Heartful Inheritance

The sea of reflections from the flutes momentarily blinded Mark.

As he blinked, the room sharpened—couples everywhere, champagne in one hand, the other curled around a waist or laced with a partner’s fingers.

His stomach jolted.

The invitation in his hand trembled as he read it again: “Private New Year’s Eve reception. Bring a friend or find one tonight.”

10

Mark wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. His heart kicked hard, and a smile tugged at his lips. Regina, his childhood neighbor, stood in the center of the room, head down, one arm across her waist, holding her other elbow.

9

His gaze scanned the room as he rose on tiptoes, moving his head from side to side. Just three other women remained alone. However, he could not recognize them as their backs were to him.

8

His mother’s voice in his head sent a chill down his spine.

“You won’t get the inheritance unless you kiss someone before midnight on New Year’s Eve.”

“Why?”

“You need to get out. You can’t shut yourself away from the world, and it’s time.”

That was all she said. But held his hands and squeezed them. That feeling echoed in his hands as he took another step, and his heart thumped again.

7

His step faltered, and in his mind, she would say no.

He tilted his head back, shut his eyes, and then took two more steps.

6

Regina’s head was still down. But then her head rose, their eyes met. She smiled.

He thought, “Is she being polite? Does she remember me?”

And he remembered that moment before the play - the one where she was to play Jasmine and he the genie. She almost quit and asked her understudy to go on. He couldn’t let that happen, so he encouraged her, held her hand for a moment, and said, “As a genie, I grant your wish of having an amazing performance.”

She smiled that same way that day. And she did an amazing job; several minutes of thunderous clapping, echoing his heart’s own pounding at that moment.

5

She lowered her head and began to twist her black hair. His steps quickened, and he was almost there.

“I am going to make it.”

His mind shouted, “She will say no.”

He bit his tongue, and then he shouted, “Shut up.” And his face reddened, causing people to stare. Then the crowd shrugged and joined him as he shouted the next number louder.

4

He was so close he could practically touch her. He smiled at her again, and she returned a slighter smile.

That was what he needed to take two more steps and shove people aside to get within her outer circle.

3

A pinch at his chest, and his face went white as his hand reached up and rubbed his shirt. He remembered the moment too well.

He was twelve, but they were talking to him as if he were two: “You have a bad heart and need it fixed.”

That is what they said. They skipped the fancy words of why, and his mother was in tears next to him.

That’s when grandpa walked in, the “old gruff” himself. His grandfather focused on the pocket watch and then sat next to his mother.

Even though he had not seen his grandfather get the news, he knew. To Mark, he always seemed to know everything.

And with a rasp in his voice, grandpa said, “Mark, fix a heart, no problem. Kiddo, you’re going to live to be 99 and then some. And even marry the girl of your dreams.”

2

His chest settled, his hand lowered, tapping her on the shoulder. Her eyes met his with a glow.

“I’m Mark, remember me.”

“Of course I do. That was before my family moved. I always wondered what became of you. I’m so glad to see you again. I never had a chance to thank you.”

“Oh, you never had to do that.”

He focused on her lips. A memory flash hit him.

“But, Mom, he left me something.”

“And he wanted you to live, and not worry. So go find yourself someone and kiss them before New Year’s.”

1

“I need a favor. Would you kiss me before midnight?”

“Yes.”

And before others shouted, before anyone could say zero, their lips met.

“Happy New Year!”

They heard each other even though the surrounding noise seemed to be shattering the world. They chatted until 1 am, until finally everyone seemed to realize it was time to head home.

One day later - 2:10 PM

As the images of New Year’s Eve flitted through his head, he found himself out in front of his mother’s postage-stamp-sized house. He shrugged at the blue car that was parked there.

As he walked up the sidewalk, he smiled when he registered a small divot in the grass. “My buried treasure.”

He didn’t knock; he just opened the door. “Mom, it’s Mark.”

“In the kitchen.”

At that, the smell hit him. His mouth watered. Before he opened the door to the kitchen, he shouted. “Thank you for the sugar cookies!”

And his jaw dropped after the door was opened, as Regina was sitting next to his mother at the small round table.

“Mom!”

