Chapter 2
Martha's role in Neil Simon's new play is a big success. But with all good things it eventually comes to an end. The show ran just under 3 years. As she looks back it is some of the most challenging times of her life. It is only a month after Jackson has made his hasty exit that she finds out that she is carrying his child. While she has worried at first, she quickly considers her options. The 60's are different scene. Free love and all, was the happening. The riots in San Francisco and Selma's March made her realize that terminating a child before he ever has the chance to experience of life would never be an option for her.
So sitting in her OB doctor's office, she waits. During that time she makes up her mind to keep this gift she has been given. She has an appointment with the doctor to explain what her options are. She stops him with one sentence.
"Doctor, I am keeping my baby." Martha says with much conviction.
The doctor looks at her then smiles.
"So Miss Rodgers I want to give you a prescription for the newest idea in Pregnancy maintenance, Prenatal vitamins. Then are the best that science can do to ensure your child will be healthy. Also, I want to include these pamphlets. That gives you more information on what to expect during your pregnancy. I want to see you again in 6 months to check on the health of you and your unborn child." He says.
Martha smiles back at him, then take the pamphlets and prescription. She is very lucky that her doctor is so hip.
The doctor's plan works well because 9 months later she gives birth to very healthy Richard Alexander Rodgers on April 1st 1969. He is a simply beautiful baby. She vows to raise him with all the love she has in her heart. She has the support of her friends and co-workers in the theater community. They all pitch in to lend her a hand raising Richard.
\\\\\
One day Martha is walking with Richard she runs into an old friend.
"Martha Rodgers is that you?" The woman says recognizing her old friend.
Martha stops, then turns to see her old friend standing there.
"Ruth Gordon… Is that really you… My goodness it has been what 10 years? How are you doing?" Martha says, hugging her old friend as Rick looks at them.
"Mother… Who is this strange lady…?" Rick inquires.
"Oh, who is this cutie?" Ruth inquires.
"Oh Ruth, this Richard my son he is 5 years old." Martha proudly says.
"You are a pretty lady" Richard says, smiling as he holds out his hand.
"My Goodness Martha he is such a charmer… He'll charm all the girls that one will." Ruth gushes as she shakes his hand.
"Yes Richard charms all the ladies. You should see him in the theater… All the girls there want to hold him or take his picture. He is my good luck child." Martha says. "So Ruth what are you doing now?"
"Well Martha I am on my way to work… I work at the New York Public Library. I'm a librarian there. I work on the fiction floor. It is fun and keeps me very busy. I'll be late if we don't conclude our talk soon" Ruth says.
"Well, I do not want to keep you from getting to work on time. However, Richard loves to read. He has been running lines with me since he was three. Perhaps he could get a library card?" Martha asks.
"Well, he could not but he could use yours until he is old enough. The library has a strict policy of children having to be in school before a library card could be issued." Ruth replies.
"Well, I do not have a library card… I think we will walk with you to your work, then you can remedy that ok?" Martha says as Rick looks bright with the anticipation in seeing a place where there are more books.
"Sure, I would be happy to give you a card come on, it is not that far away." Ruth says as she leads them to the back entrance to the library.
Rick is entranced at seeing the workings of the library. Soon Ruth is checking in then escorted them to the main floor. There at the checkout desk, she busily makes the forms which Martha fills out including Richard's name on her card. Ruth processed the cards, then gives one to Martha then hands one to Richard.
Rick looks at the card. It has his full name Richard Alexander Rodgers. It is his first official card. His mother's name Martha Grace Rodgers was also on it.
Rick looks so proud.
"Look Mother there is my name, Richard Alexander Rodgers." He proudly shows her.
"Yes and there is my name too." Martha points out.
"Yes, it is Mother." Rick responds. "So could we pick out a few books now?"
"I do not see why we cannot. Which book would you want to choose? Now remember Richard you are only allowed to check out 1 book at a time. So choose wisely." Martha says.
Rick looks at Ruth.
"I would like to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Would you please help me find this book, Ruth?" Rick asks politely.
