by Ann Patty
Ocean Going Loose Ends
The next weeks hit Kelly like a tornado. She felt she was inside a constant whirlwind. Work had piled up. Now she did double duty as Cairn's workload was hers too. On top of late nights and twelve-hour days Kelly had been the executor and sole heir to Cairn's estate. Thank god Cairn had the foresight to spell out every one of her last wishes to the letter. Kelly had not had the time to unravel the totality of all her accounts. Every bank, every account number, all passwords to every online brokerage firm, all of it was hand written on a sheet of paper. It was just like Cairn to dot every I and cross every T.
Cremation had its advantages. The remains of Cairn's body now flew with the wind in Cliff's canyon. One of Cairn's directive was to have her ashes placed in a mausoleum at her favorite park. Kelly did not know this prior to letting Cairn go in the canyon breeze. However, Kelly was quite certain Cairn would have approved of her air born memorial. There were no relatives to give input. Cairn's parents had long passed and her one brother living in Bolivia had been informed, but would remain there. The siblings had never been close.
Cairn owned a very nice town home about eight miles from Kelly's condo. Both girls owned their dwellings outright. However, there were maintenance fees on both, plus ongoing utilities of course. Cairn's will ordered Kelly to sell or keep her home, but first take out whatever furnishings or belongings that Kelly wanted. Reading that portion of the will made Kelly smile. It really didn't matter what or how Kelly sold stuff off, because essentially the house et all belonged to her. But she knew what her friend meant. To keep their memories alive through whatever things brought Kelly peace. It did not take Kelly long to make a decision. She would put both of their homes on the market to sell. Whichever one sold first would find Kelly living in the other. Both the townhouse and the condo were unique. It would be hard to say which might sell first. One thing for certain was Kelly did not want to watch after a second home, nor did she want to rent out either dwelling. Being a landlord had no place in her busy life.
During the weeks after getting back, Kelly became so absorbed in catching up. She did not forget about Cliff, she just lost track of time. At her thought of him, her phone lit up with his number.
“Cliff?” Kelly was anxious.
“Who else did you think it was?” Cliff chuckled then said, “Miss you. What is going on?”
“Oh, I'm just overwhelmed Cliff,” Kelly sighed.
“So, tell me.”
“To start I've been working twelve- to fourteen-hour days to catch up the back log. Cairn's workload is now mine as well as mine. You knew that. Then I'm a little over the top with how to disperse her estate. Right or wrong, I put both of our places on the market today. Whichever sells first, the other will be my home. I can't think of another logical way to do it. Yeah, I know if my place sells I have a lot of moving to do. It will be the same though with her place too,” Kelly poured out her concerns.
Cliff listened, but didn't know what to offer Kelly. So he said the obvious, “Sounds like you feel you are drowning. You have grit girl. More than anyone I know. You'll get past this and be swimming just fine again.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Right now I don't know. I am just taking it a day at a time,” Kelly answered.
“That's all you can do honey,” Cliff said. “Sounds like my phone call was lucky to catch you.”
“Yes, that is so true,” Kelly looked at the wall clock. “Most nights at this time I'm just leaving the office.”
“I hope they appreciate you Kelly,” Cliff remarked.
“I believe so. I was given a twenty-five percent raise. My supervisor said he wanted to grant me more due to the workload, but this is their top limit; where company policy caps all raises. So I take it as a compliment. I am also learning to pace my self. I can't keep up these long days forever. Then they will just come to expect it of me. Can't have that,” Kelly giggled through her words.
“Can't have that,” Cliff echoed Kelly's words then changed the subject. “Kelly I am going to do something I haven't done since I was a kid...”
Kelly broke in to ask, “What's that?”
Cliff began again, “You know I told you of my summer visits to my grandparent's place on the ocean? Well before the snow flies I am going to take a drive out west and see if I can locate that house again.”
“Wow, that sounds great Cliff,” Kelly said with enthusiasm. “Wish I could ride along as your piece of luggage.”
“Oh, I wouldn't think of you as luggage. And, yes I would love to take a car trip to the ocean with you, but not this time. Timing is bad for you and—me, well, I am just in a wandering mood and don't know where I'll end up,” Cliff stated longingly.
“Why do I get the feeling this trip is the sort of thing you don't do. What is going on Cliff?” Kelly asked then retracted, “Don't get me wrong. I think it is a wonderful idea. You just never seemed like the kind of guy to get off the farm if you know what I mean.”
“Right you are. Kelly, but if I don't do some simple adventures now, I will turn old and not know how to. I will admit the whole ordeal with Cairn passing got to me. Here she was going on a solo adventure to see me. She had no idea what she was in for here, but she rose to the occasion. I admired her for stepping out of her element. Then her death was just the reminder that drove it home: that life is shorter than short. So I'm stepping out. You do know the ocean is only six- maybe seven hours away don't you? It's not like flying to Europe,” Cliff explained.
