“No buts. Irreversible decisions are good for the soul.”
Barbara couldn’t help laughing. “I haven’t heard that one before. Is that one of yours?”
Kendra laughed wickedly. “I read it at a tattoo parlor.”
“You have a tattoo?”
“Five to be exact.”
“Where?”
Another wicked laugh. “I’ll show you two of them when we meet in March. As for the other three, let’s just say they’re not for public viewing.”
“Gillian and I got fake tattoos in Chicago.” Barbara thought wistfully of that lovely Sunday evening at the zoo.
“You can get a real one. I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t know about that. It might not be appropriate for a corporate trainer.”
“Do what you want to do and don’t second guess yourself or worry about other people’s opinions.” Kendra added, “Now, back to your situation. If you’re so worried about finding another place, ask that Numbers mermaid to help.”
“Thanks, Kendra. I hadn’t thought of asking Lisa738 for help. I’ll contact her tonight.”
After they said their goodbyes, Barbara got out the tablet and contacted Lisa738. The mermaid looked surprised as she took in Barbara’s appearance. “Is everything all right? Are you sick?”
Barbara remembered she was still in bed and in her nightgown. “Everything’s fine. I’ve got some news for you. And I need your help.” She gave Lisa738 a brief recap of the latest development in her life. She smiled as she watched Lisa738’s changing facial expressions—surprise, worry, and finally a smile.
“Of course, I’ll help. But I think you should consider buying instead of renting. It would make more sense financially.”
“I’m not ready to make that kind of commitment right now,” Barbara said. “That’s too much to consider.” All these changes may be good for the soul, but she wondered if the anxiety would not affect her in other ways. “I know you mean well, Lisa738, but I do not want to buy any property right now. I will only consider rentals.”
The Numbers mermaid nodded in resignation. She then faded into the screen.
The next two days were busy ones as Barbara packed her clothes and canceled her telephone and cable services. She ended up with one large suitcase, a travel bag, a few totes, and four boxes. She packed the car late Friday night and was ready to leave early Saturday morning. This time Rita answered the door. She was fully dressed and awaiting this last encounter with Barbara.
She had never trusted Rita and suspected that she had generously contributed to the gossip mill. “Good morning, Rita. I’ve come to drop off my keys.”
Rita nodded and her eyes narrowed. “Bob told me you’ve got a place in Toronto. It’ll be a lot more expensive than living here.” She repeated, “A lot more expensive.”
She knows about the arrangement, Barbara thought. “But a lot more convenient. It is a long commute.” Barbara looked at her watch. “I really must go.” She handed the keys and a bottle of wine to Rita. “Please thank Bob for all his help.” She turned and left without giving Rita a chance to say goodbye.
She got into her car and took one last drive around Carden. It was early Saturday morning and few people were out and about. Her lips tightened as she drove past the ReCareering office and the beauty salon. Barbara had stopped visiting The Cutting Edge after the arrival of the BMW. With Anne’s help, she had found a new stylist in Toronto. More expensive, of course. She sighed as she drove by The Art Shoppe. She hadn’t seen Graham since that disastrous conversation. She couldn’t bring herself to drive past his house.
At the outskirts of town, she stopped the car and gave herself a few minutes to collect her thoughts. She had arrived in Carden four months ago, frightened and apprehensive about her future. Sandra had cut and styled her hair, starting her on the first step in her transformation process. Janice gave her a job and Hannah helped with her book. As for Graham. Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled their first meeting on the main street. He had welcomed her into his life and introduced her to his children and friends. He offered her a future filled with love and companionship. And she had thrown it all away.
She wiped away her tears and started the car. She headed for the highway and the next phase of her life.
Chapter 37
Barbara saw another side of Elaine that morning. Dressed casually in blue jeans and a sweatshirt, she wore minimal makeup and her hair hung loose on her shoulders. Barbara couldn’t take her eyes off David. He was in his late seventies, but looked and acted like a man ten years younger. They thanked Barbara for agreeing to stay in Toronto and look after their condos. Elaine raised her eyebrows when she saw Barbara’s substantial gear, but said nothing. They left shortly after Barbara arrived.
Barbara walked through the condo. Everything still looked and smelled brand new. While the condo was small—less than one thousand square feet—every inch of the space had a definite purpose. She admired the granite countertops in the kitchen and the gas fireplace in the living room. She was happy to discover laundry facilities next to the kitchen. She could do her laundry when it suited her and in the privacy of her own, albeit temporary, home. The outside terrace would be lovely in the summer. Barbara sighed and realized she would be long gone by then.
The building, less than a year old, was located smack in the middle of the theater district. This was a great location and Barbara intended to make the most of it. She looked forward to spending more time at the art gallery and museum. She also intended to use the exercise room each evening.
But first she had to unpack and organize herself. She worked steadily and stopped only for a quick sandwich. By mid afternoon, she had everything organized and had set up her laptop. She decided to take a quick nap on the large cream-colored sofa. She drew up a blanket and fell asleep almost immediately.
The loud, persistent knocking at the door startled her awake. She looked at the clock and registered that it was a few minutes past six. She had slept almost three hours.
