The Missing Will (2 page)

“He’s in the living room, reading the newspaper.” Mom gestured in that direction. “Let’s go in, and you can tell us all about it.”

After Kristi took a seat on the couch between her parents, she told them everything that had been discussed at the picnic and explained how Joel had taken money from their account without her knowledge.

“You need to pull out the rest of the money and close that account before every penny is gone.” Dad’s expression was somber.

Kristi cupped her cheeks in her hands. “Oh, you’re right. I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning.” Since Joel had taken over half of the money they’d saved, she was certainly entitled to what was left.

Dad’s eyebrows furrowed, and he gave a quick snort. “I can’t understand why he’d do something like that. Didn’t he realize what it would do to your relationship?” He slapped the folded newspaper on the coffee table. “I’m disappointed in him. Joel is obviously not the man I thought he was.”

Kristi dabbed at the tears dribbling down her cheeks. “I think…Joel’s so caught up with his need for money…” Her voice broke on a sob. “He’s not thinking of anything but himself.”

To her surprise, instead of Mom saying something negative or reminding her of what the Bible said about being unequally yoked with an unbeliever, she pulled Kristi into her arms. “I know you must be hurting right now, but perhaps in time you’ll find someone else—someone better for you.”

Kristi sniffed against Mom’s shoulder, returning the hug. “I…I can’t even think about that right now.”

“And you shouldn’t, either.” Dad reached over and took Kristi’s hand. “You need time to work through your pain and heal. Always remember, your mom and I are here for you.”

“That’s right,” Mom agreed. “If you need to talk or want someone to pray with you, come by anytime or give us a call.”

“Thanks. I will.” As Kristi reached into her purse for a tissue, her cell phone rang. Seeing it was Joel, she let her voice mail answer the call.

Joel held his cell phone up to his ear and grimaced when he heard Kristi’s voice mail pick up. It was the fourth time he’d tried to call since she’d left his place, and he was desperate to talk to her. “If she’s not going to answer my calls, then I’m going over to her place and talk to her.”

Joel had already put the Corvette away in his shop, so he hopped in his everyday car and headed down the road. He hoped Kristi would listen and give him another chance. He was determined to patch things up. As he neared Kristi’s place, Joel’s palms began to sweat. Could he convince the woman he loved to change her mind about him?

When he pulled in front of Kristi’s condo, his stomach clenched. Her car wasn’t in the driveway.
I wonder where she could be.

Joel sat for several minutes, running his hands through his hair. He tried calling her again, but she didn’t answer. When her voice mail finally came on, he left a message: “Listen, Kristi, we can’t let it end like this. I love you, and we need to talk things through. Please call me.”

As his heartbeat continued to race, he decided to drive over to Kristi’s parents’ house, thinking she might be there. When he turned onto their street, he saw Kristi’s car parked in their driveway. At first, he felt relief, but then he realized why she probably was there.
I’ll bet Kristi came here to tell her folks about our breakup.

Joel had always felt a sense of coolness from Kristi’s mother, JoAnn, so it wasn’t likely she’d have anything positive to say to him right now. He’d gotten along better with her dad, but Paul might side with his daughter and ask Joel to leave.

“Nope, I wouldn’t have a chance or a prayer in there,” Joel murmured as he drove on by. “I’ll give Kristi a few days to calm down, and then I’ll call her again.”

W
hen Kristi entered the nursing home Thursday morning, she was greeted with a cheery smile from Dorine Turner, one of the other nurses. “A bouquet of flowers came for you a few minutes ago. I put them in the break room.”

Kristi’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “Are you sure they’re for me?” she asked as she placed her belongings in a cubby. Many of the nursing home residents received flowers, but in all the time Kristi had worked there, no floral delivery had been for her.

Dorine nodded. “I saw your name on the outside of the card.”

“Hmm…Guess I’ll go take a look before I start my rounds.”

When Kristi entered the room and spotted the glass vase filled with six lovely pink roses—her favorite flower—she blushed with pleasure. She walked over to the table and cupped the petals gently in her hands, leaning in to smell their delicate scent.
Whoever sent these must know me well. Maybe they’re from Mom and Dad.

When she opened the card attached to the ribbon, she flinched.
To Kristi. Love, Joel.

Her warm feeling vanished like a candle flame snuffed out by a gust of air. She bit her lip, then released an irritated huff.
So now Joel thinks he can win me back with flowers?
She shook her head determinedly.
I think not.

The roses were too pretty to throw out, but there was no way she would take them home. She couldn’t believe Joel expected her to take him back and forget everything he’d done to her.
I know what to do. I’ll give these flowers to one of the patients.

After removing the card and tossing it in the trash, Kristi picked up the vase and started down the hall. When she approached Audrey Harrington’s room and spotted the elderly woman sitting in a chair by her window, she rapped on the open door.

“Come in.” A radiant smile spread across Audrey’s wrinkled face when she turned to look at Kristi. “Is it time for my medicine?”

“Not yet.” Kristi set the vase on the table beside Audrey’s bed. She noticed some gardening magazines stacked neatly next to the lamp. The table looked like it had been cleaned recently with furniture polish, as it glistened in the sunlight shining through the window. Audrey’s room was definitely one of the most orderly in the nursing home. While all the rooms received attention from housekeeping, Audrey also made sure her personal items were either lying neatly on the table or tucked away in one of her drawers. “These flowers are for you. I hope you will enjoy them.”

