Loosening Up Bk. 03 Ch. 21-23

The BIG open issue as they moved into the fall for some of the Circle members was their concern over Joan Coswell's mental health and well being. Owen had kept in touch with her care, but could only say that she was getting good treatment, making tremendous strides in her recovery, and regaining her strength.

Dave and Alice had just started a Wednesday dinner conversation with Owen about another topic, when his phone rang. He checked the Caller ID, and immediately got up from the table and took the call. Listening to one side from a distance, Dave figured out that it had something to do with Joan. Owen talked about 'picking her up the next day between noon and two o'clock' so she could be back in Sarasota by dinnertime. He grinned at Dave and made a thumbs up gesture to signal that all was good.

After the call ended, Owen summarized, "Joan is being released. She has returned to what the director of the rehab center calls being a normal human being. He assured me that she has her self-confidence back and is ready to tackle the loose threads she left behind here."

Alice asked, "Does that mean they told her about Brian's affair with Amanda Tyler? What will she do?"

Owen speculated, "I think that means yes to the first part of your question. As to what she'll do, I have no idea. She may want to talk to us. You should know that I offered her up a guest room somewhere in the Circle in the home of her choosing while she gets her feet on the ground back here."

"Good. I guess things will get clearer tomorrow. How's the pickup going to work?"

Owen chuckled, "She's outside of Austin, Texas, and in a facility targeted exactly on the type of problems she was facing. I have business in Austin in the morning, so I'll then retrieve her on the way back to the airport. We'll be here during cocktail time if the weather cooperates and we can use the Circle runway."

Twenty-two hours later, Owens Gulfstream 650 landed at the Circle airport. Dave and Alice had made it a point to be at home to greet her. They headed down to their small airport in two golf carts as the modestly large plane back taxied on the runway to get to the tarmac in front of the hangar.

As the engines started to spool down, the door opened and the stairway extended. Owen was at the door and waved as he deployed the stairway. He started down, followed by Joan, and then one of the pilots. They raced over to her with hugs and kisses.

Joan had tears in her eyes. "Thank you all so much. I don't think I'd be here and I mean alive in this existence if things had gone on much longer. I had already started to contemplate suicide when you all stepped in and got me out of the toxic environment Brian had made around me."

Alice was cheery, "Forget that. Come and join all of us. We have missed you and have a lot to share with you. Emily is here, up at the Circle – as a member, and some of your other friends, too. I hope we're not too much for you."

Some luggage got loaded in one golf cart, and the four Circle members headed up the road, past the construction, to the Circle's core. As the carts pulled in about twenty people were gathered around in a cluster. They cheered and applauded as Joan stepped out of the cart.

Joan got emotional and cried. "Oh, God. I missed you all so much. You were in my dreams and thoughts every day I've been away. I've probably fantasized more about you than anything else. The place I was at said that was positive and therapeutic. Now, I have to see how much of that I can turn into reality."

Everybody cheered again, and there was a line and crush for a hug and kiss from the abused woman.

Emily hung back, but when she finally got to her friend, they both burst out crying in joy over the successful outcome – at least, that's what it seemed.

While they were standing together, Joan held her hand up. "My good friends, I know you are curious about my life and what will happen. Owen told me that Dale had kept tabs on my husband during my months away. He's been a bad boy, and I have no desire to ever see or hear from him again. With Owen's help, I've already contacted a local lawyer, and will be divorcing the tyrant.

"At least in the short term, I'm going to take advantage of an offer to stay here on Circle grounds while things get underway in that regard. Owen also helped me apply for and get a new job down in Venice at a modest size pharmacology company doing both R&D as well as distributing certain classes of prescription drugs. This plays to my education and background. I feel my whole life has turned a huge corner and gotten back on track. Thank you all."

Joan turned back and hugged Emily. Derek came forward and also hugged the wife of his underling. Abby was there, too, much to Joan's surprise. She laughed once she realized the lack of tension between any of the people standing around her. There was only love in this environment.

