KISS ME ONCE, KISS ME TWICE

KISS ME ONCE, KISS ME TWICE

A SHARED LIFE WITH THE SPECIAL ONE IS A GREAT LIFE.

The time is 10:30 in the morning your ride is on time and be here shortly, thanks for using Rogers Transportation, your environmentally friendly transportation specialist. We like being green!

Tanya finished her coffee, adjusted her chair, and waited for her ride. She had been on the road, a homeless nomad, for well over three years. She was suffering from terminal burnout. Freezing, dirt, bad guys, theft, drugs, and booze. She watched her best friend, Lacy, die in the middle of nowhere. She had no phone, no contacts, no way to call for help.

A shot of whiskey, meth, and a bite from a rattler proved to be a death sentence. She figured the rattler crawled into her sleeping bag, Lacy probably rolled over and the snake retaliated with a bite. Lacy made no sound as she lay dying, it was the rattler's rattle that tipped Tanya off, that something was wrong. Tanya rushed to her, saw the rattler leaving Lacey’s sleeping bag. She knelt next to her in a panic, no response, after several tries Lacy blinked, her eye dilation showed Tanya she was still high.

Tanya stood up and began screaming for help. The canyon merely echoed her voice. No traffic, no big rigs, just silence.

Lacy managed to muster enough strength to grab Tanya’s arm, Tanya felt her heartbeat fading. She held Lacy in her arms crying, with her last breath, Lacy faintly spoke, “It’s okay, no worries, it’s all right, remember, “I Love You.”

At that moment Tanya lost it, angry, and crying, she began pounding the ground with her fist. She spent most of the evening staying next to Lacy, wondering what to do next.

At the break of dawn, Tanya had breakfast, she knew what she had to do. Feeling numb and emotionally dead, she began digging a grave for Lacy. She placed Lacey’s most treasured items with her. She finished the burial and marked it on a map. She would return.

Most of the day Tanya remained silent, still felt nothing.

It was time for her to move on. She lightened her load, carrying only essentials. In three years on the road, she learned how to survive.

She knew was going to have to walk, it was days since she saw another vehicle. The path to the main highway was about a mile walk. No problem for an experienced nomad.

Upon reaching the highway she checked her map, her destination Randsburg a right turn for what appeared to be a walk a thousand miles long. She turned right and set her pace.

After several hours of walking, she stopped for a break and began thinking about her life and what the future may hold.

She was 32 years old and three years earlier she walked of her house, wanting to do her own thing, Lacy was a lifetime friend. Lacy was a year younger, single, and carefree. Tanya was married when she walked out on her husband, claiming she felt controlled and did not like it. There was an argument, she was last seen heading out the door to meet her girlfriend.

She sat on a rock and began thinking about the man she left behind. Her husband, John Henry was a former tier one operator in the US Rangers. When he was discharged Tanya and John Henry married. He was college -educated, raised spiritually, and kept a clean life.

It was at beginning of the fourth year of marriage that Tanya started a new job and became friends with others that held a dim view of marriage. Starting her second year with the Torrent Engineering Company, many of her work associates had started to sway Tanya that her husband was manipulative, and using her for his own needs, he could not care less about her. Friction between Tanya and her husband increased. John Henry really could not figure anything out, he sought counseling, did not work. During a couples counseling he spoke honestly, “Tanya, I love you, I am not interested in standing in your way of any success you may achieve, but I can’t figure you out anymore.” Tanya’s only reply was, “You’re a man your supposed to know these things!!!”

For the first time, she looked around her surroundings and began noticing the life that was all over. She recalled one time when her husband pointed out a hawk flying in the distance. Until then she had never really paid attention to things like that. Instantly she shook her head, “Can’t think like that, stop it.”

She got up and began walking towards her destination. She made a quick stop near a tree, she pulled out her map.

Being a nomad for three years teaches you many things. Map reading is one of them. Nothing fancy or high-tech Tanya learned the basics of land navigation from her husband, and she fine-tuned them on the road. John Henry taught her land navigation, how to shoot, basically how to survive in the outdoors.

Four miles to go, before the first town, Randsburg.

In 1895 gold was discovered, the town grew quickly. But has time moved on and the gold ran out, the population that once numbered in the thousands, dwindled down to a population of about 70, today Randsburg is considered a “living ghost town.” While the rest of the world went high tech moving forward into the future. Ransburg’s stayed behind its main attraction is still the local drug store where you can still get hand-dipped ice cream cones for under a dollar.

