Understanding

“When I was handed a ticket to this play I didn’t realize it was more than one act. What a treat.” V. Hamilton Chapter 1 I woke to the cell phone ringing. Not on the bedside table, somewhere on the floor. I looked at the clock, 1:00 p.m. I remembered. Sat up. Looked at James lying next to me wrapped in the blanket. Felt his cheek. Cold. Slack. No underlying tension. No breath. No movement…but something. Not what I would consider dead, not really. There was something. I moved carefully not to disturb him. Smiled when it occurred to me that I couldn’t. The cell was in the pocket of my sweats. Mary had called. I closed the door when I left the bedroom. Let him wake in privacy. First night. I was in one piece. I assumed he was fine. Who knew? I made coffee, felt pretty good. I’d feel better after a much needed shower. Took the coffee to the library. Turned on the computer. Returned her call. “Hey Mary, what’s up?” “Did I wake you?” She sounded excited. “No. Not really. Just being lazy.” “Contractor’s here working on the door and your window. Are you good with the final plans? They were in looking at the walls that need to come down. I think they plan to start the serious work.” “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for asking.” “Did you forget something yesterday Victoria?” Rats. Sam last night. No, yesterday, lunch. “I’ll call Sam. Shit. Nina upset?” “Not that I can tell. I’m going to have to pin notes to your coat. Nina said Sam called her and she had a lovely lunch. She told him you must have been OBEed, overcome by events. When you’ve made nice with Sam call me back and tell me about the man on the horse. I’m waiting.” Mary hung up. I knew it wasn’t forgotten. I called Sam, made profuse apologies. Asked if he was interested in trying again. He didn’t sound upset. A good faker or laid back. I didn’t know him well enough to know which. We rescheduled for drinks tomorrow at four, same place. I penciled it in the calendar, wrote a big sticky note, stuck it on the refrigerator. I realized that I hadn’t looked at the calendar since Friday. Not good. Maybe I should learn to set the cell calendar so it would yell at me. Yesterday I wouldn’t have gone, but at least I would have called with regrets. I went through the emails. Called Mary back. “Sam’s fine. Rescheduled. So what about yesterday?” “I was on my way to the beach. You were on a horse with the guy from Billy’s pen and ink without the body art. Just tell me yes or no so I can call Cheryl for the name of her shrink, ok?” Fuck it. “I was on the horse.” “Vicky, the guy I saw before, right? With the tattoos? The guy from the picture. Right?” I wondered how far she would go with this. I gave myself a minute to think. Felt the talisman buzz against my ankle. Heard movement in the bedroom, heard the door open. “Answer her if you would like Victoria.” “He’s there isn’t he?” She asked. “Yes. Yes to both.” I waited for Mary to speak. “Thanks Vic. Billy talked to me over the years. He was right, wasn’t he?” “Yes.” “What a hoot. Don’t worry. I’ve never said a word about Billy’s little talks. I’m not going to start now. Boy, what a relief. I though I was losing it. Does he have the necklace? Oh, he was in the funeral home. Ok. He let Billy go, right?” Click, click, click for Mary’s brain. The pieces were coming together. “I’ll ask and yes.” “Can you talk?” “Oh, yeah. That’s not a problem. Just not on the phones. I’m not comfortable with the subject on the phones. That’s all.” “Big time. Come in a little early tomorrow before your Closing. We can walk to the park, ok?” “Good idea. Call if you need me. Thanks.” I clicked off. By the time I had finished with Mary, James was standing in front of me wrapped in the blanket I’d given him. I smiled, stood, gave him a kiss. “Welcome back. Felt you wake but no tickle.” “Why say good morning through the talisman when I can walk out here.” He wrapped me tightly in the blanket, held me. Returned the kiss. “Good morning. Did I bother your sleep?” “No. I slept great. Just got up. How’d you do?” “I woke. I am always grateful to wake. Thank you for letting me stay. It opens many doors for us. Waking to your voice made my heart sing. How is Mary?” “Seems to be alright. She passed us riding to Ledge House yesterday. Had passed you coming here last weekend. Apparently Billy and she had talked about things over the years, yadda-yada. Much to my surprise Mary’s started putting things together. You don’t seem surprised.” “Yadda-yada?” He thought the expression was serious. I laughed. “Just a phrase. Rather than saying etcetera.” I stepped out of the blanket, grabbed my coffee. Returned to my chair. His eyes followed. I lifted the coffee cup. “I’m not a morning person, need the coffee.” “I am also not a morning person.” James smiled. “I am not surprised Mary has begun to understand. She could not live with Billy for so long in complete ignorance. Victoria, Mary does not know that my wheel does not turn. Be cautious.” “Thanks. She wants to talk tomorrow. Do you have Billy’s necklace? She’s been looking for it.” “Yes, I have Billy’s amulet. No. I will return it to Billy when I see him next.” James looked at the computer screen. “Can you access the information for the apartment next door?” “Sure.” A couple of key strokes later James was looking over my shoulder scanning the east condo information. I moved through the fact sheet into the pictures. “May I?” James moved the trackball around the pages before they could load. “It is a mirror as you said. It would be good if we controlled the apartment. Would that be acceptable Victoria?” “For Padma and Raam? They should see it first.” I thought about my standard objection, clients for neighbors. Yeah, it would be easier. No need to hide from strangers. “James, I have a rule that has served me well over the years. I make it a point not to have clients for neighbors. Mary, Carolyn and my kids know I live here. Of course, Jay Matthews. No one else. It’s kind of …well…” I was trying to come up with a phrase less coarse than I normally use. “Victoria, you do not have to be gentle with me.” James had a chuckle in his voice. He stepped back from my chair turning it to face him. Yeah, big smile. “It is the truth of your thoughts. Gentleness can hide the truth. Our homes are our refuge. Visitors in my house cannot feed within thirty miles of the property. They cannot avail themselves of our Family. I am still defining our area here. We have rules after hard experience. I do not believe you would have problems with Raam and Padma. We could leave it vacant. It does not matter to me. Unknowns should not be allowed residence.” He was right. It would be a relief to me not to have any neighbors. “Please. Give the lawyer, Matthews, a call. I will tell Johnathan.” James turned, walked into the living room. “Hey Jay. Our friends want to purchase the condo next to mine. I’m sending the sheet as we speak.” “Good morning Victoria. You’ve been a busy bee. Price?” He asked. “$550, no conditions. Mr. Keirns is going to call you. Same company I think. Same privacy clauses. Listing is Tina Daniels. Could you fax the privacy clause to her?” James returned. “Sure, no problem. Seen the paper today?” “No. I’m not in the office. What’s going on?” “Go to the local front page on the net. Apparently Father Williams met with our paper’s star reporter over the weekend. The reporter, Jim Olsen, is being charged with aiding and abetting felons as we speak.” Jay laughed. “I’ll never get over that name. Anyway, he was picked up the minute the paper hit the street. About an hour ago. The Editor is raising holy hell.” I’d opened the paper on the web while Jay was talking. Front page pictures of Kenny, Father Williams and Charon.