by C J Murphy
Kallie laughed too. “Shut up, jackass. It’s hard to hook up a cattle trailer to a sports car. I’m taking you back to our place. We have an extra room, and Bandit is already comfortably snuggled up with Ben. We can talk about today, and Paula will feed you dinner.”
“I’m in no shape or mood to argue. Honestly, I’m not really hungry, though I’m grateful for the offer, so put it in gear.”
They didn’t talk on the ride back to the farm. Apple groves slid by the window, as her conversation with Noeul repeated, over and over, in her mind. It was obvious Noeul believed her that some higher power was guiding Jordan to the memorials. It appeared that Noeul was also being contacted and affected by something that defied conventional explanation.
They pulled into the gravel drive of the farm, and Kallie parked the truck. “Come on, let’s go have a seat on the porch.”
Jordan crawled out of the truck and made her way up the steps. She sat down heavily in the swing and pushed off with one foot to start it rocking. Kallie went in the house and got them something to drink. She sat down and matched Jordan’s rocking motion. “So, tell me what the hell is going on.”
Jordan rolled her head to face Kallie and laughed. The buzz from the whiskey was still pleasant like the breeze blowing across the porch, warm and sweet. The sounds of the farm softly called out all around her, crickets in the background, the horses nickering and whinnying in the pasture.
“Kallie, I’m not sure you would believe it if I told you. Hell, half the time, I don’t believe it. I’m a scientist. I believe what I can see, test in the lab, and duplicate repeatedly. I don’t believe in luck or coincidence. I’ve never believed in heaven or hell, and I never believed you could talk to the dead.”
“But?”
Jordan took a deep breath. “But, in the last few months, I’ve been led around the country by deciphering clues apparently being revealed by a ghost, guided to the next set by something unseen, and unexpectedly directed to be at the right place at the right time, like today. I wasn’t supposed to be the speaker at all. Martin breaks both legs, Elle asks me to fill in, and Noeul shows up. I don’t have explanations for any of it. All I can tell you is, it all happened.”
Kallie took a sip from her glass as they rocked back and forth.
“And your conversation with Professor Scott?”
Jordan rubbed her eyebrows with her thumb and forefinger, trying to rub through the alcohol haze to find a coherent description of the conversation. “The short version is, she’s been visited by her wife who, as you know, died years ago. She’s been telling Noeul that someone was looking for her and that it’s time for her to get back to living.”
Kallie shook her head. “And it all came together today, here?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s a lot to process, Jordan. I’m not sure how I’d handle it. I do believe there are forces outside of our control that are at work. I can tell you it’s a pure miracle that the woman you knew from our past met a down to earth woman like Paula, fell madly in love, and moved to this farm. That same woman has two growing children and…”
Kallie’s words drifted off until Jordan finally turned to her. “And what?”
Kallie put her hand on her stomach. “And one on the way.”
Jordan grinned as she looked at Kallie, who was smiling shyly. “Oh, Kallie, that’s wonderful!” She sat her glass down and hugged the blushing woman. “When?”
“I’m only two months along. We haven’t told anyone yet.” Kallie wiped at tears. “Damn hormones.”
“I feel privileged you chose to share it with me.” Jordan kissed her forehead.
Kallie pulled back, still wiping tears and laughing. “I figure if anyone could appreciate the pure miracle of my life, it would be you.”
“Certainly feels like an alternate universe. If you’d have given me the choice of scenarios with you being a scientist working in a huge corporate lab, or you being a researcher, a wife, and mother to three children, I know where my money would have been. The reality is much better, trust me. I’ve never seen you happier.”
Kallie shook her head. “Jordan, I was a different kind of happy when we were together. I wouldn’t trade my life now for anything. Know that the one I had with you wasn’t so bad.” She looked around. “You deserve this kind of happiness. Maybe it’s not a farm, wife, and three kids that’s in your future. I can tell you it can be something more than research and a dog.”
