Unintentionally Yours

by Terry Fowler

  Josiah’s head tilted as he looked doubtful. “What could holding on to the past possibly mean to anyone?”

  Leah knew he would have the answer to his problems with his father if he could answer that question.

  “I’m sure Cecily wants to show your kids pictures of their dad as a kid. They’ll laugh at the things they don’t recognize due to technological advances and you’ll do your best to convince them it was the best thing ever made.”

  “By the time I have kids, CDs and MP3 players will be antiques. Technology is moving at the speed of sound. I can’t even keep up.”

  “I know, but maybe we should listen to our parents and not be so hasty about discarding things.”

  “That’s strange coming from an organization expert. Isn’t it your job to get the stuff out of their lives?”

  He had a point. No one would hire a consultant who only directed them to rid themselves of a couple of items. “Maybe not all of it. I think I need to stop fighting Cecily and listen to why things are important to her. Then help her develop a way to find those items when she feels the need to see them.”

  He shook his head. “Well, I’m taking these bags down before Mom goes through them and decides she can’t live without this stuff.”

  “You think she will?” That perplexed Leah. It had never occurred to her that Cecily might reconsider the decisions made each day.

  “Out of sight, out of mind.”

  “Oh, Josiah...” Before she could continue her cell rang. She tugged it from her pocket and looked at the caller ID. The vet’s office. “Hello,” she said, holding her breath with the surge of fear.

  “Hi, Leah, Kevin Parker. I hate to call you so late but I thought you might want to know that Champ...”

  “Is he okay? Has something happened?” Fear tinged her voice.

  “I’m sorry, Leah. Champ didn’t make it. I thought that might be the case earlier when you told me how he was acting. I knew your parents were out of town and didn’t want you having to deal with this alone.”

  “Champ’s...dead?”

  “I’m really sorry, Leah. I know how much you loved him.”

  Leah could hardly think. She sank to her knees, rocking back and forth as she cried for her old friend.

  “Leah? What is it? What’s happened?”

  “Champ... He...”

  She couldn’t get the words past the lump in her throat.

  Josiah dropped the bags and knelt to pull her into his arms, holding her close.

  “He died, Josiah. Champ died.” The words came out in a whisper.

  “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” He took the phone, thanked the vet and then held her while she sobbed out her grief. “Let me take you home. I’ll come back and take care of this later.”

  Leah sniffed. “I need my car to get to work tomorrow.”

  “Okay. I’ll drive you and have a friend pick me up.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Yes, I do. You’re in no shape to drive yourself.” He guided her down the stairs.

  “I’d really like to go by Mom and Dad’s to check on Lady. I know she’s missing Champ.”

  Josiah thought about returning to the house where he’d embarrassed himself. He needed to do this for Leah. “Sure. We can do that.”

  Tears tracked down her face and Josiah pulled a tissue from a box sitting on the counter. “You okay?”

  Afraid anything more would set her off again, Leah managed a nod. “I have to tell Mom and Dad.”

  “Not tonight. You can get yourself together and tell them tomorrow.”

  “But... Kevin has to know what to do with Champ’s bodddyyy.” The word stretched out in a wail and his arm went about her shoulder.

  “I’m sure the vet can keep him for another day or so. Where’s your purse?”

  “In the car.”

  “Your keys?”

  “On the hall entry table. Your mom suggested I keep them there so they didn’t accidentally get caught up in the sorting upstairs.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the front door. There he paused to grab her keys and set the alarm code before he walked her to her car, his arm about her shoulders. He helped her inside and then went around to the driver’s seat.

  “You remember where my parents live?”

  He remembered it well. Their address was branded into his brain.

  They traveled in silence. Leah thought Josiah must not know what to say or do. He parked in the driveway and she met him at the front of the car. She took the keys, unlocked the door and punched in a code before turning on the lights and going in search of their cat.

  Lady slept curled up on an afghan on the family room sofa. Leah picked her up and smoothed her hands over the sleek white fur. Lady’s face, ears and tail were dark. She pulled her close to her chest and felt reassured by the Siamese’s rumbling purr. Leah sank down on the sofa, keeping Lady close and the tears sprang to her eyes again. “I’m useless. Mom and Dad ask so little of me. I always let them down.”

  Sobs racked her body as Leah gave in to the emotions that swamped her.

  Josiah sat next to her and placed an arm around her shoulder. “Shhh. Leah. Stop. Don’t blame yourself. You said Champ was elderly. When our time comes, we die. It can’t be stopped.”

  He grabbed tissues from the box on the end table and tenderly dried her face.

  Why couldn’t she explain? It was more than losing Champ.

  Leah sniffed. “I have to call them.”

  Josiah shook his head and held on to her when she would have stood. “Not tonight. It’s late and you’re emotional. Get some rest and do it tomorrow when you’re thinking more clearly.”

  She managed a sad smile. “Thanks, Josiah.”

  “Once you find out what they want to do, I’ll help you carry out their plans.”