It was mid-afternoon and each step taken towards her first stop, triggered a flashback of a happier time with John Henry.

“Beyond me, why your folks named you John Henry??” Maybe your mom wanted a steel-driving guy.” She laughed to herself.

“Why the rewind into the past” she wondered. Her past was coming back as if there was a reason, maybe a message for her.

She would make Randsburg around later that evening. But still, the flashbacks kept happening.

“Am I losing it, out of control of my emotions and my mind? Why in the hell is this happening!!!???”

Frustration just made her walk feel that much longer. She stopped again to get it together. She found shade and sat down. As she looked around, she noticed nature in its glory.

“How did I ever miss this? What a view.”

She remembered being in the mountains, in San Bernardino, Ca, with her then-husband it was at the Eagle’s Nest Bed and Breakfast Lodge. John Henry found a spectacular view of the sunset. It was here that Tanya felt a connection with her husband.

As he held her in his arms, there was only one thought on her mind.

“It doesn’t get any better than this.”

She started to miss him. But she blocked that thinking and got right back on the road. Up ahead she saw a road sign “Randsburg 2 miles.” Feeling a new rush of energy, she picked up her pace.

About three hours later she arrived.

She was totally surprised at the condition of the town. The town appeared to be stuck in time. Peaceful, tourists easily outnumbered the townsfolks. But everyone seemed to get along.

First things first, a place to stay. In her emergency stash, she always carried cash and gold and silver coins, cash-out value, about $6000. Much of the value was the gold coins. At $1750 per troy ounce and if she kept financial control, she would reach her destination.

But she had no idea where to go from here. She headed to the general store to talk with the manager, hopefully, the owner.

She offered one gold coin at spot price, for cash. The owner, Rodney Harrison was interested. He checked the coin out and made an offer. Spot price for today is $1776.50. $1776 is a deal. They shook hands deal was made.

“Wait here while I get your cash.”

“No problem”

Five minutes later he returned, they moved to a private area, and he counted the cash out in front of Tanya, she recounted it, passed the coin to Rodney. Anything else today?

“I need a room and any place good to eat?”

Across the street, on the right side, there is a place with rooms for rent and around the corner, there is a good diner. Try the chicken dinner.

She secured a room. Wondering the last time when she slept in a real bed. After a shower, she dressed and went to try the chicken dinner special. While she sat eating, she began thinking about what her husband may be up to these days.

The first thing she did was accept the fact that she was divorced. It helped put things into perspective. She took stock of what position she in, no friends, no family, no place to live. She faced two choices, one side could stay free and go on government programs to survive, her life would fall under the control of government stooges, the other option, her husband: John Henry.

“But if I contact him, will he want to help me?”

“For all I know he might just use a few choice words on me then hang up on me.”

“I don’t want to live this way anymore.”

She finished eating dinner in deep though and in silence. Later in her room she stared at the phone for what seemed like an eternity. She fell asleep. She would decide in the morning.

When morning arrived, she decided to try calling John Henry and let It ride.

Tanya ordered the breakfast buffet. She returned to her room and reached for the phone. She did not even think about, the possibility that John Henry changed the phone number.

Fingers crossed she dialed out. Her heart pounded, with a serious adrenaline rush almost panic-stricken.

“This incessant ringing never seems to end!!!!!!!”

“Hello, this John, who’s calling?”

“Hi, John, it’s me.”

“Me who, if this is a sales call…”

“No! It’s, it’s me Tanya.”

“Well, this is an unusual surprise, what do you want?”

“John, I need your help, I’m lost, and I’d really like to come back, I know what I did to you and that’s something I’ll never be able to live down, look of you could set aside your disgust for me; would you help me please??”

“Where’s Lacy? Is she with you?

“Lacey’s dead.”

“She’s what, did you do anything, so help me I will personally…”

“NO!! Nothing like that, no I did not kill her, she was high and was bitten by a rattlesnake, we were sleeping in a secluded area with no traffic.”

“How come you couldn’t call for help? No cell coverage?” Besides we were in a canyon”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Tanya, you did not even think this through did you.”

“No, I didn’t, and it cost me a friend.”

By now Tanya was crying, all her emotion started coming out.

“Tanya, calm down, what number can I reach you at?”

“What are you going to do?”

“Just stay put, don’t worry about it, I got your back.”

