Prologue


The leaves made soft, rustling sounds, as I walked across the yard to the house that I had grown up in. It was only the second time in 15 years that I had been to this place, the last time was when my mother had died and only the death of my step-father brought me back now, all those years, wasted, living far from here trying to forget about this place. For this is a place where nightmares were created, brought on by a stepfather who was an alcoholic. Once he was drunk, all hell would break loose. I remember well the beatings my mother suffered at the hands of this monster, yet when I tried to get her to leave him, she would cry that she could not, for what would she do. She had never worked a day in her life, she did not know if she would be able to take care of the two of us. So eventually, I gave up and got out. Because no matter how much I tried to convince my mother that I would take care of her, she refused to leave him. Eventually she did though, by committing suicide at least that is what the autopsy report said. I, of course have had my doubts for the last 10 years since she died.
With the death of my mother, the house I had grown up in was left to my stepfather, and now that he was gone, it was passing on to me.
I had mixed feelings about whether or not I wanted to keep the house at this point in my life, after all, I have a life in Dallas as a reporter, where I had been since leaving all those years ago. After leaving home, I hitched to Dallas, where I eventually signed up for night classes in Journalism finishing in the top three percent of my class, I was offered a job at the local paper even before I had graduated. However, to leave what I had worked so hard to accomplish and come back to what and where I had worked so hard to forget, could I do that? At this time, my thoughts are on clearing out the house and putting it on the market as soon as possible and turning my back one last time, and forget that this place ever existed. Little did I know that fate had something much more intriguing in store for me.


Chapter One


Summer 1977


The yelling had begun again, what it was over was anybody’s guess, which was the way it always was with my stepfather. Sometimes it was because something of his was misplaced, when, in fact, it would be right where he left it. Other times it was because someone ate something that he had put his invisible name on. Then other times it would be just because someone down at the local bar had said something to make him mad, so he would take it out on my mother or me.

Nevertheless, this time I decided was going to be the last time, one way or another I am going to get my mother to leave the maniac, somehow, someway, but I knew deep down she would not go. It was not the first time I had tried to convince her to leave, but she never would. She was afraid I guess more of the outside world than of my stepfather.

“Mom, please just pack some clothes together and let’s get out of here before he ends up killing you.” I asked her two hours later, when the ole man passed out finally in his recliner.
“Paul, you know I can’t do that, how would I support the two of us, how would we live?” “I have never worked in my life, your father would never hear of it when he was alive, Bless his soul.” “He felt it was a man’s job to provide for his family.”
“But mom, I can take care of us now, I am out of school, and I can get a job, we’ll be fine, you’ll see.” I pleaded.

“No, Paul.” she replied. “A wife’s place is with her husband, good or bad.” “Even if he is going to end up killing you?” I asked.
“He won’t do that Paul, he just gets upset sometimes, and I bring it on myself when he hits me, if I would just learn to steer clear of him when he comes home drunk.”

So that had been the last conversation that I ever had with my mother, later that night I took my duffle bag, threw in what few possessions I had that I could not part with, slipped out my bed room window hours after they went to bed so as not to alert my step-father. Moreover, I never glanced back down that gravel road that leads to the house. Once out on the road, it was easy to get away, I just kept going until I reached the main highway, then hitched a ride with the first person I found heading for Dallas. I was 17, and had just graduated high school.

Fall 2002

As I stood in the front yard looking at the rundown building that at one time had been a happy home, back when my real father had been alive, I noticed for the first time that the old clapboard house looked worse for wear with its peeling paint, sagging porch, some busted out windows long since boarded up. I walked up the two worn steps, one of which had a hole in it, using the key I still had from years ago, I unlocked the front door and walked through, reeling back as suddenly before my eyes, I imagined my mother and stepfather standing in the kitchen doorway in the mist of one of their constant battles. Just as suddenly, as the image appeared, it disappeared and I was looking in what were the remnants of my child hood home. There were empty beer and liquor bottles everywhere and the carpet was littered with trash and dishes from long ago left over meals. The carpet around my stepfathers’ recliner had numerous burn holes from dozens of dropped cigarettes from the man passing out with a lit cigarette in his hands, as I looked upon the site, I marveled at how he had not managed to burn the house down around him. No unlike my mother, he had not managed to kill himself, instead, he had been in town drinking, again, and started something one time too many with the wrong people. That was what the town marshal had said when he called to notify me as the next of kin. Apparently, justice for all the years of abuse heaped upon my mother had finally been served, for my step-father had been beaten to death, the funny thing was, although there were lots of witnesses in the bar, no one person was ever charged in his death. As he had been attacked by five or 6 men, there was no way of knowing who had struck the final blow that ended his life, and there was no one there willing to testify and name the men involved.

Hours later, as I watched the last dying embers of the bonfire I had built of every scrap of trash, every broken piece of furniture, including the recliner that my step-father had once beaten me for sitting in and all the clothing belonging to my step-father, I finally had a sense of peace, if you could call it that. By getting rid of everything belonging to the man, I could try to forget he had ever existed, try, but not quite managing to. I hosed down the embers one final time to assure that there would be no flair up later, then walked back into the house and began the task of making a list of things needed done in order to make the house decent enough to put on the market.

Hours later after scrubbing down everything in the whole house, dusting and vacuuming floors, I finally fell into a restless sleep.


Chapter Two

The next afternoon I went into town to gather supplies to work on the house. As I drove down Main Street, I saw the old movie house, long ago closed down, where I had spent many a weekend with friends, escaping the realities of my world, I would imagine myself as one of a long list of characters from all the movies I had seen. Across the street from that was the old soda shop where we would all congregate after school and on weekends, as there was not much else for a kid to do in this town. We did not have a mall, or bowling alley, or anything else for that matter, like in the bigger cities; after all, we were a town of about 2500 people, at least back then, now there are closer to 5000 people in the area.

I pulled into the parking lot of the hardware store, where as a teenager in high school I had worked part-time. I walked into the store and there behind the counter was Mr. Miller, my old boss.

“Paul,” cried Mr. Miller. “We heard you were in town, it’s been too long.” As he walked towards me with his hand outstretched to shake mine.
“Mr. Miller, it’s good to see you again sir, how’s Mrs. Miller?” I asked. “Well, Paul, the Mrs. Passed on bout two years ago now, cancer, you know.” he replied. “I’m sorry Mr. Miller, I didn’t know.” “So how have you been getting along?” “Oh you know me Paul, long as I’ve got my store and my friends, nothing much gets me down.”

“So what can I do for you Paul?” he asked. “Well, I’m gonna need quite a few supplies to get the house in shape to sell, Let’s see, I’m going to need some lumber for the porch, the roof and the shed, then I’ll probably need bout two gallons of white paint, two gallons of primer, and couple quarts of yellow for the shutters.’ “Nails, hammer, and a saw”. “That should do it for starters I guess.”
“Well,” said Mr. Miller, “Sure planning to do a lot of work up there aren’t you?” “How long you figuring on being in town?” “Well, I took a months leave of absence, cause I kind of figured I’d have a lot to do to get the house on the market, and boy was I right, I don’t think that man has taken out a lick of trash since the day my mother died, nor cleaned house, or tended to the yard.”

“As I live and breathe, if it isn’t Paul Zimmerman in the flesh,” came a voice from behind me, a voice I recognized as though it was just yesterday I had heard it last, not 15 years. I turned around to see Abby or rather Abigail Miller, the daughter of my old boss. I had not seen her since the day I left. We had been high school sweethearts and when I left that day I also never looked back to her, I just left without so much as a note. When I had been here 10 years ago for my mother’s funeral, Abby was living off in some city somewhere, married with two kids, or so Mrs. Miller had made a point of telling me, even though I had not asked.

“Abby,” I stammered out, “How are you?” “Been a long time.” “Is that all you can say, I mean you did just walk out on me 15 years ago, no word or nothing, for the longest time we thought maybe your step-father had finally killed you or something.” she replied.
“I know,” I finally managed to say, “I just finally could not take it anymore, and I knew if I waited any longer I would never get out of here.”
“I hear you married, a nice man according to your mother, had two kids too.” “So how have you been?”
“Well, my husband was killed in a car accident bout 8 months ago, that is when the kids and I came home to be with daddy.” “Sorry to hear that Abby, really I am.” I replied.
“Well,” said Mr. Miller, breaking the awkward moment, “Here are your nails, and your paint, the hammer and electric saw are loaners, no sense in you buying one just for this one job.” “The Lumber I can have delivered first thing in the morning.” “Anything else I can do for you?’ “No, that should at least get me started, thanks for the use of the saw and hammer.” “I’ll probably be in again in a couple days with another list of things I’ll need.” “What do I owe you?” I asked. “Put your wallet away for now,” answered Mr. Miller, “We can settle up once you are all done over there.” “Thanks again, Mr. Miller, I’ll see you in a couple days then.” Turning around, I nodded my head to Abby, “Abigail, nice seeing you again.” I walked out the door with my heart in my throat and the sound of it beating in my ears, for Abigail was just a beautiful as the last time I saw her, and just seeing her again, made me feel like the kid I was back then, madly in love with her.


Chapter Three

June 1977 - Graduation Day

“Paul Zimmerman”, called the principal as the ceremony continued. As I walked down the isle of the auditorium, I glanced over to see Abby smiling at me from a couple rows up. Boy, just looking at her sure gets my heart to pounding, I thought as I mounted the stage to receive my diploma. I looked out into the audience and in the middle of the fifth row sat my mom, beaming from ear to ear in pride as I, her only child had just done the one thing neither she nor my real father had ever done, graduated from high school.

“Oh Paul”, exclaimed Faye Zimmerman Webster a short while later, “Your father would be so proud of you!” “Thanks mom”, I replied hugging her in the process. “I hope you know that in his own way that Ron is proud of you too,” she continued. “Mom, don’t try to make that man a happy part of the family, we both know better”. “I’m sorry Paul, I did not mean…”, “I know,” I interrupted, but we both know that Ron thinks of no one but himself,” I replied, referring to my stepfather. Changing the subject, I said, “Mom”, Abby and I are going to go up to the Lake with the gang for a little celebration ok”? “I’ll try not to be too late, but this is a special day after all”. “Ok Paul, you kids have a good time, and be careful, don’t you be drinking now”. “I won’t”, I fibbed. We both smiled at each other knowingly.

Later that evening

“Paul, PAUL”, Abby said loudly, breaking me out of my thoughts, “Where in the world were you just now”, she asked giggling, “You seemed a million miles away”. “Oh sorry”, I replied, “I guess I was just staring at the stars and thinking bout the future”. “What about the future, I hope it included me”? She asked, with a smile. “Of course it included you silly”, I answered back, pulling her closer into my arms where she had been lying for the past hour or so, staring into the night sky counting the stars and wishing upon them. “Abby”, “How many kids do you want”? “What”? She said surprised by my question. “I don’t know, I suppose it would be nice to have two, a boy and a girl”, she finally answered after a couple minutes. “Why Paul”, she asked. “Oh I don’t know, I was just thinking it would be kind of cool to have several kids, I mean being an only child I kind of missed out on the whole sibling rivalry thing you know”. “Well believe me”, she replied, “You did not miss out on much”. Knowing she did not really mean that I smiled to myself. Abby, the youngest of three kids, and the one doted upon her whole life, not only by loving parents but by two older doting brothers as well, was trying to be kind to me, sure her brothers picked on her as the baby of the family, and yet protected her like fierce lions protecting their den if they thought anyone intended to do their baby sister any harm at all.

“Hey you two”, yelled Jay, my best friend since infancy, “you guys gonna stay over there by your selves all night or what”? “Or what”, I hollered back, laughing, I turned to Abby, “come on, let’s get on with the rest of our lives”. I pulled her up and we went off hand in hand.

Chapter Four

Present Day

Thinking of that day and how it was the last great memory of Abby and my friends, due in part cause I was working full time for Mr. Miller once school ended and also in part cause the next couple months were kind of a blur, going by so fast between working and the unending battles at home, there was not much time for anything else. I was brought back to my senses by the blaring of a horn, looking up the light was green, however, there was no one in my rear view mirror, glancing to my left sitting beside me in his pickup facing the opposite way I was headed sat Jay, my best friend, whom I had not seen since a couple days before I ran from home.
“What cha sittin’ there looking like a bump on a log for when you have a green light, or do you got that “old-timers” disease”? Teased my friend. “Hey you”, I replied, “naw”, just lost in my thoughts for a minute, How you doing? How are your folks?” I asked. “Oh you know us, go with the flow, that’s our motto”, he laughingly answered, “Where you headed”? “Umm, back to the house, why don’t you follow, we’ll have a couple brews and play a little catch up”. “Sure thing”, replied Jay, “Let me stop by the house, let the wife know”. “How is Susie doing by the way”, I asked. Susie was the other part of our foursome of buddies from yesteryear. “Doing great, just sold her first house, she is so proud, and so am I, she only received her real estate license a couple weeks ago”. “Well you tell her hello for me, and I might have another sale for her to make in a month or so, I’m working on my mother’s house, getting it ready to put on the market”. “Well, I will tell her that, I’ll be right behind you then”. Waving as I drove off I made note of the fact that I still had nothing at the house to eat or drink, so I stopped off at the marketplace to pick up a twelve pack and a couple steaks, some baking potatoes, salad makings, and charcoal for the bar-b-que. I figured might as well make a nice evening of it. Using the payphone outside the market I called Jay asking if Susie would like to come along to have dinner, she begged off stating no last minute sitter available but for us “boys” to go ahead and have a nice time, we had a lot of catching up to do. As I hung up, I thought, that was bout like Susie, making excuses to give Jay and me some quality time together.

“Well Paul, How’s life in the city been for you”? Asked Jay, sometime later as they sat under a shade tree relaxing over theirs brews after devouring their steaks with gusto. “It’s been great, I’m a reporter for the paper there, have been for the past 13 years”. “Yeah, so we heard,”, “you know, Paul, you could have asked me if I might have liked to go along when you left you know”. “But no, just up and leave without a word to anyone”, he said, trying to sound like he was joking with me, but yet the underlying tone gave him away. “I know”, I replied quietly, it just kind of happened suddenly; I just could not take anymore”. “I wasn’t thinking bout anything but getting away from the madness”. “I understand”, answered Jay, “but Paul you should know, your mom just bout went crazy after you disappeared like that, she basically just disappeared too, though not by leaving, just never went anywhere anymore”. Feeling guilty for leaving her to defend herself alone, I asked. “What do you mean”? “Well, she quit going to church just for starters, and whenever my momma or any of the others ladies in town would come calling to check on her, she would never invite anyone in and would only open the door an inch or so and tell them she was fine, just a bit under the weather or some other excuse, but you know, when I was delivering groceries for the market back then, I would deliver for her, and one time when I insisted on carrying the stuff in as it was heavy, she finally let me in and not only was I surprised at how much of a wreck the house was, I mean your momma has always had such a beautiful home Paul, anyway, when I turned to her after putting the bags on the table, I was blown away by how she looked”. Turning to Jay, I demanded, “What do you mean”? “Well, she had lost a lot of weight, and her being a small woman anyway, well honestly she looked practically skin and bones, her dress hanging limply, she had bruises on her arms and one under her eye, looked like an old black eye, I told her before I left that she knew I was there if ever she needed me for anything no matter what, she just gave me a quick hug, paid me and sent me on my way with a “there’s no need for anything, Jay”, that was the last time I saw her”, “alive anyway”, he continued, “I don’t know if you know this Paul, but I was the one to find your momma, I was delivering groceries a couple weeks later and when there was no answer, I opened the door and called to her, that was when I saw her on the couch, I thought she was asleep at first, but when I got closer to her, well….anyway, I called my mom and she called the sheriff and I waited outside till they got here, I could not bear to see her like that”. “You know, I was a pallbearer at her funeral, I saw you there, but when I came by your motel later, you were already gone”. “Yeah”, I replied, “I just had to get out of here, and I could not stand the sight of that man any longer”. “You know Paul”, said Jay, “there was a lot of talk after that, like maybe your step-father knew more then he said bout your mom’s death”. Turning to Jay, remembering my own foreboding thoughts of wonder after reading the coroners report all those years ago, I said, “What do you mean”, “like maybe he killed her or something”? “Well, a lot of people wondered, including my own parents, I heard them talking bout it one night not long after her funeral, but when I asked them what they meant they just told me they were “talking off the tops of their heads”, whatever that is supposed to mean”.

