A Heart Full of Diamonds (3 page)

“Honest, Dad, you should see her! She’s beautiful! Long
brown hair, blue eyes, great shape…” the plates rattled as Derrek set them on
the table.

Richard Gilman chuckled. “Since when do boys your age know
the definition of ‘great shape’?” He continued fixing dinner for the pair of
them.

“I watch TV. I know a great shape when I see one!” His voice
had a braggy sort of “I’m-older-than-I-look” sound to it that tickled Richard,
but he kept the mirth out of his voice.

“Too much, apparently. Get your homework done today?”

Derrek rolled his eyes. “Yeah. There wasn’t much. It only
took about half an hour. Then I saw old Bramble…”

“Mr. Brimblecom,” Richard corrected absently.

“Mr. Brimblecom,” Derrek repeated automatically and
continued, “take her in there. And then she came over to use the phone. She
needed to call a cab.”

“Did you let her in?” His voice was probing.

Derrek blew upward at the hair dangling on his forehead, his
voice impudent. “No, but I took the phone out on the porch for her. I thought
it was a good compromise between ‘don’t let strangers in the house while you’re
not here’ and ‘love thy neighbor’.” His grin was saucy, his eyes playful.

“Compromise?” Richard questioned the word.

“Yeah, you know. It means each of you give and take a little
and come up with a workable plan you can both handle.”

“I know what the word means. Now I know you know what the
word means and you can’t duck that one any more trying to get everything your
own way.”

Derrek’s grin said ‘rat’s, I’ve been caught’, and Richard
smiled at him. The boy was growing up too fast. Richard realized the need to be
more careful and be more specific with rules and instructions in the future.

Richard nodded his approval of his son’s decision, though,
and Derrek continued. “You need to go meet her. Maybe we could invite her for
dinner when she gets back from shopping. I bet she doesn’t have any food yet. ‘Member
how it took us a couple of days to get settled in so we could cook? What’cha
think she’s gonna eat tonight, huh?”

“I think she’ll probably eat out tonight. I also don’t think
we have to worry about her. I think she’s grown up enough to take care of
herself, Derrek.” Richard carried their dinner to the table. They seated
themselves, and after a brief prayer, began to eat.

How Derrek managed to talk around or between his food amazed
Richard.

“I still think we should’ve invited her to eat with us. Besides,
Dad, she looked lonesome and like she needed to be part of a family.” His gaze
was hopeful.

Richard set his fork down, gazing squarely at his son. “I
hope you’re not thinking of doing any sort of match-making, Derrek. I’m not
even remotely interested in looking for another wife right now.”

Derrek’s face showed his distress. “But Dad, it’s been a
long time since Mom died. You couldn’t help it that she died. It’s not your
fault! That shrink-doctor I talked to said so. You gotta stop feeling bad. Sometimes
it seems like you died when she did!” Derrek pushed back from the table and
stalked into the living room, flinging himself face-down onto the couch.

“Derrek…” Richard sighed and followed his son to the other
room, seating himself on the floor next to where Derrek sprawled on the couch.

“Son,” he said, gently rubbing Derrek’s back. “I wish I
could help you understand. I loved your mother very much. In a way, part of me
did die with her.” Richard’s voice shook just the tiniest bit. He cleared his
throat while he continued to rub his son’s back.

“I’m glad you realize it wasn’t your fault or mine that Mom
died. I’m not feeling sorry for myself, but I’m not ready to jump into another
relationship, either. Another thing you need to understand, Derrek, is…well….”
Richard took a deep breath, let out a sigh and resumed.

“You’re very important to me, Son, but I’m not getting
married again just to give you a mother. I won’t marry again unless the lady
and I are in love enough to make a good family for all of us. Besides…” Richard
paused, and Derek rolled over to look up at him, “you’ve heard all the stories
about wicked stepmothers?”

Derrek nodded, a small grin tugging at the corners of his
mouth.

Richard went on, a grin lighting his own face, “Ever heard
any stories about a
good
stepmother?” He reached over and tickled Derrek,
and both of them dissolved into laughter during the ensuing tickle-fest. The
food was cold, but the companionship was warm enough to make their dinner
edible as they returned to the kitchen.

Replete, Marilee left the restaurant in the small shopping
center and entered the grocery store. An hour later, she called a taxi for the
return trip home.

Christmas lights were lit in the storefronts at the shopping
center, and decorated the homes surrounding the center. She felt transported
into fairyland or simply back into childhood memories. The taxi came and she
watched the myriad of colored lights en route to her apartment. Back home, she
paid the driver and took her purchases into her new home. She put everything
away, and crawled into bed with a good book she’d purchased during her
shopping. It had been a long and productive day, and she felt content with her
accomplishments.

