by David Harder
“Thanks, guys. You have no idea what this means to me. I figured they were for sale. At least that was my understanding,” said Joe, humbled by their generosity.
“They were originally, but after my sisters and I talked about it, we came up with another idea.” Robert motioned for Staci to finish.
“We’d like you to pick out your own picture. Then, whatever you think it’s worth to you, we’d like you to donate the money to the local food bank. It was daddy’s favorite charity. Everyone will donate something, except Uncle Joe. And that’s because he got daddy painting in the first place.”
Nate interrupted, “Are you sure? The paintings are valuable, and we’re all willing to pay whatever price you set.”
Stephanie closed the book and pushed it toward Joe. “No, we’ve discussed this at length and feel this is what our father would want. The remaining paintings will be priced and made available for sale to the general public after the service.”
Tony was dumbfounded. He didn’t think they had it in them. He would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.
“Stephanie, I’ll make sure the paintings are marked accordingly when they go on display during the service tomorrow. Also, please provide the food bank contact information to Shelly, and we’ll have it printed in the service handout. There may be others who’d like to donate as well.” Tony looked at his watch and then stood.
“Excellent work, folks. Please stay as long as you’d like and talk. I said we’d be finished in under an hour, and I’m afraid I have work calling me. Thanks again and see you tomorrow. Shelly will show you out when you’re finished.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“EXCUSE ME—MISS CHENAIR?”
Arleen turned away from the painting she was viewing. She regarded the young woman standing in front of her. “If I remember correctly, you must be Staci. Please, call me Arleen.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After shaking hands and a moment of awkward silence, the two women stood staring at each other. Arleen initiated the conversation.
“Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare, but you’re so beautiful. Even dressed in all black, you’re so, so pretty.”
Dismayed, Arleen struggled with her words. “Why, thank you. And you, you look very nice as well, Staci.”
Staci’s black hair was spiked in a razor Mohawk, and she had painted the ends bright purple. She was dressed in solid black pants and a long-sleeved, turtleneck top, the collar wrapped tightly around her neck. It did the job of hiding most of Staci’s tattoos. She wore lipstick to color-match her purple-tipped hair. Staci rolled her eyes. She recognized the shocked looked on people’s faces.
“Ah, thanks,” hesitated Staci. “Can I, like, ask you a question?”
Arleen nodded and smiled.
“You and Daddy had something going on, didn’t you?”
Arleen scanned the room, making sure no one was within earshot. She acted as if she didn’t understand. “Whatever do you mean?”
“You and Daddy were an item. Am I right?”
Arleen frowned and felt a tight knot in her throat. “Why would you say that?” Arleen was still pretending to not comprehend the young woman.
“Yesterday, there was a sparkle in your eyes when you talked about Daddy,” Staci smirked. “Look, it’s okay with me, and I didn’t mention this to the others, but I’d like to know.”
Arleen stiffened. “Your father and I were very close friends. That’s all.”
Staci knew otherwise and rolled her eyes. “Like the impressionistic painting you were staring at just moments ago, the one with your name tag on it—you totally selected it for a reason.”
“Yes, of course. It’s beautiful.”
“Well, for one, that painting matches a photo I found on Daddy’s cell phone. In the photo, it’s clear you and Daddy were kissing, but I suspect someone else took the picture.”
“Your father’s cell phone?” Arleen faltered, shocked to hear this information.
“Look, Arleen, like I don’t really care about what you and Daddy did. I just want to know the truth. Daddy was lonely after Mommy went off with that stupid young man from her job. And it only got worse when they were killed. I mean, like Daddy deserved better. And now, here I am talking to this beautiful woman that I suspect was Daddy’s girlfriend. So, tell me, what’s the truth?”
Arleen stammered with her words. “Was there anything else on your father’s cell phone?”
Staci reached into her purse and thoughtfully pulled out Jim Kreider’s cell phone. She extended her hand toward Arleen.
