The Late Night Walk Part 2

It seems I have had to take an unsecheduled break from blogging. It is a consequence of all these things I've signed up to help with. I did want to share the next scene from my story. The stilletto late-night walker one. After having sat with my critique group, it has come to my attention that there are parts of the story that need a lot of help, but I am not going to point them out to you. After all, maybe you are more like me and enjoy it just the way it is. :-)

____________________________________________________

THE LATE NIGHT WALK Part 2

Joe drove slowly down the silent street, turning his headlights off as he neared the park. He had lost her in the darkness. He sat there eyes squinted behind his bifocals looking around. His eyes scan over the play equipment, the baseball diamond and settle on the basketball court. The court is lit by one flickering lamp and walking around the cracked surface is Mindell.

He watches her walk from one corner of the concrete slab to the other. She is walking in the same pose as the night before. One hand is out, palm down, fingers stiff. Her other hand rests on her hip as now her insolated mug is resting in the grass near the sputtering light. On her feet are the same pair of gold heels she’s worn during her late night walks for a week now. She switches from straight walking to creating intricate designs with her footsteps.

Joe frowns, his eyebrows knotting together as he takes off his glasses and rubs his weary eyes with one hand. He looks back up to find her leaving the park, walking back around the block toward her house. Joe waits until she is safely around the corner and then starts his car and drives back the way he came. He makes it back in front of his living room window just as she comes up the street.

* * *
Joe shuffles into the kitchen the morning sun brightly shining through the breakfast nook windows. He leans against a kitchen chair, yawns loudly as he scratches his lower back.
Bella turns from the sink, shutting off the water. “Joe, you startled me! Are you feeling alright?”

“Of course.” He drops into the chair, his battered robe catching on the corner of the table. He pulls it free and it tears. “Ah hell! How about some of that coffee I smell. Morning hurts.”

Bella smiles warmly and brings him a steaming mug. She sits at the table watching him open his sweet n low packets. She waits as he folds the four pink rectangles together and flicks them across the table. “What has you up so early?”

“Didn’t you tell me that woman leaves in the morning with her kids?” Joe motioned to the living room window.

“Yes. Does this mean she was at it again last night? Even so, she’s already left for the day. They are early risers over in that house. Up with the sun she must be. I wonder that she gets any sleep at all, what with her late night walks.”

“I followed her last night.”

“What? You went for a walk? Joe, you know better, what if you had fallen? Your hip has been so bad since it started getting colder. The doctor warned you about long walks. I can’t believe you went traipsing around the neighborhood, especially after we both agreed that she was nuts to be out there like that. What were you. . .” She trails off as Joe holds up a hand. “Was I doing it again?”

Joe nods. “I followed her in the car.”

“Didn’t she see you?”

With a shake of his head Joe recounts the way she was walking over the basketball court. He traced his finger on the kitchen table to demonstrate the different patterns she walked. “Does it mean anything to you?”

“I can’t think of any reason for it either. This is certainly turning into quite the mystery. You are sure she didn’t see you? I don’t want you taken for a stalker or anything.”

“I can be as sneaky as you when I put my mind to it, Bella.” Joe smiled at his wife over his coffee cup.

Bella a bit flushed now could only wave her dishtowel at him in response.

“What’s the plan for today?” Joe said.

“What? Oh, you aren’t going back to bed?”

“Nah, I’m up now. You’re stuck with me.”

“Well, you know that faucet in the guest bathroom hasn’t been working right for months. And the screen over the back window is loose. Let me get a pad to make a list.” Bella stands and rummages through a drawer in the kitchen.

Joe laughes. “Can I shower first?”