"Hansen, Maxine Joy - The Letter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hansen Maxine Joy)

James Hazlett was a big man. In a way he reminded Kathryn of Colt. Age had not detracted from his vitality and strength, Kathryn was pleased to note. His hair, more white than gray, was cropped close to his head. His features, alert blue eyes, full mouth, and strong chin, showcased a man who, while still extremely good looking, had been devastatingly so in his youth. He wore a short sleeved powder blue shirt with white cotton pants, both well pressed and reflecting good taste and quality. White canvas deck shoes completed the outfit. Kathryn skimmed past his tasteful watch to the simple gold wedding band he still wore. She caught herself staring at it when his voice brought her up short.
"Yes?" the voice was also strong, purposeful and assured.
"Dr. Hazlett, I'm Colt Riverton," Colt put in when Kathryn found herself momentarily tongue tied.
"Ah, yes, my son said to expect you." James Hazlett turned to Kathryn. "You brought your wife I see."
"Ah..."
"I'm Kathryn Cartwright...a friend."
"Hm. Well, come in." James ushered them inside the cool apartment. "You never know. I thought you might be at the wrong door. Get a lot of those. Aggravating. Either that or people asking for medical advice. Don't get that I'm retired. You can sit here." He pointed to an overstuffed beige leather sofa."
Kathryn and Colt looked at each other. Clearly Colt had been expecting a somewhat docile, older gentleman - not this brusque, vital man who stood before him. Kathryn had to admit that while she didn't really know what to expect, this didn't fit in with her romantic ideas.
"Heard you were a baseball player. Never went in for that myself. Football. Now there's a game. Exciting, rugged. Used to attend a lot of games. Been awhile now though. At least it beats golf." He eyed Colt who returned his gaze with a question mark.
"Baseball!" James reiterated. "Better than golf. Now there's a slow paced snoozer. Never understood how Dick picked up on that, not to mention most of the doctors I worked with. Lived and died for the game. I never figured it out."
"Well, sir, I have to agree with you. Golf has never been my game," Colt offered.
"Good. Want a cold drink? How about you? It's a warm day, you don't want to get dehydrated." He gave Kathryn a friendly smile that melted her heart.
"Really I'm fine," she smiled back, although her mouth, parched with nerves, would have welcomed a cool, refreshing glass of water.
Colt, too, declined.
"Suit yourselves." James shook his head and sat down on a well worn leather lazy chair matching the sofa where Colt and Kathryn perched watchfully.
"Well, how's the old place?"
Kathryn noted the softened tones shading his words.
"It's a terrific place to call home, Dr. Hazlett. My daughter and I just moved in and I know it's going to be perfect for us. It's a wonderful neighborhood for my girl to grow up in."
"Yup. Enjoyed living there when I was a boy. It's a family neighborhood. Always were lots of kids around. Course the houses were certainly spread out a lot more at first. More land between each. My parents built that house. My grandfather, my father's father, actually owned the land and most of the surrounding property." James Hazlett caught his bottom lip with his hand and rubbed it. "Say, are those rose bushes still growing in the back?"
Colt was loath to tell him there were no signs of rose bushes in the yard. Apparently his silence was enough.
"Damn shame. My wife, Margaret, planted those just before Dick was born. Amazing woman. She could make anything grow. How about the lilacs? Never mind. I see it in your face. Hell, I never cared for that couple who bought the property in the first place. I could see their beady little eyes wandering around changing things when Dick first took them through." James shook his head and sighed.
"Well, no sense crying over split milk. I understand you have a letter for me. Couldn't be too important. The IRS hasn't knocked on my door; no collection agencies have come calling." He gave a short laugh and flashed another smile at Kathryn.
Kathryn and Colt looked at each other, a surge of understanding engulfing them both. Kathryn reached out and rested her hand lightly on Colt's arm. He knew it was time to turn things over to her. His job now was simply to be there for her; something he took great pleasure in, a feeling he would question later. Not now.
"Dr. Hazlett, I'm actually the one who has the letter for you. I'm afraid it's a bit of an unusual story. Colt felt...well, Colt felt it was best to save the details for you, so your son doesn't have the full story. He was helping me and I agree with his handling."
"Just as well, my dear," James told her. "My son and I don't always see eye to eye. What's my business is mine. What's his is his for the most part. Well, I only meddle occasionally. A lot less than him."
Colt and Kathryn smiled. Kathryn caught her breath and went on.
"You see, I live in Los Angeles and I actually found the letter wedged in the side of a drawer of a secretary I purchased at an antiques store."
"And it was addressed to me?" James seemed puzzled, but with a look encouraged Kathryn to go on.
"Your name and address are written on the envelope, with the city of Clearwater noted but no mention of what State and no zip code. I tried to trace you through the antique dealer. Unfortunately, the trail of paperwork was hazy and there was no record of a Hazlett owning that piece of furniture. Please believe me, I don't make a habit of opening other people's mail. I just didn't know what else to do and I thought if I opened it the contents might give me a clue."
