Beginning, Previous Section, Section V
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bella snuggled once more into the pillow, pulling the light down comforter up around her neck, and drifting along the tide of some nebulous and alluring dream. Suddenly she sat upright and looked around the room. What time was it? Sunlight was seeping in through the chinks in the blinds. A clock on the bedside table caught her eye. 10:30? As comfortable as the bed was, Bella knew she had to get up. She hoped D had slept in too and wasn't sitting around waiting for her.
After showering, dressing, and tidying the room, Bella wandered down the hallway toward the kitchen. She could hear voices and when she came around the corner she saw a woman sitting at the table with D. He looked up and gave her a heart-stopping smile, and then got up to meet her.
"Sleep well?" He put his arm around her and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"I'm sorry I slept so late." She smiled shyly. "Have you been up long?"
"Only about an hour. I'd like you to meet my aunt." He slid his fingers down her arm and grasped her hand, leading her to the table. "Bella, this is my aunt, Doris, Colin's mom. Doris, this is Bella." He said her name with special emphasis.
"It's so nice to meet you, dear." She held her hand out with a warm smile. "My nephew was telling me about all the trouble you had with your sister yesterday. It sounds to me like you've found the right place for her. I hope everything works out."
"Thank you," said Bella. There was something in Doris' smile and her candid blue eyes that reminded her of Colin. Bella felt instantly at ease with her.
"I've brought some fresh picked strawberries and Devon cream, and scones that are right out of the oven, so I hope you're hungry."
"It all looks delicious."
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Is there any herbal tea?"
"I'm just making you some," said D who had moved to the counter.
"How did you know?"
"We've been working at the same school for three months." D flashed her a smile.
They sat and ate and chatted together for about twenty minutes.
"Well, I'd better leave you two now," said Doris. "I've got more berries to pick and jam to make, and you have long ride ahead of you. It was lovely to meet you, Bella. It's a pity Harry had a meeting this morning and missed seeing you, but I'm sure he'll have plenty of opportunities."
After she had left, Bella turned to D. "Will we be able to see Layla before we go?"
He brought her close to him and stroked her back. "I called this morning. They say it's better not to visit her yet. I'll bring you back to see her in about a month."
Bella leaned her head upon his shoulder as quick tears came to her eyes. "How long is it going to take until she's better?"
"It's hard to say, love, but you'll be able to call her soon, and we'll keep in close contact all the time. When she's ready to leave rehab they place her with a family in the suburbs for a trial period to see if she can manage to live on her own yet."
"But she won't be on her own – she'll be with me," said Bella.
"But you won't be with her night and day. It takes time."
Bella held him and nestled deeper into his arms, relishing the comfort and security she found there. After a few moments she said, "So we just leave her? It seems so cold and uncaring."
"You are anything but uncaring." He kissed the top of her head and then held her out and looked into her eyes. "Are you all packed?"
"Yes."
"Let's just clear up these dishes and we can go."
Half an hour later they were on their way out of the city, cruising along the number 1.
"You know, Layla looks nothing like you," said D, musingly. "When she propositioned me, I was doing my best to ignore her. If you hadn't turned around just then we could have missed her entirely."
"She takes after my mom - small, slim, fine boned – I'm much more like my dad."
"Your dad must have been very good looking." D shot her a grin, but she ignored him.
"My mother was pretty when she was young, but she was flighty and she suffered from depression. They were a very unequal couple with completely different interests. My dad really married the wrong person, but he stuck by her all those years."
D picked up her hand as he drove along and kissed her fingers softly. "You really admire your father don't you? Tell me about him."
Bella rested her head against D's shoulder. "I miss him so much. He was the best father you could have asked for. He's the one who encouraged me to follow my dreams, like he hadn't been able to. He really wasn't cut out to be a mill worker – he should have been an English Prof. He loved literature." Her voice trembled and she wiped her eyes.
D smiled at her encouragingly. "What happened to prevent him?"
"Do you really want to hear all this?"
"Yes. Your father is important to you. Whatever is important to you is important to me. It's that simple."
"Okay. My dad came from the States in 1970. He had just started his first year at university – you know what campuses were like back then – Kent State. He was a conscientious objector, but the whole atmosphere at the universities was changing – becoming very antagonistic and confrontational – so he came here. He had no money, and as an illegal alien he couldn't make much. He went to the Island and worked for some hippies who were on a back to the land trip, pig farming. None of them knew what they were doing. In the mid seventies immigration opened up to everyone who had been living illegally in Canada, I think mainly to help out the draft dodgers who weren't being accepted back to the States yet, and he was able to get landed and find a real job. In '81 he registered at UBC, but he met my mom, and she got pregnant. He quit university and they got married. Uncle Frank found him a part time job at the mill and he was trapped. He could never afford to save enough to further his education because my mom kept having breakdowns and needing therapy. But he read and learned on his own. He would have made a great instructor – he knew so much – but he had no credentials. The jerks in town kept putting him down for being a draft dodger and a loser, and hardly anyone appreciated what a wonderful person he really was. He supported my art so much; he re-mortgaged the house to send me to college. I didn't even know that until he died."
She broke down crying and D held her closer, stroking her arm and speaking in a low, soothing voice. It wasn't so much what he said, but how he said it that calmed her, but soon Bella wiped her eyes and looked up at him. "I'm sorry – it's just that I've never been able to talk like that about him with anyone before, even June. I feel a lot better now."