Their conversation was temporarily interrupted by a voice coming from the side of the house behind them.

“Now why am I not surprised to find you two here together, just like always, where there’s one of you the other was always close by”, laughed Abby. Both men turned their heads to see Abby coming round the back of the house towards them. “Hey girl”, said Jay, while I mustered a quiet, “Abby”, with a tilt of my head. Jay continued teasingly, “And why am I not surprised to see you here, like always, where ever we were there you were stalking Paul”, he teased good naturedly. “In the words of my oldest child, replied Abby with a smile“,” Whatever”.

Jay reaching out and placing his hand on Paul’s shoulder as he rose from his seat, said, “Well Paul, I guess I best get home before Susie sends out the national guard looking for me”. Paul looked up at Jay and replied, “I want to talk to you some more bout what we were discussing ok”? “Sure”, replied Jay, “I’ll come out in the morning to help you out around here some, being the boss gives me certain privileges like missing work when I want too”, he chuckled. “Boss”? Paul inquired. “Oh didn’t I tell you, I own the market place now, bought it with all the money I saved working there for my whole life”, he said. “Anyway, till tomorrow then, Abby, you behave yourself now”, he continued teasingly. “Well I do declare Jay, I have no idea what you are talking bout”, replied Abby, blushing. “Whatever”, replied Jay, walking away. “See you later”, I called, blushing a bit myself as I glanced quickly at Abby to see if she noticed, while just as quickly I glanced away. “So Abby”, I said as I raised from my own seat and proceeded to pick up empty bottles etc, and heading toward the house with her following, “What brings you by”? “Well, Paul, we didn’t get much of a chance to chat earlier, I thought I would just stop by and see how you’ve been doing for the past 15 years”, she said with a mild accusing tone to her voice. “Look Abby”, I practically yelled as I threw the bottles in the trash bin on the porch. “I am sorry, as I told Jay earlier, I was not thinking straight that day, and I just had to get out of here”. Looking a little pallid, she replied, “I didn’t mean to upset you Paul, I just thought, well… Forget it”. “I’m sorry Abby”, I replied turning to her, “I shouldn’t have yelled like that”. “These last few days have been a bit stressful I guess, I know it is not an excuse, but…”. “No”, she replied, “I understand, you don’t have to apologize”. “Yes I do”, I answered back, “there is no reason to be rude and I apologize”. “Ok then, apology accepted”, she replied. “Come on in Abby, I’ll make us some coffee and we can talk”, I said back.

Hours later, as Abby pulled out of the driveway, Paul waving, started playing back in his mind their evening together, not that he could remember much of their conversation, all he could really remember was the way his heart was pounding and the way he kept telling himself that he was a grown man and he needed to check himself, after all, he had no right to the thoughts he had been thinking about Abby as they spent the evening talking over the old days and their lives since then. “Oh well”, he said to himself as he cleared the table and turned off the kitchen light, “yesterday was yesterday, and this is today, time to get on with life and stop thinking bout what could have been”, laughing he said to himself again, “great now I have taken to talking to myself as well, maybe Jays right, I do have “old-timers” disease. In addition, he laughed to himself as he settled down on the couch for another restless nights sleep.


Chapter Five

The next morning dawned bright with beautiful blue skies and occasional puffy white clouds passing by. As Paul was finishing up his breakfast dishes, he heard a car pull up outside, actually he thought to himself, sounds like cars, plural. Walking to the door, he glanced out a side window in passing to see not only Jays pickup, but three other cars as well. Stepping out onto the porch, he saw that Jay and Susie were in their truck followed by Abby and her brothers, Gilbert and Wayne, that car was followed by two other cars with three passengers in the first one and two in the last, the three turned out to be Allen, Don and John Jr. and the other two were, Josh and Justin, cousins, whose fathers are brothers, all were buddies from the football team that he and Jay had played on in high school.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in”, called out Paul as he stepped off the porch, he and all the guys took turns clapping each other on the back and shaking hands. “Yeah”, said Jay, “they heard you were out here up to your eyeballs with home improvement problems and well we all know you used to be bout as handy as a handyman as a big foot clown would be trying to walk a tightrope”. Winking at Paul as he said this. “Well, anyway”, replied Paul, “it is really good to see all of you, now get to work”, he demanded playfully.

The morning passed by quickly with everyone pairing off and working on different things needed doing, After finishing with painting the shutters the guys had taken down for them, the girls went into the house to prepare a lunch of cold cut sandwiches, chips, and drinks which included, tea, water, or their favorite brews.

“So”, said Paul, as they sat around the picnic table in the yard eating their lunch, “What have all you guys been up too”? “Well”, replied Gilbert, Wayne and I turned dad’s hardware store into a chain, I have a store over in Meadowbrook and Wayne has a store over in Sherman”. “Wow”, said Paul, impressed, “I had no idea, congratulations”. “I am the coach of the high school football team”, interjected Allen. “Oh no”, Paul said, “Hope you aren’t as tough as Ole Coach O’Ryan was”. “No, I’m tougher”, laughed Allen. They all laughed, then Paul said “well how bout the rest of you, Don what are you up to these days”? “I bought out ole man Jenkins Garage after I finished taking a mechanics course at the college”. “John works with me there, my top sales man”. Then Josh piped up, “Justin and I co-own a computer sales store over in Meadowbrook”. “Well”, replied Paul, “sounds like we all did all right for ourselves considering this hick town we all were hatched in”. They all laughed and spent another half hour talking over old times before returning to work, which with the eleven of them was really getting done fast. By that evening they had basically done all the wood repairs that needed doing, the roof was patched, the porch no longer sported any holes, windows had been replaced and the shutters had finished drying so they could have a second coat of paint applied later.

“I can’t thank you all enough for helping me with all this”, Paul said to them as they were cleaning up for the evening. “Hey, no sweat”, replied Allen. “We’ll all be back tomorrow and we can get this place painted in no time, then we can get working on the yard too”. “Hey you guys don’t have to help with all this”, answered Paul, “although I do certainly appreciate the help”. “We know we don’t but see if we help then we can get into good graces with the ladies charities in town as having done our good deed for the year”, joked Jay. “Besides, this way, the month you took off from work, can be spent with all of us, we can take off for couple weeks and go camp at the lake like we used too, give you a chance to see some of the others and also meet all your “nieces and nephews”, teased Jay using his fingers to signal quotation marks. “Great”, Paul answered back just as teasingly, “just want I want a bunch of rug rats calling me Uncle”.

Chapter Six

Stepping out of the shower forty five minutes later, Paul wrapped a towel around his waist and as he opened the door was surprised to hear what sounded like someone in the kitchen, wondering who or what could be in there he flew out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, as he stepped through the doorway and saw Abby standing at the stove cooking, his towel caught on a nail on the door frame and came off just as she turned around to face him, in his surprise to find her there he did not notice, but Abby did and said, “Well, are we that glad to see me”, smiling as well as blushing as her eyes passed down the front of him, suddenly he was aware of the draft and looked down, flustered, he bent and grabbed his towel and ran for the bedroom that had been his mothers sewing room. Abby giggled to herself as she turned and continued to spread garlic butter onto the loaf of French bread she was preparing to go with the spaghetti that was simmering on the stove.

A short time later, Paul rejoined her fully dressed now and still blushing a bit, noticing his reddened cheeks, Abby taunted him a bit more, “Feel a little bit more draftless”? Embarrassed all over again, Paul answered shortly with a bit of his embarrassment disguised as anger, “What are you doing back here anyway”? “Don’t you get high and mighty with me Paul Zimmerman, just cause you dropped the “ball” so to speak”, she said with a false clearing of her throat after the word, ball. “I thought I would be nice and come fix you a nice dinner seeing how I noticed you had nothing here and thought you might like a good meal after working so hard all day”. “I was about to go to town and eat at the diner for your information”, he retorted back at her, still trying to sound angry, and failing miserably. Then realizing that it was a nice jester and it really was not her fault his towel had fallen off, nor her fault she tried to ease the awkwardness of the moment by making a joke, he apologized again for what seemed the hundredth time in the past couple days. “That’s ok, besides it’s not like you have anything I haven’t seen before, just cause it’s been bout 15 years since I saw it last”, she teased him again. “Alright already, enough”, he yelled, though smiling behind her back.

“That was great Ab”, remarked Paul sometime later as he leaned back in his chair, “though I think I ate enough to feed an army, boy am I stuffed”. He looked across the table at Abby, noticing for the first time, the ring on the chain around her neck, it was the promise ring he had worked for three months of weekends as a kid in her fathers store to buy for her and promising as he gave it to her that someday he would ask her to marry him. Suddenly uncomfortable again, he jumped up to begin clearing the dishes from the table. “What’s the matter Paul”, asked Abby, as she noticed his discomfort, “What did I say now”? “Nothing”, he replied, “ I’m just clearing the table, I’ll start a pot of coffee and do the dishes right quick since you did the cooking, be right back”, he said as he hurried from the room. “Not before you tell me what is wrong Paul”, replied Abby as she followed him into the kitchen. “I told you it was nothing”, he answered back as he began loading the dishwasher. “Alright if you don’t want to talk about it fine, but don’t act like I’m too flighty to notice you got suddenly quiet again on me”, she answered right back. She went back to the dining room table to wait while he finished getting the dishwasher loaded and making the coffee. Paul was back shortly with two cups of coffee and a couple slices of the chocolate cake Abby had brought for dessert. “So Ab, what do you do to keep yourself busy besides taking care of your kids”, asked Paul trying to steer the conversation into a neutral topic. “Well, I help dad in the store while the kids are in school, then go home and be with the kids after school”. “Other than an occasional school function or community function, still not much else to do in this town”, answered Abby.

“How bout you Paul”, “did you ever marry, have kids”, what’s been going on with you”? Abby inquired. “No I basically married my career I guess you could say, never had time for dating and that whole scene”, answered Paul. The evening wore on with more small talk, when finally Abby said, “Well it is getting late, guess I should head home so we can both get some rest for tomorrow, you know Jay, he is gonna work us all to a frazzle just to get this all done”. “He really wants us all to go camping up at the lake; he called me at home earlier before I headed back out here and asked if I could order some more tents through the store for the campout”. “Yeah, that’s Jay for you”, Paul commented. “I’ll see you out”, he said rising from the couch where he had been sitting with her for the past hour, noticing the heat raising from his collar the whole time she sat so close.

Shutting her car door for her, he thanked her again for dinner and waved as she drove off. Turning toward the house, he thought to himself, “man on man, I have got to stop having these thoughts”, knowing he would be leaving in a few weeks, he refused to allow himself to think of her anymore. Fat chance of that however, as he drifted off to another restless night he had dreams of the past again, to a time just after their prom when they had lost their virginity together on the beach up by the lake, and woke in a chill drenched in sweat as he recalled their fear when they had thought she might be pregnant. “Come on Zimmerman”, he yelled at himself, “get a grip”, forget the past, Abby is nothing but a great memory of your past, it is over”, and then realizing that once again he was talking to himself, responded back to himself, “yeah but it is so hard to forget the past, when she looks just a great as she did on that beach years ago”. And he laid back down and forced himself to go back to sleep and forget about the dream and Abby and the wonderful way he felt whenever she used to walk into the room, used to hell, how bout still to this day.


Chapter Seven


The next morning as Paul waited for the gang to arrive he began the task of looking around in the house to see what all needed to be done to make the inside look as good as the outside was beginning to look.

Since his return, he had yet to enter neither his mother’s room nor his old room, as he had been trying to avoid more flashbacks like the one he had on the first day here. Finally, standing in front of the door to his old room, he took a deep breath and stepped into the room, unfortunately for him, he did feel like he flashbacked again, as the moment he stepped in, he realized with sudden distress that nothing had changed; it was exactly as he had left it, right down to his unmade bed. Feeling another rush of guilt at having left his mother behind, and the sudden realization that from the looks of the room, his mother had never given up hope that he would someday come home, wanting to leave it waiting for his return, almost as if he had never gone anywhere.

Moving slowly around the perimeter of the room, he reached out and touched one of his old football trophies, moving on to his bookshelves, where all his high school yearbooks rested along with copies of the school newspaper to which he had been the senior editor. Smiling, he remembered how he had always wanted to be a reporter and still longing to someday own his own newspaper, he remembered how excited he had been each week, seeing his articles in this school paper. And how when the day came he wrote his first real article for the Dallas paper he still works for today, it was like a fabulous high. Shaking his head to clear the memories, he looked over toward his bed and his eyes rested upon the pictures located there, one was of him and Abby at the prom, the one where later that night they had lain in each other’s arms and made love. Although it was the only time they had, Paul was struck with the realization that he could still remember it and almost feel the whole experience as though it had just happened. Talking to himself again, he said, “Well damn Paul, can’t you even inspect a house for repairs without letting yourself think about Abby”? Thank you, he thought to himself as he heard the first of the gang pulling into the driveway, what better way to get the past off his mind than good hard labor. Taking one last look around the room, thinking that something did not quite look right, he shrugged his shoulders and walked across the room and out the door.

“So”, said Paul moments later as he stepped off the front porch, “the slaves have returned”, smiling he waved to his friends, and suddenly he realized with another smile, he really had missed these guys, until now, he had forgotten just how much he loved and admired these guys, all his “brothers” as they had always called themselves.

“Hey, who you calling slaves”? ,came another familiar voice that Paul had not heard in fifteen years, the voice of Allen’s then girlfriend and now wife, Michelle. “Michelle”, exclaimed Paul as he rushed out to greet her with a hug. “You look great for a mother of four”. “I would never have guessed you had any kids at all by the looks of you”. Blushing, but highly pleased with the compliment, Michelle reached out to return the embrace with her old friend. Just then, another voice broke in, “And what am I, chopped liver”? Asked Nicole, Michelle’s sister and the wife of Don. “Well, of course not Nicole, you’re ground chuck”, Paul teased as he walked towards her to also give her a hug, “and I would never have guessed that you are the mother of three kids yourself”. To which Nicole replied, “You’re a liar, a good liar, but a liar nevertheless”. Smiling broadly, she reached out and as she hugged Paul said, “It’s about time you came home”. Prompting Paul to point out hurriedly, “now don’t read too much into it, I am only here temporarily to get this house and the grounds ready for sale”. “Yeah right”, answered back Nicole, “We’ll see about that”. Winking at Paul as she turned around and looked at the house, she continued, “boy you guys really accomplished a lot yesterday huh”? “It’s looking pretty good”, “who knows maybe there’s a wedding and a great family in this house’s future”. Paul feeling slightly uneasy at those words said, “Well gang, how bout we get things delegated out by the pair and get this show on the road”?


Chapter Eight


While the guys began the task of scraping the old cracked, peeling paint off of the house, the girls began working inside the house, they started with taking all the curtains down in each room, placing them in the washer to be cleaned, planning to look them over for repairs that might be needed. They discussed which room to begin with and decided that they would begin in the attic and work their way downward.

