THE BLUE STALKER (6 page)

             
“We are very thankful for your offer Dr. Burnett.” Juan said. “Would it be okay if we talk about this and get back to you?”

             
“Of course, Jose will be here for a while we have time to discuss his care.” Dr. Burnett said.

Maria looked at Dr. Burnett with a ‘thank you’ smile glowing from her pretty young face.

             
When Juan and Maria entered the pediatric ward Ella was rocking Jose singing a lullaby.

             
“He’s almost asleep but you need to hold him for a while before we have to leave. Here Maria take him.” Ella said as she gently handed Jose to Maria. Maria cuddled Jose smiling at him thinking it’s gonna be okay, baby boy. Maria rocked her baby until over the intercom she heard the switchboard operator announce. “Visiting hour is over.” Words Maria hated to hear.

THREE

             
As Ella drove back to the house everyone was quiet.  They had much to think about.  Ella and Maria fixed a dinner of tacos and refried beans.

             
“Maria, You are going to have to teach me how to make your tacos.”  Ella leaned over the pan of taco meat allowing the aroma to fill her nose. They smell so good.”

             
“Maybe you won’t need to learn to make them maybe…“ Her voiced trailed off. Maria knew she and Juan had not made their decision to stay or go.

             
Juan bent over and looked up the fireplace checking to see if the flue was open.

             
“If you don’t mind Ms. Ella I would like to build a fire.”  Juan said as he poked the cold wood left from the last fire.

             
“By all means, I love a nice fire.  It reminds me of home when I was a young girl. My dad would build a nice fire, mom would make popcorn using a long handle rectangular pan with a screen cover.  The fragrance would linger through the house for hours.”

             
Ella and her guests were enjoying the crackling fire.  Ella jumped to her feet.

             
“That’s it….I’m going to pop some popcorn.  My mom’s popper is stored in the garage.”

             
“Juan can you help me fetch it?”  Ella asked as she jumped up from the sofa heading for the garage.

             
“Sure Ms. Ella popcorn sounds good to me.”  Juan said as he slipped his shoes on.

             
Ella pointed out the ladder on the back wall of the garage; Juan placed it against the ceiling joists climbed to the top and with Ella directing him to where she remembered storing the popper found it without any problems. 

             
Juan handed down the popper and said to Ella.  “I’m surprised you could remember exactly where you stored it.”

             
“I’ve got a pretty good head on these shoulders.  I actually only put it up there a few weeks ago”  She laughed.

             
Juan put the ladder against the wall the two made their way back to the house with popper in hand.

             
Ella put a little oil in the popper about half cup of kernels of corn.

             
“Juan,” handing the popper to Juan.  “You’re the man of the house so you are the official corn popper.  My dad loved popping the corn.  I would get out the official popcorn bowls.  Mom had a special dish for every occasion.  Guess I’m somewhat like her.  I have most of her things.  Mom melted the butter on the stove top.  When dad filled the bowls mom poured the melted butter over the popped corn.  I have so many good memories of my childhood.  Oh my, I’m just rambling on.  Maria would you like to melt the butter?  You’ll find the pan in the cupboard next to the stove.”  Ella said taking a big breath.

             
“Sure Ms. Ella.”  Maria said as she looked into the cupboard for the pan.  Maria looked in the refrigerator for the butter. 

             
“Ms. Ella, I can’t seem to find the butter.”

             
“Lord knows I can’t keep up with this house.  I’m probably out of it.  We can enjoy the popcorn without butter.  I need to start a grocery list.”  Ella grabbed a tablet and started jotting down items needed.

             
Juan filled the ‘official’ popcorn bowl. They sat around the fire chatting about things they had been through the past few days.  Ella didn’t mention her offer.  She wanted to give them plenty time to think about it.  The lights were low and the flicker of the fire streaked across the room.  Juan and Maria snuggled on the sofa with an afghan Mrs. Ferguson made when Ella was young.  The house was quiet except for the crackling of the fire.  As the fire lost its sparks the three decided it was time to get some sleep.  Juan and Maria made their way upstairs.  Ella chose a good book from the library and took it to bed with her.

             
Ella woke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and bacon frying on the stove.  The morning sun shined through the gaping drapes covering the large window.  She slid her size ten feet into her slippers, scurried over to the window.  Pulling the drapes to the side allowing the bright sun to shine through the room. 

             
Ella pulled her hair back in a ponytail, quickly washed her face, and downed a warm robe joining Juan and Maria in the kitchen.  Maria was hurriedly putting the last touches on breakfast while Juan set the table. 

             
“Good morning.  What a nice surprise.  Everything smells so good.  I’m starved, can I help with anything?”  Ella asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

             
“No, Ms. Ella this will be my job.”  Maria said as she set the last plate on the table.

             
“Are you saying you are accepting my offer?”  Ella happily asked.

“That will be Juan’s decision.  I guess I spoke up too soon.”  Maria said looking over at Juan.