"Well, it seems you did and here you are. The United States Post Office could pick up some tips from you young lady." James watched her with a keen sense of intelligence and she could sense his next question coming.
"The letter didn't hold a clue to where Clearwater was, but I did some ground work." Kathryn hesitated before meeting his eyes. "I wanted to give this to you in person if I could, to make sure you received it...It felt important."
Opening her bag she took out the letter and placed it in his waiting hand. She saw his gaze shift to the handwriting on the envelope. Not a muscle moved in his features, no emotion registered in his face or the set of his body other than curiosity. Kathryn knew then that he did not recognize the handwriting and felt a sense of profound disappointment tinged with fear. Was this the wrong James Hazlett. Was she off on the wrong track. For a wild moment she wanted to snatch the letter from his fingers to protect the contents from being divulged to yet another stranger. Too many strangers had seen it already. But it couldn't be wrong. So many thing added up; the address, the name. She watched as he proceeded to open the envelope, removing and unfolding the note paper inside. She felt the welcome, calming pressure of Colt's arm as it snaked around her shoulders in a protective gesture. In turn, she placed a gentle but restraining hand on James Hazlett's wrist.
"Perhaps Colt and I should go now."
Her words of consideration for his privacy came a moment too late. Already she saw the play of emotions as he began to read. Kathryn turned to Colt and he tightened his hand. Safe, in a fragile world of their own making, they quietly let James Hazlett take in the words that had been written for him so long ago.
The minutes passed like hours, even days, stretching into an anguished silence.
"Anne." The name was a silken caress on his lips. The pad of his thumb stroked the imprint of the letters stark against the aged sheet of paper, as if by doing so it would unlock the shackle of years passed and bring her back to him.
Tears welled in Kathryn's eyes as she watched the delicate embrace.
I'm sorry," she whispered on a breath. "I never meant to hurt you." His own eyes moist, he yet framed a smile meant for her pleasure alone.
"No. Don't ever be sorry. I will never be sorry for one moment I spent with her." James carefully refolded the letter and put it back into the envelope. He paused to read the broad pen strokes, which formed the letters of his name and address, and then he looked at Kathryn and Colt. "The war was over. I received my discharge papers early in 1947 and came home. Said hello to the folks and shortly after left for college to resume my studies. Medicine. My father was a doctor. Same as my father's father. Now I... I wanted to be a doctor with a slight twist; handle things naturally if I could. Only resort to drugs and surgery as the last alternative. Not very popular in those days. Drove my father crazy. He was always on the cutting edge of the next new wonder drug. I was busy looking into two thousand year old treatments and remedies." James shook his head with the shade of a twinkle in his eyes. "Looking back, I think he really enjoyed all the debates we had. Anyway, I was luckier than most; my family was able to help me through medical school. Still, I held odd jobs during the summer to help and for some extra pocket money. That summer I worked for Frank Tellman. Now there was a character! Tellman's Wharf. Doesn't exist anymore. It wasn't very big. He built a wharf, a sundry store with a connecting small diner and soda fountain, and right next to that a bait shop. What a combination!" This time James laughed right out loud then paused as his eyes grew misty again.
"That's where I first saw her," he said. "Old man Tellman had me lugging some boxes to the big garbage dumpster outside. I came around the bend and saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life sitting on a bench outside the store. I'll never forget it. Felt just like I'd been punched in the stomach and couldn't breath. Wouldn't trade the feeling for anything. She was wearing a pretty blue dress and the sun was shining on her wonderful auburn hair making it look like spun gold. But it wasn't just that. There was something else. There was something about her. I recognized her, as if I'd been waiting for her for eternity and there she was." James looked at Colt. "I suppose you think that's pretty hokey, huh son?" he asked.
"No sir, I don't." Instinctively he held Kathryn closer to him. James seemed pleased with his response and carried on with his story.
"I practically tripped over my feet getting those boxes to the garbage," he laughed. "Hoping she wouldn't notice me, hoping she would. Hell, I must have spent ten minutes pretending to clean up outside, figuring out what to say or if I should say anything at all. Finally I figured I'd rather make a complete fool of myself than let her get away without trying. So I prepared a real good line. Tellman's fabulous ice cream; best in town. It was, too. Relatively speaking. I told her she had to try some or she'd be sorry she missed it. Well, it seemed better than 'haven't I seen you before somewhere'. It took a few minutes of persuasion, but she went for the bait and I took my sweet time making her a triple fudge sundae and deciding what to do next. The rest, as they say, is history." James looked up at Colt and Kathryn again, roused from his reverie.
