Mending the Past

by Avery June Ligon

  Maggie left and Bud tried to imagine how he’d keep Maggie happy until they got Ed to his dad’s home. Once there, Bud was sure he’d have another person on his side. Forget finding Jet, Bud thought, it’s a crazy and impossible idea. We just need to get home, and if Jet wants to see Ed, or her parents, she’ll come to them. Bud looked at Ed. Poor guy.

  When Maggie entered her room, Sam was sitting next to the window watching the people on the street. Maggie went to him and nestled herself in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her. She kissed his cheek and spoke into Sam’s ear. “Bud’s pretending to be in contact with Butt-Eye.”

  Sam let out a little grunt and looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

  “He’s wearing the bandana,”

  Sam nodded.

  “and even talking like Butt-Eye...”

  Sam nodded again.

  “...but when I called him Butt-Eye, I saw an angry Bud.”

  Sam sighed.

  “He wants us to take Ed to his father. I want to get the real Butt-Eye’s opinion before we set off in, what could be, entirely the wrong direction.”

  Sam nodded again.

  “I need you to drug his breakfast.”

  Sam’s dismay vocalized in a low rumble.

  “I know you like him, and I know he’d never agree, but when it’s over he’ll be fine. And, I don’t know how else to find Jet and the baby.”

  Sam gave his wife a hard stare. Then he left her by the window, and unzipped and zipped some of the pockets of his backpack. He put things into his pants pockets and declared himself ready for breakfast in a loud enough voice for Bud to know too.

  “Great,” Bud said through the wall.

  Chapter 34 Jet and Baby to India

  Steward and Jet were walking through the garden of the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, when Steward’s phone rang. Jet continued to push the stroller down the gravel path. The rough ride was vibrating the baby into relaxation. Steward fell a few strides behind Jet to talk, but she could still hear him.

  “Hello?”

  “Did you check the flight times?”

  “Hm, Rome sounds likely.”

  “She packed it. Well, she’s a persistent woman.”

  “One more thing. How’s the cooking going?”

  Steward laughed.

  “Okay, Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Steward hung up. Jet would’ve sworn he said, “Conniving fox.” When he caught up to her, she was surprised to see Steward looking pleased.

  Later that day Steward told Jet that he had a friend arriving in Rome the next morning and that Jet should take the flight they’d planned for the evening, bu that he would follow later. He gave Jet the name of a hotel he’d been taken to on a previous trip to Delhi.

  “Please, be as inconspicuous as possible. I don’t want to make you nervous, but, like you said, we’re traveling with a valuable jewel. I want to avoid the notice of others as much as possible. Greed and desperation breed a capacity for evil.”

  When they said their goodbyes Steward reminded her that she’d have a full day in India without him. “You should visit the Qutb Minar,” he said. “You’ll love it. Take a lunch and sit on the grass with the baby. He’ll love it too.”

  * * * * *

  The baby was working hard at staying seated. Jet looked to the top of the minar. The tower of red sandstone begged to be scaled. She thought of the temple she’d climb. She imagined the vent at the top of the shikara and tried to remember how tall the temple was. Steward had given her diagrams. I’ll look it up when I get back to the hotel. The baby toppled, and Jet watched him roll his body over his legs and struggle into a seated position again.

  Jet had packed bottles for the baby, but had neglected to bring a drink for herself. She carried the baby out of the main gate in the wall surrounding the Qutb Minar. She bought herself a drink that had been sealed in a factory. She cracked open the can of soda and began the search for an auto rickshaw. The rickshaw drivers were grouped together talking and laughing. One left the crowd and asked her where she wanted to go. She gave him the name of her hotel and he quoted a price. She agreed though she suspected she was paying extra for her ignorance.

  The driver led the way to his rickshaw and Jet sat on the bench in the back and held the baby in her lap. The interior was decorated with pictures of gods and tasseled fabric hung around the edge of the roof. The baby watched the fabric sway with the motion of the rickshaw as they drove.

  The driver chuckled and Jet wondered if she’d agreed to such a high price that he was laughing at her. After a few minutes he laughed again and looked in his mirror and saw Jet looking at him.

  “Where is your husband?” he asked.

  “Oh, traveling on business. He’ll meet me soon,” Jet said and took a sip of her drink.

  “There are strange people in this world,” he said. “A friend was just telling me that a friend of his gave a ride to three people. One was a small woman, who sat in the lap of a man like one of the hills leading to Kailash.” Jet straightened. “With them was a man with messy hair and a dark blue cloth wrapped around his head, covering one eye. He spoke like a mad man, waving his arms. Never quiet.” The driver laughed again. “I can’t repeat what he said. Your husband wouldn’t approve.” He adopted a more serious look. “Be very careful in this world when you’re alone. It is the age of Kali.” He gave her a stern look. “Also, I believe this crazy man is staying at your hotel. They say he’s looking for a woman and a baby. Be careful.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  How many people in this world might invite the description of a foothill? Jet wondered. Could my father be so close? And the crazy person? Could Ed have snapped? She felt guilt hit her in the stomach and sit there like a lump of lead.

  Jet finished her soda and put the can into the bag with the baby’s bottles and diapers. If it’s my family, they’ve managed to draw an incredible amount of attention. That’s exactly what I shouldn’t be doing. Still, if they’re looking for me, I can’t ignore them.

  Riding in an auto rickshaw had scared Jet, but put the baby to sleep. There’d been a moment when the driver had swerved to pass an ox drawn cart when she was certain they’d hit an oncoming truck. Calm down, she told herself, he’s a better judge of the size of his vehicle than you. Besides, it’s his and he’s riding in it too. He’ll be careful.

  When they arrived at the hotel, Jet paid the driver. She slung her bag over her shoulder and lay the baby’s head against her. She thanked the driver and as she entered the hotel she heard him say,“Remember, it’s the age of Kali.”

  Jet made her way to her room, lay the baby in the center of the bed, and flanked him with pillows. It’d been a busy afternoon for him. The heat and struggling to sit had tired him out.

  Jet opened her suitcase and pulled out the envelope Steward had given her in Rome. She sifted through floor plans, bits of history, and photos. She wanted to know where they were headed and form an image in her mind of what she’d be climbing. I’ll read while the baby sleeps, then we’ll eat, and then it will almost be night and time to see if my parents really are in the same hotel.

  Jet ordered dinner to her room. Ordering dinner over the phone was a difficult process. Since Ed was allergic to peanuts she was especially careful when feeding the baby. This was difficult enough when she spoke the same language or could read the ingredients list on a package. Jet did her best to explain her concern over the phone and to assure the man taking her order that she’d be happy to eat anything that hadn’t been near a peanut.

  The knock that announced the arrival of dinner woke the baby. Jet put him into his stroller and sat on the floor next to him. She sniffed the food and squished it around. There didn’t seem to be anything peanut like, but she wasn’t certain. She decided to feed the baby rice and nan. He clasped a piece of nan in his palm and bent his will to destroying it with his gums and four teeth.

  When they were done with dinner, Jet played with the baby and waite
d for night. “Maybe your grandma and grandpa are near,” Jet said. She didn’t mention Ed. She didn’t want to think about the possibility that her disappearance might have been the end of her husband’s sanity. “Grandma and Grandpa,” she sang, clapping the baby’s hands together. He smiled and gurgled.

  Chapter 35 Sex and Deception

  “I absolutely cannot sleep anywhere where the mother of my grandson has been.”

  “Her name is Jet,” Steward said. “She’s not just the mother of your grandson– she’s the life partner of your son. He loves her, and so does the baby. Jet’s a part of your life, and you need to come to terms with it.”

  Eileen glared.

  “To help you out tonight though, I have a melatonin pill you could take.”

  “I have my own sleeping pills, and I suppose I’ll need them,” Eileen said, eying the bed with dismay.

  After Eileen had gone to bed Steward found her bottle of sleeping pills in the bathroom. He read the label and nodded. Then he sat at his desk to finish a few things and wait until Eileen had fallen into a deep medicated sleep.

