Long Snows Moon (20 page)

“Thank you.”

“Have you spoken to Trevor?” Claire
asked.

“No, that part of my life is over. There’s
nothing for me there, there never was.”

“I know that now.”

“I have one question. I want to know
why.”

Claire was silent for a while. “It not that
simple,” she began. “So many things snowballed out of control.”

“Nothing has ever been out of your control,
Claire,” Devon snapped.

Claire seethed and suffered that truth. She
bit her lip to confine her sharp tongue.

“How are you going to control this, Claire?
How does it feel to have to deal with something beyond your
command?”

Devon hung up before Claire responded.

Claire sat at the table and stared at her
coffee now cold in front of her. Sure, she could have made better
choices. Nevertheless, hindsight is twenty-twenty and she couldn’t
turn back the hands of time and blah blah blah. She cradled her
head in her hands and stared at a crumb on the table. Her life was
a blur now. Thirty-three years blazed by and here she sat to face
the reality. She’d mastered and manipulated all of their lives on
order to be with Analise. Claire snorted at the irony. The object
of her life’s design was on her deathbed in a house built on sorrow
and deceit. To add to her misery, Devon Danforth still had a fresh
mouth.

Claire spiked her coffee with brandy and took
it outside to the gazebo. Their new house was a nineteen twenties
plantation-style. It backed up to a nature reserve. She sat facing
the landscape interspersed with bowing willow trees and grand oaks.
The terrain sloped down to a small pond. A bird flew overhead and
dove into the water. The abruptness and the grand splash landing
made Claire jump. She squinted at the pond.

“I didn’t know ducks could fly.” She smirked
and sipped her coffee. “Of course they fly. How ridiculous of me.
Fly, swim, and walk. Ducks are multi-faceted creatures.”

She went back in and got more coffee,
chuckling. She was in such a state she would actually have room in
her mind to think such a thing. When she returned a duck, or
perhaps the duck, was standing in the gazebo.

Claire was wary in her approach. She hoped
the duck would waddle away when she got close enough. But, it
didn’t. It stared at Claire as she moved toward it. It appeared to
smile.

“Hello duck, quack, quack,” Claire said. “You
can go now.”

Claire skirted around it and resumed her
seat. She glanced at the pond. The duck wasn’t there.

Because I am here.

“That was quite an entrance you made. It was
a mighty splash for a small duck.”

How else would I get your attention?

“If you think I think you’re talking to me
then you are as crazy as you think I am.”

She raised her coffee and toasted the duck.
It was possible the hand that spiked her coffee had been heavier
than she realized.

The duck stood there with its smiling orange
bill and funny little feet. “I didn’t know ducks were so cute.”

Claire chuckled when she heard herself. The
bourbon must have been eighty proof. Why, otherwise, would she
converse with a duck? She finished her coffee and got up to
leave.

You must face your deepest emotions. It is
time to commune with your clan.

“I don’t have emotions and I certainly don’t
have a clan,” Claire said.

Mother Duck.

Claire glared at the creature. Had it
spoken?

Mother Duck.

“Why do you keep saying that? Or why do I
keep imagining you are saying that?”

Live in the moment. Face your emotions. Be
buoyant like me. Fly, float, and walk the earth.

“I do admire your versatility.”

She followed the duck down the rise to the
pond. She sat at the water’s edge. She slipped off her sandals and
set them aside. The duck nodded, encouraging her to dip her toes
into water.

“Is this an initiation of some kind?”

The duck waddled into the pond. It dipped its
head under the water.

Your emotions were sunken deep at depths
you couldn’t breathe
.
They are closer to the
surface
now.

She watched the duck glide along the surface.
A part of her moved with it, light and effortless. The water was
cool on her feet. Claire reclined on the grass and drifted.

Chapter Twenty-One

Devon and Moon
rolled into town early evening as predicted. Claire watched from
the living room window as she parked and got out. Devon used a
walking stick to get along.

Claire greeted her at the door. She took
Devon’s bags and placed them at the foot of the stairs.

