Willow was exhausted when Mrs. Fiora drove her home, late afternoon. Healing Mrs. Fiora not only consumed Willow of her ability, it seemed to drain her physical energy as well.
She was thrilled to have her best friend back in her life and was extremely relieved that Mrs. Fiora was going to be fine, but she was still a bit staggered that her gift was gone. She was too tired to think about it all at the moment as she spotted her comfortable sofa.
As Willow collapsed between the cushions, she noticed a group of cardboard boxes on the coffee table, accompanied by others scattered across the living-room floor. She could hear someone coming down the stairs. She turned to find her mother walking toward her with a look of deep frustration.
“Sorry about all of these boxes,” said Mrs. Krimble. “I told your brother to take them to the attic two hours ago. He’s moving at his usual lightening speed.”
“What’s in ‘em?” asked Willow, too tired to acknowledge her mother’s sarcasm.
“This is the last of your grandmother’s belongings that your Aunt Klisa and I decided to hold onto. Since her house is up for sale, I wanted to finish clearing it out.” Mrs. Krimble suddenly gave her daughter a blissful smile. “I actually have something for you.”
“Really?”
“It appears when your grandmother found out she was sick, she set something aside for you. In my frenzy to pack everything, I didn’t notice the strip of tape on this box, but when the boxes were delivered today, I began sorting through them, and it’s a good thing I did.”
Mrs. Krimble leaned down behind the sofa and lifted a dusty, old box. She handed it to Willow who spotted a thick piece of white tape running across one side. Written in black marker, was one word: WILLOW
Willow anxiously opened the lid to the box and pulled out something heavy. As she gently unraveled the tissue paper around it, the gift began to reveal itself. A ceramic ballet slipper was the first portion exposed. Willow smiled and tore the wrapping more aggressively. When she was done, she held up her gift with a huge smile. The graceful ballerina she had admired for years would now sit on a shelf in her room, a reminder of the loving mentor who had left it for her.
“She knew how much you loved it,” said Mrs. Krimble.
CRASH!
Both Willow and Mrs. Krimble were startled by the loud noise that boomed from the floor above them.
Mrs. Krimble huffed.
“You know, I don’t ask him to do much around here! I hope it wasn’t the crystal vase that once belonged to my great grandmother.”
Mrs. Krimble left to investigate which heirloom Wyatt had just destroyed in his careless attempt to cart boxes up to the attic.
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Willow shook her head and smiled as she continued to examine her new treasure. She removed a box from the coffee table to place her statue on it, but when she set the ballerina down, she was surprised to see how unstable it was. She hoisted it back up and examined the bottom of the base. Just when Willow thought the day could not get any more exciting, she spotted what was causing the statue’s instability: There was a small envelope taped to the bottom of the base. Willow immediately peeled it off. With her heart racing at warp speed, she took a deep breath and broke the envelope’s seal.
Calm down, she thought to herself, pulling out two folded sheets of paper. It might not even be for you. Maybe it’s been here for years. She unfolded the papers and recognized Grandma Trisha's handwriting at once:
She was thrilled to have her best friend back in her life and was extremely relieved that Mrs. Fiora was going to be fine, but she was still a bit staggered that her gift was gone. She was too tired to think about it all at the moment as she spotted her comfortable sofa.
As Willow collapsed between the cushions, she noticed a group of cardboard boxes on the coffee table, accompanied by others scattered across the living-room floor. She could hear someone coming down the stairs. She turned to find her mother walking toward her with a look of deep frustration.
“Sorry about all of these boxes,” said Mrs. Krimble. “I told your brother to take them to the attic two hours ago. He’s moving at his usual lightening speed.”
“What’s in ‘em?” asked Willow, too tired to acknowledge her mother’s sarcasm.
“This is the last of your grandmother’s belongings that your Aunt Klisa and I decided to hold onto. Since her house is up for sale, I wanted to finish clearing it out.” Mrs. Krimble suddenly gave her daughter a blissful smile. “I actually have something for you.”
“Really?”
“It appears when your grandmother found out she was sick, she set something aside for you. In my frenzy to pack everything, I didn’t notice the strip of tape on this box, but when the boxes were delivered today, I began sorting through them, and it’s a good thing I did.”
Mrs. Krimble leaned down behind the sofa and lifted a dusty, old box. She handed it to Willow who spotted a thick piece of white tape running across one side. Written in black marker, was one word: WILLOW
Willow anxiously opened the lid to the box and pulled out something heavy. As she gently unraveled the tissue paper around it, the gift began to reveal itself. A ceramic ballet slipper was the first portion exposed. Willow smiled and tore the wrapping more aggressively. When she was done, she held up her gift with a huge smile. The graceful ballerina she had admired for years would now sit on a shelf in her room, a reminder of the loving mentor who had left it for her.
“She knew how much you loved it,” said Mrs. Krimble.
