The Perfect Spouse Read online

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Acknowledgements

  Myth

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Some Extra Treats from Sioux Dallas

  Author’s Note

  Other books by Sioux Dallas

  Back cover

  The Perfect Spouse

  A Novel by

  Sioux Dallas

  CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  The Perfect Spouse: A Novel

  Copyright ©2012 by Sioux Dallas

  ISBN-13 978-1-927360-29-3

  First Edition

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Dallas, Sioux, 1930-

  The perfect spouse : a novel / written by Sioux Dallas.

  ISBN 978-1-927360-29-3

  Also available in print format.

  I. Title.

  PS3604.A439P47 2009 813'.6 C2009-906197-X

  Additional cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada

  Disclaimer: This is a book of pure fiction, a product of the author’s imagination, and does not represent any person, living or dead.

  Extreme care has been taken to ensure that all information presented in this book is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Additionally, neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Publisher:

  CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  www.ccbpublishing.com

  To Virginia Bryant, a true Christian friend who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. Thank you is not enough.

  They are known by the fruit they bear.

  Matthew 7:16-18

  Acknowledgements

  There are friends too numerous to list who have been angels to visit, call, supply food, bring cheer-up gifts and pray, during my medical problems.

  The ladies from my Bible study class, students from my Aqua Champions Aerobics and ladies from Cairo Court #97, Ladies’ Oriental Shrine of North America have been true blessings.

  From my Bible class Rosemary Adams has supplied several full meals. Our Bible teacher, Helen White has brought food and gifts. Mary Ann Austin has visited often and I have her prayers. From the aerobics Linda Snow and Rose Shaw have supplied full meals. Carol Glennie, Fran Silver, Ellen Leedy, Caroline Sklenar, Jean LaFevers, Carol Schneider and Claudia Weaver have supplied food and gifts. Linda Snow, Lisa Alicea and Rose Shaw have supplied frequent transportation. All of the others, men and women, have given of themselves. I love all of you, not for what you’ve done for me, but by being your own loving self.

  Don’t walk in front of me; I might not follow

  Don’t walk behind me; I might not lead

  Walk beside me and be my friend

  Myth

  There is an old English saying that: when a baby gets ready to leave Heaven and be born on Earth, that its guardian angel placed a finger on the lips and says, “Shhhh. Don’t tell what we say and do up here.”

  A cleft or indentation is left on the upper lip which is a blessing. The child, who has this, has more blessings than the one who doesn’t.

  Prologue

  Although there was almost a foot of snow on the ground, and more promised, the sky was blue and clear. The air was nippy, but invigorating.

  Only twenty-four days until Christmas. The street and stores were beautifully decorated and the gaiety of the people, walking on the streets, was infectious.

  He thrust long, artistic fingers through brown, wavy hair and gave a sigh of indecision. Drawing his chin down into his overcoat against the bitter cold, he viewed the building he was facing. His sea-green eyes held a look of uncertainty gazing at this particular place of business. His brown Armani suit and overcoat were expensive but tasteful. A cream Stetson and snakeskin Western boots looked good on him. The white shirt and red tie completed the outfit. His boots were shiny, but, by the way he was walking in the slush, they wouldn’t be for long.

  Snow laying in heaps along the building fronts and in the gutters, had begun to turn to slush and was icy. There was little traffic. People were only in cars when they absolutely needed to go to work or important appointments.

  His expression was thoughtful and slightly sad. Should he or shouldn’t he? Should he enter this building and take a chance on someone accepting him just as he is, or should he walk on?

  A year ago he had buried his beloved wife. They had only been married ten months when a home invasion left her beaten and dead. He had been at work and was inconsolable when he came home and found her.

  Recently he had visited a friend who had an auto accident. At the friend’s house, he had found a copy of The Blade newspaper from Village of Fayette, Ohio. The friend had lived there and extolled the virtue of the people and town so strongly that he decided to move here as he could not be happy where he and his wife had lived. He had left Lynchburg, Virginia and moved here to Fayette, Ohio and opened a CPA office.

  This lovely town of Village of Fayette had less than fifteen hundred people and was only one and two tenths square miles. There were loads of larger cities and shopping malls close. There was one public school and one privately owned preschool.

  There was emergency medical help but no big hospital in Fayette. There were eight or nine major hospitals close by. Five various religious organizations were in the town.

  The village atmosphere was more of a rural community. Middle income families, single-family homes, apartments and condominiums provided housing. Industrial plants and business on Main Street provided employment. There were several fine dining opportunities.

  He was pleased to find a Lions Club, of which he was a member and Normal Memorial Library where he looked forward to spending many pleasant hours. There was a Village Police Department with full-time chief, some officers and auxiliary officers. A township/village Fire Department with a part-time chief and thirty-five volunteer fire fighters were available with the Fulton County nine-one-one.

