The Weeping Books of Blinney Lane

by Drea Damara

  “Aunt Sarah might need to go too,” he said, hopping over to the bed.

  “Oh, no! What happened?” Mary brushed at her hair and ran into Sarah’s bedroom.

  “Mmm, I’m okay Ricky. I’m fine,” Sarah murmured under her blankets and brought a hand to the knob on her forehead.

  “Oh! What a goose egg you have, Sarah,” Mary called. “Come on. You’re going to the hospital immediately.”

  “Mary, take Ricky. You can just rub some of your salves on me,” Sarah said groggily and slung her feet over the bed’s edge.

  “Oh, no. I make a mean healing salve, but nothing that can relieve a swollen brain as yours most likely is with a bump like that!” Mary urged Sarah to the door. “And Henry? Did Henry get hurt?”

  “No. Well, someone tried to choke him, but he’s fine,” Ricky said, holding Sarah’s other arm over the back of his shoulders.

  Just as Mary was shoving him and Sarah out the door, Sarah held out a hand to stop her. “No. Mary, stay with Henry please. I don’t want him waking up alone. He wouldn’t go until I came back. Stay and make sure he wakes up, will you?”

  “Oh, all right!” Mary wrung her hands and watched them leave. “I’ll call for a taxi to meet you out on the street!”

  When Henry woke, he nearly sprung out of his chair. He caught himself against the counter when he realized his head was not ready to balance the rest of his body. He’d watched Ricky and Sarah essentially drown before his eyes in the rain barrel, but he didn’t realize just how awful the sensation would feel.

  “It’s all right, Henry. You’re all right. Just take your time,” Mary said, steadying him.

  “Sarah? Ricky?”

  “They’re fine. They woke up already. I sent them to the hospital to get looked at.”

  Henry let out a ragged sigh and sat down again. “Oh. Thank God. It’s over.”

  “Yes,” Mary said with a frown and shut the book with force. “I certainly hope it is.”

  Mary reminded him to change into his normal clothing before he left. How could he have forgotten? She also urged him to go home and just try to forget about everything that had happened. That wouldn’t happen. At her insistence, he agreed to skip checking on Ricky and Sarah at the hospital and instead go straight home to rest.

  “Well, this will certainly make delivery day awkward from now on,” Mary said under her breath when she watched him walk out of the apartment in a daze.

  SARAH WAS grateful she was able to sleep in her own bed that night, having assured the doctors she was fine. Luckily, Blinney Lane was only three blocks away from the nearest hospital, which was close enough that she could go there without much adverse reaction to the Blinney curse as long as she wasn’t swearing.

  Her nephew received several stitches in his leg and three along his ribs. He had some fine bruises forming on his rib cage, but fortunately nothing was broken. The uncomfortable moment came when she had to call Richard for medical consent to Ricky’s treatment. Finding the privacy to tell him a brief version of what had happened hadn’t proved easy. Richard had wanted to fly straight there, go into the book, and kill Vasimus and Ranthrop himself. She swore she would have rendered him immobile before she would have let him do that after all they’d gone through. When she finally got him calmed down, she promised him that Ricky would call once they were home and away from normal society.

  IN THE morning, Ricky was surprised to find his aunt up and awake before he was. It was the first time that had happened in nearly a week. He walked stiffly into the kitchen and stopped when he saw that she had the book sitting in front of her on the table.

  “I thought Mary put that away yesterday?” he asked.

  “She did. I just went down and got it.” Sarah got up and reached for the boiling pot of water on the stove.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m going back in,” she said matter-of-factly without turning around.

  “Back in? We just got the hell out of there! Are you crazy?”

  “Ricky, there’s something I have to do,” she answered in a calm voice.

  “What? What now?”

  “I have to say goodbye.”

  “What?” He didn’t hide his bewilderment. “To Vasimus? After what he did? Nuh, uh. No way,” he said waving his arms.

