feeling that David was going to be a little difficult as I waited I wrote a note and slipped it
under the door that evening I cried my eyes out one thing led to another somehow snake convinced me that having sex would fix things it was not even enjoyable even though I did have a small climax once the entire time I kept thinking about David just where did things go wrong I didn't do anything wrong it had to be David I tried to call he never returned my messages I tried to Corner him at church he went out out another door I mailed a letter telling how I missed him and was sorry for the problems
we were having it was returned unopened with the notation occupant does not wish to correspond with 304 I went out to the house and waited on the front porch he pretended he was not there I stayed on and off for 3 Days the police came and told me I had to leave or be arrested for trespassing and stalking David never made any effort to contact Me I was starting to feel badly in the mornings I did a pregnancy test and it was positive I want to see Reverend Jones he agreed to speak to David on
my behalf the message David sent was I had hid in that warehouse doing who know what abandoned him at the store my lover tried to run him over in the parking lot I had lived in sin with the man and he kissed me goodbye as we parted in the mornings at my job David supplied a photo as proof on that one I did not Remember the kiss until I saw the photo David did not want to hear from me ever again if I wanted a divorce I could file and so far as being pregnant that
is what happens to 304s I was devastated snake was asking more and more often for sexual favors I tried to refuse him he was rough and just took me a number of times each time all I could think of was David and how much I loved and missed him I would have moved out but I couldn't find a place I could Afford on my wages I was trapped I had no family to move in with either finally I broke down and went to a shelter for Abused Women I was eight months pregnant they documented the
bruises and other damage to my body caused by snake's rough handling snake left town shortly after I went to the shelter there was a warrant for his arrest they ran a series of medical tests to determine my health and that of the baby I had syphilis it was best if the baby was taken soon by Cesarian to avoid possible contamination the next week the child was taken out I elected to bottle feed her the medicine they now gave me for the syphilis was not good for the baby she was having some problems and was placed
in the Intensive Care Unit I was sent home before she was ready David only visited once he was not nice to me at all the forms all listed David as the father I know that is correct you see I am blonde David has bright red hair and snake is a Mix of Chinese and Thai the child had the reddest hair this side of anywhere after I left the hospital I left town and returned to the area where I grew up about 50 Mi to the north I stayed in a shelter there for a little over
4 months before I was able to work and support myself then I rented a small room back to David's story Tara seemed to get the message after Reverend Jones interceded on her behalf she never bothered me again I occasionally saw her watching me While I was at work as long as she let me be I was happy well not really I still loved her I just could not live with her anymore my job is the supervisor of the town's Recreation Department we run the ball field in the swimming pool and organize holiday parades among other
things I took notice that there was a young mother and daughter who started to use the pool every day they came in wearing one set of clothes swam for a short while and Left wearing another set of clothes after showering the next day they came back in the clothes they put on the day before they had an older station wagon it looked as if it was on its last breath I started to notice the car around town in various parking lots it was always parked off in a far corner as if to not bother the
businesses there they found a new spot each day I smiled and said hello to them as they came and went from the pool after a while they Smiled and spoke back I noticed there were only four or five sets of clothes that they wore one day right after they went into the pool I went outside and checked out their car I was correct they were living in it the inside was neat and orderly I also noticed that wherever they stayed overnight the area was always spotless when the left somewhere along the line I found out
that the mother was Kate and the daughter was Lisa I was known as Mr David at the Community center it was nearing the end of the summer and soon we would have to enclose the pool so it could be used all winter too we had removable walls and a retractable roof so it was open to the sky in the summer the roof rode on steel beams when we needed to close it the walls fit securely under those beams in less than 4 months it would soon be too cold to live in a car I was
concerned I stopped to VIs visit Reverend Jones and discuss what I had seen I asked if he Would be able to help them he had little he could offer other than a few small one-time monetary donations I asked if he knew of any jobs the mother could do he indicated that he would look into it for me I had an idea that might be acceptable if presented to them in the right way he said he would help if they came to him and asked we worked out the plans the next day I waited until they
were in the locker room and slipped outside again I placed an envelope from The church under their windshield wiper inside was a note on their letterhead indicating there was help to be had at the church if anyone was in need so as not to embarrass them I slipped an envelope saying exactly the same thing under the wipers of the other three cars in the lot the next day Kate asked me if I knew the good Reverend I responded that I attended his church that evening he called and told me they had an appointment to see
him the next day as They spoke Kate indicated she was having trouble finding work that would allow her time to take care of Lisa we had found three families that would be able to take them in in exchange for doing work around their homes one was me my house had a small apartment in the basement the others only offered a room in the house in exchange for domestic help they could have meals and a roof over their heads I couldn't pay them much but there were other members of the Congregation who would like to have
someone do their heavier cleaning another Plus for my place was that the school was a block away and the church was another block further if they wanted to swim they would only need to walk six blocks to the pool I also promised that I would pay for a locksmith to change the three key locks on the doors to the apartment and all keys would be given to them it would be up to them if they wanted anyone else to Have a key a week later they decided to accept the offer and Lisa was soon registered
