Young Widow Bounces Back

Chapter 1

After the funeral and the last visitors had left, Helen Nelson sat with her three daughters and told husband Harry to fetch drinks.

Helen held the hand of her youngest red-eyed and newly widowed Carrie Lamb.

Across from them sat Beth Nichols, happily married to a surgeon, and Debbie Muir, who'd become happily wealthy after being divorced by a marauding older attorney who'd discovered the enormous appeal, in one way in particular, of very fit and agile younger females.

It was rumored Debbie was bedding a new man every week but when asked about that by Beth, she'd laughed dismissively and said she wished.

Debbie, taking a white wine from her father said, "Carrie, will you keep the name Lamb or revert to your maiden name?"

Carrie's answer was to burst into tears. She took the wine from Harry and swallowed it in two gulps.

Harry looked disapprovingly because it was a top wine from his cellar but his wife told him to shut up although he hadn't said anything.

He retaliated by serving Beth her wine and attending to Carrie's empty glass before serving his wife and earning a so-called withering glare.

Harry of course was impervious to that evil look. as most guys usually are who've live in a house dominated by females and survive by becoming... well impervious.

Carrie had left home four months earlier after her wedding. Debs had been gone four years but usually visited two or three times a week. Although Beth had frequently spent nights away with Bruce while waiting for his wife to vacate the house and their marriage to be dissolved, it had been eighteen months since she vacated the family home in preparation to live with Bruce and his parents before accomplishing her much-delayed arrival at the altar.

Helen said, dabbing Carrie's eyes with a handkerchief, "Carrie will plan her life without Alan with our help, when she feels ready for that."

"Yes, and I'll assist because coming out of the other side of a divorce is somewhat similar to what Carrie is experiencing," Debs said. "I have that experience to call on."

Her mother snorted, "I fail to see how seeking comfort in the arms of multiple men is a likely avenue for Carrie."

"Mother, never have I confessed to being involved in groupies."

"You know what I mean Debbie. People are saying you are having two new male callers a week."

"Dad are you going to stand by and allow your wife to besmirch the name of your favorite daughter?"

"I have no favorites with my daughter and I'm sitting here to enjoy my wine, hopefully in peace. All I can say is show me one rumor that has proved to be true."

"Yeah, try showing me a rumor," Debs snapped. "I can tell you Carrie, is show a bit of leg and you'll have guys coming out of the woodwork at you, and not all will be married."

"Debbie!"

"Well mom, obviously you feel I don't fit in here so I'm going."

"Debbie, sit down instantly. Carrie needs our support."

"Okay mom. Dad get me another wine."

"Get it yourself."

Each Sunday for the next four weeks, Beth and Debs visited Carrie at 11:00 for a couple of wines and then stayed for lunch with their parents and grieving 29-year-old sister who appeared to be losing weight as well as her bloom. She seemed to cry at every opportunity, especially at Debbie's' unsympathetic comments.

At that fourth lunch gathering, Helen whispered to Beth and Debbie (Helen rarely called her Debs like the others did) to meet her at the garden center for coffee at 3:00 and said, "It is not right a widow should weep for so long. I've consulted Dr Rice and she said it should stop eventually."

Over the coffee cups, Debs said, "She needs a good poke by a man. That will fix her."

"Leave her mom," Beth hastened to intervene. "You know she's just winding you up."

"Please behave yourself Debbie or leave."

Debbie rose to leave but her stressed mom roared at her to sit down, startling other coffee drinkers.

Mother and daughters agreed this was out of character for Carrie, the really good-looker of the family with more ability and more personality than almost all of them put together.

"There was a time we called her our high-flier but now she's crashed," Beth sniffed, dabbing at her eyes.

"Oh god don't start me off," Helen said, sniffing while Debbie said, "God, what's wrong with you women? You have to learn to toughen up."

"Thanks for your sympathy Debbie," her mom wept and Debbie displaying guilt, raced to hug her.

"Weren't we here to discuss our weeping widow rather than to stew in our own despair?" Beth asked and sighed "Oh God" and joined in the hugging of their mother who by then was heaving with sobs.

Debbie went into the café and returned to their outside table with a bottle of wine and three glasses. In time, two bottles of wine had settled the three of them.

"Perhaps you and dad should take Carrie for a week at a resort."

"Bad idea Beth; she'll spend her time weeping at the honeymooners," Debbie said. "Remember she and Alan went to a resort for their honeymoon."