*          *          *          *          *

The darkness in the room dissolved as the sun crept above
the eastern mountains. The west-facing bedroom window didn’t lighten quickly. Marilee
was an early riser, but grateful she’d never be awakened by sunbeams stabbing
her in the eyes.

A nice hot shower really helped make her feel like herself
again; helped secure a little peace and order in her world. She put on the
least soiled clothing she owned, donned her black leather jacket and left the
house, heading down the hillside stairs and out into the city.

Marilee easily walked the several blocks to the busy
downtown area.

It didn’t take long to find the two businesses she needed,
thanks to the directions Mr. Brimblecom had given her. She made arrangements
for the utilities to be changed to her name, and for the phone to be turned on.

It amazed her that most of the work could be accomplished by
the next day. In Chicago it sometimes took weeks to get a phone, though the
utility company was usually faster than that.

Those chores completed, she asked for directions and took a
city bus to the nearest shopping mall. Several hours later, she was homeward
bound.

Time spent in a beauty shop had seen her hair evened out. Freed
of the sheer weight of the length it was now missing, her hair covered her head
with tiny curls that bounced as she moved. Her dyed eyebrows now matched her
shiny auburn hair. The color looked good, which came as a surprise. She felt it
would be too strong for her natural blondeness, but it wasn’t.

Marilee bought some clothes in shades which would complement
her new coloring. She purchased a new winter coat, gloves, boots and a long warm
scarf to wrap around her neck and over her head to cover her ears.

Toiletries and other necessities for her new home joined the
packages she now toted in her brand-new, “little old lady” wheeled cart, and a
copy of the bus system’s route and schedule book was tucked into her cart as
well. She’d be relying on the bus and her own two feet for a good while. Even
the considerable sum of money she’d taken from their bank account wouldn’t last
forever. Taking a taxi everywhere and eating out would take too big of a chunk
of her funds, although with the load she’d just purchased, she’d be taking a
taxi home today.

The cabby had helped Marilee bring her packages to the
porch, and she gave him a bit larger tip but his help had been worth it.

Putting her packages inside her home, she grabbed her new
wheeled cart and started for the grocery center, seven blocks away. This time,
she walked.

Although her apartment was on a bit of a hill, the food
center was located three streets higher up the mountainside. She noticed the
steeper the streets became, the larger and more expensive the homes looked.

Though it was quite a hike up the hill to the center, she
knew it was downhill on the way home and she enjoyed her walk there. Today, she
was armed with the list she’d made out after her shopping trip of yesterday.
All of it should fit into her white wire wheeled cart. Though there was snow on
the ground in all the yards, the streets and sidewalks were clear and dry. Her
new winter coat was warm, and the sun was bright. There was a stiff breeze, but
it was nothing compared to what she’d been used to in Chicago.

Shopping completed and home again, Marilee put away all of
her purchases. She fixed herself a light supper, and, poring over the want ads,
began a list of jobs. She needed to find work, preferably close to a bus route.
A fleeting thought of Tony made her shiver. More determined than ever, she
turned back to the want ads and her future.

Marilee opened her eyes to very dim lighting. It must be
fairly early in the morning. She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was
ten after nine! Even with a western view, she should have better light by now. She
crawled out of bed and padded over to the window.

One look outside explained the muted lighting. Snow gently
descended from a leaden sky, the huge flakes obscuring everything farther than
four feet.

Watching the giant flakes fall from the sky, Marilee was
aware of a deep quietness. In Chicago, the wind blew most of the time. Here,
there was no sound to detract from the beauty and nature around her. A measure
of peace was there in the hush of this beautiful winter’s day.

The snow deadened even the street noises. The telephone man
came; she watched as he completed his work and gave her the new number. As he left,
Marilee realized his entry footprints had almost been obliterated in the few
minutes he’d been in her home. This was some storm.

By lunchtime, Marilee had four interviews set for tomorrow
and one for later this afternoon. Two hours later, she left for her interview. Behind
the snowing clouds, the sun was sending out a fragile glow. The muted gleam
gave the day an ethereal impression and she breathed deeply of the serenity of
this valley.

*          *          *          *          *

Her shadow showed her that disappointment was evident even
in her posture as Marilee plodded along the snowy sidewalk on her way home. The
job hadn’t been what she’d expected; the interviewer had been short on temper
and manners. She knew she couldn’t work under the conditions presented during what
she felt was a confrontation rather than an interview. She hoped tomorrow’s
appointments would prove more palatable than today’s fiasco.

At 5 o’clock, the feeble light of the sun was nearly gone. She
wouldn’t reach home before the light disappeared completely, but at the moment
she didn’t care. Snow continued to fall, as it had all day. She debated which
was worse; the insidious gentle snowfall that never stopped piling up great
mounds, or a howling, wind-driven blizzard which stung your face as it
clobbered you but blew itself out in an hour or two and which she was more used
to.