CRASH!
Both Willow and Mrs. Krimble were startled by the loud noise that boomed from the floor above them.
Mrs. Krimble huffed.
“You know, I don’t ask him to do much around here! I hope it wasn’t the crystal vase that once belonged to my great grandmother.”
Mrs. Krimble left to investigate which heirloom Wyatt had just destroyed in his careless attempt to cart boxes up to the attic.
___________________________________
Page 104
Willow shook her head and smiled as she continued to examine her new treasure. She removed a box from the coffee table to place her statue on it, but when she set the ballerina down, she was surprised to see how unstable it was. She hoisted it back up and examined the bottom of the base. Just when Willow thought the day could not get any more exciting, she spotted what was causing the statue’s instability: There was a small envelope taped to the bottom of the base. Willow immediately peeled it off. With her heart racing at warp speed, she took a deep breath and broke the envelope’s seal.
Calm down, she thought to herself, pulling out two folded sheets of paper. It might not even be for you. Maybe it’s been here for years. She unfolded the papers and recognized Grandma Trisha's handwriting at once:
Willow paused; she needed to go back and reread part of the letter: “Of course by the time I had met him, I had lost the gift.” The possibility of her unique ability leaving her had occurred to Willow, but she never put too much effort in worrying about it. Even now, she realized it never would have made a difference if she knew Mrs. Fiora would be the last; she would not have changed a thing. She read on …
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Willow felt a surge of warmth flow through her as she read the hand-written words before her. It was as if she could hear Grandma Trisha’s voice; as if she were truly there speaking to her.
Page 105
Willow felt a surge of warmth flow through her as she read the hand-written words before her. It was as if she could hear Grandma Trisha’s voice; as if she were truly there speaking to her.
As Willow continued reading, she was forced to relive the final moments by her grandmother's bedside as Grandma Trisha explained, in writing, how her time on this earth was up, how she needed to re-unite with the love she had lost, how she did not want to be a burden to anyone … Willow found it difficult to read, but she didn’t cry; she had already grieved so much over these same words during Grandma Trisha’s final moments in the hospital, and in the days that followed. She also knew her grandmother would not want her falling apart over this letter. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pressed on. She was nearing the bottom of the letter now, fretfully aware of its foreseeable closing.
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Willow had reached the final paragraph. She read slower, wanting to savor every moment of her reunion.
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Willow held the letter close to her heart for a moment. As much as she tried to fight it, a tear escaped her eye, but this time it was out of bliss rather than mourning. She reread the letter a few more times before placing it back into its envelope. She tucked the envelope safely into her side pocket just in time to hear her mother climbing back down the stairs.
“Thank goodness … your brother only broke an old tea pot from one of Mom and Dad’s trips to England. I told him if I hear so much as a thud, the next thing to break will be one of his limbs.
Willow laughed. Suddenly her brother’s carelessness was much funnier than it was when the initial sounds of shattering ceramic were heard only a few minutes earlier.
"Willow, I hate to ask; I know you just got home, but can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, Mom."
"I'm out of eggs and I promised I'd bake cupcakes for Wyatt's team fund raiser tomorrow and since he already ate ten from the batch I made yesterday …"
"No problem, Mom." Willow suddenly began to feel her energy coming back. The rush and excitement from the letter had made her forget all about how drained she felt when she first arrived home.
"Thanks, Baby. I’d go myself, but I need to sort through a few more things here and if I send your brother to the store, these boxes will be here until next week."
"Oh, don’t sweat it," said Willow. "I wanted to go to Kresh Fruits anyway. There's someone there I’d like to talk to…."
Next Chapter
Page 107
Willow held the letter close to her heart for a moment. As much as she tried to fight it, a tear escaped her eye, but this time it was out of bliss rather than mourning. She reread the letter a few more times before placing it back into its envelope. She tucked the envelope safely into her side pocket just in time to hear her mother climbing back down the stairs.
“Thank goodness … your brother only broke an old tea pot from one of Mom and Dad’s trips to England. I told him if I hear so much as a thud, the next thing to break will be one of his limbs.
Willow laughed. Suddenly her brother’s carelessness was much funnier than it was when the initial sounds of shattering ceramic were heard only a few minutes earlier.
"Willow, I hate to ask; I know you just got home, but can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, Mom."
"I'm out of eggs and I promised I'd bake cupcakes for Wyatt's team fund raiser tomorrow and since he already ate ten from the batch I made yesterday …"
"No problem, Mom." Willow suddenly began to feel her energy coming back. The rush and excitement from the letter had made her forget all about how drained she felt when she first arrived home.
"Thanks, Baby. I’d go myself, but I need to sort through a few more things here and if I send your brother to the store, these boxes will be here until next week."
"Oh, don’t sweat it," said Willow. "I wanted to go to Kresh Fruits anyway. There's someone there I’d like to talk to…."
Next Chapter