TCOT Garrulous Gambler
Prologue
September 1937
It was late. She didn't know the exact time. All she knew was that this had been the hardest decision of her life. She sighed deeply, a tiny smile crossing her lips. He would be here in the morning to take her home….alone. Through all of this he had been her strength, her one constant and she knew he would always be there for her. Just like when they were children…..and later when they were older. He was her champion…..her protector. He was always looking out for her…..he was always looking out for all of them. She loved them all but he was her favorite. She thought again about her decision. Yes, she knew she had made the right one….it was the only way, her only choice. Even so….. She turned her head as the tears began to form at the corners of her eyes, then slowly and silently fell letting her taste the salt and cry out the pain and anguish. When finally, the tears had run their course and taken their emotional and physical toll, she closed her eyes and slept, fervently praying that when the new day arrived, it would bring a fresh start for the rest of her life.
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June 1937
The young couple smiled as their baby lay in her crib, happily gurgling and cooing. As young as she was, she felt safe and secure and instinctively knew she was very wanted and very loved. There was another face there as well. The big man who was a lot like Daddy. He was handsome just like Daddy and he would pick her up and swing her around high in the air and make her laugh. Mommy would let this go on for a little while then stop all the fun. She would make him stop and then take her from the big handsome man with the blue eyes and dark curly hair and gently sit down and cuddle her in her arms. Then they would all laugh and everything would be fine. The man would come to visit the family often, sometimes even having dinner or going places with them. Yes, this young family was very happy. What the beautiful, happy baby could not realize then of course, was just how close and important the big man was and always would be to her Mommy, Daddy and her and years from now, when she had grown into a beautiful young woman all of their lives would be intertwined in a way that they could not imagine.