Grandma’s House
happyhugo
Copyright © 03/05/12
12,075 words
Romance, Drama
Grandma's house 7.73
Bobby Brandel owns his dead grandmother’s
house and rents it out. Several years ago, he
rented it to a woman who became his wife.
Widowed now, can it happen for him again,
or will there be too much trouble?
I was coming back from town Saturday morning. A half mile from my house I saw some activity at the old Blazer place. This was a homestead that had been periodically empty for years and it belonged to me. Every once in awhile someone rented it and moved in. They never stayed long.
Curious, I slowed down. I could see household stuff just dumped near the front steps. I knew from the weather report I had listened to this morning that it was setting on to rain before noon. What-the-hell, I’d stop and give the guy a hand. I backed up and pulled in near the pile of stuff.
Just then two kids looked out the open door. They looked concerned and scared at my intrusion into their little world. I would say the oldest kid, a girl, was maybe ten and the boy might reach seven or eight. “Hi, is your Dad here?”
The boy shook his head no. Then he turned and went out of sight. “Mom, somebody’s here.”
A woman appeared, standing in the bedroom doorway. She was dressed in too-large jeans and a flannel shirt. There was a big smudge of dirt on her cheek and her brown hair hadn’t been combed. She faced me and I could see she hated the interruption. “What can I do for you?”
“I stopped to see if I could help your husband move in. It’s going to rain in a couple of hours. Your belongings are going to get wet.”
“No husband. The stuff will just have to get wet. This place is filthy. I can’t put my stuff in here like this. Thanks for stopping though. Now if you will excuse me ...” She whirled around and went back into the room leaving me standing there. I waited a minute and realized I had been dismissed. The kids were still standing by the door.
“I guess your Mom is too busy to talk. I’ll tell you, my name is Bob Brandel and I live not too far up the road. Have you kids had any breakfast this morning?” Again it was the boy that answered by shaking his head no. “Too busy getting moved in I guess. Look, I have a spare coffee ring in my truck. Why don’t I leave it here and if you get hungry you can eat it. I’m going to find some tarps to cover up your things. I’ll be back in a little while.”
The kids didn’t leave the house while I went out to my pickup and got the sweet thing and a half gallon of milk. I brought it back and set it down on the steps. The little boy’s eyes were riveted to the food. “Now you kids don’t go away until I get back.”
I was back in a half hour with enough tarps to adequately keep the rain off. The kids helped me spread the covers. “Do you have a stove to cook on?”
“No, the electricity isn’t on.” This was the first time the little girl had spoken. “We can’t cook until next Tuesday. Mom said we could eat cold cereal until then. Thank you for the milk and the buns. They were delicious.”
“I’m going into town again. Would you go ask your Mom if I can pick up anything she needs?”
The little girl went running into the house and I could hear the exchange between mother and daughter. She came back saying, “I guess not. Mom couldn’t think of anything.” She was almost in tears. The little girl knew instinctively I was trying to be helpful and her mother was pushing me out of their life by resisting my overtures.
“Okay then, but you will likely see me around some more. Bye now.” I headed into town and went to the real estate office. I talked to the agent in charge of renting the Blazer property. “Tell me about the woman who is renting my little house down the road from me.”
“The woman’s name is Lisa Rounds. She has two kids, Annie ten, and Bobby seven. She is a single mom and divorced. Her husband was able to hire a better lawyer. The attorney she hired didn’t do much to watch out for her interests. That was four years ago and slowly things have been going downhill for the family.
“She has had to rent increasingly less suitable properties to house them. She has a new job in the bank here as a teller and comes highly recommended. It will be touch and go as it is. I don’t know how she will get to work or find someone to watch the kids.”
“Sounds as if she is in a bind. Is she up-to-date on her rental finances? First, last and security deposit?”
“Yes, of course. I wouldn’t have rented it to her without it.”
“Well if her rent gets behind, let me know. She sounds like a lady just down on her luck.”
“It looks like it.” When I left there it was starting to rain. I went into the hardware store and bought a couple of things and then stopped at the grocery store. I also made a phone call to make some arrangements if they were needed. The rain was coming down really hard and the wind was pretty vicious.
I pulled up as close to the house as I could and grabbed a box that I had beside me on the seat. I headed for the door and it opened before me. “Thanks Annie, close the door quick, I think it is starting to mist a little.” This was humor and Annie caught it and started to giggle.
Lisa was sitting on the one piece of furniture that she had managed to get in before the rain. I took the box over and sat it on the floor in front of her. “Please open this Mrs. Rounds while I get some more things.” I looked at her and could see she had been crying.
I headed out again and brought in a big ice cooler and set this in the kitchen. Again I went out and got a bottle of propane for the stove, stopping on the way to lift the tarp where I had seen a box of kitchen utensils, tableware, and a few dishes. I was thoroughly soaked when I passed by Annie who was running the door for me.
Lisa was sitting with the camping cook stove on her lap. I picked it up and set it by the kitchen sink work area. I affixed the gas to it and after hunting for a match in my pocket, I lit it.
The kids looked at it as if it was a Christmas tree. “Bobby Junior, I think we are going to have a hamburger in about twenty minutes. Do you like them fat or skinny?”
“Fat, but skinny is okay.” I opened the cooler and brought out a three pound tray of already formed hamburgers. Looking in the box of kitchenware I found a good-sized skillet and set it on the stove. I didn’t have any grease, but soon enough tried out of the meat to make a delectable smell as the burgers started to cook.
“Oops, can’t have a picnic without chips. Wait right here.” I headed out into the rain again. I came back with a box filled with chips, soda, ketchup and rolls. I was back in time to turn the burgers. When they were done I put them together on some paper plates I had thought to supply. I opened the bag of chips and put a liberal handful on each one. “Annie, give this one to your Mom and we’ll sit around her on the floor and I’ll tell you all about myself.”
Lisa was watching me. The kids were taking little nibbles around their buns, savoring the flavor. When I had the kids seated, I went out and poured a glass of orange soda for them. I pulled a bottle of wine out of the box and poured a half glass for Lisa and a half glass for me. “This is cheap wine only because I didn’t want to fool with a cork. I guarantee it will relax you.”
I took a sip. It was heavy and very sweet. “Okay first, I own this house and I apologize because I didn’t have it ready for someone to move into. Usually I have a week’s warning, but I guess you needed a place today. That’s okay, I’ll make it up to you.
