"All The Way"
Chapter 13
Utah
Eliot chuckled softly as he spread the newly developed photos on the drafting table. The expression on Herb's face had been priceless. He could still see his friend's eyes gazing skyward, mouth open in awe as his pale blue boxers rose in the air on the makeshift flagpole, the legs swaying in the morning breeze. Across the seat of the boxers a stylish "H" had been gracefully written in permanent pen, the mournful sound of taps filled the air while the entire camp stood in formation dutifully saluting the camp's new pennant.
Leisurely he leaned back in his chair, folded his arms and stroked his chin. Knowing Osmond's mind would be toiling, hoping to rival his work added pleasure to his practical joke. A smile toyed at his lips as his eyes moved over each site photo checking for detail and quality. Suddenly a pair of soft, slender fingers covered his eyes. For a moment he was startled then relaxed when he heard the familiar giggle.
"Guess who?"
Eliot gave an exaggerated sigh, "It must be Princess Grace." Hearing another giggle he smiled.
"Try again."
"Elizabeth Taylor."
A face pressed against his cheek whispered, "Not quite."
Stokes laughed softly.
"My, this is so difficult! It must be Marilyn Monroe!"
The fingers slipped from his eyes and circled his neck. Hallie's face pressed against his cheek.
"You remembered our game."
Taking her fingers in his he gently kissed them.
"You know I couldn't forget."
His niece gave a deep sigh, "I think of those summers often. I wish things could be that way again."
Eliot enjoyed the closeness, the softness of her hair and cheek. It had been so long since they had enjoyed each other's company.
"Do you really wish to be that young again?"
Hallie pursed her lips in thought. "Not really Uncle Eliot, I just wish sometimes that things could be the way they were, you know, when my parents were alive."
Eliot gently stroked her fingertips, deep in thought, eyes growing moist. Whenever he looked into his nieces eyes he saw her mother, Arielle Stokes. They had been close during her high school years. Even with his grueling work and study schedule at the university he made the time between sessions to tutor her. Arielle was a gifted pianist and musician. He found great joy working and being with her.
What had happened to their lives all those years ago? As Arielle graduated from high school he chose to throw all his energies into his career, his doctorate. Instead of attending a music conservatory Arielle had married Hunter, his free spirited younger brother. The arrival of Hallie had been their biggest joy.
Eliot sighed deeply, "Losing those you love is hard at any age Hallie. Your mother and father loved you very much."
"I miss them," She said softly. Eliot understood her grief and had tried to ease her lose. He knew all too well that some loses could never be eased. He had tried filling his life with work and friends to clear his mind of Julia. Still, thoughts of her slipped into his mind each day.
Hallie heaved a deep sigh, kissed his cheek and pulled her fingers from his hands.
"You know your hair is getting very long," She commented, changing the subject, smoothing down the hair trailing over his collar. "You look like a hippie."
Eliot chuckled, "A desperado, now a hippie, the compliments never end."
Hallie's nimble fingers ran through his hair, smoothing it, forming a small ponytail.
"I really didn't mean it like that, not in a bad way. Here, let me fix it." She took a strip of rawhide from her pocket and tied it. "There." Admiring her handiwork she said, "I like that. It makes you look cool, you know, hip."
He turned in his chair to face her; she could see the warmth in his eyes. "I know what you intended, Hallie, and thank you."
Nervously she smoothed down her yellow t-shirt and looked at the rows of photographs on his drafting table.
"This morning was fun. Dr. Osmond seemed surprised."
Eliot smiled, "I think Dr. Osmund was very surprised."
"You know he will be planning a practical joke on you. What will you do next? Everyone is wondering what Dr. O will do to beat your joke."
"You like the fun don't you?"
She nodded.
"Can you imagine being out here without the diversion of fun?"
Hallie's eyes narrowed for a moment, remembering the vast spaces that surrounded them and their isolation from the real world. The tedious pottery work and the back breaking excavation work still loomed before them. The diversion of fun could make it all seem less arduous.
"So this is like theater?"
"Yes, you could say that, a grand theater of Shakespearian proportions. The actors are here and the script is being written as we speak. Will it be a comedy, drama, tragedy, romance or a combination of them all? How will it end? Or if we want to make it mysterious, will it ever end?"
Her eyes widened. "You make our 'dig' sound pretty exciting and not one bit boring or tedious."
"Now you know why Herb and I have our fun."
"When did these practical jokes start?"
"The jokes started long before you were born."
Wistfully he smiled, recalling the day she entered his life, his fingers gingerly sweeping a loose strand of blond hair from her face. Hallie felt the love in his eyes leaned in and allowed his hand to cup her face.
Nuzzling his hand she said, "I'm so thankful you brought me here."
His eyes grew moist recalling the little girl who ran through his rose garden chasing butterflies.
"I'm so glad you could be here with me. I know we've had our moments, and we've said things in haste, without thinking."
"Uncle Eliot, I'm the one…."
Placing his fingertips across her lips, whispering her to
silence.
"Shhhhh…..that's all behind us. I want us to be close again."
The young woman's lips quivered as tears welled up in her eyes.
"You know I love you, Hallie. A father couldn't love his daughter more."
"I know, Uncle Eliot."
Hallie slipped onto his knee and into his arms. Easily his arms circled her, feeling her soft hair against his cheek he closed his eyes.
"I love you too, Uncle Eliot."
~~~tbc~~~