Writers Note
This is the sixth chapter of my story about Katie and goes from Oct 30, 1981 until Nov 12, 1981. There isn't much I can say about this one.
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The first week in November started off like all the weeks that we had been together. Katie had brought me supper at my apartment that Friday and spent the night. Saturday was Halloween and she had candy for the kids that were out trick or treating. Afterwards, we didn't go the playroom, it was just one of those nights that we made soft and sweet love in her bed. It was sunny but cool on Sunday and we took a ride up to the State Park where the waterfalls were that had become our favorite spot to go to. We didn't pack a picnic supper to take with us since was getting dark early, instead we just stopped at a diner on the way back. Our kiss Monday morning before leaving for work seemed to go on longer than usual and she finished it off with one of her special, "I love you," kisses. Monday night I called her and everything was fine. Wednesday couldn't come fast enough so that I could be with her again.
Tuesday night I worked at the store late and called her around 8:00 PM and got her answering machine. I left a quick message for her to call me at the store. In the past she would always get right back to me. I got busy with a few customers and it was 9:00 PM and time to leave. I called her again, got the machine and left a message that I was heading to the apartment and that she should call me there after 9:30 PM. I made my bank deposit and got there at 9:25 PM. I waiting and waited but there was no call from her. I called her again at 11:00 PM, got the machine but this time I didn't leave a message. I was getting concerned and thought about driving down there but I decided that I would wait. I went to bed and didn't sleep very well.
I set my alarm for 7:30 AM and I called and got the machine again. Since I was up early, I went up to the store and I called her sales office. She had told me that they had her schedule of appointments and would be able to get a message to her. The day went by and there was still no word from her. I left the store right at 5:00 PM and drove down to her house. I arrived at 5:45 PM and it was getting dark out already. Her car wasn't in the driveway or carport and there were no lights on in the house that I could see. I went to the front door, unlocked it and went inside. It was dark in there, the hallway nightlight wasn't even on. I switched on the main light and there was a small pile of mail sitting on the floor which I picked up and then headed to the kitchen. After I turned the light on in there and put the mail on the counter, I went over to her phone and answering machine. There were three messages showing and I played them back. The first two were the ones that I had left the previous night and there was one from her boss around 10:30 AM this morning asking her to call him. I went back to the kitchen and checked the table and counter for a note from her. I couldn't think of any reason for her to just up and disappear like this. I stood there for a few minutes and then I heard the front doorbell ring. I walked over to the door, opened it, and there stood Mrs. Johnson who lived across the street.
I said, "Hello Mrs. Johnson. Can I help you?"
She answered softly, "I just wanted to come over and say how sorry I am."
I asked, "Sorry about what?"
She looked at me and said, "You must not know. I will be right back." I had no idea what she was talking about. I watched as she walked across the street and then came back carrying a newspaper.
I let her into the hallway and she handed me the newspaper, which was today's edition. I had seen it on the newsstand at the drugstore that was next to my store but I hadn't paid it any attention. The big news was about a car crash on the one highway. I knew that road, at that spot it was two lanes that were separated by a small median with a guardrail in the center. Mrs. Johnson pointed to the article. There was a picture of traffic backed up and also one of a car with it's roof torn completely off. I started reading it.
The accident had started as a chair reaction accident in the southbound lane. There was a bend in the road a little to the north of where it had happened and a truck had come around too fast and couldn't stop in time. He slammed into a car that was stopped but instead of pushing it into the car that was in front of it, it had gotten pushed up and over the back and had flipped over the guardrail in front of another car that was heading northbound at the time.
There were two people killed, I read the names, and one of them was Katie. I started shaking and I looked at the car in the photo and it looked like her car. I read the article again and my chest tightened up and I could hardly breathe.
Mrs. Johnson said, "I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you. You can keep the paper."
I replied, "No! Take it! I don't want it."
She said, "I am so sorry for your loss," and she took the newspaper out of my hand, walked out the door and closed it as she did.