Unwanted Fate (2 page)

“Good. I have enough food to last me a month, and I need help eating it,” she says with composure in her voice.

“I’ll help you store it so it won’t go bad.”

She nods. “I need to help going through Nate’s belongings.”

I don’t say anything as I’m at a loss for words. We make our way to the funeral home’s black Lincoln, climb inside, and Mr. Hanes shuts the door.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I slowly let it out.

“Are you sure you want to do that so soon?”

“If I wait, I’ll never part with his belongings. I don’t want you to have to be stuck with his things and mine when I pass on.”

“Fine. If you don’t mind, I’ll take his clothes to the community center. I’m sure some of the boys could use some newer clothes.”

“Sounds like a good plan. I’m glad they will be put to good use,” she says as she looks out the car’s window.

“Me too, Mom, me too,” I whisper out as I think about what life is going to be like without Nate.

The ride from the cemetery to the funeral home seems to take forever as the unforgiving Reno sun has made an appearance after the rain clouds dried up. Even though the windows are tinted, the heat from the sun is making the backseat unbearably hot. Once we arrive at the funeral home, my mom collects the things that we brought, and we are quickly on our way to her two-story home in Silver Springs, near the Lahontan State Recreation Area.

I pull into the driveway and the house never looked so small, and I help Mom get her things out of the car and my overnight bag and carry them to the front door. She fumbles with her keys and unlocks the deadbolt on the old white door, the smell of Nate’s cologne consumes me, and I’m no longer able to be strong. I fall to my knees, crying. I’ve lost the other half of my heart, my brother. My mom pulls me into her lap, and we sit in the doorway sobbing, letting the grief overtake our bodies.

This day, I’ll never forget, the day I buried part of my heart.

I don’t know how long Mom and I’ve been sitting on the floor, but our tears are dry and our bodies no longer quiver with sobs, and we know it’s time to move past our grief. Moving on would be what Nate would want us to do, and I think smelling his cologne was his way of letting us know that he’s watching over us. Until his death, he hadn’t been in the house since Thanksgiving, and that was five months ago.

“Hungry?” Mom asks as we pick up our bags and shut the front door.

“A little.” Not really, but if I don’t eat, she will be upset.

“Let’s work on the kitchen, then we will work on Nate’s things,” she says as she puts her bag on the couch.

I nod and follow her into the kitchen, and try to prepare myself for what is to come after we eat a late lunch.

After eating a late lunch, we get to work transferring food that friends have brought over from their dishes to plastic storage containers and freezer bags. I thought Mom was exaggerating about the amount of food she received, but I think it was an understatement. By the time we finish, it’s almost evening time.

“Mom, can we go through Nate’s things in the morning? I think it would be a good idea if we try to get some rest tonight.”

“That’s fine.”

“Why don’t you go and take a hot shower while I finish this up? I’ll put the remaining dishes in the dishwasher and we can be finished with the food.”

“That might help me relax.” She smiles softly at me while she pats my right cheek with her right hand. “I love you, Emily.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

She takes a small breath and turns to head upstairs. A few minutes pass and I hear the water turn on in her bathroom. I return to the task at hand so I can take a shower myself before I go to the room I occupied for almost nineteen years.

“K
ristin! Please get me the report on donations and grants for this quarter,” I yell into the intercom

“Yes, sir. I’ll send it to you and bring you a hard copy as well,” she replies, pleasantly, ignoring my gruffness.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The intercom clicks off.

I know Kristin will take a few minutes to bring in the reports I need, so I turn on the TV to check out the local news and weather. I’m supposed to shoot eighteen holes tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

“In local news, twenty-three year old fallen hero and Reno native Nathan Janes was laid to rest today in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. The governor and first lady paid their respects to the soldier’s family…”

My phone rings, and I miss the rest the news report on the local hero.

“Yes, Kristin?”

“Mr. Nichols called and was hoping you are available next Friday to present a check to a community center on the southwest side of town. He has to go out of town.”

“Yes, please clear my schedule for the day. I’ll spend a few hours there,” I say and instantly regret the words the moment they came out of my mouth. “Will do, sir. I’ll be in a moment.”

“Thanks.”

I hang up the phone in time to catch the tail end of the weather. “…tomorrow will be sunny and a high of eighty-two.”

“Perfect weather for a game of golf,” I say as I sit back in my chair, thinking about my life.

You’re worthless, boy
, my father’s voice echoes through my mind. His voice pushes me to better myself daily, but I find myself failing when I drown out his words in a bottle of bourbon.

Ten years ago, I’d never thought I’d be in a position like this: playing golf for work, sitting in an office that’s larger than my college dorm room, and over-looking Reno. I worked at a grocery store in high school, barely sleeping enough to stay alive, but after five years with CU Gold Company, my life has changed. I’m the CFO and in charge of donations and grants. Along with making sure CUGC follows proper accounting practices, I make sure organizations have the money to provide those less fortunate with food, water, clothing, and other necessities.