“I stopped off at the realtors to get your names, so I know you are Lisa Rounds, Annie and Bobby. I live up the road just a little ways and that’s been my home just about forever. This house was my grandmother’s and it came to me a few years ago when she died.
“Your next door neighbors are nice people and they love kids, so feel free to visit them. They might even offer to baby-sit if you need that service. Let’s see, you don’t have a car. What are you going to do about that?”
“I’m going to rent one I guess when I have the funds.”
“Okay, but until you do, you’ll need some transportation. I’ll bring my wife’s car down tomorrow when I come to help you finish moving in. It is supposed to clear off tonight.”
“Won’t your wife mind if you lend her car to another woman?”
“I don’t know, I’ll ask her.” I raised my eyes toward heaven and closed my eyes for a few seconds. Then I looked into Lisa’s eyes. “Nope, she’d be upset if I didn’t.”
“Your wife is dead?”
“Yes, she left me two years ago. She left me in body, but she is still with me in my mind. She was the most kind, gentle person who was ever born. When I need to make a decision I’ll ask her and she guides me. She didn’t fail me when she was with me and so far she hasn’t failed me now that she isn’t here.”
“Is that why you are helping me?”
“Not really. I do some things on my own. Things that I know she would approve of. This is one of them. Look I have to be going. There are hotdogs, buns, eggs and bacon and milk for the cereal you have. I didn’t get any veggies or fruit, but you will make out until you get some. As I say, I’ll see you in the morning. If you need anything, send Annie over to the neighbors to call me.”
I got up off the floor and left before Lisa realized my intention. She shouted a thank you from the doorway as I was getting into my truck.
____________________________________________________________________________________
I lay in bed thinking about Lisa. I really didn’t know what she looked like yet. I didn’t know whether she would clean up good or not when she had her home organized. I figured she needed a friend though. I was going to call Marc and Pam first thing in the morning to help me help her. That would ease her mind about me, for I knew I had come on pretty strong. She just seemed so beat down.
I well knew how that could be, for my wife had been sick for so long I had cried both for her in her pain and me in my despair. Most of the time I couldn’t do anything to relieve it.
I wasn’t normally one to butt in and at first Lisa didn’t appear to want anyone to help her, so I was pushed away. Maybe she would feel differently about me in the morning. I wonder if she bought that little charade about me talking to Winnie in heaven. Why did I do that? I wasn’t particularly religious, I just wanted Lisa to have the use of the car. Pretty neat trick though. I was smiling when I went to sleep.
“Hi Pam, I have a new tenant in Grandma’s house. She is a single mom with two kids. She has a job in town at the bank, so she isn’t a deadbeat. I didn’t have the house ready to move into, so I was wondering if you and Marc could help me make it up to her.”
“What do you need from us?”
“Her stuff is on the front lawn. I covered it with a tarp last night. She has some furniture and a bed set. She and the two kids managed to get a couch in all by themselves. I guess that is where they slept last night. Also, the electricity isn’t on and won’t be until Tuesday. She is supposed to work tomorrow. Could you ask if she needs any washing done?”
“What about her kids? Where will they be?”
“I talked to the Grants. They will watch them if she isn’t too proud to ask.”
“I’ll see that she isn’t. Why didn’t you take her home with you if things are so bad for her?”
“Pride. She’s proud. You will see when you meet her. She’s from the city and people don’t help each other like we do up here.”
“You mean like you do, don’t you? Is she pretty?”
“I have no idea. She was in scroungy work clothes and her hair needed combing. She is tall, that’s all I know. She was sitting on the couch most of the time I was there. The only time I saw her standing, she blew me off for interrupting her cleaning.”
“I’ll bet that is the last time she does. No one stays mad at you. Even me and I’m your sister and can get mad at you anytime I want. Okay, we’ll be along as soon as breakfast is done. Nine o’clock early enough?”
“Fine. Oh, would you drive Winnie’s car over there for me? I’m going to let her drive it to work.”
“Bobby, what else have you done for her?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, give.”
“I didn’t do anything for her. The kids were hungry though, and I bought them a snack.”
“I’ll find out when I get there just what you did. How old is she?”
“My age, maybe a year or two older. How would I know?”
“You could ask.”
“Yeah, right.”
Lisa had changed her clothes from the evening before. Today she had on a blouse and a sweater. The jeans she had on this time fit her ... boy did they ever. There was no hot water for a shower, but I noticed a washbasin and washcloth on the sink shelf. She must have heated water on the camp stove. Her hair hadn’t been washed but she must have spent an hour brushing it for it shone. It was brown but had amber highlights in it. Lisa was a very pretty woman.
I set the carafe of coffee on the work place and she visibly raised her head to sniff it. “Oh God, I never smelled anything more wonderful. Coffee is my one weakness. Thank you.” She hurried and put out two cups. I wondered what time she had risen for she had her dishes installed in the various cupboards.
“My sister will be along in a little bit to visit. If you have a plan where you want your furniture, Marc, my brother-in-law, and I will bring it in.”
“That would be great. Mr. Brandel, I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. I was so tired when I got here, and the trucker practically dumped my things. When I came in and saw the place needed cleaning, I wanted to sit down and cry. Then you came along and I took my frustration out on you. I feel so bad. Getting the children something to eat should count for you in heaven. I don’t think I ever knew anyone as nice as you.”
“Stop it please, I’ll be getting a swelled head.” I looked out the window and saw Marc drive in. Behind him Pam came in driving Winnie’s car. It was a small four-year-old Ford Escort. It only had 2100 miles on it for my wife had little time to drive before she became too sick to operate it.
Marc and Pam came in and I made the introductions. When I came to Bobby I said, “His name is the same as mine. Just so we don’t get confused, I think we should call him Big Bobby and me Little Bobby. That will keep us straight. How do you feel about that?”
“I want to be Little Bobby, ’cause you’re bigger than I am. Okay?”
“Little Bobby it is then.”
We made short work of the move-in. When we finished, Marc took off and I said I would take Pam home.
I gave Lisa the keys to the Ford. “You know I shouldn’t take this to use, but it does solve a big problem for me so I will use it until I can get a car of my own. Now if I can only find a baby-sitter I’ll be all set.”
“Look, if Annie and Little Bobby want to help out the older people next door, I’m sure they would be willing to help through the summer. I’ll introduce you. They have been like an aunt and uncle to Pam and me forever.”
The kids and Lisa hung back as we crossed the lot to the neighbors. Pam whispered to me, “Lisa doesn’t have much in the way of clothes. You gave me all of Winnie’s. Would you mind seeing Lisa in some of them?”
