Callers Part 2

“Sarah!” Ramona exclaimed as her friend walked through the door. It had been two weeks since she had last seen her. A fortnight full of walks and calls from Stephen…

“Mona! How are you? I am sorry it has been so long since we have seen each other, I have been very busy.” Sarah chimed as she plopped herself down on the small love seat. Ramona sat next to her.

“I know you have! I noticed you published a few stories in the newspaper.”

Sarah’s blue eyes stared at her in amazement. “How did you know?” she asked in a whisper.

“Sarah, you always write under the same pen name, James Mullen. And I would know your writing style from a mile away.”

“Oh” Sarah laughed “I had forgotten that I had told you about that… So what have you been up to?”

“Nothing much, just taking in callers and going on walks” She didn’t mention that they had been with a gentleman.

“Walks huh?” Said Sarah amused “But Mona, you don’t like being outside. The sun turns you red in five minutes.”

Ramona blushed. Of course Sarah would have caught that. In truth she did look a little redder lately. With her red hair and pale completion she could not be outside for long with out her face taking on an unpleasant blotchy tone. She had tried large hats, umbrellas, parasols, nothing seemed to work. The sun simply hated her skin.

“Well you see I have been walking with a…”

“Oh no!” Sarah interrupted. “Not with a man! Oh Mona!”

“Sarah don’t get all in a tizzy. He is just a good friend of mine nothing more.” She needed to explain to Sarah about Stephen. She needed to tell her that it wasn’t what it seemed.  She could see the look on Sarah’s face it was warm with concern. Her blue eyes looked straight into her own, searching for the truth.

“Ramona, I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“Sarah, we are friends!”

Sarah scoffed “You cannot be “just friends” with a man Mona.”

Ramon sighed. How could she make Sarah understand? Then she remembered, “You are friends with Timmy! How is this any different?”

Sarah closed her eyes and shook her head at this. “Mona, there are things about that friendship you will never understand.”

“Like what?” Ramona asked, curious.

Sarah looked away, and crossed her arms around her chest, hugging herself. It was a while before she spoke, and when she did it was a soft whisper “Even your friends can break your heart. You of all people should be able to understand that.”

Ramona moved closer to her friend. Sarah had been through so much. They both had. She reached out and put her hand on Sarah’s, squeezing it, and Sarah looked at her again, returning the pressure. A smile played across her lips.

“I forgot to ask, ” she said, “what is his name?”

“Stephen.” Ramona said, and she couldn’t keep the smile from her voice.

“Stephen…. What?”

“Magathan”

“And what profession is this Stephen Magathan in?”

Ramona knew Sarah was just asking her questions because she didn’t want to talk about Timothy. But she was more than willing to answer them.

“He is a lawyer, educated at Harvard, and he knows Daddy from the bank.”

Sarah’s eyebrows flew to her hairline.

“I knew you were going to ask every detail anyway so I thought I would tell you all at once.”

Sarah laughed with Ramona. Their laughter continued into the next hour as they talked. When the afternoon light began to shine through the window, Gerald interrupted their mirth.

“Excuse me Miss” He said “But Mr. Magathan is waiting for you in the hall. I did not realize you still had company.”

Ramona felt Sarah’s eyes on her, as hot color rose to her cheeks.

“Thank you Gerald, you can show him in.”

Gerald bowed and closed the door behind him.

“Shouldn’t I go?” Sarah asked.

“No, I want you to meet him.” Ramona replied.

“But Mona, I am no good at meeting men. I will ruin it.”

“No you wont. Now don’t be so silly.”

“Mr. Magathan, Mama” Gerald announced and the tall, dark form of Stephen walked through the door.