Promises

With sadness and joy, my brother Guy and I started going through my grandmother’s things. Sadness that she passed away, but joy in what she brought to our lives and the fact she lived to 103. Up to the end, she was still the independent, feisty, and often an irreverent presence we grew up with. How she raised our mother, who was so uptight and concerned about rules and etiquette, we’ll never know. We, of course, turned out more like her than my mother. We spent many a summer at her little ranch in Sonoma.

We had spent the last few months going through her stuff at the Sonoma Ranch. We still hadn’t decided what to do with the place. We are the last remaining heirs, and we have a choice to make. Guy and I have our own lives, people, and places. The option that makes the most sense is to sell the place. However, our love of the ranch and our grandmother make us hesitate to make that decision. We decided there was no pressing need to make a choice.

This week we are up at my grandmother’s place in Auburn, California. This home is where my grandmother grew up. Her mother, our Great Grandmother, owned the house and had left it to her. She wouldn’t part with the place and would never rent it out. She rarely went there as her years advanced. We know she loved this place as she fondly talked about it and mentioned leaving it to us in her will. Well, that’s what she did.

Her attorney eventually handed us a set of keys, and we headed up to Auburn. The house was a mansion and had seen some better days. In the last few decades, there has been no upkeep. When we arrived, the yard was overgrown with weeds, and the place looked like it needed a roof and some fresh paint. We know it was built in the late 1800s. My Great, Great Grandfather, Anson Waldo, had it built. He was the City Marshal, Roads Superintendent, Sewer manager, City Planner, and Building Inspector…all at one time. He ended up being the last City Marshal in Auburn. The home was known as the Waldo Mansion. We arrived in the afternoon.

My brother asked me, “Have you got the keys?”

“No shit Sherlock.”

I went through several keys on the ring of keys and found the right one for the front door. I opened the door, and it was quiet and smooth. We stepped in, and the place looked immaculate.

I said, “Wow, I didn’t expect this.”

“Me neither. Did Grandma have someone keeping up the place?”

“Not that I’m aware of, but someone has been keeping it clean.”

We got our things out of the car and picked out our bedrooms for the night. We decided to start going through things in the morning.

We got up and fixed some coffee. There was some packaged food and supplies that weren’t too old. The coffee was good, and we sat at the kitchen table to make our plans. We heard a knock at the front door. We both got up to answer. There was an older but not so old woman at the door.

“I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother. When I was a little girl, she was kind to me when I was going through some tough times. She gave me a key to the place in case it was ever needed.”

Guy asked, “ Are you the one who has kept this place clean and in order?”

“Yes, I hope that is alright. Your grandmother didn’t ask me to, but I somehow wanted to return the kindness she showed toward me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep up on the outside, I’m afraid.”

I said, “That was very kind of you. I’m Scott, and this is my brother Guy.”

“I’m Catherine. Catherine Smyth. I live a few houses away.” She pointed down the street. “I know you must be here to get things in order. I’ll leave you to it.”

Guy told her, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thanks very much again. Is there anything you’d like to have? I’m sure my grandmother would approve.”

“No, thank you. My memories of her are all I need. Oh, I almost forgot, she gave me an envelope about ten years ago she wanted me to give you two.“ She handed Guy a small white envelope. “Goodbye. It was nice finally meeting her grandchildren.” She turned and walked away.

We went back into the house and back to the kitchen table to finish our coffees.

I asked Guy, “Are you going to open it?”

He pulled out his pocket knife and carefully sliced open the envelope. He pulled out a three-by-five card with numbers handwritten on it; 11, 17, and 13.

I asked him, “What does that mean?”

“How the hell should I know.” He set the envelope and card on the table. We finished our coffee and discussed what the numbers could mean.

We were finished procrastinating and decided to start with the big Oak roll-top desk in the library. It was old and heavy but well cared for. The top was unlocked, and we pushed it open. There was little on the desk. I tried the big drawers below the desk surface.

“They’re locked.”

“Check the key ring.”

I pulled the keys out of my pocket, and again, I fumbled with the key ring. There was an old-fashioned-looking key on the lock. I tried it, and it unlocked the drawer. “Bingo. First try.” I unlocked all of them. I opened the largest one, and there was a heavy old-fashioned safe inside.

We looked at each other and ran to the kitchen to get the card. I grabbed it, and we ran back to the library.

I asked Guy, “Do you want to do the honors?”

“Just go ahead!”

I tried the numbers several times, and it would not open.

“Let me try!” He grabbed the card from me and cleared the combination lock by spinning it to the right several times. Then, he carefully tried the combination. It opened with his first try.

“How’d you do that?” I was a bit miffed but too interested in finding out what was inside.

Guy slowly opened the safe door while we both looked in.

“Oh my GOD!”

Inside the safe, there were little plastic toy soldiers. Guy said, “I remember when we were little and left these here. Grandma found them in the backyard. She called mom and told her to tell us she’d keep them safe for us.”

(fiction)