Newt to Norman - 11

Previous letter from Norman to Newt

Hi Norm - friend?

Damn - you beat me to the punch or I should say Meadow beat me to the punch - well, really it was Kaitlin...because she told Meadow who then told you and I am a day late and a dollar short.

Dude, I was just getting ready to click send and I saw your letter. I quickly read it because I was curious to see if you knew yet. I really wanted to be the one to tell you. I honestly thought it was just what you said, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, a coincidence, no more, no less, no big deal. Whoa!

To be honest, your letter was a downer. I never expected you to take the news so bad. I have always thought you might want to take a swing at me, but your never did, until now, when it felt like someone close to you was threatened. I am so sorry I made you feel that way and so happy Jasper talked you down.

So, Janet is my Jasper. Since I can't really borrow him, I'm eternally grateful for her. I read her your letter. I hope you don't mind.

She explained it to me so I could understand. She's good at that. So it seems that I have now hurt someone your sister cares for and you befriended the monster that did it which in turn hurts your sister and her friend. I guess I just didn't think it through.

That's actually huge part of my 'problem' according to - well everyone - if it feels right for me then I don't think how it will affect anyone else.

So, hell man, again, I'm really sorry. What I wanted to tell you was that I am hopefully on the way to ‘Normal Norman’ because Kaitlin and I, we are working through things.

Janet is really a big part of the reason. She grounds me somehow. Her presence makes me slow down so I can stop and think about everyone and everything and how they feel and what they need before I do anything. I don't know how she does it, maybe because I'm madly in love with her, I only want to do things that will make her happy.

I told you last month that I found Kaitlin. Well since then, Janet has helped me not go off half cocked, but to take things slow. It's hard when all I wanted to do was go and get my kids and bring them home, to hell with her and Leroy - that's her boyfriend. I hated him. How dare he raise my children. But Janet was right, as always. And I don't hate him. At all. Afraid of him? Hell yes!

Kaitlin's boyfriend actually found evidence that freed Reid, my half brother, from prison and exposed Reid's stepfather as a crooked cop. So I guess I owe Leroy one for being a stand up guy. According to Reid, he and Leroy used to be best friends back in high school. Maybe that's why he helped him. I don't know.

But that brings me to what has been happening that I wanted to tell you so bad. Janet convinced me that I needed to talk it out with Kaitlin, to let her know what I had been going through the last 2 years and try to work out terms of a divorce. As far as Kaitlin knew, I was still the same man she left. My therapist concurs. I need to reconcile with Kaitlin.


So I got up the nerve and called Kaitlin. She wasn't happy at first but finally agreed to meet me. I thought she was going to bring that gorilla of a boyfriend with her but she didn't. I was secretly very relieved. I don't think I could have taken him if it came down to a physical fight. He doesn't know I'm trying hard to be better and I'm sure he knows why Kaitlin left me.

We met at a diner so she would feel safe. I needed her to know how sorry I am for what I put her through, that I have been in therapy so I would never hurt her or the kids again or anyone else for that matter. I needed to tell her I wanted a divorce and to share custody of the kids.

When she walked in, she was more beautiful than I remembered and she had an air of confidence about her I had never seen before. How could I have mistreated her so badly? It made me sick and I wished I could turn back time to try again. The meeting, however, turned out to be much harder than I thought and fraught with emotion.

We cried and laughed together. I told her about Janet. And I apologized numerous times. Overall though, we had a good conversation and it was at least a start.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses though. I was telling her about the process of my 'metamorphosis' over the past two years and that's when I told her about you. She put two and two together right away. Well, let me tell you, it was a bomb exploding for me too. I immediately jumped to conclusions and assumed she was spying on me.

I started accusing her, and, yes I know, you don't have to say it. It was so easy to fall back into old ways. One sided conversations, my side. She wasn't having it and simply got up to leave. I pulled myself together and apologized and begged her to stay and tell me about how she knew Meadow. She did.

Kaitlin said Meadow helped her in very much the same way you are helping me. Yes, Norm, you have helped. So much. That's why when you said you wanted to cut both of us out of your lives, I almost got physically sick. Tell Guru Jasper I owe him a beer - well a lifetime supply.