“Okay, the number is 909-555-5432”

“Got it, I’ll call you, be ready, later.”

The next morning Tanya awoke with anxiety she could not sleep wondering what John Henry was going to send her. After her walking out on him, for she knew it could a package bomb. Her mind was in overdrive and could not think straight. Once again, her stomach felt tied up in knots.

The phone by her bed rang. She jumped. Grabbed the phone.

“Hello? hello?”

“Is this room 214, a Tanya?”

“Yeah, I mean a yes, it is.”

“Good morning, this is Nancy from the front desk, a courier dropped off a package for you, you can pick it up any time today.”

“Ah, ah, ah…great I’ll be right down.”

She bolted downstairs and straight to the front desk.

“You must be Tanya.”

“Yes, I am.”

Here is your package, I need your ID, please. Tanya pulled her wallet and showed her ID.

“Great, just sign here.”

“Thanks.”

With that, she ran back to her room and quickly opened it. She pulled out a phone, puzzled, never saw anything like this. She checked the contents, a second battery, power cord, and adapter with carrying case.

There was a note inside:

This is a Satcom phone, aka a satellite phone that works anywhere in the world. You will not be caught in the middle of anywhere again. Both batteries are fully charged. Take care of this unit Tanya. I do not know what your plans are, but you are at a crossroads in your life.

For now, I am going to cover the monthly cost of your Satcom. It is preprogrammed with my phone number in it.

Now about your girlfriend Lacy, I strongly advise you go talk to the local police about Lacy, and for crying out loud stop thinking about yourself. So, decide what you are going to do. If you need anything call me,

John

She was not sure what to think now. Tanya spent the remainder of her day reading up on her new Satcom.

Looking at her watch, it was time for dinner, and she would call john to test the Satcom out. She stepped outside and placed her first call.

“Hello.”

“Hi John, it’s Tanya, I’m making my very first satellite phone call.”

“Good just don’t lose it, for crying out loud.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ve always done things on spur of the moment, in high school maybe, but you’re supposed to be an ADULT at least some things through. Not going off on some half-assed search for the meaning of life. So, tell me happy wonderer, have learned anything about us on this miraculous journey of narcissistic discovery? Wait let me guess, booze, drugs, and sex, a lot of sex.”

“I am surprised that you are alive.”

“Are you saying…”

“You lived it, not I,”

“So now you had someone track me, you bastard!!”

“No, Tanya, nobody tracked you.”

“Then how did you know…”

“What the hell did you think I did growing up? I used to hunt for girls like you all the time. Never giving one once of consideration for their feelings. I was a total bastard to those women.”

Tanya, listened in total silence, stunned at what she was hearing.

“So, what brought about the change?”

“Meeting you.”

Tanya was at a total loss for words.

“Go on John.”

“It happened on base, I heard Pat Metheny’s music, “Are going with me.” I started thinking about our first meeting, you stirred something inside me, never felt anything like that before. A gut feeling told me you were the one I wanted.”

“So, I knew I had to change, or I’d never see you again, and that was something I didn’t want to happen.”

“I’ve been working on changing everything about me, hopefully for the better, but I shocked when you up and ran away.”

“I didn’t run away.”

“Then what do you call, a wife who out of nowhere walks out the door flipping her husband off and for the next three years no contact of any kind, now what of nowhere she calls asking for help.”

“So, tell me Tanya when or where did I ever leave you behind or not try to be there for you?”

“I was in trouble in over my head, you not once tried to contact me, or find me, how hard would it have been to at least talk to me.”

“Where were you this past week, what’s your cell phone number?”

Total silence from Tanya.

“Who sent you that Satcom, guess who is picking up the monthly tab on that device. Look let’s get you up and going, you told me that Lacy is dead. Your best bet is to contact law enforcement and fess up. The truth will rear its ugly head and set you free. Hang up and call the cops.”

“What no good luck wish?”

“If your truly innocent, you will survive.”

“You don’t trust me do you.”

“Trust has to be earned Tanya.”

“Good-by John, call you I find something out.”

“That’s fine.”

A CONVERSATION WITH A COP

She checked her watch, still time before dinner, she performed a google search for the local police department. She contacted them asking to speak with a detective.

For the next hour and a half, Tanya and the detective talked. Based on what he was hearing, Tanya did not come across as any type of killer. He informed her that a unit was on the way. She did not worry about it, she believed in her innocence. As soon as she got off the phone with the detective, she called John.

