Between Land and Sea

by Joanne Guidoccio

  Graham laughed. “Saved by the bell.” He got up and followed her into the kitchen. He breathed in the savoury aroma as Barbara took out the large casserole dish. “It smells heavenly. You have a definite flair for Italian cooking. You must have some Mediterranean blood in you.”

  Barbara found it disconcerting whenever Graham made comments about her past. First, he called her Bella, and now he suspected her Mediterranean roots. One thing was certain. There was no way he could even begin to fathom the complete truth about her past.

  Barbara sighed as she thought of the advanced mermaid kingdom. She missed the camaraderie of her many friends. Here on earth, she had to watch every word and gesture. She could not afford to leak out any information. Graham seemed to read her thoughts.

  “You don’t like thinking or talking about your past. Was it that painful?”

  Barbara managed a light laugh. “I’m getting over it.” She turned her attention to the food. “The table is set. I’ll bring over the salad. Can you manage the lasagne?”

  They arranged the food on the table and sat down to eat. Barbara steered the conversation toward safer topics. They talked about some of the new art Graham had purchased the previous week and Barbara described her first week as a counselor.

  Graham’s eyes widened as she talked about the presentations. “You’re not afraid to get up and speak in front of large groups. That’s a great gift to have, Barbara. Do you have any experience in public speaking?”

  It was Barbara’s turn to be surprised. She didn’t think it extraordinary to speak publicly. In the kingdom, she had addressed thousands of mermaid and mermen at a time. But she couldn’t share that information with Graham. “I liked giving speeches when I was in elementary and high school. In university, I presented seminars and did very well. These career presentations are similar. The only difference is that I’m presenting to interested adults instead of squirming children and adolescents.”

  “Well, that’s one way to look at it.” He asked, “When are you presenting this week? I could drop by.”

  Barbara giggled. “I don’t think you’ll be comfortable with the CWIN group.”

  Graham frowned. “Carden . . .?”

  “Carden Women in Networking.”

  They both laughed and Graham held up his hand. “I’ll pass. Let me know when you speak to a more diverse group.”

  “I will. I value your opinion.”

  Graham leaned closer. “And I value you, Barbara.”

  They kissed for a few minutes. Graham disengaged himself first. “Let’s get more comfortable.” They got up and headed toward the bedroom.

  The lovemaking was more passionate than last time. Afterward, they lay quietly side-by-side, saying nothing. It was enough to hear each other’s breaths and feel each other’s bodies. There was a peaceful comfort that surrounded Graham. Barbara knew, in the depths of her soul, that he would never hurt or betray her. She was the one who would do the hurting and betraying.

  Chapter 15

  Barbara was glad she had joined Janice’s hiking group and looked forward to spending some time outdoors. It also gave her an excuse not to see Graham on Sunday. While she enjoyed his company and the sex, she wanted to slow down the course of this relationship. Everything was moving too quickly, and she didn’t trust herself or her emotions around him. She could easily fall for this kind and considerate man, but she couldn’t see herself spending the rest of her life in Carden.

  Barbara looked forward to a full day of hiking on the Bruce Trail. Graham had taken her a few times and she had delighted in each of those invigorating walks along the escarpment. She also liked listening to Graham speak in reverent tones about this unique natural wonder. One of his goals was to hike the entire trail. He boasted that he had already covered over three hundred kilometers.

  Barbara found Janice’s friends interesting. They all had executive positions in either profit or non-profit organizations. She listened carefully as they spoke of their daily workplace and family challenges. The group returned to Carden shortly before dusk. Barbara found herself nodding off during the drive home, and she fell asleep as soon as she got into bed.

  Barbara approached her second week as counselor with more confidence. She wore her new clothes and received many compliments from her colleagues and clients. She spent Monday and Tuesday evenings preparing for Wednesday’s workshop.

  On Wednesday evening, Barbara dressed very carefully for the CWIN dinner. She wore her new black pantsuit with a light grey shell and a strand of pearls. She arrived at the hall early and tested all the equipment. As the women came in, she introduced herself. Celia Crawford, the president of the organization, approached and thanked her for coming. She pointed toward the head table and invited Barbara to join her there.

  The meeting began promptly at six p.m. Barbara was taken aback by the blandness of the chicken dish and the overcooked vegetables. Her finely tuned sense of taste was the only drawback of the Specialist Skills button. In addition to knowing how to create any dish, she also possessed the ability to critically examine all food put before her. She forced herself to ignore that inner voice suggesting what herbs and spices could have been added to enhance the flavor of the chicken.

  After the dinner and a short break, Celia rose and introduced Barbara to the group. Barbara was surprised by the light fluttering in her stomach. Could this be that butterfly feeling that she had read about? She had always been very relaxed when presenting to the mermaids and mermen. Why was she so nervous? As she looked out into a sea of mainly blue and black, she was greeted by many smiles and encouraging looks. The topic was a general one, dealing with goal setting. Barbara added a few personal details and included a couple of anecdotes from her book.

