14 Stories (part 2)

“Starry Night”

Characters:        Sam and Frankie from “Forgiveness Road”

Time Frame:        About fifteen months after Sam and Frankie meet.

Inspiration:       “High Above the Ground”

     Sam had been planning for this date for two weeks. It was a special night and he wanted to make sure everything went perfectly. He took Frankie to the fancy Italian restaurant in the next town over and then drove slowly back towards the farm. Instead of taking the main road, he pulled onto one of the side roads of the farm. After opening the gate, he drove his truck through. They were in the just-cut back pasture and the night sounds were their soundtrack once the engine was turned off. Frankie and Sam lay on a quilt in the back of his truck, looking up at the stars.

     “I just never saw so many stars when I lived in the city,” Frankie said and entwined her hand in Sam’s.

     “It’s a plus of living in the country. I always make sure to try and catch the meteor showers also. I’ll bring you out here again for the Leonids in November.”

     “That’ll be fun,” she replied. “I’ve never seen a meteor shower.” She turned onto her side. He did the same so they were facing each other. The night was just chilly enough that when they spoke, small puffs of clouds hung momentarily in the air. “I love being on the farm with you, Sam.”

     “You do?” Sam questioned, surprised. Frankie was not really an outdoors-y girl. She had even complained a couple times about living in the small town with her aunts.

     “Yes. It’s peaceful and beautiful,” she replied. She shivered and Sam pulled the blanket up over them a little more.

     “I’m glad to hear that you like the country.”

     “I kept an open mind this summer when I helped the aunts with their garden. Something just clicked. I liked growing things and I’ve liked all the long drives we’ve taken. I even liked strolling through the fields with you. I guess you could say the country has grown on me, pun intended.”

     They laughed. It was a new moon so Sam had brought a small camping lantern to give them a little light. He knew at a certain point in their date that he would want to see her face. It wasn’t time yet – he was still a little nervous - so he kept the light low. Frankie scooted closer to him and gave him a kiss. He returned one and for the next few minutes, they had a good, old fashioned make out session.

     “You are the best kisser I’ve ever dated, Sam,” Frankie said when they had cooled off a bit.

     “Thank you and I must say, you don’t kiss too bad either.”

     “Am I the best of all the girls you’ve dated?”

     “All the girls? You make it sound like I’ve dated dozens and dozens,” he replied, laughing. She lightly smacked him on his chest.

     “You know what I mean, Sam.” They both laughed. Sam loved her laugh.

     “Yes, you have kissed the best of the three total girls I’ve dated,” he admitted.

     “Just three? That’s it?” Frankie questioned.

     “Yes, just three. Why? What’s your number?”

     “Um…,” Frankie paused in thought for a moment. “Five, although the first one was in kindergarten so I don’t think that should count.”

     “Then four?”

     “Yes, four.”

     “That’s not so bad,” noted Sam. In the little more than a year that they had dated, they had already talked about their past ex’s. Sam leaned over and kissed Frankie again.

     “Nice,” she said and she found his hand again. “This night seems so special. I don’t know if it was the dinner or this beautiful canopy of stars but it’s just been wonderful.” It seemed like the perfect opening for Sam.

     “Tonight is special,” he said, sitting up. He turned the lantern up so they were both illuminated in its warm glow. Frankie sat up also with a quizzical look on her face.

     “You’re up to something,” she said and wagged her finger at him. “I just know it.”

     “You know me well,” he replied, his stomach suddenly flip-flopping with nerves. He took a deep breath and looked in Frankie’s eyes. “We’ve been going out for over a year and I’ve told you I love you…”

     “And I love you, too,” she interrupted him. He put his hand up.

     “Let me finish, Frankie. I’ve been talking to your Uncle Ernie and he offered me a job on his farm beginning in January.”

     “That’s great! You were hoping to find a farmhand job.”

     “Yes, and this comes with a place to sleep also so no driving back and forth from his farm to my aunt and uncle’s place.” The two farms were on opposite sides of the small town and in the winter, the roads were often treacherous. “He’s offered me the small cabin that sits on the farm.”

     “A job and your own place. Sounds perfect.”

     “It is but…”

     “But what?” Frankie goaded. Sam’s nerves were starting to get the best of him.

     “I’ve been talking to your uncle a lot lately. I know he’s the oldest male in your family since both your parents have passed. He doesn’t have any kids of his own and he feels this is the last harvest he’ll be able to do all the work on his own. That’s why he hired me.”

     “I know,” Frankie agreed. “I’ve been worried about his health and so have the aunts.”

     “So anyway, I asked your uncle a question and he gave me his consent.”

     “Consent? Consent for what? The job?”

     “No, Frankie. He gave me the okay to ask you a question.” Frankie suddenly sucked in her breath. It had taken her a while but she was figuring out what was going on. From the pocket of his khakis, he took the small velvet box out and opened it. The small diamond glinted in the light from the lantern. “Frances Mangold, would you marry me?” He took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. She was speechless which worried Sam. “We’ll have a place to live in and when the time comes and your uncle decides to retire, he’s going to give us the farm so it stays in the family, providing you say yes and I become part of your family.”

     “Sam, I’m just…” She looked up at Sam with teary eyes. She was crying. Was that good or bad? Sam wasn’t the best with reading women. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you,” she finally said. Sam felt a woosh of relief wash through him and he smiled at his new fiancé.

     “I’m so happy,” he said and pulled Frankie in for a big hug and an even bigger kiss.

     “I’m so happy also, Sam.” She hugged and kissed him back before sitting back on her heels and admiring the simple diamond solitaire. She was smiling which made Sam smile. “I love you so much,” she said as tears spilled down her face. Sam found himself a little emotional also but he was able to keep himself in check.

     “I was thinking a summer wedding next year, after the crops are in. We’ll be able to go on a honeymoon also. Otherwise, we’d have to wait until this time next year after the harvest.”

     “No, I like summer. That means we can have an outside wedding. I’m going to ask Uncle Ernie if he’ll let us get married on the farm. What do you think?”

     “I think that’s perfect.”

     Frankie’s smile was constant as they lay back down. Sam extinguished the lantern and the stars came back into focus as his eyes adjusted to the dark night. He found himself smiling. The night he hoped would turn out special did and now his future was looking just as bright as the stars that twinkled above.

“Words”

Characters:        All of them

Time Frame:        Ty and Anne – a few weeks after “Fork in the Road,” Ben and Laurie – after Laurie and Ben have their talk in Sunset Park, Jack and Penny – early on in their ordeal that starts in Deceptions, Sam and Frankie – before “Forgiveness Road.”

Inspiration:       “Broken Arrows”

     “Anne, let me in,” Ty slurred and he knocked on the door again. “I want to talk.”

     “You’re drunk, Ty,” Anne responded from the other side of the door. “Go back home.”

     “Annie, please,” he begged and knocked louder on the door. He didn’t care that it was the middle of the night. He just wanted to talk to his girl. The door opened and Anne, with a very pissed face, pulled him inside. “Thank you.”

     “Don’t thank me, Ty. I just don’t want you to make any more noise and wake up the rest of the building.”

     Ty tripped over his bumbling feet and nearly biffed it but Anne caught him just in time.

     “You’re so drunk,” she noted and led him to the couch. He plopped down on it and looked at his Anne through watery eyes.

     “Hi, Annie,” he slurred. He reached out and touched her cheek. “You’re so pretty.”

     “And like I said, you’re drunk.”

     “I just want to talk to you.”

     “We can talk but not until you’ve sobered up,” Anne said.

     “Talk now,” Ty whined. He had so many things to tell her. Or, rather, them. There were two Anne’s before him.

     “You sleep first,” she said and shoved him. He easily fell over. Anne then pulled his boots off, spread a blanket over him, and slipped a pillow beneath his very fuzzy head.

     “Can I have a kiss?” he asked. It had been awhile since they shared a kiss. Anne sighed and leaned over, giving him a kiss on his bald head. He had shaved his head in support of his sister who was struggling with cancer and the chemo treatments.

     When he woke up, his head was not doing well physically or emotionally. For several moments, he could not remember why he was in Anne’s apartment and then he remembered the beer and the whiskey and stumbling up the apartment building’s steps.

     “Oooof,” he wooshed out as he sat up. His head pounded and he knew there would be a visit to the porcelain god soon.

     “You look like shit,” a voice behind him said. It was Anne, still dressed in her pajamas.

     “I feel like it,” Ty admitted. Anne handed him a mug of black coffee and he took a sip. It burned his mouth.

     “So, what made you go on a bender last night?” asked Anne. Ty rubbed his eyes. They hurt.

     “You,” he finally answered. “I was upset about you, us. I’m not taking our breakup very good.”

     “To be honest,” Anne said and sat next to him, “neither am I. But at least I’m not getting toasted like you.”

     “It just happened so fast. There was just one beer and then Bobby bought me a shot and it went all downhill from there.” Bobby was Ty’s corner man when he boxed. “I’m not even sure how I made it this far.”

     “You were on a mission,” Anne said and sipped at her own mug of coffee.

     “I’m sorry if I made an ass out of myself.”

     “You weren’t an ass, just loud.”

     “Sorry.”

     “Don’t worry about it,” Anne said. Ty took another shot at his coffee and this time, he didn’t burn his mouth.

     “So if we’re both having problems, maybe that means we weren’t meant to break things off,” Ty said, not hiding the tone of hope in his voice.

     “No, hun, I don’t think so. It’s not that simple,” she explained with a lingering hand on his arm.

     “That’s what I was afraid of,” he said, disappointed. “I’m sorry, Anne, for everything. I tried to find a way to make us both happy and all I did was make us miserable,” said Ty. He took Anne’s hand; it looked so bare without the engagement ring on it. The ring was now safely tucked away at his mother’s house.

***

     Ben was shaking as he sat on the edge of his bed. Laurie had forgiven him, something he wasn’t sure she would do. He had hoped for her forgiveness and she gave it to him. After everything he put her through, from walking out on her and not coming back to Sunset Park when she was badly injured, she forgave him. He was the luckiest man at that moment.

     And there wasn’t just forgiveness. Laurie wanted to try and mend their relationship. That was something that he wasn’t even going to mention during their talk but that’s where they ended up. He was given a second chance with Laurie. It was a gift.

     Ben pulled his t-shirt off and again, his eyes went to the crook of his left arm. The track marks were there, evidence of how far he fell after he walked out on Laurie. But that wasn’t him anymore. He had to prove to himself that he no longer needed his vices. Ben’s focus needed to be on fixing his relationship with Laurie because he knew he had only one chance. If he failed, his own life would mean nothing.

***

     Jack found it difficult to sleep. Not surprising, after all. Being a kidnap victim was insomnia-inducing. It didn’t help that his mind would not shut off. He’d run through his usual worries about his children and being rescued and who might be behind the kidnapping. He tired of these worries and so his mind fell on the other subject he spent a lot of time on – Penny.

     He turned towards her in the dark. She lay asleep, her breathing shallow but even. His guilt for her being in this situation was immense but she would no longer allow him to apologize. Until his final breath, however, he would hold himself responsible for any harm that came Penny’s way. He hoped there wouldn’t be any more violence.

     Jack had wanted to talk about his relationship with Penny. He’d already apologized to her for his behavior over the last few months but he felt they needed to discuss it more. Even Penny wanted to talk but she was right, now was not the right time. Who knew if the camera that watched them also caught audio? It wasn’t worth the chance that the kidnappers might use their words against them.

     The time would come; they would have the chance to talk. Not as employer-employee or best friends. They would talk as those two people from June, before he turned into a great big ass.

     Penny took a deep breath in her sleep and rolled onto her back. In the faint light coming through the windows, he saw her eyes flick open. She took another deep breath and her eyes stayed open. She was awake.

     “Is everything okay?” Jack whispered.

     “Yes, just woke up,” she replied, also in a whisper. “I was dreaming. For a moment, I thought I was back at home.”

     “I wish.”

     “At least it wasn’t a nightmare, a nice change,” she said and turned back towards Jack. “What woke you up?”

     “I have not fallen asleep yet,” he replied with honesty. “My mind will not shut off. Too much thinking.”

     “You’ve always had that problem,” noted Penny. “That is how our late night calls started when you were on tour.”

     “It was so hard for me to sleep on the bus. I would still have so much adrenaline pumping through me and when that wore off, my mind would just go and go and go,” he explained.

     “And then you would call me.”

     “Yes, and you listened to me. Even from that first call when I expected Crystal to pick up but she had her phone forwarded to you.”

     “I could tell you needed to talk. I wasn’t going to leave you hanging.”

     “And as I always said, thank you for listening.”

     “Any time, Jack.”

     “I wish we could talk right now.”

     “We can if…”

     “Not about what I want to talk about, Penelope,” Jack interrupted her.

     “It’s not safe.”

     “I know,” he replied, downhearted. “I can only hope this hell we are in will end soon and then we can talk.” Jack paused for a moment. He had to say what was on his mind. “I know I apologized in the car for my behavior since June…”

     “You don’t need to apologize again.” It was Penny’s turn to interrupt.

     “Yes, I do. You are part of what is buzzing in my mind. I was terrible to you; you did not deserve that.”

     Penny didn’t say anything for a while. When she did, what she said made him feel a little better.

     “Thank you, Jack.”