for kindergarten at the school they moved in we did not see each other until the next Monday when Kate stopped in to get her work assignments she was astonished to see me answer the door and started to mumble about how she had made a terrible mistake in accepting the offer I stepped out and asked her to sit and we could talk about it I sat in a chair on the porch and she sat on the Steps I explained how I was still deeply in love with my wife but that she had left me for another
man she lived on the far side of town now I needed some help with the cleaning and quite frankly my cooking was intolerable I was tired of eating half-cooked or burned food one time the food was still frozen in the middle and burned badly on the outside I was even more tired of fast food places I handed a sheet with a list of phone numbers on it the list included the Mayor the Elementary School principal the chief of police and all of the Town Council I told her to call any of them and ask for
a reference and no I had not talked to them about this finally I offered to have the Reverend come in as I took her on the tour to see what her duties would be she would only need to be in my area when I was gone she and Lisa could eat downstairs if they desired and return the dirty dishes the next day finally she calmed down and Accepted the job as offered they had already moved in and my offer was by far the best the sparse furniture that was in the apartment was older but it
was sturdy and functional Lisa started school the Wednesday after Labor Day and loved her class when I came home that evening she ran up to me and said thank you for allowing them to live here and attend that school I had left instructions for Kate to not fix dinner that evening instead I left $30 to order Pizza and drinks for all three of us I stopped and bought a small cake on the way home we had supper on the back patio that evening Lisa Kate and I played Horseshoes and talked until 8:00 when it was
time for Lisa to go to bed I said good evening and wished them a pleasant night the next few weeks we only saw each other at meals upstairs I authorized Kate to sign for groceries at a small store just on the other side of the school the house was looking better Than ever Kate was now working 3 to 4 hours a day for some other people too she was able to buy Lisa some much needed school clothes I paid to have her car repaired at the garage since she was using it to run errands for
the house when she needed gas I left her some cash on the table she always left the receipt for me even though I never asked for one then there was the call from the hospital I was a father or so they said I went down to see the child I stopped In to congratulate Tara on the lovely little girl she cried and said she missed me and still loved me she tried to explain how it was all a mistake and she wanted to come back home I did not hear most of what she said because
I was already out of the room I submitted as requested a sample for DNA testing to determine that I was the father I was almost positive I was I still did not go back to see either of them Tara was released a week after the child she left Town and never returned for her after Tara deserted the baby at the hospital I was called to pick her up Frank L I was surprised that she was mine but there was no denying the red hair we had never used birth control and after 3 years had not
conceived when we were checked out I was told my sperm was weak we would be lucky to conceive they needed a name for the child so the paperwork could be completed and sent in I went home that evening with the weight of the world on My shoulders or so it felt I had been an only child I knew nothing about child care except for What Little I remembered of my own and what I had seen around me I skipped going into the house and went to sit in the backyard when I did not come in
for supper Lisa came out to sit with me finally she asked why I was so sad I told her I was not sad I was confused I thanked her for caring about me mama is really smart she can help you and she ran into the house to get her Mama Kate came out after she put Lisa to bed you look like your world imploded she said I sat there for a while longer and then it all came rushing out there was no stopping it all the dirty nasty details were exposed for her to see after
sitting there for another little while Kate finally spoke you are a father you are angry with your wife because she destroyed your life this child has done nothing wrong yet everyone wants to abandon her she is Your child and needs to have at least one loving parent in her life since your wife ran you are elected and you need her in your life more than you realize bring her home Lisa and I can help have faith that it will all work out well that is how my daughter came to be known as Faith after Kate
walked Lisa to school the next morning she and I went shopping for the things I would need to bring her home they were all delivered while I was springing Faith from her Confinement at the hospital she was screaming when they handed her to me she immediately settled down and snuggled onto my shoulder it took a few minutes for her racking sobs and then her hiccups to die down I had not bothered to put the van back on the road after I disabled it I drove her home in one of the pickup trucks from work faith
gurgled and CED all the way home as the truck shuttered over every bump and pothole on the road I really tried to Avoid them the car seat did little to cushion the rough ride I don't know if it was so but I thought she spent the entire trip looking at me through wide open eyes the back of the truck was loaded with bags the hospital sent home most of which I had no idea how to use the next day I called the garage and asked them to get the van and see if it was worth
putting back on the road for a little over $500 is was as good as new Kate and Lisa fell in love with faith And the three became Inseparable Kate taught me how to be a responsible father Lisa was learning how to care for a child too around 9 months after I brought Faith home I received a letter from Tara she was diagnosed with AIDS she was worried for her child faith and I had already been tested twice and found to be clear of all STDs I said Tara back a letter with pictures and told her
that our child was named Faith I explained that I had a housekeeper who Was helping a lot I promised to send photos from time to time the next time I heard from Tara was almost 3 years after we had separated she was extremely sick and wanted to see me one last time before she died her signature was barely recognizable on the bottom she said she loved the pictures I had been sending they made her life worth living Tara continues after I gave birth I knew there was still something wrong I could not put my finger
on what it was I just Knew after careful consideration I decided that I would not be able to care for a child on my own and left her for David to take care of Lord I missed him so much after I calmed down and thought about the situation I realized how foolish and angry I had been I knew he would never take me back the best I could do was to allow him to have the child she would have a life filled with love and happiness with him I had nothing to offer they finally caught
