***
From Callii Wilson (Thirty minutes later)
Levi, You stay warm too. I know that you will because you have a good heart.
Sister, Callii
P.S. YOU ended it this time too.
***
From Levi Stone
Jan 25th
Calliijo, you’re such a Shmoe. You ended it this time, girl. There’s no question about that, but you did it for the right reasons. We’ll discuss it again after forty days and forty nights. But for now, leave me alone. My mind will be like a cold and shuttered haunted house, rising up in the darkness, with only the ghost of Callii-past wandering its hallways.
Love ya girlfriend, Levi
***
From Levi Stone
Jan 25th (Thirty minutes later)
Are you home?
***
From Callii Wilson (Fifteen minutes later)
Yes I am.
***
From Levi Stone (Forty five minutes later)
Well, I just need to tell you that you’ve got me all whacked out now because you think I dumped you. Not even close. I was beginning my Calliijo-fast rather nicely until we had our little exchange over the last twenty-four hours. Now I’m all stirred up. Are you going to be home tomorrow or Thursday? (Don’t be nervous).
***
From Callii Wilson (Five minutes later)
Dearest Levi, I am sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you. At this point, I don’t think it matters who ended it. I think for now it is the best for both of us to let it rest. I am sure you know what I mean. I don’t think getting together will help things at all. I will always be your friend and I hope you feel the same about me.
Your friend always, Callii
***
From Levi Stone (Ten minutes later)
That ought to do it. See you in the spring.
Chapter 30
“Hunkered Down”
I was living my life in elephant years. Not only was I banished from talking to Callii, but I was bored out of my skull in the middle of winter. The clock in the family room talked to me. In the middle of the night it taunted me: Tick, tick, tick—reminding me of my bleak and dreary consignment. I went to work everyday and came home every night, making my way through the mundane routine that my life was composed of. The irony of it all was that the last few months, while Callii and I had been talking, my wife had been on her best behavior, but now that I had been frozen out from conversing with Callii, Mary had definitely taken a turn for the worse. Life at home was almost unbearable.
I thought about things a lot. I was still a bit surprised that I had fallen so hard and so fast for Callii, but I couldn’t seem to have helped it. She was warm and she was witty, and she seemed to like me too, and that seemed a miracle in itself.
But gradually the weeks went by and my birthday finally arrived. Mary and I were on vacation in a timeshare we owned in sunny St. George, Utah. But it wasn’t all that sunny and it definitely wasn’t all that warm. The grandkids had all gone home and my wife and I were finishing out the week by ourselves. I wondered if Callii would write, and I wondered if I would have enough privacy in the condo to reply.
Chapter 31
“Cold Snap”
Levi had me wondering. He’d said that he hadn’t dropped me but that I’d dropped him, and that had surprised me. I went back and reread the e-mails. How could something so right there in front of us be so misunderstood? Maybe I had taken things a little too seriously, but on the other hand, that haunted house thing had cut me to the quick.
It was hard being widowed. I had a tendency to shut down a bit and not expect much at all in the way of affection, but I had no other choice. I had my kids and I had my friends, but there was still a certain emptiness in my life. I was tough in my own right though, because I’d always had to be. My entire life had been one experience after another. I had led my kids through all of them and we had weathered them well, at least I thought so. But Levi was right, I was made of flesh and blood, and if I would allow myself to admit it, I did have an ache inside, and I did yearn for the affection of a companion.
I kept busy enough, that was the only way I could stay sane. The basement had flooded and there was oh so much to do down there. I was going to put my house up for sale in the early spring and there was plenty to do to get ready for that as well. Indeed, I was very busy, and the weeks did go by. And then finally, Levi’s birthday arrived. I had it circled on my calendar and I was glad that I hadn’t forgotten. It was late and I was tired, but I forced myself to type out a note. I was anxious and unsettled, but I wanted so much to see if he was still my friend, and this was the only way to find out.
From Callii Wilson
February 22nd
Dear Levi, I hope you are having a funderful day, because today is your Birthday. What have you been doing since we last visited? Things here are about the same. Anyway, I want you to know I have missed visiting with you and I hope things are going really well for you. I hope this year will be your best ever.
Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!
Your forever friend, Callii
P.S. I almost forgot. Thanks for mailing me the Valentine’s Card. It was the only one I got and that made it even more special. Thanks for thinking of me.
From Levi Stone (One hour later)
Sweet Callii, so nice to hear the tinkle of your e-mail coming in. I have missed visiting with you, too. Nothing much ever changes in my life. I am, however, in St George this week. We have a timeshare down here every President’s Day weekend. The grand kids were here through Tuesday, and now it’s rest and relaxation for the remaining three days. We’ve been wandering through the Parade of Homes.
I have worried about your flood recovery. Did everything work out? Are you selling your home? How is that going?
I was glad to send you a Valentine’s card. After all you are my little heart breaker, my old flame, and my friendly friend, forever. I just thought that might be a tough day for you. And I meant everything I said in the card, but I couldn’t say any more than that. Our friendship was too precarious.
