While Hans is lost in his thoughts, he is completely unaware that he has been joined by his wife, Miep, who is looking somewhat unsettled but still beautiful. It would be a gross understatement to say that she is attractive. With her long flaming red hair and emerald eyes, she is, indeed, a picture to behold. In spite of the fact that she is nearly a foot shorter than Hans, she fits him like a deerskin glove. She is wearing a silk robe that enhances her far-better-than-average form. Hans always calls her Schaatje, which means “little treasure.” She is definitely worthy of the title.
“I know you think you’re a polar bear, Hans, but I’m not. Why don’t you come inside where it’s warm? Breakfast is ready. I don’t want it to get cold too.”
“I apologize,” said Hans. “I was just thinking about all the good times I’ve had at sea and wondering if I’m doing the right thing by quitting while I’m still so young. I’m only forty-one. I must have a lot of good years left in me.”
“And I want those good years to be spent at home with me. We’ve made our plans. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us to change them now.”
“I don’t want to change anything. I guess I’m just getting a bit sentimental. I want to spend my time with you at our new home as much as you want me to. It’ll be a whole new experience for both of us. Do you realize it’s the first real property we’ve ever owned? It’s nice here on the Gold Coast, very nice, but a condominium at Winton Place can’t match having our own six rooms and our own little forest to boot. It’s going to be a lot of work, but well worth the effort.”
“I’m really looking forward to it Hans. Imagine what we can do with our new surroundings. It’ll be like painting on a new canvas. I’ve got a plethora of ideas running rampant through my brain. In my mind, I can see it all the way it will be, not as it is now.”
On that delightful note, they went inside and ate a hardy meal, skirt steak, eggs sunny-side up, and a huge pile of fried potatoes. Life is going to be much simpler after this final separation. They both contemplated it with gusto.
V
As they neared Terre Haute, Jana called the tower for landing instructions. “Hullman approach control, this is Beech Baron 4729 Zebra, thirty miles northeast at three thousand feet inbound requesting clearance to land.”
“Two Niner Zebra, descend to one five hundred. Call from five miles,” responded the air controller.
“Two Niner Zebra,” she confirmed. “Beginning descent to one five hundred.” Before long, she was again on the mike. “Two Niner Zebra—five miles—at one five hundred.”
The tower came right back. “Two Niner Zebra, traffic is clear. You are cleared to runway five. Contact ground control for further instruction.”
“Two Niner Zebra—thanks.” With that, she dropped to six hundred feet, lowered the landing gear, applied a little flap, and lined up for her assigned landing strip. She put the Baron on the ground with the expertise of a seasoned veteran, smooth as glass, which drew a look of pride from Phil. He was honestly impressed, but not really surprised.
After getting the word from ground control, Jana taxied to the terminal area where she looked anxiously for her dad who would be watching for them. Phil had called ahead to let Fritz know they were on the way and about when they would arrive. Sure enough, there he was looking very pleased to see them. It had been almost a year since the last time they had been together, and that was only for a few hours when Fritz was passing through Chicago on his way to Denver. He spends a good deal of time on the road.
A distinctive man in his brown pinstriped three-piece Brooks Brothers suit, he looks hale and healthy, despite the fact that he carries two hundred and ten pounds on his five-foot-nine frame. He sports a full head of silver-gray hair. Even at a distance, it was easy to see where Jana got her whiskey-brown eyes.
After shutting down, Jana ran to him and was caught in his open arms. “Dad,” she almost shouted. “What a joy this will be—two whole weeks. I hope I don’t wear out my welcome.”
“You could never do that, sweetheart,” said Fritz. “We have a lot of catching up to do. I have to show you my new house too.”
“You didn’t tell us about that.” It was Phil, who just wandered over to join the conversation. “Did it happen recently?”
“Hi to you, too, Phil. Is that how you always greet people?” Fritz chortled. “But to answer your question, yes, very recently. I just moved in last week. Since my phone number didn’t change, I was able to save the secret until you got here. I’ve seen the miniature palace you guys call home, but I think you’ll be impressed with mine as well. I know I am.”
“Okay! Let me get the Baron bedded down for the night so Jana and I can go and be amazed.”
Phil left Jana and Fritz alone for a few minutes to arrange for refueling and overnight tie-down. The weather was excellent. No need to invest in hangar space for one short night.
Fritz drove out of the airport on Poplar Drive. He assured them the wait would not be long. In less than ten minutes, he took them up Fruitridge to Riley and then to the right on Adams, where he pulled into his drive. He had told them they would be impressed but that turned out to be a gross understatement. The house is big—very big. It might be best described as Victorian Modern, if there is such a thing. The front yard was as imaginative as the building, with simple but neat landscaping. Along the lot line on both sides stood rows of tall, narrow White Spruce trees that created an arboreal frame for the overall picture. Bracketing the entranceway were a pair of Austrian Pines that filled most of the available space. It was obvious that this is not a something that had just been done, but it was easy to see that it had been tenderly attended to.
“This is one big surprise,” said Phil, gawking at the scene before him. “How long did it take you to put this deal together?”
“Not long. It came on the market last month. At the price the previous owner was asking and after a little finagling, I snapped it up before he could change his mind. He was in a bit of a bind. He had recently been transferred to Dallas and knew he didn’t want to be saddled two house payments. What do you think, Jana? You’re being pretty quiet. That’s not like you.”
“Let’s just assume that if the inside is anything like the outside. I may remain mute for a while longer. Believe me, Dad, I love it so far. It’s so different from your old house. How did you manage it?”
“That was no problem,” said Fritz, a little chagrinned by her question. “Between my full-time job and the outside consulting I do, I get on very well. I don’t have anyone else to spend my money on, so why not? In any event, the house is a good investment, so how could I go wrong?”
“Absolutely,” interjected Phil. He and Jana had several properties of their own including the condominium at Marina City where Jana had lived before they met. They still use it for an in-town hideaway from time to time. The value has skyrocketed since they paid off the mortgage nine years ago. Should they ever decide to sell it, they will realize a nice profit. “Now we’re ready for the Cooke’s Tour.”
The interior was as advertised. They entered through a marble-floored foyer with a small koi pond complete with a fountain. From there, Fritz took them to an immense living room, at least thirty by fifty feet in length and width. They went down three steps from the foyer to the cathedral-ceilinged chamber fit for a king to hold royal audiences. Along the far wall, the entire far wall is a fieldstone fireplace
