The Douglas Farm

After a restless sleep, Oliver woke up the next morning in a deep depression. He rolled out of bed and threw on the first things he grabbed out of his closet, a wrinkled old suit that he had forgotten to send to the cleaners last week. He wasn't in the mood to shower or even shave, so without much enthusiasm he headed over to the kitchen to begin the day.

There he found Eb and Joseph sitting at the table, drinking coffee with glum looks on their faces.

"Morning," Eb said down-heartedly, looking at Oliver with sad eyes. Joseph didn't even bother to look up. He just sat quietly and absent-mindedly stirred his coffee.

"Morning," Oliver replied in an equally gloomy tone. He sat down in a chair, put his elbows on the table and leaned his head on his hands sadly. For a while, everyone sat quiet, not know what to say to one another. Finally, Eb spoke up.

"Mr. Douglas, Joseph and I have already eaten our breakfasts. Would you like me to fix you something?"

"No thanks, Eb. I really don't have much of an appetite," Oliver replied.

"Mr. Douglas, you really should eat some…." Eb began, but Oliver cut him off.

"I said I'm not hungry," he snapped. Eb closed his mouth and looked at his coffee dejectedly. Oliver picked up his head to look at him and realized he had hurt his feelings.

"I'm sorry, Eb," Oliver said in a softened tone. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I guess I'm just a little on edge," he explained sadly. Eb smiled at him knowingly.

"It's okay, dad. I understand," he said reassuringly.

Oliver smiled. "Thanks, son," he said. Eb's face brightened upon hearing him call him son, but soon returned to its gloomy state when he realized that there was no one around for him to call mom.

"When did the police say they were going to have the men install the phone," Joseph asked, finally speaking up.

"I don't know," Oliver admitted. "They just said they would send someone out. I hope it's soon though."

"So do I," Joseph replied. "It would feel more reassuring. Like she's closer somehow,"

"I know what you mean," Oliver agreed. Joseph looked at Oliver with pitiful eyes.

"My goodness, if I'm going through all this after only knowing her a few weeks, I can't imagine what you must be going through."

Oliver sighed. "You have no idea," he replied sadly as he looked down at the table. Joseph sat quiet for a few seconds, just staring at him.

"I'm so sorry you have to go through all this," Joseph said apologetically. Oliver looked up with a confused look on his face and stared into Joseph's eyes searchingly. Was it his imagination or what there a trace of guilt reflected in them?

After a few more seconds of searching, Joseph finally broke the gaze and stood up. "I think I'll go for a walk," he mumbled as he headed quickly out the kitchen door. Oliver and Eb sat silent a second, not knowing what to make of what just happened.

"What was that about," Eb asked.

"I'm not quite sure," Oliver replied, not really focusing on his answer. He was too busy staring after Joseph, wondering if the look he just gave him should concern him or not. After a minute or two, he finally snapped out of it and turned his attention back to Eb.

"Eb, could you do me a favor," Oliver asked.

"Anything, Mr. Douglas,"Eb replied.

"Could you run into Drucker's and get a few things for me?"

"Sure, what?"

"There's a list on the refrigerator. Thanks Eb. Here are the keys," Oliver said as he tossed the keys to Eb. Eb caught the keys, grabbed the list, and headed out the front door. Oliver sighed with relief and went into the living room to lie down.

He couldn't care less about the list of groceries Lisa had left on the refrigerator. All he wanted was sit in silence and be alone with his memories of his wife.