Nothing Happens by Chance

Nothing is By Chance

To think tonight was supposed to be special. James and I both finally had a long weekend to look forward to after months of passing by one another like ‘two ships in the night’ as they say. I woke up this morning with a feeling of childlike anticipation realizing I missed being with my husband. I couldn’t wait to pack up all of the things I had bought when he was out of town last weekend—the beautiful light pink negligee’ and matching robe. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his James’ face when I slipped into it.

It had been a very long time since either of us had the chance to appreciate the mere presence of the other. James was owner and manager of a successful construction firm and I had more freelance photography assignments than I could handle. James spent a lot time away from home acquiring new business. I was spending long days at photo shoots or developing proofs for my clients to choose from. When James and I married 7 years ago we both agreed whenever we retired we were not going to be that old couple on the cruise ship; leading one another around on walking canes! So we both committed to working hard in order to retire by our forty-fifth birthdays which would be in just two years. So we both realized we had to be willing to sacrifice our quality time together now; if we were going to reach our retirement goal.

We both looked forward to the weekends away at our summer cabin; limiting the use of our cell phones and checking emails. These weekends away always seemed to rekindle the flame between us! I nestled back on my pillow and let the feeling of grateful overtake me that James and I seemed to have gotten this marriage thing right! We both had waited until we were in our mid-thirties before we even considered seriously dating or contemplating marriage.

Now as I run to the car in the rain, I have one final thought that I had checked the weather forecast and there were supposed to be light thunderstorms all weekend and I thought that would only make the weekend more romantic. But as I started the car, I realized that running to the car in the rain I had tears pouring down my face and the rain now took on an entirely new meaning. As I drove down the dark tree-lined street away from the cabin I realized that this thunderstorm now meant my life was in turmoil and nothing would ever be as it was before.

Earlier, James had called to tell me he would be running late and for me to drive up to the cabin and he would meet once he finished his final meeting for the day. I had no problem with that because it would actually allow me to get to the cabin and start dinner and tidy up the place. It had only been five months since we were there last. I told James to take his time driving up because it was expected to rain later and I my plan was to enjoy the rain all weekend. I believe he chuckled but I really can’t remember for sure.

When James arrived he fixed a drink and I told him dinner would be ready shortly. I had baked Salmon and the roasted asparagus spears that he loves with my famous lump crabmeat salad. He said he really just needed to have a drink first. I could tell he was upset about something. I just hoped it wasn’t something that would ruin our weekend together. I really needed this weekend with him! I went back in the kitchen to check on the Salmon in the oven. James followed me into the kitchen. Something he never did; especially not at dinner time. When I turned around and saw him standing in the doorway of the kitchen, he startled me. So I asked him, “Baby, what’s wrong; what happened? Why are you looking like you lost your best friend?” James responded, “Well, I’m hoping that I don’t!” “What is that supposed to mean? I asked. Then he asked me to sit down because there was something he had to tell me. That is when my stomach dropped. My first thought was something has happened to my parents!

James went on to tell me that he had met someone. It was completely unexpected but they have been seeing each other for about two months. There isn’t too much more I was able to process beyond that. I believe he said something that he felt it wasn’t fair to either one of us to go on being deceptive. He wanted to pursue a relationship with her but he hoped to be able to maintain a friendship with me. I remember clearly saying as I stood up to leave, “Don’t you have that all backwards?! You want to maintain a friendship with me?!! You want to be my friend?!! Well, none of my friends are cheaters and liars; thanks but no thanks!” I ran to the bedroom and grabbed my purse and keys and I left. I don’t even know if he made any attempt to stop me.

Once I made it back home, I was so emotionally drained all I could do is climb into bed. I cried for three days straight. When I finally got up and took a shower and looked at my cell phone I had too many missed calls from James and my girlfriends to count. I still didn’t have the energy to return any of their phone calls. I hadn’t eaten since I had gotten home three days ago. I only remember getting up between my crying spells to make pots of coffee.

