Letters on the Table

by Pattie Howse-Duncan

  “So how did you know he knew?” Katherine asked.

  “Well, according to Lily Mae, he told her one day he had been to the diner to check on your mother and you showed him a little shrine you’d set up on the windowsill near your bed. He asked you where the gifts came from, and you told him pixies brought them to you and showed him the three different places out back where you found them. He remembered you had them lined up on the windowsill in the order in which they were given to you. Lily Mae was the one who came home one evening and told us you had just shown her your newest pixie gift, and she was positive it had not come from any of our people. Said it was a gold locket in a…”

  “…a blue velvet box with a gold ribbon tied around it,” Katherine completed the sentence for Thomas. She opened it to reveal a gold locket that had long since lost its patina.

  “So how did you know it was from Doc?” Katherine wondered aloud. The clues still did not seem to fit together in a neat array.

  Lily Mae spoke softly. “For the longest time I suspected it was from him. I thought it was his way of letting us know he also felt a responsibility for fixing a terrible wrong. The closest he ever got to confessing was years later when he explained that lockets were a beautiful way to hold the face of the one you love the most. To remind your heart in case it ever forgot.”

  Slowly, Katherine opened her locket to reveal a faded photograph. She clutched it to her heart and began to cry.

  Clarence reached out to hold the locket and she gently placed it in his big, calloused hands. Silently, he studied the face looking back at him. “The last time I saw this face, he was showing me what bravery looked like. Bravery on the battlefield, when you think about it. He knew he was an unarmed man fighting the enemy. I’ve spent my life remembering the face of this courageous man, and now I have the honor of seeing him one more time. I’ve tried to live up to his code of honor, Katherine. Lily Mae told me a long, long time ago she felt God put me there for a reason and maybe that reason was for me to see what a man of honor does in the face of evil.”

  Then, just as Katherine had done, Clarence clutched the locket to his chest. His closed eyes could not hold back the river of his tears. Finally telling the story released him from the ugly memories that bound him so tightly for so long.

  Father Drew placed his hand on Clarence’s shoulder. “And you have lived your life with honor too, my friend. You witnessed courage and evil at the same moment, and you chose to take the high ground. God’s grace reaches us through the thorns.”

  Lily Mae’s breathing had become more faint. Katherine took her pulse and silently shook her head to let the others know Lily Mae wouldn’t be with them much longer.

  While Father Drew began preparing communion, Katherine leaned over and whispered into Lily Mae’s ear, “I love you more now than I ever have, and I understand why you never told me. Now I want you to do one more thing for me. Free yourself from any pain or guilt you’ve carried all these years. I want you to take your last breath with peace in your heart.”

  Lily Mae squeezed Katherine’s hand to indicate she’d heard both her words and her command. She was able to let the wine of communion touch her lips and the wafer dissolve on her tongue, but she never opened her eyes again.

  There was still one more surprise before she drew her last breath. Unprompted, Sheriff Washington began singing the first stanza of “Amazing Grace” with the most beautiful tenor voice any of them had ever heard. He sang all four verses and then hummed the tune, and it was during the final stanza that Lily Mae took her last breath as she whispered “I’m not scared of dying now. Take me home.”

  That group of people, so connected through the truth they all now knew, witnessed a beautiful passing. Thomas verbalized it. “We saw the peace of God spread through Lily Mae’s body, and then she ceased breathing. The angels have welcomed her home now. Our beloved is now standing before the face of God.”

  Five days later, Katherine walked down the aisle with Clarence holding her arm at Bethel A.M.E. church for her beloved Lily Mae’s funeral. Wearing her navy suit with a double strand of pearls and a golden locket that had long since lost its patina, she carried Lily Mae’s tattered, old Bible in one hand and a crisp hankie in the other. They sat in the second pew, just as she had all those countless Sundays long ago when she attended with Lily Mae.

  Walking down the aisle behind the casket, she and Clarence both overheard someone say, “There she is. That’s Lily’s girl.” They smiled to each other, knowing that a person could never receive a finer compliment.

  The drive from the church to the cemetery was only a seven-mile stretch, but it took well over an hour because both sides of the street were lined with friends and strangers. In the five days since Lily Mae’s passing, the story of Katherine’s father’s and Miss Effie’s fate was revealed and spread through Kingston quicker than floodwaters. The town was wise enough to feel shame over what happened all those decades ago to two innocent people, simply trying to get to work, to provide food and shelter for their families. Two people who fought with all they had to defend the golden rule.

  Do Unto Others

  There were signs everywhere of nature sweeping away the remnants of the long, cold winter months. They were in their usual positions, Sam riding shotgun and Katherine alone in the backseat, as they drove through the countryside. William had been working on a plan that he hoped would relieve some of the sadness that seemed to have settled permanently on Katherine’s shoulders since Lily Mae’s death.

