The Cherry Blossoms

by Denise Irwin

  With that said, his hand went limp in hers. Danny lay across his chest crying. “No, don’t go just yet. Please don’t go.”

  Garrett put his arms around her and lifted her to stand. Her body was trembling as her waves of sobbing washed tears onto his shirt. He held her tightly to his chest while talking softly in her ear. “Danny, it’s going to be okay. He died peacefully. He just drifted away. Matt loved you so much. Even in death, he’ll always be there for you.”

  When her chest stopped heaving the sobs of tears onto his shirt, he released her and looked to Nana. Nana came around the bed to wrap her arms around Danny. They stood together crying until there were no more tears to shed. They continued to cling to one another until their emotions were spent. They stepped back to face each other as Nana told her, “I don’t think Matt loved anyone more than he loved you. I’ll give you a few minutes alone with him, while I put coffee on for the ranch hands that will be coming in soon. Garrett’s called the funeral home to come collect him, so someone should arrive shortly.”

  When Nana left, Danny sat on the side of her grandfather’s bed to talk with him. “Grandpa, while I will miss you; I made you a promise that I intend to keep. You gave so much to me and I will regret for the rest of my life that I never thanked you as much as I should have. You filled my heart with treasured memories.” Tears ran down her face. “I promise to do my best to live up to your expectations for me.”

  She didn’t see that Garrett had entered the room, until he excused himself, “Danny, the funeral home attendants are here. Do you need a little more time?”

  “Thank you for offering, but no, I don’t. Can you please let me get into the kitchen, before they take him away?”

  Nana was sitting alone drinking a cup of coffee when Danny walked into the kitchen. She told Danny, “It’s still much too early to wake the staff. I needed something to do, so I made a pot of coffee.”

  Danny poured a cup of coffee and sat across the table from her Nana. The two women who Matt had treasured the most, sat quietly, listening for the front door to close as the attendants took him to the funeral home.

  “Matt picked out the suit he wants to be buried in. I’ll have Garrett drive it over later today. Someone needs to do his eulogy and write up an obituary for the paper.”

  Danny stared into her cup of coffee. “I don’t think that I can do that.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “I wouldn’t know what to write or say. Can you do it?”

  Nana reached across the table and took Danny’s hand into hers. “I wish I could do this for you, but I can’t. If you speak from your heart, you won’t go wrong.”

  When Garrett entered the kitchen, he nodded to Betty, indicating that Matt McPherson’s body had been taken away.

  “Danny, I need you to go upstairs, take a shower and return to the kitchen, so that Garrett, you and I will be here to tell the ranch hands.”

  Standing in the shower, Danny let the sound of running water drown out the sound of her sobs. While she’d known she’d been called home for her grandfather’s demise, it was shocking to her that he was gone forever. She chided herself that she should have flown home more often; she should have insisted that he join her for a vacation in Paris. He knew she was taking over the ranch out of obligation and that thought felt horribly selfish as the hot water ran down her shivering body.

  She turned off the shower and stood in the stall to think about his request. In those short minutes, she told her weary mind that she had made a promise to the man she loved with every part of her soul; and that she had every intention of keeping that promise. After drying the tears from her face along with the shower water from her body, she chose a pair of black wool slacks and a white silk blouse to wear today.

  Garrett was waiting at the foot of the staircase. He held out his elbow for her to take. She smiled, “Thank you”, and allowed him to escort her into the kitchen.

  The ranch hands held their hats in their hands and it appeared to Danny that every single one of them focused on the floor as they shuffled their boots. Garrett stood beside her, and his presence gave her the strength to speak.

  “Matt McPherson passed away during the night. I promised him that I would take on the responsibilities of running the ranch. My Grandpa told me how proud he was of everyone who works for the McPherson Ranch. He has bequeathed each of you a ten thousand dollar trust. He asked that if you wish to remain employed here, you may do so for as long as you choose. I think that it’s extremely important that you understand that I don’t know diddle about ranching, so I’m counting on all of you to correct me when I’m wrong.”

  Not knowing what else to say, she looked up at Garrett for some guidance. “Matt’s been taken to the funeral home; however, once he’s been embalmed, they’ll bring him back to the ranch. We’ll hold a viewing in the living room this evening and tomorrow evening as well. The service and interment will take place the following morning. Matt was born on this ranch, so he asked that we bury him in the family plot. If anyone’s up for it I’ll need some help moving furniture away from the area where his casket will sit.”

  Randy stepped forward, “This is probably not the right time for me to say this, but we still got ourselves a ranch to run. Garrett, take as many men as you think you need, but the rest of them will need to work with me.”

  “I’ll only need two, three at the most.”

  Three men stepped forward to volunteer to help Garrett. He nodded to them. When Michal turned to leave, he asked Daniella if he could please speak with her.

  She stood staring at him as if he were a stranger in her home. He asked again, “Please say something, even if it is to tell me that you want me to leave.”

  “Michal, I’ll give you five minutes and not a minute more. Let’s go out onto the front porch.”

  He followed her as if he were a small puppy in training. Once on the porch, she turned to face him, “You have just five minutes, so don’t waste them.”

