“Why did she give her locket to Jackson?” he thought, letting out a stifled yawn.
His eyes carefully retraced the other photograph, of a beautiful pregnant woman. He had studied her picture many times before; remembering every line and detail. Her smile in the photograph was bright and hopeful, but the same life was missing in her eyes. Her dark hair was long and full and when he was little, he would often tell people he was the son of Pocahontas.
Was she sad because she had lost the love of her life to a car accident several months earlier? he pondered. He often retraced the face of his dad in the wedding photo and wondered what he was like. Did she somehow know that she wouldn’t survive the pregnancy?
When he was younger, he would often ask Roy many questions about his father and mother. But he’d stopped asking questions years ago because he could tell it was painful for Roy to relive the memories about his only son and his son’s beautiful wife. Nathan let out a huge yawn as he turned off the light. His eyes grew heavy and his mind ceased to ponder. Soon, his eyes gave in to the darkness, and he was asleep.
3
PARTY
Nathan sat quietly on the edge of his bed, staring at the black blazer hanging in his closet. Roy had taken the liberty of dry-cleaning it for him to wear to Lafonda’s birthday party. He had dreaded this moment all day and regretted falling asleep so early the night before. He had awoken much earlier than most mornings and instead of hanging out at the Devaro mansion and risking the chance of being volunteered to continue party preparations, had opted to weed the garden instead.
He was positive that if Roy hadn’t been so pleased to have this labor of love marked off his to-do list, Nathan would have been enlisted for Operation Party Hearty straight away. But at all costs, Nathan wanted to avoid the ‘why aren’t you excited we are having a party’ glares from Roy and LaDonda.
Based on past experience, Nathan knew that the entire day would be a mad rush with cooking, baking, decorations, and discussions of expectations for the night. All of which would annoy him just as much as the constant delivery of flowers Lafonda would receive from admirers and her boyfriend Jim.
Now, if I could just get out of attending tonight’s party, he thought. He paused; noticing the dark tan forming on his arms. “Maybe I could suddenly have a stomach ache or have heat stroke from working in the sun all day.” He huffed. “Or maybe – I can just say I’m sleep deprived.”
Nathan suddenly recalled the sleepless night he had the night before. Twice he had awaken in the middle of the night, just like all the other nights; with his heart racing and his body covered in sweat. His bed sheets were always wet and he changed them so frequently he was sure Roy probably thought he was wetting the bed.
“That would be an interesting conversation,” he chuckled to himself.
Nathan heard the sound of cars driving up the main driveway and the closing of car doors from his window. I guess I’d better get ready, he thought. Before…
There was a knock on his bedroom door. “Nathan,” called out Roy. “Are you ready in there?”
“Too late,” said Nathan, quietly.
There was a knock on the door again. “The guests have started to arrive,” said Roy. “And I’m sure Lafonda is expecting you at the party.”
Quickly, Nathan sprang to his feet and slid into his white dress shirt and black pants. “Nathan!” Roy called out again, this time twisting the knob to the door impatiently. “What are you doing in there?”
“Okay, okay!” Nathan groaned, barely opening the door. “I was getting ready.”
Roy stood there in the door way with a perplexed look on his face. “I’ve never known you to take this long to get ready,” he said. “You said you would shower and be over to the main house hours ago.”
“Uh – uh,” stuttered Nathan, while looking around the room. “I thought I had time to pack a little for camp.”
“Nathan,” said Roy, reassuringly, while staring at the almost empty suitcase. “I know it can be hard sometimes, trying to fit in.”
“Ugh,” he sighed. “Here we go.”
“And I know some of Lafonda’s friends can seem a bit – snobbish at times,” Roy continued. “But you shouldn’t let that stop you from going to Lafonda’s birthday party.”
Nathan stood in front of him with a bored look on his face, so Roy apparently decided to just save the lecture. He took a long look at his grandson and then smiled. “You look handsome,” he said, fixing Nathan’s blazer collar. “But not as good as your grandfather.”