When we finally ended the evening, Kaitlin took my heart and nearly destroyed it. She put her hands on my face and looked me in the eye with tears in her eyes and said, “I hope you have found what you need in Janet and the two of you are very happy.” She still cares for me even after everything.

After she left I sat there for a few minutes and finished my warm beer. I knew after that night that I needed to propose to Janet. I want her in my life forever. I want to cherish her and make sure she knows she is loved. So damn corny, but true. I got a second chance. People like me rarely get second chances.

But I still hadn't seen the kids. Kaitlin was keeping me at arm's length. I don't blame her but it's frustrating. I was going to call her before I went back and see if we could meet, but my 11-year-old son threw a wrench into that. Ben ran away from home straight to Reid. Ben seems to have been unhappy for the past two years and he Reid are tight.

Reid had to bring him to his house overnight so Ben and I had an unplanned reunion. He has grown so much. We hugged and we both cried. I couldn't help it.

Ben is a very lonely and frustrated young man. We had a long talk before he went to bed. He did ask if I hit his mother saying Reese had told him I did. I didn't confirm or deny it, but said we had a lot of disagreements and that it had nothing to do with him. I just couldn't say yes. Maybe that was wrong but he seemed so fragile and that could have sent him over the edge.

He crushed me when he asked if he could live with me. I had to say no, but that we would be seeing each other. He wasn't happy with that answer. But that made my decision easy, I have to have joint custody. With Janet by my side, we could make a good home for him and Maddy and fill it with love.

When I took Ben home the next morning, Kaitlin, Leroy and I attempted to have a discussion around custody and terms of the divorce.

While I was there, I got to see Maddy. I almost cried again. Norman she is the most beautiful child. She has these big brown eyes and long black hair. She was just a baby when Kaitlin left and now she is a sweet little girl. It hurt really bad to see that she had obviously bonded with Leroy while I was nothing more than a stranger to her that she shied away from.

The conversation didn't go well as I hoped. And of course, it took a turn for the worse when I said some things I shouldn't have when we were discussing custody. It upset Kaitlin really bad and she acted like she thought I might attack her. I told her I wouldn't, but she was afraid of me.

Norman, she has seven kids living in that two bedroom apartment! Three of them are babies. I sort of threatened to sue for custody of Ben and Maddy if she wouldn't agree to joint custody. I needed Janet there to be a buffer or even Leroy. He was in the other room tending to Maddy since she was sick.

Anyway, when Leroy came back in, he kicked me out when he saw how upset Kaitlin was. I knew I screwed up so I couldn't blame him. I said goodbye to Ben and went home. I called my attorney and  filed for divorce requesting joint custody. We had to at least get things moving.

The next day, I took Janet to the lake for a picnic lunch and proposed. She said yes and I placed the engagement ring I bought a few months ago on her finger.

When I held her in my arms, it occurred to me that I have never proposed to a woman before. Janet is the first and that makes it special. It was such a wonderful feeling. My heart was beating so hard I'm sure she could feel it. She is going to be my wife.

No, I didn't propose to Kaitlin. We were told we were going to get married. It was almost like an arranged marriage - arranged because she was pregnant. Maybe that's why Janet makes me happy in a way that Kaitlin and I never could have been. Janet is love. We are choosing to be together. I can't wait to talk to her, to see her and do things that make her happy.

I love Kaitlin too you know, but in a different way. I think she feels the same. We were never good for each other, even before...it got bad.

I still don't understand what Janet sees in me. I am so fucking broken. I know what I see in her. That's easy. So after she said yes, we stayed at the lake a little longer and watched the stars and I asked her - 'why me?' She told me there was a sad little boy trapped underneath all my bravado and she wanted to take away all the hurt so he could be happy again. She said he was the sweetest thing she had ever seen. She must be related to Jasper! - NO! I mean she's not really. Don't panic. It was a joke. She's from Ireland so she couldn't be. Right?

Reese graduated from high school so I sent him a gift. I called Kaitlin to let her know. Sadly, the divorce papers had been served - a week early. I felt terrible. I was going to give her a heads up. She was upset and said she wouldn't sign the papers like they were. It made me nervous. If she took me to court I wouldn't get anything but supervised visits - if I was lucky.

