Kristin

It had been several years since I had researched the area for the book and, as the highway had changed somewhat in

the interim, I couldn’t find the turnoff that led to the campground I’d used in the story. We decided to go to an RV park in town

for the night, use the laundry and showers there and drive to the campground in the morning.

It was much as I remembered it, although not the same as what I wrote in the book. The road stopped at the campground,

about 4 miles from town and did not continue 21 miles upstream as the book said it did. Even so, the small campground was

secluded enough to provide an atmosphere of back country, and a trail followed the stream for many miles.

“I love it,” Kristin exclaimed as soon as she saw the campground. “Let’s get settled in and try the fishing.” By now, Kristin

was almost as avid a fisherperson as I.

We stayed there a week, hiking many miles up the trail and, in spite of its proximity to town, saw few people even in the

campground. The fishing was good, and even better when we hiked miles up the trail.

This campground ended our ‘back to the earth’ sojourning for that summer. It was one we promised ourselves we would

return to. I got a good start while there outlining my next story, one I would work on for the next 9 months. At the end of the

week we headed for home.

* * *

We had a week at home to get our act together for Kristin’s fashion show. We flew to Paris in late August and Kristin took

part in rehearsals while I stayed at the hotel writing. When the show took place the second week of September I attended

each showing. Kristin was spectacular whatever she wore, and her press coverage was even greater than the previous year.

The gowns were even more exotic and showed even more skin. It appeared that womanhood was destined sometime in the

near future to complete nudity. Kristin didn’t complain and wore each revealing piece with a smile fixed on her face but I

could tell she was disturbed by the trends.

When the show ended we went to London as an extension to our Paris stay. After four nights in London, during which we

toured the city and attended a production of ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ we flew home.

The last week in September I made my second appearance on the PBS meet the author show I had been interviewed on a

year back. Again, it was a free promotion for my new book. The interviewer asked all the right questions for me to make my

own promotional spiel.

In October Kristin was in a repeat, in Boston, of her Paris show. This was followed in November by solo appearances at

large department chains in Chicago and Seattle. I accompanied her on each of these excursions. From the rave reviews her

appearances generated Kristin was climbing quickly to the top of the ladder in modeling.

When we discussed this rapid rise Kristin said, “All the more reason to start our family in this next year. If I’m near the top I’ll

be able to take time off and return six months at a time and not lose my status.

We discussed this with Virginia and she agreed. “Other models have done the same thing, taken time for maternity and then

resumed their careers. Go for it.”

We again visited our parents for the holidays, reversing the order of visits to see my parents during Christmas and then

Kristin’s mom several days later. We were welcomed lovingly in both places. Whatever reserve my mother may have had

about Kristin being a model was not in evidence. Our news that we were planning to start a family was joyfully received.

In early January Kristin flew to Italy for her second year in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. The locale was extreme

southern Italy, usually a warm, sunny area at that time of the year. This year Kristin said the models wore more goose bumps

than anything else.

While Kristin was in Italy I worked on my book, which was almost finished. In late February Kristin had a repeat in Atlanta of

summer wear fashions. Again, the shortest shorts and skimpiest halter tops were in.

During the last half of March and all of April neither Kristin nor I had any commitments.

This allowed us to relax and, except for the time I spent writing, to be laid back. Kristin, as she did every day we were home,

devoted an hour each day to exercising. In anticipation of another summer like the previous one we again studied maps and

boned up on travel literature, this time about Montana and Idaho.

We also had long discussions about where we wanted to raise our children. We definitely did not want to raise them while

living in an apartment or condo, nor did we want to live in a busy city. Our priorities, as we came to agreement on them were:

open space; within a short drive of a city; close to the ocean; and what became our number one priority, an excellent school

system.

With these priorities in mind, much of April was spent exploring different areas in Southern California trying to find locations

that met our criteria. Once we had met the priorities we could start looking for available properties, planning to spend all the

time we had available from April until Christmas in our search. We also had several realtors working on our behalf looking for

desirable property.

In May I completed my book and submitted it to Lillian for her preliminary examination before I did some rewriting and

submission to my editor. Lillian was impressed with the story and sent it back with little rewriting required.

The third week in May I flew to New York with Kristin for her two modeling sessions there, one with casual wear and the other

lingerie. We were both more excited than usual as this was the time when we were to start trying to make a baby. Kristin

had already stopped taking the pill.

* * *

After a quiet celebration of our first anniversary, in mid-June we took off with our tent trailer to take a more extended look at

Montana, with plans to extend our exploration into Idaho if there was enough summer left.

On our way north we stopped at Arches National Monument in Utah. We were so impressed with the beautiful rock

formations we stayed a week, hiking and taking numerous photographs.

We continued north and made another stop in Yellowstone. This time we stayed three nights, getting several exciting views

of moose and grizzly bears. From Yellowstone we continued north and then west in Montana with a return to Eagle Creek

and the Hamilton area as one of our goals.