up With snake he was arrested tried and sentenced to time in jail as he was processed into the jail they found that he had many STDs among them was AIDS I was contacted and tested snake died in there I never heard how or felt badly about it my world collapsed the day they told me I tested positive I had been working at my job for a little under 6 months the world was looking much better I even had a little over $300 in the bank however I still missed David and Faith so badly it hurt
I had to write the letter it could drive the wedge between us to far to reconcile I cried for days I was amazed at the letter he sent back he answered promptly he confessed that he still loved me but could never live with me again due to the way we separated he included the information on his medical insurance he had never taken me off of it we were still married the most amazing thing was the photos of our little girl there must Have been 50 of them she looked more and more like him as she
aged in the photos I never wrote back what could I say other than I was sorry David did not need to hear that again no matter how true it was at first I always referred to her as the child I could not call her my child until David wrote and told me he had named her faith the name was perfect I cried each time he sent new pictures without really knowing her she became my life David kept sending me Photos every few few months they became my only world I worked as long as I was
able finally it became too much and I had to quit I was extremely careful and never passed the disease on to anyone else I had lots of time to straighten out my thoughts I put them down in writing and used the notes to compose a letter to David and another to Faith her letter was to be held until her 18th birthday I sealed the envelopes and kept them in my possessions to be delivered To him when I died about 3 years after we separated and after many buckets of shed tears my counselors convinced me that
I needed to speak to David and allow us both to have some closure they wrote a letter to him on my behalf it took me a week to finally sign it and tell them to mail it I dictated another letter to him as a follow up to my first one I knew he needed to read them both before he was allowed to see me I also knew the sight would be a shock I barely Weighed 75 PBS soaking wet with a roll of quarters in my hand the day he came to see me I watched
him walk into the hospice there were a beautiful woman and two children with him each adult held the hand of a young girl I watched as they stopped and talked just outside the building the woman and both girls walked back to the parking lot and then to the playground next to it I knew which one was Faith she was the most beautiful child I had ever seen between the Letters and meetings with the doctors it took almost 2 hours before David got in to see me I spent most of that time watching the three of
them at the playground our meeting David stepped into the room and looked around he did not see me in my chair by the window I saw his reflection in the window as he turned to walk out I spoke she loves you you do know that who how do you know I can see it in her eyes she loves you even more Than I did you were my world I told her how Kate Lisa and I had met and that she was in need of help as much as I was Kate was my housekeeper Lisa was
her daughter they live in the small apartment in the basement I told her that we had never been intimate after all I was still married I took my promises seriously Tara broke out in soft sobs after that statement I suppose I deserve that she finally said I was ashamed and turned away I'm sorry that Did not come out the best way no I am sorry I chose to drive you out of my life I didn't know what I had until it was too far gone we were silent for a long time both lost in our
thoughts of what could have been then we spoke and cleared all the angry thoughts we held for each other and truly were as one for the first time in years the nurse came in and said visiting time was over the entire visit was only 3 and 1/2 hours I blew her a kiss and turned at the door To see her for the last time Tara spoke again I release you from your vows to me after what I did it is unfair to hold you to them she held out two more envelopes for me to take
the one without the name was for Kate I was to give it to her her before we were married before I turned to go I told her I love you and forgive you for all that has happened as I approached the door for a second time she said you love her too I can tell I wish and hope for all of you the best Life possible tears were running down both of our faces as I left I thought I heard her Mumble she has to be a better wife than I was Kate drove home the
children both chattered about how much fun the day had been I was lost in my own thoughts that evening as I lay in bed I thought about the courage it took for Tara to write those letters and all the things she said in them I thought on her words about Kate and me I was confused about my feelings for everyone Involved I knew I loved Faith with all my heart I went over my feelings for Kate and Lisa I was amazed to realize that Tara had been correct as I finally fell asleep the last words
Tara would ever say to me came back to mind you love her too I can tell I wish and hope for all of you the best life possible I did love love Kate the hospice called the next morning and told us Tara had slipped into a coma they had never seen her so happy the smile on her face was Beautiful she was holding her only picture of faith and me in her hands they could not get it out of her grasp Tara died peacefully 2 weeks later she was cremated and her ashes were placed in
a lead ear and dumped in the ocean at her request her possessions except clothes and hygiene products were returned to me I was amazed at how tear covered in dog eared the photos had become right on top of it all was the wrinkled photo of faith in me I placed It all in storage for later her rings were placed in our box at the bank with the one wrinkled photo in the months after Tara's death Kate and I began to talk about the experience I slowly felt the love I had for Tara slip away to
be replaced with an even deeper love for Kate finally one evening I brought up the last conversation with Tara I explained how we had forgiven each other and she released me from my vows Kate started to cry softly I reached across The table and took hold of her hand Kate said she must have truly loved you to say what she did and allow you to have faith I do believe that I love you but we need to take our time and really get to know each other you do not really know much about me Kate
