Lightning Strikes Twice

by Erik Schubach

  Then I went to the one suitcase that was still packed and almost hyperventilated as I took one of the two books wrapped in velvet cloth and laid it in the hope chest. Then went about wrapping it. I wound up sitting against the wall with my legs pulled up to my chest and rocking for a bit after that. I couldn’t get the voices to stop screaming in my head no matter how much white noise I created. So I just soldiered through it and went to work on Abbey’s gift.

  I finished a while later and grinned at the result. It was awful, I wish that with all my abilities I had at least a little artistic talent. I giggled at the gift then wrapped it and went to take a long hot shower to get ready for the night and to wash all the glue and glitter off of me.

  It wasn’t until almost eight, when I was dressed, I went with a professional black dress and got ready for the night when I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. No time for that now. I had to be at the gallery just before closing at eight, so I could catch all my employees. I could eat later if I actually survived this night.

  I grabbed most of the remaining Christmas cards and stepped out to hail a cab. Minutes later I was standing in the gallery. I smiled warmly knowing it was mine. I was already getting quite fond of the notion. I had never really owned a business before. Sure I consulted with plenty of businesses but that isn’t the same as having a physical building with employees and something you share with your customers and the public.

  Tracy’s eyes went wide when I walked in. She was on her cell as I walked past with a smile on my face. I saw Missy answer her phone on the other side of the gallery and say something. Tracy locked the front door and disappeared into the back room. Missy shot me a smile and finished up with the last patron and led them out of the gallery, giving them a card and a cut sheet on the art they were considering. I was impressed with the depth of knowledge she had with the work as I eavesdropped.

  I watched as my employees popped out of the back room one at a time and headed upstairs while Missy joined me at my side, motioning up the stairs with her eyes. “Hey brat, I told them that you wanted to speak with them before they left tonight.”

  I nodded in appreciation as we walked up the stairs together in silence. I straightened my dress and slipped on my reading glasses, which got a snort from Missy and a roll of her eyes. I had to stop a snort of my own as her professional face snapped up and she straightened her blouse. We strode in like we meant business.

  All eyes were on us. Eve and Janice were here too, good, all six employees. I stopped myself from smiling over at the red headed Eve Rand knowing, the young woman was Mandy Fay Harris’ niece. I have actually met Mandy before and holy crap does she have a presence.

  Missy started. “Ok, listen up everyone. As you know the gallery hasn’t done well the past few years, and with a downswing of the economy things were looking even bleaker. That’s why Carl and Vanessa had to sell. I know we were all worried about our jobs and what changes the new owner would make. I think we were all a little surprised to still be here. But we can’t sit on our collective butts and just hope things will get better. We need to work our asses off and implement the pro-active changes that Miss Davenport and I will be laying out over the next few weeks. We will be giving one hundred percent and will expect the same from all of you. With that, I hand you over to Miss Davenport.”

  I nodded once in thanks to her and handed her the envelopes. One with each employee’s names on it. She looked at them then to me with a questioning look. I said nothing and she handed them out. Then I spoke, “I know you all want to get to your families here on Christmas Eve, so I’ll make this short.”

  I looked around and everyone was staring at me in rapt attention. “Everything Mrs. Hannigan just shared with you is true. And the gallery is hurting right now but I believe we can all turn things around and make the Downtown Seattle Gallery the gem of the city again. With this in mind, as an incentive to you all, each year I will be giving bonuses based on the overall success of the gallery. The better we do, the better you are rewarded at the end of the year.”

  I looked at each person, making eye contact, then continued, “With that in mind, I have given each of you a starting Christmas bonus of ten percent of your yearly salary. I want to grow us into a single-minded team, a family if you will. The success of the gallery contributes to your own personal success and professional growth.” Eyes were wide as they glanced down at the envelopes then back at me.