  “I can handle it.” Not if the sound of her voice was anything to go by, she thought.

  “I want to help. It’s a tough time and I’d like to provide a shoulder to lean on.”

  She’d always had someone to lean on during bad times. Could Josiah say the same? She knew Cecily had been there for him when he was hurting. “Thanks.”

  They sat together for a few minutes longer. “Are you going to spend the night here?”

  She shook her head. “I need to go home. I’ll come by early in the morning to check on Lady.”

  “Come on. I’ll drive you and call my buddy to pick me up at your place.”

  She keyed in the alarm and they locked up the house, leaving Lady asleep on the afghan. She’d miss Champ more tomorrow when she couldn’t find him. They would all miss Champ.

  She gave Josiah the address for her condo and he drove them over.

  Leah stood on the sidewalk. “Come inside while you wait.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll wait here. He’s not that far away.”

  Leah nodded. “Thanks for everything, Josiah.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She walked to the entrance of her building and turned back to wave goodbye.

  “Leah, wait.”

  He ran over to where she stood.

  “Is it okay if I call you tomorrow? Just to see how you’re doing?”

  Her purse slipped down her arm and Leah jerked it up onto her shoulder. “You don’t have to...”

  “I want to.”

  She nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  His friend drove up. Josiah said good-night and walked toward the truck.

  She smiled and lifted her hand in farewell when he turned to wave one last time.

  Chapter 7

  “I’m so sorry about your dog. Is there anything I can do?”

>   Leah smiled at Cecily. Her head ached from crying so much the night before and that morning her eyes were so red and swollen that there were no eye drops on the market strong enough to help them. She appreciated the Byrds’ offers of assistance during this time when she missed her parents the most.

  Josiah had called early that morning. He’d asked how she felt and then surprised her by asking if she’d go out with him Friday night. She’d debated whether she should say yes. She didn’t know if he was being a nice guy and trying to take her mind off what had happened or was being honest when he said he wanted to spend time with her. She’d said yes. When she asked what she should wear, he suggested they keep this one casual. His implication there would be more dates, possibly more formal, pleased Leah.

  “Josiah offered to help. I took the coward’s way out and emailed my parents early this morning. They’re on their way to London so I don’t know when I’ll hear back.”

  “Time-wise they’re ahead of us so I imagine you’ll hear soon.”

  Leah hated sharing the news, particularly during their time of celebration. “Ready to tackle that hall closet?”

  Cecily started up the stairs. “Josiah took the trash down for us last night. I’m thinking we should use smaller bags. I can understand why people get those construction Dumpsters.”

  Leah chuckled. “Not for organizing their home.”

  “It could work. We could toss stuff out the window.”

  “Maybe for the attic, if you plan to toss everything. There’s probably an ordinance prohibiting Dumpsters in this area.”

  They quickly sorted through the odds and ends left over from the previous day. Photos and a few of the decorative pieces went into the keep pile and others were wrapped and placed in boxes to be donated. They worked well together. Cecily pulled out items and told Leah where they needed to go. Only when she tottered on the fence did Leah make a suggestion.

  Cecily wasn’t about to part with old children’s board games held together with yellowed tape and boxes of music on cassette tapes and old albums.

  Leah stood, her hands filled with the plastic cassette cases. “Do you have a player for these?”

  Cecily nodded. “Our system plays both. And I have a unit that converts them to CDs.”

  “But do you have time to do that?”

  “It’s on my list.”

  “Okay, though most of the songs probably aren’t favorites. You could just as easily download those you like on your iPhone and enjoy them now, without the extra work.”

  Leah slipped the cassettes into the keep/think about bin and hoped Cecily would rethink her stance on the outdated items. Nostalgia was fine on the walls of restaurants but useless when it came to well-organized homes.

  They carried the smaller bags of garbage downstairs when they stopped for lunch. As always, the kitchen took Leah’s breath away. The custom-made cabinets in a dark wood and quartz countertops in a light color were glorious. Her mother would love this room. Renovating the kitchen had always been on her parents’ “one day” list. Leah had wondered why they didn’t buy a newer home but knew they felt a strong emotional attachment to the home they had lived in since moving back to Wilmington.

  Cecily moved over to the sink to wash her hands before going to the fridge.

  “I’ll have Josiah move those donate boxes to the garage. That will give us more room to work and make things easier when it comes to taking them away.”

  “If we made lists of the contents, I could take them by the donation site. Just to keep the numbers down.”

  Cecily eyed Leah. “And to keep me from changing my mind?”

  Leah placed her hands on her hips and looked the woman in the eye. “That’s what Josiah said last night. Have you been going through the boxes after I leave?”

  Cecily chortled. “No. I’m positive about the items in the donate boxes. Can’t say the same about this keep/rethink pile you have me using.”

  Leah repeated the phrase she’d been hoping to imprint on Cecily. “Just remember, items you can’t find when you want or need them are basically useless.”

  “And how many times do I have to tell myself that before it sinks in?”

