Episode 15 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We are now into January of 1999, in an episodic format…

Episode 15 - Beverly (from Chapter 8 draft); Tuesday morning…

Beverly was pleased when Don Kirk, in the Ogden & Kirk Law Office, said he would be happy to see her at 11 a.m. She was waiting in his outer office to see him as she remembered her earlier conversation with motel General Manager Brady McClellan. It had gone well, and he seemed pleased that she had taken the time to talk to him about their new situation, and that she had expressed full confidence in him. They had a good working relationship, and she wanted to assure him that her new presence in town was to have no reflection on their working relationship. She was now living in Oak Springs as a personal choice, not a business imperative.

Don came out to greet Beverly, and they walked back into his office together. After they got settled in, she broached the subject of her visit, the possible name change. She wanted both to understand the local procedures that would be required, and what his reaction would be.

He listened very carefully before he took a few minutes to explain the local procedures. There was an Assistant County Clerk in the County Building that housed a single courtroom and several branches of county government. A County Judge was present most every week for a day or more on a scheduled basis. Paperwork could be completed any time and filed with the clerk. It would then be put on a schedule for an appearance before the judge. That part was relatively routine, he said; it just normally took a week or two to get through the process. There was no need to go to the County Seat in Eminence. It could all be done here in town.

The decision to change her name, however, he said was entirely up to her, of course. She had asked his opinion, so he said, after some reflection, and a couple more questions that she answered, “Here are my thoughts.”

Don continued, “The Bevins and the Gates names do both have meaning in this town, each with certain associations. The Threshold name is only generally on the fringes of discussion, about your late husband and yourself. I suspect most people, to the extent they think of you at all, still think of you as Beverly Bevins... married two times. That being said, I feel there are a couple of things to consider, perhaps. Should you talk to Karen, Bart, Peter and Paul before you make the change? Should you ask them about it, or should you simple tell them what you plan to do? Again, only you can decide how to approach that. Those are my thoughts. I hope they are useful to you. I suppose the other question might be simply timing, but I’m sure you’ve thought about that.”

As a good lawyer, Don then sat and waited for Beverly to speak the next words. He had said his piece that he had been asked about.

He was not surprised, then, when Beverly simply said, “Thank you, Don. That was exactly what I needed to hear.” She seemed to take a deep breath, which ended the formal conversation, put on a smile, and shifted to her southern charm, friendly approach, “I don’t think I’ve spoken to you since you and Linda married. It’s been a while, but I hope congratulations are still in order.”

Don smiled, shifting his own demeanor ever so slightly, and replied. “No, never to late. Thank you very much. We have each found a new, and very happy, life together, I’m pleased to say.”

Linda, of course, was the widow of Carter Odgen, Don’s late law partner, and Christopher’s mother. She had started going to see Don in some plays he did at the community theater at the local college, a couple of years earlier, and those “get-togethers” had surprised each of them when they flourished into a very real romance. They had gotten married the previous summer. As a result, Don had moved in with Linda at her house, and Brian and Jennifer had moved from her apartment into the condo full-time, that Don and Brian had shared, earlier, before Ashley was born in the fall.

Don continued, “It was musical chairs with our housing, for a time, but everyone seems happy the way it all came out.”

“I’m certainly pleased to hear that,” Beverly replied. “Well, I really shouldn’t take any more of your time.”

“I’m pleased to talk with you anytime, Beverly. Never hesitate to come see me.”

Beverly stopped at McDonalds for a Fish Fillet combo that she ate in the parking lot at the City Library. As she ate the fries, she couldn’t help but think to herself, “No matter how many gourmet chef banquets I’ve eaten at, I still enjoy McDonalds’ french fries, now and then!”

[To be continued - after a holiday break, on Friday, January 15, 2016]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Episode 14 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Episode 14 - Jennifer, Monday evening, at home with Brian and Ashley

Arriving home, Jennifer knows her first responsibility it to feed Ashley and get her ready for bed. She talks to Brian about the journals as she feeds Ashley, and he reminders her it is important to let Karen know she has them. He even says “I’m surprised Harry didn’t give them to Karen before telling his wife, Sarah, about them.”

