“Now, if something happens and I don’t come back…” Steig held up a hand as Mona sniffed. “I know, but we have to be prepared.” He pulled more papers out of a file folder. “Here is my will; the kids are the beneficiaries with you two as guardians, and Dad, you are the executor, as we discussed. All this is on file with the army. I talked with Marit and Magnus, and they agreed to become guardians if something happens to the two of you. As you see here”—he pointed to a green flag—“I staggered the benefits for the kids so they don’t receive a huge chunk of money on their twenty-first birthdays. Their educations will be pretty much paid for, especially with army benefits.”
Mona tried to listen carefully, but her mind fought to run off with concerns about the surprise party and pleas that none of this was necessary. Steig would return in a year or less, and their lives would revert to the retirement Ken dreamed of. They’d not had time to go through the cards yet, but that box was stashed upstairs in their closet.
Marit’s song chimed. Mona thumbed her phone on and put it to her ear as she turned pancakes. Marit’s strong voice: “I know Dad is right there so just listen. All is in order for the party. Don’t worry about a thing, we have a marvelous crew. We even have entertainment for children of all sizes, although I don’t expect a lot more to attend than ours. Now, Magnus is going to call Dad and ask for his help on buying something for the garage and no one else can come with. You and Steig get to the hall, and we’ll be there already. Got it?”
Mona nodded. “Sounds good to me. Yes. Put me on the list, please. Thank you for calling.” She heard Marit giggle as they clicked off.
Steig glanced at her to catch her slight nod. “Any questions or other things you can think of?” He lifted a manila envelope. “The medical cards and records are in here, including vaccination records. This one has Mellie’s school records. As you can see, I have all of this in this file box; some of it needs to go into your safety box or open another in their name. We set up the bank account yesterday, so that is all taken care of. My checks will go directly into that account, usually on about the fifth of the month. With the online banking, I can keep track, too. I’ll have my laptop with me, and I told Mellie we would Skype every Thursday night.”
Ken thought. “Will that work with the time difference?”
“I’ll make it work.”
Ken’s phone sounded like a duck quacking. “Hey, Magnus, what’s up? Sure, since we couldn’t go fishing, we can do that. Okay, I’ll be waiting, but I could meet you there. All right, see you.” He looked at Mona. “Magnus wants some advice at Home Depot. He’ll be here in a couple of minutes. You need anything there?”
“You might want to pick up another set of those garage shelves,” Steig suggested.
“Okay, Mona?”
“Yes, we can use them if we can find someplace to put them. Nothing else that I can think of.” She started gathering the files off the table. “I’ll call you if so. Hand me that file box, please, Steig.” Keep it cool, nothing to indicate we need to get ready and out that door in about fifteen minutes. As soon as Ken left, she roared into action. “You look fine, I have to change, Magnus is stalling, then will take Ken to the party. The kids need different clothes on.” She grinned at her son. “So far so good—I hope. I so want to pull off a surprise.”
“If he’s had an inkling, he’s not mentioned it to me.” He headed for the family room. “Come on, you two, we need to dress for Grampy’s party.”
They all flew around and were out the door in twenty-one minutes and on their way.
The parking lot of the hall had only a couple of cars since they’d asked everyone to park on the side streets. Steig dropped her and the kids off at the door and drove to park.
“Daddy!” Jakey started to tear up, but Mellie held his hand. “Daddy had to go park. He’ll be right back. Come on, this is Grampy’s party.”
“Where is Grampy?”
“He’ll be here soon.” Mona checked her watch. “Come on, we have to go hide.”
Ken followed Magnus out of Home Depot. Together they loaded the cartons and two-by-fours into Magnus’s pickup.
“Sure appreciate your help. Someday I’ll know enough.” Magnus smiled at Ken.
“Took me a while, too. I’ll help you install it anytime you want. You want to come in for coffee?” He slid into the passenger seat beside Magnus.
