10 Years Later
A little girl sat at the kitchen table, picking at her eggs and surreptitiously feeding her sausage to the yellow Labrador sitting happily next to her chair. They’d struck up a partnership long ago: the gentle dog agreed to use the restroom outside as long as she fed him anything but vegetables. It worked well for them, especially when her parents weren’t looking. The Labrador made everything disappear quickly and quietly.
She looked up from her breakfast, and gave her mother a pitiful look. “Do you have to go, Mom?”
LeAnn couldn’t help smiling. Her daughter looked so much like she had at the same age, and was twice as cute. “Yes, honey,” she said firmly. “Dad and I are both going. And it’s important, young lady.”
“But why?”
“Because,” LeAnn patiently explained, “there are people in this world who don’t have a place to spend Thanksgiving, or families to visit during the holidays. We think it’s important to help them. And this dinner,” she added, settling into the adjoining chair, “is a way to help them.”
“Okay.” April gloomily kicked the table leg, and pushed her eggs around the plate some more.
“That’s my girl.” LeAnn gently kissed her forehead. “Now quit giving your sausage to the dog. Too much will make him sick.”
Smiling, she walked into the nursery to check on little Jeffrey. Their newest addition was sleeping peacefully after being fed and changed. He looked just like Tim when he slept, she thought happily.
Tim finished washing his hands, and crept back into the room. “Hey, how’s it going in here?” he whispered, then joined her beside the crib.
“Isn’t he perfect?” LeAnn murmured with a doting smile.
“All our children are perfect.”
She grinned up at him, and mischievously wiggled her eyebrows. “Wanna make another one?”
“Definitely,” he whispered, and bent to kiss her. “But not right now.”
“Spoilsport.”
Chuckling, he patted her bottom, and followed her from the room. Then the doorbell rang, so he detoured to open it. LeAnn’s mother stood on the doorstep.
“Hi, Mom,” he said quietly, and angled his head to warn her that the baby was sleeping. “Thank you so much for helping out!”
“You’re welcome,” she smiled, and reached up to hug him. “I miss my grandkids anyway, so it’s no problem.”
“Good, because we really need your help today,” he admitted, and led her toward the kitchen. “April’s having breakfast and probably feeding half of it to the dog, Bryce is in his room playing with his Legos, and Jeffrey is sleeping soundly in his crib.”
“I got it,” she grinned. “Now go. I’ll take it from here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
LeAnn kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for helping, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, honey,” she said, then bent down to hug April.
Tim smiled at his wife. “Ready?”
“Ready, Freddy.”
They drove to the convention center, and found a parking spot in the volunteer section. Tim was quickly assigned to the dessert line and drink station. He was responsible for making sure dessert plates were laid out, and refilling glasses of iced tea. LeAnn took her position in the greeting/check-in line. Her job was to get folks into the right lanes, and answer questions. It was a perfect assignment for her, because she liked things orderly and neat, which Tim cheerfully teased her about all the time.
They’d been volunteering at the local homeless shelter for the last few years, and loved it. Helping people celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with their families made the holidays seem even more special.
The dessert station was always busy; everyone, especially the kids, viewed it as the best part of the entire dinner. People were welcome to enjoy more than one serving, and Tim was kept hopping as he brought trays of pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie from the kitchen to the dessert table.
He was so focused on his task that he nearly ran LeAnn down. She caught the plate of apple pie before it could land in her hair, and aimed a mock-scowl up at him. “Dang it, Tim,” she repeated, since he obviously hadn’t heard her before. “Stop!”
He flashed her an apologetic grin. “Sorry. What’s up?”
“I want you to come with me,” she said soberly.
“LeAnn, we’re smokin’ busy over here. Can’t it wait?”
“No, it can’t.”
Her firm tone made him blink, then hold up a finger. “Let me put this stuff down on the dessert table, and get someone to take over for me. Thirty seconds, tops.”
“I’ll wait here.”
Thirty-one seconds later he returned. “Okay,” he sighed. “I’m all yours. Now what was so important?”
She took his hand, and led him over to a corner of the building. They could see most of the tables from their vantage. “Third row, middle section, center table,” she said softly. “See the lady sitting with the three kids?”
He followed her gaze, and nodded.
“Remind you of someone?”
His eyes suddenly widened. “Holy shit! Is that who I think it is?”
“Yes. I checked her in,” LeAnn confirmed. “But she was so busy with her kids, she didn’t recognize me. Of course, it’s been ten years.”
