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My curiosity is killing me. I untie the satin bow and lift the lid. As I peer inside, my eyes fill with tears. He’s created kintsugi.
“Please don’t be upset. He tried really hard on it,” Lauren pleads.
“Oh, I’m not upset. I’m shocked.” My finger trails along the golden veining where the broken pieces are now melded together. I trace the symbols contained within the triangular spaces of each broken piece, unsure if I can identify them. “These look like shoes.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re right.” Lauren smiles.
“I’m not sure what this is,” I say, examining the green, yellow, and black oval. “This looks like a book.”
“Oh, it is. You’re good.” Lilly giggles. She holds out the other box. “I think this might help.”
Having no idea what she means, I tug on the ribbon and lift the lid off of the shallow square box to reveal a charm bracelet.
Once I identify a few of the charms, my tears spill down my cheeks. There’s a pair of shoes, like the damaged ones he bought for me in Jamaica. I see a stack of three books, Jane Austen’s name inscribed on the spines. A margarita glass makes me smile. But then I find the little bobsled and gasp. How on earth did he find a charm like that?
“What is it?” Lauren asks.
“It’s a bobsled. I made him ride one when we were in Jamaica.”
The girls turn to one another. “He hates rollercoasters.”
“Oh, girls. I’m sorry.” I reach for a tissue, practically sobbing in front of them.
“Oh, Poppy. We didn’t come here to upset you.” Lilly sniffles. “We wanted you to know how important you are to him. He’s really trying to be a better man.”
“And father,” Lauren adds. “And it’s because of you.”
Grasping two more tissues, I try to sop up the mess. “Thank you. It means a lot that you’d bring this to me. I’d hug you, but I’d get you all wet.”
Both girls immediately wrap their arms around me, and I can’t explain the feeling. It’s as if I’ve known these two for years.
“Are you sure your dad won’t be upset when he finds out these are missing?”
The girls look silently at one another. “We didn’t think that far ahead,” Lilly admits.
Then it dawns on me. “How did you know where to find me?”
“Stu,” Lauren says.
“Who?”
“Russell Stewart. Dad’s security guy.”
I look at them, baffled.
“He was tired of seeing Dad moping around too. When we came to him, he gladly gave us your address.”
“Do you know where your dad is?” I ask, dabbing at my eyes.
The girls’ faces shine in their enthusiasm. The younger of the two, sporting a dimple similar to her father’s blurts, “He’s at home.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
BROADIE
Pushing myself out of the pool, I reach for a towel and head inside. Summer is gone, and now fall is upon us. The temperatures have started to drop in the evening. Thank heavens the pool is heated. I admit, I’ve not taken the time to enjoy it much over the years, preferring a quick workout downstairs in my gym. But I’ve come to appreciate it now that I’m embracing more downtime. I’ve come to appreciate a lot of things.
Walking into my kitchen, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I’ve always considered myself the grateful sort. It’s part of why I worked so hard to prove to my family I’m deserving of my acquired wealth. That I’ve worked every bit as hard as my father and grandfather, even if in a different field. Lifting my bottle in a silent toast, I pray they’ll be prouder still of the man I’ve become.
