And Along Came Jake (23 page)

A short time later, the funeral home representatives came by, offered their condolences and commenced to wrap his body in a white sheet. As they did so, they gently took his hand, moving it away from the top of the old shoebox, and placed both his hands across his chest, while continuing to shroud his body. After they transferred him to the gurney, they offered their condolences once more, and took his body away.

The four convened in the living room, and Jake grabbed the old shoebox from the bed, placing it on the coffee table. He slowly removed the lid, and all four peeked inside. It was filled with pictures from when Big Paul and his wife were younger. There were letters and notes they wrote to each other. There was also an old diary that belonged to his wife Jenny when she was a teenager.

After looking through Big Paul's cherished memories for about a half hour, they began calling friends and family, to alert them of Big Paul's passing. Later that afternoon, they all went to the funeral home to make arrangements for the burial.

They chose a beautiful royal blue casket, flowers and a headstone to mark his place. The funeral service and burial would take place on Tuesday, December 5th, behind the old barn, where Big Paul would be laid to rest next to the other town's hero, Todd Beven.

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The following evening, Madison, now eight months pregnant, was lying on the couch with her feet up and her head resting on Jake's lap. The radio was quietly playing in the background, as they were both lost in their own thoughts. They were startled from a sudden knock at their door.

"Coming!" Jake shouted, trying to help his pregnant wife to sit up.

"Ahh!" Madison exclaimed, as her husband quickly stood up. "Quit moving Jake, my hair's caught in your belt buckle!"

"Well get it out! I gotta' get the door!" he said.

"How can I? I can't even see it!" she argued.

"Okay, hold still, I'll get my pocket knife and cut it free!"

"Jake Henry Patterson! I swear, if you so much as cut one hair, I'll take that pocket knife of yours and––"

"Alright, alright!" he huffed. He yelled again, so the person waiting at the door would hear "Just a minute please!"

"Ahh! What are you doing?" She asked, as she squealed in pain.

"I'm trying to take my belt off, now hold still!"

"How can I hold still with you moving all around? My head doesn't just pop on and off, you know!"

"Okay––there, I got it!" Jake said, freeing his wife, who was making a face and rubbing her head.

For such a sad moment in time, the person outside their door couldn't help but giggle from the commotion going on inside the house. The visitor obviously couldn't see their actions but what he heard had him reeling with laughter.

"Don't just stand there looking at me, help me up. I don't want whoever that is to see me lying on the couch like a bum!"

"Alright!" He said, as he grabbed one of her arms and began to pull.

"Jake Patterson!" she said sternly, after being yanked up to the sitting position. "Does the phrase 'gently-I'm pregnant' mean anything to you?"

"Sorry Maddie, I was just––"

"Would you just get the door Jake?" She instructed, as she shook her head, cracked a smile and tried to sit up straight, while fixing her hair to the best of her abilities.

Jake went towards the door; quickly patted his hair, took a deep breath, smiled and opened it. "Everything alright in there, Jake?" Tommy Holliday asked.

"Oh, hi Tommy. Everything's swell, come on in." he replied, as they shook hands.

"Thanks." Tommy said, taking off his hat, and nodding politely at Madison "Hello ma'am."

"Hi Mr. Holliday, would you like something to drink? Coffee, water, iced tea?"

"Coffee would be just fine ma'am, thank you." he said, as he sat on one of the living room chairs.

"Sorry I haven't been by the shop lately " Jake said. "It's been real hectic around here, coming home from Europe, taking care of Big Paul, now getting things ready for the funeral and the arrival of our baby."

"That's alright Jake, everything's just fine at the shop." Tommy said.

"Here you go, Tommy." Madison said handing him a hot cup of coffee on a saucer. "Careful, I just made it, it's really hot."

"Thank you, ma'am." he said as he took a sip and raised his eye brows. "Wow this is good––strong, but good."

"So, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" Madison asked, as she sat back down on the couch.

"Well ma'am, I actually came by to deliver this envelope to Jake." he said, handing him a large sealed envelope.

"To Jake, from Big Paul." Jake read aloud. "I don't get it, what's in it?" he asked.

"No clue." Tommy said, as he shrugged his shoulders. "While you were in Europe, Big Paul told me to give this to you, in the event something happened to him."

"Well go on honey, open it." Madison said.

Jake carefully opened the envelope, pulling out one sheet of paper titled
'Paul Sutton's last will and testament.'
As his eyes skimmed over the notarized, handwritten will, he slowly began to tear up.

"What does it say, honey?" Madison asked.

Jake took a long breath and sighed. "He left everything to us, all of it! His house, his money, his furniture store—everything."

"So, boss…" Tommy said, with a smile on his face. "Do I still have a job?"

"While I was at war and in the hospital, Big Paul and I wrote to each other a few times, and he would always tell me what a good worker you were, and how your craftsmanship was excellent." Jake said. "Big Paul liked you a lot, Tommy. He trusted you—so let me ask, how would you feel about managing the store? I mean, you're practically doing it already—you're just not getting the pay."

"I'd love that, but what about Edwin? He's been there a lot longer than me."

"Don't worry about Edwin, he'll be okay. So what do you say?

"Well, umm… yes of course! Thank you Jake!"

"Jake, would you come here a second." Madison asked, then whispered something in his ear.

Jake smiled. "So are you and your wife still living in that cramped apartment above Smitty's store?"

For now." he nodded. "Once we get her medical bills all paid, we're gonna look for something bigger. It's real difficult living in a 400 square foot apartment, with a bathroom just big enough to turn around in."

"What would you say if I offered to have you and your wife to live in Big Paul's house?"

"Wow, that would be so wonderful! My wife loves that house. How much would the rent be?" he asked.