I’m looking forward to your next e-mail, sugar cookie.
Your friend, Levi
***
From Callii Wilson (Thirty minutes later)
It’s good to hear from you and I’m glad you are enjoying St George. I can’t believe that our paths almost crossed again. I reserved five rooms in St. George this weekend for my family and me to come down and enjoy the good weather and the home show, but just today we decided the weather wasn’t going to be all that good, and being stuck in a hotel with a hundred kids didn’t sound all that fun, so I called and canceled them—too funny. I am headed to Las Vegas on Sunday (all by myself) to attend a trade show. That should be fun for me. I was just going to drive there from St. George, but oh well.
As far as the flood is concerned, they still aren’t done fixing it yet. I am so tired of being in a mess. I guess I will have to get angry with them or something. I got a new furnace the day before yesterday and it doesn’t work either. Money well spent, huh? Now they are telling me that I might need a bigger one and that means more money. I think it is unfair to quote you a price and then you choose them because they are the least expensive, and then they keep adding more money once they get started. Is it because I am a dumb woman and they know they can take advantage of me? Well, that is the story of my life, but enough from me for now.
Again, happy birthday friend. I hope you are having a great one.
***
From Levi Stone (Twenty minutes later)
Are you awake, dumb woman, or are you in bed?
***
From Levi Stone (Ten minutes later)
Well, I guess you’ve retired for the night. You are not a dumb woman, Callii Jo. “Stuff” happens to all of us. I had a guy fix my roof last September for the tidy little sum of $1,200. Then, when it rained in December the water started coming down through the same spot in the ceiling again. I didn�
�t do anything dumb and neither did you. Sometimes things just happen. I’m gonna have him come back and give me a 2nd opinion of where the leak is, but I don’t expect much more than that. Whether you’re going to an auto mechanic, a doctor, or a roofer, diagnosis is the key. Anybody can fix the problem after that. In your case someone misjudged something. Let’s hope they were better than that on the other parts. Don’t be mean though, you’ll get more out of them with sugar than a stick. Trust me on that.
I almost wrote you an e-mail telling you of my financial woes last fall. I had a 90 day period (beginning with the roof leak) where I had an outgo from my bank accounts of $16,000. Now this was above and beyond the weekly grocery bills and utilities and all the normal stuff one has to pay for. I don’t know why it happened, (probably to keep me married, heh…) but I don’t remember a time, ever, that I was under so much immediate financial pressure. So hang tough girl, life happens, and we just have to deal with it.
Have fun in Vegas this weekend. I’ll wave to you on the freeway. I’ll look for the pretty one in the… I have no idea what you drive.
So there you go friend, grandma, heartbreaker, old flame, temptress, back row bleacher bum, grasshopper, friendly friend, Sister Wilson, pen pal, and fellow freeway traveler. I hope your trip goes well, write me a note before you leave, time willing. I’m heading back home tomorrow, Saturday, with a stop at my daughter’s house first. Watch the weather closely. It will be touch and go. We’ll write more when you return and get back into some kind of a groove, a more careful friendship kind of a groove. Sigh.
It is so nice to talk to you again, good friend. It’s been awhile, but I still like you girl.
Your pen pal, Levi
Chapter 32
“Surprise!”
Callii hadn’t written me for a week and I was beginning to wonder what was in her head. Was she growing cold? I didn’t really know, so I dropped in on her unexpectedly. I knew it would surprise her but I needed to ask her a question. I had this gnawing desire to turn our story into a novel, and I couldn’t even think about doing it without her permission.
I had Lexi with me and we dropped in right in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Little Lexi didn’t know what was going on. I simply told her I had to drop a few books off to a lady I knew in Rexburg, and that was good enough.
I knocked on the door, wondering if Callii would even be home. The door opened slowly and there she stood. She seemed a bit startled, but she quickly gathered herself and introduced herself to Lexi as Grandma Callii. She asked Lexi a few little questions and treated her very nicely, like most grandmas would do, but then I asked Lexi to wait on the porch for a few minutes as I closed the door behind me.
I gazed at her and smiled. She smiled back. We didn’t say much, I didn’t have time to, but I did ask her if I could write a book about our internet fling. I had been considering it for several weeks now. She was caught off balance, but she did give me her consent. I informed her, of course, that if we were able to sell it she would get half of the proceeds. That sweetened the offer and seemed to make her all that much more agreeable, otherwise she may have resisted a bit.
I also asked if her fingers were broken, since she hadn’t written for a week. She didn’t have an answer, at least not a good one, but I didn’t push it.
I said goodbye, cracked open the door, and began my exit. On the way out, to my surprise, she reached out and stroked her hand against my back. I reached back my hand and she rested hers in mine. I squeezed it gently and she responded in kind. And that was that. Lexi and I were on our way.
I looked back as we drove away, wondering if she was watching from the window. It would be a good sign if she was, but I would never know. I knew that in the first place, but I still had to look.
