Fran was a happy lady. She and Kat were joined at the hip. Kat was still a little on the shy side, but Fran was definitely proud of her progress. They had spent their first Christmas together, and Kat was quite overwhelmed with all of it. She had never really had a regular Christmas, so the tree and the gifts underneath made her big blue eyes widen with excitement. The shopping trips Fran had taken her on had taken her breath away. When she saw an animated window display, she clapped her hands and squealed with delight. But the large family gatherings were extremely daunting, and she clung to her mommy’s knees, cowering at all those unfamiliar faces. Everyone went out of their way to seek her out and make a fuss. This made her retreat into her shell like a tortoise.
The bells rang out to welcome in the New Year, 2018. Fran usually took this day to reflect on her blessings, but for the past two years, she hadn’t wanted to go back in time anymore. Hank’s death had taken care of that. For these past two years, she had barely survived the holidays. This year, however, she was happy to be able to look ahead. Kat would be having a birthday on April 16, and she would be five. The previous year, Fran had enrolled her in pre–school at Mrs. Vickers’ School for Tots, ages three and four. Mrs. Vickers and Fran were becoming best friends since Mrs. Vickers (Ellen to Fran) had been asked to call Fran weekly about Kat’s progress.
Fran had explained to Ellen that Kat came with a lot of baggage. She’d never been physically abused but very definitely had been lacking in any form of physical love and affection. She explained how desperately she had needed love. Fran had given it to her and adopted her. “But now she doesn’t want to share me with anyone,” Fran said. “I only got her to promise she would attend your class because I told her you would take my place every day and you would love her just like I do.”
Fran and Ellen Vickers were both trying to find the key that would open Kat up to the rest of the world. One week, they figured they had made headway. The following week, they would find they had not. When Ellen reported in February that Kat had started speaking out and interrupting her, she said, “Fran, she’s trying to dominate my attention. She’s made some strides in speaking to people in more acceptable ways, but she has a long way to go.”
Fran had asked Ellen to report to her at the end of each week, and when she got her first report, she was discouraged. Mrs. Vickers said Kat clung to her leg and wouldn’t let go. Fran wanted to know if she could come in and assist. Mrs. Vickers said, “No, that would only make it worse.”
Between the two of them, they came up with some innovative ways to draw Kat out. But by the beginning of February, they hadn’t hit pay dirt, and Ellen’s messages were beginning to change.
“Kat doesn’t do anything really wrong, mind you. She’s not making friends, and she’s still trying to dominate my attention by constantly speaking out.”
Fran was silent for a moment, then breathed in a deep sigh and said, “Oh, that sweet, sweet child. She doesn’t know how to have a friend. She never had one. She doesn’t know how to share. She never had to. She wants so much to be a part of things, but she’s so insecure that she’s full of fear of it all.
“You know what I think? I think that what I have to do is take her on a trip to Dallas. My sister and her husband and two children live there. I’ve decided that part of the problem is that Kat doesn’t know how to share me with others. She always wants to please me, and that’s how I got her to stay with you. But you’ve experienced how you became a replacement for me. And when I tell her how to make friends, she wants to do that, but she’s only four and doesn’t have a clue as to how to go about it. So far, she’s had just one person in her life to give her love, me, and she’s constantly guarding that love. As far as she’s concerned, I’m completely hers. It’ll be interesting to observe her when she has to share me with my niece and nephew. And she’ll find that my sister and her husband, Jim, will share their time with her. She also needs a man’s presence in her life. Kat is going to have a birthday in April, and little Jack and Jaimie will be having theirs around the same time. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. She really doesn’t know her cousins. What do you think, Ellen?”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea. I hate to see you go, but don’t forget to keep in touch and let me know how things go down there.”
And so plans were made. Kat was given a window seat and was thrilled with the plane ride. The entire Murray family was at the airport to meet them. Kat held back when everyone made a fuss over her, and at one point, she began to cry. This was all so challenging to her. Fran felt very much at home with Pat and Jim, and when she made a big fuss over Jack and Jaimie, Kat got angry and tried to get in between them.
