The woman appeared to be in her early to mid thirties. She carried herself like a model as she approached. Her face was flawless, youthful. Long black lashes framing her large brown eyes. The color reminded Katie of cups of coffee and love letters. Curly black hair trailing down slender shoulders. A simple red cotton dress flowed to her knees, complimenting her long legs. The color was a contrast to her dark hair and golden skin. The woman was easily six or seven inches taller than Katie. She seemed unaware of her beauty, which made her even more breathtaking.
Two girls and a young boy trailed behind the woman. The older girl appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen. Her features were delicate. Her hazel eyes were bright with excitement. She held a large Tupperware container in her slender arms. Katie remembered how life could be one prolonged adventure at that age. There was a special kind of magic that seemed to light everything.
The younger girl standing next to her sister appeared to be about ten or eleven. Her eyes were dark and almond shaped, very similar to the woman’s. She was tall, slender. A small boy of about five or six clenched his mother’s hand and peered out from behind her back. Dark, curly locks framed a cherub face. His brown eyes were full of curiosity. He wore a bright green t-shirt, with a picture of a yellow dump truck on the front. It matched his green shorts and tennis shoes. The boy smiled shyly as he stole quick glances at Katie. The woman introduced herself.
“Hello. My name is Camellia Sanchez. These are my two girls, Lizzie and Jessie, and my son Bennie. We live right up the hill,” she pointed toward the road with her perfectly manicured hand.
“It’s the first house on your right about a mile up. We heard that you just moved in and wanted to bring you over a little something to eat.”
Lizzie proudly offered the container with an enthusiastic smile. Katie was moved by the gesture. She figured that their home must have been the one producing chimney smoke last night.
“That is so sweet and thoughtful. My name is Katie O’Brien. I just moved in yesterday from San Francisco.”
“Well you will soon find out that it’s a lot different up here. Everybody knows everybody,” Camellia explained.
The little boy suddenly spoke up.
“There’s a chocolate cake in there,” he pointed eagerly to the container in his sister’s hands. “We helped momma make it!”
From his intense expression, Katie imagined he would like to help eat it.
“Would you all like to come in for a minute? I could use the company.”
Camellia smiled at the invitation flashing her beautiful white teeth.
“Are you sure we won’t be in the way? I know what a pain moving can be.”
“It would be a nice break from my unpacking. Believe me.”
Camellia noticed her groceries in the jeep.
“Here, let us help you with those.”
Everyone pitched in and grabbed some bags. Katie led them over to the porch and opened the front door. She escorted them over to the kitchen area so they could put the groceries down. The two women worked together and put away the perishables. Afterwards, Katie led the family around her cabin for a quick tour. Camellia offered genuine praise of the home. She was particularly enthusiastic about the forest green color scheme in the bedroom. The family was quite impressed by the collection of beautiful antiques, especially with the delicate porcelain animal figurines. Camellia firmly warned the children not to handle them.
“Oh, that’s alright,” Katie replied. “I’m sure they know to be careful.”
The children took turns gently picking up the antiques. Camellia smiled at Katie’s easy way with the children. Lizzie couldn’t seem to pull herself away from the beautiful vanity.
“Make yourself comfortable, sweetie. Have a seat,” Katie encouraged.
The young girl smiled shyly as she sat down and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She carefully handled the silver brush set. After the tour, Katie led them back to the kitchen and served the chocolate cake with glasses of cold almond milk. Benny giggled throughout the meal and managed to get the majority of his cake on his face, rather than in his mouth. His sisters took turns at wiping him clean.
After dessert, Katie asked the children if they’d like to play in the yard.
“Stay close by and keep an eye on your little brother,” Camellia firmly instructed.
“Yes, mommy,” the girls chimed in unison.
Lizzie took hold of Bennie’s hand and led him out of the house. The women took the plates back to the sink. Katie suggested they could keep a better eye on the children from her large bedroom window. The ladies made small talk for several minutes. Camellia’s eyes wandered around the room, taking in the thick varnish on the bedroom ceiling. A puzzled expression came over her face. “That is quite a paint job,” she humorously remarked.
“I know, it’s strange. I didn’t notice it until yesterday. I’m wondering if there might be an attic door underneath all of that gloss.”
“Maybe. It’s hard to tell. My husband, Steven, is a contractor. He’s really handy. If you want, I could bring him by later in the week and have him take a look at it.”
Katie was touched at the offer.
“That would be great! I’m curious to know what’s up there.”
Camellia was quiet for a moment.
“So is it just you all alone up here?”
“Yes,” Katie smiled. “It’s just me. My husband and I divorced about a year ago. I’m pretty much… starting over.”
“No children?” Camellia inquired.
“No. I love them, but it never seemed like the right time to have them.”
Camellia nodded understandingly. “I admire you. It takes a lot of guts to start over by your self. Good for you.”
“Well, it took a lot out of me to change,” she sighed. “But I’m glad I did it.”
“I guess I better get everyone back home and help the kids get ready for school tomorrow. I’d love to meet up for some coffee later in the week. There are some nice cafés downtown,” Camellia remarked.
