Heaven’s Gate
88 Sudden Death
I got calls every evening from Hannah or Rose or Nikki or Elaine. Melanie even got on the phone once. They were excited about the tours, the parties, and the work. They’d even met some big stars.
That’s why I was acting smart when I answered the phone Friday night, expecting one of my cónyuge.
“This is the man of your dreams. The next time I see you, I will slowly undress you and make passionate love to you until we both pass out,” I said when I picked up the phone.
“Brian…”
“What? Anna? Is that you? I’m so sorry…”
“Brian.” Anna was crying.
“Anna, what is it?”
“I’m so sorry, Brian.”
“Anna?”
“Your dad. He had a heart attack. We’re at the hospital, but… but… he didn’t make it. I’m so sorry.”
“My dad? He’s… dead?” There were just tears and sobs on the other end. “I’m on my way, Anna. Please. Hold… hold onto Mom. Tell her… I’m on my way.”
There were stricken looks all around me. My cónyuge all reached for me at once. Josh hugged me and the children all realized something was wrong and wanted to hug me, too.
“Our poor mommies,” Jen cried. “Brian, I’m going with you.”
“Of course you are, love. I think… we need a driver.”
“I’ll drive,” Dani said. “I feel like I need to be there for your moms.”
“Thank you, darling,” I said. “Look, I’m sure someone will call tonight. I can’t talk right now. Someone take charge of talking to them. Tell them not to try to rush back. He’s not going anywhere. We’ll arrange a memorial in the River.”
“Papa,” Xan said pulling at my leg.
“Yes, my baby.”
“I’ll come with you and mommy. I’ll take care of you, Papa.”
Of course, I didn’t even think to call Jessica until I was in Mishawaka and then things were pretty crazy. There were a lot of tears, a lot of comforting, a lot of phone calls, arrangements to be made, and people to see. Both Dani and Xan were a huge comfort. Dani drove my car and Jen rode shotgun. I sat in the back seat and talked quietly with my daughter in her booster seat. Poor kid would probably need a booster seat all her life.
I called Jessica Saturday afternoon and explained what was going on and she was as shocked and surprised as all the rest of us. She’d known Dad all her life and assured me she’d be back for the memorial and that I shouldn’t worry about coming to New York.
“I’m just a baby. I haven’t needed security in years,” she said. “I was just trying to fill an emptiness. But you need to be with your moms. I’m sure Betts will be there soon.”
I agreed. In fact, I was on my way to Chicago to pick her up. Dani had volunteered to go to the airport with me. Jen and Xan stayed with Moms. Betts was devastated over the loss of our father. I was glad Dani was there to drive so I could sit in the back seat and hold my sister. Allen stayed in Seattle with the kids. They planned to come to the ranch next weekend for the memorial service in the River.
The house was a mess and we all pitched in to get things organized and cleaned. It gave us something to do. Moms and Dad had a garage sale over Labor Day weekend to clear out a bunch of stuff they didn’t want to move to Corazón. Grandpa’s farm had just sold and our house had been listed. They were just about to join us on the ranch. On Sunday, I cooked up meals to have available over the next few days. We’d have a small memorial service on Wednesday and then Thursday or Friday, whenever Mom felt ready to move, we’d head back to Corazón.
Until then, we comforted our mothers and each other, cooked, cleaned, helped through the funeral and cremation arrangements, and looked through old photo albums as we laughed and cried with each other.
Xan and Dani held us and comforted us.
That’s how it happened that on Tuesday morning, I was in the kitchen and had decided I’d turn on the television to watch the new hostess on The Homemakers’ Hour at nine o’clock. What I saw instead were images of the Twin Towers in New York City. Smoke was pouring out of one of the buildings and I couldn’t figure out exactly what was happening. Then an airplane came straight at the other tower and crashed into it.
The World Trade Center. The brokerage where Heaven was waiting for the market to open as her company went public.
She was gone.
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