***

     Sam was dead tired. It had been a long day in the fields and he had made Frankie mad. He showered before approaching her; it wouldn’t help that he smelled worse than a gym locker from the hot day. He pulled on a clean tee and a pair of shorts and found Frankie sitting on the porch swing with a beer. She had brought out a small radio and had tuned in to a station that was playing the standards from the 40’s and 50’s.

     Although the temperature had dipped, the humidity was thick and seemed to hold the night sounds in the air and making them seem louder than normal.

     “Can I sit?” he asked. If she didn’t want him around, he wanted to give her space.

     “Sure,” she replied and took a drink from her bottle. Sam took a few minutes before starting.

     “I’m sorry, Frankie,” he said. “I didn’t mean what I said.”

     “Then why did you say it?”

     “Because I wasn’t thinking,” he admitted. Frankie said nothing for a long time which made Sam stressed.

     “You haven’t been thinking the last year or so,” she finally said.

     “And I wouldn’t deny that. I’ve just had a lot on my mind,” he said.

     “And I haven’t? You have your worries about the crops and I have mine about the kids and the house…”

     “I worry about the kids, too, Frankie. I’m not an absent father.”

     “Is that what you think I’m implying?” Frankie asked.

     “That’s what it sounds like.”

     “Well, I’m not. I’m just saying I’m the first line of defense when it comes to the children. But even if I’m worrying about whatever, I would never, ever say what you said.” Frankie was angry and she threw her beer bottle as hard as she could into the darkness.

     “I’m ashamed, Frankie. What I said is not who I am. Please understand that,” Sam said.

     “I know it’s not which is what makes it ten times worse,” she noted.

     “I don’t know what else I can do to make things right other than to say I’m so, so sorry and I will never say what I said again.”

     “You need to get your head out of your ass, Sam,” Frankie ordered, “because I never want to feel this way again.”

     “I will, Frankie. I promise.”

     Frankie stood and slowly walked to the front door of the farmhouse. She stopped at the door. He heard her sigh.

     “Are you coming up to bed?” she asked.

     “Yes, I’m right behind you.” Frankie waited for him at the door. It was her way of indicating that although she was probably still sore at him, she was working on accepting his apology. Sometimes, she needed a few days before forgiving him fully.

“Prisoner”

Characters:        Laurie from Sunset Park and May Flowers
Time Frame:        A year before Sunset Park begins.
Inspiration:       “Witness”

     Laurie sat on the patio in the chilly April darkness, the smell of rain still hanging in the air. She wrapped her arms around herself and remembered that night four years ago. It was a memory she wished hadn’t come back after the attack and coma but it was one of the freshest memories she had. Ben’s words - I don’t even know if I can love you anymore – echoed still in her ears.

     Those words had gone through her, ironically, like a knife. In fact they hurt more than the actual knife wounds she would feel a few days after Ben left. The love of her life, her best friend, was leaving her and there was nothing she could say to change his mind. She didn’t even try. Ben had made his decision. They were over.

     Then Jamie, her other best friend, wanted to talk but she couldn’t. She had to run, run away from what had just happened. It was a drizzly night but she didn’t notice; she just let her feet take her away from it all. Laurie just didn’t want to believe what had happened. But it did and as she stopped on the trail that ran next to the Mississippi, she bent over and vomited.

     Four years later, Laurie remembered the sourness of the bile that came up and her stomach tumbled with the memory. She was no longer the same woman as she was four years earlier. She was frail and damaged, afraid of the world. The man she had loved since they were so young couldn’t deal with the problems that crippled her. Ben could no longer love her.

     She tried not to give in to the many faults Ben found in her but it was hard. She wished she wasn’t afraid of the outside world, wished that things just didn’t have to be just so. Laurie wanted to be normal. Actually, she was normal just after high school graduation but then the grayness began filling her up. She only went outside to run and then did so in the back alleys of Sunset Park until she got to the running trial next to the river. She ran late so she rarely shared the trail.

     The pictures on the refrigerator had to be perfectly straight and when she cooked down in the café, it the chopped vegetables weren’t perfect, she would toss them out and start all over. Things had to be done in threes. She never made a decision for fear of angering Ben but her indecisiveness just angered him. Laurie felt she had no control over what was happening to her and Ben didn’t understand. He had to leave; it was the only choice. It was her fault.

     Laurie took a deep breath and let it out. She wondered what her days would be like in a month, a year, a decade. She wanted to be free of her situation but how could she? Would she forever be a prisoner of her own self?

“Analysis of the Unbelievable”

Characters: Jack Petrov

Time Frame: Right after the Employer is revealed in Deceptions.

Inspiration: “Traitor”

     His physical pain overcome, Jack could finally focus on the events of a few days earlier when the Employer was revealed. At the height of the pain, he refused to believe who it was but as his Big Brain finally won the war over the pain, he sadly – and angrily – accepted who the Employer was. Although there was acceptance, he still couldn’t believe someone so close to him could put him, Penny, and especially his family, through this hell.

     He tried to pinpoint the moment when the ally became the tormentor but try as he might, Jack could not identify exactly when the turn had come. He wracked his brain but the only thing he could think of was the 4^th of July accident. That was the only big event that changed everyone but his logic behind that was weak because there had been the loss of two young lives and that couldn’t be the igniter to this ordeal. No, it couldn’t have been the accident.

     Jack wanted to pace to help him think but his feet were in no condition to support him and so he was forced to sit still to keep his mind going. It didn’t help much and left him frustrated, just like he was frustrated with this whole situation that he never truly saw coming. Who would?

     Penny whimpered next to him as she slept. He adjusted the old blanket that covered her and lightly stroked her cheek. She stirred but didn’t wake. He was glad as she needed the rest. She also needed a doctor and not the one that was part of the quartet that abducted them. She needed a real hospital and even he probably needed that but a hospital was not in their immediate future. For now, they were stuck in a dank, chilly basement.

     Maintained. That was the word William, the leader of the quarter, had used when Jack asked what would happen next. Jack didn’t like that. It was better than murdered or tortured but maintained didn’t explain much. Released. That’s the word he want to hear, wanted to feel. He wanted his freedom, to feel the sun again, and not feel the coldness of bindings. Jack wanted to believe the Employer wasn’t the Employer. As much as Jack hoped, he knew what had happened – betrayal.

     He never saw it coming and although Penny didn’t realize who the Employer was, she ultimately knew how vindictive the Employer could be even before they were kidnapped. Jack felt bad for Penny; she was resigned to believe that the kidnapping was her fault and he vowed to make sure to tell her that she wasn’t at fault. Not at all. It would be hard for her to accept; that was just the way Penny was. If there was fault to be found in either one of them, it would be in Jack. After all, it was he who had the blind eye.

     So they knew who the mysterious Employer was and for Jack, at least, it maddened him. He almost wish he didn’t know but he realized that by knowing, it was just another way the Employer could torture them.

