Long Snows Moon

by Stacey Darlington

  She set her new flute aside and picked up the lavender t-shirt. That too held the distinct aroma of Jameson and the store. It smelled like the color it was with a hint of vanilla and lemongrass. She breathed in the wonderful smells as she rummaged through her bags for Moon’s brush. She sat on the bed and rolled Moon on her back.

  “Come on, sleepy-head, you’ve got burrs and mats all over your belly.”

  Moon growled but let Devon brush her. She yipped or snapped at Devon when she pulled too hard.

  “You have some terrible manners lately. You’ve never growled at me and now you want to use your teeth?”

  Moon whined and covered her eyes.

  “I understand. Maybe the wolves awakened your natural nature. And to that I can relate.”

  Moon barked in agreement.

  “You are filthy, though. No one would ever think you were my dog. It’s downright embarrassing. You should see yourself,” Devon teased.

  Moon barked twice and hid her head under a pillow.

  “I’m not looking the part of the wealthy socialite either, I look like a cavewoman.”

  Moon barked once. She sat up on the bed and snatched the brush from Devon’s hand.

  “Give it back, Moon,” Devon warned. “Let me get the mats out of your tail.”

  Moon dashed off the bed and into the bathroom. Devon heard the toilet flush and smiled to herself. When she peeked into the bathroom, she laughed aloud as Moon stood watching the water swirl around the brush.

  “It’s too big to go down,” Devon ribbed her.

  Moon flushed it again and barked encouragingly at the brush.

  “All right, you made your point,” Devon told her. “No more brushing, but you do need a bath.”

  Moon barked twice.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Moon hurried from the bathroom.

  “I’m getting in first, but you are next, young lady,” Devon warned.

  Moon barked twice from the other room.

  Devon undressed and stepped into a hot shower. She heard the toilet flush and she suffered a blast of cold water. She yanked back the shower curtain and saw Moon sitting there, poised to flush again.

  “You better not!”

  Moon’s bark was defiant.

  “I mean it, Moon.”

  Moon hit the lever anyway and dashed from the bathroom. Devon heard her dive onto the king size bed.

  “Payback is hell, Moon. Don’t think you’re sleeping in bed with me, dirty girl,” Devon yelled.

  By the time Devon was finished with her shower and prepared to carry out her threat, Moon was asleep.

  Devon put on Jameson’s t-shirt and slid in beside her. She turned off the bedside lamp and allowed her thoughts to drift to the stream where she and Jameson slept. Her mind wandered and soon her spirit followed, up and away. She imagined herself next to Jameson on the bank of the stream. Together in silence, they watched the night sky.

  There are many realms and realities.

  * * * *

  Jameson found herself by the stream bathed in twilight. She’d rekindled last night’s fire and it crackled behind her. It was a beautiful time of day, the time associated with Mudjewkeewis, the West.

  She relaxed on the bank of the stream and listened to the sounds around her. She knew they were watching her, ready to come should she call. Jameson hoped the owl would return, but knew on a deeper level that it would not. She closed her eyes, listened to the lilting sound of the flute, and smiled.

  Every piece of art she created imbued with a deep impression of her own spirit. She traveled through the pieces of wood or canvas she touched. She’d always had the ‘gift of sight’, as her mother called it, but rarely encouraged it. She had known of Devon’s impending arrival yet the details surrounding it had been vague. She hadn’t expected Moon to drop seventy feet, into her lap. Moon had certainly been true to her word and brought Devon back.

  The darkening sky moved her. Now, she offered her thanks to Wakan Tanka. She asked for wisdom, direction, and knowledge. A question plagued her mind, but it was not one for Wakan Tanka. It was a question for her mother. She waited, reclining by the stream, as the hours moved by. She took a stone from her medicine wheel and held it to her heart. The stone represented the Harvest Moon. She put herself in that placement of the wheel. She extended her arm and felt a warm hand clutch her own. Together, they lounged by the stream, lovers holding hands. Together in spirit, they watched the night sky as the clouds drifted by.

