Once in a Blue Moon

by Diane Darcy

  “Mmm hmm.” Richard continued his mending.

  She rinsed the cloth again. “I had it all planned out. I would have met Hannah and the widow in the churchyard afterward and everything would have been casual. I’d say ‘Hi, how’s it going.’ Hannah would say, ‘Oh, hi, sorry I acted so weird yesterday’, and that would have been that.”

  She washed the stove again. She just wanted to resolve this conflict and talk to Hannah. She didn’t like feeling upset; guilty. Especially when she hadn’t even done anything wrong! “Why didn’t they just go to church?”

  Richard eyed her. “You’re right, they should have been there.”

  His agreement irritated her. She glanced around looking for something else to clean. She eyed the blackened wall and ceiling behind the stove, but decided trying to clean the soot off the logs would simply smear the black. She sighed and glared down at the floor.

  The problem was, she was nervous about talking to Hannah. Did Hannah blame her for something? Was she angry? She probably hated Melissa and no longer considered them friends. And what about the widow? No doubt she’d ream Melissa at the first opportunity.

  Richard tightened the leather strap he was working on. “Maybe you should just go see her? I could go with you if you want.”

  Melissa turned on him. “I’m not a coward. I don’t need you to hold my hand.”

  “You know I didn’t mean that.”

  She met his concerned gaze and sighed. She did know. She shook her head. “I’m just overly touchy today.” But he was right. She did need to get this over with. Xavier liked her to grovel when he thought she’d done something wrong. So she’d grovel. Not a big deal. She knew the routine.

  But should she apologize when she hadn’t done anything wrong? She’d made Hannah a dress. Taken Hannah to a social event. Introduced Hannah to a guy who was smitten with her. Been a friend to Hannah. So why was she feeling guilty?

  She threw the cloth in the water and without another word, headed out the door. She just needed to get this over with. She’d play it by ear once she got there.

  A few minutes later, she stood in front of the ranch house door and took a moment to wipe her palms down the front of her skirt. She took a deep breath, and knocked.

  Almost immediately the widow answered the door, a haughty, forbidding expression on her face. “What do you want?”

  Melissa tried a small smile. “I’d like to talk to Hannah.”

  The widow crossed her arms over her chest. “Absolutely not.”

  Melissa pressed her lips together. She remembered her vow to grovel if necessary and took a deep breath. “I feel very bad about what--”

  ”Do you even realize what a selfish, thoughtless, manipulative person you are?”

  Melissa’s mouth parted as hurt tightened her chest. No, not hurt; she felt picked on, that was all. Because, really, what had she done? She’d simply tried to be a friend. Why should she be criticized? Why should she let herself be criticized? “Look, all I did was make Hannah a--”

  “I warned you, didn’t I? I told you not to hurt Hannah. I told you to stay away from her.” The widow filled the doorway, rage making her seem even taller than ususal. “I told you she was easily wounded. But did you listen? You think your opinion is the only one that matters--”

  “All I tried to do was--”

  “–and that you know everything. Well let me tell you...”

  Melissa pressed her lips together. The widow’s tirade wasn’t unexpected. Anyway, Melissa always got yelled at. It was a daily occurrence with Xavier, so why did it hurt so much now? Melissa let her rant uninterrupted a few more minutes and tried to block out the words.

  Finally the widow ran out of steam.

  Now it was Melissa’s turn. Melissa swallowed the lump in her throat. “What did I do that was so bad? I simply--”

  ”I refuse to listen to your excuses. Just stay away from Hannah. You are not welcome here.” The widow shut the door in Melissa’s face.

  Melissa’s mouth fell open, tears filled her eyes, and she stared at the door for a full minute before turning away to start back to her cabin.

  The stupid woman! She wouldn’t even listen; wouldn’t see reality! It was so unfair! Melissa felt hurt--no, angry! She was just angry about the whole situation.

  Who wouldn’t be? The woman wouldn’t even give her the courtesy of hearing her out. She refused to understand that Melissa was really trying to do something good for Hannah. Why hadn’t the old hag been able to see that?

