by Claire Fogel
He laughed. “Cara, you really don’t see yourself the way others see you. For instance, our friend Joel seems to enjoy looking across the table at you. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you out yet.
“I remember you had a boyfriend in Thornewood. Sean, right?”
“Well, yeah. But we’re just friends now.” I sighed.
“What happened?”
“Sean’s a great guy, but he wanted more of a relationship than I could honestly give him.”
“Oh. What happened to that guy who was your bodyguard after I got in so much trouble two years ago? I heard you and he were really tight.”
I didn’t know how to answer. “Well, once I didn’t need a bodyguard any longer, he moved away.”
“That’s too bad. As it turned out, you did need a bodyguard.”
He frowned. “I wasn’t the best choice.”
“Gavin, don’t start that again. Adam left. End of story.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell he was watching me.
His voice was soft. “I don’t think it was, Cara.”
We stopped talking. I shoved an Oldies CD into the CD player and just drove.
I pulled up in front of Mom’s house, glad to be home. Gavin left me at the front door. He was going straight to my father’s camp. I hugged him around the waist, surprising him. “I’ll miss you. Please stop by my practice area when you have time.”
He said he would, kissed me on the cheek and walked through the yard into the woods. It would be strange, not seeing him every day.
Ralph ran around the kitchen, up and down the stairs, finally resting on the foot of my bed, his tongue hanging out. He looked happy.
Mom had left for the bookstore, but she’d left my favorite quiche warming in the oven. My father had waited for us to get home, greeting me with one of his great hugs.
“We’ve really missed you, sweetheart,” he told me with a smile. “It’s been too quiet around here.”
Over slices of quiche along with coffee, he told me that I had an appointment at Harry Callahan’s office the next day. “Harry contacted a builder he’s worked with before and he’ll be there to go over what you want in a studio. I believe he has plans for a variety of buildings. You just have to look them over and give him your wish list.”
I was both surprised and thrilled. “Wow. That’s fantastic, Dad. I hope this builder will be able to get started soon. It would be wonderful if we could get the studio completed while I’m home this summer.”
He nodded and poured himself more coffee. “It’s possible, depending on the builder’s schedule. Summer is their busiest season. We’ll find out tomorrow.”
“I’m glad you’re coming with me, Dad. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“I know, dear. But I have one more reason for going downtown with you tomorrow.”
“What’s that?”
He grinned. “Don’t say anything to your mother, but I’m going to sign up for driving lessons.”
I had to laugh. “Yeah, Mom would probably turn green. But I think you’ll be a good driver, Dad.” I hesitated. “Um, would you like me to go to your driving lessons with you?”
He shook his head, looking slightly embarrassed. “No, dear. I don’t need anyone besides the driving instructor witnessing my mistakes while I’m learning.” He looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “I already know enough to avoid mailboxes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, as Adam said when I was learning, ‘If Cara can learn to drive, how hard can it be?’”
My father chuckled. “He went along on your driving lessons, didn’t he?”
“Some days it was Adam, other days it was Ryan. Ryan usually turned slightly green during my lessons. Adam just said, ‘No one lives forever.’”
My father’s smile was sad. “You still miss him, don’t you?”
I nodded. Just talking about Adam hurt.
After a few minutes of silence, my father said, “I almost forgot to tell you. Ryan and Lora will say their vows under the Joining Tree in three weeks. They’d like you to be there.”
“Of course. I’m happy for them. Ryan was such a good friend through all my troubles.” I hadn’t seen him during the past year. I’d have to get to Elvenwood as often as possible during the summer. I missed my friends there.
Our meeting with the builder, Jeff Anderson, went very well. He gave me several building plans to look at, and I showed him what I wanted and what I didn’t want. I needed water, for a half bath and a second sink in the studio, electricity, a large window facing the forest, and several skylights. He made several good suggestions that I liked, and we drove to the property next to Mom’s house so he could look over the site and make some notes.
I told him I wanted to keep my practice area right where it was at the rear of the property, but the lot was so deep, there was plenty of room for my studio plus a flagstone patio behind it. I had thought I might want to add living space on the north side of the studio at a later date, facing the street, so he made some changes to the plans that would make it a simple add-on later.
After I had walked through the property with Jeff and my father, I was beginning to visualize how the new building would look, especially since my father requested that as few trees and plants be removed as possible. It would be beautiful.
Construction would begin in another week. Jeff laughingly suggested we invest in some ear plugs because there would be a lot of noisy power tools being used. He said they usually started work around eight weekdays so sleeping in wouldn’t be an option this summer.
My father chuckled. “When it gets too noisy, we can go riding early in the morning.” Of course, what he didn’t say in front of Jeff was that we’d ride to Elvenwood for breakfast in the dining hall.
And that set the pattern for my summer. Sort of.
Two weeks after I got home, Kevin called to let me know he was finally home.
“Hey short stuff, what’s going on next door?”
“Well, it’s about time, Kev. How come you didn’t call sooner? Have you been home as long as I have?” If I sounded annoyed, it’s because I was.
