Raymond felt her hand again. Kathleen, his wife of fifty years stirred slightly. He smiled as her eyes looked into his. It was her eyes that fascinated him. More than fifty years had passed since he first saw her coming out of a freshman English lecture. Her eyes were bright, full of life, sparkling as he held the door for her. He made sure to be at that door every day before noon that week, just for her. Soon they were studying together, sipping sodas, walking hand-in-hand. They were an item.
He recalled winning her father's approval: “Son, I don't take lightly with someone who doesn't finish the job. If you're interested in dating my daughter, you will have to prove to me that you have the desire and the means to support her and the drive to support her until the end. You start? You finish.”
Raymond closed his eyes again and thought about Kathleen's father: Hard-working, old school, blue-collar worker who had saved up enough to send Kathleen to college. He was also a deeply religious man, though a bit gruff. He eventually warmed up to Raymond once he realized that Raymond played sports in high school only to pad his resume when going off to college. Being an engineering major proved he was serious about school and his future.
“You're smiling again, Love. Thinking of our first date?”
Kathleen's voice brought him back to the present.
“Uh-huh. And....” He didn't finish; she'd know. He saw it in her eyes again just as when they had in the light of the simple burger joint, twinkling brightly with the neon lights above and the flashes of car headlights from the road outside.
“What?” she had asked then laughed. He loved that laugh.
“I like your eyes,” he had replied. “They're full of life!”
She laughed again then looked away.
“Would you like to take a walk after this?” he asked.
Her eyes glowed brightly. “Sure!” Then she picked up her burger and drink.
Raymond laughed. “That's what I like about you, Kathleen.”
“That I pick my burger up and start walking?”
“No, that you can have fun and play right along.” He paused and wondered if he should say what else was on his mind. “That and your eyes.”
“My eyes? You've mentioned them twice tonight.”
“You have two of them.”
She smiled then looked away. “It takes more than eyes for a good relationship.”
“Yes, through my eyes I can see your eyes are honest and caring; truth be told, I'd like to see more of you. If you'd like that.”
Kathleen was silent for most of a block. “You'd have to ask Daddy,” she finally said. “And we'd like to know more about you—especially how you set with God, religion, and all.”
He knew what she meant. He had started attending the same church where she went but her family had not observed him very closely yet. From that point on he made sure that he was in the center of activities at that church. Two years later her father had given his blessing on their engagement. Life was sweet but transpired so quickly! Children, then grandchildren! Now they would be separated?
Raymond closed his eyes and set his thoughts on God. “God will take care of Kathleen; he will take care of me too,” he whispered silently to himself. “Watch over us, Lord.”
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
He stirred as he recognized Kathleen reciting a favorite passage of Scripture. Her voice seemed far softer than before; the past weeks had to be wearing on her. They both needed rest.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures...”
“Yes,” he thought. “Quiet pastures—wonderful. I'll just close my eyes and imagine Heaven's bright fields: the Lord, my shepherd, my rest.”
Kathleen continued reciting the psalm then realized the hand she held grew limp and cool.
With a start she checked his pulse and then his eyes. His eyes, once bright, now stared vacantly beyond.
“Dear Lord, he's gone home! Oh, to see through his eyes now!” Tears gathered in her eyes as she leaned forward to kiss his cheek one last time. “Good-bye, my love. For you it's morning.”
D. Benning (c) 2018