“No, I wouldn’t mind. She is about the same build as Winnie was.”
“Except for one thing, you mean.”
“Yes, I know what you are saying. Lisa is more busty, but the clothes should still fit. You don’t have to tell her where they came from, do you?”
“No, I’ll just say I went crazy at a second hand shop and found they didn’t fit me when I got them home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” When we reached the Grants’ home, a puppy squeezed through Bertha Grant’s legs. He bounded to the kids and they sunk down to let him lick their faces. He wiggled and tumbled all over them and pretty soon all were rolling on the lawn.
“Land’s sake, Sam has found someone to play with. You kids live in the Blazer place, don’t you? That’s perfect. You’ll have to come over anytime you want to play with the little rascal. Come in folks, I’ll put coffee on. Bobby you’ve been a stranger and Pam, you never visit us old people anymore and we love both of you.” We didn’t have to introduce Lisa for Bertha took care of that, exclaiming how nice it was to have a close neighbor again.
By the time we left Burt and Bertha’s, Lisa had herself a baby-sitter for weekdays ... hours eight to four. Pam suggested that Lisa give her a ride home in Winnie’s car to see if some clothes she had would fit her. The kids were going in my truck to my house as I had a Sunday chicken in the oven and I needed Annie to help finish preparing the vegetables, etc. Marc, Pam and Lisa could join us in an hour.
Lisa came in with smiles all over her face. She had a new wardrobe. Just what she needed to approach her new job and meet the public with confidence. This lasted until Pam gave her a tour of the ancestral home. I had pictures of my deceased wife in every room.
When she came back to the living room with Pam, she spoke sharply. “Pam and Bobby, you are doing too much for me. First I want to know why? What do you expect in return? You’re digging a hole for me I can never climb out of. I don’t want to be in debt to anyone. I’m sorry, I can’t accept the use of the car or the clothes. I should walk out of here right now.”
Oh shit, I hadn’t thought about the pictures and the clothes that Pam had given Lisa as being my wife’s. Many of the ones she could see Winnie wearing in the photographs. “Lisa, you aren’t in a hole and you don’t owe us anything, except a thank you. After today you are on your own. We just wanted to find a way for you to get back on your feet.”
She looked first at Pam and then at me. Annie put her two cents in. “Mommy, you can’t be mad at Big Bobby. Not after all the nice things you said about him last night after we went to bed.” Little Bobby came over and stood leaning up against me, fearful that his mother was going to drive me away.
“Lisa it looks as if your kids just out-voted you. Come on, accept that we are just trying to help you, friend to friend.”
“Okay for now, but please don’t do more.” I just smiled.
After dinner, the kids curled up and watched television while Pam and Lisa did the dishes. Lisa came in and got the kids going saying she had a lot of arranging to do and stuff to put away. Pam asked her about showers in the morning and she said Mrs. Grant had offered the use of theirs until the electricity came on. As they were leaving Annie came and asked for a hug and Bobby followed. I walked them out to the car. Lisa stood, undecided for a minute.
“Really I am overwhelmed with all of the generosity I’m receiving. Some day I hope to repay you. Just think of the mess I’d be in if you and Pam hadn’t stepped in to help me. Thank you so much.” Tears of gratitude shone in her eyes as she got into her vehicle.
Pam blasted me when I went in. “You could have hugged her you know.”
“Maybe, but I wasn’t sure. I’m sure I’ll have another chance. That is if I want to. She is a little pricky and I don’t want to do anything to upset her more than she is.”
“Dumb ass!”
I am a maintenance man and trouble shooter for a commercial bakery that has plants all over New England. It was just my luck to be stuck in Maine over the next weekend. I called Bertha Grant to see how my tenants were coping. She raved about the kids and how well behaved they were.
“Those kids ask everyday when you are coming to see them. They think their mother made you mad at them all and that is why you don’t visit. When are you coming home anyway?”
“Not before Wednesday. I’m working this weekend, twelve-hour days just so I can get home. How does Lisa look in Winifred’s clothes?”
“Exquisite, if you must know and she wears them so well. You know Bobby, you could do worse. Your wife has been gone for two years and it is time to start thinking about the rest of your life. You did promise Winnie that you would find another mate to make you happy.”
“Okay Mother Grant, I will give it some thought. Say hi to the kids for me. Oh, how is your dog doing?”
“My dog, ha! He was never my dog and you know it. Those kids have him trained already. He is sleeping at their house now. I let it slip that you got him for me as soon as you were aware of some kids moving in next door. Lisa says she is going to get even. That’s good, I think.”
“Do I dare go visit? She blasted me the last time I saw her.”
“Oh she will forgive you. She just isn’t used to people looking after her. Wait until I tell her you called and asked after the kids. Maybe I’ll tell her you wanted to know how she looked all dressed up.”
“Bertha, don’t you dare. I was wondering, have you found out anything about her life before she moved here? I know nothing about her.”
“Some. I know she was married to a lawyer. I know her husband hit her and she picked up and left with the kids. He filed against her for abandoning him and made it stick. Poor soul gets no alimony and although he is supposed to pay child support, it never comes on time and he is always way behind on payments.
“Compared to him, you are a white knight. She will do anything to keep her kids so she moves wherever work can be found. She transferred when the ex started a nasty rumor. She quit and came here with an excellent recommendation before it could damage her reputation.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Totally.”
“It sounds as if something should be done about him.”
“Yes, but what?”
“I don’t know. How about the kids? How do they feel about their father?”
“They are scared to death of him, but that may be because Lisa has turned them against him. I doubt it, but it is a possibility.”
“Well find out what you can. I’ll be home Wednesday and I’ll see you then.”
I didn’t make it on Wednesday. It was Friday morning when I reached Bertha’s just as she was pouring her second cup of coffee. She said Annie and Bobby would be along in a half hour. She didn’t know if Lisa would stop on her way to work. Sometimes she did and sometimes not.
Bertha had information. The husband’s name was Bill Rounds and Bertha had gleaned his address and the firm he worked for. It was located in a city about a hundred miles away. All of a sudden the door burst open and the puppy came bounding in wiggling all over. Behind him came Bobby and Annie. “Oh Big Bobby, we missed you. Where have you been? We thought we were never going to see you again.”
This was Annie. Bobby was a little shy, but came to me and stood next to me. “Well, I’ve been out of town working. How have you been? I see Sam is glad to see me.” He jumped up and licked my face. “If you are as glad to see me as he is, you can lick my face too.” This brought giggles from the two kids. I looked up and Lisa was standing there.
