Chapter One #2
Darkness had fallen like an early theater curtain call across the city dubbed the ‘City That Never Sleeps.’ Although in her little corner of that world, Ally knew that at least it slowed down after dark when people arrived home and suppers had begun, homework was started, and tired feet were allowed to slow before the next shift.
In her case, they were off to the tiny stone-fronted church three blocks away.
It had become a weekly ritual for the last four years of her life.
She often accompanied Annie to services following much encouragement from the woman after she had accepted her generous offer of a roof over head one rainy afternoon.
It turned out to be a godsend, a miracle of sorts, that their paths had crossed in that moment.
And there have been more such moments over the years.
Annie had taught her to believe and have faith, and to be able to use the strength she had built inside to be the impetus to reach for more than she thought she could ever expect.
Ally knew she had more work to do on that score, but she would have to do it alone now.
Thursday evenings were the time she was expected to be at the small church.
The routine was automatic for her and Teddy.
They would enter down the flight of steps at the side of the building.
Down a short hallway filled with coatracks for outerwear, then the smell of hot chocolate would greet them, fresh-baked cookies still in ovens would soon be ready for their breaks or after the choir rehearsals.
Ally knew she was lucky to be able to have Teddy join her but the students in her children’s choir had vocally pleaded with Pastor Nesbitt and the man had succumbed to Teddy’s big eyes with his own plea.
Teddy had a box with a comfy pillow underneath the piano in the small rehearsal room.
He took his spot and only came out at break time when Ally gave permission.
Then he enjoyed doggie biscuits while the humans had the cookies.
Annie would often come along and sit in the back, eyes closed, smile on her face, as she enjoyed the sweet angelic voices learning the hymns of her own childhood.
She had given Ally the courage to say yes when the pastor had asked one day, two years ago, to take over the choir.
She had taken a big step in her mind. And had been rewarded with such joy ever since.
But what she still found hard to believe was that others found her voice to be worthy of attention.
While she would use it to teach the children and to hide behind others in the adult choir when needed, there was no way she would agree when the pastor would ask her to perform a solo at Sunday service. Baby steps.
The group of eight students, ranging from five to nine in age, three boys and six girls, came bustling in, with hugs for Ally and pats on the head for Teddy, who then retreated under the piano.
Maggie Davis, a retired schoolteacher and their volunteer pianist came in soon after and it was down to business.
Ally loved this part of her day, and it was why Thursdays were special.
Although she was acutely aware of the empty chair at the back of the room.
Or maybe it wasn’t. She tried to think along those lines, but it was still too raw a loss of such a magical and strong spirit.
“The voices of angels! That’s what I hear in this room, Miss Ally.
” The short, rotund man stepped into the room on the last stanza of the song right before cookie break.
His words trailed behind the announcement of the cookies and milk being served in the dining hall.
With a smile and nod at the children’s expectant look in her direction, the room was quickly emptied of little bodies.
“Thank you, Mr. Jacobs. Forgive the thundering herd that just heard the call to the goodies. They are all treasures to be sure.”
“Indeed, they are and so have you been to them.” He smiled as he came to stand beside the piano. “Beautiful accompaniment also.” Of course, he was a little partial as the pianist was his sister.
She stood and shook her head. “Well, the pianist needs some sustenance also. I’ll leave you two to follow the herd and myself.” She left them.
“You aren’t in the mood for cookies?” Ally asked as she noted the man seemed to have something on his mind as he continued to stand with a thoughtful look on his features. Annie always referred to it as his ‘lawyerly look.’
“In a few minutes,” he responded. “I do need to have a few words with you. About Annie’s last wishes and her will.”
Ally felt a sudden sense of losing her appetite as her stomach tightened. It was a natural reflex she had developed, which often heralded not so good news. First law of preservation…make the first move.
“What’s the bad news? No use waiting on that.”
His small smile twitched a bit under his mustache. “I just wanted to make certain you could still make the formal reading tomorrow. And the specific instructions to you will follow.”
“Yes, I took a couple of hours off. I’ll be there on time.”
“That’s good. And don’t worry, my girl. Annie was indeed of a sound mind and thought everything out to the last detail.
You know you can always trust her to know best. Now I am going to grab a cookie and my granddaughter and get home.
Have a good sleep tonight and be safe going home.
” He gave her a fatherly pat on the arm and left her.
Ally sat down on the piano bench. Teddy sensed something and moved to sit at her feet, his eyes watching her movements.
With one hand she rubbed over his soft fur and tickled behind one of his floppy ears.
“It’s silly to wish that tomorrow was behind us, I know.
We will get through it. Same as always.” She just wished she felt as certain as she was trying to sound out loud.
Annie had always had the ability to sound confident and look for the silver linings and all the good things.
