Chapter 25

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Copyright (c) 2015 Phyllis Zimbler Miller

All rights reserved.


California voters approve, by a 65-35 percent margin, Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative to cut property taxes by 57 percent. -- June 6, 1978


St. Louis 1978


     "Laura, I'm sorry to wake you. I had to talk."

     "What's happened? Are the girls okay?"

     "Yes." I tell her about Kenneth's earlier visit, then the police.

     "And while they were still here, grilling me, another police officer arrived. He announced that Kenneth's wife had just confessed to shooting him and off all the three police go. They didn't even warn me not to leave town."

     "Are you okay? Do you need me to fly down?"

     "No, I'm fine. My mother's arriving tomorrow."

     Laura laughs. "That would have been great for her to find you locked up in jail."

     "Very funny."

     "How are things going with you and Steve?"

     I hesitate. "I've filed for divorce."

     "You're definitely going through with this?"

     "Yes."

     "How are the kids taking it?"

     "Marcia goes around giving me dark looks. Leah just asks when she's going to see Daddy."

     "Do you have a good lawyer?"

     Again I hesitate. "I'm not using one."

     "You're not! Why?"

     "I feel guilty about breaking up the marriage. I don't want the divorce to be acrimonious."

     "Jennifer, you know the saying, 'A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.' You're about to become a fool."

***

     To distract myself I've been cruising the Internet, dropping into chat rooms, asking historical questions and waiting for replies. When I see my online bill I may not be as happy, but for now I'm having a ball.

     There are all types of online forums, from military history to science fiction to medical advice. The amount of information now known about infertility is amazing. You can ask practically any question and get a response. In Judith's time there were only old wives' tales.


Judith's Story

Spring 1922

     "We've been married over two years," Chaim said. He stood at the window overlooking the street. He turned to her. "And still no baby."

     Judith's hands trembled. She walked to his side. "It is my fault. I know. I should have been stronger after Jacob died. The baby that died will not allow another child to take its place."

     "That's narishkeit, silliness," Chaim said. "We must go to a rabbi. Ask him what to do. Then everything will be all right."

     "Yes, my husband. We will go to a rabbi."

     But Judith knew everything would not be all right. Even a rabbi could not banish their guilt.

__

If you would also like to read women's fiction that takes place in the future rather than the past, check out THE MOTHER SIEGE here on Wattpad at http://budurl.com/MSintro

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⏰ Last updated: Aug 07, 2015 ⏰

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