then got up and kissed me on the forehead as she left I whispered I love you too she just turned and smiled and went downstairs to sleep I fell asleep much more quick quickly than I thought I would that night I had The first good night sleep in a long time that Sunday after church Kate surprised me by saying the girls were going to spend the day with Reverend Jones and his family he had two girls around the same age as Lisa and faith we got in the van and Kate drove out into the country
about an hour out of town she pulled into a small Park I had never been there before I was further surprised when she pulled a complete picnic lunch from the back of the van Kate explained how she came to find the place as we set up the meal her family had recently disowned her for becoming pregnant out of marriage she had seen the park on the map and decided to end her life here she spent the last money she had for a dollar sandwich and a drink after eating the meal she was going to fall
off of the cliff into the river a family came along just before she did and invited her to join them in their meal they were so nice and she had Such a good time that she never got around to it when they got ready to leave they asked if she lived nearby Kate broke down and told them her story they took her home and she lived with them until Lisa was 4 years old one day Kate told them she felt an urge to move on they allowed her to leave with the knowledge that she was
loved and should return if she ever needed to after we ate she continued her life story she was a freshman in college there was a party That she was invited to someone put something in her drink she slowly became aware of her surroundings she was in the middle of an assault she was the Bane as she put it when it was over they drove her to her dorm and informed her that she should not go to the police because they had video proving she was a willing participant she withdrew from all campus activities and discovered
she was pregnant a few months later she had not had sex until that night she eventually Left the college and drove home only to be turned out into the world until she met me she ran as fast as she could from Men the big exclusion was the father and the family that rescued her she felt that I was the answer to her urg ured to leave the family she did not know why until Faith arrived in my life the answer became clear in her mind there was a mutual need between the four of us as
she learned about faith and I she grew to love us more than she could Imagine possible over the time she had been with me she had found that she could trust me since I was married and followed my vows she felt there was little she could do except hope over the years we had formed a unique family unit and she felt comfortable in it when Tara died Kate became frightened again until the evening we discussed the final conversation I found myself holding her hand as she talked not daring to ask questions of interfere in any
way I was Aware how difficult it was for her to divulge that information I cannot remember what I said but it must have been the correct thing she came around the table and sat next to me we held each other for the longest time not daring to say any more a little later another car pulled into the parking lot I could not see much for the dust it through grew up Kate had a strange smile on her face as the family piled out and started to set out their picnic suddenly A loud shriek could be
heard in the woods it sounded like someone had called Kate the entire family ran over to us and all started to talk at once Kate held up her hand and they all fell silent she spoke this is David we have recently discovered we are in love I just told him the story of my life I hope he still feels the same after I finished then she introduced me to all 12 in the family the father's name was also David the wife was Martha of the 10 Children four were theirs by birth I could never remember
all the children's names a few had disabilities but they all worked as a team this was the family you hear about that always had enough love for one or two more we talked until it was almost dark and headed home with a promise that we would get together again the ride home was mostly silent she was scared to ask what I was thinking and I was desperately trying to digest all the information I had just Received I fell asleep just before we got back to our town Kate picked up the two children and tuck them
into the car for the ride home as we separated in the kitchen I had an overwhelming urge to kiss her I did it was short and so sweet she went downstairs with a tear on her cheek the kiss and tears spoke loudly between us we had always told Faith the truth about her mother we just never shared the unnecessary details the the week following the visit to ca she came To me and asked why we went to visit that place I answered her as simply and honestly as I could your birth mother had a terrible
disease and was dying she had asked to see me one last time so I want to say goodbye we could not let you go to see her because of the disease your mother saw you outside playing and thought you were the most wonderful little girl she was sorry she never got to know you with the wisdom of a child Faith just said tell her I am sorry too Just before her her fourth birthday Faith came to me and said do you know what I want for my birthday I want you to love mommy Kate I
want us to all live together instead of her and Lisa living downstairs I will see what I can do I replied Kate overheard the conversation and smiled I wanted to ask if she had anything to do with it but did not dare to ask later that evening as we talked she told me Faith came up with that request all on her own she did admit to Hearing Lisa and Faith talking about wanting to get us together as a real family with a mommy and daddy that year for Thanksgiving I suggested that we invite David and
Martha and their family to dinner Kate called and invited them they arrived the evening before and we stayed up way too long visiting the next day Martha Kate and the three oldest girls spent all day creating a feast worthy of being served in the finest restaurants David and I worked to Prepare the yard for the upcoming winter when we sat down to eat I asked David to say the blessing he spoke thank you Lord for this chance to get together with friends bless this family and their home May there ever be happiness and love bless
this food and keep us all safe after we part then everyone said amen the food was passed and enjoyed by all after dinner I spoke I started by addressing everyone thank you for all being here with us today it has been a Privilege to have everyone here today this family as David has called us might never have been due to many circumstances I have a confession to make today I worked with with Reverend Jones to provide a home for two lost persons not out of a want for myself but a fear that they might not
have survived the coming winter living in a car on the streets I turned in my chair to face Kate and spoke directly to her can you please forgive me for the deception I Was only concerned for your well-being With Tears In Her Eyes Kate nodded yes I continued that one simple gesture was the Catalyst for all of the love we feel in this house now I believe our love speaks volumes of how correct I was to have done so both of us had such a rough beginning but things are improving it was slow at first
