THE BLUE STALKER by JEAN AVERY BROWN Read Free Book Online

concluded.
                  “We are very thankful for your offer Dr. Burnett.” Juan said. “Would it be okay if we talk about this and get back to you?”
                  “Of course, Jose will be here for a while we have time to discuss his care.” Dr. Burnett said.
    Maria looked at Dr. Burnett with a ‘thank you’ smile glowing from her pretty young face.
                  When Juan and Maria entered the pediatric ward Ella was rocking Jose singing a lullaby.
                  “He’s almost asleep but you need to hold him for a while before we have to leave. Here Maria take him.” Ella said as she gently handed Jose to Maria. Maria cuddled Jose smiling at him thinking it’s gonna be okay, baby boy. Maria rocked her baby until over the intercom she heard the switchboard operator announce. “Visiting hour is over.” Words Maria hated to hear.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    THREE
     
                  As Ella drove back to the house everyone was quiet.  They had much to think about.  Ella and Maria fixed a dinner of tacos and refried beans.
                  “Maria, You are going to have to teach me how to make your tacos.”  Ella leaned over the pan of taco meat allowing the aroma to fill her nose. They smell so good.”
                  “Maybe you won’t need to learn to make them maybe…“ Her voiced trailed off. Maria knew she and Juan had not made their decision to stay or go.
                  Juan bent over and looked up the fireplace checking to see if the flue was open.
                  “If you don’t mind Ms. Ella I would like to build a fire.”  Juan said as he poked the cold wood left from the last fire.
                  “By all means, I love a nice fire.  It reminds me of home when I was a young girl. My dad would build a nice fire, mom would make popcorn using a long handle rectangular pan with a screen cover.  The fragrance would linger through the house for hours.”
                  Ella and her guests were enjoying the crackling fire.  Ella jumped to her feet.
                  “That’s it….I’m going to pop some popcorn.  My mom’s popper is stored in the garage.”
                  “Juan can you help me fetch it?”  Ella asked as she jumped up from the sofa heading for the garage.
                  “Sure Ms. Ella popcorn sounds good to me.”  Juan said as he slipped his shoes on.
                  Ella pointed out the ladder on the back wall of the garage; Juan placed it against the ceiling joists climbed to the top and with Ella directing him to where she remembered storing the popper found it without any problems. 
                  Juan handed down the popper and said to Ella.  “I’m surprised you could remember exactly where you stored it.”
                  “I’ve got a pretty good head on these shoulders.  I actually only put it up there a few weeks ago”  She laughed.
                  Juan put the ladder against the wall the two made their way back to the house with popper in hand.
                  Ella put a little oil in the popper about half cup of kernels of corn.
                  “Juan,” handing the popper to Juan.  “You’re the man of the house so you are the official corn popper.  My dad loved popping the corn.  I would get out the official popcorn bowls.  Mom had a special dish for every occasion.  Guess I’m somewhat like her.  I have most of her things.  Mom melted the butter on the stove top.  When dad filled the bowls mom poured the melted butter over the popped corn.  I have so many good memories of my childhood.  Oh my, I’m just rambling on.  Maria would you like to melt the butter?  You’ll find the pan in the