  Jameson received her answer in the breeze. Your true love has found you.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Devon got up before dawn, hoping to get to Tarpon Springs by the next evening. Last night’s beef jerky worked its way through Moon’s system and was causing real havoc. Devon had to pull over often for Moon to relieve herself.

  Devon found a beautiful place to stop, a scenic point for taking photos, with a breathtaking view of the painted land. Beyond it was a stand of trees. Devon watched Moon go into the trees for privacy. She waited for her on a bench and welcomed the breaking dawn. She noticed an electricity pole a few feet away and on top of the pole was a giant bird’s nest. Devon spied a bird peering from the nest. It watched Devon with great interest, as if gauging a new species of animal. It sailed into the morning sky, showing off its brilliant wings. Devon watched it soar to an unimaginable altitude, before disappearing into the clouds.

  Devon knew this bird was a golden eagle. It was dawn, the time of Wabun, spirit keeper of the east. She extended her hands to the sky, knowing the eagle had the ability to take messages to the Creator. Devon felt infused with energy and vigor. She now had clarity of mind and traveled with the eagle, within the eagle, until she was able to relay her own message to Wakan Tanka.

  When she finished her flight, she turned to see Moon waiting for her in the Range Rover, watching her. She seemed enchanted by Devon’s pose.

  Devon felt her message received. She joined Moon in the car and resumed their journey. She never felt more connected to the earth before, never as disconnected from her own physical body. She felt clean and pure, baptized in the white light of illumination. Not bad for someone who didn’t believe in God.

  As she pulled back onto the highway, Devon noticed the raven on the bench. She waved to it. It flapped its wings as if greeting her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Claire slipped out of bed without disturbing Analise. She tiptoed down the stairs. She drew a heavy sigh and put on a pot of coffee. The energy in their new home was muddy and dark. Claire hoped Devon’s arrival would bring a spark back to Analise. Since she delivered the horrible news to Claire, Analise dropped her façade.

  Lupus nephritis. Analise had the strain of Lupus that shuts down the kidneys. Modern medicine had no cure. Claire’s job was to maintain and monitor the symptoms. Claire knew she wasn’t the best caretaker in the world. Devon would be an enormous help.

  She sat at the kitchen table with her coffee and dialed Devon’s phone. Devon answered on the first ring.

  “Mom?”

  “No, me,” Claire replied.

  “How is she?”

  “She’s sleeping now. How close are you?”

  “I should be there by dinner time,” Devon guessed.

  “You’ll stay awhile?”

  “Of course. She must really love you.”

  “I suppose she does,” Claire agreed.

  “I don’t know why,” Devon said.

  “I wonder sometimes,” Claire, sighed. “I’ll have your room ready, I’m sure you’ll be exhausted.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Have you spoken to Trevor?” Claire asked.

  “No, that part of my life is over. There’s nothing for me there, there never was.”

  “I know that now.”

  “I have one question. I want to know why.”

  Claire was silent for a while. “It not that simple,” she began. “So many things snowballed out of control.”

  “Nothing has ever been ou
t of your control, Claire,” Devon snapped.

  Claire seethed and suffered that truth. She bit her lip to confine her sharp tongue.

  “How are you going to control this, Claire? How does it feel to have to deal with something beyond your command?”

  Devon hung up before Claire responded.

  Claire sat at the table and stared at her coffee now cold in front of her. Sure, she could have made better choices. Nevertheless, hindsight is twenty-twenty and she couldn’t turn back the hands of time and blah blah blah. She cradled her head in her hands and stared at a crumb on the table. Her life was a blur now. Thirty-three years blazed by and here she sat to face the reality. She’d mastered and manipulated all of their lives on order to be with Analise. Claire snorted at the irony. The object of her life’s design was on her deathbed in a house built on sorrow and deceit. To add to her misery, Devon Danforth still had a fresh mouth.

