Good Man Bad Man

What Others are Saying about Good Man Bad Man

After their father dies, three siblings must come to terms with the fact that their perception of him (and the discovery of a shocking flaw none knew he had) barely resembles the impression of a model citizen that he made on his hometown in Ohio. This probing first novel by Darryl Wood explores this disparity so deeply that you are left pondering how well you know the people in your own life. Good Man, Bad Man is a compelling read."

—Mary Pat Hyland, Amazon Top 100 bestselling author

Darryl Wood pulls the reader into an unexpectedly subtle psychological journey. As the reader, we meet fairly ordinary characters, not unlike you or me, who find themselves trapped within a Rashomon-like predicament. Through turns of events in this tale, I found myself wrestling with fundamental moral questions, basic raw human desires, and some of the ordinary, yet unnerving, self-deceptions that seem to be crucial for our day-to-day survival and security.

—Donald Glauber, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

Good Man, Bad Man is a suspenseful romp into family dynamics and the human need for connection. We all have a locker full of secrets in need of an airing out ... even our parents.

—Charlene Lichtenstein, HerScopes www.TheStarryeye.typepad.com

GOOD MAN BAD MAN

DARRYL M. WOOD

Copyright 2012 Darryl M. Wood

Smashwords Edition

For Toby

This book is available in print at most on-line retailers.

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ISBN 9781301481897

Chapter 1

Rich, you have to come home. Dad needs you.

***

Rich drove through the rolling hills of central Ohio and thought back to that phone call yesterday. So much happened since then and he wondered what this trip back home to Salsbury would bring. While he patched up his latest misunderstanding with his wife, he didn’t understand why he kept having the same problem with their sex lives. His career was blossoming with the completion of his latest project and he hoped this would bring more financial security to the family even though his career was progressing well. And his relationship with his sons was stuck in neutral, much like the one with his father. The relationship with his sisters wasn’t in any gear. Would his father’s illness change that? And, what was this secret his father could only share with him?

He thought about these as another exit rolled past. Black-and-white cows dotted the landscape; golden fields ready to be harvested broke the monotony of pastureland; evergreens towered in the distance; and silver oil tanks near the highway reflected the late morning sun. These, at least, brought some comfort as he neared Columbus.

***

She repeated, Rich, Dad needs you.

It took a moment before he recognized his older sister, Martha. He responded, What’s up? He looked out his midtown office window at the shadows of the early morning sun and wondered what his bossy sister wanted with this summons. Rich spoke with her infrequently, especially since he moved to Chicago. They never got along, first the difference in their ages and then her divorce. He hoped she’d be brief.

Her words suddenly hit home. Their father needed him. He thought, What’s wrong with him? Why hadn’t she called earlier if it was such an emergency?

He hadn’t seen Dad since the July Fourth weekend, almost three months ago, when the kids begged him and Debbie to visit. They so much enjoyed those trips, although he found them trying, especially when Martha stopped by.

Dad had a heart attack late yesterday.

Before she could continue, he broke in, What? Why did you wait?

More questions filled his mind as she continued, almost unaware of the interruption: I didn’t get a phone call from the hospital until almost ten o’clock last night and I rushed there right away. He was better at that point and told me not to call anybody.

Rich thought about his father; a private man, very active in his community, and not one who asked much from anybody. Rich was relieved by his sister’s comments. Her voice, however, contrasted sharply with her words. She continued, He’s totally changed from last night. The doctors and nurses keep saying he’s on the mend, but I don’t believe them. He’s acting very different this morning. He kept asking for you to come home immediately. I don’t know why. He needs to tell you something he won’t share with me. There’s more going on; her words, and her voice, were more persistent and demanding. This urgency wasn’t coming from her.

What’s going on with Dad? What is this secret he can only share with me? His email alerts beat out a rhythm as if every employee at Illinois Life and Casualty wanted his attention. Should he respond to them or question his sister more closely? Some of the emails probably dealt with the new product his company was rolling out. His analysis kept him busy for the last four months and implementation hinged on his finishing the final tests and reviewing the data prior to the Board of Directors’ presentation next week. His future at Illinois Life was tied to the project’s success. I’ll see what I can do. It’s crazy at work. Today’s Thursday; I can probably get away tomorrow and be there by late afternoon.