  There were many laughs and nods of recognition as she spoke. At the end, the applause lingered for a while. Velia, the treasurer of CWIN, approached and whispered in Barbara’s ear, “That was fantastic.” Velia waited for the applause to die down. “Thank you, Barbara, for a very inspiring speech. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are impressed by how you picked yourself up and moved on with your life. Many of the women in this audience can identify with your situation and will take home many helpful suggestions. We hope to hear more from you in the future.”

  The applause started up again. Velia shook hands with Barbara and presented her with an envelope.

  Afterward, a few women approached Barbara and introduced themselves. She spoke at length with some of them and was touched to hear their stories about infidelity, bankruptcy, and other private demons. Barbara glanced at her watch and realized it was past nine. She said goodbye to Celia and proceeded to leave the hall.

  “Barbara, may I have a minute of your time? I’ve been waiting to speak to you all evening.” Barbara turned around and faced a tall, heavyset woman. The woman spoke breathlessly. “My name is Sharon Clarke. I’m visiting here from Toronto.” She held out her hand.

  Barbara was surprised by Sharon’s strong handshake. “Pleased to meet you.” She waited for her to continue.

  “Like everyone else here tonight, I’m very impressed by you and your story. When Celia invited me to attend this dinner, I almost begged off. I don’t really like taking the 401 at rush hour. But I’m glad I came.” She took a breath and continued. “I run a number of businesses in Toronto, among them a training organization. I was wondering if you would be interested in speaking to clubs and organizations throughout Toronto and GTA. Later, you would also be traveling across the country. Do you have an agent?”

  “This is my first speaking engagement. I work as a counselor for ReCareering and I volunteered to present one of their seminars.”

  “This is the first time you’ve spoken? Ever?” Sharon looked at Barbara in disbelief.

  “I was involved with public speaking at school. But I stopped when I married Carl.”

  Sharon nodded sympathetically. “You lost your voice for a while. But now you’ve got it back, you must use it.” She rummaged thro
ugh her purse and pulled out her card. “Here’s my contact information. Think about what I said, and call when you’re ready to work for me.”

  “Work for you? Do you mean full time?”

  “Of course. Once you get on the speakers circuit, I am certain that you will be inundated with offers.” She looked closely at Barbara. “You’re not ready for that yet, are you? You feel grateful to that boss of yours and think you owe her your loyalty by spending the rest of your life here. The day will come, and I think it’s coming soon, when you no longer feel that welcome in this small town.” She gazed at Barbara with intensity. “The universe will shake up your life and force you to leave Carden.”

  Barbara trembled as she looked at the tall, blond woman who seemed to see right through her. She would be leaving soon, but she didn’t like the idea of the universe shaking up her life. She wanted to leave quietly, without too much damage in her wake. She tried to control the fear and anxiety that were gripping her insides. “Thank you, Sharon. I will give you a call if I decide to take you up on your offer.” She joked, “Let’s hope the universe doesn’t wreak too much damage.”

  “The universe does what it has to do to get your attention.” Sharon swung her purse over her shoulder and walked away. “See you soon, Barbara.”

  Barbara hugged her body and stood still for a few minutes. Sharon Clarke had rattled her cage. The woman’s predictions sounded so ominous, so unsettling. She was the first human who had gotten under her skin, and Barbara did not like the feeling. I don’t want to work for her. That last thought was even more surprising. A few months ago, she would have leaped at any job offer, and now she was actually thinking of turning one down. But she had to be very careful and not make any hasty decisions. Sharon could open many doors for her. That could definitely help once the book came out.

  The book. Everything hinged on the book.

  As Barbara walked briskly through the quiet streets of downtown Carden, she focused on clearing her mind of these new, unsettling thoughts.

  Chapter 16

  Barbara tossed and turned all night. While she was excited about the positive response to her presentation, she couldn’t get Sharon’s words out of her head. Deep down, Barbara knew there would be some disappointment and hurt feelings when she left Carden, but she hoped that it would not be as earth-shattering as Sharon had predicted.

  Morning finally dawned and Barbara forced herself to get out of bed. She groaned when she caught sight of the dark under-eye circles in the mirror. It was a good thing she had gotten up so early. She would definitely need some additional time to put on her face.

  After breakfast, Barbara found herself with almost an hour left before work. It was too early to go to the office. Instead, she decided to take a longer walk along the few streets she had yet to discover. She smiled when she read the street signs that greeted her new stroll—Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dublin, Suffolk. Definitely a strong Anglophile influence in this part of town.

  She wasn’t too surprised to find herself the lone traveler on these well-maintained streets that housed larger, multi-level homes. Barbara suspected these homes were inhabited by busy mothers trying to get their children washed, clothed, fed, and ready for school. It was too early for any of them to be taking leisurely walks.

  A familiar voice called out. “Barbara. Barbara Davies!”

  Barbara looked about and caught sight of a slender, older woman approaching her. As the woman drew near, recognition dawned. “Good morning, Elaine. I didn’t expect to see anyone around at this hour.”

  “No one usually is.” Elaine waved her hand to include the entire area. “These streets are mine for another twenty minutes or so. And then the mass exodus of children begins.”

  “What a lovely area. Do you live around here?”

  “Just a couple of streets over. I’m at twenty-seven Dublin. Do you have time for coffee?”