Jordan scooted over and put her arm around Kallie. For the first time in a very long time, Jordan wondered if there really was more to life than microscopes and scientific process.
***
Noeul lay turned on her side, watching the shadows bounce around the room. It felt like she was floating in dim light. She’d asked for a sign and Aggie had provided one, in spades. Across the room, a wooden clock hung on the wall, the second hand loudly ticking off each moment of time in the quiet room. She could hear people passing by in the distance, laughing and talking.
Life continued to roll on. Nothing stopped it. No amount of hiding up on a mountain, no amount of cutting off contact with every part of her previous life, prevented life from moving forward, one second at a time. Over a decade ago, Noeul had pushed the stop button, built herself a castle in the sky, and walled off her heart and her emotions. In one afternoon, her perfectly ordered life had been tossed in the blender. That’s not true and I know it. The reality is my life is far from perfect. Noeul couldn’t say she was truly happy, contented yes, happy no.
Her journal lay on the table. She sat up and wiped her face, then found the pen that lay tucked inside.
All I ever wanted to do was teach, research, and spend my life with Aggie. Fate and an unknown heart condition threw a monkey wrench into my plans. Now, I find out the woman I loved with all my heart, has been leading someone right to my door. Well close enough. How am I supposed to make sense of any of this? I feel like I’m standing in the middle of a minefield, and someone has handed me a connect-the-dots picture for a road map. Do I accept this for what it appears to be on the surface? A student turned brilliant researcher, reaching out to a former professor for help with a project? Or do I see this for what I think Aggie has intended it to be, a new day with new possibilities?
This morning I sat in a classroom and watched one of the most brilliant minds I’ve ever seen. Jordan is dedicated to her field and her cause. She reminds me of who and what I used to be all those years ago.
What the hell do I do now?
Noeul shut the journal and walked into the bathroom to turn on the hot water in the bathtub. She poured in fragrant bath crystals and began to undress, her mind rolling over and over. The steam rose off the surface, as she allowed her body to sink into the water. She slid down until only her head was above the surface. Noeul chuckled, as she locked her knees under the water. The tub was not large by any stretch of the imagination and yet, she could stretch completely out because of her diminutive status. Noeul smiled. That was always one of Aggie’s biggest bitches when we traveled. Her wife had loved soaking in the tub. With Aggie’s height, she always complained that either her knees or her toes were above the water line.
The tension began to leave Noeul’s body and float away on the steam. Tight muscles relaxed, as she was lulled into a stupor. Not quite asleep, yet she was certain she was not in the conscious world either. Pictures flashed on her eyelids…Aggie…her primitive lab. Sunset, sunrise, and the sensation of running. Running while digital numbers of a clock flipped forward like a deck of picture cards, each a little different, giving the illusion of movement and time passing. She watched her life flash with each card, right up to the minute Aggie collapsed on the running trail in her arms. After that, blank cards flipped, one after another. No movement, no change, nothing at all. Card after card, exactly the same, until they weren’t. The change was subtle at first; a seed that grew into a sprout. The sprout grew into a sapling, then progressed into a tree with a broad canopy. Emerging branches r
eached to the sun, forming shapes.
Noeul jerked awake, cold water touching her chin. She shook her head, shivering, as she pulled the plug and drained the water as she rose. She dried off and slid into her pajamas, her side tingling as the vivid dream replayed in her mind. Once under the covers, she picked up the journal again.
Enough blank cards. Life’s too short as it is to have blank moments in time.
***
Jordan held the Cornell University mug in her hand, sipping rich, dark coffee. She watched, as Bandit sniffed around the edge of the yard. He dropped and rolled around in the grass to scratch his back, while he made noises of complete happiness. Simple pleasures of life.
Kallie sat down on the swing beside her. “How’s your head?”
Jordan smiled and accepted the two pills Kallie held out for her. “Better soon, I’m sure.”
“Thought you could use those. How’d you sleep?"
“Restless, even with that amount of alcohol in my system.”