God bless Jim Murray. He understood the situation and immediately took over. He picked Kat up and walked away from the others. He put her on his back and took her for a horsey–back ride. She loved that. Sleeping quarters became a problem, however. Kat refused to share a bedroom with Jaimie.
Fran was firm. “Kat, you know Mommy loves you so much. Give me a hug. Now, Kat, you want little Jaimie to like you, don’t you?”
Kat looked at Jaimie and then at her mother. “Yes, Mommy. But I don’t want to sleep with her, because you might go away.”
Jim stepped in again, “Kat, I thought you were a big girl. Jaimie is smaller than you, but she sleeps all by herself, and her mommy doesn’t ever go away. She gets her up in the morning and gives Jaimie a hug. She never goes away. Would you do something for me? Would you please try to do what your mommy is asking you to do? And then tomorrow morning, when she comes to get you, I’ll give you two horsey–back rides because you were such a big girl. Okay?”
Kat looked at Fran and then at Jim. “Okay, Uncle Jim.”
Jim had already won Kat over when he’d given her that first horsey–back ride at the airport. Now, just by talking to her, he’d convinced her to sleep with Jaimie. Fran knew she’d done the right thing by coming to Dallas.
And then there was Bo. Once he found out that Fran was in town, he showed up almost every day. Kat was becoming quite caught up in playing with Jack and Jaimie. She began to open up to Pat. She had fallen in love with Jim, and now she had another beau, and his name was Bo. Bo charmed the socks off her. Kat was letting down all her defenses. She still adored her mommy, but she was beginning to feel secure in knowing that Fran was not going to desert her. And as long her mommy was there, she could open up a little.
The three birthday parties were the clincher. Jack’s was March 15th, so his was first, and Kat had a little difficulty watching her mommy give him so much attention. But her Aunt Pat made sure she had her share of attention. The same thing happened at Jaimie’s birthday party on April 1st. Everyone was making a big fuss over Jaimie, including Fran. Kat was feeling threatened, but Uncle Bo and Uncle Jim and those other two uncles, Phil and Ken, also paid attention to her, so that wasn’t too bad.
When Kat’s birthday came around on the twelfth of April, she was the one who got all the attention. Even Jack and Jaimie noticed her. She was learning what Fran had been trying to instill in her. She was finding out that people shared their love. Now she understood what her mommy had been trying to tell her. Everyone here loved her. Everyone here loved everyone else and was kind to everyone else. That felt good to Kat, and she began to lose that constant feeling of insecurity. Being here with her new cousins had helped her lose many of her insecurities. Her cousins were hers to love.
Pat and Fran talked a great deal about Kat and were so pleased with the changes she’d made. They were aware that she was still a work in progress, but at least it was progress.
Pat said, “Fran, I would love to have you come down here to live. Kat would become connected with family, and I would be thrilled to have my sister with me. Every once in a while, a villa goes up for sale. If you decided to move here, we could be neighbors. Wouldn’t that be great?”
“Pat, I’ve actually been giving that a lot of thought lately. I love my apartment, the pond, and the ducks. I also love Hank’s family like my own. But everything there reminds me of Hank, and that gives me pain. I don’t ever want to forget him, but I want his memory to be happy thoughts, not painful ones. So when I go back home, I’d like to make plans to come back here for good. I’d really appreciate it if you found me a villa in this community.”
Pat threw her arms around her. “Oh, Fran, that’s a deal!”
Kat was now back at Mrs. Vickers’ School for Tots, and Ellen could hardly believe the change in her. She reported to Fran that Kat had matured tremendously durng her time away.
“She doesn’t feel threatened or insecure any longer. She’s full of confidence. She knows how to share. It’s remarkable, Fran.”
“I know, Ellen. But I have to tell you that I’ll be moving to Dallas within the next two months. I need to be with my sister, and Kat needs to be with her cousins. She loved it down there.”
“I hate to hear that, Fran, but I feel you’ve made a good decision.”
Fran had been dreading telling anyone she was going to be moving to Dallas, so she was surprised when Grace joined her at the umbrella table, carrying her cup of coffee. Fran had just finished her lunch there and was on her second cup.