  “I’ve been thinking and if you really have to keep something the key is making sure you can find it when you want it. We can make lists and post them in the closet or get a notebook and log where you store things. Whichever you think is best.”

  Cecily eyed her suspiciously. “Who are you and what have you done with Leah?”

  They laughed together.

  “You really do need to prioritize the keep/think about items.”

  “I know I’m being silly about this.”

  Leah shook her head. “No, you’re not. Too many people have to condense a lifetime of treasures to fit into new living accommodations. Just remember that Josiah may not feel the same connection to certain items that you do so keep what’s most important to you. If there are things you feel he would want, you could make a list and talk to him about them.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea.”

  Cecily removed croissants from the toaster oven and sliced them in half, adding homemade chicken salad. She spooned cucumber, corn and tomato summer salad onto the plates and handed one to Leah.

  They sat at the kitchen island. Leah said grace and took a bite of the sandwich. “This is delicious. You’re such a good cook.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to have someone to appreciate my efforts. Do you cook?”

  “Not much. Mom taught me a few basics but I hate cooking for one.”

  Cecily nodded. “I had plenty of time and opportunity to cook. Even Jim, Joseph’s father, couldn’t complain. And believe me he was a critical man.”

  Leah couldn’t begin to imagine what it would be like to live with someone who never had a positive comment.

  “At first, I wanted to move out but Joseph said we didn’t have anywhere to go and he wasn’t about to start work before he finished school. He was certain that once his dad sank his claws into him he’d never escape.”

  “Was it so bad?”

  Cecily considered that. “Joseph and his father would argue for hours on end. Sometimes I think Jim gave in to shut him up.”

  “What about Josiah? Did he argue with his dad?”

  “Not so much. He internalized his frustrations.”

  “Not good.”

  “I would encourage him to tell his father what he thought but he believed Joseph didn’t care. I’m not sure I didn’t do Josiah a disservice by not encouraging him to find work elsewhere.”

  “Why do you suppose he worked with his dad?”

  “I don’t think he ever gave up hope of having a relationship with his father. Maybe he thought they could bond through work.”

  After they finished their sandwiches and salad, Cecily picked up a knife and sliced into a strawberry-rhubarb pie. “Hope you like this. It’s my favorite and I’ve been hoping for an excuse to have one.”

  Leah savored the first bite of pie. “Feel free to use me as an excuse any time.”

  As they chatted, Leah debated mentioning their upcoming date. She concluded that if Josiah wanted his mother to know he would tell her.

  After lunch, they finished the hall closet and moved to another closet. Leah’s phone rang and she excused herself upon seeing her father’s number on the screen.

  “Leah, sweetie, we just got your message. I’m so sorry about Champ.”

  The sound of her mother’s voice made Leah tear up again. “He wouldn’t eat or move or anything.”

  “Poor baby,” Marty cooed. “I wish we were there. Don’t be sad, sweetie. Champ lived a long, happy life.”

  “I know but he...” I can handle this, she told herself. “Tell me what you want to do and I’ll call Kevin.”

&nbs
p; “You don’t need to do anything. Daddy and I have decided to have Champ cremated and sprinkle his ashes under those shade trees in the backyard he loved so much. Daddy has already sent Kevin an email. We’ll have a little memorial service when we get home.”

  Relief that the burden had been lifted off her filled Leah and then guilt for being so useless. Her parents deserved better. “I checked on Lady last night and again this morning. She’s her usual independent self. I can’t tell if she misses Champ.”

  “She’ll be fine.”

  Leah hoped so. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing another pet. She changed the subject. “How’s London?”

  “Wonderful. Your dad booked a hop on, hop off tour on an open-topped double-decker bus for tomorrow. We’ll see Buckingham Palace and so many other places. There’s a ninety-minute walking tour of the Changing of the Guard and a Thames River Cruise. There’s so much to see and do. We miss you, though. You have to come with us next time.”

  Leah wondered when that would be. Her mother wasn’t home from this trip and was already making plans for the future. “I’ll let you go. You have sightseeing to do. Give Daddy my love.”

  “Don’t hang up. He’s right here and wants to talk to you.”

  Leah listened to her father’s reassurances before ending the call. God had truly blessed her with wonderful parents. Even when she’d offered to call Kevin again, her father said no.

  “Your parents?” Cecily asked when Leah returned.

  She nodded. “Daddy’s already handled the arrangements. He wouldn’t hear of me doing anything. He’s very protective of Mom and me.”

  “Men often feel that way regarding the women in their lives.”

  “I know, but I’d like to do things for them some time. All I do is take, take, take.”

  “Nothing they don’t freely give.”

  Leah knew Cecily understood the situation from a parent’s point of view but didn’t feel any better.

  They had church that evening and agreed to an early wrap-up. Leah stopped to pick up cat food and felt sad as she passed the display of dog play toys Champ loved so much. It had always been nearly impossible to walk out without buying one for him. She drove over to her parents’ and found Lady under their bed.