Installment #24 Him and Eldon

Him And Eldon

He pulled the Black Jeep into the short term parking at Stapleton and pulled his ticket from the little box that spit them out so faithfully.  He put it in his pocket and pulled into a vacant space near the end of the third row.  That was luck!  It was going to be his day, Karma dictated it.  He strolled through the door with 15 minutes to spare before the plane landed.  He looked at the bank of greeters holding their signs with names printed.  John,  Mary Smith, Eldon.  That was the one.  He took a deep breathe and hurried toward the blonde haired fellow in very casual dress.  Name tag.  Great!

“Jerry?”  He looked the guy right in the eye. “You waiting for Eldon?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, John sent me to do the waiting.  Said he needs you back at the office , post haste.  Some kind of problem.  Said tell you to hurry.”
“What’s going on?  He told me this was important.!  Said I had to meet this guy and get him there safe and sound.  Why didn’t he call me?”
“Look, I don’t know.  He said he tried to call but got a busy signal , so he said I should get over here and send you back.  What!  You think I just happened in here, saw you with a sign and decided I wanted to pick up Eldon?  Do I look nuts?”
Jerry laughed.  “Well, when you put it that way……”  Jerry started for the exit.  He stopped him.
“Hey, buddy, leave me the sign or we are going to miss the connection here!”  Jerry handed him the sign and walked away shaking his head.

So now he stood with the “Eldon” sign hoisted high as the passengers began to stream down the runway.
He spotted the man and recognized the walk.  Tall, lanky guy with a shock of brown hair and steely blue eyes.  How long had it been?  Oklahoma.  Jeffery.  Jeffery Eldon Lefton.  He shuddered as he made the connection between Jeffery Eldon Lefton and the redranger and Meg Paker.  And he cringed as he lowered the sign and prayed Jeffery had not seen it.  Finally he realized that a prayer of his had been answered as Jeffery scanned the signs looking for his name.  He did not see his name, but he did see the face of his brother, Marshall Lefton.  Their eyes met and they both realized that this was a chance meeting in a very unexpected place that neither of them could have forseen.  Jeffery appeared bewildered.

 “Marshall?  What are you doing here?  Did John send you?  Are you meeting me?”
“Jeff!  Lord no, I just happened to be killing some time waiting for a friend to get in from California.  What are you doing here?”
“I have a consulting job here for a company in Denver.  Someone was supposed to meet me, but it looks like I may be stood up.  How long have you got?  Can we grab a cup of coffee and catch up a little?”
“Hang on a sec.  I may be stood up myself.  Let me make a call.”  He turned away and punched a few numbers in the phone and then waited. 
“Oh, Jane this is Marshall.  Are you behind schedule?”  He nodded as he listened to nothing and then said, “Oh, no that is fine.  Something unexpected has come up here on my end. I will just see you at the apartment this evening…Yeah, honey, you too.”  He closed the phone and turned to face Jeff who had apparently been listening very closely.

“Wow!  Who is Jane?  Sounds serious.  Are you married?  Living together?”  Jeffery was a multitude of questions.  And Marshall was an engima with no ready answers.  He looked at his twin brother with a blank look and a mind that was a blur.  He had come to the airport to meet a man named redranger  with the full intent of  killing him, but here he stood in the hubbub of  Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado face to face with his twin brother that he had not seen nor communicated with in years.  Had this been a faceless stranger, it would have been easy to bull shit his way through, but here was the face he had grown up with, the face that still looked at him in the bathroom mirror every morning and many times a day.  But a plan was a plan, wasn’t it?

“Well, Jeffery, where are you staying?  What are your plans?”  He paused, like he didn’t know what was planned.
“I have some work to do for Higgenboth Architects here in Denver and that will keep me busy until noon tomorrow and then I am meeting someone I have been communicating with online.  An old army buddy.  Haven’t seen him in years.”

Marshall sighed.  Damn liar did not realize that he had just sealed his fate.  No reason to change any plans because this was his brother.  This was the same little worthless piece of shit that had made his life so miserable when they were still at home.  Telling mom every time he looked cross ways.  Really had the old man eating out of his hand and he had gotten his hind end beaten more than ones by Jeffery’s lies.  And he had tried to tell Jeffery about mom and the dip wad up the street and Jeffery had just looked at him and went to mom.  Another ass beating.  No, Jeffery was no different now and that was too bad.  It would have been kind of nice to have a little family, but it sure was not this idiot.  Brothers should not lie to brothers.

