Unlikely Friends

by Sahar Abdulaziz

  A tearful Harper and sobbing Olivia nodded. The three waited until help arrived.

  ***

  Irwin

  Off to the side, Christopher struggled to comfort Cornelia.

  “It’ll be okay,” he said soothingly, but Cornelia, still much too disorientated to understand, covered her ears.

  “Don’t touch me,” she cried out, pulling her arm away. It wasn’t until Irwin approached that she stopped curling into herself. “Irwin?” she sobbed. “Why am I here?”

  Irwin gathered and held Cornelia in his arms.

  “I—I don’t understand,” she whimpered, face plastered into his chest. “What did I do?”

  Christopher stared solemnly at Irwin and mouthed, I’m sorry.

  Irwin merely nodded.

  I should have been paying closer attention.

  The stark realization of what had just occurred laid heavy on his heart. The truth of what unforeseen calamity had befallen his friend crushed his already disquieted spirit. Irwin blamed himself for not picking up on the now-apparent signs from earlier.

  Her repeating words, the forgetfulness, her irritability, the sudden loss of taste, all of it.

  “What happened?” Cornelia stuttered, tugging on Irwin’s sleeve. “Tell me.”

  “It’s all right,” consoled Irwin.

  “Why’s everyone staring at me?” pressed Cornelia, her eyes beseeching Irwin’s for answers. “What the hell did I do now?”

  Irwin held Cornelia tighter. His hand pressed supportively against the small of her back. “It’s okay now. Everything’s going to be okay,” he assured her, while his own eyes glistened with tears. “You don’t have to be afraid.”

  “But, Irwin.” Cornelia sniffled, her body chilled and trembling. “Did I hurt that man?” she said. Her words caught in her throat as she pointed to the unconscious Darren lying on the cement sidewalk, surrounded by a small crowd of onlookers.

  “No, no. Don’t be silly.” Irwin glanced towards Harper and Olivia, still crouched on their knees next to the nurse. “Shush now.”

  Harper, her nose pink from crying, leaned over her dad and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. When she glanced up at Irwin hugging Cornelia, the two locked eyes and exchanged a look complete with a thousand and one conversations.

  “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay,” muttered Irwin, his head bent skyward up into the heavens. As gently as possible, he wrapped his jacket around Cornelia’s shoulders and escorted her to a nearby bench. “Christopher, while I’m visiting with Cornelia, please keep an eye out on Harper and Olivia for me.”

  “Sure thing.”

  A small but growing crowd began to assemble around Darren, gawking. Eventually, the nurse ordered everyone to move back. Irwin glanced at Darren. “—and him.”

  “You got it.”

  Irwin gently ushered Cornelia to the bench. “Come, Cornelia. Sit. You’ve been through a lot.” Irwin waited while Cornelia settled down before taking his place next to her. Placing a protective arm around her shoulder, he worked on controlling his breathing. The sheer trepidation of what promised to come threatened to smother him.

  “Irwin?” Cornelia slurred. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Shush. I know.”

  “You probably do. And by the look of things, I’m kind of guessing you figured out most of it on your own.”

  “You could say that.” Irwin handed Cornelia a tissue and kept one bunched up in his fist for himself.

  “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner, but with Gilly, then Dakota’s passing, and this whole stressful situation around Harper and her father, not to mention Olivia and the eviction fiasco, it just never seemed like the right time to dump this on you.” She shifted in her seat. Her shoulders slumped.

  “Cornelia. Listen to me,” said Irwin, his voice slow and steady. “I don’t want you to worry about any of that stuff right now.”

  “But, Irwin—”

  “Please, Cornelia, you don’t owe me any explanations.” Irwin cupped Cornelia’s soft hand in his. “As far as I’m concerned, nothing’s changed. Not between you and me, anyway,” he corrected. “I’m here for you as you have always been here for me.”

  Cornelia squeezed Irwin’s hand. Within a few minutes, her hazel eyes glazed over, and she began to mumble something incoherently. Irwin couldn’t make out what.