Jennifer replied, “I think our work together at the Oak Springs Historical and Genealogy Society asking folks to gather old family history information played into that. Harry knew that, and knew that Sarah would know what to do. She knew from our work together, there, that I would take good care of them.”

“I understand that,” Brian said, “But you have been sharing everything you find with Karen, who was your mentor, and you need to talk to her before Sarah or Harry do.”

“You are right, of course. I’m finished feeding Ashley. Can you start getting her ready for bed? I’ll call Karen, and then come help putting her down. Then, we’ll look at those journals, together.” They went about doing that.

Karen was surprised to get Jennifer’s call. She asked if Jennifer would bring the journals over to Karen’s for lunch on Tuesday, like they used to do with Jenifer’s earlier genealogy discoveries. Jennifer said she would be happy to do that and thanked Karen for the invitation.

A bit later, talking with Brian, Jennifer said she was a little surprised that Karen didn’t seem especially excited about the discovery of the journals. Jennifer added, “Actually, she seemed to be totally distracted, like she had something else very important on her mind. Maybe she is more concerned about Beverly being back in town.”

“Beverly back in town? When did that happen.” Brian hadn’t yet heard that news. Jennifer related what she knew, and they talked about that issue for a bit. Before long, however, they had each picked up one of William’s journals and were reading.

Shortly, Jennifer got up and went to her computer to open her family history database. “William’s wife and mother had each died a year or two before this first journal started on January 1, 1920. Karen and I assumed those deaths were related to the flu epidemic.” Then, she was looking at a copy of the 1920 U.S. Census. “In the 1920 census, William, 56, was living alone, on the farm. Joe, 32, Beth, 32, Ethel, 9, and Mildred, 3, lived on the farm next door. This is the only mention of the ‘Ethel’ we ever found. We need to check that out better sometime. I’d kind of forgotten about that, from our earlier research. I wonder it she is mentioned in the journals at all.”

“William is very good at recording the weather conditions, each day, and what he did with the crops,” Brian said. “He certainly doesn’t mention family stuff everyday.”

“I noticed that in the few pages I’ve looked at, so far, as well.” Jennifer was back to looking at the first journal.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Episode 13 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Episode 13 - Lori, from Chapter 7

Lori was on her way to a business appointment, including supper, on Monday evening. The Jensen & Watkins Construction Company office was only a few miles from the Homeplace Country Inn. As Lori turned north on State Highway 37 from State Highway 24, she thought back to what she knew of this company. Gary Jensen had been in residential construction for more than ten years. He was in his early 70s, but still looked trim and fit, with a well-trimmed mustache. He had been joined, about two years earlier, by his nephew, Trace Watkins, who looked like he could be a son, in his early thirties. Some people around town also compared him to Trace Atkins, the country music singer, including Lori, who had met Atkins in a concert in LA. Since Trace joined the firm, they had built an office and shop out on Highway 37 and expanded the type of work they took on.

Gary Jensen had a house back in the woods, over a hill and behind the office, but Lori had never been there. Apparently Trace lived there with him, as well. Lori had been to the office, before, and had been impressed that they had built in a small kitchen and a stone pizza oven. It appeared both men spent most evening going over plans and blueprints... and eating pizza.

As she entered the office, Trace moved away from the charts on the table he had been examining to greet her. Gary was taking the pizza out of the oven. They each greeted her heartily, and offered her a choice of drinks: beer, wine or soda. She chose Diet Coke, tonight, but welcomed the choices. They sat at a table for four in the corner and enjoyed their pizza, before getting to the work at hand.

Conversation ranged among their earlier life experiences. Although they had met together on several occasions, they still did not know that much about each of their backgrounds, and they were each happy to respond to questions. Lori enjoyed talking about the people she spend time with in Los Angeles when she wasn’t in the air as an airline flight attendant. She also shared how much she liked to talk with passengers, on her usual long flights, about their homes at either end of the flights. She had learned that folks loved to talk about their home, their preferences and their longings. Back home, she would share this information with her friends in the residential development business. “Sure beats reading a magazine on those longs trips,” she liked to say.

She learned that Trace was the son of Gary’s sister up in the Kansas City Area. He had worked construction through a combination of jobs since high school and classes at the local community colleges in project management and construction techniques. He had been happy to get away from the larger winter snows of the Kansas City area to the somewhat milder climate of the Ozarks.

