Chapter 3 That night, Jeff tossed and turned for a couple of hours before deciding that he wouldn’t be able to sleep until Kari called.  He got out of bed and went to the living room, plopping down in his favorite spot on the couch.  A smile crept across his face as his nose was filled with a slight scent of Kari’s perfume.  As he turned around he saw her blanket draped across the back of the couch.  Every time they watched a movie in the living room, Kari would snuggle up next to Jeff on the couch and cover up with the blanket.  He laughed as he thought about how she could never make it all the way through a movie without falling asleep.  How he wished that she was next to him at that moment.  He grabbed the blanket and spread it across his bare legs as he flipped through the television channels.  There was nothing on that he wanted to watch.  Remembering that Matt had given him his mail earlier, Jeff wrapped Kari’s blanket around his waist and went out to his car.  He hobbled and side stepped on the stones of the front walk way as he was bare footed.  After retrieving the mail, he returned to his spot on the couch.  Jeff flipped on the lamp that was beside him and began to open the many envelopes.  In these were several gifts - a hat, a shirt, a drawing that a fan had done of Jeff - and countless letters from young girls that professed their love to him. "How could they love me, they don’t even know me.", Jeff thought to himself.  Finally, he came to the last letter.  It was in an 8 x 10 size envelope.  As soon as he pulled the piece of paper from the envelope, he recognized the writing right away - he would never forget it.  It was the same writing as on the letter that had weirded him out only a few weeks before.  Jeff almost threw the letter into the garbage, but from some reason he stopped and decided to read it: "My Dearest Jeff:   I know you do not know who I am, but you soon will.  I love you and I intend     on  showing you just how much.  Since your wife is away, there will be no           reason for you to push me away.  You will see my darling.  Soon." Just reading the words sent a chill down Jeff’s spine causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand up.  Maybe Matt was right.  Maybe it was just some wacko fan and he should blow it off.  He wasn’t quite sure what to do, but decided to talk to his brother about, first thing the next day.  He debated upon whether to tell Kari, only to decide that there was no need to worry her since she was so far away.  RING! Jeff almost jumped out of his skin. "Damn.  It’s just the phone.", he told himself. He picked up the cordless and pressed the talk button, saying "Hello."  But there was no one on the other end. "Hello.", he said again, but still there was no answer.  Hanging up the phone, Jeff was getting a little creeped out - first the letter, then the call.  The scene played again as the phone rang and Jeff jumped.  He jerked the receiver up and firmly said, "Hello!"  Again, nothing, then a dial tone.  He was getting angry.  A third time, the phone rang, but this time he didn’t say hello:   "Look, Damnit!!! Whoever this is needs to stop calling my house or."   "Jeff, it’s me." It was Kari.  Jeff sighed in relief.   "I’m sorry.  Hey baby."   "What was that all about?"   "Nothing.  Someone just kept calling and hanging up when I would answer."   "That was me.  I kept getting a bad connection.  I could hear you, but                  evidentally you couldn’t hear me." Jeff felt silly that he had let that letter get to him like that.  And he laughed.   "What’s so funny?"   "Nothing.  So, you all done for today?"   "Yeah.  And I’m worn out."   "I bet you are."   "Jeff, I need to talk to you."   "You’re talking to me."   "No.  I have something to tell you."   "So, tell me."   "I’m late."   "I thought you said you were done for today." Kari laughed.      "I’m not late for work silly.  I’m LATE." Jeff scratched his head.  Maybe it was the lack of sleep that had dulled his usual sharpness, but he just wasn’t getting it.   "Late for what?"   "Jeff, are you awake?"   "Of course I am.  I just don’t understand." And as soon as the words fell from his mouth, the light bulb went off.   "Your late?  Oh God, how late." Kari’s heart sank a little as she thought he was upset.  She had worried so about telling him because she wasn’t sure whether he would be happy about becoming a father.  And now, as it seemed to her, her worst fear was becoming a reality.   "Two weeks." Her voice began to crack as tears built up in her eyes.   "Wow." Is all he could manage to say.  And there was a long, silent pause.   "Is that a good wow or a bad wow?"   "I don’t know, it’s just kind of a wow."   "Oh" Kari covered the receiver as she began to cry.    "Oh, baby, no.  Don’t cry.  I didn’t mean that.  Of course it’s a good wow."   "Then why did you say it like that?"   "You just caught me off guard.  I totally didn’t expect that."   "Well, I’m not sure yet.  I’m going to the doctor in the morning before     filming starts again."   "Will you call me as soon as you know?"   "Of course I will.  I really should get some sleep, I’m zonked and if I’m going     to make it to the doctor I’ll have to get up really early."   "Okay, baby.  I love you.  And I really am happy."   "I love you too, but don’t get too excited yet.  Let’s wait and see if I am first."   "Okay.  Call me."   "I will.  Bye."   "Bye." Jeff lied down in the bed.  He had completely forgotten about the letter as his mind was filled with thoughts of possibly being someone’s Dad.             Last Chapter ..*.. Next Chapter ..*.. Chapter Index ..*.. Home