On 4/19 (On 4/19 and Beyond 4/20) (35 page)

Toward the end of the album, she began to see photos of familiar things, her things from the condo. It was when she flipped the page and found her piano was there that she wailed out loud. He’d tucked her piano into the box after all. He always knew what she wanted without her having to ask.

Soon, her parents came rushing into the room. Through tears, she tried to tell them what John had given her for graduation. Finally, she handed the photo album over to her mother who turned the pages, often stopping to look at Chelsea in amazement. It was at the end of the book that her mother found a key taped to the back cover. Pulling it from the book, she handed it to Chelsea.

Grasping the key with trembling fingers, Chelsea bounded from the bed and started digging through the pile of dirty clothes on the floor. Her dad, seeing that she was about to change clothes with or without him in the room, left quickly in search of his own pants. If she was going, he was too.

As they pulled into the driveway, the first thing Chelsea noticed was that her car was beside the house. Her dad parked and they all three got out of the truck. Walking down the sidewalk, she moved slowly up the stairs and to the front door. It was dark out, so she had a hard time finding the key hole. Finally, she slid the key into the lock and heard the click when it opened. Stepping inside, she searched around until she found a light switch. When the light flooded the front foyer, it streamed into the surrounding rooms. Sure enough, all of her things were there, along with many new furnishings to fill the extra space. With all there was to explore, her first and only desire was to hear the sound of her piano, to secretly hear the sound of John’s whispers in her ear, “
Sing for me
.” For several minutes, all she could do was play and relive those moments when he sat near her, listening as she practiced. As if she were sitting in her condo in L.A., Chelsea felt John’s presence there with her, even catching an imaginary hint of his after shave.

After the shock wore off, as much as a shock of such gigantic proportion could wear off, her parents left her alone there. She told them she would come to their house the next day to collect her things. Chelsea spent the remainder of the night roaming from room to room, crying in
most of them. She sat on her sofa and traced her fingers along the seat where John most often sat. How many times had he scooped her into his lap and held on to her so tightly she could hardly breathe? Doubling over, Chelsea could barely breathe at that moment. Theirs was the love of a lifetime and she missed every single thing about him. She needed him desperately and was becoming more and more certain that she wouldn’t make it without him. Even on her best days, she was barely hanging on by a thread. No matter the turn the night had taken, finding this house waiting for her, nothing could make up for the gaping hole left in her heart. A house, no matter how many memories of John it brought with it, could never make his absence bearable, but at least she felt as if she belonged somewhere for the first time since leaving her condo.

In the kitchen she found that even her little plaque, “Life is short, eat dessert first!” was hanging on the wall. Landing in what must be called a
study
, Chelsea discovered a beautiful old desk and walls lined with shelves filled with books. Scanning along the selection, she found that she had most everything possible to choose from. Maybe she would call this
the library
. Settling into the desk chair, she discovered an envelope with her name on it there on the desk waiting for her. It was in John’s handwriting. Her hand trembled when she reached for it. Considering saving it for the next “break in case of emergency” moment she decided it may be important documents with regards to the house. Running her finger beneath the seal, she reached for the page and pulled it from the envelope. It read:

My Sweet Chelsea,

Again, congratulations on your achievement. It is no minor accomplishment. I have watched the effort you’ve put into your studies and am amazed by what a dedicated student you have been. I’m so proud of you
.

I knew if I tried to give you these gifts in person, you would have never accepted them, but please, allow me to state my case. All things that were bought were gifts for only you, just as your locket was. So for you to refuse them is rude
givee
conduct
.

Chelsea smiled and reached for her locket. As she read, she could hear the sound of his voice.

As the giver, I gave them to you in good faith and believed that you had received them the same. They are yours. While I know the house was not part of the original gift, it is strictly a graduation present. To refuse it is not an option since it’s in your name and within walking distance to the ice cream parlor. Please, I’m asking that you simply accept it
.

There are a few other matters of business. Just as your locket was, the condo was also a Christmas gift. I found a buyer for you and have deposited the proceeds of the sale into a bank account in your name. The deposit book is in the top drawer of this desk. You will need to meet with the bank manager to sign some paperwork
.

Along with your bankbook, you will find the deed to your family’s farm. As proud as I have seen your father to be, I imagine it will not be very well received, but I figure there is not much he can do to me. Tell him for me that it was my honor to help a man who has worked hard his entire life. I admire his dedication to his farm and to his family
.

Finally, there is another account waiting for you at the bank. It’s my part in helping you to change the world. I would like for you to use the money to begin charity work of your choosing. For as long as the funds last, I know you will do with them what is right. I imagine you will dig wells and feed the hungry. I have no doubt that you will choose well
.

Having you in my life has changed me in so many ways. Mostly, I discovered something about myself. Deep inside there is a man who can love and give. Because of you, I’ve caught a glimpse of the young man I used to be before there was never enough. Thank you for helping me find myself again. Meeting you was the single most notable day of my life. While this time apart has been difficult, I have found that, like you, I would not take anything for the experience
.