Ally wished she could have bequeathed to her those attributes in her will.
Why hadn’t they had more time for her to learn more from Annie?
Annie…the woman who had risked a chance on taking an orphan from the streets of New York under her wing, giving her a roof, a job, and an opportunity for a better life.
Ally had left that uncertain, frightened mouse of her young self behind thanks to Annie’s tutelage.
Only she hadn’t taught her by book lessons and tests.
She had taught her by living life each day…
facing good and bad and making the best choices.
When she failed, she learned from it. And she never repeated her mistakes again.
And facing another night in an empty apartment with just herself and Teddy was only the beginning of yet another lesson.
Sleep wasn’t all that much after they returned home.
With Teddy on constant watch from his bed beside hers, she didn’t close her eyes until the early morning hours.
Arriving at her first job as cashier at a popular bakery and café right off Broadway, she felt the effects by mid-morning.
Then she had to rush to be on time to meet the five-year-old twins she did after-school sitting with at one o’clock.
By the time their aunt arrived to take over since Ally had arranged to leave before six due to her meeting with Mr. Jacobs, she was filled with both a headache and a draining tiredness.
She knew a lot of it had to do with anxiety that overshadowed the lack of sleep and uncertainty of what was to come.
The secretary showed her right to Mr. Jacobs’s office upon her arrival.
“Come in, my dear. Have a seat. You are punctual as always.” He spoke from behind his massive oak desk strewn with papers and open law books and empty coffee cups. “What would you like Clara to get you? Coffee, soft drink…”
“I’m fine. I just need to hear what you have to tell me.”
“I see. I can understand. There are several things to get through so let’s just jump right in.” He slid his glasses from the top of his head to rest on the bridge of his nose. He picked up the top paper from the stack in front of him and cleared his throat.
He read the brief will about Annie being of sound mind et cetera and Ally listened to each word. Then he paused and she knew that the real items were about to begin.
“I’ll summarize a lot of this, and you will have a copy of all these papers handed to you by Clara when you leave.
But let’s get to the main points. You are her beneficiary of all she left.
There are a few requests of odds and ends she left to certain acquaintances and those will be dealt with.
I am the executor, and my office will help you in any way we can. ”
“She left me her apartment?” Ally managed to ask that question for her own peace of mind. But it didn’t elicit the answer she hoped.
“She left you instructions on what she wanted done with it. While it would certainly be correct for you to think that it was part of her estate, she left instructions to you for what she wanted. She wants the apartment to be sold. In fact, she had already secured a person who wanted to give the asking price and take possession of it as soon as possible.”
“What am I to do? Where do I go? I don’t…” She stopped when he held up his hand.
“Annie knew that you would not need the apartment, but you would need the money from its sale plus her savings to handle her wishes for what she needed you to do. I will simply list it and then we can discuss the questions you might have.”
Ally fell silent. Her world had imploded even more than she had dreaded. And there was more to come.
“Annie’s cremated remains are to be taken, by you, to Destiny’s River, Texas. I believe she had often thought of it and shared her feelings about it with you?”
Ally could only nod in agreement. How was she to make this happen?
“As you know, she has an automobile stored on the outskirts of the city. I believe she gave you driving lessons in it. Anyway, I have seen that it is in top condition and ready to transport you and her to Texas. She ensured that you would have more than enough funds to take the trip, and then to set you up for a year once you leave Destiny’s River…
should you want to do so. She wrote instructions as to what you were to do once you arrived there.
And she also left another letter for you to read in hopes of understanding why she placed this…
her final wish on this earth…in your trusted hands.
“She never had children or any family to speak of over these many years, until there was you. We had many talks over that time, she and I, and I can say with all candor that she saw you as her family. She was proud of you, how hard you worked, how much you cared for others and herself, and she wanted nothing but to leave you well able to continue to find your own dreams. But first, you’ll take her where her heart never left.
To the place she always considered home even though she was so far from it in miles.
Rest this evening and read her words and then call me.
You and I will begin this journey to send you on your path to Texas. ”
It seemed with each step she took from the lawyer’s office to the subway…
the same word kept repeating in her head.
Texas. She had listened to the stories Annie told of her life there.
It always seemed like a far-off country in Ally’s mind.
One she never imagined ever to see. Now she was expected to make the trip on her own to this foreign land.
It was so far away from what she knew. From anyone who knew her or she them.
But it was Annie’s request of her. The last one she would ever make.
And she hadn’t ever asked much of herself while she was alive.
But Ally owed her so much. Taking her to where she’d longed to be for so many years. And then leaving her there.
It would be very hard. But she would do this last thing for the only person who had showed her what it was she wanted…to have memories like Annie did of a beautiful place where love grew, and people were welcomed, and families could flourish and grow. Texas. Would it welcome her, too?