Not a fool this time…. Chapter 15
Walter sent a message to Richard:
Richard- German affiliates software ready. Will once again use data center- late night access necessary. Set up date and time for us to be there. Walter.
"Well, Gale," Walter said while boxing up the hard drive containing the German affiliates software to put in his case. "Another job done, no appointments with the eggheads or engineers."
"So what have you in mind?"
"How about contacting the real estate office and checking out the properties Richard said were available?"
"Wow, what a day." Gale said plopping onto the common area sofa. "Interesting to check out a nine million dollar house, but who would want to live in such a monster? You could rattle around in there for days and not even see each other…. and could you imagine keeping it clean…. what a chore."
"So you are not interested in living in an elite, gated community?" Walter asked placing laptop on his desk and sitting there.
"You saw my parent's place- chickens, dogs, cats, kids running around. Grew up in a state of crazy. Could you, brought up on a farm live in such an exclusive area? Think such residents ever get to know the neighbors?"
Walter sat back in his chair. "After living here for years, a monster of a place like that makes me appreciate this place all the more. You know, since neither of us will ever be in a nine to five type job, maybe we should consider a place farther out."
"You, driving a Ferrari, living for years in mid-town LA- I just do not picture you collecting eggs," Gale laughed.
Walter looked over, "you forget I grew up on a working farm. Did all the jobs expected of a farm worker- fixed fence, and yes, even collected eggs."
"Yes, all that and hacked into NASA in your spare time," she laughed. "Such an enterprising child…. will be interesting to see if any of your off-spring out do your escapades- we may be in for quite a ride."
"Fortunately our resultant off-spring will be half you, so more forethought on consequences of actions…. hopefully." Walter's laptop alerted new mail. Was three problems and a coded message. "From Ralph," he told Gale, says, "Working on eman. Could be a couple weeks and done. Ralph
Walter hit reply, wrote out three problems and coded 'Let me know- Walter'. He looked at Gale, "looks like things are in the works. He says may be a couple weeks. Once done, if in his favor, he could come here and stay in the Airstream if that would be OK with you."
"Will he be OK with us being married? You did say he had wanted you three as a family," Gale mused. "You had better let him know so he is aware of circumstances before making any decision."
"Another example of why you are of benefit to me- never would have crossed my mind," Walter said with a smile. "We certainly do form a more perfect union." So Walter sent another message- three problems and coded: Ralph- Not alone, wife Gale looking forward to meeting you. Walter
Walter again sat back in his chair. "I mean that you know."
"Mean what?" Gale asked sitting up.
"That together we are a more perfect union. That is the purpose, isn't it- to compliment each other?"
"Yes, to complete each other is the idea, I guess." Gale nodded slowly. "The difference between my life before you and after you is astounding."
"How so?"
"Before you I was just going to work, focused on the job, like marking time- a lot of movement but not getting anywhere. Look at me now, married to the most wonderful of men, looking forward to a wonderful future…. all because you came into my life."
The laptop again alerted new mail: three problems and coded from Ralph. Walter- congrats, happy? Look forward to meeting. Ralph
Walter got up to sit on the sofa with Gale. "Think I shall contact the legal department for information on emancipation, get a time frame. You would not have a problem were he to stay here if we have not found a new place? Once we have a 'family type abode' will you stop birth control or have some other 'sign post' for that decision?"
Gale smiled at him, "you getting anxious?"
"You said your oldest sister could not reproduce, I have known others with similar issues. The more I think of a child, the more I look forward to it…. is that normal? I remember your saying all children are difficult and their being a puzzle to their parents."
"And all that is true, but what a wonderful learning experience for both parent and child." Gale said. "To see them go from helpless to learning all about mud, bugs, and on to physics… yes, quite the ride."
Richard notified Walter the Orange County data center would be ready for them to send the software to the German affiliate same as they did for the English affiliate. Thursday at 1:00 AM with the video conferencing equipment set up- everything ready to go. Walter and Gale pulled in and showed ID at the guard shack- same guard walked them to the server facility and sat in the corner. When everything was set up, Gale went out to hit the vending machine to get coffee.
"I see you made amends with her," the guard said leaning forward in his chair, "must have really groveled as angry as she was that night."
"No, no groveling, asked her to marry me," Walter replied getting the hard drive out of his case then sitting down at the table. "She said yes."
"Well congratulations, buddy. Hope you are as happy as I am." He then sat back with a smile when Gale entered with three cups of coffee on a tray.
Four more weeks passed. The German affiliate reported the security issues were resolved. Consultations with the 'eggheads' of the space think tank resolved the metallurgy issue on components. The fuel delivery system had been revamped reducing weight, and the fuel booster redesign was showing optimum efficiency.
