But Lilly is far from being pacified. Her eyes all but shoot darts.
“Did you see her smug face? “I don’t know what’s wrong with people. You appear totally normal to me.” She mimicked the condescending tone of the office clerk at the town hall.
“She literally said that. This far. Honestly.” Up came her fingers again.
Of all of us, Lilly suffers the most under the unpleasant attention the court case and Annabelle’s article about us has caused. She feels responsible that the newspapers reported about life in detail. As if we had any other choice. We all agreed to go to court.
“Just ignore her. I’m sure she meant well.” At least I hope so, but like Lilly, I’m disheartened by some people’s attitude. We all are.
“Heaven save me from people who mean well.” She rolls her eyes and is gone, leaving me with a residue of her feelings.
I move to the open window and lean out, inhaling the crisp air filled with the earthy perfume of the forest. Summer is on its way out. A little over three months ago we’d returned home from Wellington leaving behind the ugliness of the Gateway court case.
Back then summer had come rushing in on a warm, brazen nor’-westerly driving out the unreliable spring and spreading an abundance of light and color over our small paradise. Complete with buzzing bees and a myriad of insects dancing on the sun’s rays, it announced its arrival with fanfare and drumroll. For a few short weeks, a stunning display of flowers ignited around us, weeds heavy with seeds swayed in the warm breeze ready to spill, and birdsong competed with the rustling of the trees as the lightest of winds danced through their branches.
It was as if nature knew it had to hurry because summers are short on the West Coast of the South Island. Every day counts before the storms of fall and winter take hold again, chilling our bones and driving us to the warmth of cozy fireplaces.
It was our first real summer at the homestead. By that I mean it was the first summer we’d been happy.
Really happy.
It was like eating ice cream for the first time, an unexpected, surprising enjoyment. We’d run barefoot in the high grass, let the wind tousle our hair and let kisses travel to Scott on the warm air. We had lazy picnics by the creek, danced over boulders and waded into ice-cold water, clothes and all. We couldn’t get enough of our new life. Michael said, it’s better than finding a treasure, and that means a lot.
I look up when the two males who make my heart sing come around the corner. They must have been at the creek because Prince’s fur is still wet and glistening in the sunlight. Scott carries a big smile and four fish strung up.
He holds up the bundle and shouts, “Trout!”
Looks like we’re having trout for dinner. I open the backdoor and send him an appreciative smile while trying to keep Prince and his wet fur away from my jeans.
“How was your morning?” Scott kicks off his rubber boots, puts the fish in a bowl in the sink, and wipes his hands on his jeans.
“It was busy in town.”
I bask in the beloved, familiar smell of the forest, earth, fish, and wood-fire that always surrounds him like a precious cloak. He takes me into his arms and kisses me as we crab-walk into the living room. In his arms I’m at home, safe, and surrounded by love. I know that because my inner world is messy like a crumpled bed sheet in the morning. When he’s close, though, it’s as if an invisible hand straightens out the ripples and twists of my life. Even Prince knows that all is good and jumps excitedly around us.
My heart expands and leaps about. It hits me and takes my breath away. I love this man to distraction. Will I ever get used to the wave of love coming from all the different parts of me? Will he ever know the depth of my feeling for him? At times I’m afraid I’ll burst.
Lilly thinks we’ve turned him into a multiple too. He shifts and changes effortlessly to meet the needs of all the different parts of the Tribe.
“You look tired.” He cups my head with his hands and gazes into my eyes. I’m never quite sure whether he’s searching for an answer or wondering who he’s talking to.
“I’ve been thinking.”
How much shall I reveal? I nestle deeper into his arms. If only we could stay like this forever. Just the two of us…three counting Prince, without any interference from others. The last year had revolved around the Gateway community, the childhood abuse, and me being a multiple. I’m sick and tired of rehashing it over and over again and so too must he be.
I’d hoped the guilty verdict and the fact that the leaders of Gateway are behind prison bars would return our life to normal. Not that I have a clue what a normal life looks like. Would I even recognize it if I had it?
We are a celebrity now but not in a good way. People are wary. I guess they expect us to transform at any moment into some kind of unpredictable monster. We should have expected it.
“You’re worrying too much. You should have joined us at the creek after you returned from the city council, air your gray cells, and enjoy nature.” He kisses my forehead. I don’t want the moment to end and bury my hands in his hair. After all this time I can hardly believe that he’s on my side. Not only that, he’s mine.
“Next time I’ll try to go with you. I promise.”
“Do or do not, there is no try.”
“Yes, Yoda.”
I bite back a sigh and roll my eyes. One day I’ll have to make him stop using that irritating quote. I shoot