  “Three weeks from Monday I have a surprise for Royce Thessing, and I would like very much for both of you to be there.” Their driver gave no more explanation, but there was an obvious twinkle in his eye.

  “You mean Royce Thessing, the old gristle at Shady Valley Assisted Living, our friend who used to be friendless?”

  “That’s right. Used to be.”

  “Son, I don’t know what you’ve planned, but it can’t be anything finer than the gift you’ve already given him. He’s not at all the same man I introduced you to two years ago. His crustiness has disappeared. He’s had a metamorphosis.”

  “Remember these words in three weeks…it has been my honor to get to know him, with emphasis on honor.”

  The only other clue Katherine had concerning the surprise for Royce was William’s request for her recommendations for the purchase of two particular items.

  “No question, Thornton & Hawthorne Menswear on the square for the suit. Dave DuVall will do you right, and three weeks will provide plenty of time for alterations. I’d definitely recommend the Flower Box for the flowers, also on the square. They do good work, and they appreciate their customers. Tell Todd I sent you.”

  Katherine had never seen her two men look as dapper as they did on that eventful Monday. William’s charcoal suit made his deep green eyes dazzle with intensity. Sam looked dashing in his new blue shirt and blazing red tie. No doubt, she had handsome men.

  She settled in the backseat, pleased to be in their company. Sam proudly held up a corsage box. “Not telling who it’s for but I know this, it ain’t for nobody in this car.”

  Their laughter had energy to it, the kind reserved for the most special of life’s moments.

  There was a buzz about the place when they entered Shady Valley. Residents had already begun gathering in the event room, scrambling to get their worn-out bodies or walkers or wheelchairs closest to the front row. Royce Thessing was among them, sitting on an end aisle about midway up, in his dingy white polo shirt, still showing remnants of breakfast.

  A newspaper reporter for the Kingston Daily began working the crowd, and a cameraman and news anchor for KWRK Channel 7 set up in the back of the room.

  Katherine and Sam watched as William placed the corsage on Annabelle’s wrist. The librarian was clearly moved. He then presented Katherine with a starched handkerchief. “You can thank me later.”

  Helpi
ng Royce into a dark blue gabardine sports coat, he asked him to join them on the front row. No one was more surprised than Royce.

  Many old withered soldiers saluted as the Kingston High School Junior R.O.T.C. Color Guard presented the flag, and the entire room joined together to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the Star-Spangled Banner. America’s greatest generation sang her greatest anthem. Their love for America was as abundant as clover in spring. It blanketed the entire room.

  William addressed the crowd. “Before we begin, I would like to thank someone who worked very hard to make this possible. Kingston’s reference librarian, Annabelle Curry, has spent hours, days, weeks, and months researching and sorting data and putting the pieces together. Thank you, Ms. Curry.”

  Katherine saw something in his eyes, and she knew Lily Mae would be squeezing her hand if she were with her now. William had discovered his purpose.

  “Unlike many of you, I have never served on a battlefield to defend our country’s many freedoms bestowed on us by our forefathers. I would like to think I am of the caliber of those who served, but I will never know. One thing I do know for sure is many who served across the globe during World War II did heroic deeds on the battlefields but then came home to their wives and families and for many, those acts appeared to go unnoticed. We’ve gathered today to recognize the heroic action by one of our own that took place seventy years ago this week. It gives me great honor to present to you Brigadier General Giles Croxton of the United States Air Force.”

  The air in the room was electric. People leaned forward, eager to hear the words of the visiting general, dressed in full regalia. The reporter’s camera was set on high-speed advance, shooting eight frames a second. Katherine sat expectantly, eager to hear the announcement.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to be here with you today. In 1941, America joined with the Allied Forces to fight inhumanity in its ugliest form. The call went out, and America sent her best and her bravest. Some of our heroes never came home. Others returned but never received recognition for what they did in the air or on the field. Instead, they came back ready to get on with their lives and families, eager to put the past behind them.”

  The general paused, letting his words sink in. “I’d like to bring one of your own to the front, because unbeknownst to him, we are going to right a wrong today.”

  William stood and extended his hand to his friend, the one about to be honored, Royce Thessing, the crusty old bird who was now limp with emotion, trembling before the crowd.

  “Royce Thessing, when you and your crew flew a bombing mission out of England for the United States Army Air Corps on February 13, 1943, your B-24 was hit by a German plane. A Danish plane approached, tipped its wing, and signaled “follow me.” You skillfully landed your plane safely although two of your crew members, your navigator and your tail gunner, were injured. You carried your tail gunner on your back for about a mile, following a member of the Danish Underground Resistance who led you to safety. You then returned to your plane and did the same for your navigator. It is doubtful either of these two crew members would have survived if you had not acted with bravery to risk your life in order to save theirs. Meanwhile, on the homefront, the families were notified that your entire crew was missing in action. You and your men remained with the Danish Underground Resistance for three weeks until they could successfully return you to your base in England. You went on to fly twenty-two more successful missions throughout the war, but you were never recognized for saving the lives of two of your crew members.”

