The next day went by quickly, as most of the time was spent with me carrying our clothes and other personal affects from our old house to Casey's. I didn't get a chance to play at all before it was time to get ready for our dinner date with Christy. Casey had told her that Barbara and Erin would be joining us, which Christy didn't exactly like, but accepted.
By six thirty, we were all showered and dressed. We climbed into the new van and drove to a rather upscale restaurant in the ritzier part of town. I wondered how Christy could afford the place on her salary.
The evening started off a little awkwardly, and Christy never seemed to click to the idea that all three women at the table were with me. She found out that they were all 'taken', but not by whom.
Christy did indeed flirt with me, but I could tell she was only doing it to see my reaction. I flirted back in the same way, which only confused her. I really wasn't attracted to her, but she did seem to be a nice person.
By the end of the night, we said our goodbyes and headed home. One of the things that we did accomplish today had been to move Casey's Dodge Viper over to our old garage and park it beside Herb's car. The station wagon got parked at the curb. Barbara said she was going to put an ad in the paper to sell the old car on Monday, but Casey convinced her to place the ad for Sunday's paper since it reached more people. So when we left for the mall to see Bill, we took a side trip to the newspaper office.
Bill was happy to see us, and grinned when I opened the case carrying Goddess. We played for almost an hour, with short breaks so he could help customers. When it was time to leave, he took me in the back of the store and showed me the small dolly for the amp. It had little holes for the existing castors, and wheels like those on a furniture dolly.
When we walked back out to the front, Casey was grinning like a schoolgirl, and Barbara looked like she was going to faint. So, while I packed up Goddess, Casey led him over to the electric pianos.
While Casey was making Bill's day again, I led Erin over to the acoustic guitars. "Gently touch each of them, and listen really hard with your heart. You'll know if your guitar is here."
"You're really loving this whole 'Master Yoda' thing aren't you?" she said.
I chuckled, "Trust me, young jedi. To you, it will speak. Know this, I do."
She laughed as her hand came into contact with one of the Ibanez acoustics, and she jumped. "I ... I think this one."
I gently lifted the guitar from the rack, and held it out to her. She took it in her hands and they immediately moved to the correct position to hold it. She sat down and rested it in her lap. Gently she drew her hands across the strings. Her face lit up at the rich, mellow sound. "I think this is her, it just feels right to hold her."
Bill, Casey and Barbara came over with Bill smiling broadly, Casey looking smug, and Barbara looking a bit nervous. I looked up at the trio; "I think Erin has been adopted. Casey, the Ibanez needs to come home with us."
Casey chuckled gleefully. "Okay. Bill?"
He just shook his head and got a case for Erin's new guitar. "At this rate, you'll have your own band. What's next, a drum set for you?" He nodded at Casey.
"It might be fun, but I have no idea how to use them," Casey replied.
Bill grinned; "Hey Scott! Demo series please."
The young man grinned, and pulled a pair of wooden drumsticks out from behind the counter. He sat down behind an impressive array of pearl white drums. The next few minutes where filled with an impressive display of rhythm by the young man. He was far from a professional, but he was very good. I was tempted to pull Goddess back out of her case, but there would be more time to play later.
Bill said I might as well leave the dolly for now, since he and Scott would be making another delivery to our place tonight. I must have looked confused, because he smiled when he said, "We need to deliver Barbara's new piano, unless you want to take it now?"
I didn't even know she knew how to play a piano. I guess I wasn't the only person that had been keeping a secret. Barbara blushed when I looked at her. "I'm not nearly as good as you are, and it's been years since I played, but listening to you made me realize how much I missed playing. I think I can help you unload it, since it isn't very heavy, it's just too big to carry alone."
We agreed that Bill and family could come over anytime after eleven and Bill asked if I'd help him unload some of his equipment that he had planned to bring with him. I agreed and we headed for home.