"Certainly, Richard this is what you need to do. This big cabinet is called the Card Catalog. It has the names of all the books in the library. They are done by alphabetical order. So we look for the HU for Huckleberry then pull out the drawer. We page through the cards one by one until we find the card which is the name of the book." Ruth explains as Rick pull over a chair to stand on to see the open drawer filled with cards and the right one.
"The card has numbers and letters on the side this is to tell us where his book is located. In this case it is row 32 second floor 3rd stack. Now the library is made from rows and stacks which are shelves on the row. So we go to the second floor walk to row 32 then move back along row 32 to the 3rd stack, then we look for the author's name in this case it is Samuel Clemens or Mark Twain. Once we find the author then we look for the title." Ruth continues to explain.
Rick shakes his head in excitement.
"Ok, so let's go find that book?" Ruth asks.
Rick gets off the chair, then returns it to the table. He looks at her with those puppy dog eyes again. She relents to let him go.
Ruth shows Rick the proper way to this book. She stops to check with Rick if she is going the right way. Soon they are in the right place. The book he wants is on the top shelf. Martha helps by lifting him up. Rick pulls the book out, then she gently puts him down.
Rick beams with pride as he walks back down to the main area. The smile on Rick's face is so precious. Ruth, who happens to store a camera here gets a picture of him triumphantly waving his library card plus the book he has just picked out.
"So Ruth, when will that picture be developed? I would love to have a copy." Martha asks.
"Well, Martha in about 20 more seconds. This is a Polaroid Camera it develops the picture almost instantaneously." Ruth says as the timer on the camera dings.
"Mother, are we going to take the picture with us like the camera on TV?" Rick asks.
"Ok, we peel off the film and there is your picture. So Richard, what do you think?" Ruth asks.
"Mother… Look at me! I'm holding on to my book!" Rick says full of joy.
Yes Richard you are… We need to go now so thank Ruth for her help." Martha coaxes.
"Thank you Ruth" Rick says, giving her a hug.
"You are most welcome Richard." Ruth says almost crying.
"Ruth I guess you are going to be my son's favorite person for a while. I am sure you will be seeing much of him in the future. Thank you for all your help. We need to go, but thank you for making him so happy." Martha gushes.
"Martha, he is welcomed here anytime we are open. I'll keep an eye on him." Ruth replies.
"Oh bless you Ruth… Goodbye for now. Richard says goodbye to Ruth." Martha says.
"Goodbye Ruth and thank you for my picture." Rick says, waving the picture around.
"Goodbye Richard and Martha have a good day." Ruth says waving.
\\\\\
Time passes Rick spends much time in the library. One time Ruth sees Martha coming to pick him up.
"Martha, I want to tell you about a new program the library is offering, which would suit your young Richard.
"Oh, hello Ruth what is it?" Martha asks.
"There is a new program called the Young Readers. It is from that big push from the government to get everyone to read. I could easily get Richard into the program." Ruth excitedly says.
"Tell me more Ruth." Martha replies.
"Well, Martha this program encourages young people to read at a more advanced level. Richard is already past that level of reading for his age." Ruth replies.
"That is interesting Ruth. I'm sure that would be something Richard would like. When is it starting?" she asks.
"The program is 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It lasts from June until late August. If you're interested and with your permission I would swing by and pick up Richard on my way to work. I think he would benefit from this program." Ruth says.
"Ruth, I'm not that sure." Martha says hesitantly.
Little did either Martha or Ruth knows. Richard has been listening to their entire conversation. He really wants to go to this program. If he does not speak up, he thinks he would miss his chance.
"Mother, I'd love to go. May I?" Richard says pleadingly.
He looked at Martha with those puppy dog eyes. How could she deny him of this opportunity? So she looks at Ruth, who is nodding her head.
"Alright Richard I will agree under one condition. You will be on your best behavior... Do you understand me?" Martha admonishes.
"Yes, mother." Rick replies were very excited.
"Okay then, it's settled then?" Ruth asks hopefully?
"Yes Ruth I will have him ready first thing Monday morning. I can't thank you enough." Martha says, hugging her friend.