Kallie sipped from her own coffee and stared out into the yard. “What are you going to do now?”
“No clue. That’ll depend a great deal on Professor Scott. At this point, I have no idea what she’s going to do. I’m going to hang around until I hear from her, one way or another. Once I have that answer, I’ll figure out which way I’m going.”
“Well, I hope you find your way back here for a visit. You ready for me to take you back to your Jeep?”
“I am. I could use a run with Bandit and a shower.”
Once they pulled up to Jordan’s Jeep, Kallie put a hand on Jordan’s forearm. “Keep the faith, Jordan. I’m betting there are still a few more miracles to come in your life.”
Jordan leaned over hugged Kallie and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Kallie, for everything.” Jordan’s phone dinged with a text message. She pulled it from her pocket and looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. “I’m about to see if one of those miracles might happen today.” She held up her phone. “She wants to talk.”
“Let me know how it turns out. I love a good mystery.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out to be a tragedy.”
“Come back and visit, Jordan, please?”
“I will. Take care. Come on, Bandit.” Jordan climbed out of Kallie’s truck and typed out a quick message.
“I’m downstairs at my Jeep, want some coffee?”
“Meet me in the backyard in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.”
“And bring coffee…lots of it.”
Jordan laughed and signaled Bandit to follow, while she made her way down the street to pick up coffee and some pastries. Once she’d made her purchases, she walked back to the bed and breakfast and returned to the same chairs they’d occupied the night before.
“Good morning.” Jordan handed Noeul a cup of coffee and set down the carrier holding three more cups and the bag of pastries.
Noeul accepted the cup. “Thanks. Your head hurt as much as mine?”
“It did. Thankfully, Kallie gave me some Motrin. I can go get you some if you need something.”
“No, I’m good.” Noeul gestured with the coffee. “This will do the trick. They serve good coffee here. I’m guessing this is some high test. I’ll be fine.”
Jordan pulled a flakey pastry out of the bag. She tore part of it off and tossed it to Bandit, who sat beside her licking his lips. “Don’t tell Sam. Got it, Bandit?”
The dog lay down at her feet, as she sipped her coffee. They were silent for a few moments, the air still and damp with morning dew on the ground around them.
“I’ve made a decision, Jordan. I honestly don’t know where this is going to lead us by any means. Somehow, I think collaborating is important. I’m not even sure I can help you, but I’m willing to try.”
Jordan let out the breath she’d been holding. She had no doubt Noeul was the key, and she was beyond grateful her former professor was willing to step out of her self-imposed exile.
“I don’t know either. Thank you, I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Noeul sat back and sipped the coffee. “Come back to Topside with me and look at what I’ve been doing there. I have a small lab that we can do some basic things in. I’ve got animals I have to care for, and I’ve been away enough. Actually, this is the longest period I’ve been away in years.”
Jordan thanked whatever spirits had led her to Noeul and smiled over the rim of her cup. “I’m on sabbatical. I’ll go wherever you need me to.”
Chapter Sixteen
A LITTLE OVER THREE hours later, Noeul looked in her rearview mirror to see if the black Jeep was still following. She could see Jordan behind her, driving with the windows down, her arm and Bandit’s nose sticking out the side windows. Noeul had released her hair from the silver clasp and let it whip around her in the breeze. Soon, they would be at Kelly and Miranda’s. She’d already called to advise them she was bringing company. They’d been full of questions. Noeul held them off by telling them she would fill them in when they arrived. Jordan had retrieved her belongings and checked out, and they’d met up at a small gas station.
The closer they got to home, the more relaxed Noeul was. Home was where she could find her balance. The minute her tires hit the gravel road, Noeul was filled with peace. The comfortable home came into view and her world found its center again. The smiling faces that greeted her warmed Noeul from the inside out.
Miranda came off the porch and immediately threw an arm around Noeul’s shoulders as she stepped from the truck. “Welcome home.” Miranda nodded her head toward Jordan’s Jeep. “And you brought friends I see.”