“Hello”

“Hi, John, it’s me, I called the police there sending a unit right over. I’m not worried.”

“Volunteer to take them to Lacey’s burial site, if necessary, don’t volunteer but agree if they want you to spend the night in a jail cell.”

She got a call from the front desk, “Mam, this the front desk, there is a police officer here to meet you, want to come on down, or she says, she will come and get you.”

She came down to the lobby, introduced herself to the officer.

“Hello, officer I am Tanya.”

“I am Sergeant Lisa Ricks.”

“I’m sorry but I have to take you when for questioning. I have to search you before we go in. Do you have any weapons, needles, drugs or anything that I might stick myself with?”

“No. officer, a what about my things?” She looked at the front desk receptionist and asked her to lock her room and she comes by later to ship her things to her husband.

That was the first time Tanya had spoken about John Henry in that manner in four years.

“The room will be locked for tonight, mam.”

With that Tanya, handcuffs and all got into the back of the police cruiser. Much to her surprise, the cop was supportive of her situation.

“So, what was it like being on the road?”

“Is this an interrogation?”

“No, just conversation, that’s all, I think you’re on the level.”

“Well thanks, at least someone else believes me.”

“Who’s the other, if I might ask?”

“My I’m not sure if I am still married to the guy, I married seven years ago, guy.”

“OH, okay, I don’t understand that but…”

“I walked out on him, three years ago, without any rhyme or reason, question, left him hanging.”

“What made him so evil?”

“Honestly, I cannot remember or recall anything that he did, we had our ups and downs, yeah, we argued, fought, made-up. Now that I think about it, he really never crossed the line.”

“You walked out on a guy like that, he probably worked to be a real guy towards you.”

Bewildered she replied, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Well, we are here, I have to get the door for you.”

With that, they entered the police station where Tanya was to be held pending the outcome of the corners report. The police chief came to meet Tanya.

“So, you must be Tanya, I’m Captain Lindsey, so want to tell me briefly what happened, or do you want to have legal counsel?”

“No, I don’t think that will be necessary.”

“So, talk to me, what happened.”

“For three years Lacey and I were nomads traveling and checking things out. Yeah, we got into our fair share of trouble, but we never hurt anyone.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Bar fights, guys wouldn’t leave us alone, if you know what I mean.”

“I heard about that, was that you two that took on a group of bikers, and the bar ended up having to be leveled??”

“Yup”

“How many bikers?”

“Six.”

“What did the two of you use?”

“SAP gloves and willie p grenades?

“Where the hell did you get willie p grenades, who made the grenades?”

“In Mexico, when dealing with the cartels, cash talks, I don’t know where they get them but they work really well.”

“How many did you get?”

“Just two, we got cornered in the fight and Lacey looked at me pulled the pin, I pulled the pin on mine, and we heaved them at the bikers, one yelled grenade and they all ran, so did we, they phosphorus ignited the booze.”

“We booked it out a window and never looked back.”

“But that was almost two years ago.”

The captain, stunned and in disbelief, shook his head.

“So, tell me about Lacey’s death.”

“There’s a map, where is it?”

“This?”

“Yeah, that is it, right here about four, no more like five miles. Off this spot right here, walk-in plus or minus a mile, mile and quarter there a rock with a mark on it that’s where she’s buried.”

“That night before, she got high, I wasn’t in the mood for it. She was drinking whiskey and dropping meth. The last time I saw her she was mellow and feeling no pain. It was about 2 A.M. when I saw her roll into her sleeping bag. I do not know what time it was, but I heard a rattler. I grabbed my light and went looking around. I kept calling Lacey to get her to wake up, with no response. The sky was started to get lighter, as I looked at Lacey, I saw the rattler crawl out of her sleeping bag. I waited not to panic it, then I laid next to Lacey and tried to wake her up. I checked her pulse, I could barely feel it, I got scared, I stood up started screaming for help but all I could hear was my own echo. That’s when I felt her hand pulling me, she was barely breathing, I was crying watching my best friend die. Her last words to me were, “It’s alright, no worries, I love you.”

She wiped the tears from her face. Looked the captain, “I held her, I felt her last breath.”

“Then I buried her and headed here.”

“I believe you, but we still have to find the cause of death in this case.”

“I know, I understand.”

Just then the captain saw four police explorers.

“Hey, guys come here for a minute.”

“Yes, captain.”

