changed much in the past five years. I see Daddy’s old desk and leather chair right where they’ve always been.”
“That’s right. Nothing much ever changes around here. We’re pretty comfortable and see no need to move furniture around.”
“How long has it been since Daddy sat in this chair?”
“It’s been quite a while—over three years,” Connor said, rubbing his forehead, as he always did when he was thinking. “I think you should bring him down here tomorrow. I’ll bet he would enjoy sitting in the chair and propping his feet up. He spent many hours sitting there, rubbing his face while in deep thought, making plans and deals.”
“That’s a good idea, Connor. I’ll put that on the top of my to-do list for tomorrow.”
“Willow, you know my mind holds a very vivid memory of him in this office. I can close my eyes and see him scratching notes on a yellow legal pad while puffing on one of his pipes. As a matter of fact, my senses can still smell that smoke.”
“My memory isn’t quite that good.”
“I know, but unlike you, I was with him practically on a daily basis for the last thirty years.”
“Okay, let’s move on. This is getting a bit too emotional for me. I want us to go to San Antonio in the next few days. We need a vacation and some more ‘afternoon delight’—in the morning, afternoon and night. I want to get the suite at the hotel where you stayed during your towing conferences. I want to ride the riverboats and eat at the restaurants along the way.”
“That’s a lot of moving around. How long is this vacation?’
“Oh, I don’t know. How about two weeks?”
“Two weeks? Are you out of your mind? I can’t possibly leave this office that long. I thought you came home to see your daddy, not run off as soon as you hit town.”
“I will visit Daddy daily once we get back and settled. Right now, I want to be with you. When have you had a two-week vacation?”
“Never.”
“It’s way past time. Caitlyn can take care of business. She’s been here longer than you have.”
“That’s right, but I wouldn’t feel right just jumping up and leaving all of this in her lap.”
“Don’t worry. If she needs help, she can call you on your cell phone.”
“I know she could and everything is pretty routine at this time of the year anyway. I have a better idea. I like the idea of a two-week vacation in San Antonio. But let’s not be selfish. You move in with me, for now, and take the next week or so to tend to your daddy. That will give me time to wrap up a few loose ends. You could pick him up every afternoon, bring him by the office and even take him back to your old house for a night or two. I’m sure he would love sleeping in his old bed and having Mamie cook for him. “
“Connor, that’s a really good idea. I could arrange it so he wouldn’t miss his TV show.”
“Willow, let me tell you that you are very important to him now.”
“Then it is settled. Give me the key to your house on the hill. I’ll get my bags out of your old truck and go up there.”
“What time will you come home?”
“No later than eight o’clock.”
Snapping her fingers, Willow said, “My plane is sitting on the tarmac at VTR. I’ll call and send them back to their home base. Later, I can call them back to fly us to San Antonio.”
“Do I need to stop by the grocery store? Do you have milk, eggs, bread bacon etc. at your house?”
“Willow, it would be a good idea to go grocery shopping. Some of my staples may be too old for you. I think I’ll stop by the butcher’s shop and pick up a couple of steaks. I can grill them tonight.”
“What about a bottle of wine?”
“Willow, my wine cabinet is well stocked. No need to buy more at this time. Why don’t you bake some potatoes? ”
“I’ll do that and steam some vegetables also.”
“Great, I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
Hearing that exchange from her office, Caitlyn, a rather full-figured lady in
“That’s right. Nothing much ever changes around here. We’re pretty comfortable and see no need to move furniture around.”
“How long has it been since Daddy sat in this chair?”
“It’s been quite a while—over three years,” Connor said, rubbing his forehead, as he always did when he was thinking. “I think you should bring him down here tomorrow. I’ll bet he would enjoy sitting in the chair and propping his feet up. He spent many hours sitting there, rubbing his face while in deep thought, making plans and deals.”
“That’s a good idea, Connor. I’ll put that on the top of my to-do list for tomorrow.”
“Willow, you know my mind holds a very vivid memory of him in this office. I can close my eyes and see him scratching notes on a yellow legal pad while puffing on one of his pipes. As a matter of fact, my senses can still smell that smoke.”
“My memory isn’t quite that good.”
“I know, but unlike you, I was with him practically on a daily basis for the last thirty years.”
“Okay, let’s move on. This is getting a bit too emotional for me. I want us to go to San Antonio in the next few days. We need a vacation and some more ‘afternoon delight’—in the morning, afternoon and night. I want to get the suite at the hotel where you stayed during your towing conferences. I want to ride the riverboats and eat at the restaurants along the way.”
“That’s a lot of moving around. How long is this vacation?’
“Oh, I don’t know. How about two weeks?”
“Two weeks? Are you out of your mind? I can’t possibly leave this office that long. I thought you came home to see your daddy, not run off as soon as you hit town.”
“I will visit Daddy daily once we get back and settled. Right now, I want to be with you. When have you had a two-week vacation?”
“Never.”
“It’s way past time. Caitlyn can take care of business. She’s been here longer than you have.”
“That’s right, but I wouldn’t feel right just jumping up and leaving all of this in her lap.”
“Don’t worry. If she needs help, she can call you on your cell phone.”
“I know she could and everything is pretty routine at this time of the year anyway. I have a better idea. I like the idea of a two-week vacation in San Antonio. But let’s not be selfish. You move in with me, for now, and take the next week or so to tend to your daddy. That will give me time to wrap up a few loose ends. You could pick him up every afternoon, bring him by the office and even take him back to your old house for a night or two. I’m sure he would love sleeping in his old bed and having Mamie cook for him. “
“Connor, that’s a really good idea. I could arrange it so he wouldn’t miss his TV show.”
“Willow, let me tell you that you are very important to him now.”
“Then it is settled. Give me the key to your house on the hill. I’ll get my bags out of your old truck and go up there.”
“What time will you come home?”
“No later than eight o’clock.”
Snapping her fingers, Willow said, “My plane is sitting on the tarmac at VTR. I’ll call and send them back to their home base. Later, I can call them back to fly us to San Antonio.”
“Do I need to stop by the grocery store? Do you have milk, eggs, bread bacon etc. at your house?”
“Willow, it would be a good idea to go grocery shopping. Some of my staples may be too old for you. I think I’ll stop by the butcher’s shop and pick up a couple of steaks. I can grill them tonight.”
“What about a bottle of wine?”
“Willow, my wine cabinet is well stocked. No need to buy more at this time. Why don’t you bake some potatoes? ”
“I’ll do that and steam some vegetables also.”
“Great, I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
Hearing that exchange from her office, Caitlyn, a rather full-figured lady in
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