  I took a deep breath. “But that cuts both ways, if the gallery is not profitable in any year, bonuses will not be awarded. I believe that with the team we have and the new directions the gallery will be moving that we will have nothing but success and I look forward to working with you all. Now shoo, get out of here and have a Merry Christmas. For those of you working the special Christmas showing tomorrow, I’ll see you then.”

  There was a little clapping as each person shook my hand as they left. Leaving Missy and I standing alone in the room. She cocked an eyebrow then looked at her envelope. “This was unexpected.”

  I shrugged and smiled. “I know, but I need to ignite a spark as well as let each employee know I truly appreciate them. Besides wench… it’s Christmas.”

  She smirked. “I’d pummel you for the wench comment if you weren’t so damn tiny and cute.”

  I winked. “That’s one of my super powers.”

  She snorted then looked at her cell and typed something in and then looked back up at me. She took a deep breath and said, “She’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

  I took a deep breath of my own and nodded once. “Ok, I’ll be down in the gallery by her exhibit area.”

  She stopped me from walking out with a light touch on my shoulder and she didn’t look at me, she just stared straight ahead and said quietly, “If you hurt her…”

  I just placed a hand on hers and squeezed gently and nodded, then walked out to make my way down into the gallery proper. She followed and disappeared into the back room. I spent the next fifteen minutes trying hard not to hyperventilate.

  I stood looking at the little Plexiglas shelves that would hold the canvases Mia was bringing. I smiled in memory of her first works back in college. Her unique gift of sharing her memories in just about any medium. There was a structure to it most people couldn’t see. It was an extraordinary ability of hers to calculate viewing angles and distances and distill it down to the canvas or sculpture she was working on, with an almost machine level precision. The remote viewing phenomenon that snapped a seemingly random work into sharp focus at a specific distance from the art. The art world quickly coined it, the Jacobs Effect.

  I was lost in the memories and almost jumped at the sound of the voice that I hear in my dreams speaking from behind me. Her voice was a slightly lower register as happens over time, but it still set off the tuning fork in my soul as my breathing quickened and I fought down the panic and the urge to run away. The angel’s voice said, “T-the curator s-said you’d like t-to speak with me.”

  I closed my eyes to fight off tears and I said a silent prayer, trying to calm and steel myself. I couldn’t stop the enormous smile on my face as I turned to face the woman my heart ached for. “Is that all you have to say to me Mia?”

  All I saw on Mia’s face and in her eyes was joy. My heart started beating again. God, I thought for sure that… I shook the thought away as we both squealed and wrapped our arms around each other in a tight and desperate embrace. My entire being never wanting to let go… it felt so right. My shame doubled, how could I ever justify running like a coward?

  Mia said with a voice filled with excitement, “I can’t believe you are here!”

  I squeezed my eyes closed, I was feeling something… something I haven’t truly felt in ages. Was… was this happiness? I opened my eyes and took in the two people standing behind her. I swear to you I was not prepared. If my heart were just a tiny bit weaker, that would have been the end of me, it would have given out at that moment as I pushed Mia away and took two shocked steps backward, covering m
y mouth.

  This isn’t possible! I’ve finally lost it, I’ve gone mad! Vee? But then my panic and shock bled away as I saw some subtle differences in the looks of the young woman who had a short blonde girl standing next to her. Thank the lord… I won’t have to go back to the funny farm again.

  I locked eyes with Mia again and tilted my head toward the young lady in question, searching Mia’s eyes as I asked, “Abbey?”

  The imp just grinned and nodding with pride. My heart skipped a beat at the slight smile on her face as I dropped my hand from my mouth. I just shook my head as I glanced back at my goddaughter, shaking my head as I whispered, “I thought I saw a ghost.”

  Mia grabbed both of my hands, interlacing our fingers as she pulled me to the girls. I couldn’t have torn my eyes from Mia’s if I had tried. God, she looked wonderful. The years have done nothing to dull her beauty. The tiny things I could see just made her that much more amazing and mature. Like the tiny wrinkles and laugh lines you can only get from smiling so much. She was happy…

  I glanced up and down, taking her in. I choked back a tear when I saw her wearing Vee’s combat boots but couldn’t stop a smile when I saw the ears of Little Vee, a tiny white teddy bear, poking out of her pocket. Just as I always knew, Mia would always love that wonderful woman and she was always in her thoughts. This made me both happy and sad. I knew that there could never be another she could ever come to love like she did her Valhalla. It was just how Mia’s brain worked. She was her once in a lifetime lightning strike.