Joan enjoyed a glass of wine and chatted with various people from the Circle. She was enthralled with the pregnancies, and truly excited for the expectant families. The questionable paternity in some cases was brushed aside as mostly a meaningless point in the Circle. Dave realized she did indeed see the larger picture regarding the Circle – it was the polyamorous family she quested after.

After the initial buzz of conversation died away to more normal levels, Dave asked Joan, "What are you really feeling about Brian and the whole situation?"

Joan smiled. "One of my counselors asked me that a week or two ago, after I'd had the initial dose of 'This Is Really Your Husband'. Let me be clear; I know he financially and emotionally abused me just as though he pummeled me with brass knuckles every day to keep me in line. He must have had some script to follow because he was so good at it. He started slow, and then knew how to catch me unawares, and drive the sliver of a wedge into my soul that made me doubt myself, and then feel subservient to him. All the while, he was out fucking some innocent girl and lying to her about nearly every aspect of their relationship and the one he had with me.

"So, you ask what I think about all that. Well, I am so angry that I can spit fire, melt nails, and wreak physical violence on him. BUT, I won't. I got coached through that stage of grief. He's going to go to court and have to face judges that I think will be far more severe on him than I would be. He has lost the respect of you and Derek, and soon the other people he works with because word will spread, and not because of anything I do, but because of the kind of person he is. He'll sink his own boat.

"I hasten to add that I feel sorry for his paramour – Amanda Tyler. She got seduced and lied to. I wish there was some way to save her the hurt, but I will leave that to resolve itself. She's young and will hopefully have the inner resources I seemed to lack to brush off the terrible situation I was put in and rebuild.

"These feelings that I have will dissipate over time. I've never been one to hold a grudge. I won't be married to the man that disrespected me in so many ways, and I will continue to heal. I will come to love, and not just one person but many people, because basically I trust the people around me. Unfortunately, I picked one that didn't love or respect me and one that was not trustworthy."

She smiled again, "Thank you for listening to my tirade. I needed to get that out and on the table with all of you present. It was very therapeutic. I won't need to go through that again, except maybe in court."

Dale sat nearby, "We're here to help you, however we can. I mean that from the bottom of my heart – all our hearts."

Dave smiled. He had an idea, but needed to talk to Owen.

Chapter 22 – Confrontation

Eight people were in the van as it pulled up in front of Amanda Tyler's apartment building. Those in attendance were Joan Coswell, Dale Harnett, Alice and Dave Prentiss, Derek Wilson, Clive Henderson, Esquire – Joan's divorce attorney, and Sgt. Jeffery Wallace of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department. The latter was officially the process server of the divorce papers on Brian Coswell, Joan's soon to be ex-husband. He was also there to ensure that no fights or worse broke out between any of the participants in the intervention that was about to occur.

The group tiptoed up the stairs and were waved to the door by a man who worked in Dale's PI firm. Brian was still inside, where he'd been most evenings since Joan had left the city over two months earlier.

The sergeant knocked on the door. Not surprisingly, Brian opened the door. The sheriff stepped forward so he was just inside the entry. "Are you Brian Coswell, home address of 63 Rosewood Court, Sarasota."

The surprise factor was still evident. "Yes." The sheriff thrust a large manila envelope into Brian's hands and said "You've been served." He paused and looked behind him, "Several of these people were outside and wanted to talk to you and Ms. Tyler. Do you want to come out or do you want them to come into her apartment?"

By now the others in the group has clustered behind the sheriff. Brian could see is boss from work, Derek Wilson, and one of his direct reports, Dave Prentiss. His wife was there, too, and a couple of other people, one of two he recognized.

Amanda had come to the door as well. She spoke clearly but in a worried tone, "Why don't you all come inside. We don't all want to stand on the porch and annoy my neighbors."

Brian backed away from the door. He was not looking well.

Joan stepped to the front of the group. "Amanda, I am Joan Coswell, Brian's wife. I hate to break some bad news to you, but there are some things you should hear about my husband. I will be succinct.