“What in God’s name happened to you? Oh, and
your new car is wrecked,” Claire exclaimed. “Look at your head!
Devon, you can hardly walk.”

“We had a small accident, no big deal. I’m
fine, Moon’s fine, the car still drives.”

They shared an awkward hug while Moon
explored the house.

“Analise is sleeping, finally, she tried her
best to wait up. I made lasagna for you, sans meat. Are you
hungry?”

“A little,” Devon admitted.

Claire led her to the kitchen and filled a
bowl with water for Moon.

Claire noticed Devon raised a brow at her
bare feet. She slipped back into her sandals.

“You’ve put this place together fast,” Devon
remarked, looking around.

“I had it done by a decorator so it would be
ready for when we arrived,” Claire admitted.

“Always planning, aren’t you, Claire? Moon,
come here, please,” Devon called.

Claire gave Moon’s dirty coat a look.

“I’ll give her a bath tomorrow, don’t
worry.”

“I have more pressing worries right now,”
Claire replied.

Devon nibbled at her food and fed Moon the
rest.

Claire refilled her martini from an icy metal
shaker. She brought a glass over for Devon and poured her one.

“No, thanks.” Devon pushed the glass aside.
“I want to see my mother.”

“Upstairs, turn left, last room at the end.
Can you manage the stairs?”

“Of course.” She used the walking stick for
support.

Claire watched Devon limp away, perplexed by
her demeanor. She’d never seen Devon pass up a cocktail, not to
mention in a time of stress. She’d always been a strange little
bird, given to flights of fancy and whim. Claire sensed this was no
whim. Devon possessed a new self-confidence that made her even more
attractive. It was a wild quality and although she was in obvious
pain, Devon moved with the poise of a wolf, aware she was on the
top of the food chain and feared no predators.

“You seem different,” Claire said.

Moon flanked Devon as they exited the
kitchen. Claire had to blink hard because she could have sworn that
she was observing two wolves in her kitchen.

Devon turned to her, and the Devon/wolf bared
its teeth. “I am different.”

Claire blinked and the wolf was gone. Moon
winked as she followed Devon from the kitchen.

Claire tossed back the rest of her drink and
went to work on Devon’s untouched glass. Stress was a powerful
hallucinogen, and apparently so was vodka.

She kicked off her sandals and flexed her
toes. The wolf thing was a trick of her over-tired mind. Had to be.
Who knew being barefoot could feel so liberating?

She padded after Devon up the stairs.

* * * *

Devon tiptoed into the bedroom and perched on
the edge of their bed. She stroked her mother’s hair and smiled
when Analise opened her eyes.

“Hello there,” Devon whispered.

Analise clutched Devon’s hand. “What happened
to your head? Oh my, are you all right, honey?”

“I’m fine, I had an accident, but I’m
fine.”

“An accident? What happened?”

“Shush, calm down. I’m fine, I promise.”

Analise blurted, “I’m sorry about the way we
left.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Devon soothed. “You did
what you had to do for your relationship.”

“You know about it?”

Devon nodded. “It’s okay, I love you. I guess
I always knew.”

“I was sure you’d understand,” Analise
sighed.

“Of course I understand,” Devon replied. “Go
back to sleep. We can talk in the morning. I just wanted to let you
know I was here.”

“Claire set you up in the bedroom at the end
of the hall. You will enjoy the view. It has a lovely balcony
overlooking the pool and the gazebo.”

“It sounds perfect. Maybe we can have our
coffee together tomorrow,” Devon suggested.

“I’d like that,” Analise grinned. “Did you
eat? We made you dinner.”

“I ate some.”

“You look different,” Analise reflected. She
smoothed her Devon’s hair. “You’ve let your hair go natural. I have
always loved your curls. I never understood why you always
straightened it.”

Devon smiled and shrugged. “My lifestyle
required a more refined look, I guess.”

Analise pulled Devon in for a hug. “You are
my precious child. I’m sorry if I’ve failed you.”

Devon returned the hug. “All that matters is
today, this minute in time.”

Analise nodded. “I want you to stay here
until the end.”

