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From: artie <artie@netgate.net>
Subject: {ASSM}  TGM: The Beginning 1/4 by artie (MF, ROM)
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 17:10:01 -0500
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<1st attachment, "TGM01.txt" begin>
Tales of the Golden Mule (c) Copyright 1999 by artie@netgate.net This work
may not be reposted or redistributed without the prior express written
permission of the author.

   A work of fiction, meant for adults.  Read something else if you are not
an adult, or are offended by stories with sexual content.  Then again, if
all you're looking for is in-out, in-out, in-out, you should probably read
something else.  I welcome constructive comments.  Enjoy.

   WARNING There is no sex in this part of the story!  But, if you skip it,
you won't have a clue as to what is going on later.

   Part 1

   You know about mules; sterile and stubborn.  I'd never thought of myself
as stubborn.  Hell, I'd never thought of myself as a mule.  But now I'm the
Golden Mule, and I'm having a great time.

   The Beginning

   Janet and I had been married almost five years.  We were a typical
Silicon Valley dink (dual income no kids) couple; I worked in high tech
engineering, Janet worked in product marketing.  I was with a fairly
established company; Janet was with a start-up.  We were in our early 30's,
and when we were not working, we were dining, dancing, cycling together.

   Janet had been keeping startup hours for more than six months; they'd
finally gotten their initial public stock offering.  Her long hours and
stock options were going to pay off for us in true Silicon Valley style. 
Soon we'd be able to move out of our little townhouse and into something
substantially better.

   I thought ours was a good solid marriage.  We didn't argue, we spent
time together, we had a great time in bed (or on the floor, or the sofa, in
the shower, or wherever).  I guess that's an indicia of stubbornness; not
seeing things I should have seen.  Who knows?  I'm not kicking myself over
that now.

   Janet and I decided kids weren't for us, at least not for the
foreseeable future.  A few months ago Janet started complaining about the
side effects of her birth control pills -- how they made her feel, her
dislike of being on medication.  She wanted to explore alternatives.

   We had some long talks and decided the answer was a vasectomy for me. 
It was relatively simple, reliable, and would get her off drugs.  We found
a local specialist to do the deed.  I was scheduled for first thing on a
Friday morning; I'd be in at 7, home by 9, off my feet for the weekend, and
back in the office Monday.  Other than not riding my bike for a couple
weeks, it sounded pretty easy.

   That didn't mean I was totally comfortable with it.  So first thing when
we got up Friday morning I took the tranquilizer the doctor had given me,
even before I showered.  I'm not used to such things; I was feeling fairly
mellow by the time Janet drove us to the doctor's office.  She stayed with
me until I was on my back on the table, my privates exposed to the world. I
think my balls must have known what was up; it felt as if they were trying
to crowd up into my throat.

   I'd been given my choice on how aware I wanted to be of the proceedings,
ranging from a simple local anesthetic to not really there.  I chose not
really there.  The doctor said he preferred that, as it allowed him to work
quicker and resulted in less bleeding.  He started an I.V.  in my arm,
Janet said she'd be back for me in a while, and the world faded.

   I sort of remember sitting in the doctor's office and riding home with
Janet.  She pulled out the sofa bed downstairs and set me in it.  The phone
was nearby, as was the remote for the TV.  I'd been told to take it easy,
and the way I was feeling, that's what I was going to do.  After a while
she gave me a couple pain pills, and said she needed to go to work for a
while.  She said, "Good bye." We kissed and she took off.  I zoned out
shortly after that.

   I woke up groggy at four in the afternoon.  I called out for Janet; no
answer.  I stumbled to my feet and walked bowlegged to the downstairs
bathroom to pee.  I was swollen, but not in too much pain.  I was wearing a
jock strap with bandages packed in around my balls.  I maneuvered my cock
out and leaned against the wall as I peed standing up.

