Kieran York - Appointment with a Smile
Page 23
When I arrived at the Wesleys’ luxurious beachside home, I immediately understood the beauty Molly loved about California. I also experienced the love everyone felt for Molly. Before the outdoor garden services began, I looked out at the crowd of her family and friends who knew and loved her.
A giant wall of flowers and floral sprays lined the area. The family understood fully the unconventional plant arrangement I’d chosen. I had sent a huge decorative container of pansies and assorted scented geraniums. Samantha and Jeff’s sons constantly patted the geraniums’ sprigs with precision, just as Molly had done decades ago. Lifting from the greenery was the redolence of Molly’s favorite plant. The boys giggled as they bent and sniffed. I overheard them naming the pansies.
Samantha commented that Molly would have loved it. Even more, Molly would have loved a woman’s comment I overheard. She said the plant was the most exotic she’d ever seen. Molly and I would have had an outrageous laugh at that.
My eyes suddenly became teary as I stared at the shiny silver funeral urn containing Molly’s ashes. On either side were the many paintings I’d done of her. Lining the ultra-luxurious terrace, they stretched for many yards. From paintings of her in her youth to the final painting, her beauty was evident. Samantha told me that Molly loved this place most of all.
The ocean roared in the background as a small orchestral group played ABBA’s “I Have a Dream.”
“It was her favorite,” Samantha said. “But you know that.”
“It came out after she left. Or rather as she was leaving.” But I knew it was Molly’s favorite. I just knew.
“I’m so pleased you can be here, Danielle. Thank you for the painting of the family. We all treasure it as well as the tiny teacup and saucer. The teacup set does have meaning. I had a similar set when I was a child. Mom and I had tea parties.” Her eyes glistened in the sun. “Gingersnaps and herbal mint tea. Mom lavishly fixed my small table with a snack feast. How we loved those parties.”
“She was always wonderful with children. Everyone, actually.”
“Yes, everyone. You’re settling back in Colorado?”
“Early days, but I’m very happy.” Happier than I’d been for thirty years, or thought I would ever be again, I admitted to myself. Part of the delight was witnessing the joy and love Bethany was experiencing. Both a jubilant Clover and our new little Gidgie-Two provided her with much contentment. Family and friends, of course, loved her.
Since Bethany’s arrival, the house had become more than my studio with a structure attached. She had made it a home where love transformed each room into light, laughter, and warmth. I was no longer an unabridged soul. A mirthful exuberance heightened my senses. I’d gone from living for art to living with art, and with Bethany.
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Samantha put her arm around my shoulder. “I know it would have pleased Mom to know you’re happy.”
I was also of the opinion my newfound love was what Molly had wanted for me. She had once told me that the truest gift of love was the way it made a person feel about themselves. Molly’s philosophy was accurate. I was no longer weighed down by concerns of being inadequate; love had made me someone’s champion.
Samantha interrupted my musings. “How is your painting coming along for the Boston exhibit?”
“Bethany insists that I paint. Fiona is pleased with my production, so all is on point.”
“Bethany’s good for you, Danielle. She’s doing the art world a great service by encouraging you.”
“Which reminds me, Bethany and I would like to invite your family to stay with us. Maybe visit for a skiing trip. Bethany has fallen in love with Colorado. She’s investing some of her retirement funds to purchase a place in Aspen. Somewhere we can go to unwind. Anyway, we’d love you all to join us. It would be great fun to get your boys interested in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.”
She laughed. “I’d like to redirect them from snowboarding. We’d enjoy getting to know both you and Bethany better. Although our lives are extremely full, I miss Mom, and you enrich my memories of her. Maybe it was some serendipitous good fortune we met. First of the year good?”
“It’s wonderful. Just let me know when you can make it, and we’ll put up signs restricting all snowboarding. It will be a rule of the mountain.” I somehow knew we would all become very close. Love spills over. “I haven’t officially met your sons yet.”
She looked puzzled. “Sorry, I thought Jeffery had introduced you earlier.” She motioned for the boys, and they quickly arrived at our side. “This is your grandmother’s friend from Colorado,” she told them. “Danielle, I’d like you to meet our son Daniel and our younger son, Jeffery Junior, or as we call him, JJ.”
I extended my hand. “JJ, and Daniel.”
Suddenly, the realization hit me. I surveyed Samantha’s face.
She nodded. “Mom named the boys. Daniel is your namesake. She loved you more than you can ever imagine.”
That wasn’t true at all. Something inside me had always imagined. Indeed, for many decades I had imagined. I had long ago envisioned love. Tenaciously, Molly and I had held onto our love. A love in our hearts that was indestructible.
There might have been many explanations and excuses. But we both had believed in love. Not just the everyday love, for that had eluded our lives. But beyond was a consequential, extravagant love that transcended the moments of our time and bound us to one another’s dreams. Certainly, Molly never left my life, no matter where she was. In spite of it all, she and I lived love’s most precious and unceasing excursion. Perhaps it would forever be our destination. Eternal love had filled our souls faster than life emptied them.
Simply put, I do believe in angels. Yes, I shall forever believe in love.
About the Author
Kieran York worked as a reporter and reviewer for both newspapers and magazines and was a magazine publisher for three years. She has written mainstream works including poetry and general fiction and is the author of two Royce Madison mysteries, Timber City Masks and Crystal Mountain Veils. She also wrote a collection of lesbian short stories entitled Sugar With Spice. During the seventies, she wrote and performed songs with a woman’s band.
Kieran has been a guest lecturer and panel member at various events, including Rocky Mountain Book Exhibition, Colorado Woman Musicians Series, and Sisters in Crime Mystery Writers programs. She has written for “Journal of Mystery Readers International.” In addition, she has given numerous campus and coffeehouse poetry readings and taught poetry and creative writing workshops.
She graduated from a Kansas university and attended Mexico’s University of the Americas her junior year. She has done graduate work at the University of Colorado.
Kieran lives in the Rocky Mountain foothills with her schnauzer, Clover. She enjoys gardening, music, literature, art, and theatre. She considers her valuables to include Clover and other family and friends, her library, her antique typewriter collection, her guitar, and her garden.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Epilogue
About the Author
Recommended Reading from Blue Feather Books:
Make sure to check out these other exciting Blue Feather Books titles:
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Epilogue
About the Author
Recommended Reading from Blue Feather Books:
Make sure to check out these other exciting Blue Feather Books titles: