July 2031: A Death in the Family Part III.
A new working week began, and for Nick the office called as always. He did not mention his loss to anyone at the UN, and nothing was mentioned about the social media posts. On Wednesday at 4pm he was called into Miss Worthington's office for a one-on-one meeting, which began in the usual way with a discussion about the work he was doing and how his week had gone so far; then they moved onto speculation as to where the next set of problems would arise. Then abruptly his boss changed tack, and said, "I understand that you lost a member of your family at the weekend; how are all of you coping with your loss?"
After a moment of silence as he recovered himself, Nick replied, "We are all okay, although obviously I am keeping a close eye on Jeff. Can I just ask, how did you find out about Caleb's passing? I mean, I certainly didn't mention it to anyone else in the office, mainly because, if I am being honest, I didn't think people would understand quite why Jeff would be so upset by it all, although I must admit he is handling it much better than I expected he would."
"That is always a concern, when someone we know loses someone that they are particularly close to and doesn't seem to be as affected by it all as we had expected them to be. My sister was the same when our mother passed, so calm and collected, and then at the funeral she collapsed entirely…" began Miss Worthington, but then stopped as she saw the expression on Nick's face. "Okay, so I was informed about it by a contact of mine that works in the White House, who is a close friend of one of your friend Trent's colleagues. I hear that there is to be a funeral service on Saturday, so you can leave early on Friday, as I am sure that you will have a lot to do."
Nick opened his mouth to respond, but he was cut off immediately. "That is to be taken as a direct order Nick, so do not even try to argue about it. You probably work longer hours than any of the other staff on your grade do as it is, so you deserve it. I am sure that we can manage to deal with all of the drama that this mad world of ours throws our way for one Friday afternoon. I will also be arranging cover for you across the whole weekend, as I believe that you have a wedding to attend on Sunday. I will of course see you there, as I am a long-standing family friend of the Rosenfelds. I will be delighted to see young Lachlan marry that fine young man of his…"
Nick nodded, and said, "Yes, it will be nice to see them achieve that goal, after all that they went through in 2027."
Miss Worthington sighed, then went on, "You have of course known Dante Harper-Gilbert for longer than I have… Are you aware that he has applied for an entry level position in the administrative department? It is just that it is always beneficial to the organisation to have a reference supplied for a candidate by a close family friend or colleague within the UN…"
Nick did not mention what Miss Worthington had requested he do to anyone, although he was a little surprised that he had not been asked to provide a reference by Dante himself or Beats for that matter. He could only surmise that they had made the assumption that as he worked in a different part of the organisation, a reference from him would not have much relevance to a selection panel in the admin section. He had provided a glowing account of Dante for Miss Worthington before he headed home that evening, but the subject was still dominant in his head as he walked home from the subway that evening….
It had been forgotten though by lunchtime on Friday, when he had been sent away by Miss Worthington, and he hastened home with his mind awhirl with all he needed to do that day. The first priority was to see how Jeff was, but then he would be making the weekly supermarket trip to Brooklyn alone, as he had to ensure that their food cupboards would not run bare the following week. He was so distracted by making his shopping list mentally that he nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder as he reached the final corner of his walk home; he turned round, fearing the worst, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cameron's face looking back at him…
"Oh God, I am so sorry if I frightened you, Nick! I saw you as we both got off the same train back at the subway station on 14th Street; I tried calling out to you, but I just thought that you hadn't heard me over the noise of the traffic and other people…" said Cameron apologetically.
"It's okay, my bad. My head is just elsewhere right now," Nick replied, and then he noticed that Cameron was carrying a large cardboard box and knew at once what it contained.
"Flora is at our hotel checking in, but she said I should head straight down here with this, as you would be needing it ASAP. I am actually relieved that you are going to be at home too, as I was dreading Jeff being on his own. I did call him up and he said that Mike would be with him when I was due to arrive, and to be honest, that made things even worse! Yes, Jeff wouldn't be alone, but I am anticipating that Mike's reaction to all of this will have been every bit as bad as Jeff's own…"
Nick could understand perfectly why Cameron felt the way he did, and refrained from telling him what Tina had told him the night before, namely that her husband emotional response had been much worse than his own husband's reaction had been…
Nick let himself and Cameron into the house, then headed downstairs, where he could hear two voices in hushed conversation. He made Cameron wait for a moment and headed in alone, finding Mike listening to Jeff; the first thing he noticed was what wasn't there anymore; Caleb's former spot by the radiator was now empty, his bed and dishes gone, a development since he left for work that morning. Then before his husband could speak, Nick said, "I bumped into someone in the street, although strictly it might have been the other way round, but in any case, I brought him here with me."
He heard Jeff's breath hitch as he finished, a sign that his husband was about to complain about it and refuse to see the person in question. Before he could, Cameron came in the door slowly, carrying the cardboard box reverentially, and Jeff's attitude change was immediate. As he greeted his friend, Nick went to make tea, as he knew Cameron would probably like a cup, and he was certainly in need of one. He kept himself busy as the exterior cardboard box was opened and then the layers of packing that had been placed around the precious box within were carefully taken out by the builder.
Nick had just finished pouring the boiling water into the teapot when he heard a gasp; he placed the lid on the pot then carried the tray with the teapot and mugs on it over to the table, where he set it down, then looked at what had made his blond husband gasp in surprise. The casket that Cameron had created was every bit as beautiful as they could have hoped for. The old wood had been carefully cut and shaped, the joints invisible from the outside. There was a very simple moulding all around, carved from the same wood and joined on by the talented carpenter in such a way that there was no trace of either glue or screw. The handles he had used on it were silver at Jeff's direction, or so Nick assumed. However, it was the top of the casket that brought it all home to him. It was plain wood, but it had been carved with a replica of the simple line sketch that Jeff had so often used to represent Caleb to the world; below it came his name and his dates as they knew them; Caleb Sterling-Duval March 2015 to July 2031.
"It is beautiful; just what I would have wished for him and the fact that I know it was made with so much love and affection just adds to it," said Jeff, before he headed over to pull Cameron into a hug that he had obviously expected. Mike just nodded, letting the tears run down his face.
When Jeff eventually let Cameron go, the latter headed across to the table on which the casket sat, and released the hidden catch that kept the lid firmly in place. "I will be honest and admit that I am not responsible for the interior; that is entirely down to Flora, who has a real talent and skill for working with fabric…" he said, and then lifted the lid. Even Nick let out a gasp as he saw the cushioned interior of the casket, which had been lined with the finest silk and then cushioned so that Caleb would not be lying on the hard wood.
"Wow, my cousin is certainly a lady of great talent in respect of fabric work. This is exactly what he deserves, the softest of beds as he sleeps for eternity…" remarked Jeff quietly as he touched the interior.
It was Mike's nose that then detected something else, the faintest hint of catnip. He looked at Cameron, not saying a word, and he was rewarded with a nod. "She put a little catnip in amongst the wadding, as we both knew that it was one of his favourite things and so it would be good for him to have on his final journey…"
Jeff sniffed, blinking back his tears, then chuckled at the idea, which allowed Mike to do the same. The dancer then said, "I will call Tina, tell her that the casket has been delivered; then I can take it down to her at the surgery if you like."
"I will come with you," replied Jeff, "but first of all, will we have a cup of tea with the man that had provided our dear furry friend with the most perfect way to leave this earth. I can never repay him for what he has done, because I will always be comforted by the fact that he will have something so beautiful to lie in, filled with both his love and Flora's, as he goes on his last journey."
