Transitions by Mike Hormek - HTML preview

Chapter 3

Constance decides to find an apartment farther south in Louisiana and now needs to advertise for a caretaker on the plantation. She is still deciding how to handle the four renters on the property.

After interviewing several candidates, Constance settled on one, Marvin. He seemed to be a likable guy, although she did not perform a background check on him. Marvin would have free lodging in return for taking care of the property. He would only pay for utilities. In addition, he has high-tech skills that may help her set up a website. She could probably get rid of some of the retail inventory in storage.

Meanwhile, Constance's lawyer has informed Edmund's lawyer of the judge's decision.

Constance has ignored the non-communication order and has called Edmund, who tells her he blames her for his arrest. She tells him she thinks he is innocent because Jasmine recanted her story.

Constance finds an apartment and moves outside the 50-mile perimeter but continues to visit Marvin against the court order, supervising the onsite activities they agreed Marvin should do. She feels the judge decreed a gray area concerning whether she could see her home. In addition, Constance needs Marvin's help developing a website. She has no money, so she tells Marvin she will quit claiming a piece of property worth around twenty-five thousand for his additional services. Constance finds out he has several high-tech skills. Again, she needs to gain a sense of value regarding money or property.

Alcohol has pickled her brain over the years.

When they moved into their apartment, they had no furniture, so they slept on the floor on makeshift beds. The apartment was a duplex. Their new neighbors, Jack and Marie, came over and introduced themselves. They immediately like each other, and Constance tells them she will leave a key attached with a magnet to the a/c unit outside the apartment. As time goes on, Constance accuses Jack of stealing various things, including a naked photo, which she says was on her refrigerator. However, she leaves the keys available and still visits them regularly. They both deny the thefts. She finds things missing and other things happening, leading her to believe Edmund is still stalking her. She is sure of it.

Constance and Marvin begin a relationship that's hard to explain. She relies on him to care for the property and help her develop the website. He wants sexual favors, which Constance rejects.

Because of her investment in him now, she reluctantly agrees to his sexual advances. After several months, she confronts him, saying he has not fulfilled his obligations. He pays the power bill but does little else. Now, at this time, Marvin turns on her. She informs him that he must move and she will sue him. He tells her it's his place now, and he is not moving. She lunges at him, and he pushes her backward. She lands on a coffee table, and she injures her back. She immediately leaves and goes to the ER for treatment. The next day, she goes to the police department to file assault charges. They informed her she could not do it because Marvin had already filed a harassment charge against her. It would turn out that she would again confront him, resulting in a second harassment charge against her and landing her in jail more than once. Her drinking has left scar tissue on her brain. She now accuses him of stealing several rounds of ammo and several items which she left in the house.

She claims up to fifty thousand dollars in thefts. She also sees Marvin with a girlfriend in the house, giving the girlfriend several pieces of clothing she owns. It would take eighteen months to get the courts to remove him. The court and lawyer costs were piling up. Her paranoia prompts her to leave a significant sum of money with a bonding company in case of further arrests.

Strange things were happening in her car and her house. She blames Edmund for this, although she still speaks to and visits him in violation of the court order.

"Hello, Edmund, how are you?"

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"Yeah, how do you think I am?''

"I am sorry the way things turned out."

"You should be. It's all your fault."

"Why would you say that?"

"You brought a needy child in harm's way, and she said I molested her."

" I don't think you are guilty, but we trusted you."

"Your family did not see it that way."

"In the first place, Leslie coerced Jasmine into accusing you, and she recanted the accusation."

" I don't care. I will add you to the lawsuit."

"I am sorry you feel that way."

"Have a good day," Edmund replied and hung up.

Speaking of the court order, she still has not joined Alcoholics Anonymous. Jim and Leslie continue to try to get visitation, but she refuses. Lawyers are getting fed up with the lack of payment.

Constance tells Jim to contact the guardian, but she is nowhere to be found, so nobody knows what is happening. Edmund is still waiting for the rape kit. She is getting letters that her properties are up for a sheriff's sale. IRS is on her case for non-payment of taxes. What is one to do? She continues on her drinking binges for several days, neglecting Jasmine the nourishment she needs. Constance needs a miracle. Her entire life is spiraling out of control.

Constance noticed a tag on Leslie's car during all this. She saw it said RN of Louisiana. Having a curious mind, Constance decided to investigate the nurse registration roster. Leslie was not only in the registry; she needed credentials to be a nurse. The state nursing agency confirmed this. More digging uncovered that she worked for a doctor under the auspices of an RN. She was a fake nurse, and the doctor had to close his practice and move to prevent a lawsuit. In addition, Constance found out Leslie had been married three times, and they all died under mysterious circumstances. Her last husband left her over one hundred thousand dollars, and she and Jim bought a new house and started a vending route.

Constance could contact the third husband's daughter, and boy, did she lay it out. She said she witnessed Leslie snorting dope. Her father was ill and in the care of Leslie, who was supposed to dispense medication regularly. The daughter felt Leslie intentionally withheld the medicines. When her father died, Leslie did not inform her of the death for two weeks. So Leslie had the body cremated and buried the ashes in her backyard. The daughter had to get a court order to get the remains and prepare a proper burial. So Leslie is a fake nurse.

Constance needs a miracle. It was a hot, humid day in south Louisiana when she met Steven in a park while walking her dog. He was a retired electronics technician who worked and retired from the space industry and was a widower. She liked that he was a good listener and seemed interested in what she had to say. He never met a stranger he did not like. They seemed to hit it off, and she unloaded all her problems. He felt that Jasmine was lonesome and needed more human interaction. After a lengthy discussion, Stephen invited them both over for lunch and said he could help her with the delinquent taxes on her properties. She agreed to quit claiming the properties, and Stephen would return them when she paid the money back. "What's in this for me?" he would ask. She replied that she would create a trust for Jasmine and add Steven's daughter. Steven would be a trustee. There was rental income and significantly more income potential. She wanted him to be her property manager and help evict Marvin. There was no discussion regarding remuneration. She did not bring up the age difference between them.

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