I Started Out as an Analyst Pt. 06

I started out as an analyst VI

Copyright © Catcher78, all rights reserved.

Author's notes: This is a work of fiction. There is no underage sex. Any resemblance to people alive or dead is purely coincidental. Like all of my stories, there is no use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the writing of this story.

Part one was here:

Part two was here:

Part three was here:

Part four here:

Part five here:

December 2025

I went in for a regular checkup because my right knee was killing me, to see if I should get a replacement knee or maybe just get it cleaned out. My doctor, Dr. Pearson, is very thorough and said she wanted to do an MRI to see something when she was listening to me breathe, and well, they could fit me in right away, down the hall to the Springfield Hospital where her offices were attached. When she said that, I said, "What's going on?"

She said, "It's probably nothing. Have you had pneumonia?"

I shook my head no.

I was in the MRI and out within an hour. Her administrative assistant came in and had a bunch of forms for me to sign. I asked, "What the fuck is going on?"

Doctor Pearson and an oncologist/surgeon said, "In your lower left lung, you have what is called a mature cystic teratoma. It used to be thought of as an unborn fetus; it's a mass that has hair and teeth and bone fragments, but the sooner we get it out of you, the sooner we can confirm that, so please sign the papers, call Bill, you will spend the night just to be careful, okay?"

I blurted, "Did you see my knee?"

She said, "You have some loose cartilage material, and you have a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Call Bill."

I did. He got there just before I was to go into surgery. They would use arthroscopic surgery, so I would not be scarred up. I said, "I'm scared, please pray for me."

Eleni burst through the door, came to me, laid her forehead against mine, and put her hand over my heart, and I calmed down, and she said, "Not your time Mama; lots and lots of grandkids coming soon."

I could hear beeps and movements, and I was nauseous and cold. I tried to breathe slowly so I would not throw up; I could move my hands, and I said, "Blebsx!"

I meant to say 'help.'

Then a lot more beeps.

"I'm here, Mama, you're okay."

Eleni.

"I'm here too Mom."

Chris.

There was a tube in my throat that came out, and soon Dr. Pearson was there with a tall black doctor named Dr. Edwards.

She said, "The surgery for the teratoma was successful, but your heart stopped for no apparent reason, and I'll let Dr. Edwards talk about that."

"Mrs. Moss, this happened a week ago, and you went into a coma. We detected healthy brain activity all along, and your heart is structurally fine. You seemed to be waking up last night, but it did not happen until this morning. We want to get you eating and starting to walk about for the next few days, and IF everything is good here in three or four days, we'll release you to your home."

"How do I go to the bathroom?"

"You have a catheter in you."

"I have to take a dump, it's killing me."

"Guys, wait outside please... How soon until you get this out of me?"

There were three nurses there; I was helped to the bathroom, did my business, was back in bed, and everyone was there. Bill looked like he'd aged ten years. I patted the bed, and he was there, and I said, "I'm okay, buddy," and clutched his hand.

Chris and Eleni brought me home three days later. Bill's sister, Sarah, and Teri were there, flowers from here to there. Being home with family was the best medicine.

Teri was beside herself, crying, and said she had not been home enough, and I said, "Please, can you come and stay home for a bit? I've missed you so much, I pray for you constantly."

"Yes Mama, I'd love that."

I said, "We could be sisters, age-wise, you know?"

She said, "I never thought of it like that. You raised me, taught me how to be a woman, a nice but strong woman; you don't know how that has stood me well."

"Well, you've done well for yourself, head track coach, and Santa Clara, and now the athletic director at Cal Poly Humboldt, three kids."

"I'm so fucking lonely; Kelly and Christy are trying fuck anyone that moves, and Billy is too quiet. Jeff is having an affair; this is the third one. Kelly and Christy caught them on a Saturday, while I was at a meet."

"His secretary?"

"No, my best friend. They're living together now; her husband is divorcing her."

"Quit your job; the boys will go down, pack your shit up, and come back here. You can take over running the business; I can mentor you, plus your nieces, nephew, brothers, and sisters can help you, all three of them. We can get you the best lawyer."

"What about Church?"

"How many affairs has he had, and have you documented them?"