Suddenly Jeffery  turned to Marshall.  He stared in wonder.  “Your eye!  What is that?  Did you get an eye?  I thought you just wore that patch.  When did you get this?  Is it real?”  He actually had noticed something besides himself. That was a wonder!

“It is glass.  Well, not exactly glass, some sort of artificial combination that looks like a real eye.  Doesn’t work , but it is set in there so it actually moves a little and at first glance it looks pretty real.  I had this done about 4 years ago.  Still have the scar, but it isn‘t as pronounced or maybe I have just learned to live with it.  Anyway, it was good of you to notice the eye.”  Marshall stopped and then asked, “How is the old man?“

Jeffery shuffled his feet then looked at Marshall.  “I don’t know.  After you left and mom died he married a real loser.  We moved to  Vermont and it was clear that Virginia did not want me around so I got my own place and they traveled a lot and we just drifted apart.  I assume they are both still around and still alive cause I have not heard any different.”

“I thought you and him were tight?” 

Jeffery laughed in derision.  “No way.  I watched how he treated mom all those years and it was all I could do to stomach being around him.  He did not respect her at all.  Treated her like a doormat.  All she ever wanted out of him was a little attention and that was the one thing he was incapable of giving her.  Too damn busy with his work! Hell, when she was dying he didn‘t even hire any help.  Took care of her himself, that is how tight he was.”  Marshall wondered at Jeffery’s devotion to their mother, but then remembered that mother had always fawned over Jeff, so that explained that.  Really not much sense trying to tell him any different.

“So, Jeff, want me to give you a lift into Denver?  I am headed that way anyway.”  Little did Jeffery Eldon Purcell realize that this might be the last decision he was ever to make on this earth.

“Sure!  Beats hell out of walking.”  They smiled as they started for the exit at Stapleton International Airport, but for totally different reasons.  Marshall put his arm around the shoulder of his brother who was 7 minutes younger than him and gave him a playful hug.

“Well, I bet you like to think so anyway!”  They laughed.

Installment #23 Meg

Meg Meg did not turn her computer on Monday after her trip up the mountain, so it was Tuesday morning when she read the email from Eldon. She answered right away and soon the plans were made and everything was in place. Eldon would arrive Wednesday right after lunch. The driver would pick him up and he would be busy with John until late, late that night and until noon on Thursday. Then he was free until Monday. Business she knew nothing about. She would meet him in the lobby of the Sheraton at 12:30 and they would have lunch somewhere and then just sight see until later when they would decide what to do next. Sounded like a loosely woven plan they could both live with. She realized that she was actually almost giddy at the thought of meeting a man. And having lunch and then deciding what to do next. That was the part that rather made her feel warm and anxious. But Thursday was two days away. Lot could happen in two days. But she hummed as she did her chores that day. Then she remembered the dogs rather guiltily. She phoned the friend who watched them before. She explained that she was not sure how long she would be gone. Maybe not even one night, but maybe more. He laughed. Yes, he was available and yes, he was flexible. Yes he would come Thursday afternoon and evening and continue his chores until she told him he was done. That taken care of she began to rifle the closet for clothes for her trip into Denver. She realized she had nothing sexy, but she did not want anything sexy. Nothing old maidy either. She finally settled on a pair of black tailored slacks and a red long sleeved clingy shirt with a high vee neckline. Little black pumps. Then she realized that those were too dark for summer. But it was not really summer and Denver is high and cool so she thought it best not to obsess. And as she climbed into her bed that night she found herself wishing that Thursday would hurry up and get here! Sweet dreams found her that evening and a tall stranger stood in the mist as she ran toward him.

Installment #22 Him

Him

He stood with his back to the closed door and felt the sweat pour down from his head and arm pits.  He was not ready for this!  Why had she come up here?  Why  was she in his yard?  This was his home and she had found him.  She appeared so innocent, but he knew better!  Never knew this house was here?  Who was she trying to fool?  This house had been here for years.  Years!  She was snooping around and he had caught her.  Did she know about his tunnel?  Did she know about his tree?  Did she know he watched her?  Maybe she was watching him watching her!  Women!  Nothing but treacherous bitches, every one of them.  Even that stupid Jennifer.  Always making coffee and tidying things.  Damn feather duster.  What was it with the cleaning all the time.  Her job was to run the office, not get in his way.

