The Tree and the Tablet (The St. James Chronicles Book 1)

by Kathryn O'Brien

  It was a quaint rambler with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Growing up in this house, I had worked alongside mom trying to make the house as beautiful inside as it was outside. Large windows faced out toward the water and allowed the cool summer breezes to flow through the house. The sanctuary of my bedroom opened out to the garden and waterfront as well. Under each of the picture windows, were built in window seats where I could snuggle up with a good book on the colder days and view the bay. Beautiful, heavy damask, thermal, olive green curtains hung from the ceiling to the floor with hazy sheers to diffuse the light. Living on the bay had its perks. My little piece of heaven was mine alone.

  Walking to the French doors leading onto the deck from the dining room, I stepped out into the night and settled into my favorite swinging chair under the stars to contemplate my solitude. Looking out at the expansive backyard, I saw the years of work I spent helping Mom develop her little oasis that was now bathed in the light of the full moon and twinkling little lights strategically placed throughout. The moon was reflecting on the bay. The night was very still. Normally, there were the sounds of crickets and other insects this time of night as well as the sounds of the owls. It was so quiet though. Like the calm before the storm. It was kind of eerie at first.

  There were sections of the yard that covered different desired spaces. On either side of the yard were giant draping weeping cherry trees. Along the back of the house was a large deck that had a pergola with the swinging chairs on one side and a small dining area on the other, complete with outdoor cooking area. In the furthest left corner of the yard under an expanse of seventy-five feet tall pines there stood a seating area surrounded by perennial shade-loving plants and flowers. In the center back of the yard, there was a fire pit with driftwood seating around it and beyond that was the bay.

  On the right side of the yard, there were various toy structures that I had accumulated through the past five years for Kelsey to use when she came for visits. Everywhere there were roses, a favorite of both me and mom,and other perennial flowers. Along the back of the house were many different and assorted baskets that were used to plant annuals such as my petunias and violas. There were walking paths that were lined with little statues and even a retreat by the water set up in the form of a Japanese Zen garden, with several species of Japanese maples and assorted flowers as well as a sand and rock garden. There were lights everywhere. Not large lights, but small twinkly barely visible lights that made me think of little fairies visiting and hiding amongst the bushes.

  Finally, there was a path leading away from the Zen garden and fire pit area to the dock and boat house beyond the pines, down the hillside. It was only about ten feet above the beach and waterfront. The whole boathouse and dock was a floating entity that raised and lowered with the water of the bay. Currently, the tide was in and I could see the small structure as the water was almost as high as the hill. When the tide was out, there was a sixty foot ramp that had to be climbed to reach the dock and boathouse. Or, you could walk down the hillside into the beach area from the side where there was a built-in rock and concrete reinforced stairway. It was lovely.

  My favorite place to be was on my deck. I was soaking in the loveliness of the retreat, when I heard Peanut barking. Looking toward the patio doors, I thought I saw the shadow of a person run out of the door, and then I heard Kelsey running through the house at a dead sprint. “Auntie, Auntie!” Panic was evident in her voice.

  Setting down my glass, I jumped up and turned to run toward the opened door-way. We collided just inside the door and I held her tightly to me for a brief moment before dropping to my knees and allowing my eyes to roam over her face, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  She just cried softly and held onto me so tightly. “I thought I was alone.” She was becoming hysterical and very distraught.

  Stoking her beautiful hair and looking into her eyes, I assured her that I was real. “Look, see?” I said as I pinched myself, “Ouch! That hurt.” Rubbing my arm, I looked at her trying not to laugh. “I’m real as ever and you aren’t alone, Kells. Pointing to her heart, I told her, “Even when our loved ones aren’t right next to us, they're still right here, where our love lives.”

  She placed her hand on her heart and asked, “But how do they get there?” I saw her eyes sparkle.

  “I just mean that the love you have will never go away and they will always be close to you if you remember the love.” Watching her closely, she nodded.

  Looking at me skeptically, “Do you promise?”

