Reclaiming What was Lost at Sea

Dear reader;

This is a longish tale 11k + It crosses genres. Romance, Loving wives or Reluctance. it has elements of all three.

Many thanks to Farmer Jill

for her advice to flesh out certain parts. I appreciate the help.

Enjoy

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There is something indescribably romantic about a cruise to Hawaii. Rachel and Dennis Strong were excited about their dream cruise with their university alumni group.

They had married shortly after graduation. That was five years ago. When the opportunity came to join this cruise they both jumped at the chance.

Their marriage was okay, if a touch boring. The first year was exciting, the second was devoted to finding a house. The third and fourth were spent planning and executing the upgrades and furnishings. The fifth year brought some conflict. She wanted to start a family, Dennis wanted to wait. With no common goals their lives became routine and boredom set in.

The boredom touched all aspects of their lives, including their sex life. The past year has seen them rarely having sex and when they did it was repetitive. But it went beyond just sex. She spent most of her leisure time reading novels and painting. Dennis watched sports and played hockey. Lately they would go weeks without saying more than a few words to each other. They knew they were rapidly drifting apart, both were dissatisfied. The alumni association cruise gave them an excellent, affordable opportunity to lift them out of the rut in which they found themselves.

The cruise left the Port of Los Angeles and immediately they experienced very heavy waves along the coast.

Dennis had never been on a cruise before. The wave action was making him very queasy. Rachel had sailed before and didn't mind it at all.

The alumni group gathered for dinner in the main dining room. Dennis and Rachel didn't really know any of them very well. The group rate made this cruise impossible to resist. Dennis was drinking soda water to settle his stomach. Rachel was drinking martinis.

There was one chair empty at the table, one of the group was late coming to the dining room. A tall man was escorted to the table. Dennis was shocked when Rachel jumped up and ran to the man and embraced him in a hug.

They chatted away for a few minutes before he finally took his seat.

"Dennis, I'd like you to meet Barry Slade. Barry and I knew each other before you and I met."

Dennis stood and extended his hand to Barry, who gripped it in a vice-like grip.

"Dennis Strong, Rachel's husband."

"Nice to meet you, Dennis."

Rachel was more excited and animated than Dennis had seen in the past year.

"It's been ages, Barry. How are you? Where are you living?"

"I'm doing very well. My chain of health clubs is expanding into all fifty states. I hope to drop into our Maui club while we are there. I'm living in LA but thinking about moving to Maui. What about you and Dennis?"

"I'm in nursing and Dennis is an accountant. We live in Pittsburgh." We're doing well."

Dennis felt the ship roll and his stomach along with it. He couldn't eat.

Barry and Rachel talked exclusively between themselves. Dennis eventually zoned out and stopped trying to follow the conversation. When his stomach lurched again he apologized and made his way to their cabin to take a Dramamine tablet and lay down.

The tablet made his stomach feel better but it also made him very drowsy. He woke up when Rachel came in at 2am. She was not trying to be quiet and she was stumbling. The smell of the gin from the martinis, wafted from her skin, it smelled strong.

"What kept you?"

"Barry and I got talking. We went to a lounge and had some drinks. It's not that late is it?"

"I left early because I was feeling ill. I thought you might check on me. You're slurring your words badly, how much did you drink?"

"I don't know, I lost count. I bought a drink plan so don't worry about it. You're such an accountant!"

"Just get into bed and sleep it off."

That is how the first day of the dream cruise ended.

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Dennis needed some fresh air. The seas were calmer, thank God. He walked the deck and thought about last night. Barry was obviously an old friend but he seemed to be more than that to Rachel. He'd never seen her react that way to anyone.

Time passed, and he was getting hungry. He went to the cabin but Rachel was still out cold. He left a note for her.

"Went for a walk and gone for breakfast. See you soon."

After finishing a good breakfast Dennis enjoyed his coffee. Rachel came into the dining room looking a little worse for wear. She was still her attractive self but with a massive hangover.

"How are you feeling?"

"Awful, I've taken some pain killers and I'm trying to rehydrate. What a night."

"So what's the Barry story?"

"Can't this wait until I'm feeling human again?"

"Just give me a rough idea of the history."

"I was a first year undergraduate and he was in his second year. He swept me off my feet. We dated the first year, I moved in with him the second and third year. He graduated and moved out, leaving the apartment and me. In my fourth year I met you."

"Have you seen him since he left?"

"No, but we occasionally sent texts for a few months. He went on to found his health clubs and he is now a multimillionaire."

"That's all I needed to know. I'm glad that you've touched base with each other, now you and I can get down to the real reason we came on this cruise, to renew our relationship."

Her eyes were closed and Dennis wondered if she had dropped off to sleep. Disgusted, he stood up and walked out of the dining room.

Two stewards were chatting by the doorway, speaking German. He overheard one of them saying, "Here comes the poor cuckold now, what a whore."

They obviously thought he wouldn't understand German. As an army brat his father had been stationed in German so he understood all they said. He replied in German with a Berlin accent.

"If I hear you disparaging my wife or myself again I will report you both and you'll be off at the next port without a job."

The two stewards were shocked and apologized.

As Dennis walked the deck again one of the stewards approached him.

"Sir, I'm sorry for my coworkers comments. They were out of line. However I wanted you to know that last night your wife and the large man were inseparable. They were not acting as friends but lovers. Your marital arrangement may be different than the norm, not mine to judge, but I just wanted to warn you."

"Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate it. Also, don't talk behind cruisers backs. We live in a global village and multilingualism is common. Watch your tongue."

Dennis now had to wonder how badly things had gone off course last night. His mind was always analytical, he could confront her now and likely ruin any chance of firming up their stale relationship on the ship, or he could hold his tongue and try to reengage with her. Option two seemed the best so he made his way back to the dining room.

Rachel seemed brighter and more awake now, of course Barry sat in the chair opposite.

"Morning Barry, are you as hung over as my dear wife?"

"No, I've got a constitution of steel. My health clubs have a program for those people that suffer hangovers, it works wonders."

"Is there a Mrs. Barry?"

"No, I never found a woman as good as your Rachel. I should have made it formal back in the day and put a ring on her finger before I went on to success, but I didn't. Your wife and I had quite a life together in university."

"You must tell me all about it."

Rachel piped up.

"The hell you will! It's all water under the bridge. My husband doesn't need to hear your tales of debauchery."

He made a zipping motion across his mouth.

