A Heart Moved

She had been creating it all her life. Day by day, year after year, her black book noted and saved away in the timeworn hope chest passed down from her great grandmother, Belle. Her room was too small for the chest which was placed at the end of her wood framed bed but "that's where folks keep such things," she would tell herself. Plus, she could sit and gaze at it whilst sending her wishes and prayers into its contests. "One day," Caroline would say to herself, knowing that the old box held the magic of generations gone by.

Caroline Gates would be 18 soon. She figured it was the most important day for her saved wishes and that the future of many hinged on it. With just a week to go, Caroline woke early every morning, dressed, and then opened that old hope chest to retrieve her tattered black notebook. She had been writing names in it since she was old enough to ask how to spell a name, "about 5 years old," she thought and smiled. The pages were blank back then, now she was sure that at least a hundred names filled it. "There are more to add..." she determined. Caroline had early on decided she would save the names of people that moved her heart. Today, she looked down onto its pages. The first name on the first page was the dark-haired boy who lived a few houses down, Billy Costa.

Billy had been about her own age yet did not come out of his house much, she remembered. He would peek out of his window at her now and then, and they would wave at one another with a shy smile. Even so, something always seemed odd. That is, until the day Billy's house was sealed off by yellow tape and a half dozen police cars. Caroline had run outside to see what the commotion was. An ambulance was loading someone covered into it. Then it looked to be that Billy's Dad had been placed in the back of a squad car. Caroline noticed the front door swing open and little Billy was being led out and away by a county social worker. At that moment, Billy's frightened tear-filled eyes locked on Caroline's as he was being pushed forward to a waiting car. Caroline couldn’t look away. Billy silently mouthed "help me" before being whisked away. Caroline's heart sank. What could she do? Breathless, she ran inside to tell her parents what she had seen, and what Billy had heartbreakingly asked, but they had simply and sadly said that ‘what's done is done’ and to just remember her friend in her prayers.

That was the day Caroline began writing in her black notebook as she carefully wrote 'Billy Costa' onto page one. She would never forget him.

As the years went on, Caroline continued to save the names of those who were especially kind and of those who were hurting. The names of people she would meet along the way who moved her heart would be placed in the notebook. "One day, I will be able to help them," thought Caroline, “...one day."

She glanced at the old inherited hope chest and thought of the large, sealed envelope taped to its floor, over which, she kept her notebook. Written on the front of the envelope was 'Hold for Caroline Elizabeth Gates until the day of her 18th birthday." It had been placed there by her Grandfather George on the day of her birth; the same day he delivered the gifted old chest to her room. There it would stay though her nursery years and when changed to a child’s room then into a typical teenager’s bedroom. Grandpa George had long since passed away, yet his wishes would be honored. No one ever touched the envelope he left for his granddaughter and many simply forgot about it. Except for Caroline. She spent many hours of her youth wondering and imaging the envelope's contents and believing it just had to be a part of her magical destiny.

Today was Sunday. Caroline was scheduled to help in the children's ministry room at church, as she did once a month. Caroline loved the children and delighted in their company. Unbeknownst to her just yet, this Sunday would add two more names to her notebook; a newcomer, Mrs. Cecilia Norton and her 2-year-old daughter, Allie.

Allie and her mother were dressed in threadbare clothes, but clean, Caroline noted as they entered the room. Mrs. Norton had come to church full of hope for herself and child, she explained. Maybe God would give them special blessing. She explained that Allie’s father had unexpectedly passed away several months ago, and soon thereafter Cecilia had lost her job when the company went under. The pair had moved into a nearby women’s shelter until things got better. Caroline felt for them deeply. Right then and there Caroline took their hands and prayed with Mrs. Norton and little Allie for their blessing. When she returned home, Caroline opened her notebook, now on page 65, and neatly wrote their names within.

A week later came Caroline’s 18th birthday and she was excited for the day to begin. Her parents had a full day planned with family and friends to celebrate. Caroline had one thing most on her mind: the long-awaited envelope in her hope chest. She would finally find out its contests. She woke up early before anyone stirred and quietly went downstairs.

She retrieved a butter knife from the kitchen drawer and ran back to her room. Sitting on the floor before it, Caroline opened her precious hope chest. She slid the knife carefully under the taped-down envelope loosening it from the old wood base. She carefully held the long-awaited gift in her hands anticipating the words her grandfather had saved just for her. She unwittingly held her breath and this time slipped the butter knife under the seal and lifted the flap.

