Chapter 5

Chapter 5

It had been a long time since Jimmy and his wife had taken any kind of vacation. Even longer since they'd gone out to dinner that hadn't been attached to some kind of business thing. Tonight, they were enjoying a fine dinner and a glass or two of wine. Then, tomorrow, their adventure started.

"Are you sure that I don't have to pack anything?" He told her just a change of clothing was all that she needed. "Oh, before I forget, Jimmy, that wonderful young woman that you hired to settle our estate called. She has already sold the houses in England. My goodness, I don't know why we didn't think of this sooner. And to think that all you had to do was make a phone call, and things are moving in the right direction for us."

"I know what you mean, love. I think that by leaving all the money and estates, she'll know what to do with our savings. With the one million left for us to enjoy our lives in a good way." Hannah smiled at him, and he felt like he could take on the world. Laughing, he thought about that too as he tossed the suits he'd only just packed out of his suitcase. "No more suits either. I won't get rid of them all, but most of them."

They pulled up in front of the restaurant, and he handed out his wife after he was out. Jimmy couldn't believe that it had been nearly seventy years since they'd met. All the way back in grammar school.

Celebrating nothing was funny to him. But they'd always been tight with their money. Not to go out to dinner at a good place to save money, and they both banked all their extra money in the form of IRAs as well as investing in their rainy day account. As far as he was concerned, it had been pouring for some time now, and he was going to spend the rest of his life pampering his lovely wife.

After ordering a plate of raw fruit and vegetables as their appetizer, they sipped their wine and talked about small things. What would they do with the furniture in their main residence now that they were finished with it? That was when Jimmy told her about changing the locks on all their properties. Leaving Katie to get him the best dollar and for her to inherit their estate.

"I know that's the best way to do it. I'm just concerned for her welfare. She's the most polite person I know, and you know that Jimmy will eat her alive if she's not on her guard at all times. Poor child. I'm also very happy that we're not going to be here when Jimmy finds out that we really weren't going to leave him anything." He told her what the attorney told him. "So you leave him something, a small amount, and he'll know that you didn't forget he was our son. Dirty little fucker."

Jimmy laughed. When he'd been pursuing his lovely wife all those years ago, he thought her to be delicate, too. She was far from it, as he found out when she went with him on a dinner engagement for the firm. One of the guests had made a pass at her—Hannah was more beautiful today than she was all the way back then—and he still laughed to this day when he thought about his friend laying on the ground out the doors to their first home. There was his Hannah, sitting atop the man with her hand holding him down while she continued her conversation with the guest she'd been talking to. Jimmy would say to this day that that was the reason that he made her happy. His wife didn't take foolishness all that well.

Their dinner was steaks. He didn't care all that much, but he would eat them when his wife did. He had no reason in his head that he could think of why he did that, but it was a habit he didn't want to break.

His cell phone went off twice, vibrating in his pocket. Ignoring it to spend time with his wife tonight, she said she was going to go to the ladies' room, and he should check what was happening. As much as he didn't want to spoil their good time, he did what she'd asked of him. The first one was from the jail. The next two were from Katie.

After listening to Jimmy go on and on about what he wanted him to bring him in for dinner, Jimmy did wonder at his son being seemingly out of proportion with his previous eating habits. He'd been wanting green beans and mashed potatoes with his every meal. Jimmy had not eaten them as a child. What had he done that had him wanting them now?

Then, he listened to Katie's first message. She started it off by telling him that she was sorry for interrupting his night with Hannah, but she wanted him to know that their main house had sold just now and that Katie thought it would be a time for a celebration with that, too. The second message wasn't as chipper as the first.

"Jimmy, I wanted to let you know that Jimmy is going to be brought to the courthouse for his prehearing. I wanted to tell you that now in the event that you might want to go or not. I wouldn't if I were you. It's just going to be the same thing as he'd been saying all along. That he wants you to give him the house that he grew up in. And also that you give him his money now."

Hannah joined him as he finished the voicemail. Asking Hannah if she'd changed her mind about going to see their son before they left. Tomorrow would be a good way for him to be told that they were not going to support him any longer.

"I've not changed my mind. If you would like to go, I will be right there at your side, however long it takes." He laid his hand over hers. "I can't believe I'm saying this about my own child, but he's going to have to regroup and figure out how to make his own way in life. I'm finished with his ass." Jimmy laughed.

"You're a delight, love. An absolute delight that never ceases to amaze me. No, I've not changed my mind, but I did want to make sure that you hadn't changed your mind when I tell Katie that. She's sold our home, too." Hannah told him that was a cause for celebration. "Katie said the same thing on the voicemail she left me. I do need to let her know so that she doesn't need to reserve any seats for us. She said she thought the courthouse was going to be packed to see Jimmy get his comeuppance."