“Are you guys, available tomorrow, it’s police-related, I’ll see you get credit. Check this map out, any of you familiar with this area.”

Danny spoke up, “Yes sir, I know the area well, great four-wheeling country, I know where that mark is.”

“You have a truck, Danny?”

“Yes sir, shall bring it, when do you need us?”

“How many will it fit?”

“I can fit all four of us easily.”

We will plan this for this Thursday, leave here at 9 A.M. is that okay with guys?”

All four agreed, no problem.

“Thank you, gentlemen.”

“Yes sir.”

They left the office and the captain looked at Tanya, “ I need you to stick around, that won’t be a problem, will it?”

“No, I’ll cooperate, but can I go back to the motel, I’d like to send my stuff to my husband, I want to leave town when this is over.”

“Agreed, but I will send a female officer with you.”

“How about the office that brought me in?”

“That was Sergeant Ricks, a great cop. I’ll get her, you mind spending the night in a cell?”

“Not a problem.”

Tanya was shown to her cell, while Sergeant Ricks talked with her captain. Then she went to Tanya’s cell.

“Tanya? Are you awake?”

“Oh yeah, just meditating.”

“Do you remember me?”

“Yes, I do your… Sergeant Ricks?”

“Good memory, I will accompany you back to your room and take you to the UPS store.”

“Hey, I really appreciate this.”

“Everything is resting on the coroner’s report.”

“I’ll come back for you tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.”

“That will be fine.”

The next morning came quickly and Tanya was nervous, restless, was feeling a mountain level of anxiety couldn’t wait to get this over with. Jailhouse breakfast wasn’t five stars but, it wasn’t that bad either. But it was better than most fast-food places.

Nine o’clock finally arrived, Sergeant Ricks was on time.

“Morning Tanya, how are you feeling?”

“Can’t wait for all this to finally come to an end.”

“I don’t blame you, move to the back of the cell, I’m going to open the door.”

Tanya complied.

“Turn with your back facing me, hands behind your head, I’m going to search you, just procedure.”

“It’s cool.”

On their way to the motel, Sergeant Ricks asked Tanya. Inside Tanya’s room, Sergeant Ricks has a question: “So, when this is over, what do you think you’re going to do?”

“Find an answer to something I’ve been wondering about.”

“What’s that?”

“Am I going to have home to go to or spend whatever time there may be wandering as a nomad. I am totally fed up with this lifestyle. But I have every reason to believe my husband divorced me and if that’s true I don’t know what I do.”

“He sent you that cell phone, didn’t he?”

“It’s a sat phone, he did and he’s picking up the tab on it.”

“I guess that’s something to consider, he really didn’t have to do it now that I think about it.

“Well, that’s all it, I guess traveling lite has its good points. Where’s the UPS store?”

“Not too far away, about 10 minutes away, you ready to go?”

“Yeah, let’s go”

She stopped to pay her motel bill and the two of them went got in the cruiser and headed for the UPS Store.

“I need to call John and tell him what I am doing.”

“Hello.”

“Hi, John it’s me, Tanya, just wanted to call and let you know that if it’s alright, with you, I’d like to send my stuff to your house and when this is over, I want to come by and pick it up.”

“First, it’s our house, and yes, that’s a smart move. But do have enough cash to make it to your destination, wherever it is.”

“I want to come home, John, I don’t want this way of life anymore.”

“Take care of the here and now, we will talk things out when it’s over, do you have enough cash to make it back here?”

“Oh yeah, more than enough cash, I have it all covered.”

“Good luck.”

“John just wanted to say, I love you.”

“Tanya wait till this case about Lacey is finished.”

“Okay, bye.”

John didn’t answer back, Tanya had a knot in her gut, not knowing what to think or believe. She remained silent all the way back to the station. Reliving the moment when she held Lacey, was a nightmare that kept her up all night.

REALITY CHECK THE HARDWAY

Tanya was awakened by the sounds of a truck with a high-performance engine. It was the four police explorers coming to help with the dig. The next one was the captain and a Dr. Anderson, coroner, he was going to a quick check on the body to decide if it was a possible murder. His assistant drove the wagon used for carrying the deceased.

Last Sergeant Ricks drove in she was in a Chevy ¾ ton four-wheel drive, built for off-roading.

Everyone gathered in the parking lot, the captain gave the rundown on what was going to happen. Maps were passed out to everyone so in case anyone would get lost. A second truck pulled in, everyone looked puzzled.