He peered out the window and could not see any sign of the woman.  She must be gone.  She had to be gone.  Of course she was gone.  She was probably down there right now on her farm gathering her eggs.  Damn chickens never stopped, did they.  Course not, they were females.  Females never stop what ever they start doing. They would keep laying eggs and Meg Paker would keep gathering them.  Jennifer would keep dusting and putting her pointed little nose into his business.  Maybe he should do something about her before he did something with Meg Paker.  When he made his move on Meg it would take time away from the office.  Jennifer would be suspicious.  She might come up here.  No, she did not know where he lived.  She knew about his apartment in Denver.  She knew about the apartment on Williams, but not about the cabin here in the mountains.  She knew he went some where out of town, but not where.  Nosey bitch could probably figure it out.  Get with the accountant and see where he paid taxes.  He shook his head violently.  This was sheer paranoia and he had more important things to concern himself with than that right now! 

It was now next week and redranger was on the horizon and headed toward Denver and Meg and the rendezvous that was scheduled and he had to figure out how to stop that from happening.  Get his ducks in a row.  First, check her email and see what the plan was.  It took so long for the computer to boot up that he decided to make an exception and have a drink in the middle of the day.  A splash of soda and a splash of Scotch.  Well, two splashes of Scotch.  That was better.  He settled at the computer, pulled up her yahoo account.  It had been rather quiet the last few days.  No sales at all.  A few feedbacks and finally he saw the redranger.  “meg.  I will be leaving Brattleboro, Vermont on Wednesday morning and arriving at Stapleton early afternoon.  John is having a car meet me so I am good for Wednesday until Thursday.  I would like to meet with you on Thursday and we can spend the whole day together.  I am at the Sheraton and they have a lovely dining room there.  Let me know and we will firm all this up on Tuesday.” 

He hit the “print” button and then the “keep as new button”   It was one thing to hack into her account but she was a smart woman.  Smart and alert.  She would connect the dots and know something was wrong  if he started leaving things laying around or not laying around.  Nothing  else that was of any interest to him.  But he left the screen up in case she showed any action.  He put a CD in the player and kicked back in his recliner.

His mind toyed with what to do with the redranger.  Eldon. That was a silly name.  He wondered if it was his real name. Some how he doubted that it was.  He had been around and he knew what this online stuff was.  Guy probably did not even have a job.  Just coming to Denver to play around and Meg was his target.  A little weasel that hid in the shadows and played pretend games because he was afraid of reality.  Acted like something he was not.  He would do God only knows what to Meg and then go back to where ever he came from and never even think about her again.  Well, not while there was life in his body!  No siree!  He would save her.  He would protect her.  A shimmer of an idea began to form in his mind.  Yes, he knew what to do.  Eldon would arrive in Denver on Wednesday.  Today was Monday.  He would be ready.  Of course he would be ready.  Wasn’t that what he had learned in Viet Nam, to always be ready? 

He smiled as he drained his glass and the hot liquor found the warm place right beside his heart.  The heart that suddenly longed for Meg Paker.  He sighed sadly thinking of all the things he had done and would continue to do for her.  He was sad that she could never know the real depth of his commitment to her.  It would frighten her, he knew.  His eyelids grew heavy and he chortled because he knew he was going to sleep right there in the chair.  And fully clothed as he thought of Meg Paker standing in his yard, he touched himself and blushed at the pleasure it brought him. 

Then his mind went blank with sleep.

