Walking the Labyrinth

by Hart, Lois Cloarec

  “What? No. I mean, I don’t know.”

  “When this vision ended, what happened?”

  “God, it was so freaky. I woke up, and my heart was racing. I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t move. But I could see! I could see perfectly. My eyes haven’t been that good since I was twenty.”

  Gaëlle laughed softly. “You’ve just described a classic case of astral travel. Your soul left your body and met Dana on the astral plane.”

  Lee’s first impulse was to decry Gaëlle’s explanation, but the power of what had just happened overwhelmed her with ecstasy. “I don’t know what it was, but it was the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever experienced. Ever!” She seized Gaëlle’s hands tightly as she remembered something. “I know where we were. The very spot I proposed to Dana on a trip to Emerald Lake years ago.”

  “She chose that deliberately. She knew you’d recognize it and remember the emotion attached to it. Do you remember what she said to you?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t exactly talking. I understood what she said in words, but she wasn’t really speaking.”

  “She was communicating soul to soul, Lee. Words aren’t necessary on that level.”

  Lee released Gaëlle’s hands. “This is just unbelievable. My God! Have you done this before?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you feel the same way...physically, I mean?”

  “It depends on the particular journey. Sometimes I slip in and out of my body easily, with little effect. Sometimes I slam back into my body and feel everything that you felt. That’s usually the case when I’m meant to remember an encounter or when something in the house or yard alerts my body and I’m instantly, prematurely pulled back, almost like an alarm sounded. One time I returned, hovered outside my body, and listened to it breathe. It was an odd, but not alarming sensation. I knew I was sleeping alone, so I tried to figure out if one of the children had come to sleep with me. Then I remembered my children were grown and realized that I was listening to myself.”

  “Now that’s freaky.”

  “Not really. It was just part of my guides’ agenda to prove to me that what I was experiencing was real. Tell me this, Lee. With the power of what happened to you tonight, do you now believe that Dana lives on? That her soul can communicate with yours?”

  “I...I don’t know. I guess so. It was real. It was so real. She looked like she did fifteen years ago. Her lips felt just as soft, and her scent was identical. It was her. I know that with every fibre of my being.”

  “I’m so pleased for you. Dana gave you a gift tonight. That you were open to receiving that gift shows me how far you’ve come. That’s beautiful.”

  “But what’s with the vision thing?”

  “I don’t know the explanation, but I do know that every time I experience contact with the other side, whether through astral travel, meditation, or hypnosis, that’s the way it is for me as well. Unfortunately it’s not a permanent improvement, and my eyes soon return to their normal state.”

  Lee turned and planted her feet solidly on the floor. As she stared out the window on the opposite wall, she shook her head in wonder.

  Gaëlle pushed back the covers, slid out to sit beside Lee, and slipped an arm around her back.

  Lee tilted her head to rest against Gaëlle’s and instantly had a sensory memory of touching foreheads with Dana. They sat for long minutes without speaking.

  “I should go back to bed and let you get back to sleep.”

  But a few more minutes passed before either woman moved. Finally, Lee eased around and took Gaëlle in a gentle hug, which Gaëlle returned.

  Lee whispered into Gaëlle’s hair, “Thank you.”

  Gaëlle tightened her hug. “You’re welcome.” They released each other, and Lee rose to leave.

  At the door, Lee turned and paused to look at Gaëlle. She realized she had never seen Gaëlle with her hair loose. It formed a wild silver nimbus around her head as she sat with one knee pulled up and watched her midnight visitor depart.

  They exchanged smiles, and Lee closed the door.

  While she descended the stairs, Lee heard a soft, faraway sound. She tried to isolate and identify it.

  It was chimes.

  Chapter 12

  After a substantial breakfast, Lee and Gaëlle briefly debated taking the day off but decided they preferred to put in a few hours on the labyrinth.

  Gaëlle chose not to go by herself early for a meditation. They were on their way to the labyrinth when Wally darted out from a grove of poplar trees and flapped his hands at them.

  “Wally, what’s wrong?”

  Wally jabbered unintelligibly.

