Looking his way, Toby could see his eyes were welling up a bit, but Matt was a tough guy who worked out daily in his homemade gym and rode a Harley. He wasn’t about to be caught dead crying.
“I could tell,” Toby patted his back. “Dad had that kind of impact on people’s life. At least he’s in a better place now and got his dignity back.”
“Yeah.”
A few moments of silence ensued.
“So, how’s that fine wife of yours?” Matt was obviously desperate to change the subject.
“She’s good. Looking for work now that Dad’s gone.”
“Jonie’s a smart girl. I’m sure she’ll find something in no time.”
Toby nodded.
“Are you sure you’re okay, bud?” Matt sensed he had something strong on his mind.
Toby sighed heavily. “A month has passed since Dad died and I…I’ve just been feeling lousy about not being able to afford a headstone for his grave, you know? When I visit the cemetery, there are all these other headstones on the graves and Dad’s grave is bare. I feel like I’ve failed him because I don’t have the money to get one for him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m sure in time, he’ll get that headstone,” Matt replied. “How much does it cost?”
“Twenty-five hundred big ones.”
“Woo! I’m sure you can find a cheaper price somewhere without sacrificing quality. Twenty-five hundred sounds steep to me.”
“Unfortunately, since it’s a private graveyard, they have their own rules and one of them is that you must purchase the headstone from them and that’s only their starting price,” Toby explained.
“Sounds like a rip-off to me!” Matt scoffed.
“Same thing I said. Things are pretty slow right now at work, so I’m gonna try and make a few items and hopefully, I’ll get some sales for them.”
“What are you making?”
Toby placed a sheet of plywood on the table. “Well, Dad taught me how to make wooden clocks, chairs…you name it. But I think I’ll make a couple of little doghouses, particularly for the smaller dogs since a lot of folks around here are into animals.”
“That’s a great idea!” Matt said. “Sandra and I will be your first customers.”
“Really? I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“Technically, we don’t, but Sandra’s adopted a Chihuahua last week for Robbie and it’s coming home tomorrow.”
“Wow! That’s awesome.” Toby managed a smile. “Little Robbie will be elated.”
“Yeah. We’re surprising the li’l guy. It’ll be like an extension of his sixth birthday, you know.”
“That’s cool, Matt. You and Sandra are great parents.”
“We do what we can. Me, being a trainer, and Sandra a cashier at the food store, we don’t make all that much, but we do our best to take care of the kid.” He sighed. “If I was in a better position, I’d help you pay for that headstone you want, but I hope buying the doghouse will be some sort of help.”
“Thanks, Matt. I really appreciate that.”
Matt checked his wristwatch. “I have a training session at the gym for ten, so I have to get a move on. See you later, bud.” He turned to leave.
“Aren’t you gonna ask how much the doghouse is gonna cost?” Toby asked him.
Matt looked back. “Nope. I’m sure you won’t charge me an arm and a leg.”
Just then, Jonie appeared in the doorway.
“Oh! Hi, Matt. Didn’t know you were back here,” she said.
“Hey, beautiful. On my way out.” He smiled. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Jonie stepped aside to let him pass. “Okay. Give Sandra my regards.”
“Will do.”
And he left.
She hurried over to Toby.
“What is it, honey?” He saw what seemed like nervous excitement in her eyes.
“I was going to wait until you came back inside the house, but I just couldn’t,” she started.
He dropped the saw and focused entirely on her.
“I had bought a pregnancy test kit home yesterday…”
“And…” His heart started racing with anticipation of what Jonie was about to reveal.
“I don’t know how you’d feel about this, considering our financial state right now, but…”
“Are you pregnant?” he asked.
Jonie nodded, slowly.
Toby grabbed her into his arms and held her tightly.
She pulled away moments later. “Are you happy?” She sought a candid response.
“Am I? I only wanted a child of my own for the past fourteen years! This is the best news ever!” He hugged her again, this time, not so tightly for fear of harming the baby.
Jonie was relieved. “I’m glad you’re not upset.”
Toby grimaced. “Upset? Why would I be upset?”
“Well…because babies are expensive, you know?”
He cupped her narrow face. “I don’t want you to worry about that, Jonie. We’ll be fine; trust me.”
“But Toby, nobody’s gonna hire me now that I’m pregnant and your job in construction is slow.”
“Listen, Jonie. Stress isn’t good for the baby and neither is it for you. I want you to leave all the financial concerns to me. Haven’t we always made it through—even all those months you weren’t working when Dad was here and his medical expenses were mounting?”
She nodded.
“We’ll continue to make it through. I’m about to build some doghouses to sell to supplement our income, and Matt and Sandra are gonna be our first customers.”
“Really? I didn’t know they had a dog.”
“They’re getting one tomorrow for little Robbie,” he told her. “Imagine how many more sales I can get. I’d just have to invest in supplies.”
She held her husband close and gazed into his eyes. “You’re so innovative, honey. That’s one of the many things I love about you.”
They kissed passionately.
