For I Was My Father’s Son…
…tender and only beloved in the sight of my
mother.
Proverbs 4:3
Early New Year’s morning…
The trek from Sleepyside to
It was early. Very early. Not even the sun had
awoken from its slumber to peek out of the gray, overcast clouds. The cold
morning would have been far too daunting to entice most to leave their cozy
beds at such an outrageously early hour, especially considering it was a
holiday. However, for one person, there was no place better to be.
The vehicle pulled into the
deserted cemetery, the headlights providing illumination for the otherwise
somber sky. It slowed to a stop in front of Winthrop Frayne’s modest final
resting place. Although the driver shut the engine off, the headlights remained
on, lighting the path to the grave. A door opened slowly, and a pair of sturdy,
winter boots stepped out onto the frozen ground, crunching the brittle snow
underneath.
Several inches of precipitation
had collected on Win’s headstone. A gloved hand reached out and brushed the
snow away, lovingly cleaning out the letters that had been etched in the
granite monument many years ago.
“I’m sorry that it’s been such a
long time.” The husky voice sounded out of place in the tranquil surroundings.
“I know I haven’t visited you for a while, but since the engagement, I’ve been
so busy, but knowing you as I do, I’m sure you understand. There’s so much that
I need to talk to you about.”
The speaker waited patiently,
almost as if expecting a response.
“We did it; we finally set the
date… July seventh, the day we met. I’m sure you already know the significance
of that day, since you’ve been watching us.” The speech had to be paused as a
tear was deftly swiped away from a freckled cheek. “I only wish you could be
here with us; that’s the only thing that would make our wedding day more
special. But I guess you will be
there, just as you’ve been a part of everything else in our lives. Somehow,
I’ve always felt you were there, guiding us together. Although you weren’t
physically here with us, you were here,
if that makes any sense. You’ve always been an important part of our lives, and
I just couldn’t imagine telling everyone else before we told you.”
Another tear had to be wiped
before it could be frozen by the biting wind. “I’m not sure what kind of
wedding we’ll have. I have a few ideas, but I know our families will have a
bunch of suggestions that we’ll be forced to consider. Everyone expects us to
have a huge formal affair, but I don’t think we want that of hoopla, so it
should be interesting.” A grin parted the speaker’s lips. “The Wheelers will
really be pushing us to have a fancy wedding. Somehow, I think if you were
here, you’d know exactly how to handle Maddie. Of course, if you were here, she wouldn’t be helping
with the wedding.”
That thought was particularly
bittersweet.
“A summer wedding date will work
out particularly well for the academy. The students will be on summer break,
and although they’ll still be at Ten Acres, their academic courses won’t begin
again until fall.” A proud smile interrupted the oration. “You’d be so proud of
the school. We’ll have ten in our first graduating class. I know that doesn’t
seem like a lot, especially when you compare it to the kids out there who need help, but that’s ten lives
salvaged. Ten! The best news is that
all of our seniors have been accepted into college, and through money donated
by some of our contributors, every single one of them will be able to go.
Getting an education was so important to you, so I thought that would be
something you’d want to know.
“Although you never got to start
the school you had planned, you’re such a part of Ten Acres. Everything about
the academy has you in mind. Every class, every lab, every extracurricular
activity… None of it would’ve been possible without you. After all, it was your dream first. You’d be so very, very
proud…”
A choked sob interrupted the
course of the one-sided conversation. “Well, here I am, rattling on and on, but
I really need to get back. We’re attending a New Year’s dinner at Crabapple
Farm later today.” A hand dug inside the folds of a black trench coat and
pulled out a single long-stemmed red rose. “We’ll be telling everyone today
that we’ve set the date, but it was very important to me that you were the
first to know since we both love you so much.
“I only wish I’d been able to
meet you before you died.”
Trixie’s voice broke as she
gulped back more tears. After clearing her throat, she added poignantly, “But
something tells me that I did meet
you the day I met your son. Every day I spend with him, I get to know you more
and more.
“Happy New Year, Win.” Trixie
bent down and laid the flower on her future father-in-law’s grave, her gesture
conveying her love and reverence for the man buried beneath. It was something
she had done many times in secret the past twelve years. As she pulled her hand
away, a sentimental smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Thank you for all
that you taught Jim. I know he’s the man he is today because of your influence,
and I promise to love him just as Katie loved you, till death do we part.”
Tears still falling from her
stormy eyes, Trixie blew a kiss toward Heaven, and then whispered, “I’ll never
forget the legacy you’ve left behind, and I’ll do all I can to pass it on to
our children.”
Without another word, she turned
and left just as the sun’s first rays peeked through the overcast skies. Now
that Win knew, Trixie felt much better about telling everyone else the
wonderful news.
For without Win’s influence upon
his young son, there would be no news.
The End
(Well, until later that
afternoon!)
Credits:
First of all, thank you
to my lovely friend, Steph H. Her editing keeps me on
track, her cheerleading is an inspiration, her generosity knows no bounds, and
most of all, her friendship is invaluable. I love you,
sweetie, and thank you for all you do!
Photo provided by Steph H from iStock, so it’s
legal!
Originally, my New Year’s
tale started out as a single story; however, after a year, it split into two
separate stories. Then, Win Frayne began whispering in my ear, demanding some
airtime, and how could I refuse? I had originally planned for Jim to visit his
father’s grave, but then Trixie began whispering, and you all know how
insistent she is. I quickly agreed with her, based upon my own life. I know my
husband has always been very curious about my mother, who passed away many years
before we were married, so this idea became near and dear to my heart.
I adore Win Frayne and
have included him often in several different universes. I know there may be
skeptics out there who wonder why I adore him so, but my response would be
this. Jim had to put up with a regular devil as a stepfather. For him to turn
out so well, Jim must have had some good instruction from Win while he was
alive. The most wonderful boy in the boy must have had the most wonderful
father in the world, who taught him to be the man he grew up to be. In watching
my father with my brother, as well as my husband with son, I know the
father/son relationship is essential to each and every boy. I fondly dedicate
the memory of Win Frayne to every faithful father out there, committed to
teaching his sons the ways of honor and integrity.
The trip from
Trixie and Jim’s wedding
date was set a few hours ago, at the stroke of midnight, during the story, “Let’s Start the New Year Right”.
In this story, I hoped to
show that the things that were most important to Jim were important to Trixie.
I always loved how enthusiastic she was about his school during the books, and
feel she’d be equally supportive once it became a reality.
In The Cameo’s universes,
Win Frayne first had the dream to open a school for underprivileged boys, a
dream that becomes ironic when his own son is abused, homeless, and needy.
And yes, in The Cameo’s
universes, Trixie has often visited Win Frayne. That may surprise you, because
it surprised me when Trixie told me. I think she mourns Win and Katje almost as
much as Jim…
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