  “Daniella, I know that what I did was wrong. There is nothing that I can ever do to make it up to you. It is also likely that you will never forgive my indiscretions, and I understand that. While I came here to beg for your forgiveness, I know now that you did not warrant my awful behavior. In the few days that I have worked on the ranch, I am a new man. In Paris, I was, as you Americans say, king of the hill, when in fact, here on the ranch, I am a peon. I was put to the test when I worked alongside your ranch hands. That test showed me that I can work hard physically and enjoy that hard work. The ranch hands work together to make sure this ranch comes alive, while in Paris, I work doing what? Editing a fashion magazine is nothing compared to helping disabled children.”

  “Why did you lie to my grandfather about supporting children’s educational programs?”

  “Those were not lies. I have supported them for years. I have the paperwork to prove to you my contributions.”

  “I’m not certain why you are choosing to tell me this now, but your five minutes are up.”

  “I’m trying to tell you rather poorly, that I would like to make a worthy contribution to the ranch.”

  “As I said, your five minutes are up. We’ll speak again if you are serious about making a contribution to our endeavors.”

  She watched him walk away as she called Paris to let Grant know that her grandfather had passed over to the other side. He recognized her caller ID, so he knew it was Daniella.

  “Daniella, je suis tellement heureux d'entendre votre voix. Tu nous as manqué beaucoup.”

  “Grant, I can’t express in words, how much I miss you. Is everyone okay?”

  “La véritable question est, vous êtes d'accord ?”

  “My grandfather died during the night. For two evenings, we will have viewings here at the house, and then on Friday, we will hold a service. We’ll inter him here on the ranch in the family plot.”

  “Is Michal still there?”

  “He is.” She chuckled, “He’s been working with the ranch han
ds.”

  Grant laughed aloud, “Est-ce qu'il est monté un cheval comme un cow-boy dans les films ?”

  Danny laughed and retorted, “I’m not so sure that he looks like a cowboy in the movies; he hangs onto the horse for dear life. I’ll call as soon as I can.”

  Danny went into the kitchen to help her Nana. When she looked up, Betty wiped the tears from her face. “Don’t mind me child, I’m just a blubbering old fool. Come give me a hug.”

  Danny wrapped her arms around Nana, and let her sob against Danny’s chest. “I’ve been working for that old fool for so long, that I’m really gonna miss him.”

  Not letting go of her hold, she told Nana, “I know that you will, but I’m really going to need you now that he’s gone.” Danny thought about telling Betty just how much money she would inherit and decided that this was not the right time.

  They spent the afternoon getting things in order for the first viewing.

  When their guests arrived, Danny was astounded by the number of people that arrived with food along with their condolences. Danny couldn’t keep count of how many times she said thank you to them. The evening turned into a blur of faces on people she didn’t know. They were kind and offered her help. One gentleman told her that he’d gone to grade school with her grandfather. His wife chimed in, “That was back in the day when they rode horses to school.”

  She felt someone take hold of her arm and whisper in her ear, “Let’s get you out into some fresh air.”

  Garrett then walked her out to the porch and handed her a glass of wine. “You looked like you were getting a bit overwhelmed.”

  “Whew, I sure was. Thank you. I can’t believe how many people are here. I knew the house was big, but oh my word, I guess it’s huge.”

  “Have you had anything to eat?”

  “No, I’ve been greeting guests all evening.”

  “I’ll tell Betty to set aside a plate for you.”

  Danny laughed, “There’s enough food in that house, that I’m sure I don’t need her to set aside a plate to save me some.”

  “I saw you speaking with Michal; did he have anything interesting to say?”

  “Nope; he didn’t say anything that I found particularly interesting.”

  They saw that the guests were leaving, so Danny and Garrett went into the house to thank them for coming. When the last guest left, Danny grabbed a full plate of food, refreshed her wine glass and sat at the kitchen table, where Nana was already seated. “Child, I’m just getting too damn old to manage this number of people.”

  “That’s just not true and you know it, but let’s look into hiring you some help. You could have this new person do all the work you don’t like.”

  “While I appreciate the offer, I only need help on these big events. Most days, whoever you hired would just get in the way.”

  Danny put her plate and wine glass into the dishwasher. “Whatever you say; I’m exhausted, so I’m turning in.”

  On her way to her bedroom, Danny peeked into the living room to say goodnight to her grandfather. The room had been so crowded with guests that she hadn’t seen the floral arrangements. She wandered around the living room reading the cards. She recognized a few names, but most of the cards contained the names of people that she didn’t know.

  “Daniella, that collection of flowers is impressive, isn’t it?”

  She hadn’t heard Michal enter the room, but there he was standing beside her. Astonished by the number of arrangements, she wasn’t sure what to say. She moved along reading the cards, when she heard Michal’s voice a second time.

  “It appears that your grandfather had a number of good friends.”

  Without looking at him, she responded to him in a soft voice, which was closer to a whisper, “It does, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, it does. It is not my place to speak, but those arrangements were obviously very expensive.”

  “Is there a point to that statement?”