"I'll leave you two to plan your day. Hope you can work out your issues."

Barry stood and left the two of them. Rachel looked at Dennis like a deer in the headlights.

"He hopes we can work out our issues? What the hell have you been telling him, Rachel?"

"I just said we were having some issues and some of our time on this cruise would be devoted to getting some excitement back into our lives."

"What kind of issues did you say we were having?"

"You know, boring lives across the board. I may have mentioned that we were not having sex as often or with much intensity. I know I overshare when I'm drunk so sue me!"

"You shouldn't be sharing that kind of thing. He must think the worst of me."

"Don't worry about it. We have a few days at sea before getting to the islands. Let's go back to the room."

She was getting ready for a shower and she pulled off her panties. They were the same panties she last night and he couldn't help looking to see if there were any remnants. There weren't.

The shower in their small cabin was for one person only. God help you if you were a pound or two heavy, you'd never fit. She showered first. After they both showered, Dennis walked into the bedroom. Rachel was on the bed laying back wearing only a smile. The balcony door was open and a refreshing sea breeze filled the room the room.

"Isn't this wonderful, Dennis?"

"Not as wonderful as you look right now, Rachel."

They kissed and began to make love. Rachel wanted this trip to bind them together. She had been taking birth control pills but stopped a month before the trip. She wanted a baby.

Because they had been in a sexual rut Dennis tried to vary things, to do things differently. The problem was that sometimes she would zig when he would zag. It would feel awkward and cumbersome. Rachel found such fumbling to be mood killers.

"Stop, this isn't working."

"Wait, let me try this."

He shifted position and tried to enter her again but Rachel's frustration got in the way and she shut it down.

"Just stop! Damn it, we can't even have spontaneous sex anymore. Hell, we can't even manage the same old sex anymore. This isn't working at all."

She pulled on her short swimming pool cover up and left the cabin. Leaving a naked and very frustrated Dennis on the bed.

Dennis dressed and went looking for her. He tried the poolside lounge closest to their cabin, then stood stock still. She was upset. Where would she run? Most likely to Barry, the panic set in when he realized she was dressed only in a pool cover up.

Barry's suite was on the same deck as theirs, they were on the port side and Barry the starboard. Dennis hustled down the corridor to Barry's luxury suite and he knocked hard and loud until Barry answered the door in a bathing suit.

"Where's Rachel?"

"She's here, but she can't see you right now. Let me get a shirt and jeans on and I'll buy you a drink upstairs."

"I need to see her!"

""After both of you calm down and you and I talk."

He closed the door and moments later he came out and he led me to the lounge.

"Dennis, Rachel is having a meltdown."

"We just had an awkward moment during sex, that's all. It isn't the end of the world."

"It is for her because it is just an outward and physical sign of an inward and psychological breakdown between you two. I can only go by what she tells me and she said this past year you two have been drifting away from each other. It's not just the sex it's everything."

Dennis wanted to rebut what Barry had just summed up but he couldn't. Barry had nailed it in that one statement.

"That's pretty accurate. The first four years we had goals and we were a team focused on achieving them. We were together on everything including sex. Then this past year we had no common goal to achieve, we lacked a common focus. Our interactions have become stale and uninspired."

"Dennis, she came running to me in tears. She has almost given up hope. I'm afraid that I have made things worse by being here."

"What do you mean?"

"My showing up on this cruise isn't just a lucky coincidence. I have a friend in alumni affairs. He told me Rachel would be onboard.

When Rachel and I split up I always had it in the back of my mind to return. I'm a type A personality. I become driven, nearly obsessed and creating my health club empire was job one.

I did check in to see how she was doing and she had already accepted your marriage proposal. I mourned the loss of the woman I wanted, but redoubled my efforts at empire building.

This club in Hawaii is my fiftieth club. It will give me me a club in every state. I could have flown there but I couldn't resist the opportunity to spend a few days at sea with Rachel. I'm afraid I've stirred up some latent feelings in her."

"So this is a totally manufactured event? Where was I supposed to fit in your plans?"

"To be honest, you weren't in my thoughts or plans. I didn't want it to go down like this. If I knew how fragile things were for you two I'd have thought twice about it."

"Did she spend last night with you?" Dennis asked.

"We drank, we danced, we talked, I kissed her and took her to my suite. We didn't have sex. We talked about where things were between the two of you. I sent her back to you. She still has very deep feelings for me Dennis and I do for her."

That summed up the state of their marriage perfectly, she was still in love with Barry and falling out of love with Dennis.

The ship was big but not quite big enough to find a corner in which to hide. Dennis wandered around the ship countless times as he tried to figure a way forward. Nothing held out much promise.

Dennis returned to the cabin and found Rachel on the balcony wearing her robe.

"Are you alright, Rachel?"

"I guess."

"Why did you run to Barry?"

"Frustration, I needed to talk to someone."

"I'm your husband, you should have been talking to me."

"You were the cause of my frustration!"

"Because we were a little awkward in bed? Come on, that's not a crisis."

"It was the awkwardness and the fumbling about that made us go back to plain vanilla, same old, same old sex. I'm sick of it!"

"It's not really that though, is it? It's me, I'm the frustration. The bad sex is just an excuse."

"Shhhh, voices carry out here."

"I don't care. This needs be settled and it might as well get settled here and now. Stand up."

"Why?"

"Just stand up."

She stood.

He grabbed the lapels of her robe and pulled them apart then down off her shoulders and down her arms exposing her breasts.

He put his hand on her left breast and gripped it harder than he planned. She groaned. His other hand was untying her robe. His lips crushed hers as he kissed her, his tongue was deep in her mouth. The untied robe fell to the balcony floor.

Rachel was taken by surprise by Dennis's passion and his boldness in taking her this way. She thrilled to the feeling of his tight grip on her tit and now with the robe completely gone his hand was on her sex and she was wet with desire.

She felt Dennis turn her around and bend her over the balcony railing. She felt his cock at the entrance to her womanhood, his glans was brushing her inner lips and she felt the powerful thrust of his hard cock slide into her as deep as it could. She groaned out load again and again as he fucked her hard against the railing.

Dennis was a man possessed. He had never been this rough with Rachel. It was so unlike him but somehow it seemed appropriate. It was a combination of sexual frustration, anger and wanting to punish her for running to Barry. It ended with a mind altering climax and he ejaculated a good month's worth of cum into her.

