A Glimpse of Heaven

.:*:. .:*:. .:*:.

Reaching the top of the trail, Calla stopped in her tracks. She held her breath and words failed her.

Ephram smiled. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Calla just nodded, lowering herself to the grass that covered the area, she looked out onto the view before her. It looked like one of her father's paintings. "She was right. . .this is Heaven."

Ephram glanced at her as he sat beside her. "She?"

"My mom."

"Oh."

"That's why we're here. . .my mom. . .She always wanted to come back here, so Dad decided that now was the perfect time. . .I really hate him for this," Calla said, looking over to Ephram. "I don't want to be here. I mean, I guess it's not that bad, I've made a couple friends, I think." Ephram nodded. "But I want to go home. That's where my life is, where I belong. Mom, Zeke, Josh, and Erin. . .that's where they are. . ."

"Did your parents divorce?" he questioned, confused.

"I wish it were that simple. . .That I could deal with. But, no."

Ephram didn't want to press, even though he was curious as to what she was alluding to. But he didn't question her. "When my mom was younger, the train she was on stopped here. When the train station was still a functioning train station. But she promised herself that she would always come back."

"Our mom's have something in common, huh?"

Had, he silently corrected. "Yeah."

Changing the subject, Calla asked, "You don't mind my inviting your family over for dinner, do you?"

"No, it's fine." He stared ahead, seeing something in the distance that Calla couldn't see.

"You remind me of my friend Luke. He has the coolest last name - Shapiro." She began to giggle. "I've always thought that was the greatest name ever. I tried changing my name to it once, but my parents wouldn't let me. I was so mad. Then I told Luke he had to marry me. We were, like, six at the time. . .Do you remember the show 'Angry Beavers' on Nickelodeon?"

Ephram thought for a moment before nodding. "Wasn't there a toy or something that they were always trying to get that was called the Shapiro?"

"Sha-sha-shapiiiiiro!" Her giggles were bordering on hysterical.

Ephram couldn't help but laugh. He didn't understand this girl at all. "I'm standing by my previous conclusion of your oddness."

Calla laid back, her giggles subsiding, eyes focused on the sky above her. "I wish we could stay here all day."

"Maybe we could come back tomorrow - you invited us to dinner. Remember?"

She turned her to look at him. "Of course I remember. Seven, right?"

"Yep."

"What was the name of that diner you showed me?" She sat up, an expression of thought set on her face. "Mama Joy's!"

"Yeah, that's it. Why?"

"I got the munchies. You hungry?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I could eat."

"Cool." Calla stood, surveying the area and trying to commit it to memory in case she forgot the way there. She offered a hand to Ephram, helping him up.

.:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:. .:*:.

"I can't believe it's already four thirty," Calla commented, chewing on the end of her straw before sticking it back in her glass.

"Well, you did see all of Everwood and had an order of Mama Joy's fries. I think that's pretty good for your first day."

"Second, technically."

Ephram stole a fry from her plate, dipping the end in ketchup before eating it. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Her attention was now focused over Ephram's shoulder on the person entering the diner. A bell rang as the door opened.

"Hey, Cale," a familiar voice greeted. Footsteps started in their direction.

Ephram glanced over his shoulder, rolling his eyes at whom he saw. Go figure, he thought.

"Hi, Bright," Calla said, giving him a small wave.

When Bright realized that she was sitting with Ephram, he looked at her like she had three heads. "What are you doing hanging around this loser?"

Ephram started to slide out of the booth, but Calla's hand stopped him. "He's my friend and he's not a loser. Apologize."

"What?!"

"Please? For me?" She batted her eyelashes at him.

"Okay. . .Maybe he's not a loser."

"Maybe you haven't tried to get to know him."

"I'm gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Bright."

"You didn't have to do that, you know." Ephram sighed, looking at the table.

"I did." She gently squeezed his hand that was still covered by her own. "Ephram, he had no right. Anyway, the whole 'loser' thing doesn't fly with me. I don't know you that well, but I know you're no loser."

"Thanks for the faith. We should probably be going. You still need to tell your dad that you invited us for dinner."

"True." She removed her hand from Ephram's and scooted out of the booth. After paying for her fries and pop, she followed Ephram outside.

Inside the vehicle, Ephram questioned, "Think you can get to my house without directions?"

"If you ever plan on getting home, I wouldn't even offer that bet. . .So, which way do I go first?" When Ephram didn't answer, she nudged him with her elbow. "Ephram! What, do you plan on coming home with me?"

"Is that an invitation?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Calla laughed. "Either way, I'm gonna need directions."

After Calla dropped Ephram off at his house, he gave her directions back to her own. The house was silent when she entered.

"Dad? You here?" Silence answered her. "Okay. That's a no. I suppose I could start getting dinner ready. . .find a recipe. . ."

"Calla, you home?" Marcus called fifteen minutes later, closing the front door behind him.

"Yeah. I'm in the kitchen."

Marcus headed in the direction of her voice. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a recipe. That's what one usually tends to be doing when surrounded with cook books."

"Aren't we sarcastic today. What's the occasion? You rarely cook unless it's something you don't want me to screw up."

"I invited some people over for dinner."

"Who?"

"Doctor Andrew Brown and his family."

"The brain doctor from New York?"

"Yeah. I met him today. We were outside his office when you ran into us. Me and Ephram, I mean. Ephram is his son."

"Huh. And you invited them for dinner?"

"Yes."

"So, you're telling me that we're having the Dr. Brown for dinner."

"And his family."

"That's pretty cool, huh?"

"Yes, Dad. Cool. Now, how does manicotti sound?"

"Great. But you're gonna have to go to the store."

"I've had enough of driving around this place for one day. You go." Calla started to write down a list of ingredients and handed it to her dad when she was done.