“Captain what’s with the third wheel, we have it covered, all of it.”

“For a police explorer, you need to work on your thinking things through. This is probably going to be an all-day affair. It’s got tools and FOOD, you fool!! Everyone laughed.

“Sergeant Ricks, go and get Tanya.”

“Yes Sir”

When Tanya came out, she was handcuffed.

“Sergeant take those off, she won't try anything stupid, I am sure of that.”

The caravan hit the road. Tanya’s nerves were getting bad, reliving this all over again. When they came to the turn-off in the road, then headed down the path, Tanya covered her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, captain, this is tearing my insides apart having to relive this again.”

“I’ll make it.”

The caravan made it to the spot, while the others set up camp, the captain and Tanya walked to Lacey’s gravesite. Along the way, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Hi Lacey, I told you I would be back. She’s right here captain, I placed her in north, south position, her head being north if that’s any help. Her grave is about two and a half three feet deep.”

“I understand.”

He turned towards the four explorers, “Hey Danny, Jerry, David, Henry get the tools we dig here. Let’s see if we can get this done before the sun bakes the area.”

It took about two hours of careful digging before they reached Lacey’s body. The coroner had Lacey placed on a stretcher and brought her close to camp.

Tanya watched still trying to make sense of everything.

After lunch, the corner spoke to Captain Lindsey, “It’s early but so far, I don’t see any evidence of wrongdoing on the body. But the lab reports could be a game-changer.”

WAITING

Later that night after everyone returned, Tanya lay in bed wondering about her future. She began to think about John Henry. “Thinking, he isn’t perfect by any means, but neither am I.”

She recalled a date night at the beach watching their first sunset together, John wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She loved it, “Kiss me once, kiss me twice, I want more”. She admitted to herself that he really tried to be a good partner. He took her hiking and ended up getting her started in photography she should him how to knit, as means of relaxing taking her mind off of things. Shared memories made her happy. She never realized how much she missed those moments.

The next seven days were equal to nails on a chalkboard for Tanya. Eleven more days of waiting for when Sergeant Ricks finally contacted her.

“Tanya, good news, you have a hearing tomorrow, a case got canceled and the captain grabbed the opportunity and got your case in.”

A sigh of relief came of Tanya. She couldn’t wait. Many people in the department believed her and support was growing in the tiny community. She started to feel like a human being again.

HEARING

Tanya sat quietly as the paperwork was read. The lab results supported Tanya’s story. Dr. Anderson spoke: “In examining the deceased, I saw no signs of trauma, abuse, no marks from objects like a knife, no bullet wounds were found. I did find two marks, on her thigh, that seem to fit the bite pattern of a snake, probably a rattler. The lab report confirmed the presence of alcohol, illegal drugs, most likely methamphetamines, and snake venom. The alcohol, drug combination is bad, but the snake venom was the fatal blow. Not having access to communication devices, in the middle of nowhere the end results were predictable. I see no evidence of wrongdoing.”

The District Attorney stepped forward. “We contacted the deceased family they refused to accept her body for burial.” Tanya motioned to the judge. The judge looked at her, “Please wait your turn.” go ahead counselor, “Well other than burying the deceased, I see no evidence of wrongdoing case, cause of death accidental. Case closed your honor.”

“Tanya, do you have something to say?’

“I’d like to take Lacey and make sure she gets a decent burial.” I’ve can cover the cost.”

“Very well, show me your plan next Monday.”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Tanya approach the bench.”

Tanya stood as the judge spoke words that made her happy.

“You are free to go, cause of death will be listed as accidental. Thank you.”

Tanya walked out of court a free woman with no more legal problems.

“She grabbed her phone, called John Henry.”

“John, it’s Tanya, thank you for telling me to settle this, the judge closed the case and Lacey’s death is listed as accidental. But I need your help, Lacey’s family wants nothing to do with Lacey and probably me too. I want to bring her back a give a proper burial will you help me out, please?”

John thought about it.

“Sure why not, there’s only one cemetery in town how about there? I call and take care of everything.”

“That would be great, thanks, but I need the information I have to turn it into the judge on Monday.”

“Got it, got your back, don’t worry.”

She raced back to the motel got her room back for the week. Went to dinner, really enjoying the chicken special.

John called her later that week, gave Tanya the run down, to her surprise all the costs were covered.