A smattering of applause broke out from some adjoining balconies. They quickly went back inside their cabin. They realized what they had done was verboten and if they got reported they could be kicked off the cruise.

When they got inside she embraced Dennis and they kissed again.

"Holy shit Dennis, that was amazing!"

"I don't know what came over me."

"What ever it is it was fantastic! I haven't cum like that in ages."

"I'm glad I could please you for a change."

"Let me get cleaned up and we'll go to dinner."

Dennis couldn't help but notice the love bites on her shoulders. He knew he hadn't put them there and they weren't there that morning. They could only be Barry's.

After she cleaned up she returned to Dennis.

"Rachel, when did Barry give you those love bites?"

She looked down and saw the love bites on her shoulder and her breast. She didn't recall them. She felt a chill go through her. She had suffered from a stress disorder for years. It manifested itself with depersonalization, disassociation, and derealization. During some high stress moments she would actually lose her sense of reality. Sometimes even viewing the stressful moment as an out of body experience. She had received treatment but occasionally it reared its ugly head. This must have been one of those occasions.

"Dennis, I'm sorry. I don't remember. It could have been earlier today in his suite. I'm having those panic attack symptoms again."

"We are here to save our marriage not wreck it. Please don't forget that."

Dinner was fabulous as always. There was entertainment in the theatre tonight that they both wanted to see. Barry was sitting with another group. He wisely gave them some room tonight.

They danced after the theatre and walked the deck taking in the sultry Pacific air walking hand in hand.

Getting back to the cabin she removed her dress and put on her robe. She removed her makeup and walked to the balcony door. She dropped the robe and walked out to the balcony naked. He ditched his boxers and joined her embracing her from behind.

"Back up a step." She said.

He stepped back and she knelt on her rolled up robe. She took his cock into her mouth. She grabbed his ass cheeks and pulled him tight to her as she took all of him.

Dennis sighed Rachel's name and he felt her lips against his skin. This was not sex as usual, this was something that rarely happened. The sound of her sucking him and the soft groans coming from her throat made him even harder than before.

"Fuck, Rachel I'm going to cum."

"Not yet," she said as she eased up. "That was just an appetizer. We have all night."

There was not much sleeping in their cabin that night as they made love again and again. Each time one would wake up they would cuddle with the other and then the love making continued.

They spent the morning sleeping in. She rolled over and embraced him.

"Dennis, I want us to succeed. I love you and I need you. I think we should consider starting a family."

"I'd like nothing better but we have to sort out our issues first. Last night was an amazing night and a giant step forward."

They slept in for so long that they got up just in time for lunch. They were still one day away from reaching the islands. So a great time to swim, lounge around and enjoy the shipboard entertainment.

Barry dropped by the pool but didn't stay long. Dennis went to get drinks and saw him talking animatedly to Rachel. It looked like he was unhappy.

Rachel accepted her drink and Dennis said hello to Barry. He excused himself and left them there.

"What did Barry want?"

" Nothing, he was asking if we had plans on Maui. I said we were hoping to do some whale watching."

"Maui is the final port isn't it?"

"Yes, before Mexico and then LA."

"I think Barry wants us to see his new club."

"It's up to you Dennis. I don't need to see his club."

That night there was a band playing out on deck so they danced under the stars. They made love again but at a less frenetic pace than before. They slept all night because they were going to be hiking on the Big Island tomorrow.

It felt great to get off the ship and get their land legs back again. The gardens were thick and lush and the beaches unbelievably beautiful. It was straight from a dream, a tropical paradise.

They dined on fresh seafood and drank pineapple juice and rum. The island was all they expected and more.

Back on the ship, dinner was served. Barry and another woman joined them at their table.

"I'd like you to meet Julie Black."

Julie was a pretty woman, she looked younger than us, maybe five years younger. She was very shapely and outgoing.

Barry said they had met in the lounge the other night. The way he waggled his eyebrows seemed to imply that he had known her in the biblical sense.

Rachel kept looking at Barry questioningly. It was as if she needed to know why he had picked up this girl. Dennis could hardly miss the show of jealousy his wife was exhibiting right then. It made him uneasy.

Julie it turns out actually came from our home town, Pittsburgh. We had a great conversation about our town. Barry and Rachel disappeared. Julie said that they will likely be in the lounge.

They made their way to the lounge and saw Barry and Rachel on the dance floor.

Barry's hands were roaming all over her back, mostly around her ass.

Julie danced with Dennis.

"Hey, relax, you're stiff as a board and not in a good way."

"I just, I worry about Rachel and Barry."

"Smart man. I know when I'm being used and boy is he using me. He wants her bad."

"So you're a diversion?"

"So to speak. He just wanted me to keep you busy. Do you want to get busy with me, Dennis?"

"He is trying to steal my wife Julie. You are an attractive and tempting woman however saving my marriage is my focus, not you."

"He told me their history. I envy your wife. She has two hot men that want her above all else. It's romantic as hell!"

"Not in my eyes. Thanks for the dance but it's time to go and save my wife."

"Go get 'em tiger!"

He tapped Rachel's shoulder and told her they should go back to their cabin.

"We're having fun! I want to stay."

"This isn't a good idea, please

come with me."

"No, I'm staying."

"Fine I'll stay too."

Dennis danced and danced almost all night with Rachel. When she sat down to rest and take a drink Barry would be right there asking for a dance. Dennis would cut in a few times which frustrated both Barry and Rachel. In the end Dennis ran out of options. Barry and Rachel danced till closing. They left the dance floor with their arms around each others waists. Dennis stood up and extended his hand to Rachel.

"It's time to go."

"Dennis, I am going to Barry's suite for a bit. I'll see you later."

"Rachel I need to talk to you before you do that."

"Make it quick."

"You are a married woman and as such you shouldn't be going to a man's suite without your husband."

"We just want a little private time together."

"Don't do it, please. I'm warning you."

"Warning me about what? That my big, bad, wimp of a husband will take me away from Barry?"

"No, your so-called wimp of a husband is about to lose his cool and quit this marriage. We were making such great progress."

"You wouldn't do that. Not over this. Barry and I have done far more exotic things than we are planning to do tonight."

"Leave this lounge with him or me. If you choose him our marriage is over. I'll call my lawyer and you'll be served when you set foot in Maui. I'm not playing this stupid game with you or with Barry. If this is a pissing contest I refuse to play. If you leave with Barry you are nothing but a slut. If you leave with me you will still be my wife... choose wisely!"