  Claire spiked her coffee with brandy and took it outside to the gazebo. Their new house was a nineteen twenties plantation-style. It backed up to a nature reserve. She sat facing the landscape interspersed with bowing willow trees and grand oaks. The terrain sloped down to a small pond. A bird flew overhead and dove into the water. The abruptness and the grand splash landing made Claire jump. She squinted at the pond.

  “I didn’t know ducks could fly.” She smirked and sipped her coffee. “Of course they fly. How ridiculous of me. Fly, swim, and walk. Ducks are multi-faceted creatures.”

  She went back in and got more coffee, chuckling. She was in such a state she would actually have room in her mind to think such a thing. When she returned a duck, or perhaps the duck, was standing in the gazebo.

  Claire was wary in her approach. She hoped the duck would waddle away when she got close enough. But, it didn’t. It stared at Claire as she moved toward it. It appeared to smile.

  “Hello duck, quack, quack,” Claire said. “You can go now.”

  Claire skirted around it and resumed her seat. She glanced at the pond. The duck wasn’t there.

  Because I am here.

  “That was quite an entrance you made. It was a mighty splash for a small duck.”

  How else would I get your attention?

  “If you think I think you’re talking to me then you are as crazy as you think I am.”

  She raised her coffee and toasted the duck. It was possible the hand that spiked her coffee had been heavier than she realized.

  The duck stood there with its smiling orange bill and funny little feet. “I didn’t know ducks were so cute.”

  Claire chuckled when she heard herself. The bourbon must have been eighty proof. Why, otherwise, would she converse with a duck? She finished her coffee and got up to leave.

  You must face your deepest emotions. It is time to commune with your clan.

  “I don’t have emotions and I certainly don’t have a clan,” Claire said.

  Mother Duck.

  Claire glared at the creature. Had it spoken?

  Mother Duck.

  “Why do you keep saying that? Or why do I keep imagining you are saying that?”

  Live in the moment. Face your emotions. Be buoyant like me. Fly, float, and walk the earth.

  “I do admire your versatility.”

  She followed the duck down the rise to the pond. She sat at the water’s edge. She slipped off her sandals and set them aside. The duck nodded, encouraging her to dip her toes into water.

  “Is this an initiation of some kind?”

  The duck waddled into the pond. It dipped its head under the water.

  Your emotions were sunken deep at depths you couldn’t breathe. They are closer to the surface now.

  She watched the duck glide along the surface. A part of her moved with it, light and effortless. The water was cool on her feet. Claire reclined on the grass and drifted.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Devon and Moon rolled into town early evening as predicted. Claire watched from the living room window as she parked and got out. Devon used a walking stick to get along.

  Claire greeted her at the door. She took Devon’s bags and placed them at the foot of the stairs.

  “What in God’s name happened to you? Oh, and your new car is wrecked,” Claire exclaimed. “Look at your head! Devon, you can hardly walk.”

  “We had a small accident, no big deal. I’m fine, Moon’s fine, the car still drives.”

  They shared an awkward hug while Moon explored the house.

  “Analise is sleeping, finally, she tried her best to wait up. I made lasagna for you, sans meat. Are you hungry?”

  “A little,” Devon admitted.

  Claire led her to the kitchen and filled a bowl with water for Moon.

  Claire noticed Devon raised a brow at her bare feet. She slipped back into her sandals.

  “You’ve put this place together fast,” Devon remarked, looking around.

  “I had it done by a decorator so it would be ready for when we arrived,” Claire admitted.

  “Always planning, aren’t you, Claire? Moon, come here, please,” Devon called.

  Claire gave Moon’s dirty coat a look.

  “I’ll give her a bath tomorrow, don’t worry.”

  “I have more pressing worries right now,” Claire replied.

  Devon nibbled at her food and fed Moon the rest.

  Claire refilled her martini from an icy metal shaker. She brought a glass over for Devon and poured her one.

