The Widow's Friend (19 page)

I am going to end for now. Thanks for the email. I cherished
it. You make me feel loved.

Now here is something cute I ran across today: If snowflakes
were kisses, I’d send you a blizzard. You didn’t know it was me that sent you
all that snow today, did you?

May a snowflake hit you on the cheek, Callii

***

From Levi Stone (Thirty one minutes later)

Oh Callii, Callii, you are such an enigma. Do you know what
that means? I’m not sure that I do. I believe that you are everything that you
said you are, and so much more. Don’t worry about me being strong, you could
crush me, but I’ve been crushed before, but then again, not for a long time and
probably not like you could. And you never were an innocent bystander, not then
and not now. I’m the little straight arrow. We’ve been through all that before.
And don’t give me that innocent stuff. You play me like the violin. And what’s
with this “all talk” crap, action-girl? What is it you want from me? Shall I
show up at your door, grab you by both cheeks and give you a great big
kiss—mmwwaahh! Like Bugs Bunny kissing Elmer Fudd? Or shall we drive to Sugar
City, park the car, and make out like a couple of ninth graders? Or do you want
me to come down there and jump your bones, hard and fast, and then hurry and
get dressed and split with nary a word? I mean really, what kind of action
should I take? Let me know so I can either relax, or screw up my nerve, or stay
confused.

Having said that, I’d like to come down again and see you. I’d
like to give you another set of books to share, since you’re such a fan.
Besides, I can’t think of another reason to drop in. Hollow Chill won’t be done
for at least a month, though.

Did you know that you made my day, my night, my week, and my
new year today? It’s because you said that you think of me all the time. A song
keeps going through my mind, “Heaven, I’m in heaven…” You bring it out of me. I
think I just felt a snowflake on my cheek. Or was that a tear, because I’m so
happy. (That was a little corny, even for me!)

And Jo, thanks for all the kisses you sent my way, but they
were wet and sloppy kisses. Is that your style? My danged snow blower broke in
the slush because of them. Sigh… But I’d like to try your wet and sloppy kisses
anyway, some day—any day!

And finally, I’m glad you feel loved—there’s a reason for
that, friendly friend. So find a night and invite me down. I’ll deliver some
books. I’m sure you’ll find others to share them with, and if you don’t, nobody
cares anyway.

“Heaven, I’m in heaven.” Please lead me on, woman. I can
certainly handle it. I could only not handle it if you stopped, and anything
that you send to my cheek will be a welcome addition.

And one last thing, you always play the dumb card, but you
can’t fool me. You are witty and clever on top of your good looks. Give Mary
Lou a kiss good night for me, and sleep well dear friend.

From your not so secret admirer, Levi

P.S Write soon and write often, and I will too.

From Callii Wilson (Ten minutes later)

Oh Levi, you are such an enigma too. I’ll look that up
later. I may never sleep again after your email. You should write romance
novels.

Good night my friendly friend, Callii

***

From Levi Stone (Fifteen minutes later)

Good night dear Callii, I took one more peek at my e-mail
and I’m glad that I did. Would you like to be the leading lady in my romance
novel? You would bring the best writing out in me.

Good night again sweet grandma. Still dreaming, Levi

***

From Callii Wilson

(Dec 30th)

I’ll have you know that after last night’s conversations my
computer has finally cooled down enough for me to use it again. I just want you
to know that I am thinking about you.

Have a good evening. Your forever friend, Callii

***

From Levi Stone (One hour later)

You know, I was thinking today, as I was going blowing, that
whoever pulled you and me together was brilliant. How did they know, and how
could they? Now I’ve given Satan his do for many, many years. He’s been around
for eternities and knows what to do to lead us along and take us down through
our every little weakness. When I was a kid I used to think that he wouldn’t
outsmart me, there was no way, but boy was I naive. But on the other hand, what
if the crowd in Paradise pulled the strings—your clan and mine, conspiring
together to help us both out. That would be pretty brilliant too: my mom, your
mom, my dad, my son, and on and on. Do you have many on the other side yet?