He looked shaken, so she led him to a relatively quiet spot where he could come to grips with what he’d seen. She sat patiently and waited. There was no question in her mind what they should do, but he needed to make the decision himself.
He stared off into space for several minutes, reliving old memories, then slowly frowned. “We have to help her. Right?”
And that was just one more reason why she loved him. “Yes. Why don’t you get one of the other volunteers to take the kids over to the play area? Give them an extra dessert or some ice cream, and we can talk to her. She may not want our help,” she admitted, lifting one shoulder in a dubious shrug. “But I think we need to try.”
LeAnn hurried over to speak with the shelter director for a moment. The woman smiled at her, then at Tim, and nodded her approval. They were able to find a teenager who liked kids, then stood back and watched as he lured the kids away with desserts and the offer of playtime with other kids. It worked like a charm. Their mother watched them happily run toward the play pit, and wiped tears from her eyes.
LeAnn nodded to Tim, and they walked over and sat down across from her.
“Hi, Crystal,” he said quietly.
“Hey, Crystal,” LeAnn added an instant later.
Her mouth dropped open, and she stared up at them in shocked disbelief. Life hadn’t been kind to her, Tim thought; she looked ten years older than she should.
Suddenly she realized she’d been staring, and blushed. “Hi.”
“It’s nice to see you again,” LeAnn said softly.
Tim motioned to the play area. “Are those your children?”
She nodded shyly. “Yes.”
“They’re beautiful,” LeAnn smiled.
“Thank you.”
Impulsively LeAnn crossed to her side of the table, and sat down next to her. “I know it’s been a long time, and we haven’t kept in touch, but Tim and I would like to offer you our help. What can we do? How can we help?” She laid a gentle hand on Crystal’s shoulder. “Please.”
Tears flooded Crystal’s eyes. Before they could spill down her cheeks, LeAnn took her hand, and led her toward the bathroom. Just before she disappeared inside, she motioned for him to watch the kids.
He was happy to comply. It didn’t matter that these were obviously Cliff’s children; he loved kids. They were innocent, and deserved a fair shot in life.
The two girls favored Crystal with their silky blonde hair and blue eyes, but the boy was the spitting image of his father. Tim refused to let that influence him. Within minutes, they were crawling all over him, giggling uncontrollably as he tickled them with abandon. It was the most liberating sound in the world, and he could never get enough of it.
When he collapsed back on the mat, he was instantly covered in laughing, wriggling bodies. He kept them entertained until LeAnn and Crystal reappeared, then loudly begged for mercy. “Okay, okay, moms are here…fun’s over!”
Their response was instant and unanimous. “Awwwww!”
Then they saw Crystal, and swarmed over to clutch at her legs and babble about playing with Tim. She ruffled their hair, and listened to them with a beaming smile.
LeAnn crossed over to him, and hooked her arm through his. “Crystal and the kids are coming home with us.”
His answering smile was warm. “Yes, ma’am.”
The event director was standing nearby, watching them together. When LeAnn drew her aside for a private talk, she hugged her, then shooed her away and waved goodbye to Tim. They all headed for the exit. Crystal carried her youngest, who was about two years old. The older kids slipped their hands into Tim’s, and stayed with him until they reached his SUV.
He was glad now that he’d overridden LeAnn’s objections to such a large vehicle; it seated seven people, so there was room for everyone. He promised to return later for Crystal’s car, and pulled out of the lot as soon as everyone was situated. LeAnn turned on their DVD system for the kids. They immediately quieted down, which was further proof that Walt Disney had been a genius.
Crystal leaned forward, and laid a hand on each of their shoulders. “I just want to say thank you,” she said quietly. “Cliff’s been…difficult the last several months, and…”
“It’s okay,” LeAnn interrupted. “You’re welcome to stay with us until things settle down at home, or you find another place. Besides, we have some surprises for you, too!”
“That’s right.” Tim nodded, and met Crystal’s anxious gaze in the rearview mirror. “We’re happy to have you, and we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Homecoming was boisterous and noisy, but the children all made friends quickly. In no time, they settled happily in front of the TV to watch another Disney movie.
LeAnn shuffled furniture so Crystal’s son could sleep with Bryce, and her two daughters could share April’s room. They all loved that because it was like camping, and solemnly swore to behave themselves. Jeffrey’s crib was moved into Tim and LeAnn’s bedroom, which was no hardship since he spent most of his time there anyway. That left the guest bedroom all to Crystal, and she looked dazed by her sudden good fortune.