  Making the motion of etching an “X” across my chest, “Cross my heart.” She was settling down now. Holding her close to me, I remembered all the nightmares and the need for comfort when I was a child that caused me to seek out the comfort of my mother’s bed, “How would you like to sleep in my room tonight?”

  Already getting sleepy again, she nodded and then said, “Don’t forget Mr. Snuggles.”

  “Sure thing, sweetness.” Lifting her in my arms, we made our way to get Snuggles and then went to the bedroom. Setting her down in my bed, I spoke softly, “I have to go lock up. I’ll be right back.” No response and the sound of soft, even breathing was the reply.

  Smiling, I went back out on the deck, grabbed my wine glass, called to Peanut, and locked up. As I changed my clothes, cleaned my face and brushed my teeth, I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for her to be okay with being alone. Pulling back the covers and curling up next to her, I couldn’t resist reaching out and pushing a stray lock of hair away from her face. As I extinguished the lamp, my voice seemed barely above a whisper, “I love you, Kelsey.” Silently, I prayed I could be what she needed to overcome the pain of loss when my heart was so torn. Sleep came swiftly that night.

  The sound of loud knocking at the front door woke me. As I sat up, I realized that I wasn’t awakened at 3:33 a.m. Relief flooded my brain. Looking around I noticed the French doors to my room were open and a small light entered through the opening as the shears fluttered in the light breeze. It was remarkably warm for this time of year. Kelsey was playing with Peanut in the backyard. Giggling and barking pierced the quiet morning. It startled me that she had snuck out of bed so stealthily. This would be something we definitely needed to talk about. She’d never broken the rules before, so I wasn’t quite sure why she decided to go outside while I was sleeping. Hoping this wouldn’t become a habit, I rolled over with a groan.

  Pulling the covers back, I got up and grabbed my sweater from the end of the bed, closed the French doors in my room, and headed to the front door. Opening the door, I was bum rushed by a very disheveled looking Sherri. Her hug was ferocious. Laughing hysterically, I hugged her back just as tightly. Sherri was about my height with a very firm body. I admired the beautiful grandmother of three and wished that I could be as hot when I got to be her age. Her twinkling blue eyes were the color of a cloudy sky, her hair was silky white and her smile was a mile wide as she exclaimed, “I missed you so much! How are you? How was everything? Are you ok? How’s Kelsey?” My head was whirling.

  Placing my hands on her shoulders, I said, “Good morning! I missed you too, but I was only gone for a week.” Gently, I steered her toward the dining table and asked, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  Finally taking a gripping breath, she sighed, “Yes, please!” She sat down at the table looking out into the back yard.

  Turning toward the French doors, I said, “Hold on, sweetie, I have to talk to Kelsey.” Opening the door, I called out, “Kelsey, can you come in please?”

  Looking at me she replied, “Coming, Auntie.” She and Peanut headed toward the doors. Something caught my eye and looking to the right I saw what looked like the shadow of a man walking into the lilac bush at the base of the weeping cherry tree. Rubbing my eyes, I looked again and saw nothing. Shaking my head, I turned around to wait for Kelsey.

  Upon entering the large dining room, there was evidence that Kelsey had been up for a bit as I looked over to see that t
here was food in, and around, Peanut’s food dish. Also, it was difficult to miss that there was a small, but disarrayed menagerie of various food types and dishes which suggested that Kelsey had eaten breakfast. Turning toward her as she entered, I said, “Who was that man in the yard?”

  She looked at me, confused. “What man, Auntie? It was just me and Peanut.”

  With a worried expression now, I asked, “Have you forgotten the rule about going in the backyard alone?”

  Hanging her head and having the sense to look contrite, she said, “I’m sorry, I know you were really tired and Peanut needed to go outside, so I let you sleep.” Looking excited and proud of herself, “Look, Auntie, I made myself breakfast and fed Peanut for you.”

  Sherri giggled. Kelsey turned toward her, but I stopped her, taking her by the shoulders and kneeling to get on her level, looking her in the eyes, I said, “You need to let me know when you want to go into the back yard. Even when I’m asleep, you should tell me where you’re going, so I don’t worry about you. Okay?”