Their mother sighed, "Instead of being negative about everything we suggest Debbie, come up with a worthwhile suggestion."

"Well, first let's try to analyze why our bright-as-a-button sister, your daughter, is a weeping widow, Debbie said cheerfully, taking up the challenge. "She didn't really like Alan."

Helen and Beth looked horrified and Helen said grimly, "You better justify that comment young lady or risk really being offside with me."

"Oh ho, whoa mother; you and whose army? I've knocked more than a couple guys down in my time. If you must know, Carrie told indicated that when they returned from their honeymoon. She said she'd rushed into marriage only to find Alan was a bit of a bore and rather unspectacular in bed."

Looking bewildered Helen asked how could a young man be unspectacular in bed. They became that way when they grew older.

The sisters exchanged glances with raised eyebrows, wondering if they were learning something about their father.

Beth said, "Mom, it could mean he lacks endurance, or lack variety or lacks the ability to excite his partner."

"Or is prone to premature ejaculation," Debbie said and the three of them smothered their smutty laughter.

"I pushed to find out what really was wrong with Alan, but Carrie buttoned up as if thinking she'd said more than enough already."

"Or was talking to the wrong sister," Beth said smugly.

"Bitch."

"Please behave yourselves girls. So, does that end your contribution Debbie?"

"No, it doesn't and be prepared to be shocked about this."

Helen looked uneasy while Beth learned forward eagerly.

"We know Alan was electrocuted when he was raising the metal extension of a window cleaning brush and touched overhead power lines. We know Carrie was away from home at the time but why, and so it's reasonable to ask what was she doing?"

"She told the investigators she was out window-shopping and that was accepted. But I wonder about that. Carrie out window-shopping is something I'm not aware she's ever done before that fatal day. She's too positive for that. Carrie decides what she wants to buy and goes out and buys it."

"With this on-going grief of hers, I now suspect guilt and I wonder was she out seeing an old boyfriend to reconnect with sexual excitement."

"Mom?" said Beth.

Gulping in air, Helen said, "My mind won't accept that theory."

Beth said well she thought Debbie could have stumbled on to something. "It's worth checking out."

"But how?"

Debbie said very seriously, "By getting your youngest into a situation where she might confess guilt. If we ask her straight out, she'll lie."

Helen said, "I still can't see why you came up with this theory."

"Because I was searching for a reason why our strong-willed and usually effervescence sister would be so engulfed in grief. When I began searching for possibilities, I began to think was it might be massive guilt arising from not been at the scene when her husband died?"

Helen stood and said she couldn't stay listening to such wild accusation against Carrie.

"Okay go. I'll stay here for a while with Beth. Mom, I want you and dad out of the house next weekend. Beth and I will come and stay with Carrie."

"No, oh god no. I'm not becoming involved in a conspiracy against my own daughter."

"Fine, then I'll tell dad about my suspicions... he'll beat a confession out of her."

"That's rubbish and you know it."

"Mom, when dad loses it he really loses it and you know that."

"Oh god, this is dreadful. I..."

"You are behaving unreasonably mom. This involves possible extreme guilt. Even if I am correct with my theory, Carrie hasn't committed a crime by allowing some guy to get a leg across her."

"Can't you see... she confesses and the healing process begins with the assistance of her closest loved ones. Oh, another thing. Why hasn't she visited her former in-laws since the funeral although Mrs Lamb has called twice to visit Carrie?"

"Oh god, and on both occasions when Verna called, Carrie wept excessively."

"Is that so? I didn't know that mom. Just keep calm over this. If it's mishandled Carrie could run off and even do something to herself. I'm suggesting mom that you force yourself to behave rationally."

"Yes I understand Debbie. I can't believe you are being so mature over this."

Beth said, "Well she's no spring chicken mom. She's thirty-six."

"Bitch."

"Please girls, be lovely to one another. You father and I will visit my parents this weekend. We are overdue for a visit and I can't imagine Carrie wanting to come with us and being cooped up in that small house."

The sisters watched Helen walk away.

"God you were rough on her," Beth said. "She looks like a battered woman."

"Yes, and what do you expect? You're almost as over-emotional as mom."

"Yeah, little wonder most guys have always been a bit scared of you. If you had enlisted in the Army, they would have placed you in the Marines, you cold-ass bitch."

"Oh darling. Don't get too excessive with your accolades."