Cameron blushed as Nick poured him a cup of tea, then took a cookie from the tin when it was offered to him. His task was completed, and he had achieved great satisfaction from the reaction he had just received. He anticipated that there would be even more of it after the burial tomorrow, when he was surrounded by all of his bird brothers to mark the moment…
Wes was absent that lunchtime as he and Evie had been enrolled in a summer club which kept them occupied whilst their parents worked; by the time that he came home, having been dropped off by Drew at the door, it was to find his father in the middle of one of his baking frenzies; he had a post-funeral tea to prepare after all. The kitchen smelt of the vast batch of cookies he was baking, the first of them already cooling on racks he had placed all around the room. His father was currently stirring butter and golden syrup together in a saucepan, melting them down before he would add cocoa powder, chocolate chips and finally crushed digestive biscuits; Wes recognised it at once as the basis of the simple treat that Miss Frobisher had shown them, a cake that was chilled in the fridge rather than baked in the oven…
"Can I help with anything daddy?" he asked, leaving his satchel which had contained his lunch carefully on the table.
"You certainly can; go and wash your hands, put on your apron, and you can start by pressing this mixture I am making down into the baking pan, making sure it is of the same depth all the way round. Once we have done that, we can start to mix up the ingredients for the big cakes I need to make."
Wes nodded, happy to be allowed to help with the baking, which was something that he really enjoyed. He wondered if his father would allow them to make some flapjacks too, another treat that started off with melting butter, brown sugar and golden syrup together in a pan, then stirring in rolled oats, before pressing it down into a baking pan and placing it in the oven. He left that for later; for now, he concentrated on pushing the warm biscuit and chocolate mixture into every corner of the baking pan, then levelling it off. The task done, he turned to his father and asked, "Where is papa? Is he upstairs in his studio?"
Nick shook his head, then said quietly, "He and Uncle Mike have gone to the vet's surgery to collect Caleb. Uncle Cameron came with the casket, and it was beautiful…" At that, Nick reached for his phone, on which he had taken a few photos of the casket, and he showed them to his boy. Wes nodded at them, his eyes misting up as he saw it. He knew that Caleb was gone and understood it, but seeing the casket that he would be placed in was a grim reality. Then he looked over at the empty spot beside the radiator, and before he could stop himself, he was crying. Nick swiftly pulled his son into a hug, understanding where the sudden outburst of emotion had come from, and let him get all of it out…
At the surgery, Tina had made a quick check on Caleb's condition the moment that she had received the message from Mike to say that they were coming, as an animal's could deteriorate even in the cool mortuary, especially when the animal in question had a coat of fur. Fortunately, he had not suffered any issues, but nonetheless she wanted to ensure that he looked his best for Jeff and indeed her husband. She groomed him one final time and had just finished when one of the staff let her know that they had arrived.
Like the others, she marvelled at the casket, realising that she had a number of clients that would pay through the nose for something as beautiful in which to bury their own beloved animal companions when they passed. If Cameron had happened to live and work in Manhattan, or had even just been that much closer to the city, he could have a very lucrative sideline to his joinery business…
She retrieved Caleb from the mortuary room, carrying him carefully through with the necessary reverence to the room where her blond friend was waiting. She held her arms out to him, but to her surprise he shook his head. "No, I think I'd rather that you placed him in the casket for me," he said. "I was going to, but now that it is a reality…"
Tina nodded, knowing that he was not the first person to feel that way, nor would he be the last. She gently laid Caleb in the casket which was of the exact right size for him; by the time that she finished she could see that Mike was crying, and it was no surprise that Jeff was too. Even though she saw sick and dying animals every day and had dealt with the departure of so many, there was something about Caleb's passing that had her own eyes welling up with tears…
Eventually Jeff came over to the casket and gently stroked his fur, before he glanced over to Mike, who took that look as permission that he could do likewise. Then he stopped, dug into his pocket and pulled out a catnip toy; Jeff smiled and nodded, and the dancer gently placed it in beside Caleb. Tina realised that it was not the same one that he had been carrying round for nearly a week, so she kept quiet about it once again…