“There is no end, just a never ending circle,
because we are all part of a greater sum. When you end a part of me
ends, but while I breathe you still breathe.”

“That’s a lovely sentiment.”

Devon kissed her mother on the forehead. “Get
some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Moon came over, gave Analise a kiss, and
yowled at her.

“She said she likes your new home and thanks
you for inviting us to stay.”

Moon yowled again and Devon translated. “She
also said she can’t understand, for the life of her, what you could
possibly see in a mean, controlling bitch like Claire.”

“Devon,” Analise exclaimed, trying to
suppress a grin.

“Moon said it,” Devon shrugged.

“Your feelings are evident, as always. I put
your things in the room at the end of the hall. Sorry you feel that
way about me, Moon.” Claire scowled.

“I knew you were standing there,” Devon
admitted. “I was having a little fun. Lighten up for once, go with
the flow.”

“Is this a time for levity?” Claire
asked.

“Yes. It is a time to celebrate and be happy
and enjoy the moments of our lives instead of waiting for tomorrow
or next month. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to waste a
minute.”

“That’s excellent advice,” Analise said.

Devon looked around the room taking in the
furnishings. “I love the whole Victorian theme. It’s fabulous. The
red velvet chairs and matching curtains. The sconces, the
chandelier, and this four-poster bed designed for a queen.”

“Yes, it was.” Claire sat on bed and took
Analise’s hand.

“I will leave you alone.” Devon collected her
walking stick and exited the room feeling like a warrior with a
spear. She heard their voices follow her down the hall.

“Who in the hell was that?” Claire asked.

Analise responded, “I don’t know, but I
really like her.”

Claire grinned. “If I didn’t know better I’d
swear Devon has finally gotten laid.”

“Claire!” Analise giggled.

If they only knew.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Their Tarpons
Springs estate could have been a bed and breakfast, each room had a
different theme. She stepped from the Victorian era into the Wild
West. The room was the size of a tavern. It had saloon style doors
leading to the bathroom. The end tables were wagon wheels. The bar
stools were made from saddles. They had a six-shooter in a holster
draped over a ladder-back chair. It looked like Wild Bill Cody was
staying for the night.

Devon plucked a cowboy hat from a rack with
many and peeked at herself in the mirror. She slipped the gun from
the holster and pretended to draw on Moon.

“There’s only one sheriff in town.”

Moon barked in disapproval and took the gun
from her. She put it back in the holster and barked at the wall on
the opposite side of the room.

“And her name is Long Snows Moon, the long
snout of the law.”

She went to see why Moon was making a
fuss.

“Yee haw,” Devon muttered, as she gaped at
the painting. “Jameson’s painting of Shawnodese the coyote.”

Claire joined her. Devon pointed to the
painting, mute.

“I thought it would make you feel at home,”
Claire smiled.

“You had it shipped here? You did that for
me?” Devon asked.

“Yes, mean, bitchy, controlling me,” Claire
said.

“Those words were meant with all due
respect.”

Moon bounded on the bed, feeling at home.

“I suppose not much respect is due,” Claire
conceded.

“That’s not true. You are the most powerful
and capable person I know. You deserve mountains of respect. I know
how much you love my mother and I respect that deeply.”

“I am a fool for waiting,” Claire sighed. She
wilted onto the bed.

“How long have you been together?”

“We fell in love thirty three years ago,”
Claire told her.

“Wow.”

“Yes, wow. We were sophomores in high school.
Being a lesbian back then was not the same as it is now. Oh, it was
hip and chic if you had money, but for a couple of girls from the
bad part of town with parents who didn’t have the means or desire
to protect them, it was a dead end.”

“What difference does having money make?”

“I stupidly thought it would buy us
acceptance. I was just seventeen, what did I know? I wanted to
avoid prejudice. It made sense then and for a long time after. Only
now do I realize what a colossal waste of time it all was.”

“I thought you met Mom in college.”

Claire shook her head.

“So you met in high school?” Devon asked. She
flopped onto a small settee at the foot of the bed. “Tell me the
details. I am dying to know. But not too many, if you know what I
mean.”