  As the rest of the happenings unfolded around them, the two old friends remained seated on the bench silently holding hands, each lost in a world of shifting memories and imposing grief.

  CHAPTER 20

  Darren

  Two days later…

  Darren grabbed his crutches. He placed the one crutch under the arm opposite of his busted foot, then positioned his other arm under the second crutch. Moving forward, he made sure to keep the support close to his body for balance, which now felt impossible.

  It could have been worse.

  When the truck swerved, it thankfully had missed careening into Cornelia, but Darren hadn’t been as lucky. The rear fender wound up clipping him on his hip hard enough to send him flying sideways into the crowd. They told him he landed on the curb, smacking his head against the cement, leaving him unconscious with one hell of a severe contusion on his hip and a fractured fifth metatarsal in his foot.

  “We typically treat these kinds of fractures without surgery,” explained the doctor to Darren, pointing to the x-rays. Olivia and Harper sat in the room intently listening.

  “How long before I’m out of this Draconian boot, Doc?” questioned Darren.

  “If all goes smoothly, six to eight weeks.” The doctor smiled at Olivia and Harper. “Looks like you have a lot of support to help you out, which is great, because you’re going to need it.”

  “Well, actually…” mumbled Darren.

  “Yes, he is,” interjected Olivia over Darren’s protests. “Extremely lucky.”

  Darren glanced questioningly at Olivia.

  “Anything else we should know?” asked Harper.

  The doctor closed the file in his hand and handed Olivia a sheet of instructions. “Basically, put ice or a cold pack on his foot for about ten to twenty minutes every one to two hours for the next three days. You’ll want to put a thin cloth between the ice and his skin. Prop the foot on a pillow when you ice it, or any time he’s sitting or lying down for the next three days as well. I advise you to keep it above the level of his heart to help reduce the swelling.”

  “What about for the pain?” asked Darren. “I’ve had issues with pills in the past. I can’t be trusted with them things again.”

  “There are a few over-the-counter anti-inflammatories you can take. That should get you through the roughest parts, but try to wean off those as fast as you can as well. Any headaches from the concussion?”

  “No. I’m good,” said Darren.

  “Anything else? Any other questions or concerns?” The doctor looked from face to face. “No? Okay then. The nurse will be in to make a follow-up appointment for you two weeks from today. I’m not in my office on Wednesdays, so make it for either Tuesday or the following Thursday.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks, Doc.” Darren reached out to shake his hand.

  “Take care of yourself,” said the doctor, “and call me if you have any problems.” He shook Darren’s hand, then Olivia’s and Harper’s.

  Harper left after the doctor, carrying her father’s jacket. “I’ll wait for you in the waiting room. I’m gonna text Irwin to pick us up.”

  Olivia hoisted her purse over her shoulder and reached out to help guide Darren out.

  “Ack.” Darren attempted to shift his leg but grimaced with each subsequent unbalanced clunky step forward on his crutches. “These things are terrible. I’ll never get the knack of them.”

  Olivia collected Darren’s things. “Oh, stop your pouting. You will too. Give it a few weeks, and you’ll be up and about. Until then, you’ll stay with us.”

  Darren’s eyes grew big. “Are you sure, Liv?�
� asked Darren. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what you are offering, but it’s not like we’ve been on the best of terms lately.”

  “I know, but it’s already decided. This is only temporary until you’re back on your two feet again, but for now, you can’t be left on your own.”

  Darren took a small step forward. He cheeks turned red. “And you’re sure Harper’s okay with this?”

  “It was her idea.”

  ***

  Eight weeks later…

  Surprisingly, organizing the bookshop into working order took less time and effort than either Irwin or Olivia anticipated originally. With Olivia preoccupied with setting up the accounting and computer files, Cornelia at the helm micromanaging the crew from her perch set up behind the front desk, and Harper and Christopher’s boundless energy, the shop looked ready to welcome its first customers. Irwin occasionally had to pinch himself, unable to fully believe his vision was finally coming to fruition. After years of dreaming, squirreling away enough savings, and planning for every contingency known to mankind, the shop had become a breathing and inviting place. More beautiful and as close to perfection than Irwin could have ever envisioned. He secretly wished Gilly and Dakota were both here to see it.

