Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone

by Phaedra Patrick

  The leaves of the gem tree swayed around them like a hula dancer’s skirt and Benedict looked up at the moon. “I think that having a family would have been wonderful. But it’s you and me, Estelle. People say that you can’t choose your family, but we can. We did.”

  “We can work on being a great aunt and uncle to Gemma,” Estelle said.

  “And I can try to be a good brother to Charlie again. From the moment I saw you in your purple anorak, Estelle, I felt that you were my family. But what happened to my parents, and with Charlie, made me constantly search for something else. I thought that I could only be happy if there were generations of the Stone family under one roof, in Noon Sun. And I was wrong. I had this ideal in my head but it was like something in a glossy Hollywood film. It wasn’t real. Instead of obsessing over a family I don’t have, I want to concentrate on the one that I do have.”

  Estelle nodded and soaked in his words. “If people judge us for not having children then that’s their problem, not ours. And I’m sure that we’ll go through painful times, but if we’re together, and we’re strong, I can deal with that.”

  “Me, too. Every family is different. Ours is just a little smaller than some others.”

  “And a bit more dysfunctional.”

  They sat quietly for a while, listening to the rustle of the leaves and the Noon Sun clock striking in the distance. Benedict flexed the fingers of one hand, watching his wedding band glint in the moonlight. He turned his hand over and held the flat of his palm out to Estelle. After hesitating for a few moments, she placed her hand in his.

  A firework cracked and exploded overhead, sending pink sparks twinkling down, and Estelle shivered.

  “You’re cold. We should have talked inside, instead.”

  “I’m glad that we’re here, under the tree.”

  “Come on.” He stood up. “Let’s go inside the house. I’ll make you another hot drink and phone a cab. Or I can walk you home.”

  “Veronica’s apartment isn’t my home. Our house is...”

  Her words warmed Benedict’s heart. “I’ve washed the bedding in the studio,” he said.

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “I’ll stay the night, in there.”

  36.

  ALEXANDRITE

  realigns, longevity, compassion

  BENEDICT WOKE IN his bed alone again, but this time he didn’t feel lonely. He heard the covers swishing in the studio and Estelle pulling the curtains open. He knew that they still had lots to talk through, but having her home made him smile.

  His phone pinged with a text and he sat on the side of the bed. His ribs were still sore from Charlie’s punches and he rubbed them as he opened the message.

  Hey, Benedict. Gemma is fine. She has a small fracture in her foot and is taking it easy. We’ll come over to the house around noon, if that’s okay?

  That’s great. I’ll make lunch, Benedict texted back.

  He slipped on his dressing gown and loafers and met Estelle in the kitchen.

  “It’s a whole new world in here,” she said, peering into the fridge and examining the contents. “So you really have changed?”

  “Gemma’s into healthy eating. She’s got me hooked on it, too.”

  “Don’t go too mad on fruit, though. You’re fine just the way you are.”

  “I’ll always be the way I am, just more solid.” He smiled. “Now, would you prefer muesli or yogurt for breakfast?”

  * * *

  Later that morning, Benedict chopped the apples, grapes and melon that he and Estelle had bought from Veg Out and dropped the chunks into a bowl. He inhaled and they smelled so fresh. Look at how juicy and healthy we are, a chunk of melon said to him. He chuckled and popped it into his mouth. He arranged a bunch of flowers, which Margarita had thrust into his arms for Gemma, into a ceramic vase that Estelle had bought in Greece.

  Rummaging in the freezer, he found some sausages, which he cooked and cut into small pieces to put on cocktail sticks. He emptied the kitchen cupboard of crisps and tipped them into brightly colored plastic bowls.

  He and Estelle were still chopping vegetables, pouring orange juice and polishing cutlery when the garden gate creaked open.

  Benedict sped to the front door. He opened it and Gemma waved as she and Charlie got out of the taxi. Charlie had his arm around her waist and helped her to hobble up the garden path.

  “Sexy, huh?” Gemma pointed at her ankle, which was bandaged and encased in a protective blue boot.

  “It doesn’t matter how it looks, honey,” Charlie scolded. “You should rest up.”

  Benedict thought how odd it was to hear his brother sounding so responsible. It was as if their positions had switched. He helped Gemma to take her coat off and she mouthed a meek “Thanks.”

  “The food looks amazing.” She eased herself into a chair at the kitchen table.

  “You two have been busy,” Charlie said.

  “We thought you might be hungry,” Benedict said.

  “No cakes, though?” Gemma surveyed the various plates and bowls. She stared at Benedict and then at Estelle. “You two look happy.” She pointed her finger and dotted it between them. “Are you...?”

  “We’re trying to work things through,” Estelle said.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Charlie nodded.

  When they ate, Benedict noticed how his brother reached out for the brightly colored food, the tomatoes and the mango, just as he was attracted to the bright gemstones. Benedict piled up his plate, too.

  “Noon Sun kind of reminds me of Sunnyside,” Charlie said. “We’ve been staying with Janice’s folks near New York, but I want to move back to Maine.”

