Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

© Copyright 2007
by Charlotte Ann Zuzak





Andy MacGuire hung up after talking to the electrician. He certainly was in an ugly mood! It was a wonder he got any business, but a friend had recommended him and said his work was outstanding. If I had been able to fix the wiring I would have done it by myself, thought Andy, indignantly. She realized that she should have called earlier, but time just got away. Well, he did say he’d come as soon as he could that afternoon. She had to be grateful that he had promised to come today.

Andy picked up a mystery she’d been reading and sat in her favorite chair. Perfect excuse to read. She didn’t want to turn anything on until the workman had come. She had turned down a substitute teaching job this morning to be home in case she could get an electrician to come.

Andy had bought the house a year ago after selling the one in which she and Greg had raised their family. She’d tried to stay in the house, but it was too filled with memories after his long illness and death; so when Miss Hutton, retired from teaching, after deciding to move to Florida with her sister, Andy bought her house from her. It was not a big house, but perfect for Andy.

Her children, Billy and Laura, were away at college now, but the basement had been fixed up as a guest bedroom and was sufficient when they were home since there was another spare bedroom. They had summer jobs coming up that would take them out of state, so Andy would be alone. In a way this sounded great: being able to do what she wanted when she wanted, but it also meant that she could end up doing absolutely nothing if she gave into depression.

Andy did substitute teaching more to stay active mentally than for the money she earned. Greg had left her financially well off and Andy thought that was as big a problem as being poor. It would be easy to do nothing but sit around and mope. Instead, she helped with advanced placement students in their writing courses, and started doing some traveling.

The doorbell rang as Andy was well into an exciting part of the book. Of course, she thought to herself. Perfect timing. Must be impatient type, she said to herself as whoever was on the other side of the door pushed the bell impatiently for the second time. She glanced in the mirror to make sure that her short, auburn hair was neat and hastily whipped a lipstick across her mouth.

Opening the door she looked up at a tall, tanned man, who would have been rather good-looking if it weren’t for the scowl. Not exactly handsome, but rather good-looking with his salt and pepper gray hair and piercing blue eyes.

“I hope I’m not a bother today,” she said, smiling in an attempt to bring him out of his bad mood.

“No,” he mumbled. “It’s not you. Let’s take a look at the problem. I’ll start in the basement. I know this house.”

Without asking permission he started for the steps to the lower level. Andy started to say something, but then thought that if he was acquainted with the house he knew what he was doing.

He looked around and shook his head. Mumbling to himself, he pulled out his flashlight and looked around. “Amateurs!” he said, aloud.

After a few moments he came back up. “Just as I thought. You need some rewiring. Miss Hutton never listened to me. But then,” he smiled self-consciously, “I never listened to her in class. I was her problem child.”

“You had Miss Hutton?” Andy asked, trying to figure out how old he was.

“I was one of her first students. Long time ago.”

“Well, I had her also,” smiled Andy. “Learned a lot from her about being a teacher. I’m substituting this year and will take a full-time position next year.”

“No job today?”

“I stayed home to wait for you.”

He blushed and self-consciously wiped his hand across his face. “Well, let me show you what needs to be done. Not going to be cheap. By the way, my name is Gary Stevenson.”

Without further ado, he turned toward the basement. Gary pointed out to Andy what needed to be done, apologizing for the cost.

“Don’t worry. I can pay.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to infer that you couldn’t. Sorry.”

“My husband died five years ago, but left me able to take care of my bills. My credit is good.”

“You’re a widow? Children?”

“Yes to both. A boy and a girl, both in college.”

“Well, my two boys are out of college; one’s a lawyer and the other is doing something with computers. I’ve been a widower for twelve years. Frankly I’m glad the boys are out and on their own. Oldest is married and lives close by—the attorney.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” asked Andy. “I missed having my two cups this morning.”

“I’d love one.” Gary followed her into the kitchen taking a seat at the table. He drummed his fingers on the table, obviously trying to think of something to say. Suddenly he looked up.

“Don’t you go to St. Agatha’s Church?”

“Yes, I do,” said Andy. “I’ve been wondering why you looked so familiar. I’ve seen you there! Fourth pew from the front.”

“Wow! You really are observant!”

“I don’t know why I notice things like that, but I do.

“I used to be more involved, but my participation in church affairs fell off when my wife died. Lost interest.” For a moment he was lost in his thoughts.

“By the way. I’m sorry I snapped at you this morning. Got into an argument with one of my sons. He wants to invest in some property that I don’t think will ever go anywhere. Maybe I’m wrong, but I hate to seem him get hurt. He’s just starting to make some money.”

