The Widow's Friend Read online

  As for kids and bedtime, Lexi just turned eight and she’s been tough to get to sleep for forever. She thinks that every weekend she gets to stay up late and fall asleep in front of a movie or something. After all it’s the weekend and she never lets me forget it. I have more conflict in my life over Lexi than any other single issue. Mary thinks she has to parent her, and I just try to give her love and a feeling of security so she’ll know that we’re always here for her. Anyway, trust me, it ain’t easy. I wish I had a few suggestions for you. It seems like parenting a grandkid is harder than it was raising my own. I raised three kids just as natural as natural, but this little girl wears me out.

  Well, my eyes are beginning to slam shut.

  Good nite, Levi

  ***

  From Callii Wilson

  Oct 5th

  Boy, am I getting good at this or what? It’s not even twenty four hours later and you are getting an e-mail from me. Well, I took your advice. My granddaughter is in bed watching television right now. I hope she falls asleep soon because it is 8:45 and she didn’t go to sleep till about 9:30 last night. We were up at 6:00 this morning taking care of her physical needs. I am so tired and I can’t sleep because she is such a noisy sleeper. She stays in my room with me because it is the only bedroom on the main floor and she won’t sleep upstairs or down because she is scared. I think she is going home for the weekend and I can catch up on everything then. I have had her baby brother all day today, too, and I also had him all day on Tuesday. He is a handful. He thinks he needs to be outside the whole time he is here.

  I loved hearing you tell me how cute I was when I was young, but then you hurt my feelings by saying that I am now just another picture. I’m sorry. I know that’s a little immature.

  I think your mom has a sense of humor, and I am guessing that your mom has not spoken to mine up there in Heaven, because if she had my mom would have warned her about me, and she would never have sent you in my direction! But you’re so cute, and I love your take on things.

  So, I would love to read some of your books or articles. Where would I find such a thing?

  Did you have fun on your little daytrip? Where did you go? What kind of sickness did you come up with?

  I am ready to leave again. I have to go—anywhere! It seems like when I’m here I can’t get anything done because I have to take care of grandkids.

  Today was a very sad day at my house. The pool people came and closed my pool for the winter. No one has swum in it for about a month, and it costs so much to keep it going. What is your favorite season of the year? Do you like yard work? I love it. I think it is my therapy. No wonder I am crazy right now. I haven’t found time for my therapy this week—you can tell by looking at my yard.

  And by the way, I do wear high heels. About 3 or 4 inch ones, even to do my yard work in. I like to feel tall. That makes me one to two inches taller than you, so there you go. Add the fat and I am about 5 foot 11 inches, because flab makes you look taller.

  Well, it is 9:15 and Mattie is still going strong. She is in there laughing at the program she is watching. I guess it is time to put my foot down and turn off the TV. And don’t forget, that foot has a point on it!

  So goodbye for now, Callii

  P.S. Who told you I was tall?

  ***

  From Levi Stone

  Oct 6th

  Callii, you made me laugh a few times with this one. I think you’re loosening up a bit and not being quite so guarded. (I may be wrong but it seems like it to me.) I’ll probably be a little long winded again on this one. There’s so much to answer and so much to tell.

  Do you tell much of anyone that we’re conversing right now? I’m pretty quiet about it myself, because I still wonder where this is heading (or not). There’s one guy who sits across from me at work that I talk to. He’s a forty five year old divorced guy that dates a lot. I also mentioned you to my sister, Sherry, a few weeks ago, but I think she kind of blew it off. She did say her good friend Barbara Sharp knows you, and that she would ask her about you, but I don’t know if she will ever really do it. Sherry told me you were tall and thin, and Kenny Pickering told me you were tall as well. I just threw your name out there at our last party and asked if anyone knew you. I didn’t tell them much more than that, other than that we’d dated a bit when we were younger. Kenny also told me you have a beautiful house and described it to me, and all this time I’d thought you lived in an apartment.

  We were throwing out names of our old flames that night. Of course I threw a name or two out there myself, but others shared them as well, girls from the past, the very distant past of course, like in high school. If you’re curious just ask and I’ll clue you in.

  I’m sorry you’re so tired right now. Tired seems to be a way of life for me lately—I haven’t slept that well for years. I don’t take Ambien yet, like many others that I know, but restless nights can take a toll.

  Where does Mattie’s mother live? Is she good to you, or does she “use you” when she needs you—or both?

  And I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings by saying that you were just another picture. You were beautiful when you were young and you’re beautiful still—I have seen your picture on Facebook. I’m sure if you look up foxy grandma in the dictionary there’s a picture of you in there. All I was saying was that your picture didn’t fly off the page and jump into my mind like it did the first time, along with the flashback memories and enticing innuendos that totally captured me. If you were frumpy I’d be long gone. After all, I’m a man aren’t I, and we both know that men are pigs. And by the way, I can’t imagine that you’re fat. Fat on you probably means that you’re normal for most people. Your picture on face book doesn’t show any fat at all. Here is an old poem that a jolly pharmacist used to quote: “When the age of forty we all become, the men turn to belly, the women to bum.” Hmmmm? And forty is a long way behind both of us.

