Unexpected Gift

I was just sitting there next to the pond in my favorite spot, watching the ducks, when I saw an elderly couple sit on the bench. I smiled at them, then threw the crusts from my sandwich in the water and some of the popcorn. We all watched the ducks for another ten minutes or so before I had to get back to class. As I got up to leave, the woman motioned to me.
“Come here, dearie.”
“Can I help you?” I asked with a smile. She looked so much like my own Granny; my heart lurched a little as I stood there. Granny had been gone for a dozen years and I missed her very much.
The little lady smiled and glanced at her husband. He smirked and nodded. She held out her hand to me and said, "This is for you.” I looked at her quizzically as she dropped a key in my hand. “You’ll know what to do with it when the time comes.”
“Thank you both very much. I have to go now, but have a nice day!” I put the key in my purse and scampered away with a wave; thinking, ‘what an odd encounter.’ I sat through the rest of my lecture classes only half listening because I couldn’t stop thinking about the key.
As I did my last assignment of the day I pulled the key out and really looked at it. My lab partner looked too and started asking questions. I told him about my lunch. He held out his hand and said, “May I?” I gave him the key. It was a thick, ancient key that vaguely resembled a short skeleton key. There were no markings or key chains attached. “Good luck with this adventure.”
I rolled my eyes at him and sarcastically replied, “Thanks! Maybe I’ll drag you along for the ride.” I put the key back in my purse and the back of my mind, finals were coming up soon.
Two weeks later I saw the old couple’s picture in the obituaries. They had passed within hours of each other, leaving no heirs or other family members to speak of. Memorial services were being held at the local church Sunday. I called Rhyse and hauled him to the church with me. As we signed our names I saw a small chest on a table near the altar between their pictures. I walked in and saw very few of the pews were occupied. Rhyse caught up and we looked at each other. I dug the key out of my purse as we walked up to the chest. My heart was pounding. I took a deep breath as I tried the key in the lock. It was a perfect fit. The lock opened with a quiet snick and I lifted the lid.
Inside sat the will, deed to their house, bank books, a multitude of other important papers – including the number of their lawyer, and a letter addressed to me. The letter spoke of how happy they had been that I had beautified that little area of the pond with my container garden, made a level path to the bench, and unwittingly became a surrogate granddaughter. They had no conditions for me to fulfill in order to claim anything. I was free to do whatever I saw fit with their possessions and properties. They ended the letter by thanking me for all of the fond memories over the years, and giving them a sense of pride and hope in my generation. Their names had been Florence and Xavier.
As I stood there in shock, I slowly remembered seeing them off and on by the pond. I had looked out the lab window and saw the pond my first day at the college. I worked my way there that first day on a very overgrown path. I wanted a quiet place to study and unwind so badly I started clearing it up. Rhyse had been first to start helping. We tackled the clearing next. A few others helped now and again. We found the second path about a month later; clearing it as we followed it to the back of an old abandoned mansion. At least we thought it was until we heard a car door shut. I repaired that path as an invitation to the residents. It had never occurred to me the pond belonged to them.
I was floored. One of the people in the pews was the lawyer I was to contact. The rest of this story will have to wait until I can catch my breath. All I can tell you right now is Florence and Xavier had been VERY wealthy. I don’t think I’ll be worrying about student loans ever again. Thank you Florence and Xavier, may your journey be swift and your landing be soft…