  Another pause. The audience was captivated. There had been a hero in their midst who had come across as a crusty old curmudgeon.

  “These facts have been brought to our attention by two citizens who felt compelled to research and provide the enormously complex documentation to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. The paperwork required to prove the forgotten bravery of a young soldier is equivalent to a small mountain.”

  Still another pause as the old soldier looked into the faces of the man and woman who had done all of this for him.

  “Captain Royce Thessing, it is my honor to present to you the following medals you should have received seventy years ago for your heroic acts. I bestow on you the Victory Medal for your service in World War II, the Distinguished Flying Cross for your heroism and extraordinary achievement while flying, and the Good Conduct Medal for your exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in the United States Army Air Corps.”

  The press had a field day as the general pinned the medals on the old soldier’s borrowed gabardine jacket.

  Many remarkable things were said that day and well into the evening. Katherine was proud for Royce Thessing but even prouder for William, and she told him that privately.

  “What you did today was evidence that you know there is a purpose for your life. Others could have done what you and Annabelle did, but no one ever attempted it.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without Annabelle, that’s for sure.”

  The tiny creases that had accumulated around Katherine’s eyes over the years seemed to disappear as she smiled and explained, “There was a lot of love today. Love for your country, love for another human being, love for an old, tired, and cranky heart. It’s the kind of thing you might expect a family member to attempt for one of their own, but you two took it on like you were his family. You’ll do many other fine things in this world, but I suspect nothing finer.”

  “As a boy I thought I knew what families were. I thought it was a group of people who all shared the same name and usually looked alike in one way or another. That’s what I longed for. I didn’t know a person could make their own, if they were willing to love that hard.” He stopped for a moment, wanting to say more. “The people who gather for Sunday night dinner around your table are the best example of family to me. Not one single person shares ancestry, or DNA, or skin tone, or surnames but look what they do share. It’s powerful. You taught me to open my eyes and search. I’m the blind man who can now see.”

  Katherine

  It was a Monday. William thought he’d arrive just a few minutes early, eager to share the news. He’d barely slept in anticipation of telling Katherine. He called to give her a heads up that he had something special to tell her, but there was no answer.

  It wasn’t until he stepped out of his car that he was immediately overcome with a sense of dread and felt gooseflesh spread over his body. The newspaper still sat on the sidewalk, bundled with a rubber band, untouched. Katherine had not yet come outside.

  He rattled the doorknob and began frantically combing through his keys, yelling her name as he unlocked the door, fighting a growing panic.

  He raced to the kitchen, praying he would find her sitting there with a cup of something. He then ran to the bedroom, already prepared to knock down the door if he had to. But he didn’t.

  She was still lying in bed, her eyes closed, her head centered on the pillow as if someone had placed her there, her arms outstretched on each side in perfect symmetry. When he saw the look of complete serenity on her face he knew. Katherine was no longer with them. He was convinced she was reaching up to someone or something when she took her final breath. When he touched her face with the back of his hand, she was cold. Gone. And he wept.

  His first phone call was to Father Drew, who agreed to break the news to Sam and bring him to the house so he could see for himself. His next call was to the sheriff’s office, and he requested that he be put directly through to Sheriff Washington. There were many others to contact, but he just didn’t have the strength. He would wait for his reinforcements to arrive.

  He sat on her bedside, took her cold hand in his, and he thanked her for loving him and teaching him how to live a worthy life. He thanked her for other things too. Countless things. And he was grateful to be the one who found her.

  Just as he saw Father Drew’s car speeding d
own the winding drive he told her the news he had intended to share with her when he first arrived. “I finally got the nerve to ask. Annabelle is going to be my bride.”

  And then he opened the door so that Drew and Sam could join him in his grief.

  Reading of the Will

  None of them had any idea how their lives would be connected by the reading of the will. Having been summoned by her attorney, the retired Honorable Judge Thomas Warren, they gathered to hear what Katherine had bequeathed to each of them.

  Each one straightened a bit as the judge entered the room, carrying a calendar atop a cumbersome stack of files. He paused in front of each of them, regarding them directly before extending a warm, strong handshake. He knew. He knew the depth of their pain and sorrow. He feared his own grief from losing her would reside permanently in a portion of his heart, but today he would fulfill one of the most important tasks of her life, and he was damn proud to be her messenger.

  Arranging the folders at the end of the long table, he gave a nod of dismissal to the two young clerks. One exited through the north door and closed it securely while the other exited through the south door, leaving it slightly ajar. Not wide enough for one to enter or exit, but plenty wide enough for someone to sit clandestinely in the adjacent room and absorb all the words soon to be spoken.

  “Within minutes, your lives are going to change, and I want us all to remember this time, this place, this collective group.” Holding the calendar in midair for all to see, he used a felt tip pen to draw a thick red circle around the date, making sure they understood the enormity of the moment.