Elusive Headpin - Part X

Walking into the Triangle Diner in my old hometown was taking a step back in time for me. In my youth, this was a standard late night meeting place, a place where we could seek out refuge from our family lives and bond in those late night, teenage, sowing wild seeds mode that we all pass through during adolescence. I recall many a night grabbing a bite to eat here after carousing in some tavern or party before I had to go home and face the parental units.

This evening though my thoughts were of my former bowling buddies and the friends that we had gotten reacquainted with this evening. I took a familiar position at the counter but glanced over at the one table that was occupied to spy Lisa Hayes and her younger female companion. Surprised but also wanting to pick up on the conversation that was abruptly ended at the funeral home, I wandered over to the table.

Lisa seemed somewhat uncomfortable but, shrugged when I wordlessly asked if I could join them. I sat down and for the first time took a longer look at Lisa’s companion. She was pleasant looking young lady who appeared to carry herself well. She also wore a somber looking dark dress with short sleeves. Her expression mimicked Lisa’s in a slight degree of discomfort at my presence.

We chatted for a couple of minutes and I told Lisa that the rest of the team had shown up and that several of the members had asked about her. I was curious as to whether she was planning on attending the services tomorrow. She indicated that she was likely going to do that but that she was also planning on leaving shortly thereafter. She sited some pending commitment and then slipped saying that her daughter (making a nod towards her young companion) needed to be getting back to college.

“Daughter?”

“I’m sorry, I should have introduced you. This is my Josephine.”

“Very nice to meet you Josephine…” I thought there was some family resemblance (this certainly cleared up some of the mystery in my mind).

“So your married?”

“No. Her dad and I never married…”

I’m a little thick in some instances but a revelation suddenly occurred to me.

“Was Joe her dad?”

She sighed but indicated with another nod that this was true.

“Oh… I see. Gee I never knew that. I mean I knew that you folks had a relationship in that summer before Joe left for the Army but…”

I paused because I was doing some mental arithmetic and I deduced that if Josephine was the product of their brief romance prior to Joe leaving for the Army that the young woman should be about ten years older than she appeared to be.

Lisa seemed to read my thoughts when she spoke next. “Joe and I had one of those off again/ on again romances over the course of the last thirty plus years. I don’t know as if either one of us ever really wanted to settle down.”

“Gee I’m terribly sorry. I had no idea that you two were that close or that the relationship had extended beyond that long ago summer.”

Turning towards Josephine I added, “I wasn’t a really close friend of your Dad’s but I do know he was a good and decent man.”

“He was…” She said. “I lived with him up until I left for college. I chose a college that put me in close proximity to my Mom a little over a year ago. I wanted to get to know her better…”

“I see”… My head now was swimming a little with all of these new details.

Lisa spoke. “ Please don’t add to the rumor mill. I had a really rough time after Joe left for the Army. He was a tough guy to get close to but I knew we had something that I didn’t want to let go of.

We got back together whenever he came stateside over the next few years and when Jo was born Joe offered to raise her. I had no funds and I’m afraid I was ill equipped to be a Mom at that point in my life. I’m trying to make up for that now.”

“Lisa, I… don’t know what to say. I’m certainly willing to help…If there is anything I can do.”

“You’re sweet but I think we have things well in hand now…” She grinned and glancing up at her daughter they seemed to share a knowing smile. I can only surmise that they had made their peace with one another and that I’m sure they were resolved to help each other through this tough time.

I stammered out a repeat of my offer to help if needed and then took my leave of the two women to proceed to my sister’s house that evening and some rest.