“Why?” I stared at my palms and took a step back.

  Blake touched my elbow. “Are you okay?”

  I peered at him and furrowed my eyebrows. “I’m not sure. None of this makes sense.”

  Vivian spoke just above a whisper. “Sis, she wanted you to come when you were ready to see her too. Not because I asked you to visit.” Vivian led us to the front door. “She’s napping but come on inside. I’ll find her box.”

  “Box?”

  “She has a few things for you that she’s kept in a shoebox. I’ve never seen the contents, she keeps it sealed, but she’ll want you to have it. She mentions it—and you—often.” Viv told us to take a seat in the living room, and she slipped away. Blake and I sat in old, ratty chairs across from a shabby sofa. An old console TV sat in the front corner of the room.

  What am I doing here? I chewed on my bottom lip and gripped the arms of my chair.

  Blake reached over and rubbed my shoulders. “Breathe.”

  Jenny wandered around the room and gazed at photographs that hung on the walls. “Mom? Is this you?”

  I rose and padded across frayed, avocado green carpet to Jenny, who studied pictures on the fireplace mantel. I picked up my senior graduation photo. “She displays this? Did she know we were coming for a visit?” I peered at Jenny.

  “Why are you looking at me? I said nothing.”

  I returned to a chair next to Blake.

  A few minutes later, Viv carried a taped-up shoebox into the living room and placed it under a chair next to the couch. I assumed that was Aunt Mary’s chosen seat.

  “Mom and I are so happy about your wedding.”

  I shook my head. “Aunt Mary is happy for me?” No way.

  “Sis, she’s changed. You’ll see.” Vivian straightened. “I hear her. I should tell her that you’re here. She might die of a heart attack if she walks in and sees you.” Viv stood and strolled down the hallway.

  Blake reached over and took my hand. “Jenny and I are here for you. You’re okay.”

  I listened to the voices down the hall.

  “Who’s here? Keedryn?” Aunt Mary’s voice crackled as she spoke. “Vivian, I’ve told you before I’m too old for your nonsense. That girl will never forgive me for the way I treated her. Why would she come see me now? Am I dying? I don’t have any money to give her.”

  I got up, then returned to my seat. To process what was about to happen boggled my mind. I rose again to run outside but stopped when Jenny and Blake both stood. I needed to face this woman who’d caused me much heartache. Does she want to see me again? Why?

  My aunt came around the corner. I put my hand over my chest. She hobbled into the living room pushing a walker.

  I stared at her, baffled by her frailty. If Vivian looked sixty-five, Aunt Mary could pass for ninety, but she was only seventy. Her eyes met mine. She pushed her walker closer to me and raised her shaky hand. “God has answered my prayers. Child, I’m sorry for the grief I caused you—”

  My mind went numb. Did she say she’s sorry?

  Vivian took her by the elbow. “Mom, you need to sit.” She turned Aunt Mary around and directed her to the chair.

  “Leave me be. I’m not done with Keedryn.”

  “She can move her chair closer to you. You must sit.”

  She called me Keedryn. She hated my name. But she’s said it twice and said it with kindness both times. And she’s prayed for me to visit her? My heart softened.

  Blake picked up my chair and moved it closer to my aunt.

  In a rougher tone, my aunt said, “Who are these other people? What are they doing here with you?”

  Now, that sounded like Aunt Mary. I pointed to Jenny on the couch. “My daughter, Jenny.”

  Jenny rose and walked toward Aunt Mary. “Hi. I’m happy to meet you.”

  “Come closer. My eyesight’s not all that great.”

  Jenny knelt in front of my aunt’s chair.

  “You’re a pretty thing like your mother.” She smiled.

  Aunt Mary smiled at my baby girl. That broke another hole in the wall that surrounded my heart.

  “And him? Who let him inside?”

  “He’s my fiancé, Blake. We’re getting married soon.”

  Vivian patted Aunt Mary’s shoulder. “Remember, I told you about their wedding.”

  I reached for Blake’s hand. “My first husband, Jenny’s dad, died a few years ago. The Lord has blessed me with another man who loves me.”