Installment #21 Meg

Meg

Meg sealed the last box, added the label, stuck a Priority Mail sticker on it and tossed it into her tote.  Daisy and Elvira began to dance around as she took her hat from the hook.  She opened the door and started down the drive to the mailbox.  The dogs ran sniffing both sides of the road ahead of her.  At the mailbox she opened the big door and put the packages inside.  Then she raised the flag to let the driver know that she had a pickup.  She turned back towards the house, but then turned to look up the mountain.  The dogs looked at her quizzically.  She laughed.  “All right!  Just a short one though.”
She crossed Banner Road and entered the field.  She skirted the fence that was across the path and started up the hill. The dogs ran ahead as was their habit.  Sniff and pee.  Sniff and pee.  Dogs had such easy lives.  Soon they were at the fork in the trail that led to the tree she had discovered on the last trip up the mountain.  Without a second thought she turned and headed up the path.  Might as well face this demon and put it behind her.  She had avoided the mountain when Greg and Kevin were here because of this and now it would be put to rest.  As she neared the tree she relaxed.  The brush was not beaten down at all.  As she looked around she noticed the growth pattern on the big pines was the same as this one.  Looked like a ladder.  What a silly goose she had been.  The path turned slightly to the left so she followed it.  About 300 yards and she realized that off to her right was what appeared to be a small cabin.  She stopped and studied it.  It was a small cabin.  There was a worn driveway so she knew it was used by someone.  She should go back.  This was some ones home.  She was trespassing.  Well, not really.  She was just walking past a house. 
The road lay right before her and she knew if she followed the road around to the right it would lead back to Banner Road where she lived.  Fred lived up here somewhere, but this looked too neat to be where Fred would live.  She scoffed at herself for making judgements about Fred.  She did not know where he lived and so could not know how he lived.  As she debated whether to take the road back down or go back the way she had come, she heard a vehicle coming up Storm Lake Road.  She made her mind up very quickly when the Black Jeep Cherokee approached and  turned into the little cabin.  Curiosity made her look at the vehicle and she strained to catch a glimpse of the driver as she looked back over her shoulder.  So intent was she in that endeavor that she did not notice that Elvira had stopped to itch herself.  She stepped on the dogs tail and she yelped.  She halted the forward momentum of the second leg and tumbled forward into Daisy.  Another yelp as the door of the Jeep closed.  The big man whirled and stared in her direction.  He did not look happy at all.  And then he looked very surprised as he started towards her.  Meg rose and was dusting herself off when he reached her.

“Are you alright lady?”  He glanced at the dogs who were cowering at her feet.  “Did I scare you and your dogs?  Why are you up here?  This is private property, you know.”  He stopped and waited for her to answer.

Meg was frozen in place by his cold steely eyes and then she noticed his scar.  She had met this man before.  Her and Tommy.  Long ago.  She took a deep breathe and began her explanation.  “Well, I am Meg Paker and I live straight south of here.  I was just walking on the trail with the dogs cause that is what I do sometimes.  I did not even know there was a house here until I stumbled on it today.  I usually turn around before I get this far.  I was thinking of taking the road back and then I noticed your cabin.  And then you came and so I started back and tripped on Elvira….”  Her voice trailed off as she stood waiting for what?  Absolution?  Wrath?  She turned to go.

“Oh.”  And that was all he said.  Meg was suddenly aware of his eyes burning into her.  She shivered as she suddenly felt very vulnerable.  She turned back toward the trail she had come up to get here.  “It is alright if you walk across my yard.” he said curtly as he  turned and walked toward the little cabin without a backward glance.  He unlocked the door and quickly disappeared inside.  Meg was left staring at a closed door.  She suddenly just wanted to be home and she hurried back the way she had come.  The sun was past it’s zenith when she hurried inside and  the door locked behind her.  Home!  This was her sanctuary.  Her haven.  And suddenly she began to sob as she thought of Tommy.  Never again would her Tommy hold her.  Never would they laugh.  As she sank into the overstuffed chair that faced the open window and the mountain she gave vent to the last three years of loneliness and frustration.  The dogs stood silently at her feet and stared at the grieving woman.

 

Installment #20 Kevin and Greg

Installment #20

Kevin and Greg

Kevin merged into the I 25 North  and quickly set the cruise control on 75 mph.  They would catch I 80 West in Cheyenne.  It might be a bit out of the way mileage wise, but it would cut almost 2 hours off the trip.  “OK, Greg.  What is eating you?  You been all tied up since yesterday.  You might just as well spit it out!”

“Ok, Kevin.  Are you buying that crock about your mom building a fortress of her house just cause she is getting old?  She is not that old and I am pretty sure she can take care of herself.  Something is going on there that she isn’t telling you, and I don’t like it.”  He waited for a response and when none came he forged on, “ Why didn’t we walk up the mountain?  There are trails up there.  I seen them, but she was like a little frightened rabbit when I suggested that.  Did you notice?”   He stopped and this time waited for an answer.

“Well, yeah.  We used to hike up there a lot.  Maybe there are more houses up there now and it is private property.  Or it is rattlesnake season when they shed their skin and they are blind and can’t get out of our way.  That’s how people get bit by those Timber Rattlers.”  He stopped and looked at Greg.  He needed more.  He sounded like a little kid.  “Alright!  Alright!  I don’t know what is going on and I am sure there is more than she is telling us, but what can I do?  They outlawed the tying up and grilling of Mothers a very long time ago.  I am sure she will be alright and she will do what needs to be done and if something or someone is threatening her, she will handle it.  She is a big girl.”