Magnus checked his list. “Oh no, I forgot to pick up Marit’s extra pots at the Sons of Norway hall. She loaned them for some ladies’ do. Then I think she has lunch ready for everyone.” He squinted at his paper. “At least I think that’s what this says. I’ll swing by and get the pots right now since we’re closer to there. You in a hurry?”
“Nope, I am officially retired and I don’t have to hurry anymore.”
“Good luck.” Magnus parked right near the front door. “You want to come help me find them? Last time I had to tear the kitchen apart. I sure don’t know my way around in there.”
“Sure, why not.” Ken studied the exterior of the hall, the fake pillars that marked the entry. “You know, this old building could do with a paint job. Look. Flaking. I’ll have to write out a recommendation for the board.” The two men walked up the three steps, and Magnus swung the door open for Ken and stepped aside. Age before beauty, as they say. Ken went in.
“SURPRISE!” over fifty voices hollered at once.
Ken grabbed the doorframe, hand to his chest. “Wh-what in the world?” He searched for Mona, shaking his head all the while. There she was, grinning like a mule chewing thistles.
She came over and grabbed him around the waist. “Surprise!”
“How did you ever pull this off?”
“Either you really are surprised or you are an Oscar quality actor.”
Marit joined them.
Mellie ran up and grabbed his hand. “Are you surprised, Grampy?”
“Yes, I am surprised. Addled. Shocked.”
“Good.” Mona took his hand. “Come this way.” They pushed open the doors to the main hall now full of decorated tables; a banner that said HAPPY RETIREMENT, KEN stretched across the front of the room.
“Okay, chefs, back to the grills.” With that, some of the men clapped Ken on the back as they hastened out.
“No wonder I smelled barbecue when I got out of the car.”
“They put the ribs on a while ago.”
“As if last night wasn’t a huge celebration.” He looked around, seeing some folks who’d attended the retirement dinner and lots of others from church, the Sons of Norway lodge, neighbors and friends, along with the relatives within driving distance. He stared at Mona again. “This is the first time you ever pulled one off. How did you do it? I had no idea.”
“That’s the best thing you could say to me.” Mona’s face nearly split grinning. “I’ve tried ever since I met you to surprise you with something and I never could.” She heaved a big sigh and spread her arms wide. “But we did it, all of us together.” Someone started applause, and it ricocheted around the walls. “And now, you go greet your guests, and we’ll get this dinner ready to serve. Party on!”
By the time they returned home late that afternoon, they all collapsed around the seats on the porch. Steig kept his sleeping son on his lap and his daughter tucked into his side. “That was one amazing party.” He grinned at his dad. “This town does indeed know how to throw a celebration.”
Ken looked at Mona. “Please tell me we are done partying, at least for this weekend.”
“We are done.” Mona did not open her eyes, her body sunk deep into her kicked-back recliner. “Needless to say, I am done in.”
“Why should you be any different than the rest of us?” Marit asked from a padded lounge chair, her arms dragging on the floor. “Please, Dad, don’t go retire anymore, at least not for a while.”
He smiled. “I have nothing else to retire from. It is all retire to now.”
“Now that is a great line.” Mona looked at her husband in the neighborin
g chair. “Retiring to?”
“Yep, I heard someone say that people who retire from don’t live long, but people who retire to have a full life ahead. Figured it made a whole lot of sense.” He heaved a sigh, looking at Mona. “How you pulled that surprise party off is way beyond me. Maybe I’ve been so involved on the job these last two weeks, I missed any signs.”
“Give it up, Dad, there were no signs.” Marit waved a triumphant thumbs-up at her mother.
Ken looked at his son-in-law. “You were in on it, too?”
“Of course. But we will be doing that remodel on the mudroom. I promised before winter. One of the things you are retired to.”
Mellie straightened up from her father’s side. “Grammy, I’m hungry.”
“Didn’t you eat at the party?”
She nodded solemnly. “But that was hours ago.”
“Spoken like a true Sorenson.” Steig grinned at his mother.
“You know what would have made these two days absolutely perfect?” Ken looked up at the ceiling.