"Do you have any other family?"
"There's the Phillipses - my mom's sister and her husband. But she encouraged Layla to live with George and told me to give up art and go on welfare, and my uncle's an alcoholic waster. I don't ever want anything to do with them again."
"What about your dad's family?"
"His father said he was unpatriotic and cut all ties with him. He tried to find them over the years, but they'd moved and left no forwarding address. He had a younger brother and sister that he really missed – they were still kids when he left home. So you see, he just basically had me and I had him. He wasn't close to Layla at all, though he did try. And now it's just me and Layla."
"But you've got me now, and don't ever forget it."
Bella looked up at him and kissed his cheek. I love you. The perfect time to say it, but why was it so difficult for her? Why couldn't she just blurt it out? Her heart was so full of feeling, and it was all for him. He had been there, helping and supporting her through something that most people would be only too glad to run away from. He didn't ask for anything – he only gave. She gazed at his profile as he drove, studied his cheekbone, his temple, the curve of his ear. He glanced down at her and smiled.
"What's up?"
"You."
"Me?" He laughed.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"Just lucky, I guess."
She laughed. "I'm being serious, D."
"If we're being serious, I'd have to say that I'm the lucky one."
Bella just shook her head. She didn't really believe in luck, but how did two souls that belonged together find each other in the confusing maze of life? She didn't believe in predestiny either. Things didn't just happen to people because that was the way it was supposed to be. Love didn't just drop into your lap. It amazed her that it took a wild flight away from her Aunt Phillips to bring her to the very spot that she would find him. And she almost didn't recognise him when she had found him. She shuddered when she thought of all she'd nearly turned her back on and his arm tightened around her.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
It was all too complex to attempt to decipher. What really mattered was that they had found each other. She had never before felt so complete and so alive, and, despite all the stress she had just undergone sorting out Layla, so incredibly happy. They had lunch at Hope, and headed up the Fraser canyon singing along to Simon and Garfunkel. Bella took the wheel in Cache Creek, and drove the rest of the way as D relaxed beside her. When she pulled up to the cabin, D opened his eyes and looked at her.
"What're we doing here?"
"We're home."
"Aren't we going to have supper together?"
"Come on in – I'll cook us something."
"Am I ready for this?" he joked.
"I'm a good cook," said Bella. "I just don't know what we have – oops - I have. I need to remember it's only me here now."
"Chance just about broke my eardrum when he told me on the phone yesterday morning, but with everything that happened later it went completely out of my mind. Just like him to get married on the spur of the moment."
"It might have been a sudden decision, but they really . . ."
"Bella – I'm not saying it was a rash move – I know they love each other and belong together. It's just an example of his impetuosity."
"I think it was a great way to get married, even if I couldn't be there."
"So do I, but I feel the same way as you – I would have liked to have been there too." He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Are you going to be okay living on your own?"
"I'll manage. I'm a big girl, you know."
"I know. Thanks for driving."
"Thanks for letting me," said Bella as she handed him the keys and got out of the car. "You probably don't let too many people drive her, do you?" she added as she came around to join him.
"Even Colin hasn't driven this baby," he said. "But I figured if I can trust you with my life I can trust you with my car."
Bella gave him a poke in the ribs and they entered the cabin. They made dinner together, pasta and salad, and ate it on a blanket in the back yard. Afterwards they lay beside each other talking as they gazed up at the paling sky. D's phone went off while they were lying there. He sat up to take the call.
"Colin? Yeah, I'm back . . . at Bella's . . . tomorrow . . . can't you . . . I know. Okay, I'll do it . . . see you in a bit." He turned to Bella. "That was Colin," he said unnecessarily.
"What's up? Do you have to go?"
"Yeah. I need to go to Kamloops for a couple of days. I was hoping he could do it, but we're short staffed right now. I have to go over the business with him tonight, though."
Bella tried not to let her disappointment show. She stood up and grabbed the corners of the blanket. "Pick up the dishes," she said, "so I can shake this out and fold it up."
D stayed put and held out his arms. "I'm not leaving just yet."
Bella lay down and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm going to miss you." She brought her lips to his and showed him just how much.
The next day, Aimee called wanting Bella to come in and discuss the upcoming art show. June had left her car for Bella's use, so she drove into the village right away. It was a welcome diversion. She had been touching up the paintings she had done while camping with the kids, the whole time feeling increasingly lonely. She'd just spent almost two full days in D's company, and a week when he was always somewhere close by. She had expected to miss him, but she hadn't known just how bereft she would feel. It was different from the deep longing experienced when she hadn't even known if there was hope. She knew they were everything to each other now, but still she missed looking up to see his eyes on her, his comforting presence, the warmth of his embrace, the heat of his kiss. It was an ever-expanding emptiness that would roll over her in waves that threatened to engulf her.
Aimee was not alone.
"Have you met my mother, Bella?" she asked, indicating the woman who was just leaving her office.
"Yes, but you probably don't remember me, Mrs. Berg. Bella Gardiner. We met at the performance of Les Miserables." She held out her hand.
Katrina Berg deigned to take it. "I remember you. I know just who you are – and I want to have a word with you."