Rachel felt like she had just come up from a deep dive and she knew that the bends were imminent. A moment ago she was humming inside to the thoughts of finally having some intimacy with her separated lover. Now she was faced with the agony of the possible dissolution of her marriage. Finding words was never a problem for her, until now.

"I can't... I can't... but..."

Barry's rich baritone voice broke up her moment of angst.

"Rachel, babe, it's alright. Go with him."

She continued to splutter and stutter, trying to express the inexpressible. Then she sat in silence. Dennis stood to her right and Barry to her left. She raised both hands and was pulled to her feet. She turned to Barry and kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry," she said. She turned and walked away holding Dennis's hand.

Back in their cabin Rachel curled up on the bed in the fetal position facing the wall. She shook as if she was cold. Dennis took the comforter and covered her.

He wanted to talk it out with her, but he recognized that in her current mental state it would not have resulted in anything productive. His instinct was to comfort her but his anger at her willingness to go to Barry tonight was completely at odds with his instinct. He choked down his anger as he began to rub her back. It seemed to help her shake less. Moments later she was sound asleep.

Still angry he wrote a quick note for her in case she woke up.

"I've gone for a walk. I couldn't sleep. I'll be back soon."

He walked as far as Barry's suite. He knocked gently on the door. A moment later Barry opened it.

"You? I was hoping it might be your wife."

"No, thanks to your meddling in our relationship she is nearly catatonic."

"Come in, we need to talk about this."

"Dennis was only slightly surprised to find Julie in his suite. She was fully dressed which was an even bigger surprise."

"Hi Dennis, she chose you!"

"I wish I was happier about it. Rachel is being tortured and Barry you seem to be enjoying it."

"I came on this cruise because I knew she would be on it. I came because I wanted to seduce her. I gave her up six years ago. It was the worst mistake I've ever made. I built my empire, now I want to claim my queen. Rachel is that queen. I knew you would be aboard but you were inconsequential. Now that I know you, I can see how much you mean to each other and my alpha male instinct has been suppressed. God damn it Dennis, I have always been in love with her!"

"Tonight she chose me."

"And tomorrow she may not, she may choose me."

"So you will just continue to torture her until she chooses you or she has a mental breakdown."

"I think she's strong enough to choose to break her status quo to be my queen without a mental breakdown. She just needs to see reason."

"So despite the friendly play acting you've been performing, you are confirming this is a pissing contest between us."

"Yes, and I've got the bigger cock and I'm loaded with piss, so beware."

"I don't know about full of piss but I do know that someone is full of shit!"

"Time to leave Dennis, this will be over soon."

Julie spoke up after a break in our conversation.

"I'll walk you back to your cabin."

As they started the walk she told him she wanted a longer conversation. They went to a common area to sit.

"I hate seeing you go through this. Barry gave Rachel up and it's not fair that he changes his mind and comes back to ruin things for you and Rachel."

"Fair or unfair, it doesn't matter. He's rich, she loves him, she never really got over him and I was her rebound lover. This is something I have to face. I don't have the ammunition that Barry has but I'm still going to put up a fight."

"I know, I just don't want to see you hurt."

"It may be too late for that, Julie. But I appreciate your support. How close are you and Barry?"

"He came on to me. I had just broken up with the man who was supposed to be on this cruise with me and well, Barry was attracted to me. He was moving pretty fast and wanted to get me into his suite. I turned him down but he gave me a kiss that curled my toes. I let him take a few liberties with me but I wouldn't have sex. When he realized that, he said he would like to use me to keep you occupied. He offered me a good sum of money."

"Out of curiosity, how much?"

"For what I did tonight, $25k."

"Fuck me!"

"No, if I got you into bed with evidence, I would have given me another $50k."

"I'm sorry I cost you so much."

"I felt dirty about it anyway. To be honest I was really attracted to you. I would have turned him down but the thoughts of being with you made my mind up for me."

"I'm flattered. I'd better get back. Rachel was sleeping when I left."

Rachel woke up alone. She read the note which calmed her a little but she still felt disoriented and disassociated. She stayed in the fetal position but rolled over.

Disassociation and derealization had been a problem for Rachel as early as her high school days. It was a part of a chronic panic disorder and it was always lurking in the background, ready to terrify her.

Rachel heard the door open and Dennis sat on the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I don't exist, like I'm watching myself in a movie."

Dennis recognized the signs of her disorder. He rubbed her back and tried to speak as calmly as he could.

"You were faced with a future deciding moment. I'm sorry I had to put you in that position but it was necessary."

"I've hurt you Dennis."

"You chose me tonight."

"I didn't want to. You forced me to make a change of plan. I wanted to go with Barry tonight."

"Why, what would have happened? What were you expecting?"

"Love, sex, I wanted him to reclaim me as his soul mate."

"You said I was your soul mate."

"You were, or rather you are, but Barry was first."

"Have I lost you Rachel?"

"I don't know. I don't think so. I still love you but I love Barry too."

"One of us is going to be very upset."

"That's what's driving me crazy. I can't stand the thought of hurting either of you."

"But you will hurt one of us. It's inevitable. Please make your choice soon. Pulling the bandage off quickly will hurt but it's better than slowly torturing us."

Rachel slept poorly, Dennis not at all. This was one of the many times that he was thankful that he had taken classes in meditation. He got comfortable on the dark balcony and began. He wrote down his insights for his own benefit and Rachel's. The subject of his meditation was the nature of love.

Dennis writes:

My first meditation takes me onto the biblical passage often read at weddings. It was read at our wedding.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

It leads me to examine my relationship with Rachel, is my love self seeking, am I easily angered, am I holding her wrongs against her?

My thoughts then turned to Shakespeare. "The course of true love never did run smooth. From Midsummer Night's Dream. That touched home too. If it is too easy then can it be true love. Certainly our path has not been easy of late.

From the sublime to pop culture. "Love means never having to say you're sorry." 'Nuf said, I didn't like the movie.

Then my mind turned to music, from "Love Hurts" to "Love Stinks!"

Both true and painful in heartbreak.

Finally my meditation turned to something I'd heard but couldn't remember where. "If you love something then set it free. If it returns to you then it is yours if it doesn't then it never was."

This was the most painful of all to meditate upon and it was the most powerful.

He finished writing as the sun rose on the Pacific. Out of the darkness Maui emerged, their final stop before leaving the islands.