  Outside, Christopher climbed down from the ladder after hanging the shop’s sign.

  “Hey, can everyone step outside for a minute? I need you to tell me whether or not this looks straight,” said Christopher.

  Irwin, Olivia, Harper, and Cornelia followed Christopher out to the front of the store.

  “How are we supposed to know if it’s straight if you have the damn sign covered with a sheet?” complained Cornelia, rolling her eyes. While her clarity of thought over the past few weeks had succumbed, ebbed and flowed, when Cornelia was on her game, she was unstoppable.

  “Can I get down?” asked Christopher.

  “Not yet,” said Irwin.

  “For goodness sakes, Irwin, it’s time to let the boy take that silly thing off already,” complained Cornelia.

  Irwin pulled open the shop door to let Darren, still using the boot and not at all happy about it, hobble outside.

  “Now that everyone’s here, I’d like to say a few words before the big unveiling,” announced Irwin.

  “Rut Ro. He’s going to make us listen to a speech,” Harper teased.

  “Just a short one,” promised Irwin.

  “Great,” grumbled Cornelia. “Maybe somebody can grab me and hop along Darwin a chair before the old windbag gets on his soapbox?”

  “My name’s Darren,” corrected Darren, clunking behind her.

  “That’s what I said,” said Cornelia, miffed.

  Olivia and Harper rushed back inside and dragged two old metal folding chairs behind them.

  “Ah, that’s better,” confirmed Darren, already seated.

  A moment later, Roger, Regan, and Janice appeared from around the corner, each carrying bags of books.

  “Oh! You put up the sign!” exclaimed Regan. “How super cool is that?”

  “It would be a whole lot super cooler if we could actually know what it says,” complained Cornelia. “But no. First, we have to listen to Irwin Churchill’s speech before the unveiling.”

  Irwin cleared his throat. “I’ll make this quick. If that, of course, works for you, Madam President?” he asked Cornelia. Truth be told, Irwin didn’t give a single fig how ornery and obstinate Cornelia became, just as long as she stayed safe. And while admittedly, their long talks had begun to shorten and dwindle, he cherished her company and infrequent moments of clarity.

  “You may proceed,” said Cornelia.

  “Thank you.” Irwin nodded and began again. “A few months ago, we were all practically strangers, each living their own lives the best they knew how.”

  “Oh, Gawd,” mumbled Cornelia. “It’s like the Academy Awards. Next thing you know, he’ll drag his third-grade teacher out from behind the door.”

  Harper chuckled. Olivia plucked her on the arm to stop giggling.

  “And,” bellowed Irwin, “that would have been fine, except we all know that in this vast world of uncertainties and challenges, it wasn’t. On our own, we were individually suffering. Some of us consumed by loneliness.” Irwin glanced at Cornelia. “Others heartbreak.” He eyed Olivia and Darren. “And of course, indecision.” Irwin glanced at Christopher and Harper. “By ourselves, we struggled, but together, we have a better chance to succeed and lift one another up.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, get on with it already,” grumbled Cornelia.

  Irwin shot Cornelia a thumb’s up. “We are no longer just friends, but family, and as such—”

  “Irwin! If you don’t hurry up, this unveiling of yours will turn into a funeral, and I don’t mean mine,” grumbled Cornelia.

  Everyone clapped.

  “Fine, fine, fine.” Irwin held back a retort. “So, without further delay…”

  Cornelia sat upright and rubbed her hands together. “Now we’re talkin’.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce…” Irwin gave Christopher a quick nod of the head. When Christopher released the sheet, a collective gasp filled the air.

  ABERNATHY & CRANE

  “Well, I’ll be damned!” Cornelia clasped her hands with joy. “That’s brilliant! Isn’t that brilliant?” she asked Darren, slapping him on his thigh.