“This wasn’t perfect?” Mona’s voice squeaked, her eyes wide.
“If Mom and Dad had been here to celebrate, too.”
“True, but I think a big celebration was going on in Heaven, too. After all, you have a lot of friends and relatives up there, watching the earthly goings-on.”
“I know, but Dad was so proud when I became dean of students. That his son had made it like that.”
“He’s always been proud of you and your education, you know.”
“I know. But just thinking.”
“Maybe pizza?” Mellie looked up at her dad. “Even Jakey likes pizza.”
Magnus heaved himself to his feet. “Marit, you go order and I’ll call the kids in, then get the pizza.” He winked at Mellie. “Thanks. I love pizza.”
That last Sunday with Steig was the shortest day of Mona’s life. Soon after everyone was up, dressed, and fed, it was time to undress, bathe, and get in bed. At least it seemed that way to Mona. She deliberately, over and over again, forced her mind back to the now. No thinking about Monday allowed.
When she went in to kiss the children after Steig said good night, Mellie whispered, “Daddy leaves early, huh?”
“Yes.”
“We get to say good-bye, right?”
“Yes, we will all say good-bye.” She leaned upward and kissed Mellie’s cheek, not easy from a top bunk.
“But he’ll come back, he promised.”
Mona nodded. She kissed sleeping Jakey like the touch of a butterfly. And closed the door so Hyacinth could not get in and set off another screaming frenzy. She leaned her forehead against the door. Please, Lord, please.
Monday morning the sun was yet to rise when the army van pulled into their driveway. Steig carried his duffel bag on one shoulder and his son in his other arm. He dumped the duffel on the ground.
“Good morning, sir.” The driver saluted smartly and picked up the duffel.
Steig returned the salute. “Stow this bag, too.” He took another bag from his father and hugged first his dad and then his mom, still holding his son. “I love you.”
“We’ll be praying for you, Lord willing you come home soon.” Mona didn’t bother to even try to mop the tears.
Steig knelt down to hug his daughter.
“Don’t go away, Daddy.” Jakey locked his arms around his father’s neck. “Don’t go.”
“I have to, son, that’s my job, but I’ll see you soon on Skype and I’ll come home as fast as I can.” He clutched both of them to his chest. “You be good for Grammy and Grampy.” He stood. “I love you all so much. God bless.” He turned and stepped up into the van as Ken scooped Jakey into his arms.
“Don’t go Daddy! Daaaddyyy!” Jakey shrieked, and tried to pitch himself out of his grandpa’s arms, reaching after the already-moving vehicle as if he could drag it to a stop and bring his daddy back.
As if anyone could.
Chapter Twelve
Come on, little man, let’s go look for worms.” Ken stood up from the table after lunch. Mona smiled as she watched him move. The man was a pied piper with little kids, college kids, ugly-tempered academics…
“Will Daddy be there?”
“No, but worms are really wiggly, fun to play with.” Ken held out his hand. “You can dig in the dirt, too.”
“Dirt?” Sitting on his grammy’s lap, Jakey wrinkled his nose as he studied his grampy. His finger and thumb popped out of his mouth, and he slid to the floor.
“Can I come, too?” Mellie looked up from the game she was playing on the iPad.
“Of course.”
“Thank you,” Mona mouthed. Perhaps she could hide out in her office for a while. Why had she not planned for such contingencies as a small child’s grief at his father’s leaving? Good thing Ken had decided to remain home. She watched as Jakey reached for Grampy’s one hand and Mellie took the other. As soon as they got involved, she’d go out and try to catch a good photo for Steig.
Just the thought of what he was going through made her blink a few times. Comfort him, good Lord. As the screen door closed behind the four, since Ambrose had decided to join them, she stood and stretched. With a glass of iced tea in hand, she headed upstairs. Chore one—check for messages, taking notes all the while so she could prioritize. Then, starting with number one, she put on her cheerful face and voice and started in. At least problem solving for her clients took her mind off her son.