“Oh, my!” Audrey’s arthritic fingers touched her parted lips. “Who are they from? No one has ever sent me flowers before. At least not since my husband passed away.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” Kristi smiled, placing her hand gently on the elderly woman’s slender shoulder. “These pretty roses are from me.”

Audrey’s hazel-colored eyes blinked rapidly as she gazed at the bouquet, then back at Kristi. “Why, thank you, dear. It was so thoughtful of you.”

As much as Kristi disliked Joel trying to worm his way back into her life, she was glad he’d sent the flowers to her place of employment and not her home. It did Kristi’s heart good to see the look of joy on Audrey’s face as she rose from her chair, shuffled over to the flowers, and bent to smell them.

“The pleasant odor equals their beauty. I hope they last several days.”

“I’ll make sure when I come in to check on you that the roses get plenty of water,” Kristi assured her.

Grinning like a child with a new toy, Audrey seated herself again, before picking up the worn-looking Bible lying on the foot of her bed. “God answers prayer.” She lifted the book and held it to her chest. “I had prayed earlier that something good would happen in my life today, and it has.” She gestured to the roses.

Kristi had not even thought to pray such a prayer when she’d gotten up this morning, but if she had, she, too, could proclaim that her prayer had been answered. The “something good” in her life today was seeing the joy she’d brought to a sweet lady who had never had a single visitor in the year she’d been here.

It grieved Kristi to see lonely patients with relatives who either didn’t care or lived too far away to come for a visit. Smiling down at Audrey, Kristi decided to take a few minutes each day to visit this sweet lady and any other patients who appeared to be lonely. It would be good for them, as well as her.

Charm, Ohio

When Elsie arrived at her father’s place to do more organizing and sorting, she was surprised to find Aunt Verna sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea, still dressed in her night clothes.

“
Ach
, you must think I’m a
faulenzer
this morning.” A circle of pink erupted on Aunt Verna’s cheeks.

“I don’t think you’re a lazy person at all.” Elsie removed her shawl and outer bonnet, hanging them on a wall peg before taking a seat across from her aunt.

“Compared to Lester, I am lazy. He got up early to take care of the horses. Then, as soon as we had our breakfast, he went back out to the barn to do a few more chores.” She opened her mouth and yawned loudly. “I slept longer than usual and don’t have much getup-and-go this morning.”

“You’ve probably been working too hard, which is why I’m here to help out.”

Aunt Verna tipped her head. “What was it you said?”

Elsie repeated herself.

“Oh, jah, I’ve been keeping busy.”

Elsie stared at the vacant chair positioned at the other end of the table. Tears sprang to her eyes. Oh, how she missed seeing her father in his chair with wheels. It may have seemed quirky to some, but there had always been something fascinating about watching him roll about the room in his special chair. Sometimes he’d even roll into the living room or down the hall to his bedroom. It wasn’t that Dad couldn’t walk. He simply enjoyed the ride as he pushed himself along with his feet, sometimes singing, whistling, or even playing his harmonica. To Elsie, seeing him do this was a treat.

What a unique character our daed was,
she mused.
We never knew what he might say or do.
Growing up with Dad’s spontaneity and peculiar habits had kept life interesting, even after Elsie had become an adult.

“Will your sisters be coming to sort through your daed’s things today, too?” Aunt Verna’s question invaded Elsie’s thoughts.

“Uh, no. Doris has a doctor’s appointment this morning, and if she feels well enough, she’ll work at the restaurant this afternoon.” Elsie made sure to speak louder this time.

Aunt Verna’s silver-gray brows drew together. “I’m sorry to hear she’s still not feeling well. It’s good she’s finally going to see the doctor.”

“I agree.”

“What about Arlene? Will she be joining us soon?”

“Not today. Baby Samuel is teething and kind of fussy, so Arlene decided to stay home.”

“It’s okay. We won’t get as much done without their help, but I’m sure the three of us will manage. Although I’m not sure how much Lester will help here in the house. He said during breakfast that there’s still plenty of work in the barn to be done.”

“We will do the best we can.” Elsie left her seat, filled the sink with warm water and detergent, and started washing the dishes.

“You don’t have to do that.” Aunt Verna got up and put her empty cup in the sink. “These are mine and Lester’s breakfast dishes, so I’ll take care of them. There are plenty of other things you can do, and you surely didn’t come all the way from Millersburg to wash our dirty
gscjaar.
”

Elsie knew better than to argue with her aunt. She’d tried it before and hadn’t gotten anywhere. Besides, she really did need to get started sorting through more of Dad’s things and looking for his will.

“All right then, if you insist.” She handed the sponge to her aunt. “Guess I’ll head upstairs to the attic and go through some of the items there.”

“Good idea. Oh, and don’t forget to keep a lookout for your daed’s old boots. I still want them, you know.”

Elsie nodded, even though she was sure Dad wouldn’t have put his boots up there. More than likely he’d tossed them out. Elsie didn’t understand Aunt Verna’s interest in having Dad’s tattered old boots, but if they did turn up, she could certainly have them.

As she made her way upstairs, Elsie thought about how many times she’d climbed these steps when she was a girl. Sometimes, she and her siblings would slide down the stairs on their stomachs, giggling all the way.