Betsy - Reawakened Ch. 03

© 2019, All rights reserved -- mimaster

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Betsy was still on her couch, staring out the front windows behind it. The beige curtains were pulled wide open, the sheer white panels behind them pulled halfway. She was looking down the street, waiting... hoping.

She'd been there for over an hour, her thoughts scattered and random. The breeze felt good on her bare skin. It was like she'd gone back in time, recalling the days she when was a much younger mother with only one child. It felt good to be naked in the middle of the day. Especially with the curtains pulled wide and the front door open. She knew she couldn't be seen; not with the couch in the way. With it being so bright outside, she could walk around the house without a care. She knew because she'd gone outside to confirm it before she took off her silky robe.

She'd taking things a step further, deciding to wear a pair of heels. It was so unlike her to walk around the house in shoes. That was one of her strictest rules with her family. If you came into the house, the shoes had to come off. She tired of cleaning floors and carpets and with it being a new home, she was setting a new code to follow.

That rule had been in existence for a while, though. She'd put it in place in their first new home. But with the red clay in the area of where they lived now, it was even more important to reinforce it, daily if she had to.

It wasn't as hard as she made it out to be. After all, there was one less person in the house, Gene having left for college two years before and not returning home during his sophomore summer because he'd gotten a job on campus. There wasn't much she could say about it since she'd done the same thing, doing it her freshman year.

Darren was once again on the road, although not as much as he used to be. It was one of the weeks he was gone, though. She was hoping he'd be arriving back soon, long before Neil came home on the school bus in a few hours.

Her light silk robe was the only escape if someone came by but it was across the room, draped over the back of a chair deliberately. She'd done things differently than when she'd practiced this ritual before Neil was born. It had been over twelve years since she'd masturbated in the middle of the day. It felt like she was practicing a lost art, and the resulting orgasm seemed like a long-lost friend coming to visit. It was good. It was something she needed to take the edge off what had been bothering her. Now she was basking in the rays of the sun that shining through the window, the afterglow of that orgasm bringing her some peace.

She'd just flipped over the album she was listening to, Here Comes the Sun playing through the stereo speakers. A big burst of wind came through the screens covering the open windows, blowing the sheer panels like sails on a boat. With the stiff breeze came more of that now familiar scent, the blooming honeysuckle making her sigh. It was one of the things she loved about her new house and the area they'd moved to.

"Moving," she laughed; thinking of the most recent one, and how it appeared so much easier. It was a strange thought, since they had so much more stuff; the accumulation of possessions over her length of her marriage seemed enormous. It was a long way from the meager beginnings when she and Darren were first starting out together.

Indeed, this move, from house to house across town had been relatively easy. It was similar to when the moved from the first house they ever rented to the new home they'd had built so many years before. They barely seemed like moves at all. Not when compared to what she referred to as the move.

The move was a testament to the American way, and how hard work, sacrifice and perseverance could be rewarded. The circumstances of success can show up at your doorstep in various ways, however. Sometimes, as hard as it was to believe, those circumstances could be tragic.

Like a trigger, just thinking of the move brought her mind to another time and place. Lost on the plush cushion she began to daydream again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Betsy could remember it like it just happened. She'd just finished clearing the table after dinner. It was a Friday evening and she'd expected Darren home to eat. That he hadn't shown up wasn't all that unusual. Because of his traveling, there never seemed to be a set schedule when it came to him. But for her and the kids, it was set in stone. Dinner was at 6:00 PM sharp. Gene could recite his mother's mantra as if it were etched on the kitchen wall.

If you're late, there's no plate.

It was Betsy's way of letting her kids know there was no excuse to be late for dinner. If they were one-minute past six, they didn't get to eat that night. And she was serious about it. It might have been harsh but it set the tone. It happened to Gene only the one time, and he was quick to point out to his younger brother not to make the same mistake, because she meant what she said. The only one that was exempt from the rule was their Dad, for obvious reasons.

So it was that when he showed up at seven, Betsy gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, "There's a plate for you on the stove. It's still warm."

She knew right away when he said he wasn't hungry that something was wrong. Seriously wrong. The ashen look on his face gave it away.

"Darren, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Not now Betsy. We'll talk later, away from the kids."

She'd never heard him say anything like that before, at least not in the way that he had said it. Certainly, there were things they didn't share around their children, but this seemed different. He was cordial to the boys when they greeted him, but she knew right away he was in no mood to socialize with them. That was the sign that she needed to step in, because it was so out of character for him.

"Gene, why don't you take your brother down to the park for a while?" she asked.

"Aw, Mom... I was going to go over to Mike's and play ball."

"Well, I need you to do this for me please." He was a sharp kid, and when her eyes darted quickly toward his father, seeing him stare blankly at the window, he knew he needed to do as he was told.

Thinking of what a thirteen-year-old could do with his five-year-old brother, he said, "Okay... come on, Neil. Let's go play on the swings."

With the boys gone, she sank to the floor in front of her husband, resting on her lower legs in an almost obedient pose. She looked up at him. Her hands went to his thighs, bringing his gaze to her.

"Sweetie, what's going on?"

