Three Short Stories: Memories; the Only One I Love; Snowbound

By Barbara Pollard

MEMORIES: A father and his
daughter trying to put the past behind them.
A real estate agent and her young son trying to build
a future on the rubble of broken dreams.
In his search for a new home- these two are drawn together.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Is this a brief encounter or part of a
Masters plan?

THE ONLY ONE I LOVE: An itinerant
ranch hand and a rising country music star.
Is a relationship only fantasy?
Can their very different lifestyles be compatible or is the chasm too
wide?

SNOWBOUND: A popular Hollywood
star taking a much needed break in the seclusion of a family cabin in the
mountains an avalanche and an unexpected visitor.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> How does this young woman alone cope with
these events? And more important, what
does the future hold?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 5, 2004
• ISBN: 9781414056319

Book preview

Chapter 1

Ruth was busy straightening her desk and didn’t notice the man of medium build when he entered the Hobart agency door. The six other agents were busy, either on the phone or with clients at their desks. So the young man, probably in his mid to late twenty’s, with golden brown hair, striking hazel eyes and a tentative smile walked up to her desk.

No telling where her mind was as she shuffled papers, but Ruth was startled when he spoke. Oh, I’m sorry! she exclaimed as she jumped up and extended her hand, I’m Ruth Bryant. Can I help you?

She was also of medium height with short curling auburn hair and rich brown eyes. Taking her hand in his firm grasp he said, I’m Adam Foster and I certainly hope you can.

That’s what we’re here for. Please be seated. She motioned toward the chair beside her desk and resumed her seat. Now, just what can I do for you?

I’m looking for a pleasant house.

Aren’t we all. In town or out? Ruth prepared to take notes.

Rockport was a town of about thirty-five thousand. Not highly industrialized but with adequate opportunities for all. What really matters is that it have a nice fenced-in yard.

A fenced-in yard? That was a strange first request. Usually people looking said either, two story, ranch, Victorian, the number of bedrooms or something to that effect. Not a fenced-in yard.

Yes, you see we presently live in an apartment complex on Briarcliff. I have a five year old and we have to go about two miles to the park to be able to have any outdoor fun.

Ruth smiled a warm smile at him. That was a worthy reason indeed. Well, let me see what I can find. She got up and went to the case that held the file folders. She returned with a large binder and started flipping through the pages.

I see several right here that might be what you are looking for. No, this one won’t do, it’s down on Beach, I don’t think you want to be down there. Here are a couple that might do. She turned the binder around to show Adam the pictures with their descriptions.

Adam leafed through the pages and picked out three he thought looked good. Is this all you have?

I’m sure there are more but that’s all we could get to this afternoon. Ruth took the pages from the binder and closed it.

Adam looked at his watch, You’re right, and I do have to pick Elizabeth up from day care at five-thirty. Can we get started?

The first house was on the east end of town. It was small, one of those long narrow affairs. It had a second floor and was clean and nice but the yard was very small and there wasn’t even one tree to be seen.

The second was on the south side and was very plush. The yard was big and had several trees but the price was way out of Adam’s range.

The third house was a pleasant, little house. The yard was sufficient but the house seemed too small. It had recently been remodeled, modern appliances in the kitchen and bath but the second bedroom was so small it would hardly even make a playroom, much less a bedroom and playroom.

They returned to the office to get Adam’s car. Ruth glanced at her silent passenger. He seemed preoccupied and not a little depressed.

As they pulled into the parking lot he said, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I had hoped---

Don’t get discouraged yet. I’ll go through the other binders tonight and find some others we can look at tomorrow. How can I reach you when I come up with something?

You don’t need to do that tonight on your time off. I’ll just come by again next week and see what you have.

Oh, I don’t mind and there isn’t any need to wait till next week. Ruth didn’t want to lose a good sale and she was afraid this man was too easily discouraged. If she let too much time elapse he might loose all interest.

I don’t want to take too much time off work for this.

There’s no need to do that. What about your wife? The look in Adam’s eyes immediately told her she had made a grave mistake.

He stared at her a moment then took a deep breath and said, There is no wife. Adam turnedto go, then turned back and said, Thanks for your time; I’ll get back to you next week.