Andy murmured in sympathy. “I’m not at that point yet. My kids are working this summer out of state. Actually, they’re doing internships in their majors. So, we’re running in sort of a different mode of thinking right now.”

“That will be great experience no matter what they end up doing,” said Gary. “Certainly more worth while than summer at the mall.”

Gary finished his coffee and stood. “Well, Ms. MacGuire, I’ve been thinking through what I can do about your problem. We can do it in such a way that is questionable and may or may not work, or we can go the full route. This means that you can put out a considerable amount of money and have it definitely fixed. Also, you’d better take a look at that furnace.”

Andy groaned and sighed.

“Well, I get the idea that you want to stay here awhile. And you do want to be comfortable. This is not the warmest climate. And if you do decide eventually to sell the house you want it in good condition.”

Andy drummed her fingers on the table. “You’re right. I don’t want to move. But how am I going have this work done when I’m gone during the day? Wait until school closes for the summer? I’m called in pretty regularly.”

“I AM trustworthy,” said Gary indignantly. “You can leave me the key and I’ll lock up when I finish if you’re not home. I can check with you before I come. And I have trustworthy apprentices who happen to be my nephews. If you have any complaints just yell at them.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “I guess that will work.”

Gary muttered something under his breath and headed for the door. “If you don’t mind, I can come back later today with a proposed work plan and list of costs. I need some time to work it up.”

“Fine. I’ll be here.”

At five o’clock Gary was back with an estimate, detailed and signed. He watched for her reaction. Andy cringed as she looked at the amount.

“Building costs are really out of sight,” she sighed.

“I’m sorry, but that’s as cheap as I can get it and do quality work,” said Gary, defensively.

“Oh, I’m not criticizing you; I understand. I’m just thinking about my budget. I’ll just have to make a few adjustments.”

Gary said nothing. Andy knew that he had done the best he could. He got up to leave.

“Do you still want the work done? We are talking about a safety hazard if you don’t get it done.”

“Yes! Definitely! There was never any question of doing it. The situation has to be corrected.”

“Okay,” said Gary, slowly. “I can start tomorrow if that’s all right with you. Be here at around 8 AM. I’ll have to work in bits and pieces, because I have other jobs to take care of.”

Andy handed him the key to the back door. “Come when you’re ready.”

He turned to walk away, and then turned back with a shy smile on his face. “It was really nice talking with you today.”

The work went smoothly, Gary made sure that his crew cleaned up the mess each day, and usually was still there by himself when Andy got home.

Andy found that she was looking forward to seeing him each afternoon; he really was a nice man. Sometimes they would sit with a cup of coffee or a soft drink and talk about their children, how hard the holidays were, feeling guilty about treating themselves and how lonely it was at the end of the day.

They saw each other at church and always managed to spend a few moments talking to each other before departing, or run into each other on the Sundays when coffee and doughnuts were offered after mass. A few Sundays later Gary hesitantly approached the pew where she was sitting. Andy smiled and indicated that he should sit next to her.

A few times he called in the evening to tell her that he couldn’t come the next day because he was working on the home of an older couple. It was important to him to improve the homes of older people who were able to function on their own.

Sometimes he would call and say that Father Nelson needed some work done at the church; did she mind if he didn’t come in the next day? It was part of his contribution to the church to help out with work that could be expensive. How could she deny him the time to do his good deeds?

He called her during confirmation time. Father Nelson had asked him to assign chores to the teenagers being confirmed so that they could become involved in helping handicapped and older people that needed help. Gary had called Andy to help him since she worked with young people.

The job on Andy’s house was finally done. The school year was ending the following week and Andy was starting to wonder what she would do with her time during the summer. On the last day Andy got out her checkbook and approached Gary.

“You don’t have to pay me today,” he said shrugging his shoulders and blushing. “If you want to wait that’s fine.”

“I don’t know what I’d be waiting for, the money is in here to pay you.”

“Whatever.” He paced and cleared his throat while she wrote out the check. “You know that movie we were talking about? Well, it’s in town. Would you like to go with me to see it?”

Andy looked at him, trying not to let her mouth drop open. A date? She had never thought of him in those terms. He just seemed like a nice man to commiserate with. But….maybe there was more!

“Well, uh that sounds very nice! Yes, I would like to go with you!”

“Maybe we could stop and get something to eat beforehand. I won’t have a chance to eat at home.”

He probably eats out all the time, thought Andy. “Why don’t you come here and I’ll fix dinner?”

“Wow! Home cooking! I’d love to!”

He turned up that night in chinos and a blazer, button down shirt but no tie. Andy felt herself looking at him in a different light. Her new pantsuit was simple but elegant. Conversation was light and easy and they almost missed leaving on time for the show. It seemed so right when he held her hand as they headed for his car after the movie.