Before reaching there we discovered another area with extensive wild country to explore north and east of Missoula. The

fishing on the Blackfoot River and its tributaries was superb. We roamed this area for more than a week.

When the 4th of July arrived and Kristin had not had her period we were sure we had succeeded in our goal of her getting

pregnant. We celebrated by spending several days enjoying a rodeo in Choteau, Montana.

In the meantime, we had called our home telephone on a regular basis to retrieve any messages that had been left. In

particular, we were hoping for a message from a realtor with news of some property we might be interested in. Until we

made a call from Missoula nothing of importance was on our answering machine. When I called from Missoula, Tom

Henderson, the realtor we had the most confidence in, had left a message for us to call him ASAP. As the message was

dated two days previously, I called him immediately.

“I think I’ve found what you want,” he said. “It’s a half acre ranchette in Rolling Hills. There’s a four bedroom ranch style

house, a large garage/barn and a swimming pool. All of this is in a countrified setting close to schools that have an excellent

rating and a 20 minute drive to the beach or to the suburbs of L.A.”

When I could get a word in I told Tom where we were and that we would fly home as soon as possible. We stored our trailer

at an RV park near Missoula and the next day, which was July 9, flew home.

On the 10th Tom took us to see the property. We had to agree with his assessment, it was exactly what we wanted. It was

located on a cul de sac at the end of a quiet tree-lined street, three blocks from a main artery. The house was well laid out

and had been well cared for. The yard also was neat and had a well cared for look. An extensive lawn in front extended

around the house to the swimming pool. Several large oak trees stood close to the rear fence.

When we walked the fence line we noticed that all the neighboring properties were large acreage lots and the houses on

them some distance from the property line. The combination garage/barn had a three car garage and an unfinished rear half

that could easily be made into a barn or a workshop.

Kristin and I were both impressed with the entire place but wondered if we could afford it. It was listed at $600,000 and we

had budgeted to get in under $500,000. The monthly payments, we estimated, if we took out the large mortgage this

property would require, would be at least three times our present rent. We told Tom we were interested but were not sure we

could manage the financing. He told us he understood and would put it on hold for us until we looked into the financing

further.

The next day we talked to a loan officer at our bank, informed him what we had in mind and asked him what options he might

suggest. His figures came close to what we had estimated, much higher than we wanted to pay monthly. We thanked him

and told him we would get back to him.

Next we contacted our financial advisor, Jim Storey. Jim had handled my investments and all my business transactions for

more than five years and Kristin’s for almost a year. Together we had more than enough invested through Jim’s company to

cover the entire cost of the property. We asked Jim if we could take out a loan, or in some other way use our investments as

collateral, without incurring the huge interest a bank loan would entail.

When I first began investing through Jim he had worked out a complicated system in which all the royalties from my books

automatically went through his company to be invested. My daily living costs were easily covered by the up front money I

received each time a new book was accepted for publication.

At the beginning of my writing career the up front money was a pittance so I had to live frugally to keep within those amounts.

Later, as I began to meet with success, that money increased so that I had more than I needed and was able to salt some of

it away. In the past two years my royalties had increased dramatically so there was a constant flow of money into my account,

a flow that was expected to continue for several more years.

Kristin, after we started living together, had her account set up so that all of her income was automatically invested and she

had check writing privileges to cover her personal needs.

Jim assured us there would be no problem getting the money for us. “With all the money rolling in from your royalties my

company stands to make a lot of money from your account in the future. I’d like to make two suggestions. First, don’t touch

Kristin’s account; we can work it all through Paul’s account. Second, have your realtor make an offer to pay in cash at a

substantial discount from the asking price.”

We thanked Jim and called Tom Henderson. “I’ve come up with a special deal and will be able to pay cash,” I informed him.

“I’d like you to make the owners an offer of $500,000 in cash.”

Tom got back to me the next day and said the owners had accepted a modified offer of $540,000. “Sold,” I told him and

hugged Kristin as I told her the news.

With this exciting deal completed Kristin made an appointment with her doctor, who confirmed that she was pregnant. On

July 15th we flew back to Missoula and resumed our camping vacation in western Montana, then continued our travels in

northern Idaho until the middle of August.

* * *

We returned home elated at the prospect of a new home and the secure knowledge that our first child would be born in

February. We gave notice at our apartment and started looking at additional furniture we would need at our ‘ranch’, with

plans to move there in late September.

Kristin called Virginia to give her the news, cancelled all her modeling assignments for the next year and had Virginia list her

as on maternity leave.

The idea of moving into our new home had us on a high. At first it appeared that we had more space than we could ever fill

but as we started allocating rooms for different purposes we became aware that every room would have its use. A small

room close to the master bedroom, we decided, would be the nursery. The other two bedrooms would be used, until we

needed them for the children, as an exercise room for Kristin and an office for me. Later, as needed, we would move these

two functions to the shed/barn.

