First Class Farewell

by Aj Harmon

  “You look lost in thought,” Adam said, as he sat down on the sand sharing her shade out of the midday sun.

  “Just thinking about the future…where I’ll be headed in a few weeks.”

  “You’ve applied to several really good facilities. I’m sure they’ll all want you.”

  “Johns Hopkins already said no. So did Concord. But they weren’t my top choices, so fingers still crossed.”

  “So Beth Israel and Mount Sinai are still on the table,” he encouraged. “You can’t beat either of them.”

  In the weeks and months following her brutal attack when she was fourteen years old, Shelby had survived by focusing on one day at a time. In the beginning, it was more like an hour at a time. But as the years passed, with the help of caring and exceptional doctors, her physical and emotional wounds healed and slowly but surely, she began to think about the future.

  She’d attended support groups. In fact, on occasion, she still did. Meeting with other women who’d gone through unspeakable cruelty and abuse, humiliation and shame, had helped her to realize what she’d wanted to do with her life. With her personal experience and her commitment to helping others, psychiatry was her field of choice. Many teachers and faculty during her pre-med days in Boston, and medical school in New York, had suggested that over the course of her education she’d probably change her mind several times as to in which field of medicine she truly belonged. They’d been wrong. Her resolve had never wavered. She’d been determined. There were still several years of residency and then fellowships before her dream would be realized, but it would all be worth it.

  Dr. Margot LaVaughn had been her doctor in Portland for several months before she’d moved to Wisconsin to live with her grandmother. There, she’d seen Dr. Michael Inglethorpe who had also been crucial to her recovery. In Boston, she continued to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Elsa Weaving, who’d encouraged her in her career path and had even written letters of reference for her when applying to medical schools. These three people had left a lasting impression on her and she felt it was almost a calling to continue in their footsteps.

  It was so close she could taste it.

  “Is there something else you’re worried about?” Adam asked, seeing something else in her eyes.

  Shelby shrugged with her left shoulder and sighed.

  “Tell me,” he insisted. “Maybe I can help.”

  She shook her head. “I’m fine. I just don’t like waiting. I keep checking my email hoping that my fate has been revealed, but…nothing yet.”

  “It will come,” he reassured her. “But in the meantime, let’s go swimming.” He yanked his t-shirt over his head and stood, holding his hand out to her.

  Shelby paused. Hesitantly, she swung her feet over the side of the chaise and accepted Adam’s hand. With an unsteady hand she fidgeted with the cover-up that covered her swimsuit. Looking down at her hand, she shuddered ever-so-slightly, but Adam saw.

  “It’s okay,” he whispered and took her hand and held it in both of his. With his thumb he caressed the soft skin and bent his knees so he could look at her in the eye. “We’ve all seen it before.”

  With a deep breath she nodded once and pulled the fabric over her head and tossed it on the chair. Her skin looked pale against the black of her bikini. Her hand immediately found the scar on her stomach, just a couple of inches below her belly button and to the left. It looked like a surgical scar to anyone who didn’t know her history, but to Shelby it was the only physical reminder of her horrific past. The stab wound had healed but she often wondered if she would ever be able to look at it without the visions of the bastard who’d inflicted it on her.

  “Shelby,” Adam whispered, trying to keep his emotions in check and not let his voice crack. “Let’s go swimming.”

  She looked into his baby blue eyes and managed a smile. Then she took his hand and pulled him down the sand to the warm Caribbean water.

  *****

  For twelve years Shelby had been part of the Lathem family. Every member had accepted her as a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, an aunt. And every member of the family loved her unconditionally.

  The first four years after leaving Portland for Wisconsin, she visited Katy in New York on school holidays. With Adam being six years older than her, at first, they didn’t spend much time together. But once she’d declared pre-med as her major and was in college, the age difference wasn’t so noticeable and the two found themselves in deep conversation at family events and on vacation.

  A few years ago, when the whole family had spent the week of the Fourth of July in the Hamptons, Adam had thought they might be becoming more than just friends. After a long walk on the moonlit beach one evening, she’d taken his hand as they’d strolled back to the house and when Adam had tried to kiss her, she’d bristled and dropped his hand quickly.

  “I can’t,” she’d said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have a relationship. Or at least a normal one,” she’d confessed.

  So Adam had lightened the mood by telling her that his last girlfriend had told him he kissed like a dog when she’d broken up with him. They’d laughed and tried to decide what that actually meant and he hadn’t attempted to get close again.

  But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to. In fact, since she’d moved to New York, and was living only a short subway ride away, he’d become quite creative in coming up with excuses to see her. Being a doctor only helped his cause. He’d offered help with studying and would bring her takeout and Frappuccino’s, all in the name of understanding what she was going through.

