head. “No, our relationship had always been on his terms. I never knew what he saw in me in the first place. What would be the point, to have him reject me to my face or to see him with someone else? Devastated as I was, I knew I couldn’t bear that.”
Sara sat back thinking about her grandmother’s incredible story. “Wow. I guess Grandpa never really had a chance with competition like that. Did he know about your first love?”
Helen laughed. “Heavens no, by the time I married your grandpa, I wasn’t even sure it had really happened. It seemed more like something I dreamt. I’ve never told anyone that story before. I would not have told you, if you hadn’t asked me about my first love. Now that’s enough questions. You’ve worn me out. Let’s go home.” She raised her hand signaling the waiter for the check.
Sara noticed that her grandmother had never used the young man’s name. She wanted to ask, but knew that, for the moment, the conversation was over. She sensed that there was more to the story, and suspected that her grandmother had edited it. It was clear though, from her description of him, her grandmother had been deeply in love. I wonder what that feels like, she thought. Sara had dated in high school but no one had really interested her. She had a plan for her life and ambitions. Love and marriage were not part of that plan. She had no way of knowing that her plans were about to be shattered completely.
Chapter Six
Once he reached the clearing, Sam turned on the phone and dialed the Smithsonian. The direct line to the curator was busy, so he waited for the operator to come on to leave a message. When she answered and Sam identified himself, she said, “I’m glad you called, your father’s office has been trying to reach you. They said it was important and asked if you called in, to tell you to call him as soon as possible. They left both the office and his home number. Do you want those?”
“Yes, please I don’t have either with me.” Sam wondered if his father was all right, he knew that the office wouldn’t be calling him unless it was an emergency. He left the message for the curator to expect a shipment of artifacts and then dialed his father’s office first, hoping to catch his secretary, Maggie, before she left for the day. If anything were wrong, she would have all the details. Maggie answered on the second ring as usual.
“Maggie, this is Samuel. I got a message you’ve been trying to reach me. Is my father all right?”
“He’s fine, but very eager to talk to you. Hold on a moment and I’ll put him on.”
“Sam, my boy, you’re a really hard man to reach.” Joseph’s voice was loud and strong.
“Dad, is everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect. I just wanted you to know that Joshua arrived here safe and sound.”
“Joshua . . . What . . . How . . . are you telling me that Joshua’s with you in Boston?” gasped Sam.
“Yes, he arrived two days ago. It took us a while to get your phone number from the Smithsonian, but then we couldn’t get through to your phone.”
Sam was stunned; he could hardly take in what his father was telling him . How could Joshua be there? It didn‘t make any sense. Realizing that his father was waiting for him to say something, he said, “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that he’s with you. Is he there, can I talk to him?” Could he be mistaken? Is this a joke?
“He’s right here. I’ll put him on.”
“Hi, Dad.”
No mistake, it was Joshua. “Joshua, how did you get to Boston?”
“I don’t know,” he answered quietly. Then slightly louder, “Dad I know you have been worried, but the airline lost my luggage with your phone number in it and I didn’t know how to reach you to let you know I arrived safely.”
“You don’t want to discuss it in front of your grandfather, right?”
“Exactly, I’m glad you understand. Grandpa and I have been discussing my staying here and starting
Sara sat back thinking about her grandmother’s incredible story. “Wow. I guess Grandpa never really had a chance with competition like that. Did he know about your first love?”
Helen laughed. “Heavens no, by the time I married your grandpa, I wasn’t even sure it had really happened. It seemed more like something I dreamt. I’ve never told anyone that story before. I would not have told you, if you hadn’t asked me about my first love. Now that’s enough questions. You’ve worn me out. Let’s go home.” She raised her hand signaling the waiter for the check.
Sara noticed that her grandmother had never used the young man’s name. She wanted to ask, but knew that, for the moment, the conversation was over. She sensed that there was more to the story, and suspected that her grandmother had edited it. It was clear though, from her description of him, her grandmother had been deeply in love. I wonder what that feels like, she thought. Sara had dated in high school but no one had really interested her. She had a plan for her life and ambitions. Love and marriage were not part of that plan. She had no way of knowing that her plans were about to be shattered completely.
Chapter Six
Once he reached the clearing, Sam turned on the phone and dialed the Smithsonian. The direct line to the curator was busy, so he waited for the operator to come on to leave a message. When she answered and Sam identified himself, she said, “I’m glad you called, your father’s office has been trying to reach you. They said it was important and asked if you called in, to tell you to call him as soon as possible. They left both the office and his home number. Do you want those?”
“Yes, please I don’t have either with me.” Sam wondered if his father was all right, he knew that the office wouldn’t be calling him unless it was an emergency. He left the message for the curator to expect a shipment of artifacts and then dialed his father’s office first, hoping to catch his secretary, Maggie, before she left for the day. If anything were wrong, she would have all the details. Maggie answered on the second ring as usual.
“Maggie, this is Samuel. I got a message you’ve been trying to reach me. Is my father all right?”
“He’s fine, but very eager to talk to you. Hold on a moment and I’ll put him on.”
“Sam, my boy, you’re a really hard man to reach.” Joseph’s voice was loud and strong.
“Dad, is everything all right?”
“Everything is perfect. I just wanted you to know that Joshua arrived here safe and sound.”
“Joshua . . . What . . . How . . . are you telling me that Joshua’s with you in Boston?” gasped Sam.
“Yes, he arrived two days ago. It took us a while to get your phone number from the Smithsonian, but then we couldn’t get through to your phone.”
Sam was stunned; he could hardly take in what his father was telling him . How could Joshua be there? It didn‘t make any sense. Realizing that his father was waiting for him to say something, he said, “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that he’s with you. Is he there, can I talk to him?” Could he be mistaken? Is this a joke?
“He’s right here. I’ll put him on.”
“Hi, Dad.”
No mistake, it was Joshua. “Joshua, how did you get to Boston?”
“I don’t know,” he answered quietly. Then slightly louder, “Dad I know you have been worried, but the airline lost my luggage with your phone number in it and I didn’t know how to reach you to let you know I arrived safely.”
“You don’t want to discuss it in front of your grandfather, right?”
“Exactly, I’m glad you understand. Grandpa and I have been discussing my staying here and starting
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