Kate was just putting the table together for breakfast when the doorbell rang. Josh was outdoors with his daughter Emily, so she answered the phone. A delivery man stood on the doorstep with a box that was about the same size as a medium box. He gave her the sheet to sign and said, “Here’s your package.” She thought it was a gift from Josh because he liked to surprise her with little things, especially since their wedding anniversary was coming up shortly.
She took the gift to the kitchen, cut through the heavy tape, and opened it. Inside was a wonderful pillow with beautiful motifs sewn onto silky cream cotton. It was just what they needed for their living room. Taylor scribbled, “Happy Anniversary, Josh and Kate!” on a message below it.
Kate
stopped moving. Taylor, Josh’s father, had left his life years ago and left a lot of anger behind.
Josh walked in with Emily on his shoulders at that time. He put his kid in her high chair and said, “What’s this?” Kate wasn’t sure. “It’s a gift,” she responded slowly. “From your dad.”
Josh’s face got darker. He read the note after picking it up. It was hard to understand his relationship with Taylor because it was so small. Josh’s dad left him and his mom when he was just seven years old to be with another woman. Taylor had not only left the family emotionally, but he had also been gambling, running dishonest money schemes, and doing other things that a youngster shouldn’t have been around. His childhood ended the day Josh left. “A father should choose his family, Kate,” he informed her years later at dinner. But mine picked himself.
Taylor
had tried to get back together a few times, such when he called family before their wedding. Josh said no. He said, “I don’t want him there.” “He’s going to mess everything up.” Someone will go to the event because they owe him money. Taylor attempted to be a nice grandfather again once Emily was born. Josh swiftly switched it off. “I don’t want him to be near her.” Kate, don’t argue with me about this. He is not a nice thing.
Kate believed Josh was just being suspicious, like he often was, when he picked up the pillow and put it to his ear. But his eyes were wide open in fear. “Kate, we can’t keep this.” He ran to the back door and threw the pillow into the yard. “It’s making a noise!”
Kate blinked. “What do you mean by ticking?” They hurriedly ran outside. There was a cushion on the ground in the flowers that made a nice, steady sound. She bent down and put her ear to it. Josh didn’t believe it, but there was certainly a ticking sound coming from inside.
Josh said, “Record everything,” with a tense jaw. He tore the cushion open, and a little box with a timer in it fell out. Kate’s heart raced. “What is that?”
Josh didn’t say anything at all. He called his dad on the phone. Taylor answered the phone with a smile, as if he had been waiting for it. “Kate!” Did you get the box I sent you? I wanted to do something nice for you.
When Kate said, “There’s a box inside,” her voice shook. “ It is making a noise. What is it?
Taylor chuckled gently. “Don’t worry.” It’s merely a timer that should go off on your anniversary. There is no danger.
Josh snatched Kate’s phone. What is in the box, Dad? Is that against the law? Are you asking us to aid you with your problems again? He was so angry that his voice broke.
“Please, Josh,” Taylor begged, his voice suddenly sounding tired. “It’s only a gift.” I don’t want to hurt you.
After a long time, Josh hung up. Kate carefully put her hand on his arm. “Let’s open it together,” she said in a low voice.
Josh nodded, but only because he didn’t want to. Kate started recording again with her phone. He opened the package with a pry bar. There was a check inside. There was no card or present, just a cheque for $100,000.
Josh looked at it like it was about to catch fire. He said in a low voice, “What kind of game is this?” “This money can’t be clean.”
Before they could talk about it more, Taylor called again. Kate said something. As he spoke, it seemed like his voice was going to break. “I’m dying,” he said. “I know I wasn’t a good father.” I made a lot of mistakes, too many to count. But that money is for you and Emily. To assist her get it. If Josh doesn’t want it, you can keep it. You don’t have to tell anyone that I handed it to you.
Kate took a deep breath. She looked at Josh, who looked like he was angry, bewildered, and sad all at once. He had been convincing himself for years that the best way to protect his family was to quit communicating to his father. But there was something in Taylor’s voice that made it hard to ignore.
He answered the phone. He told her, “Stop playing games if you’re serious.” “We’ll meet up.” One time. And you will tell me the truth.
They were going to meet at a park where Josh and Kate often took Emily. Josh was nervous that day and couldn’t stop moving his hands. Josh didn’t recognize Taylor when he came in. He appeared weak because his shoulders were hunched and his hair was thinning. He slowly moved toward them, his eyes full of pain.
“I’m so sorry,” Taylor murmured as he sat down. “I let you and your mother down. Because I was selfish, I messed up everything. But I don’t have much time left, and I don’t want to leave without at least trying to fix it.
Josh’s jaw got tight. He felt like he had been angry for years, but he also felt something else: a strong yearning to end things. He finally said, “It’s not easy, Dad.” “But we might be able to try it.” For Emily. So she knows that her grandfather was more than simply a ghost.
Kate pulled out the picnic basket she had brought with her because she knew how heavy the situation was. Emily got sandwiches, juice boxes, and fruit. It gave them something to think on other than all the years of anger. Emily crawled across the blanket while laughing, and Taylor cried as he watched.
Josh held Kate’s hand tightly as they left the park that afternoon. He wasn’t really smiling, but something inside him had calmed down. “Maybe it’s good that pillow came,” he said in a hushed voice.
Not yet; it wasn’t time to let go. But that was only the beginning.