"She has a meeting with me, mother," said Aimee briskly. "You'll have to wait if you want to talk to her."
"I'll be downstairs having coffee," said Mrs. Berg. "Don't keep her long. You know I don't like waiting."
Aimee smiled at Bella apologetically. "I hope you don't mind. Now, let me show you the space you will have to give you a better idea what to plan for." Aimee went into detail about display and lighting and in half an hour had wrapped the discussion up leaving Bella with a much clearer idea of what was expected of her. As she came downstairs, Mrs Berg stood up and joined her at the door.
"We will have more privacy if we speak outside. There is a little trail in the park here." She said nothing more until they were walking between the beds of flowers. "They don't water these enough. I'll have to talk to the town planner – his work crews are incompetent."
"Is this what you wanted to consult with me about?" Bella was becoming annoyed by her overbearing attitude. She had not once asked Bella if she had wanted to be there. It had all been at her command.
"I think you are well aware of why we are here."
"I have no idea."
"I had thought you were smarter than that. You certainly switched cousins quickly enough."
Bella felt her colour rise. "Colin is my friend – D and I . . ."
"Do you think I like to see my nephews duped? I saw you coming on to Colin at the play. It was more of a performance than the musical! Kissing him right in front of everybody too, like a cheap hussy. I know your type. Friend indeed! And then you no sooner dump him than you get your hooks into the other one. Discovered which of the two was worth more, did you?"
"You have no right to speak to me this way."
"I have every right. I will not accept having a girl like you working at that school. Since you started there everything has gone from bad to worse. What Chance was thinking of hiring you, I have no idea. I've kept quiet long enough. What do you think D will say when he finds out your sister is a junkie, your father a deserter, and your mother a mental patient?"
"I don't know where you get your information, but D knows everything about my family there is to know," said Bella in a tight voice.
"I advise you to get out of town and don't come back, if you know what's good for you. I'll even make it worth your while."
"Did you specifically choose today to harass me because he's out of town?"
"I'll not have you drag him down. That fool program of his is bad enough, but a girl like you is the limit!"
"A girl like me?"
"Low class. You've got no background – no money. Your father committed suicide and killed his wife along with him; your mother was mentally ill; your sister is shacking up with a junkie on skid row; your uncle is a drunk; your aunt's a hairdresser; and you are nothing but a lunch supervisor and a slut into the bargain."
"Now that you've insulted me and my whole family to my face, I'm not listening to you anymore." Bella turned and started walking away, but Katrina Berg grabbed her arm. The red fingernails dug painfully.
"You're not walking away from me – I haven't finished with you yet."
"But I've finished with you."
"Do you insist on taking up with my nephew? You'll not get a penny out of him if I have anything to do with it!"
Bella felt tears welling in her eyes and she battled to keep her voice from breaking. "I don't want his money or your money or anybody's money. We love each other. Do you even know what love is?"
"Love! Is that what you call it these days? I call it sex. I'll take you down and his precious program too. When I'm through with you you'll wish you took the money when I offered."
"I can stand up to all your lies and innuendo, and so can the program. You can stop holding those threats of killing the program over D's head. You don't have the power the change it. There are more people than ever wanting to put their kids in the school. The community is behind it 100% and a few unfounded cheap shots at me will only gain you public ridicule. If you want a traditional school so badly, lobby to implement a pilot project at the other school. If the way you are trying to coerce me is your usual tactic, I wonder you ever got anywhere in this town. I suggest you go home and look at yourself in the mirror before you slander anyone else so self-righteously." She stood her ground, eyes glaring, tears held back. Katrina Berg turned and stalked off.
Bella sank onto a nearby bench and put her head in her hands. She had used up every ounce of her strength and she was left weak and shaking. She had no idea how D would react when his aunt told him about the encounter – all she knew was that she trusted in his love. That was what had helped her face Mrs. Berg and she knew it could carry them both through anything. After all they had already suffered through, the threat his aunt posed was nothing. She just wished he were there with her now to put his arms around her and hold her close.
Chapter Twenty-eight
"How was your day, love?"
Just his voice brought a smile to her face and the simple words sent warmth spreading through her. Bella held the phone closer. "I missed you more than I can say."
There was a pause at the other end of the line, and Bella could imagine the look that was in his eyes. When he spoke his voice was thick and soft. "So did I . . . maybe I should have left Daisy with you to keep you company."
Bella laughed. "As much as I like Daisy, she would have been a poor substitute."
"Did you get out and paint?"
"I was going over the pictures I have here, and then I had a meeting with Aimee about the show."
"How'd that go?"
"Good."
"Is something up? She has a tendency to ride roughshod over people."
"No, she was pretty accommodating . . . it wasn't her."
"Who then?"
"Her mom, your aunt - the Wicked Witch of the West."
There was an even longer pause this time. "So that's why she's left so many messages to call her. They were all tagged urgent, so I ignored them. Was she extremely offensive?"
"Very."
"The spiteful old bat! I wish she would just keep her . . . Bella - don't let anything she said hurt you. I wish I were there. I . . ."
"I stood up to her."
"I would have liked to have seen that - you can dish it out. Do you want to talk about it?"
"When you get back."
"You've just given me another reason to cut the dinner meeting tomorrow. I'll be with you as soon as I possibly can. You know that nothing she has to say can change anything - she can't touch us."
