The Letter - Chapter 50

I grinned as I looked at my computer monitor.  That devil!  He should have told me he was going to be interviewed on local news.  And he did a really good job explaining the need for some kinds of controls so people cannot obtain guns so easily.  And he looked pretty good doing it.  Should I call him to compliment him on how well it went?  The doorbell rang.  I got up to see who it was.

“Beverly!  Please come in.”  My best friend stood on the porch.

“I was out for a walk.  Thought I’d take advantage of the sunshine and warm temperatures.  Pretty unusual for this time of year, and it’s probably due to global warming. But I promise not to beat your ears with my political views like I did the last time we were together.” 

“I don’t mind talking politics.”

“I know you don’t, Ellie.  But I don’t want to get myself worked up into a lather again.  I want this to be a relaxing and invigorating stroll and hoped I could convince you to come join me.”

“I’d love to.  But first come in.  I want to show you something.”  I led Beverly to my computer.  "Guess what George Leskovic has been up to?”

“Has he written another article?”

“Better than that.  He was on the local news.”

“I hope he didn’t slug someone again.”

“No.  Beverly, that was totally out of character for him.  George was interviewed on the six o’clock news about his gun control advocacy.  Let me play it for you.  It’s only about five minutes long.”

“Sure.  I’d love to see it.  Are you sure it will play on that ancient machine.  What does it run on?  DOS?”

“Beverly!  It’s not that old.  But now that I’m using it more and more, it’s clear to me that I need to shop for a newer model.  Now listen.”  I played the interview from the Pittsburgh channel’s website.

“Now that’s pretty darn neat,” said Beverly when the interview ended.  “I have a new found respect for your friend, George.  How did you find out about it?”

“I was thinking about him and decided to do an Internet search to see if I could find any new information about him, and it popped up.  I haven’t used it much up till now, but have to admit the Internet is pretty darn amazing.”

“So are you going to call George and compliment him on the interview?”

“I was just thinking about it when you came to my door.  What do you think?”

“I think you should put the old homestead up for sale and run to his arms.”

“I might scare him off if I did that.  But the interview does provide an excuse for another call.  That’s what I think.”

“I agree, Ellie.  You should listen to your heart, and I believe it’s telling you to make that phone call.  But I recommend that you first accompany your best friend on a walk that just might lead us to our favorite coffee shop.  And that might cause us to have to listen to another organ – our stomachs, which just might be telling us to enjoy a mid-morning pastry.”

“I’ll get my jacket.”  As I walked to the front closet, the doorbell rang again.  “Now who could that be?”  I opened the door and a young couple stood on my porch.  The young woman was carrying a baby.  The man was smiling.  “Hello.  Can I help you?” I said.

“Uh, hi,” said the young man.  “My name is Nathan Stearns and this is my wife, Rachel.”

“And this little guy is Jacob,” said Rachel.

“I know this is an imposition, said Nathan, “but my grandmother used to live here, and I was wondering if you’d mind if we just looked around a bit.  We were in the neighborhood and I pointed it out to Rachel and  . . ..”

“And I said, ‘Maybe if we ask really nice, they’d let us see it.’  So I’m the one to blame,” Rachel smiled.

“Well, I will agree to let you come in and look around under one condition,” I said.

“What’s that?” asked Nathan.

“That you let me hold that darling baby.”  The young woman put her son in my arms and I proceeded to take them on a brief tour telling them about the changes Jim and I had made to the place during the time that we had lived there.

When we had finished the tour, I gave the baby back to his mother and saw them to the door.

“Thank you, Mrs. Barnhart.  We really appreciate your time.  It brought back a lot of memories, and I love all the improvements you’ve made,” said Nathan.  He handed me a card with his phone number.  “If you ever decide you want to sell this place, please give us a call.  With Jacob’s arrival, we know we’re going to need a bigger place in the not so distant future.  Right now we’re in a one-bedroom apartment, so we’re going to be looking before too long, and I’ve always loved this neighborhood.”

“I love it too, but if I decide to move, I will definitely let you know.”

They walked down the sidewalk to their car.  We watched them put Jacob into his car seat and then drive away.

“Well, there you have it,” said Beverly.  “Divine intervention.”

“Oh, shush.  Let’s go for that walk.”

“I’m serious.  Weren’t we just talking about selling the homestead and moving to Pittsburgh?”

I put on my coat and pushed my friend out the door.  “And leave my best friend three thousand miles behind?  If anything comes of this friendship with George, he’d better consider selling his place and moving out here.  Now let’s get moving and work off some calories.  I’m hungry for a cherry Danish.”