Jordan let Bandit out and stood by her Jeep, as if waiting for permission to approach. Noeul waved her up and introduced them, while Kelly made her way over to the group.
“Jordan, these two are my best friends, Miranda and Kelly Standish, former Green Bank scientists, now owners of this fine lodging establishment.” She turned and motioned to Jordan. “This is Jordan Armstrong, a former student of mine and now a professor at Cornell.”
The initial greetings left Noeul feeling secure that her friends were open to having a new face join their merry group. It was confirmed shortly after, as Jordan sat at the table laughing and joking with Miranda as if she’d been with them for years.
“Kelly, this is the best kale soup I’ve ever had.” Jordan held up her hand. “Please don’t tell my mother I said that.”
Kelly held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Miranda began to clear the dishes. “What’re your plans?”
Noeul smiled. “I thought we’d saddle Thor and Athena and head up the mountain. I’m sure Leo would like to head home, and I’ll show Jordan around my primitive lab.”
Kelly laughed. “Jordan, don’t let her fool you. Her lab up there is far from primitive, even if It might not have everything you’re used to at the university. I won’t be surprised if you enjoy it more than any lab you’ve ever been in. The view is incredible.”
Jordan shook her head. “What I’m really looking for can’t be found in a lab. It’s what she has in here,” Jordan pointed to Noeul’s head, “that I’m really in need of. She was an outstanding professor, and her research was ahead of its time. Primitive lab or not, I believe with everything in me, she’s the missing piece.”
Noeul shook her head. “If we don’t get up the mountain, we can’t even begin to get started. Jordan, anyone you need to contact? Once we leave here, you’re in the land of no cell service and no internet.”
Jordan nodded her head. “Yeah, I need to call my sister, if I can use your phone for a minute?”
“There’s a phone in the office so you can have some privacy.” Miranda pointed to a door down the hall.
After Jordan left the room, the inquisition began. Miranda’s protective nature was immediately front and center. “You not only went to see her, you brought her home? And you’re taking her up on the mountain. Noeul, this isn’t like you.”
Kelly stood at the sink, her hands on her hips. “Miranda, Noeul’s a grown woman. I don’t think Jordan forced her into this. Besides, it’s none of our business what she does.”
Noeul glanced up at her friends, grateful for their support and protectiveness. “Thank you both. I love you to the ends of the earth for everything you do for me. I’ll try to explain this as best I can. Do you remember me telling you that Aggie has been talking to me off and on the last few months?” She waited for their acknowledgement. “Apparently, I’m not the only one she’s been talking to. It seems, she’s been leading Jordan through our bucket list to find me.”
Miranda sat back and folded her arms. “She what?”
Noeul proceeded to relay to them everything that had happened in Harpers Ferry, including Jordan’s revelations. “Apparently, Aggie’s been facilitating Jordan’s quest to find me.” Noeul proceeded to explain the peculiarities involved in Jordan’s quest and how she’d ended up in West Virginia.
Kelly set another cup of coffee down in front of Noeul. “Honey, I’m not beyond believing in things I can’t see. I’m trying to wrap my head around something that doesn’t make sense.”
Miranda furrowed her brow. “None of that explains why you’d bring her here. She could be a stalker for all we know.”
Kelly smacked Miranda on the back of the head, eliciting a shocked ow from her wife. “I think Noeul is smart enough to make this decision. Let her finish.”
“The kicker to all this is that in each of the memorials, she found a set of coded clues to the next location.”
Miranda fended off another blow from her wife. “Okay, okay. Geez. Did you leave a memorial to Aggie at the Kearneysville Research Center?” Miranda rubbed the spot on the back of her head where Kelly’s point had been made.
“Not exactly. I left one in Harpers Ferry. She hadn’t had time to find it yet. I found her instead.”
Kelly covered Noeul’s hand. “I get the feeling that’s not the interesting part is it?”
