Don't Let the Wind Catch You

by Aaron Paul Lazar

  Tully answered. "She'll be at peace, little one. For the first time in centuries."

  We ambled toward the yellow light on the Stones' back porch, where moths danced in random patterns, darting about without the help of a ghostly sprite. Sadness touched my heart. I'd really miss Penni. A lot. But I knew we'd done the right thing.

  When Tully was safely deposited in his room, I dropped into bed beside Siegfried and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Sixty-five

  On the fourth day of our stay with the Stones, my parents and Mrs. Brown were due to arrive home around three in the afternoon. We all waited on the porch, straining to see the Oldsmobile in the distance.

  After several false alarms, I recognized it climbing the hill from the south. "There they are!" I leapt from the porch steps and ran down the driveway, followed closely by the twins and Shadow, who barked and ran in circles around us. We waved our arms wildly over our heads and shouted for joy. I hadn't been separated from my folks for more than an overnight sleepover my whole life, and although I wouldn't ever admit it to anyone, the past few nights I felt a creeping sadness descend on me. I missed them too much.

  The station wagon pulled into the driveway slowly. We ran beside it, waving and laughing the whole way. When they arrived, looking tired but happy, we circled them like fans at a Hollywood premier. The clamor was deafening. I hugged my mother first. She leaned down to embrace me, and gently swung me back and forth in between covering my cheeks with kisses. Although slightly embarrassed, this time I didn't really care enough to put up a fuss. She held my face between her hands and stared at me with tears in her eyes. "Oh, my boy. I've missed you so."

  After one more embrace, she opened her arms for the twins and I raced into my father's bear hug. He squeezed the breath out of me, and then fake punched me a few times. "Wait ‘til you see what we brought you, son." His eyes held secrets, big secrets.

  I jumped around like a little kid on Christmas Eve. "What? What did you get me?"

  He pointed to the suitcases in the back of the car. "If you'll grab my small brown valise, we'll show you in a little bit."

  Millie embraced my mother and Mrs. Brown. "I hope you'll all stay for dinner and tell us all about the trip?"

  I knew they had to be exhausted, but I could read my mother's mind. The least they could do after leaving me with the Stones for days was to give them the pleasure of a little armchair travel.

  "Of course, Millie. We'd love to." She caught my father's worried look. "We just need to get home to feed the animals before dark."

  Millie linked arms with her and led her to the porch. "Of course, dear. It's all ready, so we can eat early—whenever you're hungry—and you can get home in plenty of time."

  Eudora had hurried to Tully's side as soon as she spotted him sitting on the porch. She embraced him for a long time, then snaked an arm through his and led him inside.

  We gathered in the music room. There weren't enough chairs for everyone, so Elsbeth, Siegfried, and I sat cross-legged on the floor in front of my parents and Mrs. Brown. I waited and fidgeted while all three told bits and pieces of the story of the White House tour. My mother gushed about the gala in the grand ballroom and dancing to an orchestra. Mrs. Brown said they'd sat at the same table as the President for a dinner fit for kings.

  For some reason, my mother acted kindly towards Mr. Tully. I wondered if she'd discussed the issue with Eudora while they traveled together. Something had happened to change her attitude. It was no longer polite and restrained. She actually beamed at him when she took his hand to say hello. Relief descended over me like a warm blanket.

  My father took the lead. "So, there we were, sitting beside President Johnson and his wife, eating Beef Wellington and drinking a fine cabernet. Your mother, bless her soul, had the temerity to ask him for his autograph. Just for you kids." He reached into his case and laid it on his lap. With a smile, he flicked it open. "He must have really liked your mother, Gus, because he gave us these."

  He passed out glossy five-by-seven photos of the President and his wife standing in the rose garden. All three were inscribed to each of us, with a message about working hard in school. We each held our autographed photos and stared at them.

  "Wow." I looked at the picture, then back to my parents. "This is so neat."

  "Keen! Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. LeGarde," Elsbeth walked to each of them and pecked their cheeks.

  Siegfried added his thanks. "I'm going to have mine framed."

