After Lori's comment on Lesson 10 and my friend's desire for a 'happy ending' I edited this piece as follows:
Rhett had called her Ravishing Rita. Ever since he saw her at the real estate office in Austin his sole purpose was to woo her until she fell madly in love with him and agreed to be his bride. It took all his considerable charm to convince her to have a cup of coffee with him.
He wasn't the only man to fall in love with her at first sight. She was a confident, no-nonsense Office Manager who kept the clients at arm's length, following her own advice to leave romance out of the office. She was adept at avoiding the obvious interest of most men, but Rhett had been relentless. She was breathtaking. It was simple genetics and she took care of herself. Wearing a touch of her signature red almost every day, eyes would follow her wherever she went.
Rita enjoyed working the front desk for an hour every day while the receptionist was at lunch. She began her career at the company in that position - sitting day in and day out answering the phone and typing endless real estate forms, chatting with clients to pass the time. Her appearance always helped her get hired, but she'd kept her job because of her abilities. After proving she could handle far more responsibility than the receptionist position required, she moved up to Word Processor. Next came Office Manager, conducting many and varied duties proficiently and with an ease to be envied.
Rita recalled in perfect clarity the day Rhett walked in the door. It had been a slow day with not many phone calls. Everyone except her boss was out to lunch. Idly checking the Rolodex for duplicates and obsolete cards, she looked up immediately when the door opened. Rhett was the polar opposite of Rita, the epitome of male confidence and assurance - he was a man's man. Dressed in a brown custom-made suit with a starched white shirt and yellow tie, his brown shoes gleaming, he took her breath away. He had longish light brown hair and the greenest eyes she'd ever seen. They stared at each other a few seconds before either of them spoke.
"Good afternoon, you must be Mr. Barrow."
"And you must be my imagination, no one can actually be that magnificent."
Rita blushed; she couldn't remember the last time that happened.
"Thank you, Mr. Barrow. I'll tell Mr. Lightman you are here."
"Please call me Rhett, and you are…?"
"I'm Rita."
"Ah, Ravishing Rita, so it is."
"Just Rita will be fine."
"OK, Just Rita. That doesn't quite fit, but have it your way."
She grinned and when Rhett saw that smile he was not only smitten, he fell in love instantly. Just like that.
He persisted and she finally relented, agreeing to that first cup of coffee. That became the first of many shared moments together. He was accustomed to getting his own way and knew with confidence she would eventually return his feelings. He wasn't mistaken. Like a mighty oak from a small acorn, her love for him steadfastly developed over the next several months.
During their long courtship, Rhett and Rita made a trip to Rockport; three hours drive from Austin to the coast. Rhett negotiated real estate deals in the area and truly enjoyed the beauty, small town friendliness, and quietness he experienced while successfully finalizing his contracts. He longed to share Rockport with Rita, anticipating long walks on the beach.
They spent many a weekend there, exploring Rockport Beach Park and checking out the Maritime Museum. They visited Fulton Mansion, and gazed at local art in the Rockport Center for the Arts. They would have morning coffee at Coffee House by the Bay, and fresh seafood at Charlotte Plumber's or Cheryl's for dinner. Afternoons were spent bird watching at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, or visiting Big Tree - a thousand year old Live Oak tree over on Lamar Peninsula. Midnight would find them stargazing at the end of Fulton Pier - so many perfect moments. Rockport is where Rita fell deeply and passionately in love with Rhett. He would have it no other way.
Eventually they built their home on Copano Bay. They furnished it with beautiful art and so much devotion it literally beamed from within. They were married in front of the fireplace, with a small group of family and close friends celebrating the love and commitment the two of them obviously shared.
Over the years their love never faltered and just going to the grocery store or local Wal-Mart was a treat for both of them. Any time spent together was a pleasure. Once, Rita, always the pragmatic one, was steering the cart through the store busily marking items off her list as she dropped them in the basket, unaware that Rhett had been filling it with anything red he could get his hands on. A small red ball, hand mirror, metal convertible Hot Wheel, crimson lipstick, a Sharpie fine point permanent marker, and wine colored clipboard had all found their way amongst her purchases.
"What is that?"
"Just some stuff I need."
"It's all red."
"I know. It's my favorite color."
"No it's not, it's MY favorite color, and yours is green to match those jade eyes of yours."
"It used to be green, now it's red."
"You really need all this stuff?"
"Yes, I need it ‘cuz it's red."
"You're crazy, you know that."
"I'm crazy in love with you."