  Gaëlle took his arms firmly. “Slowly, Wally. You’ve got to slow down.”

  “Black back. Bad heart. Not smart. Go way, go way, go way.”

  Before Gaëlle could question Wally further, he broke from her grasp and scampered back into the trees.

  “Wally!”

  The fleeing man ignored Gaëlle’s call and disappeared from view.

  Gaëlle stared after Wally. “Now what was that all about?”

  Lee shrugged. “If you don’t know, I sure don’t.”

  Gaëlle frowned as she shook her head. “I must be losing my touch. I have no clue what he meant.”

  “It didn’t sound good, whatever it was.”

  “He did sound upset, didn’t he? I’ll find him later and see if I can make some sense of it all.”

  Wally’s odder than usual behaviour was quickly forgotten as they reached the labyrinth and stood surveying their progress. They were on the final circuit. The end was clearly in sight.

  “I don’t know whether to be happy or sad, Lee. It’s been a lot of work, but I’ve enjoyed the company. I’m sure going to miss you.”

  It was the first time either of them had addressed the fact that Lee’s stay was coming to an end.

  “I’ll miss you, too. Very much. But look at it this way. Even after I go home, we can still talk; we just won’t have to move a mountain of stone while we do it.”

  “There is that.” Gaëlle glanced at Lee, then lowered her eyes. “But I’ll miss our mornings and evenings. I’ll even miss having someone burst into my room in the middle of the night.”

  “I could arrange for Dale to do that every now and then, so you don’t grow complacent.”

  Lee expected Gaëlle to chuckle at her jest. Instead Gaëlle turned and hugged Lee, holding her tightly.

  Startled, Lee returned the embrace and felt a distinct shiver go through Gaëlle’s thin body. “Hey, are you okay?”

  Gaëlle pulled back and tried to grin. However, Lee saw the glistening in her eyes.

  “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just being silly today. We should get to work.”

  Gaëlle took a step toward the wagon, but Lee caught her arm and gently pulled her back. Gaëlle laid her head on Lee’s shoulder, and they rocked soundlessly together for long moments.

  Lee had no desire to break away. She was content to stay exactly where she was, for as long as Gaëlle wished. Warmed from above by the late spring sunshine, Lee was also warmed to the core by the woman in her arms.

  Finally, reluctantly, they disengaged and got back to work. An air of melancholy hung over them, though. They worked quietly until late morning, when they heard someone call out. Both straightened from their labours to see Jill and Emmy G approaching.

  Emmy G ran headlong toward her grandmother, and Gaëlle quickly advanced to scoop up her granddaughter. “Whoa, squirt. Slow down. You don’t want to trip over the stones.” She smiled over Emmy’s head at Jill. “What an unexpected delight.”

  “We’re off to get groceries, and Emmy G insisted we stop and see Grandma on the way.”

  “I’m so glad you did. Why don’t we go back to the house and get something cold to drink. I’m pretty sure I can scare up some cookies, too.”

  “Sounds good, Mom. But we can’t stay too long. The boys are playing ball this morning. Bobby’s working, so I’m delegat
ed to retrieve them when they’re done.”

  “All right. Then let’s make tracks back to the house. Lee, are you coming?”

  Lee shook her head. “No, that’s okay. I think I’ll keep working.”

  “Are you sure? Okay, then I’ll bring you back a glass of something.”

  “And a cookie?”

  “And a cookie.” Gaëlle started walking with Emmy in her arms.

  Jill winked at Lee, who returned the conspiratorial gesture.

  All was going according to plan.

  Lee knew that Dale had not been at a stag last night. In fact, he and Jill had spent the last three weeks working on their mother’s surprise party. Lee was convinced that Gaëlle had no inkling what was to come and greatly anticipated the look on her friend’s face.

  As Lee worked, her thoughts wandered from last night’s visitation and memories of Dana’s kiss, to Gaëlle’s unbound hair and the hugs they had shared in the last twenty-four hours.

  Lee tried to analyze whether those hugs felt so good because she’d long been without the warmth of a woman in her arms, or if they felt fabulous because it was Gaëlle in her arms. She hadn’t yet arrived at a conclusion when Wally walked up and squatted beside her.