    

“Forgiveness Road”

Characters:        Sam and Frankie

Time Frame:        Several years after Sam and Frankie married.

Inspiration:       “18 Years”

     Sam pulled his old gym bag out from the back of the closet. He wouldn’t need a big suitcase; his trip would just last three days. He wasn’t a fancy person and with the exception of the last day, there was no need for anything more than jeans and a tee for the first two-thirds of his trip. The last day would require his Sunday suit which was already in its suit bag. Instead of the usual Easter, Christmas and occasional wedding, the suit would be put to use for its other activity – a funeral.

     “Don’t forget your good shoes,” his wife said, walking into their bedroom with a full laundry basket.

     “Thanks, hon. I almost forgot,” he replied and pulled the shoebox from the closet. He wore the classic wingtips just as often as his suit. He took the shoes out of the box and placed them in the gym bag next to his shaving kit. “You’re talking to me so does that mean you’ve cooled off?” Instead of an answer, Sam received a grunt from Frankie. Nope, she hadn’t cooled off.

     Instead of poking the bear, Sam took his bag and suit out to his truck. He still didn’t understand why Frankie was mad at him for taking this trip. She had a tight group of friends. All he was doing was fulfilling a favor for Alex, one of his own friends.

     “Daddy, when are you coming back?” Sam’s daughter Molly asked as she brushed her dolly’s hair on the porch of the farmhouse.

     “I’ll be back in time for your birthday, sweet pea,” he said and crouched down next to her. “I can’t miss your party.”

     “My princess party, Daddy, and you get to be the king,” she corrected him with a wag of her finger. With her auburn curls, hazel eyes and wagging finger, she looked just like her mother. At least Molly wasn’t busting his butt about the trip. All he had to promise his youngest child was that he’d be back in time for her birthday which was an easy promise to make. It would be all over the day before her party.

     “Are you going to at least wish me safe travels?” Sam asked Frankie when he came back into the bedroom where she was folding clothes.

     “I don’t know,” she replied, cool as ice. He sighed; he just didn’t understand her objection or anyone’s for that matter. When someone you’ve known for thirty years asks you a favor, you come through for them.

     “I’m going to go over the chore list with the boys before I go,” he said and walked out to the barn where his two oldest children – Ryan and Aaron – were mucking out one of the horse stalls. Sam went over the list of chores that they would be responsible for while reminding them that their great uncle, Frankie’s uncle, would do the chores that required the tractor or any other farm machinery. The crops were growing so there wouldn’t be much to do during the late July days.

     “We’ll take care of the place,” Ryan said with certainty. Sam had no doubts as the fifteen-year-old was all about the farm and he knew one day that the century farm would one day pass on to him.

     “Dad?” Aaron said and leaned against his pitchfork.

     “Yes?” Sam replied to his twelve-year-old son.

     “Is Mom still mad at you?”

     “I think so.”

     “Why? You’re just going to see your best friend.”

     “I know but it’s not that simple for her, Aaron.” Simple would definitely not be the right adjective for what was going to happen over the next few days. Sam was going to see Alex, his best friend of thirty years. The circumstances were difficult, however.

Alex was sitting on death row.

     “Does she just see him as a bad man?”

     “I think that’s probably it,” replied Sam. “I’ve talked myself blue in the face trying to explain myself but she still just doesn’t understand.”

     “Maybe it’s a guy thing, Dad,” offered Aaron.

     “Maybe. Anyway, you guys know what to do, right?”

     “Yes, sir,” both boys answered.

     “Good. Call Uncle Ernie if you need anything. See you both in a few days.” He gave each boy a handshake followed by a hug. Sam felt a pride for both his boys; they were growing into fine young gentlemen. But along with that pride was also worry. He and Alex were often told as kids that they were growing into fine young gentlemen yet Alex now sat on death row for murder.

     Sam tried one more time to engage his wife. Frankie was now in the kitchen and was packing a few things into a small cooler. It was the cooler he used when he was planting and harvesting and he recognized the packing of such cooler as a peace offering of sorts from his stubborn wife.

     “You’ve got a couple sandwiches and Cokes and some grapes. No need wasting money at some drive-thru,” she said. Sam came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

     “I know you don’t understand…”

     “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, Sam. Let’s just agree to disagree,” she said and pushed his hands away. The action bothered him as it was definitely not a sign of agreeing to disagree.

     “I have a few words I want to say, Frankie, and I would like if you just listened to me. Please?” She huffed out her breath but turned around.

     “Get it over with,” she said, crossing her arms.

     “Alex and I have been friends for thirty years. When my parents died, his parents took me in. We have a lot of history together and when he asked me to come, I had no choice. His parents are gone and his brother disowned him.”

     “Which makes total sense, Sam. He murdered his girlfriend.”

     “Which he owned up to, Frankie. He never denied what he did.” Frankie put her hands up in frustration.

     “Just go, Sam. Drive carefully and let me know when you get to the motel.”

***

     It was a six hour drive to the town where the prison was. It was a tiny town with only one motel – 40 Winks – with an attached coffee shop. The motel, however, was already full up by the looks of all the various cars and vans. Sam had a reservation, though, so he would have a place to stay. He picked up his key, parked his truck, and settled in.

     As the sun went down, his thoughts were on his long friendship with Alex. They met the summer before fourth grade and when Sam’s parents died on an icy road two years later, Alex’s parents took him in. They were as close as brothers and would do anything for each other which, sometimes, got them both in trouble. They were boys, though; it was bound to happen.

     Alex introduced Frankie to him and Sam stood up for Alex when he eloped just after high school with his first wife. They both drank more than needed the night his wife left him ten years later. And then Alex met Jeannie. He fell hard for her, harder than she fell for him and one night, she told him she didn’t want to see him. It was too much and he made a very wrong decision.

     And now he was going to pay for that decision. The next day, Sam would witness Alex’s execution.

     Alex had asked him to come for a final visit and then be a witness to his death. Jeannie’s family would be there, of course, and Alex wanted to have at least one person there for him. Sam had not even thought about it; he had said yes right away during their last phone conversation. No one understood his decision, however. Even though the boys said they understood, Sam felt their understanding was based on their father-son relationship and not on a grasp of the severity of the situation.

     But despite what Alex did, he was still Sam’s best friend. He kept in communication with Alex over the last seven years while he sat on death row. Too many busybodies in town looked down upon Sam for keeping the friendship going because they thought the friendship meant that Sam was okay with what Alex did but that wasn’t the case. He was shocked and then angry that Alex had committed murder but the last thing Alex needed was another person writing him off. His family no longer acknowledged him and Sam just found that terrible. It wasn’t like Alex tried to get away with the murder. He walked into the sheriff’s office right after the murder and confessed and then pled guilty when the time came. Sam was the only person who recognized that Alex was willing to pay for what he did even if that meant he would be put to death.

