7.
Gretha was holding on by a thin thread, and I had with Luanne's permission moved out of the hotel and into the shelter house. The only time I went out was when we needed groceries. Luanne and I were always at Gretha's side unless she was sleeping and even then we were just down the hall and checked on her every fifteen minutes or so. We grew very close, sharing a common bond in Gretha and having similar personal histories.
Early one morning the doorbell rang, and we presumed it was either the doctor, the minister or the lawyer. When I opened the door, I was extremely surprised to find Dario standing in front of me.
'Dario! What are you doing here?'
'You haven't called me yet.'
'I didn't say I would call you…'
'Yes that is what I was afraid of,' he said half smiling.
'How did you know I was here?'
'A very long process of elimination.'
This time, his reply came with flushed cheeks and a proper smile.
'I guess you had better come in then.'
I opened the door, so he was entitled to gain entrance, and he followed me to the kitchen. I told him to sit down and went first to check on Gretha and then to inform Luanne of my guest. Luanne flew off her chair.
'Oh I have to meet the infamous Dario!' she said teasingly.
A soft voice caught our attention.
'Dar…here?'
I went over to Gretha and leant in next to her ear, 'Yes. Surprise visit.'
Gretha nodded and smiled ever so slightly then went back to sleep. I introduced Luanne and Dario, and we made idle chit-chat while we drank coffee. I had to admit it was strangely comfortable having them both with me in the same room. Luanne excused herself to attend to Gretha; it was time for her regular bed bath.
'Want to go out for a bit?' Dario asked, or rather suggested.
'I don't know. I do not like leaving Gretha even for a minute.'
'Then we will only go out for a minute.'
'Still have an answer to everything I see.'
I knew it would be pointless to resist, so I let Luanne know, found my jacket and left with Dario. We decided to stroll around town a bit instead of driving to a coffee shop or a restaurant. There was a chill in the air but after a while after walking around, it was not so inhibiting.
'You are different,' I decided to be the first one to delve into the conversation that I knew was looming.
'Yes, when I left here and you, I went to Mossel Bay to work for a drug dealer. I can't tell you the hellhole I was in – or maybe you will be able to relate from what I have heard – but one day I landed up at the wrong house. I was supposed to deliver some drugs to a new guy in town, and instead, I knocked on the door of a preacher. Man did he chew me up but in a nice way. I know God led me there, I know that now, but on the day I was so confused that this man even invited me into his house let alone talked to me. It was very rough, but he got me clean, and eventually I got baptised, and now I am a minister in a small church in Ceres.'
Well, you could have blown me over! I knew he had changed but not even for a moment had I imagined to such an extent.
'Wow Dario, that is some story. I bet your congregation loves your sermons, you have so much to offer them in the way of repentance.'
He simply laughed at my assumption.
'And you? You have cleaned up well.'
'Gretha,' I said and told him my story of regret and woe.
'Oh shame man, so you're staying until she passes? Would you mind if I pray for her, with her?'
'Of course, you can. She will love that; I know she will. I did not want to go to the reunion, but she insisted, forever telling me to forgive. I guess I did not realise what she meant until I was there and came face to face with Tate and Edie.'
He laughed.
'Now that was a scene any movie director would relish!'
I punched him lightly on the arm, laughing with him.
'You know we have never had a friendship per se. I like this moment; I hope we can be friends, like proper friends should be.'
He stopped abruptly and for a moment was very still, his head bent and his eyes on the pavement. Then he looked up, and I hardly believed my eyes when I saw his face streaked with tears.
His lips quivered as he uttered, 'I have been praying for all of these years to be forgiven by you, and for this exact friendship.'
He stopped trying to get the words out; it became too difficult to speak as he sobbed in front of me, on a pavement in front of the central park in Worcester. Instinctively I wrapped my arms around him and held him, the bonding of our friendship sealed in forgiveness. My tears were not held at bay, and we shared a pivotal moment in our lives.
'Thank you,' he said as we released each other, wiping our wet cheeks.
'And thank you,' I said back with a kiss on his cheek.
We got back to the house, and I went immediately to Gretha leaning into her ear as always and asked her if Dario could pray for her. Her face lit up; I knew I did not imagine it, as she nodded. With Dario, Luanne, Gretha and I all holding hands Dario prayed for Gretha. The kind of heartfelt prayer I had not heard in a very long time, and we were all brought to tears. I knew this was the moment Gretha had been holding on for; she was now at peace with her world, and she was ready to meet Jesus and live forever. At the end of his prayer, we remained as we were, each saying our own prayers. A few moments later I opened my eyes as Gretha's hand moved in mine. I looked at her; her eyes were searching for mine. I leant in close to her face, and she gave a limp smile then closed her eyes as she exhaled her last breath.
What was there for us to do other than to feel despair and sorrow? Silently I thanked God that Gretha had been spared until this perfect moment before He took her away. While Dario consoled Luanne, I made the phone calls to the doctor, minister and lawyer. In a matter of half an hour, they were all at the house. Dario and the minister chatted easily while Luanne and I were summoned to discuss Gretha's will in the study. The lawyer slowly and with much deliberation put his briefcase on the desk, opened it, pulled out a file filled with a few papers, set it down on the desk and put his briefcase on the floor. Then he took off his jacket, hung it over the chair, pulled out the chair, sat down, pulled the chair towards the desk, opened the file and silently read from the first page in the file. I was exasperated watching this process. He silently read every single page before opening his mouth to speak. It took forever. Finally, he cleared his throat a few times.
'Right.'
He cleared his throat again and fidgeted in his seat. I wanted to rip the papers from his hands and read them myself; it would certainly be less frustrating and far quicker. He then read the legal terms and conditions and obvious facts that Gretha was dead. Luanne and I sat in our chairs numb and heartbroken, tears spilling down our cheeks as we listened. Gretha did not have much in the form of an estate and not having had any children of her own; her small estate was awarded jointly to Luanne and me. The estate consisted of a provident fund that had a value of approximately five hundred thousand Rand, as well as the house and all its contents. I felt relief that Luanne had a chance at a new life, and she would not be stranded as I had first feared.
'If I want to waive my share of the inheritance, how would I go about it?' I asked to the surprise of the lawyer and Luanne.
'We would need to draw up some legal documents, and that would be it.'
'Okay. I need to do that as soon as possible.'
'Yvaine, what are you doing? This is what Gretha wanted!' Luanne was stunned.
'Yes that is true, but it is mine now, and that entitles me to do what I want with it. In any case, I know Gretha would approve of my actions.'
The lawyer and Luanne both looked surprised and confused at the same time.
We waited a week to have the memorial service for Gretha at her church. I was pleasantly surprised to see Constable Pienaar at the service, and he felt very much the same when I told him who I was. The wheels had gone full circle.