“You know Bob, you really should move on. Nora’s not coming back and there are plenty of other women out there who would really like to hook up with a guy like you.”
“You don’t know that,” Bob answered. Pat shook his head.
“I’m pretty sure. A woman might help you get back into the swing of sales again. Your sales have dropped significantly in the last year. Upper management has taken note of that.”
“I’m sure they have.” Bob glanced at his wrist watch. “Okay if I go now? I’m ten minutes past my normal quitting time.”
“Sure,” said Pat. “Why don’t you come over to the house tomorrow evening and have supper with me and Phyllis? You look like you could use a good home cooked meal.”
“Thanks, but no. I’m usually pretty tired by the time I get home.”
“Okay, but the offer stands if you change your mind.”
Bob nodded to him as he put on his coat and walked out of the building. The weather had turned much colder the last couple of weeks. His car was covered in frost. He opened the door and started the car, retrieving his ice scraper from under the front seat and started scratching at the ice on his windshield.
He saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up. A woman was approaching him.
“Excuse me, sir?” she said. Bob turned to face her.
“Yes?” he said.
“I’m sorry, but I bumped into your car with my car a little bit ago. I waited to give you my insurance information. I figured you’d be out shortly.”
“What happened? I don’t see any damage. Do I know you?”
“Oh, my car slid some as I was backing out and it hit the rear bumper on your car. Dented it pretty good. And my name is Valerie, I work in receiving. I’m so sorry.”
Bob walked around to the back of the car. There was a sizable dent in the bumper with one end twisted in a slightly upward position.
“Ahh, it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it. It’s an old car,” he said.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind, I mean that’s why I have insurance anyway.” She smiled weakly.
“I’m sure,” he said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get home, it’s getting colder by the minute.”
“Can I buy you dinner some evening? Anything to make this up to you.”
Bob looked at her carefully for a moment. She was attractive, slim body build, looked to be late thirties or early forties. In another time and place he perhaps would have felt honored and jumped at the chance to spend time with her. He shook his head and held up his left hand. He still wore the silver Celtic knot wedding band that Nora placed on his hand all those years ago.
“I’m married,” he said. “Don’t worry about the car. I really have to go now.”
“Sure. I’m so sorry, if you change your mind just let me know, okay?” she said as she moved toward her car.
Bob nodded and slid into his seat. Ten minutes later he turned onto his driveway. He parked the car right in front of the house not bothering to put it in the garage.
Going inside he began to get comfortable by removing his work clothes and wrapping himself in a house coat. Moving to the kitchen he got some beans, a can of Pepsi and a plastic spoon. He then went to the den and plopped down in front of the TV. There was an Andy Griffith marathon playing.
He sat there eating beans and looking at the TV. But his mind wasn’t on the show. All he could think of was Nora. He missed her so much. Why did she leave him?
He got up, turned on a lamp, and retrieved an old photo album and started looking through the pictures. Nora and him, much younger and happier. The faded pictures portrayed them in their youth, their love just starting to bloom. There was a pair of pictures, one of each of them, from the night they spent on Flag Rock. He smiled at the memory.
She had been hesitant to go with him. He had knelt before and kissed the back of her hand.
“Don’t you think it’s beautiful up there?” he asked her.
“Oh yes,” she responded. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Then you have to go with me. I won’t let you get hurt, I promise.”
“Why do I have to go?”
“Because I want it to see just how beautiful you are so it will know true beauty.”
She smiled, tip-toed and kissed him. “I’d follow you anywhere.”
That was their first night together, and it was glorious.
Bob looked at the pictures a while longer. He began to get depressed again.
‘I’m as faded as these pictures,’ he thought to himself. He sat looking through them, eventually falling asleep in his chair.
He suddenly startled awake. The TV had gone to a white screen with static and his Pepsi had overturned in the floor. He looked at his watch; 2:38 AM. He reached over to turn off the lamp, but the bulb blew before he touched it.
Then he felt it; a presence in the room. He was struck with a strange fear, but turned to face an image that he knew well. His fear melted into joy as he looked at the apparition of his wife.
“Nora?” he said weakly, not believing his own eyes. “Is that you?”
A peaceful light shone in her eyes as she reached out her hand to him.
“I’ve come to soothe you,” she said. “We’ll soon be as we once were.”
He stood, on wobbly legs, and moved toward her. She was moving, floating, toward the front window.
“Don’t you think it’s beautiful?” she asked him, looking toward the silver maple tree in the yard.
“Yes, but not as beautiful as you,” he answered.
“Oh Bobby, you say the sweetest things. You must come with me now. It is time.” She floated up to eye level with him and kissed him, long and deep.
Her touch was cool on his skin but Bob felt young again. He felt like he could do anything.
“I’d follow you anywhere,” he said. “My soul feels rejuvenated!”