Curiosity and Happenstance

Erik saw elation in Lindsey’s hazel eyes and smiled as he refilled her wineglass. “Having a good time?” he asked over the quiet murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of glass.

Lindsey smiled back and nodded, still flushed from the earlier excitement. As they moved to join the rest of the family, she paused in front of an old cherrywood china cabinet. Her gaze fell on a worn black notebook displayed on the middle shelf. I’m sure glad I picked that thing up. Strange that one act committed out of simple curiosity would bring her to such an evening as this. Nearly two years ago, that had been.

She was leafing through a tourist booklet looking for a good restaurant at her next stop after being on her feet all day exploring Montgomery, West Virginia. It’s so beautiful here, she thought with a sigh. The waterfalls had been a soothing balm to her psyche, but now she was getting hungry and it was time to go.

As she prepared to board the train to Roanoke, her shoe struck something and a flat black object slid to the edge of the platform before coming to a stop. Her first confused thought as she ran after it and bent to pick it up was that something had fallen out of her backpack. Oh, it’s someone’s notebook, she realized. She straightened, looking around for the owner. The platform was empty. I’ll leave it, someone may come back for it. She glanced back down. The black leather cover was beaten and worn, as though the notebook had spent a lot of time being kicked around on the platform. Surely if someone was coming back for it, they would have by now. Curiosity got the better of her and she decided it wouldn’t hurt to bring the notebook along. I can always give it to the conductor at the next stop, she reasoned. I wonder what’s written in it?

She picked it up and hurried back to the train doors, sliding through just as they were closing. She sat down in her seat with a sigh of relief, feeling sweaty and gritty. Using some of the twenty thousand dollars left to her by Aunt Mel for a thirteen state railway tour had been enjoyable, but it involved being outside a lot and the weather had been very warm. She sagged against the seat and brushed a few errant strands of brown hair out of her eyes. Poor Aunt Mel.

She’d been Lindsey’s favorite aunt and last close relative. According to her emails, she’d been having an amazing time in Thailand. Who would have thought she’d be killed by a falling coconut on her way back from the beach to her hotel room? Witnesses said a monkey had dropped it from one of the trees. Whether the act had been intentional or accidental would always be in question.

Aunt Mel’s untimely demise was a wakeup call for Lindsey. You never know, any day could be the last… After settling her aunt's estate, she’d packed a few things and taken off. On a whim, she’d left her laptop and cell phone at home and purchased a digital camera to bring with her. So far, the trip had been fantastic. It’s been nice to unplug for a while, she thought with a weary smile. Her backpack held clothing, keepsakes, knickknacks, and her travel journal. She’d photographed some spectacular sights, and she’d filled the journal with entries detailing her adventures over the last couple of weeks. Writing in the small book and gazing out a window was far more pleasant to her than tapping on a keyboard and staring at her laptop. Her attention turned to her souvenir from the platform. Maybe someone else felt the same.

She ran her fingers over the dusty, worn cover. It’d taken a beating but was still in good shape and the elastic band holding it closed was only slightly frayed. She flipped the slender volume over in her hands, observing the word ‘Moleskine’ stamped into the back. Hmm, same brand as mine. She slipped the band off and opened the book to the first page.

In case of loss, please return to:

William D. Ward

11125 George Washington Way

Washington, D.C. 20001

No other information was listed, so she turned to the next page.

March 3, 2018

Dearest Leah,

It seems a lifetime since I started this trip, although in truth I’ve only just left you at the station. I’ll be thinking of you every second! I’ll keep track of my travels in this journal. As our wedding is the day after I return, this will make the perfect gift to you. I can hardly wait until we can see the world together…

This was a journal then. Interesting… For the next hundred miles, Lindsey lost herself in William’s musings and forgot she was on a train. His detailed descriptions of the places he visited and the people he met along the way brought his journey to life in her imagination. The notebook also contained poetry and a few sketches of shops and streets he’d found interesting. Finally she came to the last page.

April 4, 2018

Dearest Leah,

This morning marks the end of my travels. I look forward to presenting this volume to you tomorrow, our wedding day. Love always, Will.

Lindsey sighed in satisfaction and looked out the window. What a wonderful read! She closed the notebook and frowned thoughtfully. According to the dates, this journal is three years old. I wonder how it ended up on the platform? She laid the book on her lap and reclined drowsily in the seat. An idea began forming in her mind. I’ve never been to Washington before…

Sleep crept up on her and she nearly missed her stop, waking at the last second and barely making it off the train before the doors shut and it continued on its way. Yawning, she looked around for the conductor. I should drop this thing off and let the railway get in contact with Mr. Ward, she thought, running her fingers over the notebook again. No way should I go running off to a city I’ve never been to so I can return a random journal to the mysterious author whom I’ve never heard of.