   I was thirsty and hungry, having not eaten since last night.  I got some
7-Up from the refrigerator and made a couple peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches.  I took them and a little trash can back to the sofa bed.  I
turned on the TV, but quickly went to the radio; I didn't like the motion
in front of my eyes.  Both sandwiches and one can of 7-Up went down
quickly.

   Around five thirty the doorbell rang.  I got up slowly.  "I'm coming," I
yelled at the door.

   When I opened it, there was a uniformed policeman on the step, backed up
by four women.

   "Are you William Alexander Wilson?" he asked.

   I nodded.  "Most people call me Bill; yes."

   "Are you married to Janet Elaine Wilson?"

   "Yes.  What's going on?"

   The cop had a somber look on his face, a look that was mirrored by the
rest of the entourage.  One gal looked as if she'd been crying.

   "May we come in, please?" he asked.

   "Sure," I sighed.  I shuffled back to the living room and plopped back
on the sofa bed.

   "Please have a seat.  I'm going to lay here; I had surgery this morning.
What's going on?"

   The gal who looked as if she'd been crying sat down, two other gals
supporting her.  The other poker faced gal was standing beside the cop.

   "Mister Wilson, your wife was involved in a very serious traffic
accident," the cop said.

   Oof...  "Okay, I'll get dressed.  Where is she?  El Camino?" El Camino
Hospital was close to where both of us worked.

   The cop gave me a strained look.  I looked at the other folks; this was
feeling worse all the time.

   "No," he said, "she's in a hospital in Tahoe."

   "What?  What's going on?" I couldn't believe it.  Tahoe?  "That's a four
hour drive from here."

   One of the gals standing behind the one in the chair spoke up.

   "Mister Wilson, I'm Jill Anders.  I'm an attorney.  Do you know a John
L?"

   I recognized the name.  "I've heard of him, but I don't know him. 
What's he got to do with this?"

   She spoke again.  "Mister Wilson, I don't know how to make this easy. 
Let me introduce the others." She put her hand back on the shoulder of the
gal sitting down.  "This is Nancy, John's wife." Nancy was fighting back
sobs.  Jill nodded to the gal standing next to her.  "This is Karen, a
private investigator I use in my practice." Then she nodded to the other
gal, the one standing by the cop.

   She gave me a sad sort of smile.  "Mister Wilson, my name is Denise, and
I'm an attorney as well.  I was hired by your wife."

   "What the hell is going on?  Would someone please tell me?  How is
Janet? How seriously was she injured?  Tahoe?"

   Nancy took a sobbing breath.  Jill and Karen put hands on her shoulders.
It was Nancy who spoke next.

   "Bill, I hired Jill because I thought my husband John was fooling
around. John and your wife Janet have been having quite the torrid affair
for the past few months.  They were on their way to Tahoe together this
morning when..." She took a couple breaths, trying to control herself.  I
couldn't believe what I was hearing.  "John lost control of the car and
they crashed.  He died instantly.  Your wife was thrown from the car and is
in critical condition.  Karen was tailing them and was the first one on the
scene."

   I barely made it to the trash can by the side of the bed, flopping over
and vomiting violently.  After the first few spasms I felt someone holding
me.  After a bit someone helped me lean back on the bed, and I was handed a
wet paper towel.  Karen helped me sit up; Nancy handed me the wet towel and
had a dry kitchen towel at hand.  I wiped my face a bit then dried it.  The
only thing I could do was to shake my head.  The rest of me was shaking as
well.

   I looked crossly at the other attorney, Denise.  "And how can you make
this worse?" I asked her.

   She shook her head as she stepped over closer to me.

   "Mister Wilson, we can talk about that later." She looked up at Jill and
they exchanged glances.  Whatever it was, it looked significant.  Denise
continued.  "Suffice it to say for now that I can not and will not do what
was requested of me."

   Then she got another strange look and sort of smiled.  "Mister Wilson,
Bill, do you have an attorney?"

   I was in shock.  "No, is this a criminal matter?"

   She said, "No, not at all.  But I think you're going to need the
services of an attorney.  I could recommend one if you'd like." She was
looking at Jill as she spoke.