The snow fell faster after the sun had set. Marilee could
hardly see where she was going. Thoughts of a thoroughly warmed cup of cocoa
cheered her on.

“I’m going to ask Mr. B if I can borrow a snow shovel,” she
muttered, while wondering if shoveling snow was onerous. On the upside, at
least her walkway was short. Having been a protected female from childhood with
her dad, and then the pampered, decorative wife of a successful lawyer, she’d
never done it before. If it continued to snow like this, she’d be using the
shovel daily.

Snow was falling so thickly now; Marilee had to watch
exactly where to place her feet to keep from slipping, especially on the steep
stairs she climbed up to her street. Wearily, she turned into the small yard of
the duplex. Between her fatigue and the heavy snowfall, she didn’t see her
neighbor until it was too late.

Richard was busy shoveling snow. He’d started at his new
neighbor’s end of the walk and was now halfway to the gate. Already dressed for
the outdoor labor, it was easy to shovel her part of the walk along with his. Besides,
it was a neighborly thing to do. The snow was falling thickly now. He turned to
see where he’d shoveled, to judge how soon he’d have to start over with the
snow’s continued fall.

Something hit him from behind, knocking the shovel to one
side as he slipped, trying unsuccessfully to catch himself. He landed partially
on the sidewalk, partially on the newly shoveled snow. The something that had
knocked into him landed on top of him. He eased the weight aside and stood,
offering his hand to what was obviously a person. Marilee accepted his offer of
aid, taking his hand to pull herself up.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Her embarrassment reddened
her cheeks, already rosy from the cold. He smiled as he tried to put her at
ease.

“That’s okay. This snow would block anyone’s view. Besides,
my son told me it was time I fell for a pretty girl.” His manner was charming,
the comment one of humor. He continued, “You must be our new neighbor. I’m
Richard Gilman; you’ve already met Derrek. Welcome to the neighborhood.” He
shook the hand he was still holding, not wanting to give it up.

She produced an answering smile, and he felt warm. That was
an odd observation, he thought. Looking down, he saw long eyelashes fringing eyes
so deep a blue they were nearly violet; the prominent feature in her winter-pale
face. A man could drown in those eyes, and Richard wondered why he was suddenly
thinking more like a poet than he ever had in his life. He mentally dragged himself
back to reality in an attempt to converse with at least a particle of
intelligence.

“I’m Marilee Curtice, and you’re right, I just moved in. Thanks
for the welcome. It seems to be a really nice neighborhood.”

“Well, we like it here. It’s pretty quiet, since we’re off
the main street, and at a dead-end.” He hoped his smile was warm, welcoming.
Looking at her, he found it difficult to say much more than inanities. She must
think he was an idiot.

“Thanks for shoveling my walk. I appreciate it. I thought
about asking the landlord to borrow a snow shovel, but I haven’t seen him
today. Does it snow this hard all the time?” She smiled up at him and he was
hard put to string two words together.

All he could think of was ‘wow’ and even that was
inadequate. His son hadn’t been stretching the truth when he’d described their
neighbor. He took in a deep breath and hoped he said something relevant.

“No, just some days. Don’t worry about the snow shovel. Derrek
and I can easily keep this short walkway clear.” His gaze lingered on her face;
it was beautiful.

She seemed to realize he was still holding her hand and she let
go and took a step back and away from him. He suddenly felt colder; another odd
thought. The one good thing was she was still smiling at him.

“Well, I really do appreciate it. I’ll keep you supplied
with warm cookies and hot cocoa for your efforts.”

Richard’s smiled widened and he hoped he didn’t look like
the idiot he felt at the moment. “If it wouldn’t put you out, a hot cup of
cocoa now would be perfect.”

 “No trouble at all,” she said and quickly stepped past him.
Over her shoulder, she said, “I’d already planned to make some, so I’ll just
double the amount. It won’t take very long.”

Opening her door, she turned back. “In the meantime, don’t
freeze out here!”

“No problem,” he said as she closed the door. He shook his
head. The whole interchange with her had been something unreal. Derrek would’ve
been able to have a more intelligent conversation with her. He shook his head again
and picked up the shovel to finish the walk, his thoughts more on the girl next
door than the snow on the sidewalk in front of him.

Having seen her now, he’d have to agree with his son’s
appraisal of her, but he wouldn’t let Derrek know it. She was going to make him
some hot chocolate.

He started to whistle as he finished his shoveling. He
polished off the second fall of snow from her half of the walk just for good
measure without waiting for it to become so deep as to actually need the second
shoveling. 

Richard realized he’d need to guard himself against her; he
didn’t even know her and yet he wanted to wrap her in his arms and take her
home with him.