“Good morning Lisa, and so pretty too. Did you miss me?”
“Yes, I guess I did. The kids have been bugging me as to when we would be seeing you. That will stop now for awhile anyway. Well I have to go to work. I’m glad you are home Big Bobby.” I received a bright smile and she turned and left. I was beat. It had taken me seven hours of driving to get here. The kids wanted me to see how they had made a home out of my grandmother’s house. I went over with them.
“Can I make you some tea, Big Bobby?”
“Gee that would be wonderful. Do you need any help?”
“No, I’ll just heat some water. We have electricity now. You sit here on the couch while I heat it up.”
Sam jumped up beside me and then laid down. I lay down next to him, stroking him and telling him what a nice dog he was. I don’t know what time I roused up. The kids were gone as well as the dog. I realized someone was knocking on the door. Before I could get to it, it opened. A man came hesitantly in, looking around. He spotted me.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Bobby Brandel. Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Bill Rounds. I was given to understand that my wife lives here.”
“Yes she does.”
“Well, what are you doing here then?”
“I guess I was taking a nap. Annie was getting me a cup of tea, but I guess I dropped off on the couch. What’s it to you?”
“I wanted to see my kids. Where are the little brats anyway? Where’s the bitch too, as long as I’m asking?”
“The kids are at the baby-sitters and Lisa is working.” I was taking a decided dislike to this person “She’ll be home this afternoon about three-thirty. I think you had better leave and come back then, unless you have a check for back support for your kids. If you do, I’ll take you to where she is.”
“I’ll come back later.” He spun the wheels of his car as he left. I headed across to the neighbors.
“Annie and Bobby, your dad was here to see you.”
“I know, but Mom said never to be alone with him so we didn’t come over. We called Mom. She is coming home early. I’m glad you are here to protect Mom and us.”
I had slept for nearly four hours. I winked at Annie, saying I guessed my tea had got cold. Bertha made me a sandwich. The kids were very reserved, knowing instinctively that there was going to be a bad scene with their father coming soon. Three quarters of an hour later Lisa drove in and came rushing over to where we were. “Where is he?”
“I told him you would be along later He is coming back when you get out of work.”
“God, I would stay away if I could, but I suppose I’ll have to see what he wants. I hate to ask you, but could you stick around, please?”
“I can do better than that. It will cost you a pot of coffee though.” I went to the phone. “Hi Elaine, is Matt up? I listened for a minute. “Would you two like to meet the tenant who is renting Gram’s place? The ex-husband is coming this afternoon. He was here at noon and was pretty belligerent. I thought it might be a good idea if he saw a uniform. He will be back between three and three-thirty I believe.”
I put the phone down and turned to Lisa. “Troops on the way. Elaine is my cousin and married to a local policeman I haven’t talked to them in awhile. You’ll like both of them. Matt works nights, nine to five. They have three teenage kids and the whole family is as nice as can be.”
Bertha made the comment “You have a problem, Lisa, Bobby is right there to fix it.”
“I know and I don’t know how to pay him back.”
“That’s the nice thing about Bobby. He doesn’t expect or want payback. He gets it though. When Winifred was sick everyone rallied around.”
“Especially you, Bertha. I couldn’t have got through it without you.”
Lisa looked from me to Bertha and smiled. “He isn’t just helping me then?”
“No, he helps everyone.” I followed Lisa and the kids across to the other house and Lisa set about putting coffee on.
Bill Rounds arrived fifteen minutes earlier than expected. He came stomping up the steps and threw open the door. He saw me. “Lisa get this asshole out of here. I want to talk to you and I don’t need an observer.”
Lisa was scared, but wasn’t to be pushed around. “He stays. Bobby, would you take the kids in the bedroom and shut the door. What do you want Bill?”
“I’m taking the kids. I got married a month ago and I want the kids to get to know their step-mom. They can live with us and that way I won’t have to pay support.”
“No way. The court said they would stay with me. You can’t just take them. Besides, you haven’t paid any support for the last two years. You already owe me almost seventeen thousand dollars.”
“You’ll never collect it, especially if I have the kids.”
“I will. I’ve been talking to a lawyer and not one like you either. God, what I ever saw in you, I’ll never understand. Your firm is nothing but an ambulance chaser. Over my dead body will you get the kids.”
“Bitch, you can’t stop me.” I could hear scuffling in the other room and then I heard Lisa yelp and something hit the door with a loud thump. She started screaming. I opened the door and met a fist as I stuck my head out. Lisa was lying on the floor in a corner.
Bill backed off and picked up a chair to hit me. He threw it at me and grabbed Annie who was trying to escape around me. He headed for the door dragging Annie behind him.
I paused and dialed 911. I gave the address, my name as landlord, and said there was a domestic disturbance and a kidnapping in progress. Lisa, who was on her feet crying, had Little Bobby clinging to her leg as I handed her the phone. I rushed out the door.
Bill was trying to force Annie down the steps and across to his car. Just then Matt, in his police cruiser, wheeled in. Bill had Annie by one arm and was dragging her along bodily after she had fallen.
“Let go of the child! On the ground, now!” Matt had come around the back of the car.
“Fuck you! My kid. Keep your frigging nose out of this.”
I almost had to laugh. Bill was in deep shit now. Annie had struggled out of her father’s grasp and was running for the house. Bill turned and started after her and that’s when Matt tackled him. It was all over very shortly. Matt had Bill down with his face pressed into the dirt. Elaine got out of the cruiser with a pair of cuffs in her hand and passed them to her husband.
I pointed to the house. “Elaine would you see if Lisa is badly hurt? He tossed her around pretty violently. The kids are scared and I’m afraid Annie got scraped up a bit.” I heard sirens in the distance and soon there were two more cruisers in the yard. The officers spread out, each one asking questions of us individually.
Matt said, “I’m booking him for assaulting you first and then we’ll sort out the rest of it and add to the charges as need be. You will press charges won’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve got one eye I can hardly see out of. Some protector of womanhood I turned out to be.”
Lisa spoke immediately. “Don’t say that. You were wonderful. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
A lady officer came in and took pictures of all the injuries that Bill had caused. Lisa had a leg with scrapes and bruises and a very visible contusion on her face. I had an eye that was fast turning black and Annie had several surface lacerations from being dragged to the car.
Matt took Bill away to be booked. He was going to be in jail for the weekend and would be arraigned on Monday morning. He was going to be facing some very serious charges. Assault and battery, domestic violence with injury, assault on a child and possibly attempted kidnapping.