   The four ladies exchanged glances; a lot of information passed from
eyebrow to eyebrow, without words.  Nancy spoke again.  "Bill, Denise is
right.  You should ask Jill to represent you."

   I looked at Jill; she remained silent.  I sat there, head still
spinning, until Nancy spoke again.  "Bill, you need to ask her."

   I didn't understand what was going on, but I could tell I was being
given valuable clues.  I looked at Jill.

   "Jill, would you represent me?  I think I need help."

   Jill smiled.  "Yes, I'd be happy to.  And you'll get the same reduced
rate that Nancy is getting."

   Jill leaned over and shook Denise's hand, saying, "Thank you.  I owe you
one."

   Denise said, "I think that's all I'm needed for here.  I have a mess to
clean up." She turned to me and said, "Bill, I'm very sorry.  Jill knows
how to contact me."

   With that she left.

   Another wave of nausea swept over me.  I leaned over the bucket but
didn't need it.  Karen helped me sit up again.  I reached for the other can
of 7-Up.  Karen opened it and handed it to me; I took a careful sip.

   I looked at the crowd.  "Well, what now?  I can't drive."

   Everyone turned to Jill.  She sighed, then spoke.  "You need to get
dressed a little more, then the four of us can drive up together.  Karen,
can you drive us?"

   Karen nodded.  "That would be fine.  I've got the room."

   The cop talked to Karen about setting up an escort to get us through
rush hour traffic.  I started heading up the stairs for clothes.  It was
slow going.  Then I felt someone holding me up, helping.  It was Nancy. 
She helped me into the bedroom.  I was wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt. I
dug out some underwear, more sweat pants and sweat shirts, got my wallet,
keys, pilot, and cell phone.  I dumped the clothes and overnight stuff into
my gym bag.  Nancy helped me with shoes and socks; I couldn't bend over.

   "Thank you so much," I told her.

   She helped me back down the stairs.  We held on to each other, more than
we probably needed to keep me stable, but we both needed it.

   I got another can of 7-Up.  Karen was washing out the plastic waste can
I'd woofed in.  She looked at me and said, "We'll bring this along as
well."

   I laughed a little; it hurt.  "Good idea," I told her.

   We went out in front; she had a Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Nancy and I got in
the back, Jill and Karen in the front with Karen driving.  We buckled in
and started off, following a Highway Patrol cruiser that was waiting for
us.

   I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, crying underneath my
sunglasses.  I felt a hand reach over and hold mine.  I clutched it and
cried more.  I heard more crying.  I couldn't believe it -- Janet having an
affair, going off to Tahoe, leaving me.

   I started laughing; it struck me as funny.  I sat up and rubbed my eyes,
not letting go of Nancy's hand.  I let my sunglasses hang from around my
neck and looked at her.  "I'm sorry," I said.

   She smiled a little and hugged my hand; she wasn't letting go either.

   We drove in silence for a while, following the flashing lights of the
escort ahead of us.  I was beat again.  I leaned my head back, and then to
the side, trying to get comfortable.  Nancy unbuckled herself and slid over
to the middle seat right next to me.  She buckled herself in again and
said, "Lean on me." I gave her a puzzled look.  "Please," she said with a
slight smile.  We were still clutching each other's hands.  I leaned over
and let my head rest on her shoulder.  I fought back the tears for a while
and sort of zoned out.

   Some time later I felt us pulling over.  I raised my head; we were
stopping on the right side of the road behind the cop.  We were out of the
traffic now.  I looked at Nancy.  "Thank you," I whispered.  She'd been
crying again; she squeezed my hand.

   The cop came over to us and told us we were on our own until we got
close to Tahoe; people would be watching for us and would escort us the
rest of the way in.  We headed off again.

   I decided to watch the scenery; I'm the one driving usually.  After a
few minutes Jill turned back to me and said, "You said you had surgery this
morning?  How are you feeling?"