Rachel woke as he closed the balcony door.

"You're still dressed, didn't you sleep?

"No, I have been meditating on love and our situation. I've written my thoughts as I recalled them. I need to talk to both you and Barry this morning."

"What are you going to do?"

"Speak the truth. It's the best I can offer."

After breakfast Dennis gathered Rachel and Barry together. Julie was with him.

"Last night we came to a measure of the truth. Rachel, you have two men who love you. One who wants you to be his queen and one who wants you to be true to yourself. Love is wanting whatever is best for the other. I want the best for you, Rachel."

She looked confused, what is Dennis thinking, this scared her.

"I warned you that I would seek an immediate divorce. I was angry then, and it was meant to make you realize the seriousness of your choice. I no longer hold that anger. If you choose to become Barry's queen then I'll accept your choice. We will divorce of course, not in anger but to set you free.

My final meditation was that love is about setting someone free. If they love you they will return, if they don't they were never really yours. That is what I'm doing today. Go, make your decision. I've been up all night so I'm going to rest.

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Barry and Rachel went to visit Barry's new club. It was a huge facility with medical suites and a gym and spa all in one.

They toured the facility and Barry spoke with the staff. They were all in awe of their president and CEO. It made Rachel proud to be at his side.

They accessed the executive suite and rested.

"You've really outdone yourself with this facility. It's magnificent. You must be so proud."

"I am, all this can be yours Rachel. Our empire together. I should never have let you go. I'm so much in love with you and now Dennis has set you free we can finally be together."

"Weren't you listening? He set me free to choose. My husband trusts me enough to let me choose, not to obey him but to do what my heart is directing me to do."

"Your heart is directing you to me, Rachel. We both know this was meant to be."

"We had something strong once, you let it go. You found something you loved more than me, building your empire. You never set me free though, you abandoned me. That is not the same."

I love what we had for those years, Barry. But it had an expiry date. Dennis picked me up when I was at my lowest. He made me believe in love again. I still love him."

"Rachel, he is planning to divorce you."

"He is giving me the freedom to choose either marriage or divorce."

"You mean choose him or me."

"Yes."

"Choose me, Rachel. We were always meant for each other."

Barry was always a smooth operator. He slid his arms around Rachel and kissed her. His intensity was such that she didn't resist because it was impossible. She found herself disassociating again, watching herself as if from above. She watched as Barry stripped her She watched him put his mouth to her pussy and watched as the woman below shook in an orgasm. As she watched, she felt nothing.

Then they were both naked and Barry positioned himself to fuck the woman on the sofa. Who was this woman? Rachel wondered. It looked a lot like her.

Suddenly she felt a snap and the disassociated sensation stopped. She rolled off the sofa and onto the floor before he could mount her.

"No Barry! Please just no."

"You were so ready Rachel, what's wrong? I won't hurt you."

"Said the spider to the fly."

"What?"

"You say you love me but you don't care about what I want. I'm a married woman. You don't seem to care that I love my husband. No he isn't perfect, yes things have gone stale but he loves me enough to give me the freedom to choose. I will always choose him."

"Alright, I get it. Get dressed. I'll order us some healthy drinks and we'll head back to the ship."

The drink was lovely and fruity, pineapple, mango and... and... she lost consciousness.

Barry checked his watch. 4:12 pm. The ship sailed at 6:00 pm. She'll be out until at least 8:00pm. By then it will be too late.

--------

Dennis woke at 4pm. Rachel was still off the ship with Barry. Julie joined him at dinner that night. The ship had left port and there was no sign of either of them. They went together to inquire and were told that they received a phone call from Barry stating that they would not be boarding.

Dennis turned to Julie.

"I guess she made her choice."

"Maybe she'll get in touch?" We are four days from docking in Ensenada, and another day to LA. There's no way of getting a message. She's sending me a message by not being here. She's chosen him, not me."

"What now? We have a few choices, how about we get shit-faced drunk?"

"Not much of a solution but as good as any the moment."

There was a quiet little bar on the highest deck, it was named the Victory, after Nelson's ship.

They sat and talked and drank, mostly drank. Occasionally some tears, a few laughs but mostly they sought oblivion by way of alcohol poisoning. They successfully achieved that goal and security ushered them to his cabin where they collapsed on the bed and slept.

--------

Rachel awoke suddenly. She sat up quickly and wished she hadn't. The headache was pure agony. She was naked beneath the covers on the bed and in a strange room. Then she heard Barry's voice.

"Sleeping beauty is awake."

"What happened, where am I?"

"You are in the executive suite at my club in Maui. You're naked because we were enjoying each other till you had a change of heart. We had a refreshing drink together and then..."

"You fucking drugged me?"

"Yes, you weren't in your right mind. You needed to stop, calm down and rethink things. I just made that possible."

"Let's go back to the ship it must be getting late."

"Way too late, to coin a phrase, 'that ship has sailed'. About two hours ago."

"We've missed the ship? What the hell? Where's my phone?"

"Don't worry. We can stay here. I have your phone and it's safe.

"But I have to tell Dennis."

"Dennis is a big boy, he can figure it out. Besides, I let the ship know we wouldn't be boarding. No doubt he'll ask them."

"Damn it, he'll think I've left him."

"Yes he will. Unless he paid top dollar for satellite phone service, and even if he did, he won't be able to contact you, or you him. I have your phone. This will give you more time to see the advantages of staying here with me."

"So what's the difference between this and a kidnapping?"

"Legally, probably not much, but if you have enough sway and money you can buy justice. Come on Rachel, wake up and smell the coffee. I love you and we're going to have a great life together. I am a man who is used to getting what he wants. "

Rachel didn't say anything. The man was clearly delusional. He kidnapped her. Her intuition was telling her she was in danger so she had to be careful.

--------

Dennis had talked to a half dozen ship's officers before finally speaking to the captain.

He explained the situation but he was told in no uncertain terms that he would have to wait till Ensenada. He offered to place a call to Rachel but the phone was offline.

Julie finally calmed Dennis down. She swore he was crazy enough to dive off the ship and swim back to Maui.

Julie suggested they use Barry's abandoned suite. It was paid for and luxurious.

"We might as well enjoy the next few days. We can order room service and it will be on his dime!"

"Great idea."

The hardest part for Dennis was accepting the fact that Rachel had chosen Barry over him. It was harsh reality. He was alone. Well, not exactly 'alone' because Julie was there with him.

