All I Ever Wanted(106)

I smiled damply. “I know. Thanks, Annie.”

“Sorry for your loss, Callie,” Jack said, giving me a hug.

“The least you can do is cop a feel, Jack,” I said, hugging him back.

“Sentimental fools, both you girls,” he said, winking. They moved on to my parents.

“I’m very sorry, Callie,” came a cool voice. Muriel.

“Oh, hi, Muriel,” I said. “I didn’t know you were back from California.”

“I got back yesterday,” she said, scanning my outfit. I’d worn a sunshiny yellow dress for Noah. Red peep-toe pumps that were killing my feet but an homage to his life force. Such are the musings of a shoe fetishist.

“Well, thank you for coming.” I looked around for the rest of the Green Mountain gang, all of whom had called me since Noah’s death.

“They’re coming later,” Muriel said, answering my unspoken question. “I, uh, had an errand and figured I’d stop by now.” She tipped her head. “Well. Sorry again.”

It was clear she was itchy, and I couldn’t blame her, here in the lair of my family and friends. “Thanks for coming, Muriel. That was very nice of you.”

“You’re welcome. I…I’ll see you around,” she said.

“You bet,” I said. I wondered if Mark had told her I was quitting, but then Dr. Kumar gave me a big hug, and thoughts of Muriel slipped away.

“My dear girl, I am so very sorry for the loss of your grandfather,” he said, his lovely brown eyes moist. “I know you were very close.”

“Thanks, Dr. Kumar.” I smiled wetly at my old friend. “How was Branson?”

“Oh, Callie, it was lovely! We had a very wonderful time indeed. Next, we are hoping to go to Dollywood. But tell me, my dear, how do you like Dr. McFarland?” Dr Kumar smiled sweetly.

“I like him very much, Dr. Kumar.”

“Yes, I had it in my mind that you would. I’m glad.” With that, Dr. Kumar winked, hugged me again and moved on.

When the time came, Louis herded everyone out so we could head for the cemetery. “Can I have a second alone, Dad?” I asked.

“Of course, Poodle,” he said. “We’ll just be outside.” Louis thoughtfully closed the door behind my dad, leaving me alone in the Serenity Room.

The quiet fell heavily. I went up to the casket and looked at my grandfather’s face. “I guess this is it, Noah,” I whispered. For all his curmudgeonly ways, he’d always been a rock in the river of my life, and it hurt to think I’d never talk to him again.

Then I opened my purse and fished out the little tokens I wanted him to have. A curl of cedar shaving from the floor of his shop. A tuft of Bowie’s fur. A chocolate chip cookie.

And one more thing. A card from me, one of the weekly drawings I’d sent him after Gran died. This one was typical child’s artwork…a heart and tulips and a rainbow of thin, wobbling Crayola lines. Along the bottom, written as neatly as I could, were the words I love you Grampy! xoxoxoxox Calliope.

I’d found it yesterday at the bottom of his sock drawer. Each one of those sixteen cards, tied with a faded ribbon. He’d kept them for twenty-three and a half years, and he saw them every day. That knowledge made my heart feel thin and fragile, as if the slightest nudge would break it.

A few tears slipped down my cheeks. One plopped onto Noah’s flannel shirt, and I thought he might like that, because despite all that growling and cussing, Noah had been quite the softy.

“Thank you, Noah,” I whispered, touching his scratchy white beard for the last time. “Thank you for letting me be useful. Thank you for everything.”

THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY was the River Rat Regatta, a raucous affair that involved lots of locally brewed beer, hot dogs and an occasional race down the Connecticut. Not your typical regatta, mind you, in which people cared about the results…nah. This was more of a good-spirited romp. Some of the events included Ugliest Boat, Best Use of Cardboard and How Long Can You Last, a breath-holding competition usually won by Jim, owner of the Whoop & Holler, who’d been a Navy SEAL in his youth.

The late October sun was bright and strong, though more than likely, this was our last gorgeous weekend. The foliage was mostly gone, a few brave ash trees clinging to their yellow leaves. It had been a drier-than-usual September, so the river was slow and placid, winding its way between New Hamster and Vermont in graceful curves.

This year, the River Rats had asked me to present the Most Beautiful Boat award, which they’d just this week renamed the Noah Grey Award of Aesthetic Excellence. In years past, they’d always asked Noah to present it. He’d always declined, though he usually showed up for a peek. I was touched that they’d asked me.

I waved and smiled to the many people I knew. Soon I’d meet up with Annie, but for now I was solo, as Ian was at work. At the thought of my honey, my heart squeezed. I was in love, and for the first time, it was the kind of love that made me feel like a better person. Mark may have been all I’d thought I ever wanted, but Ian…Ian was what I needed.

“Hey, Callie,” my brother said, appearing at my side. He was wearing one of Noah’s shirts, and he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. The resemblance to our grandfather was a bit surprising, especially as he knelt to pet Bowie. “Where’s Ian?” he asked.