“It was a dream, Katie. Nothing more. Your imagination has gotten the best of you,” she spoke aloud to the forest.
Yet, this dream was unlike anything she had experienced before. Her dreaming life was definitely creative at times. Her overactive imagination often surfaced in her sleep. Fragmented images teased her mind. There was a certain sense of urgency that needed to be addressed. The magical meadow had seemed strangely familiar. It was as if something very important had been left behind. With the vibrant recollections of last night’s adventures, Katie increased her stride. Calf muscles stretched as her lungs protested the cool, mountain air. The workout was invigorating, and yet painful. In this moment of sheer strain and exertion, she realized that running and romantic love were the same thing. Both were urgent, thrilling, and too often painful and exhausting. Her romantic adventures did not always start off this way. Though they had often gone down in flames or, to a lesser degree, slow burning embers.
Her mind wandered back to the night before. It was just a dream. Wasn’t it? But she couldn’t help wondering what had actually happened. If it was a dream, and what else could it be, then was she losing her mind? There was a history of mental illness in her family. Come to think of it, there were more members of her family with mental issues than she would like to admit. She remembered in vivid detail her Aunt Mara. The sweet woman had been utterly convinced she was Elizabeth Bennert, the heroine of Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. Regardless of how the family tried to appease her, she would not sit down to family dinners until they readied a plate for her suitor Mr. Darcy. She often grew angry if the family did not engage her invisible friend in cheerful conversation.
The bizarre flashback sent a chill down her spine. Is one ever conscious of losing their mind? Did it happen slowly or all at once? Katie did not like where this was going. Usually, her thoughts during her runs were carefree. But not today. Her mind once again revisited last evening’s dream. It was not just a dream. She’d gazed up into those amazing eyes before. When? How? Why? She couldn’t answer. And yet something remarkable had transpired. She was certain of this. There was no rational explanation, but her desire for this man was undeniable. Or was he an angel? What was the deal with his wings? What did he want from her? More importantly, what did she want from him? A few scenarios rushed through her mind bringing a blush to her face. Was this just loneliness from being in a new environment, away form the city? She had not been feeling lonely; she had her new neighbor and family.
As her mind wandered, Katie realized that she had run past her four-mile mark. She could gauge her runs with certain landmarks on the property. An old oak tree reminded her that she would be looping back for the second half of her run. Sweat beads formed on her forehead and underarms. The morning sun was rising as the songbirds were piping up for the harmonies of the day. Her mind and body was flowing with energy. These were the moments that she looked forward to during her workouts. Running often involved pain and exertion, but was rewarded with moments of pure bliss. It was just like life itself.
As her breathing set pace with her strides, she noticed animal tracks on the trail. They were very strange. She could not imagine any animal they would belong to in this part of the country. On the one had, they appeared to be hooves. And yet they were too large and elongated to belong to a deer. The animal would have to be considerably heavy. The prints were set deep within the ground. It was not logical. They were the strangest prints that she had ever seen.
She had done a fair amount of hiking in her life, and was familiar with several kinds of animal tracks in California. She had never come across anything even remotely similar to these prints. The tracks continued along the trail as she turned the corner and made her way back to the house. Something about this was very wrong. It left her with a feeling of dread. She realized that the tracks were continuing the entire second half of her run.
She closed in on miles five and six and the prints followed the course. As she approached the last tenth of a mile, the tracks had trailed off across the yard, and to her dismay, appeared to be leading to the back of the cabin. She slowed her last few strides and arrived at the end of the trail. Sweat beads rolled down her back, thighs, and calves. Her heart raced. She took a deep breath to help even out her breathing. A small voice in her head told her to leave it alone and go back to the front of the house. Nothing to see here, Katie. There is no reason to try at playing Nancy Drew at this stage in your life, she thought. The other part of her mind demanded she investigate. Surely the animal had gone back into the woods.
Sparkling drops dripped from the trees and shrubs lining the backyard. Vapors of steam rose into the morning sky. The rich and intoxicating aroma of honeysuckle filled the air. Vines and tendrils trailed throughout the entire back portion of her yard. Some were making their way up the side of the back wall. The result was a natural lattice invading a large portion of the backyard. She noticed that several of the vines and tendrils had been severed. Blossoms and shoots were scattered about. There was something hostile about the way they were laid out on the ground. It would have taken some force to cause this much damage. The vines were so thick in some areas it was difficult to walk behind the cabin.
The tracks continued to make their way closer to the house. Her heart was now pounding so loud in her ears that she felt it might actually explode. Shaking and afraid, she inspected closer and realized that the prints led all the way to the back of her home. This realization was absolutely surreal. Surely she was not seeing this. Something had been left under her bedroom window, a burlap bag, old and torn. Leave it, Katie, Just walk away. She stood for a moment in silence. The lonesome, mournful call of a morning dove sounded from the top of her cabin. The cry echoed in the woods. She felt very alone. After gathering her thoughts and taking a deep breath, she decided that ignoring the problem was not the answer. She knew that she had to see what was inside the bag.