“So how far along are you?” Toby asked.
“Maybe a few weeks. I won’t know for sure until I see an OBGYN,” Jonie replied.
“Do you have an appointment with the doctor yet?”
“No, honey! I just found out I was pregnant before I rushed in here to you!” She smiled. “I can go to one of the local government clinics.”
“If you do that, you’ll be sitting there for hours on end just to see someone and it’ll be the same thing every time,” he said. “Make an appointment with a private doctor. Just make sure it’s a good one.”
“Okay.” She turned to leave.
“And Jonie…”
“Yes, honey?”
“Don’t worry about the cost of the visits. I’ll get that covered.”
“Okay.”
After she left, Toby was more determined to get his side business rolling. Though optimistic of their future, in the back of his mind, their current plight nudged at him as if to convince him that he was a loser doing nothing more than swimming forward against gigantic waves.
4
_________________
July 21st…
John Reed’s white house was colossal and the envy of his upscale neighborhood. A white, six-foot-tall brick gate surrounded the entire five and a half acres of land and miniscule security cameras were positioned in random locations of the property. John and his wife had purchased the estate from an attorney after he’d retired to Barbados.
Toby pulled up to the house and noticed that Belinda’s and Rachelle’s cars were parked in the semicircular driveway. Although John had been living there for more than a decade, Toby had only visited his brother’s house a few times. He’d heard of some of the parties held there, that he and Jonie were never invited to; Belinda and Rachelle, and on many occasions, their mother had been present.
Toby walked up and rang the doorbell.
Seconds later, John opened up. “Come on in!” he said, rather cheerfully, smoking a cigarette.
John was a
lways a swanky dresser even while at home. He’d once shown Toby and the girls his master closet which was the size of Toby’s bedroom at the house. Coat suits, dress shirts and pants of all colors and styles, and dozens of shoes boastfully complimented the space. Then there were heaps of travel bags and suitcases that John could select from whenever he sought to travel. Toby thought John’s closet looked like a shop and he was baffled by his brother’s obsession with material things, in general. Pam had her own separate closet which was also packed to capacity, though not as large as her husband’s.
“Toby, how are you?” Rachelle asked from the couch.
“I’m okay,” Toby answered, taking a seat on the sofa.
Belinda was stretched out in a recliner near the television, sipping champagne. “Where’s that wife of yours?” she asked.
“You’re talking to me?” Toby arched his brow.
“Yah.”
“Her name’s Jonie and she’s at home.”
Belinda had a stern and rather unpleasant face and Toby always felt she resembled their parents the least. Considering her self-centered attitude, he often wondered if she and John, in particular, were actually related to the rest of them.
Rachelle looked Toby’s way and cracked a smile.
“If you’re wondering where miss stuck up is,” Belinda added, “she’s right upstairs minding her own business, as usual.”
Toby shook his head as John nonchalantly had a seat on the other end of the couch.
“Do you mind keeping it down, Belinda?” John said. “The woman does have a right to ban you from her home if you decide to be insulting.”
Belinda sucked her teeth. “So, what’s this all about, Toby?” she asked.
John turned to Toby. “Before we get into that, feel free to help yourself to a glass of wine or champagne. Everything’s at the bar.”
“I’ll pass, thanks.” Toby leaned forward slightly. “I was thinking since it’s been four months now since Dad passed away, we should probably look into getting a headstone for his grave. I don’t know if any of you have seen the grave lately, but when I was there about a week ago, I had a hard time finding it and when I did, there was nothing except the piece of cardboard paper with his name and date of death written on it. I think we really need to try and get that headstone. If I had the money, I would’ve just paid for it myself, but I can’t.”
For a few moments, there was complete silence in the room as John and their two sisters subtly glanced at one another.
“Well, I can’t be bothered with any headstone right now,” Belinda frankly stated. “I have a lot of expenses on my plate as it is. As far as I’m concerned, that can wait—not that Dad’s body is going anywhere.”
Toby inwardly scoffed at the remark.
“I can’t afford it either,” Rachelle said.
John picked up his glass of red wine and took a sip. “The last thing I’m concerned about right now is a frigging headstone.”
Toby sat there in disbelief. He knew John and Belinda were good for it. Toby knew Rachelle made decent money as a hostess at a high-end resort, but sometimes things were slow, so, he understood.
“Well, couldn’t we all just chip in a little?” he asked.
Silence prevailed.
Soon, Rachelle said, “Look Toby, we know how much you loved Dad and we all loved him too, but right now, paying for a headstone isn’t really that important. Dad wouldn’t have cared.”
“How about we get an offer for the house then?” he proposed. “Aside from getting Dad a headstone with it, I don’t know about anyone else—but I can sure use my share of the money, especially since Jonie and I are expecting.”
“Expecting what?” Belinda looked confused.
“A baby, silly!” Rachelle blurted. “Toby…that’s really nice. Congratulations.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” John said, dryly. “But Rachelle’s about to move into Mom and Dad’s house for a while.”