The rest of the weekend has flown by. Richard is waiting patiently for Ruth to pick him up. He could not wait. Just then there is a knock on the door and Richard rushes to answer it.
"Good Morning Ruth!" Richard said with an enthusiastic tone.
"So Richard, are you ready for today?" she asks.
"You bet I am." Richard replies.
"Okay, you two, you better get going. You won't make it if you stand there talking!" Martha says as Rick runs over to her to give another hug and kiss goodbye.
He left wondering what he would learn about today.
\\\\\
Before Martha has realized the summer has passed. Richard is at a reading level that would put college students to shame. Ruth has mentioned that he has read all the suggested books the reader program has to offer, but when he finished all of them in record time she told him about longer more in depth novels. He took to them like a fish to water. What amazes her mostly is that he has started to write his ideas on a legal pad. Now he is only 5 years old. She also notices that he is following what he has read to outline his ideas.
"Someday he will become a great writer." Ruth muses.
Richard is well on his way to reading more and more novels. He reads anything he could get. The reader program is the stimulation he needs.
Ruth informs Martha about his progress this makes Martha very happy that he has found a creative outlet.
\\\\\
When Richard celebrates his 38th birthday, Martha meets Walter Papadakis. He is everything she could ever want in a man since Jackson. He is kind. He cares about her and her family. He almost seems too good to be true. He has told her that he is the heir to his father's shipping company. She has no reason to doubt him because he is Greek. It is well known that most shipping firms are based in Greece.
Their relationship is like a breath of fresh air. He showers her with extravagant gifts and his tenderness. Within 2 months they wed. It's a civil ceremony. They honeymoon in the tropics. Richard is away on a book tour during their honeymoon. He has become a best selling novelist at age 22. When they arrive back home after the honeymoon Walter spends an unusual amount of time away from her. He tells her that it's business. He can't tear himself loose from helping his father at their base of operations in the city.
Several months later things were not adding up for Martha. Walter has become more and more distant. The gifts slowly ebb until nothingness. He is working at all hours of the day and night. She wants to know why. What it is he doing? He was no longer the man she thought she married. She has decided she has enough. She would call his father in Greece to see if he would ease up on his hectic work schedule then give him a break. She finds the contact information for his father in his Rolodex. Dialing carefully since it was an international call she waited for the call to connect. Shortly an older man answered the phone.
"Hello Mr. Papadakis… This is Martha." She says.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't know of any Martha. Would you please tell me who you are?" He says in his broken English.
""Mr. Papadakis, I married your son, Walter!" Martha says, confused.
"Well, Martha I hate to report bad news to you... But my only son died in a skiing accident in the French alps back in 1986." He reports as Martha drops her phone.
The older man hears quiet sobbing on the open line. He waits for her to return.
"I am so sorry to have brought up your son's death Mr. Papadakis." Martha apologizes.
"Martha, I don't know you… Would you maybe please explain this phone call to me?" He asks.
"Well can I ask one more question of you?" Martha asks.
"Why yes, please go ahead." He replies
"Do you own a shipping firm?" She asks.
"Martha, I am a dock worker in the port. I live very close and usually walk to work. The closest thing to me owning a boat is the 12 foot skiff I use for fishing." He states.
"I am so sorry to have taken up your time, sir, please forgive this intrusion." Martha apologizes.
"O-okay Martha…" He says as he hangs up.
Martha is left listening to the distinct sound of the dial tone. She replaces the handset back into the cradle.
"How could I have been so naive?"
She thought she knew Walter or whatever his real name is. He would be home from work before midnight. She would confront him when he arrived later. Busying herself while she waited. She is wondering how she would bring up the subject. She sits down on the couch while she is thinking about her problem. She drifts off to sleep.
Sun has filled the living room when she awakes. Quickly looking at her watch she notices that it was almost 8:30am. She quickly checks to see if he had slipped past her then went to bed. To her disappointment he is not in their room. The bed is untouched. Deciding to confront him later she showers and gets dressed. She needs to go to the market to pick up a couple of things. She enters her bank's lobby to use the ATM. Her card is immediately taken.
