Free The Widow's Friend by Dave Stone, Callii Wilson

sidewalks
running every which way. I also have a handicapped guy on the north of me and a
feeble, eighty three year old across the street. Oh, the responsibility! :^) If
I had a four wheeler with a blade on it I’d really be dangerous.
    As far as my marriage goes, I’m sure you’ll hear rumor and
innuendos all along the way. Feel free to ask whatever you like. I’ll tell you
everything, and I’m not sure why. It’s just “us”, you and me and how we
intermesh. I hope you feel you can confide in me as well.
    And speaking of talking, one thing that makes it harder for
a man in a cold marriage is the fact that women get on the phone and chat with
other people: mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. But you don’t see us
men doing that. I don’t believe that Mary (and most other women) understand how
much we rely on their friendship. Yes, we have our buddies, and yada, yada,
yada, but you know what I mean. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me.
    Congrats on your new little grandchild, and good luck the
next few weeks with all the things that are going on, especially with your
sister. And finally, you should try and get enough sleep. I got three hours
last night and it affected me at work today. I got back late from a five year
old birthday party, in Rexburg, of course, and then I stayed up late to watch a
basketball game. Doh!
    Good night to you dear Callii. Your friend, Levi

 
    P.S. Let’s see, ten o’clock to six o’clock is eight hours of
sleep. It will be enough for me to catch up tonight.

Chapter 17

 
    “Get
Together”

 
 
    We were going to my daughter’s house for the weekend—at
least that was the plan. But Callii was having her fair at the expo and I
really wanted to go see her, in fact I was compelled to. I had already missed
her twice because of scheduling conflicts. Time was short, but I figured if I
hurried I could drive to Pocatello and get back before anything was said. I got
off work at three thirty and that gave me just enough time to hop on the
freeway and fly down to Pokey, and then I could be back by about six. I had
told Callii that I probably couldn’t make it, so if I didn’t show up there
would be no lingering expectations.
    I raced down the freeway in my little truck. Time was of the
essence. I knew where the expo was so that wasn’t a problem. I just hoped I
could find her when I got there.
    They charged me ten bucks to get in, and that was annoying,
but still worth the admission price to talk to my provocative little friend.
Inside there was a maze of booths, aisle after aisle with merchandise of every
kind. I stopped and asked one of the vendors if she knew where I could find a
certain workstation. She inadvertently rolled her eyes, but recovered quickly
and asked who I was looking for. It’s a booth called “Little Dolls” I muttered.
    “Oh yes, Callii’s place, it’s all the way to the end of this
aisle on the far corner,” she said with a smile, pointing in that direction. I
nodded, thanked her, and strode away, but then I slowed down. I could see the
sign, “Little Dolls”, and a woman was working the booth. Would it be her, or
some kind of a helper? I wasn’t sure that I’d know for sure, after all, it had
been all of these years, and as much as I’d changed I was sure she must have
changed some too.
    She, whoever she was, was busy with a customer and I was
glad. I strolled by unnoticed. Was it Callii? I wasn’t sure. Maybe she had a
cousin she was in business with, or maybe it was an employee or something. I
dipped around the corner and peered back from behind a nearby booth. I could
see her clearly, but I was glad she was occupied. As I pretended to shop for
women’s purses, I took my time and studied her from across the aisle.
    She, whoever she was, looked lovely and I hoped it would be
her. She certainly wasn’t twenty anymore, but a beautiful woman is a beautiful
woman no matter what her age. I had been around long enough to know that, and
this