Anyway, I was just thinking—pretty heady stuff. And before
the initial lightning bolt, I didn’t even know you were single, available,
would be interested, or anything like that. They had to push my head down and
rub my face in your photo to get my attention. And then they sent electricity
shooting through my brain and old, old memories surging through my mind to
ensure that I would stay focused. I just thought I’d mention it. That’s all,
just thinking, Levi

P.S. And then you showed interest in me, even in the
situation that we’re in. How would they know? And just so you know, I’m leaning
towards the crowd in Paradise. I guess that’s called faith.

Your friend, Levi

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 1st

It’s the middle of the night and I’m sure that you’re snug
in bed right now party girl. There’s a story behind me being up at this time of
the morning again, but you don’t want to hear about it. I hope you had a good
time last night, catching up with all your single friends. Is there anything
interesting going on with any of them? I caught many snowflakes last night, in
fact you roused me from my slumber, but you shouldn’t ask where they landed.

Here’s wishing you an excellent year, beginning with
Disneyland.

Your friend always, Levi

***

From Callii Wilson (Two hours later)

Good evening Mr. Stone,

How is your first day of the New Year going? I do want to
hear why you were up at 4:00 in the morning on the first day of a new year when
you should have been sleeping. You have my full attention. I have spent my day
shopping. Does that surprise you? I also spent a good part of it cleaning out
cupboards. I have enough expired food to supply a third world country. What a
waste. I guess I should learn how to eat at home more often so the food I do
buy doesn’t expire on me. I guess I will make that a New Year’s resolution. It
will be one of many that I won’t keep. What are your resolutions, or are you
smarter than I am and don’t make any?

What makes you think I was with my single friends last
night? For all you know I had a hot date—or not! Six of us got together in Sugar
City at a friend’s house. We ate and we talked, and we ate and we talked some
more. (Cheep, cheep, cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more.) Cheryl Bradford
was one that you would know. Do you know Sherry Stone Barber? It’s the same
name as your sister—funny huh? She was there too. We all decided to go on a
cruise or something together. We are in the planning stages still. Who says
being single isn’t fun and games?

Sorry this is so short tonight, but I am going to head for
bed soon. I’m pooped. Shopping can wear a person out.

Thinking of you, Callii

From Levi Stone (Two hours later)

Hi Callii, I sure like you—I wanted you to know that. Sleep
well. I hope this e-mail didn’t wake you. I’ll write more tomorrow.

Good night from your old flame, Levi

***

From Levi Stone

Jan 2nd

Good morning Callii, so how did I know you were out with
your single friends Friday night? Hmmmhhhh? It must be a disconcerting thought
that I am keeping such close tabs on you. I’m sure that you’re concerned, so
let’s play detective, be logical, and break down the possibilities.

I could be clairvoyant. We both know I get messages from the
other side—that’s documented. Could that be it?

Or maybe I have hooked up on e-mail with your old friend,
Tommy Thompson. I’m sure that he drives by your house about three times a day
just to keep an eye on you, (Can you hear his heart thumping?) and he just
sends off the information he gathers to me—for a nominal fee of course.

Of course a stronger possibility is that Sherry Stone Barber
is somehow related to me. She’s a cousin who’s quite fond of me and she’s a
secret plant. We share everything and always have. We go back a long ways.

Or maybe I’m simply a bit twisted and have tapped your phone
line. I’m head over heels in love with you and I’m the jealous type. I can’t
stand the thought of you being with anyone else, so I make sure I know where
you are at all times, because I am totally obsessed with you.

Or maybe Cheryl Bradford Smith is my secret plant. Rick
Sundstrum is a mutual friend and she is the liaison to not only you, but also
all other mutual friends of Rick and I.

