Friends
“Sure thing. Come with me sir.” She held her arm out for him in a move that traditionally gentlemen did for their ladies. “Oh, did you lock up? I know that I don’t really have anything in there worth stealing yet. But this really sweet gentleman told me that crime is everywhere.” She winked.
“Yes, my lady I did indeed lock up.” He smiled as he took her arm. She led him to his house. As she opened the front door his stomach let out a low, long growl.
She giggled, “nothing to eat today?”
“Just coffee and pop.”
“I will tell you the same thing I used to tell pap, ‘man cannot live on coffee and doughnuts alone’.”
He threw his coat over the couch as he strolled into the kitchen, shoes on. That smell. What had she been up too? Burgers. That smell was the wonderful aroma of grease and beef. The doorbell rang. He looked like a deer in the headlights. But only for a moment.
“Please don’t be mad. I invited Chet and Bell over for dinner.”
“Mad.” He smiled. “Never.” He gave her another great big hug before almost running to answer the door.
Bell had brought a lovely bouquet of flowers with them. Esther stood in the kitchen doorway watching the exchange of friends. Oscar really was a great person. It wasn’t a show he was putting on for her. And this was her first time seeing Bell. She stood at Chet’s shoulder, a guess of about 5 foot 6 or so with long black hair. They looked so in love. A looked that Esther envied but at the same time didn’t understand. Perhaps country men were different? Then Oat entered her mind. No. They were the same. These two men were different.
Oscar formally introduced Bell to Esther.
After they all had a plate of food. Chet bit into his burger. “Hmmm,” he growled with his mouth full. “These are grilled.”
Oscar smiled real big. “Found my grill did ja?” His eyes danced in a way that Esther hadn’t seen before.
Esther looked sheepishly at the ceiling with a half-smile on her face. “Hmmm, yeah.” She whimpered. And everyone laughed.
“You fixed the fries on the grill too. How’d you do that?” Bell asked.
“Piece of tin foil and cooking spray, sea salt and a little pepper.”
“These are the best.” Bell added.
After dinner, they all retired to the living room with a coffee or water. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. Chet was beguiling them with funnier tales from his 25 years of being in law enforcement.
Bell changed the tone of the conversation. “It’s not all fun and games Chet. There have been times that you have scared the life out of me,” she hesitated and pointed at Oscar, “us.”
“I know, love.” He smiled and held her hand.
Esther asked, “If I may, what is Bell short for?”
“Isabella.”
“It’s beautiful. Are you originally from this area? Your accent is a little different from the guys?”
She smiled, “no. I grew up in Lexington. One day I was going to Hazard for a meeting and got pulled over by this overzealous deputy for speeding.” She winked at Chet. “And the rest as they say is history.”
“So Esther, what did you do before you came here?” Bell asked with a smile.
Esther returned a forced smile, “I am not at liberty to discuss my former employer at this time.” She stared at her glass of water. Not wanting to see the confused expression on everyone’s face.
Poetry & More 
One thought on “Winter Season”