Continuation of "Be Careful What You Ask For" ....

Through the kitchen window, a silver Cadillac backed into the drive and came to a stop. She had never seen the car before. Dark eyes watched her through the side mirror, empty and a little sad. She knew the chance of anyone seeing through their side mirror into her window was slim to none, but she was convinced they watched her. She pushed the box aside, than retrieved it. She had backed away from the table. She felt a bit silly about the sudden paranoia as it wasn’t like she was participating in any illegal activities, not that she was aware of anyways. The doorbell chimed and Beverly jumped.

“Come on Bev, It’s not like you didn’t know someone was coming to the door.” She chided herself.

The chime sounded again; she shook her head. She had been standing, just standing there in the hallway, daydreaming.

“Coming,” she called out to the door.

Opening the door, she came face to face, well; face to air really, for when she opened the door, there was no one there. She stepped outside and looked for the Cadi. No car in the drive – no car on the street. Could she have imagined the whole thing?

Closing the door behind her, she turned the lock and went to the closet. She reached up onto the shelf, there was nothing there. Didn’t she put the box up there?

She stood puzzling for a minute and then decided that she must have just thought about putting it in the closet.

Beverly took a deep breath and repeated to herself, “I am not crazy, I am not crazy.”

In the kitchen she found a bottle of elderberry wine. It was past noon, and she was bunked down for the night. What was the harm? She glanced out the window at her Elder tree. It would never bare enough fruit for wine, she frowned at the thought.

“Maybe a little ice and some fruit,” she said sticking her head in the fridge, “a cobbler is a nice Saturday afternoon drink.”

She poured herself a tall glass and took a long slow swallow. She turned and there on the kitchen table, was the package.

“Hmmm,” she said aloud, blinking at the box, “I don’t remember leaving you here?”

Sitting at the table, she reached for the box, fully expecting it to grow legs and run away. It did not, of course. The package was warm to the touch. Beverly gingerly brought the package toward her. She had never been accused of being clumsy in her life, but was a prime candidate at this moment. Fumbling with the tape that was holding the brown paper in place, she thought that there was a time and place she might have just ripped the paper off. This was neither the time nor the place. This package asked for a ceremonial unwrapping and Bev was to oblige. She folded out the brown paper revealing a small cardboard box.

Her hands were shaking as she pulled the tape off the top of the box and watched the box flaps spring open. A soft glow came from inside. A wad of bubble wrap covered three small glass jars. Like a kid at Christmas, she stared into the box with wide-eyed wonder. A slow smile crawled up her face, lifting both corners of her mouth.

She sat there for a period of time that seemed immeasurable, basking in the glow. Without thinking, she reached into the box and touched one of the jars, watching her hand like it belonged to a stranger. The florescent orange liquid shimmered in the jar that she now held in her hand. It looked amazingly refreshing.

She tried to read the label. The letters shifted in and out of focus. Her mouth filled with water, her free hand was holding the lid, and anticipation filled her chest.

A shadow passed the window, catching her peripheral. She plunged the jar back into the box, backing away, wiping her hands on her shirt.

Her heart was pounding in her ears. The room swam round her. Putting her hand on the counter, she steadied her nerves.

“To early in the day for wine Bev?” she asked aloud.

............ to be continued  - Thank you for following