Dwight made the rounds of the Starlight lounge, glass of Crown Royal in hand. He greeted everyone, shook hands or gave hugs as indicated by the person he was talking to. This was what he was best at, schmoozing the room. He needed to. One of these people were working for a big company and he needed to upgrade his job, and pay. Dwight made special note of those out of the military and doing high paying work for big companies.

He was at the bar getting another drink, had to love an open bar, when he saw his ex-wife, Jean, come into the lounge. She looked good. Tan, confident. He sighed. What was he thinking when he left her? She had the smarts and the looks, and he must have been crazy. Dwight watched as she joined one group—Justin, Stephanie, Norm and Brandon. He could tell, as he sipped his drink, they were exchanging what they were doing now.

That group broke up and she joined Kiko, Ian and Soren. He’d already talked to Soren. Travel Blogger? What the hell was that? Ian worked for a big hospital, that was a job possibility. Kiko was still in service so no contact for him, at least not yet. Fortunately, the reunion had provided everyone’s email and phone numbers. And, of course, their Facebook pages. He’d already friended everyone at the reunion. He took the last swallow and put the empty glass on the bar. Time to reconnect with Jean.

It was a shock when Jean went from friendly and happy to see people to cold as ice when she turned to see who had greeted them. Did she hate him that much? The group drifted away. Jean drank her glass of wine empty and headed for the bar. He sighed but this was going about how he’d expected. Dwight joined her at the bar and ordered another drink.

“So, what are you up to now-a-days? Still in Arizona?” He leaned on the bar. For God’s sakes, Dwight. How lame can you get?

Jean sighed. “Yes, I’m still in Arizona. You still in Massachusetts?”

“Yep. A new company, though. The city of Boston, actually.”

Jean’s eyes narrowed. “Seems like a pay cut.”

He shrugged. He pulled his flash money, he didn’t want people to know he was nearly broke, and put a fiver on the bar as a tip. He winced a little. He’d meant to put a one out. He took a long swallow of his drink.

“What’s going on, Dwight. You’re still transparent.”

He shrugged and swallowed the last of his drink while signaling the bartender for another. “You know, another day, another project.” If he kept up drinking like this he was going to fall out on the floor.

Jean tilted her head. “Something else.” Her eyes went wide. “The twinkie divorced you!”

Dwight sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t call her ‘the twinkie’” He ran his hand through his hair. Her name is Dawn. So what she had been a little younger?

“What happened?”

He was a little encouraged that she didn’t look like she was enjoying his new divorce. “I don’t know. We were working our asses off, hardly time to see each other even on the weekends, you know what it’s like on a big project. Anyway, a year and a half ago she says she’s had enough. It’s no fun anymore.”

For a second it looked like Jean was going to say something, but she just waited. “She said I was boring and we never went out anymore.” He sighed again. “I did my best, I was pulling in great money. But she took off with a guy just five years older than her.” He shook his head. “Anyway, the drinking went up, my performance dropped off, the company let me go when the project went over budget.”

“So that’s why you’re working for the city?”

Dwight nodded. “I have all I can do to pay both alimonies.”

The bartender brought his drink and Dwight sipped it this time. It wouldn’t do to look like a lush and a loser. He really was glad to see her, but he needed a break.

Jean sipped her wine. “No, I’m not going to relieve you of my alimony. You left me, remember? Just left me standing in the hall while you loaded your suitcase into her sportscar and drove off. Took all of the money out of our bank accounts.”

Dwight had to nod in agreement. He had been such an ass. She had worked just as hard for that savings as he had. Then she started to cry. Now he really felt like a jerk.

She sniffed back tears and took a huge swallow of wine. Then she used the little napkin to blow her nose. “You were a bastard and I’ve had all I could do not to bad mouth you to our son.”

Dwight took a deep breath. She had every right to be mad. “I know. I appreciate that. Though since Jim’s had his family, we don’t talk as much.”

Jean sniffed again. “I don’t feel sorry for you at all. You deserve all the karma you’re getting back.”

Dwight had both hands on the bar. He tapped one against it. “You’re right, I suppose. Yeah. Right.” He picked up his drink and walked away. Crap. That went even worse than I had anticipated. She’s still pissed. He ran his hand through his hair again and found a seat up by the band just warming up to play. He didn’t know these people though they wore the reunion placards around their necks.

Introductions were made but the band was too loud for comfortable talking. Dwight was just as glad. He wasn’t in any mood for talking. He downed the Crown Royal and flagged down the waitress to order another. He sat there until after eleven, the people at the table coming and going. When he finally left, he felt sick. He barely made it to his room where the alcohol came back up until he thought his intestines would come out. He sipped water and lay on the bed, feeling the room reel. Better it was all out, anyway, he thought, but he wasn’t sure he was referring to the Crown or Jean.

Next Chapter: Chapter Three