I was sitting on the couch after all of the officers had left. Bertha had come over and I was having my coffee that I was promised earlier. I was to give Elaine a ride home, but I hated to leave this very upset family. Pam solved that problem by showing up bearing two large pizzas.
Burt Grant came over when he saw Pam drive in and helped carry the soda pop that went with the boxed pizza. The two kids sat beside me. I figured I hadn’t done much, but they felt things would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been here. They remembered the weekend two weeks ago when things looked so bleak and I had made things more pleasant for them.
First the Grants left, then Pam gave Elaine a ride home. This left me alone with the kids and Lisa. “Bobby, I’m so sorry I’ve brought all of this trouble down on you. Do you wish us to find another place to live?”
“Let me think. Umm, nope. I want you right here. You all keep my mind occupied. I haven’t thought of my wife for two days and that’s good. I used to get depressed, but I haven’t since I stopped here the other day. So it is me that should be thanking you. I’m curious though, and you don’t have to answer. Was your husband always like he was today?”
“No he wasn’t. I’ll explain sometime when we can sit down alone. It is sad and I suppose some of it was my fault, but I’ll leave that for another time. I’m curious too. How do you know just what to do in an emergency? What would have happened if you hadn’t had your cousin coming here? Annie might not even be here with me tonight.”
“Well, short version, I was pretty wild when I was a kid ... teenager if you will. My father almost gave up on me. What turned me around was the death of two friends. My friend and I were out drinking with our girlfriends and decided to have a woods party. You know, you find a secluded place in the woods and get as drunk as you can as fast as possible.
“I got falling down drunk and so did my buddy’s girl. My friend took my girl and headed home. They didn’t make it. My old man heard about the accident and went looking for me. When he found me, he took me, still drunk, to the accident just as my buddy and my girl were being removed. He made me watch it all.
“Next morning he sat me down and told me I was just as responsible for the accident as the two that had died. Just because I was doing the same thing my friend did I was encouraging such behavior. ‘You remember this every day until you are able to help someone out of serious trouble and then maybe you can forget what you saw today.’
“I have spent a lot of sleepless nights. I gave up serious drinking and joined the military for one term but that wasn’t for me. I hope I have become someone he could be proud of.
“I’m glad I had that conversation with him. He died way too young from a heart attack two years later. I haven’t stayed away from people with problems. My wife was sick with early adult cancer. I knew this when I married her. I made her happy for the few years we had together. She was a treasure and I was blessed to know her and have her love.
“I don’t think about that accident often anymore and that was because she could hold me and make the loss of my girlfriend and my buddy recede into the past. We were even when she passed on. She helped me and I helped her.”
I had tears in my eyes when I finished my speech. The kids had got bored with adult talk and lay sleeping curled on each side of me. “Lisa, I didn’t have much sleep last night. In fact I didn’t have anything but a nap this morning on your couch.
“I think I’ll toddle along home and get some more rest. You’ll be safe enough tonight. By tomorrow you may have someone from your husband’s firm up here looking into what is going on. You should have a lawyer of your own if they want to talk to you.”
“Oh God, I don’t have any money.”
“Don’t worry about that. Here is a number to call if someone shows up. Just don’t say anything until he gets here.”
“I hope he is better than the one I had for my divorce.”
“I think he might be. He is the father of our present Lt. Governor. He is eighty, but he’s still pretty sharp and he knows the laws of this state and was responsible for many of them passing in the legislature. You’ll like him.” I got up and was almost to the door.
“Bobby, may I hug you?”
“I’d like that.”
When I was ready for bed, I went upstairs and looked in the room where my wife had spent her last days, and I looked at her picture. I had never slept in her bed, but tonight I decided I wanted to. I was ready now to let her go and move on as she had urged me to do. Lisa might just be the one. My hug with her had been very brief and that was as it should be. Maybe not the next one, though.
I was invited for Sunday dinner. My eye was brilliant, but I wore it proudly. The kids ran out to my truck when I drove up. I had quick-like put together a pumpkin pie to contribute to the meal. I leaned down and Sam ran right into my arms and kissed me all over. I guessed he wasn’t much of the watch dog variety, but made a wonderful companion for the kids. I could smell roasting pork when I was led to the table by Little Bobby.
Lisa had an apron on. Today I felt free to look more closely at a woman. Her brown hair shone. Most men go for blonde or raven, but I thought a tall woman looked best with dark brown. This was just a personal preference. Maybe the freckles that Lisa sported across the bridge of her nose helped. She smiled and bid me sit. There were happy faces all around. After dinner, Lisa sent the kids out to play with Sam.
“Now Bobby, I want to tell you about your screwed up tenant. I don’t want you to have any illusions about me. I haven’t been a very nice person in the early years of my life. I thought I had put that time behind me four years ago when I divorced Bill. I think you are guessing that I’m your age. I’m actually four years older than you. I had good parents and I have been to college. That’s where I met Bill. Was I a good girl? No I wasn’t. I did drugs and I was pretty promiscuous.
“When Bill and I married we kept up with the parties until Annie came along. That’s when I started to change. I gave up drugs, unless you call liquor a drug. When Bobby came along I gave that up and stopped being what you would call a loose woman.
“Bill didn’t and he hated me for not continuing that lifestyle. When Little Bobby was four we had a battle royal and he gave me an ultimatum. Join him or divorce him. I found I loved my children more than I did him so I divorced him.
“Bill is smart, but he couldn’t keep his lifestyle hidden from the firm he was working for and he was canned about the time the divorce was final. He hired an attorney from the firm where he is presently employed. By this time I was working and supporting the kids on my own, receiving nothing from Bill.
“I haven’t seen much of him since the divorce. He did cause some troubles where I was previously employed and that is why I moved here. What he was thinking Friday, I have no idea. What did he expect to gain by trying to steal Annie? I don’t know if it was revenge on me or if he wished he could get me to go back to him.”
“Bill said something about getting married. Do you know anything about that?”
“No, but if he is, we will most likely see her eventually.”
I was out of town Monday and Tuesday and back in the office on Wednesday. I called Matt to ask about Lisa’s ex-husband. “He is still being held in jail. His attorney was up from the big city and argued for a low bail, but without success. There is going to be a hearing next week.
“I suggested to the woman, Lisa, that she get a restraining order against him. I had him checked for drugs in his system. I think he is, or was, a meth user. That may be why he was so off the wall. The results will be back before the hearing.”
“How is he acting now that he has been locked up for a few days?”
