The Widow’s Friend
By Dave Stone
Kindle Edition
Copyright 2011 – Dave Stone and Callii Wilson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or in any means without the express written consent of the authors.
This book is dedicated to all the old flames that are still out there—male and female, either one. Whether they know it or not, they still tease us in the alcoves of our minds. May they all age gracefully and may God bless them, every one.
Prolog
“My Life”
I was widowed four years ago, and it’s been hard, really hard. It was a shock at just age 51, but I have collected myself, recovered nicely, and have a full and active life with family and friends. I love my kids, and thankfully, most of them live quite close. I love my grandkids and they visit often. We have club once a month, my old high school chums and me. Most are married but they’re all really nice, and I’m accepted into the fold like all of the rest. After Kevin’s death, I was surprised to be quickly included into a group of other women, all single, all older, and all of them nice. I had no idea they were even out there, but I was glad that they were. They’re my friends too. I have so much to be thankful for and I love my life—I really do. But I’m alone. I visit my kids alone. I attend church meetings alone. I dine alone. I watch TV alone, and I go to bed alone. I do so very much—alone. I also read a lot, it seems to help.
***
The story you’re about to hear is one of romance, old romance, resurrected romance, an old flame that has been rekindled, and probably for all of the usual reasons: loneliness, romance, friendship and desire. So listen up and we’ll tell the tale, precisely as it happened and just as it unfolded, not today, exactly, but more like half past yesterday.
Chapter 1
The Autumn of my Life
My marriage has never been an easy one. My little wife Mary has a good heart but a hot temper, and that’s it in a nutshell, just that simple, just that true. One hundred and ten pounds of venom, she leaves me on the edge of foreboding at all times. She’s driven mostly by duty and responsibility, but I just happen to think there’s a higher law than that. After thirty five years we’ve gone through a lot together. The youngest of our three children has passed away. He was a light in the world, but the victim of a six year battle with drugs. That light has now been extinguished. It has left my wife in emotional disarray. I wait for her recovery—four years hence has been a very long time. We have six grandchildren, the oldest being seven. We have been empty nesters for the last four years, ever since the passing of our beloved Jace.
Can one be lonely within a marriage? I will raise my hand to affirm that fact. And is it a one sided affair? Hardly, it always takes two to tangle, as you all well know.
Chapter 2
“Old Flame”
It was early August, and I was in my den. I glanced down and my eyes landed on my high school yearbook, lying innocently on the top of my desk. I opened it up and flipped through the pages, just like I had done many times over the past thirty five years. And then it happened, my eyes rested on one Callii Von Rothstein. “Damn,” I said out loud. “She was cute!” I tried to step away but I couldn’t do it. I was overcome by memories past. I turned my head and then turned back again. I stepped towards the door and then backed up. For whatever the reason I couldn’t break away, and I didn’t really seem to care to. There was something unusual about all of this. It was almost—other worldly. But no matter what had happened, exactly, and for whatever the reason why, I couldn’t stop thinking about Callii, even if I’d wanted too, and not just that particular day but for several weeks afterwards. I thought of her intimately, and most of the time. You see, Callii and I had a past. I didn’t know her in high school; she was a year younger than me and she was always attached to the arm of Ronnie Tanner, also one year my junior. They were just one of those couples that were always together, a “thing” in the school and accepted as such, so I’d never paid much attention to her. I was always shy in high school anyway, and I don’t know that she even knew who I was.
It was several years later that we connected. We were about age twenty two, I think. She was already divorced after a bad and fleeting first marriage, and I was still young for my age and quite unlearned in the ways of the world, though I was never afraid of girls. I saw her somewhere and liked what I saw. I found her, called her, and we went out a few times. It was a brief and torrid little affair. It was maybe a little too torrid because of her divorced station in life—and I was so naïve.
But now, even after she’d jumped from that yearbook and into my mind, I still didn’t see much point in it all. After all, I had been married for thirty five years and I hadn’t seen her over all of that time. I’d hardly thought about her either. I had no idea where she was or what she was all about. She was probably just another grandmother with umpteen grandkids and an aging husband. I wondered which state she lived in but gave it little more thought—but then something happened.
I was at a family reunion about two weeks later. My cousin, Julie Davies, one year younger as well, was telling us about the high school reunion she had just attended.
“There were a lot of people there that came without their spouses, both guys and gals alike,” she said, and she named several names. “Oh, and Callii Von Rothstein was there, too. She came alone—her husband passed away.”
“Callii Von Rothstein,” I said out loud as a tingle of excitement rose up my spine. I must have mentioned something about the past because Julie said, “I didn’t know you ever dated her.”
“Just briefly,” I said, “Most people don’t know…but I dated everybody at least once.” I raised my eyebrows up and down. Julie was not amused.
“And let me ask, so Levi doesn’t have to,” my wife said. “How did she look?”
“She looked good,” Julie said, with a reflective and surprised look on her face.