Surprised, Toby looked at Rachelle, searching for an explanation.
“I decided to save some money since the house is just sitting there empty,” she revealed. “I gave our landlord notice already and Steve and I will be moving back home in a few weeks.”
Belinda had shifted her focus towards the TV again.
“I see,” Toby replied. “Well, I’m sorry that no one here thinks Dad’s headstone is very important. I wish I had the twenty-five hundred bucks because he deserves better than this. With our baby on the way, I have to set aside whatever I can, so I can’t afford it on my own.”
“How far along is Jonie?” Rachelle asked.
“A few months.”
She smiled. “Finally, you’re gonna be a father. That’s awesome.”
“Thanks,” Toby replied.
He looked at John whose thoughts seemed to have quickly drifted off in another direction and at Belinda who’d pretty much tuned out everyone in the room.
“I guess I’ll be on my way then.” Toby stood up, seeing no point in hanging around there any longer.
“Leaving so soon?” John woke up out of his reverie.
“Yep.”
“All right then. Just shut the door behind you, okay?”
Toby nodded, said good night to everyone and headed for the door.
“Toby…” he heard a soft voice behind him.
John’s wife, Pam, was descending the staircase.
“Oh! Hi, Pam,” he said, on turning.
“I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?” She hurried over to him. Pam was tall, slender and wore her beautiful blonde hair in a neat ponytail.
“I’m doing fine. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks. And how’s your lovely wife?”
Belinda turned her head for a moment, then cut her eye at her sister-in-law.
“She’s doing great,” Toby replied. “We’re expecting a baby girl in January.”
“That’s fantastic!” Pam said. “Well, do give Jonie my regards.”
“I will, thanks.”
As Toby proceeded to the door, Pam apologized to John and the others for her intrusion, then went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of hot chocolate.
Toby shut the door behind him and headed for his car. Sitting at the steering wheel, the conversation inside the house replayed in his mind.
“I can’t believe them,” he muttered, switching on the engine. “I’m gonna get that headstone for you, Dad. I’ll find the money somehow. I promise, I will.”
5
_________________
Two weeks later…
After setting a pot of soup on the stove, Rachelle went to her room and lay across the bed. Shifting on her side, she reached over to the nightstand for a book she’d been reading from the night before. Steve was late getting in from work that evening, but had called to let his mom know he was on his way.
Soon, Rachelle heard a tinkling sound, such as that of wind chimes. Grimacing, she listened carefully, then slowly eased up off the bed with the book still in hand. As she walked into the hallway, she had a strange feeling on the inside, particularly since she didn’t own wind chimes.
Stepping into the living room, the tinkling sound seemed even closer. “Hello…” she called, unsure of whether or not to expect an answer.
She looked through the front window and scanned the yard. Everywhere appeared quiet as dusk had settled in over the neighborhood. She checked the front door and confirmed it was locked.
“What is that?” she muttered, just before catching something out of the corner of her eye. The light in the hallway was now flickering. Rachelle stood still for a moment staring at the ceiling light, and soon she heard a familiar sound in the only bathroom in the apartment. It was as if someone had yanked back the shower curtain—something she’d done scores of times before. Frightened, she dashed into the kitchen, dropped her book on the counter and pulled out a large knife from the top drawer. She then cautiously proceeded into the hallway toward the bathroom.
“W
ho’s there?” she asked. “Steve… is that you?”
Rachelle knew that Steve religiously called out to her the moment he walked in the door, so the possibility that someone was in their apartment other than him, troubled her.
There was no answer and the tinkling sound had not let up.
“I’m warning whoever is in here to get out right now! I have a weapon and I’m not afraid to use it!”
But she was terrified.
Rachelle was five-feet-five, one hundred and ten pounds and Belinda sometimes teased that she was afraid of her own shadow. That’s why Belinda found it so easy to “control” her. The sisters had always been close, but not in the way most people would define close. Belinda had to be in charge of everything and only those who were subservient to some acceptable degree were worthy of tagging along with her and being in her inner circle. Rachelle knew she was nothing more than a doormat to her older sister, but their mother had encouraged such a strange relationship.
Her hand trembling, Rachelle gripped the handle of the knife as tightly as she could, when suddenly, the apartment became eerily quiet. She was two steps away from the door when she mustered up the nerve to step forward quickly and look inside of the room, only to find it completely empty. She’d kept her eyes on the vicinity of the doorway the entire time she was approaching the bathroom and no one had left it. What she’d heard was baffling. She looked across the hallway into her own room, then opened the door to Steve’s and walked inside.
There was no one to be seen.
Turning around to leave, she shook her head. “I must be losing my mind!” She went back into the kitchen to check on the pot, then decided to sit in the living room until Steve arrived.
Twenty minutes later, he walked in.
“Hi, Mom,” he uttered, tiredly.
“Hey, honey! How was work?” Rachelle asked, setting aside the book she’d resumed reading.
The Cornelius Saga Series (All 15 Books): The Ultimate Adventure-packed Supernatural Thriller Collection Page 92