They each enjoyed hearing Gary’s stories of his earlier years as an over-the-road long haul truck driver. They came with no end, and he rarely repeated a story, very unusual in Lori’s experience. As folks got older, they generally repeated stories, over and over. Gary didn’t seem to do that. It made spending time with him very pleasant.

Eventually, they got around to their current project, the proposed "Homeplace Estates housing development. They talked in generalities, at first, and then began to get into specifics on the latest updates to the concept plan. They were soon circling the tables and drawing boards, looking at and asking and answering questions about the specific details of each. They were looking to build in as much flexibility as possible, without running up the costs too much. Finding the best balance of type of housing units along with appropriate activity sites was crucial.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Episode 12 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Episode 12 - Beverly, from Chapter 6

Beverly knew that when she checked in at the front desk, especially with Jaxine Hagen working there, and specifically mentioned that she was staying ‘permanently’ the word would get around to her family and friends quicker than any other way. She was already well aware of Jaxine’s reputation. As long as Jaxine was honest, and consistent about it, and she seemed to be, Beverly didn’t really mind. She had a couple of ‘friends’ in Jackson who she had used, regularly, over the years, in the same way. It would continue to come in handy, she was sure.

For now, Beverly busied herself getting her personal things in place as she wanted them. She would order a pizza or something brought in later, for her evening meal. The top priority, at the moment, was resting and getting comfortable, before she started the rest of her life, tomorrow.

One really important thing Beverly realized that she had learned during her years with Winnie was the importance of planning ahead and writing things down that could be ‘checked off’ as completed. She had always ‘lived in the moment’ earlier in her life. She had come to realize this was what often got her in trouble, in the eyes of her family and friends. She had previously always been totally spontaneous. Living with Winnie, that had simply not been possible. His life was lived on a schedule. To fit in, and she so sincerely wanted to do that, she had to learn from him to curb those impulses. He had exercised great patience with her, she later realized, and she was forever grateful. They had become a fine couple, in his life. Now, he was gone. She had vowed to herself not to lose what she had learned from him during those important years in her life.

With her pizza finished, Beverly set about writing down her plans for the coming days. She had some notes she had made, but she strongly felt this evening was the time to formally plan her upcoming days, in this new environment. This would be her first draft, to be refined, later, as she went along. Looking at notes, she began...

1.  Call Heather this evening, to let her know I’m here, and will see her soon. See what her schedule is and plan accordingly.

2.  Arrange to see Faith, Scott and Rachel. Spend some quality time with Faith when it works best for Rachel and Scott.

3.  Spend some time with Brady, to assure him I’m not going to be a micro-managing owner, whether I live here or elsewhere.

4.  Sent up an appointment at the law office to consider the name change.

5.  Find a time to visit with Karen, Bart and Peter. Make it casual, no hurry, when they are ready - or better, if possible, some or all getting together naturally.

6.  Call Paul, and arrange to talk to him, in private.

7.  Stop by the City Library, to see how I can help out. Should be a great place to begin to volunteer, to find my place in this “new town” - even if it is my ‘hometown.’

8.  Dress smartly to the standards of the community leaders. Do now flaunt wealth or status. Fit in. Take opportunities to meet the people now in charge, and learn how to fit in. Perhaps starting at the Law Office, along with the Library, and here at the Motel.

9.  Visit Big Thunder Lodge, to keep current on ‘my investment’ there.

10.  Visit the local newspaper office. Pick up some recent back issues, there, and, look at older issues at the Library.

About eight o’clock, Beverly realized she should call both Heather and Scott and arrange to see them the following day, if possible. Heather said it would be best to come out to the Stable, after 4, as she had done before on visits. Scott and Rachel invited her to come over for supper, and to invite Heather to join them.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Episode 11 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Episode 11 - Jennifer

Later Monday afternoon, Jennifer stopped by the home of Sarah Flanders to pick up the copy of ‘William’s Journal’ that Sarah said she had found. As she walked up to the house, from her car, the stiff January breeze seemed even colder than it had earlier in the day. Jennifer also realized that her own anxiety level was still climbing, thinking about what might be included in her 2nd great-grandfather’s journal. It was one thing for folks to have found old stories about their family. This was actually her family and likely in his own words.

