Riches Lie in the Smallest of Things

Desi packed her bag, slowly, while toying with thoughts of traveling the 4 1/2 hours to his home. The last three days she hadn’t slept, anxious about returning after so many years. How would people react to her complete abandonment of him, especially this past year, when he needed her most. How would she feel when she got there.

It was spring and Pop Pop had died. She was returning for the celebration of life for him in the town that she had fled 8 years earlier on the eve of her wedding.

She had traveled overseas on corporate orders for the past 8 years. The night before her wedding she accepted the job offer out of fear. She couldn’t see herself stuck in this small town with its drama, scooping ice cream and raising babies till her knuckles bled. She was meant for something bigger.

So she did the second scariest thing in front of her, she packed one bag with her best 3 outfits , replied yes to the email, and signed the contract. It took every ounce of courage to leave and not look back or let anyone know. Especially Pops, he had always loved and cared for her. He always told her he had her “Locked tight in his heart”.

She wasn’t surprised when her sister Ellie called to tell her Pop Pop had passed, he had turned 88 in December and had been suffering with health issues after he had fallen and gotten a concussion.

Ellie had called that warm Friday night at 8:05 PM, Desi picked up on the third ring.

“Hello”

“Hey sis” replied Ellie as she took a swift gulp of air.

Desi could feel the tension in her voice. “You ok?”

“Desi, he’s gone.” Ellie spat out with a sob, she was more empathetic for Desi than sad for herself.

“I know, I dreamt of him last night, he told me in the dream he had to go home. It was a little foggy this morning but I wondered if it was real.” Desi hadn’t had a dream like that since her friend Sara passed from cancer.

Now it was time to return home. Desi always loved the spring in Maine. When the snow had melted and nature had started to green up. Pop Pop would always have a “springfest” at the house. They would sweep off the porch, open all the windows and make homemade lemonade on the first warm spring day.

Those days were some of her favorite memories.

She finished packing and loaded the car for her journey to Maine. As she walked to the drivers door to get in she tripped a little and looked down. There was a shiny penny at her feet. She looked up at the sky and smiled as she bent down to pick up the penny. Thanks!

Desi and Pop had an ongoing ritual of thanking the heavens for found money. He had always told her that riches lie in the smallest of things. She had practiced it all these years without him. She got in the car and started her journey. The trip went by fast and her mind stayed busy.

She pulled into the dooryard of the old farm house. It looked a little worn and as she got out of the car she was hit with the smell of nostalgia. Memories came flooding back to her, all of the time spent here, laughing and loving. She saw Pops friend Ailene sitting on the swing waiting to let her in.

It felt like home to her, yet it wasn’t her home. It was his. Just as soon as her happy memories began to fade the guilt and shame of leaving took over. She realized she had been running all these years, Running from her ex fiancé John and the life he wanted to build with her.

John had stole her heart at 13 years old near the water bubbler at school. She had leaned over to take a sip and her folder slipped out of her arm spilling her English homework everywhere , as she came up to try to catch it all, John had bent over and started to pick it up.

“Here you go” he said as his warm hazel eyes settled on her freckled face.

“Thank you” she whispered as she hurried to shield her eyes and not look too long, afraid he would see the crush that had grown within her in the last few years.

That was the beginning, she spent most of her days with John after that. Her time with Pops slowly slipping away. Pop Pop didn’t seem to mind, he would spent hours in his library with his books.

The night before her wedding she was at Pop’s house they sat in the kitchen as Pops cleaned up from dinner and then sat at the table with her.

“You know sunshine, I will always love that pretty face and keep you locked inside my heart no matter what”. Pops said as he squinted and cleaned his glasses.

“Don’t you know it?” He asked.

“Yes of course, I know” Desi replied her voice reverberating in her chest, the heaviness she felt becoming overwhelming.

“There isn’t anything you could do that would ever make me unhappy, if it made you happy.” As he smiled at her she noticed his blue eyes sparkling.

“Yes Pop Pop.”

“I just want to be sure that you know what you’re doing and have thought things through. I’ve always known you were meant for bigger things.” Pops looked down so she would not try to read him.

“Well you know, I’ve loved John forever and I will make him a good wife.” She said eager to please her beloved grandfather.

“Just want you to be sure, that’s all, the world is a big place and you are a spunky girl who likes her freedom to roam.” Said Pop.

“I know, I will be fine. Thanks Pop Pop, Love you”. As she got up from the table and leaned over for a hug. “I’ll see you at the wedding.”

When she walked outside the sun was still setting and had caught the sky on fire. She went to step off the porch and noticed spots glistening on the way to the car. She studied closer as she neared the first one. A shiny penny and then another and another and another. Leading her away from the house and towards her car. She bent quickly and retrieved each one.

That evening as she drove home a crow swooped down and almost crashed into the windshield of the car. Stunned, Desi swerved and missed it. As she settled back into the short drive her mind started to twist and turn over the decision to release the offer that her college internship boss had sent her and stay to help John run the diner and be his wife.

Her fate had turned and her mind became anguished when she thought about her future. Her love for John was strong and all she had ever known. The offer had awakened something inside of her. By morning her fear of being stuck in this place for the rest of her life had consumed her, her only way out was to go. Take the offer and see the world. Pop Pop had pretty much given her his blessing.

Over time her sister Ellie had shared Johns struggles. He had taken Desi’s flight hard but had recovered.The diner had been declining and John had been forced to shut it down after three years. He married a local girl they both knew Marie and they now had 2 children.

Pop Pop was alone at the house, Independent about his own care until he fell and got a concussion. He had a nurse friend come and check on him regularly to make sure he was ok.

When Desi arrived at the house that day for the celebration of life for Pop Pop, Ailene the nurse was waiting on the porch, she lived next door and Ellie had let her know to let Desi.

“Hey there, How was your trip?” She bellowed as Desi got out of the car. I freshened up the downstairs bedroom for you and put some food in the fridge.

“The traveling was good. Thank You for being here.” Desi said as she stared at the house.

“I can’t stay but I have something to show you before I go.” Ailene said as she rose from the swing.

“Ok” as Desi walked up to the porch and reached out a hand for a hello.

The women turned towards the door and walked through the kitchen and into the library where Pops kept all his books.

“He wanted to make sure I handed this to you”. As Ailene handed Desi a small black soft covered book.

She gave Desi a soft smile and said “See you tomorrow”

“Have a good night” as Desi felt the worn cover of the little black book.

Desi opened to the first page of the black book. The top line read

10/15/2008 Walden $5.00

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”

― Henry David Thoreau

10/18/2008 Anna Karenina $1.00

“I always loved you, and if one loves anyone, one loves the whole person, just as they are and not as one would like them to be.”

― Leo Tolstoy

A stream of tears had started down Desi’s face as she quickly flipped through the many pages. Towards the end she found a note. Both sides of every page filled to the last line.

Sunshine,

I’ve always known you were made for bigger things and I am so proud that you have gone out in the world and lived that bigger life. As for me the heavens have rained blessings in the smallest of ways. This little black book is an accounting of the blessings both of heart and gifts from the heavens. There is $20,000 here in this library for you to find. Enjoy the hunt!

Love, Pops

Desi walked over and picked up a book and flipped through it to find a $5.00 bill next to it a sentence had been underlined. She picked up another book and saw a bunch of pennies underneath it. Her heart burst with love as she hugged the book close to her heart, tears flowing down freely, grateful that Pops would leave all his special blessings to her and in such a fun way!