“It was among his stuff from the hospice. Like, the battery was totally dead, of course, but I recharged it.”
Arleen wore a look of concern.
“Look, do me a favor. If you want me to send any pictures to your phone, that’s okay. But I’m going to delete certain ones when you’re done. And don’t worry—I haven’t shown these to anyone else.”
Arleen’s hands were shaking as she took the phone. She muttered, “Merci beaucoup.”
As Arleen viewed the images stored on Jim’s phone, she quickly found herself embarrassed. Jim had saved some very intimate photos. She had no idea he had kept the images or how he took them.
“If it’s okay with you, I would like to have them all.”
Staci took the phone, and, in a matter of minutes, she typed with her thumbs. “Done! Like you want any of the texts or emails, too?”
Nervously looking around the church foyer, Arleen nodded.
Again, Staci rapidly tapped on the cell’s front screen.
Arleen was almost in tears from embarrassment and the joy of finding the new information. “Thank you so much, Staci. How can I repay you?”
Staci shoved the phone into her purse. She then surprised Arleen by wrapping her arms around the woman, giving her a huge, child-to-parent-type hug. Since Staci was at least a foot shorter than Arleen, her actions required Arleen to bend over at the waist to accommodate the shorter woman. Staci whispered into Arleen’s ear.
“I’m just glad Daddy found someone like you to love. I hope you two were happy.”
At that instant, anyone walking by would see two women crying and hugging. It would be natural, especially since they were attending a memorial service. Dr. Nolan and Pastor Mike were standing in the foyer of the church and spotted Staci and Arleen sobbing.
* * *
The entry foyer of the Bread of Life Church was enormous. The vast, open space was lit with modern lighting. A visitor’s welcome station was located in the middle of the foyer and manned by several eager and smiling teens. A coffee and beverage kiosk dominated the right side of the entry area. A crowd of people milled around the counter, ordering drinks and chatting with friends. The foyer was now crowded with people examining the paintings and greeting one another. The paintings were arranged in a large arc behind the welcome booth and on easels, with individual lamps illuminating them.
“This place is huge, Doctor. It’s bigger than a movie theater.”
“Our congregation is growing fast, Pastor Mike. Unfortunately, I only have the opportunity to know the individuals who attend the same service my wife and I go to every Sunday morning.”
Astonished, Mike blurted, “You have more than one service?”
“In truth, we have three on Sunday morning and one on Saturday night. Each service has about 1100 people.”
Sounding annoyed, Mike exclaimed, “You have nearly 5,000 members?”
Dr. Nolan nodded. “How large is your church, Mike?”
Dismayed, Mike shook his head. “Perhaps 600, maybe.”
“Come, let me show you around.”
The church quickly filled with arriving guests, and the noise was now decibels higher. As ushers unfolded padded chairs from several carts and filled the aisles and empty space around the sanctuary, people immediately sat in the new seats.
When Joe Langley entered the foyer with a slender
, attractive woman on his arm, he was dressed in black slacks, a white shirt, and a dark tie. The black sports coat was too big for Joe, but Joe strutted through the crowd and exclaimed, “Good grief, this place is enormous!” Upon hearing his thunderous voice, Staci disconnected from Arleen and immediately ran toward Joe.
“Hey, little bunny. You doing okay?” said Joe.
Staci wrapped her arms tightly around Joe as if he were a lost relative discovered after years of searching. Joe kissed her on top of her head, laboring to pry his body free.
“I’d like you to meet my lady friend, Sandra.”
Staci smiled and shook hands. “Any friend of Uncle Joe’s is a friend of mine.” Staci looked past Sandra and saw Marcus wandering through the foyer. “Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back.” She dashed off.
“Uncle Joe?” asked Sandra.
Joe gave her a sideways grin. “It’s a long story.”
