I Love You, Goodbye. Prentiss Sr. Grant

      

      I Love You, Goodbye

      by

      Prentiss Grant

      Copyright 2011 Prentiss Grant,

      All rights reserved.

      Published in eBook format by H & T Publishing, LLC

      Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com

      ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0278-9

      No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

      To My Girls:

      Chrisy, my wife. You have made my life a blessing and bring me happiness I never thought I would experience. I love you dearly.

      Heather, Tabatha and Autumn, my daughters. If a man’s life is measured by his children then I am the richest man in the world. Each of you add to my life every day with your individual beauty, intelligence and love. I can not imagine anything better then being the father of my three girls. You three truly are my heaven.

      Bethany, my granddaughter. The day you came into my life I understood the true definition of perfection. Daddypop loves you more than anything in this world.

      Introduction

      As the plane circled the airport preparing to land, Harrison Michaels could not believe the news. “Your wife has been killed in an automobile accident”. The words echoed in his head over and over. No other details were available and the lack of knowledge made the trip back from the Cayman Islands only longer. Harrison could not remember the meal served or the movie shown on the trip. He did not even recall the flight attendant who overtly flirted with him during the flight. She had spotted Harrison the minute he boarded the plane. Dressed casually in Khakis and a button down shirt, Harrison looked expensive. His clothes were professionally pressed as always and he wore shoes that cost more than his plane ticket home. Sitting almost alone in first class Harrison was privy to all the attention she could give. Normally Harrison would have enjoyed the special services his good looks garnered but today was different. Today he was oblivious to the outside world. It did not take long until the flight attendant realized that her advances were directed toward a man who was buried deep within his own sad world.

      Nor did he notice the passenger seated two aisles behind him who carefully watched his every move. Normally Harrison would have quickly recognized a face he had seen before even just in passing, especially a person who was obviously out of his element. When he boarded, the flight attendant checked his ticket twice to verify the man was supposed to be in first class. But Harrison did not see him, further evidence he was not himself. One does not become president of an international banking concern without attention to detail, especially to people. Harrison was exceptional in his work primarily because he always was keenly aware of his surroundings. But this trip was different. Even from the start something felt out of place.

      It was not the traveling. Harrison was use to that. His position required him to travel extensively and he was comfortable no matter where he was. Harrison’s regular mode of transportation was the private company jet but mechanical problems had required he take a commercial flight. The ground crew told him the problems could be fixed within six hours, but Harrison did not have time to wait. He had to get home. He had to find out exactly what happened. At the main terminal Harrison found a flight was leaving the islands within the hour. He quickly purchased a first class ticket, so quickly he left his luggage at the villa. Left everything in fact, except for his briefcase. That he took with him. Even with all the questions going through his mind since the phone call, Harrison’s hand remained tightly clenched to its handle. Even in the plane Harrison sat the briefcase next to him instead of allowing it to be placed in the overhead compartment.

      Harrison Michaels was an intelligent, handsome, confident man. His rise through the banking industry was rapid. He had met and done business with kings, presidents, and people who raised the concept of wealth to a different level. He was privy to information that could topple nations and make or break the largest of corporations. With all that surrounded him he always remained in control. But today was different and his life would be forever altered. How could she be dead? Dead. The word didn’t make sense to Harrison. Certainly this was a mistake. Nothing this terrible could happen to him. Harrison wasn’t ready for this now. His life was his and no one else could control it. As he worked his way through the terminal she never left his mind. Mary, how could life be life without his beloved Mary?

      Harrison had met Mary Beth in college. He was a finance major who excelled in his courses and was respected by his fellow students and faculty. Mary was a somewhat shy business major who would not have garnered any attention except for her exceptional beauty. Her auburn hair accented her hazel eyes. Her lips were slightly pouty and her smile could light up any room. At five feet ten inches she might have been considered threatening except for her overly reserved nature. But Harrison saw her potential.

      Their meeting, while appearing coincidental, was anything but. Harrison had done his homework as he always did. It only took a couple weeks for him to learn what he needed to know. A friend in the registrar’s office provided him with a complete listing of Mary’s schedule, residence and club affiliations. Harrison did not follow her as that would be a waste of time. Instead he used his numerous connections to have her daily activities reported to him. Within a few days he had learned her routine. That part was not hard as Mary was a creature of habit. Harrison had figured so because with habit comes security.

      On Mondays Mary would leave her dorm at 7:45 a.m. to make her 8:00 English class. She usually walked with a heavyset girl Harrison later learned was her roommate. The two seemed friendly enough but an odd couple. Mary’s roommate was plain and nerdish. She was not a threat to anyone, which is why Mary chose her as a friend. Harrison didn’t see any problem removing her from the picture when the time came. Mary would leave English class at 9:30 and head straight to the library where she did homework until 10:45. She would then travel straight across the street in front of the library to Garrison Hall where she had a business law class at 11:00. She left Garrison Hall at 12:30 and went to the cafeteria for lunch.

      After she made her way through the line, Mary would take her tray and sit at the end of an empty table. There she would eat quietly while reading. Sometimes she would read one of her course books and at others it would be one of those tawdry romance novels. Harrison laughed when informed Mary would blush and look around the cafeteria to see if anyone was looking when she read the explicit love passages. Following lunch it was back to her dorm until 4:30 when she and her roommate would go to the campus gym.

      Exercise was the one area Harrison observed where Mary was comfortable. She would attack the gym equipment with such vigor it was as if she was releasing some caged demons. She rode the stationary bike to near exhaustion. Unlike some women she was not concerned with the fact that she was covered in sweat in front of a group of men. It was as if she was oblivious to their presence. Most of the college girls used the gym to meet men. They would prance around in their perfectly matched outfits and pose on the equipment until their prey was snared. Then two by two they would leave the gym. Mary would glare at the departing girls with disdain as she moved to the next apparatus. The only distraction allowed was the occasional complaint from her roommate who obviously was there only at Mary’s request. Mary didn’t let the complaints stop her though. She enjoyed her workout and its benefits showed. Mary’s figure was outstanding. Her legs were long and firm. Her body was taunt and she could have passed for a model.

      Mary’s exercise regimen would last for two hours, after which she would shower and head to the cafeteria for supper. Supper was similar to lunch with the exception of the presence of Mary’s roommate. The two would sit alone eating, speaking occasionally during the meal. TV in the common area of her dorm would follow supper. Then it was up to her room for the night. The other days of the week were carbon copies of Monday with the only difference being the curriculum. All in all it was