Chapter Twenty-Four
“For the night is dark and full of terrors.”
~George R. R. Martin
Something tugged at her. Hot breath fell across her face, and a whine merged into a growl. She ran as fast as she could, but her feet turned to lead, and every step caused a sweat to break over her exhausted limbs. The thing chasing her snarled its hot breath on her arm. Ahead, her brother sat under a tree, his head leaned against the rough wood, a bed of autumn leaves under him. Sharp claws touched her arm, propelling her to run faster. Daniel stared at her, called something. She couldn’t make out his words. The russet autumn leaves scattered beneath him turned deep crimson, then a wide black chasm opened its maw.
Angel woke in a tangled mess of sheets, Simon nudging her and whining in her ear. “What the heck are you doing, you wicked beast.” She swatted his paw off the edge of the bed.
The nightstand clock glowed the time, 3:45 a.m. She flopped back on her pillows. Simon whined again, so she got up, opened the balcony door, and tried to shoo him into the night. He stepped halfway out, then turned back to her. “You can’t want a walk now.”
Maybe they both needed a walk. She pulled on her jeans, a heavy turtleneck sweater with a matching scarf, a windbreaker to block the damp, and grabbed Simon’s leash.
“Okay, you beast, let’s go, but keep quiet. I don’t want to wake the whole house.” She considered waking Brian to go with them then changed her mind. Something about her dream continued to disturb her equilibrium. Time alone with the dog would give her a better opportunity to sort her troubled thoughts.
She headed toward Lands End, but after walking several blocks, she changed direction and headed toward Char’s townhouse. A half-hour later, she’d reached her friend’s door. Her mind was more agitated than when she’d begun. It was 4:30, still too early to disturb Char. Then she noticed a light go on in Char’s bedroom at the back of the house.
Char answered the door after the second ring, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?” her voice rose in alarm.
“Nothing’s wrong, exactly. I’m sorry to bother you this early, Char…”
Her friend pulled her through the door before she finished her sentence. “I got up a few minutes ago anyway, couldn’t sleep. Come with me to the kitchen. I think we could both use a strong cup of coffee before we discuss whatever has brought you to my door at this hour.” She reached to scratch behind Simon’s ear, “And I’ll find something for you too, you mangy beast.”
Sitting at Char’s round kitchenette table covered with its red-plaid table covering, a vase of fresh-cut autumn colored flowers, and one of Char’s intricately woven baskets holding napkins and sugar bowl, Angel took a deep breath. Jittery nerves assailed her, and no amount of deep, slow breaths provided the calm center she sought. Why was she still so edgy? Her gaze drifted to the back yard where the sky had turned from black to a dark tarnished gray.
Char plopped down beside her, two large steaming cups of coffee in her hands. “Okay, spill.”
“Did you get a letter from Daniel?” Angel watched her friend’s face carefully for any reaction, the mug warming the cold tips of her fingers.
Char seemed to hold her breath. “No, did you?”
“Yeah, he’s somewhere in Shasta-Trinity wilderness, north of Redding. It seems he found a cabin to live in while he completes repairs for the owner. He sounded okay. Said he’s not ready to come home.”
Char’s mouth contorted into a pout. “That’s nothing new, but something has you upset. Is it Daniel’s letter or something with Brian?”
“Yes, no, yes.”
“Okay, yes to both, or no to both, or yes to one no to the other?” Char quirked her eyebrows. “I called the house yesterday. Granny said you and Brian went camping. Is that what has you upset?”
“No, not really, I mean, we had a fantastic time. We finally…” she didn’t finish before Char sputtered a mouthful of coffee across the tablecloth.
“Oh, my God, was it great? It had to be great, just look at the man!”
“Yes, it was great. Better than great, everything went perfectly until he insisted he must speak with my father. I mean, the man’s thinking remains solidly in seventeenth century mode.”
“Oh, Angel, you know he’s perfect. All that proper honor and focused intensity on you as though you’re the only woman in the world. I know he’s your first, and despite my belief that a woman should experiment, make sure she’s with the man who really rocks her world, you’re not like me. You’re unlike most of our friends, for that matter. You’ve always been more reserved, waiting for Mr. Special. Well, hon, it seems you’ve found him. You don’t have to rush anything. Take your time, get to know each other.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I told him, but then he proposed.” Is that what she wanted? A proposal? Marriage? If being honest with herself, it’s exactly what she wanted, but not because of honor and duty, and not rushed.
“What?” Char shrieked, “He proposed marriage? Good lord, the man moves fast.” Char sat back and took a sip of coffee. “Well, what did you say?”
“I told him we needed to take our time. For a minute, I thought he might sling me over his very broad shoulders and spirit me off to city hall, all Highlander-warrior fashion. You know, they often stole their brides in his time.” Laughter burst from both of them as they chatted about the trip. When she told Char about the bear, it brought back her nightmare.
“I didn’t come here because of Brian, though. I came because of a nightmare I had. A great beast was chasing me. I was running toward Daniel, who leaned against a tree in the distance. Suddenly, the autumn leaves beneath him turned dark crimson, and the stain kept spreading, then a black hole opened beneath him. I woke up, my heart racing, with a terrible fear gripping my chest.” Angel stopped speaking, reached down, and patted Simon’s head, now resting on her knee as though he understood her need for comfort.
“You had a close call with a black bear in the middle of the woods. You came home to a letter from Daniel, which always sets you in a downward spiral for a few days. It seems pretty natural that you’d have a nightmare.”
“Maybe, but I think something’s wrong. Daniel’s letter shouldn’t have distressed me this much. Even after reading it several times, I can’t shake this agitation. It’s almost as though I need to read between the lines and figure out what he wasn’t saying.”
“Did you bring the letter? May I read it?”
“Sure, you know I always share his letters. But don’t be upset that he didn’t mention you this time. Maybe you’ll get your own letter today or tomorrow.” Her heart ached for the love she knew Char still carried for her brother.
“I don’t expect to hear from Daniel anymore, Angel. I think that ship has sailed. I wish it weren’t true, but life moves on.”
After Char had read the letter, she handed it back to Angel. It took several moments before she spoke, her voice soft and tremulous with undisguised longing. “I think you’re simply missing your brother and had a nightmare. That’s all.”
Char lifted her eyes from the cup gripped with both hands, her thumbs worrying circles across an inspirational verse that said, live for today, tomorrow is a universe away. “He sounds like he’s settling into a cabin he might occupy for a while. Perhaps working on a cabin in the woods, where he stays in one place, might help him uncover what he wants, what he needs to become whole again. Maybe it will eventually bring him back home.”
They were hopeful words. Words that Angel desperately wanted to believe. Despite the desire for that end, a dark void resided in her heart that questioned all hope for her brother’s return. That feeling rubbed hard against her normally positive, cheerful personality.