  Aunt Mary’s walker was still between us. She pulled herself up to her five-foot height, lifted one hand, and pointed her bony finger in Blake’s face. “You treat her well or you’ll answer to me young man. She’s endured enough heartache with me as her guardian. Never again will I allow anyone to treat her poorly.”

  “Aunt Mary, I plan to cherish her forever.” He and Jenny returned to their seats.

  My aunt sat and clasped her hands together. “Vivian said she put a box under my chair. Where is it?”

  Vivian moved Aunt Mary’s walker out of the way, and I reached underneath and pulled out the shoebox.

  “Thank you, hon.” She placed it next to her. “First, can you forgive me? I was hateful. Cruel. Won’t make excuses. Just plain ornery.”

  I took her fingers in my hands and focused on her eyes. “Aunt Mary, I forgave you many years ago. I’ve struggled since with resentment, but the Lord reminds me of what Christ did on the cross for me and how He suffered.”

  “People treated Him bad too, didn’t they?”

  “Yes. And He forgave them. And I forgive you now for everything that happened. I love you with God’s love, and hope you can forgive me, too, for any trouble I caused you.”

  Tears streamed down her face. “There’s nothing to forgive you for, my child.” She looked around until she spotted Viv, who stood behind her. “Where’s my Bible?”

  Viv stepped away, returned a minute later with a Bible, and handed it to her mother.

  Aunt Mary said, “I want you girls to help me understand. I’ve been filled with doubt and find it hard to believe Keedryn could forgive me, but here she is. I want to believe God will forgive me too.”

  Aunt Mary lifted the Bible from her lap with both hands and gave it to me.

  I flipped through the pages to 1 John 1:9. Aloud, I read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I reached for my aunt’s hands again. “We confess, and He forgives.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at Blake and mouthed, “Pray.” He rose, came closer, and led us in prayer. Aunt Mary repeated many of the words after him. When we finished, I hugged her neck.

  Vivian handed us both tissues and the shoebox that had fallen on the floor.

  Aunt Mary tugged at the tape that surrounded the box but struggled. Blake pulled out his pocketknife and offered to help. He cut the tape around the box and handed it back to my aunt before he returned to his seat.

  Aunt Mary’s hands shook when she pulled off the top. She laid the lid next to her and stared inside. “Keedryn, honey, I should have given this to you before you left for college, but I didn’t think fast enough. I planned to share this with you on your eighteenth birthday. I’m sorry I didn’t get it to you.”

  “You couldn’t send it if you didn’t know where I lived.” I covered her trembling hands with mine. “Please don’t blame yourself.”

  “I blame myself for a lot of things. I hope today I can make it right.” She pulled out a handful of old photos and gave them to me.

  The first was of Dad and Mama on their wedding day. Next, a photo of Dad while he talked or sang to me when I was a baby. The third one was of Mama and me while we played dress up when I was five. She had allowed me to help her with her makeup. Her face was a mess.

  Tears welled when I looked at a picture of my parents and me on my tenth birthday, a few days before they died. Aunt Mary took the photo before I blew out my candles.

  I hope that box is almost empty. I can’t take much more of this.

  Aunt Mary pulled something out of the box. I covered my mouth. Oh, God, help me. Mama’s pearls. I couldn’t move.

  Aunt Mary’s hand shook as she held them out to me.

  I opened my palm and she gently placed them there. “She wore these the night she died.” I turned to Blake. “The ones I told you about.”

  He stood, strode closer to me, and laid his hand on my shoulder. “They’re beautiful.” He kissed my cheek. “Do you need a break before you see anything else?”

  Aunt Mary peered at Blake. “There are only more photos, and she can look at those later.”

  “If Aunt Mary doesn’t mind, I need fresh air.” I rose, took a step, and everything went dark.

  Fourteen

  I

  rested against our rental car. Blake stood on one side of me and Jenny on the other. Both fussing over me. “I’m fine. To see those photos overwhelmed me. And Mama’s pearls? I’m sorry, that tore me up.”