"Earl Swanson died," he said bluntly, as if hearing it out loud as a statement might make him believe it actually happened.

"What! Earl? Really?"

"Yeah. Yesterday."

"Oh my god... what happened?" she asked, beginning to tremble.

"Car accident. He ran a red light... got broadsided by a truck outside of Philadelphia. He was on his way home."

"Oh my god! June... the girls!" she cried out in shock. Hearing he was heading home to his family made everything become real and she started to tear up.

"I know. They're trying to do what they can for her from here to help. Emma has been on the phone all day. Insurance, funeral home, airlines... hell, she even called the schools for June." Shaking his head, he had a bit of a smile, which was certainly from the shock of it all. "It's amazing all the things she's been able to get done from here."

"Oh my god... this is all so unbelievable."

Just as suddenly, his mood turned. Darren slammed his fist into the arm of the chair as hard as he could.

"DAMN FOOL! HE ALWAYS DRIVES TOO FUCKING FAST!"

With that, he burst into tears, mourning the shocking loss of one of his friends; a close friend. A friend he started on the job with. He was the co-worker who received a promotion over him just a year before, and deservedly so. After all, he'd earned it in Darren's eyes.

With that promotion, Earl had been transferred to Northern Virginia. He had been assigned to run the Eastern district warehouse; a terminal of sorts for the drivers on the East Coast to load their trucks and make their deliveries. The main plant would ship product to the warehouse and it would be routed to the smaller trucks for individual delivery.

Earl was in charge of the nine guys that worked for him. Instead of driving his own route, he would work out of the office two weeks a month, and the other two he would hit the road in his company car, seeing existing customers, making sure everything was going smoothly. It was part of the customer service model that made their company, Beck Manufacturing, so strong. While June dreaded having to leave their home in Indiana, she was thrilled to have her husband home more often.

Betsy remembered when Darren had been passed over for the job. While she was disappointed for him, and a bit for herself, she was glad for Earl, knowing he'd worked hard for the job. And she also a bit envious of June, thinking about how much she wished she would have more time with her husband, who was still going to be stuck in a job where he traveled fifty weeks a year. But she was thankful she didn't have to leave the Midwest, moving further from family. Hell, it was already five hours to her parent's house. Virginia would have been more like fourteen.

She shared the tears with Darren. While she and June weren't close, the devastation of the loss was profound. June was a mother with three daughters, one of them close to Gene's age, the twins being a couple years younger. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for her, and wonder what she must be going through. It hit home. All those times sitting at home, knowing your husband was on the road, working hard to provide for his family. It never crossed her mind that something tragic could happen and he might not come back. While it wasn't a dangerous job by any stretch, this was a stark reminder that life was precious and you should never take anything for granted.

She let Darren get his emotions out, resting her head on his leg as she sat silently at his feet. Eventually he calmed down, sighing heavily. He shook his head quickly, like he was bringing himself out of a deep sleep. If only it were all just a bad dream.

Gathering his focus, he moved on with his thoughts. Earl's passing was just the beginning of a horrific afternoon when he returned to the plant. First there was the shock of the news, and then the many meetings that followed. Most were impromptu to deal with the immediate needs of June and the girls; some were more structured as company management scrambled to circle the wagons. It was organized chaos, but Beck Manufacturing was run like a family, because in the eyes of the owner, Donald Beck, it was.

Donald was the president of the company, having taken over from his father, Ernie, who was now the CEO. Ernie had founded the company, wanting to build a family legacy. And by family, he didn't just mean blood relatives. He meant an extended family, including the surrounding community. He had a vision, hiring quality people that shared his principles, Darren and Earl being two of them. Donald had continued that proud tradition, the company growing threefold since he'd assumed the reigns. Outside of the local college, it was the largest employer in the town. Donald had hopes of someday doing the same thing his father had done, planning to pass the torch on to his oldest son Geoffrey when the time was right. But that was years away.

Through the company, the Beck's had become a wealthy family, the success of their business built on quality and strong customer service. It was also built on the idea that if you take care of those who take care of you, the more success everyone will have. In that vein, they looked after their own. That was why Donald was working closely with Emma Walters, his executive secretary, to help out June and her girls in whatever way they could.

"They're flying the families out," Darren finally said in a moment of clarity, his eyes reddened from his release of emotions.

"The families?"

"June and Earl's parents... and siblings. They're having the funeral out there. There's a lot on their plate right now. Don basically gave Emma a blank check. Told her to spare no expense... if June needs it, she'll get it for her."

"That's incredible. Donald is such a wonderful man."

"Yeah... he is. But he also has a business to run."

"What's that mean?"

"It means that as heartless as it sounds, decisions needed to be made to keep the company going. This is tragic, but life doesn't stop."

"What... what are you saying, sweetheart?"

"I'm saying that while Emma is taking care of the immediate needs of the families involved, Don is making sure that the bigger picture is also being looked after. It... it's hard to explain. This is all so difficult. It's so --"

"Tragic."

"Yeah. I miss him so much already. Hell, I haven't seen him in six months since our last business conference, and now..."

"I know sweetie, I know," she comforted, patting him on his knee.

