THE BLUE STALKER (36 page)

             
“Mark, how tragic.”  Ella put her arm around Marks neck and pulled him close. Mark was quiet for a few moments.  Ella realized he was reminiscing back to that fatal day.

             
“Ray became withdrawn from the family. He lives alone in mom and dad’s old house, keeping very busy with his mayoral duties. Trying to keep the city council from spending too much money.”

             
“Ella what about your parents? Are they still living?” 

             
“No, my father died in an airplane crash and years later my mother died, her heart just stopped one day. I think she died of a broken heart.  She never got over loosing Dad to such a tragic accident.

             
“I know how you feel loosing your parents.”

Mark and Ella danced a slow waltz.  In fact they danced the night away.  Holding each other each feeling the loss of their parents in someone’s arms that understood the feelings of loosing someone you love.

             
Mark and Ella drove home laughing and talking about the fun things in life. As Mark stopped his big truck and put the gear in park. His arm wrapped around Ella’s shoulder he slowly leaned in to kiss her.  They kissed.

             
“I had a nice time, thank you.”  

             
“We’ll do it again sometime.”  Mark jumped out of the truck to help Ella maneuver the long step to the ground.  He walked her to the front door, kissed her gently on the forehead and bid her farewell.

             
Ella enjoyed the evening but wanted to keep their relationship on a friendship level. Mark probably had different ideas but…

             
Ella arrived at the store just as Alicia was turning the
OPEN
sign around. 

             
“Good morning, Ella.”

             
“Morning Alicia, how’s the day starting out for you?” 

             
“We have plenty of orders today to keep me busy.”  Alicia tied her apron around to the back straightening it to fit over her belly. 

             
“Susan started decorating the shop, she sure bought some weird stuff. I hope she knows what she’s doing.”  Alicia wiped her knife on her clean apron as she looked over the boxes of things Susan purchased.

“Believe me Susan knows what she’s doing.”

             
The shop was buzzing with people making Christmas orders.  The high school Christmas Ball would be in a couple of weeks and the kids were making orders.  Girls ordering boutonnieres.  The guys coming behind them wanting to know the color the girl chosen so they could order the corsage in the right color.

             
Susan had the front of the shop in pretty much of a mess. Ella was wondering when it was going to start looking like Christmas.

             
“Ella, I know this place looks a mess.  Would you mind if I come down tomorrow and finish up the decorating?”

             
“That will be fine. Do you think you will be finished tomorrow?”

“Yes, Ron and I will finish up tomorrow. I want it to be a surprise when you and Alicia walk in Monday morning.”

             
Ella dug in her purse for a spare key to the shop and handed it to Susan.

             
Upon Ella’s arrival home there was a beautiful vase filled with a dozen red roses. Ella read the card and smiled.  Tucked it in her purse and sit the roses in a conspicuous place where everyone could enjoy their beauty. 

             
Sunday morning the Hernandez went to mass the house was quiet. Ella missed the noise of people. She had become accustomed to having a family in the house.  She gave Frank a call thanking him for remembering.

             
During the morning Ella received numerous calls from people asking for Juan. Ella took the names and phone numbers and gave them to Juan when they got back from Sunday Mass.

             
Juan returned the first call. A woman wanting him to build her a patio. He told her he would get back to her. 

             
“Ms. Ella how does this woman know I’m a handyman?”

             
“Juan when you introduced yourself at the Grand Opening you told everyone you were a handyman.

             
“That’s right, I did.”  

             
“What should I do, Ms. Ella?”  Juan asked knowing he had work to do for Ella.

             
“You should bid on the job and start a business.”

             
“Really?  But I have plenty work to do for you.”

             
“Juan you can do my work when you are not busy with the work for your clients.  We are not in any hurry to get this house renovated.  You need to get a business started and here’s your first job.

             
Juan called the lady back and headed out to make his first bid.

             
When Alicia and Ella walked up to the shop on Monday morning they saw the most beautiful window display they had ever seen.  Ella had seen many window displays in San Francisco and this one would show well there.

             
They opened the door to the shop and both stepped back.  Susan was already at the shop hoping to see the look on their faces when they saw her work. She, like any display designer was delighted at Ella and Alicia’s response.

“Susan,” Alicia said, “This is absolutely beautiful. I’ll tell you girl I wondered if you really had it in you. Where did you learn to do this kind of work?” 

             
“I’ve had some professional training.”

             
“You have done a magnificent job on decorating this shop. I couldn’t be prouder.”  Ella walked around admiring her shop.

