What Was He Thinking?

Sarah McGee was happy to be able to get out at last from their flooded property. She made a stop at the bakery and the new grocery before stopping in to see Winnie Peeg.

"Winnie?" she called out entering her office. She tiptoed back to Richie’s office and found no one was in the office. "That’s odd," she said to herself. "The door is unlocked, very odd indeed for no one to be in the office. "

Thinking perhaps they had gone over to lunch in the Tavern she walked over. She spotted Amanda and Johnny having a sandwich.

"Hello Amanda, Johnny I wonder dear if you know where your auntie might be?" she asked.

Amanda touched her napkin to her mouth, "no I’m sorry, I did check upstairs before we sat down to lunch.

"Hm, her car is parked in its usual place, oh well maybe she went somewhere with Mr. Roberts." Sarah thought out loud.

"Shall I tell her you were looking for her?" Amanda asked.

"Oh no it was nothing, just thought I’d pop in since I was in the village." She smiled and started to walk away when she was stopped by Henry Jessup.

"Hello, my name is Henry Jessup, I believe you’re a friend of Winnie?" he asked in his soft spoken way.

"Yes I am, I’m Sarah McGee."

"I wonder if I might ask you something, if you will join me for a moment." He indicated his table.

"Oh well, yes just for a moment." She followed him and sat down.

"I lost my house in the floods you see and I’ve been back cleaning out what I could salvage. I came across my wife’s jewelry, she sadly passed some time back. We never had any children and so I don’t have anyone to pass it on to."

"I’m very sorry to hear of your misfortunes Mr. Jessup," Sara said not sure where this was going.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a leather case wrapped in felt and lay it on the table. "This is what I found and you see, " he opened up the package, " there are some really nice pieces here, diamond necklace, brooches and such."

"Um Mr. Jessup if you are trying to sell these pieces to me I must tell you I am not interested." Sarah gathered up her purse.

"Oh no, no, I don’t wish to sell them I only wanted your opinion. Winnie has been so kind to me I thought I might make a gift of them to her, if you think it appropriate." He smiled.

Sarah’s eyes got very large, "I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Winnie, but I do not think she would accept them."

"Well," he said slowly, "I like to take my time building a relationship and I’ve chosen Winnie to be my next bride. That’s why I would like her to have this jewelry."

"Oh dear, oh my," said Sarah rising from her chair, "heh, I wish you luck sir." She left as quickly as she could the man must be mad she thought. Winnie and Mr. Jessup she laughed walking to her car. Winnie would have him for lunch oh it was too ridiculous. She couldn’t wait to talk to Winnie. What was the man thinking?