Sunday Oct 14

Bobbie got up early and made coffee and tea and had some muffins in the oven by the time anyone woke up. Charlie came down shortly after.

Pouring his coffee he said “Hey Mom. I’m sorry about last night, we’re all a little raw. I can totally see you and Dad running a motel. Anyway, June and Jenny and the kids are coming and should be here after lunch. The minivan will fit everyone and then Eddy and I will each have a vehicle here. Oh, and Jamie’s bringing Mom.”

The loss of Bobbie’s Dad a few months earlier wasn’t a surprise. He was almost 80 and had lived a good life but they were all still feeling a sadness. Her mother was retired from her practice, was still Emeritus at the University, and sat on the Planned Parenthood board. Bobbie’s brother Jamie was going to pick her up and Bobbie would drive back with her to Crow Harbour after the service and stay for a few days. The motel she and Alex bought had quite a large apartment above the restaurant but it wasn’t habitable and Bobbie had the plans that they had sketched up together for fixing it up. She wanted to stay with her Mom until it was ready.

June and Jen arrived at Bobbies shortly after one o’clock and Bobbie was glad for the company and excited to see the kids. They were all a few inches taller and sticky from eating junk food in the car. Jamie and his partner Jarrod and Florence arrived right behind them.

Jarrod hugged June. “I think we followed the Orlov van all the way from exit 4”. Jarrod was Jamie’s partner and always had a shock of blond hair. As he approached 50 it was thinning and he had gamely shaved it off. Bobbie thought he never looked better.

Jamie was 2 years her junior and looked like her, he was tall with broad shoulders and had expressive brown eyes, dark greying hair, pale skin and had a neatly trimmed reddish, greying beard.

Jamie pulled her aside “When we went to pick up Mom she wasn’t ready yet and Jarrod had to help her get packed. I don’t think she’d eaten for a while and she had no food on hand. We had to grab lunch on the way here.”

Bobby really wanted to see her Mom. “Jamie, I can’t imagine Mum being unprepared or late. Do you ever visit her? Is this something new?”

Jamie looked a little sheepish. “We’ve been really busy and I don’t like going over there…it’s weird without Dad.”

Florence, with her almost white hair and her trim petite figure, walked though the door, she looked great and Bobbie was amazed that her only sign of aging was white hair; she remembered it being red. Florence moved next to Bobbie and said, “You poor lamb what a horrible and tragic shock. Alex was just about to start the rest of his life.”

Bobbie sighed in relief, “Oh Mom!” and for the first time in 36 hours she felt like she might survive.

The activity level in the house increased, The 6 year old red headed twin boys were a little hyper from being cooped up in the car and and 15 month old Suzi missed her nap and was crabby. Laura and Niko (2.5 years old) were out of sorts too. Laura was the dark haired image of her dad and Niko had thick dark hair and soft almond eyes, they always became inseparable when they were together.

Jenny sighed and said, “Nobody slept in the car on the trip here. They were scared to miss anything so they are all a bit crabby.”

The uncles took turns giving pony rides and throwing the kids around, which cheered everyone up and the twins were sniffing around the food that neighbours were dropping off all day. Bobby was glad that she didn’t have to serve pizza again, not that she could eat anyway.

Jen and Bobbie cleaned up the kitchen and tried to make room in the fridge for all the food.

“Alex can go get the cooler from the garage,” Bobbie said. Jen looked at her suspiciously and Bobbie realized what she said. “Oh my God, I’m sorry I didn’t think, I’m not thinking, I’m sorry.” She dropped her dish towel and walked upstairs trying not to draw attention to herself.

Her mom found her sitting on the bed. “I forgot for a minute,” and she started to weep.

“Bobbie you’re so wound up, why don’t you take one of these and have a nap. I’ll come get you for supper.” Bobbie didn’t even ask what it was and swallowed the pill and got up for dinner a few hours later.

Jamie and Jarrod wisely booked a room at City Hotel, said good night and left.