Rhett and Rita continued in this quiet contented marriage full of happy moments until that fateful day when Rhett had a business engagement in California. He had chartered a small jet out of the Rockport Airport, an old Air Force training base that allowed jets to land and take off, an asset to the small community. She drove him to the door of the waiting plane, ready for take-off. After hugs and kisses she waved as he boarded and then drove home, wishing she'd accompanied him. The uneasy feeling she experienced that day couldn't be shaken. It nagged her until she finally broke down and called him on his cell phone, something she wouldn't normally do while he was busy working. The call went straight to voice mail. That's odd, she thought.
Later that afternoon she got the dreaded visit from the local police chief. Chief Moore had become a friend over time and made the trip to Rita's front gate with a heavy heart. He knew it was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever done, to tell Rita that Rhett had died in a freak accident during a lightning storm over Arizona. The look on his face, combined with her intuitive sense that bad news was coming, was all it took for Rita to break down to a crumpled heap on the front step. There was no consoling her. She wept convulsively, uncontrollably and eventually had to be taken to the hospital in Corpus Christi. They sedated her and she waited for her brother to arrive from Austin so he could take her home.
Every year on Rhett's birthday she would dress in his favorite color and walk through their old haunts - the grocery store, Wal-Mart, the beach park and pier, Big Tree, everywhere they'd ever been together. It was the only thing she looked forward to all year long. She'd had to move back to Austin – living in the place where she'd experienced so much happiness was not an option. There were too many memories, too much pain, and the heartache was beyond her control. She simply couldn't live that way.
Don, Rita's brother, would drive her down, wait in the car while she walked through every place they'd ever been and then quietly drive her back home as she wept. No words were necessary, he was there for her and that's all that mattered.
Rita never knew the impact she had on Rockport citizens. She became known as the ‘Vision in Red'. A once-a-year apparition that some Rockportians believed was just a specter, a ghost, not even real. More often than not, she felt that way, too.
During one of these annual torture fests, Don decided enough was enough. He made a side trip to the local Humane Society. Rita, consumed in misery, never knew what hit her. She didn't even realize where they were until Don plopped an eight-week-old golden retriever in her lap and announced, "Now take care of it."
The puppy sat quietly looking up at Rita with a concerned look and then, ever so gently, licked her salty tears. Love at first sight had just occurred for the second time in her life.
Abe became her constant companion and eventually she began breeding golden retrievers full-time. Abraham proudly lived up to the meaning of his moniker, "father of many" in Hebrew. Surrounding herself with puppies, Rita finally had a reason to live again. She made it her life's work to find good homes for all of them. Rhett would be proud.
Rhett had called her Ravishing Rita. Ever since he saw her at the real estate office in Austin his sole purpose was to woo her until she fell madly in love with him and agreed to be his bride. It took all his considerable charm to convince her to have a cup of coffee with him.
He wasn't the only man to fall in love with her at first sight. She was a confident, no-nonsense Office Manager who kept the clients at arm's length, following her own advice to leave romance out of the office. She was adept at avoiding the obvious interest of most men, but Rhett had been relentless. She was breathtaking. It was simple genetics and she took care of herself. Wearing a touch of her signature red almost every day, eyes would follow her wherever she went.
Rita enjoyed working the front desk for an hour every day while the receptionist was at lunch. She began her career at the company in that position - sitting day in and day out answering the phone and typing endless real estate forms, chatting with clients to pass the time. Her appearance always helped her get hired, but she'd kept her job because of her abilities. After proving she could handle far more responsibility than the receptionist position required, she moved up to Word Processor. Next came Office Manager, conducting many and varied duties proficiently and with an ease to be envied.
Rita recalled in perfect clarity the day Rhett walked in the door. It had been a slow day with not many phone calls. Everyone except her boss was out to lunch. Idly checking the Rolodex for duplicates and obsolete cards, she looked up immediately when the door opened. Rhett was the polar opposite of Rita, the epitome of male confidence and assurance - he was a man's man. Dressed in a brown custom-made suit with a starched white shirt and yellow tie, his brown shoes gleaming, he took her breath away. He had longish light brown hair and the greenest eyes she'd ever seen. They stared at each other a few seconds before either of them spoke.
"Good afternoon, you must be Mr. Barrow."
"And you must be my imagination, no one can actually be that magnificent."
Rita blushed; she couldn't remember the last time that happened.
"Thank you, Mr. Barrow. I'll tell Mr. Lightman you are here."
"Please call me Rhett, and you are…?"
"I'm Rita."
"Ah, Ravishing Rita, so it is."
"Just Rita will be fine."
"OK, Just Rita. That doesn't quite fit, but have it your way."
She grinned and when Rhett saw that smile he was not only smitten, he fell in love instantly. Just like that.
He persisted and she finally relented, agreeing to that first cup of coffee. That became the first of many shared moments together. He was accustomed to getting his own way and knew with confidence she would eventually return his feelings. He wasn't mistaken. Like a mighty oak from a small acorn, her love for him steadfastly developed over the next several months.
