She pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off. “Yeah, it is... But I think I handled that all wrong.”
He looked around the lot. No sign of a camper, or a madman. But he probably wouldn’t look like a madman until he started shooting, would he? They never did. “You can’t possibly be blaming yourself for that.”
“Not exactly...no.” She got out of the car, and it took every ounce of his will not to pull her back, to beg her not to go. Instead, he followed her, violin in hand and out of the case. “But I think I was supposed to wait for you. I think we were supposed to go together… and that this wouldn’t be happening if I had done my part better. With you.”
“Oh. I’m sorry I had to go back for work.”
“You would have come back if I’d asked.”
He hesitated. “Yes.” The after work crowd was picking up. He wanted to tell them all to get back in their cars, to go away. He looked at his phone. 5:22 “What if we just.. Set a fire or something, and the store was shut down?”
Ally considered it. “I can think of a lot of reasons it wouldn’t work, or how it could make things worse… but moreover, I think he would just do it somewhere else if he couldn’t do it today.” Her gaze was steel. “It’s better we end this now.”
It was strange to watch a scene he had been through a million times before, the parking lot with carts askew, hurrying corporate slaves in suits and dads holding kids’ hands through the crosswalk. To watch and to know it could turn into bloodshed at any moment. Even worse was to know how briefly the lost lives - as well as the lives forever changed - would stick in the American consciousness.
Stuart had never spared any sympathy for the shooters. Not even a moment’s, and he had been a fairly soft child when Virginia Tech happened. Men who killed the helpless were monsters, nothing else.
He eyed Ally as she scanned the area intently. Her breath was coming quickly; the rise and fall of her chest was visible. But she wasn’t soft. She saw this as a job to do. In the days he had been numbing himself and hiding from the path he had been set upon, she had been taking notes.
He turned his attention back to the parking lot. 5:31.
***
Ally saw the camper pull into the parking lot next door, shielded by a short line of trees. Here we go. She started walking toward the trees. It would be better if he never got near the store. Once someone saw the gun, all hell would break loose.
A surge of confidence moved through her as she saw the man step out of the camper. He was surrounded by light. “What kind is it?” Thinking out loud.
“I’m not sure,” Stuart said. So he had worked out there were different kinds, too. “But I have to say, I feel drawn toward it. That’s a good sign, right?”
“Stay behind me,” she said. Knowing he would argue, she added, “Just for a minute. You’ll know when to jump in.”
He didn’t argue.
“Hey!” she tried to sound casual, like she was greeting a friend. “We met the other day, didn’t we? Out behind my parents’?”
The man hesitated, then held his gun up. It was an ugly, mean piece. Her heart sped up. She had been mentally prepared, as much as she could be, but that didn’t override the survival instinct. She tasted the sharp metal of adrenaline and every muscle in the her body primed to run. I’m staying, she told herself.
“Whoa!” She said, raising her hands in the air and laughing. “I just wanted to say hi and apologize.”
He didn’t lower the gun, but he wasn’t targeting her. It looked almost like he was holding it as a shield. “You should!” He yelled it, but his voice was hoarse. “But I need you to get out of my way right now.”
She almost asked, “Why?”, but knew immediately that would only make him state and firm his deadly plan.
“You wanted me to sing the other day, right? That was all?”
He laughed hoarsely. “Something like that.” He moved forward, but on a different trajectory. He had his heart set on the grocery store now. She was just a distraction. But he didn’t know they were tied together in the tangled web of fate. He couldn’t get away from her that easily.
Stuart was behind her and she thought his breath sounded far too loud. “What did you want me to sing? I owe you a song.”
“Shut up!” He was getting too close to his target.
Ally started singing. She hadn’t chosen a song, so she just started and trusted the right words to come out. It felt awkward at firsts, but within words it felt like she was floating. She was surrounded by a bubble of light like she had never experienced before. The man turned to look at her. His face went slack.
Stuart started playing, and the man dropped the gun by his side. Ally was increasingly aware of Stuart’s rasping breath, and knew it wasn’t good. She prayed that whatever healing they were offering this man would protect them, too.
The man walked toward them, as if enchanted, but she didn’t stop. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she was aware there were more people approaching them, calmly, and that they were all drawn into this bubble together.
She lost track of time, and the next thing she knew, Stuart was kneeling over her. “Ally? Ally?”
She propped herself up on her elbow. “I fainted?”
He was gasping, still. “Oh, God, Stuart, you’re having an attack. Where’s your inhaler?” He shook his head. “I’m fine. I think you are, too, but you were singing for a long time. It’s after 6.”
