Bob and Grace Bob was an ordinary guy. He was raised in a small town in Ohio. The woman who became his wife was a classmate at the high school. Her name was Grace. After high school graduation they continued their education at a local community college and had part time jobs. They were in the same group of friends in high school but dated other people. Once they got to college, with their studies and part time jobs, they had little time for a social life. They began spending more time together, car pooling and studying. Bob worked at a big box store and after receiving his associates degree, went full time and was soon an assistant store manager. Grace worked at a popular drug store. That’s when Bob rented an apartment and he and Grace started planning their wedding. In the following spring they were married. Their jobs often required them to work evenings but they tried to make time for each other. When their first child was born, a girl, Bob started looking for a house that they could buy. He found a split level in a small development nearby. There, he and Grace raised four children, two boys and two girls. When the children were in school, Grace had a series of part time jobs in retail. In the summer, they vacationed on Lake Erie. One winter when the kids were still young, they went to Disney World. That was after Bob had been promoted to district manager. He wondered where the time had gone when their youngest moved out. It was around that time that their first grandchild arrived. Bob and Grace were happiest on holidays when all the children came to celebrate. Eventually, there were fourteen, including three spouses and five grandkids. Grace had stopped working when the first grandchild was born. She spent her days baby sitting the children when needed and lunching with girl friends. Her best friend was Margaret. Grace and Margaret shared many of the same family experiences. Bob’s job kept him in the road several days a week and there was pressure from the corporate office to meet sales and profit projections. In spite of the increasing pressure, he wanted to keep working until he reached full retirement at seventy but he had a mild heart attack when he was sixty-eight. He had bypass surgery. Fortunately, insurance covered almost all the expense. His company offered him an early retirement package and he decided to take it. It was then that he and Grace had a lot of time together. The house was quiet. Their days were planned around meals. Bob often found himself in a melancholy mood. Grace was mostly cheerful. She went to club meetings and had lunch with the “girls.” Bob sat in front of the TV. He followed the news and thought America was “going to hell.” He voted for Donald Trump against his wife’s wishes but she mostly avoided talking politics. Grace didn't understand why Bob seems short tempered and angry much of the time. He repeated the stories he saw on the news and read on internet blogs. When he would go into one of his rants about America, Grace often tuned him out. Margaret’s husband developed early dementia and needed nursing home care. Grace spent much of her free time with Margaret. Sometimes Grace wondered if she wouldn’t be happier without Bob. Did she actually want him to die? That was unthinkable! She just wanted to be left alone and to be happy. Grace told Margaret in confidence that she imagined how much she would enjoy sharing a home with her. Margaret agree that it would be ideal and one day she told Grace that she was welcome to move in with her. Bob and Grace’s fiftieth anniversary should have been a happy occasion. The anniversary was on a Tuesday but the children planned a celebration at the Ruritan social hall on Saturday. Between Tuesday and Saturday, Grace made secret plans to move in with Margaret. She was terrified of the reaction she would receive from Bob and the children. Bob was at his best through the anniversary celebration. There were many good wishes and toasts to what a great couple they were. Grace smiled and nodded in appreciation but had nothing to say. On Sunday she move in with Margaret without a word with Bob. She just called him from Margaret’s house at dinner and told him she would not be back. His dinner was prepared and in the refrigerator. |