   I snorted.  They didn't know.  "I'm feeling sore, and a little groggy
still." I looked at Nancy, holding her hand with both of mine as I spoke.
"My dear wife took me in this morning to get me fixed.  I had a vasectomy."

   Nancy turned pale.  Karen started swearing.  I didn't hear what Jill
said.

   Karen filled us in on some details.  She'd just started this job for
Jill a week ago.  She'd started tailing John again early this morning. 
John and Janet met in the parking lot of the doctor's office.  They hugged
and kissed briefly, then headed off.  Karen followed John to his office,
where Janet joined him a few hours later.  She tailed them up to Tahoe,
falling a few minutes behind them as they got out onto the open road.  She
came across the accident, called 911, and got out to do what she could. 
Janet had been thrown over the windshield of John's convertible Jaguar. 
She called Jill after the police and paramedics arrived, and hurried back
to the bay area.

   Jill took it up from there.  She knew Denise, and knew Janet had seen
her with John a few days earlier.  She called, and confirmed that Janet was
Denise's client.  Karen picked up Jill and Nancy, and everyone met at my
house.  They waited for the cop and Denise before going to the door.

   "So where does Denise fit in all of this?" I asked.

   Jill turned and looked at me.  "Do you really want to know?  You don't
need to know right now."

   I looked at Nancy.  "Do you know?" I asked her.  She nodded her head
yes. "Do you think I need to know right now?" She said softly, "No."

   The wheels turned and clicked in my head.  I looked at her and said
loudly enough for Jill to hear, "Was she going to divorce me?"

   Nancy fought back tears and nodded her head yes.  Seeing her start to
cry I couldn't hold back.  We held each other and cried together.  Jill
turned and said, "Denise was supposed to serve you with the divorce papers
at six this evening."

   Another wave of nausea hit me; Nancy held the bucket and my head.  I
held on to the bucket and heaved.  I didn't produce much, but I sure tried,
and it hurt like hell.  We rolled down the windows a bit, and Karen pulled
into the next gas station to rinse the bucket again.  As she did, Jill got
out and came around to my side and gave me a hug.  It helped.

   They asked me if I wanted to rest for a while or push on.  "Let's go," I
said.  I didn't know what I was going to do when I got there, what I would
say, what I would do.  I was too numb to think about it.

   After a bit Nancy pulled my head back to her shoulder.  We held each
other and I zoned out again.

   I guess I was pretty groggy; next thing I knew we'd stopped in a
hospital emergency room parking area.  I could see the flashing lights of a
cop car to our side.  Karen said, "Thanks a lot," and waved to them.

   I don't know who noticed it first, Nancy or Karen.  I was wearing sweat
pants.  It was dark out.  I felt dampness between my legs.  I started to
look down and got dizzy.  Karen grabbed one side of me and Nancy the other.
Pretty soon I was on my back in the emergency room, my sweats pulled off. I
heard Nancy filling in the ER folks about my surgery.  They cut off my jock
strap and started pulling off bandages.  The pain was intense and I passed
out.

   When I woke up, Nancy was by my side.  We were holding hands again,
still.  I raised her hand in mine and kissed it.  "Thanks.  What's
happening?"

   She sighed.  "You popped a couple stitches.  They patched you back up."

   I looked in her eyes.  "How is Janet?"

   She sighed and took a ragged breath.  "We went to see her; she's in
intensive care.  How much do you want to know?"

   I held her hand as best I could; I had an I.V.  in one arm.  "Is she
expected to recover?"

   She shook her head.  "No, she isn't."

   I sighed.  "Under the circumstances, that may be the best that could
happen."

   That set off another wave of tears.  We were interrupted by Jill and a
woman doctor.

   "Mister Wilson, how are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

   "Call me Bill, please.  I'm sore, but doing about as well as could be
expected."

   She gave me an incredulous look.  "You had a vasectomy this morning?"

   I shrugged.  She must have seen the stitches.  "Yes, bright and early."

   She shook her head.  "Hard to believe." She sighed a bit.  "We can put
you in a wheelchair and take you to see your wife if you'd like."