but like a snowball rolling down hill things have started to move quickly all four of us have spoken of our love for each other I feel that It is real and true Kate will you consent to be my wife with those words I pulled my mother's ring from my pocket and presented it to her Kate softly said yes just how do you smile and cry at the same time this is my mother's ring if you choose to have one of your own we can buy it tomorrow I slipped it on her finger it fit perfectly
for some reason it did not feel right to offer that ring to Tera this time it not only felt right but I was obsessed with making it more Than right I love this one that it was your mothers makes it even more special don't you dare try to replace it suddenly two little girls were there hugging and kissing both of us Lisa was already calling me Daddy and Faith dropped Kate from Mama Kate's name later David and I went for a walk at his request when we were away from the house he told me that
he had been keeping an eye on Kate's family her father had turned to the bottle after he threw her Out of the house recently he was killed when he drove into a large tree while returning from a bar her mother appeared to still be in shock 3 months later so much so that she looked to be lost and confused all the time he handed me her name address and phone number I was told to do what I felt was right I quickly noticed her mother's was named Lisa I put it away to think about the
right thing to do David and his tribe left the next day after promising to be back for The wedding Kate wanted him to give her away I wanted him to be my best man he just smiled and said maybe we will see we talked that evening as usual I managed to steer the conversation around to her family Kate managed to explain how it had been her father who threw her out against her mother's wishes she had called and spoken to her mother two times the second time her father figured it out and beat her mother
severely she witnessed it on the phone she had Martha Call the police and report it to them they arrived just as her father went out the back door headed for the bar David and Martha took her to see her mother one time Kate never dared to contact her mother again out of fear for her safety two weeks later she had her baby and named her after her mother I held her for the longest time before she fell asleep in my arms I picked her up and put her in my bed then went out to sleep
on the sofa Lisa and Faith had taken to Sleeping in each other's rooms and were upstairs that night so I did not feel it would be a concern to them to find Kate was not downstairs the next morning the girls came in to wake me and found Kate there instead Lisa asked where's Daddy Kate who was nowhere near awake simply replied upstairs in his bed this got the girls to giggling until Kate woke up enough to realize where she was she blushed and just Shrugged the girls went to look for me they woke me and
asked Why are you on the sofa because I try to be a gentleman and a Gentleman never puts a lady in a compromising position they ran off to find Kate and explain where I was Kate refused to tell them what a compromising possession was When Faith asked she is still young Monday was a slow day at work I pulled the slip of paper out and dialed the number finally after many rings of woman answered the phone I introduced myself as David who was a friend of Kate there Was a gasp and the woman accused me
of trying to cause problems I assured her I was not after much discussion she asked what I wanted I simply answered that I wanted to let her know that Kate was alive happy and healthy and engaged to be married in the spring I told her she had a beautiful granddaughter named Lisa who was also doing very well I gave her my cell phone number and told her she could call anytime during the day but never at night finally I told her I was Sorry to hear of her husband's death the the response I will not
put here just understand it was not kind toward the husband the next day a few minutes afternoon she called back and asked a lot of questions I answered them all honestly but was afraid to give away where we lived just yet it was the next Tuesday when she called and asked if I would consent to meet her I told her I would be in a city near her to pick up some items for my job on Friday I named A restaurant and told her I could meet her there at 1:00 in the afternoon I was
there at noon she was there at 12:30 after after watching her for 10 minutes I approached her Lisa I am David Kate and I are good friends I sat across from her we talked for well over 2 hours before she broke down and cried I did not agree with throwing her out her father did not believe she had been given narcotics and assaulted I could see the sadness in her eyes even before She first spoke her father was a good man most of the time this time he was wrong and stepped over the line with
his actions I became so lonely since he chose to hide inside a bottle to avoid the shame he felt it only got worse after I was in the hospital because Kate stayed away to avoid causing him beating me again Kate did not cause him to beat you it was all his own choosing only a coward beats on someone who is defenseless I asked what her most urgent Wish was she told me to see her daughter and granddaughter I told her I would see what I could do I paid the check as I went out the
door that evening I was a little happier Kate noticed it immediately medely why are you so happy no special reason just the holidays I guess if there was any one special thing you could have for Christmas what would it be just to be with the man I love and adore no special jewelry or gadgets I have been thinking about how this season Was always so special between my mother and me I miss her most of all at this time of year I just can't bear the thought of my father hurting her again no I don't
suppose that would be right the next day I called Lisa again I told her by a few simple gifts that Kate and Lisa would like have them wrapped and ready I will call you at noon on Christmas Eve with directions and an address please be there for supper at 5:30 pack a bag with enough to stay for Up to a week if you wish there is also another small girl there you will get to know I could hear the excitement in her voice as she confirmed my instructions Christmas Eve I called to give her the
directions they were simple she was to get on State Road 34 and drive to our town after she passed the big dairy barn on the right she turned left on Maple Street and went three blocks to the big brown housee on the corner number 2130 she was to go to the basement door on The right side of the house and ring the bell anytime after 5 would be fine she giggled as she hung up at 5:05 there was a ring from the basement door Lisa ran down to see why someone was at that door after