  Melissa wiped away tears. Why was she crying? The past was making her soft; vulnerable. How many times a week did Xavier ream her? How often had she been backstabbed and gossiped about at work? And when had she cared? Never. She’d simply exacted her revenge until she’d reached the point where no one dared mess with her anymore. Well, except Xavier. But she’d certainly never cried like a baby!

  Revenge didn’t sound like such a bad idea. Her anger upped a notch and her tears dried. So Mrs. High-and-Mighty thought Melissa was such a horrible person? Well, she’d only seen her good side so far, but that could easily be changed. Perhaps the widow needed to find out just how horrible Melissa could really be!

  She stormed back into the cabin.

  Richard studied her face, his expression concerned. “How did it go?”

  Tears fill Melissa’s eyes again. “It was so unfair! She wouldn’t even listen to me!”

  Richard held out his arms. “Come here.”

  She hesitated, not wanting to seem weak, then ran into his embrace and let Richard hug her. He said, “Let’s get the kids and go over to Sully’s for a while. It’ll do you some good to get away for the day.”

  She nodded. Getting away from this place, even to see Sully, wasn’t such a bad idea. Besides, the long walk over would give her time to think.

  The widow would pay. Somehow Melissa would make her.

  * * *

  Richard tried to grab her hand, but Melissa jerked it away, danced a few paces to the side of him, and glared. “What are you doing?”

  He smiled. “Walking with my wife. Trying to hold her hand. What are you doing?”

  What she wanted to do was forget about the widow and Hannah. She wanted to enjoy her family. Unfortunately, that wasn’t happening. She couldn’t forget, was still upset, and did not want to hold Richard’s hand. She just wanted to be mad. “I’m being angry.”

  Richard chuckled. “Okay, but could you keep the noise level down? All the heavy sighing and stomping feet is starting to hurt my ears.”

  Melissa’s mouth dropped. “I am not stomping! And I’m certainly not sighing!”

  Richard’s eyes widened. “You’re not? Oh, I’m sorry. Did I mistake your heavy breathing for sighing? Were you trying to give me a hint? Would you like to spend some time in the bushes with me?”

  Melissa rolled her eyes and huffed in disgust, but a smile pulled at her mouth.

  Again he tried to grab her hand, and this time she let him and he intertwined their fingers. He cocked a brow. “Well, Mrs. Kendal? Are there bushes in our near future?”

  She glanced at the twins, exploring up ahead, having a good time. “Oh, the kids would love that.”

  Richard grinned. “Come on. We could sneak off before they even realized.”

  Melissa smiled. “And they’d find us. And then we’d have to locate a therapist and I’m not sure they have any here.”

  “What about Sully? He’s sort of the wise-older-man type. Maybe he could step in and fill the role.”

  Melissa laughed. “Oh yes, can’t you just see it? Sully trying to explain the birds and the bees? He freaked out when he thought I was in my underwear; he’d have heart failure.”

  Richard nodded. “And it would be all your fault.”

  She lifted her chin. “How do you figure?”

  “All that heavy breathing you were doing. Tempting, very tempting, Mrs. Kendal. What’s a guy to do?”

  Melissa laughed again and shook her head. Thankfully, the sil
liness had caused her anger to fade. What did she care what the widow thought? Since when did she care what anyone thought? She needed to get her mind off the earlier ugliness and simply enjoy the afternoon.

  She cast around in her mind for a safe subject. “Do you realize I’ve done more walking since we came to the past than ever before?”

  “What about your treadmill?”

  “Doesn’t count. Treadmills are for wimps.”

  They smiled at each other in perfect understanding. They’d been dumped in a hard place and a hard time, and were getting through it; flourishing even.

  She glanced at the twins, up ahead, dislodging a small boulder on the side of the hill. They shrieked with laughter as it tumbled down. “The kids are thriving here.”

  Richard squeezed her hand. “So are you. You look beautiful today. But then, you always do.”