Jeff and Mike stood to one side then and allowed Tina to carefully place the top on the casket, making sure that the catch was secure, as they would be carrying it back through the streets of the West Village. They would also need to keep the casket perfectly horizontal as well, something that would not make their task any easier; even in a city that had seen so many sights upon its streets, two young men in black carrying a small coffin between them through the streets would draw the eyes and attention of pretty much everyone. Tina allowed them to leave via the side door that the staff used, telling them it was an easier route; they knew she was lying, as they understood that no-one that was dealing with a sick pet wanted to see people carrying a pet sized coffin through the waiting area. Such a sight would not reassure them that their own animal would be okay…
It was normally only a ten-minute walk back to the West Village from the vets, but both Jeff and Mike walked at a slower than usual pace that day, as was justified by the coffin that they were carrying. They were both dressed in black, which was usually an issue in July, but for once the sky was cloudy and so they were protected from the direct rays. Much to their surprise, most of the other people they saw on the sidewalk did not seem to even notice them, too preoccupied with their own busy schedule and with the information on their cellphones; as a result, a few people nearly walked right into them, and their stunned faces were a picture when they glanced up and saw them. Without exception, the people in question apologised the moment that they saw the casket. Mike had a terrible feeling that some only did because they thought that given its size, they were carrying the body of an infant through the streets…
As they turned into their street, they were greeted by a sight that they hadn't expected, something that Tina had managed to organise from one simple text. Most of their neighbours that were at home had come out to stand on the sidewalk, their heads bowed, to watch as the casket was taken past, and that included some on the opposite side of the road too. Jeff felt so touched at the sight, and it was all that he could do not to burst into tears there and then. However, he had a task to complete, and he knew that he had to keep his full focus on that, so he stiffened his resolve and walked on…
Mike was in much the same state as they began to climb the steps up to the Sterling-Duval's front door; the door was open, and Nick and Wes were waiting just inside. The former had managed to clear everything off one of the side tables that graced the hallway, and he had found a suitable piece of black velvet to drape over it; it would act as a catafalque for Caleb's casket. Jeff and Mike between them placed the little coffin on the table with all due ceremony, reverence and love; that done, they took a seat on the bench by the hallstand where shoes were usually removed and let all of the tears that they had been holding back flow freely…
When they eventually headed downstairs, it was to discover that a very neat hole had been dug in the right place in the back garden in their absence. Nick shook his head as they looked at him, and said, "Ethan and Beats arrived, said they were free and offered. I know that you and Mike were intending on doing it, but you've been through enough today, so I didn't think you would object to some of our closest friends helping out."
Jeff nodded, then headed out to inspect the hole properly. The sun had come out again, and it was clear at once that it had been dug at the sunniest spot of the entire garden. They had removed the requisite area of turf from the small lawn, placing it carefully to one side to be returned the next day; that decision had been an easy one, as it meant they avoided the roots of the plants already planted in the flower beds. It was exactly the right size to fit the casket, with sufficient clearance on either side, and was exactly the right depth too, which was only to be expected when an engineer had been one of the people digging it.
Jeff went to sit on the bench nearby, which also caught the sun perfectly and found Mike at his side once again. He was carrying two glasses of iced tea, and Jeff happily accepted his; he sipped on the cool liquid, which Nick always seemed to make just right. There was silence for a minute and then Mike cleared his throat pointedly. Jeff turned to him, but the dancer did not meet his eyes as he spoke. "I was thinking that there is a bit of a gap in the border flower bed just there, right behind where his headstone will go, and well, I thought that we could maybe plant some catnip there, as a living reminder of him… I know it isn't really my place to suggest such things, but I just thought it would be a good thing, like the rose bush at Dalton that marks were we buried Wes' ashes…"
Jeff said nothing in response, and Mike hoped that he had not spoken out of turn. Then the silence came to an end. "That is an absolutely beautiful idea, Mike. He did love the scent of it so much, and if we had had a bush of it growing out here, then he would have been straight out of the door in summer to roll in it then just lie blissed out in his sunbeam… We can find a plant nursery that has it in stock after the funeral and plant it then. Until the headstone arrives, it will be the only marker of his final resting place," replied Jeff.
