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  “Amy, this is Mom. I was just about to call Aunt Millie and tell her about your beau and then I realized you managed to keep from telling me anything about him.”

  “That’s what you get for raising a wise daughter.”

  “Come on, Amy. Give me something. For instance, what’s his name?”

  “Do you promise not to call him?”

  “Of course I won’t call him, at least not right away.”

  “Very funny, Mom. And don’t go checking him out any more. I already know you’ve gone through my neighborhood to see what you could find out.”

  “I only called your next-door neighbor, and she said I have nothing to worry about. She said he’s a nice young man. So what’s your young man’s name?”

  “Bradford Rothrock Forrester.”

  “No, I mean really.”

  “That’s his real name. Honest.”

  “What’d you do, Amy? Get mixed up with an engineer?”

  “No, he’s a writer.”

  “Not Brad Forrester who writes those murder mysteries?”

  “You’ve heard of him?”

  “Heard of him. I’ve read a couple of them. He’s pretty good. Do you have any idea how he comes up with his ideas?”

  “Well, I did hear that he’s been married twice, but no one can find either wife.”

  “Just send me all of his money before he does you in, and don’t worry about the picture. There’s one of the back of his book.”

  “You mean the one that was taken when he still had hair and all of his teeth?”

  +++

  Excited about the changes he saw in Ethel, Harry forgot to check his e-mail all day. A phone call actually got through on their home number. No e-mail, and no Googling. By the time Harry checked his e-mail, he had gotten twenty-seven messages, although he was disappointed to find out that one of them was spam. Harry answered it anyway.

  One of Harry’s messages was a love note from Ethel. He wished he had discovered Veal Oscar and crème brûlée when he was a younger man.

  Harry received two e-mails from “Moses,” one at each e-mail address. “Moses” had responded to “handsome” and asked him if he was as handsome as they come. Harry wrote back and said that his bathroom mirror counted the minutes until he returned. “Handsome” had received three messages from Melanie, each one wanting to know if he was still interested in buying a house. Harry decided to play with her a while. He e-mailed her to tell her “yes,” but that his work was keeping him so busy that he would not be able to come and look at a house for a few weeks.

  Fatherly Advice

  Pastor Scott’s home office looked much the way someone would expect it to look. It contained a desk, which held a computer, bookshelves full of books where Scott could cheat to find new words of wisdom, a chair for him, and a couple of other chairs just in case someone wandered in to seek his opinion. Scott sat in his study working on his sermon when his twelve-year-old daughter knocked on the door.

  “Come in. Oh, hi, Jill. What can I do for you?”

  “Dad, I’ve got a question. Remember when you said something about how I was growing up? I assume you’ve noticed that I’m practically a woman.”

  “Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

  “Well, I’ve noticed it, and I think it’s time I did something about it.”

  “Oh, and what do you have in mind? A nose ring?”

  “Eew! Get real, Dad, nothing like that. It’s just that I was pretty discouraged last night when Brad asked Amy to go to Martinelli’s as his date, instead of asking me, especially considering I’ve read more of his books than she has.”

  “I know. Sometimes writers get so caught up in writing books that they fail to realize who their biggest fans are.”

  “I know, and I’ve been thinking about it. I feel that it’s time to burn my bridges and look for a new guy. After all, I’m not getting any younger. I am almost thirteen, you know.”

  “Well, now don’t be too hasty.”

  “No, I’ve made up my mind. Dad, last night you and Mom got to go to Martinelli’s while I had to stay here with the children. I feel like I should be rewarded for that, and tonight Martinelli’s is having their singles night. It’s for everyone who didn’t have a date last night and I’d like to go.”

  “Well, you were with your brother last night. That should count for something.”

  “Dad, have you been listening to me? I already told you I had to take care of the children last night. Now, I feel like it’s time that I got rewarded.”

  “Me, too.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, Jill. I do. How would you like to go with me and get some ice cream?”

  Even in February, a true ice cream lover never turns down an opportunity to indulge. Scott and Jill hurried off to enjoy ice cream together, just the two of them. Scott ordered a double-scoop of chocolate almond, while Jill was in the mood for peppermint. The two of them sat there like neither had a care in the world. Scott had a sermon to work on, but right then his time was his daughter’s time. After the two of them ate, talked about nothing of consequence, and washed their hands, it was time to go home. On another occasion, Scott would spend time with another of his children. One thing about spending time with each child by himself or herself, it allowed a contented pastor to enjoy three ice cream cones, provided every child wanted ice cream. Scott could not remember a time any of his children turned down ice cream.

  The two returned home and Pastor Scott returned to his sermon. He had barely returned to work when he heard someone knock on his study door.

  “Come in.”

  A five-year-old with bouncing curls came into his office.

  “Oh, hi, Mallory. And what can I do for you?”

  “Daddy, I’ve been thinking.”

  “That’s good, Mallory. It’s always good to think and I’ve always thought of you as a good thinker for such a little girl.”

  “Please, don’t patronize me, Daddy.”

  “And where did you learn such a big word as that?”