In court Tanya showed the judge the plan, it was approved. Lacey’s body would be picked up by the cemetery driver and they would take care of all the details.

She found Robinsons Transportation. An environmentally-friendly train. It was in reality a private venture, an all-electric train powered by fuel cell technology. No wonder the tickets were so cheap.

She would leave Randsburg Wednesday morning. Wednesday morning an off-duty Sergeant Ricks gave Tanya a ride to the station, which looked more like a coffee shop than a train station.

“Hey, Sarge thanks for everything, now I last thing I have to face.”

“Good luck Tanya, if you’re by this way again stop in.”

“I will, thanks again.”

She walked into the shop satellite phone in hand, waving goodbye. She ordered a coffee and Danish and waited. Checking her watch, it would be about a half-hour wait, hey no problem.

The time is 10:30 in the morning your ride is on time and will be here shortly, thanks for using Rogers Transportation, your environmentally friendly transportation specialist. We like being green!

Tanya finished her coffee, adjusted her chair, and waited for her ride. She had been on the road, a homeless nomad, for well over three years. No more, she thought, no more, ever again. There was only one thing on her mind, what would happen with John Henry. She still had enough money for a couple of months if things went bust. But she had a gut feeling again, a positive one.

She got on the train and off she went. It was quiet, smooth, there was a four-hour trip ahead of her. She spent the time reevaluating her relationship with John. She realized that she needed some growing to do. She felt better about herself, as she faded off to sleep.

The train stopped at her hometown of Victorville; it has changed since she was last here. She called Uber for a ride. On the way back, she told the driver to stop, they did about the middle of the block when a panic attack set in. “What do you say to a man you walked out on three years ago, and you need his help because you have no other options.” She asked the driver to wait.

She saw John Henry walking out of the garage when he recognized her that starred at each other when she jumped back into the car and told the driver to go to the local cemetery, Angel Wings of Love.

There, she let the driver go and walked in.

John was shocked by what he saw.

“She did it again!!!”

Feeling like a fool, and a sucker. He still wanted to give her the benefit of doubt. He loved her, never considered divorcing her and he believed in their marriage. He had a beer wondering what to do.

Tanya was surprised at how fast Lacey was buried. She visited her site.

“Hey girl, I’m back, again. I’m glad you’re here, this is where you belong. I’ll be by to look after your place, we can still talk about the old times, the good times. I have to go but you can count on it I’ll return. I Love You.”

She strolled to the exit and found a bench to sit on. An elderly lady sat next to her.

“Miss your girlfriend?”

Surprised, “Yeah, how did you know?”

“I saw you over there.”

“So, tell me what’s wrong between you and your husband?”

“I’d rather not talk about that especially right now.”

“Ever felt like dumping your man only to realize how wrong you were?”

“It was World War 2, I was in love with a man, he got drafted into the service was angry, jealousy and felt like I was his possession. He asked me to marry him, but I fought back every step of the way. The army sent him to Africa to join in the chase to stop Erwin Rommel. I didn’t care, was free and liked that way. That was until a got a visit from a priest and a letter saying he was killed in action. The Germans were using 88-millimeter anti-aircraft guns against the tanks. George’s tank took a direct hit only left was a burned-out shell, they could even find his dog tags.”

“Part of me died that moment, I was devasted. I survived, but I never felt the same connection with my current husband. My husband is buried here a good man. But I’ve had to live with the loss of a man I really loved and lost.”

Remember this, “A shared life with that special someone is truly a great life. Don’t give up on him.” I have to go thanks for listening."

Tanya said goodbye looked towards Lacey’s spot, turned to ask the lady a question and she was gone.

She took a deep breath and called John.

“Tanya what the hell is going on? Are you going to take off again?”

“John I’m sorry, I can’t change the past, but I want to come home and make us work. No more nomad life unless it’s with you. Please forgive me.”

“Just come home and well work on it together.”

“Let me hang up and call uber.”

About a half-hour later, Tanya stepped out of the car and saw John getting the mail. He saw her, dropped the mail, and ran towards her screaming her name, she ran towards him, screaming his name. he picked Tanya up in his arms twirling her around kissing her welcoming her back home. The neighbors watched in surprise. Some of the other women looked on with envy wondering why doesn’t that happen in my life?

As John held her Tanya began to cry realizing this was where she was meant to be. They kissed once, she looked John in the eyes, smiled and said,” Kiss me once, now kiss me twice!”