His relationship with Martha was never good, even before he left home for college and work. The one with Donna, his younger sister, was different. Maybe because she’d always been the baby of the family. Except, she never acted the part.

He thought again about his last visit with his father. Martha wasn’t around, apparently not interested in seeing him or his family. He really didn’t want to spend time with her, so he hoped she still felt that way when he saw Dad on Friday.

She spoke again, breaking his daydreaming. It’d be better if you came today. He’ll last until at least tomorrow. Rich thought about her voice again. He wondered what she was telling him. The doctors say he should come out of this, but…. Can you call Donna and tell her to come up, too. I’m stopping by the hospital again before I start work. I gotta go. Thanks, bye. Martha hung up without waiting for a response.

At that moment, Rich remembered the real reason they didn’t get along. She always assumed he’d do the things she asked. He sat back, stared out the window again, and thought again about his siblings. Martha was about five years older than he was and Donna was five years younger. Martha married shortly after graduating from high school and soon divorced. His younger sister was the complete opposite. Where Martha was private, Donna was more open. Martha had never left home and Donna had traveled throughout Europe after college before settling in Columbus. The only reason Donna hadn’t won the high school yearbook award for Most Outgoing was she told people exactly what she thought of them. Martha thought these same things, but would never announce it to the world. She was too concerned what others would think of her.

His memories and feelings about his family evaporated as the early morning sun blinded him with its reflection in the windows two blocks away. The continued staccato of email alerts reminded him that, at least for the moment, work was more important than family.

He scanned the expanding list of electronic communications and spied the one he hoped for. The analysis was done earlier than expected. Opening the attachment, he scanned the formula the statistical package provided based upon his parameters and the data. It’s exactly what he predicted. He would polish up his cover memo and make sure the formula didn’t contain any errors. He glanced at his watch and concluded he’d complete that part this morning.

***

Martha left the parking lot of Salsbury General Hospital, glad the hospital hadn’t closed down like the other ones in the small towns near them. She reviewed in her mind the last fifteen minutes with her father. He was very anxious about her conversation with Rich. He wasn’t happy when she told him Rich wouldn’t be there until the next day. He begged her to call him immediately and have him leave right away. She’d almost yelled at him, If you’re so interested in getting him here, call him yourself! She restrained herself this time. For all the diagnoses of the doctors regarding recovery, he didn’t look well; he looked worse than last night. She’d call the head nurse later, get an update, and call Rich if there was any change.

***

Rich worked through lunch and finished the last of the charts and spreadsheets for George, his department manager. He sent it all to George with a short cover memo. As he hit the SEND button, he thought of his career as an actuary at Illinois Life and Casualty. Having progressed as quickly as those remaining from his cohort years ago, he was presently Associate Manager for Risk Management. Most left the company, deciding working with numbers all the time wasn’t very exciting. It wasn’t exciting to him either, although he found a certain pleasure in understanding what numbers could tell you about the future. That pleasure allowed him a good living in Chicago, something neither of his sisters could say.

Debbie appreciated the lifestyle too; at least he always thought so. Some day he’d ask her, although he should have known exactly what her feelings were. He wished he had a formula that could predict that. Rich thought he was lucky he found her fifteen years ago. Leaning back in his chair, he stared out his window again and let his mind wander down that lane. He wasn’t acquainted with her when she smiled at him from the next table in the company cafeteria downstairs. She’s cute, he thought. Should he smile back or ignore her? He looked away and she continued smiling when he glanced in her direction a second time. He mouthed a ‘hello’ and she winked at him. Her dark eyes flashed and he felt funny inside.

What started as occasional shared lunches transformed quickly into a more serious, very physical, relationship. Lunch visits became dinner out and later dinner in. Visits to her apartment evolved into nights spent together. And, within six short weeks, he proposed. Terrified she’d say no, he almost didn’t ask her that November evening after dinner. She wore that black dress and he couldn’t help himself. When he asked, her gentle laugh and soft kiss were all he needed to realize that his misgivings were misplaced.