I was relieved when Kaitlin called the first of the week and asked if Janet and I would come down and discuss terms of the divorce with her and Leroy.

That gave me an idea. I had a lot of fun running Reid’s nightclub while he was in prison so I asked Janet how she felt about helping me run a similar business in Twinbrook. She said it sounded like an exciting venture. So my plan was born and we both hopped on a plane early the next morning to see Kaitlin and Leroy.

We met at Leroy's house which he had recently remodeled so that Reese and Brooke, his fiance, could live there once they were married. It was really well done. That made me feel really good about my plan.

Thank god Janet was there. She kept me and Kaitlin (mostly me) from devolving again. Somehow, we just push each other's buttons.

Kaitlin agreed to joint custody with Ben, but not for Maddy. I can't really blame her, so I readily allowed her to retain custody for one year and we would work out visitation for her later.

Then, I announced my plan. Leroy has a dive bar that he runs along with various investment properties and a design company which has been ramping up. I offered to buy the bar from him and hire him to remodel it. Janet and I would relocate to Twinbrook to run it. Kaitlin looked relieved probably because the kids wouldn't be far.

Leroy agreed to sell and we shook on it. I did make him a good offer, but it gets me closer to my kids and my grandchildren that I have yet to meet. So it was well worth it. Win, win.

Reese and Brooke are getting married next week. Brooke is his youngest son's mother. We have had a few conversations since his graduation. Mostly he warned me if I laid a hand on Ben what would happen to me. Sort of like what you wanted to do in your last letter. Anyway, I assured him I wouldn't, of course anyone can say anything. But he did thank me for the new guitar.

I told him Janet and I would like to come to the wedding. He didn't say no just asked if I thought it was a good idea. Janet said we should wait until the ceremony begins so we don't cause any tension. I missed my son's graduation, I don't want to miss his wedding day. So we are going. We have to go there anyway to sign the divorce papers and to complete the real estate transaction - and find a new home.

I think I feel like you must have when you were working on moving your company away from the windmills. A lot excited, a little stressed but looking forward to the future regardless of the outcome because you had someone you wanted to share it with.

Take care of Ira and Aari. They went through a lot to find their place with you. They need you more than you will ever know. Ira may seem strong, but I think a lot of it is because she feels safe with you and you have helped her heal, trust and love again.

Of course the therapy helps too, I know that for a fact. But having someone in your corner, that's means more than anyone can ever know. The Murdock family has definitely benefited from our respective friendships with the McCumber family, Guru Jasper included!

I know my journey isn't over, far from it. With your continued friendship, Janet's love and ongoing counseling, I feel like I can be the man I should have been all along.

Your not going to like hearing this part. Since Kaitlin is back in my life, I find that it's hard - harder than I ever thought - to make changes. I don't even realize what I'm doing when I am with Kailtin until it's over. It's like an old pair of jeans. It's comfortable - for me. And I think she expects a certain behavior from me and I readily deliver. Maybe Janet's right and there really is a sad little boy inside me and you are all helping him to heal.

One day I hope we will have the opportunity to have a beer together and make a toast to friends and healing.

Not-so-Normal Newt 

Kaitlin to Meadow 11

Meadow's letter to Kaitlin

Hi Meadow!

I was so nice to receive your letter. Sooo much has happened since we last spoke. If you hadn't written me already I was going to write you. So, I'm gong to dive right in.

You won't believe this, but remember your brother's pen pal? It turns out he IS my husband, soon to be ex-husband in a couple of months if things go as planned.


You see, Newt did see me at the courthouse. It was as much of a shock to him as it was to me.
He finally called me a couple of weeks later and asked to meet me at the diner to discuss how to move our lives forward. That's how we figured out about Norman.

I was so nervous when I went, but I did it without a panic attack. In fact Newt was very sweet, for most of it. When he started to get agitated I just got up to leave and he immediately apologized and begged me to stay. I fear we still push each other's buttons. I guess hold habits die hard.