“Sorry, babe. Yeah, I got home a week ago. I’m behind on my game design contract, so I’ve been working day and night trying to get back on schedule. Today’s the first day I’ve felt like my life is actually mine. But you didn’t answer my question. Am I hearing power tools?”
“Yes, you are. Construction has just begun next door on my art studio. I’m hoping it will be finished before I go back to school in September.”
“Wow! Your own studio. I’m impressed. I want to hear all about it so how about going to The Grill with me for lunch today?”
“Sounds good. We have a lot of catching up to do, Kev.”
“Okay, I’ll pick you up in ten.”
When he got to my house, we walked through the lot next door so I could show him where my studio would be and fill him in on the details. One of the workers was moving equipment in and tried to stop us, telling us that it was private property and a construction site, and we had to leave.
I didn’t like his attitude. “Yeah, I know. I own this property and I’ll be over here regularly to see how construction is coming along. My name is Cara Blackthorne. And you are?”
Red-faced, he muttered something unintelligible and walked away.
“Whoa, short stuff. You’ve become impressively assertive in the past year.” Kevin looked surprised.
“Must be the result of being almost killed so many times.” My sarcasm was showing.
Kevin shook his head. “We really do have a lot to talk about, babe.”
Over burgers and milkshakes at The Grill, we exchanged stories. Kevin had worked his butt off at school, managed to keep up with his studies, but lost twenty pounds doing it. I was afraid those circles under his hazel eyes would be permanent.
He agreed. “I guess that’s what it took to teach me not to overestimate what I can handle. My course load for next year will be about
half what it was this year. Meanwhile, I lost weight, lost Amy, and I guess I’m down to one best friend now.”
“I doubt you’ve lost Amy completely, Kev. She’s dating someone else, but I can’t believe she won’t want to be your friend anymore.”
I told him about my year at Barrett, the campus stalker who’d knocked me out, the three Art Shows where I’d exhibited my work, and my hope I could start my second year at Barrett without a bodyguard.
He laughed. “Sounds to me like not having a bodyguard is asking for trouble. After all, you are the ‘disaster magnet.’ That’s been well established.”
Behind us I heard a familiar voice. “Disaster magnet? That sounds like a girl I used to know.”
I turned to see Sean McKay grinning at me. Leaping out of my seat, I squealed, “Sean!” and ran into his open arms, both of us laughing. He looked fantastic. He’d filled out, put on weight, and still looked more like a blond Greek god than a college student.
“Hey beautiful, you’re a welcome sight,” he said as he reluctantly let go of me. “Can I join you guys?”
He sat down with us and told us all about his year at Penn State while he waited for his burger and French fries. He’d played more football than he’d thought he would, and less baseball, which was a disappointment. But, all in all, he’d enjoyed his first year.
“So, Cara, what other disasters occurred since I saw you over the holidays?”
“Just a campus stalker who managed to hit me over the head and knock me out.”
Sean shook his head. “They just seem to find you, don’t they? Are you okay now?”
“Yeah, another concussion, that’s all. I must have an extremely hard head.”
Kevin snorted. “I’ve always known that, short stuff.”
Sean tried not to laugh. “But you had a bodyguard, didn’t you? Where was he?”
“Uh, somewhere else. He left school early that day.”
Looking serious, Sean said, “I’m guessing he won’t be your bodyguard next year, right?”
“No, he won’t. I’m lobbying for no bodyguard next year. Gavin was actually a great roommate and a good friend, but I really dislike feeling that I have to be protected. I think I can take care of myself.”
I turned to Kevin. “In fact, after lunch, Kev, you and I are going to do a little practicing. My archery is really rusty, and I’ll bet yours is too. I haven’t had much knife-throwing practice either. You?”
“Nope. I’ve had no time for anything extra-curricular. I’ve got to complete a game design over the summer, but that’ll be a lot easier than school was. I’d enjoy getting some weapons practice.”
Sean shook his head. “Wish I could join you. I’d love to learn archery, but I’ve got a summer job doing construction work for a friend of my dad’s. I’ll be starting on a new site tomorrow building an art studio for some college girl.”
Kevin and I looked at each other, trying not to laugh.
Sean looked at each of us. Then his eyebrows hit his hairline. “No. Don’t tell me. Your art studio, Cara?”
“Yep. You must be working for Jeff Anderson. They did some prep work on the lot next door this morning. I guess the real construction starts tomorrow.”
And that was when I realized I’d be seeing a lot of Sean McKay that summer.
The good news: By the end of the summer, I had my own art studio. The bad news: It had been finished the week before I left for Syracuse. I would only get to enjoy using it when I came home on weekends during my second year at Barrett. But I’d know it was there, waiting for me.
Kevin had spent most of his summer designing his video games, only leaving the house to come over for spaghetti night once a week, and, of course, for Mom’s Sunday brunch. Other than those two occasions, Kevin was a hermit. I suspected he was afraid of running into Amy, but when I mentioned that, he just glared at me. Which told me I was right.