Greg sighed.  “Well, I really like your mom and I hope you are right.  I wish she had some closer neighbors.  Do you know any of them?  Can they check on her?”

“Gee, Greg, people move to the mountains to be alone.  I know the handyman she uses a little.  We always called him ‘that silly old Fred’.  He has been up the mountain for years.  I think he still has the same old pickup that he had when I was living at home, but maybe not.  We always thought he was married and his wife left him and his son moved away, but seems like that was just a rumor.  Never been married.  Never had a kid.  Guess the only rumor that held any water was that his dad had killed his mother and hid her body in the root cellar.  I think he is scared of root cellars.  Oh, yeah and women.  Seems he was an only child.  But I don’t know if he even has a phone.  Sure he doesn’t do the Internet!”

They fell into a restless silence as they thought about Meg and the miles whipped past.  They stopped in Cheyenne for a rest stop before getting on I 80.  They  bought  a cappuccino and a bag of  Fritoes.  When they returned to the car, Greg took the wheel.

They enjoyed the scenery and sipped the hot cappuccinos.  Meg was never very far from their minds, but they could not think of a way to protect her when they had no idea what to protect her from.

Installment #19 Sunday morning

Sunday morning

Meg quickly made a large blender full of her smoothie recipe.  Blue Berries, yogurt,
Coconut milk, a fresh peach and wheat germ.  She poured it into 3 glasses, put them on a tray beside the scones and carried them to the patio.  The boys were intent on watching the sun creeping up over the horizon.

“See, Greg.  It is not at all like California.  Even the colors are different.  And see how quick it pops up?  Not like California at all.”

“No, but that is because of the humidity, the colors I mean.  Colorado is dry.  So the colors are more muted and more reds and oranges.  California has humidity so they appear brighter and there are more greens and blues.  Ask anyone.  Google it.  And it pops up because the mountains are there.  California is flat. So it goes down real slow.”  They turned and looked at Meg as if seeking a final opinion.

“Yep” was all she said as she picked up her glass, a scone and settled down in the cushioned chair facing the sunrise.  “This is one of the things that keeps me here on this place,  right here at the foot of the Rockie Mountains.  Heaven on earth.  Just ask the chickens.”  As if on cue the Rhode Island Red Rooster announced to the world that it was now morning, albeit a bit late.  They all laughed.
As Kevin set his empty glass back on the tray and dusted the crumbs off his shirt, he turned to Meg with a very serious look on his face.  “Now, mom, you should know how it is with Kevin and I.  We have decided to move in together.  We have actually found a house we like that is convenient to both of our jobs.  When we get back we are going to list his house and I have money from my last home sale, so we are in good shape.”  As an afterthought he added, “ The pub does really well.  Especially in this economy.”

Meg digested this little announcement and then smiled.  “Well, this is great!  I mean really.  If one of you were a female, I could throw an engagement party!”  She laughed, but the boys did not.  “Ok, that is not what I meant to say.  What I meant is this,  I am very happy for both of you.  I know better than most how hard real love is to come by and I think you two make a great couple.  It is a shame that society can not accept, but I think someday they will.  Until then, we will just celebrate here at home and I probably will not announce it in church today.  Hey!  Let’s just skip church this morning and go into town and celebrate with a lovely lunch!”  Church would keep, but Kevin and Greg would not.  They would leave early in the morning and she was selfish.

Greg spoke first.  “Meg, you will always have a home with us.  You are not loosing a son, you are gaining one.”

Tears welled up in Meg’s eyes as she silently thanked her God for bringing this kind soul into her son’s life.

Installment #18 Meg, Kevin, Greg

Meg, Kevin, Greg

The walk had been a long one.  The only jogged a little of the 4 miles.  The conversation was easy and Meg and Greg warmed to each other.  The Green Chile was simmering in the crock pot and when they returned to the house the spicy aroma greeted them.  They were immediately ravenous.  Meg heated the refried beans and the tortillas.  She spooned the beans into the tortilla, sprinkled it with grated cheddar cheese, spooned on sour cream and rolled it up.  She ladled a generous amount of the Green Chile over it, put a little chopped lettuce on the plate and handed it to Greg.  She quickly made a plate for Kevin and herself.  They sat at the table and looked at the steaming plates.

