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"Just call me Softy. Would you like some lunch? Then we can discuss your duties around here."
While we ate, we discussed how I wanted things done. I explained most of the house had been just ignored so the first thing had to be dusting and cleaning. Probably tackling the sheets in her bedroom should be done also. She just kept smiling and nodding her head, as soon as we finished eating she cleared the table and got busy. I went outside to take care of some things I had noticed needed doing.
About four I came back in, Madge was busy in the laundry. There was a pile of sheets on the floor and the washer and dryer were humming away.
"What would you like for dinner?" She said, "I'm cooking."
"You see what's in the freezer and surprise me. I'm going to get a shower."
As I was coming back into the kitchen, still drying my hair, I saw Dave's pickup pulling into the yard. I stepped out to greet him as he opened his door and swung out. "Is Madge here?"
"Yeah, she's inside cooking. Come on in."
"Thanks, I was a little worried about her. I was pretty sure she was up here but..."He paused, "We may be just friends, but I still feel responsible for her right now."
Madge saw him come in, walked over, gave him a hug, told him he was just in time for dinner, and could wash up while she set the table. I started to reach for the dishes, only to find myself being shooshed out of the kitchen, "No, no. I said I'll do it. From now on this is my kitchen. You stop at the door."
"What if I want coffee? Or a snack?"
"There will be a pot on the counter. And you don't need the snack. I want you to lose a few pounds."
"Wait, what?"
"We'll talk later. Go sit. I'll take care of things."
About then Dave came back, asking what was going on. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and say I thought I had just been kicked out of my own kitchen. We sat in the den, just talking about his day and the job he had been on. He did apologize for the lies when we first met, explaining he just couldn't admit to being homeless.
About then Madge called us to the table. It was nicely set, and she had made up a dinner of yellow potatoes, ham slices and vegetables, with rolls on the side. As we sat, she explained she had done the best she could with the limited supplies I had. She had made enough to include Dave as she was sure he would be there.
That was probably the best meal I had, outside of a restaurant, in several years!
As we ate, Dave explained his current job was over, and he had decided there just wasn't enough in the area to sustain all the carpenters in the Local plus all the non-union guys, so he had checked the books, and it looked like there was more work in the San Francisco area. He planned on heading south in the morning. He asked Madge if she was all right with that? She said he needed to go where the work was, but she was just fine here.
I told him to go pack his gear, if he hadn't done it already, he could sleep in a bed tonight.
While he was gone, Madge and I cleared the table (at my insistence), then she made sure there was a bed made up for him. When he returned I pointed out a bedroom and the bathroom, told him to feel free to enjoy a shower, then join us out on the deck for a drink and a view of the sunset.
The large deck with a variety of chairs, tables and chaise faces west-toward the Olympics. The view was the usual early summer sunset; reds and oranges fading to blues and grays as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. We were quiet as the sky slowly transitioned to night. Finally Madge seemed to let out a breathe, and said, "Wow... I can see why you sit out here in the evening. Is it like this every night?"
"No, some nights are better, some have more clouds, even rain at times. I take them as they come."
With that, we headed for bed. I put the seat cushions away, protecting them from the morning dew, then went to the bathroom attached to my bedroom, Dave went to the other. Madge picked up our glasses, turned off the lone light in the kitchen, and went to her room.
Once again I tossed and turned, pictures of Madge as she came from her bath running through my head. This began to worry me, as I hadn't been concerned about women since my wife's death, and, she was much younger than me. She was, moreover, a good looking woman with an easy smile and beautiful eyes. I was definitely feeling confused, worried I may have made a mistake inviting her into my home. I did finally sleep, and when I woke the next morning felt much more rested than expected.
At breakfast, we talked more with Dave, hearing his plans to find more permanent work, get another apartment, just settle down.
"It'll probably be years before I want to go camping again," he said with a small smile, "but eventually I'll explore the Sierras, maybe Death Valley too."
While we walked Dave out to his truck I carefully asked how he was fixed for money.
"I have a couple hundred from this last job. Would you like part for Madge?"
"No,no. I just wanted to be sure you'll be all right. Will you have enough for you're needs? You know, gas, food, maybe a motel?"
"I can make 'Frisco' in about twenty hours driving, so may only need one night at a motel. I should be fine. But thanks for asking any way."
I shook his hand, wishing him luck. She hugged him, saying thanks for all he had done, telling him to keep in touch. As he drove down the driveway, Madge stepped next to me and put her left arm around my waist, I automatically put my right around her shoulder. She leaned into my side, quietly saying, "I'm going to like it here."