As the last of the four girls stepped into the attic, they looked around in awe, surprised by their surroundings, knowing that the house had been built by Paul’s great-great grandfather on his fathers’ side they were amazed at the types of things that were there. They wondered among themselves if Paul was even aware of the things that the attic held, and each was also wondering why Paul would even consider selling the house that had never been lived in by anyone who was not a Zimmerman. Until his stepfather of course. There were a lot of fabulous old antique dressers, armoires, lamps, chairs, a roll-top desk and a vanity that with a little refinishing, would turn out to a beautiful piece of furniture. Also among the antiques, there were boxes of things that upon inspection, the girls concluded had probably belonged to Paul’s real dad. Abby, making a mental note to tell Paul, remembered vaguely the night that Paul’s father had been killed in an automobile accident when Paul was twelve years old. She remembered that she and the rest of the people who were all here today had been swimming in town at the community swimming pool that day, having a great time, they were enjoying what was going to be their last chance to hang out for three weeks with Paul, as he and his parents were preparing to leave for a three week vacation the next day. Paul’s father, James, being a truck driver, was gone a lot of the time on the road, and so each summer, the family enjoyed their summer vacations together. Unfortunately, that day James never made it home, he was killed less than fifteen miles from home, in what police finally decided was just a terrible single vehicle accident, it was ruled that James had probably either fallen asleep at the wheel or maybe tried to swerve to miss hitting an animal or something, because there were no skid marks there had always been real speculation that he had indeed fallen asleep behind the wheel, after driving non-stop for several days in an attempt to deliver the last load and get home in time to head off with the family. Abby further remembered her father coming to the pool and telling her and Paul to come with him, that Paul was needed at home, waiting till they were in the car for privacy to tell Paul what had happened and that he, Mr. Miller was taking Paul to his mother, and that he and his wife would be there for them and take care of all the big details over the next few days. He told Paul that he was sorry about his father and that he could come to him anytime in the future if he or his mother ever needed anything at all.

Coming back out of her remembrances of the past, Abby voiced out loud what they all were thinking, “Why do you suppose Paul is selling this place, I mean, I know he has no plans to actually live here now, but this place was built by his family, they farmed this land, and raised all their children here. He is the last of the Zimmerman’s you would think he would have at least some good memories of his father here that he would want to try to hang onto”. The other girls nodded their heads in agreement, and then Nicole, the one never shy to voice her opinion spoke up. “Well, I guess we are all just going to have to convince him to stay somehow”, “yep”, she said after another second or two, “that’s what we gotta do”.

Sometime later, the girls descended the attic stairs to prepare lunch, they all were giggling as they looked quite the sight, cobwebs in their hair, faces covered in dust and dirt. They each took turns between the kitchen and bathroom sinks washing up a bit, then worked together to put together a lunch to be made of grilled burgers and hot dogs. While some of them began cutting lettuce and slicing tomatoes etc., the others pulled down bowls for chips and dip, the guys were all sitting around the picnic table having a cold brew, except for Jay and Paul who were arguing over who would get the grill going and throwing pieces of charcoal at one another. As Abby stepped down from the back porch bringing out plates etc. for lunch, she scolded the two as a mother would her unruly children. “Would you two behave and get that lit before I stick you both in time out”, laughing as she said it.

After enjoying such a good meal together, the boys decided that they needed to play a little football to work off the food. In order to have enough players, they recruited the girls to play as well, promising that they would not be tackled, only tagged, the girls finally agreed. They had been playing for a while when suddenly in a tackle in which the guys were “supposedly” after Paul, they made Paul end up taking Abby down, with him landing on top of her, they were all laughing including these two, when suddenly, they became aware of their closeness, they both jumped up and walked away in opposite directions, Jay and Nicole in the meantime were winking and smiling at each other, as they were already in cahoots together to try to reunite the pair, thereby keeping their good friend Paul from selling the house and settling down here in Loganville.


Chapter Nine

Following the game, with the exception of Abby and Paul, everyone went back to what they had been working on before lunch. Abby on the other hand, pulled Paul to the side and told him about the boxes in the attic and all the great old furniture. Leading the way, Abby went up the attic stairs with Paul bringing up the rear.

“Wow”, Paul exclaimed moments later, “ I had forgotten all this was up here, I used to play up here when I was a kid, my dad would yell at me to get out of here cause grandpa Zimmerman would roll over in his grave if I broke anything”. He smiled at this sudden remembered memory of his father teasing him. Pointing to a corner of the room, Abby said, “There’s the boxes I told you about, we thought you would want to go through them yourself”. Walking over to the stack of boxes, Paul perused their contents, then after seeing that they contained not only his clothes, but also his medals etc. from the years in the service and several folders filled with papers. Telling the girls to just leave those things there, he promised to move them around as needed when the girls were ready to clean in that area.

Following Paul back down the stairs, Abby inquired as to what he wanted to do with the three bedrooms. “Well, I haven’t even looked in mom’s room yet, nor mine really, but I will get to them probably this evening.” “As for the other one, it only has a dresser, bed and night stand besides moms sewing table”. “There are several boxes in the closet that I assume are maybe boxes of material, otherwise, that room will be fairly easy to get done quickly”. Continuing on, Paul said, “I thought we would re-paint the walls of course, which I will go into the store tomorrow and pick up that”. Abby broke in, “What about the living room, dining room and kitchen, any ideas on what you want done to those”? “No, not yet,” answered Paul. “I’ll look the whole house over this evening and try to put together a list of ideas for everything to work on.”

Abby returned upstairs to help the other girls, and Paul went outside to help with painting the house. The afternoon passed fairly quickly, and soon everybody headed home promising to come back again tomorrow after church to continue on with the work.

Jay asked Abby to drop Susie off for him, as he wanted to stick around for a bit longer to talk to Paul. They had not had much chance to just talk since the first day Paul had gotten to town, and remembering that Paul had wanted to continue their conversation, Jay stayed behind so they could talk alone.

Paul began telling Jay that he did believe that his mother had waited for his return only to be disappointed. “What makes you think that”? Asked Jay. “Follow me”, replied Paul. Walking over to his bedroom door, he swung the door open and stepped aside for Jay to peer into the room. “Wow”, exclaimed Jay. “Talk about stepping back in time, looks just like I remember it”. “Tell me about it”, replied Paul. They proceeded into the room. Looking around, Jay chuckled, “check out these trophies”, “I don’t even remember what ever happened to mine, I suppose they are still at my parents”. Looking around some more Jay suddenly exclaimed, “Hey come here and look at this, I had forgotten about this”. Looking over Jays shoulder he saw what Jay was referring to, there on the window sill were the words, “ Paul and Jay - Best friends to the end”, Jay continued on, “remember your dad when your mom told him bout that, I sure do”. “We were what, bout nine maybe”? But Paul did not answer; he suddenly went back in time in his memories to vividly recall the conversation.
“Jay, you need to go on home now and don’t come back for one week, and Paul, you go out behind the woodshed and get a switch”, James had told the boys. “You two need to learn to respect others peoples property, Paul, tho’ this may be your home, it is my house and I will not have you destroying it”. Paul remembered how his father had said to him, “this is going to hurt me more than it will you,” then feeling bewildered after the whipping as he looked up at his father, he could not understand why his father had a tear running down his face, after all, it was he, not his father that got whipped. Paul recalled that later that night, his mother brought him some supper to his room and when he asked his mother about it, she had replied. “Well Paul, it pained your father to have to whip you, but there are times when you need to realize the seriousness of what you have done, and so to make you learn and remember, he must punish you more severe than normal”. “And so he was saddened to be whipping you, but knew the incident called for it in order for you to remember”.

Snapping out of the memory by the sound of Jay practically yelling, “Earth to Paul”, Paul said, “Sorry, another trip down memory lane, was recalling that day”. “Yeah”, Jay replied understanding, “your dad was sure fit to be tied”. They looked at each other and smiled over the memory, then both proceeded to move around the room looking things over. Each lost in their own thoughts and memories for a time, Paul finally said, “Let’s get out of here, how bout going to town for a drink, maybe get the gang together later”. “Sounds good to me”, agreed Jay. Jay headed home to clean up after the two agreed that Paul would meet up at Jays once he had cleaned up as well.

Pulling up into the driveway, Paul was greeted immediately by Jay and Susie’s eleven-year-old son, Troy. “Hey Uncle Paul, wanna play some catch with me”? Catching a ball hurled by the boy, Paul thankful for fast reflexes replied, “maybe another time Troy”. He tousled the boys hair a bit as he handed him the ball back. Walking on into the house, he was startled to find Abby sitting at the table. “Well, hello there”, she said to him. “Hello”, he replied, “What are you doing here”? “Well Susie and I made it this far, and were having a cup of coffee when Jay called bout us all going out, so Susie loaned me their shower and a clean outfit, so I’m good to go”. “What about your kids”? he asked. “Well”, she started, “Tony is staying over with Nicole’s son Jason and Lynn is staying there with Angela as well”. “So as luck would have it, my evening is free”. “That’s nice”, Paul said back, suddenly feeling the heat again seeping up from under his collar.

Moments later they were all going out the door, Jay said, “Paul, why don’t you take Abby and go on ahead, we’ll drop off the kids at Don and Nicole’s and be right behind you”. Suddenly apprehensive at the thought of being alone with Abby, Paul agreed. Getting in the car after closing her door for her, he started the engine and both cars backed out, going opposite directions.

Walking into “Red’s Tavern” a short time later, Paul suggested that Abby find a good table for the four of them, preferably close to the pool tables, while he went to get drinks for them. Soon they were seated and sipping their drinks, neither really sure how to begin a conversation at the moment, as they were both feeling a bit nervous being together and in this place. Luckily they weren’t tortured for too long for Jay and Susie were there shortly.

“So”, Susie began some time later as the guys were playing pool, “You sure have been awfully quiet a lot lately, since about the time Paul hit town”, “If I’m not mistaken that is,” she went on. Abby taken aback at Susie’s comment, was quick to defend herself. “I have not, I’m just the same as I always was, why would you say that”? “Come on Abigail Miller-Dubois, just who do you think you are talking too, huh”? Susie replied back. “We’ve been best friends all our lives, I know you just as well as you know me, we’re like twins that have psychic powers, we always practically know what the other is thinking or feeling”. “I bet I could almost tell you what you are thinking right now, watching Paul the way you are”. “I’m not watching Paul; I’m just watching the boys play pool”. “Yeah, your mouth says that, the direction of your eyes says differently”, Susie teased on. Becoming slightly embarrassed and agitated, Abby excused herself with the sudden need to visit the ladies room.

Returning to the table, Paul was playfully accusing Jay of cheating. “Yeah, right”, Jay said back, “I’ll have you know I won fair and square, if anyone cheated it was you”. “Oh yeah, I cheated and made myself lose the game, funny you”. Paul replied back laughing.

“So where’s Ab’s at”? Paul asked as he sat down. “She is in the restroom”, replied Susie. “Trying to regain composure”, she continued on. “From what”? Asked Jay. “Oh nothing, just something we were talking bout”. “Not a big deal”. At that moment, Abby rejoined the table, giving Susie a quick frown. As she sat down, Jay turned to Susie, “How bout a dance little lady”? He said in his best cowboy mocking voice. With a southern accent added to her answer, she said. “Why I declare Mr. Thompson, I would love to dance”. They all giggled as the pair rose and went to the dance floor.

“So Abby, what did you need to regain composure from”? inquired Paul. Turning slightly scarlet, Abby turned to glare at Susie, who did not notice. “What do you mean Paul”? “I have no idea what you are talking about”. “Well”, responded Paul, “When we sat down after our game and inquired as to where you were, we were told you needed to regain some composure”. “So what’s up”? Taking a deep breath to help catch her breath and keep her voice from giving her away. “Oh you know Susie, she was teasing me about something like she always does”. “Sometimes she just does not know when to drop it, that is all, so I went to the bathroom to get her to stop”. He watched her as she said all this, then said, “uh-huh, if you say so”. “So what was she saying bout me, or bout you and me as the case may be”. Abby suddenly blushing all over herself, turned to him and said, a little to quickly. “What makes you think it was about you”? In answer to her question he asked one of his own. “If it was not about me then why all of a sudden are you beet red and defensive”? Smiling at her, he then said, “relax, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve been getting my share of talks too”. “Tell you what, let’s have a dance, and give them something to really talk about, since they insist, we both know they just act like a bunch of kids”. She was feeling rather nervous and anxious but did not want Paul to read into what was really going through her mind, so against her better judgment she agreed. Moments later, she regretted her decision as she began to feel a bit overheated and hurriedly ran for the door. Paul following her, asked with a worried look on his face, “are you ok”? Slightly embarrassed again at her actions, she made excuses of it being too hot in the bar and needing air. Jay and Susie were suddenly at their side. “What happened”? Susie asked. With a warning glare, Abby said, “I just needed some air”. Susie told the guys to go ahead and go back to the their drinks that she would sit with Abby, as some fresh air sounded good to her as well. After they had left, Abby turned on Susie. “This is all your fault”? “Mine”? asked Susie. “What’d I do”? “Well, let’s see”, began Abby. “Just for starters, you sat there accusing me of watching Paul, then when you make me angry enough to leave the table, you go and tell Paul I need to “regain composure”, signing quotation marks with her fingers. “So naturally, Paul then has to inquire as to what I needed composure from”. “Thanks Suz”. Some friend you are.” “Oh come off it Abby, are you mad at me for that, or are you mad at yourself cause you are having old feelings stirring up in you, and I hit a nerve when I was teasing you”? retorted Susie.

Abby said nothing more to Susie the rest of the time they were in the bar, finally she said, “Well, it is getting late, I think I’m gonna head home”. Paul jumped up and offered to give her a ride to the house. “Don’t be silly, it’s only a few blocks, I’ll be fine”. Turning on her heels, she walked out the door before anyone could protest.

“Well”, said Jay, “anyone care to explain what that was all about”? “Nothing”, Susie said. “I guess Abby just wanted to go on home”. “Yeah”, agreed Paul. “It’s been a long day for all of us”. “I imagine she is just tired”. “And speaking of tired, I do believe that I too shall call it a night”. “I’ll see you guys in the morning at church”. Paul also just got up and walked out just as quickly as Abby had. Jay and Susie turned and looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, smiling. Jay pointed to the dance floor and asked, “Shall we”?
After stopping off to grab some cigarettes and a six-pack of beer, Paul pulled into his driveway and turned off the motor. He stepped from the car and as he did, behind him he heard his name being said softly. “Paul” came Abby’s voice. He turned and said “Ab’s, What are you doing here, where’s your car”? “I pulled it behind the house, Paul I ….”. Paul just said, “I know”, as he pulled her to him with his one free hand. Looking deep in her eyes, he saw the same desire that he had been trying to deny of himself the past few days. Leaning down, they came together for a quick kiss, then Paul turned and with his arm around her shoulders, guided her towards the house.


Chapter Ten

The next morning, Paul woke and looked around, “Damn”, he thought to himself the kiss in that dream seemed so real. Getting up, he pulled on his jeans and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. As he opened the sewing room door, he caught an unmistakable whiff of fresh brewing coffee. “What the…”. He walked to the kitchen door and there, wearing nothing but his t-shirt, was Abby, making breakfast. Rubbing his head, he thought, “So it wasn’t a dream”. Walking up behind Abby, he put his arms around her waist and said, “morning beautiful”. Turning to face him with a smile on her face, Abby replied. “Well just for that compliment, I guess I forgive you”. Taken aback, Paul asked. “Forgive me for what”? “What exactly do you remember from last night Paul”? “Well …”, “ I remember you were standing outside, we kissed, we came in and went to the sewing room, we were kissing and undressing one another and….” Suddenly, he was blank. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, well Paul, you must have had a lot more to drink then you realized, because no sooner than we laid down, and out you went”. “But …”, he started, looking her up and down and the way she was dressed. “No”, she answered. “No what”? he asked. “No, nothing happened”. “And it is just as well that it did not”, “I don’t even know what possessed me to come out here”. “I guess I too had too much to drink”. “At least that’s my story and I’m sticking too it, and now, I am headed home to change before all our good buddies get here”.

But it was too late, they heard a car pulling in, feeling panicky, she said, “quick, where’s something I can put on to make it look like I just got here.” Smiling with an ornery look upon his face, he told her to try looking in his mothers’ room for something.