all everyone always came to the front of the house she called up the steps Mama there is a woman here asking for you Kate had a look on her face that said this is not the time to bother me go see who it is Faith and I will make sure nothing gets burned Faith yes she Can do it you I smiled and waved Faith over to stand by me watch this I whispered as Kate went down the stairs I heard a muffled mama and then a thumb I guess I didn't figure that one correctly Faith
watched the food for a few minutes I ran down the stairs as I got to the bottom Kate was just laying on the floor looking up mama how did you find us you can thank that man behind you now I had never seen that look on anyone's face before I was not sure if I was in Trouble or had just done the most wonderful thing in the world I reached down to help Kate up she pulled me down on top of her and gave me the biggest kiss I ever received so I am not in
trouble maybe later I got another Super kiss as we went back up the stairs I heard Kate whisper what about daddy no problem I will tell you about it in a day or two we don't need to go into that tonight for the record Faith did well with all the food when we got up to the Kitchen Grandma as she asked to be called was introduced to the girls the conversation at supper was Lively everybody wanted to know about everybody else we went to church at 7:30 Lisa and Faith were shepherds in the play they
were the best actors there well okay maybe my opinion was a little biased I don't care what anyone else thinks Martha and David called Christmas morning David almost let the cat out of the bag about her father when he said I Am sorry about your dad he managed to extract himself from trouble when he explained he meant to say he was sorry Kate's dad was not able to make it if I had known how badly Lisa's car was running I would have made other arrangements to get her to our place I paid the garage $450
to make it run correctly Kate managed to Prime more information out of her mother she had not been able to make the payments on her home since her Husband died she owed 11 more payments but was behind by three her savings was seriously depleted Kate had saved enough to cover two of the ODed payments I covered the other the house needed some repairs too Lisa had so many wonderful memories of the house but the last few years had soured her life there she wanted to sell it and find another that was not so big since
her husband hid in his bottles she found out who her real friends were there were only two real Friends one of her friends was a realtor she kept telling Lisa that the land under the house was worth much more than the house the friend said she should sell the old drafty barn and move on if Lisa chose to list with another agent she would not be offended she offered to watch over their shoulders to be sure Lisa was treated right Lisa had six acres in the center of town it would sell quickly for a high
price Lisa Decided to call her friend and tell her to put the property on the market with the stipulation that if the house was destroyed she would retain possession of a pair of stained glass window in the living room as soon as the word of the property sail hit the streets a bidding war started when the dust settled the house would be torn down and the land went for four times the original estimate we had thought that estimate was optimistic a month before we married During another of our talks I gave Kate the letter from
Tara the handwriting was shaky the lines moved up and down and you could see the stains from all the tears on the page it simply said I am sitting here in my room watching a beautiful woman and two girls playing in a park I can tell you love my husband dearly I give him to you gladly if he can still love me after the things I have done he will do no less for you I alone him responsible for the Breakup of our marriage what is done is done my biggest regret in my life was
the way I treated him even before we separated I ask you to treat him kindly and always respect and love him he loves you too I can tell I wish and hope for all of you the best life possible please care for and love my child as if she was your own it was signed simply Tara as she read the letter Kate added some of her own tears to it Kate and I were married the Friday before Memorial Day Grandma would take care of the girls while we were away we rented a cabin on a
lake 2 hours away little Lisa was the maid of honor Faith was my best girl you can't call her best man can you David and and Martha also stood with us we also had a special part of the ceremony when we took the girls as both of our children and they accepted each other as sisters both leus gave Kate away to me and Faith gave me away to Kate it seemed to be a fair decision the first night of Our honeymoon we just held each other and fell asleep I awoke the next morning to find
Kate watching me she leaned over and we kissed and caressed each other lightly we held each other for the longest time the second evening we started out the same way every time I made a new move I felt her ense up only to relax a few seconds later ever so slowly the foreplay increased I whispered you let me know when you want to move on if I move too fast slow me Down she nodded and I saw tears in the corners of her eyes I kissed them away an hour later she was satisfied she cried
and told me it was her first ever we fell asleep holding each other the next morning I woke up to find her sitting on the bed Beside Me Slowly exploring my body with her hands I pretended to be asleep she bent down a kiss on my neck as I had done with her the night before I forgot I was supposed to be asleep and moaned lightly she sat Back in a hurry I will give you 3 hours to stop that I whispered she giggled and lay back to kiss me I told her my body is
yours to do what you want with it just please don't ever hurt me she looked up and smiled she said thank you and I am yours I already trust you to not hurt me we hardly left the bed that day the next morning I woke up she was already awake she smiled and said this is so much nicer when you love the one you were doing it to I never asked what She meant after breakfast she climbed on my lap and held me tightly she thanked me over and over for teaching her how to make
love with me for the rest of the week we tried almost anything we could think of Grandma Lisa found a new home under construction about a mile from hours that she loved she was moved in by the middle of August meanwhile she lived with us in the apartment Kate and Lisa were now living upstairs the stained glass was made to look new it was placed Between other glass panels and made into energy efficient Windows they were installed in the living room on both sides of the fireplace she had built Grandma Lisa paid back our loans
as she called them twofold she would not take no for an answer we took the extra and started college funds for the girls a little over a year later Kate became pregnant there were few problems and we were rewarded with a beautiful baby girl we named Hope Kate insisted on the name Because of the line in the letter from Tara I wish and hope for all of you the best life possible Lisa did say her mother was wise as Faith's 18th birthday Drew nearer and nearer she and I began to speak of her birth mother