"I know."
D was on the cabin porch at 8:00 the next evening looking a little tired but exuding calm and comfort. The door was open and Bella glanced up to see him standing, leaning against the jamb, the evening sun glinting off his curls, the look in his eyes making it impossible for her to breathe. She covered the distance between them in an instant and stood in his arms, overcome by the feel of his body against hers, the smell of him, the taste. It was some time before they spoke, and even longer before what they said was halfway coherent.
"I'm sorry I'm so late."
"You're not late. I wasn't expecting you any sooner." Bella snuggled into his chest.
"I stopped by to see my aunt. I think I have a pretty good idea of what she said to you. I'm incredibly sorry for that - it must have been awful. She's really gone over the edge." As he talked he led her over to the sofa and pulled her down beside him.
"Don't worry about it."
"I have to. She can't talk to you like that and get away with it. She's also started lobbying to instate a traditional program at the school. I told her that if she wants to talk to me from now on it'll be through our lawyers, and if she approaches you again or threatens you in any way I'll slap her with a restraining order."
"You know she won't get anywhere with her petition, She's just an embittered old woman. You've gained so much respect in this town, and I really believe the community is behind the fine arts program all the way. The feedback at the musical was amazing."
"That's not what concerns me. Whatever happens will happen - all I care about is you. I don't want you to be subjected to that kind of vicious attack again."
"I'm fine. Really. Knowing that I have you supporting me - loving me - gives me the strength to stand up to anything. Let's forget all that and enjoy our evening."
He took her face between his hands and kissed her - long and lingering - then held her eyes with his as emotion passed between them like a current. "It works both ways," he whispered.
"Did you eat?" asked Bella, breaking the taut connection that left her light-headed and tingling.
"Not since 3:30."
"Then it's a good thing there's scalloped potatoes in the oven."
"You made scalloped potatoes?"
"From scratch."
"It isn't any wonder that I love you, is it?"
The next day, D picked Bella up at 9:00 and they drove back out to the resort to spend the day out painting in the meadow. They wandered through the one behind the lodge where D had taken her stargazing so long ago and took a trail that led to a smaller, more secluded meadow beyond. D carried a cooler and his guitar case while Bella brought a canvas and paints and a big blue blanket. They settled in the midst of lupine, Indian paintbrush, and delicate wild rose. Bella spread the blanket close to some young aspen and set up her little easel. She looked about her and let out a sigh of exhilaration. D lay on the blanket and smiled at her.
"Look at everything," she said in awe.
"I'm looking at the best thing."
She stuck her tongue out at him and touched the leaves of a young tree. "See how silvery they are? There are little intricate designs on each leaf."
"I think it's some kind of parasite or blight."
"But it's beautiful, and they don't seem to be damaged. Look - every one is different." She picked a few leaves and handed them to him. As he inspected them she ranged further. The little scrubby roses were barely a foot tall, holding up their transparent pink flowers, five soft petals centred with a circle of fat yellow anthers on short, curved stamen. Small purple flowers Bella couldn't identify twined amongst the rose stems, and here and there were single lilies on narrow stems, holding their cantaloupe coloured heads high. Tiny brown and orange butterflies danced from flower to stem to blade of grass. "Wild strawberries!" she cried and gathered a handful, bringing some back to share with D. "Try some - they're warm from the sun and so sweet."
"You're sweet," he said as he tasted the berries she dropped in his mouth. "I'll pick some for our lunch while you paint."
"I want you to play for me."
"I'll do both."
"Look." Bella was stretched out on the blanket with her face close to the earth, running heads of wild grasses through her hands. "Have you ever seen anything like this?" She turned to him. Her eyes shone, her voice held awe and reverence. The grass blades grew in clumps, dusty green tinged with red. The seed heads were on long slender stems, fat seed casings with long, 4" thread-like extensions. Bella gazed at them as they trickled through her fingers, thinking how she could translate them onto her canvas with brush and paint. D came over to crouch beside her. They didn't need to speak - the moment transcended words. They both just gazed in wonder as the sun warmed their heads and Bella let the grasses flow and sift through her hands, until a dust coloured grasshopper jumped and settled on her arm and then jumped away again.
"You show me things in a way it's as if I'm seeing them for the first time," said D softly.
Bella turned her smiling eyes to him. "This is what I'm going to paint . . . for you."
"And what would you like me to play for you?"
"One of the sweetest songs I know. It's sad and it's tender and I just love it."
"I would have to know it too. I don't know many sentimental songs."
"I think you know this one. Superman's Song."
D laughed. "I don't know if I can sing as deep as Brad Roberts."
Bella began setting up her easel. "No one can sing as deep as Brad Roberts, but I think you'll sing that song very well. Just don't make me cry."
"Oh, I'll try to, believe me."
D got out his guitar and ran his fingers across the strings. Soon he was adjusting the machine heads until he had the tuning just right. As Bella mixed her paints he started playing.
Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm
Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle
But Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sittin' around in no
Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing
At first he sang in such an exaggeratedly deep voice that Bella's giggles made him break down laughing, but then he settled in to singing seriously and proved what Bella had already known. He was more than capable of singing the song with tender emotion. Bella shyly joined in on the chorus with him and he smiled appreciatively.