  Jenny rubbed my shoulder. “You have every reason to be emotional. You expected Aunt Mary to be mean and hateful, but she welcomed you as she would royalty. She lavished you with sentimental gifts and asked you and the Lord for forgiveness. That’s a lot to take in, all in less than an hour.”

  Blake faced me and placed both hands on my upper arms. “I’m proud of you. You didn’t know what to expect from your aunt, but you handled yourself in a gracious manner.” He held me close and told me again how much he loved me.

  I pulled away, eyed the overgrown grass and weeds, and made my way to the front door. “They need my help.”

  Blake and Jenny agreed.

  We entered the house and Aunt Mary grinned. “Are you feeling better, Keedryn?”

  I nodded and thanked her for her concern. I sat in the chair positioned in front of hers and took a deep breath.

  “While you enjoyed the fresh air, I asked Vivian to fetch me this old Bible. I found it in your parent’s possessions. Belonged to your daddy. I’m sure he’d want you to have it.”

  I took it from her outstretched arms and flipped open the cover where I read an inscription. “Looks like he received it when he was a teenager.” I brought it to my chest. “I’ll cherish it.”

  She touched her temple and closed her eyes. “I was angry with God for taking them from you and taking your mom from me. That’s when I took to drinking.” Her voice choked with tears. “When you came to live with me, and you mentioned Jesus, I became angrier. I’ve already told you how sorry I am for all that.” She scanned the room. “I’m feeling a little light-headed, hon.”

  I leaned back in my chair and looked over my shoulder at Blake. “Aunt Mary seems exhausted, and I am too. We should go so she can rest.”

  Blake looked at Aunt Mary. “Is there anything you need before we leave tomorrow?”

  “No, hon. We’re doing fine.” She glanced at Vivian. “Aren’t we?”

  She agreed.

  When we stood to leave and said our goodbyes, I pulled Viv aside and spoke to her about support money.

  Not sure how long Aunt Mary would be with us, and I wanted to give her the best care possible. I wish I’d visited her sooner. I wasted so many years.

  ~

  Blake pulled the rental into a fast-food restaurant’s drive-through lane along Tamiami Trail. Three cars waited in front of us. “We’re on our own for a few hours. We’ll pick up lunch, and after we eat, I have a treat for you both if K’s not too tired.”

  Jenny smacked her hands together. “Does that mean a trip to the beach?”

  Blake twisted in his seat and stared at Jenny with his mouth opened. “Do you think the only reason to come to Florida is for the beach?”

  “No, of course not. Either that or Disney World, but because we’re closer to the beach, I hope that’s where you’ll take us.”

  He gazed at me. “What would you like to do for a few hours? Return to Mother’s for a nap, the beach, or see alligators?”

  Jenny squealed and clapped several times. “Gators sounds like fun. Let’s do it.”

  I turned to Jenny and frowned. “Must you squeal in my ear and make so much noise? You act like your daughter.” I shook my head and eyed Blake. “What did you hope to do?”

  “We’re close to Myakka River State Park. We should be able to spot a few alligators there. Tonight, we can view the sunset from Clearwater Beach if you’d like. We can invite Mom and Aunt Debra to join us.”

  Jenny gripped the back of my headrest. “Yes. We get to do both. Carl will be jealous when he finds out I saw gators and the beach.”

  Jenny acted like she’d never been to Florida. I knew that wasn’t true. We’d seen alligators on our last family trip there, although that had been ten years earlier.

  I rolled my eyes and peered at Blake. “Some kids never grow up.”

  We placed our order, picked it up at the window, and drove to a nearby park. Jenny hurried to one of the three picnic tables close to a live oak draped in Spanish moss. We discussed how much Aunt Mary had changed and how ill she appeared after years of alcohol abuse and other health issues. I mentioned my concern that she may not live long.

  Jenny straightened and cleared her throat. “I’d like to help, too, toward Aunt Mary’s care. I’m sure Carl will agree. How can we do that without her or Aunt Viv getting upset with us?”

  “When I hugged Viv goodbye, I told her I’d send money again. She balked, but I insisted. I’ll take care of it, Jenny. You don’t need to do anything.”