  Lee gave him her complete attention. He seemed to have calmed down since their earlier encounter. “Hey, Wally. How’s tricks?”

  He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “Black heart. Pain gained. Blood bad.”

  Lee glanced at the farmhouse. “You’re not talking about Janjay and Dechontee, are you?”

  Wally shook his head vigorously. “Coal good. Coal great. Eaglet happy. Good, good. All good.” He laid his hand on Lee’s forearm and repeated, “Black heart blood. Black heart blood. Past bad. Now bad. Cover star?”

  “Cover star... Is Gaëlle ‘star’?”

  Wally’s eyes lit up, and he bounced on his heels. “Star, yes! Bright star. Heart star.”

  “Okay, I got that. So, cover star...protect star? You’re telling me Gaëlle needs protection from something?”

  Wally closed his eyes and sighed in relief.

  “What, Wally? What does she need to be protected from?”

  “Blood’s black heart.”

  “You’re going to have to let me work on that one for a bit.”

  Wally nodded soberly. Then, as he had before, he tilted his head and listened. However, instead of the elation he’d displayed earlier, sorrow filled his eyes. “Choose, lose. Star, far. Sad, sad. Too bad.” Shaking his head, he rose to his feet and trotted off.

  “Ughh, I don’t know how Gaëlle does it. Talking to that man is like trying to find a grain of sense in a wheat field.”

  Lee pondered the meaning of Wally’s words as she worked. She understood that she needed to keep an eye on Gaëlle, but she couldn’t decipher the nature of the danger or where it was coming from. For all she knew, it could be nothing more than Gaëlle tripping over a stone and wrenching her ankle, though that seemed unlikely.

  Lee deliberated over telling Gaëlle of Wally’s warning but decided against it. Whatever the future held, Wally seemed to think it would be up to Lee to protect Gaëlle. Lee felt as if she’d been deputized by the odd oracle, and she was determined to stay alert.

  By the time Gaëlle returned, there were only three feet unpaved in the last circuit. Lee gratefully accepted the glass of cold lemonade and two oatmeal cookies.

  “Sorry I took so long. It looks like you almost finished without me.”

  “Not quite. Besides, we’ve still got the centre to do. You haven’t told me your plans for that.”

  Gaëlle cleared a patch of ground and picked up a stone to lay in place. “Mostly because I haven’t settled on the design. Traditionally, the Cretan design doesn’t even have a centre as such. The medieval twelve circuit does, but it’s a six petal rosette that doesn’t resonate with me. I’ve drawn on the classics, but altered the structure somewhat.”

  “Will it affect the labyrinth if you stray from tradition? You told me it’s a sacred space.”

  “It is, but the power and the sanctity of it lay in the soul and intent of the walker. Essentially a labyrinth is a tool. The 180-degree turns from one circuit to the next are intended to help the walker turn off the left brain and shift into right brain focus. The deeper you can go within as you meander along your route to the centre, the more benefit you’ll get from your walk. It’s a calming discipline. There are no tricks to a labyrinth, unlike a maze.”

  “Very straightforward...sort of like you.”

  Gaëlle smiled and glanced over at Lee. “And here I was sure you were convinced I was just about the most baffling woman you’d ever met.”

  “Your beliefs baffle me at times—”

  “Even after last night?”

  Lee straightened and gazed reflectively over the labyrinth. “Last night...I still feel the power of last night. It’s as clear and as real to me as this stone. But I don’t know what to do with it.”

  “Then let it alone. Things of such magnitude are far better handled intuitively than by our rational left brains.”

  “I like my rational left brain.”

  Gaëlle laughed. “I’ve noticed.”

  Gaëlle and Lee worked until mid-afternoon and then quit for the day.

  Lee decided to indulge herself in a bath before dressing for the party. While she luxuriated in the bubbles, she reflected on Wally’s words but got no further in deducing his meaning. Some mystery solver you are. You should turn in your Dick Tracy decoder ring.

