Olafson looked pleased, but also troubled about something. While Barbara talked with her friend in California, he hobbled over to a file cabinet and took out a letter. When she was off the phone, he handed it to her. She cringed at seeing the return name and address.
"This came for you, must be over a year ago. Guess he didn't know where to mail it except here, figuring maybe you'd touch bases here sometime."
Barbara became anxious as she opened the small blue envelope and began reading the single sheet of blue writing paper inside: "Congratulations on the sale of your airport to the government. Now you'll see it isn't so easy being rich.
(Ha! Ha!) "Did you know I got married? Biggest mistake I ever made, except to come on to you so hard. Wife's cold as a mackerel in a fish market freezer."
I can understand why, Barbara said to herself. You've probably worn her out. "That big guy, Moose, really did a number on me after you left the hangar. I heard him call me a pervert, but I think he's one. He had me take off all my clothes, for Chrissake!
He even told me I was pretty, and grabbed me between the legs. I thought he was going to rape me! I'd have sued his ass for assaulting me, but didn't want to embarrass you."
Embarrass me! You S.O.B., you were raping me! "I was just trying to love you, Barbs. Maybe I get a little rough at it sometimes, but I like to play rough."
Just come near me one more time, and you'll see how rough I can play! Chet went on about himself, as she expected.
"Broke my leg so bad, it never healed right. Had to be rebroken a couple of times. Then when it looked like it was mending, I was dumb enough to ride a horse. You know how I like horses. Fell off and rebroke my leg. Now it never will be right. But at least it's keeping me out of the war."
Which I'm sure you don't mind. "I'm doing my part, with Armstrong Enterprises. Dad died and I'm CEO now, running a business very important to the war effort. Supplying aircraft essentials like gauges and other instrument panel stuff, and timing devices for bombs."
I hope the "stuff" is safer than what you put in the plane that Paul Riordan crashed in. "Because of what Moose did to me, I walk with a cane now.
It kind of crimps my style, if you know what I mean. Girls don't go much for gimps, unless maybe they got that way in the war.