Newt told me that Norman helped him begin the process of turning his life around. He said as Norman began to tell him about Ira, he realized that he had done the same thing to me and it was a hard truth for him to face. He said Norman stuck by him and that it helped him get through the rough parts. I want to kiss Norman! He is an angel for helping Newt.

Newt has been in therapy for the past 2 years and now has someone new in his life. Just like Leroy, she goes to therapy with him. He has seriously changed and apologized to me over and over.

Even so, most people would probably think we would hate each other with a passion and would have torn into each other with hateful words, but that’s not what happened. Instead, we both cried and laughed together. It was an emotional roller coaster.

All the different feelings that went through me during that one hour we were together surprised me. There was love, jealousy, sadness, fear and an overwhelming sense of loss at what should have been. Plus a deep seated desire for Newt to be okay and find happiness.

It was very evident in our meeting that I still have love in my heart for Newt. Not in the way that I love Leroy. Not romantically, but more like a sibling or maybe a close cousin. There is so much shared history between us it's hard not to care about him and he is the father of three of my children.

I do know that whatever twisted form of love Newt and I shared in the past was never healthy. Newt took and rarely gave. I was always trying to please him.

Leroy, on the other hand, is fun, caring, giving, resourceful, respectful and very passionate with not just me, but in everything he does. He just tends to use too much bubble wrap!! I think I will start using that as a key word to let him know to lighten up!

Oh my, you are becoming like my second therapist! You will soon be sending me paint and canvases! I can’t wait!

I laughed when you talked about Ira and Norman playing with the toys and Jena wanted them to come over to give her new ideas! That’s just so great. Norman has no idea what a jewel he is! Actually, both of you are amazing people. Jasper raised two very independent and caring people with lots of love to share.

You say I have a big heart. It’s nothing compared to the two of you! You took in Jena and a couple of roommates. You are going back to school with the sole purpose of helping others. That takes compassion. Then Norman, he took in Ira and Aari when he knew they were what some would consider ‘damaged’. He stuck by Newt when he could have turned his back on him. I don’t care now if you tell him about me, because if I could, I would give him the biggest hug and kiss ever for helping Newt become a better man.

I still need to tell you about Ben though. My beautiful, confused and hurting eleven-year-old.

With Newt’s return things went all kind of crazy. Newt stays with Reid while he is in town. Reid was released from prison because Leroy helped find evidence that cleared Reid, but at the same time Reid’s stepfather was arrested for starting the fire plus a lot of other crimes.

When we told Ben that Reid had been released, he was thrilled. Too thrilled. A week ago, he ran away from home and I’m sure you can guess where he went. Yes, to find Reid, his hero and friend. Ben slipped out after everyone went to bed and rode his bicycle in the pouring rain to the fire station looking for Reid.


When Reid went to get him and bring him home, the bridge was flooded so he had to keep Ben overnight with him. Newt was still there so Ben had an unplanned reunion with his father. Now, Ben has two heroes. I had no idea until the next morning when Newt called letting me know he was bringing Ben home.

When he arrived, Newt, Leroy and I tried to discuss terms of the divorce. It didn't go so well and Newt went back to Roaring Heights leaving a brokenhearted 11-year-old and a panic stricken wife.

Like I said, we push each other’s buttons. Newt is accustomed to me acquiescing and when I tried to fight back, he pushed harder and I couldn’t stop the darkness from taking me. He didn’t touch me at all, it was just the tone of his voice.

Leroy was in the other room taking care of Maddy because she was sick or it likely wouldn’t have escalated. Leroy said when he came back in the room, and saw what was going on, he sent Newt on his way. It took awhile for me to recover. But when I did, I took your advice and went to Ben and tried to talk to him.

It was no surprise that he wouldn’t talk. He told me to go away and when I tried to comfort him he pulled away. So instead I stayed and tried to explain as much as I could and assured him that he would be able to see his father. That’s when he told me that the he hated it here, the kids at school teased him and he wanted to live with his Dad.

Meadow, I don’t know how I missed that he had no friends. I feel like I have failed Ben and I don’t know how to fix it. All I knew was I really needed to hold him and let him feel how much I love him, that he wasn’t alone and everything would be okay. I made him turn around and look at me. When he did, I pulled him to me so I could hold him. He’s my baby. I needed to comfort him even if he didn’t want it.