“I hear you Cliff. To tell you the truth coming out to meet you under the stream of events was the first trip away I've had in several years. Like you, I am forgetting how to play. That weekend with you was the absolute best. I mean it. The horses, your farm, you, was a big wow, even if the conditions were close at hand. Now to design a life with all that in it and an ocean too sounds pretty dreamy,” Kelly wandered off in thought realizing she just gave Cliff a big ole hint.
“Well Kelly, you never know where life will take you. So I am taking myself somewhere relaxing. Just for a bit though.” Cliff said.
“Yeah, I hear you. Sounds good. Right now I wish I could run away. So, go have fun for the both of us,” Kelly understood.
“I don't think my cell phone will have coverage where I'm going. So don't worry okay?” Cliff reassured.
“Me worry? Never. What's the worse that can happen? Oops I won't go there. No worries. I have my work cut out for me. When are you leaving?” Kelly asked.
“Tomorrow,” Cliff added.
“Oh, well, then bon voyage. Send me a text along the way if you can. Sometimes if you can't call you can still text,” Kelly said.
“Okay will do. Night darling,” were Cliff's last words for the evening.
“Good night. By the way I miss you, too, Cliff.” Kelly hung up. It was the first phone call in days that had nothing to do with business. Cliff voice was a welcome interruption on what would otherwise have been a boring evening.
Timothy
In the following days and weeks turning into months Kelly immersed herself in her workload. There was no time to look up or back. Kelly was learning a new system to expedite certain accounts, which gave her some leeway. Consequently she was now limiting her work weeks to no more than fifty hours. This directive also came from her supervisor who told Kelly there would be no burnout under his reign. Timothy was one of the few supervisors with compassion that Kelly had ever worked under. She was grateful.
Both Cairn's town home and Kelly's condo had received showings to prospective buyers, but no offers came. The realtor assured Kelly both places would sell fast. Kelly dismissed the comment. All she needed was one place sold. A few times Kelly went over to Cairn's place trying to imagine it being her home. She couldn't get the feeling that she could ever belong there. Kelly did start the arduous task of cleaning out closets and drawers. And she decided to list all the furniture with an upscale reseller, only after one of the places sold. Prospective buyers would view both their homes fu
rnished so they could envision themselves as a homeowner. The picture albums and personal affects Kelly boxed up and would take all with her later on. The rest of the furnishings where just things. Cairn was no longer there to fill her home with her catty laughter, outrageous outbursts, and her free spirit. Kelly was really beginning to hope Cairn's place sold first.
Along the way Kelly began to investigate Cairn's bank and brokerage accounts, of which she owned six total. Kelly began to consolidate accounts and pull the money over into her own brokerage account to reinvest. She felt odd in doing so. Kelly had wished Cairn would have stipulated a charity as a benefactor. But Cairn clearly stated that Kelly should get every last cent, as she put it of her hard earned cash to enjoy and spend any which way Kelly wanted. Slowly over a couple weeks each account was closed. Kelly took her time. She didn't want to feel like one of those relatives that immediately show up for a handout once the body turned cold. When Kelly closed four of the six accounts her own account had increased over one hundred thousand dollars. A sizable sum, with two more accounts to go, plus the proceeds of one home.
On many mornings of late, tall handsome Timothy, Kelly's manager, invited her to coffee with the intent of discussing some client issues. This invitation was now ongoing and Kelly wondered if there wasn't something more, but she needed to dismiss the thought. Not that she was not attracted to Timothy, she indeed was. But Cliff was always standing there in her peripheral vision, even though there were no promises. It was the classic conundrum. The one you want is out of reach. The one that wants you is in your face.
So once again, the work couple sat with files between them that went ignored. A cup of java filled each of their hands. The idle chit-chat died when Kelly's phone face lit up. It was a message. She looked down in puzzlement. Timothy nodded to take a look. Kelly picked up her phone and read Cliff's first text since leaving weeks ago: Hi Kelly! Finally made it to the ocean. Took more than six hours obviously. Text back if you get this message. Kelly smiled as she read the note. No, it was more like she glowed.
“Boyfriend?” Timothy asked with curiosity.
“Ah, a really good friend I haven't heard from for a bit,” Kelly answered then dropped the subject and redirected saying, “So how about the Pickering account. What did you say was their concern?”
And so, Timothy took the cue and blabbered on about work accounts. Kelly couldn't concentrate. She was miffed that Cliff had waited weeks to reconnect, yet wanted so badly to text him back. However, she would need to steal a break later to return a text. There was so much to say. But then it was only about her world of work, not his world of travel. By comparison her mundane world did not compare. For the first time Kelly was consciously admitting there had to be something more for her on this big wide-open planet. And, she admitted that Cliff could still be in her future. But living in that rugged outback, as unrefined and beautifully rural as it was, Kelly was not sure for the long run it would sustain her. Well, this was not even an issue at this point, so she cleared her head and let those thoughts drift away.