  “And to Dergus and Netta,” Sarah added, sounding annoyed. “I don’t plan to ever go back, but I’m not abandoning all of them again without a word.”

  “But you are going to see Vasimus, aren’t you?” He gave her a pointed look and crossed his arms.

  “Yes.” She sat down with a cup of tea next to the book and gave him a defiant look.

  He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t understand women.”

  Sarah laughed. “You’re not supposed to, Ricky.”

  “And do you think I’m in any condition to come rescue you again? What if he kidnaps you again and then I have to come duel him? Have you even thought about your poor nephew?”

  Sarah scoffed. “I think about you more than you know. Trust me. Everything will be fine. I’ll be in and then out. Now go on and open the store.” She waved him off.

  “Just like that? You know when I came here I was the irresponsible one, but now I think it rubbed off on you!”

  Sarah chuckled and opened the book. “Come on. I bet there’s going to be a pretty little blonde coming in today just dying to see you.”

  “Oh, no! No, you don’t!” He hobbled closer to the table and shook a finger at her. “You can’t distract me. I’m not the same self-serving kid who came here at the beginning of the summer.”

  Sarah looked up and stared at him for a moment with a genuinely loving smile. “I know you aren’t, Ricky. And I’m so very proud of you for that. I trust you. Now…trust me, please.”

  He really hated what she'd just done. He let out a long sigh as he watched her and tried not to glance at the stupid book and tea. He hobbled around and looked at the clock on the wall.

  “Okay. Fine! But you have…five hours! You hear me? Five hours and then I’m coming in for you.” He turned back around and flashed a warning finger at her.

  “All right,” she said with a smile.

  He sighed again and turned to leave, grumbling to himself on the way to the door. “This is ridiculous. ‘Don’t touch the book,’ she said. Now she’s going in. Nearly got sliced to death and this is the thanks I get?”

  FARWIN WOOD

  SARAH WAVED to Dergus and Netta as they stood smiling at the gate to Allister Hall. Netta wiped a tear from her eye with her apron. It had been a bittersweet parting, but Sarah felt much better having done it than if she’d never returned. Dergus and Netta had sworn they would stay at Allister Hall until the day they died, just in case an Allister ever wanted to return. It was their home too after all, and no other place in the land would probably feel as such to them.

  When she reached Daundecort Hall, the guard outside recognized her when she approached on her stroomphblutel. Everyone in town had too for that matter. Never in her life did she ever remember being greeted by so many people in such a short time. Everyone waved and cheered. She felt foolish that falling on her head had sealed the deal for peace throughout the land, but if they were happy, she was happy for them.

  The guard let her in, and just as she reached the center of the Daundecort courtyard, Vasimus appeared. He walked slowly over to her with his lips parted in thought, but his eyes didn’t remain on her as they usually did. He looked down as he approached, like a man who felt ashamed. When he reached her, he looked questioningly and held a hand out for her to dismount.

  “We didn’t get to say goodbye,” she said. “Would you take one last ride with me?”

  Vasimus lowered his hand and let out a mellow sigh. A moment later, he managed a smile and waved for his footman. “Gladly.”

  They rode out through the town again, greeted by the milling onlookers. Neither of them spoke for a while, each busy waving and casting head bows at the townsfolk.

  �
�Everyone is so happy,” she said. “Will you keep the peace?” she asked hesitatingly and looked over at him as they neared the edge of town.

  “Of course,” he answered. He cleared his throat and added, “Ranthrop just left, actually.”

  She arched a brow at that comment. Ranthrop had stayed another day in Daundecort Hall? Even after she, Ricky, and Henry had left? She was surprised the two men could stand each other’s company that long so shortly after declaring the peace.

  “Really?”

  Vasimus looked ahead, and as he spoke, a smirk formed on his lips. “He nearly drank me out of beetleburry ale, but yes, he stayed on another night. Seemed to think I could use the company.”