* * *

Saturday went as planned. Beth's husband Rick dropped her off at her parent's place at 8:40 on his way to golf and that allowed her parents to leave. That gave Beth three hours to keep Carrie calm and to talk about was she ready to settle into her changed status.

"Yes. I will revert back to being Carrie Nelson and will have to get various papers and authorities changed. I discussed that with our attorney and he suggested I wait until the estate settled before I did that to eliminate the possibility of any complications in legalities, as in effect a name change makes me two people during the transitional period."

"What legal complications."

"Alan's parents contesting the will."

"Jesus, does your attorney think they will?"

"He said probably no but said one never knows when it will happen. He advised I should carefully consider any reasonable request his parents make."

"Wow, I thought what was Alan's and yours would simply become yours?"

"Apparently, most things in law are more legally contestable that what most people think."

Beth said, "I'm saying this in the nicest possible way. You haven't wept in all the time I've been here. Are you feeling better?"

"Each day I feel a little better. I cry more when mom's around. She seems to pressure me by attempting to be nice to me."

"Oh, it's a pity she's not more like Debs."

"Yeah, one never expects sympathy from her; at times Debs can be such a cow. Mom said she was staying here as well."

"She'll arrive around noon and bring hot food."

Debbie arrive at 12:15, carrying in several dishes. The sisters kissed and Debbie tickled Carrie under the chin and said, "You are looking better kiddo... more relaxed without the folk being overly-sympathetic?"

Carrie glanced at Beth and sighed, "You are so right."

Debbie smiled. "Look we have the choice of staying home and getting drunk or going out tonight for dinner and then going to a night club to see if we can pull in three guys and make a real night of it. I never have difficulty finding guys on the prowl at clubs."

"You mean sex," Beth asked horrified.

"What you do with your guys is over to you two. Occasionally, one may find a guy who really knows how to talk."

"No not that; I'd rather stay home, even by myself if you two wish to go whoring."

Beth glared at Carrie.

"You were excluding me from that activity, I hope?"

"Yeah and why not although I guess technically it's not whoring? We both know Debs always was overly eager for sex."

"Are you missing..."

Debbie stopped catching the frown from Beth. She brushed an imaginary insect off her cheek and excluded mentioning Alan by saying, "Are you missing, err, a social life"?

"Not yet."

"Well serve this food while it's hot. I have five bottles of sparking wine to fetch from the car. Let's behave like adult sisters who like to enjoy yarning over a glass of wine."

"Okay," Carrie said.

Debbie smirked at Beth, being just behind Carrie. The smirk signaled everything was going to plan. By switching chairs, taking turns to make telephone calls and going out to the kitchen to make snacks, Debbie and Beth hoped to consume much less wine than Carrie and not to allow Carrie to notice that deception.

Just before 5:00 when Carrie toppled over coming back from the bathroom and laughing as she climbed to her feet saying she was drunk, Beth and Debbie both said they were unsteady but they were having fun.

As they settled down with filled glasses beside them, Debbie told a coarse joke about a housewife telling a friend she got the most sex when sweeping the kitchen floor because her husband came up behind her when she was using the dustpan and hand brush. As their laughter died, Debbie looked straight at Carrie and asked, "Exactly where were you at the time Alan died?"

"With Trevor Hunt. Why? Ohmigod, what am I saying?"

As arranged Beth said, "It's no big deal Carrie. We're your sisters, your loving sisters. You may as well tell us."

Carrie had burst into tears and Beth was over to her quickly, taking her into her arms and stroking her cheek.

Debbie stayed sitting opposite, keeping the inquiry running. "Nothing so terribly wrong about that."

Carrie sobbed. "If I had been home with Alan, the accident might not have happened."

"Bullshit. It was late afternoon. You would have been inside getting dinner ready."

"Do you think so?"

"I know so. What time do your usually get dinner ready on a Saturday when you're not going out."

"Usually a little after 4:00 but sometimes later."

"So usually a little after 4:00. The fatal accident was a little after 4:00, in fact the time was established at 4:10."

"Yes."

"Had Trevor been shafting you?"

"Yes I was out walking," Carrie said, chest heaving in big sobs. "As you know I ran with Trev for about five months before I met Alan. Trev asked me in for a drink. Sheryl was at a dress rehearsal at The Academy and Trev was sitting close to me. He put a hand on my thigh and I was so eager for great sex, I just lost it."