"Again, this is something else that I wished we'd done before." Shaking her head, Hannah smiled at him. "I know that we don't have much longer to be around. I'm well aware, too, that most elderly people our age have been shoved away in the nursing home. Jimmy, I never dreamed that you and I would spend sixty-five years together. I love you more today than I did then." He told her ditto, something that they'd been saying to each other since they met and had fallen in love. Then he told her how much he loved her.

After calling Katie and letting her know that neither of them had changed their mind, she wished them a good night, and he told her that they'd see her when they returned. If they returned. He thought that he'd like living on an island for the rest of his days. He and Hannah had a good night, just talking about the things that people their age talked about.

They talked about their age and how well they got around. He also knew that because his wife had done volunteer work at the nursing home years back, they were the exception rather than the norm when it came to their longevity. Both were in their early eighties and not sick or having too much wrong with them was something that very few people could enjoy without being in a great deal of pain all the time. Yes, sir, Jimmy thought. He was finally enjoying this time when the two of them were together.

It was much too cold for them to walk around the town after dinner. They got into their car, telling the driver to go where there were lots of Christmas lights they could see. For the next hour or so, that's just what they did. Enjoying the beauty surrounding them as well as the companionship of one another.

Going to the hotel, they had decided that they were too excited to wait for tomorrow's flight at home and wanted to get there on time tomorrow afternoon. They were going to pick them up a few things to tide them over so that when they got there, they wouldn't be smelling like well-worn travelers.

The hardest decision he had to make while shopping was the brown hat or the green. After considering it a few minutes more, he got them both. Still laughing, he found his wife looking at bathing suits. It had been so long since either of them had new clothing that it occurred to him that he had no idea what sort of things were in style anymore. For all he knew about fashion, he could have fit it in one of his new hats. Hannah showed him the one-piece bathing suit? Costume? He didn't even know what they were called anymore, and that made him laugh again.

"I've also brought us a few snacks for the plane trip. I know that they'll serve us dinner, but I'd like to start this new life on a fun note. Jimmy, I'm about to bust, I'm so excited. And being with you only? Well, I can't make you understand how that is exciting for me as well." He told her that he was, too, and laughed again. "I don't know that I've heard you laugh as much as you have lately. It's wonderful to hear that sound coming from you again, I tell you."

"You've no idea how lifting it is for me to laugh like this. I feel free. More so than I have in a long time. And I don't want to get us thinking about Jimmy, but I'm so glad that he's in jail while we're doing this. He'd find some way to screw this up for us." Hannah nodded and leaned her head on his chest while he continued. "I love him, honey, but I don't think I've liked him in a very long time. If we're being honest with each other, I feel too like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders in not having to deal with his crap anymore."

"I feel the same way. I don't care if anyone thinks that I'm cruel, either. If they knew half the stuff that he's been up to since he'd been a child, they would actually feel sorry for us." Jimmy told her to buy both the bathing suits—she corrected him on what they were called nowadays. "All right. I think I will, and for good measure, I'm going to get the matching robe to go with it. In case I just want to run into town for a moment."

They purchased their luggage, just a couple of carry-ons to put their new things in. He wondered what people would say when they inspected their luggage and found that everything they had packed still had price tags on it. After the two of them had a nice cup of tea, Hannah said she was too tired, and Jimmy joined her in the big bed.

He couldn't sleep and slid out of the bed. With his wife still sleeping, he made his way to the computer to look once more at the house that Katie had found for them to buy. It would be just one more thing she'd have to take care of when they were gone, but this was something that he thought Hannah would enjoy as well. A lovely beach house with the ocean as their front lawn.

By the time Hannah was up and around, he'd found some things they could do while they were on layover. Not too much, they'd established that they weren't young anymore last night, and he found them things that they'd be able to see without too much walking around. When his cell phone rang, he took it, knowing that whatever news Katie had would be welcome.

"All right, the deed to your new home will be couriered to your new place the day after tomorrow. The keys have been given to the cook you now have. Ms. Lanton has passed her background check and is ready to start her employment with you two soon." He asked if he could put her on speakerphone, and she said that was fine. Repeating everything that she'd said to him, Jimmy laughed at the expression on Hannah's face.