“That sounds great! I would love to.”
The two women quickly exchanged phone numbers. They headed over to the door to look for the children and were greeted with enthusiastic shouts.
“Mommy! Mommy! Come see the funny goose,” the children shouted.
Camellia and Katie opened the door and saw all three children standing next to an old oak. Beside the towering tree stood a large, white goose. He seemed to be sizing up the children.
“Careful. Geese can be mean. Give him some space,” Camellia warned.
Katie explained how the goose had been following her around the lake earlier in the morning.
“Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Looks like you already have your main course,” Camellia laughed.
The smile quickly faded from Katie’s face. Camellia worried that she had offended her new neighbor.
“I’m sorry. I was joking.”
Katie could feel the blood rising to her cheeks. “Oh, that’s alright,” she hastily replied.
She was always very quick to defend animal rights.
“Well, it seems that you’re not alone after all.”
“Looks that way,” Katie smiled.
“Alright kiddos, we better get you back to the house to start your homework.”
The girls sighed at their mother’s remark. After they’d driven off, she spent the rest of the night unpacking, turning in early in order to start over again in the morning.
CHAPTER 7
The following weeks consisted of unpacking, shopping, and decorating. Each day presented new challenges, exciting discoveries, and a sense of growing peace. Katie began meeting up with her new neighbor every morning for coffee. She looked forward to their daily visits. Camellia introduced her to the best cafés in town. The women quickly bonded and soon felt as if they had been friends for years. At the end of the month, she invited Katie to visit her house for brunch. Katie eagerly accepted the offer.
She was in good spirits as she drove to the house on the top of the hill. She double-checked the address, which she had typed into her phone. It took just a few moments to find the two-story Mediterranean. Grand arches, parapets, and high windows were set off dramatically under a red tile roof.
She parked her old jeep in the driveway and walked down a cobble stone path, which wound through a thick forest of oak trees. The front yard was professionally landscaped, with a collection of colorful, native perennials that included rosemary and lavender. Honeybees hovered over the fragrant flowers. She walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Katie could see Camellia approaching through a stained glass window. She opened the door and greeted her with a warm embrace.
“Come on in!”
Camellia welcomed her inside and began the grand tour of her well-kept home. The house was considerably quiet with the girls in school and Bennie on a play-date. She proudly explained how her husband, Steven, had built the home from the ground up. He’d orchestrated every detail concerning the electrical, heating, and planning. Katie admired the floor to ceiling arched windows. Each room had a view of the mountains and woods. Their feet echoed across the polished marble floors. They headed into a large livingroom with an enormous eighty-inch flat screen TV, in front of a comfortable sectional and recliner set. A game room was connected. An air hockey table was set up in the corner of the room. Several shelves for toys and puzzles hung on the walls. They were arranged according to subject. It was amazing to see such organization with three children under foot. Perhaps that was why everything seemed to have a place.
Katie noticed several technical gadgets throughout the house.
“My husband is obsessed with technology. Steven is always at the front of the line whenever something new comes out,” Camellia laughed.
They headed up the stairs to view the rest of the house. The master bedroom had an arched picture window connected by a Juliet balcony. It looked out over an incredible view of the Napa Valley Mountains. The room was decorated with neutral colors and clean lines. A large painting of a peaceful seascape hung over the bed. A sense of tranquility lingered in the air. Katie noticed several family photographs, which lined the hallway walls. Beautiful, smiling faces displayed lovingly in a collection of vacation and holiday scenes. Bennie’s room was packed with toy trucks and cars. A large green and yellow comforter covered his twin bed.
In contrast, the girls’ rooms were adorned with pinks and purples. Horse posters, ribbons, and various musical groups covered the walls. The oldest daughter, Lizzie, had replaced some of her equestrian prints with the latest teenage heartthrobs. A One Direction poster hung over her bed. It was easy to see that the she was in that bittersweet boy crazy phase. Katie imagined her mother would have her hands full in a year or two, judging by the girl’s pretty features and blossoming curves.
Lastly, they made their way into the guest bedroom. Another great view of the mountains was shown off in the large window across from the queen size bed. A painting of a romantic vineyard hung above the oak headboard. A matching dresser rested on the opposite wall. A large, golden crucifix hung above it. The room was inviting.
Camellia offered refreshments as they walked back downstairs. Katie eagerly accepted. The morning was warm and fresh as they made their way out to the panoramic deck. Camellia brought out coffee and Danishes and set them on the glass table between two comfortable wicker chairs. The family’s elderly golden retriever followed the ladies outside. He appeared to be smiling as he panted through his graying muzzle. Bugsy sat down heavily and with a loud sigh. He thumped his tail lazily and snuggled up to Camellia’s feet. In a few moments, he was snoring deep in his peaceful doggie dreams.
A lavender breeze drifted through the morning air. The shrill sounds of cicadas buzzing from an enormous oak tree. An old-fashioned tire swing blew lazily under its knotty branches. The two women made small talk as they sipped their coffee and enjoyed the pastries. The conversation eventually turned to marriage and family.