“Oh, sit.”

At first, he paused, but then pulled the seat out and sat when his gaze was attracted to the rounded manila envelope sitting on the table.

2:15 PM

“You arranged last night.”

She laughed. “Not Exactly. I ran into Regina last week when I found out she had moved back into the area. We bumped into each other at the supermarket, and she remembered me. She gushed to me about missing you.”

Regina blushed.

“So, I gave her an invite to the party.”

Mark’s mouth trembled. “You didn’t think I could do it.”

“Kiss a stranger at a party, even I would struggle with that. So I sent a few people you knew. Whether she would kiss you, I had no idea. However, as I said, it was time for you to live. And I’m your mother; mothers interfere.”

She paused and pumped one of his hands, then sat back.

With a grin, she said, “Besides, I heard you were there until 1:00. I definitely did not arrange that.”

His mother glanced at Regina, who slouched under her gaze.

“OK.”

2:20 PM

Mark reached for the envelope.

His mother pulled it back. “Not yet. First, I think you need to let Regina know why this is important to you.”

Mark sighed. His hand reached out towards Regina’s, but then shook. Regina took it. And said, “It’s ok, Mark. I like you, I always have. Tell me what happened after I left.

Mark squeezed her hand. “I had to get a few heart surgeries to fix my heart. After the last one, they were concerned about my immunity.”

Mark stood up and pointed at the table, “This became my school as my mom taught me at home.”

Mark pointed out the window, “I remember looking out the window, but for a while, this house is where I lived.”

He picked up an empty cookie jar. “This used to have my mom’s emergency money. However, she had to quit working to teach me, and Grandpa took care of all the costs and income.”

Mark laughed, “Sometimes I would find sugar cookies in here instead of money. I always enjoyed those days.”

Mark sat down and took her hand again.

“Grandpa, turned from a grump to my best friend, he would come over in the evenings and read to me or play computer games.”

“As the nights wore on, I would ask if we had more time. He would take out his pocket watch and say. We have hours to spend with each other.”

His mother added, “However, when the doctors cleared him, he would still stay inside. They told him he was fine, he could run and play, but he stayed inside. Eventually, he did get a job, but even then, he was always inside. Even his grandfather couldn’t get him to go out. After his grandpa died, I knew I had to do something, and I knew what this would mean to him.” Her hand was on the envelope.

Regina’s eyes scrunched as she looked at the envelope, and then she asked, “Is that the only reason you kissed me?”

Mark said, “Yes.” Regina sat back and wrapped her arms around herself. And then he said, “And no. I want to kiss you now.”

Regina placed her hands on the table. “I didn’t kiss you for any reason other than I did miss you and your kindness.”

Mark nodded.

2:30 PM

And then his mother slid the envelope forward. Mark snatched it.

Regina’s eyes widened as he tore the envelope open, bits and pieces flying out of his hand, landing on the table or floor.

Regina asked, “What is so important?”

Mark did not answer. He reached in, and his hand paused, and slowly it came out with the gold pocket watch. Mark placed the envelope on the table and, sitting back, unzipped his shirt, causing Regina to sit upright.

He placed the watch on a scar on his chest and folded his other hand over it. Holding it there, he closed his eyes and took a quick breath. He stayed that way for a moment before saying, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

His eyes opened, and he met Regina’s gaze. He shrugged when she stared at the scar. He held the watch out to her.

She took it, and Mark fidgeted for a second, reaching and then putting his hand back on his lap.

She turned it over and read the engraving: Shawn Foster, April 7, 1937, and then later in newer print, April 17, 2022. Regina turned it over and turned the knob on top.

Mark’s hands clenched his pants.

She said, “It doesn’t work.”

His hand came up and held out flat, “It never did.”

She frowned.

“It doesn’t matter.” He placed the watch in his left shirt pocket.

His mother pulled out two tickets and placed them in the middle of the table. “They are showing Aladdin at the Cinemark, a special run. It’s at 3.”

2:40 PM

Mark took the watch out of his pocket. And said, “Oh my.” The hands on the watch showed 2:40, always that time.

He grabbed Regina’s hand and asked, “Will you go see the movie with me?”

“Absolutely, my genie.”