  “What I meant, and did not speak it well is that he must have been loved deeply by many. The expense of the flowers must have felt small in comparison to the love his friends felt.”

  Lost in a sea of the names on the cards, she missed his inference that the arrangements were expensive. She spoke to him in a soft voice, “Yes, that’s probably true.”

  He moved beside her as she made her way through the living room, “Daniella, when do you plan to return to Paris?”

  Not sure if she heard him correctly, she asked, “I’m sorry, I was lost in my own little world; what did you ask?”

  “It was nothing important. I will take my leave, so that you may read your sympathy cards.”

  Michal left as quietly as he had arrived.

  In the morning flowers, guests and food started arriving before noon. Danny felt homesick for Paris when a large vase containing sprigs of cherry blossoms, sent by the House of Daniella arrived. Mixed in with the cherry blossoms were tulips, tiger lilies and baby’s breath.

  Danny spent the majority of the day helping Nana keep track of the incoming food and guests. Danny dug through all the cupboards, pulling serving bowls out. “What are we going to do with all this food?”

  “I was just wondering that myself. We’ll fill the coolers as best as we can. What doesn’t get eaten tomorrow after the service, I’ll have Garrett drive to the soup kitchen in town.”

  After another evening of thanking people she’d never met, Danny was so tired that she went into her grandfather’s office, shut the door and took a nap on his leather sofa. As she drifted off, she heard her guests attesting to the fact that Matt McPherson was a man among men. She had no idea how long she slept, but when she felt someone shake her shoulder, she sat up suddenly.

  “Danny, Nana sent me to find you. It’s very late; everyone’s gone, so let me walk you up to your room.”

  Her voice sounded groggy when she asked Garrett, “Did you say everyone’s left? I just needed a quiet minute. I wanted to thank everyone and say goodbye.”

  He took her hand in his to help her up. “You’ve had a couple of long hard days. We’ll all need several days to recuperate after the funeral.”

  “Are you hungry? I’m starving. Is there any food left? I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  Garrett chuckled, “I can always eat. I helped Betty put the food away, so I know where all the good stuff is stashed.”

  Danny scampered behind him to the kitchen. “Now, you just sit and watch the master work miracles. Ah, but first, let me offer you a glass of wine.”

  Garrett somehow managed to take the sting out of her painful heart. She giggled, “I would love a glass of wine and would be delighted to watch the master work.”

  He poured her a glass of wine, and then he made a roast beef sandwich for her. He poured a cup of coffee for him, and sliced a piece of Nana’s apple pie. Garrett sat across the table from her. He noticed that her eyes were puffy from crying and that her pale face looked exhausted.

  “When do you plan to return to Paris?”

  Astonished that he would ask about her return to Paris before her grandfather was buried, she wearily told him, “You’re the second person to ask me that question today. I haven’t set a time just yet. I need to get through tomorrow before I can even begin to think straight.”

  “I take it the other person to ask you about Paris, was Michal?”

  “Yes, it was.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  Feeling as though he was attempting to control her behavior, she angrily responded, “For the record, what I told him is none of your business.” Danny stormed out of the kitchen and up to her room. She asked herself several times as she sat on the edge of her bed, who gave men the right to question a woman’s actions.

  She said aloud in the dark room, “Men are assholes; controlling assholes at that.” She vowed that night that she would remain single for the remainder of her life.

  In the morning, dressed in her black suit, Danny prayed that she could get through the
emotionally charged day to bury her grandfather. When she joined her family in the kitchen, Nana told her, “Why child, that is a striking suit.”

  She quietly responded, “Thanks Nana.”

  The kitchen was void of the normal morning chatter. The ranch hands solemnly ate their breakfasts without the usual animated discussions laying out the day’s work. Danny poured a cup of coffee and joined them at the table. She stared at the cup for what seemed a life time before taking a sip of it. Nana touched her on the shoulder bringing her out of her trance.

  “It’s time child. Guests are beginning to arrive. Garrett is in the driveway managing the parking situation. Is there anything you need from me before you and I greet our guests?”

  Danny stood to hug her Nana, “I don’t need anything.”

  Betty clung to the little girl hugging Danny as tightly as her small frail arms could. When she saw Danny wasn’t going to be able to greet the guests, Nana told her, “Randy’s ushering everyone into the living room, so we’ll sit here until Garrett comes to get us.”

  When Danny sat down on the chair to wait for Garrett, she realized she that she’d managed to get the obituary written, but had not given a thought to his eulogy. Her knees began banging against one another, and she couldn’t breathe because her heart was racing. How had she forgotten that she had to give the eulogy during the funeral?

  “Are you okay child? Your face looks a bit sickly.”

  She couldn’t tell her Nana that she’d forgotten to write something, “I’m okay; I guess I’m having a bit of stage fright.”

  Garrett finally arrived to say it was time. Everyone was in the living room. Danny was grateful for the interruption in the conversation she was having with Nana since it was likely that Nana would ask about what she’d written. Randy took Nana’s arm to escort her to a chair in the living room. Nana winked at Danny, as he walked her out of the kitchen.

  She and Garrett were next, as he took her arm, she asked, “Did Nana, just wink at me?”