  I’m sure that your mom and mine have commiserated up there in heaven. After all, your mother loves you just as much as mine loves me, and they both want the best for us. You have a good heart, and that’s what counts. I would just bet, knowing little more than I do, that you’ve had a few more “adventures” in your adult life than I have, but who cares. You are Callii and you’re a good one. And I am like Popeye, “I yam what I yam.” Heh….

  You can see what kind of writing I do at my old dead website: adventurebooks.com. It will show you my style. I’ve written a new book which will be printed in a few weeks – “Carnival”. I’ll send you an attachment with the book cover on this e-mail. The cover is hot.

  I still want to pay you a visit at your gift fair in Pocatello. It’s not that far away. We’ll just talk a bit between customers. I hope that doesn’t make you nervous. I mean, a girl that’s been around as much as you have—heck!

  Now, as for tending grandkids, my mother made a firm rule when my kids were little. “I DON’T TEND GRANDKIDS!” She really ticked off my brother’s wife, but I think mom felt like she was getting abused. I guess you might have to make a few rules of your own, or somehow find a way not to tell them yes every time.

  My little daytrip was outstanding, mainly because I got to talk to Lynn Brown. Lynn and I became fast friends more than twenty years ago when we were neighbors in Preston. Then we both moved and we ended up about four blocks away from each other in Idaho Falls, and for a long time we didn’t even know it. Anyway, Lynn has always been kind of heavy and he’s had diabetes for many years. Lynn and his wife Carol are both overweight and they’ve never had money. They’re probably looked upon as lower class people by much of the world, but the world would be dead wrong. I have never met a better man in my life than Lynn Brown. He is on dialysis now and has been on disability for about six months. I don’t know how much longer he can go.

  We went in my new car and started our drive up through Ashton, cruised down and had lunch in Driggs, and then shot back down through Swan Valley and back home to Idaho Falls. Good drive, good company, good
conversation. We shared some personal stuff along the way. I shared a few things about Jace (My son who has passed away.) and he shared some amazing stories of his own. We laughed and we cried. It was a great day. We’re gonna go again in November. And just another side note, Mary and I are flying to Boston in the not too distant future for a little getaway. I’m excited about that, too.

  Kenny Pickering has me interested in your house and yard. I have seen your house from the outside, by typing your address into Google maps and clicking on street view. Did you know you can do that? But, according to Kenny, your house is wonderful both inside and out.

  As for yard work, you can have it. I live on Hell’s half acre and it’s my job to maintain the grass. My brother Brent calls me sprinkler man, because I have twelve different stations and something is always breaking somewhere. I gave up gardening in my mid-thirties. Mary does it now and I sometimes say, “Boy, you sure complain a lot for someone who loves this kind of stuff.” We have four garden spots and I try to help, but she refuses to let me spray, she’s afraid I’ll damage one of her flowers. Sometimes I’ll spray a bit when she’s not home, though. After all, a man’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.

  As for the seasons of the year, to be honest with you I like all of them. I love summer nights and riding my Vespa after the sun goes down, sometimes alone and sometimes with someone. The bike is quiet enough that we can ride and talk at the same time. I love the fall, the beautiful colors and the mild weather. I also love the winter. Mary has complained for years about January. I really think she has that disease called SAD, where when you don’t get enough sunshine it affects you. (Along with menopause, an attitude, and chemical problems…. :^) Aren’t you glad you’re not married to me? My brother Brent sometimes says, “You love every woman in the world except the one that you’ve got.” He’s probably right. Anyway, I tell Mary January is for reading books, hot baths, movies, theatre, basketball, hot chocolate, and on and on…. But I especially love spring, where the world is renewed, our thoughts turn to love, and our bodies seem regenerated.

  Now, about how tall we are. I have to tell you, in all honesty, I have always been attracted to short girls, never tall ones. That’s just the way it is. Maybe I should start wearing cowboy boots again. What do you think?

  I’ve been writing for an hour, but I think I answered all of your questions. Sorry to be so longwinded. It was fun to read your e-mail and it was fun to think of you.

  Your friend, Levi

  ***

  From Callii Wilson

  Oct 11th

  Hello and a happy good evening to you! I have been making baby dolls all day long, so I decided to take a break and catch up on my e-mails.

  How was your weekend? Mine was good. I attempted to clean my garage. I took a huge truck load of stuff to the thrift store, and I love it. It feels so good to get rid of stuff that has been hanging around forever. I also cleaned my closet yesterday, and I am sending thirty-five pairs of shoes there as well. I think I am a shoeaholic, and yes, most of them were high heels. What kind of an aholic are you?

  I loved your new book cover. Who is the artist? I also got on your web site. You really have a talent. I am sure my grandsons would love reading your books—me too.

  I didn’t know you had spies out there checking up on me, but I am an open book. There is no need for spies. I don’t have anyone checking up on you. I don’t even know who it would be. I have one really good friend that I share most everything with, but I really haven’t shared anything about our friendship with her. She would be judging me. She tends to do that because she has nothing interesting going on in her life.

