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Billy Spencer awoke late on the morning of his late wife’s birthday, reluctant to get out of bed. He made a habit of faithfully visiting her grave each year on three occasions: her birthday, their anniversary, and Christmas. He glanced out the window. Clouds were piling up fast. Don’t let it rain today ! He whispered to himself. Or hold off until after I’ve left!
Thunder sounded in the distance. Billy grabbed his keys, removed the large bouquet of flowers he’d bought the day before from the fridge and hurried out the door without even the thought of a cup of coffee or breakfast. He had to get there before the storm hit.
The air was cool; the sky darkening. Light gusts of wind brought an undeniable scent of rain. Billy might have a half hour to spend with Pam before the deluge began. He hoped so.
Entering the quiet cemetery in Carson, Oklahoma, Billy navigated the narrow, circular drive slowly and quietly until he reached the landmark; a massive grove of trees in the center of the section where his wife lay at rest beneath a beautifully etched double stone with a marble vase in the center. Both of them had planned ahead so that when the time came, Billy would lie beside her. For now - thank God, he thought - his side of the stone was blank. He still had a lot of years left. His wife had died so young!
He noticed a white pickup parked nearby. Probably someone else marking a special day; like him, trying to beat the rain. Whoever it was had made quite a trip; the license plate read Louisiana!
Billy glanced in the direction of the gravesite. A man looked to be standing at the exact location of his wife’s grave, but his 70-year-old eyes could not be sure. He got out of the car and closed the door quietly. Clasping his bouquet, he walked across the grass toward the person that he could see for sure now was standing at Pam’s grave. The man wasn’t tall, but powerfully built, standing with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered. The freshening breeze ruffled the man’s long ponytail.
It was his son.
Billy had seen Eliot only just last summer. Knowing the kind of work his son did now, he had not expected to see him again this soon. He could hear Eliot speaking. Stealthily, he positioned himself behind a large tree to listen - which, of course, wasn’t exactly a cool thing to do - but he and his son had yet to lay all their cards on the table and get to really know each other again. He might learn a bit more about him if he eavesdropped.
‘I miss you, Mom,’ Eliot was saying, softly. ‘You’re the only mother I ever knew and no one had a better one, either. Why in hell you wanted me , a mismatched little kid, is more than I can understand, but you gotta know how much I always loved you for takin’ me in and makin’ me your own. I dunno what I would’a been if it hadn’t been for you... but I guess, you know I’m lyin’, Mom. If you been watchin’ me at all, you know damned well what I became. Didn’t start until after I joined the Army, though. Maybe Dad was right. Maybe I shoulda gone on to college, helped run the store. The Army wasn’t exactly Disneyland. Dad knew. I got assigned to do some things I’m not proud of - trouble was, after I got my discharge I kept on doin’ it. Some bad things. You been up there watchin’ me so I don’t need to explain, but Mom, things have been different for me for almost 15 years now. You been watchin’ that, too, and I kinda hope I’ve redeemed myself a little, in your eyes, at least. I haven’t told Dad much of anything about what went down all those years, but I think he knows I’m on the right track now. Anyway, Mom, I’m in a good place now. I just wish I could see you one more time to tell you that I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you or Dad when you had to leave.’
Eliot’s voice broke. He raked his sleeve across his eyes. When he brought his arm down he was startled to see his father standing beside him. They regarded each other.
‘You remembered,’ Billy said gently.
Eliot nodded, unable to speak.
‘I come here several times a year for special occasions, and I talk to her like you just did.’
‘You heard that?’
Billy nodded, smiling. He laid his hand on his son's shoulder. ‘Your mother feels your presence, Eliot, just as we feel hers. I truly believe that. She still loves you and always will - just as I do. Before she left, she was wishing she could see you just one more -’
‘Oh, Dad, don’t…’ Eliot let out a choked sob, unable to continue.
‘I’m sorry.’ Billy put his arm around his son, looking up at the darkening sky. ‘My father skills are a little rusty. Tell you what. We'll split this bouquet and put it in the vase for her, together. We're gonna stand here a minute, remembering your mother’s love, tellin' her we love her, we can say a prayer if you like, and then before it rains - and that’s gonna be soon - let’s go get us a big breakfast at Norm’s. I’ll meet you there. We can have us a good, long talk. You don't have to get back to New Orleans right away, do ya? Good. I tell ya, they got lemon pancakes at Norm's you just gotta try.’
The End