  He had met the police Chief Aaron Mason and the Pastor of the Community Faith Church, Dr. Charles Black, during the first week he had lived here. His apartment was three blocks from his office and was a good, pleasant walking distance.

  He had hired Grace Miller for a receptionist as soon as he opened the office three weeks ago. She came highly recommended and had been a secretary for an aged attorney, who had died and left her with no employment. During the first week he had been open, he hired Elizabeth Mitchell who had three and one half years of college and was determined to finish with a BA in Business Administration. Although she was engaged to be married, she stated that she expected to continue working.

 
During the second week, Gregory Martin had applied for a job stating that although he had graduate training, and came highly recommended, he was staying at home to care for his invalid mother. Greg had been hired and Jason felt he had an excellent staff.

  Taking a deep breath, he reached for the glass door to The Perfect Spouse which was a dating agency. He wasn’t interested in a permanent relationship, but wanted to find new friends in church and, hopefully, in here.

  Chapter One

  “Hello. Welcome to The Perfect Spouse. Please have a seat. My name is Corella Swanson and I’m the manager. How may we help you?”

  “I’m Jason,” he said nervously, “Jason McBride.” He sat cautiously in the comfortable leather captain’s chair and looked around. He was in a large, open room with maroon carpeting and three long tables. Near the front was an arrangement of several small, round tables and chairs to offer a pleasant opportunity to visit with other people.

  Corella flipped an ash-blonde page boy cut that framed a sweetheart-shaped face. Long eye lashes framed hazel eyes and fell on peaches and cream complexion that needed no cosmetics. Her five-four height appeared taller due to the three inch stiletto light green suede heels. The ridiculous heels complimented the A line lime-green sheath that flirted just below her knees on well-shaped legs. Gold fan-shaped earrings dangled from small ears. Dimples danced in and out on both cheeks.

  “Well, Jason. We’re very glad to meet you and hope you’ll be interested in joining with us. We have forms for you to fill out which will tell us about you. Then we match you with a nice lady whose information will be compatible with yours.”

  “I -- I’m not so sure about this. I just want information.”

  “That’s fine, Jason. There’s no pressure on anyone. Everything is confidential except what you wish to share with others. Why don’t you read through these papers and then decide what you want to do.” She handed him several sheets of paper on a clipboard and two number two pencils.

  Jason walked over to a round table of black and white swirled marble top.

  Farther back there were three long tables and two desks with a lady at each desk. Doors showed rooms on two sides of the long room.

  He sat in a comfortable, padded Spanish-style chair and read through all the papers. He then slowly, and carefully, began filling in the information.

  There was a promise of confidentiality. The fee for joining would be thirty dollars and thirty dollars per month for membership. Anyone could resign at any time without penalties.

  NAME: Jason Allen McBride

  ADDRESS: 286 Main Street, Apartment 2B, Village of Fayette, Ohio, 43521

  TELEPHONE: 419-555-8095 - home 419-808-7964 - office

  DATE OF BIRTH: November 16, 1979

  AGE NOW: 30

  HEIGHT: 5’11”

  WEIGHT: 187

  HAIR: Brown

  EYES: Hazel-green

  NATIONALITY: Caucasian (Irish, Italian)

  OCCUPATION: Accountant (CPA)

  EDUCATION: BS in Business and Accounting, Masters in Business and Accounting. Minor in music

  LIKES: People just because they’re people, animals, especially horses, reading, walking, hiking, church and music.

  DISLIKES: Eating in public alone, bitter cold, overly spicy foods.

  I WOULD LIKE TO MEET SOMEONE: who is interested in being friends and take time to see what develops. I’d like someone who is not possessive, who enjoys musicals, attends church and who likes people.

  TELL SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD: Here he hesitated. How much should, or could, he share? He wanted to forget the earlier part of his childhood. From the age of six he was raised, and loved dearly, by maternal grandparents. His beloved Grandpa died during his second year of college and his Grandma had died just as he graduated from college.

  While in his third year he had met Linda Ann Preston. She was a type A personality and loved him for his shyness, gentleness and beautiful baritone voice. They attended the same church and both sang in the choir. During their last year he had proposed and was so pleased that his much loved Grandma had approved of Linda and was looking forward to their wedding.

  Jason and Linda were married soon after graduation. He was only sad that his grandparents were not living to rejoice with him.

  His Grandma had always said “The truth is best, even if it hurts. If you once tell a lie, you have to tell more to cover up, and soon you’ll forget what you’ve said and get caught.