Nathan’s face frowned. “Whatever, Grandpa!” he teased.
Roy grinned and then placed his hands on Nathan’s shoulders. “I just want you to have a good time and have some fun for a change. Okay?”
Nathan smiled. “Okay.”
The U-shaped driveway to the Devaro mansion was packed with cars and if it hadn’t been for Lafonda’s red Ferrari, the driveway could easily have been mistaken for a BMW car sales lot. Jim Darding got a new silver BMW last year, which in Nathan’s mind, would explain the popularity of the car and the color in the driveway.
Jim was popular in town mostly because of his parent’s money; his good looks were just a bonus. Jim Sr. and his wife, Frannie Marie, owned several restaurants in town and around campus. They also sold most of the homes to the parents of the people at the party and rented most of the apartment units on campus to their children.
“Now that Lafonda is dating Jim, next year the driveway will be full of red Ferraris,” Nathan chuckled to himself.
The den that was often used by the Devaros as a family room was more decorated then when Nathan last saw it. There were flowers in almost every corner, table and on any flat surface that could hold a vase. In years past, Lafonda would often receive flowers for her birthday, but this was a lot more than usual. Right away, Nathan attributed the room’s resemblance to a flower shop to Jim. Also, there were balloons of various sizes in a variety of colors sprinkled throughout the room. The banister to the staircase that led up to the library on the second floor was wrapped around in purple ribbon. Next to the staircase was a long table covered with a red tablecloth. On one end of the table were presents in different-sized boxes and on the other end, an enormous, multi-layered cake with purple, red, and white icing.
LaDonda really does like a lot of color, he thought.
Nathan straightened his jacket and nervously ran his fingers through his hair as he passed by a group of young women that were laughing and having a conversation. One of them, a young woman with blonde hair and emerald green eyes smiled at him as he walked by.
I need to find a mirror, he thought. He had gotten dressed so quickly earlier, trying to convince Roy that he was ready for the party, that he hadn’t remembered to comb his hair. I hope I look okay. Roy did say I looked handsome tonight, he paused mid-thought. Umm – on second thought, I think I’d better get to a mirror.
Nathan turned around and headed towards the bathroom, but bumped into a tall guy, who was carrying two drinks. “Sorry,” explained Nathan, apologetically. He looked down to see if anything had gotten on his white shirt. “Who are all these people?” he mumbled underneath his breath. “Are they all here for Lafonda?”
Nathan looked across the room. It was full of faces that he hadn’t seen before and none of the recognizable faces of friends from the past.
These are probably friends of Jim’s, he thought. Who would now be Lafonda’s new friends. He continued to look around the crowded room. But then again, they could all be friends Lafonda made this past freshmen year – which none of them I would know because I practically avoided Lafonda all last year.
Suddenly, Nathan felt out of place because he didn’t have anyone to talk to. He decided to skip the mirror after seeing the long line forming outside the bathroom and instead of walking over to the other side of the house, decided to get a drink instead. As he approached the drink table that was against the wall, the young woman with the blonde hair and green eyes that he saw earl
ier was standing there with a drink in her hand. Her eyes were fixed on him and if it wasn’t for the three guys trying to engage her in a conversation, he would swear she was waiting on him.
He was caught a little off guard by the drink options on the table. After a year of being exposed to frat parties on campus, Nathan automatically expected to find cups of beer or some kind of alcoholic beverage on the table. “I don’t know why I’m surprised to find fruit punch,” he chuckled. “LaDonda will probably still consider us kids even when we’re thirty.”
Nathan stood by the table while holding his cup of punch. Eagerly, he scanned the room looking for a familiar face, but would occasionally find the young woman staring at him. What’s her deal? he thought. She is obviously beautiful, and based on all the attention she’s getting, I doubt if she needs another guy to add to the adulation.
“Nathan – over here!” called someone over the music and the chatter. Across the room he caught a glimpse of a short, older woman with big hair waving her arm in the air. She was standing next to a younger looking man.