She giggled, amused by the absurd idea. Oh, why not? At the very least I might find out if the wedding happened! It was only a few hours away by train, so it would be a fun little side trip. She yawned again as her body demanded rest. She definitely wasn’t getting on any more trains today. I’ll find a hotel here for the night and catch the train to Washington in the morning. Cheered by the idea of an impromptu adventure, she set about putting her plan into action.

The next afternoon, rain poured down on Lindsey as she stood in front of a quaint brownstone apartment in a scenic section of Washington, DC. The numbers 11125 were in gold leaf letters at the top of the doorway, and the street sign she’d just passed proclaimed that she was now on the street known as George Washington Way. She shifted anxiously from foot to foot with the old notebook held protectively under her jacket. This was the address listed in the journal, but was it still William D. Ward’s address?

Only one way to find out, she thought, and marched up the three steps that led to the red double doors. There was no bell or buzzer, so she knocked and stood back, hoping someone would answer. A few moments later, the door was opened by a middle-aged brunette woman in a light blue dress.

“Hello, are you all right?” she asked, taking in Lindsey’s bedraggled appearance with concern.

Lindsey grinned. I must look a sight. “Yes ma’am. I’m looking for a William D. Ward. Does he still live here?”

“Yes, that’s my husband, and I’m Leah.” A sudden flash of light and crack of thunder caused them both to wince. “Won’t you come in? The weather’s awful today!”

“Thanks,” Lindsey said in relief. She stepped inside the apartment and stood on the rug in the entranceway. A low murmur of voices came from the next room. “My name’s Lindsey. I found this notebook…”

I’m really glad I did that, Lindsey often thought later.

The wedding had indeed happened, and the Wards were celebrating their third anniversary that very day. The journal had disappeared during their honeymoon and they were overjoyed to have it returned to them after so long. They introduced her to the friends and family that were celebrating with them and Lindsey told them the story of how she’d come to find it.

The group spent an enjoyable hour reading from it and speculating on where the little black book might have gone when it disappeared. After that, Mr. and Mrs. Ward spent hours recalling their travels and asking Lindsey for details about herself. They coaxed her into reading a few excerpts from her journal to the group, and Lindsey delighted in their obvious enjoyment of her anecdotes.

Erik, the second oldest son, convinced her to stay for dinner and Lindsey immensely enjoyed a lively conversation with the attractive young man. She felt a wonderful sense of belonging that she’d not had in a long time. At the end of the evening, Erik gave her a tour of the beautiful apartment. When he found out she’d never been to Washington before, he offered to show her around the capital city.

Mrs. Ward overheard his offer and clapped her hands excitedly. “What a wonderful idea! You and Erik can stay here and take the Metrorail around the city!” Mr. Ward nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

“Oh, that’s very nice of you, but I don’t want to impose. I have a hotel room in town.” Lindsey moved to to the door.

Mrs. Ward grasped Lindsey’s arm as she reached for her coat. “Please, Lindsey,” she said, smiling kindly. “You’ve made our anniversary especially memorable by returning the notebook to us, and we’ve plenty of room.”

Mr. Ward agreed. “It’s been so lovely to have you here this evening. Stay with us and see the city!”

Touched by their generosity, Lindsey accepted. The next few days were the best part of her entire trip. The Ward family was a cheerful bunch that made her feel welcome and happy. She felt a growing attraction to Erik during their explorations of the city and sensed Mr. and Mrs. Ward’s approval whenever they saw the two of them together. When the day came that Lindsey had to return to North Carolina, she was invited to visit any time she wanted. She and Erik exchanged phone numbers, and over the next few months became very close.

Gradually Lindsey had found herself spending more and more time with Erik and his family in the capital city. A year later she’d moved to Washington.

Tonight the Ward family had gathered yet again. She’d been speaking to one of the many cousins when the room had grown quiet. The cousin had smiled, gesturing at something behind her. She’d turned in confusion to see Eric kneeling before her, holding up a diamond ring.

“Marry me, Lindsey.” His voice had been husky.

“Of course,” she’d whispered. He’d slipped the ring on her finger to a resounding cheer from the family.

“It’s amazing.” She turned from the cabinet and took in her surroundings. “I found so much more than a notebook that day,” she said in wonder.

Erik grinned. “I’m glad you picked it up.” He raised his glass. “To curiosity and happenstance,” he declared.

“To curiosity and happenstance,” Lindsey echoed, feeling a thrill of excitement as she looked into his blue eyes. She touched her glass to his and the flash of the ring on her finger was a bright promise of the future.

END