  But, just to make things clear, I am in this for a friendship. I find you funny and interesting. You are a married man, I think, and I am not into breaking up marriages. I am sure nothing would ever come from it anyway because I am too tall, (Hee hee.) and you are attracted to short girls. And let me clue you in, don’t you know that short girls have short legs and they can’t walk very fast or anything? And an extra pound on a short girl doesn’t have as many places to hide as it does on a tall girl, so there’s a little education for you.

  I can’t believe guys have parties with other guys. Is it a Sugar City thing or is it just a you-and-your-friends kind of a thing? I love throwing parties. I have a diner in my basement that I use for such a thing. Did Kenny tell you about that? It seems like I showed it to him when he came for my Dads 80th birthday party. How is Kenny doing anyway? You would think I would know, being that he lives one house over from my dad. If you guys ever need a place to have your parties I rent the diner out and I also cater. If I cater there is no fee to use it. There is a theater down there too. It’s perfect for football parties, etc.

  It sounds like you had a great time playing hooky from work. I like that you don’t judge your friend and that you take him for who he is. My mom used to say that I would bring home all the kids that were like lost little puppies and needed a friend. I always took that as a compliment. It kind of back fired on me though, when I started bringing home the lost puppy dogs and marrying them.

  Well, this email has been interrupted about three times with phone calls, and now one of my favorite shows is on TV, so I must end this for now.

  Have a good evening and I will talk at you later, Callii

  Chapter 14

  “Going Away”

  I had a pit in my stomach. Callii wasn’t interested in me because I was a married man. She just wanted to be friends. Friends, was that all? The little….

  No, that wasn’t right. It was just that….

  And I felt like….

  I knew she was right because I was married, and she had every right to feel that way, in fact I wouldn’t respect her if she didn’t feel that way, but there were things that she didn’t know. It was true enough that I was a married man and we should just be friends. She was absolutely right about that, after all that’s what this was all about and that’s why it had all started in the first place. But still, I did feel a bit rejected, in fact quite a bit rejected.

  “Are you packed yet?” Mary asked as she walked through the room.

  “Pretty much,” I answered.

  We were flying to Boston for a one week getaway. I had won a trip at work, but this free trip had already cost me a mint. Oh well, we were both excited about it. We were going to see the sights and watch an NFL Football game—just one more thing I could cross off my bucket list.

  And then it got quiet. I sat in the family room and pondered. It was dark. An old movie played on the screen before me, but I had no idea what it was even about. The cat came to the door and watched me through the glass. I eyed her. She did not look away. I went outside and picked her up, but she squirmed to get free so I let her go.

  “Stupid feline,” I muttered. “Just when I need you….” She didn’t look back.

  I sat down and thought some more. The night was crisp, too crisp, but I stayed where I was. I felt a bit mixed up.

  Am I evil? I thought to myself. I didn’t feel evil, but I had to admit I was pretty much twitterpated, and I did feel a touch of guilt about that. Thoughts of Callii preoccupied me in the daytime and visions of Callii haunted me at night. I slapped myself up the side of the head. I needed to get my focus back. This was all a bit ridiculous, but still…. I slapped myself again.

  “Levi, will you give me a hand?” Mary hollered. Dutifully, I went back inside. The light of the laptop shined dully from across the room. I stared at its glare, but it was getting late and I was still perplexed. Shall I or shan’t I? A quick e-mail would be so easy to do—but she had ticked me off. Was I unreasonable—yes! But she had still made me mad.

  “I’m going to Boston,” I muttered. I turned and stared at the laptop. Should I or shouldn’t I? The little….

  She deserves to wait! I’ll let it rest. I smiled perniciously and clicked it shut. I didn’t know what to write anyway. I was really, at this moment in time, so very confused.

  From Levi Stone
<
br />   Oct 18th

  (Back from Boston—One week later)

  Hi Callii, are you home or have you left for Iowa? Let me know and I’ll write when you get back, Levi

  Chapter 15

  “Friendless”

  I hadn’t heard from Levi for about a week now, and I was feeling a bit testy. Was he playing games or was he just busy. It was surprising to me how much I looked forward to hearing from him. He was fun and he made me laugh, and he also seemed like somewhat of a support system. I mean, really, how many other men did I have in my life? And now, finally, an e-mail had arrived. Should I respond, or should I play cat and mouse? Hmmhh, I’m gonna write. It’s been awhile and I want to talk. I have to admit he adds a little spice to my life, and besides, what harm can it do? After all, I’m in total control. I always am, but I do miss him—kind of.

  From Callii Wilson

  Oct 19th

  Hello old friend, I thought you had dropped off the face of the earth, or you were mad at me or something. I am not in Iowa, I am home. They decided not to do the surgery until Nov the 4th, but I think I am not going to be going there until after Thanksgiving. My sister has other people that are going to be there to help out, in fact my daughter is going there and I am going to stay home and tend her kids. She lives in Idaho Falls, so I will be staying there each day until her husband gets home from work. It should be interesting because he leaves at about 5:00 each morning and he doesn’t get home until late, so I guess I will be getting up really early to get there before he leaves for work. I could stay there but I am not a very sound sleeper and I will sleep better in my own bed. The things you do to try and help out.