Passion in James County XII: The Widow
Chapter Eleven
John Farrell steered his rental car into the restaurant parking lot, found an empty parking space, and pulled into it. He got out of the car and stood there, looking at the building he was about to enter with a sad look in his eyes. The last time he ate here, his wife was alive. It was one of their favorite places to eat and John, who was feeling a bit nostalgic, thought he'd eat here.
He had arrived in Jamestown from Arizona a day earlier than he planned, and had used the day to visit old haunts and old friends. He was surprised to discover how much he enjoyed the bittersweet memories his wanderings evoked. After all these years, he still missed his wife, but he had accepted her death and had begun to work on establishing a new life for himself.
John walked into the restaurant and was greeted by an attractive blonde hostess. He thought she looked familiar, but he couldn't place a name with her face. "Used to be, back when I was a working cop, I'd never forget a face," he thought. "Getting old is a bitch."
The hostess smiled at him. "Will you be joining us for dinner, sir?" she asked.
"Yes," John said. "Damn, her voice sounds familiar, too," he thought. "You'd think I could remember a the name of a girl that pretty."
"How many in your party?" the hostess inquired.
"Just me," he replied.
"Please, follow me," the hostess said. She started walking across the dining room and John followed her.
While they moved through the restaurant, John caught the hostess studying his face. Apparently he looked familiar to her, too, and she was trying to figure out who he was.
All of a sudden he remembered her name. "You're Gail," he said, "Gail Templeton." It all came rushing back to him. She was the daughter of one of his former neighbors. He and his wife, who had no kids of their own, had become unofficial aunt and uncle to her.
The hostess nodded. "It used to be. It's Gail Burger now," she replied. She continued to wear a puzzled look and study John, who could almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she tried to figure out who he was. Actually, he thought, she looked quite attractive with the look of puzzlement on her face.
"So you did marry Ed Burger, Gail?" John said. He was enjoying her discomfiture.
She nodded. "Ah...yes...I...I did," she replied. "I know this probably sounds corny, but I'm sure I know you, and it's obvious you know me, but I can't remember your name."
John grinned at her. "Gail, I'm really disappointed in you," he teased. "Would it help if I told you the last time I saw you, you were calling me 'Uncle Johnny'?"
The young woman's face lit up with a very attractive smile. "My God!" she exclaimed. "John Farrell! I haven't seen you in, what, maybe ten years, Uncle Johnny?"
"It's about that, I guess," John said. "You went off to college, I retired, and I haven't lived around here for two years." His old neighbors' daughter had grown into an extremely attractive young woman. She was wearing a camel colored coatdress that fit her perfectly and accented what looked like a figure that was at least as good as it had been when she was a teenager. The outfit ended above her knees and displayed long, lean, legs clad in dusky pantyhose. It looked as if she kept herself in shape.
"I'd never have recognized you, Uncle Johnny," Gail said. "You've changed."
John shrugged. "I guess I've aged some, and I think the last time you saw me I had a beard and moustache," he replied. "And I was probably carrying twenty more pounds back then, too."
"I heard about Aunt Marian," Gail said, "I was so sorry. How are you doing?"
"Actually, I'm doing pretty well," John replied. "I moved to Arizona, but right now I'm on my way up to the mountains to my nephew's place."
"Do you mean Greg?" Gail asked. "What's he doing now?"
"He's a deputy sheriff," John said. "He lives up in the mountains in the place he inherited from his folks. He works in that part of the county. He just got married."
Gail nodded. "I think I remember reading about his wedding in the papers," she said. "If I remember correctly, his wife is very attractive."
John smiled. "So are you, Gail," he said. "Now that you've changed grown up."
His compliment brought a delightful flush the attractive woman's face. "You're still a typical Irishman, full of blarney, aren't you, Uncle Johnny?" she said.
"It isn't blarney. I'm telling the truth," John replied.
Gail continued to flush and looked uncomfortable. "Ah...I...I really need to get back to work," she said. "I wish I had more time to talk with you, Uncle Johnny, but..."
"What time are you off duty?" John asked. "I'm heading out for Greg's place in the morning, but I don't have anywhere I have to be until then. Of course, I don't want to keep you from your husband..."
"I...I'm done about ten," Gail replied. "And Ed's my ex-husband."