The foyer lights dimmed, and soft music punctuated the air. At the same time, guests quickly headed for the main auditorium. The front center two rows of seats were cordoned off with rope, and the ushers escorted the team and family members into this section. Just below the speaking podium, on a long, black-draped table sat a brass urn and a gold-framed photograph of Jim Kreider. The image, taken years earlier, made Jim appear even younger. Two colossal floral bouquets sat like bookends on the table.
The team members introduced their respected partners and families to each other as they maneuvered to their seats. When Arleen appeared, the team shifted in their seats, allowing her a single spot on the end of their row. The Kreider children and their partners sat in the first row, along with Jim’s brothers and their families. The ushers removed two chairs on the end of the first row so that Jake Kreider could park his wheelchair. Again, the team began a new round of personal introductions for the new arrivals of Jake and his wife.
On the podium level, which was two steps higher than the main floor, a group of young adults arrived and positioned themselves near instruments. The pianist began playing a moving song, which was soon joined by guitars and a drummer. The musicians started singing, and the words appeared on several large screens across the front of the church. The people in the audience stood and joined the players, and soon the room was filled with a throng of impassioned voices. The song filled the auditorium.
Since most of the team did not know the music, they stood mute, reading the words being flashed across the big screens. For all intents and purposes, the singers could have performed in a foreign language, and it would have the same effect on the team seated in the second row. When Nate scanned the room, he saw multiple individuals with their eyes closed, their bodies swaying to the music, and some people had raised their hands in the air.
After the fourth song, the music stopped, and everyone sat down. A man in his mid-to-late forties walked on the stage to the podium. Wearing jeans, sports shoes, and a long-sleeved sports shirt with no tie, the man stood momentarily, intently surveying the room.
“My name is Ken, and I’m one of the pastors here at Bread of Life Community Church. We welcome you here—especially those of you who are visiting for the first time. We are here, of course, to celebrate the life of James Kreider. During this service, we will have an opportunity to hear select individuals speak about Jim’s life. But before we begin, I would like to introduce Pastor Michael Richards. He is the lead pastor of the downtown First Baptist Church, and he will lead us in an opening prayer.”
Wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and low-key tie, Mike walked onto the stage, taking his position behind the podium. He gave a surprisingly minimal prayer, followed by amen, which was repeated by many in the audience. When he was finished, Ken stepped up to the podium.
“Thank you, Pastor Richards. I will now turn the service over to Mr. Tony Toncetti.”
When Tony walked to the front of the room, it was clear he was nervous. Years of courtroom battles in front of the city’s toughest judges could not prepare Tony for the discomfort of standing in a church auditorium filled with almost 1300 strangers. Tony rubbed his palms together and coughed, which echoed throughout the large room.
“You know, I think the last time I stood in a church was on the day of my wedding. I was just as nervous that day as well.”
Small laughter could be heard throughout the audience.
“Jim Kreider came to my office nearly six months ago. We sat down to discuss his will and plans for the event of his death. As a lawyer, I perform this procedure multiple times during the year with my clients as if it were a normal routine and don’t give it a second thought. I had no idea of Jim Kreider’s motivation but followed the man’s instructions as I had done on many occasions.
“That day seems like it was just yesterday, yet here we are to celebrate the life of a friend, father, brother, work colleague, boss, neighbor, client, and significant partner who has been taken from us. We’re left with fading memories of a man, whom I’ve learned was larger than life. It gives one pause—to think about our own legacy and the impact we might have in the world and on those around us. Every life has significance—touches other lives, makes a difference—and it’s up to us to keep their memories alive.
“Out of the countless people we encounter on a daily basis, Jim Kreider chose five individuals to represent his life in today’s service. The following individuals will be sharing in this order: his work supervisor, Nathanial Martin—vice president of Tynedex Corporation; his neighbor, Joseph Langley, a retired school teacher; his pastor, the Reverend Michael Richards; his personal physician, Dr. Thomas Nolan; and a woman who was a European client, Arleen Chenair. None of these individuals knew each other before their appointment by Jim Kreider, but they will be sharing their perspective on the man’s life with you today.