When the kids finally wore themselves out and fell asleep, the adults slipped out onto the back patio. It was chilly, so Tim lit up the fire pit, and they sat around it drinking sodas. LeAnn and he had already agreed not to open a bottle of wine; they didn’t drink often, and Crystal’s history made it seem like a really bad idea.
“Finally!” he exclaimed, and dramatically sagged into a chair. “Wow! Where do kids get all that energy?”
“Dads,” Leann quickly retorted. “It’s all your fault.”
Both women laughed, and he settled for glaring at them. He knew better than to argue when he was outnumbered.
“Your children really are beautiful,” LeAnn murmured, settling back in her own recliner with a contented sigh.
“Thank you. So are yours.”
“So what’s going on, and how can we help?”
Crystal hesitated for several long moments before answering. “You knew Cliff and I were paroled after only five years, and we got married right after we got out of prison.”
Tim nodded; Darla had mentioned it in passing. He still thought it was weird, but stranger things had happened. Maybe, he remembered thinking, it was because they’d formed a bond with their shared prison experiences.
He hadn’t kept in touch with her after his last visit…not out of malice or hurt feelings; he’d just had his own life to live, and she’d deserved a fresh start. He’d hoped she’d be happy, but clearly that hadn’t happened. Happiness had a sad way of avoiding some people, no matter how hard they searched for it.
She sighed heavily. “Cliff had a bad time in prison. Once he got released, he found a good job, and things were great for a while. The kids came, and we were happy. I never thought I’d enjoy being a mother, but I really do,” she admitted, shooting him a quick sideways glance. “I love them so much!
“Unfortunately Cliff got laid off about two years ago, and he hasn’t been able to find anything since. He started hitting the bottle heavily right after he got laid off, and it’s been a constant struggle. It wasn’t bad at first, but now he’s drunk more than he’s sober,” she admitted.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Tim said sincerely.
She nodded her silent thanks. “Anyway, he’s turned violent over the past six months. So far he’s only hit me, but I know it’s just a matter of time before he starts in on the children.”
LeAnn’s eyes flashed with anger. “Bastard!”
The brief time Tim and she had spent working for the FBI had shown them the truly ugly side of human life. That was one of the reasons they’d retired early, and gone back to accounting. They’d opened their own bookkeeping firm…and while they weren’t rich, they were doing amazingly well.
“I couldn’t stay with him after he hit me,” Crystal continued. “I left him a month ago. I’ve been staying in my mom’s old house. She left it to me when she died. She didn’t have much, but the house was paid for.
“Her will provided enough money to pay the taxes, and a neighborhood kid kept an eye on it, and mowed the lawn. Fredericksburg is such a small town with no crime, so despite sitting empty, it’s still in good shape. Unfortunately, I’m barely getting by, and I wanted the kids to have a good Thanksgiving.
“I got my old job back at the Ancient Mariner, but it’s not the same. There are new owners now, and everyone I meet seems to know my history. I can’t stay in Fredericksburg. It’s not a good place for me, and it won’t be a good place for the kids when they start school.”
Tim and LeAnn exchanged a glance, and Tim nodded slightly. “Crystal, are you serious about leaving him? Divorcing him, I mean?”
“Yes,” she said firmly, and squared her jaw. “I warned him if he ever laid a hand on me, I’d leave him. I have to follow through on that promise…for myself, if not for the kids.
“I’ve tried everything, and he just doesn’t want to get better.”
“Good,” Tim exclaimed, then quickly shook his head. “I’m sorry, I just meant… Never mind. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Crystal looked strangely at LeAnn when he walked into the house. She simply smiled back. “It’s going to be okay,” she promised.
They sipped their Cokes, and gazed out at the perfectly manicured backyard. It was huge, with big oak trees providing plenty of shade and privacy. A suburban sanctuary, Crystal mused, and the in-ground swimming pool looked inviting even though it was cold out.
Finally Crystal glanced over at LeAnn. “Why are you helping me?” she asked quietly. “I always got the impression you didn’t like me very much.”
LeAnn considered her words carefully before replying, “You’re right; we’ve never been friends. I didn’t like the way you treated Tim while you were married, and that’s what you picked up on. Believe it or not,” she added, squarely meeting Crystal’s cautious gaze, “I didn’t set out to take him from you. Our relationship developed over time.”
“I understand,” Crystal murmured. “You’re right, of course. I didn’t treat him very well, and I’ll always regret it.” Then she offered the younger woman a brief smile. “I’m very happy he found you.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to dwell on the past; helping you is the right thing to do, regardless of our history.” LeAnn stared down at her empty can for a moment, then decided to finish what she’d started to say. Each of them shared a piece of Tim’s life; honesty between them was important. “The other reason I want to help you is purely selfish.”