Reluctantly, he headed towards her. “Okay, LaDonda, you can stop waving now,” he mumbled. “I can see you.”
“Nathan!” she called again.
“Ugh – why is she still calling my name and flagging me down?” he protested. “Doesn’t she see me walking over to her?” Painstakingly, he raised his hand to wave back. “This is so embarrassing,” he muttered. Subconsciously, he scanned the room to see if anyone else was witnessing the uncomfortable display. “Maybe if I wave back, she’ll stop.”
“Come, come, Nathan,” she said eagerly, motioning her hand at him. “I want you to meet someone – I want you to meet Jonathan Gregory Black.”
She beamed. “You remember the Black family, don’t you Nathan?” she asked. “Dr. Gregory Black and his wife Patricia attended our church for years before moving abroad to pioneer a church in India.” Enthusiastically, she turned to look at Jonathan. “How old were you when your family moved there?”
Jonathan was tall and slender and wore a pair of dark, square-rimmed glasses that occasionally slid down to the tip of his sharp-angled nose. His dark hair was in contrast to his fair skin and sharp cheek bones and his piercing blue eyes were set noticeably back from behind his glasses. “I believe I was seven,” he said with a slight European accent. “I also believe Nathan, Lafonda, and I used to attend Sunday school together.”
LaDonda turned her gaze to Nathan and stared at him intently as if she was awaiting a response. “I don’t remember,” he shrugged. Her smile suddenly turned sour after hearing his answer. “I’m sorry – I just don’t remember.”
Nathan sighed. He hardly remembered anything from when he was seven.
“Well,” continued LaDonda, “I am so excited to have you back in town with us.” She had a disconcerted look on her face, but eventually sounded elated again. “And I was so excited when your parents called me to confirm that you would be helping out with camp this year!” She smiled. “I know it may not be as interesting or prestigious as being a summer fellow with your father and my son, Avery, at the British Museum in London – but I am so grateful you decided to join us.”
“Oh no, I am excited too!” shouted Jonathan, pausing to reposition his glasses on his nose. “I haven’t been to the States in years and I am most interested in learning more about the historical sites…”
“The historical sites?” moaned Nathan. He had a bewildered look on his face. “Here?” He huffed. I wouldn’t consider anywhere in this town of historical significance, he thought. And why on Earth would someone pass on a summer fellowship opportunity in London to be here to look after some whiny teenagers?
“Yes,” responded Jonathan enthusiastically, “I can’t wait to see the cliffs overlooking Lake Charleston again. They were once used by the Northern Cahokia tribe for rituals and ceremonies.” He smiled. “When I was little, I used to go up there with my father during his excavations of the area. Tomorrow, I plan to meet with the Director of Archeological Studies at the university, Dr. Janet Helmsley. She’s coordinating a new dig site and the excavation of one of the Cahokia Caves behind the cliffs.”
“Jonathan is following in his father’s footsteps by studying archeology and theology at Oxford University,” said LaDonda proudly.
Nathan quickly rolled his eyes. “Well, good luck with that,” he said.
LaDonda frowned and then smiled at Jonathan. “Will you need a car to help you get around while you are here?”
“Oh,” responded Jonathan, “My dad arranged for me to stay with the Dardings while I am here, until camp starts on Friday.” He paused to reposition his square-rimmed glasses on his nose again. “They were kind enough to allow me to use one of their vehicles,” he beamed. “It’s a nice car too – I believe it’s a grey or silver BMW – I really like it!”
“You and everyone else,” muttered Nathan, underneath his breath.
LaDonda sighed while keeping a watchful eye on the party. “I told Gregory that you could stay here with us,” she said. “But your father insisted that Jim Darding wouldn’t hear of it.”
Jonathan smiled and then laughed. “Yes, Mr. Darding was adamant that if I was coming to the U.S. that I stay with them,” he said. “My dad and Mr. Darding are good friends and he came to visit us in London when dad was appointed a trustee of the British Museum.”