     And now the time had come. Alex was allowed one final visit from someone and that would be Sam. He then would get his final meal and at sunrise the day after, he would be executed. Sam was in charge of the cremains and when he visited with Alex the next day, he told him where he wanted his ashes scattered.

     “At the swimming hole, Sam,” he said from behind the glass. “We spent so many great times there.”

     “That we did,” Sam replied over the telephone. “Remember when we took our first girlfriends there and tried to act all macho?”

     “And we screamed like little girls when we hit that cold water.”

     “Yeah, not exactly the place to take girls the beginning of May.” They laughed and then spent the next twenty minutes reminiscing about the more memorable moments of their teenage years. Once they hit their twenties, there weren’t as many moments so they stuck with remembering learning to drive on gravel roads and the scratches they both received when they accidentally rode an ATV into a barbed wire fence.

     “Five minutes remaining,” a stern voice said over the telephone. Five minutes. That’s all the time Sam had left with his best friend.

     “I can’t thank you enough, Sam, for sticking with me over the years,” Alex said. “And thank you for coming. I just wanted to have at least one person I knew here tomorrow. And another thank you for taking care of me afterwards.” Alex’s voice was full of emotion and even Sam was having a hard time.

     “You’re my best friend, Sam. You were there for me for so many things from Mom and Dad dying in the car accident to when Frankie miscarried. You made a horrible mistake; you killed a person but… You stood up to that, took the consequences. I know I’m in the minority…”

     “Minority? You’re the only one I haven’t lost,” interrupted Alex. “And what I’ve asked you to do is big. I just thank you for agreeing to do it.”

     “Time’s up,” said the stern voice and then there was a buzz. That was it for speaking with his best friend.

***

     It didn’t take long for the combination of drugs to do their job. Alex died peacefully and Sam felt a part of himself dim. He was the last to leave the viewing room and when he returned to the motel, he called Frankie. Despite her disappointment in him for agreeing to help Alex, she was sympathetic. She had forgiven him which made him feel a little better. Her words helped so much.

     “It takes an honest man to agree to do what you did, Sam, and I’m sorry for being such a witch the last couple of weeks. It helped to think of Alex the man, just like you did, instead of Alex the murderer.”

     The next day, Sam dressed in his gray suit and drove to the funeral home. There was a brief visitation and funeral attended only by himself. Then it was time to pick up the plain cardboard box with Alex’s ashes. He was surprised by the heft of the box and out of curiosity, he opened it. The ashes were bigger than he expected and contained in a plastic bag. For several moments he looked at them. Twenty-four hours earlier they had been his best friend. Sam felt a numbness spread through him. He hadn’t thought how this experience would affect him and for the first time, doubt inched up in him.

     Quickly, he shut the box and put it on the passenger seat. He stared at the box. My best friend…

     Six hours later, he drove down the rough road that led to the swimming hole. He wasn’t sure what he would do if there were kids around. It was just one of the things he hadn’t thought about. It was late July and hot. There would be kids there and as he rounded the last curve, he saw the makeshift parking lot held a half dozen cars.

     “Shit,” he muttered and stopped his truck. Sam had a job to do and he wanted to get it done now. Thinking, he remembered the smaller pond that fed into the larger one. It was actually through some heavy brush but he doubted the kids were there; not too many people knew of it. He parked away from the other vehicles and hopped out of his truck. It was a hot day and he slipped off his jacket and tie and headed into the brush with the box. As expected, the smaller pond was empty of teens.

     Sam stood on the bank with the box in his hands and remembered when he and Alex found the smaller pond. It was on one of their first visits to the swimming hole and their curiosity got the better of them even though they were under strict orders to stay at the main hole. No one was there to watch them – they were twelve after all – and so when they grew tired of splashing into the water using one of the ropes attached to the sturdy trees, they went exploring. They found the smaller pond but at the end of the day, they had no choice but to tell Alex’s parents they didn’t stay where they were supposed to. There was just no way they could cover up the poison ivy they ended up with from the trek through the brush. Sam was smart this time, remembering the path they eventually found that was free of poison ivy.

     “Well, here we are,” he said to the box. “You were a good friend. You made a terrible decision but you owned up to it. You took a life which cost you yours but to the end, you were still my friend.” Sam opened the box and then the plastic bag. With no other words, he slowly emptied the gray bits and ash into the somewhat murky water. He stayed until there was no evidence that a murderer – Sam’s best friend – had visited the quiet pond one last time.

“The Pugilist”

Characters:        Ty and Anne

Time Frame:        Takes place after “Fork in the Road”

Inspiration:       “Undefeated”

     “Have you talked to him lately?” Kate asked the delicate question louder than one might think but the noise level in the bar required it. The only person who heard the question was its intended target and Anne answered over the din.

     “We exchanged a couple texts,” she said with a shoulder shrug and no emotion in her voice. Kate knew Anne, however. They’d been best friends for a long time.

     “You’ve done more than exchange texts,” Kate noted and Anne responded by draining her beer. “Spill it, girl.”

     “We’re not teenagers anymore,” she replied.

     “Come on, Anne. What’s going on between you two? It’s been eight months since you broke up. Neither of you have moved on so there must be something still…” Kate let her sentence peter out in hopes that Anne would finish it. She wouldn’t bite, though. “I’ll get us a couple more beers,” Kate muttered.

They were sitting in the far corner of the bar and with it being a Friday night, the bar bustled with patrons and Kate had to squeeze and shimmy through the bar’s usual clientele. Webb’s was a neighborhood establishment and everyone knew each other. In fact, Mitch, who owned the place, was Kate’s cousin and manned the bar with her other cousin Mandy. Mitch acknowledged Kate’s order with a nod and she leaned against the bar waiting. Mandy swung by with two martinis and nodded her head towards the end of the bar. Kate followed her nod and saw Ty, Anne’s ex. He was nursing a beer and appeared oblivious to the raucousness around him. His eyes, however, scanned the room and Kate saw them stop in the far corner.

“Thanks, Mitch,” Kate said and took the bottles from her built cousin. In addition to the bar, he owned the gym next door. During the day he trained the muscle bound and hopeful boxers and at night, he ran the bar.

“The next two are on me,” Anne said when Kate set the bottles down. They had just started and their limit was usually four over the course of a couple hours and a pizza. Anne’s eyes flicked over to the bar and Ty.

“Seriously. What’s going on between you?” Kate asked. Anne rolled her eyes, took a drink of beer, and let out a big sigh.

“Ty wants to get back together,” she said.

“That’s not really a surprise,” Kate replied. “You’re the one that called things off. He’s been heartbroken since.”

“Shut up,” Anne replied and Kate knew she hit a nerve, a truthful nerve. “And heartbroken is such a stupid word. Get your mind out of fairy tales.”

