Blessings

Mid-morning on Monday, Kathleen glanced at the clock on her dash and was proud of the distance she was covering in such a short time. She was clearly going to make it to Roanoke by tonight.
She replaced the CD in her player with a more upbeat one. She was just about to hit PLAY when her cell phone rang. It was her father.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Just outside of Knoxville,” she answered. “I’m making good time.”
“Sounds like it,” he replied. “No funny sounds coming from the engine? No lights on the dash board lit? Nothing unusual?”
She smiled.
“No, Dad. Everything is fine.”
“Alright. Well, your mother wants to talk with you.”
There was a short pause.
“Hello, Katie. Is everything going okay?”
“Yes, just fine.”
“Good, dear. Where are you spending the night tonight? Did you call and make reservations? Is it a nice hotel?”
“I called and made reservations last night at a nice hotel in Roanoke, Virginia.”
“Oh, alright. Drive safely, honey.”
She handed the telephone back to her husband.
“I guess I will let you go. Don’t you know better than to drive and talk on the phone at the same time?” he chided.
“I have handsfree, Dad.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot about that. Have fun.”
She laughed.
“Bye, Dad.”

- - - - -

Later, she began to get hungry and decided to pull off for lunch. She was sitting in the drive-thru of a restaurant when her cell phone rang again. Her heart began to race when she saw HARRISON, BENJAMIN on the screen. She answered quickly.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello, Kathleen. It is Ben. How is the trip going?”
“Very good actually. I just left Tennessee and I’m stopping for a late lunch.”
“You are making good time. Where are you spending the night?”
“Roanoke.”
“Oh, alright, so you have a few more hours to go.”
“Yes. I have a reservation at a hotel right outside Roanoke, off the highway I’m on.”
“Excellent. I’m guessing you will probably be to Brookhaven by late tomorrow night then. Good thing I made the first reservation for Tuesday night.”
“Actually, Ben, that is something I needed to speak with you about. I’m not going to be there until late Wednesday. I have decided to make a detour.”
“A detour?”
“Yes, to a town called Maple City, New York.”
There was a short pause on the other end.
“Wait a minute. Didn’t you tell me that the journal was written in a Maple something-or-other in New York? Is that where you are going?”
She smiled.
“Yes. It was Maple Glen in 1880, today is called Maple City. I want to see if any history has been preserved.”
“That would be awesome. I’m jealous. What a history trip.”
“I may find nothing. It was a trend several decades ago to destroy the old and build the new. All of the history may be lost.”
“Yes, but maybe not. What a great idea! I will call The Haven for you and let them know you will be arriving a day late.”
“I will pay them for Tuesday night as well. I don’t want them out a night’s fee.”
“They probably won’t let you do that. But you can mention it when you get here.”
“Oh, Ben, one other thing before I forget. Have you spoken with Mrs. Evoba yet?”
“I left a message for her this morning, but she hasn’t called me back. Why?”
“I finished the journal and it ended at a very interesting time in her grandmother’s life. I was just wondering if there were any more. I am hoping her grandmother kept many journals throughout her life. The next one I would be very interested in. The one I have ended with her getting on a train headed for Boston.”
“You’re kidding,” he said. “So, none of that journal took place anywhere near Brookhaven. That is odd. I will ask her when I see her. She said the journal had a direct tie-in with the mansion.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I appreciate it.”
“All right, I’ll let you go,” he said. “I have to tell you, I am looking forward to your arrival.”
She smiled.
“And I’m looking forward to being there. Now, I must go. I’m next in the drive-thru.”
He chuckled as he said, “I will call again tomorrow.”
“Please be careful,” he added softly.
“I will. Bye.”