“What do you mean?” Wariness entered Crystal’s eyes again.
LeAnn spread both hands wide. “Tim still blames himself for what happened in your marriage. I think helping you will help him finally put the past to rest. It’s important to him…so that makes it important to me.”
Crystal smiled sadly. “That’s just like Tim.”
“Anyway,” Leann continued with a sly wink, “we have a surprise for you. We tried to find you, but no one had your address or phone number. Tim was about ready to hire a private detective, but then we saw you today. We didn’t realize you’d moved back to Fredericksburg.”
Crystal cocked her head. “What surprise?”
“Not yet,” LeAnn chuckled. “I won’t ruin it. Anyway, it’s really something Tim should give you. I think you’ll like it,” she predicted.
They sat together a while longer, talking and enjoying the evening and the warm fire.
When Tim finally returned, he was smiling. “Why are you so happy?” LeAnn demanded.
“You’ll see,” he teased, and turned to Crystal. “Okay, you ready for this?”
“Ummm…I think so,” she said uncertainly.
“I just got off the phone with our attorney. He knows a divorce attorney who will meet with you on Monday, and prepare divorce paperwork for you,” he grinned. “There’ll be no cost to you. He’ll also make sure there’s a restraining order placed on Cliff.”
Crystal’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” he said sincerely. “I also asked a friend of mine who’s in the police department to have a patrol car check on Cliff.”
“Why?” both women asked in unison.
“Simple,” he replied, and now anger laced his voice. “First, he hit you. That’s bullshit, and he shouldn’t get away with it. Second, he’s likely doing more than just drinking alcohol, and that puts you and the kids at risk. Again, totally unacceptable. Finally—and I’ll admit this isn’t very humanitarian of me—I’ve never liked him. He beat the crap out of me, and nearly killed me. He’s already struck my ex-wife, and made her fear for her kids. Fuck him. I hope to hell he goes back to jail. I’d love to be in the courtroom when they put that fucker behind bars again!”
“Tim Heiser!” LeAnn admonished. “Cliff is still Crystal’s husband…for now, anyway…and the father of her children.”
“It’s okay,” Crystal soothed her. “I have to agree with most of what Tim said. He doesn’t know Cliff like I do, so he’s never seen his good side. He does have one, but he’s become dangerous,” she admitted with a heavy sigh. “It would probably be a good thing if he went back to prison. At least he’d get sober again.”
An awkward silence settled over the table. Finally LeAnn pulled out her phone, and used it to play some soft music. When a song came on that they all knew, they started singing along, then applauded their own performance. Laughing, LeAnn rose to get fresh sodas. When she returned, she whispered something in Tim’s ear.
“Now?” he asked, smiling up at her. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Again Crystal glanced questioningly at LeAnn, but she just grinned, shrugged, and sipped her Coke.
Tim came back a few minutes later carrying a filthy, battered old suitcase. His smile widened when he plunked it down on the table, and spun it around to face Crystal. “Recognize this?” he urged.
Baffled, she shook her head. “No.”
“Well, maybe this will jog your memory.”
He unzipped it with a flourish, and pulled back the top. She peered inside…and caught her breath in wondering surprise. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “This was the suitcase I hid under the oak tree in the vacant lot by my Mom’s house!”
Slowly she took out several of the items she’d packed away in it so long ago. They were a motley mix of pictures, articles of clothing from high school, and random items anyone else might have mistaken for junk. But to Crystal they were treasures from a happier life, and she cradled each of them as though they were priceless jewels.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she unpacked everything, then looked up at Tim. He was standing behind LeAnn. Both of them smiled gently at her.
“I’ve had them for the last decade,” he said quietly, “and I know they were important to you. It’s time you had them back.”
“I wasn’t sure what my future held, so I left it with Mom. Then I went to prison. When I got released, and saw that it had disappeared, I figured it’d had been stolen.” Overwhelmed, she wiped her eyes. “Thank you so much,” she whispered unsteadily.
“You’re welcome,” they said together, and laughed. Then Tim winked at Crystal. “There’s one more thing, and I’ve saved the best for last,” he promised. He handed her an envelope, and watched while she opened it and withdrew the single piece of paper inside.
She gasped when she read the statement, and her mouth fell open.
“That’s all yours,” he said quietly. “You left a lot of money in that suitcase. Darla gave it to me…said I was meant to take it since you were in prison. I didn’t open it for several years,” he admitted. “I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing what was inside. But finally LeAnn convinced me to face my fears. It took me half an hour just to close my mouth,” he quipped with a wry grin.