  When he was certain Eileen was sleeping, he went to the kitchen and opened the cupboard next to the stove. From it he pulled a large cookie tin. Steward opened the tin and pulled out the emerald linga, then he tip-toed down the hall to Eileen’s room. He listened at the door. Silence. He cracked the door and peered in. No movement. He opened the door all the way. He’d left the kitchen light on and it was brighter than he’d have liked, but he needed to see. He crept in. Eileen’s hair lay fanned across the pillow, her face relaxed. To Steward she seemed angelic. He pried his eyes from her and found her suitcase on the chair under the window. Steward knelt in front of it and opened both latches at once. There was a sharp click and Steward heard Eileen move in her bed. He held himself still. Eileen was still too. Steward looked to see that her eyes were still closed, but she’d rolled toward the door. He looked back to her suitcase. Clothes, a pair of shoes, something that felt lacy. Black panties. Of course she wears black. Steward, focus. Steward’s fingers hit something hard. He lifted a shirt. The synthetic emerald. He lifted it out and replaced it with the true linga. Then he put everything back in order and crept out of the room, but before closing the door he took one last look at Eileen’s face. He sighed, and whispered, “I know why you’re really here.”

  In the morning Steward made coffee and read while he waited for Eileen to get up. He heard her stir. He poured another cup of coffee and set it next to his. When he heard Eileen’s feet padding down the hallway he called, “Good morning, come sit. Have some coffee.”

  Eileen came to the kitchen looking tired.

  “Good morning, sunshine. I’m glad you’re up. I was hoping we could spend some time together before I leave this afternoon. You’ll stay until I get back?”

  Eileen nodded, though she hadn’t planned on it. She sat next to Steward and took her first sip of coffee. Steward leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.

  “You’re beautiful, and I...,” he moved toward the door, “...am going to go out and find a couple of pastries and some fruit for breakfast. I’ll be back in, oh, about twenty, or twenty five minutes.”

  Eileen smiled and nodded and Steward left. She enjoyed a few more sips of coffee and then stood up and thought, twenty minutes Eileen. This place is small. You can find it. And she did. The emerald was in a cookie tin in a cupboard next to the stove. She ran it to her suitcase, switched the emeralds, and put the tin back in the cupboard.

  * * * * *

  Eileen was drinking her second cup of coffee at the table when Steward returned.

  “Honey, I’m home.”

  “Great,” Eileen said. “I’m so hungry.”

  Steward entered the room and set a bag down on the table.

  “You look positively radiant,” he said.

  “Thank you. I feel wonderful.” She looked at Steward. The buttons on his shirt were a pearlescent white. They caught the morning light. Just like my paperweight, Eileen thought. I love things that catch the light. She reached out and ran her fingers down the line of buttons. Then she began to unbutton Steward’s shirt from the bottom up. When his shirt hung open, she ran her hands over Steward’s warm skin. Rested her hands on his sides and bent down to press her face against him. Eileen bit the skin over Steward’s bellybutton and apologized to it with a kiss as her fingers slid from Steward’s sides to the button of his jeans. She gave the flesh above his bellybutton one final kiss as she unbuttoned his pants. Steward had already thrown his shirt to the floor.

  When they had eaten the breakfast Steward brought they’d found each other again and were now lying in Steward’s bed.

  “Why did you make me sleep in the other room last night?” Eileen asked.

  “I’m sorry. I just get so upset when you show your hateful side. That, and you kind of hurt my feelings when you just sat there looking shocked by my naked body.”

  “I wasn’t shocked by your naked body, for goodness sakes. A piece of clothing that undresses itself from ones body is shocking.”

  “You’ve seen it before.”

  “No, I closed my eyes.”

  “You really closed your eyes?”

  “Yes.”

  “How proper.”

  “I’m a married woman.” Eileen laughed.

  “I know. You were supposed to be married to me,” he said.

  “Supposed to?”

  “Mm. Clearly. We’re fabulous together. I heard you were kind of a dud in bed. You must have been made for me, or me for you.”

  “You heard what?” Eileen pulled away. “Oh, never mind. How humiliating,” she said, putting her hand on her forehead. “And you loved me all of those years anyway?”