“You know what I mean,” Kate said with irritation. Since the breakup, it was hard to be supportive of her best friend. To be honest, Kate was on Ty’s side when it came to the relationship even though Kate could see where Anne was coming from also.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Anne said and rushed off before Kate could acknowledge her departure. It was her turn to sigh and she looked over at Ty. He paid his tab and she watched as he slipped his leather jacket on and pulled on a beanie to protect his bald head from the January cold. In support of his sister who had been diagnosed with cancer several months ago, he shaved his head. The two were close and her battle was wearing on him. Ty doted on her; her prognosis was not good.

Ty still wore his work shirt – he worked as a delivery man for a local appliance store – and it showed off the muscles he’d built at the gym over the years. In his spare time, he was an amateur boxer and it was that hobby that drove a spike between him and Anne.

     Since high school, Ty had been boxing and in the twelve years since his first match, he had yet to win. He didn’t give up; he wanted – needed – to win at least one match but after a dozen years, the hobby was taking its toll. After his last bout eighteen months earlier, he experienced a small brain bleed. The doctor advised him to retire from boxing but he refused. Bobby, Kate’s boyfriend and Ty’s corner man, tried to talk some sense into him but Ty wouldn’t listen. His first win was just so important and Anne told Kate she gave Ty an ultimatum – her or boxing.

     He chose the wrong ring.

***

     It was a chilly night but Ty didn’t notice as he waited on the stoop. He had to try again to talk to Anne even though his previous attempts were failures. He cared too much about her and it was important he try again to talk some sense into her. It was just one more fight and then he was done. Ty was certain he could beat Cal Gilbert. Ty had been training harder than ever and he knew victory was finally within reach. His time had finally come. Now, if he could only convince Anne that. It would mean a lot to him if she was there at the bout.

     He saw her turn the corner and his heart raced. Not because he was madly in love with her, as cliché as that sounded, but because he was nervous she would refuse to talk to him. All he wanted was a chance but Ty knew that after his last attempt, she was pretty final in telling him to leave her alone.

     As expected, Anne was not happy to see him. “I’m not doing this again, Ty,” she said and brushed by him into the foyer of the walk-up they shared for almost seven years. Since kicking him out, he’d been sleeping on the couch at his mother’s house and helping her and Sarah. He was supporting them financially but also putting a little money away for the day he and Anne got married. When he was kicked out, they were engaged and the last time he saw her, she was still wearing the small diamond ring.

     “Anne, please. I just want to talk,” Ty pleaded as he followed her up the stairs. “Face to face. No more texting.”

     “In person or through technology, nothing has changed,” she said and quickened her steps but Ty just matched her pace.

     “Do you want me to beg?” he asked as she stopped at 4A.

     “No, I want you to go away,” she replied.

     “Five minutes. Please?” Anne slipped the key into the door but didn’t turn it. Her back was to him and he couldn’t see her face. He took a chance and turned her around so he could look into her hazel eyes. “Five minutes after seven years. That’s all I’m asking.”

     “Nothing has changed, Ty. You made your choice. You’d prefer to get the shit beat out of you again despite what the doctor said, despite me begging you to stop.” Anne pulled her left glove off, revealing the engagement ring. “We wanted children but I want my children to have a father who remembers their names, who can play with them.” She slipped the ring off and handed it towards Ty. “It’s over. You made your choice.” It wasn’t the fact that Anne was giving him the ring back that shocked him; it was the fact that there was not one waver of emotion in her voice. “Take the ring, Ty. Move on. Put your energy into taking care of Sarah.”

     “But…”

     “No, Ty. No more words.” Anne picked up his left hand. It was tender, as was his right one, after extended workouts on both the heavy and speed bags the day before. She placed the ring on his palm and folded his callused fingers over it.

     “I won’t move on,” he said, his voice low.

“That’s your choice, Ty.”

“Are you moving on?” he asked.

“Go. Please,” she said and for the first time, her voice wavered just a touch. Before he could say anything more, she was in the apartment and he heard the lock being thrown and the chain sliding into place.

***

     Cal Gilbert was a brawler. Ty had seen him fight before, studied video of him. Cal was tall which slowed him down but because Ty was a bit on the short side, this gave him an advantage with his feet. Ty knew his feet were faster and that’s why he felt confident he could take him. He could dance circles around Cal, tiring him out before he had a chance to attack with his typical single knockout punch. It might not have been the best plan but when Ty bounced the idea off of Mitch, his trainer didn’t give him an alternative plan. This disappointed Ty a bit. Mitch wasn’t doing much beyond reminding him of form. Mitch, it seems, had taken the same stance as everyone around Ty – that the fight was not a good idea.

     The anger from that fueled Ty and he trained harder than any fight before. If no one else was going to build up his confidence than he’d do it himself. He was tired of everyone – from Anne to his mother to just about everyone he encountered – telling him he should cancel the fight. But he couldn’t. No. He had one more fight left in him and he was going to win. Yeah, he’d never won a fight and refused to become a journeyman when asked early on his career. He wasn’t going to be a patsy for others to look better and pad their stats. He was a fighter, a boxer. He was going to win, doctors be damned. Ty couldn’t count the number of times his dad had been told to stop by the doctors but he still pushed on and continued winning. If his dad could do it, so could Ty.

     Besides, there was no choice now. He’d lost Anne and the only way to show everyone that he made the right choice was to win. And then he would retire and hopefully, Anne would come back and they could get married. That was the real prize at hand. He was on the undercard and his portion of the gate – whether he won or lost – was minimal but his boxing was never about the money. He was an amateur; it was his hobby. Ty had grown up watching his father train and fight and when he saw the admiration in his father’s face at his first fight – even though he had lost – he was hooked. His dad sat him down afterwards and went through each moment of the fight, telling Ty what he could have done better and pointing out his strengths. John Hudson was Ty’s biggest supporter and the first fight after his father died was the hardest for Ty. Now, he was facing yet another difficult match.

     Ty barely made weight at weigh-in that morning no thanks to his nerves which had barred him from keeping much food or liquids down the last couple of days. He made his middleweight class by a hair whereas Cal Gilbert topped the class. Ty hoped to be equal weight but that didn’t happen and he had no one but himself to blame for that. There was nothing he could do about that now as Bobby, his corner man, began taping Ty’s wrists and hands.

     “You’ve got this, Ty,” Bobby said. “I know you can do it tonight. You’ve got your pops looking down on you and Mitch has your mom and Sarah set up in his box.”

     “Sarah shouldn’t be here,” Ty said, worried. “Her counts aren’t high enough.”

     “That’s why Mitch put them in his box. It’s still a good view but away from everyone and their germs. She’s never missed one of your fights before and she’s not going to let a little thing like cancer get in her way. She’s just as stubborn as you and your old man,” Bobby explained and ripped the final piece of tape. “How’s that, Ty?” He clenched and flexed and punched his heavily taped hands. They felt sturdy, strong.