  “It’s amazing what a five-year-old can learn if she keeps her eyes and ears open.”

  Scott shuddered at the thought of what a child could learn these days, before continuing.

  “So, what can I help you with?”

  Mallory bounced up and down on the chair in front of her dad’s desk, not in a three-year-old sort of way but more like a mature five-year-old.

  “Like I said, I’ve been thinking. I think I’m ready for more responsibility. After all, don’t you think I did a good job of watching your other children and keeping them out of trouble while you and Mommy were gone last night?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “And believe me, watching those two and keeping them out of trouble isn’t a piece of cake.”

  “I should say not. So what would you like to do? Take over your brother’s snow shoveling customers.”

  “That’s too much like work, and anyway, I think I should probably wait until I’m bigger than the snow shovel before I tackle that job.”

  “Well, how about helping do the dishes?”

  “Actually, I was thinking of something more in the line of business.”

  “Business?”

  “Yes, Daddy. I’d like to begin by getting my own e-mail address.”

  “Don’t you think that you should wait until you learn to spell words that have more than three letters first?”

  “No. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I figure if old people can learn how to do it, so can I. All I need is for my pastor to teach me which keys to hit and how to work the mouse. Then, I’ll be set.”

  “Well, as it turns out, your pastor just happens to have a few minutes to spare right now. Let’s see what we can do.”

  “Okay, and another thing. Since we’re about to become business partners, I think I should start calling you Scott and calling Mommy Nancy. It’s more...friendly, and more grown up. Don’t you think?”

  “How about
changing gradually? Why don’t we start with Mom and Dad?”

  “It sounds so trite, but if it pleases you, I can go along with it. Put ’re there, Dad,” Mallory said, extending her hand to take his.

  +++

  The next day Mallory checked her e-mail and found that she had received her first message. “The cat in the hat ate the rat. Love, Dad.”

  Mallory printed her first e-mail message and decided to buy a frame for it, even though she thought the message was a little on the gross side.

  +++

  With Valentine’s Day over, Brad started back to work on his latest whodunit. By this time, he had titled the book, The After Dinner Murder, and had developed his characters, ending up with seven murder suspects and one police inspector. Brad had written something each day and had written and rewritten the first seven chapters of the book until they pleased him.

  Brad was busy with his book. Amy, bored by staying at home and not wanting to bother her neighbors too much, ventured out and shot some photographs.

  Business had been good for Amy. Not only did she have lots of orders before Christmas, but surprisingly, the orders continued to come in after Christmas. Amy never knew how much business to expect the first part of the year. While most of her orders came via her website, she was able to sell quite a few of her framed photographs in stores across the state, and several stores had contacted her to reorder. Besides that, everyone but Melanie who went to Martinelli’s for Valentine’s Day ordered an 8 x 10 picture that Amy captured of them that night. Both Brad and Amy had a picture of the two of them that night. It turned out nice, even though Amy was both the photographer and one-half of the subject. She debated as to whether or not she would send one to her parents. She would sleep on it.

  +++

  Late the next morning, Amy’s phone rang.

  “Oh, hi, Allison,” Amy said, after she found out who was calling. “Well, how was your night at Martinelli’s?”

  “Oh, Amy, it was wonderful, and I met someone,” Allison answered, her voice full of excitement.

  “Well, I would hope so, Allison. I didn’t expect you to be the only one there.”

  “Very funny! You know what I mean.”

  “I assume that this ‘someone’ was a guy.”

  “Yeah, his name’s Chuck, and he’s a gym teacher at the elementary school, and he’s handsome, and he treated me like I was a real person, and he acted like my brain worked even though my legs don’t, and he walked beside my chair as I rolled to my car, and he asked me out this Saturday night. Can you believe it, Amy? He knows I’m a woman, not a vegetable. I just happen to be a woman who will not have to get her shoes resoled as often. He knows I can’t run a marathon, but I can run a business. He’s seen me, and he still likes me. He wants to go out with me, and not because he feels sorry for me.”

  “Whoa! Whoa! Slow down. Put the brake on that tricycle of yours. Has he given you a ring yet?”

  “Of course not, but he gave me his phone number and he asked for mine.”

  “So, are you going out with him Saturday night?”

  “I don’t know. Do you think I should?”

  “I don’t know, Alli. Do you want to go to the single’s night at Martinelli’s again next year?”

  “I see your point. I told him I’d think about it. He’s supposed to call me after he gets home from school today. I’ll tell him I thought about it, and I’m willing to go.”

  “Now, don’t let me talk you into anything, but if you think he’s someone you’d like to see again, go for it. He seems nice from what you’ve told me about him.”

  “Yeah, real nice, Amy. Well, I guess I’d better go in case Chuck calls.”

  “I thought you said he wasn’t going to call until after school. What time does his school let out, anyway?”

  “Well, he might decide to call me on his lunch hour instead. He knows I work at home.”

  “Okay, well, goodbye, Alli, and keep me posted.”

  “You keep me posted, too. Let me know the next time the man on the white horse comes calling.”

