Holding On
Love doesn’t always burn with a white-hot flame. Sometimes it’s quiet and simply endures.
Harold Dobey sat in a chair in the kitchen and watched his wife prepare breakfast, much in the same way he had for almost fifty years. Or, he thought ruefully, almost the same way. The “chair” he sat in now was a scooter chair, a medical marvel that helped older men and women regain mobility that they had lost. The chair was comfortable; wide enough to fit his body, and saved him the indignity of being pushed around in a wheel chair.
Edith was at the stove, fixing scrambled eggs just the way he liked them. “Did you check your blood sugar, Harold?”
“Yes, dear, and it was good. Although, I wouldn’t say no to a glass of juice if it was offered to me.”
She turned the burner down low, went to the refrigerator, took the pitcher of apple juice out and poured him a glass. “There you go. The eggs and toast will be done in a minute. After we eat, I want to clean the kitchen up. The kids will be over around lunch time and Rosie’s bringing the macaroni salad. Cal’s going to man the grill. I’m so glad it’s going to be a beautiful day. We just can’t seem to find the time to get together anymore. I don’t want anything to spoil it, including the weather.”
Dobey sipped the chilled juice appreciatively. “I can’t wait to see how much Jerome has grown. It’s been almost a month and to a baby, that’s a long time.”
Edith laughed. “I know. I can’t believe he’s six months old already. That’s half a year! Where does the time go?”
“It flies by, sweetheart. Now that I’m retired, Rosie and Cal are busy with their careers. It’s not their fault that they can’t get over more. They do the best they can. You remember how bad my schedule was when I was just starting out.”
“Oh, do I ever! I felt like the station was your home and you only visited here.” She smiled thoughtfully. “I’m so proud of Rosie. Did you ever imagine that she would be the one to follow in your footsteps? She’s a detective now, working in the same building you used to.”
“Yeah, somehow, I always knew Rosie would grow up to be a cop. I don’t know how I knew it, I just did. Now, Cal, that’s another story. Who would have thought our son would want to be a pediatrician? That boy went out for track, football, basketball and every other sport they had in high school and college. Then our macho son decides he wants to heal children.”
“Well, he’s not the only Dobey male that has a sensitive streak under that macho exterior. Now, they’re both happily married and have a family of their own. I can’t wait to see their children grow up. It’s going to be an adventure.”
Dobey laughed. “If that’s what you want to call it. You know the old adage that we’re paid back for the things we did when we were kids by our own kid’s behavior? I can’t wait to see Cal’s face when his kids pull some of the stunts he pulled.” His smile turned pensive. “For a while there, I didn’t think I’d ever get to see my youngest grandson. Having that heart attack really shook me up.”
Edith went back to the stove, stirring the eggs with a wooden spoon. “It scared me to death! But the good Lord watches over us. He knew it wasn’t your time to go. There’s still too much for you to do yet. Besides, you’re still in good shape. You’ve got a lot of years left in you, Harold.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m in great shape. I’m diabetic, I have high blood pressure, and this weight just won’t come off. Having that heart attack was a real wake-up call, even if it was a minor one. This old body’s wearing out, Edith.”
Edith tsked as she filled his plate with eggs and sat a saucer of toast beside him. “Eat before your eggs get cold. That is, if you can stop this pity party you’re having long enough.” She sat down across from him. “You have a lot to be thankful for, Harold.”
“I know, and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I have two kids that fill my heart with pride whenever I look at them, and four grandchildren that mean the world to me.” He smiled again and winked at her. “And I have a wife that kind of likes me, too.”
She arched her eyebrow at him. “Oh, you think so?” She ate quietly for a moment before she turned serious. “And you have a career you should be proud of, don’t forget that. You were chief of detectives. You molded the lives of a lot of young men and helped put a lot of evil men behind bars.”
“I know, but that career kept me chained to a desk the biggest part of the time. I always meant to exercise but there never seemed enough time to get to the gym. Instead, there were too many stops along the way at the vending machine, or trips through the drive-through at McDonalds. If I have any regrets, it’s that I didn’t take better care of myself.”
“Well, you’re doing better now and that counts for something. We all feel like we’re going to live forever when we’re young, Harold. Having regrets doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to think about the good things, too.”
Now his smile was filled with love and shined his eyes. “I do think about the good things. You’ve been my wife for almost half a century. You’ve stood beside me, fought with me, laughed with me and cried with me. You’ve turned a two bedroom, clapboard house into a home. You’ve put up with my late nights and early mornings. You’ve sat alone when work kept me away from the kid’s plays and concerts and games. You’ve been threatened and shot at when my work came crashing through our doors and never gave up on us. You’ve been my pillar of strength when I wanted to throw in the towel. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather grow old with.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “But I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
She put her fingers on his lips. “You stop right there, Harold Dobey. You could never be a burden to me. I still have stars in my eyes whenever I look at you. I knew you were the one the first time I saw you. We’ll face what comes the same way we always have: together.”
He laughed softly. “Until the bitter end, huh?”
She grinned at him wickedly. “Not necessarily. Do you remember the vow we took? For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’ve changed my mind. You’re not getting rid of me that easily. There’s a place for both of us in Heaven, Harold. We’ll watch our kids grow up, lift them up when they fall and smile down on them when they’re happy. And we’ll sit among the clouds and hold hands just like we do now.”
He pulled her close to him and kissed her tenderly. “I can’t think of a better way to spend eternity.”