  Millie's eyes glowed. "Thank you for sharing your story with us. It was almost like being there."

  Mrs. Brown opened her purse. "We brought you something, too." She handed a small box to Millie. "Just a token of our thanks for caring for our loved ones."

  Millie handed the box to Oscar. "You open it." Her fingers trembled, but I figured she was afraid she'd have trouble with the wrapping because of her arthritic fingers.

  Oscar unwrapped the tissue and ribbons, and opened the box to reveal a silver pen set on a marble stand with the White House emblem engraved on it.

  My father dug out three more signed photographs, this time photos of the White House. "And these are for you and William." He handed the photo to Millie, whose eyes filled with tears. "And this one's for you, Zak."

  Tully accepted it with a grateful nod. "I'll treasure this, thank you."

  Millie piped up, "Thank you. You know you didn't have to bring us anything. My goodness."

  My parents murmured a few words of appreciation, and then my stomach growled. All heads swiveled in my direction.

  "Hungry, son?" my father chuckled.

  "He's always hungry," Elsbeth said. She took my arm, leaned her head on my shoulder, and sighed. "Like Siegfried. I think they could both eat a hundred hamburgers." She raised her eyes to mine and fluttered her eyelashes, just like in the movies. My heart thumped harder and melted like a Hershey bar in the hot July sun.

  My parents noticed her behavior and exchanged surprised glances. I received a raised eyebrow from my father, and shrugged in his direction with a smile. I tolerated the embarrassment, because being next to Elsbeth made me feel so deliciously good.

  Millie stood slowly, straightened with a controlled grimace, propped up her photograph on the mantle behind a brass candlestick, and faced the group. "Well, I don't think our meal will compete with Beef Wellington, but it might be a little fancier than hamburgers. Anyone else hungry?"

  We stampeded into the dining room, which Millie had already preset with her nice china. We crowded around the table, knocking elbows, and dug into Millie's homemade macaroni and cheese, baked ham, tomato and red onion salad, and fresh carrots baked in an orange glaze. The conversation moved from Washington D.C., to Mrs. Marggrander's progress, to Oscar's new book, to the traffic on the Thruway, to the state of the Stones' gardens. But we didn't mention Penni, and without a formal agreement, we all just knew it was something we'd have to keep to ourselves, maybe even forever.

  Before we left, Tully asked to see me. I walked with him one more time to the grove, and we sat quietly, remembering last night's mind-blowing experience. I looked for the necklace, feather, and shell, but didn't see them.

  "Mr. Tully? Did you or the Stones take the gifts we left for Penni?"

  He looked at me as if I was crazy. "Hell, no."

  "Then where are they?" I poked around the stones and grass nearby. "They're gone!"

  He chuckled and pointed to the treetops. "She must have played with them."

  I followed his glance and saw the feather stuck into a gnarled knot on a nearby trunk. The shell lay in the crook of a branch, and the necklace dangled from a twig overhead.

  "Wow!"

  "Gus? Can you come sit beside me for a minute? I have something to tell you."

  "Sure." I pulled myself out of the moment and joined him on the bench. A ladybug crawled up the iron leg and climbed onto my hand. "What's up?"

  "First of all, I wanted to tell you that you were right. I sat down with Eudora a
few minutes ago and told her about me and Marlowe."

  "Really?"

  "I did. Know what she said?"

  I shook my head, and urged him to spill his secret with my eyes.

  "She already knew. She's known since I was a little boy. And she was totally aware of my love for Marlowe, but didn't want to embarrass me by talking about it until I was ready to open up. Can you beat that?"

  I let the ladybug crawl up my arm, transferring her to my other hand. "Sometimes it's better to just tell the truth."

  He looked up to the sky. "I'm sure Marlowe would have agreed with you. All those years of hiding my true self from her. Thinking I was so clever." He lowered his head. "Such a waste."

  I stood up. "Well, now it's out in the open. That's a good thing."

  He slid an arm over my shoulder. "You're right, boy."

  My mother called me from the station wagon. "Time to go, Gus." I saw the twins getting into the car and realized they were going to stay with us until their mother returned home in a few days. I smiled, and started to get up.

