Brothers!

The window shattered as he slammed the door behind him, I had never seen him so angry. His face was crimson and the veins in his neck almost burst through his skin. The sweat was beading on his forehead, I feared he would have a stroke!

He went to the refrigerator and yanked a beer from it, kicking the door shut knocking the cereal boxes over that sat on top of it. He popped the tab open and downed it within seconds and then he grabbed another with a little less fury toward the refrigerator.

Thank God.  He was beginning to settle down some. He marched over to the couch and sat down. I knew his silence would break soon and when it did, he would erupt!

Wade had spent two years helping his father Don to build a retirement home up on Klammath Lake. His, mother Carrie and I, worked on keeping them fed, and the Interior Design aspects of the lake home. We helped to move his parents into their dream home, an average sized, two bedroom chalet with a loft and a terrace facing the lake and plenty of windows, about five years ago.  Don and Carrie had amassed a healthy savings during the years they worked and had also made wise investments. This money togther with their retirement income would enable them to live very comfortably throughout their lifetimes.

The problem was Wade's brother, Jim. He was a gambler and thought himself a Casanova! Jim never kept an address or job for long. He claimed to be too, free spirited to be tied down to one place very long! That seemed to be his answer to everything, including why he had never married! He left behind carnage wherever he went, broken hearts! Unfortunately that included those of his parents, children he rarely saw and my husband, although my husband claimed not to care!

Today my husband found out that he also left behind an empty savings account, Don and Carrie's to be more specific! He had apparently been sucking them dry for years, and Wade was unaware of it! His parents had nothing left except their retirement income and the chalet which, Thank God, had no mortgage.

Carrie had been sending Jim's six children's mother's  $500.00 a month each for child support. These children range in age from five months to Seventeen years old. She had been sending Jim check after check in different amounts, anywhere from $100.00 to $5000.00 at a time. His list of excuses why he needed money was growing and getting quite enterprising by the sound of it!

Don called Wade after work on Friday and asked us to come up to the lake as he calls it. He said that he and his mom needed to talk to us and they couldn't do it over the phone! All that he would tell him was that they were all right physically. We packed clothes for the weekend and headed out right away, as Wade and I were left to worry about what the problem was until we got there. We lived near Portland so it would take several hours to get there.

Wade was silent most of the way to Klammath Falls. He spoke when we drove through Arby's and then ate in silence after he ordered for us. The next time he spoke, he really surprised me, he wanted to know if I thought his parents marriage was in trouble. Did I think they were telling us they were getting a divorce?  I couldn't imagine Don and Carrie having problems that were that serious and being able to keep them hidden from us all this time, so I told him so. That seemed to make him feel better for a while. Before long, I could see the anxiety in him building back up again!  All I could do is keep my hand on his thigh to let him know I was there for him.

 We pulled into his parents driveway at around 11:00pm. The lights were still on in the house so I knew Wade's parents were still up. Whatever was wrong must be serious, neither were known for staying up late!

Don opened the door before we got to it. He was obviously as anxious as Wade and I were. Carrie was in the kitchen making a fresh pot of coffee. Coffee this late? Now I was definitely distressed, whatever was going on was requiring a lengthy deliberation!

Wade put our suitcase and toiletry bag down near the hallway entrance and shook his Dads hand and then walked over to hug his mother. I gave Don a quick hug and went on to the kitchen to greet Carrie and help her with the coffee while Don and Wade seated themselves on the couch.

I couldn't hear what they were talking about from where I was at first, then I heard Wade shout!          " Broke, what do you mean you're broke?" Carrie, burst out into tears and burned herself while trying to pour coffee into one of  the cups. I turned the cold water on in the sink and lead Carrie over to it, so she could cool down the burn. The paper towel rack was near by so I grabbed one for her to dry her tears with. I didn't have time to clean up the spilled coffer before Wade yelled again, "you've been what? That lousy, lazy, son of a  . . .  he'd better not get anywhere near me or I swear I'll kill him Dad."  Carrie snatched a kitchen towel from the counter top and fled down the hallway, nearly tripping over our luggage. She ended up face down on her bed, sobbing violently. I sat down next to her and rubbed her back, trying to calm her convulsive fit of tears. I was still oblivious as to what had happened, all I knew was it obviously involved, Jim, and Don and Carrie's money.