Her right hand made the sign of the cross; she uttered the words, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
With trembling hands, she reached down and picked up the burlap bag. Cautiously, she attempted to open it. It was tied with a loose, gnarled old rope. Finally she was able to free the ropes and open the bag. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to what was revealed inside. With shaking hands, she reluctantly reached down into the burlap sack and touched the contents inside. Her hands came in contact with a soft, damp object. On closer inspection, she made out what appeared to be a stuffed animal. She slowly pulled the object out and held it by the back of its neck. It was an old stuffed teddy bear. The dirty toy was covered in mold. She turned the bear over in her hands and examined its face. Several areas of the fur had worn off. Stuffing could be seen emerging under the surface. Tattered remnants of fur stuck to her fingers as she handled the toy. A sickening feeling slowly rose through her chest. The mouth of the bear appeared to be pouting. Its right eye was missing. The left eye was black and shiny. It seemed to be staring up in disapproval. The hairs on the back of her arms and head immediately stood on end. The memory was just on the surface of her mind, teasing her, daring her to remember.
“Oh my God,” she whispered to herself.
The realization was chilling. She knew with dreadful certainty that this was the same stuffed animal she had seen propped up against the wooden cross, just down the street from her cabin. She had only glimpsed the shrine for a brief moment. And yet the image had burned a vividly disturbing space in her mind. Was this some kind of joke? Perhaps a teenage prank, or was it something more dangerous? Fear and anxiety settled in her chest. Numerous possibilities surfaced in her mind. Each scenario was more troubling than the last. The realization that someone had been lurking outside her bedroom was unimaginable. When? The only evidence was the bear, some strange tracks, and the damage to her honeysuckle vines. Had the bag been dropped when she was asleep, taking a shower, reading her book? The idea left her feeling ill. Her brand new home and sanctuary had been tainted and
spoiled. Tears blurred her vision. She had worked too hard, and overcome too many obstacles in her life to be unraveled by this terrible moment. She’d be damned if she were going to let someone ruin it now. Angrily grabbing the burlap bag and bear, she stomped over to the garbage bin at the side of the cabin. Quickly removing the container’s lid, the bizarre creature was tossed inside the plastic trashcan. She closed the container and headed back to the front of the house, sprinting up the stairs, unlocking the door, and letting herself inside. The door slammed shut behind her.
With a heavy heart, she rushed to the back of the cabin and made her way into the bathroom. She turned the faucet on high, pumped several squirts of liquid soap from the dispenser, and lathered her hands and arms. The scent of lavender filled the room. The aroma was pleasantly refreshing and clean after handling the putrid stuffed animal. Katie allowed the water to pour over her hands for several minutes until she could no longer take the intensity of the heat. She dried off her hands on a soft white hand towel above the bathroom sink. There was a sense of being on autopilot as she stripped off her sweaty running clothes and dropped them in the hamper. Her body was chilled from a cold sweat that covered her skin in a thin film. She gathered her shower supplies and grabbed a pair of jeans and white satin blouse from her bedroom wardrobe and headed back to the bathroom. The porcelain surface was surprisingly cold on her feet as she stepped inside and pulled close the curtains. Within moments, warm water comforted and soothed her body. The jet spray eased her muscles. After a long, hot shower, and quick clothing change, her hair was blow-dried and brushed out and she was calm.
She rifled through her makeup collection and chose some light, pastel shades to compliment her fair complexion. Her skin was glowing from her morning run. The dark circles under her eyes had faded considerably over the last few days. The foundation could wait for another day. She applied some dusty pink blush to her cheeks and powdered her eyelids with an attractive shade labeled Mountain Orchid. She traced around her eyes lightly with a dark brown pencil. Her mascara brushed over her lashes and brought out their volume. Finally, she covered her lips with a dash of plum lipstick. It gave her a fresh, youthful appearance. A light spray of her favorite perfume completed her primping session. Katie grabbed a mauve colored cardigan sweater from her bedroom closet and headed over to the kitchen. The car keys were hanging from the kitchen hook right below a rooster wall clock. A gentle breeze moved over her skin as she made her way outside.
The weather had warmed up quite a bit since her morning run. The air was saturated with the aroma of oak trees and honeysuckle. A beautiful day was in the making. Her mother had once lovingly referred to these kinds of memorable days as sparkle days. It was one of her many endearing terms that she used to describe the more important things in life. God, she missed her so. It had been three years since her passing. Time did not ease the loss. The pain was always hovering there at the surface.
She reached for her sunglasses inside her purse and headed to her jeep. Breakfast and plenty of strong coffee was the first order of business. Perhaps it would be a nice idea to try out the new café she had spotted on Main Street the day before. On her way, she made a point to check out the cross and shrine. Three miles into the drive, there was still no sign of it. Strange. It should have appeared by now. It was only mid morning and yet she wanted this day to be over already. Bizarre did not even come close to describing the events that had transpired. After arriving at the Main Street turn off, her jeep followed the road until the café appeared. The sign above the entrance read The Morning Dew Drop. A parking space was available directly in front of the door. She quickly maneuvered her jeep into the spot. She headed to the café and let herself in the front door. The walls of the little shop were lined with a variety of paintings from local artists. Many of the artworks depicted vineyards and landscapes. One canvas caught her eye. Canadian Geese flying gracefully over a beautiful Napa Valley winery. It suddenly occurred to her that geese normally flew South during the fall. Her little gander was too heavy to fly with the rest, she realized. Well, he was definitely welcome to stay as long as he wanted. Truth be told, she was beginning to become quite fond of the little guy. Perhaps it was time to give him a name.