And that was that, or maybe it could have been, but Callii had been in my head, and now she was in my head even more. I went home that night and crawled into bed. My wife lay cold at my side. I tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. I rose from my bed and wandered through the darkness—thinking. The clock chimed from the family room. Three bells, I had to go to work about six. I wandered still, thinking of only one thing. Callii Von Rothstein was a widow, Julie had confirmed it, and of course it tantalized me. And then I thought of Facebook, which was a recent addition to my life. I really hadn’t done much with it, but I thought it was worth a try. I was compelled to find her, and so I did.
She was easy to find. I mean, how many Callii Von Rothsteins are out there in the world? And her married name was now attached: Callii Wilson—nice fit. I clicked her name and requested to be her friend. She responded more quickly than I would have thought, and I was glad that she did.
Chapter 3
An Old Friend
Bling! The sound of an e-mail aroused me. It was early yet and I had dozed off. The heat of August was bearing down on me. I sat up on the couch and flipped open my laptop. I had several new e-mails but only one of them stood out: Facebook – Levi Stone wants to be your friend.
Levi Stone? Levi Stone? I knew Levi Stone. At least I used to know him, a long time ago in another life. It was so long ago that I could hardly remember. We were young then, really young, though I’d already had a child. Tacey, my oldest was one year old at the time.
It was so hard to remember, and it had all been so brief. Was it one date, maybe two? I didn’t know. He had been quiet, as I recalled. He hadn’t seemed to have talked too much at all, but it hadn’t seemed to have mattered because he was nice. I seemed to remember liking him, but
it was all so hazy, and so very long ago.
What the heck. I had nothing to lose so I answered back. I became his Facebook friend and asked him a question, and then I went to bed.
Chapter 4
Callii’s Reply
“Hello there. Are you the Levi Stone I knew forty years ago?” it said, and that’s all that it said. I sat and stewed. Callii had asked me a question, and she was on the other end of this e-mail awaiting my reply. I was surprised she had answered so quickly, but I was also nervous, and the more I thought about it the more nervous I became. I felt giddy and young again, and my heart fluttered a bit. This all seemed so strange. I hadn’t felt this way for a very long time. I reflected some more. Callii was a widow, sure, but what kind of a widow was she? Did she live with someone? Did she have a boyfriend or two—or more? Was she engaged? Did she go to church? Was she comfortably situated or was she living on her credit card? Was she wealthy or poor? It wasn’t actually forty years ago but more like thirty five since our little fling, just before I’d gotten myself married. All of these questions rushed through my head, and it surprised me that I hadn’t considered them before. I had to be careful, but on the other hand, what did it matter. We were just old friends connecting on Facebook. What was the harm in that?
And so I answered with an e-mail of my own. It was short and sweet, and I’d soon find out if anything would come of it. I clicked shut my laptop and went out for a walk. I wanted to think—I needed to.
Chapter 5
“Levi Again”
I checked my e-mails for the first time in days. There was one from Levi Stone in there. I read all the rest but let his sit for an hour or two. I was a little uncertain. Levi Stone was a married man, at least as far as I knew he was. I went to club every month with his cousin Julie. Levi’s name never came up, but somehow I knew he was married, just like all the other men that were out there were.
I thought of my high school reunion. I had attended it just a month ago. I had thought, in this secretive little heart of mine, that a surprise or two just might pop up there, but it had turned out to be just another pipe dream, burst apart by the realities of my aging classmates, their maturing spouses, and our fading dreams. Most of the men were married, at least the good ones were, and the others hadn’t even attended. Ronnie Tanner and I had quite a history, both in high school and twenty years hence. There was still a spot for him in my heart, even though it had all ended in anger and flames. He didn’t come either, but I learned a little more of him, and none of it was good. He was an alcoholic, and he’d gotten worse over the years, not better. He was just another delusion in my clouded mind, one more hope that would never be. But the girls at the reunion had been nice, and I’d had a good time there. Yes, I guess that’s exactly what had happened, I’d had another good time with my friends, the girls—just one more party with my female friends.
Levi Stone? I tried to remember, but I couldn’t, really. Only vague feelings of emotion clouded my mind. There was happiness and some good times there, but…he’d walked away. Why had he left? I was sure it must have been something I’d done, but I couldn’t remember what or why. I was so stupid back then. I wondered if he would remember. Maybe he wouldn’t even know. There was only one way to find out. We might as well talk a bit. I sat down, popped open my laptop, and clicked on his e-mail. There was only one line there, one measly little line. “It couldn’t be,” he said, “I’m only thirty nine.” Only thirty nine? What? Oh yes, I read my e-mail above. I’d mentioned forty years. Oh, a clever one, huh? I guess that’s better than a dull one. Lord knows I’d known enough of them over the years. But was he a smart alec? I hoped not, but now I wanted to know more, so I shot off a few more lines.