  She knew she looked like a hag, and had for a long while, but if he didn’t realize it, she wasn’t about to point it out. Melissa smiled and returned the squeeze.

  They never did this anymore; held hands. She lifted their clasped fingers. “This feels good. Like we’re happy. Happier than we’ve ever been.”

  “We are.” He winked. “Maybe in the future, we should start up a new business. We could hold family nature retreats. We’ll supply a cabin in the middle of nowhere with a cookstove, a few supplies, and maybe some bushes.” Richard wiggled his eyebrows at her. “It might catch on.”

  Melissa smiled at him. “You never know.”

  They veered off the main road and climbed the hill to Sully’s place. His cabin door was closed and although the usual assortment of animals scrounged in the dirt, the dog wasn’t around.

  The kids knocked, but didn’t get an answer, so they ran to pet the mangy horse.

  Richard indicated the grass at the top of the hill. “Shall we sit here?”

  Melissa sat facing away from the cabin and toward the main road so she could watch for Sully.

  Richard stretched out on his side facing her and lifted her hand to his lips for a quick kiss. He rubbed her ring finger with his thumb. “When we get home, I’m putting your ring back on.”

  Melissa smiled at him, her heart filling with love. “Do you remember the day you proposed? When you placed it on my finger?”

  One side of Richard’s mouth kicked up. “Of course. On the Catalina Island Ferry. I was so nervous I almost dropped it overboard.”

  “I felt so loved that day,” she said softly.

  “I did love you.” He kissed her hand again. “But I love you more, now.”

  She leaned down and kissed him.

  When she straightened, he grinned up at her, then laid on his back and put his arm over his face to block the sun.

  Melissa breathed in the fresh air, soaking up the peace and quiet.

  After a few minutes, Richard grabbed a piece of grass and chewed on one end. “You know, this could be a good spot for our dream house.”

  Melissa smiled. “Ya think?”

  “No, really. What do you say we build one here? I can just picture it now. A wood-structure, ranch-style house with--”

  ”Rustic is not going to happen. What would the neighbors think? It would bring down the value of their property.”

  “Sully wouldn’t mind.”

  “But the Davidsons’ and the Maceys’ would; and so would I.” She patted him lightly on the shoulder. “Sorry buddy, but you’re stuck with modern architecture and stucco.”

  Richard shrugged. “Okay, fine. A stucco house and beautiful landscaping. A wife, husband and two kids. Both the husband and the wife have dream jobs in their chosen career fields. It’s a great life.”

  “It sounds enticing.”

  “Oh it is.” He picked up her hand and kissed the back. “Believe me, it is.”

  Melissa sighed. So why hadn’t she been very happy? Why did she feel more content today, sitting in the long grass at the top of a hill?

  She gripped Richard’s fingers. “I don’t want to lose what we have,” she turned to look at him. “What we have now, I mean. But I don’t want to stay here, either.”

  Richard stood up. “Come on.” He pulled her up and drew out his knife; a long wicked-looking blade.

  “What are you going to do? Sacrifice me?”

  He walked down the hill and she followed.

  Richard placed her on one side of the tree. “Stand here.”

  He put the point of the knife to the trunk and started to carve. She couldn’t see what he was doing.

  Quickly becoming bored, she sat down and drew her knees to her chest.

  After about ten minutes, he extended a hand and pulled her to her feet.

  On the tree, he’d carved R loves M, a big heart surrounding the initials. He put his arms around her from behind, bent down and kissed her neck.

  Her hand came up to squeeze his arm as they both studied the crude artwork.

  Richard’s hold tightened. “This is our spot in the world. This is where we’re building a life: past, present, and future. You. Me. Our children. We matter. We’re important enough to fight for.”

  He turned her around, gripped her by the shoulders and studied her face. “Can you feel it? Can you feel how right this is; how right we are? Everything is going to be fine. We’ll make it be fine.”

  Her eyelids fluttered for a moment, and fear welled up inside her. That little girl--the undeserving one who didn’t merit having anything good, who people looked down on and criticized–-rose up, and her emotions threatened to choke her. But as she continued to look into Richard’s eyes, tears welled in her own. Intense love for him filled her. This was real. They did matter.