  We both realized that we were just staring at each other and shared a little blush Mia looked at the ground bashfully then looked back up and said, “Victoria, let me introduce to you, your goddaughter Abbey and her beautiful fiancee Samantha.” The girls looked truly shocked when Mia said my name.

  I couldn’t stop myself! It was my goddaughter! The baby I never stopped loving, I grabbed her in a tight side to side hug, then gave the same to Sammie. Good lord Skylar’s daughter was gorgeous!

  I felt I needed to be grounded again or I would float away, and I found myself grabbing Mia’s hands again.

  Then she tilted her head cutely and glanced around expectantly as she asked, “Where’s your bride?”

  I felt nervous and found myself stroking the sides of Mia’s hands with my thumbs, there was so much heat traveling through me at our touch. I shrugged, “Who knows? She divorced me two years back bilked me for millions in the settlement. Said I was too hyper for her, and age wasn’t mellowing and ‘maturing’ me enough for her tastes. I personally think it’s because her personal assistant knocked her up. Tomato, tomato… But I so make an awesome divorcee!” I struck a pose with false bravado. Because even though I knew we were never right for each other, I still did love Beatrice, and it still did hurt that she cheated on me and divorced me.

  I couldn’t stop myself from babbling, I felt like I had to explain to this marvelous creature. I opened my mouth and the words came rushing out. “I got bored over the pond. Running large businesses on your own is like, so lame. When I heard a few months back that the prior owner of this gallery was selling, I jumped at the chance to come home again. I’ve always had a soft spot for the arts, and I figured I’d make a friggin’ amazing gallery owner, so I bought it. I arrived here last night and am livin’ outta a hotel till I get settled. Now I’m here for good. I heard you were turning down galleries left and right, but approved mine and…”

  Then in a familiar manner that felt like she had just done it yesterday, Mia smiled as she interrupted me, “Slow down Vickster! Breathe!” I was going to shoot a silly look the two young ladies who were just giggling at our exchange, but I stopped breathing and my heart stopped beating when I realized Mia was also stroking the sides of my hands with her thumbs as well. Gawd, it was hot in there. Ummm… something about breathing being good… how does that work?

  She snapped me out of it when she spoke again, “Well, welcome home! You simply must come stay at the house tonight so we can chat! We can get your stuff out of that stuffy hotel tomorrow. You are staying with us until you get situated!”

  I was about to protest when her eyes captured mine. There was no escaping the hold they had on me. I bit my lower lip at her spectacular swirling eyes and she mirrored me. Shit, I melted.

  I said in a hoarse voice, “Definitely! I’ve missed you so much!”

  Was that relief on her face? She replied, “Great! So we’ll see you at home soon!” Then my breath hitched when she leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, but she stopped and pulled slightly back and our eyes met each others again. I could hear my own pulse pounding in my ears and I was getting a little light headed. Why was she just hovering there? Didn’t she know what she was doing to me? I glanced down at her lips longingly, the prize that could never be mine.

  I caught myself leaning forward and stopped myself. Good god Vicky what the hell is wrong with you? If she ever did that, Mia would feel as if she had betrayed Vee and you would too! You know that!

  Then something that has never happened to me in my entire life occurred. I stopped thinking entirely, all the voices were gone as white hot fire rushed through me when Mia closed the gap and our lips came together in a passionate kiss. I lived in that moment, all I knew was her… then the panic returned and I broke the kiss. All the noise in my head returned with a vengeance, like a rubber band being snapped. Oh god, oh god, what did I do? How could I be so stupid? I knew she would feel guilty over this and dwell on it.