She had one call to go when she heard laughter from the garden.
“No, Jakey, don’t eat it!” Ken sounded like he was about to expire in laughter.
Ambrose barked and Mellie was giggling so hard that Mona’s curiosity won over one more phone call. Even though this one might turn into a new client. She headed down the stairs and out. Ambrose charged over to greet her, yipping his delight at her joining them. She followed the laughter trail, iPhone at the ready. Ken sat cross-legged on the grass with Jakey holding up a very wiggly worm. Mellie was digging in the well-aged compost heap, obviously searching for more.
Ken took Jakey’s hand in his, whispering something that made the little boy grin up at him. Mona snapped the photo, then moved closer for another one.
“Grammy, Jakey almost ate the worm.” Mellie dropped the shovel and danced over to join Mona. “I didn’t find any more.”
Mona took a couple more pictures and sank down on the bench under the maple tree. “Oh, this is so lovely.” A breeze teased her hair and kissed her cheeks. “To think I was working when you all were having such fun out here.”
“Go show Grammy.”
She watched as Jakey cupped the worm in both his hands and came to stand in front of her. “What do you have there?”
“A big worm.” He opened his hands and giggled as the worm wiggled in his palm. “See, Grammy?” He looked up at her. “Fish eat worms, not me.”
“I’m glad to hear that. What are you going to do with the worm?”
A puzzled look met her question. He stared at the worm, which was about to flip out to the ground. Jakey grinned. “Give him to you.” He dumped the worm in her lap. “You eat it.”
Mona looked up to see Ken and Mellie laughing, she with both hands spread over her mouth, as if to keep the giggles in. “Well, I guess I’ll have to take the worm inside to help me eat the cookies.”
Jakey spun in place, almost dumping himself on the ground. “I want a cookie!”
“How about then you put the worm back in the compost while Mellie and I go find the cookies?”
“I help you.”
“Take care of your worm first.” She placed the worm in his hand.
A short while later they gathered around the umbrella-shaded glass table and helped themselves to the last of the cookies and a plate of sliced apples.
“Is this coffee break time?” Ken asked.
“I guess you could call it that. As you know, around here folks take a coffee break whenever they feel like it.”
“A perk of re
tirement?”
She smiled. “Nope. I got lots of work for you to do here.”
“I suppose you have a list.”
“Several, in fact, arranged by location: garage, yard…”
“Grammy, can I have another cookie?” Jakey asked.
“Of course.” She passed him the plate. “And some apple?” She passed him the other plate as well, barely keeping from chuckling at the look on his face.
“I guess.” He took a slice.
“Jakey doesn’t like apples,” Mellie announced to no one in particular.
“I like applesauce.”
“That’s cooked apples.” Mona looked a question at both the kids. “Try this apple; it might be sweeter than others.” Vaguely she remembered Steig being quite particular; he only liked apples of the tart and crunchy variety.
Frowning, Jakey picked up an apple slice two-fingered, eyed it suspiciously, and touched it with his tongue, then put it down quickly.
“I don’t like it.”
“You have to take a bite. At least one bite.”
Reluctantly, he picked up the apple slice and carefully took a tiny bite. “There.” He tossed it back on the dish.
Mona knew when she was licked. She had, after all, said “one bite.”
Another battle loomed; now if they could only change his fear of the cat. His father had worked with him on Saturday and Sunday, so at least now he didn’t mind the cat being in sight. There was hope. And obviously the best way to victory is through stealth. But what way to go?
She pondered that question as she fixed dinner a while later, Hyacinth now curled up in her favorite chair at the kitchen table that from now on would be set for four. Once the sandwiches were made, she went to the door and called for Mellie to set the table.
“Is there time for Jake and me to walk down for the mail?” Ken finished hanging the garden tools on the wall rack.
“If you hustle. Do you want salad with your sandwich?”
“Sure.” He looked down. “You want salad, Jake?”
“He doesn’t like salad,” Mellie threw over her shoulder as she climbed the three steps.
The Second Half Page 11