His hand went to her head, slowly running his fingers over her long, brunette hair. They were sharing their love in a moment of loss. And it strengthened him to tell her what he needed to share.

"Don wants me to go."

"Go? Go where?"

"He's offered me Earl's position."

"He wants us to move?"

"It's more like he needs us to, Bets. That district was just starting to come into its own. With Earl gone... well... let's just say he's worried."

"Darren, this is so... fast, isn't it?"

"Guys in his position don't get where they are by shying away from tough decisions, Betsy. They make bold ones, even in the darkest of times. It's like being a General. You have to assess not only the damage being done, you have to mitigate what might be done down the line. It's all about seeing ahead. Trust me... I'm sure this is the last thing he hoped to be doing today. But he had all night to sleep on it, if he even slept. And he thinks this is the best option."

She knew Darren was just being honest with her. And his Army analogy made since. He'd served during the Korean War. He knew all too well that those in charge had to make the most difficult decisions when no one else could, or would. Donald was only doing what he had to do for the survival of the company, and all those that were still working for it.

"Well, how will that even work?"

"They're still working out the details, but I have to let him know by tomorrow. I can't keep him on hold. There are too many things up in the air right now. This is one he needs to nail down pretty quick. He asked if he can count on us... I think you know what he's expecting."

"I trust that it means more for us."

"I don't want to think about that right now, honey. I just lost a friend. It seems crass to think about our benefiting financially from it."

"I know it does. But you have to admit that this is an unusual circumstance. I'm not asking for details, but Donald is asking us to uproot the kids and move on a whim and a promise."

"No, he's asking us to do it on a promise and a handshake, just like Ernie did when he hired me. And I trust he'll live up to his end of the deal, just like his Dad."

"You're right. I know you're right. I'm just..." She stopped, unable to finish her thought. It was all too devastating to fully grasp.

Darren stroked her hair again, offering a supportive sigh. "I know sweetie. I am too."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The actual logistics of the move weren't really that complicated, at least from a simplistic point of view. The company took care of the bigger details. Emma handled most of the actual responsibilities, setting up the moving company and arranging hotel accommodations for them to stay until their possessions arrived. Donald had the company lawyers handling the more cumbersome obstacles that arose during the transition.

The first among those was actual living arrangements. While the company had no obligation to do anything specific for Earl's family upon his death, Donald felt compelled to act. The company paid for June and the girls to move back to Indiana so she could be with her family. She needed her parents help dealing with her loss, and the girls certainly deserved an opportunity to be nearer their grandparents in that time of need. In doing so, he also agreed to help her sell their home and to find them a place to live in their old home town.

It was actually Betsy who came up with the idea. With the two families basically exchanging places, she wondered aloud one day early on why they didn't just switch homes. After all, she and Darren had only been living in theirs six months, having just built it. And she was certain that the Swanson home in Virginia would be nice enough to live in until they found a place of their own.

With June agreeing, Donald arranged to make the transition as smooth as possible. The company bought both homes. He agreed to offer the Thomas home to her. Because of the legal requirements of having to categorize it as a rental property owned by a corporation, he was forced to charge her rent. So, he came up with the outrageous amount of one dollar a month. He told her that she and the girls could stay there as long as she liked, and she should feel no pressure or guilt over the amount.

As for the house in Virginia, Donald felt strongly about how Darren and Betsy were stepping up to help the company in a time of crisis. He knew he was basically forcing Darren's hand, leaving little choice in the decision. Because of that he felt passionately about making sure he took care not only of their immediate needs, but also of those in the next few years. He stated unequivocally that he wasn't in the business of being a landlord. He was willing to do it for June because of the extreme hardship they were going to face. But he also knew he was asking the Thomas family to sacrifice, and he needed to make that right.

So it was that Beck Manufacturing bought the house in Virginia. He struck a deal with Darren, telling them they could stay there for the same cost per year he was charging June, but there was a time limit. He was going to give them five years to get themselves entrenched in the area, hoping that would stabilize the situation. He wanted the Eastern District office managed for the future. This wasn't some short-term fix to stop a hole in the dam. This was his way of building a new one to keep the floodwaters at bay.

It was hard to turn down. Darren would be on the road far less than he had been. He'd be gone two weeks a month instead of four. It was a lot of responsibility, but it was also a lot more money. Not having to make a house payment for five years made that raise seem even more significant.

The complicated part of moving was the kids; specifically, Gene. He was angry at first about having to leave the only place he knew as home. He was leaving his school and his friends. He was leaving his baseball team, which he loved. In his mind he was leaving everything. That's the way of the world when you're thirteen. He was just starting to notice girls... the whole thing seemed so unfair.

Neil could have cared less. Yes, he was leaving the same things, save the notion of girls. But at five... soon to be six, his was a smaller world. One that was more adaptable than that of a teenager.

That first year was tumultuous. With Darren trying to establish himself, he worked long hours on the weeks he wasn't on the road. But at least he was home at night, albeit late most of the time. Betsy focused all of her energy on her kids during the week, giving as much of herself as she could. It was a protective instinct, wanting to help them in any way to adapt to their new environment. And living in the South was a big adjustment. The people were friendly enough, but many viewed them as outsiders.