Within a half hour she was in the borough of her new residence. She made a left onto North Street and she could see her home but parking for her will be in the back of her residence in her very own garage. It was near 9 am and the realtor was sitting in her car waiting for her arrival. Grace called her when she finished breakfast. The realtor pushed the remote garage door opener and gave a grand gesture to enter her kingdom as if lowering a draw bridge to the castle.
Handing Grace the keys to her new home and carrying a large bouquet of mixed flowers for her kitchen or dining room table, the realtor welcomed her back. The realtor’s mother was one of her best friends and she asked her daughter to tell Grace that she will give her a few days to settle in and then they needed to do lunch or something. “Anything you need just give me a call.
Grace was alone in her new home. She closed her eyes and released her family’s home energies into this home and she felt the excited energies just rushing around every nook and cranny and bulging out against the walls. All that energy of her much bigger home was now released and her emotions were overwhelming. Walking from the rear kitchen of her home through the dining room and into the living room was almost ceremonial.
She kept looking out the windows to her right and saw her grandmothers former home a comforting sight and she could feel her embrace, see her always present smile when the two were together and hear her grandmothers blessing on this home. “Gracie, your home!” If it wasn’t for the gentle knock on the front door and the beautiful chimes of the door bell she would have stayed in her grandmother’s embrace for the rest of the day.
“For you Mrs. Penny, a delivery from Donnas’ Florist, welcome to town on behalf of the local merchants association and your friend Bill.” “Oh how precious, how beautiful and such a lovely thought.” Reaching into her jacket pocket she produced a few dollars for a tip however the young man said that was already taken care of. Before leaving the young man produced his business card, Sam’s Errands and Mowing. “What an entrepreneur you are Sam, I’ll keep your card on my refrigerator,” she promised.
Within a few minutes she heard a large truck approaching and knew that it was the moving van. Right on their anticipated time schedule 10 o’clock. It was a tight squeeze but the giant truck was able to align with her back yard entrance and within four hours all was inside. This day has been busy since her arrival. The furnishings that meant the most to her are now combining their energies with the homes energies Grace released earlier. Grace felt they were now synchronized with their happiness and harmony.
The refrigerator was begging for her to put something inside and with the grocery store nearby she could walk there and pick up a few things to make her first meal memorable. What should that be? Tired and hungry she opted for just a moments rest on her comfortable reclining reading chair. She closed her eyes, her heart was bursting with gratitude and the calm caress of her favorite chair invited her into a dreamy slumber.
Grace calls them her power naps. Her large wrist watch face clearly indicated 4:30pm as a sharp ray of sunshine slowly crept across her face and tugged at her eyelids to open. The well built home did a wonderful job of silencing outdoor noises but what was that huge rumbling she wondered. Is the moving van coming back?
Then she realized it’s the locomotives pulling their long chain of freight cars up a slight grade. Prepare for the loud blasts of their whistles she was thinking. Four railroad crossings within a quarter of a mile give loud whistles a chance to bellow their songs almost non stop while lumbering through town. How beautiful she thought. Music to my ears and now I can hear them multiple times daily.
Time to visit the super market. She downgraded her desires of a memorial meal to an ‘I will look for a frozen meal variety.’ By the force of habit she walked to the front door and began to open it but realized her car is now outback. She did an about face and two steps and then remembered she didn’t need the car and turned in place and two more steps to the door. That’s when she realized a creaking sound in the floor. Can you believe it she thought? I must have sucked up so much energy that the creek came with me as well, how perfect.
What happened next was surreal. It was a frosted glass image of a man standing on her front porch in his underwear. At first it was a fear that gripped her then self doubt that she could not be seeing this blurry image but it was real. It was a man and his pants were down around his ankles, he was facing the street and his backside had a note saying “Welcome Home Gracie.”
It was Daniel, it had to be Daniel, either that or the town has a perverted public exhibitionist in residence. She slowly opened her frosted glass door and cautiously examined this silhouette as it began to turn around. Grace had such an eerie feeling but there was no denying it, she has seen those drawers in her mind for years and here he was in all his splendor of grins, sparkling eyes and roses. “You danged fool Daniel Filmore, with one ‘l’.” That is all she could say, after all these years, that is what she said.
Chapter 4 - A Nickel for Your Thoughts
Daniel couldn’t believe his ears. Bill was sitting directly across from him at the cafe and just said that Grace Nicholson Penny just purchased a home on North Street and will be moving to town within two months. He wondered if the guys noticed any immediate change in his demeanor or tone of conversation.
For two months he has been ripping at his curiosity seams, wanting so much to know her story, her family life, what is bringing her back to her hometown just two years after her husband’s death? He was trying to keep her in a low profile in their café morning conversations when all he wanted to talk about was her and their special connection almost fifty years ago.
Gracie and he were sent off in different directions after high school but his heart never went off in a different direction. Circumstances convinced them it would be better in the long run if they remained just friends because of a serious commitment that would change her. A premarital pregnancy during college years molded a young woman into a commitment she could never remove herself from. A marriage before the birth of their son, an apartment off campus for two years and then directly into her working career alongside her husband and his working career and another child is all Daniel knew.