  “I’m sorry I left so quickly, but I was mad at you for—”

  “I know, Sarah.” Vasimus looked back at her now, his voice pained. “What I did was wrong. I didn’t know taking your ring would bring you back here, but I must admit, once I found out that it did, I could not bear to give it back if it meant I might keep you a little longer. I thought it meant there could be another chance for us.” He cleared his throat and looked away. “I know it was wrong of me to force you to stay. I’ve never listened to you, have I?”

  “Vasimus…” She smiled, though he couldn’t see it. “You gave it back in the end. That’s all that matters. A truly selfish man wouldn’t do something like that.”

  They remained silent as they wound down the road. Sarah guided them in the direction of the River Duke. They said nothing for a while, knowing what was coming.

  As they sat on their rides by the river’s edge and stared at the flowing water, Vasimus said, “I will never understand why this book was created. Why it allowed us to meet if we could never be together.”

  “Nor will I.” She looked at him, sharing his sadness. “But I’m glad that it was.”

  Vasimus looked at her with pain in his entire expression. Through the sad lines in his face a smile broke, and he whispered, “Me too.”

  Vasimus dismounted his stroomphblutel and came over to help her down. Sarah realized they were still holding hands after he helped her down, and it made her think the fear and bitterness was gone for both of them. Vasimus promised to look after Dergus and Netta as well as continue to restore Allister Hall in her memory. She objected, but he assured her that it was nonnegotiable.

  “Perhaps when I am old and gray, I may yet see you once more. Or, your children. If I have to think of you in another world, promise me that you won’t waste all you have to offer living alone,” he said with a determined look.

  Sarah knew her mouth was hanging open. She never could have imagined such a wish coming from his mouth. She even felt a little jealous that he was freeing her from him, although she knew she had no right to such feelings anymore. “You know I wish the same for you—since I won’t be here to see it,” she said with a smile, hoping he understood the compliment.

  Vasimus squeezed her hand and brushed the hair away from her face. “This Henry fellow. He would seem suitable if we had met under different circumstances. There is love there, I’m sure. If you’re ready to look for it again.”

  Her heart fluttered upon hearing such a thing about Henry, but she still had to contend with the love in her heart for the man standing in front of her. “I have the rest of my life to think about that, Vasimus, but I only have a few moments to be with the first man I ever loved.” She rested her face in his palm.

  “I only wish I’d carried that love with me all these years. I see now it was something dark and bitter that I took with me each day instead. You made me a better person then, Sarah, and I should have kept trying to be so even after you were gone.”

  “You did, Vasimus. I hope I did too,” she mumbled forlornly. She glanced at the water with sadness in her eyes. “I hate this. I always have.”

  Vasimus looked at the river rushing by. He brought his hand down and grasped hers. “Here, I’ll be with you this time.” He led them into the water and carefully guided her until they were waist deep and chanced losing their footing.

  They looked at each other, and both brought their hands up to trace the curves of each other’s faces one last time. Each smiled under the other’s fingertips. Sarah ran her fingers through his hair and felt tears well up in her eyes. She felt like she was saying goodbye to the last memories of her childhood.

  “Don’t cry, my little sweet,” Vasimus murmured and brought his lips to hers. She held and let herself be held as they tasted each other without thought of anything other than that moment; nothing of the past or the future worried her anymore. When their lips finally parted they held each other for several moments. Of all the books she had read, this would be the most difficult to finish.

  “The water’s cold today. You’re going to get sick because of me, now,” she said, sniffling and wiping away her tears.

  Vasimus smiled and clasped her hand. He looked down at her bracelet and held it up between them. “When you want to think of me,” he brought his other hand down over the cuff and the ring attached to it, “I’ll be here.”

  “No,” she whispered and held her other hand to her chest, “you’ll be here.”

  “Goodbye, my Sarah.”

  She smiled with a love in her heart that felt better than the first time, but in a different way, as she stood before him in the water. Just before their hands parted and she slipped down into the river, she replied, “Goodbye, my Vasimus.”