Ruth stood by her car and watched Adam get into his car and drive away. She wondered at the glimpse of pain she had seen in his eyes. What had caused that and what had she done? She shook her head and went into the office. Her phone was ringing.

It was Mrs. Bishop. She should stop by the store on her way home and get some milk and orange juice. It was almost time to go. Ruth picked up the binder on her desk that they had been looking at, walked to the shelf and got another, then headed for the door.

A lot of homework tonight, called out Joe Wiley, a fellow agent?

You bet! I’ve got an interested party. She waved and fled to her car.

Chapter 2

Orange juice and milk on the seat beside her, Ruth drove home. Her home was just outside the city to the south. Not as large as some she had sold in this area but quite comfortable. She had four bedrooms, a living room, a family room and a modern kitchen with a dining nook. All that on three fourths of an acre with a wonderful back yard, fenced in too.

When she and Jason married they knew they wanted a big family so when they bought the house they kept that in mind. He had a good job and an excellent income so it wasn’t a problemgetting just what they wanted, as it might have been for some couples just getting started.

Ruth parked the car in the drive and went in the front door. Mrs. Bishop came and got the milk and juice from her. I just got Chris out of the bath, he’s playing in his room.

Out of the bath? He didn’t usually get a bath until she gave it to him before bed.

Well, the young gentleman took a ‘bath’ in the sand box this afternoon. I thought he might get the gritty stuff in his dinner if I didn’t do something first.

Ruth laughed as the stout figure departed for the kitchen. It was just like the little sport. She turned and picked up a picture from the table by the window. It was of her and Jason and Christopher when he was only a month old. It was the only one of the three of them together. It would be the only one she ever had.

Jason, tall, dark and handsome, her auburn hair curling up to her face, her rich brown eyes glowing as she looked at the precious baby. Tears filled those brown eyes now. Poor Jason..

She thought back to the day she told Jason she was pregnant. How happy he had been. He was so excited about their first child, (he wanted six), that he spent her entire pregnancy fixing the nursery and building things in the back yard. First he’d built a sand box, the infamous sand box, then a jungle gym and swing set, sturdy, meant to last, then a tree house.

Ruth remembered laughing at all the preparations. It will be years before the child can use most of that.

It doesn’t matter. I’ve got the time and energy now. After he is born I’ll be too busy with him. Jason had said, I won’t have the time then. Little did he know how prophetic that would be.

How excited Jason was when the baby was born, a boy. Just what he’d been preparing for. The closet in Christopher’s bedroom held a ball, bat and glove, a foot ball, archery set, all thethings a little boy could grow into, and now no one to use them with.

As Ruth looked down at the photo she remembered the day it had been taken. Chris was one month old that day. How happy they all were. Then just a month later all happiness was gone. Hopes and dreams shattered forever.

On a bright sunny afternoon when all should have been well, a police car pulled into the drive and an officer got out. He notified Ruth that her husband had been in an auto accident. A neighbor took her to the hospital, but she never saw Jason alive again, the victim of a drunk driver.

Dark days followed. She had no family to turn to, the only thing left in her world was Chris. If it hadn’t been for kind neighbors and the loving friends at church she didn’t know what she would have done. Slowly her bitterness melted and her faith was restored. Her underlying faith that God was in control.

Dinner’s in the oven. I’m leaving now! Ruth was jarred back to the present. She set the picture back on the table.

Thanks so much Mrs. Bishop. Have a good evening.

Are you all right? the older woman asked as she stepped into the living room.

Ruth brushed away a stray tear. Yes, yes I’m fine. Thanks again. Mrs. Bishop was such a dear. She was a widow too, but she had never had any children. Now it was the best for both of them that she could keep house and be with Chris all day while Ruth worked. It was so much nicer than having to put him in day care.

Over the past year Ruth had grown out of her grief. Seldom did she stand and ponder the picture like she had this afternoon. What had caused that? Could it have been the look of pain in a stranger’s eyes? She hurried in to play with Chris for awhile before dinner.

Chapter 3

Adam drove away from the real estate office. He stopped by his office to pick up some last minute work he could do at home, then went by the day care center to pick up Elizabeth.

It was such a lovely summer day that he thought they would stop at the park on the way home. It was a nice park, plenty of lush grass to roll in. There was a small pond and a couple of ducks were always looking for a