“After the five representatives speak, we will hear from Stephanie Kreider, Jim’s oldest daughter, and then Jim’s son, Robert Kreider. Please listen carefully as each of these individuals shares the story of a fascinating man who changed his world—not in the way a famous author or politician, a scientist or technology guru does. No, James Kreider impacted many people and left his mark for us to appreciate his kindness, compassion, and generosity. Today, we will learn about the whole story of this man. Then, finally, at the close of this service, there will be a private graveside service to inter Jim’s ashes. The family has respectfully requested that only immediate family members and those personally invited attend this part of the service. Thank you for your understanding. So, without further delay, I welcome Mr. Martin to the podium.”
Tony took a seat in the front row while Nate eased his way to the front. Nate paused to survey the room and make eye contact with as many people as he could. Nate opened a narrow binder he had carried and glanced at the audience. He immediately made eye contact with several co-workers, including his secretary, Katherine, and Jim’s assistant, Michelle. Nate was about to begin reading from the binder when he spotted board member Mrs. Blanchford, plus the president and CEO of Tynedex and the CFO, Jonathan Pendergrass, seated in the center of the auditorium. He wondered who had invited them, especially the CFO.
He suddenly felt agitated as Pendergrass scornfully stared in Nate’s direction. Ignoring his feelings, Nate sighed and then plunged forward.
“My name is Nathaniel Martin, vice president of sales and marketing with Tynedex Corporation. For almost forty years, I have worked with Jim Kreider. In that time, I have found Jim to be a reliable and resourceful employee who was loyal and honest. In addition to being a rising star in my sales and marketing department, Jim also produced a bulk of the company’s revenues because of his expanded client base.”
Nate smiled and stared at Pendergrass when he made this last comment. Nate wanted the CFO to know that Jim’s work ethics were top-notch and should not to be questioned by the CFO’s department. Nate believed he saw Jonathan nod his head slightly.
“When I met Jim Kreider, I thought he lacked the qualifications and references of the kind of team I
was building. But Jim challenged me— no, almost dared me—to hire him. Jim was bold and lived up to his promises and exceeded my expectations. From that day forward, our working relationship was solid. I found Jim to be competitive and a sports enthusiast. When he formed a softball tournament between various departments, Jim used the event as a way to encourage other workers to perform better.
“Several years ago, I expanded his territory to cover Asia and Europe. Again, Jim excelled, increasing company profits. When news of Jim’s demise reached our company, several employees could not imagine the loss. I’ll admit, I was initially concerned about the loss of income for the company, but I have recently realized that employees are more than just a number and revenue dollars. Jim’s death awoke a renewed awareness of who my employees are and the value they bring to our company as human beings, rather than just the dollars they represent on the bottom line. Thank you, Jim, for reminding me of the importance of the individuals we work with.
“By the photos in Jim’s office, one could quickly discover the appreciation and love Jim Kreider had for all three of his children. He shamelessly bragged about their achievements and proudly displayed their pictures prominently on his desk. It didn’t matter if you had heard his story more than once, Jim would intimate his pride with raw passion every time. He adored his children. Sure, he complained about the costs to educate his children—and who wouldn’t—but there can be no doubt about the man’s dedication and love for his offspring.
“A little over a year ago, Jim’s wife, Samantha, was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident. Now we’re here to bury my friend and colleague, Jim Kreider.” Nate choked on his words. “If there is a God, I wonder why so much tragedy occurs in one person’s life. Other than today, like Mr. Toncetti, I have never set foot in a church. But as I stand before you and proclaim my novice standing in church, it is because of Jim’s life that I find myself questioning the existence of God and desiring to understand more. These are questions that have never before crossed my mind. So, you see, Jim’s life has influenced me in other areas.”