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Bella set about building a background of shadow and light, the music and lyrics flowing around her as she worked. She remained in both worlds - the layers of her picture and the sun-drenched blanket she shared with D.
Folks said his family were all dead
Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself
To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going
It was funny that a song about a cartoon character could have such a strong attraction to Bella, but The Dummies had taken the essence of the displaced man and shown with feeling what he went through to find a new life in a strange world. It was a universal story, and as a lost soul herself, it had always struck a chord deep within her. Now she was no longer lost, but the feeling of nostalgia lingered.
Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back
On man, join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes
In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home
And, as always, Bella felt herself tear up. She looked over at D as he sang the last refrain, their eyes not leaving each other.
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him*
"You're my Superman," she teased as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "I told you not to make me cry."
He grinned at her. "And you're my Wonder Woman."
She gave him a look and turned back to her painting. D began softly plucking at his strings, the gentle classical fingering making light music that sent Bella deep within her painting until she was easing the delicate strands of grasses across the foreground of her canvas. She turned around in answer to his call to see lunch all set out on the blanket, and in the centre a bowl of the tiny berries as he had promised.
"You sure know how to treat a lady," she said as she rinsed her brush.
"I try my best," he answered with a wink.
After they ate, Bella rested her head upon his chest as he held her close. The young trees provided dappled shade that played lazy patterns over them. A light breeze rippled through the leaves, the soothing rustle mingling with their drifting thoughts as they flowed on the tide of sleep. Bella awoke to fingers softly tracing the line of her jaw from her ear to her chin. She opened her eyes and marvelled again at the green of his as they looked down into hers. She was curled in the crook of his arm as he lay on his side, supported by his elbow.
"You look very sweet when you sleep."
"I thought you were my pillow."
"You slid off while we were asleep. I've just been looking at my painting. You even put in the grasshopper."
"Are you sure one didn't jump on and get stuck in the paint?"
"Is that how you do it? No wonder everything looks so real. I feel sorry for the butterflies, though."
Bella began to tickle him, and soon they were rolling on the blanket as he attempted to tickle her back.
"Watch out for the easel!"
"And my guitar." D sat up and reached for it. As Bella made to get up too, he said, "Stay there. I've got something I want to sing for you." He almost looked bashful as he tested the tuning and began a rippling intro. Bella rested her head on her arm and watched him. She could still not get over the fact that he was so gifted, so beautiful, so generous, and yet he loved her. Despite all she'd done, regardless of her family troubles, in the face of his aunt's displeasure, he loved her more than ever. Her heart filled with such warmth and love for him that she thought it could take no more, until he began to sing. Then she discovered that the capacity of her heart was unlimited.
I was floating this oblivion
Alone on some lost shore
But you lifted me up
With colours so real
Drifting down like fine rain falling
Leaving small droplets
on the wisps of your hair
And your canvas fills with colour
And I see what you see
With your eyes
As he sang he held her gaze. His voice was rich, mellow, and sincere, and every word was for her, about her.
And you take me, you take me
Somewhere I didn't know I could go
Didn't know you would know
Didn't believe would ever
Happen to me
But you take me there
You colour my life
You bring me light
It's never been
Better than this
Out on the meadow that belonged only to them, on a blanket the colour of the sky, D told her more than he had ever told her before. Love was not just a simple word for some fleeting emotion, it was the essence of what was between them, what they shared and would continue to share, together, always. And Bella welcomed it, cherished it, and showed in her eyes the fullness of her heart.
I was wandering this maze
Hiding behind my eyes
But you showed me
With the gentlest strokes
Dropping sunlight in shiny pieces
Little drifts of stars
Spread across your page
Sparkling in your eyes
And you warm me
With your smile
The music wove through the lyrics with resonant notes that danced and wavered in the warm air.
And you take me, you take me
Somewhere I didn't know I could go
Didn't know you would know
Didn't believe would ever
Happen to me
But you take me there
You colour my life
You bring me light
It's never been
Better than this
And you take me, you take me
Somewhere I didn't know I could go
But it's home **
As the last notes echoed across the meadow, Bella sat up and leaned forward to close the space between her and D. Their eyes had not lost contact throughout the entire song. She took his face in her hands and breathed deeply.
"I love you, Darcy."
The guitar got in the way of the kiss, but D soon managed to slide it from between them and place it near the case where it lay, all but forgotten, for quite some time.
"How long have you known?"
"That terrible night, after you left me in the parking lot and I sat in the car crying my eyes out."
D stroked her hair as he held her close. "How did . . . oh - you mean you knew you loved me then? Already? And I took so long to kiss you again."
"I think we needed that time to become used to . . . everything and each other."
"I think so too, but what I was really asking you was how long have you known my name? Did Tess tell you?"
Bella laughed. "Your name - I guessed it that night of the baseball game, when Cassandra was trying to figure it out."
"But you didn't say anything."
"You didn't want it known, so what right did I have to tell?"
He kissed her again. "Thank you for understanding, even when you didn't like me."
"Don't remind me."
"I won't if you'll say it again."
"Darcy. You don't mind if I call you that?"
"Not the way you say it. But . . . I really wanted to hear you say the whole thing again."
"You mean, I love you Darcy?"
"That's the one."
