Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 1

It was a balmy day in late September, almost reminiscent of the day before Hurricane Frederick in 1979. The Gulf of Mexico air was humid, and the seas were eerily calm. Jim, an engineer on a marine freighter, had just finished his shift and was usually bored. He recently began exploring dating websites and chatting with a lady named Leslie. Jim was married, but his home life with Constance had suffered since he was away. He was gone for several weeks and only home for short periods. His wife Constance had run up significant charges on their credit cards for purchasing items she intended to stock in a retail store. They needed extra income for their unique needs child, Jasmine. Jim felt neglected when he was home as Constance was busy with the proposed store and tending to Jasmine's needs. She also began drinking heavily.

Thus began Jim's online chats.

"Hello, this is Leslie," she told Jim."It's good talking to you in person. I don't like online chats."

"How are you?" Jim asked.

"Not well. My husband did before I could get to know him, and I am ready to re-marry."

"Wow, that was blunt," Jim thought.

"So what do you do now," Jim asked.

"I am an RN currently unemployed. My husband did not want me to work."

What happened to your husband?

"He had a heart attack about a year ago."

"I am sorry."

"Thanks. I am ready to move on."

"How far are you from New Orleans?"

"About thirty minutes."

"OK, let's meet in the French Quarter next week."

"Sounds good."

They made arrangements where to meet. Leslie continued talking about her work experience to the point where it was almost overwhelming to Jim. This trip would be a life changer as they became more instrumental in developing a solid relationship. When Jim returned onshore, he immediately met Leslie in New Orleans.

When Jim returned home, Constance sensed coolness in their conversations. She felt that Jim had been unhappy for a while.

Bob was an old lover of Constance's before she married Jim. She adored Bob, but he would not commit as she wanted a child, and he did not. So Constance married Jim. They stayed in touch over the years and spoke more frequently lately as she was concerned about her marriage. She called Bob when Jim went back to sea.

"Hello, Bob."

"Hello sugar, how are you and Jasmine."

"Jasmine is fine, but I am not doing well."

"What is it?"

"Jim has had an attitude for a while now. I think he has another woman."

"I told you that you should leave him a long time ago. He has never treated you well."

"I would not have married him except I wanted a child, and you did not."

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"I know. I am sorry about that."

"If you guys need a place to stay, my door is always open."

After Jim and Leslie met, Jim asked Constance about a divorce. She agreed. She was devastated. She told him she loved him and did not want the divorce. She gave him a piece of property that was willed to her by her family and even reduced the amount of support for Jasmine handed down from the court. Jim and Leslie ultimately married, and Constance moved in with Bob. She had custody of Jasmine. Leslie resented the fact that Constance had custody of Jasmine because of her drinking. A war broke out between the two, which is difficult to describe.

Bob had accumulated a small fortune in rental properties since Constance had tied up with him years earlier, so Constance assisted him with rentals. The rental properties were in disarray. He had no mortgages, so rental income was not an issue. The renters were supposed to provide labor instead of rent to upkeep the units, but they were not doing it. Constance purchased some retail inventory and used some of his facilities for storage. She still had yet to open a store.

Now enters Edmund. He was a retired marine with a landscape business, providing labor trees and plants. Bob remodeled a unit so Constance's daughter Jasmine would have a place of her own.

Edmund, working closely with Constance, soon developed a crush on her. It was evident to Bob that Edmund had feelings for her, but he did not let on. Bob was quite overweight and in ill health and died without notice.

The body was not cold yet when Edmund approached her.

"Now that Bob is dead, you can move in with me."

"What?" Look at all the places I can live. My place is just fine, thank you."

"Well, I know you like me, and I like you."

"Look, we can never be more than friends, so get over it."

Edmund did not take this brush off well and began stalking her. He continued his quest to get in Constance's good graces.

When Constance found out Bob had no blood relatives, he willed all his properties and savings to her: fifteen properties, twenty-six renters, and 250,000.00 in a 401 (k) fund. She became overwhelmed, and her drinking became worse. To cope, she began selling off properties, went on a spending binge, and ignored the things necessary to maintain the properties.

Eventually, she reduced the properties to four, including the plantation home she enjoyed with Bob when he was alive. However, again, she had no value for money and quickly spent Bob's inheritance.

Edmund still stalked and pressured her into romantic episodes, but she still considered him a friend and bought him gifts. On the one hand, she hated him, but on the other, she befriended him.

Remember the unit fixed up for Jasmine? She spent 50,000.00 on plants and bought them from Edmund. In addition, she had not filed a tax return in four years. She now began to panic, reality set in, and her drinking worsened. Her ex-husband Jim and Leslie are gravely concerned about her drinking and fear for the welfare of Jasmine.

Jasmine frequently stayed with her dad and stepmother and told her dad and Leslie that she and her mother often spent the night in Edmund's house and even slept in the same bed, apparently when the mother was on one of her drinking binges. Constance had been friendly to Leslie and frequently bought her gifts. Remember, Leslie resented Constance for gaining custody of Jasmine. It may be true that she also wanted the 3000.00 per month disability check that Constance got for Jasmine. Leslie developed a plan to gain custody of Jasmine.

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