It all appeared so easy. He’d pursued her, almost aggressively he thought, and she‘d acquiesced so quickly. It was like all those old movies they watched where the male lead made all the mistakes and the leading lady still loved him. He felt like Cary Grant or Clark Gable when she accepted his proposal. He chuckled briefly because he had neither their good looks nor their accents. Like those movies, he ended up married to this wonderful woman even though he never saw himself as the handsome catch nor particularly deep or caring. She was pretty enough to choose any number of guys; he knew that. She saw something in him, something he didn’t see in himself. Would he ever figure it out? Would he be one of those movie characters who found happiness before the credits rolled?

His mind wasn’t in his office as he remembered those nights in her bed, how they fell onto the floor once when their lovemaking grew wild. Another email alert startled him back to the present. He double-clicked the icon and read the short message from George, Nice work. Thanks. Rich saw those words only once before, the time he fixed the glitch in the algorithm paying out too much money to policy holders. His solution saved the company over a million dollars. Maybe this email would get him a nice bonus at the end of the year–or at least a good evaluation so he could argue for a salary increase next month.

***

George popped his head in the door while Rich checked his backlog of emails. George said, Elegant analysis. Your report’s exactly what we needed. The board has no choice now; they’ll approve the new product.

Rich thanked him and remembered the call about his father. George, I got a phone call from my older sister earlier. My father isn’t well and I need to visit him.

Rich, unsure if he’d get the time off, was surprised when George interrupted him. No problem. You can leave now if you want. I have everything I need. I’ll call you if anything pops up. He smiled and continued, You did a great job.

Rich was surprised by his comment, but didn’t argue. Thanks very much. I have a few things to complete before I leave so I’ll finish them up first.

Don’t worry about any of that. With this report done, you deserve time off. Take it. George waved as he walked back to his office.

This was an offer he wouldn’t refuse. He checked his watch and decided he could get home before their two sons came home from school. His thoughts wandered back to his courtship and time in bed with Debbie. He called his wife, Deb, I’m coming home early. When do you expect the boys?

Normal time. She added, Brian has a rehearsal at seven. I’m working on dinner at the moment so we can eat early. It’d be nice if you came home now and helped out.

He closed his eyes as the memories from earlier solidified. He wondered how vigorous their lovemaking would be if she was prepared before he arrived. She liked guiding their lovemaking and their relationship. He thought back to their courtship again and realized she initiated almost all aspects of it. She let slip once that she questioned several of the clerical staff in his department before that lunch. She also indicated she ate in the cafeteria for a week before he noticed her.

He opened his eyes as Deb said, Rich, are you there? You disappeared for a moment. She always had things under control. Whether it was having dinner on the table with the ever-changing schedules of their sons and his work or ensuring his tie matched his jacket when he went to work, she was central to his life and his happiness. Maybe he’d buy a bouquet at the train station to thank her.

Sorry, I’m thinking about us. I’ll be leaving soon so I’ll take Brian to rehearsal if you like. Will we have time for fooling around before they get home? Rich understood long ago that she’d be more receptive if he dropped hints first and brought an offering.

No, we won’t! Rich, why do you always ask me these questions? Is your door closed? You understand how I feel about your raising these things in front of others. Just get home. With this, Debbie hung up.

Twice in one day women hung up on him and he’d forgotten to mention Dad’s hospitalization as well. He said to himself, Oh well, I’ll see what happens when I get home. He didn’t think to call her back and tell her about Martha’s phone call.

***

Getting out of the city always made Rich feel better. The train ride and short commute from the station changed his whole attitude toward life. He forgot all about the morning and his father. He was going home to Debbie. He hoped he hadn’t screwed up his opportunity to lure her into bed. He was lucky to find a good selection of flowers at the station when he arrived on an early train. He chose red carnations with ferns and other small white flowers. The clerk called them baby’s breath. He hoped this would do the trick. If he hurried, he’d get home early enough to lure Debbie into bed before the kids got home. He could always take them all out to eat.

As he left the station, he recalled Martha’s request about contacting Donna. He found her number as he walked out to his car. It was busy so he left her a voicemail. He told her about the phone call he received and asked her to meet them in Salsbury as quickly as she could.

Once away from the commercial buildings, only five blocks from the station, he entered an enclave of homes with well-kept lawns and basketball hoops in the driveways. He turned the