Caroline gingerly removed the envelope’s contents. On top was an old black and white photo of her sweet grandparents, Belle and George, hugging one another standing next to the hope chest. Caroline held the picture to her chest, tears forming in her eyes. She missed them so. She looked again and smiled at the newer condition of the hope chest.

She set the photo aside. She thought she may create a lovely cover photo for her special book.

The next page was a short note written by Grandpa George. A small key was taped on to it.

He simply wrote,

"My dear Caroline,

You are blessed to be a blessing.

Take this key to Blue Ridge Bank and Trust. 1293 Franklin Street.

We love you very much,

Grandpa George and Grandma Belle. “

“What in the world..,” she thought. How odd. She looked into the envelope again – nothing else. She had guessed for so many years what might be within: A long letter telling her their history and wishes for her life, or maybe Grandma’s precious ring or Grandpa’s proud army medals. Or magic. Instead, just a key she would need to ask the bank about. And of course, a blessing from her Grandparents worth more than rubies, she smiled.

Blue Ridge was the oldest bank in town and not much used since the national banks moved in. She wondered what she’d find there. Downhearted that today was Sunday and the bank was closed, she thought, “I’ve waited 18 years I suppose I can wait just one more day. I’ll find out what it all means when the bank opens first thing in morning.”

Caroline was at the door of Blue Ridge Bank and Trust at 8 am sharp the next day. The place was empty except for the elderly manager, Mr. Woodbury, who greeted her warmly. “What can I do for you, young lady?” he said with a smile. Caroline pulled out the mysterious key and showed it to him, “My Grandparents left me this key as a gift and told me to bring it here,” Caroline explained,” do you know what it’s for?” Mr. Woodbury said he did indeed and asked what their names were. “Ah, yes, George and Belle were lifetime customers. We miss seeing them around. Good folks they were," he replied. Mr. Woodbury then led Caroline to the back of the bank to a locked vault of safety deposit boxes. He stopped at box number 444. “This here box must be yours now,” he nodded. Caroline’s eyes opened wide, “..Oh wow, it’s said that 444 is the number for angels!" she exclaimed in delight. She wondered if her Grandpa chose that box for her on purpose. Mr. Woodbury just smiled and left her alone with her gift.

Caroline carefully inserted the small key into the brass covered square in the wall, slid out the long box and placed on the table in the middle of the room. She lifted the lid. The note on top read again “You are blessed to be a blessing.” Caroline’s eyes opened wide as she saw beneath the note was placed a certified check, in her name and signed by her Grandfather, in the amount of… three million dollars.

“$3,000,000!!??” she shouted, thoroughly astonished. “Wait, what!? No way! What!?” She could not stop herself from jumping and dancing alone in that vault! She was breathlessly stunned. Oh, the good she could do – for her parents, for her family and her mind raced as she thought of all for those who had moved her heart through the years. All those names kept in her black notebook held safely in her precious hope chest. How could her Grandparents have known that because of them, her greatest wish to help others would be fulfilled? Caroline was beside herself with excitement and happiness. She was sure it just had to be magic!

Immediately, Caroline knew exactly what she would to do first. She had to find those special people. She ran home and pulled out the cherished black notebook from her hope chest. She looked down at its pages of names and realized she had no idea where any of them could be found. Caroline grabbed the yellow pages. She’d find a professional investigator who could help her locate each of those whose names who were lovingly saved in her notebook. She could not contain her joy!

With great delight, she did the math. There were 131 names Caroline had saved through the years. With 3 million dollars she could send $20,000 checks to each of them, $2,620,000 total. She’d still have enough left over to open a charity in her grandfather’s name to help even more people. It was a dream come true.

Caroline thought back and imagined Mrs. Cecilia Norton opening her mail soon to find her own $20,000 check, as well as another sealed envelope within that read “Hold for Allie Norton until her 18th birthday” which contained another $20,000 check. Caroline smiled as she remembered each of the 131 people in her notebook. 131 people who mattered. People who moved her heart. 131 People who never whispered “help me” yet surely could have. Except one.

It took three weeks for them find him, but they did. They had discovered that little Billy Costa, her neighbor friend from so many years ago and the first name in her notebook, had been sent to live in foster homes until adopted at age 12. She hoped he had a better life now. Caroline was overjoyed to learn that Billy’s latest address was just three towns over from her own. She would not be mailing him a check. Deep in her heart, Caroline knew she must visit this one in person. A tender smile lit up her face as she headed out the door. He was the boy who first moved her heart and began her black notebook journey.

It was all magical indeed.