Moments later, she came from around the back of the house to the front where Paul stood with Jay, Susie, Allen and Michelle. Rather with a surprised look upon her face Susie said, “Abby where did you come from”? “ I was looking at the back yard where Mrs. Zimmerman used to have her flower garden”. Everyone just kind of looked back and forth from Abby to Paul, but said nothing. Then Michelle said, “Where’s your car”? “Oh”, replied Abby, I pulled it out back to make more room up here today, since I figured the guys would be working on the front of the house today”. “Well, I guess that makes sense”, responded Michelle, as she and Susie exchanged knowing glances, for they both noticed that, though Abby was dressed like she had just got here to work, her hair was mussed up and she was missing one dangling earring, plus, in her hurry to dress, she had grabbed two different tennis shoes from Paul’s mothers closet without noticing. Of course, the guys being guys, did not notice these things, so the girls said nothing, for the time being anyway. As at that moment the rest of the gang began arriving.

“Hey Paul”, hollered Justin, “We brought more help”. “Great”, Paul replied. Justin and Josh walked up with two women that Paul did not know. He knew that the two had met their wives at college, so was not surprised by their appearance. “Paul”, said Josh, “This is my wife, Sandy, and this is Justin’s wife Jan”, “Nice to meet you both”, he said as he shook both their hands.

As everyone got sorted out and began working, Michelle and Susie kept waiting for the opportune moment to be alone with Abby, so they could point out her rather odd appearance. Of course, Nicole not being one to miss much, ended up being the one to say something. “So, Abby, did you dress in the dark this morning or what”? Michelle and Susie both turned towards Abby and Nicole with big smiles on their faces. “What do you mean”, Abby asked. “Well”, Nicole continued. It is one thing to forget to brush your hair, but to wear one earring, and two different tennis shoes, well it does make one wonder”. Abby looking down for the first time, saw to her horror, she had put on one black tennis shoe, and one white tennis shoe. “Oh how could I have been so stupid”? she thought to herself. Looking up, she realized at once that Michelle and Susie had known all along. “Why didn’t you say anything”? she demanded a split second later. “What, and spoil our fun, we planned to bring it up here shortly, but Nicole beat us to it”, replied Michelle. “So, anyway”, piped up Susie, “Just what exactly was going on here when we pulled up”. “Nothing”, Abby said rather too quickly. “Uh-huh”, responded Susie. “Last I saw you, you were walking home from the bar. And then you were not in church this morning, nor was Paul, then we get here and you come from behind the house looking like a teenager caught by her parents”. “So come on, details please”, she said. “I said nothing happened and you can believe that or not, now I am going to get busy and I don’t want to hear about it again”. She tried hard to sound offended as she stormed off, when in reality, she was extremely embarrassed to have been caught in this situation of the different shoes, but also frustrated in the knowledge that nothing happened between her and Paul, and knowing that the girls would never in this lifetime ever believe her. Just what she needed she thought, something else for them to give her a hard time over.


Around three a car with a sign on top for the local pizza place pulled into the driveway, Paul started towards the deliverer and helped him with the four pizzas and boxes of breadsticks, taking half of it and leading the way into the house where his wallet was. After paying the bill, he headed out the back door to the picnic table with two of the pizzas and half of the breadsticks, he hollered for everyone to come eat, then headed back in to grab rest of the food and some paper plates and paper towels.

Once everyone got settled, Don not thinking anything of the fact, asked Abby what happened to the hip-hop look she had going on when he first got there. “What are you talking bout Don”? she asked. “Well, when I got here you looked like one of those rappers on television with your two different shoes etc., was that not working for you”? Turning slightly pink, and flabbergasted that he had noticed, she said, “Nah, I decided that it just was not the look for me”. Turning she gave her three best friends warning looks. Paul said, “Well, I personally found the look rather cute myself”, especially the messed up hair and the single earring, made me think of someone like Cindy Lauper”, he teased. Continuing on, he said, “You know my mom had a pair of shoes just like those you had this morning”? Of course, No one meant anything except a little friendly kidding, and so this last comment by Paul, was only heard by Abby, Michelle, Susie and Nicole. As Paul had already figured out they knew bout the whole thing. They all smiled and Abby decided to confront Paul, “tell them nothing happened”, she demanded. “What…since when have you ever known me to kiss and tell”? asked Paul. He winked at all the girls as he got up and walked over to where the rest of the guys were discussing some game recently played on television.


Chapter Eleven


As everyone was readying to leave that evening, Paul asked the parents of Lee, Tony, Troy and Jason, if they thought the boys would all like temporary jobs working for him. Now that the outside of the house was done, all that was left to do outside was yard work now. Figuring the boys would like some extra spending money, he told the parents to tell the boys to meet him at the hardware store in the morning and he would bring them out with him when he went to town for supplies.

After everyone had gone, he went into the house and looked around. Well he thought, guess it’s time to start thinking bout what I want to do with everything in this house. But as he looked around, he saw memories of his mother all over the place. Her favorite knick-knacks sitting around, Pictures of landscapes etc that had hung on these walls for as long as he could remember. He sat there and wondered, how can I even begin to get rid of my mothers’ things out of her home. Feeling rather nostalgic he headed into his old room again.
Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he began going back in time again…

Summer 1970

“Hey Jay”, nine year old Paul called to his best friend in the world. “Come on, let’s go down to the creek”. Referring to the creek that ran along their property out in the woods behind the house. “We can look for frogs, or work on our hide-out. Their hideout being an area in the middle of a bunch of tall weeds etc, where the boys had cleared out a circled area, in the middle were pieces of logs for use as seats. This is where the two boys and some of their other friends would come to sneak the cigarettes that each of them would swipe off their parents when they weren’t looking. Running ahead of Jay, Paul still called to him as he ran smack into a tree that was not noticeable with all the tall weeds around them, moments later, Jay was calling Paul’s name instead, “Paul, wake up Paul, come on you can’t die on me, everyone will think I did it”. Looking up into Jays eyes Paul asked. “What happened”? “You ran right into that tree and nearly died”? exaggerated Jay, like most boys of nine tend to do.

“I think we better go back to the house just in case you up and die”, Jay went on, “that away nobody can blame me”. Looking so serious that Paul’s young mind thought to himself, maybe Jays right maybe he saved my life. So they headed back to his house then went to his room. Thinking more on what had happened, he decided that Jay really had saved his life. “Jay”, he said. “Yeah”, replied Jay. “I got an idea”, said Paul. And he went over to his windowsill and proceeded to etch the words, “ Paul and Jay - Best friends to the end”. Smiling they decided to make it official by spitting into their hands and then shaking hands. Then just as suddenly they forgot about that and went on to other things. “You wanna see something Jay”? asked Paul. “But you gotta swear not to tell anyone on your life ok”? Jay knew it was serious if he had to swear on his life, so he readily agreed. Paul walked over to the window seat and opened it up, inside at the bottom, there was a loose board. Reaching way down into the storage place, Paul removed the loose board that until now only he had known about. He pulled out a magazine he had swiped from his dads’ truck one time, opening it to a big picture that folded out in the middle, both boys soon were saying, “whoa look at those boobies”. “Gross”, they both exclaimed. Although each secretly was excited by their first glimpse of real boobs.

“Paul”, Faye Zimmerman suddenly called, and as she opened the door, the boys quickly dropped the magazine into the storage area of the window seat. “Time for supper, come along you two, Jay your mother said if you wanted you could spend the night”. Nodding their heads in agreement, both boys were excited, cause sleepovers were special occasions for them, it meant the chance to stay up late and watch late night movies and eat popcorn in the living room, this was the only time they were allowed to eat in the living room, and that made it all the more special for the two boys.

Present time

Shaking the memory of that night from his thoughts, he suddenly remembered that a week later, after getting whipped and grounded to his room for carving into the window sill, the magazine was no longer there, he had not thought about it at the time, but now suddenly he realized, somebody else must have known bout that loose board after all. He looked over and with a start, he finally figured out what had not seemed right about his room, though it was like he left it, there was one thing added, that had not been there when he slept in this room many years ago, there was a cushion on the window seat now, figuring his mother must have spent a lot of time in here after he left she must have put that there to sit on. So now he walked over and removed the cushion and raised the lid to the window seat and peered into the opening, reaching down, he removed the board, knowing nothing was bound to be there now, as he had quit using that hiding place around the time his dad had died, he was rather surprised when, upon opening it, there inside, was a small leather bound book. Opening the book, he turned to the first page and read.


Private Journal
Of
Faye Zimmerman
Starting Date
September 16th, 1977

With a small shudder of guilt he realized that was just a couple days after he had left. Turning to the next page, he continued to read.

Oh what am I to do? My son, my wonderful boy has left, he’s been gone for two days, when he did not come home night before last, I called Jay and Abby but neither of them had seen him, I finally went to his room and discovered several things missing from his drawers and closet including James old duffle bag. Now I must face each day alone, oh how the days will drag by. When at least Paul was here, I had our time together to help me get through each day. I should have confided in Paul I suppose, as he is no longer a child, especially when my suspicions were first raised in the beginning. But I could not do that to him, I mean, I have no solid proof at all. Only suspicions based on things I’ve heard and seen.
So because I’m not really sure what may happen now that Paul is gone, I’ve decided to keep a journal, I will try hard to write in it daily, especially if I think of anything that could help prove what I know in my heart to be true, however, to keep Ron from finding this journal, there may be days I won’t be able to write.
I am going to keep this journal in Paul’s secret hiding place, as far as I know, he and Jay are the only ones who know of it’s existence besides me, and my wonderful James, who put the secret compartment there as a boy. So if you are reading this now Paul, I must be dead. But I will hope that there is never a reason for it to be found, having said that, if it is found and it has been more than a few days since I last wrote in it, then presumably something has happened to me, look to Ron for the answers. May God bless me and have mercy on my soul.
Faye Zimmerman 9-16-1977


September 18th, 1977

It’s been a few days since Paul left, I am beside myself with worry, though I am sure he left on his own accord, as he came to me and wanted me to go with him, and some of his belongings are gone. Since I refused, now I may never know if he left on his own or if Ron has done something to him. I know Ron was listening in on our conversation, so I’m afraid of what he may have done to Paul. Hopefully Paul will call or write. I can only hope and pray that he does.
Faye Zimmerman


With tears in his eyes, Paul laid the book down on the window seat, “oh mama”, he said aloud, “I’m so sorry I didn’t keep in touch with you”, “You must have gone to your grave thinking that Ron had killed me”. Paul could not read anymore for the moment, he was feeling to guilt ridden to look at his mothers handwriting any longer. He went into the kitchen and poured himself another cup of coffee, as he sipped from it, he kept glancing over at the book he had brought with him to the kitchen. With a deep breath, he picked up the book again and continued reading where he had left off.

September 19th, 1977

Ron just left for town, it’s Friday. So as to his normal routine, I expect it will be after midnight before he returns, if not until morning. So I am taking this opportunity to try to explain some of my feelings and suspicions.

I guess to help in explaining why I have such thoughts, I shall start back to when it all began.

In the beginning, Ron was so good to me and Paul, we had met him years before at the truck stops diner where he works still to this day. James parked either his truck or his car there, depending on whether he was home or on the road.

So when James was killed, it was a nice gesture I thought when Ron showed up at the funeral, then at the house afterward. About a month later, I ran into Ron at the store, we talked for several minutes and he said he missed seeing us at the diner each week, but he understood that it was hard for me to go there right away. I had only been there once to get James things out of the truck before the company I had leased it to came to pick it up. Ron stopped by several days later to see how we were doing, he had brought Paul a couple candy bars, and we sat on the front porch drinking lemonade and not really talking much. He left when we finished our drinks, he stopped by about once a week over the next several weeks, sometimes just to check on us, sometimes bringing something along, a pizza, a magazine he thought I’d enjoy, and once a ten speed bike he picked up at a garage sale, thinking Paul could use it to get to his weekend job in town a Millers Hardware, as he was outgrowing his old bike. Paul sure loved that bike.

Paul stopped reading momentarily to reflect back on that day.

1972

“Oh wow”, exclaimed Paul, “thanks Mr. Webster, this is really cool”. “Ron”, Ron had said back, “You can call me Ron, Mr. Webster was my father”. Paul jumped on the bike and rode like the wind down the driveway. He felt on top of the world like he thought no one else ever could have. Thinking as he rode along, Mr. Webster is pretty cool after all, Ron I mean, he corrected himself. He supposed that the man was just being nice to him and feeling sorry for him cause his dad had died, but anyway, he sure liked his new bike, though Ron made sure to tell him it was just a used one, it is new to me Paul thought to himself.

Present time

Snapping back to the present, Paul remembered how proud he had been of that bike, used it right up to the day he had left, when looking around the grounds the other day he had noticed the bike was now in the little shed out back, he assumed his mother probably put it there to protect it in the hopes he would return to use it someday.

Looking back down at the book, he resumed reading his mothers journal.

Three months after James funeral, he asked if Paul and I would like to attend the towns ice cream social, not a date mind you, he had said, just a ride along and hang out as he put it.
Things went on like this for another two months, finally he asked me to dinner and a movie over in Sherman, after first asking Paul for permission, I thought that day, what a kind and thoughtful thing to do!

When December came, after all the nice things he had done for us, Paul and I decided as we had no family except each other and Ron had no one, to invite him to spend Christmas Day with us for dinner.

He gave me a lovely scarf and also brought Paul several gifts to go along with the ones I had for him, including a gift James had hidden in his truck for Paul before he died. I found it when I cleaned out the truck. I remember Paul had mixed emotions when I gave it to him, it was the best fishing pole available as he and Paul loved to go fishing. Paul was so happy to have one last present from his father, but he never used it. Kept it safely stored away. It was one of the things Paul took with him when he left.

Things went on with Ron sometimes taking both of us out, sometimes only one or the other of us. He was so good to Paul In the beginning, helping with any thing best suited for a male or fatherly type person to do for Paul.

Then in March of 1973, Ron took Paul and Jay on a weekend camping trip, they had a great time. While there, Ron asked Paul if it would be ok for him to ask me to marry him. I did not know this until later after they returned, Paul went to his room the minute he walked into the house, I followed him and asked if they had a good time, and he had said yes, so I then asked why he was so upset then. He responded, telling me to do what I wanted, and rolled over turning his back to me. I was confused by what Paul had said until later that night when Ron asked me to marry him. He told me to think about it and talk it over with Paul. He had thought that the three of us got along ok until he had asked Paul about marrying me, then Paul had completely shut down, never answered him nor talked for the rest of the trip.

Paul and I talked later that evening and he loudly voiced his objections, stating that I must not have loved his dad if I could forget him so soon, I explained that I would always love his dad, nothing could ever change that, but that dad was living in a better place now, and someday we would all be together again, but in the meantime, dad would want us to be happy. He finally went along, yet I think he just basically gave up. For the first several months after we married, Paul was what I would describe as angry and rebellious, then eventually he seemed to accept things and tried to get along.
For a couple of years things were really good, then in the beginning of 1975 as it neared the 2nd anniversary of James death, Ron began acting strangely. I don’t know really an exact date and at the time, I had no thoughts on why he was suddenly changing right before my eyes. Weeks later, I was doing laundry and ran out of detergent, I went out to the shed to get more and came across a newspaper clipping of an obituary for a man over in Meadowbrook that I had never heard of, as I thought it rather curious I asked Ron about it later, he claimed not to know how or why the clipping ended up in the shed, but he seemed more agitated than usual. I felt that Ron was hiding something. The next day while in town getting groceries I stopped by the library and decided to look through some microfilm of news clippings for around the same date. The article I came up with was about a man that on first appearances appeared to be a suicide, but looking into it further, police felt it was more likely a murder, the man had died of a gunshot wound. Looking at the date he died, I realized with a sudden chill that it was around the time Ron had begun acting strangely. I then went over to the Loganville Tribune and paid for a subscription in an effort to keep up to date on the investigation.

