Laura’s husband, Kevin, was a sales manager with a large industrial firm headquartered in Charlotte where he was originally from. He spent about half his time at the headquarters and the other half here in the Chicago sales office. She met him at a wedding in town about eleven years ago. They were married about a year later.

She thought it was odd that he had no family at the wedding and only a few friends from the office, but he told her that his parents died and that he had no family remaining. His travel patterns didn’t change after they had Hanna and she wondered why he had to be away some major holidays. It wasn’t every year, but when he was away over Christmas or another major event he would usually claim to be on an extended business trip in Asia or in Europe.

She was pregnant with Mattie when she really focused on trying to put the pieces together and the puzzle didn’t fit. Once she told him she was expecting, he seemed to be in Charlotte for more than half the time, claiming there were office shake-ups and reorganizations requiring his presence.

In my mind, I figured he had been cheating on her or something like that. When she told me the truth, it took the wind out of me.

Laura’s face took on a pained look.

“I was so wrapped up being pregnant, a mom, and a teacher that time just kept passing. But with less and less help from my mostly absent husband, all sorts of suspicions started to consume me.” Her lip started to quiver a little bit.

“One day a friend from church visited and I confided in her that I thought something was going on behind my back. We talked a little when she suddenly suggested I Google him. I hadn’t thought of that.

I started an online search and saw bits of info mostly tied to social media. I never liked social media, so I wasn’t all that familiar with it. Most of the information seemed to be tied to Facebook, so I created an account so I could read the things coming up in Google.”

Laura was starting to shake a little. She was mad and desperately trying to hold it in.

“You okay?” I asked.

She shook her head, “Yes” and took a big breath.

“I found two profiles. They were both him, the pictures couldn’t lie. One seemed mostly about his job. The other… the other had family pictures… but not ours!”

I thought she was going to lose control, but she gathered herself quickly.

“I thought of a lot of possibilities, but I wasn’t prepared for that! The jerk had another family! They lived in Charlotte. His parents, brothers, and a sister all lived there and were very much alive. He was married two years before we got married. And according to his Facebook profile, he still was!”

She let me put my hand on hers and seemed to welcome it. All I could come up with was, “Holy cow!”

She hired a private investigator who confirmed everything she had learned. She pressed charges and the authorities arrested him. His other wife was a high school sweetheart and she had three children with him. She didn’t know anything about Laura.

She continued the bizarre details.

“Kevin’s other wife’s big brother didn’t take the news well. I’m told he’s not very bright and has a real mean streak. But he was very protective of his little sister.”

She paused and took a very big breath, and looked around I think to be sure the girls were still out of range to hear. She took on a very somber countenance, then continued in a subdued voice.

“The day my…. my bigamist husband… was let out on bail pending trial, the brother paid him a visit with a shotgun. His first shot… well… neutered him. I was told he let Kevin writhe in pain for about an hour, the whole time inflicting other forms of pain. I guess he figured he suffered long enough from that, and he shot him twice in the belly hoping death would be slow, then left. They found Kevin two days later.”

I couldn’t help but wince in sympathetic pain. As grateful as I was that Laura was unattached, I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone.

I watched in awe as she told her story. She still felt the impact, but I believed her when she said she was getting past it. Her eyes welled up as she told the tale, but she never broke. My own eyes let a few drops fall as I felt the immense pain she’d been put through. I think she felt more anger and embarrassment that the jerk fooled her for so long.

As she finished she looked at me with a strange, but comforting look. “So, what do you think of my soap opera life?”

“I’m stunned! I mean… how can you expect that? God bless you! I mean, how did you deal with it all? You had to feel like you were being pulled apart in so many directions!”

She got serious but also seemed to look relieved. “I guess I have to confess that the anger still gets to me. It’s funny, though, I was certainly mad at Kevin, but I would never want to have what happened to him. I mean, I felt something for him once. As much as I wanted him out of my life, I didn’t want it done that way. It feels strange to say, but the way it went down it ended up working out as well as it could for us.” Her face scrunched up with a deeply troubled look. “I feel guilty saying that, but it worked on a lot of levels.”

“So why are you still feeling anger?” I thought I knew the answer.

“I’m angry at myself for not seeing Kevin for what he was and then letting him pull the wool over my eyes for so long. I never thought I was an idiot, but he made me feel like one!”

“You asked if I could take it. I wasn’t prepared for that, but I’m really glad you felt you could share it with me. Frankly, I’m amazed at your strength!”

She sweetly smiled at me. “Before all that I never thought I was very strong. I never faced a trial like that. I mean, really, who’d expect to face something like that? But my faith, my girls, my family, and my friends were all I needed. They brought the strength I didn’t have on my own.”

“I can see how Mattie and Hanna would help you face the tough days. I can’t help but smile when I’m around them.”

“They’re my sweeties! They brighten my day no matter how dark it feels.” The reflective, loving smile that lit up her face signaled a welcomed change in mood.

“I can see how that would be true. You mentioned your faith played a big part, too?”

“Yeah. I may not know all about the bigger plan, but I trust in my faith in God. Plus, the people at my church have been great.”

“I know I always find faith is important, but its importance is really evident when stuff like this hits, isn’t it?”

“Oh yeah! Thank God… literally!”

I chuckled. “You bet!”

She sat back and reflectively looked into the distant sky appearing as though she was at peace with her past. “That was three years ago and I’m finally putting it in perspective.”

I reflected on all she said, and then contemplated her life now. I had always admired how she carried herself with her girls even before I started to get to know her that day. Understanding her story and how she’s survived it… Laura was something special!

“So… with the gory details out in the open, are you ready for a refill of spiked lemonade?”

“Absolutely.” I paused a moment. “But I have an overwhelming need to ask…both for you and for me. Can I give you a hug?”

Faster than I thought possible she launched into me and we held each other for a moment. “I needed that too!” she confessed. “Let me refill these and you can tell me of your sordid past.”

There was that smile again. Her beautiful blue-gray eyes glowed brightly. It seemed like a weight had been lifted off of her.