Did Gracie have any fond memories of their two wonderful years together as teens? Was it true love they experienced and did they really vow to marry one day following their college days? Daniel couldn’t hold back, he couldn’t wait another day. He wanted to be one of the first to welcome her home and offer any assistance she might need to acclimate.
Daniels mind was crystal clear in what he was going to do later when he woke up on the morning of Gracie’s return. He must have driven by her home six times before he decided that this was the time to greet and meet the love of his life on her door step just like when he picked her up for their first official date. He was nervous.
Standing at her front door, he turned around trying to convince himself that the time was right. He loosened a belt and dropped his pants while clutching a dozen red roses. He made sure the cloth note was still affixed and visible. He was about to turn around and ring her bell and gently knock on the door but he heard the door opening before given the chance to execute his carefully thought out plan.
Now what, he thought, oh my, this is going to be one embarrassing moment. He stood there wondering if his fanny note was read and comprehended. Slowly he turned around with the best grin he could muster up and before he could speak, Gracie spoke, “You danged fool Daniel Filmore, with one ‘l’.” What seemed to be minutes, Daniel was able to take in all of her before he let his words flow. Welcome home Gracie, a Nickel for your thoughts Mrs. Penny.
Laughter between the two of them broke the ice, a car driving by tooted the horn, a voice said, “Nice seeing you again Daniel, you too Grace.” With that the car continued down North Street and a loud voice was heard, “You done it again George!” Daniel moaned and Grace put two and two together real fast. “Oh no, tell me that wasn’t George.” “Oh yes, tha
t was George,” Daniel confirmed while trying to pull up his pants and hold onto the roses.
Grace offered to accept the roses while Daniel blushed and admitted that this wasn’t exactly what he planned and oh how he wished he could back up the day just ten minutes for a do over. Grace being the loving and accepting soul she is assured him that it was going to be the most memorial front door greeting that she ever experienced, well with one exception she admitted. In her mind she was reliving that moment when Daniel was picking her up for their first official date. The two of them were going to the homecoming dance their junior year.
With his pants safely secured she invited him inside however he said it would be only for a moment or they would be late for their reservations at a local restaurant. You remember the Brown House, restaurant. Different owner’s but a lot of the same crowd. Are you hungry? Grace sighed, “I’m not even in town for eight hours and I’ve been welcomed by a gentlemen with pants and one without. One with a bouquet table piece, one with beautiful red roses, one who wants to mow my grass and one who wants to feed me. I think I’m going to like it in this town.”
“I am hungry Daniel but please give me a few moments to freshen up a little. I wouldn’t want the natives to experience my returning first impression as a rag doll.” “Gracie, you are beautiful as ever and take all the time you need and we will leave in ten minutes.” Gracie took fifteen minutes, just because and Daniel sat patiently and with his weathered and still very handsome face showing his magnetic grin with closed eyes.
Daniel was giving thanks to the master of his destiny. His thoughts about the past began melting away and inviting the new memories to come onboard. Maybe too premature but he feels that his Gracie has some things to share with him. He wouldn’t care if Gracie took two hours to get ready. His reservations were already kept with his longtime hopes of a returning love experience in his life but he could never in a million dreams realize that it could possibly come from his very first.
“I’m ready Daniel.” He didn’t reply or make an attempt to get up. “Danny, are you ok?” “What? Oh yes ready, of course, so soon?” Daniel was deep in awaken thought but in a far away place somewhere in time when Grace and he were walking down North Street, hand in hand, about to meet Nana, her beloved grandmother for the first time right next door and here almost half a century later he was meeting her granddaughter again for the very first time.
The Brown House restaurant is small, just a mile away but enough time for Grace to touch Danny’s hand on the steering wheel. “Daniel, do you think anyone will remember me, remember us, I mean that we were something special back then.” “There may be a few ancients around that may still have enough memory left he reasoned.” They both laughed affectionately and Grace knew that the two of them had some long talks ahead and that she would cherish every word and every tear and every laugh in talking about their lives and drawing closer than they both could ever imagine possible at this stage in their lives.
Chapter 5 - Surprises Never Cease
Surprise, welcome home Gracie! It didn’t register. The parking lot only had a few cars and Daniel made the comment that they may have the whole place to themselves. “The weeknight crowds are small,” he said before opening the door for her.
Balloons, a large banner with her Majorette picture from the 1965 yearbook photo and a caption she made in someone’s yearbook, Daniels yearbook! “A Time and a Season and for two wonderful years, you are the reason!” With tears streaming and hugs and kisses coming from so many faces in the small crowd, she turned to Daniel with an expression worth a million words and a teasing remark, “You are going to have to suffer my wrath for this Daniel Filmore.” With tears in his eyes he said, “And I look forward to it Gracie.”
