AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So anyway, we had finished our shopping and I had said some very vague unkind comments in hopes of getting Jen to reconsider being with your dad. On the way back to the car we passed a homeless man. He was asleep and looked very cold. After we passed him Jen turned around and without a word she took the coat she bought for your dad and put it over the man. Then she put the gloves on his lap and what I think was twenty dollars in the jacket pocket. Your mom didn’t wake him up, didn’t say a word, she just turned back to me and kept walking like it was nothing.” Again Sarah looked to Kathrine but she was just listening very carefully without judgment.
“When we got home your dad was waiting. Jen gave him a big hug and then without taking a breath she told him she had found the perfect gift for herself. He didn’t need to buy her anything else for Christmas, her birthday, anniversary. He would have a free pass all year if he would just get her this one present. You know what it was?” Sarah asked.
“No, I’ve never heard this story before,” Kathrine replied. She was mesmerized by this story, she knew so little of what her mother’s life was like before she had a baby.
“She told your dad that if he would buy her a store front, that was all she would want. Not rent it, not lease it, buy it. Your mother never did anything half way. When she decided to do something she just did it. Well anyway, your father bought it for her and she spent the next four or five months fixing this place up and turned it into a soup kitchen. She then spent every weekend and some week nights serving food and handing out free clothes to anyone that came in. So while I was selfishly scheming to break them up your mother was hatching a plan to help thousands of people. So I decide to end my selfish scheme because I realized…she deserved your dad way more than I did. So, to answer your question. If your mom is not in heaven, none of us are getting in.” Sarah looked over at Kathrine and saw the tears coming from her eyes.
“I see why it would be hard to tell dad that story. Thanks, I needed that.” Kathrine wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up and saw a small town.
“This is the place,” Sarah said.
After a few wrong streets and a couple U-turns Sarah finally found the right street. They pulled up in front of a two story house. It was moderately sized and a little old but to Kathrine this looked like the perfect place to raise a family. As they pulled up to the house Kathrine saw the hooded man in a trench coat at the end of the block. This had to be more than a coincidence, it was way too warm to be wearing such a heavy coat. She had seen this man several times in the past, who was he? Was he following her? Just as Kathrine was about to ask Sarah about him the man disappeared behind a house.
“This is Frank’s house,” Sarah stated as she got out and headed to the door.
Kathrine quickly forgot about the hooded man and followed behind Sarah up to the door. Sarah rang the doorbell then waited patiently. Inside Kathrine could hear someone shuffling around then the sound headed toward the door. Soon a younger looking man in his early thirties opened the door.
“Can I help you?” the man asked.
“I’m sorry, maybe we have the wrong house. I’m looking for Franklin Cole,” Sarah replied courteously.
“Sorry, Grandpa Frank passed away a couple years ago.” The man looked sad as he said it, Frank had meant something to him.
“Sorry to bother you,” Sarah said then turned to walk away.
The man got a strange look on his face then it turned to excitement.
“Are you Sarah?!” the man asked.
“Yes, has your grandfather told you about me?” Sarah asked kindly.
“I thought he was making it up, please come in,” the man looked around like he was afraid someone was looking so Sarah headed inside followed by Kathrine.
“And who is this? Another angel person? You’re daughter?” the man asked excitedly.
Before Sarah could answer Kathrine pushed her way in front of her.
“I’m her step-daughter Kathrine,” she said holding out her hand.
“Not yet, you’re not,” Sarah replied.
“Soon,” Kathrine winked at the man.
“My name is Alex, Frank was my grandfather. He spoke of you all the time. I was sure he was making it up or just telling me stories.” Alex led them from the entryway to the dining room and waved his hand toward a picture over the fireplace. It was a beautifully painted portrait of Sarah walking through a field at night, her long red hair flowing behind her. She held a lantern which was out in front of her and children followed behind her.
Sarah was speechless, but not Kathrine.
“Did your grandfather do this? It’s amazing!” Kathrine was in awe at the craftsmanship. It looked just like Sarah.
“Yes, he had an eye for painting. Sadly I never did.” Alex looked sad at this fact.
“He spoke of me?” Sarah was still in shock that Frank had created this beautiful work of art and she was the focus of it.
“He just told you he did,” Kathrine whispered to her.
“Oh, right.” Sarah was a little disoriented by the fact that she had meant that much to Frank, she barely knew him.
