The Orange Blossom Special by Betsy Carter

Author:Betsy Carter [Carter, Betsy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General Fiction, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781565124493
Publisher: Dell
Published: 2005-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

Barone knew that what he had in mind sounded crazy even though it made perfect sense to him. He was sure that Tessie would understand too, this need to introduce her to Fran. He had real feelings for Tessie and didn’t want to keep half of his life hidden from her. He never gave up on the thought that Fran knew what was going on around her, she was just too locked in to show any signs. If that was so, then she already knew about Tessie. If it wasn’t, then he was honoring their marriage by making this gesture of truth. Tessie had told him of her conversations with Jerry, and how she felt his hand in the unfolding of her life. He didn’t know how he would find the words to say this to her in person, so late one night he composed one of his notes.

Dear Dottie,

I know my letters are usually filled with suggestions of where we should go, what wine we will drink, which clothes I would like you to wear on that little body of yours. This time is different. I have a favor to ask of you. It’s a request really, and something I have thought about for a long time. You don’t have to give me your answer right away, but it’s something I’d like you to think about.

For the past five years I have been living my life in shadows. I say shadows because Fran, while she is not here in the usual ways, looms large over my life. You tell me how Jerry always knows what is going on. Sometimes he even guides you. I feel that way about Fran. If it was possible for me to meet Jerry, would you want me to do it? It is still possible for you to meet Fran. It is something I would like very much. Will you come to Miami Beach for the weekend? We could stay at the Fontainebleau Hotel (very ritzy). Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra perform there. We can go to the nightclub and dance the night away. If you decide to come, wear bright colors. Fran likes bright colors. I hope my request doesn’t trouble you. I thought you would understand.

Instead of signing his name, Barone made a drawing of Tessie. Her mouth was the shape of an O and her eyes were popping out of her head like two jack-in-the-boxes. Underneath he wrote, “What will he think of next?”

Tessie received the letter one morning while she was at work. She was no longer the receptionist at Lithographics; after taking a night course in accounting, she was now the head bookkeeper. She had an office, not a very big one, but large enough for a typewriter on a table with wheels and a two-drawer filing cabinet with a lock. That’s where she kept the company’s bills and records. And behind all that, in a tin Christmas-cookie box, she kept Barone’s letters. By now there were so many of them, she kept the older ones behind them in a taped-up manila envelope that said, mail.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.