CRYSTAL’S SECRET
By Tom Hannon
There were more than a thousand people in the crowded airport, yet two sets of eyes found each other’s immediately. Were they strangers? Far from it. Lovers? Not any longer. Acquaintances? It was more than that.
In his arms, Mark carried a bouquet of red roses, remembering those were always Crystal’s favorite. In her hand, Crystal carried a small package, although all that Mark saw was the tired and troubled look on her face. The reunion was Crystal’s idea. She seemed eager to meet him, although he wasn’t sure why. Whatever romantic feelings they once had were gone, and her insistence on getting together on such short notice didn’t make sense. Why now? What was the urgency?
Meeting Crystal again, after all these years, reminded him to get a haircut, and dig up a few bucks to buy a decent sports jacket. He never cared about his unkempt appearance before, but leaving a good impression on her was important for his ego. He couldn’t allow her to see what a failure he was or that once again, he was unemployed, especially after learning how successful she was.
She didn’t need to know his credit cards were maxed out, or he was a month behind in his rent. He could jot down his accomplishments inside a matchbook cover, while Crystal’s life could turn into a full-length motion picture.
Yes, their lives had gone in opposite directions. Although it was not Mark’s habit to put on a charade for anybody, for this one weekend, for Crystal, he would learn to fake it and allow her to go home believing he had his act together.
He didn’t know what to expect when he saw her walk through the arrival gate. The hard look on her face warned him that something disturbing was going on in her life. On the plus side of 40, she was still a looker, although from a distance he saw streaks of premature shades of gray invading her once jet-black hair. As she got closer, he noticed her eyes had lost their twinkle. Whatever it was, his intuition said life wasn’t as wonderful for her as he’d expected.
They rushed into each other’s arms, and their lips locked with a kiss that lasted much too long for two people who were supposedly no more than distant friends. Although Mark couldn’t speak for Crystal, a day hadn’t gone by when she wasn’t in his thoughts. She broke his heart when she ditched him the way she did, and his rejection turned to bitterness, almost hatred. There was a temptation to ask why she walked out on him and moved to Miami to live with her sister, but that was 25 years ago. It was time to forget about the past.
Walking arm in arm, clinging to each other the same way they did as teenagers, Mark’s thoughts drifted to places it shouldn’t be going. If he could, he'd take her to the nearest motel and . . . But he didn't want to scare her away, or give the impression that his feelings for her were only sexual. He knew if this meeting was a building block to rekindle the long lost friendship, he must be on his best behavior. The only place he was bringing her tonight was to a fancy restaurant on the other side of town.
“Crystal, it’s been many years. We have lots to catch up on.”
Crystal gave Mark a serious look and said, “There’s more to catch up on than you can imagine. I’m not ready to get into the specifics yet, but what I need from you is a shoulder to cry on, although I can’t tell you why I’m crying.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“What you can do is change the subject. Let’s talk about us, and the days when life wasn’t so complicated.”
Mark could tell the conversation was getting heavy. It was time to lighten it up. If she wanted to discuss it further, he’d listen, but he sensed her visit this weekend was to get away. There was no reason to dig into matters that were none of his business. He pointed to the package she was carrying.
“What's in the box?”
She took a deep breath and exhaled. She was about to say something, but stopped before the first word formed.
“What’s wrong, Crystal?”
“I’m not so sure about this,” she said, with her voice cracking, “but you need to know.” She reached for his hand. If she squeezed it any harder, she would have broken it. “It’s much too complicated to go into the details. All I’ll say is, I made a mistake a quarter of a century ago and shouldn’t have listened to my parents. They didn’t like you for the wrong reasons and thought I could do much better than hooking up with a high school dropout with no ambition. Stupid me, I listened to them.”
Mark laughed. “Your parents were right. I was a loser and you could do a lot better.” It was Mark’s turn to take that deep breath. He decided to ditch his rehearsed line of BS and tell the truth. Why pretend to be someone he wasn’t, although he couldn’t let her know about his financial problems or his recent layoff. “It took me a while to grow up. Time in the slammer was the wake up call I needed to put my life in order.”
“Jail? Mark, I can’t believe it. You of all people.”
“Prison is nothing I’m proud of,” he admitted. “That was 15 years ago. I’ve stayed out of trouble since, and I’ve held on to the same job for the past 12 years.” He managed a silly grin, “I’m doing okay. Still, dumping me was a smart move.”
“You’re looking in from the outside, Mark. You don’t know where my life has gone, or how miserable it’s been.”
“Life can’t be too bad. You’re living in Belvedere. It’s one of the wealthiest sections in California.”
She shrugged her shoulders, “So what. I’d give it all up for that log cabin in the mountains of Pennsylvania. The one we used to dream about all the time. Away from the nightmares that wake me up each night. Away from . . .” When he pressured her to continue, she simply said, “Don’t go there. Please, don’t go there.”
Mark continued to inquire about her life, until she waved her finger in his face. “I’d rather keep my skeletons in the closet. There is no reason to introduce them.”
“Chill out, Crystal. Didn’t I tell you about my prison record?”
“You volunteered that information,” she said. “I didn’t twist your arm.”
“I don’t understand. You hire a private investigator to find my whereabouts and fly across the country to meet with me. Yet, you’re being so secretive. Why are we here?”