He came out of the bathroom and caught Julie crying on the sofa. She hid her tears when she saw him.

"Don't hide them, you must have cared for Barry very much."

"Barry? That son of a bitch? I was supposed to be here with my boyfriend. Barry picks me up on the rebound. The next thing you know he's offering me fifty grand to fuck you and give him evidence. I agreed! You know what that makes me? A whore!"

"You are a woman who has been dealt a terrible blow. Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money. I'd like to think that maybe I was worth that much."

"I thought you were handsome and kind. Sleeping with you would have been fun and $50k would pay a lot of debts."

"Did you collect on your $25k?"

"Yes."

"No shame, you did what you had to do. Which bedroom do you want?"

"We could stay together in the master bedroom."

"That's a tempting offer but I'm still in mourning."

"If I was her I'd have taken you over Barry any day of the week. Your speech about giving her freedom, wow, that was inspiring stuff."

Realizing that he was unable to do anything positive about the situation until they made port made him feel resigned to his fate.

"Maybe I'll survive and come out the other end of this. On the other hand I could slip over the side of the ship and never be heard from again. He wasn't sure which sounded better."

Julie was trying her best to be cheerful. She would suggest various activities but there were few that he had a mind to do. They did a trivia contest together and he won. The prize was some little useless trinket that would be lost within a week. He gave it to Julie in lieu of the extra $25k she would have made had she bedded him. She laughed at that.

--------

Rachel wasn't a prisoner but she realized she had no way of communicating with Dennis. She thought about screaming for help when they were around other people but Barry had pull, important contacts and he kept her close, worried she would run. He figured he had a week to convince her to stay before he would give her the phone back.

Barry believed in himself. He couldn't imagine why Rachel or any woman wouldn't line up to be with a man like him. Her reluctance to be with him made no sense. Why would she choose the accountant that she admitted was boring in bed over him, a very rich, handsome successful man?

Rachel saw Barry's narcissism in full bloom. In school it was there in his personality, but she was too young to see it. Now it was plainly evident. She was also afraid. If he was bold enough to drug her and kidnap her then what else was he capable of doing?

She was sleeping in her own room but he kept pushing for them to sleep together. She had found a wooden door stop and put it in her room so she could make sure he stayed out.

She prayed that Dennis would try to find her. Prayed he would somehow know that she loved him.

Barry was certain that she would find the lure of sleeping with him irresistible, she would soon forget the accountant she married. He also thought that Julie had shown enough interest in Dennis that she could be counted on to woo him. To ensure that he had proof he sent a text to Julie on the burner phone he had given her.

"The $50k is still in play. Photographic evidence for payout."

Julie responded.

"Ok"

--------

"Dennis, can I come in?"

Julie knocked on his bedroom door again.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I need to confess."

"I'm not a priest."

"I'm serious, Barry gave me a burner phone. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. He just messaged me."

She showed him the text.

"What do you make of it, Dennis? Why would he still need proof?"

Dennis smiled.

"Because he needs to convince her that I've moved on without her. It will help him to get her to commit to him and forget me. This is actually good news. It means she hasn't chosen him. She hasn't decided.

Why are you showing me these texts? You could be seducing me and making the extra fee."

"If I did that then I'd be the whore I feared I was becoming."

"You are a special woman Julie. Wait a minute, is there a way we could fake a seduction photo that would fool Barry but alert Rachel that we are on to him? It would give her a sign that the photo was fake."

"I'm willing to do anything to help but how would you let her know?"

"I have an idea. Do you know the hand sign for bullshit?"

"I think so, you hold the middle two fingers down with your thumb. It looks like bull horns. I have also seen it used as a mocking cuckold sign, or you see some rock music fans using it to represent devil horns"

"Exactly, I sometimes make that sign when I call something out as bullshit. Rachel has seen me use it many times. I'm guessing that Barry would see it as me taunting Rachel for choosing him over me. Or taunting her by showing that I was cucking her. It's pretty thin but I think if we time it right it could get you a payday and maybe alert Rachel we know something."

"It's chancy but if you are willing to try it I'm game."

The two set about their task. In the master bedroom they both stripped down. It was done matter of factly, no seductive actions or play. She set up the camera on her phone. The camera on the burner phone was crap but that didn't matter, they weren't going for quality.

She set the timer for 10 seconds, lay back on the bed and told him to get on top of her and make the hand sign. Click.

"Switch position, I'll be on top. 10 seconds. Go." Click.

"I'll get on my back, you lay on your side and make the sign facing the camera. 10 seconds." Click.

"Let's have a look at them."

Dennis was less than happy seeing the photos. They looked fake, too posed. Then again, he looked at the one where she was on top and it stirred him. Julie looked so sexy and happy.

Julie giggled, "I think we have a winner, at least your erection votes for this one."

Dennis blushed and covered himself.

"Sorry, it was just such a great pose and you looked so happy."

"I was happy and it looks like you're happy too. You know we could go for more realism. I'm certainly up for it."

"Julie, I am married."

"She is hundreds of miles across the water and shacked up with her old boyfriend. I'd say that gives you a lot of latitude. Besides that I am unbearably horny right now. You liked that pose so lay back and let me do the driving."

Dennis lay back, she set the camera for the maximum amount of time before taking the photo. She settled in on top of him and she guided his cock inside her.

"You feel so big inside me."

She began by rocking her hips forward and back. She was extremely well lubricated and she was taking him in as far as possible. Once a good steady pace was set she picked up her pace.

"Oh, fuck Julie, that's..."

He never got the rest out because she kissed him. Click.

She pulled off him and she began to suck his cock. She was cleaning her own juices off of him and Dennis groaned.

"Julie, I'm going to cum!"

She stopped sucking and remounted him and fucked him hard and fast. He came inside her with a shout. So did Julie, right with him.

--------

Rachel had a shower and prepared herself for bed. She took the door stop and wedged it under the door feeling safe she climbed into bed and fell asleep.

She woke up to feel someone cupping her breast and spooning her from behind. Her nightgown had shifted up around her waist.

How had he gotten in? She noticed a bit of light coming from the slightly open bathroom door. there must be a back way in. Then she remember the full length mirror, it could have been a door. She let on she was still asleep. He was fingering her nipple, making it hard. She had to concentrate to stifle a moan that was building. She could feel his hand leave her breast and she felt it on her backside. Then she could feel the hot and hard flesh of his blood engorged cock rub between her legs. If she didn't lift her one leg he wouldn't get any farther than her ass. She didn't want anal but she didn't want to give him her pussy.