Sarah greeted her at the door, and they discussed the weather, briefly, as Sarah took Jennifer’s coat. As they went into the living room, Jennifer noticed that there were four old notebooks laid out on the coffee table in front of the couch. Sarah said to sit at the couch, as she went around to the other side and sat down beside her.

Sarah began, “As you can see, on closer examination of the box, there were actually four journals by William McDonald in that box that Harry found at the bank. After I talked to you on the phone, earlier, I found them as I went back to take out the one I’d noticed earlier. Each appears to be for five years, during the 1920s and 1930s.”

Jennifer just stared at them, for a moment; then carefully picked one up. They each were a generic looking journal of bound lined pages. The entries were of varying length, dated, and hand-written. What a treasure… his own handwriting, she thought, as she opened the first, and thumbed through it. The front page of the volume in her hands simply said, again in his handwriting, ‘William McDonald - January 1, 1920 to December 31, 1925.’ The next page was headed with the January 1 date and several lines of writing, followed by January 2 and more writing. “This will take some time to absorb,” went through Jennifer’s mind.

To Sarah, she said, “Thank you, so much, Sarah, for letting me know about these. Are you sure it is alright for me to take them?”

“I talked to Harry, and he said the family should have them. From your work with the Society, I know you’ll keep and preserve them properly. They are a family treasure.”

“Yes they are, Sarah, yes they are. I’ll be sure the family knows they exist, take good care of them, and go from there.” She picked up each one, and saw that they each seemed to follow the same pattern of entries. In a moment, she realized Sarah was watching her.

Jennifer looked at Sarah. “I shouldn’t take any more of your time. If I find something exciting in here, I’ll be sure you’re the first one to know.”

“Thank you, that would be nice. But, I’m sure Karen and Bart will want to know quickly, as well.” Jennifer noted a matronly smile from Sarah that she hadn’t noticed before.

“Well,” Jennifer continued, “I’ll get out of your way. I’m sure you have things to do. Thank you again, so much, for letting me stop by and pick these up.”

“Happy reading,” Sarah said as she retrieved Jennifer’s coat, and escorted her to the door. “Keep warm out there!”

“I’ll do that.”

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Episode 10 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Chapter 6 - Beverly - Episode 10

“Is everything to your liking, Mrs. Threshold?” Brady McClellan, Manager of the Oak Springs Motel, was on his very best behavior as the new owner of the Motel had just arrived at her room for a long stay. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Beverly had been looking around the room, and was satisfied, for the time being. “Thank you, Brady. Everything is just fine, for now. I was happy to hear that this unit with the kitchenette was available. I’ll get along well here, until I can make other arrangements. I hope to be out by the time your busy season comes around.” They exchanged knowing smiles. “Oh, and Brady, when we are alone, please just call me ‘Beverly.’ I’m much more comfortable with that. I’m still uncomfortable with ‘Mrs. Threshold,’ but I’ll work on that later. I’ll let you or Jaxine know if I need anything else. Thank you.”

“Very good, then, Mrs. ..., Beverly. I’ll get back out front. We are here to make your stay comfortable, of course.” Brady bowed, just every so slightly, turned, and left the room.

Beverly looked around the motel room she had decided would be her home for the coming weeks. Meant for a family on vacation, it really had all she needed. Quite a change from the mansion of Winston T. Threshold, III, for sure. However, somehow, she really felt more comfortable here. She had really enjoyed being the wife of the important Winnie, but when he died, that had quickly become unimportant again. It had surprised her, but she had soon realized she was really putting on an act, playing a role, all along. Perhaps, she had realized, her whole life, up to that time, had actually been ‘an act.’

With his death, and then the birth of her first grand-daughter, and some alone time, Beverly realized she had done some real soul-searching, for the first time in her life. It soon came to her that she had been chasing some elusive something - well, since she left home immediately after high school. She also, rather suddenly, realized that she had actually been living that ‘something’ - but, didn’t realize it until it suddenly wasn’t there any more. Life with Winnie had ended. Her ‘family’ was in Missouri, not in Mississippi.