"Not counting hookups, other than Ashley Madison, four long-term ones, I think two kids as well; the Ashley Madison shit goes back fifteen years, and I have that documented. Hundreds of women. I quit sleeping with him ten years ago, after the last chlamydia event. But yeah, I have all of that."

"Well, given a marital pattern of not intending to be faithful and demonstrable, annulments are possible."

"Seriously?"

"Yep, all we need is a friendly bishop and a family that never misses church and donates to lots and lots of causes. I think it's very likely.

"There are still great people here, Teri, and I cannot do this anymore. I just want to be a grandmother and take care of your dad; his body is wracked by arthritis, and we've done a good job with our kids, honey, you can lead them and sustain this for many years."

"Do you have Chris's number? He's here somewhere with Eleni; call him and have them come here, we can start on the plan to get you moved home."

Teri said, "Did you just make this up on the fly?"

"No, I've felt this is where you belong. You're the smartest one, been in battle, through shit. Oh yes, we knew some of this, but circumstances have changed, and we have better lawyers than him; there is no time to waste."

Bill, Teri, Billy, Bella, Ophelia, Eleni, Phil, and Chris, all headed south in two Isuzu F-Series gas-powered twenty-four-foot cabover trucks to Teri's place in Arcata, with Chris and Eleni driving my Suburban. The side of the trucks said 'Moss Forest-Products, Springfield, Oregon', a five-hour journey one way. The home was owned by the University, so there would be no issue of Jeff doing anything.

I called Mom in Seattle. She was still involved with the church there, and begged her to come down and help me transition one, and then started to lay the groundwork for the annulment. There are quite a few canon lawyers in Seattle associated with the Jesuits that ran Seattle University, and she still knew folks and friends from Daddy's work with the company. Daddy's been gone about ten years, and she has a close friend here, and I wanted them to see each other. I wanted to pull out all the stops to make Jeff go quietly, and get a sizeable nest egg for Teri. She was quiet, then said, "Eleni has been worried about you and kept me posted."

I interrupted, "I just got home from the hospital today; I need you desperately. I'm begging you, I cannot do this anymore, and I cannot leave everyone in the lurch."

"There's nothing other than what you know, or I know. I'm just not feeling myself; I'm so tired, I want to be a grandmother and let go of controlling, but Teri's the key to making this work, and holding everyone together. Daddy used to know those canon lawyers. Are you in touch with either of them?"

She said, "Yes, I am. I will bring him with me."

I laughed and said, "Alrighty then, you're staying with us; we have plenty of room."

I called one of the ladies who works in our artisanal cheese company to see if she could come up and give me a ride to my doctor's appointment, plus I wanted her help to make a bunch of food for when everyone got home.

At the doctor's appointment, I brought up the idea of lessening my involvement with our business, and how before this, I felt tired and that I had gone initially to see about walking regularly, but my knee hurt so bad, and I still wanted to do that, but did not feel comfortable getting surgery, given what had just happened. Dr. Pearson said, "There was a company in Portland that made these elastic or rubber sleeves that reduce the pain and keep your knee stable. Yoga might help too; you're very inflexible given the surgery when you were a young woman. The hospital is covered by them, and maybe next Monday their rep can fit you out on several of their options. We also have lots of therapeutic yoga people that we can give you referrals to."

"Okay, Dr. Pearson, can we talk, just you and me for a couple of minutes, please? It's important. Carlita, please wait, it shan't be long."

She looked at me with a question across her face, and I said, "I went through menopause almost two years ago. It's been three years since Bill and I had sex. Can you give me something? I don't feel anything, that is, desire or anything. I'm afraid I'm losing him. He has never said anything, but I think he feels I've rejected him."

She said, "Look, let me look at your blood work just now."

She was tapping away and then said, "You're still at Stenson pharmacy?"

"Yes."

"There will be two prescriptions for you: ninety days of both estrogen pills as well as testosterone pills that together should get you going. You need to lose twenty-five pounds, and there is a lovely plastic surgeon in Eugene that does a lovely mommy redux, tightens things up; people will say you don't look a day over thirty-nine, Teddie. In fact, I will send you an appointment referral, and it's in your email."

"Do you know something, Janey?" My core froze instantly?

She said, "Oh no, not Bill, but it would be nice to relight that fire in his belly, would it not sweetie? Worked for me."

End part VI

Coming soon, a Teddy Version 2.0, and Bill go on a vacation.