Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

As thesummer was nearing its end, I grew weary of the email relay,especially Audrey's single-minded focus on financial matters. Igave her an ultimatum: either we meet in person to work out ourconflict, or I was done.

Despite everything, I still wanted to be herhusband.

Audrey gave a counter offer:

All I can offer isWednesday evenings, Thursday, Friday & Saturday until around 9a.m. What kind of marriage is that?

Unbelievably, I accepted the offer:

I think three days is better than zero days,so I accept your offer, and I think we should put our headstogether and discuss how we might make it work.

After all the emails backand forth, I wondered why I was still willing to marry her, andhave a part-time marriage at that. I thought about my total lack ofsuccess on JewishSingles, to which I had sporadicallyreturned during our five month separation. And I thought to myself,well, despite our temporary problems, maybe we'll be able to workthings out as husband and wife. After all, it was all my fault, forbringing up the house ownership thing in the parking lot, insteadof smoothly discussing it over a relaxing lunch.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Wedding

September 2007

The Palm Beach County Courthouse used to beas formidable an institution as it was a paragon of neoclassicalarchitecture. Symmetrical in shape, finished in yellow brick, andsurrounded by tall, imposing masonry columns balancing thetrademark triangular pediment all comprised this once statelyfixture located on the palm tree lined thoroughfare that is DixieHighway in West Palm Beach. Unfortunately, the passage of timewitnessed the addition of a wing in 1927, further additions in1955, and finally a wrap-around expansion in 1972 that made theoriginal edifice all but unrecognizable. This once grandinstitution had suffered under the guise of progress andimprovement. With the revived interest in preserving Palm Beach’shistoric buildings, however, 2002 witnessed the allocation of fundsto remove the later additions, and restore the building to itsoriginal state of grandeur circa 1916. It was once again anarchitectural pearl, serving primarily as a history museum, withsome space used for various county offices. In other words, if youwanted to get married, you had to go across the street.

In contrast, the flashy, new Palm BeachCounty Courthouse stood directly opposite, taunting the oldbuilding with its grandiose size, casino like design, andmultifaceted purpose. It was an abomination of architecture, amockery of the old institution.

I parked my car in the lot, and couldn't helpbut glance across the street to those imposing colonnades andstately verandas. Visions of aristocratic southern belles dressedin their Sunday best, their parasols twirling in the sun, enteredmy mind. What majestic occasions this building has seen, I thought.I sighed and turned toward my reality: the contemporary officebuilding that was to be my wedding place.

Johnny and I walked through the automaticsliding glass doors and saw Audrey alone in a far corner, talkingon her cell phone. As we approached, she looked up, noticed us,turned to the side, said good-bye, and put it into her purse.

“You actually showed up,”I said with a smile.

“You bet I did,” shereplied warmly, moving closer toward me. “This is my forevermarriage.” And with that, we headed through the building, withAudrey’s hand in my left and Johnny’s in my right. I felt like Iwas floating. This was my romance. This was where I was meant tobe. And this would be my wife.

Unfortunately, the metal detectors we wererequired to pass through were not so romantic, nor were the cold,shiny tiles beneath our feet, echoing our journey to Room 105, butI refused to allow the sterility of my surroundings to rob me ofthe joy of my marriage. This was my forever family.

Room 105 proved small,stuffy, and unwelcoming as we were immediately greeted by anexpansive glass partition separating us from a dozen or so clerks.I took a number, surveyed the other people filling up the crowdedspace, and we began our long wait in line. Scanning over oneindiscriminate face after another, my eyes settled on someone veryfamiliar sitting in the far corner. My face broke into a smile, Inudged Audrey, and nodded over in Daniel’s direction. My businesspartner and his wife, Lana, had arrived before us, and returned mynod with a silent wave and a smile. I felt reassured by hispresence, the ever-reliable Daniel. Not so reassuring, however, wasthe absence of Audrey’s parents.

“Do you think you shouldcall your parents? I would’ve thought they’d be here by now?” Iwhispered, feeling some concern. Since my father and his wife (mymother had passed away some time ago) were still in Rhode Island, Itold them not to trouble with the long trip. I had hoped, however,to have at least one set of parents there.

“No need. They aren’tcoming,” she replied in her typically indifferent tone.

“Not coming? Why not?” Ifeared their disapproval since I was so eager for everything to beideal from here on out.

“They were in a caraccident on the way over,” she remarked evenly, without a hint ofconcern.

“Car accident! Are theyall right?” As concerned as I was for their well-being, I was alsoa little disconcerted by Audrey’s ambivalence. Just when I thoughtI’d grown accustomed to it, her impassivity continued to surpriseme.

“No one was hurt. It wasvery minor, but they were pretty shook up, so I told them theycould celebrate with us another time.” Relieved that no one washurt, another realization dawned on me.

“I’m glad to heareveryone’s okay,” I said, gently resting my hand on Johnny’sshoulder. “But where are the kids? Won’t they be hereeither?”

“They’re with theirfather. I wanted us to have some time for the two of us, just youand me.”

“Next in line, numberforty-three,” an impatient voice announced, summoning us to one ofthe windows. My concerns over her family disappeared with thecalling of our number which sent my heart racing. This was it. Iquickly approached the glass and found myself face to face with athin woman whose name tag read “Mary.”

“How may I help you?” sheasked.

“We want to get married,”I blurted out as I turned my eyes back to Audrey who had slowlymade her way beside me. I sought out the embrace of her hand againand continued, “I have all the paperwork.” Pushing the countlessforms into the envelope-sized slot proved a challenge, and I