Finding Sara

Hiding away was the best way she knew how to cope with what was going on around her. All the people. All the noise. All the drama. All the tears. She had to step away from it.

Grandma Eden's sudden death shook them all. But no one was closer to Grandma than her sweet, gentle Sara. Grandma was old-school and kept most people, even family, at an arm's length. No one knew exactly why; maybe it was the British in her, but the exception was her close bond with Sara.

Growing up, Sara would spend weeks at a time at Grandma Eden's home – where she learned how to sew, crochet, bake and garden. They were in their own world, and no one and nothing else mattered. Grandma was strong and independent, and her example shaped Sara in so many ways.

Sara found herself in the creepy, dusty attic. As a child, she would climb up the old wooden pull-down ladder and find herself in a magical world. Trunks of vintage clothing, leather bound-books, black and white pictures, and items treasured well before her time occupied her curiosity and imagination.

Just being around Grandma's things brought Sara comfort. Oh, how she missed her best friend! Why was she taken so suddenly without the chance to say goodbye?

While rummaging through some of the trunks, Sara came upon a small notebook she hadn't seen before. Its black leather cover was worn on the backside but appeared to be in pristine condition on the surface. Some of the rounded corners were folded. Oddly, each page was numbered but not in numerical order. The black elastic closure seemed to keep the bulging pages inside the notebook.

Opening the little black book, Sara noticed her grandmother's beautiful handwriting. Grandma Eden had written to Sara every week she was away at college. Her fancy style of penmanship was something Sara admired and could easily recognize anywhere. Those little notes Grandma sent meant the world to Sara, and she saved every last one of them. Grandma missed writing to Sara during her bout with pneumonia that lasted for a good month. She insisted that Sara focus on finishing up her studies and would be in touch as soon as possible. In no time, Sara was receiving letters from Grandma once again, and her heart rejoiced.

On the front page of the book, Grandma had written her name and the year 1999. In 1999 Sara was 22 years old and finishing up her senior year in college. The same year that Grandma was sick. In the back of the book, she found an expandable inner pocket with more papers stuffed inside it.

Was this a record of her thoughts during the illness, Sara wondered? Would this be a way to learn more about her Grandma and be closer to her? Sara's excitement soared. This was personal to Grandma and something she could take home with her and keep for herself.

Sara's thoughts were interrupted when she heard the attic door open and someone pulling down the ladder. Quickly hiding the book under her shirt, Sara promptly made her way back down the ladder, finding her cousin Jamie there, and closed off the attic. Jamie, the ever-pestering younger cousin, asked what Sara was doing up there, but Sara wasn't in the mood and gave her cousin a look that said, "don't ask". She then joined the rest of the family that had gathered for fellowship after the funeral. She didn't want anyone in the family up in the attic today. Maybe another day. But not today.

Later that night at home, as she sat on her couch in front of a warm fire, Sara picked up Grandma's book and settled herself in to do some reading. On the second page, to her surprise, there was a note addressed to Sara. It read:

My Dearest Sara,

If you are reading this note, it means that I am no longer here. Please don't be sad that I am gone but remember all the special times we spent together with joy. You have always been the sparkle in my eye, and I could not have enjoyed life as much as I have during these last decades without you.

There are many things that I experienced before you were born that we never talked about. I've had a wonderful life, but some of those times were dark days for me, and I never talked about it with you or anyone else in the family.

Within the contents of this journal, I will share with you my story. This will take some faith on your part, as your love for adventure will require you to seek out many of the answers. I know that in discovering who I was, you will learn more about yourself.

Be strong, my beautiful Sara. Know that I will be with you throughout this adventure.

Evermore,

Grandma Eden

Fanning through the book quickly, Sara noticed articles and photos tapped onto some of the pages, a few maps, and other diagrams. This was going to be exciting! Not wanting to get ahead in the story, Sara went back to the book's beginning and continued.

Next, she read:

Located in the back pocket, you will find an envelope. Be patient with the process and start there.

Finding the envelope that was addressed to Sara, she carefully unsealed it. Inside was a piece of paper that was folded over another piece of paper. When she opened this up, out fell a few one hundred dollar bills and a key. The paper's letterhead was from a bank located in the city about an hour from their small town, with an embossed seal on the bottom right corner. It included information on a safety deposit box that was rented starting back in 1991. The form was signed by Grandma and Sara, as well as the bank manager and another witness. Sara was perplexed. She didn't remember signing anything official with Grandma. Still, the signature did look like hers -- at least what her signature looked like when she was 14.