Kelly and Timothy walked back to the office in almost silence when Timothy asked, “Kelly, I'd like to take you to the music festival this weekend. Would you like to go?”
Kelly snapped out of her other life with Cliff thoughts and paused before answering. She had to think. She had no committed boyfriend. She was a free bird. She did like Timothy. Yet, there was Cliff—or was there Cliff miles away at the ocean. Reality checked in and then Kelly said, “Yes, that would be a wonderful change of pace. Thank you Timothy.”
Later that day, Kelly found a quiet spot and text-ed Cliff back. Really glad you made it! Enjoy it for both of us! Hugs.
Spending time with a friend or relations builds a history that either sets you adrift or seals a bond. Kelly believed her bond with Cliff to be intrinsically close even though he started as Cairn's online lover. And even though Cliff was miles away, Kelly just felt he was always there waiting, and always would be. In contrast, Kelly had worked with Timothy in the same building for about a year, then he was stationed as her supervisor for the last few months. Their work habits and ideas of customer service were identical. They were in step and in tune with many citified common interests. Timothy was a city slicker, well dressed, well mannered, and the apparent gentleman extraordinaire. Standing at six-foot even, his dirty blonde tailored hair trim met a symmetrically flawless clean-shaven face. Many of the office gals swooned over Timothy. Kelly was not impressed by looks, rather by integrity and character of which she discovered Timothy had an abundance of. It didn't hurt, though, that Kelly found Timothy easy on the eyes.
Saturday morning came and Timothy was sharp on the ten o’clock hour to pick up Kelly. She met him at the door wearing a mix of country, blue jeans and suede boots, with an eyelet pink top and a lime green fussy sweater. Timothy smiled and said, “So that is what you look like outside of the office. It's good, very good.”
“Gee thanks. Ditto back. I didn't even know you owned jeans,” Kelly cracked a smile and waved him inside. “Got time for a cup of coffee?”
“Sure do. You know there is no schedule for this festival. The entry allows you to wander from venue to venue. So we can write our own time,” Timothy assured as Kelly handed him a cup of coffee and waved for him to sit at the kitchen table. Then Kelly brought over some croissant rolls and homemade blackberry jam to which Timothy's eyes went wide. “Gosh, my fav. How did you know?”
Kelly grinned and said, “Remember I am into details of all kinds.”
Together they sat and ate a light breakfast before setting off. Timothy was relaxed outside of work, “Kelly, do me something. Just call me Tim. I don't know how my extended name Timothy got started at work, I think it was Human Resources with all their rigid paper trails. Then it stuck and I just thought it humorous because Timothy was what my mother called me when I was a kid in trouble. So I let it go and everyone thinks that is what I prefer to be called.”
“Okay Tim it is. And I like the short version better myself. Less formal. Names are a funny thing how they do- or don't resonate with who you are. Did you know Kelly is not my birth name?”
“Really? Kelly fits you. So what did you change it from and why?” Tim asked interested.
“My birth name was Katherine, nickname of Kathy, of course. Katherine Kate Mulligan. I don't know but Kathy, let alone Katherine never worked for me. I knew it as a child. My parents told me I could change it when I was of age. They wanted me to wait and not have any regrets. I had a great aunt who was a treasure and true mentor to me. Aunt Kelly. I adored her. When she passed on I was mortified and wanted to immortalize her, carry on who she was. I loved everything about her including her name. When I got of age I went to the courthouse paid my fifty dollars for the petition and became Kelly Kate Mulligan. I like the ring of it much better,” Kelly explained.
“Whew. Quite a story. A good one. I was born Timothy Mathew Logan and I still am. Hey, are you ready to go listen to music?” Tim asked, to which Kelly shook her head yes. Locking up the house, thereafter they climbed into Tim's Audi and went out for a day of play.
The festival had mostly well known local bands and a few others from out of the area. Music groups were rock and roll, bluegrass, hard rock, new age, plus every genre in between. At any one time there were four to six venues playing. A music industry trade show was simultaneously exhibiting their promotions as well as art influenced by the industry. Food booths were plentiful. Tim and Kelly were sitting under a shade tree at a picnic bench munching on a lunch of Belgium waffles complete with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
“Some lunch, huh?” laughed Tim.
“It's great. I love waffles and never bother to make them,” Kelly said with a mouthful. “I'm having a great time Tim. Thanks for bringing me here.”
“I should thank you Kelly. I'm forgetting how to take time to relax,” Tim remarked and added, “I think it’s our age that makes us forget about fun. We are striving for the American dream of i
ndependence through having enough money, yet we stop living in favor of earning a living.”
“I tend to agree with you Tim,” Kelly said. “Just look at Cairn. All her earnings got her, well, you know.”