After the movie, John dropped her off at her house and drove away. Inside, she noticed a manila folder on the kitchen table with an ink pen clipped to it. She unclipped the pen and opened the folder, there was a note.
Isn't that my shirt?
Chapter 3: No Tell Hotel
The note read;
'I went to go see the new Galaxy Wars movie tonight, by myself. You'll never guess who I saw… Not by herself. Attached are your copies of the divorce decree. I signed them. Also, find attached an ink pen so you can sign yours. We're done. Freddie'
Sam was really hurt and mad... at herself. She needed to explain this to Freddie, and apologize. She knew what this looked like, but was sure this mess could be fixed. She tried calling: He wouldn't pick up. Although she was tired, she drove over to his apartment. This wasn't something that could be left for morning. She wanted him to understand that. She wanted him to understand just how important he was to her, and how insignificant her evening was. It was just a movie… that's all, nothing else.
The apartment was dark. His car was not there. He wasn't home.
Damn!
She decided to wait for him. She woke up in the morning stiff and sore. She had fallen asleep in the front seat of her car.
What the hell! Where is he?
His mother would know. His mother had moved out of the Bushwell building soon after Freddie and Sam were married. She had found a small place in Kirkland she was able to purchase. Sam didn't know her phone number, but it was only a half hour or so drive. She arrived expecting to see Freddie's car. She didn't.
It was still pretty early, but she didn't care. She knocked. Soon, Mrs. Benson answered, she didn't look pleased to see her, yet invited Sam in. She told Sam that Freddie had said she might come here, looking for him. Mrs. Benson explained that Freddie had told her about what had happened, and that Freddie had gone camping to get away from everything.
Sam nodded, thanked her soon to be ex mother in law and left.
She began to get angry while driving home. The closer she got to her house, the madder she became. By the time she reached home, she had convinced herself that she didn't want the jackass back anyway. She was better off without him.
She signed her portion of the divorce papers and mailed them in Monday morning. In about a week, it was all over. She and Freddie were divorced.
Days, weeks, months… time trundled on. Neither Sam nor Freddie had seen or run into one another for about six months. Until…
Sam and Freddie had both fallen in lust with Tat's Delicatessen in Pioneer Square while they were still in High School. Now, Freddie's office was nearby. He used to stop and get deli sandwiches and take them to wherever Sam was working when they were together. Sam missed those lunches, but really missed the sandwiches. She was in the neighborhood, so she went there for lunch. About half way through her foot long Tat'strami sub, someone put their hand on her shoulder, and then sat across from her at the tiny table. It was Freddie.
Sam was choosing her words to rip him a new one when he held up his hands and meekly asked:
"Truce?"
Sam glared at him for a moment, and then nodded her head. "What?" She asked.
Freddie explained that he had left his jacket at work, and walked the few blocks here since it was so nice out. But, his wallet was in his jacket…
"So… can I borrow twenty bucks? I'll pay you back." He asked.
Sam actually grinned at his misfortune. If this wasn't roll reversal, well… nothing was.
Freddie smiled back, he realized the same thing.
"Well, I guess I can spare it." Sam said while digging into her pocket and handing him a very rumpled twenty dollar bill. "You don't have to pay me back." She continued.
Freddie stood, took the twenty and thanked her. Sam told him to hurry, and she'd save the table. Freddie went to the counter and made his order. After a few minutes, he returned to the table and noticed Sam had finished. She stood, gathered her things, and turned to tell her ex husband goodbye. Before she could get a word out, he put his arms around her and gave her a massive hug.
The hug continued until someone behind them cleared their throat, wanting to get by. They released each other, smiled and Sam left. Outside, after getting in her car, she wondered what that was all about. She also surprised herself; she liked it. She liked it a lot.
Six weeks later, on a Sunday afternoon, Sam answered a knock on her door. It was a harried looking Carly. After their greetings and a moment or two of small talk, Carly began to study her shoes… Sam asked her what was bothering her.
