"Hansen, Maxine Joy - The Letter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hansen Maxine Joy)
Anne told me she was visiting from Maine for the summer. She said her last name was Kaufman. I must have driven every operator in the State of Maine crazy, not to mention more than a few Kaufmans. I didn't know the city, I only knew her parent's first names and she told me she had a sister named Bethany. Finally, I cooled down. Rose was a good person, and I knew she would ensure that Anne was taken care of from this end. I also knew my Anne - if something was wrong at home she would have raced there as fast as she could. From our talks, I knew how much she loved her family. So it made sense in such an emergency she would have left as soon as she could. She no doubt had a tight schedule booking a last minute train, so it didn't seem strange that things would be in an uproar and she would have left it for Rose to call me. I was sure Anne would be on that train thinking Rose had contacted me, given me her parent's phone number, and calmed me down. I also figured if I tried to call Rose again that evening she'd hang up on me or think I was crazy. So...I stared at the ceiling all night."
"The next morning when I hadn't heard from Rose or Anne by eleven o'clock I couldn't stand it anymore. If I had to help Rose tear through her whole place I was going to find that number or at least an address, something! So, I shot out of the house and went to Covington." James looked at Kathryn and Colt. "Rose let me in and we spent the next hour or so talking. Anne was gone." His voice momentarily broke etched with the memory of his loss.
"Did Rose know about the letter? Did she think you had received it?" Kathryn asked.
"Rose didn't mention a letter. She just saw me when she opened the front door, let me in, and gave me a hot cup of coffee, which I suspect had something stronger laced in it. Then she started telling me her story. She told me Anne wasn't her niece, that she was a boarder and had become a dear friend-like a daughter-in the weeks she was there. Rose knew she was troubled and tried to get her to talk on a number of occasions. Anne would give her bits and pieces, but no real clues - same as me. Well, you can only push so far and that's what Rose did. She just figured she would make it as safe for Anne as she could and Anne would eventually open up to her. Then I came on the scene. It seems after giving my name, rank, and serial number Rose thought I might be the perfect medicine for whatever was bothering Anne. So she didn't bother to correct my assumption that she was Anne's aunt. She just dug right in and went along with it, hoping everything would come out right. She had two other boarders at the time besides Anne and I guess they played along. I ran into them a couple of times, one even came into Tellman's, and they didn't correct me about Anne's 'aunt'. Or maybe they thought she really was Rose's niece. Anyway, all Rose knew was that Anne had been somewhat quiet most of the day. She'd gone out for a walk during lunch and came back around three o'clock. She left again at six thirty."
"To go to you," Kathryn said.
"It seems like it from this letter." James brushed it with his finger. "If only I'd seen her. If..."
"There are a million "ifs" in life, but you can only do what you think best at the time," Colt interjected.
"I know, I know. But "if" is a very tempting word, son."
"Yes it is."
"Anne must have come back to the rooming house." Kathryn pressed for the rest of the story, something she had to have.
"Yes, she did. According to Rose, at about seven thirty Anne flew into the house like the hounds of hell were chasing her, tears streaming down her face. Rose was horrified and tried to calm her down. All Anne would tell her was that if I called or came around, to say there was a family emergency and that Anne would be in touch. Rose was in the middle of trying to make sense of everything when I did call. She still didn't have any kind of coherent story from Anne and she didn't know if I had turned out to be the biggest louse in the world. So she parroted Anne's story and put me off. Once she bought herself some time with me she turned her attention to Anne."
"Did Anne tell her anything? Give her any clues as to what was wrong?" Colt asked.
"Not much. Anne told her she loved me." James' voice cracked slightly and he took a deep breath before continuing. "She just told Rose there was no way it would work out. It was her problem, not mine. She just kept saying there was no way she could stay and that she shouldn't have stayed this long or gotten involved with me. That she had hurt me enough. All she would tell Rose was that it was a family problem, a deeply personal situation, and that it was best Rose didn't know anything about it if I came around asking questions. She said the less Rose knew the better, but that things were going to be okay. That she had become stronger in the last few weeks. She did tell Rose that she had initially traveled to Florida to spend time alone sorting some things out."
"Why Clearwater? Did Rose ask her that?" Kathryn questioned.
"I asked if there were any family here or any connection. Rose said to the best of her knowledge no."
"Maybe Anne just picked Clearwater at random. Stopped off by train or whatever, felt comfortable with the place, and thought this might just be the town to take a breather, get a little space, and come to terms with whatever was disturbing her," Colt offered.
"I think you're probably right about that. Anne was unfamiliar with Clearwater other than a few spots she had taken to walking through or having a picnic by," James said.