When Carrie calmed down enough to talk, she started filling in the appalling details for me. I knew now why Wade was no angry. His parents had worked hard all their lives first to care for their children and then to put money away so they would have nothing to worry about when they retired. This very house was built without a loan! They planned ahead and did everything right, so they could retreat and enjoy their lives here at the lake. Now their future was uncertain and they were feeling guilty because they could no longer support their grand children. Jim's illegitimate children! They had considered taking a loan against the house! I knew when Wade heard this, he would shoot off like a rocket! I needed to be in the living room when that happened! I told Carrie it was time that I took my place with Wade and I left her washing her face in the bathroom, trying to compose herself.

Don and Wade were in an intense conversation when I walked into the room. I took a short detour through the kitchen so I could bring them their coffee. Don looked tired, he appeared as though he had aged ten years since we had seen him last. We spent Easter weekend with them just three months ago so this was a profound change. Worry makes a young man old is one of his favorite sayings and it is surely showing its truth!

I sat in the chair at the North end of the couch nearest Wade. Quietly, I just listened as Don continued to divulge the secrets he had kept from his son, over the past two decades! Wade shook his head, pounded his fist on the couch, flung a few obscenities into the air ( all directed at Jim ) and occasionally put his hand on his father's shoulder in a show of his support for his father, no matter what the circumstances. When Don told him that they thought they might have to take a loan out against the house to pay their property taxes and send the kids some money, Wade stood up and thundered,         "Over Jim's dead body you will! Not one more penny Dad, do you understand me, not one more penny goes to Jim or his children. Barbara and I will pay your property taxes.  You don't worry about them." 

Wade had just picked up his coffee cup and taken a drink from it when Don said, he appreciated the help with the taxes, but he still felt that he and Carrie needed to help with Jim's children even if they didn't give Jim anything. Wade threw his hands up in the air and the cup.  Coffee and all went with it. " Wade, calm down honey, you just flung coffee all over the living room!", His reply was sarcastic at best, "better coffee flung all over the place than mom and dad's money spent all over the place!" "Honey, sit down and give me the cup please. Wade, listen. I admire you for wanting to make sure that your grandchildren don't go without, but they have parents who need to be responsible for them, just like you and Carrie were responsible for your children and Wade and I are responsible for our children. Jim has lived off of your generosity and guilt for far too long. I do not want to sound disrespectful to you, but you are enabling him to live his lifestyle of gambling and irresponsibility. If you cut him off you will actually be doing something that will be helpful to him in the end. There is nothing wrong with buying your grandchildren a gift for their birthdays or at Christmas, but it is time their parents do the rest!"

Carrie had pulled herself together and had been standing next to the kitchen bar, I had no idea how long she had been there. She finally spoke up, "Don, I agree with Barbara and Wade. What they are saying makes sense. We have spent all of our savings taking care of him and his responsibilities. All we have left is our home and our retirement money. If we jeopardize our home, we could lose it too!"  Don was being very stubborn. He would not let go of his need to continue to send money to Jim's children. His argument was that it wasn't the children's fault that their father was reckless and didn't provide money for their care. He started explaining each of the children's mother's situations to us. This one couldn't find a job because . . .  This one only worked part time . . .  This one lived with her boyfriend who refused to support . . .  This one had three other children . . .  etc . . .  Don had a big heart, but he needed to be made to understand that none of  those failures were his,  nor was it his responsibility financially to send money to his grandchildren!

I heard an explosion of words coming out of my husband's mouth.  Many foul and beyond repeating! The gist of it was, he told his father that there was no way he would allow him to send any more money to Jim's children. There would be no loan against the house that he helped to build! Now he and his  father, were both angry and yelling, "what do you mean by you won't allow me! I'm an adult and will do as I please with my house and my money!"  Wade barked back at Don, "you can't even afford to pay your property taxes now without my help! And you won't get that help if you send one penny to Jim's kid's!"  I couldn't believe my husband just said that, but he did! The damage was severe enough to cause an eruption of  Volcanic proportions!

