Echoes In The Mist

by Rifi Strawn

  “I love you,” he whispered and lay next to her.

  “I love you, too.”

  Secure in Jeremy’s embrace, Stanley dozed off.

  When she woke up smiling, he asked, “Sweet dream?”

  “Yeah.” She beamed. “I had the most wonderful dream about my aunt.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I was holding your hand and frolicking up and down a tranquil vineyard, and as we came to the end of the row, she was waiting for us among the vines. She was so beautiful with her long, gray hair and white gown floating in the gentle breeze. She hugged and kissed me before placing my hand in yours. I smiled at you, and when I looked again she’d gone like the wind.”

  “You were probably thinking of her last night before you went to sleep. It’s going to be a tough day for you.”

  “Yeah. I guess so.”

  The gentle knocks on the door got their attention. Quickly, she pulled the sheet over their naked bodies. Jeremy groaned and hugged her. “Who is it?”

  “It’s me.”

  “What do you need, Mum?”

  “You two better get going to the vineyard before Lynn gets busy with the tours.”

  “Okay.” He buried his head in Stanley’s breasts as his mother’s steps faded down the hall. “I don’t want to leave this heaven.”

  “What time is it?”

  He checked his watch on the nightstand. “Ten o’clock?”

  “Is it that late?”

  “No quickie.”

  She smiled as he played. “You’re like a lion in heat on a mating schedule.”

  “What should I do? I can’t get enough of you.”

  Gently, she nudged him out. “I’ll take care of you later. I don’t feel comfortable doing it with your mother or Mira walking around in the house. Let’s go see if the vineyard is worthy of my aunt’s ashes.”

  ~*~

  Stanley and Jeremy stopped by to see Torrey before driving to the vineyard. She was lounging by the pool in her white yoga pants and tunic top. Stanley took a double-take at the elegant woman. If it weren’t for the short bob, she would’ve mistaken Torrey for Aunt Zoie.

  Holding on to the beautiful dream about her aunt, she lifted her gaze to the clear blue sky. Give me a sign, Aunt Zoie. Let me know where you want your ashes.

  Her attention switched to Torrey’s teary eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, it’s also a tough one for me today.”

  “What is it, Mum?”

  “I’m ready to part with your father’s things. Will you help me?” Torrey said.

  “Yes, of course, Mum.” He kissed his mother’s cheek. “Dad wouldn’t want you to mourn him for the rest of your life.”

  Torrey sniffled. “Don’t forget to bring back some wine for the cellar. We’ll need it for the next fundraiser.”

  “Okay.” He checked the time. “Don’t wait on us. We might take our time sightseeing.”

  “You’ll see where I grew up,” Torrey said. “Jeremy’s father and I got married in that vineyard.”

  “I’m looking forward to visiting such a special place.”

  Stanley clasped Jeremy’s hand a bit tighter as they left. “Your poor mom. It must be so hard on her to lose the love of her life. Now that you’re in my life, I can’t imagine it without you.”

  “You’re stuck with me longer than you think. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Promise?”

  “You can count on it.” He kissed her and opened the car door.

  ~*~

  Stanley was filled with mixed emotions during the scenic drive from Cape Town to Stellenbosch. Jeremy was relieved and saddened by his mother’s decision to let go of his father’s old memories.

  “I had to force Mum to get rid of Dad’s place setting at the table,” he said. “For years, she wouldn’t allow anyone to sit in his chair at the dining table or in his recliner in the family room. She kept waiting for him to come back.” He kissed her hand. “Promise me you won’t mourn me forever if anything should happen to me.”

  “Don’t say things like that.”

  He caressed her arm. “Honey, where’s your bracelet? You don’t like it anymore?”

  “I love it, but the colors clashed with this outfit.”

  “Hm. I’ll get you a simple one you can wear all the time.”

  “Babe, if it’s that big of a deal, I’ll never take it off.”

  “I like seeing you wear my gifts.”

  As they passed through the rolling vineyards, she held on to the jar of ashes, and enjoyed the picturesque view. Letting go of the ashes seemed like letting go of her aunt’s guiding hand in an unfamiliar place.