  "Wait. One more thing." He dug into his pocket. With a closed hand, he took mine and released something into it, then clasped the hand and looked me in the eyes. "Take good care of this, Gus. I gave it to your grandfather years ago, and now it's yours. I want you to give it to your son someday."

  The ring sparkled in the late afternoon sun, its amethyst stone shining as if from within. I slid it onto my thumb and inspected it. "Really?"

  His eyes softened. "Really."

  I threw my arms around him. "Thank you, Mr. Tully."

  "You're welcome, boy. Now hurry. Your parents are waiting for you."

  "Will you be okay by yourself?" I meant to ask if he could walk back unassisted, but realized after I said the words that I also wanted to know if he'd be okay at his cabin without Penni.

  He stood and leaned on his cane, stronger than the day before. "I can make it just fine. And I won't be alone for long. Eudora's getting the old homestead rebuilt, and we expect to see you children often." He reached over to squeeze my hand again. "Promise?"

  I nodded and grinned. "Promise."

  "Off you go, then." With a brusque hand wave, he shooed me away. I ran as fast as I could toward the car, holding the ring tightly in my hand.

  Chapter Sixty-six

  When we finally rolled into our driveway, we found Mr. Marggrander sitting in his car. The twins looked worried at first, but when we pulled up beside him, his smile told us all was well.

  He waved and trotted over to us, leaning in to shake my father's hand. "I just spoke to Oscar. He said you'd be up this way soon."

  My father stepped on the parking brake and opened his door. "Hello, Klaus. We were going to call you when we got settled in. How's Brigit?"

  The twins and I tumbled out and surrounded the adults. Mr. Marggrander reached down to hug the twins, something I hadn't seen in public—ever. "Brigit is better. She'll be home soon. But I miss my children. I need them home with me."

  My heart leapt when I heard the words I knew the twins had craved for such a long time. Mr. Marggrander dropped to one knee and crushed them to his chest. Elsbeth started to cry, and Siegfried simply wrapped his long arms around his father's neck and held on tight. I tried not to stare at their very private moment, but ducked my head and went around back to grab my parent's bags. I set them on the porch, returning to find my parents still chatting with Mr. Marggrander. Finally, my mother gave him a hug, and the two very happy twins hopped into the back of their father's Audi. When they backed out of the driveway, Siegfried opened his window and hollered. "Let's go for a ride tomorrow!"

  I chased them down the driveway. "I'll call you guys in the morning."

  Elsbeth's hand shot up from her window, waving vigorously. "Bye, Gus."

  A bittersweet feeling settled over me. I was thrilled to see the twins and their father reunited, and to see him open up like he had. But I'd been looking forward to having them with me for a few more days. Disappointed, I kicked a stone and meandered back along the driveway.

  My father picked up on my feelings, as usual. "Just us now, huh, sport?"

  I hung my head. "Yeah. I guess. I'm glad you guys are home, though. I really missed you."

  He put an arm around my shoulder. "Me, too. I missed you a great deal, son."

  It felt good to know that my parents would miss me if they ever left on a trip again, would look after me until I was an independent man, and would comfort me in the days to come.

  He ruffled my hair and pointed toward the barn. "Why don't you feed your horse and the cats, and once we unpack, we can play some board games?"

  The idea had merit. I nodded and jogged toward the barn. "Sure, Dad. Back in a jiffy."

  My horse seemed to have hardly noticed I was gone. He ate his grain like a pig, snuffled in the hay leaves I dropped for him in the corner, and sloshed his water bucket, making a mess, as usual. I patted his neck and flanks, telling him a little about our days at the Stones. He nickered, shoved his soft nose under my arm, and finally rested his head against my chest. I knew he'd missed me. He just didn't want me to know at first, because he was mad I'd left him alone.

  "We'll go for a ride tomorrow. I promise." I left him with his food, latched the stall door, patted the kittens and Momma Kitty after filling up their food and water bowls, and headed inside.

  My mother had changed into her nightgown and my father lounged in his t-shirt and shorts.