Mike nodded, happy to have made such a valuable suggestion, but he resolved that he would actually try and find a plant nursery that evening; if he was lucky and could get some, then they could plant it right after the funeral the next day…
As soon as he had finished his iced tea, Mike made his excuses to leave and Jeff showed him out, both pausing in the hallway to look at the casket again. It did not have the regal surroundings of Westminster Hall, but Jeff had ensured that Caleb was being treated as a monarch would be when they passed away. Beside the casket Nick had placed a photo that Jeff had selected in an antique silver frame; one of Caleb lying in his sunbeam upstairs, a look of bliss and contentment on his face. Mike smiled, gave Jeff a hug and headed home. There was a childminder to relieve, and the internet to search for plant nurseries…
As he did that, the dancer would let all of his happiest memories of his times with Caleb fill his head, not least when Caleb had been a mere kitten and had been so playful; then there was the year when the cat had called the apartment that Mike now sat in home, whilst Nick and Jeff had been in London. He recalled how, after that, he and Tina had considered getting a cat of their own; even now, it was something that she occasionally brought up, but he rejected the notion every time, as he always had. He made the excuse that their busy lives would mean leaving the animal on its own for long periods every day, and that would not be fair on the poor creature, but Tina knew the real reason; he was afraid that Caleb would smell the other cat on him and cut him dead…
Their children had come along, but they had never shown much interest in having a pet of their own, which he had to admit was a little unusual; then again, they had always had Caleb to pet when they visited the house along the street with him. Now that he was gone, maybe they would ask for a pet, but like Jeff, he didn't think that a cat would be a good idea, at least not now. In a few years' time, he might be ready to allow a new feline to come into his life, once Caleb was a more distant memory…
Back along the street, Jeff had stood silently in the hall for a moment once Mike was gone, staring at the sight before him; he placed a hand on the casket and let out a sigh, then shook himself. He headed back to the kitchen, which had been filled with the delicious smells of an afternoon of baking; with any luck, Nick would be looking for someone to check that the cookies tasted just right…
Nick had baked up a storm with his son's help, as he had no idea just how many people he was catering for the following day; there had not been any official invitation issued and therefore no RSVP received. What people said about their intentions in passing often did not tally with their eventual actions; much sympathy had been expressed by the whole bird brotherhood and their other friends, but that did not imply that they would all be in attendance at the funeral, even if they were going to be in the city for Dante's wedding on Sunday. Travel plans would have been made well in advance and they were probably for an arrival late on Saturday afternoon. He had not said as much to Jeff, just pointed out that they might not have a full house the next day…
Whatever happened, he knew that none of his baking would go to waste, as he could always take some of it to the wedding on Sunday, where sweet treats would be just as appreciated. As his husband stepped into the kitchen, he was just placing the last of the five large cakes he had baked onto the cooling rack, the frosting for his now cool enough red velvet cake ready to be applied, although he suspected that his young apprentice would volunteer to complete that task for him. He would allow him to do so, as Wes had an attention for detail that was enviable and a desire to achieve perfection in all that he had baked.