  The fresh air blew in through the open windows and smelled of fertile soil and plants. The sky was as blue as her Aunt Zoie’s eyes, and the floating clouds were as carefree as her long gray hair. Everywhere she looked, there were reminders of her aunt.

  He gently squeezed her hand. “You okay, honey?”

  “Aunt Zoie would like it here.”

  “I thought her name was Daisy.”

  Shit. “Uh…I called her Aunt Zoie when I played house with her as a child. Lately, I’m in my childhood memories of her.”

  “I can understand that. What was your aunt’s pretend name for you?”

  Stanley made one up. “Washington.”

  He chuckled. “What was your aunt’s obsession with giving you manly names?”

  “You aren’t the only one with a dysfunctional family.”

  He drove off the paved road onto the narrow gravel drive leading to a white, charming house. “That’s our winery.”

  “It’s so peaceful here.”

  She admired the sunshine glistening off grape leaves as they gently blew in the soft breeze. The tranquil haven thrived among guarding mountains under the clear, crisp sky. She imagined her aunt clipping bunches of grapes. Gardening was her favorite hobby. She’d love it here.

  Jeremy parked in the gravel driveway and led her by the hand to the main entrance. A pink motorcycle splattered with mud was parked by the door.

  “Looks like Lynn’s here,” he said.

  “Has Lynn always been a daredevil?”

  Jeremy lowered his voice. “I think she competes for her father’s attention with Levi.”

  “Does your uncle favor him because he’s a man?”

  “I think so. My uncle is old-fashioned and stuck in his ways. In my opinion, Lynn works twice as hard and is smarter than Levi.”

  The charming welcome sign attached on the wall by the door listed hours and times for the wine tasting each day. Fresh, cool air poured into the lobby and ruffled the pamphlets on the desk. The antique hardwood floor creaked from their heavy steps. The low wood-beamed ceiling added a rustic charm to the large house. Old pictures of the winery gave a glimpse into the family history. The smell of oak barrels and grapes permeated the room.

  “Hey there.” Lynn walked out of her office in the back and kissed their cheeks in a warm welcome. Her sympathetic gaze fixed on the jar of ashes in Stanley’s hand. “Come, have a seat.” She ushered them to the sectional sofa around the wood-burning fireplace. “Can I get you coffee or wine?”

  “Coffee with Amarula would be nice. Thank you.” Stanley adjusted her dress and sank into the comfortable cushioned seat. Her gaze skimmed the timeworn antiques blended with the modern furniture. “You have a beautiful place here.”

  “Thank you.” Lynn smiled as she poured the liquor into Stanley’s mug. “I see Jeremy has you trained well. Did he show you how to dip your biscotti, too?”

  “Oh, yes. That’s the only way I like my coffee now.” She admired the large but cozy house. “I can see Torrey running down these halls as a child.”

  Lynn laughed nervously. “This old house is haunted. I can hear my auntie’s little feet pitter-pat, and sometimes I hear big, heavy ones.”

  “It should be spooky. Five generations of our family have lived here.” Jeremy chuckled. “Lynn can be quite entertaining.”

>   As the three sat, Lynn looked at her busy schedule on her phone. “I have six tours this week. They’re good for business, but they wear me out.”

  “Without you, this place would be dead. No one else in the family has the talent to make wine-tasting so fun.” Jeremy checked the time and stood. “I better get Mum’s supply before I forget.”

  “Okay, I’ll give Stanley a tour of the house.”

  Stanley grabbed her aunt’s ashes off the table and admired Lynn’s gorgeous long, layered dark hair with golden highlights. “Your hair is so pretty.”

  “Levi cut it for me.”

  Stanley stopped. “He’s a hairdresser?”

  “He’s an award-winning hairstylist.”

  “Now I know why your family has such perfect hair. How did he get into hairstyling?”

  Jeremy returned to join them. “After high school, Levi and Tina, his late wife, didn’t want to go to college. Tina talked him into going to beauty school with her.”