  During her second year of medical school, she’d begun to open up to him about the attack and how she’d been trying to use the experience positively…how she could empathize with her future patients, understanding the uphill battles they faced in recovery. They’d talked for hours and hours about the weeks and months of abuse that led up to the violence that landed her in the ER and her attacker in prison. Adam knew it all and Shelby had admitted late one night that she’d assumed he’d disappear from her life now that he’d learned all of her dark secrets. It’d had the opposite effect. The admiration and love he felt for her had only been strengthened by her vulnerability and in the fact that she trusted him enough to share it all with him.

  He was a successful young pediatrician and was ready to settle down and have a family of his own. He’d at one time thought it might be with Shelby but she still wasn’t ready and had made her reservations about any kind of intimate relationship known repeatedly. So Adam had dated - had had a lot of first dates, a few second dates, and a scarce number of third dates. There wasn’t anyone that he was as comfortable with as he was with Shelby…and she wasn’t interested.

  *****

  Bob and Cynthia Urain had both been born and raised on the island. They loved their home and they loved their job. For most of the year, they lived, just the two of them, on the beautiful estate. They kept the house in immaculate condition and took care of the family when they were there relaxing.

  The Urains loved the Lathem family. Matt was a kind employer who paid them generously and was kind and undemanding when he was in residence. Everyone loved Janie and the Urains were no exception. She asked about their grown children who now lived in Florida and after Cynthia’s mother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. The Lathems paid for the facility that cared for her, even though Cynthia protested. Matt insisted, telling them that it was the least he could do for them after all they did for his family. And besides, what better thing to do with all his money than to help those people he cared about?

  As much as the Urains loved the children, Ella and Christopher loved them back times ten. Christopher used to follow Bob around the house and the gardens as he inspected the gardener’s work, or the contractors if they needed plumbing work or the roof fixed. He would try to imitate the faint accent that Bob had and would have the family in stitches over his attempts. Ella wasn’t interested in cooking with her mother at home, but when they came to
their vacation home, she placed her apron over her head and spent hours as Cynthia’s sous chef and loving every minute of it. In fact, Cynthia was such a positive influence for Ella that with her and Maureen’s combined efforts, in just a couple of days they’d managed to help Ella understand that all food was good…just in moderation. Matt was incredibly grateful.

  So when Matt had asked for their help in having a celebration, they pulled out every stop and called in every favor they had to ensure a magical party was what he received.

  The vans started arriving just after lunch. The first to be unloaded held tiki torches and thousands of twinkly lights that were soon strung all over the patio of the house. A bar was set up and liquor and soft drinks were delivered by the crate. The DJ arrived next with massive box speakers that were placed on each side of the pool, ready to fill the air with drum beats and mumbled lyrics. By five o’clock, the catering van pulled into the semi-circular driveway and servers in shorts and flip flops hauled tray after delectable tray into the kitchen, awaiting the appropriate hour to plate it all on the tables being set up next to the pool.

  The children buzzed with excitement and Matt looked on with satisfaction as the final preparations were made for their celebration to honor Ray. As Tim and Beth sauntered through the great room, Matt turned to his right and watched the aura of joy they carried. This celebration would be for them, too. There was nothing more deserving of a party than the upcoming arrival of a much-wanted, already adored baby.

  Beth had called her parents and informed them of the happy news. They were naturally thrilled with the addition to the family. Rupert, Beth’s older brother, had married but had yet to produce a grandchild, so Beth’s baby would be their first.

  Beth had also decided, after capturing in her journal her thoughts and feelings after the blessed phone call from her doctor, that she would, at some point, turn her very personal writings into a book. Struggling with infertility was not a unique problem known only to her. Just the clinic she’d visited regularly had hundreds of couples dealing with the exact same thing and the knowledge that she’d finally been able to do the one thing her heart craved, conceiving a child, had given her the desire to share her experience with others. No matter how personal and how private it was, she wondered if there hadn’t been a higher meaning…a purpose behind the experience.

  Tim had been completely supportive when she’d broached the subject with him. He’d even suggested she keep a daily account of her pregnancy, too. She’d liked the idea.

  Now they stood watching the bustling all around them, but stood entwined in each other’s arms as unconsciously they each had a hand over her flat belly. Matt smiled at the sight. Remembering back to the day that Janie had announced the wonderful news that they would be welcoming a baby was one of the happiest days of his life. He understood the joy his brother was feeling and he couldn’t have been happier for them.

  “I think it’s fantastic that we’ll be having a party tonight,” he said. “Ray would be happy to know that his wake will be combined with a celebration for your news.”

  “He was a good man,” Beth smiled. “And he will be missed more than any of us realize, I think.”

  Matt nodded but felt in his heart that he already knew just how much he would miss his friend. He had missed him terribly each day of the past few weeks and didn’t see how the pain was going to go away anytime soon. But today was not a day to mourn so he tried to push the grief from his mind as he watched his children run around the patio, the excitement obvious as they giggled and skipped with their cousins.

  Ben had Lisa in his arms and chased after Charlie who was dashing for the pool. With a swoop he reached out and scooped him into his other arm about three feet from the edge. Handing Lisa off to Alex, they headed for the beach to join Paul who was already building sand castles with Gregory and Annie.