The next day was exciting for me. I learned more about Goddess and the abilities she was capable of than I could ever have discovered on my own. One interesting thing I noticed was Bill had never learned to 'hear' his guitar. To me, it sounded a bit pissed about it too.
We played for almost an hour before Casey dragged us both out to her back yard to enjoy some sun. Bill's daughter, Taylor, was indeed part fish. I couldn't believe how long she could hold her breath underwater. She could do three circuits of the pool before she had to surface for air, and then she didn't seem like she had needed to. She was sexy too, for a fourteen year old. Her love of the water had gifted her with a very lithe and sleek appearance. She had slight breasts, a small tight ass and long legs. I thought if I joined my hands, I could completely encircle her thin waist with them.
Her mother was also a small, petite woman. She was obviously more physically mature than her daughter, with a nice heart shaped butt and smallish B cup breasts on a frame that was only slightly bigger than her little girl. Mary was a looker, no doubt about it.
We splashed and played in the pool until Casey announced that the food was ready. She'd asked me if I wanted to grill, but I told her, honestly, I had no idea how. We had barbequed chicken breasts and grilled corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw and baked beans. I ate way too much; my fiancé was a wonderful cook.
While we rested from the devastation of the fine meal, I brought out Princess, and Bill borrowed Erin's Ibanez. Bill and I played a little game of who could play what, I started with Loggins' and Messina's 'Your Momma Can't Dance'.
Bill countered with some obscure folk song that Waylon Jennings and Willy Nelson did called 'Put Another Log on the Fire'.
I followed up with Toby Keith's 'Weed with Willy', and the mood was set. Princess really enjoyed those songs. I got the feeling she was very playful, but enjoyed the more serious stuff as well.
Later, just before they were going to leave, I asked Bill if I could speak to him alone in the garage for a few minutes.
"What's up?" He asked as I closed the door behind us.
"Well, I don't want you to think I'm a total nut job, but one of the things Mr. Gains taught me really helped my playing, and I think it could help you as well. You're really a great player, far better than I am. Something Mr. Gains told me, which I didn't actually believe until later, might help you, if you're interested?" I asked, mentally crossing my fingers.
"Are you kidding? I used to love to play, but lately, it just seems so mechanical; I could never get life out one of these like you do," he admitted.
"Okay, remember when you asked me about B.B. King and Lucille?" When he nodded, I continued, "I believe that way too. I've believed that for the last couple of years. Your guitar is trying to talk to you. I would like to help show you how to listen."
"Jon, I really don't believe all that guru type stuff. How could these things have a soul, or intelligence? It's just not possible," Bill said.
"Please, pick up your guitar, and gently strum a cord. Keep strumming the same cord over and over again the exact same way," I said.
Grinning with indulgence he picked up the Stratocaster and began strumming.
"Now, you know what that sounds like. I want you to listen really close to the tonal quality of the cord." He closed his eyes and listened closely to the tones. "Now, pretty lady, would you like me to help Bill by teaching him how to listen to you?"
The tonal quality immediately improved. So much so that Bill's eyes snapped open, he stopped strumming and looked down at his guitar.
"Still don't believe in all that mystical crap?" I grinned at him.
For what seemed like only a couple of hours, Bill learned how to listen, and eventually how to talk to, the soul in the guitar. "Wow, I never thought I'd ever be able to make music like that. It feels almost like I just really learned how to play."
I helped him reload his equipment, then helped a sleepy Taylor out to his van. I hadn't realized it was almost ten p.m. I switched the amp over to standby and told my girls good night.
We were all pretty worn out from the day's activities, so we cuddled and went to sleep.
The next day, Herb was arraigned and bail was set at five hundred thousand dollars. We heard later that his court-appointed attorney had tried to get bail arranged for him, but no one would post it.
Later that same day, Herb was once again led into a courtroom for a hearing. We were all present for this one as Herb was led into the court. He glared at Barbara, and especially at me. Shortly the judge entered and the ball was rolling. Ray read the petition for dissolution of marriage, and the grounds for dissolution.