She realized it had grown dark and they were in the halo of halogen lights, still surrounded by the group of people who had gathered. Except… “Where is he?” Stuart pointed.
The man was a few yards away, on his knees, sobbing into his hands. “I guess that’s a good sign-”
“Ally-” Stuart gasped.
Then he collapsed.
***
Ally found herself at the hospital, by Stuart’s bedside, waiting for him to wake up. It was similar to the vision she’d had a week ago, but not exactly. There weren’t a lot of people around. It was just her and a nurse. And things weren’t as dire as she had assumed they would be.
One thing was the same, however, very much so. She did regret all the time she had wasted. Would it have been so hard? She thought back over the time they had spent together, and the way she had pushed him away. No, the ways she had pushed him away.
It probably wouldn’t have been hard to keep him close… if she was a different kind of person.
She sighed and took his hand. Another thing that hadn’t come through in the vision was that Stuart was going to be fine. He had gotten oxygen and treatment fast enough. He was just sleeping now. Why had she assumed his was in a coma? It would be so important to write down visions exactly as she saw them, without projecting all her emotional mess on them.
He did look so pale though. The doctor had told him it was risky not to be on better medications with asthma, and Stuart had been sensible enough to look sheepish and agree to start immediately, whatever was recommended.
She yawned. What a day it had been.
A beam from a streetlight cast through the window, and it reminded her of the attic, and her memories of the first day she had witnessed death. A day when she had been okay with the idea of dying, that a small, wise child had said, “It’s not sad.” I can feel that way again. I can believe that again.
Something in her had shifted today. In the parking lot she had been okay with the idea that she might die, or even with the idea that Stuart might die, in the service of something greater than themselves. She wouldn’t have been okay with people dying at the hands of an angry, bitter man, but like a loose tooth, she was beginning to play with the idea: Maybe death wasn’t always a tragedy.
The tragedy was in not embracing all that came with the gift of life.
Including death.
***
Brad hesitated at the door. He held grocery store flowers in one hand - the best he could afford - and knocked lightly on the door jamb with the other. The door was some ki
nd of metal, which didn’t make a great knock, but the girl turned to look at him anyway.
To his great surprise, she smiled. “Come in!”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine, just resting. They aren’t going to admit him.”
“I’m so sorry.” He handed Ally the flowers. She smelled them and said, “Thank you. I’m Ally, by the way.”
She laid the flowers on her lap and invited him to sit. “I’m not sure I should stay.”
“Just for a few minutes. What are you planning to do next?”
His heart sped up and he stammered. “Nothing, honestly… I’m done with all that. I don’t know what you did but -”
She waved off his worries and shook her head. “I know, that’s not what I mean. Now that all that’s done, what are you going to do?”
He stared at her for a few protracted moments. Why would she care? “I don’t know. The most I’ve planned anything that wasn’t a completely terrible idea lately was joining a gym.”
She smiled, this time as if they were sharing an inside joke. “That’s a great idea. You know, I heard Luke’s Gym on Mulhaven was hiring.”
“Oh, that’s the one I go to!”
“Really?” She put a hand on his arm, and he felt something warm and soothing course through him - not unlike when she sang. “Are you a witch?” He kept his voice low.
She leaned back and chuckled. “Not that I’m aware of. I just have a ...gift… and I’m just now learning how to use it. We are.” She gestured to the man, and, seeing that his eyes had opened, said, “Hey there, Stuart.” “Hey.”
He envied the way they looked at each other. That would never be his life, would it? Who would want someone like him, who had done the things he had done?
Out loud, he said, “I was just wondered, because you sang in a different language. It sounded almost like a spell?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so… I don’t really know any other languages.”
Stuart said, “I think it was Celtic.”
“What? No. You’re teasing me.”
“I’m not,” Stuart said, though his pirate’s smile looked like he was having fun telling her nonetheless.
“It’s true,” added Brad.
Ally scrunched her nose, and Brad thought she was adorable. In another life, maybe… His heart sank when he remembered how he had run after her. “I’m so sorry,” he rasped.
She met his eyes. “I know. And I know you were in a bad place, and you know better now. As Oprah says, ‘When we know better, we do better.’” Stuart teased her now for real, “Quoting the prophet Oprah, are we?” Ally hushed him.
“Seriously, I think you’ll do okay. And just so you know, the police did connect the dots on my report and your camper. But I’m going to drop charges. Do better, okay?”
Tears blurred his vision. “Yeah. I will.” He rose and walked to the door.
As he left, Ally added, “Keep an ear out. I think we’ll be doing some performing in town, here and there.”
Chapter 21
Moments after Brad left, her mother and Jill walked in. “Who was that?” Jill asked. “He’s cute.”