Over the course of a few weeks, Ron seemed to settle down some, though the drinking continued. Nothing more appeared in the paper for nearly a year then there was a report that police following a lead had discovered some kind of proof that the man had been murdered, but it did not tell what the proof was, except to say there was a potential witness who had come forward with evidence of some sort. Wondering still if Ron had been the one to put the clipping in the shed nearly a year before, I deliberately left the paper on the kitchen table, though folded to look not deliberate, the part facing up was the report. I was preparing dinner when Ron came home from work, he came in, grumbled his usual greeting, grabbed a beer from the fridge, I sensed him still behind me and glancing over my shoulder saw him looking down at the paper, it seemed his face drained of all color, he quietly picked up the paper and left the room.

When dinner was done, I called Paul and Ron to the dinner table.
Ron declined saying he wasn’t hungry and needed to run to town, which was one of the first times that he got drunk on a work night, stayed gone until nearly three in the morning. He missed work the next day, calling in sick, and that was when after nearly a year of excessive drinking, the abuse began.
Inquiring as to what was wrong, Ron grew agitated and said he just had a bug, I asked a couple of times during the course of the day if I could do anything, at one point, he yelled at me to just let him be and shoved me away from him.

The next mornings paper, there on the front page was an artist’s drawing of a man that the police were searching for, with extreme uneasiness, I realized with a start that the man looked very much like Ron, but more as he had looked a couple of years before. Confused and suddenly feeling terrified, I stashed that paper away where neither Ron nor Paul would see it. I very suddenly felt all alone in this world and had no clue what to do.

Later that evening Ron went to town again, I sat at the table thinking about the drawing wondering what I should do. Should I call the sheriff and tell them who I thought the drawing looked like? I was at my wits end. I was still sitting there hours later when Ron came in, he was in an even worse mood than before. With a sudden fear I quickly realized that Ron had probably seen the picture in town. There were paper vending machines all over town and as the drawing was on the front page, it would be visible to anyone walking past.

I warmed up a plate of dinner for him, and we sat at the table, him eating and myself drinking coffee. Finally he asked me where the paper was, relief washed over me, I thought maybe he hadn’t seen it after all. Thinking fast, I told him that I guessed that my subscription had run out as there had not been a paper that day. He asked several times if I was sure I had not seen it, with uneasiness I understood, he was trying to find out if I had seen the paper. I got up from my chair and walked over to the coffee pot in order not to see his face as I lied and told him that I had looked all over the front yard and could not find the paper this morning. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist rather tightly, kissed my ear and said it was ok he guessed he’d get a paper in the morning when he went to town. I felt in my mind, the way he held me and the tone in his voice said he did not believe me and was giving me a warning in his own way. I knew that until I could get to town again and act like I renewed my paper, I would have to Intercept several papers so Ron would not find out that I had lied to him.
I got an idea the next morning as I stashed the days paper in my box of patterns in the sewing room, I “called” the paper while Ron was sitting there and resumed the delivery telling Carl that I would send a check that day. Hanging up, I told Ron that there would be a paper in the morning, that it was taken care of.
For the next couple of years things went on, getting worse at times, nobody ever questioned or noticed that the drawing resembled Ron, at least to my knowledge. Ron would work all week then hit his favorite pub on Friday and practically live there until Sunday only coming home to sleep off his drunk until the pub opened again. More and more he came home bruised and bloody with increasing regularity he would strike out at me when he came in, at first mostly verbal, then it became physical with shoving and eventually I would have bruises where he would squeeze my arms with his strong massive hands. On occasion he would end up hitting me, blacking an eye every so often.
Once he was dreaming and in his sleep he mumbled James’s name along with Ben Miller’s and a couple of James’s friends. I wondered what in the world it was all about. But I never said a word to him about it. One day I went into Miller’s Hardware to “see” Paul, he was out on an errand, and I worked into Ben’s and my conversation wondering if he had known Ron for a long time, He laughed and said sure, that in grade school Ron was the kid everyone loved to pick on, With cheeks blushing he admitted the he, James and their band of friends had been especially hard on him, as he stuttered whenever he was nervous and was wimpy acting, never standing up for himself.
Ben asked me why I was asking and I told him I was just curious, as Ron had mentioned knowing James, but James had never mentioned it.
Then a few days ago, Paul left after one of mine and Ron’s biggest fights yet, after we discovered him gone, Ron bloodied my lips and sprained my shoulder by twisting my arm behind my back. He told me to mind my manners and remember my place.
Then he said something about Paul. I did not quite understand what he said, but it made me feel like maybe Paul had not managed to escape after all. God help me, Paul had better be ok.
Well, that’s all there is for now, Ron has not uttered James’s name in his dreams for months now. I have never seen any more in several months about that man in the paper and now my boy is gone. I will close this for now and will write as often as possible in order to try and figure all this out for myself.
Faye Zimmerman 9-19-1977
September, 25th, 1977
Paul has been gone eleven days now, I confronted Ron two days ago if he knew anything at all about Paul’s disappearance and he twisted my left arm so badly as he yelled at me for accusing him of hurting what he called my precious little runaway snot, then he told me that Paul probably left because of me, that he was tired of having a whiney, nosey, bellyaching weakling of a mother. I knew he was lying but he warned me that I had better never mention Paul to him again, saying he was always an ungrateful bastard anyways, that he never appreciated Ron and had been a big problem in our marriage, another lie, then he jerked my arm causing it to break, we had to go over to Sherman, to the hospital, Ron explained to them that I had fallen down the cellar stairs, I could tell that they did not believe him, but as he never left the room, nothing was ever said about it.

October, 5th, 1977

My arm has been aching badly, the pills they gave me for the pain make me terribly drowsy, and after two days of my using them and Ron coming home from work to dishes not done, nor supper ready, and he literally taking to beating me with his fists, I’ve opted to give in and hurt in order to stay alert and keep things running smoothly. It is still a battle with him yelling and shoving me, but as long as things are orderly at least he is not beating me.
Faye Zimmerman
10-5-77

Christmas day, 1977
I know I haven’t written in awhile, nothing has changed, Ron still comes home from work on Fridays and drinks his way through the weekend.
Sometimes he beats me, other times he just yells then passes out.
I miss Paul terribly as this is the first Christmas without him since he was born, I know where ever he is, he is doing fine and is happy away from here, I have to believe that or I would go crazy with worry. My cast is finally gone, my arm still hurts and Ron takes advantage of that and grabs it every chance he gets, I take the pills but only after I’ve done my chores, and early enough that they wear off before Ron comes home. It does not seem like Christmas, I started to pull out the Christmas decorations, then decided against it, as there is nothing to celebrate and Ron would probably just destroy everything, and as all I have is special to me since James and I collected it all, and Paul made several of the things in school over the years. I will not have Ron ruin them, so they remain in my sewing room where they are stored.


Paul began skimming through the pages of the journal and noting that mostly it was the same, just different days, he just glanced at each page briefly until he saw something that really caught his attention, he stopped on the page and continued to read, having jumped to several years later.

June, 12th, 1985
A man came to the door today, a private detective, he asked a lot of questions about Ron, like how long we had been married, how long Ron had worked at the truck stop, etc. He asked if I had ever heard of Clancy Oberman, though I recognized it as the man’s name in the obituary I had found years ago, I denied it. He asked when Ron would be home, then he left, telling me that he would catch Ron another time. When Ron came home I told him a private detective had been by to see him, he flew into a rage, demanding to know what he wanted, what he had said, I lied and told Ron that when the man learned he was not home, he left saying he would catch him another time, he then told me that unless it was Jay delivering groceries or someone else I knew I was never ever to answer the door again if he wasn’t here. I am very scared now, I know now, that Ron had something to do with that man’s death, and now I am worried as to why and I wonder again, did Paul get away or did Ron kill him too.
Tomorrow, I am going to Meadowbrook, where the detective said he was from. I need to find out for my own peace of mind, what exactly is going on.
Faye Zimmerman
6-12-85

June, 13th, 1985

Glory hallelujah, I received great news today, although I learned a lot of troubling news as well.
But the best news of all is, I know that Paul is alive!, he lives in Dallas and works as a big time reporter there. I was sitting in Dean Simmons lobby waiting to see him, I picked up a Dallas paper to read while waiting, and there on the front page in the index section were the reporters are listed along with their pictures was my baby. The minute I saw the picture I knew it was Paul, before I ever read his name. Oh, how handsome he is. It is so hard to believe he’s a man now, turned 25 this last April. I am so proud of my boy, after meeting with Mr. Simmons I used a pay phone and called the Paper, they transferred me to Paul’s voicemail as he was out. I heard his voice and broke down in tears of relief hearing a grown up voice, but recognizing it anyways. It was so good to hear him. I did not leave a message as he might have tried to call back, and then Ron would know, and true to Ron’s word we have not spoken of Paul in years.
I talked with Mr. Simmons for a while, I explained my situation to him and that yes, I had heard of that man but only in the reports I had read. I asked if he would please tell me what he knew. He hesitated at first, he said he would worry about my safety if I knew too much. I had to convince him to tell me. This is what I learned.
He said that Clancy Aberman was basically a small time hood, a kind of mafia wannabe. Mr. Simmons had been hired by the children of Mr. Aberman, who, being older now wanted to know the truth about what happened to their father. He said using the old drawing in the paper from 1975, he had questioned the witness that had helped police with the drawing, plus read all the news reports and police reports, finally he got a tip that led him to Ron. He also found a friend of Aberman’s who told him that a man had hired Aberman to help get rid of someone who was “in the way”, as he put it. Simmons told me that from what he could piece together, Ron had been the man who had hired Aberman, and that when Aberman had tried to blackmail him a couple of years later, Ron had killed him. Simmons paused a moment, then asked if I was sure I wanted to hear anymore. I insisted he continue, then immediately wished I had not. For what he said next knocked the wind right out of me as though someone had punched me in the gut.
Simmons then asked if I would agree to have James’s remains exhumed, I know every ounce of color drained from my face, as I asked what on earth James had to do with all of this, Ms Webster, he said, I know from all reports that James is said to have fallen asleep at the wheel, crashed and the car exploded, I know they ruled it an accident and never did an autopsy. I really hate to ask, but from the information I have gathered, James is the person that was in Ron’s way, and that Aberman had been hired as a sharpshooter to kill him, as he had been burned badly and his car destroyed in the blast, without the autopsy it was possible that James took evidence to the grave with him that let the killers go free. I told Simmons I had to go as Ron would be home soon, he begged me to consent to the exhumation, I told him that I would let him know.
I don’t remember the drive home, I only remember feeling sick to my stomach and thinking that I had to leave Ron immediately. I got home, and started supper and began planning how I would get away.
Ron came in and I was so nervous that I dropped the pot of stew to the floor on the way to the table, Ron called me a clumsy oaf, slapped me several times, then said he was going out for supper. I cleaned the mess up then went to my room, I decided then and there that tomorrow I am leaving as soon as Ron leaves for work. I am going to Dallas to find my boy, Once I am safely away I will call Mr. Simmons and tell him to go ahead with the exhumation.

July, 1985
I don’t know what day it is, I’ve been sick off and on for weeks now, at first I thought it was the flu or stress, but then I start to feel better and it hits again, the Doctors don’t know what to make of it, just some flu bug that won’t let go for some reason.
I’m to weak to try to go far and so I told Mr. Simmons one day when he came calling, that until I am well enough to get out of here, I cannot allow him to pursue exhuming James as Ron would find out and then I would not be safe.
Besides, ever since I’ve become ill, Ron has gone back to being the man I fell in love with, has quit drinking as he used to, and is very caring and attentive to me, I just don’t think Ron is the man they want, nor James the victim, Ron takes care of me now, he has a nurse come when he’s at work to care for me and cook for me. When he’s home he does it all. So how could he be the monster that Simmons is looking for?
Anyway I can’t think about that anymore, unless Simmons can come to me with more proof, I just can’t risk it, if they exhume James then it shows no proof, it will just infuriate Ron to know I suspected him of something he did not do. Unless there is more proof then I cannot risk ruining Ron’s and my newfound close relationship.

October, 1986
I know it’s been forever since I wrote. I have my good days and my bad days, the bad outweigh the good of course, I’ve seen specialist and still there seems to be no rhyme or reason to my illness, on the bad days, which seem to get worse as time goes on, Ron watches and worries over me almost as a parent would a child.
On the occasion that I have a good day we take short drives to enjoy the fresh air. I haven’t heard from Mr. Simmons for some time now, either he has given up or is still looking for more proof. As this is a good day Ron is planning on a nice romantic dinner for us tonight. So I shall put this away again as he will be here soon. I thought of destroying this since I feel this has all been written in error, but something keeps me from doing it quite yet. I will write again soon, I promise!

January, 20th, 1987

I know I promised to keep writing or destroy this, but it has been a long, hard winter for me, I can barely get around now. It took me quite a while to get here to Paul’s room to get this out. When I stepped in front of the dresser mirror I was appalled to see what I have become.
I have lost so much weight that I see bones poking out every place I look. My hair is thinning terribly and has been falling out for months. I don’t know how much longer I can hang on like this.
I don’t know when or even if I will have the strength to get in here again, but just in case, Paul, I love you very, very much, I want you to know that your father and I are so proud of you, I almost called you several times but I don’t wish for you to end with memories of how I look now, I know whatever this illness is, it is not going to ever go away and I just don’t think I can take another day of this.
Remember the good times and know that I love you and will always be proud of you!
Mom
1-20-87

February, 2nd,1987
I feel this is close to the end, I just feel the need to say my goodbyes as I can’t fight to go on any longer. I had to crawl here and barely had strength left to open the window seat. I can’t write anymore. I’m sorry Paul for every thing. Good bye my son I am going home to James and we will wait together for the day we can be with you again.
I love you!
Faye Zimmerman,
Feb, 87


Chapter Twelve


Tears fell as Paul read his mothers last words to him, it certainly would seem by all accounts based on what she last wrote, that maybe she had committed suicide after all, he thought. Yet something in the back of his reporters mind he could not quite put a finger on, but something was making his alarm bell go off. He laid the book down on the coffee table by the couch where he had eventually ended up as he paced around reading his mothers journal. He sat silently for a time then got up and went to the sewing room, he grabbed his laptop and returned to the living room, removed the cord from the phone, he plugged it into the laptop. For the next couple hours he poured over archives from his papers website. Finally as he was about to give up, he found what he was looking for. The headline read…

Ten years after mans death
wife convicted of poisoning him

Paul remembered it well as he had been the reporter that covered the story. Skimming the article to refresh his memory, he saw now why his mothers journal had set off his alarm. In the article it told how ten years before, the man had died after what had been ruled a suicide with an overdose of antidepressants. It was initially thought after battling an unknown illness for over a year the man could no longer take the illness, the weight loss, and the loss of his hair. The family felt he did not want to be a burden on them any longer, so he had ended it all. No autopsy had been performed as it was ruled a suicide. Years later the husbands mother and siblings decided to have his case reopened following years of disturbing feelings they got from the widow. Police finally got the evidence needed to convict her of poisoning him to death.

Paul leaned back a moment to let this information sink in, suddenly a thought occurred to him, he sat back up and looked at the date the article had been published, with a great chill, he realized that it had been about six months before his mother had fallen ill according to her journal.

Suddenly he was like a madman running in circles, he went through every room in the house, he looked in the shed, he was not sure exactly what he was looking for. Finally he thought, the one place I forgot to look for things when I was cleaning out Rons things was the basement. He remembered that Ron used to spend a lot of time down there, and he also knew his mother hated the basement, thinking back to his childhood, his mother had insisted hookups be installed on the back porch for the washer and dryer after dad enclosed it, and built the deck off the back of the house. He made his way down the cellar stairs, pulling the string at the bottom of the stairs. Suddenly the room was lit up bright, there were boxes everywhere, glancing around he noted on an old work table there was what appeared to be one of those portable personal file boxes that was locked with an old rusted padlock, taking the box with him, he went back upstairs, put the box on the kitchen table and walked out through the wash room to the back door, walked across the deck and down three short steps then on to the shed. He was beginning to feel lightheaded with thoughts of what the box might contain. Looking on the wall at the tools hanging there, he took down a hacksaw, and returned to the house and proceeded to begin sawing on the padlock. Thirty minutes later he opened the box.

