by C J Murphy
Kelly was stirring a large pot on the stove. “Good, you’re back in time for dinner. I made Miranda’s favorite cake. She and Kyo are checking on the horses. They should be back soon. How was your trip?”
“Fruitful. I picked up a few things I needed and stopped in at Charlotte’s store in Marlington.” Noeul popped a strip of yellow pepper in her mouth and chewed through the crisp skin.
“And did Charlotte hit on you like normal?”
Noeul sighed. “Like always. She asked me to dinner. Luckily my dance card was already punched for dinner with you two.”
Kelly laughed and pulled the bread from the oven with a potholder and set it on a cooling rack. “Saved by us again, huh?”
Noeul closed her eyes and snickered. “Seems so.”
They heard Miranda’s rhythmic footsteps crunching on the gravel and Kyo’s lighthearted yips. A few scratches at the door, and Kyo pushed her nose inside, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth.
“Go get a drink, girl.” Noeul pointed to the water bowl her friends kept by the door. Kyo’s nails tic-tacked across the hardwood floor. About every third gulp, she would look up and pant. For all the world, she appeared to be smiling, as water dripped from her jowls.
Miranda pushed through the door and kissed Kelly. On her way by, she grabbed a piece of carrot and pulled her sweaty T-shirt over her head, leaving her standing in her sports bra. Kelly threw her a towel and pointed to the bathroom.
“Welcome home, stranger. Someday I’m going to beat that dog back here. For now, I’m going to go get less covered in ick so we can eat. That meatloaf smells wonderful. Is that French onion soup I detect too?”
“Well, it is our anniversary, dear. If you don’t get showered, Noeul and I are going to eat it all by ourselves. I love you, but go.” Kelly pushed Miranda away and again pointed her toward the bathroom.
“See that, Noeul, for better or worse, just not smelly and gross. I’ll be right back. Don’t eat my soup!”
“I love being around you two.”
“We love having you. Can you set the table?” Kelly ladled the soup into bowls, added hunks of the homemade bread, and laid large pieces of mozzarella cheese over top before slipping the bowls into the oven.
Noeul put out the plates and silverware. She pulled the bag of lamb and vegetables out of the fridge to fill Kyo’s bowl, before washing her hands and opening the wine.
Within minutes, a freshly showered Miranda swept back into the kitchen and kissed the top of Noeul’s head as she passed on her way to her seat. “I’m starving.”
“Good thing, because we have enough food for an army. I made three more of these ahead of our incoming guests. We can quickly pop one back in the oven for our first meal together.” Kelly set the meatloaf down in the middle of the table and pulled out the soup bowls from the oven.
The small, quaint kitchen, the comfortable conversation, the clinking of silverware against the stoneware plates and bowls allowed Noeul to relax into the warmth of her family of choice. She felt warm and content.
“Charlotte hit on Noeul again.”
Miranda raised an eyebrow and ran her hand over the long, gray braid that lay across her shoulder. “Do tell.”
Noeul rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing to tell. It was an invitation for dinner. I declined, because I was committed to dinner with you guys.”
“Yeah, that’s your only reason, huh?” Miranda raised an eyebrow and displayed her crooked grin.
“Don’t quit your day job, detective. You know I don’t want anything with Charlotte. No matter how many times she asks, I’m not having dinner with her. Not a week from now or a year from now. I’m not interested.”
Kelly pointed her finger, wagging it between the two. “Okay, okay you two. Don’t go spatting on my anniversary. Leave room for cake.”
They ate and talked about the incoming guests and Noeul’s plans for the next few days. She was going to be trying a few new things in her greenhouse.
“I have a gift for you two. I’ll be right back.” Noeul went out to the truck to retrieve the present. Miranda held the door open, as Noeul carried in the gift-wrapped tools and a jar of the kimchi she’d canned. She placed them on the counter. “Happy anniversary. I have more kimchi for you. This is just a sample.”