  Lynn laughed. “I’ve seen my brother with some bad haircuts and color jobs. He laughs about it now, but at the time, he wasn’t too happy about shaving off his hair from Tina’s mistakes.”

  “Did she get better?”

  “Oh, yeah, she was better than Levi,” Lynn said.

  She gazed at the home’s Dutch-style architecture. The rounded, ornate gables against the whitewashed walls had stood the test of time and still looked amazing.

  Jeremy glanced at his watch. “Let’s go check out the vines.”

  They walked out from the backdoor. Lynn sat behind the wheel of the small loading truck. Jeremy took the backseat with Stanley. He stopped the drive to snip the red roses along the fence.

  “Aw. How sweet. He’s making you a bouquet.” Lynn smiled at her. “You have a good man there. Jeremy’s the sweetest of all the men in this family. I’m so glad to see him happy again.”

  “Claire must’ve hurt him.”

  “More than he lets on. Levi can be such a prick.”

  Jeremy returned with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses. “For you.”

  His tender kiss warmed her heart as she took in the flowers’ sweet scent. “Thank you. They’re so healthy and beautiful.”

  He glanced at the jar of ashes in her hands. “Daisy loved her roses.”

  “She would’ve loved these. They’re flawless.”

  “Unhealthy roses in a vineyard are an early warning system for fungus or insect infestation,” Lynn said. “That’s why we have a bush at the end of each row.”

  Lynn drove to the top of the hill to the prettiest view.

  Jeremy squeezed Stanley’s hand. “I’ll stay with Lynn to give you some privacy.”

  In silence, Stanley took the loneliest walk of her life as she gazed at the rows of green grapevines flowing down the valley. The warm sunshine seemed like her aunt’s embrace. She twisted off the lid on the jar and expressed her gratitude to the woman who’d raised her.

  “Aunt Zoie, thank you for giving me a purpose in your absence,” she said. “I’ll take care of those elephants, orphans, and Jeremy until we meet again. As long as I live, I’ll look for you in the sunshine, moonlight, and on white floating clouds everywhere I go. I love you forever.”

  She emptied the jar, and a gust of wind sprinkled the ashes across the vines and carried them toward the wide blue sky. A calm came over her as she watched the dust disappear from sight.

  Jeremy came to see her and gave her the bouquet of roses.

  Without saying a word, he broke off the petals and let them fly in the air, and then put the rest of the rosebuds in the empty jar. Holding her hand, he walked with her downhill. Tweeting birds filled the sweet serenity with their songs.

  He wrapped her in his embrace. “I already asked my dad to take good care of Daisy here.”

  Later, Lynn served them the best pasta salad and wine on the outdoor picnic tables.

  Jeremy sat next to Stanley as she quietly admired at the view. It was sweet of him to share fond memories of her aunt with them.

  “Thank you for making this ceremony so special for me,” she said to her thoughtful hosts. “I enjoyed the good company, great food, and wine.”

  “I’ll send you some wine if you give me your address in the US,” Lynn said.

  Stanley stuck with Mr. Reed’s plan to keep her anonymity back home. “I don’t have a home right now. I sold everything I had to come here.”

  “You’ll always have a home with me,” Jeremy said.

  She squeezed his hand. “Thank you, love.”

  After warm hugs with Lynn, Jeremy drove Stanley to the Dutch community in Franschhoek, known for its culinary treats, vineyards, and boutique shops. Some anti-aging creams in a beauty shop caught her eye. The label on the jar said it would take off ten years if she used it twice a day. What was their secret formula?

  She rubbed the sample into her hands. It smelled like lavender and absorbed quickly into her skin. Not bad. It was just as good as their products. She met Jeremy waiting for her in the pastry shop next door. As she sat at the table with him, she held her hand near his nose. “Like it?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He kissed her hand. “What is it?”

  “This cream is supposed to give me glowing skin.”

  “You don’t need any help. You’re already drop-dead gorgeous.” He checked the ingredients of the jar. “Ah, it has marula oil. It’s rich in antioxidants and oleic acid. It’s good for your skin.” He put the packaged cream down. “The elephants are addicted to the fruit of the marula tree. It’s supposed to be an aphrodisiac for them. And you already know of the liquor from the fruit.”