             
“Yes, Ms. Ella we talked about your generous offer into the wee hours of the morning.  We feel you are being very generous to share you home with us.  We have come to admire you.  We know you are a good woman.  Yes, we would like to accept your offer.”  Juan pulled Maria close to his side.

             
“This calls for a celebration,” Ella smiled wrapping her arms around two people she met only a few days ago.  “Shall we have breakfast?  We have so much to discuss.”   

Ella was so excited she could hardly eat for talking. 

             
“We have so much to do, first things first.  After breakfast I will call my dad’s old law firm and get the papers started.”  Ella said holding her napkin in front of her full mouth.

             
Ella made the phone call to San Francisco.  “Yes, you heard me right.”  She told the attorney on the other end of the line.  “I’m sponsoring a nice Mexican family.  Let me

Know when you have everything in order.  We will fly up to take care of all the paperwork.”  She told the attorney.  Ella put the phone in its cradle and smiled.

             
The following days were filled putting things in order.  Ella’s home was now Juan, Maria and Jose’s home.  It had to be made comfortable for them too.

             
“Tomorrow let’s make a trip to Baker to pick up some much needed things.”  Ella told them.

             
Ella made a list of items needed.  After Mrs. Ferguson passed on Ella being an only child acquired all her mother’s belongings.  Ella wanted to keep the Linville home in the same condition as when her parents lived there and didn’t take but a few momentous to her home in Coopersville.  She always thought maybe someday she would retire in Linville.

             
Everyone was up bright and early making a trip to the hospital to visit Jose before heading out to Baker for a day of shopping.  Jose got a good report and they were off to Baker. 

             
Ella pulled into the parking lot of a large mall. 
             
“First lets go find Jose a crib.”  Ella threw the gear shift into park, cut the ignition off and away they went.

             
“We don’t have money to buy a crib, Ms. Ella.”  Juan told her.

             
“Juan, I’m furnishing our home and a crib is needed for Jose.  Jose can’t sleep in that box you made for him.  He’s grown so much in the past few days by the time he comes home his feet will hang over the end.” she laughed.

             
The store clerk escorted them around the nursery furniture department.  Ella stood back allowing Juan and Maria to look at all the cribs.  Maria kept going back to a dark mahogany crib with smooth lines. 

             
Ella walked over to Maria. “Is this the one you like?”

             
“Yes, but the white crib over there where Juan is standing will do.”

             
Ella summoned the clerk.  “Are there other matching pieces?” 

             
“Yes, there are several matching pieces.”  The sales clerk told her pointing out the other pieces throughout the baby furniture section.

             
“We’ll take the set.”  Ella told the sales clerk.  “Including the rocker.”

             
“The entire set?”  The sales clerk asked.

             
“We will need them delivered.” she told the sales clerk.

             
Maria began to hyperventilate, finding a place to set she fanned herself.

             
“Juan, we are so blessed.”  Maria said as she calmed herself.

             
“I know Maria, so very blessed.”  Juan said.

             
Next Ella asked Maria to pick out the bedding for the crib.  After Maria chose a pretty blue with bright yellow trim bedding and curtains.  Ella asked the store clerk to ring it all up.  Their arms were loaded down when they left the nursery department.

             
“Looks like we need to make a trip to the car before we do any more shopping.” Ella said.

             
Ella opened the back of the station wagon filling it with baby bedding. 

“Baby bedding, my home with a baby.  I can’t imagine how good that is going to feel.”

             
“What else do you need Juan?”  Ella inquired.  I know you came to the country with the clothes on your back.  The clothes I gave you certainly don’t fit.  So, I want you to pick out a pair of pants you like to work in and a pair you like for dress.”

             
“I’m overwhelmed I don’t know what to say.  Like Maria I think I’m dreaming.”  Juan told her.

             
Juan found a pair of jeans for work; a pair of Dockers for dress.  He also picked out some work shirts and dress shirts.  Underwear was also added to the list of needed items.  After determining Juan’s size and what he liked Ella picked out several garments and laid them on the counter.

             
Next they visited the ladies department.  Ella told Maria to pick out what she likes to wear daily.  Maria showed Ella a few things and she tried on a few items.  Ella filled Maria’s arms and headed to the lingerie department where Maria picked out some nice undies.

             
“I can’t believe we forgot to get some clothes for Jose.”  Ella told them.

             
Back to the baby department they headed.  Maria looked at all the nice baby clothes.  She turned to Ella and said.  “Ms. Ella would like you to pick out Jose’s clothes.  I love everything.  It will make me happy.”

             
“You sure?”  Ella asked.

             
“I’m positive.”  Maria said with a smile knowing she was making Ms. Ella happy.

             
Ella took forever choosing perfect clothes for little Jose. You would think she was a new mother.

             
Ella being without siblings and no children of her own feels she has a lot missing in her life.  A large missing part of the puzzle of her life is being fulfilled.  Fulfilled by stranger’s that came to her door in the middle of the night.

             
Another trip to the station wagon was needed.