She took his face in her hands again and looked deeply into his eyes. "I love you, Darcy," she whispered, her voice low and soft and full.
A dust coloured grasshopper jumped onto Bella's arm, and from there to Darcy's knee, but neither of them noticed. They didn't notice either when it hopped back to land on a swaying stem of grass, and further on to disappear among the soft pink roses, blue spikes of lupine, and trailing runners of wild strawberries.
The End
*Superman's Song, Crash Test Dummies
**You Take Me, Djag and The Daisies
Epilogue
"So we do really have the campsite reserved for us, and you haven't had to bribe someone to give it up like you did ten years ago?"
"It wasn't a bribe. There you were, innocently talking about getting a campsite, when I knew everything had been fully booked for months. I didn't want you to be disappointed, and I wasn't sure if you'd accept it if I offered you space at the resort - so I made it available to the people who'd booked your campsite already."
Bella snuggled closer to her husband in their big bed and gave him a kiss. "You were always so sweet."
"And I'm not anymore?" he teased.
"Even sweeter. Those people were thrilled with the spot you gave them - they come back every year."
"Can you blame them? I still give them the same deal. Anyway, you know very well that I booked the campsite for the reunion a year ago. Has everybody confirmed yet?"
"Adam can't make it, he's in New Zealand training as a shepherd. And Jordan - well we could hardly expect him."
"His call-up to the majors was amazing. Starting for the A's and he's only twenty-two."
"When Heather phoned this morning she told me she caught his game. I would have given anything to be there - seven innings and only one run - it's too bad it was a no decision."
"We'll miss his next start, but I promise you we'll take the kids to Anaheim for his third start."
"And I'll tell them all about the time he struck their dad out."
"I seem to recall striking him out a couple of times too. So is Heather going to make it?"
"No - she's eight months pregnant. She wants her first child born at home and not in a tent."
"Did you tell her where our first child was born?"
"Tash was a little over eager to come into the world. Good thing you came along with me on that painting trip. The big blue blanket was never the same again, though."
"Well, it was only fitting," he said with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes.
"At least Jas and Carl had the decency to be born at home."
"I don't think I would have relished delivering twins beside the waterfall."
"Or the hike back to the canoe afterwards. They gave me a little tougher time than she did."
"You were amazing out there. It was all I could do to get you to let me carry her back to the canoe, and only because I'd pointed out that you would get to hold her all the way home seeing as I'd be paddling."
"Not an experience I want to repeat," said Bella, rubbing her still tiny belly.
D smiled at her fondly. "Maybe the next one will take after me, and give you no trouble at all."
"You wish. Did I tell you Lise can't make it either? She's doing the European swim circuit to prepare for the Commonwealth games."
"But the other seven are all coming, right?"
"And Tess. It's going to be so much fun."
"You are still such a kid," he said, pulling her tightly against him and kissing her with heightening intensity.
"Mommy, daddy, we can't sleep." The door creaked open and two pyjama clad figures tiptoed into the room.
"C'mon, hop in", D sighed, pulling back the blankets as they scrambled over him and nestled between their parents.
"What's up?" asked Bella.
"We're too 'cited 'bout campin'"
"Well if you both want to stay here, you're going to have to stop being such wriggle worms."
"And get your giraffe out of my face," added D, "or I'll eat him up."
"Oh daddy, you won't!" cried Carl indignantly.
"No jungle animals in the bed."
"I need my monkey!" said Jas, hugging it tightly.
The door pushed open wider and a larger figure wandered in. "How come you guys are having a slumber party without me?" asked Tash, throwing herself on the end of the bed.
"There'll be room for you to snuggle in too, if your brothers toss out their stuffed animals," said Bella, moving closer to the edge of the bed.
"They're goin' back to da jungle," cried Jas as both boys hurled their animals into the air.
After they had all finally found their places and settled down, Carl piped up, "Tellus 'bout campin' again. I want a yellow tent."
"I want a green one," said Jas.
"You're both going to share with me and daddy, in the blue one."
"Can I share with Alyson and Sofie?" asked Tash.
"If they say it's okay," said Bella. "Now hush and daddy'll sing a song."
"The iggly wiggly tiggly one?" asked Jas hopefully.
"No, the sweetly reflective Superman one," said D, and he let his voice sink soft and low and soothing. When he was done they were all asleep, including Bella, whose fingertips he could just reach when he stretched his arm across their sleeping children to find hers.
The next morning the whole family along with Daisy piled into Bella's loaded Land Rover and drove to the studio to pick up Alyson and Sofie. Lakeside Studios was a beautiful wooden structure on the outskirts of the town centre. It housed a gallery, offices, six studios, and a classroom that stretched the full length of the building. D and Bella had established it five years earlier to provide an outlet for local artists. Sofie had earned her degree at Emily Carr Art Institute, and was now a full time artist/instructor along with Bella, who had achieved her own degree through distance education. She lived in a cabin set deep in the woods behind the main building. As they pulled up outside, Alyson and Sofie came running down the steps to meet them.
"I've finally graduated and I'm moving home!" cried Alyson as the kids tumbled out of the vehicle and jumped all over her.
"Congratulations!" said Bella and D together.
"You'd have been finished a year earlier if you hadn't've changed your major from physics to English half way through," teased Sofie.