“When did you meet your husband?” Katie asked casually.
Camellia stopped eating and slowly turned away. She studied the woods intently. A look of serious contemplation shadowed her face. Her jaw tightened with a rigid anticipation. She seemed to be weighing a very important decision in her mind. After a few moments, Camellia let out a deep sigh and began, “I was in my sophomore year in college when I met a boy named Taylor. My class load was very heavy that semester. Calculus, biology, and chemistry were just a few of my lab classes. Science had always been my favorite subject. I eventually decided to major in environmental engineering.”
Katie smiled, and nodded with interest.
“One of the varsity football players was in my chemistry class. His beautiful face and athletic body really made him stand out. But, besides his handsome looks, there was something dangerous and wild lurking behind his bright, hazel eyes. I had heard whispers from my friends that Taylor was riding on a full football scholarship at the university.
One day after class, he hung around my desk while I packed up my books and supplies. He made small talk as we left the class and admitted he found the course very challenging. I sensed that the class was a struggle for the football player. I was more than happy to tutor him. I found the chemistry course to be challenging but very interesting. But, we did not get very much studying done during our first homework session.”
She smiled sadly as the story seemed to awaken some long buried memory.
“The first few weeks of dating were wonderful. There were flowers, dinners, movies. He was always the perfect gentleman. And so it came as a complete shock when his personality began changing. One weekend my roommate decided to visit her parents. I had the dorm to myself. Taylor showed up late that Saturday night with a bottle of bourbon and a basket of strawberries. I had never been a big drinker and was hesitant to try it but I eventually did.
“He dipped the strawberries gently into the whiskey and brushed the fruit over my lips. It was an interesting combination of sweet and sour. Once we’d finished the berries, he went into my kitchen and retrieved two glasses. He poured a generous portion of bourbon into each of the cups. We toasted our drinks together and began to watch the movie. He had brought over Pink Floyd’s The Wall. The film really set the mood for the rest of the evening. The alcohol started to hit me pretty hard soon after.
“Before I knew it, I had zoned out and had fallen into a kind of fog. I had trouble following the story. Everything seemed far away and out of focus. Halfway through the movie, he began to make advances. It began with kissing and gentle caresses. Soon, we were down on my bedroom room floor making out.
“At first, it seemed no different than other times. I had always stopped him before going too far. Being raised Catholic; I was taught to wait until you’re married.”
Katie nodded understandingly.
“Many people consider this old-fashioned. I just wanted my first time to be on my wedding night. My body wanted him but my heart knew it wasn’t right. In the back of my mind, I began to feel that something was very wrong. He was starting to touch me all over was getting really worked up. I took his hands in mine and asked him to slow down. He pushed my hands away angrily. His behavior was becoming very frightening. I begged him to stop, said that I wasn’t ready. He ignored me and continued fondling me. Before I knew it, he had me pinned painfully on the floor with my shorts pulled down and was forcing himself on me. I was horrified when I realized what was happening. The physical pain was terrible, but the worst part was the way my heart and spirit shattered in that moment. When he had finished, he left me trembling on the floor with tears rolling down my face. The shame was overwhelming.
“He seemed oblivious to my pain, acting as if nothing had happened, and left to take a shower. Afterwards, he walked over, kissed me on top of the head, and went back to the movie. I remained on the floor in a complete state of shock. The alcohol was still working
and it was difficult to think. Guilt flooded my heart and mind. I blamed myself for drinking too much. I should have never allowed myself to be in that position. Later that night, Taylor held me in his arms and filled my head with stories of a beautiful future together.
“Taylor’s embrace was gentle, kind. This was the man I had known. In the end, I allowed myself to believe that we would someday be married. What had happened might be forgiven as a terrible mistake. We both had had too much to drink. I’m ashamed to admit that we continued seeing each other after the incident. We never discussed that night. I tried to put it in the back of my mind and pretend it didn’t happen. I wanted the memory to just go away. Of course, it lingered in my waking life, and my nightmares.
“Taylor eventually managed to get me to comply with his desires. After we began sleeping together, his attitude changed. He was preoccupied with my appearance. At first it was little things, like my clothes or makeup. “Maybe you should go with a more natural look,” he would ask when he saw me touching up my lipstick. “Do you think its appropriate for tonight?” if he thought my dress was too short. He avoided spending any time with my friends and family. When Christmas break rolled around, he seemed strangely preoccupied. He was moody, anxious, and increasingly short tempered.
“It might be a good idea for us to stay in town for winter break,” he suggested. “We can spend Christmas together. It will be romantic.” I agreed to his request even though my family was heartbroken when they heard the news that I would not be joining them for the holidays. Christmas was always a huge celebration at my house, beginning with Midnight Mass the night before. Before I knew it, Taylor had become involved in every decision I made. My school courses, my major, the clothes I wore-it all seemed to be judged and navigated by him. Nothing I did seemed good enough, I was no longer certain of anything.”
The Wall People Page 4