Kelly tore through the paper and opened the box. Miranda pulled out the tongs. “These are beautiful. Heavy duty, too.” Miranda opened and closed the jaws of the tongs. “And you know how much I love that kimchi.”
“Thank you, honey. You didn’t have to get us anything. Your company is enough.” Kelly wrapped Noeul up in her arms.
Noeul melted into the hug. “I don’t know many people who have been as happily married as you two, for so long. I saw these and thought they’d be perfect.”
“They certainly are. These puppies will come in handy this winter. Thanks, Noeul.” Miranda gave her a sloppy kiss on the side of her cheek.
“Okay, okay. Let’s get this kitchen cleaned up. I need to do some research before I head back up the mountain tomorrow.”
Hours later, Noeul finally fell into bed, her head full of as many questions as the searches she’d run about Jordan Armstrong. She knew there were ways to contact her, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to make that kind of leap. In the morning, she’d go home and try some of the techniques she’d uncovered. Maybe, if I can work through some of the variables...Sleep claimed her, but it wasn’t restful, even with Kyo curled up at her feet.
The following morning, She’d started the coffee and was mixing up pancake batter, when Noeul beat Kelly into the kitchen.the sound of loose slippers flapping against the hardwood floor drew her attention to the doorway. Kelly yawned and wrapped her robe around herself tighter. Noeul put a hot cup of coffee in her friend’s hand, kissing her on the cheek. “Morning, Kel.”
A big yawn escaped Kelly. She grunted a good morning and cupped the coffee between her hands as she sat at the bar.
“Rough night?”
Kelly rubbed her eyes and sipped at the coffee. “Weird ass dream.”
Noeul loosened the cap on the pure maple syrup bottle. She licked a small drip off her thumb and furrowed her brow. “What kind of dream?”
Kelly shivered and took another sip. “Miranda and I were scuba diving, only it wasn’t near some tropical island. It was like we were swimming in the arctic. All I could see were these damn icebergs floating by, in the shape of giant fish. No more pickled cauliflower before bed.”
Noeul put her hand up to her mouth, trying desperately not to spit coffee out her nose. “Oh my God, Kelly, don’t say things like that as I take a drink.” Shaking her head, she took another sip, contemplating a memory. “Aggie and I went scuba diving quite a bit. When we were doing a few of her bucket-list stops, we took advantage of some pretty spectacular dives. Our last dive was when she led me on a hunt with a crazy set of clues that ranged from Dante’s Divine Comedy to the fireside poet, Longfellow. In the end, we were headed to Acadia National Park.” Noeul turned on the stove and slid the griddle into place.
“Seems like Aggie had the soul of an adventurer.”
Noeul smiled at that thought. “She did. It was hard finishing out our bucket list without her.” Noeul dribbled a small amount of batter on the cast iron griddle to test the temperature. She watched it sizzle and turn golden brown. Scraping it off, she poured out three silver-dollar-size pancakes.
“Bucket list?”
“Have I never told you this story?” Noeul furrowed her brow, as she ran her spatula around the edges of the pancakes.
The sound of shuffling feet behind them drew their attention. Kelly rose and poured a cup of coffee for a sleep-disheveled Miranda and placed it in her hands as she entered the kitchen mid yawn. Noeul smiled, as Kelly kissed Miranda and smoothed down the bedhead her partner sported. “You mentioned you and Aggie traveled. I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever heard you mention a bucket list.”
Yawning through her words, Miranda entered the conv
ersation, “Whaaa bucket list?”
Noeul stacked the pancakes on a warm plate in the oven until she had enough for everyone. Kelly started the bacon on the burner beside her. Kelly’s bacon was legendary, because she took the time to turn it and focused on nothing else during the process. Noeul poured more batter onto the griddle and answered the question at hand.
“We’d been together for a year or so, when Aggie started making this list of places she wanted us to visit. Sort of a bucket list. For each place, she made up these coded clues that she assembled into a sort of treasure hunt. I used to laugh at the amount of research she did for those things, which in turn, meant I had to do a bunch of research to figure them out. That woman had everything from pictograms to Morse code. Sometimes she would find these obscure hieroglyphics, and other times it would be a series of trivia clues. Thank God for Google. It was how we’d spend our quiet time. I’d have a whole year to solve a clue and figure out where we were going. A few times, she had to help when we would get too close to the time we were supposed to leave.”
Three more pancakes were placed in the oven, while Kelly meticulously turned the bacon. Miranda sat with her hands cupped around her coffee, eyes glued to Noeul.
“And?”
“The destinations were mostly in national parks. Some of them were well known, others were different places she wanted us to visit near the park. We hiked down to Havasu Falls and swam in the most gorgeous turquoise water. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was spiritual in a completely different way. Sadly, we didn’t make it to very many before she died.”
Kelly finished the bacon and Miranda set the table, while Noeul pulled the warm plate out of the oven and set it on a trivet in the middle of the table. She took her customary seat and watched as Kelly put the bacon down and refilled everyone’s coffee.
Miranda filled her plate and poured maple syrup over the stack. “Where else did you guys go?”
Noeul bit into a piece of the crisp bacon, allowing a few moments to collect herself. It wasn’t that she couldn’t talk about the journey. She was actually finding it cathartic. The hesitancy came from thinking about the incredible places she’d visited alone, wishing she was visiting them with more than Aggie’s ashes. “One time, there was this whole set of clues that led us down to New Orleans. Aggie loved the music. And the food, I swear I gained ten pounds while we were there.” Noeul realized she hadn’t taken a bite in some time and her friends were quiet.
Kelly reached across the table and placed her hand on Noeul’s forearm. “It sounds like you and Aggie attacked life with gusto.”
Noeul looked at her friends with affection. “I know. It feels strange. I have so many amazing memories I made with Aggie and having her talk to me lately has put me in a bit of a spin. It’s like I’m being flooded with her presence. She’s been telling me something’s coming, and I can feel it too. I just don’t know what it is.”
Miranda poured more syrup on her pancakes and shrugged off the stern look from Kelly. “Whatever it is, it’s time for you to do more than just sit on that mountain and talk with your flock. Time for you to live in the here and now. I can’t pinpoint when your life will take a different path, I only want you to not discount it.”
“Honey, we’re always here for you. I want you to know that if you ever need to get away for a bit, Leo could take care of the animals. For that matter, Miranda and I will go up, and Leo can take care of this place like he does when we come stay with you. I want you to know you have options. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.” Kelly rose and began clearing the breakfast dishes.
“I can’t say what I’m going to do.” Noeul picked up her napkin and wiped a dribble of syrup off Miranda’s chin. “but I’m eternally grateful to have both of you as part of whatever comes next.”
Chapter Eleven
THE SUN WAS SHINING brightly overhead, as a soft breeze blew strands of Jordan’s hair into her eyes, reminding her she really needed a haircut. The day was positively gorgeous. Her arm rested on the side of the carriage, and the clip-clop cadence of horseshoes against the packed gravel path soothed Jordan into a peaceful lull. Her mother sat beside her. Dalia’s hair lay intricately braided across her shoulder.
Jordan loved the way her mother’s eyes glinted with mischief and small lines formed at the corners as she smiled. It pleased Jordan to no end that a donation of two special carriages allowed her sister and others like her to enjoy a ride under the trees that lined the sides of the carriage roads. They’d been able to maneuver the companion chair into the carriage easily.
Dava sat beside Sarah, their hands folded together. Their guide, Ross, was originally from Ohio and regaled them with many facts and stories about the creation of the carriage roads, the park, and the surrounding area. Such a simple thing. I haven’t had this much fun in forever. No worries about clues, quests, or anything beyond this perfect moment.
Jordan tilted her head and smiled over at her sister. “You having fun, Dava?”
Dava’s smile could light up a stormy day. “It’s wonderful! More people with accessibility issues need to know about this.”
Joy spread through Jordan’s chest like warm honey. “I’m pretty sure we know someone,” she raised her eyebrows and tilted her head toward their mother, “who’s pretty good at getting the word out.”
Dava rubbed her hands together. “Mom, do you think we could find a way to do something like this over at the Fairfax Park? It wouldn’t have to be as long as this one, by any means. It would be wonderful for kids to have a chance to ride in a carriage made to accommodate their chairs. That would be something we’ve never done.”
Dalia’s eyes glinted with delight. “I was thinking the same thing. I even think we could contact someone like Anheuser Busch to see if it would be something they could help with. I’ll make some calls.”
Jordan hugged her mother. “And that’s why you are such a rock star, Mom.”
For the rest of the day, the group went to some of the visitor centers, including the Abbe Museum. Dalia and James had made it a point for their young girls to learn about other cultures, and both had been fascinated with Native American history. This museum was all about the Wabanaki. The People of the First Light referred to their area as Dawnland.
Jordan watched as Dava touched a soapstone carving in the shape of a turtle hanging from a leather necklace. “Turtles have always been your favorite. It’s gorgeous.”
Dava let a slight grin escape her lips. “That’s because I’ve always felt like a turtle on its back when I’m out of my chair. Not able to do a damn thing until someone takes pity on me and helps me out.”
Sarah knelt before Dava and looked at her with a serious expression. “You are the most resourceful person I know, in or out of that chair.”
Jordan nearly cried when Dava reached out and placed a hand on Sarah’s cheek.
“That’s because you love me.”
Sarah let her most brilliant smile shine through, as she turned and kissed Dava’s palm. “That is true, with all my heart.”
Jordan and Dalia watched Dava move on to another exhibit, while Sarah picked up the soapstone turtle and took it to the counter. Moments later, Dalia drew a hand to her mouth as Sarah walked up from behind and placed the gift around Dava’s neck.
“Sarah’s so good for her. I don’t want Dava to push her away for fear of tying her down. Sarah is deeply in love with her.”
Jordan drew her mother in tight with an arm around her shoulder. “I don’t think my sister could run her off with a cattle prod. Don’t worry so much. Dava is the smartest person I know. She doesn’t make stupid mistakes.”
Later that night, they were enjoying the sounds of the harbor. The water splashing against the boats and the crisp snapping of sails in the breeze were a perfect accompaniment to the end of the day. Dava had to take a call and moved off to the side. When she came back, Jordan could tell there was an issue.
“Hey, I’ve got a mess brewing out at one of my
small companies on the west coast. We’re working through some server trouble, and I have a bad feeling they’ve been hacked. I may have to spend tomorrow on the computer helping them. I know we’re on vacation, and I’m sorry. This is a start-up company of a friend. I can’t let this happen to them.”
“And it pisses you off, admit it.” Jordan had a smirk on her face.
“Hell yes, it pisses me off. Especially since everything I’m hearing is that the situation was totally preventable. Introduced by a foreign thumb drive that hadn’t been scanned. Follow the policy and it doesn’t happen. One of the new employees went to a trade show and got it as a freebie.” Dava sighed. “I know we were excited about going to Cadillac Mountain. If I can get this straightened out, maybe we can go later in the day. Until that happens, how about you three do something I wouldn’t be able to.”
Jordan drew her brows together in protest and crossed her arms.
Dava reached up and tugged Jordan’s hand. “I’m not kidding, Sherlock. I’m ok with you guys doing something without me. I need to take care of this. I won’t be slighted because you did. It’ll be like all those years you worked in the national parks and sent me pictures. I can live a little through you guys.”
Jordan turned and looked to Dalia. “Mom, what would you like to do?”
Dalia held up her phone. “Sadly, I got a notice that I have an emergency board meeting. I can do it by teleconference. There is an issue with the site over in Prince Georges County. I want to get that cleared up before the equipment installation gets derailed. It’s on schedule for two weeks from now, and the grand opening is in a month.”