During their long courtship, Rhett and Rita made a trip to Rockport; three hours drive from Austin to the coast. Rhett negotiated real estate deals in the area and truly enjoyed the beauty, small town friendliness, and quietness he experienced while successfully finalizing his contracts. He longed to share Rockport with Rita, anticipating long walks on the beach.
They spent many a weekend there, exploring Rockport Beach Park and checking out the Maritime Museum. They visited Fulton Mansion, and gazed at local art in the Rockport Center for the Arts. They would have morning coffee at Coffee House by the Bay, and fresh seafood at Charlotte Plumber's or Cheryl's for dinner. Afternoons were spent bird watching at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, or visiting Big Tree - a thousand year old Live Oak tree over on Lamar Peninsula. Midnight would find them stargazing at the end of Fulton Pier - so many perfect moments. Rockport is where Rita fell deeply and passionately in love with Rhett. He would have it no other way.
Eventually they built their home on Copano Bay. They furnished it with beautiful art and so much devotion it literally beamed from within. They were married in front of the fireplace, with a small group of family and close friends celebrating the love and commitment the two of them obviously shared.
Over the years their love never faltered and just going to the grocery store or local Wal-Mart was a treat for both of them. Any time spent together was a pleasure. Once, Rita, always the pragmatic one, was steering the cart through the store busily marking items off her list as she dropped them in the basket, unaware that Rhett had been filling it with anything red he could get his hands on. A small red ball, hand mirror, metal convertible Hot Wheel, crimson lipstick, a Sharpie fine point permanent marker, and wine colored clipboard had all found their way amongst her purchases.
"What is that?"
"Just some stuff I need."
"It's all red."
"I know. It's my favorite color."
"No it's not, it's MY favorite color, and yours is green to match those jade eyes of yours."
"It used to be green, now it's red."
"You really need all this stuff?"
"Yes, I need it ‘cuz it's red."
"You're crazy, you know that."
"I'm crazy in love with you."
Rhett and Rita continued in this quiet contented marriage full of happy moments until that fateful day when Rhett had a business engagement in California. He had chartered a small jet out of the Rockport Airport, an old Air Force training base that allowed jets to land and take off, an asset to the small community. She drove him to the door of the waiting plane, ready for take-off. After hugs and kisses she waved as he boarded and then drove home, wishing she'd accompanied him. The uneasy feeling she experienced that day couldn't be shaken. It nagged her until she finally broke down and called him on his cell phone, something she wouldn't normally do while he was busy working. The call went straight to voice mail. That's odd, she thought.
Later that afternoon she got the dreaded visit from the local police chief. Chief Moore had become a friend over time and made the trip to Rita's front gate with a heavy heart. He knew it was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever done, to tell Rita that Rhett had died in a freak accident during a lightning storm over Arizona. The look on his face, combined with her intuitive sense that bad news was coming, was all it took for Rita to break down to a crumpled heap on the front step. There was no consoling her. She wept convulsively, uncontrollably and eventually had to be taken to the hospital in Corpus Christi. They sedated her and she waited for her brother to arrive from Austin so he could take her home.
Every year on Rhett's birthday she would dress in his favorite color and walk through their old haunts - the grocery store, Wal-Mart, the beach park and pier, Big Tree, everywhere they'd ever been together. It was the only thing she looked forward to all year long. She'd had to move back to Austin – living in the place where she'd experienced so much happiness was not an option. There were too many memories, too much pain, and the heartache was beyond her control. She simply couldn't live that way.
Don, Rita's brother, would drive her down, wait in the car while she walked through every place they'd ever been and then quietly drive her back home as she wept. No words were necessary, he was there for her and that's all that mattered.
Rita never knew the impact she had on Rockport citizens. She became known as the ‘Vision in Red'. A once-a-year apparition that some Rockportians believed was just a specter, a ghost, not even real. More often than not, she felt that way, too.
During one of these annual torture fests, Don decided enough was enough. He made a side trip to the local Humane Society. Rita, consumed in misery, never knew what hit her. She didn't even realize where they were until Don plopped an eight-week-old golden retriever in her lap and announced, "Now take care of it."
The puppy sat quietly looking up at Rita with a concerned look and then, ever so gently, licked her salty tears. Love at first sight had just occurred for the second time in her life.
Abe became her constant companion and eventually she began breeding golden retrievers full-time. Abraham proudly lived up to the meaning of his moniker, "father of many" in Hebrew. Surrounding herself with puppies, Rita finally had a reason to live again. She made it her life's work to find good homes for all of them. Rhett would be proud.
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