The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook*

by Shannon Barczak

  I’ll admit there were small bags under my big green-blue eyes, but my skin was clear with just a smattering of small freckles on the bridge of my straight nose. I still got carded, well most of the time; my lips were pretty decent, the bottom lip slightly larger than the top. I may not be Cover girl material, but I wasn’t that bad I thought as I started my car up and drove away.

  Drowning my butt, I thought, as I pulled up to a red light. I caught a flash of red out of the corner of my eye and glanced at the gorgeous Mercedes convertible with envy. I then took a peek at the driver and realized he was staring at me. He gave me a wink while he revved his engine slightly and smiled. For a second, I was flattered.

  But then, of course, the realization that the distinguished gentleman probably wasn’t a day over eighty registered in my brain. I pressed down on the accelerator the moment the light turned green and speed away slightly flustered.

  Oh my gosh, a grandpa checked me out. Maybe I am drowning. I have been too lax on the old beauty maintenance as of late. Was all this work and no play turning me into an old fuddy-duddy and grandpa had sniffed me out?

  Damn it, I hate it, when Suzy is right.

  Chapter Two

  “I’m sexy and I know it." I sang to myself as I drove home from the hairdressers feeling fresh and frisky. My hair had been washed, conditioned and cut into long layers after spending about an hour at the hairdressers. I ran my fingers through the smooth, shiny strands while I pulled into the long driveway I shared with my parents.

  I brought my little Audi to a stop around the back of the property and contemplated the little cottage. While my parents’ house was a sprawling Spanish hacienda, my home was more adobe style. The red roof tiles were a perfect contrast to the white stucco walls. Custom-made wooden shutters salvaged from an old church framed her small windows. This little cottage was her pride and joy, and she loved living here. At one time, a small playhouse that her father had built for her when she was three stood there but upon graduating high school her parents had presented her with a set of house plans.

  “What? Are you kidding me? What is this?" I had yelled with excitement at my small graduation party. “Are you building me a house? Holy Moley!"

  “Your father and I thought that since you were going to school here in town that perhaps you would be more comfortable in your own little space instead of sharing a small dorm room." Cecily had explained

  “It’s not big of course, only about nine hundred square feet but I’m sure we can make it work for you. You’ve got a small but functional bedroom, bath, and living area, eat in kitchen and also a laundry/ study room,” said my father in his lilting Irish voice. “What do you say Willy Dilly? Too close to home? We promise to give you space. I cannot promise though that I won’t be polishing my guns in the driveway first thing in the morning. Just a little warning in case a young lad comes strolling out of your house early.” His blue-green eyes twinkled

  I stood there a little shocked. While most kids her age may not like the idea of living in her parent’s backyard, Willa cringed at the thought of having to share a room with a stranger. A loud, cramped dorm was not her idea of fun. Call her dull but none of that sounded like a good time. As she looked at her parents she thought, I am so lucky. Laughing she said. “You ass, you don’t even own a gun.”

  “Or underwear,” Mac quipped

  “Eww, that’s not a visual I want daddy-o," I said going over to hug him

  "Well, honey, what do you think?" my mom asked anxiously

  “I truly believe that you both are the best parents in the world. I love this fairy cottage. Just promise me you won't be all up in my grill."

  “Up in your grill?" my father asked. “What in blazes does that mean? Cecily do you know what daughter is saying?"

  “I think it means we need to respect her privacy dear." my mom said with a small grin that lit up her beautiful face.

  I smiled as I reflected on that memory and got out of my car, my arms loaded with several shopping bags. I let myself in the front door and dropped my takeout from the local burger joint and various packages on my little bistro style table dining room table. I walked into my living room, plopped down on my couch and put my feet up on the mission style coffee table. After taking a long sip from my strawberry milk shake, I let out a sigh of contentment. I eyed my beehive fireplace and thought all I needed was a little fire, and I would be one happy girl. Slowly my eyes drifted shut only to be jarred awake by the annoying sound of my cell phone a few minutes later.

  “Hello." I grumbled

  “Hi sweetheart, how was your day?” asked my father cheerfully

  “Peachy keen, lemon squeezy," I answered grouchily, “What’s up, besides me now?"

  “I wanted to inquire if you had everything done for tonight. Your mother and I are leaving in about ten to fifteen minutes, and I wanted to touch base with you on our ‘Operation Anniversary Romance.'"

  How can you be grouchy when a fifty- year- old man says something like that I wondered?

  “Operation Anniversary Romance is a go.” I replied. “After my session in the torture chair at the hairdressers I stopped at the store and picked up candles, yellow and white as requested. Then I was off to the florist where I was immediately accosted by the owner, who is your biggest fan, by the way, there I was laden down with enough boxes of fragrant rose petals and flowers you could easily enter a float in the Rose Parade. After that, I completed my mission at the jewelry store where I was again met by another one of your admirers and pocketed a magnificent, but understated diamond bracelet crafted of thirty large diamonds for thirty glorious years. Little FYI, I also picked out my next birthday present. To reward myself for a job well done I decided to treat myself at Julio’s Burger Palace and bought with your shiny black card a lovely celebration meal that cost you about twelve bucks."

