This is based on a true story. Names and some situations have been changed in order to protect the innocent from the guilty, as the guilty walk the streets. The Prequel to this chapter is Part I.
Ed Holdson was a realtor because at the age of 24 he had married the most successful woman in western Arizona’s 18-year-old daughter. It was part of the baggage that came from wanting to successfully own a pretty young girl. His bedding of pretty women didn’t stop with that marriage but his future being his own did because the smell of money was nice from the other side of the fence.
Being Jo Blue’s son-in-law had its perks: nice new home in an up and coming neighborhood, the furnishing that came with it, and if there came a month he didn’t produce momma would take care of the bills. It also came with burden and responsibility. Ed had to be at the office six days a week. If he sat there twiddling his thumbs or flirting on the phone he had to become the master of looking busy.
His parents were hard working farmers from the Midwest. He had grown up waking at 4:00AM to feed animals and spent the spring harvesting vegetables – anything was better than that. He left a week after graduating high school and had spent five years going from town to town, taking odd jobs, sleeping with whoever he could coax into a night or a week.
His marriage to LouLou Blue was not thought through. He was hoping for a free ticket but instead was told upon returning from his honeymoon that nothing is given free, he would get his real estate license and work for the family business. His job was to learn the business and keep LouLou happy.
Satin and Saddles Saloon and Pool Hall – that is what made Ed happy. Different flavors of girls to flirt with, lots of booze, and his amigos – Samson Freiling and Bill Bailey.
Samson owned a local construction business. He came from modest means but now lived like two ex-wives didn’t even begin to make a dent in his lifestyle. He had four kids by two different wives and had full custody of them. His full time girlfriend played mom at home while Samson played at the bar.
Bill was an electrician who had just opened his own business with Samson’s help. He was married and had a kid on the way. His wife was LouLou’s distraction so Ed could go to the bar without missing her husband. Bill was quiet and not a cheater by instinct but he found it hard to say no.
Ed knew Samson was the alpha-dog in their relationship. Samson had said twice he had little respect for Ed as a man but enjoyed his company for drinking and playing.
For just once Ed wanted to be “the man”. He wanted to be seen as someone’s hero and not the guy leeching off his mother in law. He wanted the respect of a strong woman and not the neediness of LouLou.
When Jeanie Thomas walked into that office he felt she was the answer to his self-identity. Having a woman like that – winning her heart – that would be his personal project.