“Back so soon, darling?” Her mother asks, removing her wrap.
“Surely you and Dr. Rudolph did more than just rush back?” Her Father asks, moving to the small bar. He pours a glass of whiskey and turns to look at her. “What’s that you are holding?”
“A token from Dr. Rudolph. I am not sure what it is.” She opens the lid, and her mother smiles in delight.
“Chocolates! How wonderful.” Two layers of six small truffles. They each grab one and moan in pleasure as the rich chocolate melts in their mouth.
“I guess he likes you more than you think.” Her father says, grabbing another chocolate.
“It seems all he cares about are your journals, Papa. Are they locked up?” She asks.
He laughs and pops his candy into his mouth. Summers' mother moves closer to look at her daughter. “Are you alright? He didn’t do anything inappropriate…” she starts to say, but her father cuts her off.
“Of course not, he is just passionate about his work. That's all. It's been a long month for all of us and I am tired.” He takes his drink and moves toward his bedroom. “You shouldn't be so quick to judge him, Summer. I consider this to be part of the problem with our medical community. Too many secrets and not enough minds working together. The more we share our knowledge, the safer things will be for all mankind.”
“Yes, Papa.” She watches him retreat to their suite and turns to look at her mother.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Natalie sighs.
“No, it was fine. Nothing I couldn't handle mother, but I don't trust him. I can't really explain it. It's very frustrating. I can't shake it. He's an educated man, good looking, everything I should be looking for. I am trying to look past all the prying questions, but he always comes back to the journals.”
“My mother always told me that God gave us intuition to enable us to see past the masks that humanity wears. We have to learn to hear that inner voice and trust it. You have a beautiful heart and amazing mind, Summer. Trust them both, and you will not be led astray.”
“Thank you. I will remember that.” Natalie hugs her tightly and goes to tuck the girls in.
When she returns to the girl's cabin, she is smiling in anticipation. A new story has been percolating in her mind since the stroll on the deck, and she loves to test them on the girls.
She sits at the foot of the bed and looks at her sisters with their long dark hair gleaming and hope sparkling in their eyes. This is what Summer loves; to create hope, magic, and dreams for children, so they never forget the magic of childhood.
“Who wants a chocolate?” Summer laughs when they gobble them up.
“Once in a land far away there lived two sisters both fair-haired and lovely…
“Why fair hair?” Hayden interrupts with a frown.
“Very well then, two redhead sisters…” the girls giggle and she laughs.
“It’s rude to interrupt doves, now I shall have to start again.” She frowns at them and begins again when they apologize.
“Once upon a time, two sisters were just closing their beautiful eyes to dream when a flash of bright light woke them.
‘Hayden, did you see that?’ Hayley whispers only to gasp when she a second flash and a third one appears.
Hayden being shy and the most reserved whispers back, ‘Yes.’
Hayley leaps from her bed and runs to the window. Her twin follows and stares out into her grandmother's garden. They were visiting their grandparents' summer cottage in Scotland and loved to play outside. Flashes like the snap of a firefly were bouncing around the garden, and if Hayden strained, she could just make out the sound of a harp.
Hayley dressed quickly and began pulling on her shoes.
‘You can’t be serious, Hayley?’ She stands and hands Hayden her clothes smiling.
‘Oh, alright, I suppose I can’t very well let you run about this time of night by yourself, can I?’ Excitement flutters in her stomach. ‘Watch and see which direction they go, Hayley.’ Hayden is the more logical of the two.
‘Hurry up!’ Now dressed the two sneak quietly through the house and out the back door. They chase the lights, ducking behind trees and bushes. Soon, they come to a fork in the path. One goes to the sea and one deeper into the trees. The moon follows the antics of the two young girls and shines a little brighter to light the way. The fireflies giggle and split, three lights follows the mountain path and the other group follows the sea path.
Hayden and Hayley clutch each other’s arms. Hayley whispers, ‘I know, Hayden. We should split up too. I will follow the forest path, and you follow the ocean path. Then we shall both have an adventure of our own!’
Hayden shutters, ‘I think we should go back. In the morning we can follow the paths, Hayley.’ She tugs at her sister’s arm and tries to persuade her, but Hayley is determined. The lights swirl luring them with the beautiful sounds of a flute. The moon decides to help and illuminates the path home, but the girls are entranced by the dance of light in front of them.
Hayden takes a step towards the beach path, and the lights grow brighter, and for a moment she can almost make out the shape of wings. Hayley is just as entranced by the lights leading into the forest. The music is pulling at her and filling her with a longing she has never known. She wants to spin, dance, and sing. Slowly the hold they have