“No change. He is filled with anger and I fear for the woman and her kids. I’ve warned her, but I don’t know if it is enough. You going to keep tabs on her?”
“Yes, as much as I can. You give the department a heads up and if a call comes in, have them jump on it.”
“Oh we will.”
I stopped to say hi to the kids (Lisa?) on my way home. She still wore the clothes she went to work in. She was wearing one of my wife’s dresses. I couldn’t help but stare at her. For a minute I thought it really was Winifred. I raised my eyes to Lisa.
“Bobby, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coming over or I would have changed.”
“No, I’m glad you didn’t. She was beautiful in that dress, but you are just as beautiful as she was. I was startled, that’s all and I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Please, I hope to see you in more of them. It helps me to move on.
“If you could believe in such a thing, I would think Winnie set this up. You know in these last few weeks since I’ve met you, I rarely think about her. No that’s not right, I think of her, but in a different context. Now she is just a happy memory where before she was a presence to be missed and longed for.”
“Bobby, someday when you feel comfortable talking about her, would you tell me about your life with her? Your life together must have been wonderful.”
“It was in many ways and what made it the more precious was that we knew it would not last very long. We did have seven years together where we only expected five. God was good to give us that extra two.” Lisa came near and gave me a hug, nothing sexual about it, just as a friend and that is what made it right.
“Now Lisa, I’m here to give you a warning. Matt says Bill shows no sign of being repentant. He fears for you and the kids. Would you come and stay with me for awhile?”
“No, I can’t do that. You’ve done too much already.”
“You’re being stubborn, you know. Think of Annie and Bobby.”
“Probably, but I can’t do differently. I’ll take all the precautions I can.”
“Okay. I thought you would think like that. If I show you a place to go if you can get there safely, you would go wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, of course. Is there such a place?”
“Come with me.” I opened the cellar door and led Lisa, Little Bobby and Annie down the stairs. The foundation walls were of laid up stone. In the far corner near the front of the oil furnace, I paused. “When I was a kid about Little Bobby’s age, there was a small door right here.
“Through it there was an old-time root cellar where fruits and vegetables were kept for winter storage. My grandfather decided that he was too old for putting foodstuff by, so he was going to block the door up. I was into settlers and Indians, and I convinced him that the settlers that lived here needed a place to hide out when attacked.”
I leaned down and pointed to what looked like a large rock. It was actually a fake one made out of a stump. “Before he got the whole entrance closed, I begged him to let me have the cellar to play in. I cemented sand over a wooden stump after he hewed it to fit and painted it. See it can be slid out and when you are inside it can be pulled back into the hole. Gramp and I worked on it a whole week and it is one of the things I best remember about him.”
It was a pretty tight fit for me, but Lisa slid in next with the kids coming in right behind her. It was pitch black in there so we didn’t stay.
“I’ll send over a couple of flashlights to set beside the crawl space so you can look it over. You can’t see it but there is an air vent in the shed floor behind some boxes and if need be you can get out that way, but you have to move some loose boards. I hope you never have to use it. I’d hate to think that the world has got no better in the last three hundred years and we still need to live our life in fear of Indians.”
When we returned upstairs Lisa and I talked about the upcoming court date on Monday. Lisa had asked for the day off from work and as I had to be present, I did too. I left fairly early. It wasn’t easy, for I could sit and watch Lisa move about the house. I would find myself imagining having Little Bobby for my son or Annie as my daughter. I was afraid if I paid too much attention, I would drive them away.
I was back on Saturday, asking if they all would like to go swimming for the day at the reservoir. I would get dogs and burgers and buy some salads and a watermelon. I was immediately taken up on it and we soon had Lisa’s Escort loaded with goodies. Lisa took time to change and the kids had their suits on. I had mine on under my jeans. I had to wait to see Lisa in her suit, for she had on a wrap-around sun dress.
When we got to the water, it was worth the wait. Lisa was perfect in every way and I feasted my eyes on her. It made her blush, I was watching her so intently. Even Annie noticed. “Big Bobby, do you think Mom is beautiful?”
“She is a goddess.” Just then Sam ran by, chasing another loose dog and this gave me the excuse to get away from where this conversation was headed. I behaved myself after that and we all had a fun afternoon. Lisa handed me the keys to drive on the way home. The kids and Sam slept in the back seat. “How come you want me to drive?”
“Just so you will have to keep your eyes on the road and not on me, that’s why.”
“Was I that obvious?”
“Yes, you were. I must say I don’t mind that much. In fact I like it, but we need to know each other better. On the surface you are just about perfect. I’m not and I have a lot of baggage. Take some time, Bobby. Get to know me. We have this thing with Bill to get through.” She was quiet for a minute. Her hand stole into mine.
“I know how much I owe you. If you ask me to go to bed with you, I will, but I wouldn’t feel right about it. For the moment, maybe, but I’m hoping for something long-term. There again, I don’t suppose I should even be thinking that.”
I glanced away from the road for a second and looked at her. She was so serious. “I’m sorry Lisa, I guess I have been thinking and acting like a teenager. Thank God one of us is an adult.”
“Not so adult as you might think. Believe that I may want what you want, but can we just slow down? Maybe it is because we are both lonely, but that is no reason to move too fast. I will tell you that my heart beats fast when you come to see us. I know when you are with us, I know I’m safe and protected until you leave. Please don’t ever stop coming.”
“You don’t mind then? I was pacing myself for I thought I was being a nuisance.”
“Don’t feel that way. You are always welcome and come as often as you can. That’s an invitation for supper tonight.” Lisa began giggling.
“What’s so funny?”
“Supper. Supper wasn’t a word I was familiar with until I came here to live. I laid in bed the other night saying ‘supper’ fifty times. It begins to sound stupid after awhile, but then I thought about inviting you for supper. It doesn’t sound so weird when I associate it with you.” I got my hand squeezed and that is the way we passed the last five miles.
I dreamed about my grandfather last night. He was a great one for the early settlers and had read many stories of their trials in carving out homes in the new land. He came by it naturally for he had an ancestor killed in the Old Deerfield Massacre.
I guess that is where my own interest came from and he always shared with me the stories and facts when he came across them. We even discussed how if a settler owned his own house in the woods what should be done to protect his family.
Sunday morning after dreaming so vividly, I went down through the woods to see if I could still look down on his house from above as we had done many years before. I found I could and sat there a few minutes remembering the great times I had spent as a child listening to Gramp and some of the war stories he told when he was a sniper in the great war. I suppose that is why I had always had an interest in weapons and especially snipers.