And the rest of them made it to bed time and pillows and blankets were found and just like at Christmas everyone found their beds. Little Suzy even asked if there would be turkey tomorrow.

“Oh Mom,” Bobbie said a little sadly, “they’re are acting like this is a big party or holiday. I feel so guilty that I’m so happy to see them when Alex is missing it all.”

“I know how you feel Bobbie. Maybe that’s why I didn’t want to attend your retirement party,” said her mother. “I see now it’s how we all deal with it together. You deserve to be happy.”

Bobby sighed knowing her mom was right.

Bobbie and her Mom were sharing the prime bedroom, it was a king sized bed that was actually two super singles pushed together and the night before, a sleepless Bobbie pulled them apart and made them up separately. With her Mom close by, Bobbie actually got a good sleep.

Monday Morning Oct18

Bobbie woke early anticipating a lot of cleaning up. She was surprised when she went to start the coffee and saw it was already dripping, Charlie left a note saying he set the coffee to be ready at 06:00 and Eddy (who was a night owl) loaded up the dishwasher and cleaned all the big platters. Bobbie had a few moments to collect herself.

She wanted to get her sons to go through Alex’s things with her, she really needed to do this before they left. She hoped it wasn’t too soon. She was a little panicky about the whole motel deal and it was more urgent to sell the house. She tried to convince herself that she was going through with it.

Bobbie was not left to her own thoughts long. She heard some giggles and Niko and Laura appeared at the top of the stairs. They rushed down and breathlessly asked for juice. Bobby got 2 of the ‘special’ water bottles from the cupboard, they were special because they had pictures of Disney princesses on them and they only held water, not juice. The girls were happy with the water and moved into the family room. Bobby took her coffee with her and sat down beside them on the couch and turned on the TV to cartoons on a low volume.

“Gramma,” said Laura, “I’m sorry Grampa died”.

“I’m sorry too,” whispered Niko, “are you sad?”

Bobbie smiled “I am sad, we will all miss Grandpa but he didn’t like when people were sad for too long so we wouldn’t be sad forever.”

“Grandpa used to tickle us when we were sad.”

Alex always tried to keep the peace and when one of the kids was having a tantrum he’d try and cajole them into better humour and quite often could turn crying into giggles.

“That’s right,” Bobbie put down her coffee, “he’d probably tickle us all right now!” And they all had a few tickles and laughing and shrieking ensued. They woke up the twins because they came down the stairs and piled on.

Charlie and Eddie came down the stairs next and ‘pile on Gramma’ was over. Bobbie made more coffee and tea and started making pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Breakfast was over by nine and the kids were looking at books and dug out some old toys and cartoons were on so were mostly settled. June and Jen were in the kitchen and Florence was feeding Suzy in the high chair.

“I know this is crazy soon but I don’t know when you guys will be back here again. I want to go through your Dad’s things. I want to make sure you have something of his.”

“Mom, he’s only been gone 2 days!”

“It will help me Charlie, I simply can’t do this alone.”

They went upstairs into Alex’s closet and opened his dresser. Bobbie got several clear garbage bags. Her plan was to have 4 piles; one for her, one for Charlie, one for Eddy and one for donation. The top drawer had all of Alex’s jewellery, yes he had jewellery, he was an Orlov and had rings, chains, watches and cuff-links. The boys each picked a watch, a couple rings and a set of cuff-links.

Bobbie took the rest. I’ll keep this stuff and make sure the kids inherit some and give some as Christmas presents just like your Dad was doing anyway. Uncle Jamie can reset some of the stones too.”

They moved on to the second drawer, it had socks, knitted socks made by Bobbie. Alex wore them every day.

“Eddy and I wear your socks in our crocks at work every day too.”

They moved to his closet and pulled out Alex’s two Tuxedos. One was older and a bit smaller (and would probably fit Charlie) and she convinced them to each take one and to get them professionally tailored so they fit.

Charlie moved out of the closet and sat on the bed. Bobbie sensed he was troubled.