His cock had definitely been lubricated. She was frightened but she knew this was inevitable. He pushed himself against her and entered her ass, just an inch. She screamed!

"Don't fight me Rachel. Give yourself to me, don't make me beg. Give me your cunt, just like you used to back in university. Let me fuck you, but this time there's no condom to protect you. You're mine now, give me your cunt."

"Take my ass then if you need this so bad."

"I don't want your ass, I want that baby making machine. I want you to give birth to my son or daughter. I want to impregnate you, to make you queen of my empire."

The baby talk was having an effect on her. She was getting wet. There was something about the passionate way he spoke about making a baby that warmed something inside her. Yet she feared he would get her pregnant. She lifted her leg slightly to open herself up to him and he impaled her on his cock. It had been six years since she had felt his cock inside her but it had never felt this good, this big, this needy.

She pushed her hips back to increase the pressure of his thrusts and then he came inside her. It felt like he wouldn't stop but he did. The cum leaked out of her onto the bedsheets. She thought about the sperm he released and how they would be search for her egg to fertilize. Then she remembered Dennis and their talk about starting a family later this year. It made her cry uncontrollably.

Barry got up and walked out of the room without a word. Rachel felt lost.

--------

Julie sent off two photos to Barry. One with the bullshit hand signal and the other the real life version.

Barry messaged back.

"Excellent work, check your bank account."

Barry came into Rachel's room via the bathroom and tossed printouts of the photos on the bed for her to see.

"Your 'loyal' husband seems to have moved on pretty quickly."

She looked at the photos. One looked candid, the other looked posed. The candid one made her shudder, the posed one seemed strange. Why the strange look on his face and the hand signal? There was something about it but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Rachel, if he has moved on then so can you."

"You told me to give you a week. That week is up in two days. Can I walk out then, fly back home?"

You can but you won't want to. I want to make sure that you're carrying my child.

"But you said I could leave after a week, or was that just bullshit?"

That was it, she had seen Dennis make that sign before. It was the bullshit sign. Was that a message to her? Did it mean that he knew the story of her choosing Barry was bullshit? Did he know she didn't stay behind willingly? That was her only hope and she clung to it like a life raft in a stormy sea.

--------

Dennis used Julie's burner phone to book air passage to Maui the same day they docked in Ensenada. He cleared it all with the ship's staff. He was allowed early departure.

He said his goodbyes to Julie and thanked her for all she had done to help him. She thanked him for helping her understand herself better, and helping her get past her break up and for helping her get the money from. Barry. She said she would look Dennis up when he got home.

The flight was quick and soon he landed back in Hawaii. He assumed that Barry's new club would be the best place to find her. Of course they would have security on hand but he didn't plan anything dramatic to happen. He knew a confrontation there would be a horrible idea. He had plans to get even but they would have to wait.

The club was all glitz and glamour. A place for the elite to work out, have spa treatments and even get face lifts. Barry had a golden empire, it would be a shame if something happened to it.

The top floor was obviously a suite. That's probably where they'd keep her. He walked in and got a tour of the place. He kept his eyes on the elevator. Just in case he spotted Barry or Rachel.

The tour wrapped up and the sales pitch began. It was a very hard sell. They made you feel like a loser if you didn't sign up to improve yourself.

The elevator door opened and Barry stepped out, Rachel followed him. He walked directly into her line of sight, Barry had turned away. Dennis waved quickly which drew her attention. He walked by her and handed her a burner phone that she slipped into her pocket.

She beamed a smile at him but her eyes pleaded for help. He nodded and walked away.

When she was alone she checked the phone and found a message.

"I'll call around eight. Try to be alone. We need to talk. Love you."

That night Dennis called around 8pm. It would be after dinner and he hoped she would be alone. The phone was set to vibrate.

"Hello," she answered quietly.

"It's me. I need to know, did you choose him? If so I've made a big mistake or are you here under duress?"

"He knocked me out with drugs and the ship had sailed."

"Is he willing to let you go?"

"He said in a week, that's tomorrow. He's made no plans so I don't know for sure. He won't let go easily.

"Can you get away from him, so I can get you out of there?"

"He's anal about security and he doesn't give me a long leash."

"We may have to be patient. I may have to join this club to have access."

"That's crazy expensive. How will you pay for it?"

"With a little help from a friend who has come into a recent windfall."

No matter what happens, I love you Dennis."

"With all my heart. I love you too. We'll get you out of there."

The call ended just as Barry came into her bedroom through the bathroom door.

"Another successful day. This location is fantastic. I've never seen a club so busy and I love Hawaii. I think I'm going to make this our headquarters."

He peeled off his suit jacket, untied his tie and unbuttoned his shirt.

"You are looking very sexy tonight."

"Tomorrow is freedom day, what time do I get to leave?"

"Sweetheart, you are carrying my child, you can't leave now. We have a life together, an empire to run and a family to raise."

"My husband is waiting for me to return."

"Didn't you see the photos I showed you last night? You know, the ones that showed your loving husband, balls deep in a woman just days after we left? He has left you honey, you're mine."

"You promised."

"That was then, this is now. Circumstances change and that option isn't available anymore.

Take off that nightgown and let's make love, I want to be absolutely sure that I put a baby in that belly of yours."

He took her roughly that first time that night. He wasn't being gentle, there was no love behind it. It was rutting to produce an heir to his empire, pure and simple. Her pleasure or even comfort was not a factor. He bred her three times that night. She had suffered a panic attack and disassociated again. She watched herself getting fucked. The woman she watched physically climaxed but she felt nothing. She was left raw and mentally wounded, crying herself to sleep.

Dawn brought the sun and what she hoped would be a new day, some way to find freedom. Just knowing that Dennis was here in the city was a comfort to her. She knew he would find a way.

--------

Dennis had thought it over. He had enough money to stay longer but he wanted this over asap. He needed to create a diversion but so many things had to line up. Both Rachel and Barry had to be on the main floor. Dennis needed a diversion. That was tricky, you can't just walk up to a store and ask for a smoke bomb but you can still buy the components to make make one. Powder you can get from fireworks. The chemicals and smoke producing compounds can be easily purchased. Using a cheap remote control receiver, the device could be set off from a remote in his pocket. The smoke bomb itself was in an innocent looking plain cardboard box and set against other boxes on the far side of the floor, well away from the entrance.

