The Boy by The Lake - 2. Chapter 2

I woke at my usual time and dressed for my walk. As I neared the lake, I looked where Toby was standing. The space was empty and the sun began to rise as usual. It was a glorious sight and I knew it would be a good day.

Arriving back home Toby was still in bed. I brought in some logs and poked the fire to life. Then I addressed breakfast, this morning we’d have pancakes with bacon. I had the coffee on and I think that was the smell that brought Toby to life. He entered the kitchen in his bathrobe and slippers. My thoughts immediately flooded to Clair, that was the way she dressed when she came to breakfast. In our travels, she always insisted we have breakfast in our hotel room for that reason.

“Good morning, do you want coffee or hot chocolate?”

“Coffee is okay. Can you fix it like you did yesterday?”

“How about I show you? If you’re going to live here you’ll need to help yourself.” I showed him how I fixed his coffee, “In Europe, this is called Cafe au Lait. Which means coffee with milk. only the milk is heated and its about half coffee and half milk. The coffee is very strong, like espresso. You’d like that, maybe we’ll get an espresso machine. Clair and I talked about it, but never got around to getting one.”

“Tell me about Clair.”

"She was the love of my life. You’ll know when you meet the right one. It seemed for me, the sun rose with her and set with her. We had a lot of fun, touring all over the world. I miss her, but knowing she isn’t in pain anymore helps.”

“Is she the woman in the painting over the fire place ?”

“Yes, we would sit in front of the fire on cold days, she would be reading her legal briefs, I would read the latest stock market and the corresponding reviews. Every once in a while we’d look at each other, smile and whisper ‘I love you’. I miss her terribly but I know we’ll be united again someday.”

“I hope I’ll find someone to love like that.”

“I do also.”

I went back to making pancakes and told Toby how to make his coffee. We smiled at each other, amazingly after one day, we were very comfortable with each other. I guess I forgot how much a teenager can eat. I thought I made enough batter for tomorrow’s breakfast as well. Never happened, that boy could really eat.

After cleaning up from breakfast, Toby went to dress for the day. I went to my office and called James Steven a lawyer that worked with Clair. We agreed he’d join us for lunch at my home.

When Toby came back down after being dressed, I asked him to come with me to my office. “Toby, I’m having my lawyer stopping here for lunch today. I need some information from you so let’s start. Home address, birth date, mother and father's names, school you are attending and of course why you are here. I hope you’ll like it here, but if you don’t, you need to tell Mr. Steven. You’ll be meeting with him alone. When you meet him, give him this dollar. That makes him your attorney.”

Toby went to Clair’s office. I started to contact the various clients that hadn’t switched to a different investment adviser. They were glad to hear I was back in the business and when I told them the value of their portfolio, they were very glad I had called them. I told them I’d be working out of my office at my home from now on, I gave them my address and phone number.

I reviewed their portfolio with them during our phone call so it wasn’t surprising to me when James showed up. I hadn’t started lunch yet but I was hoping the time he’d spend with Toby would give me a chance to prepare lunch. I remembered Clair’s favorite lunch and since she has been on my mind lately, I sat about preparing a seafood salad to be served on crisp lettuce leaves. I knew that wouldn’t be enough for Toby, so I also prepared several types of sandwiches of which grilled cheese with tomato and onion was one of my selections. A fresh pot of coffee and I was all set. I went and knocked on the door and asked them if they were ready for a break and lunch. Toby being a teenager answered, “We’ll be right there.”

I had everything out on the table when they arrived in the kitchen. “Toby, you can make your coffee or there’s milk and fruit juices in the fridge.” He opted for a glass of milk. We chatted about business, I told James I decided to go back into business. “I have a lot of time on my hands now and I think Clair would approved.”

“I think she would also. She was a big loss to the firm, even after she retired, she still consulted. I know you must miss her terribly.”

“I do, but we had so many wonderful memories, those I’ll never forget. They keep her, in a way, alive for me. And now I may have Toby to share an old man’s life for a little while.”

“Toby and I talked abut him staying here. You’d need to be appointed guardian, I think we could have that done rather quickly. The problem may be getting the release from his family. Toby, I didn’t ask you this, but do your parents know about your trust fund?”

“I don’t think so. They never mentioned it and I didn’t know about it until Uncle Jeff told me.” Uncle Jeff, I like that. I smiled at Toby and gave him a wink.

“Toby needs to go home and get his clothes and school books. Can you arrange that?

“I’ll hire a small truck and contact one of my clients who works for the police to accompany you when you go to visit Toby’s parents. Toby, you need to make a list of what you want besides clothes and books.”

The rest of lunch was small talk. Toby and James went back to finish the paper work. Before James left, we agree we’d try for 11 am tomorrow morning to get his clothes and anything else he had on his list.

Toby had a call to make and I suspect it was to his best friend. “Toby, please don’t discuss your trust fund with anyone. Your grandfather wanted to keep that quiet so I think you should honor his wishes.”

“I haven’t mentioned it to anyone except Mr. Stevens. He said anything I tell him is confidential.”

“That’s fine and he’s right. Did you give him the dollar?”

“Yes, he laughed and said your wife must have taught you something.”

I went to my office, Toby went to Clair’s. If I do end up as his guardian, I’ll have to go in that office and remove Clair’s things so he can use it for studying. I know I’m not going to like doing that, that room is full of memories.

I got so involved in what I was doing I didn’t realize it was past dinner time. “Uncle, would it be okay if I fix myself something to eat?”

“I’m sorry Toby, I got so involved I forgot the time. Suppose we fix dinner together.”

He smiled as he nodded yes and headed to the kitchen. “Toby, there’s lunch meat in the fridge as well as cheese. In the vegetable drawer, there’s lettuce and tomatoes, go for it.”

I fixed myself coffee and took the soup I had made earlier from the fridge. When Toby saw the soup, he asked for a bowl as well. I think I was beginning to realize that my shopping list was going to be enlarged.

That evening we spent reading. Toby found one of Clair’s books and was reading it while I finished the paper.

Laying in bed I thought about how my life was going to change if Toby stays. I smiled to myself when I realized my food larder will be seriously hit but I also thought how nice it’ll be to show Toby the world Clair and I found and enjoyed. I slept confident that Toby would be a part of my world.