Hmm, thought Ally. That could work.
But Stuart quickly lowered the chances by giving a thumbnail version of recent events. “He’s the guy who chased Ally in the woods. Then he was going to shoot up a grocery store, but we stopped him.”
“What? How?” Her mother and Jill spoke over each other.
Stuart laughed. “Well, I wrestled him to the ground with all my manly strength of course, risking life and limb.”
“He did not, don’t listen to him.”
“You have to admit, it’s still more believable than what really happened.”
“That’s true.” She looked to the woman, noting that Jill looked confused but her mother looked strangely at peace with all of this. “We’ll explain later. Maybe. If we can.”
“I’m starving,” said Stuart. “Can we get out of here now?”
***
((insert Stuart and Ally doing something meaningful, where?)
(Something leads ot them talking about the future.)
“Any visions lately?”
“Since yesterday? No.” Stuart put the newspaper down. “Maybe we get a break after saving lives.”
“You make it sound like there’s an office somewhere, keeping track.”
“That would make it easier to understand than … I don’t know. Some ambient force of destiny.”
“The Force! It’s like Star Wars.”
Stuart groaned. “Any other religion besides Star Wars, please.”
“Hmmph.”
“Anyway, I’m happy for a break. And I still have a job. I should probably check in on that.”
“Do you think you’re... going back?”
“I don’t know. I could probably just go back occasionally… if I had a place to stay here.”
“Well, I haven’t made it official, but I think I’m living in the cabin for a while. My parents seem to like you a lot. I think it would be okay if you stayed here. Or back at the house.”
He almost made a joke about shacking up, but stopped himself. “Your mom would probably prefer back at the house. Or I could get an apartment nearby.”
Ally took his hand. “I just want you to know, I’m here for you. For us. I don’t want to hold back anymore.”
He kissed her hand. “I should tell you. My brother told me some things about our father, and they brought up memories. Bad ones.”
Ally frowned. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I do, actually… but I think I should probably work through it with a therapist or something first. Does that make sense?”
She nodded and squeezed his hand. “Take as much time as you need. And I would like to meet your family.”
“I have to reach out… I kind of panicked last time and took off. But I’m here for you, too,” he rushed to clarify. “For us.”
“I know. You know what?”
“What?”
“I think we’re going to be pretty good at this, after all.”
They kissed (details!), and Stuart ran his fingers through her hair. He wondered when the kiss in the rain would happen… and the walk in the fields.
He couldn’t wait to find out.
“Hey,” he murmured, kissing her temple. “Want to visit the animal shelter today?”
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. He felt like he could fall into their depths.
“I do.”
There was a lot about being able to follow the signs of destiny that made life confusing, but it made some things so much easier.
“Let’s go.”
***
Holly watched her daughter and future son-in-law surrounded in a beautiful yellow light. They got in the car to visit the animal shelter and sighed with perfect happiness.
She knew exactly what kind of dog they would get.
She even knew what dress she would wear to the wedding.
Epilogue
In June, Stuart and Ally went for a walk in the wildlife preserve near home. It was the end of a busy week at work for both of them. Stuart had opened a new branch of the catering business in a town that somehow had very few, and the demand had been steep. He could barely keep up with hiring enough people to staff the events. Ally’s music school had been an instant hit, and the profits had added up so quickly from the home business that she had opened a location in town, and hired teachers for instruments as well as voice.
Stuart and Ally’s businesses, not coincidentally, were housed next to each other.
They had agreed, however, to save their end of week talk for a nature walk, and their sweet, goofy mutt bounded happily after them in the ankle high grass. Dogs were technically not allowed in the preserve, but Pete was such a gentle dog that he had once found a stuck squirrel and hovered over it until they had helped it escape from the errant balloon string. He was a safe exception
.
They chatted about their work days, and Ally was the one to bring up the topic they had both really been planning.
“So… I had a dream last night.”
“It happens.” He was playing it cool, but knew that she saw right through him. “I think people put too much importance in dreams, myself.
She laughed, and took his hand. “Yeah, totally overrated…”
He chuckled, thinking of the adventures their dreams had brought them… and goosebumps as he realized they had brought them here.
“I think I saw the Eiffel Tower.” Ally bumped his shoulder with hers, playfully.
“Hmm.” He used his free hand to stroke an imaginary beard. “Now that you mention it, I do think I had a dream about eating a croissant.”
“That was breakfast, my love.” They laughed together. Pete barked, which made them laugh harder.
“So,” Stuart said, “Paris?”
“Paris.”
Another adventure awaited.
Together, they said, “Let’s go.”
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