Tunes of the fifties and sixties as background music, dozens of well wishers and offers of help in just about everything she could possibly need. New introductions coupled together with old familiar faces. Then there was George. “Am I going to have to watch you closely George?” “I wish you would Gracie, but someone would be highly jealous if you did.” Just the way he said that, she had the comforting assumptions that Daniel and George have shared more than just newspaper pranks over the years.
Adrenalin kept Grace from fading from her very long day but as the 9pm hour approached, it was time for her story book return to her home town to close the prelude to the new book and chapter one. Both Grace and Daniel had met only 5 hours ago and already she feels something in her life was being set up. Not by Daniel, not by herself exactly but there has been a very strong presence about her from the very day Harold slipped away from his physical life.
From that day to this, everything was maneuvering into place with such ease. It wasn’t her imagination, she knew it was happening and at this very moment, the moment Daniel opened the car door for her and then closed her inside and while Daniel was thanking the owners once again for their perfection to all the details and delicious foods, it was happening for the last time.
In the silence of Daniel’s Lincoln, the passenger seat was comforting her back and the large windshield opened up a view of the heavens to her just as a shooting star streaked across the expanse of the windshield. The strong presence began lifting up from her awareness. Her hushed prayerful thanks were whispered while looking skyward. “Thank you Harold, you didn’t fool me one minute. It was such a wonderful loving life and two beautiful children. I’ll always love and miss you.” With that said she felt the presence lift up from her at the exact moment Daniel opened the door and slipped behind the wheel.
“Did you just feel that Gracie?” “What’s that Daniel?” “That force of wind, no not wind but like a force of energy rushing by? I can’t explain it exactly.” “Yes, as a matter of fact I did feel it and no, I can’t fully explain it either but it sure felt good, didn’t it?”
“Not only did it feel good, my life has really been feeling good since the day in the diner when Bill said that Grace Nicholson Penny just purchased a home on North Street.” I may not be a teen again but inside it’s like our first real date. You are amazing, you are my amazing Grace.”
At her door she wanted to invite Daniel inside but he knew it wasn’t the time and she did too and she was relieved that he wanted her to get a good nights rest and tomorrow at noon if it was alright with her he would like to give her a small tour of the borough and surrounding areas. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and he returned the kiss on hers. That wasn’t as awkward as our first kiss was it Daniel, do you remember that?” “Gracie, there isn’t a moment we spent together that I don’t remember.”
They both were ready for a good nights rest. Grace after being up for almost 24 hours. Last night at this time she was on the turnpike heading east to this unbelievable welcome day. Daniel was so relieved at how this day unfolded after two worrisome months planning. As he closed his eyes he knew that his love, his true one and only love was just on the other side of town and tomorrow would begin chapter one of their greatest story to yet be told.
During the early morning hours, a small weather storm came down out of the northwest and a lot of rain drenched the area. Not a good tour day but a perfect stay indoors and unpack and straighten up and get familiar with your new home day. Grace had nothing in her lonely refrigerator and she made a quick visit to the nearby grocery store. She picked up essentials and was in the check out lane when her name rang out. Gracie Nicholson, it is you.
Grace couldn’t recognize the person and was so sorry that she couldn’t remember this person’s name. “It’s Amy, I was a year younger than you but I marched behind you in many parades as a banner carrier. Kathy and I just adored you and how you were always so thoughtful towards us.” Now Grace was relieved, of course. “I remember you. How could I forget you and the best looking pair of legs in school?” Amy blushed and said her legs were no comparison to hers.
Grace was relieved that it was her turn to check out and within minutes she was feasting on eggs and bacon along with orange juic
e and coffee and she admitted that her new home had the smell of a country kitchen. It was only 10:30 but Daniel dropped by and asked if he was too late to treat her to the café for some breakfast. Instead Grace made Daniel his first breakfast and together they looked across the table and were so longing to want to get to know each other.
Daniel got up and began clearing the table, taking dishes over to the sink to wash. Grace said not to bother since she would try out her dishwasher later. Daniel insisted in washing and Grace did the drying.
“There is something I have to admit to you Grace. For two months I acted like a love struck teen waiting for your return, not knowing how to introduce myself to you again, not sure that you would really want to open up a possible friendship together. Did you happen to see the front page article with me in the library?”
“I did Daniel and it was an emotional read and I remember those underwear and the two class plays when you wore them.” I was surprised moths didn’t destroy them years ago. I also remember them from our cemetery night in the Studebaker and your attempt to …..”
Daniel interrupted her, “My attempt to be romantic and all that you and I wanted in our most first private moment ever and I managed to turn it into a comedy act. It didn’t stop there Gracie.” “What do you mean it didn’t stop there Danny, I’m not sure what you mean.” “Well, that’s what I’m trying to tell you Gracie. The paper article was all a set up. George and I worked on that piece for three weeks. Only three people now know it was a set up. George, you and I. Nobody else has a clue. I wanted to be sure that you at least knew I was still part of this town.”
Doppelganger Silent Romances Page 2