Perplexed, she enters the lobby. She stands in line fuming. She gets to the teller.
"Yes Ma'am, how may I help you today?" The teller asks.
"Well, you can tell me how or why my bank card was snatched by that infernal machine in the lobby!" Martha says ready to explode.
Ok Ma'am, I will help you with that. Would you please tell me your account number?"
Martha recites her number. The teller punches in the number.
"Excuse me, Miss Rodgers I think you need to stand over there. I will call the bank manager. There is a flag on your account. Only he can explain it." She says.
Martha steps aside, then waits for the Bank Manager. Martha knows him well. She and his wife are often together at various functions.
"My Dear Martha, how are you?" He asks as he guides her to his office.
"Well, Bill not so good your infernal machine took my card and would not give it back." Martha loudly complains.
"Ok, Martha, let's see what the problem is. Well, Martha the card is taken because it is invalid. This account is closed." Bill says.
"Closed? There was 3 Million dollars of my money in your bank. When was it closed?" Martha asks trembling with rage.
"Well, my dear, there has not been 3 million in this account for at least several months. There was only $9,999.00 left in the account yesterday. That is when it was withdrawn from our sister branch, then closed." Bill says worriedly.
"No, that's not possible. Who closed it down?" Martha asks almost fainting.
"Well, Martha your husband Walter... Of course. Who else would you expect?" Bill asks.
"He is not even a signer on this account. Why would you not call me before letting him make all these withdrawals?" Martha asks.
"Martha, I can assure you that he has all the necessary paperwork to prove he is authorized to make the withdrawals then close the account. As you can see here clearly that is your name!" Bill says knowing the bank is covered.
"I was hoping that you had the decency to make a call to me to make sure." Martha says fuming.
"My dear Martha if the paperwork is in order there is no reason." Bill says.
"Now I need to call the police I have been robbed! I am the victim of a con man." Martha says.
\\\\\
The police come to her flat, then take her statement.
"Hello Mrs. Rodgers My name is Detective Tom Demming. I understand you are a victim of fraud?"
"Yes, I am pleased to meet you, detective. You know my son writes detective novels. I am sure he would be pleased to meet you too." Martha says.
"Ok, that's good to know. So would you tell me the details of this fraud?" Tom asks.
Martha now explains how Walter wined and charmed her with expensive gifts. Eventually, he gets her to marry him. Tom has seen this exact MO before. The cad passes himself off as a wealthy person too, while he is married to someone else who he is draining her account to nothing too.
Tom shakes his head.
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Rodgers all we can do is forward this report to the FBI. However, their record of catching these criminals is very low. I am sure an agent will be out to interview you once they get our referral. Will this be the address for the agent to come?" Tom asks.
"No detective since I have been placed penniless. I will be staying with my son and his daughter. I can no longer afford this place. Here is his address. Thank you detective." Martha says.
As Tom Demming leaves Rick Castle passes him in the hallway. He is there to help Martha with her packing.
\\\\\
A few days later at the loft Martha answers the door.
"Hello Mrs. Rodgers I am Special Agent Will Sorenson with the FBI." Will says. "May I come in?"
"Oh Agent Sorenson, please come in…" Martha says.
"Ok Mrs. Rodgers we received the report from a Detective Demming with the NYPD. Is that correct? Do you have a picture of your husband?" he asks.
"Yes, I have one. It is our wedding picture." Martha says as Rick walks by.
Rick pays no attention since he is nursing a hangover.
Will takes the picture, then walks out the door.
"Mother, who is that…?" Rick asks as he places dark glasses on his face.
"Oh, he is with the FBI. He needs a picture of Walter or whatever his real name is" Martha says fretting.
"Oh okay, I'm going to lay back down" Rick says as he heads back to his room.
The FBI soon loses track of the case when Will goes to Boston. It slips between the cracks. In the end Walter gets away with every last cent she had…
A/N: There were a couple of time jumps. They were added to move the story along.
Thanks T.