  I said breathlessly, “I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”

  She looked at me a little dreamily and tilted her head cutely, then she blushed and looked down and away. “D-d-don’t be s-sorry, I’m the one who kissed you. I’m… Vicky… I’m… n-not sorry.”

  She left me there stunned as she dragged the girls away calling back to me over her shoulder as she made her escape. “See you in a bit?”

  I couldn’t form any words so I just nodded. Like she can see you nodding Vicky you idiot! So I gave a tiny wave. Shit, I can’t think. I caught myself murmuring, “Ok.” There, take that universe I can still speak! I touched my lips, the memory of hers on mine was seared deep into my eidetic memory.

  I retrieved my stuff from my office and made my way to the front door and paused when I saw Missy still there, standing by the door. She unlocked it for me then said quietly as I walked out, “Don’t fuck this up boss.” I nodded at her as she locked the door and walked away.

  It was late, I was still starving but I wasn’t going to give Mia any reason to believe I would run again. I needed to get over there. I hailed a cab and had him wait at the hotel while I gathered a few things and stuffed them in my carry-on bag. I grabbed the presents and rushed back down to the waiting cab.

  Moments later we were heading to the house… where I had lived with Vee and Mia. The house where Vee grew up and the girls made a family. The house where Vee’s ashes were sprinkled in the lake. The house my goddaughter had grown into the woman she now was.

  The driver snapped me out of my head. “Ma’am?” I blinked and looked at him. He looked almost apologetic. “I said we’re here.”

  Oh! I looked out the window to the place that was more home to me than the house I grew up in and fought my own watering eyes and forced a smile on my face. “Thank you.” I got out and gathered my things. I paid the man and gave him a generous tip.

  I walked up to the door and had to smile as I put my packages down. The old, bordering on ancient now, electronic lock was still there and looking to be in good repair. I experimentally typed in Vee’s code and the indicator light turned green. I had to smile at that. Mia would never remove that code. It was how she was, how her brain worked. She may not have an eidetic memory like me, but her obsessive compulsive behavior would keep every moment with Vee alive in her head forever.

  A few seconds later the indicator turned red again and the back-light on the number-pad turned off. I stood taller and took three quick, deep breaths and raised one h
and tentatively and let it hover a moment before I steeled my resolve and knocked lightly on the door.

  Chapter 6 – Catching Up

  It felt almost surreal to me as I sat beside Mia on the same couch as all those years ago. It was like a snapshot of the past. Sure it had been re-upholstered since then but it was the same. Everything was the same, like it was frozen in time. The only differences were the additions marking Abbey’s presence in her life over the years. Like the photos along one wall that basically showed her growing up.

  My heart broke a little, knowing that there was more truth to my ‘frozen in time’ analogy than I cared to admit. Again, that is just how Mia’s brain worked. She lived in those memories and the pain. But Abbey was able to break through that, the evidence was subtle but it was everywhere around me. Mia lived for Abbey now, not herself.

  I glanced over at Abbey on the love seat with Sammie. Good god, you could almost feel the love for each other those two were radiating. I smiled at Abbey, she had turned into a spectacular woman. I understood Mia’s pride and love and knew how the child had cracked her obsessive compulsive armor to make herself an irreplaceable part of her life.

  I blinked when I realized everyone had stopped talking and were looking at me. I quickly rewound the conversation in my mind and played it back to see what I missed. Oh! I smiled at Mia. “No, I haven’t had anything to eat all day. A snack would be nice. Oh, but first… I know Christmas isn’t for a couple more hours but here.”

  I snagged the large wrapped package and handed it to Abbey and then gave the small box to Mia. I looked at Sammie apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you would be here tonight Samantha.” The blonde girl just scrunched up her nose cutely at me and waved me off.

  Mia gave me a “you shouldn’t have” look. Then I clasped my hands together and pressed them to my lips and looked at the women. Was it wrong that I was still obsessing over the kiss earlier tonight? It was quite possibly the most perfect moment of my life.