At first he resisted but finally his resolve broke down and his arms went around me. We both hugged and cried together as I told him over and over that I loved him and it would be okay. He never said anything but he didn’t have to. I know he needs his father.

I think deep down Ben knows the truth of why we left, but he doesn’t want to admit it. It would destroy the new vision he has of Newt. And frankly, I just can’t do that to either of them, especially since Newt has changed. When Ben’s older and in a better place, Newt will need to tell him the truth.

I don’t know if just spending time with Newt will be enough for Ben to begin to heal. Seriously, what sort of therapy works for angsty pre-teens whose mother and father are a mess?

On a  lighter note, Reese has become such a handsome young man. He and Brooke are graduating next week! We had pictures made. They are adorable.

Then in two weeks they will be married and the following week the rest of us move into our new home! That’s when I will file for divorce. Hopefully Newt and I will have come to an agreement on custody by then.

It’s nice to at least see Reese so happy.

Since Brooke’s mother died when she was so young and her father never remarried, I have been helping her with her with her dress and the wedding arrangements. Brooke is simply gorgeous. I got so emotional helping her try on dresses.

I was surprised when Brooke asked my opinion on birth control and said she was nervous about their wedding night. She didn't say, but I think they have been abstaining. Brooke has truly become like a daughter to me and I couldn’t be happier that the two of them ended up together.

Reese has been saving his money. They decided not to use it for a honeymoon and instead use it to help with bills so Brooke won't need to work right away since the boys were so young. And speaking of boys, Jordan is the cutest and sweetest baby ever.

Leroy and I will be keeping them for them for a few days to give Reese and Brooke some much needed newlywed alone time when they get married.

Eek, I need to start paying you Meadow!  Writing all of this down makes it feel less overwhelming. Like maybe I do have a clear path for my future and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and for once it isn't a train!

I still see Shea, but maybe you are right, it is time to find someone else. She’s too close to our situation and I would prefer to have her as a friend instead of a therapist. Maybe when I get through the next couple of months, and my life settles down, I won’t even need a therapist anymore. Just your encouraging letters.

Here’s to hoping we both have lots of Sunday Fundays in our futures!

Your Friend Forever,

Kaitlin

P.S.  Send me your bill. I will gladly pay it!

Newt to Norman - 10

Newt's Reply to Norman's Letter

Hi Norm!

It's your not quite normal yet friend. I was so glad to hear the new contractors worked out and things are going well. I knew if anyone could do it, you would. Congratulations are definitely in order. That should make your life so much easier, more normal and drama free. Just like you like it. Maybe someday my life will be like that too.

Ari sounds like a really good kid and the two of you have forged a strong bond. I can't even think ahead to children. It's like I had my shot and blew it. But maybe not. Norm, I found Kaitlin. And that means I found my kids. But let me start from the beginning.

I got up the courage to tell Janet everything. I started with ‘I'm married’. She took a minute to let it sink in. “Of course you are," she said bitterly, "all the good ones are always taken." Then she got up to leave. It killed me to see the disappointment in her face. I'm really glad we hadn't taken our relationship further. She would have hated me and I couldn't bear it.

I put my hand on her arm asked her to stay and hear me out. I gave her my best sad puppy dog eyes and she sat back down. I was so relieved.

I asked her to wait until I was finished to say anything. I told her that my wife had taken my kids and left 2 years ago. She looked appalled, but then I dropped bomb and Janet started to cry. It ripped my heart out. I explained I had been in therapy for the last 18 months and part of my therapy was that I had to tell anyone I wanted to have an intimate relationship with what I had done.

I told her I wanted to continue to see her and see where it went. I was developing feelings for her and I couldn't move forward until she knew the truth. Then I asked her to come to a therapy session with me.

She didn't stay. She said she had to think about what she was getting involved in. I had to watch her walk away not knowing if she would ever want anything to do with me again.

Two days later she texted and asked me to meet her at the Library. I was so nervous. She greeted me with a hug. That gave me hope.


She had conditions to continuing our relationship. She wanted to take me up on the visit to my therapist and depending on how that went, she would make her decision. My next appointment wasn't for two days and it was the longest two days of my life.