“Do you always cry at movies?” he asked.

“If something touches me or reminds me of a situation I’ve been through,” she replied, smiling up at him.

He nodded. “You’re really sensitive, aren’t you?”

“Things have just become more intense since Jim died. It’s amazing what I cry at. Recently I found a litter of abandoned puppies with their mother on the side of the road. I have a friend who works for the humane shelter who also has a farm. She took all the dogs and they’re doing very well.”

He smiled. “Do you like dogs?”

“I love them. But since my basset hound died shortly after Jim did, I just haven’t been able to handle the idea of another dog. Jim bought it for me.”

“A dog would be a companion for you.”

“I know.” Andy turned her head as she wiped her eyes. So would a nice man, she thought to herself.

“Andy, it’s been a long time since I’ve taken a woman out. I tried a few dates that were disasters. But I like being with you. I’ve looked forward to coming to your home each day and doing something to improve your house. That wiring was a dangerous situation. You need to check over your house from time to time.”

Andy looked up at Gary. She knew he was quite a bit older than she was, but he looked and acted like a much younger man. Andy was in her forties, very pretty, slim and energetic.

“Gary,” she said softly, “You’re the first date I’ve had since Jim died, that wasn’t a disaster. I enjoyed being with you, and I enjoyed having you in my home. I looked forward to seeing you each day. And by the way, you haven’t cashed that check.”

He smiled and looked away. “I don’t need it. Why don’t you just put the money back in your account? I’ll return the check tomorrow, if you’re going to be around.”

“Gary! That’s a lot of money. I won’t let you do that!”

He said nothing, but turned her towards him and kissed her. “Don’t worry about it. My bills are paid and I don’t need your check.”

Andy felt confused and didn’t know what to say. He was very adamant about not wanting the check, so she would not say any more for the moment.

A week later, school was out and Andy decided that she would spend the summer doing the writing she’d always wanted to do and maybe take some day trips. While she was musing about this one afternoon the doorbell rang. When she answered the door there was no one there, but a basket was on the top step. Something moved under a small blanket and finally a face with sad eyes and floppy ears emerged. The basset puppy looked at her waiting to see what she would do.

Andy heard a noise at the side of the house, as Gary came around the corner with a sheepish grin on his face. “Her name is Honey.”

“She is so beautiful!” said Andy, tears coming to her eyes. “Thank you. What made you do this?”

“Can we go inside and talk?” asked Gary.

They moved to the living room, sitting on the sofa with Honey between them enjoying the attention she was getting from each of them.

“I want you to know that I’ve done a lot of praying lately,” he said, looking embarrassed. “I don’t always say that, but it has taken a lot of my time.”

Andy was overwhelmed. She had not really prayed in a long time. It just seemed as if no one was listening.

“I have been doing a lot of thinking about us,” he continued. “Maybe I’m being presumptuous, but you’ve become a very important part of my life. I don’t know how you feel about me. I could feel like a fool.”

“Oh, Gary. You are not a fool. I enjoyed the days when you came around. I’m sorry that the work is completed.”

He laughed. “Oh, I could find other things to do around here. Miss Hutton left a lot to be done.”

“I bet your house is perfect.”

“No. It needs work. Which reminds me, you’ve never seen it. How about steaks on the grill this weekend? Bring Honey with you. By the way, I’ve got dog food and dog dishes out in my car.”

“Gary, what are you saying to me?”

“I guess I’m trying to say that I love you and want to continue seeing you. I want our relationship to grow, but I don’t know how you feel.”

“My feelings for you are there. I want to be a part of your life. We both had good marriages, but they are now over. And not through anything we had control over. Our lives are going on.” She stopped and sighed. “That’s the way I feel.”

“My feelings, too,” he said. Smiling, he put his arms around her and held her. It was a warm love that was growing between them.




HEY! and don't forget to e-mail Charlotte Ann Zuzak if you have a comment!


zuz@zoominternet.net


Author's Note: Charlotte has a bachelor’s degree from Albion College and a master’s from the University of Michigan, both in foreign languages. In addition to writing, Charlotte enjoys a career as church organist and accompanist for voice students at Grove City College. At the moment she is also studying the Celtic harp. She and her husband, a retired college dean, travel extensively throughout western and eastern Europe. In July ’05 they traveled to Poland. They have a daughter who is an MD.

Charlotte’s travel plans for 2006 include Spain, Russia and Sicily. She taught Spanish on the high school and college level for thirty years before turning back to her original major, music.

Charlotte’s poetry and short stories have been published in The Storyteller, Apropos, Cochran’s Corner, Hidden Oak and several other publications.





Return to the Short Stories Room!