I was in the military myself and it was a time of peace (thank God). I had become a trainer after basic training in teaching others the skills that Gramp had insisted I learn at the local firing range. I didn’t own a sniper rifle such as was issued to me in the service, but I had a couple of weapons I believed would serve.
I always had been intrigued with the single-shot Sharps .50. Oh, I modified one that I had picked up at a gun show shortly after I said goodbye to Uncle Sam. I kept my eye in by loading my own shells and firing off fifty rounds each and every year. I had another weapon I was pretty good with. It was a 30.06 and I had set up that one with the same equipment. I had purchased the two scopes on sale at a surplus store.
From where I sat this morning, if I had either weapon with me, I could have looked through the military sniper scope and counted the ticks on Sam ... if he had any. I looked around and spotted a downed tree. Just what I needed to hide my weapons. I trundled along home and got my equipment. I wrapped everything in plastic and came back, disguising the ground around the tree enough from any casual observer.
The hearing lasted less than an hour. The prosecutor wasn’t interested in pursuing the assault on my person. Bill claimed I was going to attack him and he was defending himself. Also the attempted kidnapping against his daughter was dropped, although the prosecutor objected vigorously.
The only thing he was being charged with was the assault on Lisa and the same on Annie. His bail was lowered to $20,000 which was met. A trial date was set. While this was going on Bill cast malevolent eyes at both me and Lisa.
We stood together on the steps. Bill came out and mounted a big Harley behind a woman in leathers. There were four other bikes with her. Bill’s lawyer spoke with him for several minutes and from the body language we could tell he was urging Bill to do something. It ended with him shaking his head in disagreement. The woman kicked the bike to life and all five took off. I had an uneasy feeling and Lisa was worried.
“Come home with me, please. We’ll collect the kids and go somewhere.”
“No, I have to work tomorrow and I can’t run away from something that only might happen. We’ll be fine. I have the restraining order. Bill is an attorney. To some people that might not sound like much, but he knows and won’t go against it.” I ended up dropping her at her door. I reminded her of her safe place in the cellar and she smiled as she slammed the truck door and waved goodbye.
I went home and made some sandwiches and packed some water in a sack and hurried down through the woods to where I could overlook the little house below. I dozed in the sun and slept. Suddenly I could hear a far-off rumble. I looked down the four hundred yards to the house. I counted seven bikes pulling in and parking. They parked heading out. I didn’t know if this was normal or maybe to make a quick get-a-way.
All the bikers dismounted and sat down on the grass. By this time I had my scope on them and I could easily pick out Bill. Finally he got up and headed for the house. Two others followed him. Lisa had locked the door, for they rattled it and it wouldn’t open. The biker that stood next to Bill pushed him back and removed a gun from somewhere. He fired one round into the lock.
That was enough for me. I went to work with that big old Sharps. No one was going to shoot up my house. I was aiming for tires. Even with the single shot I got three of the bikes before they realized they were under attack.
One of them ran to a bike and removed what looked like an Uzi. He shoved a banana clip in it and pointed it up the hill toward me. He started firing which made me laugh. He could be just as effective by spitting at me at this range. I couldn’t hear him, for I was pretty deaf from the .50 caliber, but I could see the gun jerk in his hands.
I let a round go into a gas tank and the bike went up with a whoosh. I turned my attention back to Bill. Bill’s woman was on a bike waiting for him. The man that shot the lock on the house, back-handed her off and mounted up. Bill ran and leaped on behind him.
They took off, wheeling onto the highway and were soon out of sight. Two police cars pulled in before the two undamaged bikes could be mounted. They just sat there blocking the exit. Another police car, I could see from my high perch, had made a U-turn and was after the bike that flew past it.
I scrambled down the hillside and went into the shed behind the house. I spoke through the root cellar vent. “Lisa, it is safe enough for you to come out now. Bill has left with one of the bike riders The police are here and the rest are in their custody. I’ll meet you at the front door.”
I came around the house and stood waiting until the family came up from their safe place. A cop came up to me. I pointed to the lock that had been drilled by a slug.
“I didn’t start shooting until they shot into the door and prepared to enter the house.” I wanted to establish that I didn’t cause the havoc that ensued. The policeman said that fact had been established already. Lisa came out and the two kids came and hugged me. Lisa gave me a glad smile.
We went down the steps together and lined up facing the bikers, one of whom was the woman that Bill had rode in with. She eyed us sullenly. One of the bikers asked, “What the fuck were you shooting at us with? At that distance you were lucky to hit anything.”
“You mean like that Eagle decal on the bike I hit in the gas tank?”
“You could see that?”
I walked over to the charred remains of the bike. “Huh, I could swear I saw one on this bike.” I let that be my answer.
The police chief arrived in an unmarked car with two detectives. One of the detectives questioned me. The chief talked with Lisa and the kids and the other detective questioned the bikers one by one. I pointed out that one biker had gone to the door with Bill and he was the one that Bill had escaped with. The detective spent most of his time with the woman. She indicated that it was her bike that I had wiped out.
I wandered over to the three bikes I had destroyed the tires on. The bikers crowded around me. I made an observation. “I was afraid I would hit the wheels and not just the tires. It looks like you guys aren’t hurt too bad.” They all looked at me and looked back at their property.
“Son-of-a-bitch. He’s right. Come on, tell us what you were using? It sounded like a cannon.”
“It is, almost. I was using a 490 grain hunk of lead shot out of a 1880 Sharps buffalo gun. I have a Nam sniper scope mounted on it. It is just something I put together myself. I was cadre and taught weapons after the first Gulf War.”
“We never would have stood a chance against you if you had wanted to cause us harm.”
“Something like that. Say, for my own information, what was Bill after? What is he to you guys? He doesn’t have his own bike. He hasn’t treated his wife and kids very well and he seemed to want the little girl with him. He gave his ex some bullshit about wanting her with him to get used to his new bride. Is that her over there? I figure he didn’t want to pay support. He already owes seventeen thousand.”
No one wanted to answer. “Come on guys tell me something.”
“Well, that’s Sheila and she is sister to our leader, Buck. Bill owes Buck a lot of money. We think maybe he struck some kind of deal with him. If he had custody of the kids, he wouldn’t pay child support and could settle his debt. He is the gang’s attorney. If shit like this is happening, maybe we should elect a new leader and get us a new lawyer. Bill has been in jail more than we have.”