  “Mm. And even more now.”

  “Oh honestly,” she said and gave him a little slap on the chest.

  Steward smiled.

  Eileen and Steward left bed when it was time for him to go to the airport. He showered and then came back to his room to dress. Eileen watched Steward put on white linen pants and a white cotton shirt and brown sandals. He really is handsome, Eileen thought. Maybe not the sort of handsome that college girls look for, his brother got that, but still, handsome. Steward pulled the long, white linen shirt over his head and shook it into place. Then he pulled three necklaces out of his suitcase and put them on. Then he pulled out a golden serpent crown and fit it onto his head. He walked to the mirror and pulled the hair that was being weighted down back through the crown.

  “You look crazy,” Eileen said.

  “I’m not done yet,” Steward said, holding up a finger to tell her to wait as he left the room. He returned with his serpent cane and the cookie tin. Eileen felt her muscles tense, and hoped it didn’t show. He propped his cane against the desk, opened the cookie tin and pulled out the linga. He inserted the jewel into a woven bag on his necklaces. He picked his cane back up and looked at Eileen. “Now I’m finished.”

  “Why are you wearing that ridiculous outfit?”

  “I think you asked me that the first time you saw me in my gecko suit, and the reason’s the same.”

  “This getup doesn’t seem designed for breaking into a woman’s bedroom.”

  “Oh no? Well, I suppose it depends on the woman. Really though, it’s supposed to make me look as eccentric as possible. I’m not going to leave an emerald in a suitcase subject to search. Either someone would take it, or they’d call the police to tell them they’d found an international jewel thief.”

  “That wouldn’t be very far from the truth.”

  “Forget it, Eileen. The emerald was left to me when dad died.”

  “If you’re so certain it’s yours, why are you worried about someone finding it?”

  “Mainly, I don’t want anyone to know that I’m traveling with a huge jewel. Just imagine, someone in airport security gets off work and tells their friend, and that friend tells a friend, and suddenly I have a slew of would be attackers and thieves after me.”

&nbs
p; “You could just put it in your suitcase and check it,” Eileen said.

  “No way. Once someone stole my favorite watch out of my checked suitcase, and that wasn’t even worth much. It even had scratches. Lots.”

  “So, how is wearing it around your neck going to help?”

  “If anyone feels the need to question me about the emerald, or wants to separate me from it, I tell them just what the outfit has led them to suspect.”

  “And that’s what?”

  “I traded this crystal for some odd jobs around the house of a San Franciscan woman who knew I was coming before I even got there. She helped me to expand the seat of my consciousness. We needed extra space for the addition to my mind and so we put it here,” he pointed to the woven pouch. “Before the transfer, the stone was milky white,” he finished in a whisper.

  Eileen buried her face in a pillow. When she looked up Steward was standing over her with his suitcase. He leaned forward to kiss her goodbye, but the emerald swung between them. He crouched down and she wiggled across the bed to bring her lips to his.

  “I’ll be back in about a week,” Steward said. “Enjoy your time here. Rome is a beautiful city.”

  Eileen surprised herself by saying, “I’m sure this city will provide a better honeymoon than did Paris.”

  Steward broke into one of his goofy smiles. It faded and he sat on the bed next to Eileen. “Look, Eileen, I need to be honest about something.”

  “Oh no, you’re in love with someone else too.”

  “No, no. I’ve been in love with you since college. I want you to know that I know why you really came here.”

  Eileen gave a confused look.

  “I know you brought the paperweight that I gave you. Last night while you were sleeping, I switched it with the emerald.”

  Eileen lunged for the bag around Steward’s neck. “You sneak!”

  Chapter 36 When Mom is the Bad Guy

  When night fell, Jet took off her clothes and climbed into her Magna Stealth Gecko Suit. She thanked herself for having bought a baby sling in black. Not all slings are stealth ready. She wrapped the sling around her body and tied it. She nestled the baby’s bottom under the tight cloth, then she put his head in and finally his legs and feet. She gave his forehead a kiss before she let his head disappear into the sling. He was pressed against the front of her body. He’ll be asleep as soon as we start moving.