"Apparently, Anne relaxed a little after my initial call. At least she knew I wasn't going to be barging in, finding her and asked a lot of questions at that point. She told Rose she was going to leave for home the next morning, around five in the morning, so that she could catch an early train. Rose tried to talk her into waiting a few days, cooling off and then talking with me. Then if she still felt like leaving go. But Anne was adamant; she wouldn't. Said she had done enough damage already. Rose saw it was just too upsetting for her and finally let it be. She arranged for her nephew, Robert, to come over early the next day to give Anne a ride to the station. Anne promised Rose that she would contact me when she got home, if Rose would just keep stringing me along for another twenty four hours or so. She also promised to write Rose and let her know that she had arrived home safely and so forth."
James struggled to collect his thoughts before turning to Colt and Kathryn and speaking.
"She never did of course. No, she never wrote or called either one of us unless Rose was keeping it from me. She'd even cleverly given Robert the slip at the station, declining his offer to see her onto the train. She waited until she was sure he was gone before purchasing her ticket. For awhile I went a bit crazy. Tried to find her. Even hired a local PI. Can you believe that? Nothing! Came up empty handed. Course in those days it was a little easier to give someone the slip so to speak. You didn't have those new fangled computers nosing into everyone's business, government was somewhat less intrusive; a little less red tape, not so much paperwork kept on a person. Hell, it shook me up. Thought about quitting school, didn't even want to become a doctor anymore. It was my father that saved me. He needled and riled, commiserated, yelled, cajoled, you name it he did it. At least it got me back in school. Finally, the pain dulls. You never forget. You pretend that you do, but you don't. Two years later, I met Margaret; the other person that saved my life. She was a remarkable woman. I don't know how she put up with me for so many years. But she did and we had a good marriage. A damn good marriage." James fingered his wedding band and Kathryn followed his gaze as it shifted to a picture of a pretty woman with a wide, generous, giving mouth and eyes that sparkled even through the old black and white photo. Kathryn was pleased James Hazlett had found her and, instinctively, she knew they had shared a good life and a deep love.
Colt recognized it as well and envied the older man. "You're very lucky, Dr. Hazlett. It's very rare that a man finds that special love twice in a lifetime."
"Well, son, it's rare a man is willing to look or, more to the point in my case, is made to look. I didn't give Margaret an easy time of it at first. But I'm glad to say she was a stubborn woman." James smiled much to Kathryn and Colt's relief.
"I hope things worked out well for Anne," James told them. "I wish I knew that they did. But, here we are and that's enough about the past. Thank you again young lady. I appreciate this more than I can say. Now, how about you? You mentioned you live in Los Angeles?"
It was framed as a question and invited Kathryn to tell him about herself. She did, although leaving out the fact that she had traveled all the way from L.A. simply to give him the letter. However kind he was, it was a bit of a strange story and she felt he might start to wonder about her and her motives. Instead she told him that she was taking some vacation time and enjoying the sights of Clearwater and the surrounding Florida area, as well as the perfect beach weather.
They stayed a little longer and then said their good-byes. Kathryn knew she had no reason to visit James Hazlett again. Having turned over the letter no connection remained between the two of them. The thought saddened her, so she silently memorized his features, gazed at the letter held tightly in one of his large, capable hands, and hoped with all her heart that love would touch his world for the third time. Outwardly she wished him well and gave him her brightest smile hoping the teardrops that threatened to rim her eyes would be held in abeyance until she was out the door, in the car, and back at the hotel.
Colt's firm grip matched that of James as the two men shook hands. As they walked out of the apartment, that same strong hand once again protectively caressed Kathryn's shoulder and steered her through the courtyard, back through the reception area, and to the car. Silent until he opened the passenger door, he looked at her and asked her if she was alright. She nodded and offered him a smile, but the tears that had behaved at her command found their release with his gentle concern. With infinite care he brushed the salty wetness from her cheeks, hugged her and told her he understood. After he saw her settled comfortably on the front seat, he came around to his side, unlocked the door and got in.
