“And the rest?”
Aggie took a deep breath and said, “Italy. Helen promised Cory they would get to Italy, but they never made it.” She reached for Beryl’s hand and kissed it. “So we’re going to fulfill that promise.”
* * *
Corinne wanders the house, and though she encounters no people, it doesn’t feel empty. The house feels alive – filled with art and furniture and books and – life, Corinne thinks. The others are there: Father in his den, Mother in her study, Terrence working on airplane models in his room, Candace at the piano. She feels them, just out of sight, but there nevertheless. Corinne is in no hurry to get – there. She doesn’t know exactly where there is, but she is confident she will know when she arrives. Light comes through every window, so that she cannot tell what time of day it is. As she passes a mirror, she catches a glimpse of her reflection and is not surprised to see her blond curls and her large blue eyes looking back from a young face.
In time, though she has no idea how much time, she leaves the house to enter the garden. The air is filled with scent, and she cannot tell whether it is the irises and lilies and roses or… Helen stands at the grotto, young and whole and beautiful, her face wearing a jaunty grin.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she says.
“I know,” Corinne breathes, unable to tear her eyes from Helen’s face. “I came as soon as I could. It was… I missed you so terribly.”
“I know,” Helen says, caressing her face with warm hands.
Corinne reaches up, pressing Helen’s hands more closely to her cheeks, kissing her palms. “Sometimes, it felt as if I were in hell, having to go on without you.”
“No more,” Helen smiles. “Nothing will pull us apart ever again.”
Together, they walk, their arms wrapped around each other as they take in the familiar sights in the garden.
“Do you want to stay here?” Helen asks.
“Can we?” Corinne asks curiously, looking around.
Helen laughs. “We can be wherever we want to be. I know how important the house was to you.”
They are emerging from the garden. Corinne looks up at the beloved edifice.
“No,” she says. “I’m ready to move on. The house is in good hands. It’s Agatha’s now, to do with as she wishes.”
Helen smiles and her face is radiant. Corinne takes her arm as Helen leads them away.
“Where are we going?” Corinne asks.
Helen leans close and her breath tickles Corinne’s cheek as she whispers, “You’ll see.”
THE END
About the Author
Caren was raised in Ohio, the oldest of four children. Much of her childhood was spent reading Nancy Drew and Black Stallion books, and crafting her own stories. She completed a degree in foreign languages and later another degree in physical therapy where for many years, her only writing was research-based, including a therapeutic exercise textbook. She has lived in Virginia for over twenty years where she practices physical therapy, teaches anatomy and lives with her partner and their canine fur-children. She began writing creatively again several years ago. Her first novel, Looking Through Windows, won a Golden Crown Literary Society Award for debut author. Her second, Miserere, was released in December 2012, followed by In This Small Spot in May 2013. Neither Present Time is her fourth novel.
Neither Present Time Page 27