“Barbara Davies, are you in there?” Two unfamiliar male voices were now shouting her name.
When Barbara opened the door, she recognized two of Elaine’s neighbours, Mario and Nico. The couple lived together in the apartment down the hall. Mario was holding a pizza and Nico handed over a large salad bowl.
“We are your official welcoming committee and we’ve brought supper.” Mario looked closely at Barbara. “Did we wake you up?”
Barbara imagined what her hair must look like. She laughed and opened the door wider. “Come on in. Give me a few minutes to freshen up, and we’ll have dinner together.”
From the bathroom, she listened to the lively banter. Elaine had told her a bit about their background. Both men had grown up in traditional European households and had experienced difficulty when they first came out. Fortunately, their relatives had eventually come around and now the two men enjoyed regular visits with their families of origin.
She joined the men in the kitchen and spent the rest of the evening eating, talking, and laughing with them. The pizza was delicious and Barbara was able to guess all its ingredients.
Mario looked delighted and Nico commented drily, “Another foodie. You and Mario will have to exchange recipes.”
Nico made no secret of his lack of domesticity. While he enjoyed good meals and well-decorated condos, he left all those details to Mario, who was an interior designer and gourmet chef. Nico was a chartered accountant who was passionate about his cars and electronic gadgets. Definitely a yin and yang couple, thought Barbara.
It was almost midnight when they left. Before leaving, Mario suggested they get together once a week for dinner. Barbara happily agreed. She looked forward to spending time with them. She really hoped that these were the two men from Kendra’s prediction. She could handle having these attractive, younger men in her life. They were pleasant company and would not make any demands upon her.
Even though she was living in Toronto, she found her commute had not l
essened. Some days, she found herself spending even more time on the highway, especially when she was booked in Burlington or Hamilton. Her weekends, however, were full of constant activity. She explored the city and had no worries about running into a Cardener. As the month progressed, she found herself thinking less and less about Carden, Graham, and Stewart.
Jolted out of her routine, she started paying more attention to her new surroundings. In addition to Mario and Nico, she befriended a few of the senior ladies in the building. They were a lively bunch who took advantage of every theater and gallery opening. Barbara accepted many of their invitations.
She contacted Lisa738 every other day and received a list of possible apartment rentals. She visited a few, but found fault with each. Too small. Too dark. Too expensive. Too far away from downtown Toronto. As the month of February progressed, Lisa738 became worried.
“You’ll have to find something soon. What will you do when Elaine returns?” She looked hopeful as she asked, “Maybe you could stay with her a bit longer. She does have an extra bedroom.”
“No, that would be inconvenient and definitely an imposition.” Barbara had seen the state of David’s apartment. In some ways, it reminded her of the Eagle Vision office. David had brought a few pieces from his old house and added new furniture from IKEA. The end result was a mishmash of décor that caused Barbara to wince each time she checked the condo. She could not imagine elegant, meticulous Elaine spending too much time there. Barbara surmised that the couple spent most of their time together at Elaine’s apartment.
While Lisa738 continued to look for a suitable apartment, Barbara’s colleagues also joined in the search. She received regular emails about possibilities everywhere from Oshawa to Hamilton. She shook her head and dismissed most of them without even bothering to visit the locations.
Sharon was glad to hear that Barbara had finally left Carden. She made a point of bringing different condos to her attention. “You are afraid to make a commitment. That’s what is holding you back right now. This reluctance is understandable considering your recent divorce and relationships with the two men.”
Barbara shifted uncomfortably. It was the first time Sharon had referred directly to the situation in Carden. She didn’t know how to respond, so she kept silent.
“Be careful you don’t continue to drift. That is a decision in itself.” Sharon smiled and walked away.
While Barbara accepted Kendra’s New Age wisdom, it rankled to hear it from Sharon. They had a respectful working relationship and she wanted to keep it that way.
Late one evening, Gillian called. She was in high spirits and talked non-stop about her colleagues and recent activities in Chicago. She mentioned a few of the ladies in her investment group and described her new yoga class. She did not mention any men.
“And who is the new man in your life?” Barbara asked.
Gillian paused for a few seconds. “There’s no one right now and I’m fine with that. I have to apologize to you for that last conversation we had. I wasn’t myself and I took it out on you.”
“Apology accepted. I’m glad to hear you’re better.”
“I’ve been getting help from Kendra. I call her a few times a week and she centers me. She’s good at that.”
“Yes, she is.” Barbara thought about her own pleasant and peaceful conversations with Kendra. We have our own mermaid therapist.
“I’m calling about Kendra’s visit to Toronto. She’s invited me as her guest. We’ll be sharing a room at the Chelsea.” There was note of excitement in Gillian’s voice.
“That’s wonderful. We’ll get to spend some time together, and I can show you both around Toronto.”
Gillian laughed. “Don’t make too many plans. Kendra doesn’t like preplanning of any kind. She always goes with the flow. And I have a sneaking suspicion she’ll be taking over as the organizer for that weekend.”
Barbara said nothing, but deep down, she was offended that the two women would not be following her lead. After all, Toronto was her town.