  +++

  Scott was sitting in his study when Kenny knocked on the door.

  “Come in, Son,” Scott said, after seeing it was Kenny.

  “Dad, I’ve got a question and it’s one of those that a man can only ask another man.”

  Scott suppressed his smile, partly to keep from embarrassing his son, and partly because he was afraid of what Kenny was about to ask.

  “Uh, what’s your question, Son?”

  “Well, Dad. You know how Brad’s got this thing for Amy, and now Allison’s found some guy. It seems like us single guys are dropping like flies. Do you think that some day some girl will be able to catch me in her trap the way Amy and Allison caught Brad and this other guy?”

  “You never know, Son. You know, your mom caught me, too.”

  “Is there anything I can do to keep from getting caught?”

  “Well, Son. I think you’re okay for a while.”

  “How long of a while, Dad?”

  “Well, let’s just say I wouldn’t worry about it for now.”

  “Boy, that’s a relief. Oh, Dad. I have another question. I know how you’re a little prejudiced and all, but do you think Jill and Mallory will ever be able to catch some guy?”

  “Son, I’d say there’s a pretty good chance of that.”

  “Well, then, I’m glad both of them are my sisters.”

  “I know, Son. You love your sisters, don’t you?”

  “It’s not that, Dad. It’s just that knowing they’re my sisters makes me feel better because I know that neither one of them will ever be able to catch me. Getting kissed by a girl sounds bad enough, but getting kissed by Jill or Mallory is enough to drive a guy to do I don’t know what.”

  “Well, I’ll do my best to watch out for you. I’ll try to keep girls away from you for a while.”

  “Thanks, Dad. It’s nice to have someone bigger who’ll watch out for me, even if he is my dad and my pastor.”

  +++

  The way Allison came wheeling into church on Sunday morning was enough to let Amy know that Chuck was still a part of her life.

  “I don’t think the wheels on my chair touched down one time on the way across the street,” Allison told Amy after church.

  Amy burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Brad asked as he walked up to interrupt the two women.

  “Why, didn’t you hear? Allison’s practically married.”

  “Oh, Amy, quit teasing,” Allison said, as she blushed.

  “Brad, remember I told you about Allison meeting this guy at Martinelli’s? Well, they went out last night and it appears that the romance is heating up.”

  “I told Chuck about the two of you, and he said maybe the four of us could double-date sometime.”

  “I don’t know, Brad. Do you think we should double-date with the fastest thing on wheels and some guy who chases little children all day?” Amy asked, glad for the opportunity to tease her friend about her new boyfriend.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I think Allison’s the one who should be concerned. Allison, would you like to double-date with a photographer who’s liable to take photographs of everything that goes on and some guy who’s likely to write about it afterwards?”

  “I’ve already warned Chuck about how the two of you like to tease all the time. He said that’s okay. His students help prepare him for people like the two of you.”

  Scott walked by, and Amy turned and called out to him.

  “Hey, Scott, do you know that Allison has a praise this morning?”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, she had a date last night and he’s asked her out again.”

  “And here I thought that that smile plastered on her face was because she enjoyed my sermon.”

  “Oh, but I did enjoy it,” Allison interjected.

  “Really! What was it about?”

  Everyone broke out laughing when Allison did not answer right aw
ay.

  +++

  The week passed, and not much happened. Everyone was too busy dreaming. Brad dreamed of another book finished. Amy dreamed about the same, knowing that once the book was finished Brad would have more time to spend with her. Allison dreamed of Chuck, Kenny dreamed of being an only child, and everyone but the lonely old woman in the end house dreamed of spring, still a few weeks away.

  New Life

  For many people, Sunday morning means getting up tired and late and hurrying to make up for lost time in order to get to church on time. All large families contain at least one person who frays the nerves of at least one of the other members of that household. Before arriving at church, the driver encounters a traffic light which on any other occasion would have been green, but turns red just before he or she reaches that intersection, thus prolonging the agony and delaying the ETA. By the time said family arrives at church, most of them are mentally, physically, and emotionally spent. Except on Aylesford Place. On Aylesford Place, each resident steps out into a serene environment which prepares every person to receive God’s blessing for that day. A gentle breeze, a bird in flight, an anticipated sermon, envisioning the smiling faces that are soon to be seen set the tone for a beautiful day. But sometimes, one is preoccupied with thinking about whether one might encounter any new faces that day.

  “What’s the matter, Amy?” Brad asked, as he and Amy walked to church.

  “Do you see what I see?”

  “Yeah, a house.”

  “No, in the driveway.”

  “Yeah, a car. Whoever heard of parking a car in a driveway?”

  “Not just any driveway. Allison’s driveway. Do you suppose it’s him?”

  “Well, it’s not Barney. Barney still has his 1949 red Buick and it’s already parked in front of the church.”

  “Well, we can always hope.”

  “Yeah, and probably in a few minutes we’ll know.”

  Brad and Amy walked the rest of the way to church and talked to some of their neighbors who arrived early. In a few minutes, Allison wheeled in followed by a young man with light brown hair and lots of muscles.