Winnie’s children from his prior marriages were kind to her, but they were nothing more to her then that. They were all grown, and had their own lives. She had not become involved with them, only him. His will had left them each very independent. She was allowed to remain in the mansion as long as she wished, but it belonged to them. His will left her his two properties in Missouri, this Motel and a substantial investment in the Big Thunder Lodge (a few miles to the north) along with a sizable Trust fund. If she hadn’t realized it before, she soon realized he wanted her to come back to her own roots.

So, here she found herself, ready to start another new life. But this time, she would do it right. She realized she had much in her past to overcome, but that would happen, over time, if she would but, as Winnie liked to say to her, ‘behave herself.’ That would be her new goal. Could she do it? Would she do it? Only time would tell.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Chapter 5 - Episode 9 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Chapter 5 - Peter; Episode 9

[From the end of Episode 8:

They closed their conversation and Christopher continued to stare at the wall of his office, seeing nothing. “Who is Bruce Randolph?” kept buzzing in his head. He didn’t like unknown situations. He didn’t like not being in control of his situation. Hopefully the answers would come, tomorrow. ]

The first McDonald Conservancy office had been opened in what was now known as the Ozarks Communications building in downtown Oak Springs just over a year earlier, Peter realized as he sat at a desk in the small office that was now used by both he and Ronny Cox, the Executive Director (and only full-time employee) of the McDonald Conservancy. Ronny had come on board the previous April after taking early retirement from his position with the state Department of Natural Resources in Rolla. Ronny had been an integral part, as an outside consultant, in organizing the Conservancy under the oversight of Peter and the Bevins Trust. Now early in the third year of its existence, the Conservancy was on schedule with the 5-year plan created as part of the original organization. Already, Ronny kept busy, with the assistance of Peter as Board Chair, and a growing number of volunteers, inside and outside of the family and community, activating and growing the number of activities in the plan. Most were of a seasonal nature, involving nature, so they came up for attention, regularly, the full year around.

Most recently, in August of 1998, the Conservancy had been awarded a grant from the state Department of Conservation (combined State and Federal funds) in an amount totaling $800,000 to implement major segments of that 5-year plan, based on matching funds of donations of land and money already received and anticipated over that time period. The first moneys under the grant had just been received earlier in the month, based on expenditures in the fall, as well as in anticipation of upcoming activities. Ronny was responsible for assuring the proper activities were conducted, that they were properly documented, and that grant administrators at the state were kept informed of their progress on the plan. There were many contingencies to keep track of and keep on top of, as well.

Today, Peter and Ronny were going over final plans for the first phase of the McDonald Conservancy Visitor Center to be built on the east side of State Highway 37, about a half mile west of the Mill on Oak Creek. Phase One would also include two offices, a conference room, a display area and a reception area as well as a small storage area and a modest garage for small equipment, including an ATV to get around the property.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of Matt Winslow who let himself in, as they were expecting him to join them. Matt, oldest son of Karen (Bevins) Winslow, and her late husband, Jason, was President and General Manager of Ozarks Communications, owners of the building in which they were currently located. Ozarks Communications was the successor to Bevins and Winslow ISP (Internet Service Provider) and now held the Cable Contract for Oak Creek Township including the town of Oak Springs in addition to providing Internet services to the entire community as well, which was their first business venture in town.

Peter and Ronny wanted to be sure that they coordinated with Matt to assure that both Internet and Cable services would be available to install in the Visitor Center by the time they hoped to have the building completed late in the summer of the current year. Jensen and Watkins Construction had already been awarded the construction contract and were ready to begin work as soon as the final plans were approved.

In addition, they knew that Matt would soon be in need of their current office space, which he was letting them use temporarily, as a donation to the Conservancy, so they wanted to keep him up to date on plans for the Visitor Center. They would move into the Visitor Center offices as soon as they were available.

Matt, working through the Bevins Trust as a partner in setting up the original Internet Service Provider business back in the summer of 1996, had been fortunate to be able to buy this three story building near city hall at the time they were wiring Internet capability into city hall first for the community before going community wide. At the time, there had been several extra offices on the second floor and apartments on the third floor that were unoccupied. Now, Ozarks Communications was close to occupying all of the space. As more space was needed, they would be remodeling each room to meet their needs. Only Raynor Crimmons, who had an office on the second floor, and an apartment on the third floor, remained. He would be moving out by the end of the current calendar quarter.