  She nodded, touched his face and looked into his eyes. “I do feel it. I really love you and our children: past, present, and future,” she whispered the words back to him.

  Richard leaned down and kissed her and it felt like a promise.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “What in the name of tarnation did you do that for?”

  Richard broke off their kiss and lifted his head.

  Melissa glanced over to see Sully and Jed coming toward them. Sully looked outraged.

  Richard raised a brow. “Pardon me?”

  Sully stopped a few feet away and pointed to the tree. “I was going to use that tree for firewood, and you’re carving love pledges on it! Now I expect I can’t cut the blasted thing down! How am I supposed to stay warm this winter? How am I supposed to cook my food?”

  Jed nodded in a serious manner behind Sully.

  Melissa couldn’t help it. Laughter bubbled up inside her and spilled out, a much needed release from the tension of the afternoon. “What are you going to do? If you cut it down now, we may end up divorced. Our fate lies in your hands, Sully.”

  Sully looked worried, which set Melissa off into giggles again. She was glad she’d come.

  Zeke bounded over and jumped up on Melissa, trying to lick her face. She arched her neck back and pushed the animal down. “Get off me. Down. Get down!”

  The dog settled beside her, tail wagging furiously as he stared up adoringly.

  Jed stepped forward, a hopeful expression on his face. “Is Hannah with you?”

  Oh dear. Melissa shook her head.

  Jed took off his hat and twisted the brim. “I’m thinking of heading over to her place to call on her. Is she home this afternoon?”

  Melissa exchanged a glance with Richard.

  Richard shook his head. “I think it would be best if you waited a few days to call on Hannah.”

  Jed turned to Melissa as if for confirmation.

  She nodded. “Yes, that would be for the best.”

  Jed looked crushed. “Fine. I’m going home.” Looking sad and upset, he turned and left.

  Melissa watched him go before glancing up at Richard. “Maybe we should have just told him straight out that it isn’t likely to work out. As it is, he’ll just hope for the best now.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

 
Melissa’s gaze followed Jed’s progress and her brow furrowed. Hannah wasn’t likely to thank Melissa if Jed showed up now. And the widow–she’d eat poor Jed for dinner. “How do you know that?”

  “Because--”

  ”Well, come on.” Sully cut him off. “It’s bad enough you ruined my tree and chased off my friend. Let’s go inside.”

  They followed Sully up over the hill and into his cabin. Melissa knew how much Richard wanted this opportunity to visit with Sully and was glad he had the chance.

  Sully’s cabin was dirty, of course, and it smelled a bit. But apparently she was getting used to filth because she didn’t seem to mind as much anymore.

  Zeke whined for attention and Melissa patted his head. She glance up to see Sully studying her, eyeing the dress she wore.

  He glanced away. “My wife was a good woman. I carved her name in a tree back by the house in town. My son carved his initials in the same tree. I wish I knew where he was.” Sully paused and looked down. “He’s probably dead too.”

  Richard and Melissa exchanged a look. It would be nice to be able to reassure Sully.

  “Your son is fine,” said Richard.

  Sully shrugged. “Hope so.”

  “Don’t worry, he’s fine,” Richard repeated. “So you were in the Civil War?” Richard asked, changing the subject.

  Melissa walked over to study the books on the shelf above Sully’s unmade bed. She’d forgotten Sully had books. Surely he’d loan her one? She could use an escape from reality for a while. Anyway, it would give her something to do while Richard visited with his grandpa. She studied the titles. “Sully, can I borrow one of your books? Pride and Prejudice?”

  “No. That book belonged to my wife.”

  Melissa was surprised by his response and a little miffed. “I’d take good care of it.”

  He shook his head. “Nothin’ doing. Those books were her treasures. You might damage one; get one dirty. They are irreplaceable to me.”

  Melissa scoffed. “Get it dirty? You’ve got to be kidding me! All you have to do is pick one up to get it dirty. Let me borrow one. I promise to take care of it.”