  I took a breath and continued. “I will change into my sleek black cat suit in a few hours and break into your house where I will spread sunshine, happiness and romance that will be waiting for you when you get home from your evening out." I said with gusto.

  “What would I do without you Willy Dilly,” Cormac said chuckling

  “Well, honestly, dad if you keep calling me Willy Dilly you’ll find out what will happen without me."

  “I keep forgetting my little girl is all grown up, it seems like only yesterday you came into our lives."

  “It’s amazing you keep forgetting that since I’ve been a legal adult for seven almost eight years now. Do we need to start looking into Dementia Care Centers for you?"

  “Always a comeback." said Mac

  “Yup, I learned from the best." I answered. “So when are you leaving? I want to get a few shots of you old dogs for prosperity."

  “Ten minutes,” he answered

  “All right, channel your inner models and you can Vogue it up for me on the front lawn in five,” I said hanging up the phone and going into my bedroom to search out my digital camera.

  Five minutes later I walked around the pool and gardens to the front of my parents’ house with my camera in hand. Noticing my parents weren't out yet I decided to snap a few pictures of the main house. Both our houses were stuccoed, like almost all houses in Arizona, but while mine was a bright white my parent’s house was a rich terra-cotta colored. The hacienda also had the standard red roof tiles but in place of shutters there were blue Mexican tiles that outlined the windows. The setting sun in the background made the house shine with a soft pinkish -orange warm glow.

  Voices interrupted my impromptu photo shoot of the house. I swung the camera around to the large wooden front double doors and saw my smiling parents all decked out in their finery.

  “Woo, check out the two of you. You both look gorgeous as ever, my compliments as always.” I said ending with a low whistle and started snapping away pictures.

  My father was wearing in a dark suit with a bright white dress shirt. A green paisley tie completed his ensemble and brought out the green in his eyes
more than ever. His dark hair was just showing signs of gray around his temple and sideburns, but he was still in fantastic shape. At six feet three inches there was no sign of softening anywhere on his fit body.

  My mother was his perfect compliment. Cecily had tied her dark red hair in a classic chignon which seemed to emphasize her defined cheekbones. Her emerald earrings and matching pendant sparkled around her neck and set off her cashmere wrap dress of the same color beautifully. Her black leather stilettos on her feet made her frame look longer and lither. In a nutshell, they looked amazing. Not for the first time I wondered where I came from as I looked at these two beautiful people. I know I looked like my mom’s mini me with my dad’s eyes, but I just never have mastered the class and grace that exuded from them effortlessly.

  “Okay people. Let’s make love to the camera,” I said and then proceeded to shout insane instructions which kept my parents in fits for the next few minutes while I clicked away.

  “Alright Ms. Photographer how about a few with your mom?" said Mac still chuckling

  “No way, I look like crap after working all day."

  “What are you talking about sweetheart? You’re beautiful Willa. I love your hair, all shiny and smooth. You could do a hair commercial,” said Cecily as she ran her fingers lightly through my hair.

  “Maybe with a mask covering my face, you're right though we should preserve this moment. Not only is it your thirtieth wedding anniversary, it’s also proof that I went to the hairdresser,” I said handing over the camera to my dad and positioning myself next to my mom.

  “Here we go,” Mac said. “Let me see smiles from my two beautiful princesses."

  After a few snaps with my mom, she walked over to my dad and snatched the camera away from him to take even more pictures of him and myself. What started out as a quick anniversary memento soon turned into family portrait day at Sears minus the hideous backgrounds.

  “Enough, enough,” I said. "This isn’t prom. You both need to get out of here if you want to make your reservations at Umberto’s."

  "She’s right Cessie, we need to get going." said Mac

  "Ok, my love. What are your plans for tonight Willa?" my mom asked as she picked up her small black clutch that she had laid on the walkway.

  “Well, I thought I would shoot up a little heroin, invite a couple of gigolos over and make a home movie." I answered with my eyes wide with feigned innocence.

  “Oh Willa,” Cecily sighed. “Can you ever just answer a question without a smart answer?"

  “Sure, but do you want me to answer a question with a dumb answer?"

  “Oh Willa, never mind,” she sighed again

  “I’m going to write that in your obituary, ‘She died peacefully in her sleep after sighing, Oh Willa.'”

  My mom’s eyes narrowed at that comment. “Sorry,” I said. “My grand plan was to stuff my face with Chef’s Julio’s gourmet burger and over salted fries. Then I was going to wash it all down with luscious milk shake, which pretty much ought, to put me in a carb coma. I'm hoping the coma lasts for seven to eight hours because frankly I do not want to be awake when you get home and inadvertently hear any anniversary celebrating."

