Family Inheritance (34 page)

Glancing at Bill, she said, “I've never really known my mom, but I'm really going
to miss her.”

“You talk as if she's dead.” Bill took his eyes from the road for a moment.

“She certainly isn't living. I hope God mercifully takes her home,” Helene whispered.

“To be with your dad?”

“No. Dad didn't go to be with God.” Helene's words were monotone as she stared straight
ahead.

“Helene, how can you say that?”

“I know my father, Bill,” she said.

“Are you saying he went to Hell?”

“I am.” Helene's glance flickered and resentment crept back into her voice. “And
that's where he deserves to be.”

“Honey,” Bill reached for her, “tell me what I can do to help.”

“Just be here,” she replied. “Just let me know I'm okay with you, no matter how crazy
or confused my past was, or my family may be.”

“I can do that.”

Helene sadly watched the road ahead. “How did we live together for so many years
and not know about each other?”

“I was raised not to ask,” Bill replied.

“And I was raised not to tell. That's what Mom always said, ‘Don't talk about what
goes on at home, Helene.' She would warn me if I was going to a birthday party or
to stay overnight at somebody's house. But what else could I talk about? It was all
I knew. Pretty soon I just kept to myself.”

“What a match we are, my love.” Bill touched her leg. “My mother used to stop my
questions with, ‘Other people's business is their own, William. If they want you
to know something, they'll tell you.' And I believed her.”

“How did we ever get to know each other?”

“We didn't,” he answered.

They slipped into a comfortable silence. Finally, Bill cleared his throat, and said,
“I don't know if my timing is appropriate, but I thought we'd go skiing.”

Thomas
was apparently now awake because Helene heard stirring from the backseat as a sleepy
voice questioned, “Skiing? This is Minnesota, not Colorado. It's the land of frozen
lakes, not mountains.”

Helene turned toward him. “I'll have you know there are wonderful ski and winter
sports not far from here.”

“In Minnesota? Are you sure?”

Helene burst into laughter. “Bill, we can't let this young man continue to live such
a sheltered life. I think it's time he experienced the fun of a Minnesota winter.”

“I was hoping you'd say that,” Bill smiled. “I made reservations at Buck Hill ski
area, which is not far from Minneapolis. I thought we'd spend a few days enjoying
winter before we flew back home.”

“But we didn't bring appropriate clothing.”

“I guess we'll have to buy some.”

“That could get expensive.”

“Well, I knew I had worked hard all these years to put money in the bank for some
reason. Maybe it's time we got wild and crazy and spent it.”

Helene wrapped herself with the love and camaraderie that was snuggling around them.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid closer to Bill. “I think skiing sounds great,
and I haven't been sledding in years.”

Bill put his arm around her shoulder. “I've heard ice fishing is fun. Driving around
on a frozen lake entices me.”

Helene could see that Thomas was reluctant, but she and Bill's enthusiasm seemed
to draw him into their plans. “Only if we also rent a snowmobile. I'd love to drive
one.”

Helene turned toward Thomas as worry surfaced in her eyes. “I don't know. You could
get hurt on a snowmobile.”

“Mom, I'm not a kid.”

Bill drew her closer to him as he whispered, “He's right, Helene. He's a young man
now. We have to let him grow up.”

Helene glanced at the men in her life. “Okay, as we say in Minnesota,
you betcha.
But first, we do some shopping and then introduce you both to the rest of my family.
After that, though, we ski, fish, and snowmobile!” She grinned at Bill. “Lead on!”

Chapter 40

Minneapolis, Minnesota

More than six weeks had passed since Alice's phone call to Jake, and they hadn't
heard anything from him. The social worker had pushed hard about pressing charges,
but Alice had dropped the case, refusing to even discuss it. So after a few weeks,
the matter dropped into the background of their lives and peace seemed to return
to the family.

It was December and Sam was getting into the holiday spirit. “How are we gonna decorate
our tree, Mom?” he asked as he stared at the bare branches.

Alice hadn't thought they'd even have a tree, but the couple next door had gone out
today and cut down their own tree, bringing an extra one for Alice, Sarah, and Sam.
They'd even bought them a stand.

