by Dan Dillard
Chapter 24
The next day, Anne walked down to the rental house and checked inside for Jason's things. The rooms were in general disarray, but nothing was beyond repair. A single sheet of paper lay on the kitchen counter. There was a coffee mug holding it in place. The writing was drawn, as if by someone who was in quite a lot of pain. Some of the letters trailed off, and Anne knew it was from the stress of the change.
"Dear Anne,
I owe you thanks. I know what is happening and that you have finally found forgiveness for your loss. I also owe you an apology as I now understand it was my fault. If I hadn't lost my way?if I had only done my job, you and your mother and father would have had lives, family, children and grandchildren. A legacy. My distraction, my selfishness robbed you of that. Somehow I will fix all of this, so that you might rest in peace.
I am so sorry.
Jason"
She read the words, and then crumpled the page into her fist before shoving it into the leather bag that hung from her shoulder. A tear rolled down her cheek and across her smiling lips.
"You make things right, Wa-ya. I know you will," she said.
Anne bundled up the clothes and linens, swept some broken glass, then put everything, including a cell phone with the phases of the moon app, into trash bags and took them out to the trash can for pickup. She wiped down the counters and turned the air conditioner off.
Satisfied, she went outside and unlocked the storage building in the back. She pulled out a FOR RENT sign, walked it to the front yard and stuck it in the ground. Anne lit a cigarette and walked across the property to the woods and followed a worn path through the trees, taking her time. She walked until she heard the melody of rushing water. Something was different about it that morning. Anne walked until she came upon the clearing just beyond the small stream.
"You did good, Wa-ya. You and your girl."
She dropped the cigarette on the ground and stomped it out with her foot. Then she stepped very carefully over the ring of scotch bonnet mushrooms and knelt in the center. She looked at the sky and then closed her eyes for a moment. Another tear fell from her cheek, turning into a stone before it hit the ground. Anne reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a rock, about the size of a cantaloupe. She laid the crumpled piece of paper on the pile and set the rock on top of it.
"He's paid his debt," she said and walked away.
Anne looked into the distance, giving the slightest smirk and then walking on. A pair of wolves, a large gray male and his mate, a white female, watched her from the woods, just beyond the clearing.