“What a nice surprise, Grace.”
“I can’t tell you how much I’ve loved being your mother–in–law, Fran. You are more like a daughter to me. What other woman would have offered this beautiful home to me and my family to live in with such grace and generosity?”
“Grace, where in the world is this coming from? You know it was your son, Hank, who was the generous one.”
“Yes, Fran, but I also know he wouldn’t have offered it if you hadn’t agreed to it. Hank always wanted to please you. You know that.”
“You don’t have to remind me, Grace. Hank would have given me anything my heart desired, if he could. What’s all this conversation about? You seem so serious.”
“Well, it’s Michael and Penny. Penny is pregnant again, and they’re talking about buying a house and moving.”
“How wonderful for them! Michael is doing well since he graduated. Hank had him all set up for his job at GE, and I guess his superintendent is very pleased with him. I’m sure they can afford to buy a house.”
“It’s not that, Fran. Of course I would miss little Hank tremendously, but Nancy hasn’t lived at home since she became an intern at the Cleveland Clinic. I doubt if she’ll ever come back home to live again. You know she’s madly in love with a doctor. What’s his name again?”
“I didn’t know that, either. Where have I been?”
“I guess it’s because you and Kat have been cavorting around the countryside ever since you got back from Dallas, and I think it’s wonderful. Little Kat has become quite outgoing and lovable. They seemed to work wonders down there. But anyway, what I’m trying to tell you now is not easy.”
“Oh, don’t scare me, Grace. You’re not sick, are you?”
Grace laughed. “Heavens, no! It’s just that Donald and I have been talking. He’s feeling a little overburdened with both his business to run and trying to keep this place up. And I don’t need to rattle around this big house with no one to take care of but myself and Donald. So I was wondering if, instead of Michael and Penny moving, it would be all right if Donald and I bought a condo and we moved? It’s your property, after all, and we’ll do whatever you think best.”
“My goodness, Grace, this comes as such a surprise. I certainly don’t want to lose you, but you’re right. It makes perfect sense for this big house to be filled with children. Actually, Mom and Dad were talking about the same thing last Sunday. You two haven’t been conspiring to do this together, have you?”
Grace laughed. “Well, actually, yes. The last time we got together for pinochle, we talked about it a lot. Frank and Laura were there, and they also agreed that none of us need the hassle of a house bogging us down if we decide to take off on a weekend or take a couple of weeks’ vacation. This way, we can leave, knowing that our property is being taken care of and is secure.”
“Actually, Grace, I think you’re absolutely correct. All of you have worked hard and deserve a less stressful life. I can only wish you the best. My only problem with it is the fact that I’m going to lose the very best neighbors I could have. But of course it’s fine to tell Michael and Penny to stay.”
That weekend, Nancy came home and brought Doctor Jonathon Walker with her to meet the family and make the stunning announcement that they were already married. He was a dark and very handsome man and quite charming. It was immediately obvious that the two of them were deeply in love. Nancy said that since Johnny had no family, he’d wanted to be married quietly and simply by a judge, and Nancy had agreed. After the original shock had passed, everyone was full of good wishes.
This was a week of surprises. Still, none of those surprises were as shocking as the one that came from Fran.
She had invited her parents over to meet Nancy’s new husband. They were all gathered around the picnic table, because Fran had planned a cookout. The two grandmas were holding little Hank and Kat, and Fran had everyone’s attention.
She looked at everyone with tender affection as she said, “Besides the big announcement from Nancy and Johnny, I have one of my own. First, I want all of you to know how much I love you. I’ve been talking to Pat quite often in the past three weeks, so I want you to know I haven’t made this decision because of all the changes you’re making. I’ve made my decision because here in this place, I feel Hank everywhere I go. I want to keep my memory of him forever, but I don’t want it to consume me. Pat has suggested I come to Dallas to live. She’s now expecting her third child, and Kat can get to know her cousins down there. I’ve loved Dallas more each time I’ve visited, and I feel it would be a new beginning for me. Every one of you will be welcome to come and visit. Actually, Jim and Pat are planning to add an extension to the one end of the house to add two more bedrooms.