Chapter 38
Barbara looked forward to seeing Kendra and Gillian. It would be wonderful to relax and not worry about leaking any information about the kingdom. The workweek dragged and she was happy when Friday finally arrived. She drove to Hamilton and presented a workshop on Welcoming Change to a large group of administrative assistants, many of whom were facing retirement within a few years. The workshop was well received and some of the women lingered to speak with Barbara afterward.
When Barbara finally got on the road, she groaned in frustration. A winter storm had blanketed the area with snow and she faced a slow commute back to Toronto. She glanced at her watch and sighed. She would be late, very late, for her dinner with Kendra and Gillian.
She pulled over to the side of the road and called Kendra. Barbara was relieved when Kendra answered after a few rings. She described the weather situation.
“Not to worry,” Kendra said. “I just finished talking with Gillian. Her flight was cancelled, and she won’t be coming until tomorrow morning. One of the other presenters is probably stuck on the same highway as you, so I will be pitching in for her tonight.” She continued calmly. “It is not to be. I suggest you take your time and when you arrive in the city, go to your place. I’ll call you tomorrow morning. Now, I must go. The next session is about to start.”
Barbara was not surprised by Kendra’s calm and accepting manner. She slowly relaxed and actually enjoyed the rest of her ride home. She played a few of her Enya CDs and occasionally listened to the latest weather updates on the radio. She munched on trail mix and ate an apple. She no longer feared the inclement weather and wondered if Kendra had quietly blessed her and wished her a safe and pleasant journey.
Barbara woke up to a beautiful Saturday. How typical of this Canadian weather. It would storm and rage for hours, but on the next day, a peaceful calm would descend. As she listened to the weather forecast, she was happy to hear that unusually warm temperatures were expected.
She dressed very carefully, paying extra attention to her hair and makeup. She decided to wear Kendra’s mauve leather jacket and printed scarf. Underneath, she wore her winter white wool pants and a cream-colored sweater. She added gold hoop earrings with matching bangles. It was a fresh look, well suited to this first burst of spring-like weather. She mentally thanked Elaine for all her advice during their shopping expeditions. She now knew how to dress appropriately for all situations while sticking to a budget.
It was mid morning and Kendra still had not called. Barbara debated calling, as she did not want to appear too anxious. As she searched in her purse for Gillian’s phone number, her phone rang, and Barbara was pleased to see Kendra’s number on call display.
“Good morning, Barbara. Gillian just arrived. I thought it would be a good idea to meet here at the Chelsea for lunch. Come around whenever you’re ready. And afterward, well, we’ll see.” She laughed and hung up the phone.
Barbara shook her head in amazement. She was not used to this haphazard way of living. She would have planned a more structured day, but Kendra was different. Were all Inas like her? Barbara tried to recall her dealings with other Inas, but she couldn’t remember any of them. In the Mermaid kingdom, she had associated only with mermaids that Annabella handpicked as suitable companions.
As she drove to the Chelsea, she thought of Leanna and Rosanna, her closest mermaid friends. She smiled as she recalled their outings to Malta, especially on that fateful evening in early September. While frolicking near the shore, the three young mermaids laughed and sang under the darkening Mediterranean sky. A lone man appeared, at first angry to find that he was not alone on the deserted shore. He was staying at a nearby resort and wanted time alone to think about his recent divorce. But he didn’t stay angry for long. Eventually, his features softened and he joined in their laughter. He spoke in English and the mermaids quickly adopted the nuances of his language.
He teased and flirted with all of them, but gradually
his attention focused only on Isabella. Leanna and Rosanna left discreetly, and Isabella boldly asked the man for his name.
“Andrew. Andrew Bradley III.” He smiled, displaying a perfect set of teeth.
Isabella’s heart fluttered as she stole glances at his features. In the moonlight, he appeared striking with dark, wavy hair and soulful brown eyes. He was the first human male she had ever encountered, and she thought he was beautiful.
“And what is your name?” he asked.
“Isabella.”
“A beautiful name for a beautiful mermaid.”
Annabella was away at the time, dealing with squabbles at the eastern end of the kingdom. During that period, Isabella met with Andrew each night. She found out about his newly divorced status and the loneliness that engulfed him. He wanted a companion. He wanted her.
When Annabella returned, she was furious at Isabella. Her eyes blazed as she delivered her scathing remarks. “You are your mother’s daughter, through and through. Thoughtless. Vain. Inconsiderate. Flighty. Totally Useless. I have wasted too much time of my life on both of you. And this is how you thank me?”
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Isabella! You are the last of the Bellas. Do you know what giving up your tail means?” She held up her hand as she took a deep breath. “It means that someday, dear Isabella, someone less worthy will assume leadership of this tribe.” She exhaled and then turned her back on Isabella.
Later, Annabella met with Andrew and spoke with him privately.
Barbara’s thoughts returned to the present. She shook her head and tried to dismiss the disturbing thoughts of the past. How strange. She hadn’t thought of Andrew since he left her, but this morning he was so vivid, so close to her.
She parked the car at a nearby parking lot and walked to the Chelsea. In the lobby, she asked for directions and headed toward the restaurant. The hostess smiled and welcomed her. “A table for one?”
Between Land and Sea Page 19