a little more we always referred to her by name Tara I asked when she would like to receive the letter that Tara wrote to her faith asked me to hold it for one week after her birthday just in case there were any upsetting things in the Letter she has known about the letter for many years we have spoken about Tara and I in general terms but we never went into much detail we settled on the weekend following that week so the birthday and letter would be two separate and distinctive things as you may have guessed
Kate and I did have one more child a fine young lad who looks so much like his mother that it is amazing Roger has a slight tint of red to his hair to acknowledge his paternal Heritage it was not for a lack of trying that we did not have anymore believe me we will keep trying young Lisa graduated from the local community college with an associates degree in nursing last year she works in the neonatal unit at the hospital and is working slowly toward a BS she loves her work and has found a young man
who she thinks might be the one for her they are taking it slow hope is a sophomore in high school and makes the honor roll all the time she is more Of a nerd than all the others combined time will tell how things end up Roger is in second grade and would rather play sports than sit in the classroom if he lets his grades slip we have threatened to take his Sports time away the grades are staying up Kate and I are more in love than ever and extremely happy we both know we are on
the far end of baby making but we hope for an oops soon after Tara's death I sat down and exercised many of my Demons by writing My side of the story to act as a Counterpoint to her letters I had been writing notes about my observations and feelings for years I depended heavily on those notes as I wrote as madly as I was in love with her I never realized how desperately unhappy we were as a couple by looking back with a critical eye I Now understand why I was so fast to end it all
when she ran off with snake that day at the store my reaction felt right at the time I would do it the same way If it happened over if I had the same information I had then Faith had a fabulous party for her 18th birthday all of her friends came and many of the folks in our small town at least stopped by for a short while we had to rent the fire hall to accommodate all the activity the word we put out was everyone was welcome to come but please bring drinks and eats to share
with the rest of the world in lie of gifts she wished that those who came would bring Non- perishable food for the local food bank the result was over two and A2 tons of donations they found it necessary to give part of it to neighboring food banks as well Kate's mother Lisa was now in a nursing or assisted living home it was her choice to be there her house was not in use at the present time we were saving it for the children to live in while they each Sav for their first houses Kate thought
that it would be a good idea for Faith and me to use it for Our time when we talked about Tara's letter the day arrived and the tension was high I retrieved the letter and other papers from their place and we walked to Lisa's Place we held hands as we slowly walked and talked I started terara and I were so in love back then we both wanted children so bad badly when we had none after 2 years we went to the doctors and they did all sorts of tests it appeared that she was okay I
was the problem my sperm were weak and Did not swim as well as expected Tara felt betrayed she was desperate to have children as time progressed she kept telling me she would have her own children one way or another she became angry all the time the insult she hurled in my direction were the toughest thing I have ever had to deal with we argued all the time about stupid things I know how madly I was in love with her she became a fanatic about having children I was willing to do almost anything to Keep her
happy the one thing I would not allow was for another man to impregnate her she swore she would do it if she was not pregnant by the first of the year that time had passed and she became even angrier we had just arrived at our destination we stood there for a few more minutes and I told her about the trip to the store and how Tara just disappeared for 3 days you will most likely understand why I had to tell you these things after you read these if it Is still unclear I will explain further
faith unlocked the door and I handed her two letters read the one from your mother first I instructed her and then read the other it is how I felt around the same time I have no idea what Tara is telling you that is between you and her do with it what you wish she sat at the kitchen table and stared at the envelopes for the longest time I went outside and sat on the patio to wait for her signal it was just short of 2 hours Later when she came out and sat with me the
tears were streaming down her face she called The Breakup a giant cluster Faith had mixed emotions she longed to know Tara better but she loved Kate her mother and family as she knew it I just held her until she settled down finally the sobbing died down to a few hiccups and the tears dried it reminded me of the first time I ever held her we had talked about our first meeting many times over the years I guess the thought Struck her at the same time it did me we laughed at the look on each other's
faces as we realized what we were both thinking Faith spoke first after reading both letters about four times I am amazed at what you both said other than the points of view in the handwriting I could almost swear they were written by the same person they both said the same things in the same order the love you felt for each other is evident throughout the letters the frustration Is there too I understand what you were trying to tell me on the walk over here we went inside and had lunch as she heated the soup I
made the sandwiches and poured out some chips into a bowl in the last 18 years I had learned to do that much but I still could burn water she handed me the letter and asked me to read the words my darling daughter all my life I have wanted and needed children I felt incomplete until I was pregnant with you you made me complete I May never know you but understand that I love you in my heart you are a part of my Soul despite my need to hold you love you and nurture you I know
that it is not a good thing if I do it you will need a constant unchanging hand to guide you through your life as badly as I long for this I know it cannot be I cannot ask for your forgiveness only for your understanding that I did what I thought was best for you I treated your father badly for the last two years we were Together as I look back at the things I did to him I Now understand why he shut me out of his life I tried to reduce him to less than a
