"Why? You just bought it last month!"
"Trust me. I'll explain when you get here. Can you come now?"
"Yeah! I'll get dressed and be right over."
"Bring your camera, too. Would you?"
" Yeah. Thanks."
I called another friend and offered him my books and desk. He wanted to know what was up and I promised to tell him when he arrived. I asked him to bring his camera too. Next I called our landlord. I wanted to know how our lease was worded. He let me know that it was worded "Susan or Nick" which meant that written notice by either left the lease in the name of the other. I said he would get the letter today.
"It can take effect the day I get it." He said.
At our desk I wrote the letter and took it to the mailbox. Next, I took six bags of stuff I didn't want anymore to the dumpsters before my friends arrived. I took them into the bedroom and reminded them that I had been gone for a week and a half. No further explanation was needed for why I was leaving. They both took pictures and since one was a police officer he made a couple calls and a tech came by, took official photos and took DNA samples from the bed and two of the condoms.
My friends wanted to know where I was going. I told them I had wanted to go to the Pacific Northwest for a long time but hadn't exactly picked where yet. I promised to keep in touch. I also promised to keep my email address for at least a month or two.
It was approaching eleven o'clock. I knew that Sue went to lunch at twelve every day, usually to the deli at the corner near her office. I called the number that I had received for Dale Jacobson. A woman answered.
"Is this the home of Dale Jacobson?"
"Yes, but he isn't here right now. I'm his fiancé. Can I help you?"
"Yes. Yes you can. This name and number were entered in a contest and the winner is the person who answers when we call. That would be you."
"Winner? What did I win?"
"First you have to answer one question. What radio station do you listen to?"
"KZLA!"
"Now, I can tell you that you just won $500!"
"$500! That's great!"
"Three other people have also been notified that they won. I will give you an address and you must arrive at that address to collect your money. The person who arrives closest to the specific time will get an extra $500. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Not early and not late. Give me the time and address."
I gave her the address for Sue's office and the time of 12:15. That gave her exactly one hour to get there from Glendale.
"I caution you not to tell Mr. Jacobson about winning until after you collect. If he were to show up he would be the one to get the money."
"No problem." The line went dead.
I called the florist across the street from Sue's office. I had used him a few times before.
"Can you make a large bouquet of different colored roses and deliver them to an office across the street at a little after twelve?"
"How many roses do you want?"
"Three dozen."
"Certainly Sir. I can do that."
"It is important that it be delivered after twelve, right after I call you. It will be between twelve and twelve fifteen."
"I can do that. Is there to be card?"
"Yes. No envelope. I want the message visible and printed if that's possible."
"I have an HP printer that does my message cards. What do you want it to say?"
"Sue, Thank you! Thank you! Finding out now that you slept around with Dale Jacobson and others saved me from marrying a slut. You can keep everything in our apartment including the used condoms in the bedroom trash. Sign it Nick"
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
"OK. The charge will be one hundred forty six and twenty eight cents. Will that be VISA?"
"Yes." I gave him the number.
I called Sue's office. Marge answered and I spoke softly. She didn't recognize my voice and so didn't say my name. When I told her I wanted to talk with her and not to Sue she knew something was up. She agreed not to say my name. We had talked a few times and had met twice in the past. She was good looking and really nice to me on the phone whenever I had called. I had the feeling she was interested in me but since I was with Sue I had not done anything with that knowledge.