  David was not far behind his brother, Amanda running beside him, singing a merry little tune, and Rachel on his shoulders, one chubby little leg on each side of his head. She was laughing and patting her daddy on the head, urging him on toward the sea.

  Andrew and Rory had Joseph in between them and they were swinging him high in the air as they walked. If you listened closely, you could hear the faint laugh escape from his lips. Isabelle and Christopher noticed them leaving and quickly fell in beside them, not wanting to miss out on any of the fun.

  Ella was wandering around with Cynthia, as she supervised the deliveries and set-up. Matt chuckled. If his daughter didn’t choose event planning as her career, he’d be surprised.

  The rest of the family was in the house, scattered. His parents were in their bedroom resting. Peter hadn’t been the same since the shooting. It had taken an emotional and psychological toll on him that had left the family struggling with how to help. Maureen had repeatedly told them that time would be the healer. Hopefully the party would, too. Matt was counting on it.

  He headed back through to the media room. A Yankees game was on the television. He fell into the middle of the sofa, between Derek and Tyler, and watched, somewhat interested, until Cynthia announced that everything was ready and the party could begin.

  *****

  All the beautiful little girls were in party dresses and all the boys in their best church outfits. The women rivaled the pages of the best fashion magazines and the men were dressed to kill. The Bahamas are known for the laid back and relaxing atmosphere. Shorts and flip flops were the uniform. But Ray deserved nothing but their best and their dress showed it.

  With a warm breeze and the smells of deliciousness wafting through the air, the DJ began the speakers thumping with a lively song that had all the girls skipping and the women wanting their men to dance with them. The bartender poured drinks and champagne bottles popped with a delicious trail of bubbles pouring from the long necks. Stainless steel lids were removed from trays of mouth-watering delicacies and the grill was already producing burgers and hot dogs with perfect grill marks for the children. As the sun dipped lower and lower, the thousands of tiny white lights sparkled brighter and brighter.

  One of the first things Janie had done to the house after they purchased it, was to have a wrought iron fence put up in the corner of the patio. She wanted her children to be able to run and play but be in no danger of falling into the pool. Now it was filled with children, laughing and playing, safe, allowing their parents to also enjoy the evening without worry.

  On the outside, to strangers, the Lathem clan looked not only wealthy, but happy, too. And they were. Although tempers occasionally flared, and differences of opinions made for healthy debate, the brothers were all best friends and their spouses had also become inseparable. They were a close knit group and when choosing the company they’d best like to socialize with, they were happiest with each other. Laughter, good-natured teasing, joking and conversation filled the air as the adults ate and drank and celebrated.

  Maureen sat next to her husband and joyously watched her family. In ten short years they had grown in leaps and bounds and she wasn’t sure her heart could hold any more love. Yet they’d just learned that another baby was coming and the excitement she felt was overwhelming. As all the younger grandchildren sat at tables and ate a smile formed on her lips.

  “You look beautiful, my love,” Peter said as he reached for her hand and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss.

  Maureen smiled and sighed. “There are moments like this that couldn’t be any more perfect.”

  “Except that we are celebrating the life of a man who is no longer with us.”

  “My darling,” Maureen whispered, fully aware of the guilt he felt. “The only person to blame for Ray’s death is that vile creature who shot him. This is not your fault and I know that Ray would not want you blaming yourself.”

  He exhaled and dropped his head. “How can I not feel guilty? It was because of me he was there!”

  “Well, if you’re going to play that game, it was my fault then! I was the one who needed the aspirin. You
went there for me!”

  “This is not your fault,” Peter declared forcefully. “Not ever your fault.” He looked horrified she would even suggest such a thing.

  “That’s right…it isn’t. And it isn’t yours either. It was a tragic thing that none of us predicted, but I tell you what. He would’ve gone into that store even if he’d known what the outcome was going to be. He was that kind of a man and we should be grateful we had him as part of our family for as long as we did. I know that I can never understand or comprehend what you went through that day and I pray to God that it never happens again, but by golly, Peter, we need to move on. For Ray.”

  “Amen!” injected Matt, who’d silently approached his parents and overheard their conversation.

  Peter looked from his son to his wife of nearly sixty years and nodded. “For Ray,” he whispered.

  12.

  Ghosts

  Tummies full. Feet tired. Eyelids heavy. The party had been a smashing success. As little princes and princesses were carried to bed, and the vans loaded and driven away, the lights of the house dimmed.

  There remained only four by the pool: Derek, Adam, Tyler, and Shelby. Derek and Tyler fell into conversation about a project in Atlantic City that MEL Holdings was in the middle of developing. That left Adam to announce he was going to walk down to the beach. Shelby offered to join him.

  In silence, they flipped off their shoes, Adam rolled up his pants and they headed for the moonlit water. In all the world Adam was sure he hadn’t visited a more peaceful stretch of sand than that which lay under his feet. The property stretched for half a mile on either side of the house and the privacy was welcomed and appreciated.