             
Susan was delighted at their response and went about the day on cloud nine. 

TWENTY-EIGHT

             
Maria was hurrying around the kitchen when Ella came through the kitchen on her way out the door.

             
“What’s the rush about Maria?”  Ella asked.

             
“Today’s Jose’s appointment with Dr. Burnett and I’m worried Juan won’t make it back in time.  He knows I have the appointment but he doesn’t have a watch.”  Maria gazed out the window trying to see farther than the main road.

             
“I thought you gave him the watch you bought in Baker.” 

             
“I didn’t want to give it to him before his birthday.  He took a bid over to the lady that called a few days ago.” 

             
“Well, look there he’s coming up the drive.  You’ve got yourself in a tizzy for naught.

             
Juan rushed in the house. “I hope I’m not late.  The lady just kept talking. She wants a lot of things done at her house.”

             
“Did you get the job?”  Maria asked.

             
“Yes, my first job as a handyman, aside from the job I have with Ms. Ella.”  Juan told Maria.

             
Juan, Maria and Jose headed down the drive to Jose’s appointment. The clinic parking lot was full. Juan dropped Jose and Maria off at the door and found a parking space across the street. Juan looked to the heaven’s and thanked God for his new job and asked God for Dr Burnette to give them a good report on Jose today.

             
Maria had already checked in when Juan made it to the clinic. The waiting room was full. After waiting for over an hour the nurse came through the door and called Jose Hernandez. Juan and Maria loaded up everything and headed though the door that was being held open by the nurse.
             

             
“How are you all today?”  She asked as a courtesy.

             
“We are fine, we’re hoping for a good report on Jose.” They said in unison.

             
The nurse showed them in to a small room, she checked Jose’s vitals and wrote them on his chart.

             
“The doctor will see you soon.”  She promised.

             
Eventually Dr. Burnett entered the room dressed in his white coat. Doctors look so official and sterile when they are dressed in white. Maria thought to herself.

             
“Remember last month all the testing we did on Jose?” 

             
“Yes.” Juan and Maria said as they anxiously set on the edge of their chairs.

             
“The tests are all normal. The surgery was a success.  Jose can live a normal life. I want to see him annually. I take care of pediatric heart patients. I won’t be his primary doctor.  The Clinic will set you up with a pediatrician. Do you have any questions?” Dr. Burnett said as he washed his hands.

             
“That’s it, he’s fine, and we don’t have to do anything special?”  Juan asked.

             
”Just love him and raise him to be a good person is all I ask.”  He said with a smile.  “Jose was lucky you got him to the hospital or he probably would not have made.”

             
Juan and Maria were overjoyed and sang all the way home. As for Jose he laid in his car seat and enjoyed his nap.

             
Juan dropped Maria and Jose off and headed back to work.  He had materials to pick up for the new job.

             
Maria called Ms. Ella at the shop. The phone rang and Susan being the efficient counter person answered the phone with her professional manner.

             
“Hello, Ally’s flower Shop, may I help you?”

             
“This is Maria can I speak with Ms. Ella?”  She asked.

             
“Yes, of course.  Ella its Maria.”  Susan handed Ella the phone.

             
Ella made it to the phone and right off asked Maria for the doctor’s report.

             
“He’s fine. The doctor said he only needs to check him annually and that we need to get Jose a pediatrician.”

             
“That’s wonderful, let’s celebrate.”  Ella said.

             
“Tomorrow’s Juan’s birthday and I was going to bake a birthday cake. We could celebrate his birthday and Jose’s good report.”  Maria said hoping Ms. Ella would approve.

             
“Would you like me to invite the crew over for cake tomorrow?”  Ella asked not wanting to interrupt Maria’s plans.

             
“That would be nice, maybe we could surprise Juan.” 

I’ll check with everyone.”

             
Ella loved parties and would celebrate anything at the drop of a hat.  Everyone was excited to be invited for cake.

             
That evening Juan didn’t get home until almost dark.  He was tired but overjoyed with his job.

             
“Ms. Ella I’m not going to take another job until I finish painting the living and dining room. Then Maria can start on the mural.  Maybe we can have everything finished before the New Year’s Eve party.” 

             
“I think that’s a good idea. I will get the carpet ordered and when Maria finishes with the mural the new carpet can be installed. I think we have this all under control.” 

             
“One other thing I would like taken care of before Christmas.  The spare bedroom next to Jose’s room needs to be painted and the floor needs to be painted too.