"I have just returned from over two months in a rehabilitation program because of the mental state that Brian put me in with his financial and emotional abuse. I could talk about the details of this for hours, and have with my counselors, but rest assured that he was very good at the control and abuse, and I got to the edge of suicidal as a result. He didn't want to divorce me. He wanted me to commit suicide and be out of his life so he could carry on with you.

"But, and here's the part that starts to affect you, we had never talked about divorce or separation or anything as he led you to believe. As far as I knew until some friends rescued me from his clutches, I was trying to be a good obedient wife and was sure our marriage was rock solid.

"In the course of things, you met Dale Harnett, a PI as it turns out, who talked to you over coffee one day. Dale heard what you said, and knows the full situation. Dale?"

Dale stepped forward. Amanda sat down in one the straight back dining room chairs, but locked on what Dale had to tell her.

Dale started, "First, I apologize for not being completely candid with you about what I was doing. It was necessary at that time in our investigation into Brian Coswell. Let me just tick off some items.

"Mr. Coswell told you that his wife did not want children. That was a lie.

"He told you he was in the midst of a divorce. There was no divorce underway until today when Mr. Coswell just got served by his wife on grounds of adultery and severe emotional abuse.

"He told you he was working with a 'bevy' of lawyers to get the divorce back on track. Unless he has hidden this, and can prove it, there has been no discussion with any law firm in the geographic area regarding a divorce or any other action.

"He told you he had trouble with his boss. I assure you, and his boss is standing behind me, he had no trouble with his boss until the issue of abusing his wife came up, and now the lies surrounding his marriage.

"He told you he had trouble with his underlings. Mr. Prentiss is one of his direct reports, and if there is any trouble of any kind this is news to him as well as his colleagues in Mr. Coswell's department.

"Mr. Coswell told you that he worked most nights to get ahead in the public utility company where he worked. I believe he led you to believe he worked somewhere other than the electric company. Also, the nights when he didn't see you, he was at home, and now we know he was badgering his wife to the point of making her suicidal.

"Over the past months, I'm speculating that he told you he had a break in his work schedule and could spend more time with you. Actually, his wife had to go to a treatment center in Texas to rebuild the self-esteem and confidence that he destroyed in her, as well as restore her self-worth. Since she was gone, and he didn't know where or on what schedule, he had more time to spend with you. I bet he told you there were several large projects coming up, and he might have to revert to his old work schedule when he was busy much of the time.

Amanda had started to look pissed but was nodding at the statements.

"The reasons Mr. Coswell didn't take you out was not, and he indicated to you that he loved home cooking, although that might be true. The reason was that he is widely known in the community because of his management position in the utility. If he was seen with you, rumors would start and those would be uncontrollable from his viewpoint.

"Ms. Tyler, I'm afraid you are the 'other woman' in a legal action. As such, you may be subject to a lawsuit for alienation of affection by Mrs. Coswell. That issue is still under discussion with Attorney Henderson, who is also standing behind me and can vouch for the initiation of the divorce action by Mrs. Coswell.

"That's all I have to say," Dale stepped back into ranks, so to speak.

Clive Henderson stepped forward and addressed himself to Brian Coswell. "Sir, the divorce papers filed today seek two-thirds of the community property. Additionally, we have obtained a Restraining Order against you." The sheriff presented Brian with another envelope. "This order states that you may not under any circumstances approach or talk with Joan Coswell, including by any electronic method, without my being there with her in our law offices. All remarks, comments, counter-offers of any kind, and so forth, are to be made to me. Our address is in the envelope.

"Additionally, we are suing you in civil court for your financial and emotional abuse. We are seeking $20 million in damages, and believe we have an especially strong case based on the interactions with Mrs. Coswell by the world-renowned therapists at the Ryder Clinic in Austin, Texas. The details of what you did to this poor woman are atrocious, and we believe that separate from any divorce settlement, that you should recompense her for the maltreatment you visited upon her over the past two years or more." He passed Brian Coswell another sealed envelope.