"We've been saying this a lot today and yesterday, but we should have done this earlier in life. However, when I think on that, you wouldn't have been born yet when we were looking at retirement. Thank you so much, Katie. I hope you know how much we both love you." Jimmy could almost taste Katie's embarrassment but let it go. After that, Katie changed the subject and they were both fine with that. "The hearing is today. I'll be heading over there in short order. Oh. I nearly forgot again. The couple that are moving into your house soon wants to know if any of the furniture will stay. They believe that you've had a decorator come in, and they were that good."

"You've been in the house several times over the years. Is there anything in the house that you'd like to have?" He glanced at his wife, and she shook her head. "I've spoken to Hannah, and we want nothing from the house but our personal things. The rest of it can—They will be paying more for the house, and they're aware of that, correct?"

"Yes, sir, they are aware. I'll need for you to approve on the contents sales. I thought, after making a quick rundown on the household goods, I'm thinking that everything in the house should be about three hundred thousand. You've both been collectors for years, and it shows throughout the house. And since you've asked me. I would love to have your desk. Actually, your entire office suite. I don't have a set up at home just yet, and I would love to be able to sit at yours after all that you've done for me." Jimmy started to cry a little, and Hannah said that she'd be back. It was the kindness of this woman that made them feel better all the time. "I'll pay you whatever you think it's worth."

"You take it. Don't tell the couple buying the house that you're getting it. They might feel like you're overstepping your bounds. But Hannah and I would be so proud to have you honor us by using my old desk."

After making arrangements to have the desk picked up, Katie said that she'd call him back with what the Connors wanted to do. After ringing off, he asked Hannah if she was all right.

"Yes. I so wish we could have had a daughter like her. I'm sure that she'd tell us that we were better off without her as a snot-nosed kid and that she's not nearly as perfect as we think she is. But I think that she is absolutely wonderfully perfect." Jimmy agreed with her. They were leaving the hotel soon to head to the airport and was glad that they had picked up some luggage to put a few things in. It made them not stick out like a banged-up thumb walking through the airport without even a purse for Hannah.

Getting on the plane, the two of them being sat in front of the plane in first class, had been a great idea, he told Hannah. They had room to stretch out as well as headroom that didn't have them bumping into the underside of the compartments that held luggage. Once he was finished stuffing their almost empty bags overhead, they settled down for the long trip across the country.

Jimmy must have dozed off at one point. He'd not gotten any sleep the night before, so he thought that a good nap would do him good. Hannah was doing a crossword puzzle, and he leaned back his head to relax while talking to her. Just then, the plane seemed to hit something, and he asked Hannah if she knew what was going on.

"I think that's what woke you up. It's turbulence, they keep telling us. Nothing to worry about." She raised her eyes from the book she was working in and looked at him. He could see the fear in her eyes and the way her face just seemed to be tense. "Jimmy, honey, I don't think we're going to make it to our destination. I have a feeling that all our planning to enjoy some time together is going to be these final moments that we're having right now."

Just as she said that, the plane nose-dived for a few long, tense moments before he felt it rise back up to cruising level. Instead of laughing off what Hannah had said to him, he reached for her hand and told her that he loved her. The lights flickered on and off several times before she told him that she loved him as well. They were both going to die, but they were together, so he was all right with that.

"We had a good life, didn't we, Jimmy?" He assured her that there wasn't anyone that could say differently. "Thank you. For all you did for me over the years. I'm excited to be able to spend all of eternity with you again."

The plane dropped, this time starting a downward position that told him that they were going to crash nose-first into the water below them. A jarring stop after a few minutes had him sitting closer to Hannah. The seat belt light came on and the oxygen masks fell in front of them and the other passengers. Screaming started then. Everyone behind them was coming to the same conclusion that he and Hannah had already known. They were all going to die.

Items began to make their way through the air toward them. A pair of shoes hit him in the face. There were two books that landed on the wall between them. The next item, he thought it was a reader of some sort, it Hannah in the forehead, rendering her unconscious. He was happy for that. The less she would suffer, the better.

Holding her tightly again, Jimmy hoped for something to hit him as well. The waiting to die was long, it felt like. More items began to hit them as the plane made a slight adjustment, and now it was completely nose down, and he was straining then to even hold himself in his seat.

The plane just dropped quickly. While not too quickly in his mind, he knew it was fast approaching the ocean. He knew after a few seconds that they weren't going to come out of this one. Pulling Hannah so close to him that it tightened the seatbelt too snugly against his belly. But he didn't care. His only hope now was that they died quickly, that they'd not have to suffer overly much while doing so.

There was a brief hope that the plane might come out of it, but it was just his heart hoping. The reality of it was that they were too far from cruising altitude to recover. The impact on the water hurt him so much that he cried out once. Jimmy told his wife that he loved her again before something hit him in the back of the head.