Most of September we went furniture shopping, using Polaroid photos of each room as a guide to what would be suitable.

Everything was delivered on September 26 and, more or less, arranged to our liking by September 30. Then we

relinquished our apartment and put the unwanted furniture in storage in the barn.

Kristin was ecstatic; she loved the new home. During October we settled in and were able to sell much of our old furniture. I

had time also, during that month, to get back to my writing, which had been neglected since our return from Idaho.

Also, in October, my latest book was published and I was scheduled for book signings during November in both Los

Angeles and Boston. Kristin flew to Boston with me to help at the signings, although as it turned out, no help was needed.

For the two days of the signing an early winter storm moved in and paralyzed Boston traffic. As a result few people showed

up for the signing. To show my appreciation to those hardy few I presented them with a free autographed copy. Kristin and I

were snowbound for two extra days waiting for the storm to clear.

After we were settled in we began taking a daily walk to get acquainted with the neighbor- hood and hopefully the neighbors.

It didn’t take long to meet one of our next door neighbors. On our very first walk, the Saturday after we moved in, Mark

Richards was working in his yard as we strolled by. He waved in such a friendly manner that we walked over and introduced

ourselves.

“I heard that a famous author had bought the Bridges’ property,” was his first remark. “My wife has been looking forward to

meeting you; unfortunately, she’s not home at present.”

“I don’t know about the famous part,” I replied. “I am a writer and have had a few books published.”

Mark invited us to join them for a drink that afternoon; an invitation we gladly accepted.

Beverly Richards was an attractive brunette with tinges of gray showing in her hair. I guessed that she and Mark were both in

their early fifties. He was a practicing physician with an office in Beverly Hills close to where my agent, Lillian Pressman, had

her office. Beverly had been a nurse but had left the profession after she and Mark married to raise a family.

“And are you also among the employed?” Beverly asked Kristin.

“I’m a model,” Kristin replied, “and will return to modeling when I get my figure back.”

“I should have guessed that,” Mark added. “Other than my wife you have to be the most beautiful woman on earth.”

This embarrassed Kristin so that I had to speak for her. “She is beautiful, even in her fifth month of pregnancy.”

We enjoyed this short visit with the Richards and discovered they had two sons, both beginning their careers in medicine.

Before we left Mark informed us that the residents of this street, all three blocks of it out to the busy thoroughfare, King Street,

were well acquainted with each other and had frequent social gatherings involving most of the residents.

“About once a month, but not every month, we have a block party; sometimes it’s a cocktail hour or two, sometimes a

barbecue. The next one is the last Saturday of this month, a sit-down potluck and will be here. We hope you will attend and

get to meet more of your neighbors.”

We thanked Mark for the invitation and told him we would be sure to come.

The pot luck was a well organized affair. Kristin and I were pleased at the friendly welcome we received from the ten

neighbor couples present; they made us feel as if we belonged immediately. The food was simple and tasty; no effort was

made by any of the cooks to put on a pretentious spread. We brought a calorie laden chocolate cake Kristin had bought at a

bakery. Needless to say, Kristin didn’t try the cake.

As a way of introducing us, Mark and Beverly Richards had on display a copy of each of my published books. These, and a

collection of photographs from Kristin’s modeling stints, were a center of conversation for much of the evening.

We could tell from what our neighbors described as their careers that we were among the newly affluent. Regardless of this

affluence, they all seemed to be down to earth people who showed no signs that they were wealthier than we were. On our

way home Kristin made a comment that we, luckily, had chosen the right kind of neighborhood for raising our family. I agreed

with her wholeheartedly.

* * *

We again spent the Christmas season with first Kristin’s mother and then my parents. Both of our mothers were overjoyed

about the imminent birth and both promised to fly out to Los Angeles to help. We were able to prevail upon them to not both

come at the same time but to take turns.

Early in January I moved Kristin’s exercise equipment to the barn and furnished that room as our spare bedroom, in

anticipation of our parental visits.

On February 5th, two weeks earlier than expected, Kerry Kathlyn was born, a healthy, heavy 8 lb. 12 oz bald- headed beauty.

Kristin had no problems with the birth and, as has become an accepted practice nowadays, I was able to witness the birth,

an event I find difficult to put into words, except to say it was a wondrous experience. Kristin had a glow that made her even

more beautiful to me.

Two days later I took mother and baby home into the helping hands of her mother. Kathlyn was as excited as we were at

having a new grandchild to dote on and soon showed she knew her way around the nursery.

My mother followed two weeks later and together the two grandmothers convinced us that both of them could stay, share a

room and not get in each other’s way in helping Kristin through the first month. They were a great help to Kristin, and to me.

I put my writing aside and got my first experience at child caring. I soon learned to change diapers and tend to other needs of

the baby, including getting up at night to give her a bottle. I became, through their guidance, a first class nanny. The only off

limit duty for me was cooking; both mothers together forbade me from entering the kitchen except to get something for

Kerry’s needs.

END OF STORY.