 Don bellowed out,  "That's fine Wade, take your wife and get out of my house. I don't need or want your money. Your mother and I will be fine without it. I am sorry I ever called you and I won't make that mistake ever again." And then he left the room. Carrie went after him crying again!

Wade grabbed our luggage and headed out the door. They were both stubborn. It was apparent that this situation would not be resolved this morning.  It was already 1:20am. I walked down the hall to check on Don and Carrie before going to the car. I knocked on their door and Don shouted, "I told you to get out of my house, and while you're at it, make it my life too!"  I gently replied, "I just want to make sure you're all right before I leave Don."  His voice mellowed and he softly answered back, "I'm sorry Barbara, I didn't mean to yell at you. I'll be fine, go ahead and go. You need to take Wade home."  I could hear Carrie crying behind the door. I hated leaving them this way, but he was right, I needed to get Wade home. I had to calm him down.
 
And now we are back to where our story began.  Wade was sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand, fuming still! It was hard to believe that he was still so angry.  The long drive home had done nothing to calm him down. I could just imagine the wheels turning in his brain! He was thinking about Jim and his thoughts were not nice one's! Suddenly, he slammed his beer can down on the table and he erupted! "I'm going to go find Jim and when I do, he is going to regret the day he was ever born. If he manages to live through the beating, I give him, he is going to start paying our mom and dad back every penny he has taken from them, and he is going to start taking care of his kid's himself. If he doesn't, I swear Barbara, I'm going to kill him!"  And then to my horror, he picked up his keys and headed for the door. I cried for him to stop and I don't think he ever heard a word I said through his rage. I tried getting him on his cell phone, but he wasn't answering it!

I called Don and Carrie's to ask if they knew where Jim lived right now. Carrie said that he was living in the Cashmere Motel  near the Navajo Casino in Springfield. I was almost afraid to hear the answer to the next question. "Carrie does Wade know where Jim lives?" She answered back she wasn't sure if he knew which motel he lived in, but that he knew he lived in a motel near the casino. Then she wanted to know why! I had to tell her the truth, that one of her sons was going after the other! I told her that I would do all.  I could to intervene!

I called information and asked for the phone number of the motel. I called the motel and asked the clerk to connect me with Jim's room, only to find out that the motel was such a dive that they had no phones in their rooms. The clerk said I could leave a message that Jim could pick up when he came into the office the next time. I told the clerk that it was an emergency and he replied, "Lady,  I am not a delivery boy, I only take messages to be picked up in the office! Leave a message or don't it's all the same to me!" I didn't have time to argue with him so I left Jim a message, Jim call Barbara right away, it is an emergency. I asked the clerk to read it back to me and he retorted that he wasn't a parrot either and hung up on me! What a jerk!
 
All I could think to do now was drive there myself. I had to try and beat Wade there. I grabbed my purse and jumped in my Mustang GT and took off like my tailpipe was on fire and I was trying to out run it! I had one advantage over Wade and I knew which particular dive Jim was living in!
Springfield was 104 miles from Portland where we live so it would take about an hour and a half to get there. If I put my foot down on it, I could be there in about an hour and fifteen minutes or less. I had to be careful not to get pulled over though!

It was already 6:30am Saturday. Neither Wade nor I had been to sleep since Thursday night, but right now I wasn't tired. I was so anxious, that I was running on an adrenalin high. I was hoping that Jim would call my cell phone if he got my message and tried the house. I could not count on that though. He was free spirited enough not to care what our emergency was to begin with and if he did call and didn't reach us, he would dare think to call my cell phone!

