THE BLUE STALKER (14 page)

Ella gently tilted her head back and said, “You’re a sight for sore eyes.  Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

             
“Isn’t that what we promised each in our divorce?”  Frank smiled. “Let’s take care of your business here, and then I will buy dinner.”  Frank suggested as he took Ella’s hand and walked her to the office.

             
Mr. Ferguson, being an attorney took care of all the legal matters.  The funeral arrangements were in order for Mrs. Ferguson’s.  Ella had to identify the body and sign a lot of papers.

             
“That was easy.” she whispered to Frank.  “Dad always took care of Mom right down to her final hour.”

             
The service was held in the Moore Chapel.  It was full with friends expressing their final respect for a lady with a big heart.  Ella and Frank were last to enter the chapel.  Ella dressed in a black form fitting dress with a wide brimmed black hat.  She entered the chapel on Frank’s arm.  Proudly walked to the front pew looking straight ahead with her shoulders back.  Ella came from proud parents.  They would be proud of their daughter even from the grave.  Everyone stared, some with compassion and others were more interested in who the guy might be.  Mrs. Ferguson’s pastor gave the benediction.  Her long time girlfriend Shirley sang a melody of songs.

             
The funeral procession was a long quiet drive, Ella and Frank sat alone in the big black family car. Only a few attended the interment.  Mrs. Ferguson’s pastor of many years said a few words and conc䥄
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ded the service.  Frank held tight to Ella’s arm as she picked a red rose from the casket spray, smelled its pungent fragrance, kissed the casket and turned to the man holding her steady.  They quickly aimed their steps in the direction of the family car.

             
As Ella and Frank walked toward the family car an older gentleman approached them and put out his hand. 

             
“I’m Mr. Jenkins, attorney in charge of your mother’s estate.”  He said as they exchanged hand shakes.

             
“Good to meet you, Mr. Jenkins.”  Ella and Frank said in harmony.

             
“I wasn’t sure how to contact you that’s why I’m here.  Could you stop by my office when you find the time?  I know this is a very difficult time in your life but there’s legal matters needing your attention.” He told her.

             
“I understand, Ella said, “I will call your office for an appointment.”  She promised. 

             
“Thanks again I will be seeing you this week sometime.” Ella said as she and Frank continued their walk to the big black family car. 

             
Frank and Ella enjoyed a nice dinner and caught up on all that was going on in their lives.  Frank was enjoying living in Northern California.  He had someone special in his life, Ella was happy for him.  She wished she had someone special in her life but knew that was just a dream.  They laughed and talked for hours before retiring to their rooms. 
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

             
“Let’s have breakfast before I head out tomorrow.”  Frank suggested.

             
“How about 8:00 at the local Denny’s?”  Ella laughed as she waved a good-bye and walked few steps to her room.

             
“Good night pretty lady.”  Frank said with a smile and a wave.

             
Morning came without Ella waking during the night. She was thankful her body had rested.  She and Frank met for breakfast.  They laughed over the crazy things they did when they were married.  They finished with breakfast and Frank grabbed the check, laid his credit card on the tray.

             
“I’ll get breakfast.”  Ella told him.  “You’ll do no such thing young lady.  This might be our last breakfast together and I don’t want to leave owing you anything.” Frank said.

             
Frank and Ella said their good-bye’s each planting a kiss on the others cheek with a big hug.  Frank got in his sports car and drove away.  Ella watched Frank, a man she loved but not enough drive away.

             
Ella dug Mr. Jenkins card from the bottom of her purse.  Looking at the address as she walked to her room she thought.  HmmM….his office is in the nicest building in Linville.  Ella dialed the office to set up an appointment. 

             
“Tomorrow at 1:00 will be fine with me.” she told the receptionist.  This would give Ella time to go out to the house today and look around.  Her plans were to drive home right after the meeting with the attorney.  She had many things to attend to, when she got back to Coopersville.

             
The driveway up to the house seemed shorter than she remembered.  The yard was well manicured just as dad always like it.   Ella felt like if she blinked mom and dad would be waiting on the front porch waving a ‘hello’.  She shook it off, stopped the car, cut the engine, and lay her head back on the headrest and sat frozen in time.  Memories raced through her mind.  It was going to be difficult to walk in that house.  I should have had Frank join me, she thought.  As the thought of Frank being with her raced through her thoughts she heard a car coming up the drive. 

             
“Who could that be?” she thought. 

She stepped from her car as the speeding car came to a stop, out stepped Frank. 

             
“I couldn’t let you do this alone.” he yelled to her.  “I called the hotel; they said you left about 10:00 this morning.  I figured you were heading out here.”  Frank said as he slowly took her hand.

             
“Frank you are the most caring man I know.  Why did I let you go?”  Ella said, with the question in her mind spilling out of her mouth before she could hold it back.  Frank smile.

             
Hand in hand they made the final steps to the big front door.  As Ella stood in the doorway she had an ’out of body’ experience.  Ella saw her dad sitting on the front porch rocker.  He always enjoyed sitting on the porch watching the humming birds feasting on the nectar from the humming bird feeder.  He hung the feeder from the porch beam when Ella was just a girl.  Her mom was standing in the rose garden holding a long stem red rose.  She loved her rose garden.  Ella looked down the long drive and saw a handsome young man coming up the drive in a ‘57 Chevy.  Ella shook herself to regain possession of her thoughts.