The neighbors had just left when Sam's questions began. “Our decorations are with
Dad. What are we gonna put on the tree?”

Alice's mind searched for an answer. “We'll do like people many years ago. We'll
string popcorn and cranberries and make paper decorations.”

“Popcorn and cranberries? Oh, Mom,” Sarah rolled her eyes, “that's corny.”

Alice laughed. “Corny. Popcorn. Get it?” Her sense of humor had been emerging lately
and she was enjoying those moments. Laughter hadn't been a very frequent visitor
in her life, and she was beginning to discover that she had a sense a humor. She
liked it.

“Mom!” Sarah gave her a stern look. “You're weird.” Then she grinned.

“Okay,” Sam persisted. “When are we gonna do the tree? Next week's Christmas, you
know.”

“Well, how about tonight? Auntie Suzanne is planning on coming over, so we could
see if she wants to help.”

“Sure. She's nice.” Sam was matter-of-fact. “Just make sure she doesn't tell us how
to do it. It's our tree, you know.”

Alice smiled at her son. “Well, if she tells you how to do it and you want to do
it your way, you could tell her.”

“I could tell a grownup that?”

“Sure, Sam, as long as you say it respectfully. You talk to me, don't ya?”

“Sometimes.”

“I think you could talk to Auntie Suzanne too.”

“Oh, okay. She can come then.”

A few hours later, Alice, Sarah, Sam, and Suzanne sat on the floor in the living
room with bowls of popcorn and cranberries in front of them. They each had a large
darning needle threaded with thick strings that were in various stages of becoming
popcorn and cranberry garland. Christmas music played on the stereo Alice had picked
up at a garage sale, and gentle chatter filled the room.

“Alice, this is such a neat idea. It feels so homey.” Suzanne put another piece of
popcorn on her string.

“Yeah, all we need is a fire glowing in the background.”

“Some year you'll have that, Alice,” Suzanne assured her as she stretched out her
garland in front of her to see its length.

“Do you think so?” Alice threw a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth and made a
face at Sam. She wasn't sure she could envision herself living in a house with a
fireplace, but the idea tickled at her imagination. She was going to college now
and hadn't ever thought she'd do that. So, who knew what possibilities were around
the corner?

“Yeah, we will, Mom,” Sam joined in. “I'm gonna buy you one when I get big and rich.”

“See, Alice?” Suzanne responded. “Sam is going to be big and rich, and Sarah's going
to be a top fashion model or a doctor, or both. Then you can sit back in the lap
of luxury.”

Sarah's eyes grew big. “Me, a model? Get real.”

“Why not?” Suzanne glanced at her niece. “You're gorgeous.”

“Mom says I look like you,” Sarah said shyly as she squirmed in her spot on the carpet,
trying to get comfortable.

“You do?” Suzanne peered at Alice who was just tying off her garland and reaching
for a string to start another one.

“Uh-huh. So you can both be models.”

Suzanne and Sarah quickly peeked at each other with mischievousness gleams in their
eyes. They both grabbed a piece of popcorn, tossed it at Alice, and in unison declared,
“Get real.”

“Okay, you're in trouble if you do that again,” Alice warned as she grabbed some
popcorn.

“Let's have a popcorn fight,” Sam declared.

“I don't think so.” Alice dropped her popcorn as she stared at three raised hands
each filled with popcorn. “I think I'm outnumbered.”

Before the popcorn ammunition could be released in her direction, the doorbell rang
and Alice shouted, “Saved by the bell!” She scampered up from the floor and hurried
from the room.

“Ho, ho, ho,” Helene laughed as Alice opened the door.

“Helene! What are you doing here?” Alice attempted to brush the scraps of popcorn
off her slacks.

“Visiting.” Helene smiled as she pulled Alice to her in a big hug.

“All the way from Atlanta?” Alice murmured against Helene's shoulder.

“Sure.” Helene finished her hug, released Alice, and stood there smiling.