     “Good job, Bobby. Just like always. Glove me up,” Ty replied and Bobby slipped the red boxing gloves on. Ty punched them together and took several deep breaths. “This is the night, Bobby.”

     “You bet, Ty,” Bobby said and slapped Ty on his bald head.

***

     The small auditorium adjacent to Webb’s Gym was not even a third full yet when it was time for the Hudson – Gilbert fight. Bobby had Ty’s corner all set up and as he watched his childhood friend climb into the ring among the weak applause, he said a silent prayer that the bout would be over soon and Ty wouldn’t need a trip to the hospital like the last few matches.

     “You’re looking good, man,” Bobby lied to Ty who was already wet with sweat and looking a bit green around the gills. “Remember, he may be the brawler but he’s slow. You’ve got the feet. Work ‘em. Use ‘em to your advantage. Wear him down before he throws the one that counts. Got it?” Bobby asked and forced Ty’s mouth guard in before he could verbalize anything. He nodded and Bobby gave him a light slap and a sly smile. Ty and Bobby were best friends but Bobby knew that Ty was nothing but a skinny palooka. He had no idea what kept Ty going. His pops was a fighter, not the best, but at least he won a few at his peak. Nothing spectacular, nothing extraordinary to make Ty try and fight at the same level. Ty revered his pops but never had Bobby heard him say he had something to prove because he was John Hudson’s son. In the annals of boxing, no one but those in the neighborhood even knew who John Hudson was.

Bobby had no idea what Ty’s motivation was when it came to boxing. If Bobby was as bad as Ty, he would have quit a long time ago but Ty wasn’t a quitter and that was what worried Bobby. Everyone who cared about Ty was worried about him and Bobby didn’t have the balls to tell Ty the reason why Sarah came was that she was afraid Ty might not make it out of the ring. She was sick – the chemo was taking a toll on her – but she was there with Mrs. Hudson. Ty’s coworkers came along with the regulars from Mitch’s bar. The people weren’t there to see Ty’s first win; they were there out of a sick fascination about whether or not Ty would be alive or not at the end of ten rounds. Ten rounds, Bobby thought to himself. It had been five years since Ty had made it that long before either being knocked out or Bobby had to throw the towel in and stop the fight.

The only person Bobby was surprised not to see was Anne. He had spoken with her a few days earlier when they ran into each other around the corner. She asked about Ty and how his training was coming. Do you think he has a chance? she had asked. Bobby had been honest, it was his way. No, he said. It was a simple answer to a simple question.

Anne had cried and Bobby pulled her into a hug. She was a terrific girl and Bobby thought Ty was being an asshole for picking boxing over her. Bobby was certain Anne would show up but as he scanned the crowd, he could not see her. She was the best thing for him and boxing the worst and now it was time for the ugliness to begin as Ty and Cal were introduced to the crowd.

The air in the auditorium was stale, even a little chilly as there weren’t enough people to warm the place with their body heat. When it was main event time, the place would be hot and muggy but now it was cold which fit the situation. Ty and Cal touched gloves and with a ring of the bell, the match was on.

Ty gave it his all during round one and if the bout was decided on just that one round, Ty would have won for effort but that’s not how boxing worked. Cal was going through the motions and instead of Ty trying to wear Cal down, the opposite was happening.

“Run him ‘round the ring, Ty,” Bobby advised at the end of round three as he tried to stop the bleeding from a cut above Ty’s left eyebrow. Cal could deliver equally hard punches with either hand and Ty’s right eye was about swollen shut.

“Trying,” Ty gasped and hocked a bloody lugy into the spit pail. “Bobby?”

“What, bud?” he replied and wiped the boxer’s face with a wet towel.

“Don’t throw the towel in for me,” he asked in a voice that was not free of a slight slur. “I decide. ‘Kay?”

“Ty, I don’t…”

“My decision,” he insisted and stood up. Bobby steadied him. The referee looked at Bobby and the look on his face asked a very appropriate question – Is he done? Bobby shook his head and round four began with a ding. It would just be a matter of time now. Bobby doubted Ty would make the decision himself. Cal was just waiting for the right time to throw the punch that would bring the bout to a much-needed end. Outside of the ring, Cal was a standup guy and not known for bloodying an opponent unnecessarily. Bobby didn’t know what was taking him so long to do the deed.

Ty threw several sloppy punches – an uneven series of jabs and hooks – that did little to Cal. His feet were slowing down and he stumbled after Cal cut him across the lower jaw. Ty bounced against the ropes and Cal advanced on him but Ty rolled out of his way. He was not done yet.

     By the end of the eighth round, Ty was a tomato can. Bloodied, unsteady on his feet, and difficult to focus. Bobby waved salts beneath Ty’s bloody nose and this perked him up a little. 

     “What should I hit him with?” Ty slurred. “What’s my next move?”

     “Ty, it’s over,” Bobby said and cleared Ty’s eye of blood. “Quit now before the damage is too much.”

     “Can’t… quit….” Each word seemed to take his friend effort to say. “Lost her. Lost… Anne…” Bobby sighed. He knew what Ty was trying to do now and this angered Bobby.

     “You’re not going out this way, buddy,” Bobby said and he reached for the towel over his shoulder but Ty put his glove on his hand.

     “No,” he replied. “My decision.”

     “You’re in no shape to decide, Ty. It’s over. If I don’t end it, you know the ref will. He’s not going to let this beat down continue.”

     “When I say,” Ty insisted and stood up. Bobby put a hand on his upper arm to stead him but Ty brushed it off and he walked towards the center of the ring where he was met by the ref. Bobby slipped through the ropes and watched his boxer with worry. Cal hadn’t left his corner yet. Even he knew that it was over.

     The ref asked Ty something but he didn’t answer. His gaze began moving over the crowd. The place was packed now. They were ready for the title match but were being treated to the humiliation of a broke down boxer. It killed Bobby. Ty didn’t deserve this.

     Again, Bobby reached for the towel on his shoulder but before he could throw it, Ty wavered and went down to one knee. The ref went to one knee also and talked to Ty but Ty’s focus was a few feet away to the front row. Sitting there was Anne. Ty was looking at her. Her face was unreadable to Bobby. His attention went back to Ty who fell sideways, propping himself up on the mat with a shaky arm, his attention never leaving Anne. The ref spoke one more time to Ty and Bobby knew he was asking Ty if he could continue. He held his breath waiting for the answer. With a drop of his head and shoulders, Ty slowly shook his head.

     It was over; he had made his decision. Gazing at Anne, he gave her a single nod which she returned.