Just then another police car came slowly into the yard. The officer got out and conferred with the chief. The chief went over to the female biker and had a short conversation. She burst into tears and the chief motioned for the other bikers to come see to her. He then headed for Lisa and the kids. Lisa saw him coming and beckoned to me. The chief said, “Bob can you take the kids inside? I have to talk to Mrs. Rounds. She’ll be in in a minute.” I herded the kids inside.
Annie wasn’t dumb. “It’s about Daddy isn’t it?”
“I suspect so. Your Mom will tell us.”
Soon Lisa came in. “Little Bobby and Annie, I have some news concerning your father. He was on a motorcycle and had an accident. The man that was driving the bike hit a deer and they crashed. Your father died when the motorcycle went off the road.”
Little Bobby started to cry and came to me. Annie stood there and looked at her Mom. Then she said, “I’m sorry he died and I’m sorry for you, Mom. I know you loved him one time. I don’t think he loved me and I guess I’m not going to miss him very much.”
“I know he changed and wasn’t very nice the last few times we saw him. We will have to remember him as he was before.” When Annie turned away, Lisa raised her shoulders as if to say what more can I say.
Annie went and looked out the door. She saw the woman biker sitting on the ground looking as if she was still crying. Annie turned to me. “Is that woman Daddy’s new wife?”
“I think so. Her name is Sheila. Her brother was most likely killed in the accident as well as your father.” Annie turned and walked out the door and went over to Sheila.
“Hi, my name is Annie. Would you like to come in and have a cup of tea? It is a sad time for all of us.” Needless to say, I was amazed at what Annie had done. Sheila got up and followed her into the house. Little Bobby came running out to me. I took his hand and walked over to the bikers.
“Did the cops charge you guys with anything?”
“Just Pete. He is the one that went to the door with Buck and Bill. He is going to have to appear on a disturbing the peace charge. The rest of us are all right and can leave just as soon as we get tires. Sheila is okay too. This was a pretty expensive deal for her. She is the one that put up Bill’s twenty thousand for bail, and she lost about sixteen thousand dollars worth of bike. It may be the best thing that happened to her, though. Buck was no good and Bill was an asshole and she is well free of both of them.”
“She should get her twenty thousand back, now that Bill is dead. You guys got money for tires?”
“Yes. I suppose we should get about having them fixed. I wish we had a truck to take the wheels into town.”
“You can use mine. You have to give me and Little Bobby a ride to go get it though.”
“You got to be shitting me. You’d do that for us after all of this?”
“Yes.” I said no more. “Bobby run in and tell Mommy you are going for a bike ride.” When he left, I asked, “What happened to the Uzi?”
“It’s over there under one of the bikes. The cops just saw the tire shot out and figured the bike tipped over. I kicked the gun under it and leaned on the bike while the cops were talking to the others. When he saw it fall over, he told me to leave it. You aren’t going to tell them are you?”
“No, but what do you need it for? It will get you into trouble.”
“Do you want it? It’s yours for the asking.”
“Not hardly. I would like to see it before you leave, though.”
Sheila came out and put her helmet on Little Bobby. It was way too big, but it would satisfy the law if he was seen. I got on behind Jim and Little Bobby was up behind Cain. It was a pretty sedate ride. Cain drew even with us and Bobby was grinning all over as he sat clinging to the man in front of him. I drove the truck back and Little Bobby stayed on the bike for the return. Lisa was out in the yard waiting and laughing at Little Bobby who was so excited.
The wheels were off the three bikes. I gave Jim the keys and directed him to the tire warehouse where he could find replacements and have them installed. I stayed with Lisa. I also wanted to become acquainted with Sheila.
I found out she was twenty-two and had met Bill through her brother. He had been on his best behavior and after a whirlwind courtship they were married. The marriage soon started coming apart at the seams and Sheila was ready to give up on Bill when he came north and ended up in jail.
She said she should have known, for her brother was not much better than scum, but Bill dressed nice and spoke well. She was worried about getting her $20,000 back from the court, for she had taken all of the equity out of the house she owned. Now she didn’t even have transportation. She glanced at me as she said this. “I don’t blame you, but I’m up against it. It looks as if I’ll be walking to work for awhile at least.”
Jim came to the door and said they were ready to mount up. Sheila was going to ride with him. He thanked me for being kind enough to help get the tires they needed. I walked out with him. “Sheila is in a bind for transportation. Do any of you guys have anything you could help her with?”
“Burt’s got a small street bike and he wants to get rid of it. His old lady would kill him if he gave it to Sheila though.”
“How much is it?”
“He wants $1,000 for it, but if he got $800 he’d be lucky.”
“Tell him to call me tomorrow evening. I’ll negotiate with him and buy it. Sheila can pay me back when she gets her bail money returned. Maybe all of you could chip in a little for her, too. Here’s my card with my number.”
Jim looked at me. “I don’t know what kind of a guy you are, but if you bring Lisa Rounds and Bill’s kids down to his funeral, would you stay with me and my wife?”
“I’d like that.” Ten minutes later Lisa and the kids stood by my side as we watched the five bikes wheel out and head down the highway. All that was left in the yard was a burned up piece of junk hardly recognizable as a $16,000 bike. Oh well, maybe I could get five bucks for it at the junk yard.
I turned around and looked at the house that had been my Grandmother’s. “Lisa, may I come in for a few minutes?”
“Of course Big Bobby. Is there something bothering you? Lord knows I’ve been a handful of trouble for you in the month you have known me.”
“No, I just want to talk. I’d like to tell you how I met my first wife.” Lisa led me in and made a pot of coffee. When she was going to push Annie and Little Bobby out of the room, I said no, I wanted them to hear this as well.
“Years ago, nine to be exact, I rented this little cottage out to a woman. It was shortly after my Grandmother died. I hadn’t had a chance to renovate it. She rented it anyway and I came in to work on it after she had moved in. Within a month I knew I was in love.
“Winnie warned me that she wasn’t well and I should be looking for someone that would stand at my side for more years than she was destined to have. I overruled her objections and we were married. It was the wisest thing I had ever done and we were unbelievably happy. She left me two years ago.
“The past is behind me now. I’ve become attracted to another person under similar circumstances. Lisa, you said I would be welcome to call anytime. Does that still hold?”
“Of course you can. I’d be hurt if you didn’t. After you get to know me, though, I might not live up to your expectations.”
“That’s what getting to know each other is all about isn’t it?”
Five months later, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, we were married.
Now I always slow down when I go by Grandma’s old house. The house that has given me two lovely, wonderful wives.
The End
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