  Whatever Wally meant, she doubted it would have anything to do with the party, since only Gaëlle’s friends and family would be there. In the two months she’d been with Gaëlle, she was pretty sure she’d met all of her family and at least half the people of Donegal. None, in Lee’s estimation, presented any kind of threat, though a few were mildly annoying.

  Back in her room, Lee pawed through the closet and examined her meagre wardrobe. She’d had Eli send some additional clothes up the second week she’d been there, but still she lacked anything in the way of a formal outfit. She pulled out a pair of black slacks, a pressed white shirt, and a grey silk vest. They would have to do.

  When Lee walked downstairs, Gaëlle was already waiting in a blue summer dress. The look of admiration in her eyes elevated Lee’s mood.

  “Well, aren’t we the spiffy duo?”

  “You clean up very nicely, Lee.”

  “You look great yourself. Are you ready to go?”

  “I am. Do you mind if we swing by Jill’s house? Emmy G left her favourite doll here, and she can’t sleep without it. It’ll just take a moment. I promise I won’t stop and talk.”

  “Not a problem. We’ve got lots of time before our reservation.”

  “Oh, good. Emmy will be so happy to see her doll.”

  And hopefully Emmy’s grandmother will be happy to see all her loved ones waiting to celebrate her. With a smile, Lee opened the front door for Gaëlle.

  Gaëlle began to walk by, then stopped and sniffed. “Goodness, don’t you smell wonderful.”

  “That’s thanks to your daughter. Britten must’ve been in a hurry the night she left, because she forgot several scented soaps and bubble baths. I made an executive decision to accept them as a tip for my fine service.”

  “You mean when you tackled and hogtied her husband.”

  “That would be the service to which I was referring, yes.”

  They laughed together as they went out to the SUV.

  They drove onto the dusty gravel road. Lee was glad for air conditioning so they could ride with the windows closed. She didn’t want anything to diminish their finery.

  “Did you see Dale at all today?”

  “No. Why? Are you worried about your son?”

  “No, he’s a big boy. Perhaps the stag party is still going on.”

  “More likely he’s recovering at one of his friends’ houses.”

  “You’re probably right. After all, he’s not twenty anymore. Heavens
, he’s forty now. I doubt he can party the way he once did.”

  “You have a forty-year-old son? Wow, you are getting old, lady.”

  Lee got a punch on the shoulder for that.

  She laughed and turned onto the main road, which would take them to Jill’s house. Jill and her family also lived in the country, about five kilometres from her mother’s place. Lee had sent Dale a text just before going downstairs, so she was confident that everyone would be well hidden by the time they arrived. When Lee pulled into the shaded yard, they saw only Dale’s vehicle parked to the side of the driveway.

  “So that’s where he’s been.”

  “Relieved, Mama Hen?”

  “Of course. I don’t think you ever stop worrying about them, no matter how old they get. Don’t you still worry about Eli?”

  Lee was silent. The sad truth was that because of his mother’s illness and the traumatic aftermath, Eli had slipped far down her list of concerns. Lee regretted that more than she’d ever be able to tell her son.

  Gaëlle was distracted as Emmy G came out the front door. “Oh, good. This won’t take long, then.” She climbed out of the car with doll in hand.

  Lee followed, wondering how they’d dealt with the guests’ cars, because there wasn’t a hint of any other vehicles around.

  “Hey, squirt. I found Miss Jelly Belly for you. You left her in the bathroom. She’s been missing you.”

  As Gaëlle knelt to give the doll to Emmy G, people suddenly appeared from everywhere, shouting, “Surprise!”

  Gaëlle’s mouth dropped as family and friends swarmed her with hugs and kisses. “Oh, my God!” Gaëlle shot an inquiring look at Lee.

  “Don’t look at me. I’m just your chauffeur for the evening. You can thank Jill and Dale for this shindig.”

  The miscreants in question descended the front stairs, laughing at their mother’s expression.

  Two men quickly strung a banner across the front porch that read “Happy Birthday, Gaëlle”.

  Children of all ages danced around the adults, their shrieks of joy elevating the noise level.