“The Luckiest Man’s Anniversary”

Characters:        Ben, Laurie and Katie from Sunset Park and May Flowers

Time Frame:        About four months before "Past to Present"  

Inspiration:       “Cinderella”

     Ben carefully pulled the painter’s tape off the wall, leaving ruler-straight lines of pale blue and white. He took a step back and wiped his sweaty head with a rag. It was warm for the November day but he didn’t let that bother him as he finished the paint job. It was his last day to get it done and he finished with three hours to spare. That would give him plenty of time to run to the jewelry store to get the girls’ gifts.

     “You did a real nice job, Ben,” Mrs. Shoemaker said as she looked over her freshly painted spare bedroom.

     “Thank you, ma’am,” he replied. “I just need to clean up and I’ll be out of your hair.”

     “I’ll go get your check for you. Would you like anything to drink?”

     “No, I’m good but thank you.”

     An hour later, he was stashing his painting supplies in the back of the Jeep and heading towards Sunset Park Bank to cash Mrs. Shoemaker’s check. Although it was a Monday and his regular day off, he’d been working the last six or seven doing various painting jobs to earn some extra cash. He had told Laurie that Mr. Herman, his boss at the hardware store where he worked full-time, had asked him to work on Mondays also for a while. Laurie didn’t question him but Ben felt guilty that he was fibbing to her about his Mondays.

     Mr. Herman was in on the ruse so if she called the store he always said Ben was with a customer or was making a delivery. It was all part of a plan Ben had for both of his girls. The next day was the one year anniversary of Katie’s adoption. He wanted to celebrate and they both knew they were going out to dinner but what they didn’t know was that he ordered special mother-daughter bracelets for them. That’s why he was putting in the extra work.

     The next day, he woke up earlier than normal to make Laurie and Katie a big breakfast. In a small vase next to each of their plates he put a single pink rose that Jamie, his cousin who lived across the hall, had picked up for him.

     “You sneaky devil,” Laurie said as she smelled her rose.

     “Thank you, Daddy,” Katie said as she did the same.

     “Now, just a reminder that I’m coming home an hour early so I can get all spiffed up for dinner,” he explained as he slid golden slices of French toast onto their plates.

     “And Katie and I have an appointment after school at the salon,” Laurie said and smiled at her adopted daughter.

     “I’ve never been to a real salon,” replied Katie. “Thank you for taking me, Momma.”

     “You’re welcome. I can’t wait for our girly time.”

     The day at the hardware store dragged by. Usually that wasn’t the case but Ben was nervous about the dinner. He had picked up the bracelets on his lunch hour and he just needed to make sure he kept them a secret until the dessert course.

     When he got home, Laurie and Katie were still not back. He hopped in the shower and then dressed in his only suit. They were going to the Peabody Hotel for dinner and they were all dressing up. His girls had new outfits for the occasion and before they headed off, Marcus, Jamie’s husband, was going to take an official picture of the day.

     Ben was tying his tie when the girls came home. Even though they were both dressed casually in jeans and sweatshirts, they still looked beautiful. Gone were their usual braids – they both had long hair – and shiny waves were in their place.

     “Beautiful,” Ben said and gave Laurie a kiss.

     “You look handsome and all ready to go,” she said and adjusted his tie with her left hand. “Give us a few minutes to change and then we can go.”

     “Sounds perfect,” he said and gave her a second, more lingering kiss. Laurie went into their sleeping nook and Katie went to her bedroom. While they were busy, he went to the small desk and pulled out the two velvet boxes. He tucked them into the inside pocket of his blazer and then paced until the girls were ready.

     “Well, how do we look?” Laurie asked as she came out of the sleeping nook and Katie left her room. Ben looked at his wife and daughter.

     “Absolutely beautiful,” he said in total honesty. Laurie wore a simple twinset that matched her blue eyes and a slim denim skirt while Katie wore a dress in hunter green. With her hair down in soft waves and just a hint of the lip gloss she was allowed to wear, she looked older than the seventh grader she was. “I am one lucky man.”

     Dinner at the Peabody was enjoyable and all three of them stuffed themselves with excellent pasta meals and topped that off with a decadent dessert. It was time for Ben to hand out his presents.

     “Today is a very important day for our little family,” he started slowly to keep his emotions in check. “Katie Kat, you came into our lives when both Laurie and I were still hurting from the loss of our baby son. You brought us out of our grayness and one year ago, you officially became our daughter. And Laurie, I have seen you thrive being the best mother to Katie. Like I said earlier, I am one lucky man and love you both more than I can express.”

     Ben took the two boxes from his jacket and handed them to his girls.

     “Ben, what have you done?” Laurie asked in shock.

     “Just open it, both of you,” he lightly goaded. They did and both Laurie and Katie’s mouths dropped open. The silver bracelets were matching with a heart charm on each on. The heart was big enough for Ben to have Love You engraved. On the other side was a small diamond.

     “Daddy, it’s so beautiful,” Katie said. “Other than the locket from my real momma, I’ve never had a real piece of jewelry. Thank you!” She got up from her chair and gave Ben a big hug. “I’m so happy you’re my father,” she said and there were tears in her eyes.

     “And I’m so happy that you’re my daughter,” he replied. His voice shook but he kept himself under control.

     “Will you help me put this on?” Katie requested and held out her wrist. Ben took the bracelet and hooked it on her thin wrist. He held her hand for a few moments afterwards. Katie smiled at him and his heart swelled.

     “I love you so much, honey,” he said and gave her a hug.

     “You guys are making me cry,” Laurie said as she dabbed at her eyes with her cloth napkin. All three of them laughed and Ben put Laurie’s bracelet on. “It’s beautiful, Ben. Thank you,” she leaned over and gave him a kiss. “But you’re not the only one with a surprise. Go ahead, Katie.” Laurie held her purse out and Katie pulled something out. It was a small black box. She held it out to him.

     “Happy anniversary of being my daddy,” she said with a big smile.

     “What in the world?” Ben said and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful watch. His last watch had broken a few months earlier and he hadn’t had a chance to replace it. “Thank you both.”

     “It was Katie’s idea,” Laurie said. “And it’s all from her. She saved up her allowance for it.”

     “Take it out and look at the back,” Katie instructed. Ben did as told and saw there was something engraved on the back.

     “‘To the best Daddy. Love, your Katie Kat,’” he read. Ben couldn’t help but let a tear go and he quickly wiped it away.

     “Sorry for making you cry,” Katie said with a worried look.

     “You have nothing to be sorry about,” he replied with a smile and slipped the watch on. “It’s a beautiful gift, Katie. Thank you.” He pulled her in for another hug and this time, he made it a bear hug.

     “You’re squeezing me,” Katie squeaked and he let her go but not before kissing her cheek. She took her chair again and he reached out for their hands. He squeezed them both and then kissed them. “I know I’ve said this twice already but it’s so true, I am the luckiest man in Memphis tonight and I love you both with all my heart.”