“Okay,” said LaDonda, with a grin. “Well next time, you will have to stay with us.”
“Okay, well, I’m all out of punch,” announced Nathan, impatiently. “And I promised the birthday girl that I would find her as soon as I got here.” He smiled weakly and began to inch away. “It was nice meeting you, or seeing you again – John and I guess I’ll see you at camp on Friday.”
“You too,” said Jonathan, repositioning his glasses again. “Oh, and it’s Jonathan.”
“Right,” replied Nathan, attempting to walk away before LaDonda could command his attendance, “Jonathan.” He took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “Gee,” he groaned, when he thought he was out of earshot. “That took forever!”
Nathan headed over towards the table with the fruit punch and carefully maneuvered through the crowds of people. The beautiful girl with the sparkling green eyes and her entourage were no longer there. I wonder where Lafonda is anyway? he pondered to himself. I’d better find her quick and say hello or I will never hear the end of it.
He scanned the room. I hope she doesn’t expect for me to dance with her like last year, he thought, recalling the torture of having to dance in front of people, and with Lafonda. I would rather give blood than to do that again.
Ultimately, Nathan decided to stick to the security of the table instead of aimlessly searching through the crowds to look for her. He didn’t want to risk looking silly. He noticed that the majority of the people at the party appeared to be college students and that most of the older people were gathered together in little pockets near the entrance or fringes of the party. He caught a glimpse of Roy and LaDonda near the table stacked with gifts and cake. It looked like she was still having a conversation with Jonathan.
Carefully, he continued to look around the room, stopping here and there as he connected with familiar faces. He stopped again when he saw the blonde with the green eyes. She was standing in the center of the crowded room, but without her entourage of admirers. The sequins on her strapless black dress glimmered in the light as she occasionally shifted from side to side. She was engaged in a conversation with a young woman dressed in a white, fitted mini-dress that flared out slightly from her waist. The light fabric lay gently across her luminous dark skin and her long dark hair lay in silky curls across her shoulders. Nathan thought she was just as beautiful as the blonde
He gasped. “Lafonda!” he blurted out. He was so loud that a few people turned around. “That’s Lafonda?”
Nathan blinked his eyes and looked intently again at the woman in the white dress, this time expecting to see something different. After blin
king and adjusting his eyes several times, he finally shook his head in disbelief.
I guess everyone deserves to look good on their birthday, he thought, internalizing for what seemed to him an overnight transformation.
For a second, Lafonda turned in Nathan’s direction. When their eyes met, she smiled a huge grin. “The gigs up and I’ve been spotted,” he said. “I guess I’d better head over there.”
Reluctantly, Nathan navigated through the crowd and towards the center of the room. He had approached them from the side and for the moment, had gone unnoticed to the blonde and Lafonda as he stood behind them.
“So, Amanda,” said Lafonda sympathetically, while tossing her long black hair off to one side. “Have you heard from Leah – you know, since the accident?”
“Is that what people are calling it these days?” scoffed Amanda, while running her fingers through her straight blonde hair. “All I know is that Steve and I had returned to the dorm room to get my cell phone and there was Leah in the middle of the room, covered in blood, and threatening to hit people with my lamp!”
“So – you haven’t gone to visit her at the hospital or tried to call her?” Lafonda asked, sounding disappointed. “Amanda, she was your roommate.”
Amanda huffed. “After what I saw that day,” she said, “I’m terrified of her.” Her sparkling green eyes appeared to flicker with fire in them. “I mean, even Steve was scared to enter the room and he’s built like a football player! I’m telling you, Lafonda, she was like a wild woman – Tarzan’s mother gone crazy!” She shrugged. “I guess a couple of girls were playing cards outside the room and heard her screaming – I think they tried to help her.”
“Yes,” said Lafonda, “I was in my room at the time when I heard the screaming and all the commotion out in the hallway.”
The Legend of the Firewalker Page 4