  “That’s really the name of the farm?” Benedict asked, pleased that Gemma had told him the correct one all along.

  “Sure. It’s a kind of small holding, but it earns me enough to get by. I miss looking after the animals.”

  “Me, too,” Gemma said.

  “You know...” Charlie bit into a slice of watermelon. “We have this white horse on the farm and it looks like the one that carried Gemma last night. It’s feisty and only lets her near it. I never know how to train that darn horse.”

  Gemma looked over at Benedict. “Tiger’s-eye.” She nodded.

  * * *

  When they had finished eating, Gemma rubbed her eyes. “I’m so tired,” she said.

  “Why not go for a lie down in the studio?” Estelle suggested.

  “There’s something I want to do first. Can we do it, Dad?”

  Charlie gave her a disapproving look. “You should be in bed.”

  “I know. But first, I want to hang the gemstones back in the tree, where they belong.”

  Charlie and Benedict and Estelle protested. They told Gemma that the gemstones would wait, but she wore a determined glint in her eye, and her bushy eyebrows were high and angled. Knowing they’d be fighting a losing battle in trying to persuade her otherwise, Benedict and Charlie gathered the gemstones from the hallway and carried them outside.

  “The tree sure looks smaller,” Charlie said as he laid the gems on the grass. “I thought it was huge when I was little, like a room in a mansion or something. Why are all the gems cut down?”

  Benedict caught Gemma’s eye and she cast him a pleading glance. He gave a small cough. “I, um, took them down so I could prune the tree a little. It was getting a bit overgrown.”

  “You may have overdone it, brother.” Charlie thumped him on the back. “That tree looks naked.”

  Charlie stooped to pick up a strand of gems. “I always thought that the red, orange and yellow ones were more valuable,” he said. “Now I know it was never about their value. Our family, hanging them together, was the precious thing.”

  “I always went for the dull stones,” Benedict rep
lied. He reached out and picked out a strand of yellow gems. “But not any longer.”

  “Can I hang the first string?” Gemma asked. She hobbled over to the tree and picked one up, tied with green and blue stones. “Blue lace agate helps harmony in families, and peridot helps you to understand relationships.” She lifted up her arms and tied it into the tree.

  “I’ll choose the pink ones,” Estelle said. “I don’t know the names, but I love the colors.” She selected a branch and looped the end of her thread around it.

  “You go next,” Benedict said to Charlie. “You’re too big to stand on my knee, though.”

  Charlie grinned and selected a strand of red stones. He tied it in with a firm knot. “What do these ones mean?”

  “Fire agate is for courage, protection and strength, and red beryl gives you confidence to change your mind,” Gemma said.

  Benedict went last. As he reached up, he felt like this was some kind of ceremony. When he tied the end of his thread around the sturdy branch, it felt as if he was tying his family back together again. Lemon quartz was said to bring positivity, and fire opal was ideal for hope and progress.

  Benedict, Charlie and Estelle worked quickly and quietly. Only Gemma spoke, telling them which stones to hang, and where, and soon there were no more strands left on the grass.

  “Finished,” Gemma said. The weak November sun shone through the gemstones and reflected flecks of red, orange and yellow light onto her face. “The Stone family tree is complete again.” She moved and winced at her ankle.

  “Are you okay?” Estelle rushed to her side. “Don’t try to do too much.”

  “Let’s go inside,” Charlie said.

  Gemma stayed still. “There’s something I gotta say first.”

  “Do it later,” Charlie said. “Come and rest up.”

  “I want to tell Uncle Ben that I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have to say anything,” Benedict said.

  “I wanna do it.” She turned to him. “I just want to say how sorry I am, Uncle Ben. I showed up on your doorstep in the middle of the night, I threw gemstones at you, I lied to you. I told you that I was chatting with myself when really I was on the phone to Daryl, the boy I used to hang out with. And all the time you were really kind and looked after me. Even when you got mad at me, it made me feel like I mattered. I wish I could have met you before, but I feel lucky to know you now. When we were in the attic and I didn’t understand that peridot helped you to find what was lost, well, I understand that now. When we learned about those gemstones together, it made me feel kinda special. You made me feel special.” She shrugged. She hobbled forward and wrapped her arms as far as they’d stretch around his waist and pressed her cheek onto his chest. “Thanks, Uncle Ben.”

  “No. Thank you,” he whispered into her hair. “Thanks for changing things for this family.”

  She pulled away and her cheeks flushed pink.

  “Everything is out in the open now,” Charlie said.

  “Except for one thing...” Gemma said.

  Benedict reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s that?”

  “Now that my dad’s here, what’s the real story behind the white bag of gemstones?”

  Benedict and Charlie exchanged a quick glance.

  Charlie curled his fist and coughed into it. “What exactly did you hear when we were brawling on the lawn?”

  “Did the two of you have a fight?” Estelle frowned. “So that explains your swollen lip?”

  Benedict nodded.

  “It was my fault,” Charlie said. “I started it.”

  “I heard you fighting, then talking,” Gemma said. “I couldn’t hear much over Lord Puss mewling.”

