The Best Birthday Present Ever!

Deborah looked at her, sympathy and anger crowding her mind: "No, he was shot in the chest, twice, at 11am this morning."

Under other circumstances the double take on Julie's face would have been comical. But now? It was pure pathos as she struggled to understand the implications of what she was hearing.

"But that's the same time as Ted shot... the bank robber? Oh, Jesus! It was my Jakey? Robbing the bank? But why? We don't have any financial problems! Why did he do it?"

Deborah glanced away, then returned her gaze to the young woman in front of her who was slowly crumbling before her eyes. "You poor bitch!" she thought. "You're still just a kid and you don't have the faintest idea what you did!"

"Julie, Jake did not rob the bank. He just set up a confrontation between himself and Ted, so that Ted would have to shoot him."

Julie started to bawl. "Why? Why would he do that?"

"Jake found out about your affair with Ted. Here. Read this letter that Jake wrote to you."

With a trembling hand, Julie took the letter; she read it with a look of mounting horror. "But ... it wasn't true! None of it! I never intended to run away with Ted to California! That was just like an affair talk fantasy! I'd never have done that to my Jakey! Never!"

"But you did make him suck you clean of your lover's sperm, didn't you? So why would Jake doubt that you wouldn't dump him for Ted and run away with him, huh?"

Julie's face drained of colour. "Oh my God. I just realised what I have done. I killed my Jakey! My kind, beautiful lovely husband. I killed him. If only he hadn't heard what I said! Because I never meant a word of it! Oh, God! My sister was right! My husband is dead and it is because of me! Oh, Christ! Poor Ted! When he finds out, I don't know what he'll do!"

What Ted did do was three years, plus another three on probation on a plea bargain deal. The DA knew she'd never get a homicide conviction for what Ted did, but she did manage to get a conviction for involuntary manslaughter.

His uncle fired him and he also fired Julie. He had a special place in his heart for people who had served their country and another special place for people who had betrayed them.

After Jake's military funeral (which Jake's family had her barred from) Julie sold their house, left town and eventually got a job with a different banking outfit.

Julie hasn't kept in touch with Ted, nor has she dated anyone and has no plans to do so. She hardly ever hears from her sister Pat or her mother.

Julie lives by herself. She already has some grey hairs and is contemplating buying a cat, "just for the company."