Herb, who couldn't afford an attorney since the police had frozen his assets, tried to object while Ray was reading the petition.
"Mr. Weist, please take your seat and remain quiet. Mr. Redcloud is only reading the petition. No arguments have been entered as yet. You'll get your chance to speak in a few minutes," the judge told him. "Please continue, Mr. Redcloud."
Ray finished reading the petition into the record, and lowered the document. "On behalf of my clients, Your Honor, Mr. Weist's children have also asked that no visitation be allowed. Only his son, Jon, is still a minor, but has stated that he wishes to sever all contact with Mr. Weist."
"Is Jon here today, Mr. Redcloud?" the judge asked.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Please ask him to come forward," the judge said.
Ray motioned to me to come up to his desk, and I did.
The judge looked down at me from his podium/desk/pulpit/whatever, and asked, "You are Jon Weist?"
I nodded; "Yes, Your Honor."
"Please state your age for the record," he instructed me.
"I am seventeen, Your Honor," I replied.
"It is the court's understanding that you wish to sever all ties with your father, Herbert Weist, to include visitation, and custodial responsibility. Do you understand those terms, and is this your wish?"
"Yes, Your Honor, I understand and it is my wish to sever all ties with Herbert Weist," I replied.
"Let it be entered into the court record that Mr. Herbert Weist is pending criminal charges in another court, and that those alleged crimes are the primary reason for this petition. Those charges will not be determined by this court; however, since a key piece of evidence in those proceedings is also relevant to this petition, the court has viewed said evidence, within the bounds of due process, and agreed it is relevant to this petition, and constitutes just grounds for granting the petition. Thank you, Mr. Jon Weist, you may be seated." He nodded at me, and smiled. His smile vanished as he turned to Herb. "Mr. Herbert Weist, you wished to address the court?"
Herb stood; "Yes, your honor. There are no grounds for granting this petition since I have not been convicted of any crime. But beyond that, Barbara and I were married under God's law, and only He can grant a dissolution. I mean no offence or disrespect to the court, Your Honor, but this is out of your jurisdiction." Herb took his seat with a smug look on his face.
"Well, Mr. Herbert Weist, I hate to disappoint you, but you are incorrect. Any legal marriage in this state, performed by those authorized to perform them, can be dissolved by this court. If you have an issue with God's justice, you can take it up with him next time you see him, but for now, the court sees no reason not to grant the petition for dissolution. Further, since the defendant is presently pending criminal trail, and unable to support his family, it is the ruling of this court that all common property, both real and liquid, be awarded to the plaintiff. Further, the normal thirty day waiting period is hereby waived as it would constitute an unreasonable risk to the plaintiff's safety and well-being. It is also the ruling of this court that Herbert Weist forfeit all parental rights and responsibilities for the minor, Jon Weist. This court is adjourned." He banged his gavel; "Bailiff, please return the prisoner to his cell."
"Wait! You can't do this!" Herb screamed as the bailiff literally pulled him from the courtroom. We stood as the judge smiled at us and left the courtroom.
Ray gathered up his papers and joined us near the door. "Well, you are now officially Miss Weist, and as soon as I can get him to sign all the paperwork, or have the court do it for him, you will own the house, his car, and his name will be removed from all the bank accounts."
"Well, I think we need to do some more paperwork then, because I'm pretty sure my name wasn't on any of the bank accounts. Herb gave me a prepaid debit card to buy groceries with every month," Barbara said.
"It won't matter. The court order will force the bank to change the name on the accounts. I'll see to it personally," the big man said. "Now, I'm told that you and Casey might be called for questioning in the criminal case, Jon. However, that won't be for over a month. Go on your vacation and enjoy yourselves. I'll call you if anything comes up."
Barbara shook his huge hand. "Thanks Ray, you did a really good job."
"Thanks, Ma'am; if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to call me," he said as he stepped past us and left the courtroom.
"It looks like we're on our way to Las Vegas tomorrow," Casey said.