We met there for obvious reasons. My therapist was blunt just like she always is. She told Janet that I had admitted to myself what I had done and that was the first step in my recovery. Telling Janet was a huge step in the right direction. She told her I would need to stay in therapy for the foreseeable future. Then she asked us both several questions.

Finally, she looked at Janet and said, “Should you decide to pursue your relationship with Newt, you will need to learn how to help him stop his destructive behavior before it escalates. You can be a huge factor in helping him become cognizant of his attitudes and relearn how to deal with his partner and even children. Newt is certainly willing and has done a lot of the hard work already to get where he is today. He is ready for that next step but he needs a strong partner that is also willing and then perhaps he can have a happy and healthy long term relationship.”

When we walked out into the waiting room, I felt like garbage. I didn't deserve her so I told Janet that I understood if she wasn't ready to take on my shit. I didn't want to pressure her.  And, yes. I said shit because that's what it is. She smiled at me! 

Then she reached up and put her hand on my cheek and said, “If we are going to continue seeing each other, you must promise me you won't use foul language anymore. And please, file for divorce. Dating a married man just isn't my style.”

I felt like the luckiest man alive. Then my damn phone buzzed and crashed my party. It was a text from my mother. My cousin was arrested and charged with arson. The trial was starting and she wanted me to go with her and Dad to support her sister and Reid. I impulsively asked Janet if she would go with me. We would sleep in separate rooms. No pressure, but we just took the next step and I didn't want to be separated from her. She agreed!

When I got to Twinbrook  my whole life changed. Turns out my wife is living there. She and Reid even dated for a few months. She also has a kid with the guy that they were originally investigating for starting the fire. What the hell? But that isn't even all. Reid is really my half brother. My father and his are one and the same. That's why his mother took him and left town. Seems my mom, her twin sister, found out. I hope you followed all of that because my head was spinning.

It was weird getting reacquainted with Reid after all that. Admittedly, he didn't know Kaitlin was my wife at the time, but still. Weird. He didn't warm up to me at first either. Seems he put two and two together and figured out why she left me. I explained my therapy and we came to terms with each other.

Then I saw Kaitlin at the trial. It was still a shock and my heart skipped a beat. She was there with Leroy Chapman, the guy that was originally being investigated. He is in love with her. It was obvious by the way he looked at her before she saw me. I pretended I didn't see her because I wasn't ready to deal with her, especially with Janet there, but at least I had found her.

This Leroy’s testimony is what sealed Reid's fate. Reid was found guilty. It was awful. His mother came unglued. I was glad Janet was there with me. It was so hard to watch.

Janet has been so supportive through all of this new crap that I dumped on her. I wouldn't have blamed her for running after finding out all of that, but she must be like you Norm, she stuck by me. I have put her through so much and she stuck. You and Janet are my guardian angels.

After the verdict, I decided to stay in Twinbrook. I need to deal with Kaitlin but sent Janet back home. It's time to talk to my wife. I keep wanting to call her my ex-wife. But she isn't yet. I want to negotiate for joint custody of my kids. It's going to be hard. But this is what I have been wanting for 2 years.

I am staying at Reid's place. It's weird now that he's not here. I keep expecting him to walk down the stairs. He has a pretty lucrative night club. He asked me to oversee it while he is incarcerated. It's actually kind of fun. I may offer to buy him out and move here.

Why? Two reasons. First, I would like nothing more than to get out of my old man's business. There is more to that business than I ever knew or wanted to know and you don't want to know either. But if I am going to try have a relationship with my kids and have a life with Janet, neither of them need to be exposed to that. I think you get my drift. Second, well this is where my kids live now and shuttling them back and forth would be hard. If I want to be involved in their lives I need to be where they are.

Maybe once this is over, I will be truly normal like you Norm. That is my goal, to be a ‘Normal Norman’. I have to admit, I am very ready for that. I want to come home, kiss my wife, eat dinner with my family, read bedtime stories to my kids and only have to worry about what kind of cereal to give them.

Not so normal Newt.

P.S. Maybe next time I will be Normal Newt - and we can just be two normal guys living normal uncomplicated lives with families that love us.