Carly explained that Tom's thirtieth birthday was in three weeks. They had made plans to have a dinner with close friends and then go 'clubbing' afterward.
"Look, long story short. We went to dinner last weekend here in Seattle. We ran into Freddie at the restaurant… on a date. He was out with a woman named Millicent. We really want to invite you and Freddie, but…" Carly tailed off the end of her statement.
"So, the nubster has a girlfriend, huh? It's okay Carly. I've been going out with a guy myself… nothing serious, but sure. I'd love to go, and I promise not to get mad. I mean really, we're divorced. This was bound to happen. I'll bring Brad along. It'll be fun." Sam said.
Carly looked very relieved. "Well, I'm not sure this Millicent is his girlfriend. He introduced her as his 'friend', so…"
"Look Carly, it's okay, really! Don't worry, I'll be good, and I'm sure Freddie will be fine. Now, tell me what this Millicent looks like. I'm sure she's a hag…" Sam said.
Carly and Sam visited (gossiped) the afternoon away.
This time it wasn't Carly who was nervous, it was Tom. He wasn't aware that Carly had invited them both… and their dates, until after she had already done it. He didn't say anything to his wife, but he was concerned, none the less.
The night of his birthday arrived and the group met at the first night spot on the list Carly had sent to all those invited. Tom was relieved to say the least. Their divorced friends seemed to be managing fine. Each had their respective dates… Sam's Brad and Freddie's Millie, and the four seemed to be having a good time. Albeit across the room from each other, but they seemed to be handling it well.
Just a little shy of eleven that night, Sam noticed that Millie was dancing with Tom. Carly had just left Freddie's table, heading toward the lady's room. Brad tapped Sam on the shoulder and excused himself from their table. Sam watched Brad as he dodged the dancers while making his way through the crowd toward the men's room. She glanced back toward Freddie's table and noticed he was alone. She had an idea…
She got up, walked around the edge of the dance floor and took the vacant seat next to Freddie, surprising him.
"So… Millicent looks like quite the gal. She's very pretty." Sam said.
Freddie nodded and made a comment about how nice a fellow Brad seemed to be. Sam nodded.
"So is he?" Freddie asked.
"Is he…?" Sam replied.
"A nice guy, is Brad a nice guy?" Freddie explained.
"Sure, he's a wonderful guy… just wonderful, really." Sam replied.
Freddie smiled and nodded.
"So is she nice?" Sam asked.
"Sure, sure… she's great. Just fine…" Freddie said.
Sam nodded. "You know Freddie…"
"Know what, Sam?"
"Brad is one of the stupidest asses I've ever met. He's a real pain." Sam said flatly.
"Really?" Freddie grinned. "Well, Millie must take classes on advanced stupidity. I'm also sure she teaches classes on how to be a bitch. No one could possibly be as insipid as Millicent without training." Freddie continued.
"Brad is so bitchy… I'll bet their taking classes from each other!" Sam replied grinning.
They both laughed. Sam got up, as if to leave. Freddie began to tell her goodbye, but she stepped over behind him, leaned over and whispered in his ear.
"What!" Freddie replied.
She leaned over him again, and whispered once more in his ear.
"Sam, we're divorced…" Freddie stammered.
"Yeah, so…" Sam said.
"How did you get here?" Freddie asked.
"Brad's car… you?" Sam said.
"Millie picked me up." Freddie said.
They both shared knowing smiles.
"Outside, two minutes. We'll get a cab." Freddie said while getting up.
About ninety seconds later, they were getting into the back seat of a cab.
"Brad's going looking at my place…" Sam said.
"Yep, and Millie will go to my apartment first thing." Freddie said.
They both turned to each other and simultaneously said: "Hotel!"
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The fellows name was Grady
His girlfriend was no lady
He'd give her some clues
She'd kick off her shoes
And review his work
Down there!