I clicked shut my laptop and turned on the TV. I surfed from channel to channel but couldn’t focus. I could only think of Levi. Dang! I didn’t have time for this. I had places to go and things to do, and besides, it had been so very long ago that I hardly knew the guy anymore. I turned off the lights and the TV too. I sat in the dark and pondered. I was frustrated because, after all, the guy was a married man, at least I thought he was married and I had so many other things going on. I tried to mentally break away but I couldn’t drop him from my mind. My curiosity was getting the best of me. I needed to know more and I wanted to know more now, not later. I went to bed and tried to read but I couldn’t concentrate. Crap! I took a pill and tried to sleep, and that seemed to do the trick.
From Callii Wilson
Aug 21st
Hi Levi, it’s so nice to hear from you again. How have you been? Where do you live? Please tell me something about yourself. Thanks for answering, Callii.
Chapter 6
“Tiptoeing My Way Forward”
I mulled over how to answer Callii’s response, but I wasn’t really sure what I should say. We had started up a dialogue and I was eager to continue, but this seemed like such a danger zone. My recent reflections on our past compelled me to go forward, but I had been married for the last thirty five years, and this was all so…weird. I sat back and pondered, but I didn’t have to think very long. Memories of Callii were stirring and real. She had always been alluring and nice, so really, what was there to think about?
But I still felt somewhat anxious. Indeed, I still didn’t know if there was some boyfriend looking over her shoulder and laughing in the background as she answered my e-mails. But no matter what the circumstance, I had something to tell her. I’d thought about our past the last few days and I’d mulled things over a bit, and there was definitely something I wanted her to know. I owed her an apology for some things that I did, and for some things that I never did, and for other things that I’d never really understood. I clicked the keys and pounded out an e-mail. There was more that I wanted to say, but I couldn’t somehow do it. Maybe it was still too soon. I told her where I lived and added a few more details, and of course I asked her a question. I wanted to be certain that she’d answer back.
From Levi Stone
Aug 22nd
Hi Callii, it’s been a long time since we dated, and there are a few things I’ve wanted to tell you. I always did like you, even though I kind of walked away, or whatever you want to call it, way back when. But I always did like you, and I wanted you to know that. I live in Idaho Falls, not that far from good old Rexburg. And I still get back home occasionally.
Now, you want to know something about me, so I’ll reveal a former health issue. I had a hip replaced several years ago, two years before I turned fifty. It changed my life. I have a desk job now and I also write books for a hobby—weird, huh? I don’t tell many people that, most folks think that it’s odd. Where do you live, and what has your life been like?
Thanks, Levi
Chapter 7
“Say What?”
I read Levi’s e-mail and, as in a vision, it brought back the past. The entire episode between us seemed to play through my mind. He apologized for dropping me, and elaborated on it just a bit, but it was such a slap in the face. “You always did like me,” I said sarcastically, repeating his words. I got up and walked around. “I always did like you,” I said in a nasal and whining voice, mocking him. “Yeah, right!” I muttered. He had walked off with no explanation, leaving me and my daughter high and dry at a time when we were so young and scared. I couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed. “I always did like you!” I shouted at the ceiling, the sky, and the heavens above. “What a, what a…MAN!”
I slapped shut the laptop and stormed outside. I jogged up the sidewalk and into the darkness. I needed to let off a little steam.
The night was warm and the stars were bright. I didn’t really understand why I was so annoyed. After all the things I’d been through in the last forty years this kind of thing shouldn’t even be a distraction, and besides, it had all happened so long ago.
“I always did like you!” I said aloud, barking it into the darkness.
“And I’m so glad that you do,” said a voice from a darkened porch. I didn’t l
ook back—this jackass didn’t deserve a response.
“Gosh damned jerk!” I hissed. “Men!” I spat on the sidewalk and doubled back for home.
It took me quite some time to simmer down, but it hardly made sense, even to me, why I’d gotten so riled up, but I finally cooled off, and a day or two later I shot him back a reply. I told him where I lived and asked him to tell me a few more things about himself. I sent off the e-mail and tried not to think about him for a few days. After all, he was an old flame but he was also a married man, and besides, I was flying to Los Angeles with a few friends next week. It would be a welcome getaway, a long awaited shopping trip and a little fun. Yes, I had other things to do, and they were much more important than e-mailing some old boyfriend.
From Callii Wilson
Aug 30th
Hi Levi, I have to admit I’m surprised that we’re talking to each other—it’s been a long time. I live in good old Rexburg, Idaho. Imagine that? I live on 2nd South, right in the center of town and not too far from our old high school. My life has been one long adventure. You would never think it, living my whole life in Rexburg, but it’s been one long rollicking journey—trust me. In fact, I just quit my job. I am thinking of adopting my eight year old granddaughter, Mattie. I’m giving it a trial run and we’ll see how it evolves. She has a handicap and some special needs. Her mother and dad adopted her from an orphanage, and it hasn’t worked out all that well, at least not yet. So far, Mattie and her mother have not really bonded.
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