Amy was still seeing Gavin once a week when he had a day off. He only came over to practice very early in the morning, before the construction workers arrived. I’d barely seen him at all. Which made me sad.
And then there was Sean, working next door all summer. It had been a hot summer. On the hottest days, the younger guys on the construction crew worked with their shirts off, a sight that really cried out for an audience. Especially the sight of Sean, shirtless. Even my mother said, “Wow!” when she saw him carrying some lumber one morning. He grinned and shouted out “Hi” to her whenever he saw her leaving for work. She said it always got her day off to a great start.
We weren’t exactly dating. He admitted he’d been dating a girl at school, but said he wouldn’t be seeing her until he went back to school in August.
On a couple of weekends, he rode to Elvenwood with me. I even took him to Ryan’s wedding. Which might have been a mistake.
It was the first time I’d seen a wedding under the Joining Tree. My parents had been married under the old apple tree in our backyard. But there was something magical about hearing those beautiful words spoken under that majestic tree.
Henry Ferguson, the head Elder, stood under the Joining Tree. Ryan and Lora stood before him, hand in hand. Everyone quieted as Mr. Ferguson began to speak.
“Ryan and Lora, you stand before us today declaring that you are truly Mated and will be bound forever by Elven custom.
“Now you will feel no rain, for each will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.
May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.
And may your years together be fruitful, if it is meant to be.”
He looked at Ryan and nodded.
Ryan looked at Lora and said, “Forever, Lora.”
The Elder looked at Lora and nodded.
Lora looked at Ryan and said, “Forever, Ryan.” I could hear her voice shake.
Looking out at the gathering of Elves, the Elder smiled. “Please offer your warmest wishes to Ryan and Lora, who are now wed.”
As the couple turned to us, smiling, I heard a flute playing gaily. Everyone approached Ryan and Lora, delivering hugs, kisses, and good wishes.
Sean and I stood back as the couple made their way through the happy crowd. I’d been so moved by those beautiful words, I was fighting tears. When I looked at Sean, I could see he’d been moved too. He squeezed my hand wordlessly.
When Ryan spotted us, he wore a big smile as he pulled Lora over to us.
“Cara, Sean, what a wonderful surprise to see you here.” Ryan let go of Lora’s hand just long enough to give me a big hug, dropping a kiss on my cheek, and shaking Sean’s hand. “I hope you’ll stay for the celebration. There will be plenty of food and drink and music. My father brought his guitar. This probably reminds you of your parents’ wedding two years ago, doesn’t it?”
“I thought my parents’ wedding was lovely, but I have to say that hearing your ceremony under the Joining Tree was even more beautiful. There’s something about that tree . . .”
Lora laughed. “Yes, there is. There always has been. The only word for it is magic!”
When they left us to receive congratulations from other friends, Sean looked at me as though there was something he wanted to say, but he remained silent. It was all in his warm brown eyes.
I squeezed his hand and we walked toward the grassy area where the younger Elves were gathering as Jason played his flute and the ladies from the kitchen were passing out food and drink. The older people had all headed for the dining hall where there were benches to sit on and tables full of good food.
Sean was wearing a lightweight blazer over his dress shirt. He took off the blazer and spread it on the grass for us to sit on. In honor of
the Elven wedding, I’d chosen to wear my green tunic and slacks, made for me by the Elves two years ago. I’d only had to let out the seams a little.
We got comfortable in the grass, with me leaning against Sean. We could smell the grass, the trees, and some roses nearby. It was what I’d always called “the forest’s perfume.” And there was definitely magic in the air.
“Can you feel it?” I whispered to Sean.
He nodded, smiling down at me. “It’s a different kind of magic, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I always feel magic in the air when I’m in Elvenwood, but this is something different, stronger.”
He chuckled. “I’d call it seductive.” He wrapped one arm around my waist and dropped a kiss on my ear.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds and continued to breathe in this very special magic. When I looked around, I could see other couples sitting close together and whispering to each other. Something told me we were all in danger of being bewitched!
Sean whispered in my ear, “I’m guessing this magic we’re feeling is always present after a wedding has taken place. Everyone feels more amorous. Including me, Cara.”
I sighed. Being in Sean’s arms felt awfully good. In this magical environment, it was hard not to get carried away. But I couldn’t let that happen.
“It’ll be dusk soon, Sean. We’ll have to ride back before it’s dark.”
It was his turn to sigh.
Suddenly I looked up to see my cousin Jason standing near us, smiling. He continued to play his flute, something sweet and romantic. Uh-oh. I knew what he was trying to do.
I spoke to his mind. Jason, stop it. This isn’t fair.
In my mind, I heard, Cara, you and Sean make such a beautiful couple.
I stood up rather abruptly. “Sean, we’d better say our good-byes now. It’s getting dark.”
He stood reluctantly. “I really hate to go, Cara. This is a magical night.”
Jason reached out and hugged me. “See you soon, cousin. Good to see you again, Sean.”
My father found us, and I could see the magic reflected in his eyes. “This is a very special day, Cara. I hope you and Sean have enjoyed yourselves.”
