Read Online Begin Again: Short stories from the heart by Mary Campisi - Free Book Online

miniature version of Frosty and said, “I’m listening now.”
    “Well, I was trying to tell you about Nicole’s dad, Mr. Webster.”
    “Is his first name Daniel?” Maggie joked, trying to divert the direction of the conversation. She had a funny feeling she knew where it was headed.
    “Mom. Stop.”
    “Okay. No more jokes. Tell me about Mr. Webster.” There had been a ‘Mr. Webster’ every year since the third grade when Danielle realized her father wasn’t coming back home. Maggie cringed at the thought of her matchmaker daughter in action. When Danielle set her mind to it, no place was safe. Not school, church, or the grocery store. Every square inch of their small town served as a meeting place for a potential ‘Mr. Right.’
    “Well,” Danielle said, flinging her blondish-brown hair from her shoulders, “his name is Matthew Webster and he’s a photographer.” Danielle grinned. “He’s really cute. Just your type.”
    Maggie stared at her daughter. “My type? What do you mean he’s my type?” What on earth did her preteen daughter know about her preference in men?
    “He’s tall, dark brown hair, blue eyes. You’d think he was really good looking. But he’s also super nice. Coaches the boy’s basketball team and he doesn’t even have a boy. And he’s offering a beginner’s photography class for anyone in our grade who wants to go, which I do by the way. If they don’t have a camera or can’t afford the film, he said he’ll take care of it. Mr. Webster doesn’t want anyone to not be able to participate because of money.” Another grin. “See, stuff like that. I know you like that kind of thing.”
    Maggie was impressed that this man, a newcomer to their sleepy town, would even be interested in helping the children let alone shelling out his own money to do it.
    “What happened to Nicole’s mother?” Curiosity won out over indifference. Had she died? Or had they become just another statistic, like herself and Jeff?
    “Her mom died when she was four. Car accident.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
    “They don’t have any other family either.”
    “How sad.”
    “Nicole says she wishes I were her sister.”
    Maggie chose to ignore that last comment.
    “So why isn’t Mr. Webster traveling all over the world anymore? And why did he ever decide to settle in our little town?” He was probably bored out of his mind. Jeff had always hated this town. When the opportunity for bright lights and a big name in the city came along he bailed out fast, informing Maggie that a wife and child didn’t fit into his plans anymore.
    “He loves this place. He came to our class to talk about his work a few weeks ago. Mr. Webster told us there’s so much beauty around us we could live a lifetime and not see it all. He said we should go outside and walk in the woods, or look at a tree or a stream and see and feel the colors and shapes.”
    “But why Pendleville ?” Maggie asked.
    “Because he said Pennsylvania was like an artist’s palette with color and texture all wrapped in one.” Danielle held out her hand and began counting off on her fingers. “Spring, green and yellow, summer, blue and pink, fall, orange and red, winter, white and black.” She tilted her head to one side. “I never thought of it that way, but it’s kind of neat, isn’t it?”
    Maggie nodded. What kind of man could hold the attention of a twelve year old long enough to impart a lesson that was welcomed? And remembered? Maggie had to admit, the persona of Matthew Webster intrigued her.
    “And he also said it was time to put down some roots. Get himself and Nicole settled in a place they could call home. They came here two years ago on a camping trip and fell in love with the town. It took a while for Mr. Webster to finish his assignments but now they’re here to stay. So, Mom, doesn’t he sound neat? When do you want to meet him?” Danielle smiled at her mother, reminding her of a puppy trying desperately