Brian had started to sputter, but nothing cogent came from his mouth.

Derek stepped forward. "Brian, the utility is recommending that you take an unpaid leave of absence. In this envelope are the details concerning an employee assistance program that we believe meets your needs given the current situation. Also, in the envelope is a letter from you to me requesting your participation in that program for an unspecified period of time so that you can get your affairs in order and restructure your life. I expect that letter to be in my hands before the close of business tomorrow. You may drop it off at the main desk in the lobby; your key card and other access privileges no longer work at the utility."

Brian squeaked out, "But ..." Before he could finish Derek had turned his back on the man to step back in line.

Dale again stepped forward. "Mr. Coswell, that is all we have to say to you tonight."

He turned to Amanda, whose mouth was still agape, "Thank you for admitting us into your home. On all our behalf, we apologize for being the bearers of bad news and for taking advantage of your hospitality to upbraid your paramour and inform him of the legal actions against him and with which he must comply. Here's my business card, should you wish to contact me for any reason. We wish you well."

Joan led the contingent from the apartment onto the walkway, and then down the stairs to the van they'd come in. About a mile down the road, the van pulled into a shopping center. Everyone left, got into individual cars, and drove off in different directions.

Joan hugged each of the men and women affiliated with the Circle back in the core living room after they'd all returned. She had tears in her eyes, and was still obviously grieving over the loss of her marriage and her husband. The evening had been tense and emotional.

Joan said, "Thank you, all. That whole scene at Amanda's apartment was gratifying, but it is far from the closure that I can only get by completing this mess and then the passage of time."

Alice and Emily hugged their friend. "Know that we're here every moment of every day to help you through this. Joan, we love you, and we mean that in every sense of the word. You stay with us at the Circle as long as you want; make us your home if you want."

Joan nodded, "I sure don't want to go home, at least not without someone to protect me from Brian. I definitely don't want to try to live with my parents. With all of this, I would think he could easily become physically abusive."

Dave said, "The deputy that served the papers told me to let him know when you wanted to go into the house to get your belongings. They will send two deputies to go with you, but also call ahead to make sure Brian is not present."

Alice and Emily escorted Joan up to the Prentiss' guest room, and got her situated. Joan was headed to bed so the two of them rejoined the men for a few moments. Derek and Emily left after bidding everybody goodnight. Dale went off home.

Alice pulled Dave upstairs again, and they joined Julie and Heather in bed. Pam was traveling again, this time she'd flown the Cessna 172 over into Louisiana for full day of meetings. After all the emotions, no one felt like doing anything other than cuddling and thanking the stars for the blessings in their lives.

* * * * *

Friday afternoon, after most of the Circle got home from work, Alice and Emily took Joan aside to talk to her about the Circle and what the weekend evenings usually became.

Alice started the discussion, "Joan, we continue to worry about your mental state. I'm guessing that the bruises still show."

Joan nodded, "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Brian hammered on my mind for almost two years and I was a pretty sorry woman when it ended. I guess anybody wouldn't fully recover after only a few weeks of therapy."

Emily picked up the thread, "What we're worried about is the impact of our behavior on you when we engage in group sex."

Alice jumped in, "Em and I think you should wait before you even think about engaging."

Emily said, "We all know that sex changes things both in regard to the other person and their relationship, and inside each of the partners. Sometimes those changes might be unpredictable and harder to manage or cope with than a simple conversation."

Joan smiled, "Thank you. I think you're probably right. I'm not feeling particularly attractive now, in any case. I'm still getting my sea legs under me in my overall life and the past couple of days at work in my new job.

"I do need the interaction with lots of people in a social setting, but I understand your concerns about the burden that a sexual overlay on that could distort things in a negative way for me."

Alice said, "I'm glad you agree. There'll be a time, but let it come naturally. For tonight and tomorrow, Em and I have volunteered to take you out somewhere, for instance, to a movie or a club or one of the malls that stay open late, just to take you from this crazy environment – or as crazy as it will be up until midnight or so with all our sex-crazed friends and lovers."