Blue

By P.J. Turner and S.E. Turner

Twice widowed, Blue resigns herself to being a single mother raising her three-year old son, knowing that she will never marry again. However, Yavapai-Apache Architect Clyde Slaughter doesn’t believe in “never” and points her life in a new direction: building hotels, flying in private jets, and driving antique sports cars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A Turning Point Publication
• Release date: Dec 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386890799

Book preview

ONE

1964 Verde Valley, Arizona

Numb with grief and guilt, Blue leans over her porch railing sobbing, pounding the wadded up telegram.

Blue honey... consoled Aurora as she put her arms around Blue’s shoulder. It’s not your fault,

Yes, but I never got to tell him that I loved him. I was so angry when he left that I slammed the door. How was I to know that I’d never see him again?

I know, Blue.

TWO

1965

Blue peeks through the curtain. He was still standing by her front gate. Was he a stalker? For the last two mornings, he walked past the gate, paused and continued. Then he walked back, looked at her house and moved on. Finally, she’d had enough. Blue opens her door and marches down the steps, her jaw set with determination.

May I help you? Are you lost?

He looks at her with an embarrassed smile. Are you Blue Marcus, the widow of Sergeant Ed Marcus?

Y-yes,

My name is Paul Hill. I was a close friend of Ed’s in Nam.

Chills run through her body. You were with him when he died?

Yes. He took the bullet that was meant for me. He saved my life.

Blue rushes to Paul, throws her arms about him, crying. After a time, she releases him and steps back. Oh, I’m sorry, come in. Come in. Please.

Without a word, Paul allows Blue to take his hand and be pulled into her house.

May I get you some tea or coffee or...

Ice water will be fine, thank you.

Blue hurries and fills two glasses and sets them on the small kitchen table. As she sits across from him, her eyes filled with tears. I’m so glad you came. I saw you in front of the house yester...

Yes, he interrupted. I wasn’t sure I should meet you. One of the last things Ed said to me was to find you and...

And what? What did he say about me? I need to know.

Paul hesitates, takes a sip of water, leans forward. Ed said the last time he was with you, that you and he had a bad argument.

Blue nods her head, shaking it slowly from side to side. Yes...I’m sorry about that. I told him I never wanted to see... She begins to sob again.

Paul reaches across the table, takes her hand in his and says, It’s okay. He told me that it was all his fault and if I ever made it back from Nam, he wanted me to tell you that he loved you.

Blue cries. Paul stands, walks around the table and holds her shaking shoulders. Blue turns and wraps her arms around his waist, sobbing. Gradually, she calms and her breathing becomes quiet, her body relaxes. She drops her arms and stands facing him.

I’m sorry. What did you say your name was?

Paul Hill, Ma’am.

Oh, call me Blue. That’s what everyone calls me. She pauses and pulls her chair around the table so that she sits closer to him at the corner. She takes his hands in hers. Now, tell me all about it. I think I can handle it.

Paul sits again and begins to tell his story. There’s not much I can tell you about the Hell we were going through. It’s hard to describe and yet it is vivid in my dreams...

Two hours pass before he stops. ...and we carried him back to the hospital tent.

Blue sits quietly...no tears...staring into Paul’s eyes. Finally, she blinks and says, Where are you staying? What are you planning to do?

I’m staying in a motel in town. I have some time now that I’m out of the service.

You will stay right here in my brother’s room. He’ll be home soon and you can get acquainted.

Something about Blue’s demeanor told Paul that this was the right thing to do.

What does your brother do?

Richard is a building contractor.

~ ~ ~

No sooner than her mentioning him, Richard appears at the door. He is a head taller than Blue with broad shoulders and a dark tan. What stands out is his bright smile that lights up the room. He takes one look at Paul, smiles and reaches to shake his hand.

Richard, I want you to meet Paul. He was in Vietnam with Ed.

Army, eh?

Yeah. Four years. That was enough. You?

Navy. Seabees. Where you staying?

I told him he could bunk with you.

Good deal. Where’s your things?

In a motel not too far from here. You sure this won’t put you out?

Not at all. You agree, Sis?

Yes. He’s welcome to stay. I’ll fix dinner and you two can get acquainted.

Where’s your car? Richard asked.