“OK, Greg, dig in!”  Kevin laughed.  He had told Greg what Green Chile was and now he was seeing it first hand.  Brown the small bits of pork, add garlic, tomatoes,  the Pueblo Chiles chopped and then water.   Simmer and the longer it simmered the hotter it would get.  Greg had heard about the Pueblo Chiles, but this was his first encounter with the food that was such a part of Kevin’s heritage in Colorado.  He dipped his spoon in gingerly and raised it to his mouth.  He felt the top of his head bead up with the heat of something he had never encountered before.  Tears stung his eyes.  He gasped for breathe.

“What in the hell is that!”  Meg and Kevin stared in amazement.  Never had they seen the likes of this out of quiet retiring Greg.  Kevin stammered.

“Oh, I am sorry.  I told you it would be hot.  That is the peppers.  Mom?”

“Greg, dear, this is not hot.  This is mild.  I did not want your first taste of Colorado
Mexican food to be a bad one.  Here.  Do it this way.”  She took her spoon and cut off a small piece of burrito and covered it with Green Chile.  She put it in her mouth, chewed and smiled.  “ You just don’t eat the Green Chile alone. Let me get you a glass of milk.  That will help.”  She left the table and returned with a large glass of milk which she placed in front of him.  He immediately took a drink of it.

Then he smiled at Kevin and Meg.  “ I am not going to let a damn pepper beat me.  If you can eat it, I can eat it. “  He then cut off a small piece as Meg had done and shook off most of the Chile.  In his mouth and he chewed slowly.  “Hey, that ain’t bad at all.  But I gotta say, you two are a couple sadists!”  But very soon he was holding his plate and heading for the stove and a second burrito!  Kevin smiled and silently thanked the God above for leading him into Your Little Pub  that rainy day not so very long ago.  If ever a match was blessed from above it had to be this one.  Meg smiled at her son and nodded.  Mother’s just had a way of knowing this stuff.

When dessert was brought to the table Kevin whooped jumped up.  “Oh, Greg!  You are in for a treat.  This is the Italian part of Colorado.  Tiramusu.  Mom!  Tell him how to make it.  Oh, God are you in for a treat.”
                                                                    
Meg stared at her son.  “Ok, the first thing you need is Lady Fingers and they are dry.  Then you mix coffee with Kahlua.  Meanwhile you whip heavy whipping cream with sugar and egg yolks.  Then you fold in Marscapone cheese which is a lot like cream cheese only it is from Italy and very expensive.  Then you dip the Lady Fingers in the coffee and Kahlua and put them in the bottom of the pan.  One layer of that.  Then cover this with the whipped cream mixture.  Then another layer of Lady Fingers and more whipped cream.  Then sprinkle on some cocoa.  Stick it in the fridge and then impress everyone for dessert.” 

“Oh, yeah,” laughed Kevin, “but you should have seen it the first time she made it.  She thought the Lady Fingers were really dry so she held them under until they quit bubbling.  She had to mix coffee and Kahlua three times and she used almost a quart of Kahlua!  I was 16 and so damn drunk I couldn’t even get up the stairs.  Everybody was!  We ate the whole thing that night.  Way to go Mom!”

Greg smiled as he held out his dessert plate for seconds.  “Guess you must be part Italian too!”
The boys tidied the kitchen as Meg checked her email   Nothing from redranger.   She felt a little disappointed, but knew that he was giving her space to spend time with Kevin.  He was very considerate that way.  She had three sales, so she printed the labels for those, affixed them to the boxes, shut down the computer  and turned out the light.  As she closed the door to the office and stepped into the hall, she found Kevin and Greg sharing a kiss.  She stopped and then realized that this did not bother her.  She had been afraid that it would, but now that the moment was here it seemed ludicrous that she had even thought about it.  She smiled to herself.

“Hey you two!  It is bedtime.”  The boys jumped apart at her words and laughed nervously.  She kissed each one lightly on the cheek and then turned into her own room.  There would just be tomorrow and then they would leave.  “Church tomorrow.  You boys going with me?”

“Well, if you think it is alright.”

“Of course it is!”  But as she closed her door she wondered.  “At least I hope it is .“ were her last thoughts before she reached for her night gown.