"And you arrived home just as the cops and emergency services were arriving?"

"Yes and it was so dreadful and I was grief stricken and wracked by guilt."

"Why it that so? You didn't contribute to the accident? Alan was fatally careless."

Carrie cried, "But can't you see I was committing adultery when he died."

"That's so fucking wrong, can't you see? You would have been on your way home when it happened. Trevor lives more than a mile away from your home. Talk to her Beth, I'm off to call mom."

"Mom?" screamed Carrie. "What are you going to tell mom."

"That you were coming home after fucking Trevor Hunt when the accident happened and most of this weeping is a result of your unfounded guilt."

"No don't; please don't. Promise me you won't tell mom."

"Well let's negotiate."

"Okay, but I can't see what there is to negotiate?"

"I want you to promise me you'll stop feeling guilty and stop this stupid weeping."

Beth, not acting, yelled, "Don't be such a hard-ass bitch Debs."

"No Debs is right. I've blown my guilt out of all proportion. Go on Debs."

"That's all I require. You stop feeling guilty and weeping and tomorrow you jump into your car and go and visit Mr and Mrs Lamb and no way are you to cry. You take her flowers and you ask her to visit your house with you and invited her to discuss anything she'd like to have."

"Anything?"

"Yes, she'll only want things that were favorite things of Alan's and perhaps a wedding present or two, perhaps her wedding present."

"That was our bed?

"Well perhaps not. Remember you can always decline any request."

Beth said, "Debs this is asking too much too soon."

"You stay out of this Beth. Debs ,I'll do all of that tomorrow providing you come with me."

"Hell no, you take Beth."

"No Debs, just you. I'll know you are likely to swat me if I cry."

"Yeah, right. Okay it's a deal. We'll just tell mom we got you drunk and convinced you life was too short wasting it like this."

"Mom was in this with you guys. This was a setup wasn't it?"

"Yes," Beth said guiltily.

"No way," Debbie lied adamantly. "Mom wasn't in this. She said she and dad were going to visit granddad and grandma over night and I suggested I'd stay with you and mom said no way would she allow me to stay with you by myself so Beth would have to be here as well. That was the setup Beth was alluding to. You know if told you and Trevor were fucking, she'd practically die."

"Yes, of course. Beth was shocked but why weren't you."

"Well because I know people who get a bit on the side all the time. Now you are not to repeat this but I caught dad and Aunt Louise hard at it at Christmas a few years back."

Carrie and Beth momentarily looked horrified and then Carrie eased the tension when she said, "Well then, I'm no worse than dad."

"Who knows, mom could have had it off with someone?"

"I don't think so," Beth said but Carrie said, "Mom can look very sexy when she dresses up. As Debs says who knows? God you are wonderful Debs, I feel better already and not really so drunk. Let's order in pizza and then start drinking again. I know where mom and dad keep their adult videos. I saw mom putting one away one day."

Debbie and Beth looked at Carrie mouths open in shock.

* * *

The next day, Carrie and Debbie visited the Lambs. Carrie had called to say they wished to visit Mrs Lamb and suggested they meet at her and Alan's house.

Debbie kept her arm firmly hooked into Carrie's arm and said, "Although it has vivid memories, remember it's only a house, not a tomb."

That seemed to calm Carrie.

Mrs Lamb chose only a handful of things, just as Debbie had guessed only memorabilia. Afterwards they went to the cemetery together.

When they were leaving the Lambs' home after lunch, Mrs Lamb kissed Carrie and said, "Thank you for coming. What we did today has given me the release I required Carrie. You are a wonderful young woman. I expect we won't see your very often after this."

Debbie squeezed Carrie's arm and Carrie just smiled at Mrs Lamb.

As they drove off Carrie said, "Why did you warn me not to say anything in reply to Mrs Lamb?"

"She was telling you, in sort of code I guess, she didn't wish to see you again because you are no longer part of their life."

"God, how brutal. But Mr Lamb really likes me. He'll not wish to see me fade away."

"Oh yeah? Let me tell you darling, Mrs Lamb rules that roost."

Carrie began weeping.

That was the second time that day Carrie had wept, but Debbie let it go. It was a big improvement on the figure her mom had alleged, twenty to thirty bouts of weeping each day.

Helen and Harry were home when they returned to the house. Debbie didn't go in, leaving it to Carrie to explain why she was in such better mood and dry-eyed.