  “Oh, right.” Benedict exhaled noisily.

  Charlie nodded at him. “When Benedict gave me those gemstones, it was his way of sending a reminder of home, and what it means, with me.”

  “I thought it might be something more than that,” Gemma said.

  The two brothers looked at each other again and shook their heads. “No.”

  “Good,” Gemma said. “I don’t like secrets.”

  “Me neither,” Benedict agreed.

  37.

  ROSE QUARTZ

  unconditional love, forgiveness, trust

  BENEDICT CLEANED HIS teeth whilst Estelle changed into a fresh pair of flowered pajamas. She used the bathroom while Benedict put on his pajamas. For a reason that he couldn’t explain, he pushed the orange handkerchief into the breast pocket.

  On the landing they found themselves facing each other and Benedict felt a warm glow in his chest. He wanted to step forward and slip his arm around her waist, to hold her close and press his lips against hers, but he held back. Their relationship felt as delicate as spun sugar and he didn’t want to risk snapping it. There was still a barrier between them, but they were going to try to hurdle it, together.

  “Good night, then,” he said. “I hope you sleep well.”

  “Thanks. Good night, Benedict.”

  They hesitated then parted without touching.

  In bed, Benedict might not have Estelle’s feet to rub against his, but knowing she was sleeping along the corridor was enough. He stood and listened to the noises in the house. The creak of the floorboards and the crackle of the radiators sounded musical. He sat on the edge of the bed and could smell Estelle’s amber perfume bottle. Operation WEB was almost accomplished.

  After a few minutes there was a knock on the bedroom door.

  His pulse quickened. “Yes?”

  Estelle poked her head around. “Can I come in?” she asked. “I’m suddenly not at all tired.”

  “Me neither.”

  She sat down on the opposite side of their bed. “It’s nice to be home,” she said.

  “Veronica’s apartment must be so lovely and modern.”

  “It’s a little clinical, a bit like a hospital waiting room. And I’ve had enough of those.”

  “Me, too. Do you remember what day it is today?” he asked tentatively.

  Estelle gave a small nod. “It’s our tenth wedding anniversary. I thought that you’d forgotten.”

  “No. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks,” Benedict said. “I’ve made something for you.”

  “Oh. Thanks. I wasn’t expecting anything.”

  “It’s not as bright as the necklace your friends gave you, or as bold...” Benedict started.

  “Now you’ve told me what it is.” Estelle laughed. “A necklace...”

  “It’s a good job that it’s unique, then.” Benedict tutted at himself. He opened the drawer on his bedside cabinet and handed the long shiny coral-colored box across the bed to his wife. He had tied it with a matching ribbon. “This is for you.”

  “I love this color,” Estelle said. “It’s the same as the bow tied on the shop door.”

  “I know.”

  “Shall I open this now?”

  Benedict nodded.

  Estelle untied the bow. She lifted off the lid and peeled back the tissue paper. Inside the box lay the anniversary necklace. She gasped as she saw it and then looked up at Benedict. “It’s gorgeous. It’s so different...” She took it out and held it up.

  Benedict had always known there was something missing from the necklace. On the night he spent working late in his workshop, he added a rainbow of tiny gemstones, each set in precious metal and fastened with a small link to the necklace, so they dangled and sparkled in a line. There were ten in total, one for each year they had been married.

  They swished as Estelle held the necklace to her neck. “It’s beautiful. I absolutely love it.”

  “Each of the gemstones has a meaning,” Benedict said. “Lavender amethyst brings light and love. Yellow topaz is for good fortune. This
gray gem is goethite. It banishes the dark clouds and brings hope and light to your life.”

  He continued touching, naming and describing each of the stones to Estelle. When he finished he saw that her eyes were glassy with tears.

  “I’ll wear it every day,” she said and gently placed it back in its box. “Thank you. I haven’t got you anything, though... Maybe I can bake a cake...”

  “Do you remember the awful joke I made when we first met?” Benedict asked.

  “About how to get a big guy into bed?”

  “A piece of cake,” he said. “But a slice of pineapple does it for me these days.”

  “I don’t have a pineapple,” Estelle said. “But I would like to get into bed...”

  Benedict felt as if he’d been waiting to hear these words forever. “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She peeled back the sheets.

  Benedict switched off the bedside lamp and they climbed under the covers together. He reached out an arm and Estelle snuggled under it, and they fitted perfectly together. She rubbed her feet against his to warm them up, and Benedict thought that this might be the happiest he had ever felt.

  He turned to face her but felt something small and hard under his leg. “What’s that?” he asked aloud and lifted the sheet.

  “What is it?”

  “I think that there’s something in the bed.” Benedict turned the lamp back on and reached down under the duvet to take hold of the strange object. His fingers wrapped around it and he held it up for Estelle to see.

  “A gemstone?” she asked.

  Benedict broke into a smile. It was a piece of rose quartz in the shape of a heart. “I think it’s a present from Gemma.” He handed it to his wife.

  She held it on her palm. “And does this one have a meaning, too?”