   I closed my eyes and suppressed another wave of nausea.  I felt a hand
on my shoulder.  I opened my eyes to see Nancy looking at me intently.

   "Yes, please," I told the doctor.  I looked up at Nancy.  "Would you
come with me, please?  I don't want to let go of you."

   She gave me a half smile.  "Don't worry.  I'm not going to let go
either."

   They got a chair with an I.V.  pole, got me carefully installed, and
took me for a ride to the Intensive Care Unit on the third floor.

   The doctor who brought us up conferred with the staff for a moment.  I
heard a cry of "What?" from one of them; they looked over to us.  After a
bit a nurse and one of the male doctors came over.

   "Mister Wilson, I'm Doctor Bennet."

   I extended my hand and we shook.  "What's her condition?  What's her
prognosis?" I asked.

   He gave me a half smile I was beginning to recognize.  "Mister
Wilson..." he said.

   I interrupted and said, "Bill.  Tell me."

   He nodded and started again.  "Bill, your wife is in critical condition.
She wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was thrown out at high speed.  She has a
lot of broken bones, including skull fractures.  Her spleen was ruptured
and had to be removed; she's still sedated from surgery.  The next 24 hours
will tell, but I'm not optimistic."

   "Thank you for being straight with me.  Can I see her?"

   He nodded and started walking down the hall.  Nancy pushed me in the
chair.  When we got to the very wide door I stopped.  I looked at Nancy. 
"You don't have to come in here." In response she gripped my hand tighter.
We went in.

   Janet was probably there under all those wires, tubes, and bandages. 
Her head and face were pretty well bandaged up.  She had I.V.  lines in
both arms.

   "Closer," I said.  Nancy wheeled me close to the edge of the bed, next
to her left arm.

   I let go of Nancy's hand so I could pick up Janet's.  I held it to my
lips and kissed her hand.  I heard Nancy start sobbing behind me.  I put
Janet's hand down and waved us out of the room.

   Outside I asked, "Where is her wedding ring?  Did you take it off?"

   A nurse said, "I'll find out," and hurried away.  We wheeled back to the
waiting area where Jill was sitting with my doctor.  The nurse came up to
me and said, "Mister Wilson, it wasn't on her hand when she was brought in.
We've got her purse; would you like it?"

   I held Nancy's hand again.  "No, not now.  Thank you very much for
checking." She walked back to the desk.

   I turned to my doctor.  "Well, what's happening with me?"

   "There's no reason for you to stay overnight, although you should stay
in the area of course, and try to take it easy."

   I nodded, as did Jill.

   Jill spoke up.  "Karen has rooms for us nearby; we're all set."

   The doctor said, "Bill, is there someone that can stay with you?  You
shouldn't be alone."

   I snorted.  I didn't know if that caution was mental or physical.

   Nancy spoke up.  "I'll stay with him.  I also think both of us could use
something to help us sleep."

   The doctor stood up and waved us to the elevator.  "Under the
circumstances, I agree completely."

   We went back to the emergency room area.  Karen met us there.  She
conferred with Jill and Nancy for a bit, then left.  She came back in with
my bag and handed her cell phone to Jill, along with a piece of paper.

   "Here, let's get you dressed again," Karen said.  I was wearing a
hospital gown and not much else.

   "I can do that," I protested.

   "No you can't.  Besides, I was raised with four older brothers," Karen
told me as she got clothes out of the bag.

   "I can't understand why she wasn't wearing a seatbelt.  What can you
tell me about the accident?" I asked Karen.  She turned and looked around
before she spoke, putting her hands on my shoulders and looking me in the
eye.

   "Bill, best we know the old fart died of a massive coronary.  He was
wearing his seat belt and shoulder harness.  His pants were unzipped and he
was hanging out of them."

   I sighed.  "Shit." A weird thought crossed my mind.  "Lipstick marks?"

   She gave me a funny look.  "Yes, how did you know?"