The sun was rising and it was beautiful. At least that was one part of this day I could enjoy! It was a warm yellow and red glow above the mountain range. It was so cordial and beautiful it was beginning to relax my very stressed  muscles some. Just as I was about to unwind some, my phone rang, I had hoped it was Jim but it was Don instead. " Hello, yes, I'm on my way there now. I couldn't reach him by phone so I left a message with the clerk. No, Don, don't call the police. Give me a chance to intervene.  I certainly don't need Wade in jail! Don, I know you don't mean that. Don, Don!" Great, Don was set on calling the police and seeing that Wade was put in jail.  Wade was set on beating up Jim and teaching him a lesson; This was going to be a great day!

I tried calling Wade again.  He still wouldn't answer my call. I didn't know who was more stubborn. My husband or my father-in-law? Well, I was stubborn too, and I was determined to stop my husband from bludgeoning anyone, especially his brother! I couldn't believe how hostile he had become toward his brother. I knew he was disappointed in his brother's behavior and angry over his parent's financial situation but I had never known my husband to be physical with anyone! He was alarming me acting like this.

I reached Springfield in record time, and thankfully without any tickets! I had asked for the directions to the motel when I called and talked to the very rude clerk, so I knew where I was going. This information I had hoped, gave me another advantage over Wade. I got off of the freeway on Washington Avenue and turned left, then continued for two miles, turned right on Citadel Road and continued for one mile then I turned left on Madison Way and drove for two miles and turned right on Shelby Road. The Motel was located on Shelby Road just two blocks down. I was nervous as I drove up. I was afraid I would see Wades Expedition parked there already and police cars as well! I was relieved to see that neither were there!

I parked my car and went into the lobby, which was a small, dirty room that needed paint! There was no one at the desk so I rang the bell. A man who looked like he just woke up, walked through a door behind the counter. He was wearing green pajama bottoms and a brown housecoat! He asked me if I needed a room. I said no thank you, what I needed was to talk to Jim Reynolds. I explained that I was his sister-in-law and that we had a family emergency. He scoffed at me and told me they didn't give their patrons room numbers out! One of the things they paid for was their privacy. Okay now I was getting a bit miffed myself, "Look, let me make this simple, I am Jim's sister-in-law and my husband is on his way to beat the living daylight out of him, when that happens the police are going to be crawling all over this place, is that what you want? Or do you want to give me Jim's room number so I can get him out of here!" It didn't take him long to answer, "He's in room 16." I said, "thank you," with a sarcastic tone in my voice and then I quickly headed for Room number 16.

I knocked on Jim's door and got no response. I knocked harder and he finally hollered, "What do you want, I'm trying to sleep?" I called back to him, "Jim, come and answer the door, it's Barbara and you've got a major problem headed your way!"  I heard rustling noises behind the door and after a few clicking noises, it opened. He looked awful. I told him that Wade knew about the money Don and Carrie had been sending to him and his children and that they were now broke and talking about taking a loan out against the house. And I let him know that Wade was angrier than I had ever seen him and on his way to beat the day lights out of him! He needed to disappear and fast! I also instructed to get a job, keep it and begin paying Don and Carrie back their money before Wade had a chance to track him down, and that he needed to begin paying some child support to his kid's mothers. If he didn't do all of this, I informed him I would help Wade track him down next time, instead of saving his rear end!
   
Jim had no backbone so he never bothered arguing with me. He was too busy shoving his clothing into bags to say anything! He had an empty box in the corner of his room and everything else went into that! Great way to live huh! He carried it all out to his old Ford pick-up truck and put it inside the cab. He was obviously a man who traveled highly! When he was done, he hopped into the cab with his stuff and cranked over the engine. It ran as rough as he looked! He started to back out and Wade pulled into the drive way.  Before Jim could leave the parking lot, Wade cut him off. I ran over to Wade's SUV and yelled at him to let him go. That I had already taken care of it, the right way! Wade opened his car door and got out. Jim kept his window rolled up and locked himself inside of his truck. I was terrified at what might happen when Wade reached Jim's truck. Sure enough Wade pounded on the window and informed Jim that if he didn't open it, or come out and face him like a man, he would break the window and pull his sorry rear end out through it! Jim didn't budge. He knew if Wade got a hold of him right now, there would be nothing left of him! He put his truck in reverse and began pushing Wade's SUV out of his way. Wade's actions had become those of a deranged man!. He was now! He ran back to his SUV and started it. The two brothers were in a tug of war. Each pushing against another now. This was getting seriously dangerous and seriously ridiculous.