Katie took her time admiring the paintings. The rich art and culture of San Francisco was what had originally lured her to the Bay Area. Art galleries and museums seemed to pop up on every corner of the city. After looking at the collection, she approached the front register. Bright orange and white pumpkins decorated the café. The gourds were paired with a variety of old fashion Halloween decorations. Smiling skeletons, witches, and black cats adorned the back wall.
A young man in his early twenties greeted her with a smile. She looked at the chalkboard specials and ordered a cup of lentil soup and side salad. There were several vegetarian options available. She added a soy pumpkin latte with an extra shot of espresso to her order. She would need some caffeine after her morning adventure. She was given a number on a bright green table sign. The server’s gaze lingered on her just a little longer than necessary.
She found a nice table by the window. A few minutes later, the enthusiastic waiter brought her soup, salad, and coffee. He looked at her for a moment, flashed an impressive smile, and slowly headed back to the front counter. That was interesting, she thought. Maybe, I’m turning into a cougar, she mused. She reached into her purse, brought out her compact and lipstick, and did a quick touch up on her lips. She caught a glimpse of her reflection and was surprised by the glowing and youthful appearance. Halfway through her meal, the front door opened with the rush of the warm, morning breeze.
To her surprise, Camellia and Bennie headed into the café. Katie waved at them as mother and son smiled in unison.
“Hello Katie, it’s great to see you,” Camellia remarked happily.
Bennie smiled shyly and quickly looked down at his brand new light up tennis shoes. Bright neon flashed with each step he took. Katie offered them two seats, which they happily accepted. Camellia ordered herself peppermint mocha and a cup of cocoa for her son. The back of the café had a couple of play tables for children. Bennie was eager to explore all of the books and toys. She set him up with his drink and a couple of picture books and puzzles.
Camellia sat down next to Katie and stripped off her navy pea coat. She sported a pair of sleek navy slacks, shiny red ballerina flats, and a blue and white striped satin blouse. She had accessorized the outfit with small gold loop earrings and a rope necklace. The attractive woman looked like she had just come back from a fashion shoot.
“You look like you should be standing on a yacht drinking champagne in that outfit,” she said admiringly.
“I just need to find myself a yacht and a nice bottle of champagne,” was Camellia’s response.
“Let me know if you do. I’d love to join you.”
Their playful banter erupted into a fit of loud giggling. An elderly couple sitting at the front counter turned around to eye them with an irritated indignation. This only made the women laugh harder. Their laughter eventually trailed off as they continued making light conversation.
“I just finished dropping the girls off at school. I figured that mommy deserved a coffee break.”
She leaned back in her chair and took a sip from her coffee mug, studying her with a look of approval.
“I have to say…you look very lovely this morning, Katie.”
She blushed at the compliment and thanked her. The two women chatted for several minutes until Camellia paused and looked directly in her eyes, “Is everything all right, Katie?”
She was surprised at her intuition.
“Well, if you really want to know, I’ve had one hell of a morning.”
It was a relief to let it all out. A burden was lifted as she quickly told her about the strange encounter. She explained the early morning run, finding the tracks in the field, and the burlap bag and teddy bear left outside her bedroom window, and even mentioned the memorial marker along the side
of the road. The details of the angelic visitor were, however, omitted from the story. That subject was a little too personal, as she needed to process the experience. It was something Katie was not ready to share.
Camellia studied her with quiet concern.
“I don’t like it. No. I don’t like it at all. Yes, it could be harmless teenagers or some prank, but even so, it doesn’t sit well with me. It gives me a strange feeling.”
Katie’s heart was warmed by the concern and protective nature of her new confidant.
“I’m going to mention it to my husband, if you don’t mind. Perhaps he can get you fixed up with the latest security system.”
She did not mind. In fact, the thought brought a sense of relief. It was embarrassing that she’d not thought of it herself. Being a single woman living alone, she no longer had the luxuries of a secure apartment. The ladies continued chatting until Bennie came running up to their table with a drawing in his hand.
“Katie, I drew you a picture!”
Katie smiled brightly as the child held up his drawing. Her eyes widened in disbelief, as she looked closer. The boy’s drawing had two figures in it. The taller image appeared to be a man with blue eyes and dark hair. Next to him stood a short woman with red hair and bright eyes. Both smiled happily together. The only unusual part was what was drawn above the man’s shoulders. Two large, black wings flowed out from behind his back. Katie’s heart began to race as she held the drawing in her hands.
The Wall People Page 6