   I chuckled a bit.  "I wondered where she got that.  She did that to me a
few weeks ago -- not in the car though.  It surprised me."

   Karen nodded and said, "It surprised both of them too."

   "Does Nancy know?"

   Karen shook her head.  "No.  And somehow I don't think those details are
going to make it into the police reports or autopsy."

   I nodded.  "Good idea." She'd called John an old fart -- hell, he must
be in his 60's at least, and worth a lot of money from what I remembered.
Nancy couldn't be much older than me, maybe younger.  "How old was he?"

   She smiled.  "Sixty one."

   "Nancy?" I asked.

   She smiled again.  "Twenty nine."

   Wow, two years younger than me, married to someone twice her age.  What
a strange trip.

   Nancy and Jill came back in.  "We're all set; both rooms have two queen
beds.  Ready to go?  I took care of the paperwork," Jill told us.

   I nodded my assent.  I was loaded into another wheelchair and we went
back to the Jeep.  We got in and headed to the hotel.  Karen got room keys;
we made it up to two adjoining rooms, the ladies carrying the bags and
pretty much me as well.

   "Nancy, is this all right with you?" I asked as I looked at the sleeping
arrangements.  She nodded her head.

   "Really?" I asked.

   "Yes," she said clearly.  "I don't want to be alone tonight."

   We went in.  I used the bathroom first; it took a while.  I brushed my
teeth and rinsed my mouth really well, even using the hotel supplied
mouthwash.  Even though I hadn't eaten all day, or at least held anything
down, I wasn't hungry.  The door connecting our rooms was open.  I crashed
on the bed, my mind spinning.  Jill came in just after Nancy exited the
bathroom.  She had two cups of water.

   "Okay gang -- one for you, and one for you," she said, handing us each a
pill and a glass.  "Down the hatch.  I'm watching."

   I looked at Nancy and toasted her, swallowing my pill.  I was still
thirsty.  I looked back to Jill.

   She smiled.  "And don't either of you worry; the hospital knows to call
Karen or me if there's any change.  Get some rest; you both need it."

   I crashed on the bed, still wearing my sweats.  As I was fading, I felt
someone climb in with me.  We held each other and finally got to sleep.

   When I woke the next morning it took me a while to get oriented.  When I
did I felt as if I'd been kicked in the stomach, and in the balls.  Nancy
was nowhere to be seen.  I sat up and groaned.

   Nancy hurried in from the other room.  "Are you okay?" she asked.

   I smiled.  "Good morning beautiful." She chuckled a little and put down
her coffee cup.

   "Let me help you up," she said.  She did, and we hugged briefly.

   "Thank you for being here," I told her.

   She sighed and held me close.  "No Bill, thank you."

   I went to the bathroom.  Standard undies held up the dressings, but with
every step my balls bounced, and the sensation was not pleasant.  I managed
my business and made my way dressed in sweats again into the other room. 
The three ladies were sitting around, Karen on a bed, Jill and Nancy in
chairs.  I sat on the other bed.

   "Good morning ladies.  What's the word?"

   "Coffee?" Karen asked.

   "Nope, don't drink it.  How about a 7-Up?" I replied.

   Nancy went to the mini-bar and got a can.  She brought it to me and sat
next to me on the bed.  Our hands connected automatically.

   Jill said, "What little change with Janet overnight wasn't good.  The
hospital would like to talk to you, but we should get something to eat
first."

   I nodded.  I looked at Nancy.  "How about John?"

   Nancy sighed.  Jill spoke again.  "He's to be cremated; some of his
organs were used."

   I nodded; I guessed that was the hospital's question.  "We're both
Neptune Society members, and if the hospital can use any of Janet's organs,
that's fine with me.  Neither of us has any living family."

   Nancy nodded a little.  Jill said, "That was their question.  I'll let
them know, but you'll need to sign some papers as well."

   After a bit we went down and got something to eat.  It was a little
after ten in the morning.  We went back to the hospital.  A doctor checked
me; I was doing fine.  I signed the donor forms for Janet, and the
cremation papers.  We went upstairs and looked in on her again; Nancy
accompanied me.