The clerk was standing outside yelling at us now, telling us to take it someplace else. He didn't want the police showing up. But he insisted he would call them if he was forced to. Unfortunately, it looked like he just might have to if I couldn't stop them before one of them, or both of them got critically injured.
I saw Wade back up and I thought maybe he had come to his senses. Jim stopped and was watching to see what Wade was doing. I ran over to Wade's SUV and told him we needed to leave, and I heard his answer in the rev of his engine. Oh, my God, Wade was going to ram into Jim's truck.







Chapter 2
"It's, Barbara Dad, Oh God she's in the hospital, I slammed on my brakes but it was too late! She ran in between my SUV and Jim's truck just as I hit the gas. I pinned her between us, Dad" Wade was telling his father as he called from the police station. "Jim and I are both being detained. Yes, I know it's my fault Dad. I need to get out of here and see Barbara, though. She is in bad shape Dad."

In an ironic turn of events, Don had to put his and Carrie's house up for collateral to bail both Wade and Jim out of jail. They were both being charged with Misdemeanor Reckless Driving, Vehicular Vandalism and Wade was being charged with Vehicular Assault.

It took the better part of nine hours for Don and Carrie to drive to Springfield, find a Bail-bonds and get the paperwork done. Then they had to pick both Wade and Jim up from the police station. Their vehicles had been impounded.

Don drove them to Springfield Memorial Hospital as he put it,  to see what they had done to Barbara. She was in intensive care and under the effects of a heavy pain medication and sedative. She was asleep. Her legs, several ribs, breast bone, and part of her spine had been crushed. She had injuries to her liver, and one kidney as well as a punctured lung. The Orthopaedic, Thoracic and Neurosurgeon's did all they could to put her back together, but Barbara was certain to be left a paraplegic. Wade was devastated by the news and worse, he knew it was his fault. He regretted his actions but knew it was too late to change them. He didn't know what he was going to say to Barbara, when she woke up and found she would never walk again! Jim was feeling no less liability and overwhelmed by the news. The brothers did manage to do one thing right, they disregarded Wade's attack on Jim and concentrated on Barbara.

It was several hours before Barbara woke up. When she did, the first thing she realized was that she was in almost unbearable pain. The doctor had her put on a Morphine drip and the nurse showed her how to use the self dosage button. She couldn't overdose as it was set up to allow a small dosage once every hour. Then she saw that both legs were a mass of metal hardware, but she felt no pain in them. She could feel pain in her upper chest and back beneath a torso cast, as she lifted her head, but nothing lower than that. Wade didn't have to tell her that she was paralyzed, she knew it already. She suddenly felt as numb as her legs! There were no tears, no shouts of protest, she simply closed her eyes. Maybe it was all just a nightmare and when she opened them again everything would be fine!  She couldn't make herself open them, she knew deep down, she wasn't fine and nothing was ever going to be fine again! Tears squeezed through the corners of her shut eyes now and began the slow trail down her face.

Barbara heard footsteps nearing her bed. She wished she could find solace in the familiar sound, but she was embittered by them. Those shoes belonged to Wade. The last person she wanted to see or talk to right now was her own husband. It was his rage that put her there, his madness that took away her legs and nearly her life. She left her eyes sealed so she didn't have to face him and cried out in a bellow of pain, "get out Wade."  Every feeling that she had been restraining suddenly exploded from inside her. She began trembling, her sobs resonated throughout the room and occasionally she would add a grievance that could easily be heard!  Wade didn't budge, he knew she needed to vent and had every justification to unleash her feeling on him!.  He sat in a chair next to her and embraced her hand in his, which Wade knew she either allowed or didn't feel!

