The Parting Gift(33)

Mara’s eyes abruptly shot to his. The doctor must have taken it as a display of guilt.

“Of course, if something else is going on here, we’ll have to re-think your position at the hospital.” He glanced toward Blaine again and back to her face.

“No, doctor. I assure you….” She shook her head frantically. “I… I can call Mrs. Smith. She has an extra room. I’m sure she’ll let me stay there until other provisions can be made.”

The answer seemed to satisfy the doctor. “Very good, Mrs. Crawford. I think a short bereavement vacation is in order. Call the office after the New Year. We’ll set up another assignment for you then.” With that, he ambled out the door and down the porch steps to his waiting car.

Mara sank back into her chair, held her head in her hands and wept.



****



By the time Blaine returned to the house, Mara was on the phone with Mrs. Smith.

“All right. I’ll pack a few of my things and be over this evening… Yes… We are just waiting for Mr. Fisk now.” She was leaving? A sick feeling rose in his stomach. He hadn’t considered the possibility.

Setting the phone back in its cradle gently, she stood with her back to him for a moment. When he spoke she startled at his voice. “Are you leaving?”

She spun around to face him. Her eyes were puffy and red from the events of the day. “Yes. The hospital policy says I can’t stay here with you.”

“But we aren’t… I wasn’t…” he sputtered in confusion. He wasn’t ready to be alone in this house.

“It doesn’t matter. If I stay, I’ll lose my job.” She gazed out the window beyond him.

Blaine’s eyes followed her gaze. “Will you be back?” he finally asked.

“I’ll have to come back to get the rest of my things. And I’ll be back for the… service.” The last word trailed out hesitantly. She crossed her arms in front of her, perhaps trying to hide the trembling of her hands. Blaine ached to reach out to her.

Her love for his father had been evident since the first day Blaine had arrived. It was possible her loss cut even deeper than his. Even still, she wouldn’t begrudge him Heaven.

“I don’t want to be alone here,” he whispered, well aware he was risking vulnerability. He slid his hands into his pockets and watched as she turned back to face him. Her eyes were full of understanding and shining with unshed tears. Taking a step forward, she rested her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. He drew his hands out of his pockets and slipped them around her as well, smoothing her dark hair.

When he felt the sobs shaking against him, he pulled her in more tightly. Her weeping echoed the cry of his heart, but an impulse to be her strength drove him to whisper the words into her hair as he held her, “It’s all right. He’s not in any more pain, Mara. And he’s with Mom.”

She nodded against him that she understood. Blaine knew the words weren’t necessary; he was preaching to the choir, but her raw grief rendered him helpless – his sole recourse the desperate attempt to infuse comfort with futile words.

A knock on the front door startled them.

It was Mr. Fisk, the mortician, and his associate, coming to retrieve his father’s body. Blaine led them to his room and stayed with them for a few minutes, answering their questions and signing some papers. His mind was downstairs with Mara though.

His father had been correct. Blaine loved her. The thought of her leaving now weighed heavy in his soul. But what could he do?

Glancing around his father’s room, his gaze landed on the gifts still wrapped in brown paper and resting on the nightstand. With everything that had happened that day, they had forgotten about the parting gifts his father had given them.

Gingerly, he lifted the present meant for him. The other men went about their business as if he wasn’t there. A single tear escaped and trailed down his unshaven cheek as he turned the package over and over in his hands. Finally he tore open the brown paper, revealing a small box. He took in a deep breath and pulled the lid off the box.

Inside was his mother’s engagement ring.

For him, he knew there was no other choice. It was what he wanted. But he also knew what was still wrapped in Mara’s gift. Her options.

The creak on the stairs told him she was on her way to her room to pack her things. She would have to know – have all the facts. Blaine grasped the other parcel and stepped into the hall.

“Mara?” he said as he knocked gently on her door.

From within, he heard her move to open it for him. “Are they almost done?”

“Yes. Just finishing up.” His gaze went to the wrapped gift in his hand. Her eyes followed his. Silence hung between them a moment. She only stared, making no move to take the packet from him.

Blaine lifted it toward her. “I thought, maybe, you would want this.”

Hesitantly she accepted it from him. Then her eyes shot up to Blaine’s. “I don’t know if I can open it,” she whispered with moisture brimming in her sad eyes.

“Pop wanted you to have it. His last wish. Remember? Don’t worry. I had a long talk with him about it a few days ago.” He inhaled sharply and looked down at the package. “It’s good. He wanted you to be taken care of; you meant a lot to him.”

She nodded and slowly peeled the paper away. Inside was a thick legal envelope folded into thirds. Sliding her finger along the flap, she opened it and tipped it upside down, so the contents would fall into her free hand. A key dropped into her hand, and two folded papers fluttered to the floor.