The Letter - Chapter 59

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked out the plane’s window.  I could see the lights of the city, made a little brighter by the snow covering the ground.  I reached down and picked up the book I had been reading which had fallen off my lap.  I folded up the blanket I’d gotten from the flight attendant and looked at my watch.  Eight thirty.  I turned it ahead to 11:30 Eastern Time and sat up as the plane approached the runway.  If all goes well, I should be at Jimmy and Katie’s house before 1:00 AM.

Jimmy was waiting for me outside the security area.  We picked up my suitcase at the baggage carousel and got into his car for the half hour drive to his house.

“I wasn’t sure whether you’d be able to pick me up.  How’s Katie?”

“She’s doing well.  She promised me that she wouldn’t get out of bed while I picked you up.  She’s concerned enough about her condition that at least for now, she’s following the doctor’s orders.”

“I’ll make sure she continues to follow them during my stay.”

"Well, like it or not, you’re going to have some extra support over the weekend.  Katie’s mom is driving up from Cincinnati.  She’s taking a half day off work tomorrow and will stay till Sunday afternoon.  I tried to reach you in case you wanted to delay your trip for a few days, but you had already left.”

“It’s fine.  I look forward to visiting with her.  Is Katie’s father coming as well?”

“No, he’s in Houston on a business trip.  He’s staying over till Saturday.” Jimmy laughed.  “He said with the two of you women hovering over Katie, he’d just be in the way.  Actually, I think he has tickets to the Bearcats game on Sunday, and was just making excuses.”

“Who are the Bearcats?”

“Oh, sorry.  University of Cincinnati basketball. That’s his alma mater.”

We drove on to their house and Jimmy pulled into the driveway.  Katie was in bed reading when we came in.  I went right in to see her, and Jimmy carried my suitcase to my room.

“You should be sleeping,” I admonished her, giving my daughter-in-law a strong hug.

“I think that’s all I’ve been doing since your son shackled me to this bed.  At least he isn’t insisting that I use a bed pan.”  Katie smiled at me.  “So did you have a good flight?”

“There was a little turbulence over Chicago, but otherwise it was uneventful.  I started reading Home by Marilynne Robinson.  It’s the second book of a trilogy, and I enjoyed the first one, Gilead.  I should finish Home while I’m here. If there’s a public library in the area, I’ll check out the third one.

“Just give me the title, Mom,” said Jimmy coming into the room.  “You dropped everything to come out here.  The least I can do is buy you a book.”

“Oh, did Jim tell you that your friend Beverly called earlier this afternoon?”

“Really?  Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” said Jimmy.  “She just wanted you to know that your friend George called your home phone.  Beverly happened to be there bringing in your mail when he called.”

“Did she say what he wanted?” I asked.

“Just to speak to the woman of his dreams,” Katie smirked.

“Beverly said she gave him your cell phone number and the number here,” said Jimmy.

 “Seriously, I haven’t laid eyes on the man since I was a teenager.”  I paused.  “But if his Facebook profile picture is any indication, he’s still a pretty good looking guy,” I smiled and felt myself blush.

“Well, that invitation for him to visit and stay over is still open, though with Katie’s mother coming, we’d have to put him in your room if you wouldn’t mind,” Jimmy grinned.

“Now you’re really embarrassing your mother,” said Katie.

“That’s right.  What time is it anyway?” I asked.

“Too late to call George,” Jimmy teased.  “It’s just about 1:00 AM.”

“Well, that means it’s only 10:00 PM for me.  I think I’ll stay up for a little while and read if that’s okay with you two.”

“Sure.  I’ve got to be in the office around nine o’clock tomorrow, so I’m going to bed,” said Jimmy.

“And staying in bed is all I’m allowed to do,” said Katie.  “So I’ll say goodnight.  Thanks so much for coming, Mom.”  She opened her arms to give me me a hug. “See you in the morning.”

“Before I go to bed, can I get you anything, Mom?” asked Jimmy.  “Maybe a cup of tea, or a glass of sherry?”

“Sherry sounds good, Jimmy.  Maybe it will help me fall asleep.”

“Okay.  You get comfortable and I will leave a glass of sherry on the kitchen counter.  Cream or dry?”

“You know I love cream sherry.  Thank you.  God bless you Katie, and the child you are carrying.  Good night.”

I went to my room and changed into my pajamas, put on my robe and picked up my book.  The sherry was waiting on the kitchen counter, along with the bottle, should I want a refill.  I picked up the glass and walked into the living room.  I read for about a half hour and started feeling drowsy.  I went to bed and curled up under the covers.  As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the phone call from George, and hoped he might call me tomorrow.