  “No, I’m on my way to work. I got up earlier than usual and decided to take a walk.”

  Elaine smiled as she examined Barbara’s attire. “That camel coat looks beautiful on you. And I like the scarf and broach you’ve added on your own.” She sighed. “If I wasn’t planning to close the shop, I would know exactly what styles to order for you.”

  “You sound a bit down, Elaine. Is everything all right?”

  “Just a few twinges of regret and a pinch of nervousness as well,” Elaine said. “I haven’t moved or done anything different for over forty years. Even though I’ve rocked my own boat, I still feel apprehensive about the future.”

  Barbara put her hand on Elaine’s arm. “It’ll work out. You have friends in Toronto, and I’m certain you’ll find lots to do once you’re there.”

  “I know. I just have to get through this transition period and I’ll be fine.” She took out a business card with her new address written on the back. “If you’re ever in Toronto, drop by for a visit. We can go out for lunch or dinner.”

  Was this one of the signs that Sharon was talking about? Barbara shook her head in disbelief. “It’s the second invitation to Toronto that I’ve received in the last twenty-four hours.”

  “I’m intrigued. Who gave you the other invitation?”

  Barbara gave Elaine a quick rundown of the previous evening.

  “I can’t believe that Sharon Clarke is still showing her face in Carden,” Elaine said. “That woman has no shame.”

  “You know Sharon?”

  “My dear, there’s no one in Carden who doesn’t know the infamous Sharon Clarke Jamieson Rossi Smith.”

  “I take it she had three husbands.”

  “And many other paramours we don’t know about,” Elaine said. “Sharon and her parents moved here when she was just finishing up high school. During her senior year, she managed to break up five couples. On the night of her senior prom, she took off with Peter Jamieson. They eloped and divorced one year later. I’m not certain how she met and left the other two gentlemen, but when she returned to Carden after a ten-year absence, she started having affairs with several of the married men in town. At one point, I think she got pregnant. No one knows what happened to the child.”

  Barbara found it difficult to imagine that tall, slightly overweight woman wreaking so much damage. She didn’t look like the home-wrecker type. Barbara shared her thoughts with Elaine.

  “She may look matronly now and spout all the New Age nonsense, but trust me, Sharon Clarke has not changed or evolved.” Elaine’s face paled. “Be very careful around her, Barbara. I know she is well connected in Toronto and sends many contracts our way, but I wouldn’t trust her with any personal business. And don’t pay too much attention to all that nonsense about the universe crashing down around you. I suspect she’s projecting her own past onto everyone she meets.”

  It was good to hear that Sharon had a reputation for stirring up trouble. Barbara wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of someone else predicting her departure from Carden. “Thanks, Elaine. I’m glad I saw you this morning. I have to admit I was a bit put off by Sharon last night.”

  “Don’t give her another thought.” Elaine glanced at her watch. “We’d better leave now if we want to avoid the chaos of thirty households of children spilling out onto the street.”

  The two women parted company.

  Barbara was surprised to discover that she and Elaine had spent almost an hour walking and talking. Elaine was definitely one of those positive people who brighten up every encounter. She would visit her in Toronto. That last thought surprised her. For over three months, Toronto, Chicago, and New York had been out there as unlikely and unattainable goals. She was now actually considering visiting Toronto. As for Chicago, she was certain that Gillian would be calling soon. New York was still out there.

  Barbara arrived at the office a few minutes before eight-thirty, her latest arrival to date. She was usually at her desk by eight-fifteen, organizing her day’s agenda. The other counselors exchanged looks and Barbara caught a few glimpses of raised eyebrows.

&
nbsp; “Congratulations, Barbara.” Janice’s voice rang through the office. “I hear you were a roaring success last night. I’ve already received several very complimentary emails.” She motioned toward her office.

  Barbara followed her inside and closed the door behind her.

  Janice started reading from the computer. “A breath of fresh air. Eloquent and inspirational. We’ll be calling again. Barbara Davies lit up the room.” Janice smiled at Barbara. “It sounds like you were a big hit with the CWIN group, and I hear that Sharon Clarke offered you a job.”

  “How . . .? What did you . . .?” Barbara laughed. “I guess I’m not sounding very eloquent right now.”

  Janice joined in the laughter. “Sharon Clarke does not like to fade into the woodwork. I suspect she spoke in her usual loud voice and at least one other person overheard the conversation. That person must have emailed at least three others.”

  “That’s how news spreads in Carden,” Barbara said.

  “You’ve got it,” Janice said. “I also hear you weren’t too impressed by her New Age predictions.”

  Barbara was glad she had already spoken to Elaine about Sharon. She could sense that Janice wanted to gossip more about Sharon, but Barbara did not wish for any more information about that unsettling interloper. As far as she was concerned, Sharon Clarke was a very tiny blip in her life, and there would be no need for any further involvement. Barbara continued to smile neutrally at Janice, who took the hint.

  “I suspect many of the local church and service clubs will be calling to ask if you can speak at their luncheons, dinners, and other functions,” Janice said. “Let me know if you need any help or time off. Lois has been handling many of our speaking engagements. She’ll be happy to have you share that load.”

  Chapter 17