One evening while Gale was involved in making dinner, Walter went through the finances. As he had amassed over three million and paid off the garage when working alone that first seven months after the Scorpion break-up, add the Interpol pay out, as well as the small businesses he dealt with in Paris, the continued solitary work for six weeks after coming back from France until Richard had contacted him, the contract work with Richard, the bank coding job and it's bonus, and the contract work to date he alone had eleven million in his account. He concluded they could easily purchase a 'family type abode' of reasonable price. As they are not looking for a multi-million dollar beach front mansion, and have discussed getting out of the city, they could be looking for a place in earnest.
Walter got up from his desk after his checking the finances to talk to Gale about where they were financially when there was a knock on the door. Walter reached over to his computer to check the security feed when Gale went to open the door. Walter said "It's Ralph." Just when Gale opened the door to a young man who said "Hi, I'm Ralph."
Walter walked over to join Gale at the door to invite Ralph in and gave him a big hug, both men grinning ear to ear.
"So what is the news? What is your status?" Walter asked Ralph.
"Legally I am now responsible for myself." Ralph then turned to Gale. "I take it you are Mrs. Obrien?"
"Guilty as charged, and Gale is fine, I feel like I have known you a long time already so it is nice to meet you at last." Gale said smiling. "Come on in and join us for dinner and give us all the news, and congratulations, quite a step. You hungry? Like clam chowder and biscuits? Go sit and you two catch up while I get it ready." She set three places at the table, a pitcher of iced tea and returned to the kitchen area.
Walter and Ralph sat at the table. Walter started, "So what prompted such a drastic move as to leave your mother?"
Ralph sat back in his chair. "I knew you would ask this and I am still at a loss how to begin without causing upset."
Walter also sat back. "After that nothing could be worse than what I might contemplate, so may as well spit it out. Gale, come join us." Walter turned to Ralph, "Gale thinks differently than I – valid but different so I want her input as well as my own."
Gale entered with tureen of clam chowder and plate of biscuits to put on the already set table, sat down and said, "here we go, dig in."
"Mom was really a wreck after the blow-up. Wracked with guilt I guess, unhappy, depressed and crying constantly. Getting Centipede going kept her busy, focused and with Homeland worked for a while. She wanted a total split so even I could not contact you- Sly kept tabs on my computer. Toby kept the psychoanalyzing going on day in and day out and she finally blew up again. That settled things for a bit. Sly and Florence came to an understanding once you were out of the picture and have been dating. Toby and Happy are still working on kids with no luck as yet- neither pregnant nor adoption. Guess the iffy job situation restricts the adoption process. Anyway, Homeland brought Steve in as Cabe was getting really fed up with all the undercurrent squabbling- think he was getting too old for the crap and just wanted to spend time with Allie fixing up some place he has out of town. Anyway, Steve and mom hit it off and things progressed all the way to marriage pretty fast. He is authoritarian, his way or the hi-way, and to be honest he is intimidated by intelligence beyond his scope. He curbed my computer use, took my phone, and prevented me from getting to my college classes. Mom is pretty subservient to him and let him dictate everything. Guess she wanted the 'normal' family mom, dad, and obedient child- I just could not take it anymore. Being stuck in public school only is a joke… so I bailed. One of my college buddies let me stay with him and his two roomies- living cheap, and I got hold of an attorney who works with juveniles…. so, here I am, legally emancipated responsible for myself, an adult at fifteen."
"What does your mother think of this?" Gale asked. "She must be devastated."
"She isn't happy by any means, but she made her choice. I think she is just too paranoid of being alone. After dad leaving then showing up to leave again, her episode with Tim, blow-up with you, Steve just moved in and took over. Guess she needs a rock like him to cling to? Who knows- I am not all that good on handling these kinds of emotional upheavals." Ralph continued, "I plan to stick with the public school jokes of classes, want the diploma but I am going to see about shortening the process- test out if possible. Come next semester start the college classes again. It will be a hectic mess for a while, but once done smooth sailing. I figure I can get into some kind of internship with a large company- they may even help with tuition, some do if you work for them afterwards. So much possibility that was stymied at home, so went the legal route of getting on my own."
"So you are totally legally an adult have the papers to prove it, right?" Gale asked. "Walter and I discussed it, if you are a legal adult, you are welcome to stay here in the Airstream if you would like, save on the grocery bills eating with us as well."
"Yup, totally legal to be on my own."
"If you decide to stay here- you know you are welcome- but there is one restriction," Walter interjected. "You want to see your mother, Steve, Toby, Happy, Sly or Flo, it will not be here. I will not have us getting in the middle of family dynamics and past turmoil. I do not need it, and I won't have Gale subjected to it…. your word?"