   "What's the clicking noise?  I don't remember that from last night," I
asked a nurse when we left the room.

   "The ventilator," she said.  "We put her on it a few hours ago; she's
not breathing on her own."

   We had a conference with the ICU staff.  She was basically being kept
alive until the tissue cross match results came back; there was a good
chance her lungs, heart, and kidneys could all be used.

   I told them that sounded good to me.  The doctor looked me in the eye
and asked if I wanted to be called before....  He didn't have to say what
for.  I held Nancy's hand and said, "No.  We said goodbye yesterday.  Let
me know when it's over."

   Jill said, "The hospital knows how to contact me; I'm his attorney."

   The doctor shook our hands and went back to work.  We sat there for a
couple minutes.

   "Let's get out of here," I said.  Nancy said, "Right." We left.

   We returned to the hotel.  Jill, Nancy, and I talked.  Karen was out
running around; she said she had work to do.  Jill kept the two of us
supplied with tranquilizers; I'm glad she did -- what they told me was
easier to take half numb.

   Nancy and John had been married a little over four years.  She met him
as a therapist as he was recovering from a ski injury.  He swept her off
her feet and they were married soon afterwards.  She knew he'd been married
once before, and had been divorced for a number of years.  Nancy talked
about his absences, finally getting suspicious, and contacting Jill again
recently.  Jill had just set Karen on the matter, and what she'd quickly
found confirmed Nancy's suspicions.

   Jill mentioned a prenuptial agreement, and said she'd been in contact
with John's attorney, and was awaiting copies of a number of things.  I
told them Janet and I both had wills, prepared by an attorney friend,
basically leaving everything to the other person.  Jill seemed quite
excited by that.  I was surprised I remembered the attorney's name.  We
dragged out my palm pilot and I gave her the phone numbers of the attorney
and some of Janet's coworkers.

   She started gathering her things.  When we asked what was up, she said
she wanted to make some calls.  We told her she could to it from here, but
she said she'd use the hotel's business center downstairs.

   Nancy and I collapsed on the bed and held each other, fuzzy headed and
quiet.

   Jill and Karen came back some time later.  Jill looked quite happy;
Karen evidently hadn't had as much success in her tasks.  We went to
dinner. Both Nancy and I were finally hungry.  While we were finishing
dessert, Jill stepped away from the table.  I picked up the check.  As we
got back into Karen's Jeep, Nancy asked if we should swing by the hospital.
Jill told us she'd just spoken to them; no news.  I sighed and suggested we
go back to the hotel.

   We went back and crashed.  Neither Nancy nor I made any bones about
being in the same bed; we both needed to hold someone.  Jill supplied us
with more drugs and we slept well.

   I woke up in the morning with my arms around a warm body.  I held her to
me, then as my head cleared I started to cry.  I didn't know if it was
sorrow, anger, jealousy, or a mix of I don't know what.  Nancy held me and
we cried together for a while.

   Finally we sat up.  I held her head and kissed her eyes, tasting the
salt of her tears.  We took turns cleaning up in the bathroom, and once
dressed went next door.  When we were all seated Jill gave me a somber
look. I clutched Nancy's hand; she put her arms around me.

   Jill spoke softly.  "Janet died a little after seven this morning, never
regaining consciousness.  She was an excellent donor match.  Her heart,
lungs, both kidneys, her corneas, and portions of skin are all going to
lucky people."

   I held Nancy and said, "May they both rest in peace."

   Karen sighed and said, "Amen to that."

   I looked at Jill.  "Thank you so much for your help.  Let's swing by and
pick up things and head home."

   Jill nodded.  "We've already picked up their belongings.  John's car was
totaled; Karen went over it yesterday.  I took care of everything else at
the hospital.  We can go when you're ready."

   We packed quietly, Nancy and I exchanging hugs as we did.  We went down
to the car.  Karen checked us out and started back to the bay area.