He needed both Barry and Rachel on that main floor so he waited. He worked out in order to fit in, being careful not to exhaust himself. Barry came out of the elevator and Rachel followed.

Dennis triggered the remote control which started the smoke bomb. The smoke was a deep and dense heavy grey. Soon shouts of panic rose. Barry raced to see what the problem was.

Rachel felt a hand on her arm and then she was propelled towards the door of the club. Dennis had a firm grip of her arm. They got out of the club with all the others who were panicking.

"Quick, we have no time to talk. We need to get as far away from here as possible."

They made it to a boat charter dock and he quickly arranged transport to the big island and then booked flights to Vancouver. Dennis was still a Canadian citizen. Since their lives had been in the eastern U. S. he hoped Barry would overlook Vancouver, that would give them time to make other decisions.

The flight to Vancouver was long but it gave the two a chance to catch up and make a few plans.

"Dennis, I may be pregnant."

"That's wonderful but weren't you on the pill?"

"I stopped taking them a month ago. The baby might not be yours. The last couple of nights he slept with me. I didn't want him to. He told me he wanted an heir. I had hoped you were coming for me. I was afraid. He isn't right in the head, Dennis.

"Were you ovulating?"

"I was ovulating on the ship. You and I made love then. But I was probably still fertile when Barry had me."

"That's something to worry about later. First and foremost I want to tell you that I love you. I know our lives have become dull and routine but if the excitement of the last few days is any indication, I would welcome dull and routine!"

"I guess I would too. I never realized how much I take you for granted, Dennis. You are always there for me. I can't thank you enough for coming back for me."

"You'll have to thank Julie too when we get back."

"Wasn't she the one... in the photos?

"Yes, and it's her money helping us right now. Money she earned from Barry. Forgive me for what happened in the photos but she needed to prove my infidelity to you. Barry paid her to set those up. We used them give you a clue that we were on to his plans for you. Julie agreed that I could use that money to get you back. "

"Dennis, Barry's empire is real. It is massive. He had politicians, judges and law enforcement all under his influence. I think the clubs are more than they seem. There is a dark side to the business that I was only able to see small hints of. With his influence I fear he's almost untouchable."

Their first priority was safety.

"He will likely be looking for us so we need to be smart."

They headed north and east into Alberta. Staying in small towns and moved every week. There were signs that Barry had people looking for them but a couple of months in there were fewer signs.

When ever Dennis had the opportunity he researched everything he could about Barry's Empire. Barry's funding, seemed to be coming from questionable sources, some of those sources were anything but clean.

Barry had made a tragic mistake. He assumed that Dennis was an everyday accountant, a guy that you hired to do your taxes. He failed to understand that Dennis was a forensic accountant. He was very familiar with how money is laundered and how human trafficking worked. Barry always had a supply of young women working for him in his health clubs. It was highly suspicious. Dennis would love to go after Barry personally but something like this was way above his pay grade. He needed to take this to someone with expertise.

Dennis felt a need to contact Julia but he feared that Barry was watching her and that Barry would use any contact to track them down.

The best way to get her attention was in person but it was a risk. Although Barry had no reason to be on high alert.

Julie worked in a retail shoe store in a shopping mall. It was perfect location to meet.

When she saw him enter the store she smiled so wide it warmed his heart.

"Hello Julie."

"Did everything work out okay? Is Rachel back?"

"Yeah but we're on the run. Barry's looking for us. Rachel is pregnant and it could be Barry's spawn."

"Shit, there's a lot of that going around lately."

"What do you mean?"

"It must have been something in the water because I'm pregnant too."

Dennis felt his world slide sideways. He sat down on a chair.

"I'm sorry." Dennis said quietly.

"It's okay. You guys are together again and safe."

"I will repay you all that I used of your money and more, I promise. Barry is even sketchier than we thought. It is most likely going to be a criminal case and it is serious. Stay as low profile as you can."

He gave her the number to reach him and he left with a new pair of Rockport walking shoes.

Dennis gathered all the evidence that he had dug up and he contacted a man in the FBI that he had worked with before. He gave him the lowdown and the files he'd saved on a usb drive.

The FBI man looked at the overview and whistled.

"This could be big. Do you need protection?"

"I'd appreciate it, for me, my wife and a woman who worked with me."

"Done, we'll get you into a safe house."

The evidence Dennis provided was more than enough to begin an intense investigation. This was the kind of case that made careers. After the investigation Barry was arrested and charged with a dozen charges related to money laundering and human trafficking. His allies were abandoning him like he was toxic and the high and mighty that used his services wanted him silenced before he outed them.

Rachel and Dennis were never mentioned and the threat Barry posed to us was neutralized.

Rachel and Julie bonded while we lived in the safe house. At first there was a lot of tension between them given that they might have been impregnated by the same man, Rachel's husband Dennis. They became like sisters.

The three of them returned to their home town and resumed their lives except Julie moved in with Rachel and Dennis.

They did a DNA test and Dennis proved to be the father of both their children. The two women embraced each other and wept, Dennis blamed it on the raging pregnancy hormones.

It presented a very strange relationship that Dennis wanted to resolve. Julie feared that she would never find a mate because few men wanted to take on a relationship with a woman with a child.

"Julie, I'd like you to meet Dave, a friend of mine from work."

Dave took one look at Julie, standing with her hands on her very swollen, pregnant belly and he smiled.

"My God Dennis, you were right, she's beautiful!"

"Nice to meet you too, Dave." Julie said with a smile.

Dennis hoped that they would give their relationship a damn good try. They had both been heartbroken in the past and they both knew they wanted something that would last.

Dave knew the story and he knew that she was about to give birth to Dennis's child. If anything Dave seemed happy.

Loose ends were wrapped up. Julie and Dave were in love and she paid off her debts with the $75k. Julie named her son Samuel Dennis. Rachel delivered a girl, Amy Juliet.

Rachel never complained about her life being boring and Dennis never disappointed her in bed.

Julie became a full time Mom and was soon pregnant with Dave's child.

Dennis and Dave opened their own forensic accounting firm and they both prospered.

Barry pled guilty to several reduced charges but he still had many more years in prison and his empire stood in ruins. He had a lot of information about powerful people who stood to lose a lot if Barry talked. How long he would survive in prison was anyone's guess.

-30-