Again they both fell silent as Colt pointed the Cherokee in the direction of Clearwater Beach. When they reached her hotel, Kathryn turned to him, steeling herself for yet another more difficult goodbye, amazed that the stranger in front of her, someone she had known only a whisper in time, had become so important to her, so integral to her life that saying goodbye seemed painful and almost unthinkable. Yet it had to be done. Before she could find the words and voice her thoughts, however, Colt filled the quiet space with his own origination. In no uncertain terms he told her that they were going up to her hotel room, she was going to grab an overnight bag and she was coming home with him. She trotted out every excuse in the book; he refused to listen. She was not staying alone at the hotel tonight, he had a beautiful spare bedroom, his daughter would be delighted with the company of a female, it was "be kind to voluntary postal workers day," he even had a pool that was every bit as good as the one at the hotel, and that was that. She could even check out and check back in later or keep the room and he would pay the charges for the time she was away, but she was not going to be on her own tonight. Guiltily she was glad she had given in. She didn't want to be alone right now and the immediate warmth she knew she would feel in his home beckoned to her as did the enjoyment of his company and that of his charming daughter. She learned the hotel had plenty of rooms so she opted for checking out. She would come back later the next day or perhaps she would find a smaller comfortable and quiet motel. It was just for a few days after all.
She packed her clothes and personal articles while Colt waited patiently. He carried the bags out to her rental car and she followed him to Magnolia Lane. It wasn't long before they arrived at his front door. Colt ushered her to a room that looked suspiciously like the master bedroom, but she was too drained to argue for the moment. After she freshened up he plied her with lemonade and sat her in one of the colorfully padded chairs by the pool.
When Jesse came home she was delighted to find Kathryn there. In the early evening they decided to go out for pizza only to be waylaid at the front door by a willowy, doe eyed brunette from two doors down proffering a deep dished pan of Southern fried chicken and a suggestive smile. The smile wavered when she saw Kathryn until Colt worked his magic. Minutes later, the somewhat appeased brunette was gone, the chicken was laid out on plates in the kitchen, and three hungry people had a feast.
After dinner, Kathryn insisted on washing the dishes and tidying up. Colt and Jesse headed for the Cherokee and returned half an hour later with a rented movie and a carton of ice cream. The film was a light comedy that all three of them could enjoy and that was suited for an eleven year old and two people who were young at heart.
Soothed, but still tired from so much emotion during the day, Kathryn was amused by the romp on the screen, but was heavy lidded when the credits signaled the ending. Shortly after she said goodnight to the two people who had woven their spell to fill the void she had felt bare hours ago replacing it with warmth and contentment. Shedding her clothes, and taking a warm shower in the adjoining bathroom, she fell asleep on the big bed almost as soon as her head nestled against the feathered pillow, her thoughts a jumble of Colt, Jesse, James Hazlett, and a woman whose face she could not see. ["#TOC"]
Chapter Five
Colt Riverton was in trouble and plenty of it. Perspiration beaded his furrowed brow and rivulets of sweat blazed a trail down the sinewy length of his exposed chest, back and arms. He lifted his knees off the soft, moist ground and felt the stab of pain in his left thigh, remnants of his last injury as a pro baseball player. He winced, took a deep breath and stretched the length of his drenched body. Mild sensations of a half a dozen other old injuries he had suffered came to life and reminded him of his years on the field. Slowly they receded to the background as he looked at his handy work. Seven beautiful rose bushes stood proud and firm in their new home, their fragrant multi-colored blossoms flirting with him in the slight warm breeze. The last tinge of pain disappeared replaced by the pleasure he felt at the sight of the newly planted bushes. So what if, strictly speaking, roses weren't supposed to be planted in the middle of summer. They would grow; he would see to that! Nearby stood a pile of straggly grass, old ground cover, and weeds he had pulled, tossed aside like rags. These rose bushes would grow all right. They belonged here just like they had done years ago when James Hazlett and his family had nurtured this property.
He smiled in satisfaction.
A mild ruffle of air from the Gulf stirred and Colt started to cool off, but a dip in the pool and a cold drink would go a long way to helping. Then he would try to work out his more pressing problem. He gazed at the second floor window of his daughter's bedroom. A frown replaced the smile and he sighed. Kathryn Cartwright. She was trouble with a capital "T".
To be perfectly fair, it wasn't her fault. Colt could have easily parted company with her when they left James Hazlett's apartment. He could have driven her back to the hotel, wished her well, and said goodbye. She was a stranger with whom he a struck up a mild friendship, helped, and that was that. Alright, she was a beautiful, thoughtful, caring woman. A little crazy. Well, not crazy, just a little over the top to come out here on the spur of the moment with a letter she found, intent on giving it to the person it was addressed to over fifty years ago. Okay, she wasn't over the top, she was just a romantic, that's all. And he had gone along right with her!
Colt sighed and padded over to sit in one of the loungers by the pool. The plain truth was he hadn't wanted to let her go. One evening he thought. What harm would it do. He instinctively trusted her, she would be good company for Jesse, and it would give her time to relax and be with some people after the emotional roller coaster of the day. After all, she had given up a part of her vacation to help someone, Colt could give an evening.
