Page 52 of Phoenix Fire

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There was no elaborate homecoming when Jason was well enough to leave the hospital, but there was a quiet dinner with a few close friends at Grandma Myrena's house. Sheila Broward, Nora Hadley, Dr. Nelson Paige, Paul Winfield, their spouses or guests, was invited. Wardley had also been asked to join the dinner party, not in his normal capacity as house manager, but as a cherished member of the family.

After a pleasant repast Myrena had asked everyone to join her in the grand parlor. When all were settled in their seats with coffee and/or brandy, Myrena spoke to the group.

“It's a joyful occasion,' she announced, her cheeks a healthy pink and her eyes sparkling with an inner happiness, “and somewhere in this grand old room Carlton is with us. I know this and it warms my soul. He is with us in death as perhaps he could not be in life. He is with us and he embraces us with his love.

“I surely don't wish to make any of you uncomfortable with my rambling, but it is important for me to acknowledge my departed grandson.

“We can never know all the secrets of life and death, but, believe me, there is a continuity to all things. Some of us fear death and dying and that is an awful burden to carry. This thing we call life is but a small building block for eternity. It is a linkage station along the way to infinite and immortal wonders. The mind, I believe, cannot conceive of the great hereafter but we can and must have faith that it exists.

“My grandson, Jason, could perhaps tell us quite a lot about the continuity of life. We have talked a great deal since his high desert experience, and it seems to me that he found not only the will to survive in a hostile land but a truth about immortality and infinity. He no longer fears death and dying and he can now find true meaning in all of the activities in his mortal life. He discovered, I think, that this mortal life we've been given is to be cherished and coveted, not wasted in all manners of negation, and that love sustains us and prepares us for our great afterlife. Our lives are but a blink of God's eyes and the time we've been given should be filled with love and good deeds.

“My goodness, just listen to me, sounding like a pompous old know it all. It is simply my wish that you will share this faith. Quite enough of that. An old grandmother is very happy to be here tonight with those she loves. It is for each of you to discover for yourselves the meaning of your living. My words could never convince you of what has come to me during these latter days.

“Suffice it, you've all been invited to celebrate life and death. My beloved Jason has returned from a trek in the wilderness, as it were,” she smiled and all in the room smiled with her, “and I expect him henceforth to gain insight in a more comfortable, more civilized, and safer environment.” Again she smiled at her mild reprimand.

“You are all here because you are like family.

“Sheila, Carlton is happy that you are here with us. He loved you more than you know, and, perhaps, more than he knew.

“Nora, your truant boss and friend is happy that you are here. If he will not give you a few days off now and then, you just call me.

“Nelson, you keep the old heart ticking for us all, but you and Ellen are and have always been our close and valued friends.

“Paul, you have been diligent and true through all the years in keeping our financial house in order but, more importantly, you and Joan have become our close and caring friends.

“Wardley, you are here and, dear God, may you always be here. I don't know what I would do without you. You are loved and cherished as friend and family.

“On this special occasion, I just wanted to make an apology, more or less, in front of you all but especially to Jason. I handled something very badly and I would wish that each of you might benefit from my mistake.”

Myrena paused just long enough to sip her coffee and brandy, to shift her position in the old leather chair.

“I handled my own mortality badly. I caused needless emotional pain for Jason and perhaps for others of you as well.” Myrena saw Jason lower his head, uncomfortable with her confession. She addressed his discomfort. “Jason, I don't mean to embarrass you. It just seems important for me to say these things.

“Nelson is treating me for cancer, and it is a terminal condition. However, my longevity has been sufficient and Nelson tells me that I could be around for some time yet. One inexorable truth, I have lived such a wonderful, happy, and full life. and, frankly, I'm rather anxious to get to the other side and reunite with John. You must know that he is also here with us tonight.

“Another truth is that I should have disclosed this cancer business to Jason. Instead, he finds out on his own, eavesdropping, I might add,” smiling with the group, “and I fear that it caused him some anguish. That and the sudden death of Carlton became a rather heavy load for him to carry.

“So, Jason,” she looked at him with pride and a radiant happiness, “I apologize mostly to you but to others who might be hearing it for the first time.

“Almost finished, dear folks, promise! Jason, you are to get on with your important life. Finish 'Apple Brown Betty.' Jenny, you see that he does. Dear sweet Jenny! How so very dear you are to me. I have so much love for you.

“All of you hear me well. I am completely at peace with myself and will not tolerate any long faces.

“Paul, I would appreciate your speaking with those present, privately, at your convenience and theirs, and explain the general intent of my will and trust arrangements.

“Nelson, anyone wanting specifics on my health, tell them to eat proverbial crow.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement, perhaps helped a bit by the brandy. “Now, let's have a nightcap and get on with 'continuity.' Goodness, thought it would never end! Bless you all for listening.”

There were some things not said by Myrena at the dinner, but, in private, she would tell Jason and Jenny about the call she had received from Heritage Tool and Manufacturing about the auditors' discovery of Carlton's bogus accounts. She would tell them about covering the bogus accounts and closing out that ugly business.

Chapter Thirty-six

Grandma Myrena defied her terminal cancer longer than anyone expected. She lived to see not only the marriage of Jason and Jenny but the birth of Carlton John Prince the second.

Death came silently as she slept. She must have somehow known that her time had come for she left a final note on the bedside table. Wardley found it after the quiet confusion of her death had settled and passed it on to Jason and Jenny.

Jason, Jenny, and little Carlton

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