The flight went by pretty fast for Kathryn. It was hard to enjoy the view, the dark blue night sky and stars, because all Kathryn could think about was her mom. The accident was almost a year ago. It took that long to have a funeral and get permission to visit. Kathryn often wondered, when she couldn’t sleep, what her mother was doing or thinking before she died. Was she listening to her and Kathryn’s favorite song? Was she thinking about Kathryn? Was she happy Kathryn was living all by herself, or missed her, or was disappointed she had moved so far?
Kathryn knew she shouldn’t torment herself like that, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her mom. There were so many things she wanted to ask her mom, or tell her mom, and now she wouldn’t have the chance.
Kathryn was so lost in thought again, she would’ve stayed in her seat, thinking, if the old woman hadn’t kindly told her everyone was getting off. Kathryn walked out and into the blinding light and bright of the airport in the morning. After buying a donut, she tried to find a taxi, but that didn’t work. She called Jacob, who worked at the police station, who picked her up in his red truck. Kathryn never realized how close in age they were.
“So, we’ll get lunch in Sacramento then drive-” Jacob began.
“Actually, can we go straight to my mom’s house?” Kathryn interrupted.
“I guess, but I need to call the chief real quick.” Jacob shrugged. “I don’t think Smithstone would want us going to Celia’s house without his supervision.” Jacob rolled his eyes.
After a quick phone call, they were able to drive to Kathryn’s mom’s house in an hour and a half. Kathryn knew they had arrived when she saw the old mailbox with the address 392 Aldridge Avenue on it. The sight of the small gray cottage with the dark red trim partially covered by a tall willow tree brought back many memories for Kathryn.
“Ready?” Jacob asked. “There’s Smithstone right there.” A bright yellow car with a colorful sticker that read ‘You can do anything!’ under a rainbow pulled up.
“That’s the chief’s car?” Kathryn asked in disbelief.
“He’s ‘undercover’.” Jacob answered. “Good afternoon, sir.” A tall man with cocoa skin and fluffy white hair stepped out of the car. Smithstone walked over to Kathryn.
“Nice to see you again.” He shook her hand. “Last time I saw you was before you moved, let’s see . . . three years ago?” Kathryn nodded. His phone rang.
“John Smithstone.” The chief held up a finger to gesture just a second. “No, he didn’t. Yes . . . no. Good. Well useless call, but okay. Goodbye.” Smithstone put his phone back. “The man wants a higher pay raise, he insists Burkwood over here is getting one. Most stubborn man I ever met”
Kathryn could tell Jacob was trying not to laugh and say, ‘Obviously you haven’t met yourself.’
“Let’s get going then?” Jacob asked. They walked silently into the house. Kathryn didn’t trust herself to speak, if she did, she might start crying.
The chief pulled out a set of many keys and used an old silver one to unlock the red door. Kathryn gasped as she walked in. There were about ten people already in there, putting things in boxes and inspecting every corner of the house.
“Sir, is this really necessary-” Jacob began. Smithstone waved him off and walked Kathryn down the hall.
“The only place they’re not cleaning is her room.” He murmured quietly. “You can bring home pictures and stuff, but not anything that could be evidence, like old notebooks or little boxes or . . . you get it. Um, I’ll check back in on you in a bit.”
“Thank you.” Kathryn said quietly.
She wandered around the room. The four poster bed with red covers and the brown dresser brought back too many memories. She never realized how much her mom really liked red. There was a shelf next to the big bed, with random trinkets and books and a little jewelry box.
Kathryn picked up the jewelry box and opened it. Inside was a miniature dancer with a purple tutu that spun to a lullaby. The lullaby that Celia Phoenix would sing to her daughter every night when she was young.
This time, Kathryn could not hold back the tears that had been fighting their way out since the moment she arrived. She wiped them with her scarf and closed the jewelry box. There was a red telephone identical to her own on the top shelf.
Many people thought Celia and Kathryn were weird, being some of the only people with telephones in the twenty-first century.
Kathryn ran her hand along the spines of the old books on the middle shelf. The oldest one said, ‘Parenting for Beginners’. Kathryn smiled through her tears. Another said ‘Album’. Kathryn pulled it out and opened to the middle of it. There were pictures of her and her mom hiking, swimming, playing outside, playing board games.
One of the pictures in the beginning had pictures of her mom and her dad. Her dad, Dan Kollin had left them when Kathryn was born. Celia had been so angry she rarely mentioned him, but continued life raising her daughter with her former surname.
Kathryn decided to keep the album. She looked at the other books and found one that caught her eye. It was spiral-bound, so it must be a notebook. Kathryn pulled it out. The cover simply said ‘Journal’ but Kathryn was curious, and opened it.