For a moment he pictured Pam. A real go-getter, but he doubted she would have raced half way across the States to deliver an old letter she found. Oh, she may have had someone try to locate the owner, but her life was fast paced, full of commitments, and she was a little more practical. She would have reasoned that after fifty years James Hazlett and Anne would either have found each other or found someone else. Why rock the boat. Colt felt a little guilty for the direction his thoughts were leading. Pam was a good woman and the divorce had been amicable. She had been a wonderful part of his life and a real support to him. Sometimes people had different goals and drew apart. It happened.
The main thing was that he was not in a position to get involved with anyone new right now. He and Jesse had just moved here to start a new life, build a home together, and create a future filled with stability and happiness. And, yes, peace. He had purposely waited for the summer so she wouldn't have to miss a beat of school, wouldn't have to start in midway in a strange classroom with a new teacher, trying to get her bearings and make friends at the same time. The coaching job he had been offered started only two weeks before the new school year so that gave him and Jesse a nice chunk of time to settle in and establish themselves in Clearwater. Colt figured that one day, maybe a year or two from now, he might find someone who would be interested in helping to build and share the kind of life he and Jesse had planned. Right now the two of them were just dusting off their wings and testing them. Most importantly, Jesse was getting used to a single parent family, her father. Although Pam could visit anytime she wanted and indeed Jesse would stay with her on occasion, he was the main focus in her life at this point in time. This had been vital to Colt and agreeable to his ex-wife. No, for the time being, romantic entanglements were not part of the plan.
Not that Kathryn was in the market for a new relationship herself. She had made that perfectly clear. In many ways she was, he reflected, in a similar situation to himself. She had just come out of a long-term relationship and was establishing herself in a new home with a new life. She was simply enjoying a few days of vacation and then she would head back to California. Fine. He should have let her get on with it the morning after she had stayed over. But it hadn't worked out that way. Colt had spent the night on the pull out couch-bed in the living room, an ancient relic he carried from place to place for sentimental reasons since he was a kid in the minors. His mother bought it for him when he rented his first apartment. Sentimental attachments aside, it was not that comfortable anymore for a six foot plus male body with war wounds from a rough and tumble career. He had told Kathryn there was a big spare bedroom in the house and that was true. What he hadn't told her was that there was no furniture in it yet. Jesse and he had planned to go shopping for a bed and other furnishings in the next week or two. Meanwhile, they had the essentials; she had her bedroom set from California, he had put together something, his parents had loaned him some furniture, and Pam had let him take some things she didn't particularly want anymore. Holding his breath, he was relieved when Kathryn didn't notice or was too tired to argue that he had shown her up to his own bedroom. The evening had been relaxing and had gone well for all three of them. After saying goodnight to Kathryn and tucking Jesse in her bed, he had gotten a few hours of sleep under his belt between tossing and turning and unbidden thoughts of the woman upstairs who slept in his bed. He was up at 6:30AM and decided to tackle breakfast again, this time foregoing the pancakes. Not to impress Kathryn, he was quick to point out to himself. Knowing Jesse was an early riser and correctly figuring Kathryn was too, he had everything assembled and ready to cook by the time he heard them both coming downstairs. He managed to fix more than a passable meal of vegetable omelets, frozen hash browns, and whole wheat toast.
That's when he should have done it. A nice breakfast and a nice goodbye. Have a great time. Colt eased himself deeper into the lounger and turned his face to the cooling breeze.
She had looked so down to earth fresh and beautiful, her face void of makeup, a pretty mint green summer dress gently sheathing her lovely curves. For a moment he had been rendered speechless and slightly breathless, and the only action he seemed capable of was quickly placing a frosty glass of orange juice in her hand with the inane comment that it really was made from Florida oranges. She had given him a shy smile and they had both stood transfixed until Kathryn blushed, politely mouthed a thank you, and turned away to seat herself at the cozy breakfast table which he had set for three.
Jesse had dominated the conversation, bright, bubbly, and full of questions for Kathryn, primarily on the subject of decorating. During the evening, Jesse learned Kathryn was redecorating her apartment and her eyes had lit up.
"Dad and I are going to do the same thing. We don't have much experience though," she told Kathryn.
"Well neither do I," Kathryn assured her. "But I know what I like and what I feel comfortable with, so I'm going with that. I also bought some magazines to give me a little guidance."
"We could do that, and I know what I want for my bedroom," Jesse perked up.
"Well, you and I are going to go out on a big shopping spree pretty soon, Minx."
"Maybe we should have some help dad,' Jesse suggested. "Maybe Kathryn can help us before she has to go home."
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