There were several files, he pulled them out, laying them on the kitchen table in front of him. The first several contained Rons birth certificate and some tax papers and a bunch of other junk. When he reached the “F” folder he found his mothers will along with a life insurance policy for $50,000 dollars, everything was left to Paul. He remembered asking at the time if there was a will, Ron had insisted they had planned to but never got around to it. He made a mental note to himself to go see a lawyer to inquire if he could still claim the insurance money.

Going on through the files, he finally reached the “P” file, there he found the one thing to make his blood run cold.

First he looked over a report from an investigator in Dallas from shortly after he had started working at the paper, he realized that Ron had known practically the whole time where Paul was and never let his mom know. At the back of the folder, folded up, was the very article that was at that moment glaring back at him on his laptop in the living room.
Suddenly, he felt very, very sick, he realized with sudden horror that his stepfather had killed his mom, using his own article for guidance in doing so. “It’s all my fault”, he thought to himself.

He let the clipping fall from his hand as a loud knock came from the front door, looking at the clock he saw it was after midnight, he went to the door puzzled as to who could be knocking at this time of night. As he crossed the room he saw Abby on the other side of the glass, motioning her to come on in.

“What in the world is going on”? Abby asked, noting papers all over the kitchen table through the door, the journal and laptop on the coffee table, and the steady stream of tears pouring down Pauls face. “I’ve been calling for…”, she started, when suddenly Paul was in her arms bawling like a baby, they slid to the floor embracing, and that’s how they remained for nearly an hour, Paul holding tight and crying, Abby rocking him gently, trying to sooth him, not asking a thing for now. Allowing Paul time to calm down and collect himself.

When finally Paul had calmed down, Abby suggested she get them both some coffee and he settle on the couch and relax. He walked to the kitchen table, picked up the will, life insurance, the detectives report and the news clipping. He returned to the living room and sat down waiting for Abby.

“Here you go Paul”, said Abby as she handed him a cup of coffee. She sat down next to him and sat her cup on the table. She turned to Paul and waited for him to say something. Instead he handed her the pile of papers, confused she glanced at them then looked back at him.

“It’s all there”, he said, “all the proof that Ron not only killed my mom, but also my dad”. Abby’s face turned white as it sank in what Paul had just said to her. Paul continued, “I found my moms journal earlier tonight, and read it all”, after a brief pause he continued, “from what I read in her journal and on all those papers…oh Abs it’s my fault my mother is dead.

An hour later after showing her key parts of his mothers journal and explaining all the papers he had found in Rons file box, Abby finally understood why she had found Paul so distraught when she had arrived.

“So”, Abby finally said, “What are you going to do now”? “Well”, replied Paul, “The first thing I am going to do is check on that detective my mom wrote about, and see about exhuming both my parents to be tested”. “If there is proof that my mom was poisoned as I suspect she was, I want to have her death ruled murder and see if it is still possible to collect the insurance”. “Then I want it to go on record that both my parents were murdered by Ron”. “I won’t rest until justice is served, even though Ron is dead now, I want everyone to know what kind of person we had to deal with all these years”. “So first thing in the morning I am going over to Sherman to look up this “Dean Simmons” guy and just go from there”.

Chapter Thirteen


The next morning found Paul sitting across from a man that now was gray haired, and possibly in his mid sixties. “Well Mr. Simmons, what do you think”? Paul asked as Dean Simmons finished looking over the journal of Faye Zimmerman and the other papers including the clipping of Pauls article. “Well Paul, I think we just may have something here, we will have to go ahead with the exhumation of course to be sure, but yes I think it is very feasible that Ron probably figured out that your mother knew he was responsible for James death, he probably knew that she had talked more than she let on to him about me”. “Yes, I would say it would be a pretty fair bet that he also killed your mom to keep her quiet, he figured out she was leaving him somehow and why, so she got in the way as well I guess”. “I will go this afternoon to the courthouse with these power of attorney papers you signed for me, and get started on getting the court order to exhume your parents right away”. “Let’s see what we find out from their autopsies, then we will check into the insurance and the rest”. “Fair enough”? he asked Paul. “Yes, thanks for all your help Mr. Simmons”, Paul replied as he reached out to shake hands with the man. “Call me Dean, I feel like I know your family very well from all my investigations.” “ I’ve been waiting for the chance to finish this case after all these years, not only for my clients peace of mind but yours as well”. “It’s time for James to be able to rest knowing everyone will finally know the truth about his death, as well as your mothers”.

After promising to contact him the minute he had any news at all, Dean shook Paul’s hand again and walked him out of the inner office. Turning to his secretary he said, “ Make sure to get Paul’s phone number for me. “I’ll talk to you soon Paul”, Dean promised as he turned back to his office.

Paul walked across the street to the café where Abby sat waiting. He sat down as he came to her table and waved the waitress over. “How bout some lunch before we head back”? he asked. “Sounds good to me, I’m famished”, replied Abby.

After placing their orders, Paul began to recount his conversation with Dean for Abby. “So he really thinks your father was killed because of Ron then huh”? she asked. “Yeah”, started Paul, “Seems Ron had told someone along the way that he was in love with my mom and something about her being too good for my father”. “I wish I had never left now, mom would have eventually opened up to me and told me what was going on, I could have done something and she would still be here”. “You can’t beat yourself up over it Paul, she did what she thought was best at the time”. “At least now the truth will come out and though it won’t bring them back, you can have the peace of mind of knowing they are together now”.

Just then the waitress came to the table with their lunches, Paul had the country fried steak dinner and Abby had opted for a cheeseburger with fries. They settled down to eat making small conversation. As they finished eating and sat finishing up their drinks Paul looked over at Abby. “Thanks Abs for everything”. “What I didn’t do anything”, she said as she smiled up at him. “Yeah you did, when I needed someone most last night, seems you showed up like some kind of angel”. “Yeah well Paul, maybe your mother had a hand in it, cause when I kept calling and could not get through, something told me I should get over there”, she replied. “However it happened, I am grateful and really glad for the first time since coming home to be here”.

A short while later after paying the bill, Paul walked back to the table and laying a tip on it asked if Abby was ready to head back. They walked out to Pauls pickup and he held the door for her to get in, walked around the front of the truck and got in on the drivers side. Turning to Abby he said, “How bout we pick up Tony and Amanda on the way through town and pick up stuff at the store to have a cook out”? “We could even get Jay and Sue to come over with the kids, that way the kids have someone to hang out with”. “Sounds like a plan”, Abby replied. “Let’s go to the store first, Jay will probably be there and we can ask while there”. They headed back to Loganville both with thoughts running through their minds when ever there was a lull in the conversation. Paul kept side glancing every so often at Abby, thinking to himself, he realized, Abby still looks great after all this time, and it almost seems like I’ve never been gone. I had forgotten how easy it was with her. With his thoughts drifting away, they pulled into town and went the two blocks to the store. There sat Jays truck Paul noticed as he pulled into the parking lot. As they walked towards the store Paul said. “How bout you get started on the shopping, you know more what the kids will eat, and then pick up some steaks for the adults too”. “I’ll see if I can track down Jay and talk to him”. They agreed and each went separate ways once they entered the store.

“Hey this is a stick up”, Paul said menacingly as he poked a finger into Jays back when he found him. Jay turned around as an elderly lady looked up at Paul trying to decide whether to be frightened or not. “It’s ok Ms. Watson”, Jay said, “It’s just my good buddy Paul Zimmerman, you remember him don’t you”? She smiled and patted Pauls shoulder as she said, “of course, I did not recognize you at first, you were one of my prize students, you and Jay both when you weren’t busy making excuses for not having your homework”. Ms. Watson had been their history teacher in high school. “It’s good to see you Paul”, she continued. “I hope your home to stay this time”. “Well Ms. Watson, a few weeks ago I would have told you no way, but now I’m not sure just yet, but maybe”, Paul answered her. “Well if you do, don’t hesitate to stop by from time to time for a cup of tea, I would love to hear all about how things have been for you”. “I heard you are a big time reporter up in the city”. Blushing, Paul said, “Well, I don’t know bout that, but I will sure come by sometime, that’s a promise”. She leaned to give both boys a quick hug by placing one arm around each of their waists. “I’m so proud of both you boys”, she pinched both their cheeks and smiled then turned and walked away from them.

Turning back to Paul, Jay said, “So what’s up”? “The sky”? inquired Paul, laughing. Then he said, Abby and I are putting together a little cookout for her kids, thought maybe you and Susie could bring the brats over and join us”. Tell you what I’ll provide the steaks, burgers and dogs, you get the rest and we’ll make it a group thing and get the rest of the gang together, that ok”? Paul replied, “well I suppose, let’s go find Abs and see”.

After finding Abby the three of them roamed the store getting what was needed, then Jay walked them to the truck. “Ok then”, he said, “I’ll head to the house and Sus and I will call the gang and be out shortly”. They said their goodbyes and drove off in the direction of the hardware store where the kids were helping their grandfather.

“Hello Mr. Miller”, said Paul as they walked up to the service counter where he stood closing out the register for the day. “Paul, how good to see you again”, he said. Paul asked, “ Can I grab some things or is it too late today”? “Sure, remember I’m running you a tab, so we can just make a list of whatever you get”. Abby said as she turned to Paul, “I’m going to help get the place closed up while you do that”. “Ok”, he said to Abby as he looked over at Tony, “How bout you helping me for a minute bud”? “Sure”, said Tony excitedly, as he liked Paul immensely and loved the opportunity to spend time with him. As they started off Paul looked back over his shoulder and to Abbys father he said, “by the way Mr. Miller, you’re coming to dinner too, and I won’t take no for an answer”, he smiled his best smile. “Well if you insist than I guess I shall join you”, replied Mr. Miller, matching Pauls smile.

Paul was getting the grill ready with directions from both Tony and Mr. Miller and the girls were preparing the meat and everything in the house as the first of the gang arrived.

As Allen, Michelle and two of their four kids piled out of their suburban, Paul called out, “Now I should have known you’d be the first to get here when you heard the word food”, he teased Allen. Allen had been the biggest guy of their crowd, and still was, back in the day he had been the quarterback and the biggest eating machine this side of the Pecos river. “You know it”, agreed Allen. “Let me at it”, he joked. Michelle headed for the house to help Abby as more vehicles began pulling into the drive, they were lining up along the drive, with some of them having to walk a bit to get to the house, as the yard was much too small for everyone to park close by.

Soon everyone had arrived, the guys including Mr. Miller and his two sons were all out back around the grill and tables all talking at once and laughing. The girls were all in the kitchen preparing potato salad, baked beans, salad and bowls of chips and dips along with a variety of drinks. “So”, began Nicole teasingly, “What’s the news Ab”? “What news”? she asked, knowing full well, and thinking to herself, “here we go again”. “Well, been wearing any more mismatched outfits lately”? she winked at the others as she said it. Abby turned around and saw all eyes were upon her. “Now look here you guys, don’t start again”, she said, trying to sound very serious. Michelle said, “Come on Abby, surely you can see that things seem to be getting more like the old days for you with Paul around”. “Look guys, let’s just drop it, if it is meant to be then so be it”, she replied.
“Ah-Ha”, shouted Nicole, “I knew it, you are still in love with Paul”. “I did not say that”, Abby was quick to say. “There are things going on for Paul right now and he does not need more stress or pressure on him at the moment”. Seeing that Abby was serious, the others looked at her questioningly and Michelle said, “What’s going on Ab”? Abby thought a minute and then said, “well I don’t think Paul will mind me saying anything, just don’t bring it up unless he does, agreed”? she asked. All of them nodded in unison. “Paul just found out that maybe not only did his step dad kill his mother, but maybe even his dad years ago”. They all paled a bit then Susie said, “You’ve got to be kidding, Jay was telling me a few weeks ago that he and Paul had discussed the possibility of Ron having killed his mom, but his dad too, that is just so unbelievable”. “Oh believe it”, replied Abby. “Paul found his mothers journal hidden in his room and from what was in it as well as some files of Rons he found, it would certainly appear that he killed Mr. Zimmerman years ago just to get into his mothers life”. They all sat working on the dinner preparations each in their own thoughts.

As the adults all gathered around in a circle in the back yard later to eat, the kids all gathered in the house around the TV. to watch the video channel. After some light bantering back and forth, Paul finally said, “Well, as my dearest and closest friends in the world, I want to share some news with all of you”. The girls all glanced at Abby and each other knowingly. “I found out that there is a strong possibility that not only did Ron kill my mom, but maybe even my dad as well”. Mr. Miller practically dropped his plate, paling he yelled out, “That can’t be”. “I’m sorry Mr. Miller, I wasn’t thinking, I guess I should have found a better way to say that, I keep forgetting you have been friends with my folks since you guys were kids”. Mr. Miller stood up and walked over to Paul, placing his hands on Pauls shoulders he said, “No I am the one who is sorry, I should have known that no good scoundrel was up to something the day James died, the way he suddenly was always around”. “I just never thought about it then, Faye was going through such a tough time and Ron seemed good for her, I just never thought..”, his voice trailing off. “Mr. Miller, you were always there for us, and I will never forget that, I still remember the day my dad died you made sure I knew that we could always come to you for anything”. Paul reached out and gently hugged Mr. Miller. To which Mr. Miller replied, “And that still goes young man, I could never hope to replace such a great man as your father was, but I sure hope I was at least some comfort for you back then”. “You know you were”, replied Paul. The conversation went on for a bit as Paul showed everyone the papers and journal he had found, as they passed from person to person, they talked back and forth discussing everything. Eventually the evening wound down and everyone started working on cleaning up the mess. As each different family took their leave and said their goodbyes Paul kept glancing over at Abby from time to time. Finally all that was left was Jay, Susie, their kids, Mr. Miller, Paul, Abby and her kids.

“So what are your plans now Paul”? Jay asked. “Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking but until this thing is worked out and I know for sure about my parents, I have not made any real decisions yet”, Paul said. Looking over at Mr. Miller he said, “Mr. Miller, could I come by tomorrow and discuss something with you”. “Well of course”, replied Mr. Miller.


Chapter Fourteen


The day dawned bright, with clear blue skies, filled with puffy white clouds. It seemed to match Paul’s high spirited mood. Though he didn’t have actual physical proof yet, he felt better about things now. Except, of course, though Abby talked a good talk, he still felt that in a small way he had helped his mother’s murder along. If he hadn’t covered that story then Ron might not have killed her.
“No,” he though to himself. “That’s not true.” he was probably planning it even before the article was published. The article just gave Ron one last chance to get to me.
Paul shook off these thoughts and made himself try to get back in his good mood. He pulled his truck up in front of the “Loganville Tribune.” He had an appointment with Martin Lewis. Mr. Lewis had bought the tribune back when Paul was a boy from old man Peabody. Paul had heard that Mr. Lewis had been thinking about retiring, so he had called last week and arranged to meet with him.

Paul reached out to shake hands as he said, “Mr. Lewis, good to see you again.”
“Paul, please call me Martin,” He replied as he gripped Paul’s hand firmly. “you know I heard all about you being a reporter from your mother several years ago, She was so proud of you.” after a moment Martin said “So Paul, I have a feeling I already know but, what brings you by?”

A couple of hours later as Paul and Martin stepped out of his office and into the lobby Mr. Lewis said, “Paul, I’ll get those papers drawn up this afternoon and you can come by anytime to get them signed. I have to say I’m very pleased that you’re the one buying the place.”
“Thanks again Martin,” Paul said as he shook the man’s hand. “I’ll stop in tomorrow sometime.”
“ok.” replied Martin, “See you then.” with a quick wave Paul walked out the door, looked up at the sky, and taking a deep breath, smiled to himself and thought, “Here’s to a new beginning.” Walking briskly and happily he went across the street to Miller’s Hardware.