Chapter 33
“Levi – The Enigma”
Levi had dropped by unexpectedly. He said it was because I hadn’t written for awhile. I hadn’t meant to be cold or distant. It was just that I had so very much to do. It wasn’t easy for me to write him, anyway, not like it would be for him. He was a talented writer and I hardly even really knew what to say. But now he had me thinking. He had been nice, like he always was, and his hand had felt so warm and so…welcome.
I peeked from the window and watched him drive away. I hoped he wouldn’t notice. His granddaughter was darling, and he had looked so—good! So now I was more perplexed than ever. I sat down and brooded. Life was so confusing. I’d always thought that when I reached this stage of my life that everything would be settled, and everything would be so easy! But of course my life had never been like the examples of Doris Cleaver or Donna Reed. I had always found some other kind of way to bump along, dodging the hazards and finding the smooth spots, through previous experience and determined foresight.
Levi, Levi, the married man. What a trial he was. I wandered in to the kitchen to fix something to drink. I needed to sit and I needed to rest, and I also needed to think. Then I laid on the couch and closed my eyes. Levi, and the very thought of him, was such a puzzle. Today’s project at home would just have to wait.
From Levi Stone
March 4th
Hi Callii, it was nice to see you for a minute, today. Your smile was sweet and your hand was soft. It’s been awhile since I heard from you. I hope you’re still okay with things, between you and me—only you would know.
When you said you were a friend to the end, I thought you meant it. I know that I did. I would like to continue to talk to you. Are you in, or are you a bit confused right now? You’re a great person and I want to be a positive in your life, not a negative. So think about things. The last thing I want to do is hang around when you don’t want me to. Just be straight with me about things—okay? I do want you to work with me on this book thing, though. Hopefully it will be done in about six months or so. After all, it’s already mostly written.
I want you to know that writing this book has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Everything I have said along the way and all of my actions came right from my heart. Don’t ever doubt that.
So friend, it was great to see you. I hope it was nice for you too, and I hope you don’t see me as a threat. I’m a pretty harmless kind of a guy. You’re a good girl, Jo.
I’ll listen for your response, Levi
Then I immediately e-mailed Callii the first two chapters of the book.
From Callii Wilson
March 6th
Good evening, I just opened my computer for the first time in days, and much to my surprise, I had an e-mail from you. It was fun to see you on Saturday, and very much unexpected. I don’t usually look that ugly. I hadn’t planned on seeing anyone. I had planned on cleaning and doing a little construction work and that didn’t require getting cleaned up for the day. I was so embarrassed to be caught looking so bad. I guess you have now seen me at my very worst. No, I guess that isn’t quite true, you haven’t seen me naked—that would have been much worse.
I have enjoyed your book so far, but I am a little concerned about my name being used. I am the only person that spells it like that in the entire world, and anyone that knows me knows that I spell it that way. The last name is too close, also. You may think you have changed the names to protect the innocent, and if I were innocent that would be one thing, but I am not. What will your wife think when she reads the book? I am unsure about all of this, really. Anyway, I am headed for bed now because I can’t think anymore, but I will keep in touch.
Good night to you
***
From Levi Stone
Mar 7th
Oh Callii, you are so funny. You made me laugh out loud again. If that’s the worst you can look then I have nothing to worry about. You looked great, like always. And don’t tease me, I will probably never see you naked but I can hope, can’t I? And just as a reminder, a beautiful woman is God’s crowning creation and there is nothing ugly about that, lovely lady. You are beautiful. But a naked man is another thing altogether, and that’s why folks make love
in the dark. Now, having said that, even though you looked great on Saturday, I didn’t think to give you a hug. I think it was because I was so uncertain—you hadn’t e-mailed for awhile.
You’re probably right about your name, but I’ll write the book using it anyway. It’s easier for me to focus that way and I won’t be so confused, but I promise you I’ll change it before I’m done.
Thanks for listening, your new business partner and friend to the end, Levi
***
From Callii Wilson
Mar 7th
Oh Levi, you are one funny fellow yourself. The chances of you seeing me naked, even in the dark, are 0. I am looking forward to the next chapter.
Yes, I’m your friend to the end, Callii
From Levi Stone
Mar 8th
Hi Callii, you had me scared there for a minute. I thought you said that I had a zero chance of seeing you naked, but then I realized it wasn’t a zero but it was really an o, which would probably stand for occasionally, often, or maybe “Oops, I have just succumbed to temptation!”
We’ll talk more about things later. You are a funny girl, Jo. I couldn’t ask for a better old flame, Levi
***
From Levi Stone
Mar 10th
Okay, I’m going to bed early tonight, but there’s one thing I want to do first. Do me one little favor, will you. Just close your eyes and push your face forward about four inches…boink! I just gave you an Eskimo kiss. I owed you that from Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t send it then, but now it’s delivered. Thanks. Your friend to the end, Levi
The Widow's Friend Page 19