But actually, and I’m sorry to inform you of this, but Mary
Lou and I have a strong admiration for each other. It was love at first sight,
you know. There was something about that push up bra and that eternal grin. You
didn’t know that she has a cell phone did you? She keeps in touch at all times.
She’s very sweet and I think we’re going to be friends forever. She’s a keeper,
and our relationship is rolling right along.

Or could it be the fact that uncle Chester lives in the
apartments across the street from you. He is great friends with the neighbor
behind your house, and between the two of them they keep you covered at all
times.

And the last and only other possibility that I can think of
is that Mary, the one that lives with me, has a contract out on you. I’ve
stumbled across her plans and she’s watching you closely. She knows where you
are at all times!

And that’s about it, I think. Can you think of anything
else?

Oh wait, there is one other likelihood. It’s a fairly simple
little thought, really, but it’s quite possible that you were all over one of
those popular little social websites on Thursday night. After all, you probably
sent something out to all of your friends, and there is a distinct possibility
that I am included on that friends list. So there you go, after flexing our
brains a bit, we have finally figured it out! And by the way, after much prayer
and consideration, I have received no further communication from the other side
since last August, but I kind of wish that I had—for both of our sakes. It
would be so nice if all of my friends up there could just shoot me out a little
message so that I’d know what the Hell I’m doing sometimes. But alas, this
world is a world of faith and not knowledge, so I’m left to struggle through on
my own, with only a little help from my earthly friends—and that puts a lot of
responsibility on you, my dear.

I’m sorry about your washer, or was it your dryer? I’ve had
a few things go down this week too. The vacuum—fixed! The upstairs toilet—I’m
still working on it. The DVD player—I bought a new one today and hooked it up.
The computer—data retrieved and on a CD, but I’m having troubles rebuilding the
system off the recovery disc. We’ll see how that plays out. It just never
stops, does it?

What kind of shopping did you do yesterday, may I ask? Did
you shop for clothes with a friend, shop for some special item, or just shop
for groceries? The stores I needed to go to were all closed for the holiday. I
had a hankering to get my new book cover blown up and enlarged so I could frame
it. The camera shop was closed all day and so was Hobby Knobby (Frames) so I
did other things: lunch with the grandkids and the repairs that I’ve mentioned.

You know I haven’t even thought about New Year’s resolutions
yet, but I have kind of resolved lately to peddle my books a bit. The main
thing I need to do is figure out how to get them listed on Amazon.com. I know
how to buy ISBN numbers but I need to figure out how to register those numbers
so they’re recognized nationally. I am also going to submit manuscripts to
several publishers. I dread doing it; it’s like beating my head against a wall.

One day, several years ago, I took a day off and literally
worked from six thirty in the morning until after Midnight that night sending
out queries, synopsis’s, or whatever the heck else they asked for. The problem
is that every publisher or agent wants something different. Some want queries,
some want a synopsis, some want outlines, some want combinations of each, some
want the formatting to be specific in various ways, and on and on. It’s a pain
in the neck. And the whole time you’re working on it, you know you won’t get
anywhere with them. That’s what sucks the most.

The reason I was up at four a.m. was not a very interesting
story either. We had a quiet evening at home for the New Year. We didn’t even
have Lexi with us. She spent the night in Rexburg with her cousins. Anyway, the
steaks turned out tough, which was a major disappointment for Mary, and then we
watched “You’ve Got Mail” together. We were really having a good time watching
it, discussing every little detail. We both love that movie—we think it’s
clever and fun. Anyway, half way through it, the DVD whacked out so we were
done all of a sudden. Mary started reading a book (She loves to read.) and the
next thing I know I wake up at three in the morning—alone. I go out to the
family room and there she sits, tapping away on her laptop. (She was probably
e-mailing her boyfriend or something. :^) She looks at me and says, “You went
to sleep!” I nodded and acknowledged as much, and then we went back to the
bedroom and inaugurated the New Year.