"He is home," was all Jeff said, and Nick nodded. They had had a lively discussion about exactly where the casket should be placed on the night before the funeral the previous evening, with Nick adamant that the kitchen table was not the correct place for Caleb to lie in state; that had made Jeff pout at first, then almost cry…
"It was okay for Caleb to be in the kitchen when he was alive," Nick said gently, "because he knew one thing, and that was that he wasn't allowed to jump up on the kitchen counters or the table. More practically, how could we eat our meal tomorrow if there was a casket on the table? And before you say it, I need every inch of my counter space too…"
Nick had been firm in his resistance, and eventually he had convinced Jeff that the hallway was a much better spot. It was the prime place in the house, right where their Christmas tree always sat; the tree that Caleb had always regarded with such bemusement when it was put in place. Nick had also pointed out that it would make it easier for any of their friends who wished to come and pay their final respects to see him. He wasn't sure how many, or indeed if any of their neighbours would wish to do so other than Mike, but once again he kept that to himself. He had learned a long time ago that it was never right to be blunt and honest with Jeff, as it only upset him…
Nick had been surprised when he saw how many of their neighbours had been out to see Caleb brought home, and the number that came to call that evening would surprise him too when Jeff told him as he returned from the supermarket in Brooklyn, the usual shopping trip done a day early. The blond had opened the casket so that everyone could see him one last time, although that was a bit too much for some of them… They all admired the casket and its construction though, and the beautiful lining that Flora had made. A murmur began to circulate amongst them that Cameron should possibly consider a career in which he specialised in coffin making, as it was a trade in which business was certain to continue, even in the era of ecological funerals. As far as any of them were aware, Cameron had never used his woodworking skills to construct a casket for anyone else, be it for an animal or a human, and they had to wonder if that was something that the sensitive man in question could handle…
People did not stay for long, but to Jeff's delight, most of them checked with him when the funeral would be starting and he was happy to confirm the midday start time, then point out that there would be food and drink afterwards. The last people that would arrive to pay their respects that evening were Lawrence and Adam, the former having been on shift at the hospital, his time as a medical student drawing to its close. His graduation to a fully fledged doctor was not far away, and he had already secured a permanent position at the hospital he had trained in, working in the Ob-Gyn department. He had impressed Nurse Crane so much in his intern time there that she had taken him to one side as it neared its end and told him it would be criminal of him not to specialise in that field when he qualified.
"You, young man, have a gift. You can put anyone, no matter how stressed, at their ease in a heartbeat, and that is something that few young medics have. Childbirth is a stressful time, and even the newest female doctors can't calm some women; you have managed with everyone of them. I want you working here because then I will know that common sense and the other values that I hold dear will continue to hold sway in this department when I have retired," Nurse Crane had said, and well, Lawrence had been unable to argue with that. His choice had been made and the new role was confirmation it was the right one.
Of course, his impending graduation meant that there would be another wedding in the neighbourhood very soon. It would echo events that had just taken place on Adam's sitcom, where after a long relationship, his character and Sam's had finally tied the knot, much to the delight of television audiences around the world. However, that happy event meant that the show would come to an end very soon, as it had always been about the dating dramas of Darrin and those were now over. The final plot would centre on the birth of a child that Clive and Darrin would raise together, as Darrin's daughter was also expecting and about to give them their first grandchild. That would be a first for a television sitcom…
Neither Adam or Sam had an issue with the show coming to its natural end, and both already had offers of work once the show that had made them global icons came to a conclusion. Sam would reprise his role as Willy Wonka in a revival of the show where he had taken over from Cooper all those years ago. The latter had decided he was too old to take on the lead and so it would be his protégé that would bring the delight of that magical chocolate factory to a new generation of children…
Adam's name meanwhile was linked to a season of Shakespeare plays that would run one after the other; it would be the less often performed plays that would make up the season, eschewing the likes of Hamlet, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and of course, the Scottish play as the superstitious acting world referred to it as. Adam was quite looking forward to performing the parts of Kings and noblemen that had been written by his home nation's greatest playwright for the audiences of New York, showing them that England had been a complicated nation to live in and that the past was a very murky one when you considered it…
Adam and Lawrence did not talk about their own lives as they paid their respects, the latter then apologising for the fact that he would not be able to be present for the funeral the following day as he would be on duty. Jeff understood and was pleased when Lawrence added that his brother was intending to come, the presence of Dex more than adequate compensation for the young doctor's absence. Adam also intended to be present the next day, but he did not mention that his character on the sitcom was about to be plunged into a similar situation, as Darrin's dog was going to pass away, although that would be a more tragic and chaotic event than what had passed in their street…
When they left, Jeff locked the front door behind them, then placed the casket lid back on after giving Caleb one last stroke. He headed down to the kitchen where Nick had prepared hot chocolate for him, that great comforter even on the warmest of summer nights. All was now ready for the following day, which they both knew would be a difficult one…