"No car. I hitched from Frisco.

Then let’s get your things while Blue is fixing dinner.

By the time dinner is ready, the men have returned. Richard helps him carry his duffle bag into the room. Blue can hear them laughing and smiles as she sets out the taco ingredients. You boys wash up for dinner, now.

The two men enter the dining room talking with each other like they were long-lost brothers.

So, I see you two have gotten acquainted. I hope you like tacos, Paul.

Yes Ma’am. I enjoy Mexican food.

They sat, reached around the table holding hands and Richard said the blessing, ...and we thank you, Father, for Paul’s safe return to our table.

Paul looked up at both of them. "Thank you for the welcome and the prayer. I feel right at home."

As you should, Paul, Richard said. Now that you are out of the Army, what are your plans?

I’m open to suggestions. I need to do something. That’s for sure.

Have you ever done any construction? I could use some help.

I helped my father build a house before I joined. That’s about all.

Then it’s settled. You can work for me.

THREE

February 1965

Dear Journal:

~It’s been so long since I’ve written in this. It’s hard to know where to start. I’ve been banging around from pillar to post. Since Ed’s death in Vietnam, I have been in limbo, not really having a direction. Thank God Richard had me move into his house in Verde Valley. I was so filled with guilt and depression that I had to do something. At his suggestion, I began to keep his books for him. He has a contract to build twenty-four units and has to be out in the field all day. He converted a spare room into an office for me where I spend most of my time.~

FOUR

March 1965

Dear Journal:

~Surprise! A close friend of Ed’s (Paul Hill) showed up. He must have spent three or four hours talking about his experience with Ed. He’s a great guy. I felt comfortable telling him about our rocky relationship and that we would have probably ended up divorced had he not been killed. I surprised myself in confiding in him but he seems so understanding, plus he’s a good listener. He told me that I shouldn’t feel guilty about my feelings for Ed. He said that Ed wasn’t the easiest guy to be around.

Richard offered Paul a job doing construction. I hope it works out. Paul is going to bunk with Richard.~

FIVE

April 1965

Dear Journal:

~We are settling into being a family. Richard and Paul work well together. It’s been hardly a month and Paul is showing enthusiasm for his job. Turns out Paul is also a good cook. We are eating a wider variety of vegetables and fruits these days. Since Richard started his construction business, he has been banking his retirement funds. Now that Paul is part of the family, his military savings is banked, also. I’m so thankful they get along so easily.~

SIX

May 1965

Dear Journal:

~The three of us took the day off and drove up to Jerome. Paul has never really seen Verde Valley. We had lunch and walked around the shops. Paul and Richard treat me like a little sister.~

SEVEN

June 1965

Dear Journal:

~Richard said something that unnerved me the other day. He asked me if I would ever marry again. The thought hadn’t really occurred to me. My first answer was NO! But then I asked, Who would I marry?

Richard took a serious stance and said, How about Paul?

I laughed so hard that I had to lean against the refrigerator to keep my balance. "Oh, Paul is a nice guy and all that, but as a husband? I don’t think so. Why would you suggest that?"

Just think about it, Sis. He’s stable. He’s quiet. He and I are going to expand our business in the next year. I think you two would do really well together.

"Thank you Mr. Marriage Counselor. I know you mean well, but I don’t think I need your advice!" I marched out of the kitchen laughing and shaking my head.~

EIGHT

June 1965 continued...

Dear Journal:

~However, next morning, I looked at Paul with different eyes. Everything Richard said about him was correct. It never occurred to me that he might be interested in me other than Richard’s sister and a good keeper of the books. I decided to put Richard and Paul on the spot that very evening.

When the three of us sat for dinner, I put my last piece of roast beef in my mouth and chewed it slowly, watching both of them chatting away. I swallowed, took a drink of wine and said...

Paul, I have a question for you.

Richard stopped chewing and stared at me. Paul turned toward me with a smile and said, Fire away.

Would you be interested in marrying me?

Richard dropped his fork on the floor and coughed onto his plate. I thought he was going to choke. Paul’s smile faded as he straightened himself. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, Would you marry me?

Richard coughed again and took a long drink of wine.

Is that a proposal, Paul?

Would you like it to be?

My mind