  She spoke with compassion. “But I want to. They’re my family too. The only other relative I have is Uncle Bud on Dad’s side, and he doesn’t need any help.”

  I reached across the picnic table and rested my hand on top of hers. “Okay. When we get home, let’s figure out together what we can give to help them out on a regular basis.”

  Blake’s face softened. “Their immediate need is different housing. And a better car. I’ll help with those.”

  Jenny chuckled. “Yeah. That old clunker won’t last much longer.”

  He stood and gathered our trash. “One of you may want to check to see if they have any medical bills that need paid.”

  “That’s sweet, Blake, but we should wait until after the wedding for you to help. I’ll call Viv next week and ask her about medical bills. We can search places to live on the Internet and make suggestions to her after we’re married.”

  “Buttercup, their need is urgent. I can help before the wedding. Where do you come up with these rules?” He scrunched his face and threw our trash into the garbage can.

  “The journal of etiquette.” I chuckled. “Apparently, you haven’t read it.”

  Jenny giggled.

  Blake shook his head. “What does Vivian do for a living?”

  I explained that Viv currently worked at cleaning houses and businesses to allow her flexible hours to look after Aunt Mary.

  I rose and grabbed my water cup. “And where did you find these pet names? A list on Google?”

  Blake frowned. “Yes. I jotted down a few and check my list from time to time.” He glared at me. “If you don’t like these, help me come up with something you like.”

  “The best name will be one you create all on your own that says something about me. Take into consideration my personality or what you admire in me.” I winked at Jenny.

  “I admire buttercups.” He grinned. “They’re a beautiful yellow flower, and their petals shine.”

  “Sweet. Do you think I’m beautiful and sparkly?”

  He hesitated, which told me that he picked a name off his list and not because he thought I fit the description.

  “Sure?”

  This time I glared at him.

  “Yes, that’s why I chose buttercup.” He opened his eyes wide.

  I shook my head and raised my eyebrows.

  Jenny stood and took a sip of her lemonade. “I’m ready for alligators. How long will it take us to get there?”

  “The park’s an hour south of us.” Blake threw the rest of his drink away and held my elbow. “Are you up to this, or would you rather relax and process all that happened with your aunt?”

  I glanced at Jenny.

  “Mom, you know I’d give up the gators for you.”

  “Let’s get going.” I patted Jenny’s arm. “I’m ready to spend a few hours with two of my favorite people at the park.”

  We spent a couple of hours there and saw plenty of waterfowl, alligators, turtles, and lizards. I loved the gracefulness of the herons, and Jenny’s favorites, of course, were the gators.

  Blake wrapped his right arm across my shoulder and his left around Jenny’s. “My favorite part was watching the enjoyment on your faces, but we need to get back to Tampa and Clearwater Beach so K and I can enjoy a romantic sunset.”

  Fifteen

  A

  llison greeted us in the front yard of Augusta’s home and told us her grandmother and aunt were exhausted after a full afternoon of activities. I thought we should stay and visit and forget the beach, but Jenny protested.

  Blake turned toward her. “We can leave your mom here, and I’ll take you young ladies to the beach. I’m ready for sand between my toes.”

  I slapped Blake’s arm. “If you plan a trip to the beach, I want to come along. But won’t your mother feel deserted?”

  “Let’s see what she wants. She may prefer the quiet with all of us gone.”

  When we checked in with Augusta, she insisted we go on without them.

  We drove west for thirty-five minutes and chatted about the lovely weather and the magnificent homes on the bay. The conversation turned serious when Allison asked Blake if he’d heard anything new regarding the police investigation about Eliza’s death.

  He shook his head. “Nothing at all. I hope that means we’re no longer suspects.”

  We all nodded. That will be one less thing to stress over while planning a wedding.

  We arrived at Clearwater Beach just before sunset and enjoyed the beautiful white sand. Bright yellow and deep orange lit the sky while the sun set. Blake and I waded along the shore to the north where pink swirls gathered in the wispy clouds, while Jenny and Allison wandered to the south. They said they wanted us to delight in the romantic setting without them along.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17