With love,

John

Chelsea sat staring at the letter. After reading it once more, she sat it on the desk and opened the desk drawer. Collecting the bankbooks and envelope from the drawer, she laid them out on the desk. Opening the first bankbook she found it showed a balance of nearly three million
dollars, the proceeds from the condo. Covering her face with her hands, she tried to wrap her mind around that extraordinary amount of money. The amount for charity was two million, and then there was the deed to her parents’ farm. Looking at the clock, seeing that it was not yet four a.m., she knew it was too early to drive out to the farm. As soon as it was sun-up, she would go and tell her father the news.

Since she’d been home, she only understood for the first time the gravity of the financial situation with the farm. When he admitted there was a possibility of losing it, for the first time ever, she saw a look of defeat in her father’s eyes. It was heartbreaking. He was never one to give up on anything, but she sensed he was losing the battle where the farm was concerned. This would give him a fresh start, one that he genuinely deserved.

When Chelsea did leave for her parents’, she found herself nervous about breaking the news to them, especially to him. As much as he might be relieved, the fact that John had paid off the note might not sit well with her dad. But as she discovered with all the things John had done for her, there was really no way of undoing them. Sure, she could send John a check for five million dollars, but he didn’t have to cash it. In the case of the farm, her dad could never un-pay-off the loan. The loan was closed out and the deed was in her parents’ names. It was theirs, like it or not.

Sitting at the breakfast table, Chelsea ate quietly. Lexie and Preston asked a dozen questions about the house, like why would John do something like that after they broke up? Why a house in town? Why didn’t he come and talk to them at graduation? Some of the questions had a simple answer, some did not. All the while, she picked at her food trying to work up the nerve to tell her father. The nerve never came.

After breakfast, Chelsea followed him out to the barn. His face seemed drawn and pale. With his interrupted night of sleep, that could be the cause, but more likely than not, it was worry. Farming was all he’d ever done, and the thought of losing the farm that had been in his family for generations was no doubt weighing heavily upon him.

Once they were alone, Chelsea said, “Daddy, we need to talk.”

“What is it, moonshine?” The look on her face was grave. Whatever she had to tell him, couldn’t be good news. If anything, he suspected she
was leaving for California. Winning Chelsea back was the only reason he could figure for John buying her something so extravagant. For the remainder of the night, after arriving home from her new house, Bob’s mind had been set that Chelsea would soon up and leave home again, a thought that could nearly pull him under if he allowed it. From the very moment she left home life was never the same. He felt an emptiness at the loss of one of his children that never, ever left him. Always he’d anticipated Chelsea would settle near to home, get married, and raise a family. When she announced she was leaving for California, though, life took an unanticipated and life-altering turn. That same feeling of emptiness arose in his chest at the thought of losing her again. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had to wonder if this were some kind of payment for his own failures and wrong choices.

Handing him the envelope, she said, “This was in the desk. It’s for you.” As he studied the document, she told him what John asked her to pass along. She’d even written the quote on a small piece of paper and tucked it into her pocket.

Bob turned away, not wanting Chelsea to see him react so emotionally. He’d prayed so hard for the past year, and still he barely stayed above water. In the past few months, he’d all but given up, given up on his own ability to provide, and eventually, given up on God.

When she realized he was crying, she reached out and touched his shoulder. “Daddy, I hope you aren’t angry. John did what he thought was right. I’m sorry I even mentioned to him that you were struggling.”

Turning to face her, he quickly pulled her into his arms. “God heard me, Chelsea. He heard!”

Soon, Chelsea was crying with him. Never once in her entire life had she seen her father as emotional. He was laughing just as hard as he was crying. It was the sweetest moment she could ever recall with him. When he let her go, she watched as he dried his eyes with his sleeve.

“I had run out of hope.” Taking the deed, he went over to an overturned bucket and sat. “Why? Why would he do something like this?”

Thinking of all the reasons why, she settled on, “Because he loves me.” Closing her eyes, she cried even harder.

If John loved her enough to buy her a house and pay off the farm and Chelsea loved him enough to weep like a baby as she was, why then were they not together? It simply didn’t make sense to him.

Chelsea spent the next few days getting settled at her new house. At first, living in a state of disbelief, she did little in the way of business. She did go to the bank to sign papers for her account as John instructed, she grocery shopped to fill her empty pantry, and she had her family over for her first family dinner. Besides the gift John had given her, they all rejoiced over John’s gift to the entire family. Her father was a different man than he had been in the past year. With the fate of the farm no longer looming overhead, he was much more relaxed and fun to be around. He was like the dad she remembered growing up. In her large living room, they all played games and laughed together. The debilitating depression that plagued Chelsea in the early weeks lifted somewhat. While some days were much more difficult than others, for the most part, she took significant steps toward making a new life.

After the shock wore off, her sole intention was to form a foundation to utilize the money John gave her, plus much of the money he said was from the sale of the condo. Just as she’d done for Keller Industries, she began new research for where she wanted to begin her donations. Naming the charity
The Keller Foundation
, she decided it was a way to honor John and all he’d done to give her the gift of being able to change the world. Through prayer and careful consideration, she felt she was to begin giving locally first, through her church, then she would expand her giving to the state level, then nationally, then worldwide. Although she was living in one of the saddest, loneliest seasons of her life, far exceeding the pain she felt at the loss of Tuck, the one bright spot in her world was
The Keller Foundation
. It gave her reason to get out of bed each morning, and in the weeks to come, it became her sole motivation and calling in life.