  She gave him a flirty smile. “I guess it works on humans, too?”

  He winked. “Oh, yes. There’s a reason why you can’t resist me. I wear the marula oil in my sunblock lotion every day.”

  “I feel a strong urge coming on to kiss you.”

  He gave her a soft, sweet kiss. “In some places in Africa, the marula trees are sacred. They make drums, stools, canoes, and bowls from its soft wood. And the astringent bark is used for medicinal purposes and insect bites.”

  “Maybe I should rub that bark on my skin instead of the commercial insect repellent.” She read the other ingredients. “Marula fruit has vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. They’re all essential minerals for healthy skin.”

  He took a sip of his coffee. “How do you know so much about skincare?”

  “I only use organic products on my skin to get that healthy glow.” She gave him a curious look. “I want to take seed of the marula tree home?”

  “It might not grow where you live.” He gave her more facts about the miracle tree. “Ah, yes. The female tree bears fruit, and the male tree produces the annual flower. Legend says that tea brewed from the bark of a female tree will infuse the expecting mother with a female child, and the tea from the bark of the male tree will render a male child.”

  “It takes the guesswork out of family planning. I want a girl first,” she said with a smile.

  “Okay, I’ll put the order in.”

  After the short coffee with Amarula break, Jeremy took her to a scenic spot to enjoy the sunset. Under the blazing sky, she stood in his embrace. Relishing his warmth, she felt the power of his love. For once, there were no games to play to win a man’s affection. What did she do to deserve him?

  ~*~

  Torrey’s gorgeous mansion glowed with soft lights when Jeremy and Stanley walked in after a full day of sightseeing. His mother sat in the family room with a long face.

  “Howzit, Mum?” He kissed her cheek.

  “Not good, son. Call Lucky. He said he’d been trying to call you, but couldn’t get through so he called my number. I told him the cell phone reception is really bad at the vineyard.”

  His mother’s heavy voice had him on the phone with Lucky within seconds. Tears welled in his eyes. “Did they get them all?” He rubbed his face. “Okay… Be careful, Lucky.”

  Stanley’s pulse raced. “What happe
ned?”

  “The poachers went after Makeda. Thank God, Lucky was able to stop them.”

  Stanley grew anxious. “Did they hurt any of the other elephants or people?”

  “They got Tutu’s herd.”

  “Oh, my God. Are they all gone?”

  “Tutu is the only one who survived.” His voice choked. “She’s hanging on by a thread. If I don’t get to her soon, she’ll die.”

  She held back the tears. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw Tutu. She was running with the village children after their Rover. She was so happy and cheerful.” She looked at Jeremy. “We’ve got to go now to help her.”

  “I don’t know if I can help her. Lucky said Tutu has severe injuries to her trunk. Usually, baby elephants die right away from something like that.” Jeremy checked the time. “We better pack up.”

  Torrey hugged her son long and hard. “Please be careful. It was a terrible night like this when I lost your father.”

  “Mum, stop worrying.” He kissed her forehead after a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be back soon to help you move Dad’s things.”

  An hour later, at midnight, they drove away. Jeremy looked in the rearview mirror at his mother sadly waving on the porch steps. “I hate to leave her like this. She’s all I have.”

  Stanley squeezed his hand. “And me.”

  “Yes. Thank God, I have you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  After a worrisome night flight from Cape Town, the helicopter landed close to the lodge in Zambia. The heartbreaking news about the elephant massacre had Stanley and Jeremy in a panic for Makeda and her herd’s safety.

  They ran toward the light of the rehab center. Lucky had called to inform Jeremy he was guarding Makeda, Luki, and the rest of the elephants. Stanley held her nose as she passed by the table full of fish guts and liver bowls.

  Denise, Jeremy’s assistant, gave him a status report about Tutu’s current condition. He flipped through the baby elephant’s chart to see the medications and doses she’d received.

  “Good job,” he said. “There’s nothing else to do now but wait.” He looked at Tutu through the glass window lying on a bed of grass. “When did she last eat?”