Smile
~November 2009~ The harsh ringing of the bedside phone dragged Dominic Riefen from his slumber, on the one morning of the week he allowed himself to sleep in. Groaning, he rolled over in the cocoon he had made of the sheets. �Hello?� He croaked. �Mr. Riefen? This is Ethan Sinclair, Ms. Monroe�s attorney.� Dominic sat up quickly, hoping that Allison hadn�t decided to sue him for deserting her as she�d once threatened. He had barely spoken to his partner since they�d bumped into each other in Italy during the 2006 Olympics. He and Maija, now entering their fifth year of marriage, had been bouncing around the world with work and in the attempt to adopt a baby. There simply hadn�t been much time for visiting friends. �Yes?� �I�m afraid I have some rather distressing news. Ms. Monroe passed away yesterday evening. I�m very sorry sir.� If Dominic had been standing, he would have fallen over. As it was, he sank back against the headboard, utterly drained of energy. Ever since he�d first encountered the vivacious sixteen-year-old, she had played a pivotal role in his existence. Nick had simply never imagined that one day she�d leave his life as suddenly as she�d entered it. Ally hadn�t even said goodbye. �Sir, are you still there?� �Yes. Yes, I am.� �Good. The funeral will be held in Chatham next Wednesday. It is important that you attend. You are mentioned in her will.� �I�ll be there.� Nick said, dropping the phone back into the cradle. How could she be gone? A week later, Dominic found himself standing at the edge of a newly dug grave, his tie threatening to asphyxiate him. Maija was at his side, holding his hand and silently offering her support as a stiff wind tugged at her black skirt. The morning of the funeral had dawned suitably dismal. It seemed that even the sun missed Allison Monroe. Dominic was trying to puzzle out yet another mystery. When he had informed his wife of the reason for their impromptu trip to Kingston she hadn�t been surprised. Admittedly, she had put on a good show but they�d been married for years. He knew when she was keeping something from him. The sense that he was missing something was galling. The priest droned on, reciting the customary prayers and recognitions for a life well lived. Dominic didn�t bother to pay attention. There was nothing they could tell him about Ally that he didn�t already know. Nothing except why she hadn�t informed him that she was dying. The monotonous words being said wove a net; catching memories in its shining strands. Dominic recalled the electricity that had shot through his hand at their first tryout. Allison had been so young then, so innocent. He saw her face wreathed in smiles when he asked her to dance with him. He�d known immediately that a more perfect partner he would never find. They had cried together, laughed together, grown up together. Years had passed and laugh lines had appeared at the corners of her sparkling eyes. Together they had made it through controversy, injury, and finally succeeded. They had shared something few other people did, a gold medal and the right to call themselves the best in the world. Together they had been champions. He remembered their first nationals, first senior title, first World Championships (how nervous she had been), their first tour, their first medal� They had gone through so many firsts together, yet this time she�d gone on alone. His throat constricted at the thought that he would never again see her face with its multitude of freckles and its laughing brown eyes. He would never again see her shiny mop of blonde hair or her stubborn chin. More than anything, he would miss her smile, all at once loving and mischievous. How he had adored that trademark grin. As the coffin was lowered into the dark earth and he prepared to say his final goodbye, he caught sight of a small figure standing forlornly on the opposite side of the grave. He�d forgotten about her. Several hours later, Mr. Ethan Sinclair turned to face the group of people sitting sadly in his office. Their faces were white and tearstained. The amount of black clothing in the room was oppressing. �I�m very sorry to drag your focus to business at a time like this but there is one matter that needs to be taken care of immediately and it seemed a good idea to deal with everything at once.� Consenting nods traversed the party. �Firstly, Ms. Monroe acquired a net-worth of a quarter of a million and her life insurance was another million. She leaves 50 thousand to each of her siblings,� Gasps echoed around the room, �And the remainder is to be placed into a trust fund for her daughter, Kassian. Now, we get to the more important item on our agenda: custody of the child. Since Ally was a single-mother, she thought long and hard before making the decision to ask Mr. and Mrs. Riefen to raise her little girl. The blood rushed to Dominic�s ears and he stared at the poor lawyer in shock. Ally wanted him to take Kassie? Him, when the toddler had aunts and uncles who would willingly make room for her in their families. �Mr. Riefen?� Dominic realized that Sinclair had been trying unsuccessfully to capture his attention for several minutes. �She asked that I give you this. There�s an office down the hall that you can use if you�d like a little privacy.� Nick�s eyes remained fixated on the white envelope. He finally tore his gaze off the distinctive, loopy handwriting and made his way into the solitude of the small room. He ripped the letter open, not noticing the paper cut he acquired in the process. It began simply enough � Dominic, If you are reading this, then I am already gone. You�re probably standing there, with that bewildered look upon your face, the one that I love so much, wondering why I didn�t warn you. I spoke to everyone else, even to your wife, yet I couldn�t work up the nerve to confront you with the news that I had leukemia. I simply couldn�t bear to say goodbye. I�m asking you to adopt Kassian for me for a number of reasons. I know that you and Maija have been trying to adopt a child. Your wife told me that she would love to have Kassie when I asked her. She really is a wonderful little girl. She�s so smart and very beautiful. You can�t help but love her. Oh please, Nick, love her for me. I trust you Dominic. I know that you will make an excellent father. I hope that you will tell her about all about me. Don�t let her forget. Make sure she knows who I was and how much I loved her. I want you to teach her how to skate. Don�t pressure her to join a club or win the Olympics, just teach her to appreciate the feel of the ice beneath her feet. I want her to know love everything that I loved, and that includes you. Smile, Allison Monroe Unbidden, the words of the song they had skated to so long ago flashed into his mind. Smile, though your heart is aching Smile, even though it's breaking When there are clouds in the sky You'll get by... If you smile With your fear and sorrow Smile and maybe tomorrow You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just... Light up your face with gladness Hide every trace of sadness Although a tear may be ever so near That's the time you must keep on trying Smile, what's the use of crying You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile A light rap on the door startled Dominic from his reverie. �Come in?� A small head poked through the gap, �So,� the toddler asked with a remarkable show of maturity, �Do you want me?� �I�d be a fool not to,� He replied, feeling his mouth quirk up slightly. �Good. Mom told me you�d say that.� The little girl was captivating. Her honey blonde hair hung in wisps around her heart-shaped face. Bright blue eyes sparkled amidst a light dusting of freckles. Upon hearing his reply, a hauntingly familiar smile ghosted across her rosy lips. Maybe he hadn�t completely lost his partner after all.
