THE BLUE STALKER (37 page)

I thought a light tan with white trim would be pretty.  The white French Provincial bedroom set should look good with those colors.” 

             
Ella was getting the room ready for Juanita but she couldn’t say anything to anyone. Juanita is Maria’s Christmas surprise.

             
That night Ella got the Sears Catalog out. She was looking at linen’s for the new bedroom. A guest room Ella would call it for now. Maria joined in on the linen search glancing at the pages of beautiful linens.

             
“If this was your room which one would you choose?”  Ella asked.

             
“I would choose the red comforter with the roses.  My mother loves red roses and it reminds me of her.”  Maria pointed to the complete set of bedding.

             
The next day Ella took the catalog to work with her and ordered the bedroom linen ensemble.

             
“Ladies I’m heading out. Don’t forget cake tonight for Juan’s birthday and we are also celebrating Jose’s good report.” She reminded them.

             
“We’ll be there at seven.”  The ladies answered.

             
Ella made her way to the local carpet store. As she entered the store a nice gentleman dressed in a white shirt and tie welcomed her.

             
“I want to order a nice plush carpet for my living room. It should be dark beige. We have a little one in the house. Also, I need a large area rug for a bedroom.”

             
Just as she said large area rug she noticed a beautiful beige and red run hanging on a rack.

“That one will work perfect.”  She said pointing to the rug on the rack.

             
“You can measure the living room anytime.  I have some painting to finish before you install the carpet.  I will call when I’m ready for the area rug to be delivered and to make an appointment to have the carpet installed.”  Ella told the carpet salesman.

             
Maria finished with cleaning up after dinner when the front door bell rang.

“”Who could that be?” Juan questioned as he walked over to answer the door.

             
Juan opened the door to hear. “Happy Birthday!”  From the crew at the door.

He was totally surprised.

“Please come in I can’t believe this.”  Juan said smiling showing his friends into his home.

             
“Yeah, we pulled this one on you.” Alicia said as she plopped herself down on the sofa sinking low. 

             
“My God I may never get up.”  She said as she twisted her body to an upright position.

             
Everyone laughed at Alicia’s remarks.

             
Maria brought the cake in for everyone to see.  It was a nice white cake with….Happy Birthday Juan and Jose.

             
“Why is Jose’s name on the cake?”  Susan asked taking a second look at the cake.

             
“We got good news yesterday on Jose’s condition.  It’s like his new birthday. He is fine.”  Maria said with tears rolling down her cheeks.  Knowing if she hadn’t been in this country Jose would not have been alive.

             
Ella hugged Maria saying, “It must be difficult for a mother to wonder about her baby’s health and then such a relief to hear he is well.” 

             
Juan made a wish and blew out the candles. 

             
“Juan what did you wish for? “  Alicia yelled.

             
“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”  He said as he stuck his finger in the frosting.

             
“Hogwash! You really don’t believe in wishes coming true.”  Alicia laughed.

             
“Alicia you should make a wish and don’t tell us. When it comes true share it with us. Wishes do come true.” Juan assured Alicia.

             
Everyone sang Happy Birthday and applauded.

             
Maria cut the cake and Ella served everyone a piece of cake and a cup of coffee.

             
Are we going to see Jose tonight?” Ron asked?

             
“Yes, he’s napping but he will wake for his bottle and I will bring him down shortly.”  Maria told them.

             
Maria handed Juan his gift. Juan was shocked.  When did you get me a gift?” 

             
“When we were shopping with Ms. Ella, remember?”

             
Juan opened his gift his smile stretched from ear to ear. 

             
“I’ve never owned a watch, never.”  Juan said in amazement pulling it over his hand.

             
Ella handed him an envelope with a note. The note read…  You have an account at the local lumber yard and the hardware store to purchase the tools you need to start your new business.

             
Ella knew she could trust Juan not to go over board with his purchases.

             
The crew handed him a card they all signed it each writing good wishes.

             
Juan stood up wiping the tears from his big brown eyes and said.  “I’ve never known such happiness.  Late one night Maria, Jose and I were in desperate need of help.  Ella came to our rescue.  Alicia, wishes do come true.”  Juan wiped his eyes and smiled, “thank you all.”

             
Maria brought Jose down for a few minutes. Everyone enjoyed holding him.

             
“It’s been a long time since I held a baby. My babies are all grown up and so far no grandbabies.” Alicia said as she handed Jose off to Susan.

             
“Ron and I are planning on having children. Right now our life is on hold. But someday babies well be in our life.” Susan shared.

             
The party was over and Maria and Juan were cleaning up the kitchen.

             
Juan called to Ella. “Ms. Ella you are too generous.  Someday I will pay you back.” 

             
“Juan, I did not make you a loan, I gave you a gift.  You do not pay gifts back. And I’ll hear no more about it.” Ella said as she excused herself and went to her room.

             
Ella sat in her big chair sliding her feet out of her size ten boots her mind spinning. Juan and Maria have a nice family. Alicia has a nice family. Ron and Susan plan on having a family. Here I am with enough money but I don’t have a family. She thought.