             
Frank took the key from Ella’s trembling hand and unlocked the door, he gave it a push and it slowly swung open.  Frank stepped back as any gentleman would.  Ella held the door knob in her fist and leaned on the door frame.  Tears began to stream down her face.  This being the first tears of sorrow to wet her face since learning of her mother‘s death.  Her body trembled and she let out cries of despair.  Ella was an only child and now she was truly alone.

             
Pushing the tears on her face from side to side with the back of her hand. Ella said, “I guess I’m not as strong as I pretend to be.”

             
“Weeping for the people you love and memories flooding your thoughts is not a sign of weakness.”  Frank told her.  “It’s a natural reaction of emotions.  Some weep, some withdraw, everyone has a way of dealing with death.”  Frank calmly explained.

             
“Frank, you always know what to say.”  Ella smiled at Frank as he offered his handkerchief.  She wiped the tears from her face, blew her nose and stuffed the wet handkerchief in her already overstuffed purse.

             
Ella scanned the living room looking at pictures of her family.  Her dad, her mom and many photos of herself prominently displayed on the mantel. The pictures take us back in time.

             
“I wish I had those days back.”  She told Frank as she made her way to the formal dining room.

             
“We can’t have days back but we can look to the future and enjoy the days ahead of us.”  Frank assured her.

             
Ella opened the bureau drawer and took out a beautiful crocheted table cloth.

             
“My Mom made this when I was child. Smell.” she said as she put it to Franks face.  Then c䥄
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tching it to her chest she buried her face taking a deep breath she smelled the fragrance of her mother. 

             
“I’m taking this home with me.  It’s a part of mom I can have with me forever.”  she told Frank.

             
“Are you planning on taking many of the items home with you?”  Frank asked Ella.

             
“No, just a few things.”  I want to have Mom and Dad close to me.  With a few mementoes I can think of them often.”  Ella told Frank.

             
“I plan to leave everything just as it is.  Someday I may want to live here.  I don’t know where my future will lead me.”  Ella told Frank. 

             
Frank gave an understanding nod and smiled with approval. 

             
After Ella made her way thought the house finding an ole’ pipe her dad used to chew on but rarely smoked. 

             
“Smell.” she coached Frank.  Frank took in a big whiff filling his nostrils with the aroma of a good pipe.

             
Ella was ready, now she could lock up the house and be on her way. 

             
As she was putting the two mementos in her car Frank suggested they have a nice dinner before he left for home.  Being alone wasn’t something Ella relished and was happy for Frank to stay around.  After Ella met with the attorney she and Frank dined at the local Denny’s and stayed talking in a private booth in the corner for hours.  Frank noticed the late hour and told Ella he should be on his way home.

             
They drove back to the hotel where Frank walked Ella to her room.  She unlocked the door turned to face Frank and looked into his deep brown eyes.  Their eyes met and their lips touched as his arms surrounded Ella holding her ever so close.  They stepped into the room closed the door behind them.  Words were not in order.  They slowly walked toward the big bed.  Frank began to unbutton Ella’s blouse and ran his hands across her round full breasts.  His hands slid over her shoulders and down her arms shedding the blouse from her body.  Frank unhooked her bra and released her 䥄
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sh breasts.  Ella pulled Franks shirt over his head.  His muscles glowed in the dimly lit room.  She ran her soft fingers across his chest and around to his back.  Frank unlatched Ella’s slacks and they fell to the floor.  As Ella stepped out of her slacks he laid her on the bed.  Ella scooted to the middle of the bed as Frank stepped out of his pants and lay over Ella kissing and stroking her body.  They made passionate love enjoying every satisfying moment. 

             
Frank rolled to his back as he put his interlocked fingers behind his head imprinting the pillow.  Ella pushed her hair from her face, curled up on her side and laid her head on his wet chest.

             
Frank woke early that morning.  Quietly he showered and wrapped a towel around his waist he gently laid across the bed using Ella’s stomach for a pillow.  Ella twisted, turned and moaned.

             
“Oh,” she said, “You want more?” Laughing as she pulled the covers over his head.  They played and giggled as if it were their first time.

             
Check out time was near. Ella had an appointment with Attorney Jenkins at one.  She clipped her hair on top her head and stepped into the shower.  Frank had already adjusted the water temperature and flow for her.  She lathered up as Frank watched the shadows of her beautiful graceful body moving through the obscured glass door.  As she turned the water off Frank grabbed a towel and wrapped her in it as she stepped out.  He dried her slim tantalizing body.  They both wanted more but time didn’t allow.  Ella dressed and brushed her hair back in a pony tail.  Frank grabbed her 䥄
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ggage and glanced around the room.

             
“It seems we have everything even the memories.”  He told Ella with a grin as he closed the door behind them.

             
In their marriage Frank and Ella didn’t have a problem with their sex life.  The problem was Ella.  Ella’s heart was somewhere else and Frank realized he could never make her happy.

             
Frank kissed Ella through the open station wagon window.  “I think it’s time you get a new car.”  He told her. 

             
“Someday.”  She laughed as she drove off.  Ella looked in her mirror to see Frank in his sports car making a U-turn heading north.  Again out of her life.