“But this is more than what was in the suitcase!” she protested.
Tim nodded. “I spoke to our attorney, and he said it could be considered ‘found’ money, since I didn’t know precisely how it was obtained. I had a pretty good idea after I learned you’d been delivering drugs for the Lone Star Blades…but I didn’t argue with his logic. So I paid the taxes on it, and our stockbroker invested it under my name. But it’s all yours, and I can get you the full amount anytime you want to redeem it.”
She swallowed, and dazedly shook her head. “Tim, this is over $250,000!”
“I know,” he grinned, and smugly rocked back on his heels. “You had over $75,000 in the suitcase, and I combined it with the down-payment fund we’d saved. Our stockbroker invested aggressively…and the timing was lucky because it was after the stock market took a dive. Bottom line? You were able to buy cheaply.”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Why don’t you tell me to keep it in my name until after you divorce Cliff?” he suggested. “That way he can’t touch it. And once your divorce is final, we’ll move it over into your name. We’ll even help you file your taxes.”
She laughed then, and hugged them both tightly. It was a nice hug, she thought when she wrapped her arms around Tim…but it was just a hug between friends. There was no intimacy between them anymore.
He couldn’t sleep.
Sighing, Tim glanced at the bedside clock. 1:30 a.m. LeAnn was sleeping quietly beside him, but his brain just wouldn’t shut off. Good and bad memories kept cycling through his tired mind like a broken record.
Finally he slid out of bed, taking care not to wake her, and crept out to the kitchen. He poured himself a tall glass of milk, pilfered a few Oreo cookies from the pantry, and settled down at the table. The house was quiet and peaceful, and he enjoyed the timeless combination of milk and sugary awesomeness. Comfort food, he thought with a wistful smile.
He was almost finished when the stairs creaked. He peered through the open doorway, then smiled. “Hey. What are you doing up?”
“Sorry. I couldn’t sleep, and I saw a light on down here. Want some company?”
“Sure.”
Crystal sat across from her ex-husband, and they exchanged an uncomfortable glance. Then he motioned to the plate, and dramatically widened his eyes. “I’ve got milk and Oreos!” he exclaimed, drawing out each word as if he was describing a rare treasure.
She rolled her eyes in laughing amusement. “Thanks, but no.”
They sat together in silence for a full minute. Finally she cleared her throat. “I just want to say thank you again…but why?” Her eyes searched his. “Why are you doing this? What happened between us wasn’t your fault. You don’t owe me anything. I guess I just don’t understand,” she admitted with a helpless shrug.
He released a quiet sigh. “It’s difficult to explain, and may not make a lot of sense,” he admitted. “I do think it was my fault. It was my fantasy that drove us to include Shane in our lives…it was my single-minded pursuit of my college degree that left you all by yourself. It was my stubbornness about stripping that kept me away from the club, and made you feel bad about doing something you enjoyed and were really good at. I was so obsessed with what I wanted that I didn’t stop or slow down to include you. I just let you slip away.”
He finished his milk, and set his glass down. “I’ve always blamed myself for everything. I blamed myself for not seeing what was happening around me. For being so trusting of Shane and Raven and Joe. I was stupid, naïve, and self-absorbed, and our marriage ended as a result.
“I know it’s in the past, but helping you is important to me. Regardless of where the blame lies, helping you also helps me more than you realize.”
She watched his face as he fumbled for the right words, and slowly smiled. “You’re a good man, Tim Heiser.”
Embarrassed, he shook his head. “Maybe better than some, but not as good as others.”
She’d expected that reaction from him; he’d always been humble about his best qualities. “Well, consider me helped. Now you can really put it behind you.”
“Thanks. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
They talked a while longer; then Crystal returned to the guest bedroom, and lay awake thinking until dawn.
What a difference twenty-four hours had made! she thought with a drowsy smile. That morning she’d wondered if she had enough gas in her car to drive to San Antonio and back. It had hurt her pride to rely on charity, but she hadn’t seen any other choice…her kids had been hungry, and she hadn’t been able to afford a Thanksgiving dinner for them.
Now they were all safe, and staying with good friends. She had a small fortune at her fingertips, and the chance for a fresh start. LeAnn had talked to her about a new job in San Antonio. She even knew some successful single guys whenever Crystal felt ready to start dating again.
In a single day, her life had changed completely. She fell asleep smiling for the first time in a long time.
One final thought drifted through her mind before she wearily closed her eyes:
Another chance at happiness.