Carol is miserable. Her family is dysfunctional and cold to each other. The family she married into is rude and horrible people. Except their grandmother, who took Carol under her wing. Taught Carol all she knew about natural medicine. Her husband is cold and ignores her. All she has is Grandma Jenn and her best friend Ray. Everyone else is not worried about anything but status and money. It wasn’t always like that. Before her father was killed by a drunk driver, she and her brothers were close. Not so she and her mother. All her life, Jessica gave the bare minimum to her but doted on her boys. Carol believed it was her dad who wanted a girl and not her mom.
Carol is a 28-year-old, beautiful, half-white and American native who stands at 5’6” so not small but not tall either. Long black hair and brown eyes that look almost black. If one didn’t look closer they would think she was Asian. Her features were perfect, and she almost looked dainty if not for her slightly larger bones. She had broad shoulders and her hands were bigger than dainty. Which Carol figured was her native heritage coming out. Carol didn’t mind. She didn’t care that she was slightly larger than average.
All her brothers didn’t cut her any slack about not being able to keep up with the work they did. All three brothers did different work that required physical labor. One joined the military in the Marines, one became a trucker while the last did mine work for a family who owned their own small mine. Carol was the only one who decided college and office work were worthwhile. Carol works for her husband as his secretary. She had the knowledge and skills to be his vp. But he believes that women shouldn't be in the office unless she is answering phones and making notes. They live in New York for his business.
For a while Carol was happy with her life. But now that the only one who protected her and loved her out in the big city is gone, she has to leave. Grandma Jenn is gone! She can no longer keep her safe from the vipers they call family. Carol had been working on an exit strategy since she heard of the passing of grandma. Apparently she had been ill for a long time but chose to keep it hidden. It will explain why Grandma Jenn insisted she goes back to school not only for business but medicine. Carol could probably open her own practice with her knowledge. But no, it is time to go home to her roots. Her husband doesn’t know much about her and her upbringing. He knows she has siblings, and she came to New York for school. But hasn’t bothered to learn more.
James Robington is a wealthy man, born into money. He married Carol because it pissed off his father, and it got him his inheritance. They agreed it was a contractual marriage and nothing more. He had not lived in the penthouse he bought Carol. Instead, he lives in a different building all together. He only spent a night with his wife, but that was an accident that shouldn’t have happened. His new driver didn’t know he lived separately from his wife or that he had a string of girlfriends throughout the city. He got drunk one night about two or three months ago and his driver dropped him off with his wife. Anyway, James is the CEO of a large import and export business. He works with many other companies throughout America and Europe.
Carol knew the ins and outs of the company and who they did business with. It isn’t like her husband can keep it hidden for long. Not when she worked with him. But James and his parents made the Mafia look like a school gang looking for trouble. They were meaner and crueler. How they came from Grandma Jenn, who knew about the family business but followed how the mafia families dealt with the men's work. She kept her mouth shut but did her best to speak reason to the men who wanted chaos. She found a fellow soul like her in Carol and loved her from day one and insisted that her son, wife and grandson all left her alone.
So Carol hid the fact that one night bore fruit and decided to go home. She picked up her phone and called the only person who could help her. Her best friend Raygean or Ray, for short. Ray is a short plump woman who is a force to be reckoned with. She is half Japanese and half American. Her mother met her father at the base in Okinawa. Carol and Ray met in college on the first day of orientation. Ray is the heiress of her family's company. They work with medical equipment and ship it all over the world. Ray has a security guard who goes everywhere with her. To get him off her back and get some freedom, she took a small self-defense class and that is where their friendship grew. Carol also took the same class for similar reasons. Her family is from a small town near a military base and didn’t like she was moving so far away with no back up. To keep them all from assigning her own security, she agreed to a class to protect herself.
“Hello, Ray?” Carol said into the phone.
“Hello sweetheart, what's up?” Ray’s sultry smooth voice greeted her.
“I need your help. It all has to be lowkey and on no database. Can you do it or know someone who can help?” Carol looked around her small office next to her husband's larger office. The door was closed and from what she could see no one paid her any mind.
“Is everything alright sweetheart? How bad is the situation?” Ray was now on alert and worried. Carol is a no-nonsense woman who took the world on with an iron will. Carol hesitated for a second, not sure if her devices or areas were bugged or not, she chose her words carefully.
“Nothing can come of nothing… Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head… I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.” Ray knew from that segment alone this was a time-sensitive and very bad situation. “Honey, what do you need?”
“Papers and the soil of my motherland.” Carol replied. She loved this about Ray. They have been friends for years. Taking that one class together and having similar interests saved them both. They both loved to debate and dissect a good play. Delving into the works of Shakespeare and giving their two cents on many of his works was a fun pastime they shared.
“Do you need a way there?”
“No, the brotherhood of America will make sure I’m safe.” Carol was never more pleased to have a brother who was a trucker. If he can’t help, then one of his brothers will make sure she travels safely.
“Where and when will this go down?” Ray inquired.
“Not sure yet, I'll let you know once I know more myself.” They said goodbye and hung up.
Next, Carol got hold of a lawyer. She needed to get the divorce papers ready. Because she is willing to walk away with the clothes she came into the marriage with and just the earnings she made while working and nothing more, the lawyer would have the papers ready by next Friday. It was Friday. She asked him a quick question about him possibly contesting the divorce and what would happen. He explained then it would go to court to be resolved there. She mentioned that she had evidence of him cheating and if that would help her get her divorce. If she indeed had evidence, then it would speed up the process, but the courts won't grant her divorce on that alone. She then explained that her husband is a well known CEO and the sheer fact his dirty laundry would be in public court records would be enough for her husband to stop it all and grant her her divorce. With that, her lawyer agreed, told her what to do while she waited and they said their goodbyes.
Next, she called her brother, who was a trucker. He is named Travis. While Carol could pass for Asian, Travis looked like your average Native American. Long black hair tied in a ponytail and brown eyes. He is your typical trucker. Jeans, flannel shirt, beard with a few tattoos. He got dad’s height and personality, he got mom’s side of the family’s build, broad shoulders and muscles. They hardly spoke or saw each other these days. But they were close growing up. Just life got in the way.
“Big bro?” Carol said after the call was picked up on the second ring.
“Baby sis, it has been a while.” Travis replied, all in good nature.
“I’m in the works of getting a divorce. I want to go back to the place where we grew up.” Carol had to be a bit more blunt than with Ray. She got the brains of the family and little in the looks department. While her brothers were the opposite. Not to say they were stupid, but they liked things blunt and to the point. However, her words made her brother pause and stand to attention.
“Is there a reason you are speaking vaguely?”
“There is, and I can't say what.” She replied. “Can you help? I don't want to leave a paper trail of where I am going.”
“What is the window looking like?” He was thinking fast now.
“Divorce papers will be drawn up and in my hands by next Friday. I am hoping to have them signed and delivered the same day.”
“Will you need to be in town after they are signed by you? Do you need to stay for court?”
“I should be able to leave that Friday afternoon. My lawyer will have a way to contact me if he contests. It will be up in the air after that. Why, what are you planning?”
“When you have everything done and figured out, go to the diner ‘Lucky Frog’ and look for a waitress with the tattoo that is on my neck.” Carol had to think for a second, she forgot what kind of tattoo was on her brother's neck. Then last Christmas popped into her head, he was proudly showing off his latest tattoo of angel wings with a halo above.
“Travis, what does that symbol mean?”