A few moments later a nurse made her way over and asked if we thought she might need a sedative, Barbara's incense turned on her, " No Florence Nightingale, I don't need a sedative, I need working legs, you wouldn't happen to have any of those in your pharmacy,  now would you?" The nurse understanding her circumstances was untouched by Barbara's sarcasm and replied, " a sedative it is", with a smile and gentle tone in her voice. Barbara embarrassed by her treatment of the nurse, was brought back to being the more gentle, even-tempered person she was before the accident!

"Wade what happened?" Barbara asked him. "I mean, after you ran into me."  Wade began filling her in on the details, " I tried to stop Barbara, I slammed on the breaks but the SUV slid right into you. You were pinned right in between Jim's truck and my SUV it was awful." Barbara couldn't help but interject a little sarcasm, " you should have seen it from my vantage point Wade!" And then she apologized and told him to continue. " The clerk had already called the police and they arrived within a  minute after you became pinned. They called an ambulance immediately. The police wouldn't let me move the SUV until the ambulance was on site because they said you probably had internal injuries and could bleed to death if I did. They wanted the paramedics to make the decision when to move it. They told me to try and keep you awake. Do you remember Jim and I talking to you?" Barbara said she really didn't remember anything about the incident once she got rammed between the two vehicles. Wade continued, "Well we did. We wouldn't let you lapse into unconsciousness, we were afraid you would never wake up again!. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics agreed that you required immediate critical care and called for Life Flight to fly you to Portland Memorial Care Hospital, which is where you are now. Do you remember the helicopter flight? Barbara said, "No, I went up in a helicopter, really?"  Wade answered with a light-hearted smile, "yes  you did, I guess it isn't exactly the way you had always dreamed of, and I'm sorry for that!"  Barbara squeezed his hand in recognition of his apology. Wade recommenced, " Then Jim and I were both arrested...." Barbara cut Wade of mid sentence, " what, oh no Wade what is going to happen?" Wade interjected, " Don't worry about it. We are out on bail. Barbara, that isn't important right now. You are our immediate concern." Barbara cut in and asked if Jim was okay.  Wade wasted no time in easing her mind, "Jim is fine, he is out in the waiting room with Mom and Dad. We are all here for you. Don't worry, there are not going to be any problems between me and Jim. Barbara. I am so sorry. I never should have left the house. My anger was out of control. I can't change what happened Barbara, but I can make sure my anger never gets out of control again. Even if the Judge doesn't order Anger Management Classes as part of my punishment, I am going to take them. I'm going to quit drinking too. I know those are just promises but I will show you by my actions. I am pretty sure I am going to have to serve some time in jail. But when I get out I will take them." Barbara interrupted his rambling, "Jail, you really think you are going to go to jail Wade?"   Wade filled her in on the charges, "Barbara, one of the charges is serious. The District Attorney is talking Vehicular Assault among a few lesser charges." Barbara not wanting to feel sorry for herself, yet feeling honestly concerned asked Wade, " And if you go to jail, who will take care of me Wade?" Tears began the long trail down her face again.  Wade squeezed her hand gently to give her some comfort and said, " Don't worry Honey,  Mom and Dad want you to come and stay in their guest room at the lake once you get released from the hospital. Jim is going to stay there in the loft. He has offered to help take care of you too, if that is all right with you." Barbara interjected that of coarse that was fine with her, she would need all the help she could get! Wade went on to say, " Jim feels party responsible for all of this Barbara.  Would you believe he called and found a Gamblers Anonymous Group that meets in the evenings near Mom and Dads? He said he wants to get his life together, get a job, take care of his kids,  and pay Mom and Dad back. Dad says he can find plenty of things to keep him busy around the lake until he gets a job."  Barbara yawned and said, "Wade, I think it's a good idea that Jim moves in with Don and Carrie, It is not going to be easy taking care of me.  I think it's a good idea for him to go to Gamblers Anonymous too. Will you tell him that I would like to talk to him later please, Don and Carrie too?" Wade replied, Yes I'll do that and  Honey, I love you."

 Barbara was getting tired, the sedative had kicked in, she closed her eyes and said, "Wade, I love you too and tell Don, Carrie and Jim, I'm going to fine."