“That’s the first I’ve heard of anything about this,” Cindy’s mother eyes opened wide. “Why hasn’t Cindy told me? She hasn’t said a word about an engagement.”
Frank ran his hand through his hair and joined the fray. “Maybe because Cindy didn’t know? From what I’ve seen, these two are always getting together and breaking up. One day she’s engaged, the next she’s home on a plane by herself. It drove Ann crazy!”
“Really?” Cindy’s mother swiveled around to Cindy.
Cindy couldn’t say a word. Mattheus’s firm declaration had swept over her suddenly, and she felt as if she’d been engulfed by a warm, soothing wave.
“This is hardly the time to go into the details of our relationship,” Mattheus put his arm around Cindy. “Let’s tend to matters at hand, first.”
“Yes, Ann is waiting,” Cindy’s mother suddenly sniffled. “It’s her time now.”
Cindy breathed deeply and moved closer to Mattheus. Her mother seemed half mad to her. How was this Ann’s time? Ann’s time was over – she’d been cut down flat.
“We’ll talk about the engagement later,” her mother continued. “This is no time to plan a wedding. Ann’s waiting for us now, on the beach.”
Chapter 9
Altogether, as one person, the group turned and walked out the front door a few blocks down to the beach. The afternoon was warm and balmy and the light breeze which drifted across Cindy’s face felt oddly soothing. As they walked Cindy reached out for Mattheus and he took her hand in his right away. Cindy felt nervous about what was to take place and it was wonderful to have Mattheus beside her. Finally, they reached the beach, took off their shoes, and, following her mother’s lead, walked quietly along the sand.
When they reached a spot down near the water, close to a large palm tree, her mother stopped and stood still, and the group gathered in a circle around her. Without any provocation she started speaking as if it were the most natural thing to do. It seemed as if this moment had been rehearsed for years.
“Perhaps it seems odd to conduct this memorial so quickly,” her mother began, “but I know that Ann is nearby and listening to every word we say. She needs this, she wants it. We’ll have other services back home, but this is where she took her last breath.
Cindy felt her heart fluttering and tears fill her eyes.
“Some of us who are here have been close to Ann,” her mother went.
Frank cleared his throat and looked devastated. This wasn’t going to be easy for anyone. It was too soon, there were too many loose threads. They were all going along with it to pacify Cindy’s mother. In a strange way it was fitting. This was the way Ann had lived her life, Cindy thought, pacifying her mother. Cindy had refused to do it and had refused to pacify Ann as well. Ann was different from their mother though, she’d truly wanted the best for Cindy. Over and over Ann told her that she wanted Cindy to live her own life, but happily and fully.
“I believe it’s best for Frank to speak first,” Cindy’s mother turned towards him. “He has lost his life partner, his dearest friend.”
This was more though, than Frank could bear. “What do you want me to say, Claudia?” his lips were quivering. “I loved Ann my whole life long. She was a fantastic woman, a treasure, a gift.” His head fell as he started rubbing his foot in the sand.
Cindy’s Uncle Ben, moved closer to her mother then and put his arm around her shoulder, as her mother wept softly at Frank’s words.
“Say more Frank,” her mother’s voice was uneven now. “I know how much you meant to Ann – everyone knows.”
“Ann only wanted the best for everyone,” Frank gathered himself together. “We were childhood sweethearts, we loved each other, our feelings never changed.”
Cindy thought about that for a moment. It did seem that over the years that the bond between Frank and Ann had remained constant. Ann had never said a bad thing about him to Cindy, nor had he ever seemed upset with her. In fact, Cindy had marveled at it from time to time. From her perspective Frank had never seemed suited to her sister. Cindy had thought of asking Ann about her relationship with him from time to time, but could never bring herself to. It wasn’t something Ann ever seemed to want to discuss.
“Ann will always be with you,” Charlie broke into the uneasy silence. “A love like you had keeps going forever, even after the person’s gone.”
Frank closed his eyes very tightly.
“I had a love like that with my wife, Bella,” Charlie went on. “After I got over her passing, I got strength from her love for years.”