Short Story: Black Walnuts

The house was drop dead gorgeous. If it was a woman it would be a supermodel. Sally looked out the patio doors and noticed the mysterious seeming black bottom pool with it's companion hot tub. The realtor was happily chirping out the advantages of the house, "and the counter tops are all granite, this area is a pantry...." I still wasn't sure if I wanted to make such a drastic move. Most people wouldn't hesitate to take such a good job offer even if it did involve a move to a new town. We transitioned into the family room. The tall windows offered a view of lawn as green and smooth as the surface of a lake.. I gazed out and noticed a squirrel running past. I could almost hear my husband Buzz saying one of his favorite expressions, "your nuts lady, the best kind but still nuts." Buzz had died a year ago. Since then, I had debated my next move. I could stay in my familiar routine in my familiar town or I could make a change. I had reservations about leaving the house where Buzz and I had been so happy together. The realtor began to head up the stairs to show me the bedrooms. The master bath had striking black wallpaper on the wall. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something on the counter top. I took a closer look, it was a nutcracker. The soldier kind. That's a strange knick knack, I thought.

"Right?" the realtor was looking at me questioningly.

"I'm sorry I missed the question."

"You have a new job here right?" She smiled encouragingly.

"Yes, I would be hosting a radio talk show. I haven't officially accepted the position...." I trailed off. How could I explain my hesitation in taking such a cool job? Actually, the job was so cool you could say it was arctic. She would never understand that I dreaded cleaning out the old house because I would have to go through Buzz's stuff and get rid of most of it. It felt as though I would be getting rid of him, not just his things.

"Well, lets move on to the bedroom." she spoke quickly not wanting to question any further. I followed along and took a look at the master bedroom. Remembering was an issue with me. At times I rushed to get the photo album and look at pictures of him because I feared that I would forget what he looked like. Many years before he had become so sick with the illness that took his life we promised each other that whoever went first would send the other a sign. With sudden clarity I remembered that we were sitting under the black walnut tree in our yard when we discussed it.

"Let me show you all the storage in the attic," the realtor said breathlessly. She gave the door a tug and it happily slid open. Several small objects tumbled out into the hallway.

I picked one up. "Oh, my word...these are black walnuts," I said with sudden shock. Like a shock from an electric fence, it hit me. The sign! This had to be it. I though back through the day...there actually had been many signs.

"Well we can just get those squirrels out of the attic and you won't have this..."

I interrupted, "never-mind, I may be nuts but I'll take the house as is."