  “No, thanks.” Devon pushed the glass aside. “I want to see my mother.”

  “Upstairs, turn left, last room at the end. Can you manage the stairs?”

  “Of course.” She used the walking stick for support.

  Claire watched Devon limp away, perplexed by her demeanor. She’d never seen Devon pass up a cocktail, not to mention in a time of stress. She’d always been a strange little bird, given to flights of fancy and whim. Claire sensed this was no whim. Devon possessed a new self-confidence that made her even more attractive. It was a wild quality and although she was in obvious pain, Devon moved with the poise of a wolf, aware she was on the top of the food chain and feared no predators.

  “You seem different,” Claire said.

  Moon flanked Devon as they exited the kitchen. Claire had to blink hard because she could have sworn that she was observing two wolves in her kitchen.

  Devon turned to her, and the Devon/wolf bared its teeth. “I am different.”

  Claire blinked and the wolf was gone. Moon winked as she followed Devon from the kitchen.

  Claire tossed back the rest of her drink and went to work on Devon’s untouched glass. Stress was a powerful hallucinogen, and apparently so was vodka.

  She kicked off her sandals and flexed her toes. The wolf thing was a trick of her over-tired mind. Had to be. Who knew being barefoot could feel so liberating?

  She padded after Devon up the stairs.

  * * * *

  Devon tiptoed into the bedroom and perched on the edge of their bed. She stroked her mother’s hair and smiled when Analise opened her eyes.

  “Hello there,” Devon whispered.

  Analise clutched Devon’s hand. “What happened to your head? Oh my, are you all right, honey?”

  “I’m fine, I had an accident, but I’m fine.”

  “An accident? What happened?”

  “Shush, calm down. I’m fine, I promise.”

  Analise blurted, “I’m sorry about the way we left.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Devon soothed. “You did what you had to do for your relationship.”

  “You know about it?”

  Devon nodded. “It’s okay, I love you. I guess I always knew.”

  “I was sure you’d understand,” Analise sighed.

  “Of course I understand,” Devon replied. “Go back to sleep. We can talk in the morning. I just wanted to let you know I was here.”

  “Claire set you up in the bedroom at the end of the hall. You will enjoy the view. It has a lovely balcony overlooking the
pool and the gazebo.”

  “It sounds perfect. Maybe we can have our coffee together tomorrow,” Devon suggested.

  “I’d like that,” Analise grinned. “Did you eat? We made you dinner.”

  “I ate some.”

  “You look different,” Analise reflected. She smoothed her Devon’s hair. “You’ve let your hair go natural. I have always loved your curls. I never understood why you always straightened it.”

  Devon smiled and shrugged. “My lifestyle required a more refined look, I guess.”

  Analise pulled Devon in for a hug. “You are my precious child. I’m sorry if I’ve failed you.”

  Devon returned the hug. “All that matters is today, this minute in time.”

  Analise nodded. “I want you to stay here until the end.”

  “There is no end, just a never ending circle, because we are all part of a greater sum. When you end a part of me ends, but while I breathe you still breathe.”

  “That’s a lovely sentiment.”

  Devon kissed her mother on the forehead. “Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Moon came over, gave Analise a kiss, and yowled at her.

  “She said she likes your new home and thanks you for inviting us to stay.”

  Moon yowled again and Devon translated. “She also said she can’t understand, for the life of her, what you could possibly see in a mean, controlling bitch like Claire.”

  “Devon,” Analise exclaimed, trying to suppress a grin.

  “Moon said it,” Devon shrugged.

  “Your feelings are evident, as always. I put your things in the room at the end of the hall. Sorry you feel that way about me, Moon.” Claire scowled.

  “I knew you were standing there,” Devon admitted. “I was having a little fun. Lighten up for once, go with the flow.”

  “Is this a time for levity?” Claire asked.

  “Yes. It is a time to celebrate and be happy and enjoy the moments of our lives instead of waiting for tomorrow or next month. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to waste a minute.”