   About an hour out of Tahoe I started thinking about the next few days.
There was so much to do.  Jill could handle part of it.  Other things, I
wasn't so sure.

   I turned to look at Nancy.  Our hands were still welded together; she
looked deep in thought.

   "Nancy?" I said softly.

   She sighed a little and turned her head to me.  After a moment I could
tell she was focused on me.

   "Bill, stay with me for a while?" she said.

   My arms flew around her and I hugged her to me as the tears welled up.
"Oh Nancy, I was trying to figure out how to ask you the same thing." We
sighed together as we held each other, then sat up and dried each other's
faces.

   "I've got just the place," Nancy told me.  She turned and put a hand on
Karen's shoulder.

   "Karen, take us back to the Woodside house.  Bill and I are going to the
beach house for a few days.  Jill?"

   Jill turned and smiled, nodding.  "That sounds fine; I can reach you
there.  Bill, do you want me to take care of things?"

   We talked morbid details for a while.  I gave her my keys and told her
where to find our wills.  She'd already talked to Janet's boss, filled him
in on her death, and told them there would not be a memorial service.  She
would talk to management and personnel, and would talk to my boss as well.
She strongly suggested I take the week off.  She told us she could help
with clearing out personal items; we should do that as soon as we could. 
Karen echoed that and also volunteered her help.

   As we approached the outskirts of Tracy I announced, "I'm feeling better
-- and hungry.  Anyone like In-N-Out Burger?" There was one just up ahead.

   Karen cut across two lanes of traffic.  "A man after my own heart," she
said.  That brought the first laughter for any of us in the last few days.

   We greased up and gassed up and headed into the valley.  Karen drove us
to a very nice house in Woodside.  We exchanged hugs.  Jill and Karen said
they'd both be in touch, and that we were handling this extremely well. 
Jill gave Nancy more tranquilizers for both of us, admonishing us to not
take them until we were at our destination.

   It was strange walking into that house, my arm around Nancy's waist, her
holding me tight.  She was looking around it pretty much as I was -- for
the first time.  We both sighed.

   "Let's go upstairs; I'll pack some things and give you the tour," she
told me.

   It was a beautiful house, spacious and airy.  The master suite was
almost the size of our townhouse.  There was an office downstairs, mostly
empty space with a futon on one side, and...  I yelped in surprise.

   "What's the matter?" Nancy asked.

   I pointed to the computer setup.  "How long have you had that?" The desk
had a top of the line Power Mac with a large flat panel display.

   She shrugged.  "A few months.  We have the same exact setup at the beach
house where we're heading; desk, futon, fax, and all."

   I sighed.  "Well, we have the same exact setup at our place, down to the
desk and the fax machine.  She told me it was from work."

   The other interesting room downstairs held some exercise equipment and a
massage table.  I gave the table a poke.

   Nancy put a hand on my back, feeling the muscles.  "I still give great
massages.  You feel like you could use one."

   I smiled to her.  "We took some massage for couples classes, but never
got our own table."

   We got some stuff from the kitchen, then went into the garage.  She had
a two seat Mercedes.  We loaded it up and headed off.

   "So where are we going?" I asked her, putting my sunglasses on again.

   "To a beach house near Half Moon Bay.  He bought it for me.  It's in my
name, at least it was last Jill checked."

   We talked about the beach house and the big house as we drove over. 
They'd planned some remodeling work for the kitchen and one of the
bedrooms. The work was to start in a few weeks, coinciding with a planned
two week vacation to Europe.  She said she wasn't sure about that now.  I
put a hand on her leg; I could hope, but wasn't hoping too much just yet.

   END of Part 1 Tales of the Golden Mule

   Tales of the Golden Mule by artie@netgate.net
/~artie

   TGM is available in HTML format on my web site
(/~artie/TGM.html).  It's also available as a single
LARGE (about 800kb!) text file on the asstr ftp site
(ftp://ftp.asstr.org//pub/Authors/artie/te

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