As Ben Miller watched Paul approach the counter he said, “Well Paul, you look a bit happier than I’ve seen you be since coming home.”
Smiling even bigger, Paul replied. “I am happier than I have been for a long time.” Glancing around, he asked Mr. Miller if they could talk somewhere privately. Ben turned around as he motioned for Paul to follow him. As they stepped into the office area Ben said, “Abigail, could you watch the counter while Paul and I have a chat?” Abby looked up at them with a wondering look, seeing that no one was going to say anything she said. “Sure.” and walked out of the office, pulling the door shut behind her. For the next hour she kept glancing back to look at Paul and her father through the office window, wondering what on earth they could be discussing for so long. Finally the door opened.
“Thanks Mr. Miller.” Paul said as he shook Ben’s hand.
“No problem, Paul,” he replied, “Let me know if I can be of any more help now, you hear me?” Paul nodded his head in agreement, smiled, and then turned to walk over to the counter where Abby stood watching them. “Abs.” he said with a nod, as he walked on past and out the door. Abby turned to her dad for an explanation. Smiling Mischievously her father turned and walked right back into his office.

Abby began closing up the register a little while later. Her father finally returned to the counter as she was finishing. “So.” she started, “Wanna tell me what that was all about?” When Ben did not answer her, she continued. “Dad, what’s going on?” Ben turned, looked his daughter in the eye without smiling and said, “I have no idea what you are talking about.” “Oh, no you don’t old man,” Abby replied, “you know full well what I’m talking about, what were you two talking about for so long?” Ben looked at her as though he had just caught on, and with an amused sound to his voice said, “Oh that, it was nothing, just guy talk.”
“Fine,” she retorted, “be like that, I’ll find out from Paul.”
“If you must” answered Ben rather mockingly, “but don’t count on Paul saying much either, as I said, it’s a guy thing.”
With that Ben turned to walk over to the door, then looking back said, “Shall we?” as he dangled the keys as a sign that it was time to go.

Two hours later as she was finishing dinner preparations, there was a knock on the back door. Abby knew immediately that it was Paul, as he was the only one who ever came to the back door. Especially since he always rapped once, then paused followed by four more short, quick raps. That was how he had always done it years ago. Smiling quickly at the memory, she just as quickly stopped smiling, she opened the door and with a look of non-interest, she turned and walked back over to the stove, leaving Paul to let himself in and shut the door.
“Dad’s in the living room.” She said rather shortly. “Is something wrong?” Paul questioned. “Why should anything be wrong?” She snapped back. “I mean if you men want to be secretive and not tell me anything, then so be it.” Paul smiled, finally understanding, “Oh that, well that was nothing, I was just asking your dad’s opinion on some things to do with the house.” he fibbed. “Whatever.” Abby replied. Paul walked into the living room, still smiling, and sat down in a chair across from Mr. Miller. “So,” he whispered, “She been like this since I left earlier?” “Oh, yeah.” smiled Ben, “She is beside herself with curiosity.” Continuing to whisper just to taunt Abby more as he could see she was trying to hear their conversation. “Here’s the papers, Martin stopped me as I was getting ready to drive off. He was pretty fast about getting them together.” Handing Mr. Miller a packet he pulled from his pocket, he asked, “Look them over for me, right quick?”

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Ben looked over the contract, Paul was watching Abby, who was trying to keep an eye and ear open, trying to get any clue as to what they were talking about, but trying not to be obvious about it.
Finally Ben, still playing along, whispered “these look fine Paul, I’d go ahead if it were me.” Paul thanked Mr. Miller and as he rose to go Ben said out loud, “Care to join us for dinner Paul?” He winked at Paul as he continued, “There’s plenty, right Abigail? “Whatever,” Abby replied rather abruptly. Paul responded by saying, “well if you’re sure.” Ben replied “I insist.”

A short time later the three of them sat down to a table covered with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, salad, and their choice of milk, tea, or water. “Wow, Abs,” exclaimed Paul, “everything looks and smells great.”
“Thanks.” she said. “Where are the kids?” Paul asked
“Nicoles house”, replied Abby. “Alright, already,” Paul said, “I can’t believe you, you’re not going to speak to either one of us until you know what’s going on huh?” Abby looked at Paul and her dad with faked innocence on her face and said, “I have no idea what your talking about.” Paul and Ben smiled as they glanced at one another. “Here,” said Paul as he removed the envelope packet from his jacket, which he had hung on the back of his chair. Looking at both men, Abby said, “what’s that?”, as she reached out to take it. Paul suddenly pulled it back and said, “well I wanted to wait till it was official, but seeing as your being a spoil-sport.” Suddenly feeling a bit ashamed, Abby did not reach out when Paul again held out the papers. “Go ahead Abs.” he said, “I’d like to eat and enjoy the company and conversation.” Abby finally took the papers, looked them over and then trying to contain her excitement over knowing that Paul was home to stay, calmly said, “I’m happy for you.” and handed the papers back to Paul. Suddenly Mr. Miller piped up and said, “That’s it, that’s all you have to say after all the moping around and one syllable conversations all afternoon?” Abby replied “What else am I supposed to say?” “Well,” answered Ben. “you could actually look happy for Paul.” “It’s ok,” Paul said, “I have a feeling that Abby will let me know later how she really feels.” He winked at Ben as he said this. Abby, blushing, glared at Paul then said, “Would everyone eat already before I end up having to re-heat everything?”

They ate in silence for a time then Ben asked, “Are you planning to change the name of the paper Paul?” “Nah,” replied Paul, “Mr. Peabody named it, and Mr. Lewis never changed it, It’s always been the Loganville Tribune, so why change it?”
Finally Abby could not pretend to be mad anymore and asked, “What made you decide to buy the paper?” “Well,” answered Paul, “I’ve always thought I’d like to have my own newspaper, and last week I heard that Mr. Lewis was thinking of retiring, so I asked to meet with him. We met this morning, reached an agreement, and this afternoon he gave me the papers to look over and sign.” “So you’re staying after all, what about the house, still planning to sell?” Inquired Abby.
“No,” Paul answered, “In light of the recent events, I’ve decided that my parents probably would not want anyone but family living there, so I’m buying the paper and moving back home.” “All that’s left to do is find me a good woman and settle down.”

Abby shifted uncomfortably in her chair but said nothing. Paul smiled to himself, winked at Mr. Miller and also said nothing.

They finally finished dinner while talking about a variety of topics, from old times to baseball, to the latest news in the nation. Paul helped Abby clean up and finally near midnight took his leave.

Abby, already working on a plan in her mind to capture Paul’s heart again, happily drifted off to sleep a short time later. She had no idea that there was no need to capture Paul’s heart, as she had it in her possession for most of their lives. Paul had never attempted to reclaim it for any other woman, to Paul there was no other woman and never would be. He had loved Abigail since they were kids on the grade school playground, him pulling her pigtails and her screaming at him, and as is usually the case, they secretly had a crush on the other right up to Jr. High and their first dance together. After that first dance, they never looked at another, at least Paul hadn’t. Though he did not have an ounce of blame towards Abby. He had been the one who left without a word. Naturally Abby, being confused and hurt, would eventually get on with her life. But now, once again after coming full circle, Paul had another chance at happiness, and the fact that she had two kids, could not have pleased him more than if they been his own, as he had already grown very fond of them in the almost eight weeks that he had now been home.

Chapter Fifteen

The weekend came, and as planned earlier, Paul and Jay set out early Friday morning for the eight hour drive to Dallas. Paul had already talked to his boss weeks before when he first thought of staying in Loganville. His boss had already had an idea that once Paul had headed there after the death of his stepfather, that Paul would end up staying. As he had been friends with Paul for the past thirteen years as well as his boss. He knew all about why Paul left home and he also had known since Fayes death, that Paul had always suspected that his stepfather had a hand in her death. So when he called the other day with news of finding his mother’s journal and the will, and insurance papers, then told of the local papers owner retiring, he knew his star reporter and protégé was home to stay.


The trip passed quickly as the guys talked about everything under the sun. they were each happy with Paul’s decision to return home permanently, as they both had missed each other terribly over the years. Carrying on as they were though, it felt as though they had not been apart the past fifteen years.

“Well, I’ll take this on down to the truck,” Jay said, leaving Paul alone with his former boss, and now good lifelong friend. The two men stood there a moment, finally Paul said with a slight choking sound, “Bob, I’ll never forget all you’ve done for me over the years, You’ve been a great friend to me and maybe even a great substitute father as well.” “Paul, anytime, and I do mean anytime you need me…” Bob said, also beginning to choke on his words. The two men started to shake hands, then each with misty eyes reached to embrace as good friends or a father and son would do. “You keep in touch now.” Bob said, “Mavis would never forgive you if you don’t.” Paul agreed, knowing full well that Bob’s wife of fifty years, definitely had a motherly affection for him, and most assuredly always would.

Bob and Mavis Reynolds had recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, in all their years together they had never been able to have children of their own. Over the years they had grown to love Paul as their own son, and unbeknownst to him had placed him in their wills, upon both of their deaths in the future, he would inherit both their home, and their newspaper business. It was to be not only a surprise to him someday, but also their thanks for being an important part of their lives.

Paul and Jay headed to the nearest moving truck place as they left the parking lot of the newspaper. Jay turned to Paul and said, “ I sensed that you guys needed a minute alone, were you very close?” Paul responded by saying “Yeah, Bob and I met when he came to my journalism class as a guest speaker. He offered me a job as a mail room clerk while I finished school. Then I worked for a time as a copy editor, and finally becoming a full fledged reporter in 1986. He and his wife kind of adopted me since they have no kids of their own, Mavis told me once that if I ever have kids they were to be called grandma and grandpa.” He said with a smile.

It was nearing midnight as they put the last of Paul’s things into the truck. “What do you say we stop by somewhere and pick up some takeout, find a hotel for the night, and start out in the morning.” “Sounds good to me.” replied Jay as they climbed into the truck. They had rented a tow bar as well to tow Paul’s Pickup with. They would not only save on gas, but would still be able to keep each other company for the trip home.

Late the next afternoon they pulled down Paul’s long driveway, as they neared the house Paul said, “What the heck?!” Every one of his friends vehicles were lined along the drive, hanging across the porch was a huge banner that read “Welcome home Paul!”
They stepped out of the truck as adults and kids came around the side of the house. Abby told Paul and Jay to go on in and oversee the placement of Paul’s things as Don, Allen, Josh, Justin, and John Jr. proceeded to unhook and move Paul’s truck, then turning the moving truck around and backing in, they began to unload Paul’s things. When everything had been placed temporarily in both Pauls old room and his mothers rooms, they all washed up and then went out back where the women had dinner all ready. As they all sat eating Paul finally said, “I want to thank you all for your help with the house, and also for today, and I just want to add that it is great to be back home with all of you, I’ve really missed all of you over the years.” “Here, here.” called out Allen as he raised his beer in toast, to which they all raised their drinks and toasted.

Paul looked around at all his oldest and dearest friends in the world and thought to himself, “Yeah, it’s a great time in my life to return home.” Finding Abby standing by the deck across the back yard, he smiled to himself, and thought “Yeah, definitely a real great time.”


Chapter Sixteen

Two weeks passed during which a lot had happened, the paperwork finalized, Paul now owned the “Loganville Tribune”. They had finally totally painted the inside of the house, which they did in one day. For a few days after he stayed in the guest room at the Miller home. With each passing day Paul found himself more and more in love with
Abby. Now the whole gang was getting ready for the long talked about camping trip. Although there were plenty of tents for everyone, Paul had recently bought a used camper, one of those that looks like a van on the front. He wanted Mr. Miller and his lady friend, the widow Snyder, or Betty as she insisted they call her, to be comfortable as they were both in their late sixties. The camper could sleep six, so he knew it would be plenty big enough. It also gave them a fridge to keep perishable foods and milk in. As they planned to spend a week out at the lake, they did not want to have to travel to town much for supplies. So the camper helped in that department as well.
Paul pulled up to the Miller home in the camper and honked the horn, Tony and Amanda came running out, their arms loaded with bedrolls, Paul told them to put them on the bunk above the cab. He went into the house and started grabbing ice chests, fishing poles, backpacks, as well as overnight bags. After several trips everyone was ready to go. Ben, Betty, and the kids slid into the booth dinner table preparing to play Yahtzee on the two hour drive to the lake. Abby climbed up into the passenger seat. When everyone was settled Paul said, “And away we go.” They drove the two blocks to Jays store where they had all planned to meet.
Pulling up, Jay walked over and opened the door leading into the camper, he handed Paul and Tony each two gallons of milk and a couple of tubs of butter to be placed in the fridge. “We’ve got steaks and vegetables on ice in our truck, we’ll get by tonight, then tomorrow drive into Burnside to get dry ice and more food once we decide what to get.”
“Sounds like a plan.” replied Paul. Jay then said “Let’s get this show on the road.” to which Paul replied, “Lead the way.”

With Jay leading the way Paul pulled out followed in order by Allen’s family, Don’s family along with all the Lawson kids in their van, then the next car held Josh and Justin with their wives, followed by John and Renee and their kids and bringing up the rear were Gilbert, Wayne, and their wives. The seven vehicles made up a convoy of happy people headed for a week of fun.

As they all pulled in at the campsite, Paul pulled the camper into place to be hooked up to water and electricity. On either side of the camper they set up two, three-room tents. Between the four tents it made twelve rooms to divide everyone into. With two for the girls and two for the boys, with eight people per tent.
They sent the kids out to collect firewood, as the men started setting up the tents and the ladies began setting up the Tables and chairs. When the first load of wood appeared Paul began getting the fire going for them to sit around that evening. Jay got the cooking pit going for the steaks, burgers, potatoes, and corn they planned to grill and roast.

While the food cooked everyone finally enjoyed a dip in the lake, Ben and Betty had waded in it for am few minutes then went back to the camping area to sit and watch the others swim. A beach ball brought out by one of the kids eventually became a volleyball and a game got started pitting the adults against the kids. They had a good time and the adults ended up winning, prompting the kids to ask for a rematch. Paul, having gone back up to check the foods progress hollered, “the rematch will have to wait until tomorrow, come and get it.”

When at last the remnants from dinner had been cleaned away. They took turns going up to the community showers. When all showers had been taken, they settled around the campfire and roasted marshmallows while telling campfire ghost stories.

Finally the time came to settle down for the night. Evie, Jessica, Aimee and Amanda decided to share a tent with Renee, Nicole, Susie, and Carol. While Laura, Sandy, Jan, Abby, and Michelle bunked with Angela, Stephanie, and Lynn.
In the boys tent were as follows, in the first tent were, Tony, Lee, Marshall, and David with Paul, Jay, Allen and Don. In the second tent was Gilbert, Wayne, Josh, Justin and John Jr. bunking with Jason, Steven, and Troy. Ben and Betty had turned in sometime earlier as this had been a long, exciting day for them both.

Ben and Betty being the first to get up the next morning, plugged in the two large twenty-four cup coffee pots and began brewing coffee.
Paul, Jay, and Allen were the first to come knocking for coffee, followed by Abby, Susie and Gilbert. As the eight were sipping their drinks Gilbert said. “Jay, did Troy, Jason, and Steven go up to the bathroom or what?” Jay looked at him blankly for a moment then said, “I have no idea.” Just at that moment, David and Marshall walked up to them. Jay asked “would you guys tell Steven, Troy, and Jason to get back to camp please?” “Sure thing” replied David.