  Blazing blue eyes lit up in comprehension. “You mean like when I get upset when I can’t find you?”

  “Yes! Exactly. I know that you were scared I left you last night, but I promise I’ll always be close by and while you may feel the same, it’s now my job to make sure and keep you safe. Because there is water outside and we have coyotes and cougars in the area which will not usually attack an adult, you may be in danger from an animal like that. Please promise me you won’t go out without telling me again.”

  A dawning understanding crossed her face and she whispered, “Yes, Auntie. I understand. I’m sorry you were scared.”

  Hugging her closely, I whispered, “I love you, Kells.” The conversation must have gotten too serious as she suddenly pulled away and giggling, she turned toward Sherri.

  Bouncing across the room, she landed with a thud into Sherri’s lap and said, “Where are my friends?”

  Sherri looked at me over the top of Kelsey’s head as if to get approval from me. I nodded and smiled, which let her know I was finished and she relaxed. Looking at Kelsey, Sherri explained, “Well, the boys went out on the boat with Grandpa Dave and they should be back in this afternoon.”

  Going into the kitchen, I started a pot of coffee. Standing at the sink waiting for the coffee to brew, I listened to Kelsey beguile Sherri with the harrowing stories of our adventures with Mr. Robin.

  “Wow!” Sherri exclaimed. “Did you know that in some legends, it’s said that a spirit can return in the form of a bird?”

  Kelsey and I both looked at Sherri simultaneously and at the same exact moment said “Really?”

  She laughed, “Of course, but it depends on the story, there are some legends that say it’s an eagle, some people believe it’s a sparrow, and others say it’s a raven. However, I’ve never heard of a robin except in some old stories about spirit guides. There are other stories that just generalize it to a bird of some kind.” Kelsey and I looked at each other.

  Kelsey’s smile could be seen from outer space as she exclaimed, “It’s my Daddy. I just know it! Auntie, we have to call Jody and tell her to catch the robin for us.” She hopped down from Sherri’s lap and ran to me. Clasping my hand to her and hugging it, she said, “Please, auntie.”

  Scowling at Sherri, I made eye contact with Kelsey as I softly replied, “Honey, it’s just a story. We can’t catch a wild robin and put it in a cage. That would be sad for the robin. Could you imagine being put in your room and never being allowed to leave it?”

  Kelsey put her head down and became very sad. “I just thought that I could have Daddy close to me.”

  Pulling her close, I hugged her and said, “I know, Sweetheart. I understand.”

  Pushing me away from her, she shouted, “NO. YOU. DON’T!!!!” It pierced my heart as she ran out into the backyard. Frantically, I followed after her and stopped dead in my tracks at the back door. Kelsey was standing like a stone statue, her gaze transfixed on the most beautiful robin sitting on the back of the chair looking at her. It looked exactly like the one in Colorado. How odd. It couldn’t be. Maybe there was a new species of robin with the same brilliant coloring. Kelsey walked toward the bird and held out her hand. “Here, Daddy.” She said to the bird. It flew to her outstretched hand and at that moment, I exhaled. The bird cocked its head to peer at me from one blue eye and then flew over to the ledge. Kelsey looked over her shoulder at me and sneered, “I told you it was Daddy.” The jelly that my legs became wouldn’t support my weight causing me to promptly sink to my butt right there and begin to cry.

  Sherri, having witnessed the entire episode, said, “Are you okay, hun?”

  The robin stared at Sherri, then back to Kelsey and took flight into the trees. Catching Sherri’s eye, I asked, “What the heck is going on? That can’t be the same bird? Can it?” We both glanced up to the trees that harbored the new resident robin. Shifting my gaze upward toward the sky, and speaking under my breath to no one in particular, “This is not funny.” The skies decided at that moment to streak lightning across the clouds and shout with thunder as if it were angry in response to my comment. This sent us all scurrying into the house as the rain came down like a sheet falling from the above and obscuring our views of anything and everything within five feet of us.

  Once inside, Kelsey started dancing in circles and shouting, “Hooray, Hooray. Whoop, Whoop!” Shaking her little butt and repeating over and over, “I knew it, I knew it.”

