Untrained Hearts by DJ Vallone - HTML preview

Epilogue

Later that evening, in a cozy chapel within walking distance of their hotel, Danny and Julie Predmore got married for the second time. They exchanged sterling-silver rings purchased earlier at the Indian novelty shop in Barstow. The brief ceremony was about as tacky as a wedding can get. Still, when Danny answered the smiling old man with bad teeth by saying, “I do,” Julie could not help shedding a tear.

To celebrate afterward, they drank a bottle of wine in their room before retiring and making love on the king-sized bed. Danny told his new wife she was insatiable. Julie said, like him, she was making up for lost time.

They slummed around the casinos on Friday. Julie “hit” twice on the roulette wheel while Danny watched. They tried the slots and some blackjack, and when they quit to relax over dinner, they were down about fifty dollars. But they had made priceless memories in the process.

That night they caught Billy Crystal, along with a Vegas-style dance review — very showy, lots of thigh. Danny said he thought the girls were quite talented. Julie liked Billy. He was really funny, she said, not like some comedians these days who couldn’t buy a laugh from her. But then, she had always been a tough customer. Some things do not change.

Before they left on Saturday, Danny bought a sweatshirt for Valerie Robinson, white and heavy — very high quality. On the front there was a full color picture of the Vegas strip taken at night, along with the caption: Life is a Gamble. On the back, a picture of Harrah’s hotel / casino and the words: Improve your odds!

Back in Michigan, where winter’s grip had tightened over the past week, they went through Danny’s possessions, deciding what to throw out, what to give away, and what to move once the house was sold and closed. Julie took charge of finding a real estate agent and getting the property on the market.

On Monday morning, Danny handed his resignation letter to Vic DeSalvo. He thanked him for all the opportunities and experience Vic and Base Line had given him. Vic said he was sorry to see him go, but he could understand Danny’s reason for leaving.

On Tuesday, his staff bought him lunch at Charley’s Crab. He thanked them for all their hard work and support over the past couple of years. Later that night, Danny took his father to Hockeytown to see the Red Wings skate while his mom and Julie caught up on old times.

Daniel and Clarrie both came home for dinner the following Sunday. It was like Christmas, though over a month late. The kids were thrilled to see their parents back together again. Once a new home got acquired in the Southland, they would be visiting.

The following evening, at Danny’s insistence, Valerie came for dinner. She wore her new sweatshirt with a pair of black jeans — very chic. And though things were a bit awkward at first, it only took her about an hour to win over Julie’s heart as she had previously won Danny’s. After the table was cleared, while they were sharing some conversation and each a glass of wine, Danny promised to work out a budget so she could see her way clear to her own apartment. He would have it ready before leaving for the coast. He also promised Valerie a job if she felt at all inspired to relocate to California. There was no question she could make an excellent assistant or a recruiting trainee. She said she would seriously consider his offer. In the meantime, they agreed to keep in touch through e-mail.

Before leaving, Valerie gave Danny a gift to remember her by. It was a custom-designed, golden medallion on a chain, inscribed on both sides. On its face, written with tiny letters, were these words:

Go with God, always.

And on the back:

 With love and affection,

Your Friend,

Valerie

Danny told her it was the nicest gift he’d ever been given. He would treasure it forever.

The following Saturday afternoon, Danny and Julie Predmore arrived back in California. A land predisposed to seismic and atmospheric phenomena, the Golden State had been further ravaged by El Niño-driven winter storms during their two-week absence. Nevertheless, this was the place they chose to live out the rest of their years together. No longer blind to the powerful and destructive forces in nature, nor immune from further victimization by the incidents of life, they entered a new season of their relationship in complete devotion to one another. Their marriage, having once been completely decimated by divorce, had been marvelously renewed. And they, themselves, after remaking their priorities, discovered love for each other of greater depth and dimension than ever before.

As a result of their experiences, love, honesty, mutual respect, and happiness became their most cherished possessions.

FIN