"We started talking and hit it off. Looking back at it now, I can see there were things she was hiding. When I told her I'd take her home she said she didn't live in town and was just visiting. So, I offered to take her to her hotel, although it was still somewhat unusual for a woman to be off on her own, especially a girl in her early twenties. I guess I was enough of a pest that she relented and let me escort her to what she said was her aunt's rooming house. I asked her out then and there and she said no. Turned me down flat. Nicely, but flat. That worked for twenty-four hours and then I decided she was just concerned with what her aunt might say. I was pretty full of myself in those days. Didn't think she really meant no - not after we hit it off so well. I may have had my tongue wrapped around my teeth and two left feet as far as she was concerned, but I was determined. So, after I got off work the third afternoon I went round to Covington Street, held my breath, and knocked on the door of the rooming house. In those days you pretty much knew everyone in town; Clearwater was a small community overall, friendly. Even so, with the war people came and went, I lost a few years in the service, and I didn't recognize the woman who came to the door. I automatically figured it was Anne's aunt and launched into my story. Told her where I lived, that my father was a doctor, that I was on summer break from college studying medicine. Hell, before I was finished she knew my rank, serial number, and favorite color. I guess I made some sort of good impression on her because she gave her approval and went away to fetch Anne. By the time Anne came downstairs my stomach was in knots and she looked lovelier than ever.
That was it. From there on we were inseparable. Course, it wasn't like today, five minutes and you're in bed together. It was different then. Oh, a fellow...sowed his wild oats where and when he could, and I certainly wasn't perfect. But I was courting Anne properly. I knew she was the one. I shared everything with her and, when my father would have a go at it, she'd be the one to put me back together again telling me to reach out for the brass ring I wanted and not let anything stand in my way. We must have talked about every subject under the sun; favorite authors, movies, music, the world situation, medicine, ice cream, puppy dogs. You name it. We'd sit there watching the moon, holding each other and sharing things. Took her down to Clearwater Beach and taught her how to swim; she didn't know how. Whenever Tellman wasn't looking I'd make her these outrageous ice cream concoctions trying to top each one with the next, just to hear her beautiful laughter. Everything about her was beautiful. She was my angel." James Hazlett closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"She never accepted invitations to come and meet my parents and have dinner at the house. She said it was too early and she wanted to be alone with me. I thought that was a great idea. I wanted to be alone with her too. So, we'd have summer picnics and I'd impress her with a couple of fancy dinners out. Once or twice I did go over to her aunt's place for a meal - an early dinner right after work and then we went out to a movie or for a long evening walk." James rose from his chair and took some paces around the small but comfortable living room of his apartment.
"I was a fool. She had something to say and I never really made it safe for her to say it. I'm sure I overwhelmed her. I thought everything was sewn up. Had it all planned. We'd get married, she'd stay with my folks when I went to school, and I'd come back every chance I could. In a few years, I'd be up and running with my practice and we'd have our own home." He shook his head. "A couple of kids. Oh, I had it all planned all right."
"When August hit, I knew I'd be heading back to college soon, so I made my pitch full of self- confidence at that point. I started with subtle hints at first, teasing her, taking for granted that when I popped the question she'd be there with a yes. I thought I'd take her home and my parents would fall all over her. My parents; they began to wonder what was going on. They knew I was seeing someone and they were delighted. But where was she? Why wouldn't I bring her home? Pretty soon mild amusement gave way to concern on their part. 'What's wrong? What are you afraid of? Who is this girl?' The questions, the arguments. I don't blame them for wondering what I was up to. I just put them off as best I could. But that second week in August I took some savings out of the bank, bought an engagement ring, and I was ready to pop the question and bring home my beautiful bride to be. Except it never happened. Something went terribly wrong." Wearily James sat back down.
"I had to work until seven and Anne was going to meet me at the wharf. I figured it was the place where we met and that was the best place to ask her. I waited outside and by seven fifteen she hadn't shown. I waited some more figuring she was just detained or making herself picture perfect for the moment. We were in love and I'd certainly done everything but tell her this was the big night. Some surprise! At seven forty-five I started to panic thinking she might be hurt or something was really wrong. Clearwater was a pretty safe town and still being summer it got dark much later. But it wasn't like her and I was very worried. I went back into Tellman's and old man Tellman let me use the phone. Except in six weeks I hadn't gotten the number. Can you believe it? We always met, or I picked her up. Rarely, she'd call me at Tellman's. It just hadn't come up. I called information, but there was no Cutler's Rooming House. I was just about to hang up and run over to Covington Street when a very charitable operator extracted enough information from me to locate Covington Room and Board. I called and Rose Cutler picked up the phone. She seemed somewhat distracted but she assured me Anne was fine. She said a family matter had come up that afternoon and Anne had to hustle home. She barely caught the train out. Rose said she was sorry she didn't call me in the rush of getting Anne to the train station. She said she had promised Anne she would phone me. I tried to press her for information. She said Anne's father was ill but she was sure everything was going to be okay and Anne would be in touch with me soon. I asked her for Anne's phone number so I could make sure Anne arrived safely in case she was unable to get in touch with me right away because of the situation. She said she'd call me back with it because she didn't have it to hand. So I gave her my number at home and she told me she'd ring me up as soon as she could." James looked at the letter again. "She was still there," he shook his head. "I didn't think to question what Rose was telling me. I went home, still concerned but somewhat relieved that Anne was okay. The story made sense. If I just would have gone over there."
"You had no way of knowing what was really going on," Kathryn insisted.
"Love should have told me. I loved that woman so much." He took a deep breath and continued.