  He finally wrote about his fond memories and how fortunate he was to have had so many wonderful people in his life. His beloved mother had died just before his fifth birthday and his father was killed in an accident when he was six. He didn’t tell his father was in prison, killed during a fight.

  Chapter Two

  Rory Leigh McBride was a tall, big man, not fat, just muscular. He was a retired Marine Captain and was now a deacon in his church as well as a well decorated police investigator for the county. He had blondish brown hair and green eyes. Everyone was respectful and admired him. Rory’s personality slowly changed so that he received several reprimands in his work which made him furious. He took it out on his family. People began to be suspicious, but none knew what really went on behind the doors at the McBride home.

  Mary Margaret Pistolo McBride was a sweet, loving woman five-five, about one hundred ten with long, chestnut hair and hazel eyes. She was a passive person with a slight frame and a beautiful soprano voice. Rory was pleased that she often trembled in fear in his presence. She loved her little boy dearly, but left the room when Rory came in.

  Rory was thrilled to have a son to brag about, but was angry when people stated that he looked like his mother. The baby was happy, loving and out-going. He loved music and to have stories read to him

  The little boy was strikingly handsome with light brown hair and hazel-green eyes (mostly green) and a beautifully shaped mouth. There was a deep cleft on the upper bow-shaped lip and on his chin. People said he was too pretty to be a boy. He was always laughing, singing and loving people. He especially liked and enjoyed the children in his Sunday Bible class. He would sing all the way home and tell about the wonderful Bible stories. Rory was annoyed with the boy’s exuberant nature and his happy chatter.

  * * * * *

  One Sunday, when Jason was three, almost four, he rode happily home from church singing and talking as he always did. As they walked in the front door, Rory grabbed him by the back of his shirt screaming at him.

  “You were very bad today. I looked through the window on the door and saw you and Troy Mitchum punching each other and laughing. You were not even listening to the lesson.”

  “But Daddy, I was listening. We were enjoying the story about the little boy who fought a giant and won because the little boy trusted God and asked for His help.” (David and Goliath)

  “Don’t talk back to me. You’ll remember this.” Rory slapped Jason so hard on the back of his head that the little boy fell flat on his face. Rory put a foot on Jason’s back, took off his belt, and proceeded to whip Jason.

  The shocked little boy yelled and cried. Rory roared, “Stop that infernal noise. Don’t yell like a baby or you’ll get more licks. I’ll teach you to be like a man.” Jason tried to be quiet even though he hurt and his heart was breaking. He felt he must have done something awfully bad for daddy to treat him like this.

  Rory finally stopped, picked Jason up by the back of his shirt and shoved him down the hall toward his room. “Get in your room and be quiet. You’ll get no lunch.”

  Jason ran to his room as fast as his chubby little legs could take him. He wanted to slam the door but was afraid to. He fell on his bed and muffled his cries in a pillow.

  Mary Margaret silently served her husband a delicious lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs, green beans with small onions and mushrooms, yeast rolls and Jason’s favorite, banana pudding with a thick, nicely-browned meringue. She could not eat because her heart was breaking for her precious baby boy. Rory
ate savagely, burped, didn’t say anything to Mary Margaret as he got up from the table. He swaggered into the living room, plopped on the couch, turned on the television to a ball game and went to sleep.

  Mary Margaret had grown up in a home where she was taught that the man of the house was the head, in control and no one questioned his decisions or actions. The difference was, her father had been a gentleman who loved and respected his family and was loving and kind. She was appalled at her husband’s treatment of the little boy but did not speak out against him, after all, he was the head of the house.

  After Mary Margaret had cleaned the dining room and kitchen, she tiptoed in to discover her husband asleep. She quietly hurried back to the kitchen. Her heart beat so strongly with fear of discovery that she was afraid it could be heard.

  She placed a chicken leg, two tablespoons of potato salad, a deviled egg, a big spoon of green beans, a yeast roll on the plate and a glass of milk on a tray. In a smaller bowl, she placed a huge helping of banana pudding.

  Jason heard his door softly opening and was afraid it was his father. He scrunched his eyes shut pretending to be asleep. When he felt a soft, sweet kiss on his cheek, he hurriedly sat up to hug his mother. His eyes were round with amazement at all the good food.

  “Shhh. Be quiet. I want you to know you’re my good little boy, and you’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t know why daddy was so angry, but I bet he’s sorry for what he did. Eat this and I’ll sing to you. Then I want you to really take a nap.”

  Jason ate the oh, so good food with an eye on the banana pudding. He knew he could not eat it until he had cleaned his plate. His mother softly sang and hummed to him. He had one bite of the pudding left when his door flew open.

  “Ah ha! I suspected as much. Now you’ll get no dinner. Mary Margaret, come into our room. You and I need to have a talk.”