I pull my mind from my thoughts and flip the channel to CNN, trying to catch the latest stock numbers and any world news that would affect the gold market. Lost in the mindless rhetoric of the news show host, I don’t hear Kristin knock or enter my office until she’s in front of my desk.

“Thank you,” I say and sit forward in my chair as she places the sheets of paper on my desk.

She nods, and adds, “I included the projections for the next two quarters as well.”

“Perfect. Just a reminder, I’ll be on the golf course with Sanders tomorrow. If anything pressing arises, please call.”

“Yes, sir. Will you be in the office Saturday?”

“Yes, but you don’t need to come in.”

“Okay. I will make sure to leave you a detailed list of anything that needs to be handled before Monday.”

“I love your organization, Kristin. I appreciate all you do.”

“Thank you, Patrick.”

“You’re welcome. I’m going to grab lunch; do you want me to pick you up anything?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you. I might head out early today and will grab something then.”

“Okay. Call me if you change your mind.”

“Thank you. Will do.”

She walks out of my office and softly shuts the door. The kind,
mature
woman keeps my temper in check and keeps me sane. I pick up the reports she placed on my desk and lean back in my chair and my mind returns to the funeral of the fallen soldier.

I know soldier deaths are sadly almost a daily occurrence, but there was something about him. Probably because we’re close to the same age or it’s because he’s from here? I’m not sure, but refocus my attention to the reports and get the information I need for a meeting this afternoon.

At a quarter till three, I’m finished with the write up I need for my meeting with Kane Nichols, President of CU Gold Company. I arrange my desk so I know what I need to work on when I come into the office on Saturday, but knowing how my overactive mind works, I’ll return after I run my errands today.

Since I sleep here more than I do at home, I have a couch that turns into a bed as well. Up two levels is a full service fitness center, so I can shower up there, so no one but Kristin knows that I stay overnight. She makes sure I have several clean suits and other changes of clothes for me. I think of Kristin more of a mother figure than an assistant most of the time.

My office clock chimes three and I turn off the screen on my computer. I stand and walk over to grab my jacket that hangs on the back of the black leather chair facing my desk, and pick up the documents I need for my meeting with Kane. Approval from this meeting will free up a million dollars to donate to veteran services around the city. I open my office door, I see Kristin typing away at her computer, and I flip the lock on the door and pull it shut.

“Kristin, I’ll be in Kane’s office for a meeting and then I’m heading out.”

“Good luck, and have a good evening, Patrick.”

“You too.”

I confidently walk to the other side of the office building and up one floor of the massive structure, which houses main corporate workers. Each level houses a chief officer and their department. My department and I are on the eighteenth floor.

Aneesa Rose, Kane’s assistant is sitting at her desk, filing her nails. I swear the only reason he keeps her around is to look at her body. She has to be fresh out of high school. The common sense of a gnat, but she has impressive assets, not that I stare at them, much.

“Aneesa, Kane’s expecting me.”

“I’ll let him know you’re here, Mr. Matheson,” she says in between chomps of her bubble gum. She puts the nail file down and picks up the phone.

I step away from the desk so I don’t have to hear her talk and chomp gum.

“Mr. Matheson, Mr. Nichols said go on in.”

“Thank you, Aneesa.”

She nods her head and resumes filing her nails. I shake my head as I walk by her desk and enter Kane’s office. I close the door behind me and think to myself,
I’m going to nail this proposal
.

“Patrick, good seeing you, what can I do for you?”

“Well,” I begin, “I found a few non-for-profits that could really use some help…” I laid out the plan in front of him, knocking the presentation out of the park.

“Sounds like you’ve done the figures. I’ll run it by the board, but I’m sure that they won’t have a problem, especially since a few of the guys are retired military.”

“Great. I have copies of these numbers in my office, so I’ll leave everything with you.”

“I’ll let you know tomorrow after we meet,” Kane says, putting the file in his portfolio.

“That works. I will be out of the office. I’m playing a round of golf with Sanders tomorrow.”

“Ah, so you’re the poor SOB that got roped into that.” He shakes his head, feeling slightly sorry for me.

“Have to keep the man happy.” I smirk.

“He has a killer swing after a few beers. Keep him sober if you want to win.” He chuckles.

“Thanks for the heads up,” I say with a laugh. “Have a good evening.”

“You too, Patrick. We’ll be in touch tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” I walk out of the office and see Aneesa is still doing her nails. I chuckle to myself, as I walk down the stairs to the parking garage to retrieve my car. Time to grab an early dinner and a few drinks at the tavern down the road, because tonight I’ll be here working on other financial reports that need to be turned in next week.