The Legacy Read Free

easily fit into the one room,
and that's not including the connecting bathroom.
    But the place I love best in the house is the living room,
because in its center sits a beautiful, black baby grand piano. I
learned to play the piano in the first grade and had stuck with it
through the years. Having developed my singing voice in high
school, I fell in love with playing and singing. Later in life, the
talent lay dormant for a long time, and now that I have access
to a piano, I've picked it up again. It is like reconnecting with a
lost love, and I am giddy every time I play.
    Everything in Jessica's home is so elegant, it's like I am
living in a palace. I have never stayed in a place so lovely, not
even close. Still, with all the material things Jessica possesses,
she is the kindest, most loving and down to earth person I have
ever known, and I feel blessed to be in her home.
    “I think that’s it,” Jessica says, taking the plate of muffins
over to the small breakfast nook by the corner windows.
“I think you’re spoiling me too much,” I tell her as we sit
down to eat. Since the day I arrived, Jessica has made every
meal special. In the mornings the table is set with everything
from fruit, cheeses and muffins, to bacon and Belgium waffles.
Lunches are finger sandwiches, meats, and luscious pastries.
And dinner is always so full of variety, three meals can easily be
made from the one. Having grown up poor and standing in
government food lines with my mother, and then always having
to budget for even cookies as an adult, I am continually
overwhelmed with the wealth of food I am now receiving.
“You deserve to be spoiled, my dear.”
My smile is guarded. If only I could see the facade of
myself no one seems to be able to look past, and I can’t stop
the negative thoughts from intruding.
If you really knew me and everything I’ve done, you wouldn’t feel
that way about me.
As if Jessica can read my thoughts, she places a hand over
mine. “You deserve everything that’s good in this life, Cisely.
Truly you do.” She pauses, her voice growing softer. “I don’t
know the full extent of what you have lived through, but you
are truly more special than you could possibly know, and I
know with all my heart that there are some marvelous things in
store for you.”
I smile, refusing to let the tears come. I have never felt so
much love from someone. I can’t count the many hours and
agonizing moments I spent as a child, wishing for and needing
a mother’s love–for someone to hug me and tell me everything
would be okay. I squeeze Jessica’s hand.
“Thank you for being so good to me,” I say softly,
swallowing hard at the lump pressing in my throat.
“No need to thank me, dear. That is what this life is all
about.”
We
enjoy
a
leisurely
breakfast,
talking
about
various
things. I love the time I've spent with Jessica and have come to
learn so much more about her life.
Jessica was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia.
When she turned twenty-five, she moved to Salt Lake City to
go to school. Her younger sister and two brothers still live in
Australia with their families. Though her family comes to the
United States every now and then to visit her, the visits she
enjoys most are the ones from her favorite nephew, Ingo. At
least three or four times a year he pops in for a week long visit.
She cherishes those times.
I noticed several pictures of him in Jessica’s bedroom
when I first arrived and was surprised by how handsome he is.
To Jessica, Ingo is the son she never had, and she loves him
very much. I can’t help thinking of how fortunate he is to have
Jessica as an aunt. However, I am also reaping the blessings of
having this loving woman as my friend.
Having finished eating, we clean up and put everything
away. Then I quickly touch up my makeup and check my outfit
once more before leaving to catch the bus to work. Taking in
my reflection, a shy smile curves my lips. A couple of days after
I arrived, Jessica