  My head was spinning. Was I losing my mind? That’s not possible. Peering over to Sherri, her face was white. Suddenly alarmed, I asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Shaking visibly, she replied in a panic, “Dave and the boys are out there!” Her slender finger extended toward the meley erupting over the bay.

  Turning to look out the door, I exclaimed, “Oh. My. God!!!”

  Kelsey stopped dancing and turned toward Sherri now with fear in her eyes. I ran for the phone.

  Chapter Seven

  “Yes, sir, David and his three grandsons. They are three, five, and six. She’s with me. I understand. Yes, sir. We will. Thank you.” As I hung up my phone, my eyes skimmed across the room to see how Sherri was doing. Her face was stark white, as if all the blood had drained out of her. Her eyes were fixed toward the window, watching the intense wall of water, unblinking, as tears silently slipped down her face. Looking past her through the window of the French doors, the rain was coming down so hard, it almost looked like a waterfall, causing the water to bounce and foam as it hit the deck. She’d tried to call Dave's cell phone but kept getting the voicemail. Desperation clung to her like a cloak.

  It almost looked like hail, but upon peering through the window, this was clearly just the most intense rainstorm I’d seen in the area in years. The sky had gone from a light blue with scattered puffy white clouds to this immensely thick and dark gray which almost made it look like night was coming. It was only ten in the morning. Taking in a deep, calming breath, I poured Sherri a hot cup of coffee and stirred in two small teaspoons of sugar just the way she liked it. Picking up the cup, I turned toward her.

  Walking over to her, I placed the cup of hot coffee in her hands and sat in the seat next to her. Drawing her attention to me, I spoke softly, “Honey, the coast guard’s out looking for them.” She raised her beautiful eyes to me, shimmering and glistening with tears. I continued, “They have my number. Dave might’ve seen that the weather was turning. You know he wouldn't do anything that would endanger those boys. He’s pretty good out on the water and he always keeps the weather radio with him as well as an emergency beacon, life vests, and all of the necessities.” She kept slowly nodding her head at me and sniffling.

  My hand skimmed across the linen tablecloth to grasp a napkin and pass it to her as I continued to speak in dulcet tones meant to calm her, “In the meantime, the sheriff’s sending a man to the waterfront park and ramp where they put in, to see if they have come back in.” Attempting a reassuring smile while plac
ing my hand on her upper arm, “They’ll be fine. I just know it.” Looking down at her hands, which were slightly shaking and barely holding the hot cup of coffee, she took a slow, staggering breath to calm herself. Taking a sip of her coffee, she shivered. Slowly, I rose from the table and made my way over to the couch to grab a fleece blanket I kept there for those chilly winter nights. Returning, I wrapped it around her shoulders.

  Helplessness seeped through my bones, causing a chill. It made me suddenly envy the blanket I’d just placed around my best friend. Sherri resumed her watch on the unforgiving skies and distant waters of the bay that couldn’t be seen no matter how hard she strained her eyes.

  Kelsey was parked in front of the French doors, her forehead pressed against the cold glass, trying to peer through the intense wall of water toward the bay as well. Her breath fogged the window in small bursts of condensation that would slightly fade, but not quite disappear, and then cloud again in a small circle with each breath. Speaking softly as if she were afraid to make too much noise, she asked, “Auntie, do you think Daddy is okay?”

  Exasperated, I gasped. Trying to reign in my frustration with her, I realized she was just a child and trying not to sound mean, I said evenly, “Kelsey, I think the robin’s fine. We really need to focus on positive thoughts of Mr. David and the boys getting home safe, Okay?”

  She turned her head slightly toward me, glancing at me from the corner of her eyes, she sighed but responded in a petulant voice, “Alright.”

  Just then, something small flew straight at the window of the French door. A flinch jolted my body as I thought it was going to hit and shatter the window. Then it just stopped. Perched on the deck, in front of the window, was the robin. It looked sideways at the window of the French door and reaching up with its little beak, it pecked on the glass.