"Maybe we could start a writing club at the studio. What do you think?"
"Sounds like old times," said D.
"That's not her only news," said Sofie. "Tell them the exciting part, Al."
"I met this great guy, and he's coming out here to see me, and . . . well . . . I think he's the one. His name is Blayne." She blushed deeply as they all teased and hugged her. Tash was tugging at her shirt with all the patience of a seven-year-old. "What's up honey?"
"Can I share the tent with you and Sofie?"
"Sure can. So when's everyone else getting here?"
"Tess and Jake are driving from Vancouver today, so they should be at the campsite by late afternoon."
"How's she doing?"
"She loves her Montessori pre-school, even though it means living in the city, but with Jake's job as a landscape architect, it's the perfect location for him."
"And what about June and Chance?" Alyson threw her pack in the back of the Land Rover as she asked her question.
"Living in Kelowna has been great for them. Chance misses being a principal, but he's such a good administrator that promotion was inevitable. June is job sharing now and working three days a week. It helps that the girls go to the same school where she teaches."
"Are April and May coming?" asked Tash, butting into the conversation.
"Not until later in the summer, Bunny," said Bella.
"April and May!" laughed Alyson. "That always breaks me up. Chance is such a joker, but I never believed June would let him do it."
"Don't let June fool you," said Bella. "She acts so sweet and demure all the time, but she really is very sly."
"I just wonder what they would have called a boy," said Sofie. "Possibility?"
"We don't need any of your bad jokes," said Alyson as she finally stopped giggling. "Tash, you're going to regret bunking with us, believe me."
"No I won't," said Tash as she happily squeezed in between the two of them in the back seat, while D strapped the boys back into their car seats in the middle. Daisy sat between the two front seats with her head on Bella's lap.
"Are Colin and Carla still running the resort?" asked Alyson.
"They're a real team," said D. "I get to stay in the background where I like it. Carla is a wonderful activity co-ordinator, and Colin's a born host. Their son, Devon, is just like him. He drives Carla crazy."
"She says she's doing to have danger signs tattooed on him when he's a teenager, and post warnings to all the girls who come to stay at the resort," Bella added with a grin.
"And you've still got the school?"
"It's my baby," said D. "I never thought I would want to be a principal, but after Chance left I couldn't trust anyone else with it."
"You should see it," said Bella. "It has state of the art everything - a theatre to die for. The waiting list to get in is a mile long."
"I remember when Katrina Berg tried to change it to a traditional school," said Alyson. "She almost got hounded out of town."
"That was a big disillusionment for the poor woman," said Bella. "She used Phil Collins as a scapegoat, but she lost all her political credibility and even moved to Vancouver for a few years. She's given up on politics now and keeps to herself. We don't see too much of her."
"Are you talking about the witch lady?" asked Tash.
"Shh! That's not a nice thing to say about your Great Aunt Batty, honey," said D.
Tash giggled.
"Whatever happened to Collins?" asked Alyson. "He always used to creep me out."
"He was fired from the school and then when Katrina Berg turned her back on him he left town. I heard he ended up in a small town in Alberta kow-towing to some public dignitary with an inflated ego," said Bella. "We were glad to see him go."
"Hey, is there still a hot lunch program? I'll never forget the artichokes and capers!"
"Or the pizza with feta, anchovies, and sundried tomatoes," said Sofie. "I drank so much water that day!"
"We still have a lunch program but it's run by volunteer parents," said D.
"You mean poor Cassandra lost the contract?"
"I'm afraid she quit," said D.
"She didn't take our marriage well," said Bella.
"I remember," said Alyson. "She actually walked up to you and asked you if you'd lost your mind, didn't she, D? She was wearing a bright orange mini dress."
"Wasn't it nasturtium?" asked Sofie, giggling.
"And she was leaning right up against you, and you backed away and said, 'No, I lost my heart.'"
Bella, her eyes glowing, looked at her husband and mouthed the words, I love you.
Alyson and Sofie shared knowing glances, then Alyson continued to reminisce. "I remember your sister was living here when we graduated from high school. What's she up to now?"
Bella smiled. "She's doing well. I was hoping she would stay here, but she wanted to be somewhere she was really needed. She tried working on the Lower East Side, but that was too stressful for her. She's back in Ecuador now, working in the same mission she did when she came out of rehab."
They turned at the road leading to the provincial park and were soon in the parking lot. A blue van was parked by the trail, and as they pulled up beside it five girls poured out.
"They're already here!" cried Bella.
After half an hour of hugs and jumbled greetings, unloading, and packing things to the campsite, they set about putting up all the tents and stowing their gear. Jas and Carl got in everybody's way as much as they possibly could, but by the end of the job were nowhere to be seen. Before Bella had a chance to even panic, her four-year-old twins were discovered burrowed deep in Sarah and Rita's sleeping bags, sound asleep, and there they were allowed to stay as the group settled around the picnic tables and reacquainted themselves.
Rita was working for a computer firm in Victoria, and engaged to a man named Dan whom she met one afternoon at Home Depot. It seems he had impressed her with his knowledge of power tools. He also had the amazing ability of being able to sit through the entire five plus hours of Pride and Prejudice, without batting an eyelash, although it is true that his hands did roam a bit.