I didn’t know if I had any more tears left in me to cry and I felt I needed to at least take a shower and get out of the house. So after I took a long hot shower, I decided I would walk down to the café and order another cup of coffee and maybe one of those cheese Danish that I love. I felt for once in my life I will eat and drink what I want because I have always done everything right and now everything in my life was wrong.

When I arrived at the café it was almost empty. I was glad that I didn’t have to fight a huge crowd and a long line but I really was looking forward to the sounds of others to drown out the agony that was going on in my head. I kept asking myself what did I do wrong?! How come I never suspected James was cheating on me; and for two whole months?! Who takes their wife away for a romantic weekend just to end their marriage?! It was like I had stepped into some alternate universe where all the laws were different. Nothing made sense. I suppose my look of confusion was fixed on my face when I heard a soft delicate voice say, “Do you mind if I join you?”

I looked up and there was the warmest kindest brown eyes I had ever seen and they were fixed to a beautiful eloquent brown face framed by a cascade of gray hairs. Her smile was so inviting that I was almost transfixed by it. I told her that would be fine. For a moment I forgot what I had been thinking before she interrupted me. The clerk behind the counter brought her a cup of black coffee with one dairy creamer. She smiled and thanked her.

My name is Francis Harris and whom do I have the pleasure of meeting? I responded, “Kristen, Kristen Werner.” I gave her my maiden name with such ease it was as if I had never been married. “Well, Kristen.” What brings you here this morning? I don’t recall ever seeing you here before; are you new in the neighborhood?” “No, Ma’am. I live just down the street it’s just that my schedule rarely allows me to walk down here.” “Well, that’s a shame. You need to make time for yourself.” “Yes, you might be right.” “Well, Kristen, I sure hope you find the time to come back. I believe you are someone I would like to get to know better”, she said smiling warmly.

For some reason that made me smile. This little old lady was magnetic. She was the type of person that made you want to be in her company. “I would love to get to know you better too, Ms. Francis.” And that is how our relationship began. I would meet her at the café’ every morning and she would share with me all the intriguing tales of her lifetime. Ms. Francis had lived an extraordinary life. She had raised 7 children and all of them were college graduates, she had a loving marriage that lasted 45 years and her husband had died in her arms, she had 22 grandchildren that she absolutely adored.

I had no idea that my regular morning meetings with Ms. Francis at the café were the therapy I needed for what was going on with my failed marriage. It would be almost a month before I shared with Ms. Francis what had happened the week before our chance meeting. She quickly corrected me, “Nothing happens by chance!” She said, “Don’t you realize that I knew you needed me that morning?” I told her, “No, I hadn’t realized that. I just thought you were being kind.” She responded laughing, “Well, I am usually kind, but I could tell you needed a listening ear. You don’t raise 7 children and stay married 45 years without knowing when you’re needed.”

Three months after Ms. Francis and I met, I arrived at the café at my usual time and sat in our usual booth but Ms. Francis never showed up that morning. I inquired of the café staff whether they knew where she lived or how I could find her to check on her? Unfortunately, no one knew anything about her other than that she was a regular customer and she always paid in cash.

I sat down in our booth and I felt something was terribly wrong. I felt I had been ridiculously foolish in not trying to learn more about my new friend who had single-handedly saved me from slipping into a deep depression. Somehow talking about Ms. Francis’ life made me forget all about my life. I thought I needed to sit in her place this morning because I suddenly felt I would never see or hear from her again. Just as I took a seat on the opposite side of the booth my hand slipped between the wall and the seat cushion and I felt something that I thought, at first, was a stack of napkins. But when I pulled it out, it was a little black book.

I opened it up and it had a note tucked inside my eyes widened as I read it, “Kristen, I know you will find this—remember, nothing is by chance—you were the friend that I needed when I needed one and for that I would like for you to contact my attorney. I was dying and I wanted a friendship with someone who allowed me to celebrate my life and you gave that gift to me; so my attorney has a gift for you from me. It turns out, I was not a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, as you can see from my stock picks in this notebook, it turns out I was also pretty good at managing my stock portfolio! So, I have willed $20,000.00 in tech stock to you! I want you to do something special for yourself; something we would have enjoyed doing together! I love you, Francis.”