man I threatened to have a baby by someone else by all appearances it looked as if I had begun to follow through with my threats until you were born even I was not absolutely sure who your father was one look told me the man I left with that evening was not a good person I only wanted to frighten your father and get him to Agree to another approach to becoming pregnant I was angry not really at him it was not his fault I took out all my frustration on him the way I went about all
of this was wrong oh how things would have been different if I had been patient your father David did nothing wrong throughout the entire ordeal it was all my doing I left home with another man I did not try to contact David I stayed away for 3 days before I came back to him for the record I did Not cheat on him until he did not allow me back inside the house when I did I knew it was as wrong then as I know it is now the entire time we were separated I longed for
David's touch and love I still do now at this date after reviewing my words and then my actions I can see why he reacted the way he did on the third day I returned to find that David had reacted with much more restraint than I would have in the same position however I did not believe he Would react at all I loved him but I had talked myself out of having any respect for him I was so wrong to think those things I would have taken all the money in the accounts I would have smeared
his name all over town he only took what was his and did not smear my name to anyone when you were born I knew there was something wrong with me I could feel it I knew it was not my actions that I felt were the problem it was the resulting STDs from my actions I felt sick inside I felt the AIDS was there long before the test revealed it after everything especially my misdeeds I did I could not take you from him you would not have had any sort of life with me I knew that
I was the lowest of the low I was unclean and would never be clean again for the rest of my life for the first time in years I thought of someone other than myself I prayed for the wisdom and strength to do what was right for you and for David during the night I awoke From a dream and knew that if I had any love for you I had to leave you to him I told no one I just acted it was the only way I could show my love for either of you and the
only way to pay David back for being so kind and generous through all all the bad times I would not allow the staff to bring you to me for fear that I would change my mind my heart broke the day I left you in the hospital and moved to another town now I have a small inkling of what I did to David I Was the cause of so much unhappiness I caused my marriage to the most wonderful caring man in the world to implode I only hope that my actions are not too little or too
late to save you and David I did not leave you for any other reason than I loved you and always will to take you with me would have been the unkindest act of all take care of your father and whoever he chooses to replace me if he does remember I will love you until the end of time I will sign this As Tara I put the letter face down on the table she had said much of the same things to me in the letters years ago I thought back to when I read them I recognized
why her words had sounded so familiar when I read them so many years ago they were the words in the notes I wrote to remember how I felt after she left my tears have long since dried the pain is only a small ache and only brought back to memory on a few occasions now Faith and I spoke and Cried until the small hours of the morning when we fell asleep we were holding each other and talking I woke the next morning to find her writing how she felt about all of these new things she had
three pages so far I quietly fixed breakfast as she worked I placed it beside her occasionally she would take a bite as she thought then she went back to writing again around noon she looked up and smiled she put the papers away and we talked as we prepared lunch I heard her say I had a dream last night a small blonde woman came to me in it and said she was to watch over me and guide me she wanted me to know that she would always look over me and be my guardian she would come
to me from time to time when I need help and offer advice it was up to me if I wanted to accept her advice or not I reached into an envelope and placed a picture on the table it was small and yellowed with age Faith glanced down and then screeched That'ss her other than at her birth Faith had never seen Tara before I had locked away all the photos of her to save for a day like today I shared many of them faith and I put our papers away in separate safe places from time to
time we will talk about our feelings when we are alone with each other we now have a greater bond with each other than we had before every now and again faith will come to me and say something like my favorite color is blue what was terce Most time they would have chosen the same answer one night Faith woke up and came to me with a puzzled look on her face I dreamed that Tara came to me and told me to not date Barry tomorrow evening should I cancel the next evening Barry was shot by a
jealous husband because Barry and the man's wife were sneaking around together she was carrying Barry's child Barry lived without his testicles the wife did not another time Tara told Faith to skip School that day there was a small explosion in the science classroom that day it destroyed three desks near where Faith usually sat after Faith finished College Tara told her the man she was fond of would propose soon faith and I talked about it she does love him but wants to wait for a bit to be sure a month later he proposed and Faith told
him how she felt if you ask me the same question at the end of next year the answer will most certainly be yes we Both need to spend a little more time together before we commit he agreed he was afraid he might loose her if he waited you will never loose me as long as we continue the way we are three years later they had the most wondrous wedding Kate Tara and I approved of her choice Faith only dreamed of Tara a few more times after she married two of them were to tell her she
when she was pregnant the last was to warn me I had a small cancer in my lung the doctors Found a tiny lump and removed it a few months later it would have been much more involved shortly after our 50th anniversary Tera appeared to me in a dream to thank me for raising Faith right as she faded out of my dream she told me to take our hope to see the doctor to check up for ovarian cancer she was right hope would have to be happy with her three children Lisa and Faith are still the
best of friends and closer than most sisters as I tell you My story Kate and I are in our upper 90s and still very much in love we have six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren we never did have another child after Roger but every now and again we still try dear listeners please share your thoughts in the comments section below and don't forget to like share and subsscribe
