I was so happy. Everything was going just great. This was how I had always imagined my life as being, although for many years it seemed to be going in the exact opposite direction.
Now, it looked like the life I had always wanted, was right at my fingertips.
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Sheila was an absolute charm. She rarely left my arm and every time she introduced me to another of her family or another villager of the Rock, she would glow.
Every time I looked at her, I was beginning to feel more and more that she was what would make my life complete.
All that was left was for her to meet and accept Whisper.
I was beginning to feel strongly, that would not be an issue anymore.
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It was around 11:30 pm that Sheila introduced me to her Grandmother and Grandfather.
She told me she had saved them for last, for a reason.
They were simply the best.
"Will, this is my Grandparents, George and Nellie Parsons."
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Both of them shook my hand and then George asked me to sit down.
"You gots dat big 'ouse out at da point don't you?" George asked.
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"Yes sir, I do," I said, as I sat at their table.
Sheila sat down next to me.
"Sir! Me son don't be callin' me Sir. Me name's Jarge."
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"Ok, Jarge."
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John and his wife Cora also were sitting at the table.
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Nellie spoke up. "Do you knows 'bout da family dat used to lives there?"
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I shook my head.
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"I was goin' to tell Will 'bout dat before he bought the land out dere, but he didn't want to know anything 'bout it."
He turned to me.
"Isn't dat right, Will boy?"
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I nodded.
"Yes, in the beginning, but ..."
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Nellie continued.
"So youse don't want to know the story?"
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My heart actually started pounding a little. Did someone know Whisper's story?
I nodded.
"Yes. I think I can handle the story, now."
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George spoke. "Calvin Dove and he's wife Alice. Dey were da couple who lived out dere. Dey had a little girl too."
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My heart was beating like crazy.
I knew the name of Whisper's parents.
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George was deep in thought.
"Fer da life of me, I can't 'member dat little girl's name."
He turned to his wife.
"Nells, what's was da name of da Doves' little girl. Jeannie? Joanie?"
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Nellie shook her head, while sipping on her beer.
"No, Jarge. her name was Jenny."
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"Are youse sure, old lady? I thinks it were Joanie."
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Nellie hit her husband in the shoulder.
"Don't be callin' me old lady, old man."
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George laughed and looked at me.
"Nells doesn't likes it when I calls 'er dat."
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"No I don't, you old billy goat."
She looked at me and smiled.
"The little girl's name was Jenny. I 'members it, even ifin dat old goat doesn't"
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I could barely breathe. Whisper's name was Jenny Dove.
I think there was a tear in my eye.
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George nodded, sipping his whiskey.
"Yes, maid. I believes youse right. It was Jinny."
George took another sip of whiskey, shaking his head.
"It's a shame what 'appened to dem. Was da worst fire we ever hads here in da Rock."
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My heart jumped to my throat.
"Fire? What happened?"
Now I was sitting forward on my chair. I was sure they could hear my heart pounding.
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"It was back in '49 or '50."
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"'51, Jarge," Nellie corrected him, shaking her head.
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"Tanks Nells. It was 1951. I was just a little boy, I would have been seven. Jinny was a few years older than I was."
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"She was 'leven, Jarge. She was 'head of us in school."
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George slapped my back.
"Dats why youse needs a gud woman, Will, me son. So when youse gits old like I is, dey can 'member things for ya."
He laughed, pouring another whiskey.
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"You don't be needin' dat, my son," Nellie cracked, taking the glass from him.
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He took another glass that was in front of Sheila and poured another drink.
"I needs dis fer tellin' da story. Helps me 'member."
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Nellie laughed and poured some Coke in the whiskey she had taken from her husband.
"You be needin' more then dat bottle, old man."
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George nodded. "She was 'leven," he said, continuing the story, ignoring his wife.
"We was havin' da worst storm dat we had in years. It was so bad dat no one cud move anywhere. We was all stuck indoors. It was late at nite. I 'member lookin' out da window and seein' like an orange glow against the sky."
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I was captivated, but at the same time my heart was breaking imagining what was coming up next.
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"I 'member Dad and sum of da other men goin' out to da point. By da time dey gots dere , well dere was nothin' dey cud do. Da house was all flames."
George drank his whiskey and shook his head.
"Dere was nuttin' dey could do," he repeated, sadly.
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My voice was a mere whisper. "So, they all died?"
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George nodded.
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Nellie corrected him, again.
"No, Will. Dey didn't all die in da fire. Dey never did find da little girl."
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George nodded, slapping the table.
"Dat's right. The next day when da fire was out dey found Calvin and Alice in da house, But dey never found da little girl."
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"Jenny," Nellie reminded him.
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"Yes, Jinny."
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I was shocked. "They never found Jenny?"
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Nellie shook her head. "No, nobody knows what 'appened to her. Dey figures that she was so small dat she burned up in da fire."
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My chest hurt. I know there were tears in my eyes. I sniffed.
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"You ok, Will?"
Sheila put her arm around my shoulder.
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"Its sad. They never found the little girl."
Inside I was dying.
I was fighting back the tears.
I looked at the others, forcing a smile and an apology.
"Sorry. I tend to be a little soft hearted at times."
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"That's okay, my love," Sheila assured me.
"I love that you are that way."
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George, once again, continued his story.
"Dey buried da Doves' in the little cemetery jest outside da town. I 'member my Dad sayin' dat the 'hole town chipped in for da funeral. But dere only be Calvin and Alice dere."
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I was faint. I needed some air. This whole story was so overwhelming.
I had wanted to know what happened, but this was more than I expected.
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I stood up.
"Thank you George and Nellie. But I think I need some air."
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"You okay, Will, boy?" John wondered.
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I nodded.
"Just a little overwhelming, I guess."
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Sheila stood up.
"Let me get my coat and come with you."
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I kissed her.
"No, sweetie. You stay here. It is cold outside and besides, I will only be a few minutes."
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She looked at the clock.
"Its almost 11:45, sweetie."
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I kissed her again.
"I will be back in plenty of time for the countdown."
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She smiled.
"Okay, baby. But bundle up."
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I nodded and went to get my coat.
Once outside i gasped, fighting back the tears.
I started off down the road toward my house.
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I never returned.