After my parents passed away, I just didn't know what to do with the house. I mean, I couldn't bring myself to put it on the market. At the time I was a successful businessman, living in town and happily married. Until I found myself divorced and living in a cramped, too small apartment. I awoke one morning and thought 'this is dumb. That house is sitting out there empty.'
So, I moved my things out here and started remodeling the place. I'd only lived here a few months when I got the phone call. After a hot dry summer and fall, it was now a wet, rainy, dark November. I'd got home from work when the phone rang. "Hi Frank."
"Becky!?! It's so good to hear from you. How are you?"
"I'm fine." She didn't sound fine, but I let her talk. When she went away to college, she stayed away, coming home only a few times for short visits. I hadn't seen her since the funeral.
"Frank, I was wondering if I could drive out there and visit you and Linda?"
"Honey, Linda and I are no longer together. But I'd love to have you visit me. I'm living at my parents' old house."
"Neat! Well, then, I'll be there about this time tomorrow. Ok?"
"Yeah, great."
Yeah, that is neat. I couldn't wait to see her again. The next day couldn't go fast enough and I straightened up the house, and aired out her old room. I slept in my old room. My parents' I made into a den. When she got here, it was raining again, or still. She ran to the kitchen door, while I held it open for her. Took off her coat and hung it on a hook behind the door just like she'd never left. We hugged and I kissed her cheek. "I made coffee."
"Sounds great." We sat at the kitchen table talking about everything and nothing. And finally she got around to it. "Frank, I lost my job. And I couldn't pay to renew the lease on my apartment. I was really wondering if I could stay for a little while. You know, to regroup and get back on my feet."
"Honey, this place is in my name, but I consider it half yours. You can stay as long as you like, and I'll love having you here." We'd grown up together and remain great friends. I couldn't look at her enough and make myself realize she's really sitting here. "I take it you have bags with you?"