Cindy lived in Kamloops and intrepidly reported for the Daily Times, covering community events, but she had hopes to be the editor of her own section one day. She had been married for six months to her loving husband Derf, who had found it a great hardship to part with her for the week. She consoled him by authorising the installation of a hot tub on their deck, which would be ready in time for her return.
Tamsin had moved to Alberta and was just starting out in her teaching career, luckily not in the same small town that Collins had ended up in. She was still single, but hopeful that one day she would meet the perfect guy. For now, she had encountered her share of losers, and regaled everybody with her hilarious tales of Matt, the latest poor fellow to become besotted with her.
Sarah was already a successfully published author and had taken a break from promoting her latest fantasy novel to come to the reunion. She now lived in Montreal in a very cosmopolitan part of town on the third floor of a heritage home. Residing on the second floor was a rather interesting mathematician who she often chanced to meet on the landing. These meetings invariably lead to ordering take out while they both forgot about the existence of the computer screens and stacks of papers that waited for them in their respective studies.
Alicia majored in literature at UBC, where she and Alyson had shared an apartment. Now she was visiting home for the summer after her first year back east at an illustrious law school. She had taken honours and won scholarships towards her next year's tuition. She soon proved to everyone that despite the fact she would be an aspiring young lawyer in a couple of years, they had no need to be intimidated by her serious nature. Though she was not in the habit if going bananas, she could still behave as nuttily and frivolously as the rest of them. She was not actively on the lookout for a man at the moment, due to her pressing studies, but she had a good idea what she was looking for. Tall, dark wavy hair, firm athletic body, an intense gaze, and an engaging smile. But that was just the window dressing - what was more important was his nature: loving, compassionate, considerate, respectful, intelligent, humorous, honourable and trustworthy. She was particularly careful to stay away from anyone whose name started with the letter V.
After the boys woke they ate lunch, hiked and swam. Tess and Jake arrived when they were in the midst of a huge water fight. The girls all rushed out of the water to greet her and give her big, wet hugs.
"You're pregnant!" They cried when they saw her very obviously distended belly. "When are you due?"
"The end of September."
"What do you want, a boy or a girl?" asked Rita.
"We already know it's a boy," said Tess. "I'm naming him after my brother."
"You're naming him D?" asked Alicia. The girls looked at their old teacher, who had a slightly embarrassed look on his face.
"I'm naming him Darcy," said Tess with a grin.
The girls were all stunned for a moment as D's colour rose.
"Mr. Fitz's name is really Darcy?" asked Sarah.
"That's what the D stands for," said Tess.
"I knew that," said Tash. "Mommy calls him that all the time, 'specially when they're . . ."
"Thanks Tash," said her dad quickly, "I think they believe you."
"Especially when they're . . ." said Cindy saucily.
"And all the time we thought they were just like Darcy and Lizzie," said Alicia, "and he really was Darcy."
"Tess, if you weren't pregnant right now, I'd . . . drown you." said her loving brother. "The poor kid has to live with that."
"I love the name," said Bella.
"At least his last name won't be Fitzwilliam," said Tamsin. "I can see where that might have caused a problem."
"You should have seen all the girls swooning over him," said Tess, sticking her tongue out at her brother.
"Jake, can you do something to keep her in line?"
"I see nothing wrong with her behaviour and I like the name. You should take it as a compliment that we want to name our first born son after you." Jake tried to keep a straight face but was soon breaking up.
After that, everyone called him Darcy for the rest of the afternoon, especially Jas and Carl who thought it was supremely funny. They were thrown in the water quite a few times for their pains so it is no wonder that they persisted. After the evening meal was eaten and cleared, D and Bella walked out onto the beach by themselves, with Daisy at their heels, while the girls and Jake entertained their kids. Bella had a small canvas with her and D carried her easel and paints.
"I've always wanted to catch this," she said, "but I'll have to be fast." D lay on the beach by her side as she sat and painted.
The sky was still blue and bright in the west, but the sun was low enough that it was not full on the lake. There were fat lines of pale lemon yellow running across the surface to Bella, with a clear watery blue in-between, the colour of tourmalines. The surface of the water danced with flecks of light interspersed with little flickering lips of indigo. Bella worked quickly, capturing it with expressionistic dabs of colour. She could see what drove the Impressionists to interpret light the way they did. The light was ever changing and full of movement; before Bella was finished the sun had completely disappeared and the lake had darkened.
She turned and looked at D. "I think I've managed."
"I think you've more than managed," said D sitting up and bringing his lips to meet hers.
From the picnic table the girls all watched.
"To think we brought them together," said Cindy.
"They would have come together no matter what, no matter where, no matter who," said Tess.
"I think it's time to make the fire," said Jake. "Who's helping?"
"Me!" said Jas and Carl, running after him.
The evening ended as so many others did ten years ago. They sang all the old songs and then trailed off to their tents in ones and twos until only D and Bella were left, with Daisy sleeping at their feet. Gentle riffs of guitar trailed into the night as D's soft voice sang with as much feeling as it had that day in the meadow.
And you take me, you take me
Somewhere I didn't know I could go
Didn't know you would know
Didn't believe would ever
Happen to me
But you take me there
You colour my life
You bring me light
It's never been
Better than this
And you take me, you take me
Somewhere I didn't know I could go
But it's home
And now it really is The End.