  "Wow. You guys must really be tired." I laughed to see them looking so ready for bed at six-thirty in the evening.

  My father shrugged. "It's hot. And I'm tired. I figured I'd just fall into bed after we play a few games."

  My mother yawned and stretched. "We hardly slept the whole weekend. The D.C. crowd stays up after midnight every night, Gus. It's wonderful, and horrible at the same time. I feel like there's sand in my eyes, they're so gritty."

  I took pity on them. "You should just go to bed. We can play Monopoly tomorrow night."

  My father tried to stifle a yawn. "Are you sure, son? We wanted to spend some special time with you."

  "Really. It's fine. I'm at a really good place in my book, anyway. I'd just as soon read."

  My mother tiptoed over in her slippers to kiss my forehead. "Okay, then. Let's turn in early."

  I let Shadow out for one last run while my parents climbed the stairs. While he raced around the yard, I drained a large glass of orange juice and found some cookies in the jar that weren't too stale. I'd polished off six when Shadow's toenails scratched against the bottom of the screen door. "I'm coming. Hold on." I let him in, and we headed upstairs.

  After brushing my teeth, I changed into my pajama pants, and dropped into my comfortable bed. I turned to pick up my Hardy Boys book, with only a bit of guilt since I still hadn't started the summer reading list, and watched with disbelief as one page turned by itself.

  I rubbed my eyes. Had I dropped to sleep without realizing?

  No. I was awake. Wide-awake. Another page turned, then another. Soon the whole book flipped so fast it whirred like a card dealer fanning his deck.

  It couldn't be. Last night Penni had made the journey home to her ancestors.

  Hadn't she?

  The papers on my desk rustled and a soft whisper tickled my ear.

  I'm yours now.

  "Penni?" I sat bolt upright. "You're back?"

  She flew around the room, rustling the curtains and flying under my bed. She lifted the chenille bedspread when she entered one side and emerged from the other.

  Penni whispered in my mind, soft and sure. Tully needed me when he lost Marlowe. But he will be okay; he has his sister. My book pages flipped rapidly back and forth again. You don't have a sister. I like it here. We'll have fun in the woods.

  Shadow growled, but I called him onto the bed and stroked his ears. "It's okay, boy. That's Penni. She won't hurt us. She's our friend."

  Friend, Penni whispered inside my head. I felt her ghostly lips br
ush my forehead. Friend.

  With the knowledge that I'd never be alone again, I turned off the light, curled around Shadow, and whispered goodnight to Penni. The hall light winked three times, and soft singing lulled me to sleep.

  – The End –

  What’s Next?

  If you enjoyed this novel, you might like the other LeGarde Mysteries which includes two other “young” Gus books (Tremolo: cry of the loon and Voodoo Summer) and eight “adult” Gus books when he’s a father and grandfather. And if you enjoy the style of these books, please accept my invitation to check out my other books at http://www.lazarbooks.com.

  Here’s the complete list of LeGarde Mysteries at the time of this publication:

  1. DOUBLE FORTÉ

  2. UPSTAGED

  3. MAZURKA

  4. FIRESONG

  5. TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON

  6. DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU

  7. THE LIAR’S GALLERY

  8. SPIRIT ME AWAY

  9. UNDER THE ICE

  10. LADY BLUES

  11. VOODOO SUMMER

  If you like to read books in the absolute chronological order, here you go:

  TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON

  DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU

  VOODOO SUMMER

  SPIRIT ME AWAY

  DOUBLE FORTÉ

  UPSTAGED

  MAZURKA

  FIRESONG

  THE LIAR’S GALLERY

  UNDER THE ICE

  LADY BLUES

  - Aaron Paul Lazar

  Following is an excerpt from Voodoo Summer.

  Chapter 1

  Early July, 1966

  “We made it.” My father eased our old station wagon over the rutted dirt road and turned into the Loon Harbor parking lot. The twelve-hour trip from East Goodland, New York to South Belgrade, Maine was finally over. He glanced at me in the rear-view mirror with a tired smile. “I’ll bet you’re glad we’re here, Gus.”