  “Let’s leave Willa to her carb coma Cecily,” said Mac

  “Good-bye sweetheart." my mom said as she gave me a quick hug. “Have a nice evening and don’t forget to lock the doors and set your alarm."

  "Ten four Officer McCormack,” I gave her a little salute

  “Night Willy Dilly." said Mac as he drew me in for a quick hug he whispered. “Before you fall asleep don’t forget Operation Anniversary Romance."

  “Got you covered old man,” I whispered back, “Now go ride off into the sunset with your lovely bride, so I can get started."

  I watched them pull out of the driveway with a big grin on my face and my hand shot up to give them a wave good-bye. For a few minutes, I just looked admiringly at the setting sunset and enjoyed the smell of the fragrant air that the slight breeze stirred up around me.

  Not ready to go in yet, I sat down on the front steps of the hacienda and scrolled through the pictures that were in my digital camera. I smiled lovingly at the shots of my parents and scowled slightly, critiquing the images of the pictures with me in them. I went back to check out what else was on my camera that I haven't downloaded yet. I was pleasantly surprised to find pictures of the bakery and my crew that worked there.

  There was a great shot of Polly, looking more Goth than usual, with her purple streaked hair and ripped black tulle dress. She was working intently on a pink and purple ballerina cake (hence the nod with the tulle dress) for my neighbors adorable four- year- old daughter. The next one showed her standing proudly in front of the finished product; her bizarre attire and hair should have looked out of place, but her wide smile was stunning.

  About of dozen other images included Jon doing some self-portraits, who must have hijacked my camera. There was also a half a dozen more of Eric. The pictures captured him slaving over the arduous task of rolling out the dough for his double stuffed cinnamon rolls, that he sprinkled with sea salt and crystallized caramel.

  I didn’t realize at the time how precious those pictures would mean to me or how that was the last evening that I would ever sit through it without a nagging worry or fear. As I sat watching the last few streaks of fire sink into the western sky, I could only see beauty but pretty soon I would feel terror.

  "Beep, Beep, beep.” My annoying alarm on my phone went off waking me up from a sound sleep. I cracked my eyes opened, at first, completely disorientated. After dragging myself back to my cottage following the impulsive sunset viewing party of one, I scarfed down my gourmet meal and crashed out on my soft suede sofa but not before I had the forethought to set the alarm on my phone.

  I clutched my stomach when I stood up to stretch for a minute. I probably should not have taken a little nap right after eating a giant jalapeno burger, fries and shake. I detoured to the bathroom to grab a couple of Gas-X and washed those down with a glass of water. I headed back out to my kitchen to scoop up the packages before I made my way over to my parent’s house.

  I let myself in the back door and got to work. I was determined to get this over with quickly and efficiently. I so did not want to be here when my parents arrived home. Talk about embarrassment for me and buzz kill for them. I started setting the yellow and white candles first in the foyer, then in the living room and lastly the master bedroom.

  I went into the kitchen and unwrapped the florist paper from three different bouquets of yellow and white roses. I put two filled vases in the bedroom and saved one to compliment my own surprise for them. I grabbed a large box filled with red rose petals and spread them from the foyer to the bedroom. I left a handful in the box as I went into the always vacant guestroom and liberated a small round bedside table. I dragged it out into the living room to set up my gift.

  I shook out a crisp white linen tablecloth to get any wrinkles out and put it on a small table. Next I put a cute yellow sparkle overlay that I found at a craft store on top of that. I carefully opened the small cake box from the bakery and put a miniature three tiered wedding cake that I had made a few days ago in the center of the table. Tiny white edible pearls dotted on the smooth pale yellow surface of the cake. At the top, I put a funky crystallized sugar sculpture with the number thirty cleverly sketched in by Eric.

  The third vase I filled with more roses and set it on the table. Lastly, I set out a few plates, forks, a serving knife and the piece de resistance, two large gaudy golden plastic chalices I found at a party store which I placed next to the bottle of Dom Perignon. “I have to leave a little fun and a piece of me for you both,” I said out loud.

  I took one last look around and realized I forget the decorations. I retraced my steps back to the bedroom and sat down on the floor to clip several long pieces of the yellow and white ribbons. I tied the ribbons around my parent’s large canopy bed and stepped back to admire my handiwork. The light yellow wal
ls glowed beautifully in the candlelit room. The bedposts looked like something out of a fairy tale all tied up with ribbons, and the roses sweetened the air with their fragrance. It was then I felt a pang of loneliness in my stomach.

  While I was not a nun, I was not what you called experienced. My first love was my high school boyfriend. Rob lived down the street from me growing up, and we knew each other our whole lives. He was the quintessential boy next door, tall, sweet, and a shy sense of humor. With his sun streaked blonde hair and swimmer's body that he magically developed overnight our junior year, I fell head over heels for him. It was in his backyard on a warm, starlit night soon after graduation that I lost my virginity to him, and we proclaimed our undying love. That was, of course, until the end of summer when he went to school on the other side of the country while I stayed here in Yuma.