She held up the box and said, “The answer’s inside. It will explain all you need to know.”
Mark reached for it, but she pulled it away from his grasp.
“Not so fast,” she said. “I’m still not sure if I want to get you involved in this.”
His arm quickly lunged across the table and snatched the box from her hand. As she released her grip, he noticed a few tears were rolling down her cheek.
There was no card attached, only what was in the box. Mark anxiously opened it, and paused after he saw a picture frame, with a photograph of a beautiful woman looking out at the ocean. He palmed it in his hand and studied the picture.
“She’s my daughter, Heather,” she answered, her voice trailing off. “My kid sister, Regina, raised Heather since she was an infant. As far as my daughter knows, I’m dead. I didn’t want her growing up in my world and my husband wanted no part of her because she wasn’t …”
“Wasn’t what?”
“He had his reasons. Besides, I had no time to be a mommy. Regina couldn’t have kids and the arrangement worked out well for both of us.”
Each of them searched for the words to continue. Although Mark was a bit disappointed with his gift, he made sure it didn’t show. What was he going to do with a photograph of an old girlfriend’s kid?
“Every picture tells a story, Mark. There is more to this story than a pretty woman standing on the beach.”
“Care to read me the first chapter, or at least the prologue?” he asked.
“The story isn’t finished yet, although I’m working on a surprise ending.” She nervously smiled. “If my plot turns out the way I expect, I’ll need you to write the epilogue.”
“Sounds like a best-seller,” Mark teased. “Will there be a happy ending?”
“I wouldn’t know. Aren’t you the one writing the epilogue?” She wiped a tear from her face and sniffled. “I just wanted you to have her picture. Someday, you’ll understand.”
She then asked him to turn the frame over. Taped to the back was a small brass key.
“What’s the key for?” he asked.
“This key gives you a huge responsibility. I’m betting my life that you’ll do the right thing.”
“What do you expect me to do with it?”
“When the time comes, you’ll know. Trust me. You’ll know.”
“Damn it, Crystal! Why are you keeping your life such a mystery? You’ve been talking in circles from the minute we met at the airport. Are you in trouble?”
“Let’s just say, I’m in a situation I regret being in. I plan to work out the problem on my own, shortly after my plane returns to California. What I need from you is to deliver something to Heather.”
“Why not deliver whatever it is yourself?”
“I can’t. Remember, she thinks I’m dead.”
“It’s time she learned the truth, Crystal.”
“Someday soon, she will.” She threw him a kiss across the table. “So, what are we doing? Do I check myself into a hotel and spend the evening alone, or are you going to invite me to stay over at your apartment.”
Although Mark would have no problem with her suggestion, he didn’t want to be a marriage wrecker. “You’re married. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Our honeymoon ended years ago. Steve and I are nothing more than business partners.” She gazed directly in his eyes and winked. “Or maybe I just don’t turn you on anymore.”
Crystal remained secretive about why she went to extreme measures to find Mark after so long, but her passion in the bedroom hinted she still had strong feelings for him.
While sharing their last goodbyes at the airport the following morning, Mark tried one last time to penetrate the protective wall around her. She wouldn’t budge, although she promised to write him within a few days to explain everything, including what she wanted him to do with the key.
After sharing one last hug, Mark asked if he would see her again. Crystal answered, “No.” She walked away through the departure gate. Although Mark watched her until she was out of sight, she never looked back in his direction.
A few days later, after coming home from the unemployment office, Mark found a letter postmarked Belvedere, California, in the mailbox. Opening it, he read,
Dear Mark,
Spending last weekend with you was wonderful. As much as I didn’t want to return to California, I knew the organization would find me if I didn’t. I was involved too deeply and although the notion of running crossed my mind, I knew I could never hide. Escaping my world would be risky and I didn’t want to jeopardize your life. Remember, I’m counting on you to write the epilogue, and you know how I love happy endings. See what you can do to make it so.
In the back of your closet, I hid a locked suitcase. The key I gave you will open it. Inside are bank accounts, CDs, and money markets, all in Heather’s name. There is also a bundle of cash, which belongs to you. I know about your financial difficulties and struggles to find a good job, but that’s okay, Mark. You’re doing the best you can. There is more than enough to pay off your bills and live comfortably. You will also find a property deed, paid in full, under your name. Three acres of lakefront property with a newly built log cabin in the Pocono Mountains. Just what you always wanted. Enjoy.
I won’t get into the underground world that I became an important figure in, or of the many lives I destroyed. I could blame it all on my husband and claim I went along for the ride. The truth is, although in the beginning I was skeptical, once I saw the money coming in, greed turned me into the same monster he was.
I couldn’t live with the guilt any longer and as much as I wanted to escape my surroundings, it was impossible. There was no way out. The only way to guarantee my daughter’s safety was to take the bastard I called my husband with me. When you read this letter, I’ll be dead. But please, Mark, don’t mourn my loss. Instead, you must celebrate your gain and look ahead to only the future.
Heather will contact you shortly. You’re going to like her and I’m confident you two will bond. Although she doesn’t know about the financial rewards awaiting her, she has learned who Mark Bradbury is and is anxious to meet you. She’s been searching for her father since discovering that Regina and my brother-in-law were not her biological parents. She will finally meet her dad. Please, Mark. Take care of her. I love you and always have.
Crystal
