Rose carried the photo of her and her uncle Ralph downstairs. She walked into the kitchen and opened up the basement door. She trotted down the steps and over to the box where she left the watch band. She picked up the watchband and looked at it. Then she strained her eyes looking at the photo again.
“Yeah, I think they are the same.”
She took the watch band with her back up into the kitchen. I wish I knew how to get a hold of uncle Ralph, she thought.
“I know, I’ll try cousin Joyce again,” Rose put the watch band on the table in the kitchen.
Just then the doorbell rang. Oh, that must be Lisa, she thought.
Rose walked to the front door, opened it, and saw Lisa crying.
“Lisa, what’s wrong?”
Lisa walked in and told Rose that she just had a horrible fight with her husband. Rose guided her into the living room and they sat down on the sofa.
“He said that he wants a divorce,” Lisa cried some more.
All Rose could do was comfort her the best that she could. Lisa told her that they had been fighting more often but she thought it would pass. She said that her husband's job is very stressful and figured that it was to blame for his behavior.
Rose got up and got Lisa some tissues, “Would you like some lemonade?”
Lisa wiped her eyes and blew her nose, “Sure, okay.”
Rose carried in a couple of glasses of lemonade and set them on the coffee table.
“I’m sure everything will be alright after he cools down,” Rose looked at Lisa.
“I don’t know if it will be this time,” Lisa took a drink of lemonade.
Rose sat there with Lisa and Lisa started to compose herself. She wiped her face with another tissue.
“I’m so sorry Rose, I wanted our first day back together to be so nice too,” Lisa took another drink.
“It’s okay, I’m just happy to be here for you,” Rose patted Lisa’s arm.
“Wow look at this place… It doesn’t look too much different than what I remember,” Lisa stood up and glanced around.
“Yeah, I moved a few things around but otherwise I’ve always liked Grandma’s taste in furniture,” Rose said.
“Do you mind if I freshen up?” Lisa asked.
“No, not at all. The bathroom is right around the corner and down the hall,” Rose stood up and pointed.
“Yes, I remember,” Lisa walked out of the living room and down the hall past the stairs.
Rose went into the kitchen to get the pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator. She carried it into the living room and poured more lemonade into Lisa’s glass. She then went back into the kitchen and put it away.
Lisa walked out of the bathroom and saw Rose in the kitchen. She walked in and looked around.
“Yep. this is the same too,” she said.
Rose smiled, “I know, I did wash the curtains though.”
Lisa smiled, “you did always like butterflies… Just look at you, you even have a butterfly dress on.”
Lisa walked up and hugged Rose, “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too,” Rose said.
They walked back into the living room and Lisa looked around. She picked up the little clay elephant and looked it over.
“RD… Didn’t your uncle make this?” Lisa asked.
“Yes, uncle Ralph made it,” Rose said.
“He was always a lot of fun,” Lisa set it back down.
“Yes he was… and now that you brought him up, did you ever see him living here while you lived in the area?” Rose asked.
“Yes, I saw him quite a bit in town,” she said.
“Do you know how long he lived here?” Rose sat down on the sofa.
Lisa sat down next to her, “no, once you stopped visiting here he was here maybe two more years, and then he was gone… Why do you ask?”
“Well, he has a lot of stuff here and I have been trying to find out where he might be,” Rose said.
“So you never talked to him once you became an adult?” Lisa asked.
“As badly as that sounds, yes, I never did,” Rose took a drink of lemonade.
“Well, we all lose touch with people we know, don’t feel bad about it,” Lisa said.
“It’s just bothering me a little that’s all,” Rose said.
“So, tell me about yourself… What else have you been doing?” Lisa asked.
The two of them sat there and chatted for a while. Rose told her about her ex-fiancé and about becoming a florist.
Please join me again for more of: Rose’s Ghost.