“Oh Charlie,” she said, and put her arm around him.

“It’s just a lot Mom, I don’t see why we have to do this now. You know Dad; he was always ‘there’ and everything feels so small and empty without him.”

“I know it’s hard Charlie, we’re all trying to figure out how to fill the hole your father left but I need to do this with you both here”.

Eddy came out and said, “I was just thinking how Dad would have enjoyed this. I mean us together looking at his things. He loved to give gifts.”

Bobbie nodded her head in agreement, “He got that from his parents, they loved to give gifts too, the more extravagant the better!”

Alex’s Parents:

Alex was the only son of Raisa and Maxim. Raisa from Russia, arrived in Crow Harbour 1949 but Maxim was born in Crow Harbour from first generation Russian parents with a bit of a mysterious past. Alex’s grandparents brought with them jewellery that been given to them by a wealthy family during the Russian revolution. Grandpa was a jeweller who trained in Russia and was also an accomplished gold smith, who opened a shop in downtown Crow Harbour City that Maxim inherited. There was a large apartment above that shop. When they first started dating, Bobbie and Alex got into the habit of visiting them every Friday night for dinner.

The first night, she made and brought a batch of fudge, thinking that Mrs. Orlov could serve it for dessert or keep for later and Mrs. Orlov was gracious. Then she spent a large part of the meal explaining how she was a weight watcher and already lost quite a bit of weight. Bobbie gamely raved about the low fat meal and surreptitiously reclaimed the plate of fudge from the kitchen. The next Friday, Bobbie made a fruit salad that was a hit all around.

Mrs. Orlov didn’t really cook and Mr. Orlov just picked up take out meals to re-plate onto their fancy dishes and serve. Bobbie continued alternating fruit salad and cheese plates for their dinners. The Orlovs insisted she come to dinner even when Alex was travelling and Bobbie started bringing friends and family like her friend Barb with her. Barb seemed to set everyone at ease with her straightforward confidence and the Orlov’s enjoyed her company.

Bobbie also brought her younger brother Jamie to the Orlov’s dinner, he (like Alex) especially liked the Chinese food nights and would talk to Mr. Orlov about goldsmithing and his business late into the evening. It wasn’t long before he was working part time for Mr. Orlov, learning the trade and since Jamie lived and breathed photography he experimented with taking detailed pictures of the products for flyers and newspaper adds. They also enlarged a selection of photographs to decorate the windows and walls of the shop.

Bobbie didn’t know the extent of the Orlov’s wealth or generosity until the first Christmas they celebrated together. They agreed to go to Bobbies family home for Christmas dinner and it was a perfect night where the Orlov’s and her parents got along really well. It got a little awkward when Mrs. Orlov drew 2 small wrapped gifts from her bag. One was for Bobbie and one was for Florence. Bobbie’s was a beautiful Gold and ruby necklace and her Mom unwrapped a large white gold and emerald dinner ring.

They were stunned and before they could say anything Mrs. Orlov smiled and said, “Please accept or gifts. We have so enjoyed your bounty and want you to share ours.” Then there was hugging and much appreciation of the sparklies.

Bobbie looked around a minute. “Thanks boys, I’ll go though the rest of Dad’s things later. There are coats and suits and jackets and sweaters but I’ll pick ones you two might like and donate the rest.”

Charlie and Eddy looked relieved. “What’s the rush anyway Mum?”

“Well I have to sell this place, I just can’t stay here without him. I’m planning to live with your Grandma for a while. I think she could use the company. If I worked like a beaver and get the house on the market as soon as possible it will still be a few months before I can move. I’m hoping to finish up with ComCan and have the house sold by December and then help Mom host Christmas for everyone this year.”

“It would be great that you will be back in Crow Harbour City but do you really have to sell the house so soon?”

Bobbie decided not to answer. Her sons’ memories of their father were so tied up in the house. Truthfully, so were hers. Was she running away ? She wondered if she could keep the promise she made about Christmas in her Mom’s house, it might stir up too many ghosts.