"Tell you what, Tommy. You pay the utility bills and the property taxes at the end of the year, and don't worry about the rent."

Tommy was stunned and silent for a moment. "I––I don't know what to say. Are you sure, Jake?"

"We're brothers, not blood brothers, but military brothers. We look after one another. You can move in as soon as we get the place sorted out, and hey, maybe this will help get those medical bills paid a little sooner. Don't feel bad, I'm sure this is what Big Paul would've wanted… all he ever did was try to help people in need."

"Thanks Jake!" Tommy exclaimed "Sarah and I greatly appreciate this! I'm sure you two can expect some of Mrs.'s Holliday's goodies, she loves to bake, and she's the best!"

"That sounds great, Tommy" Jake said "I can't wait to have a taste––"

"Jake!" Madison interrupted. "I need your help to get up, honey. I need to go to the little girls room, again. Sorry Tommy."

"Quite alright ma'am. I've got two grown kids of my own, I definitely remember those days. Well, I guess I'll be going, thanks again Jake!" Tommy said.

Jake assured him it was the least he could do, then shook his hand and thanked him for stopping by. He went to Madison, and helped her up, watching her as she waddled to the bathroom. He smiled as he heard her say under her breath, how this baby needed to hurry and come out soon.

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The next few days went by way too fast, and at about ten on a cold and snowy Tuesday morning, it appeared the entire town of Blackwater was beginning to congregate behind the old barn, for Big Paul's funeral.

Paul Sutton spent his last days talking more about life than he did about death.  However, one particular conversation with Jake and Madison, he discussed his burial wishes. He asked to be buried in Blackwater. Jake and Madison told him when the time came, they would make arrangements for him to be buried alongside his wife, Jenny. Big Paul told them the surrounding plots were already occupied, but he smiled big, and let them know that Jenny was already with him, that she would always be with him. He told them the body is nothing more than a shell, and that he and Jenny were inseparable; they've been together since the day they met, and will remain together for all eternity. Big Paul liked the idea of being buried behind the old barn, and said that he'd be honored to have his final resting place next to Todd Beven, a man who gave his life to save others.

The six foot deep hole where Big Paul would be put to rest, was dug the day before, a few feet away from Blackwater's hero Todd Beven, the immigrant from Wales who risked his life to save the Tanner family who took him in, employed him, and let him live in the old barn in the late eight-teen hundreds.

As it neared 11:00 a.m., everyone gathered around and watched the pallbearers: Jake, Edwin, Tommy, Smitty, Mr. Brierly and Mr. Dobbins, slowly carry the casket from the hurst, to a platform set above the grave.

The minister stood to the right of the casket, and began to read a few passages from the Bible. He also shared a conversation he had with Big Paul only two weeks ago, asking Big Paul a simple question about his life. The minister lightly chuckled when he told them Big Paul's reply. He said Big Paul looked him straight in the eye, and told him he lived a good life, he loved a wonderful woman, and made some great friends along the way.

The minister pulled out an old folded up sheet of paper from the inside pocket of his black trench coat. He put his reading glasses on, and told those gathered, that Big Paul wanted to offer one last piece of advice before his body was lowered and buried beneath the earth. The minister told them the letter he was about to read, was very dear to Big Paul, it was a letter his Grandmother gave him when he was only a baby, she wrote it just a few short days before she died. He said this letter really helped him through life, and was probably why he lived such a full life with little to no regrets. Big Paul told him the only regret he could remember, was not having a chance to make amends with his father, before his father passed away. The minister cleared his throat, and began to read the letter aloud.

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To my only Grandson - Paul Sutton,

Paul, my beautiful Paul, I'm looking at you sleeping so peacefully in your crib. It's almost 2:00 a.m., and I'm sitting on the old rocking chair that your Grandpa built for me, when your father was just a baby. Unfortunately, you will never have a chance to know me, for I am very ill, and I can feel my body slipping away from me. Oh, how I wish I had more time with you, to watch you grow and to hear your voice. Nevertheless, I'm writing this letter to leave you a small piece of advice. Please Paul, never forget this advice, and I hope you will pass it on to those you love as well.

My advice to you is this, Live your life to the fullest, and try to live with little to no regrets as possible. Because when you get old, your mind will begin to wonder one simple question, 'What If?' What if I did this or that? What if I had the courage to tell that special someone my true feelings? What if I stood my ground? What if I took time out of my busy day to sit and listen to someone? What if? What if? What if?

Many people don't take chances or chase their dreams, because they're afraid they'll fail or be rejected. Some are afraid what they're trying to do may not work out the way they planned, so the easy thing to do, is to do nothing at all. But Paul, listen to me, take the chance, because if you never take the chance, then you'll never know the outcome, and not knowing the outcome, can sometimes haunt you.

If you take the chance, and the outcome isn't what you hoped for, or wanted—well, at least you'll know how it turned out, so later on, when you're my age, you won't be asking yourself the questions I ask myself all the time, and that question is, 'What if.' What would have happened if I did this or that? Or said this or that? If you never do, and you never ask; then you'll never know, and you'll always wonder.

There are no do-overs in life, Paul. Sure there are second chances, and no matter what happens, God will always work things out for the good. But I'm talking about living your life to the fullest. Don't let missed opportunities pass you by. Opportunity is like a dog with a stubby tail, trying to run past you. If you don't catch him while he's right there in front of you, by the time you finally decide to turn around, and get him by the tail, he'll be long gone, and will never come back.

If you ever do have a regret, or feel sad because you didn't do or say something, please Paul, don't spend your whole life beating yourself up over it, just pick yourself back up and continue to go forward, learning from your mistakes and passing it on to those you love.