“Of course we’ll never want to miss coming back home for Christmas and any kind of an event we can find an excuse for celebrating. I think one of them will be the birth of Michael and Penny’s new baby girl, and soon there’ll be the graduation of Doctor Nancy Childers.”
Her announcement was met with complete silence. Then Nancy spoke. “But Frannie, what about your ducks? How do you think they’re going to feel? They’ll miss you terribly!”
Penny spoke up. “And what about little Hank? He loves you.”
Then Dan stood up. “There’s no question we’ll all miss you, sweetie, but you have a right to make your own decisions, and I think that given all you’ve been through, you’re making the right one. It’ll be good for you to be with your sister and Jim and that brood they’re producing. There are not two more positive people I know of to spend your time with.”
He looked around at all the sober faces and said, “Come on, everyone. Why don’t we raise our coffee cups and beer bottles and lemonade glasses and make a toast to Frannie?”
Out of everyone there, Kat was the first to hold her glass of lemonade up like Grandpa Dan. And even though she wasn’t aware of why, she heard her grandpa say, “May the road rise up to meet you with a bushel basket full of happiness.”
The group responded, “Hear, hear!”
Before Nancy and Johnny left that Sunday evening, Nancy took Johnny down to the pond so she could talk to the ducks.
Fran joined them and said, “I probably won’t see much of you before I leave, so I want to say goodbye now and wish you both all the happiness you can get. But I have something else to say to you and your brother, so would you mind getting him and Penny down here, Nancy? They might as well be here, too.”
They all gathered around the umbrella table, quite baffled at her desire to speak to the group of them.
Fran said, “Nancy, you know that Hank left me very well off. And you know I now own this house that we bought together. Michael and Penny, before you leave tonight, I want you to know that I’m going to sign this house over to you tomorrow.”
Michael and Penny looked at her, dumbfounded. “But why, Frannie? This is your house.”
“When Hank and I bought it, we didn’t want to live in it because it was too big. We bought it because we loved our apartment and adored the ducks and the pond. That’s why we asked your family to move here. Now you and Penny are having another baby, Michael, and the big house is meant to have children grow up in it. Of course, because of Hank’s continued generosity, this house comes with its perks. You can thank him for all of it, and I know you already do.”
Fran then turned her attention to Nancy. “Nancy, I know how much you love those ducks, and I know you’ve just now gotten married, so I have no idea where you’ll live.”
“Well, Johnny has a bachelor apartment which is quite small. We’re going to get a larger apartment somewhere near his practice. Why do you ask?”
“I ask because I was wondering if you’d like my apartment. You were the only one that seemed to attach yourself to the ducks the way your brother and I did. I know I just gave the house to Michael, and the apartment is part of the property, but that’s going to be my condition for giving it to him if you want to move here, rent–free.”
“Oh my gosh, yes! The commute to Cleveland is very tolerable, and I love it here. But what do you think, Johnny?”
“Whatever makes you happy, Nancy. I think we’d be very fortunate to live in such a place.”
“Then I accept,” Nancy said happily. “What about you, Michael and Penny? How do you feel about that?”
Penny gave her a big grin. “As far as I’m concerned, the more babysitters, the better.”
Everyone laughed.
“Well, then, if everyone is in agreement, here is what I’ll do. I’m going to sign this house over to Michael and Penny. I recently had it appraised at $575,000. That’s my gift to you free and clear, Michael and Penny. But it comes with the stipulation that Nancy lives in the apartment rent–free for as long as she chooses. Is that agreed?”
They all nodded.
“Now, Nancy, I’m going to give you a check for $500,000, free and clear, so that at a later date, you can build your own home. The reason that amount does not equal the value of the house is because you will live here rent–free for as long as you choose, and your money can grow for you.”
“My word, Fran! That is so generous of you. I can’t thank you enough.”
Michael and Penny interjected. “More than generous.”
Johnny got up and gave Fran a hug.
“All of my generosity,” Fran said to Nancy, “comes with compliments from your brother, Hank.”