Page 93 of His One True Wish

I sat on her bed and assembled a few cardboard boxes. The dresser would be easiest to empty, so I tackled that first. I knew that Mom got rid of some stuff right after the service, but as I packed up Gran’s work-out clothes, her gardening clothes, and her sewing clothes, I couldn’t help but laugh. Gran was prepared for everything.

The bottom drawer of her dresser wouldn’t open. At first, I thought it was just old and broken, but then I saw the keyhole. I sat back on my heels. It was locked? Why would Gran lock her drawer? Where was the key? I checked her closet and her nightstand. I even went through her bathroom drawers. There was nothing.

I eyed the drawer, not wanting to damage the old wood by prying it open with a knife. I also didn’t want to bother Mom. She needed her rest. My eyes caught on a grade school drawing of mine hanging by Gran’s door.

It was a rough but simple picture of a yellow star high above a mountain peppered with pine trees. I’d written a poem across the snow.

Star light star bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may

I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight.

The poem reminded me of Gran’s shooting-star key ring. I stood up. There were all those extra keys. I still had them in the pocket of my vest. I darted into my room and found the set. Mixed in with the normal-sized keys was a smaller, forked key that looked like it might fit.

I went back into Gran’s room and knelt in front of the dresser. “All right, Gran,” I whispered. “What are you hiding in there?”

I slipped the key into the lock and turned it. The drawer clicked open. I felt a thrill of nerves. I was raised to respect people’s privacy, but we needed to pack up this house. “Sorry, Gran,” I whispered, pulling the drawer open.

Inside, there was a stack of normal sweatshirts and sweatpants. “Okay,” I muttered. I lifted out a lavender set, a hot pink set, and a navy-blue set with stars across the top. Gran loved her cozy clothes. There was something hard and square packed inside the navy-blue sweatpants. I pulled out an Apple laptop. At the very bottom of the drawer sat a white charger.

“What were you doing, Gran?”

I sat on the bed and opened the laptop. I hit the power button, and it turned on. A small charge remained so I immediately plugged it in. Her username was filled in but the password field was blank.

I didn’t even know Gran had a laptop. As far as I knew, she and Mom always used the computer in the kitchen. I didn’t know her password. I tried her birthday. I tried my birthday. I tried, “smokeriver,” and “prescottwomen.” Finally, my eyes drifted to the framed drawing and poem by her door.

I typed

Star light Star bright.

The computer unlocked, revealing Gran’s desktop.

“Holy shit,” I gasped. My hands shook as I looked at her Home Screen. There wasn’t much on it besides a browser, an email client, and a photo album.

I opened her email. Her inbox had over a hundred unread messages. I sighed and scrolled through the subject lines. Gran received regular updates from the church, her Pilates studio, and it seemed she was still getting emails from my old high school. None of the messages had been opened. She’d died six months ago, and her email kept accepting messages as if nothing had happened. My stomach twisted in knots again, the normalcy of her inbox a reminder that she was gone, but the world kept moving as if nothing was wrong.

I froze when I saw his name.

Subject : Smoke River update - October

From: Axl Grey

I didn’t click on it. My hand shook, realizing he wrote Gran just last month. I did a quick sort of the inbox and saw that Axl wrote Gran every month, just like he’d said. I guess he didn’t lie about everything. I made sure the charger stayed plugged in, and I scooted back against Gran’s pillows. I scrolled back to Axl’s first message to Gran in June. It was the beginning of summer. She died a month later. I clicked on the message.

Subject: Thanks and a question

From: Axl Grey

Louise,

First, I want to say thank you for talking with me about the cabin at Smoke River. Mason did a great job showing me the ropes, but it was very helpful to get your insights into what I’ll need to watch for as the weather changes. I can see why you love this place. You told me that it’d be a good fit for me and Cam, and you were right. I’mglad you talked me into staying. You are right. I made a good decision staying in Smoke River. Thank you for helping me see that.

Here is the list of items I thought I’d tackle first at the cabin. I know you told me that the rent’s enough, but I don’t do well with idle hands, and I know you’ve given me a good price. As we discussed, I insist on making some improvements at no charge to you. Also, you haven’t cashed my check yet. Please let me know if I should do a wire instead.

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