The brass key had a triple loop design on the bow with a long skinny blade consisting of several intricate teeth. No other distinguishing features, like a number or name, were on it. Sara looked again at the bank's paperwork but didn't see a box number that would correspond to the key. How would she know which box was Grandma's?

Sara gathered the money together and noticed on one of the bills a little post-it note. The message read:

Fitzwilliam made Jane so proud

He was such a fox

Elizabeth didn't quite think so

She wanted to shove him in a box

Sara laughed! Grandma was so sly! She knew exactly what this message meant and was so tickled that Grandma had been clever in her little clue. One of the many things that Grandma and Sara loved to do was to read together. Grandma introduced her to many of the classics – To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Crime and Punishment, and Jane Eyre, to name a few. Besides reading them together, they would act out various scenes, sometimes wearing Grandma's clothes that she kept in the attic, which only increased Sara's love for expanding her literary exploration. English Literature was Sara's absolute favorite, so much so that it was her minor in college.

Knowing she had to start there, Sara decided to check the bank's hours and location on her laptop. First thing Monday morning, she would begin this little adventure Grandma Eden had set out for her.

After writing down the address and phone number of the bank, Sara's cell phone buzzed. It was a text message from her mother, Clara:

The reading of The Will is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:00 am at Grandma's place.

As usual, straight to the point from mother. No "How are you doing?" or "I love you." Clara was always somewhat cold to Sara without explanation. Was it because Grandma Eden favored Sara? Whatever the reason, it went unspoken, and Sara just tried to accept it.

Until the reading of The Will, nothing was to be touched at Grandma's house. Sara was glad that she found the journal and had it in her possession. She couldn't imagine the chaos it would cause if the family knew about it. Whatever adventure Grandma had planned for Sara was not something she wanted to share with her family.

Monday could not come quick enough. Sara arrived promptly at 8 am with the bank document, the black journal, and her ID secured in a shoulder bag. When the bank opened, she told the distinguished lady behind the counter that she needed to access her safety deposit box. The bank manager, an older gentleman with grey hair wearing a well-fitted suit, was summoned and asked Sara what box number before escorting her to the secure vault where the boxes were stored. The manager, trying to not look obvious, looked Sara up and down and then said, "Haven't seen you here before." Not wanting to engage, Sara just smiled. She was happy to follow him to the boxes, as she didn't know where Grandma's box was located. The manager finally stopped and waited for Sara. Sara confidently put her key in slot 1813, the manager inserted his, and the little door was opened. He then removed the box and placed it on the table in the middle of the room. With a nod, he then left.

Sara was so relieved. She played out a bunch of scenarios in her head on how she would have handled things if more questions were asked or if the key didn't belong to Box 1813. Sara knew that Fitzwilliam's character was from the book Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austin in 1813 -- Grandma's cryptic message meant the box’s number was 1813.

The metal safety deposit box was black with a hinged cover that opened upward. Sara had to use her key to open the box and found it to be packed with a blue folder on top. Inside the folder was a single page, a handwritten letter addressed to Sara:

Sara,

Inside this box, you will find $20,000 –

Sara gasped! She hadn't noticed the bundles of money under the folder until she started reading the note. She had never seen that much money all at once. Holy cow!!

She continued to read:

Sara,

Inside this box, you will find $20,000 – this will cover any expenses you have while embarking on this journey. To ensure you will be smart and safe in your travels, I've outlined what precautions you need to take and what items you will need to purchase.

The black journal outlines each step you will follow. Start with page 3, and then each step following corresponds to the consecutive 2 digits of pi. Deposit the money into two separate debit accounts.

With the money from the journal envelope, purchase the latest upgraded phone. No doubt your frugal self will still have something ancient you're holding onto until it dies. You will need a phone with GPS, internet and an excellent camera.

I trust you will follow all the directions carefully. This experience will reveal more than I could ever have explained in person.

Lovingly,

Grandma

Sara placed the money and the envelope into her bag, closed the empty box, and placed it back into the bank slot. She then left the vault room, thanked the bank staff as she walked out, and went straight to her car. The next step would be to deposit half the money into her current bank, and then she would find another bank to open a new account.

Sara felt like a spy, sneaking around doing clandestine activities that she would keep from her family. She loved this new energy; however, she was not looking forward to the reading of The Will tomorrow.

But after that, her new adventure would begin.