permission.
– I’m sorry to hear that, Dan.
– They are very good guys, but sometimes so greedy and impatient if it concerns money. Thanks God, I was not so stupid to tell them all the program’s secrets. If they are really so smart, let them figure it out with the help of their own brains, – Dan was appalled.
At last it was our turn to fill in necessary application forms and attach some copies of the original documents to it. We did it quickly.
The clerk checked everything, thanked us and gave my fiancé the brochure “Your Future Together”. She assured us of getting the license in two weeks by mail.
Dan paid for the service and gave me back the whole set of original paperwork.
He looked at the couples in line one more time and waved to all of them at once:
– Good luck, guys!
We left the office and went outside.
4. Second Family
The weather was fine. We were walking in the local park getting impressed by the works of art of not yet well-known, young American painters. It was really fine exhibition under a clear sky.
And I listened to Dan’s story with an interest.
– I’m very close with Nick, Stacy, and Diane however. I consider Diane my second mom and take care of her; I can’t refuse any request from Nick’s mom. They all are my second family. By the way, I saw how Stacy was giving a birth of her twins. I was with Nick and Stacy from the very beginning of the entire long process of labor till the happy end. I’m proud of this, as I could see with my own eyes how the girls were delivered one by one. I was a great emotional supporter for my friends at such an intimate and significant moment of their life.
– And did Nick have any objections?
– No. He was so scared during Stacy’s labor that he fainted; so he was very grateful to me that I didn’t refuse to be with them.
– What about Stacy?
– Stacy didn’t care at all. She was sure she would be able to stand the labor at home without doctor’s assistance, and since it was her second labor, they decided to save money. But suddenly Stacy felt bad. Nick was in panic, he couldn’t help his wife. “I’m not a doctor,” – he screamed out and started to call 911. He did it at the right moment because Stacy was on the verge of life and death, and Nick could lose her and the twins.
– Are your friends happy in their marriage? – I was curious. However, my question embarrassed my fiancé.
– Are they happy? – he re-asked me. – Hmm. I think so. I’m sure they are true testaments of what it is like to risk and love. They had a varied life but now rest in good company with comfort and love.
– “You cannot learn, feel, change, grow, live or love without risks!” or “The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing…” – Almost everyone knows these inspirational sayings and many others to remind one what it is to live, – I said.
– And my favorite saying is: “The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing,” – Dan smiled. – Yes, all sorts of things took place in their so long mutual relationship and marriage. You know how much they were fighting? They have been fighting during all the marriage, especially when they were young. And Nick says they are still arguing and fighting from time to time.
– I can see.
– Moreover, Stacy could put Nick in prison several times, but she didn’t do this. Maybe because of their children, maybe because of Diane. Or maybe because of her great love to her husband. Nick always said “I’m sorry” to Stacy, and these magic words helped him. – Dan became serious. – And Stacy was Nick’s magic wand. She saved his life several times.
– How?
– They are both into sports, and their favorite is kayaking. They like to take risks rafting the high mountain rivers. Nick used to say, “It takes your breath away! Join us, Dan”. Once Nick was overturned in his canoe and broke both of his legs. He was in shock and couldn’t understand what happened to him. It was a miracle that Stacy could catch him and pulled him out from the cold water to the big rocks in the middle of the river before he was carried away by the stream.
– Unbelievable! Stacy is a fearless courageous woman.
– True story, dear. And one time she pulled him out from the burning truck. Nick was pig-drunk, parked his truck near the house and fell asleep inside. When Stacy came back home and parked her car, she felt the smell of smoke going from somewhere. There was nobody at home, and she immediately returned to Nick’s truck to check it. Nick was there. Stacy saved his life! I tell the story as I heard it.
– She is a real hero.
– And when his son was perished in the war, – Dan coughed and stared at me. – Have I ever told you about that?
– No, dear. I haven’t heard a word about this tragedy.
– Nick wasn’t a perfect father for his son. He was very jealous of Stacy and considered that she treated and loved Andrew much more than him. Nick was too strict and fussy to his boy and thought that Andrew was too arrogant and didn’t respect him, Nick, at all. So, somehow Nick encouraged Andrew to join the Army. “He’ll know what the real life could be far away from his mommy!” – Nick was so proud of his own plan. When Andrew followed his advice, Nick was in high spirits. But later, in a year or so, when Nick saw Andrew’s body in the coffin, he had the only one wish – to kill himself. Nick didn’t want to live anymore and volunteered as a firefighter. In a few weeks he was almost burnt, and again it was Stacy, who nursed him, her husband. Her great care and big love to him helped again.
– Oh, God. So tragic destiny of Andrew! I can’t believe, I don’t want to believe, – I said.
Dan sighed and brushed off the tears from his cheeks.
– Soon after all those tragic events Diane had a heart attack. Her favorite grandson passed away and the only son was on the verge of death for several months. One day, when cutting the lemon tree in my mom’s garden, I suddenly noticed Diane lying on the grass in her backyard. It seemed very strange to me, so I jumped up out of the fence into her backyard. She didn’t move and her face was absolutely pale. I called the paramedics at once.
– I’m so sorry. Poor Diane… Stacy. They both are such strong women. And you, Danny, have done well also! If not for you in the garden that right moment…
I looked at my fiancé. He was ready to cry, so I decided to dispel his so gloomy recollections and asked him:
– Dan, and how do your friends earn money for the life? I do not mean the trading though.
– They do not need to earn or make money; they have it and spend it. – Dan laughed. – You know, dear, the half of the US population enjoy life spending money and not working at all