Alice was speechless and embarrassed. She didn't want Helene to see her apartment,
which was small and plain compared to the pictures she had seen of where Helene lived.
And she especially didn't want her to see them having to decorate their tree with
popcorn.

Either Helene didn't notice Alice's hesitation or she chose to ignore it. “I brought
somebody for you to meet.” She smiled as she walked past Alice and let a tall, dark-haired
man step into the doorway. “This package-ladened man is your brother-in-law, Bill.”
Then she turned toward the young man standing next to Bill. “And this good-looking
young man is your nephew, Thomas.” Helene then pointed at Alice. “And this is my
sister, Alice.”

“Hi,” the men responded together.

Now Alice was really embarrassed. It was bad enough that Helene saw her apartment,
but to bring her lawyer husband and the nephew Alice had never met without notice
was too much! Alice couldn't take it. She wanted to run into her bedroom and eat
something—anything.

“Auntie Helene!” Sam's freckled grin looked up from his task. Soon Sarah, Suzanne,
and Sam all abandoned their garlands and were at the door joined in a hug with Helene.
Alice stood there in a daze as Bill and Thomas waited awkwardly at the door still
loaded with bags of gifts.

After all the introductions were complete, Helene turned to Alice and said, “Did
we surprise you?” Her voice was filled with excitement.

“Well, sure, I mean . . .”

Helene stepped farther into the living room. “Oh, Alice, what a wonderful idea—popcorn
garland! I've never done that. Can we help?” She slipped down onto the floor where
the bowls were assembled.

“You want to string popcorn?” Alice asked.

“I'd love to,” Helene said as she pulled off her gloves, stuck them in the pocket
of her winter coat, and reached for a string. Soon Suzanne, Sarah, and Sam joined
her.

Bill and Thomas left the packages by the front door, shed their winter coats next
to the packages, followed Helene into the living room, and sat on the floor on either
side of her, while Sam gave instructions as to how garlands were created.

Alice watched for a few moments, forgot about any embarrassment or concern she initially
had, and sat down in the space she had vacated. She picked up her needle and thread
and continued creating her garland.

With the innocence of a child, Sam looked at Helene and inquired, “How come I've
never seen you before, and now I see you a lot in a not so long time?”

“Because I
was a very silly lady.” Helene smiled as she stopped stringing her garland and looked
at her nephew.

“Didn't you like my mom before?” Sam asked.

Helene fluffed up his hair. “Actually, Sam, I didn't like myself.”

“I feel that way about myself sometimes,” Sam said as he munched on some popcorn.

“Me too.” Suzanne grinned, and they all laughed.

They were all having such a good time that Alice had lost track of time until she
heard Bill remind Helene that they had about a forty-minute drive.

“Where are you off to?” Suzanne asked.

“We're going to spend a couple of days showing Thomas what fun a Minnesota winter
can be,” Bill answered.

“Do you gotta go?” Sam protested. “Can't you just stay here till Christmas?”

“I'm
afraid not, Sam, but we'll come up again, and then we'll stay longer. Does that sound
okay with you?”

“Sure.” Sam pointed at Bill and Thomas. “Will you bring them with you?”

“Do you think I should?” she teased.

“I think so.”

“Then I will.”

“I'll call you when we get back home early next week,” Helene promised, then the
three of them left.

When they were gone, Sam pointed to the bags of wrapped gifts by the door. “But they
forgot their presents.”

“I think those are for us,” Sarah said.

“For us? Are you sure?” Sam's freckles seemed to dance with delight.

“I'm pretty sure,” Alice assured him.

That was all it took for Sam. He dashed to the bags, started unloading them, and
carried the gifts to the tree. Then he paused, turned to Alice, and with a serious
face said, “I think I like having them for family.”

Alice smiled. “I do, too, Sam. I do too.”

Chapter 41

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Three days before Christmas, Sarah and Alice were in the kitchen making Christmas
cookies. “Mom, is Auntie Helene very rich?”

“To us it seems so,” Alice said as she rolled out the sugar cookie dough, “but to
the world, probably not.” She had no idea how much money her sister had even though
she had occasionally contemplated what “rich” really meant.