             
She was feeling sorry for herself. She thought. I should have made a family. She shrugged it off and made her way to run a hot bath. If only she hadn’t let Phil Young slipped through her fingers twenty years ago.

             
The following weeks the phone rang off the hook asking for Juan. The town’s people had seen Juan’s work at the ladies house and had handyman jobs for Juan.  Starting in January Juan’s calendar was full. For the month of December he would be working on Ella’s home.

Ella did some shopping. This was her first time to visit a toy shop to actually make a purchase. In the window she saw a rocking horse painted red. 

“That’s it.”  Ella said as she walked in the toy store. The store clerk tried to load the horse in the sports car but it wouldn’t fit. 

             
“There are some disadvantages to driving a sports car.”  She told the clerk as she put the horse under her arm and carried it to her shop. 

             
The local jeweler was across the street from the shop.  Ella needed to purchase Juan, Maria and Juanita a gift.  Ella heard a beautiful bell tone as she opened the jewelry shops floor.  An elderly gentleman came from the back greeting her.

             
“How my I help you?” 

             
“Well, I’m looking for a cross for a man and also a cross for two women.”  She informed him as her eyes fell upon the most beautiful fourteen carat gold cross. 

             
“Something like this.”  She said as she pointed at the cross under the glass.

             
“That would be a nice cross for a man. Here’s another cross I think would look nice on a lady.”  He took the cross from the case and laid it on a black felt covered board.

             
“Do you have another cross that would look nice on an older lady?”

“Come over here and look at these. They are beautiful and the chains are more durable.” 

             
Ella chose three crosses and had them gift wrapped.  Her Christmas shopping was complete. She would give her crew a Christmas bonus.

             
Christmas was two weeks away when Juan finished painting the living and dining rooms. Maria painted on the mural during the day while everyone was away from the house.  When she finished painting for the day she covered the mural not wanting anyone to see it before the unveiling.

             
The carpet was installed the same day Juan finished with painting the guest room. Everything smelled of paint and new carpet. 

             
Maria took the cover from the mural awaiting Ella’s arrival home. Juan met her at the side door and asked her to walk around to the front door. Maria wanted her to see the mural as she walked in the house.

             
“Why Juan?”

             
“No questions just come with me.”  He took her hand in lead.

             
Juan opened the door for Ella and she walked in. She stopped in her tracks. The mural of the swimming hole she enjoyed as a kid was on her wall.

             
“This is beautiful, Maria you captured everything. I’m totally amazed at your talent.”  Ella ran to Maria giving her a big hug.

             
“I’m so glad you like it, Ms. Ella.

             
“Like it, I absolutely love it.”  Ella said as tears puddles in her eyes.

             
Ella didn’t know her portrait was being painted in Jose’s room.  When Ella announced she was doing the guest room Maria moved her easel from the guest room to Jose‘s room. Jose’s crib is still in Juan and Maria’s bedroom. 

             
During the month of December the flower shop was busy.  Juan kept busy working on Ella’s place.

             
Sunday after Juan, Maria and Jose returned home from Mass Ella announced it was time to get a Christmas tree.  They loaded in Juan’s truck and made their way to the Christmas tree lot.  Ella picked out a tall tree. 

“What do you guys think about this one?”  She said looking up.

             
“It’s so big Ella.”  Maria said.

             
“I like big trees, but how about you guys?”  Ella asked?

             
“It’s beautiful Ms. Ella.”  Juan said as he started to pull it from its hole.

             
Ella took care of paying the lot attendant and someone helped Juan tie the tree down in the back of the truck. It was so big it protruded over the cab.

             
Juan with the ladies help got the tree in the house and standing.

             
“Wow!” He said as his eyes followed the tree to the ceiling.

             
“Ms Ella, do you have any decorations?”  Maria asked?

             
“I have red and green colored lights we need them on the tree.  Susan and Ron will be bringing the decorations over later this afternoon. And we are all going to decorate the tree.”

             
”Oh Ms. Ella that will be so much fun.” They said in unison.

             
Ron and Susan came up the drive beeping the vans horn.  Ron loaded everyone down with boxes of decorations. Susan was the tree designer and gave everyone a job.

After the decorations started going on Maria noticed the theme.

             
“It’s a Mexican theme, Juan.”  Maria yelled as she jumped up and down holding her chest.  “I wish my mom could see it.”  She said as she fell to her knees holding her chest looking up, sobs of happiness and sadness engulfed Maria’s body.

             
When they finished decorating the tree Ella brought out food trays she had picked up at the caterer’s earlier. Hot cider, coffee and chocolate filled their cups. Ella turned on the stereo and put on her parents old Christmas albums and they all sang along.

             
The carpet company delivered the area rug a couple days ago and the bedding arrived today.  Ella was anxious to put the linen’s on the bed.  The ensemble came with a nice drape.  When would need Juan to help with attaching the rod to the window trim.