After going over the key points of interest to Matt, Peter and Ronny received Matt’s assurance that his crews would be able to install both their Internet and their cable service as soon as the other construction was completed. They agreed to keep in touch, regularly, to assure that they all stayed on schedule with their plans.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Chapter 4, Episode 8 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

January 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, henceforth, moving forward during 2015 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through December 1998. We now move into January of 1999, in novel format…

Chapter 4 - Christopher; Episode 8

[From the end of Episode 7:

He had said his name was Bruce Randolph, and he was calling about the McDonald Conservancy. He would not leave a number to return a call. She said the man seemed anxious, but, still didn’t want to leave any message. Christopher wrote the name down as they talked. He didn’t recognize it either. ]

Christopher realized it was getting late in the afternoon, this Randolph fellow may have simply knew he wouldn’t be at his phone to receive a return call, even minutes later. Perhaps it would be best to just wait until morning, to see if Randolph called again. But, it was frustrating not to recognize a caller. That foreboding feeling was returning, Christopher could feel it, as he slowly hung up the phone on his back credenza, and turned back to his bare desk top. An old saying his mother used to say came back to him, “Bad things come in threes!” There were those in the family who would believe that Beverly returning to Oak Springs was bad. Getting a mysterious call, late in the afternoon of a cold January day certainly might qualify as a bad thing; pending more information. If that turned out to be true, what would the third bad thing be?

He shook his head, trying to get these negative thoughts out of his mind. Christopher stood up, and decided to go ask Don if he recognized the Bruce Randolph name. Don Kirk had done a lot of the early work on the McDonald Conservancy, and Christopher thought he might recognize the name even if he didn’t himself. Down the hall, in his office, Don said it had no meaning to him. He suggested, with a smile, that Christopher ‘call it a day’ and let tomorrow bring the answer, or not. Christopher waved off that suggestion, trying to return the smile, and walked next door to Brian’s office. Brian was packing his brief case to leave for the day.

When Christopher asked Brian if he knew a Bruce Randolph, and told him about the call, Brian just closed his brief case and said, “He’ll call back tomorrow. Don’t worry yourself about it!”

Christopher replied, “Thanks bunches, bother-in-law. You are a big help.”

“Just trying.” Brian replied, “And, it is my night to pick up Ashley from day-care, so I am out of here. That Randolph guy will call back in the morning, you can count on that!” With that, Brian was on his way, leaving Christopher to stew in his own juices.

Christopher walked back to his office and called Paul Gates at the Mill. Paul picked up on the second ring. “Two brief things, Paul,” Christopher said, after their opening greetings. “First, had you heard that Beverly is back in town?”

“No, I had not, but I knew she wouldn’t stay away long with our grand-daughter here.” Christopher could hear the smile in Paul’s voice.

“Second-hand, I also heard that Jaxine said Beverly was back to stay, permanently. Do you know anything about that?”

There was a very brief pause. Then Paul replied, speaking slower, this time, “No, that is news. But, if it came from Jaxine, that is pretty good authority. I’m fairly sure Beverly would have known what she was doing if she said that with Jaxine present. Beverly likes to use people that way. And, of course, it worked. We all are finding out she is in town without her needing to even contact anyone. She hasn’t change at bit, on that one. Thanks for the information. I’ll just wait for the next shoe to drop, so to speak.”

“While you are waiting for that shoe to drop, let me ask you the second thing. Have you ever heard of a Bruce Randolph?”

“No,” Paul answered, “That is not a familiar name, to me. Where did you get it?”

“He called earlier, saying it was about the McDonald Conservancy,” Christopher said, slowly, recalling the situation, “but wouldn’t leave a number for me to call back. The name did not ring a bell with me, or with Don. Just thought you might have heard it. Guess we wait to see if he calls back tomorrow.”

“If it is important, I’m sure he’ll call back. Thanks, again, for the news about Beverly!”

They closed their conversation and Christopher continued to stare at the wall of his office, seeing nothing. “Who is Bruce Randolph?” kept buzzing in his head. He didn’t like unknown situations. He didn’t like not being in control of his situation. Hopefully the answers would come, tomorrow.

[To be continued - next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)