  Regan, Janice, and Roger joined the excitement, applauding and whistling, while Olivia and Darren shared a mutual confused glance or two.

  Harper froze. Her mouth agape. Unsure of what just happened and what it all meant. “I don’t understand.”

  “What’s not to understand? We’ve got ourselves a family business,” announced Cornelia. “Right, Irwin?”

  Irwin bequeathed upon Cornelia a small nod.

  Still confused, Harper searched her parents’ faces for answers but realized they were equally as stunned.

  Irwin waved Christopher off the ladder then stood next to Harper.

  “I don’t get it,” she said to him, her attention glued to the larger than life sign. “Why’s my dad’s last name on there?”

  “Not your dad’s…yours.” Irwin glanced down at his feet.

  “Mine?” gasped Harper.

  Irwin nodded. “Yours, if you agree, of course.”

  “But how? Why?”

  From the side, Olivia and Darren listened while Cornelia chatted up Roger, Regan, and Janice.

  “The how is easy to answer,” explained Irwin. “Even before I met you and your mother, I had been in the process of purchasing this building. I intended to open a bookstore for some time. But after Gilly passed away, I decided to forget it.”

  “Until you met me?”

  “Until I met you—and your mother. I figured that having the shop would be the answer to all our pressing issues. Apartments upstairs for you and your mom. One for Christopher. It made perfect sense.”

  Christopher, already in the know, grinned at Harper.

  “And with me losing my marbles and wandering into traffic, Irwin figured that this would be the best way to keep an eye on me. Did I get that right?” Cornelia asked from her chair.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact,” replied Irwin. “Quite an astute observation, Cornelia.”

  I should have known she’d see through my plan.

  Harper shimmied up closer to Irwin and playfully elbowed him in the ribs. “You love me.”

  “Ow. Stop that,” he moaned, swatting at her while trying to inch away. “I tolerate you. Nothing more.”

  “No. You love me,” Harper teased, yanking on Irwin’s sleeve.

  “Go away.”

  “Not before you explain the why.”

  Christopher struggled with the closed ladder, dragging it to the front door of the store and using his sneaker to push it open.

  Without missing a beat, Irwin took off after him, shouting, “Not like that, you simpleton!”

  Cornelia watched from her chair before calling Harper over.
“Take it from me,” she said. “Irwin shows his affection by taking care of those he loves. With everything that’s been going on, he felt that the bookstore would be the best way to anchor everyone together while taking away the issues preventing them from reaching their goals. And despite his irritable nature and obvious lack of social grace—”

  Crash!

  The ladder clipped the side of the building.

  Irwin practically lost his mind. “Watch where you’re going with that thing!” he shouted at Christopher. “And don’t you dare hit my walls!”

  “Like I was saying,” said Cornelia, “despite Irwin’s obvious lack of social grace, you and your family have become enormously important to him. He sees you as a granddaughter. He’s always wanted a bookstore, but by opening up this one, he can make sure that you never have to worry again about stuff you have no control over, especially money and a place to live.”

  Harper’s eyes glistened with happy tears. She glanced at her parents standing off to the side and ran into her mother’s open arms, sobbing.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” said Olivia, soothingly, rubbing her daughter’s damp back.

  “Did you know too?” asked Harper, probing her mother’s face for the truth.

  “I didn’t, but nothing our Irwin does surprises me.” Olivia held her daughter at arm’s length by the shoulders.

  “Our Irwin.” Harper sniffled. “He is, isn’t he?”

  “No doubt about it. Forever and ever.”

  Darren gimped forward. Olivia held out her hand and drew him in closer.

  “How will I ever pay him back for everything he’s done for us, Cornelia?” asked Harper, extricating herself from her parents to sit next to her.

  All eyes turned to Irwin, currently sweeping the curb. The quartet could still hear him grumbling under his breath—something about the idiocy of humans and their senseless propensity to pollute.

  Cornelia gently embraced Harper’s hand. “You already have, my sweetheart,” she soothed. “More than you will ever know.”