Ten minutes later the kids returned, “Uncle Jay,” said Marshall, “they weren’t up there.” Within fifteen minutes everyone was up and downing quick cups of coffee or juice. When the boys still hadn’t shown up after another thirty minutes, everyone paired off and went in different directions to search while Ben and Betty stayed behind at camp. They agreed if anyone found them to come back and honk the horn three long times. An hour passed with no sign of the boys, finally David who had gone off with Marshall came running into camp, he hit the horn as he did he turned to Ben and Betty and said “We found them, They’re in an old cave, they’re trapped by some large rocks that caved in, I think they’re ok, but we need help getting to them.”

Everyone came running when the first toot of the horn started, David explained again, what had happened. Leaving the ladies and kids at the campsite, the men with the exception of Ben, followed David back to where Marshall was furiously trying to dig the boys out.

They pulled Marshall out who was by this time exhausted not only physically but emotionally as well, since he had begun to cry in his panic, worrying for his cousin and the two other boys who were like family to him. Josh hugged his son and told him to go back to camp. Marshall refused saying that he was fine, he just wanted to help.
It grew quiet after thirty minutes of digging they frantically stepped up the digging as they all began yelling trying to get the boys to answer them. Meanwhile back at camp Susie, Jan, and Nicole were in a frenzy over their missing boys. The others did their best to comfort them. They all paced and paced some more, finally two hours after the boys had been found, the guys came into camp with Don carrying Jason, Justin carrying Steven, and Jay with Paul were carrying Troy in a makeshift stretcher. The first two boys appeared ok, though tired, hungry and cold from the damp cave. Troy however, was feared to have a broken leg. They loaded Troy into Dons van. Jay and Susie jumped in to accompany their son to the hospital. Nicole told them that she’d keep an eye on Lynn, who had begun crying when she realized that her little brother had been hurt.

The adults all talked of putting an end to the camping trip among protests from all the kids with the exception of Lynn who’s only thought was Troy. Finally the adults told the kids they would leave it up to Jay and Susie, if they felt compelled to take Troy home, the campout would end. Since there was nothing to do but wait for the time being, the kids all went for a swim, with the exception of Steven and Jason who were made to sit with the adults and watch as punishment for taking off like that without asking nor letting anyone know where they were going.
A couple of hours later as lunch was getting done cooking, the van pulled in. Jay and Susie both climbed out first, Susie looking rather pale. Jay helped Troy out who, though looking rather tired, smiled and called out, “so, who wants to sign my cast first?”
When at last lunch was done, the whole group gathered around the campfire area. Justin started with how disappointed he was with the three boys, but especially his son Steven, being the oldest. “You should have known better son, you don’t just take off at home without asking or letting anyone know where you’ll be, do you?” he asked.
“No, Sir.” answered Steven politely. Troy and Jason both had answered as well, “no sir”. Don then said, “While you guys were gone Jay, we all discussed the possibility of breaking camp and going home under the circumstances. Jay replied, “Nah, I don’t think there’s any need to do that. Troy wasn’t seriously hurt, though he will have to wear the cast awhile. I don’t think everyone should have to suffer for the boys actions as far as Troy goes, He’s grounded to the camping area unless David or Marshall or one of the adults accompany him.”
Don and Justin both agreed that was very reasonable and gave their boys the same new rules. All three grumbled, and when they did Jay said “Or I could just take you three and we can go on home and let the others stay and enjoy their trip.” All three boys shook their heads vigorously no. “Ok then,” Jay continued, “We’re all in agreement then, you three will not be allowed to leave camp without an adult or one of the older boys.
Everyone nodded in agreement, then Jay said, “Ok, from now on nobody leaves camp without telling someone where you are going, Kids must ask before going anywhere. This is not an option, we don’t need to have to worry about everyone and we also should not have to go home because no one wants to follow the rules.”

When the talk was finished, all of the kids except the three in trouble, went for an afternoon hike, the three left behind pulled out backpacks filled with army men, tanks and such. They found an area to the side in the sand and began playing with their army men, waging war against each other for the next couple of hours.
The men had gone to a fishing pond in the woods to do some fishing, as it was fairly close by Ben accompanied his two sons and the other men. The ladies gathered around the table and chatted as they drank coffee. Some were playing cards, Susie was working a crossword puzzle and Betty was crocheting on an afghan she’d been working on for a few weeks now.

Chapter Seventeen

The next few days passed with no more incidents or close calls. With two days left to enjoy themselves the three youngest boys begged to be allowed to leave camp for some fishing or hiking. Their parents finally agreed only when David and Marshall offered to take them fishing.
The boys were all excited to go fishing, Paul pulled Tony off to the side and showed him the pole his father had gotten him before he died. He told Tony the story of how his mom had found it after his father had died and given it to him for Christmas a few months later. Then he offered Tony the use of it right after telling him that he had never used it.
“No Mr. Zimmerman,” Tony began “It wouldn’t be right for me to use it, you should use it first, and besides, it’s the last thing your dad gave you. Maybe you shouldn’t let anyone use it. I wouldn’t if my dad had given it to me.” Paul felt a common bond with Tony as they had been about the same age when they had each lost their fathers. “Tony,” Paul said. “Nothing would make me or my dad happier than having a young man like you enjoying yourself using this pole, so please go ahead.” Paul finished as he reached out to hand Tony the pole. “Thanks.” Tony said quietly, then took the pole from Paul, he quickly hugged him. Then he turned towards his buddies and said, “Hey, lets go already!”

Abby who knew all about the pole walked over to Paul and said, “That was awful nice of you, but you did not have to do that.” Paul looked at Abby and said, “Tony is the reason I brought it along, My dad expected a boy to get enjoyment out of it, and since his first choice never got around to it, I’m sure he will be smiling down on Tony enjoying it.”
Abby gave Paul’s arm a gentle squeeze then turned to rejoin the ladies who were preparing the burgers and hotdogs for the guys to grill.

Later that evening as the kids settled in for the night, Paul invited Abby to go for a walk along the moonlit beach. It was the first time all week they had gone off alone. Nicole and Jay smiled at each other and Nicole winked, Both thinking, “’Bout time.”

Paul and Abby walked along for awhile without talking. Finally Paul took hold of Abbys arm to stop her, and pointed to a fallen log. “Want to sit for a bit?” He asked.
“Sure.” she answered.
They made small talk about the stars, the moon, the water, the weather, the kids, whatever came to mind in an effort to avoid what was really on each of their minds, which of course was each other.
Finally Paul could not take it anymore, he turned to Abby and said, “Abby, I need to tell you something.” “OK.” replied Abby, “Shoot.” Paul turned to Abby and just sat there for a few minutes taking in the way her eyes looked in the moonlight, the way she had her hair pinned up in a bun. He felt all jittery inside, just as he had anytime she was close by him. This week here with her around had been a joyous one for him. He enjoyed seeing her each morning upon waking and each evening before drifting off to sleep. But now, here he was feeling he couldn’t do this anymore. He still loved Abby and he just felt the need to hear from her if she still had feelings for him. Taking a deep breath he finally said, “Abby, I love you, I always have, that’s why I never married. I know I hurt you when I left and I don’t blame you at all for going on with your life.” He stopped a moment then when Abby started to say something he put a finger to her lips and continued to speak, “I feel like I have never been away from you, I know that sounds dumb, but that’s how I feel, I’ve grown to love Tony and Amanda as well, they’re great kids, and they need a father in their lives as much as I need them and their mother in mine, having said that, I need to know, do I have any chance at all of having you back in my life?”
Abby said nothing for a moment, then said, “No, not a chance.” Paul looked crestfallen and Abby just smiled and said, “you have EVERY chance.” she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I’ve always loved you too, though I did love Jake, I’ve never ever felt love the way I did with you.” Paul feeling totally wiped out suddenly after worrying and being tense around her just wrapped his arms around her waist and said, “oh Abs,” as he gently began kissing her face all over. They sat there for awhile acting like love sick teens again making out again on the very beach where they had made love years before. Finally they got up and walking hand in hand, they headed back to camp. When they finally arrived all their friends were the only ones still waiting up for them. “bout time.” said Nicole. “Yeah,” teased Jay. “we were about to send out a search party for you two.” “Very funny,” said Paul, to which Jay replied, “so anything you feel like sharing? I mean we saw the two of you holding hands just now.”
Paul replied “Never you mind for now, we were just talking and looking at the stars.” “Yeah, yeah,” Jay said, “whatever you say, I just want to know one thing.” “What’s that?” Paul asked. “When’s the wedding,” Jay said as he jumped up ready to run, he knew Paul well enough to know what was coming. Paul broke into a run, tackled Jay and put him in a fake headlock like the old days and said “You’re asking for it buddy.” They wrestled around for a few minutes, everyone laughing and cheering one or the other on. Finally everybody settled down again and began turning in for the night, the last two were Paul and Abby who hung back deliberately. “I love you Abs.” Paul said as he gave her a quick kiss goodnight. “Me too.” she replied. To which Jay said, “we heard that.” and everyone began clapping, including all the kids who were thought to be asleep. Blushing a bit Abby said, “Go to sleep. All of you.” She and Paul exchanged another quick kiss, then turned and entered their tents.

The next morning, as it was their last day, the kids ate a quick breakfast and left for one last hike, the guys began taking down the tents, while the ladies packed away their kid’s dirty clothes, bedrolls and pillows.
When the kids returned at lunchtime, the women had lunch almost done. They all, adults and kids alike went for one last swim, except Troy of course, whose cast by now was every color but white. Everyone had taken turns signing, drawing and coloring on his cast
.
Finally, lunch done, it was time to clean up and get ready for the trip back home. Counting heads, they all loaded up and headed down the road for home. As they neared each familys turn off in town, they gave a quick wave and a honk before turning off. Paul pulled up at the Millers and unloaded all their belongings. Abby insisted that he stay for supper, and ordered pizza. Betty had declined, asking Paul to run her and her things on home. Giving Ben a hug and a quick kiss, she said to all of them, “I had the best time, thanks for inviting me along.”

When Paul returned the Pizza was just being delivered. They all sat around the living room eating and watching TV. Finally, Paul called it a night and saying goodbye to Mr. Miller and the kids, took Abby’s hand and made her walk him to the camper. Once there they held each other for a few minutes, then Paul said, “I love you.” turned to the camper, climbed in, and looking at her as he started the motor he said, “See you tomorrow babe.” He pulled away from the curb and drove off, all before Abby could say anything at all. With a smile on her face, she turned and walked back to the house, thinking “this has been one of the best weeks of my life.”
Driving home, Paul spent the time thinking about this whole week as well. He smiled to himself as he thought, “this has been the best week in my life.” He had great plans for Abby and the kids. “but of course,” he thought to himself, “lets take it one day at a time here.”
He pulled into the drive and drove around to the back of the house. He decided the camper could wait till tomorrow to be cleaned out. He let himself into the house, walked over to the answering machine and saw that there was a message. He hit the button and headed to get a beer, but stopped when he heard Dean Simmons voice saying, “Paul, we got the results. Give me a call.” Paul suddenly felt hyped again, it had been weeks since the judge gave the go ahead to exhume his parent’s remains. The camping trip had been the gangs way of getting his mind off things and it had worked. He looked at the clock, seeing it was nearly ten decided to shower, hit the sack, think of Abby, and forget about the results till morning.

Chapter Eighteen


The next morning Paul drove into town, going straight to Dean Simmons office. He walked in and Dean, who was talking to his secretary, motioned for Paul to go on into his office. Paul walked in, and being too nervous to sit, wandered over to peer out a window.
Dean finally came in and sat down after shaking Paul’s hand.
“Well, Paul, are you ready?” he asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be I guess,” Paul replied. Dean opened up a folder that was laying on the desk in front of him. “Well,” He began, “in the case of your father,” he paused a moment, looking up at Paul he continued “they recovered a high caliber bullet from the skull, it definitely came from an assault rifle, he was definitely murdered, Paul.”
Paul took a deep breath in an effort to keep from crying. This felt to him like losing his father all over again. But this time he felt the loss more powerfully as an adult. That’s not saying he had not mourned as a boy, only as a kid he had never dealt with death before, and also as his father had been badly burnt, he just never saw his father again. So though he knew in his mind that his father was dead, it was more like he just didn’t come home one day.
Dean gave Paul more time to take this information in and collect his thoughts
Finally Paul asked, “What about my mom?”
Dean shuffled a few papers around until he found what he was looking for. “They are still running more tests on her remains, umm… they are not willing yet to say with 100% certainty yet, but off the record, they do feel that there is every reason to believe that your mother was poisoned. I’m not a medical person, but from what I, Myself, understand certain findings concerning bone density etc. tells them that she was poisoned.”
Paul asked, “Is it enough to change the coroners ruling of suicide to murder?”
“Honestly Paul, I don’t know, I have an appointment with Judge Stanton this afternoon to show these reports to him. We’ll just have to see if he feels this is enough for him to sign the papers to formally change both rulings.”
Paul finally stood, reached out to shake Dean’s hand,
“Thank you so much for everything, Dean, please beep me when informed.”
As Paul walked towards the door Dean said, “One more thing Paul, the insurance company has said that if the Judge rules your mother’s death a murder, then they will honor the life insurance claim for the value it was worth at the time of her death.” Paul thanked Dean again, and walked out to his pickup, he sat there for a couple of minutes, then suddenly he began shaking as he broke down and cried like a baby for the second time since returning home. He felt this tremendous feeling of guilt, feeling as though he had let both his parents down. He knew there was nothing he could have done to prevent his father’s death, but he did have a new felt guilt as for he suddenly felt he betrayed his father, because in the beginning he had liked Ron. He knew he was being silly, he had only been twelve and there was no way he could have known at the time that Ron had anything to do with his death.
He didn’t know how long he sat there crying, he jumped as a sudden knock on the glass pulled him back to reality. Abby’s worried face was peering back at him through the driver’s side window. He indicated for her to get in. Abby walked around and climbed into the truck. “Paul, What’s happened?” She asked, “You’ve been sitting here for forty-five minutes, I was picking up parts and had to wait on them to come over, I’ve been watching you from the supply store across the street.”
Paul recounted all that he had learned, then went on to explain what he had been sitting here doing and thinking. Abby had agreed with Paul that it was silly to feel as he did, that she was sure that James understood, wherever he was, that Paul had just been a boy who lost his father, and she told Paul that his father would not want Paul to put himself through this, that James would know Paul wouldn’t have turned to Ron years ago had he really known what happened.
Paul turned to Abby and said, “How bout we get Jay and Susie to go out for dinner and then maybe go play some pool over at ‘Reds’?”
“Sounds like fun,” Abby replied, “Why don’t I go help dad finish up at the store and you go find Jay?”
Paul leaned over, giving Abby a kiss on the cheek, “Thanks, Abs.” he said.
“For what?” she asked.
He just smiled and said, “you know.” she looked into his eyes and said, “Yeah.” Then gave him a quick kiss, telling him to go on and find Jay so she could get back to work. She climbed down from the pickup, gave a quick wave and turned to walk across the street to her car to head back to Loganville.
Paul pulled away from the curb, as he drove, he called Jay on his cell phone, when Jay came to the phone, Paul asked, “Do you and Susie have any plans tonight?”
“Not that I know of,” replied Jay, “What’s up?” he asked.
Paul told him what he and Abby had discussed about dinner, then asked Jay if he had time to meet for coffee at the diner.
“Sure,” said Jay, “ I’ll be there in ten.”
Paul told him to give it thirty minutes as he had to drive from Meadowbrook.


Paul pulled in the diner, went in and ordered a cup of coffee and a cheeseburger as he just realized that he had not yet eaten today. Dinner would be another couple of hours so he only ordered the sandwich to hold him over.

Impressum

Texte: copyright 2010 Jackie Zufall
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.10.2010

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Widmung:
This book is first and foremost, dedicated to my mom, Barbara LaVanway, she was my biggest fan, always encouraged me to get my other stories published, someday maybe :) Barbara Faye LaVanway April 22, 1931 - July 15, 2003 I Love you mom! Also to my three children: Christal “Michelle” Killian Jeremy “Paul” Zufall Amy “Nicole” Zufall Whose middle names are also used as Character names!