  BLINNEY LANE

  SARAH CHANGED her clothes quickly once she awoke in her kitchen. She felt sad, yet relieved and at peace. How could such vastly different emotions be felt simultaneously? It seemed unnatural. The next sensation she felt, realizing she was back in the present, was guilt. Poor Ricky. She’d put him through more than any young man should ever have to bear.

  Farwin Wood and the curse of Agatha Blinney had come to Sarah and Richard’s knowledge slowly. It hadn’t been sprung upon them all at once as it had with Ricky or Henry. Henry! She’d been so worried about Ricky, fixing the faults of the past, and ending the war that she’d sorely neglected the man who’d kept her going on Blinney Lane. Hell, he’d kept her going in Farwin Wood the last few days. How would this affect their relationship now that they were back? Relationship? Now there’s a joke, she thought. Yet somehow they had a deeper relationship after all of this. Didn’t they?

  She shut the book and thought on the irony of Vasimus’s words. How had she just said goodbye to one man and was now thinking of what life would be like with another, yet if in a much less intimate way? They were only friends, if that, after all.

  Intimacy? Ha! Henry wouldn’t even be able to look at her now. She rubbed her temples. I just want my old Henry back, she thought. She hugged the book to her chest. My Henry. The flush that usually formed in her cheeks when she thought of him didn’t even rise now. Who else’s Henry should he be? She didn’t like the sound of that! Suddenly, she wanted to get downstairs as quickly as possible.

  Sarah raced down the stairs and found Shelby clasping one of Ricky’s arms and leaning into the stool where he sat behind the shop counter. Ricky smiled at the girl until he heard her footsteps, and then both of the teenagers turned to look at her.

  “You’re,” Ricky glanced around the store at the customers, “awake! Man, I was getting worried.”

  Sarah smiled as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Yeah, you look real worried. Hi, Shelby.” She walked over and hugged her friend.

  “Oh, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Shelby said and beamed up at her.

  “Want to go lock this thing back up for me?” Sarah handed the big book to her.

  “Gladly,” Shelby answered.

  “Thanks.” Sarah gave her cuff to Shelby and watched her carry the book away, knowing her friends were safe inside. It was the first time in years she that hadn’t felt depressed when she looked at it. Turning, she inspected Ricky, who sat with his leg propped up on the recycling crate. “How’s the leg?”

  “A little sore, but I’m fine. I can
’t imagine what Dad thought when you told him.”

  “Well, given the trouble he caused when we were kids, he was surprisingly calm. After he freaked out initially, of course.”

  “I think he and I are going to have a lot more to talk about than usual the next time I see him, so it wasn’t for nothing I guess. Imagine that: steal one little car and he freaks out. Get into a sword fight, and he’s all concerned for my well-being. Tsk, parents.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes and then saw the stack of boxes that were next to the counter. “Did Henry come in already?”

  “Yeah. Poor Henry. Looks like he didn’t even sleep. Your boy’s meat hooks left some mighty fine bruises too.”

  She stared at Ricky with her mouth flapping open. She’d gotten her days all mixed up. She knew Henry was gone, but she instinctively looked at the door anyway. “He didn’t wait?”

  “No. He—” Ricky grimaced then and looked down at his leg.

  “What?”

  “Well, he wanted to know where you were and—”

  “And what?” She didn’t mean to snap.

  “And so I told him! It’s Henry. Come on. I can’t lie to Henry.”

  Sarah felt like someone kicked her in the stomach and brought her hand there to quell the feeling. “Was he—did he look angry?” she whispered.

  “He didn’t look happy. More disappointed, I think.” Ricky hesitated. “Come on, now. I didn’t want you to go back in there. What do you expect? You went back to see some guy that tried to kill him. How’s a guy supposed to feel?”

  “You told him I went to see Vasimus?” Sarah didn’t realize she’d done it, but she had reached over and grasped a fistful of Ricky’s T-shirt.

  Ricky arched a brow at her and sighed. He slowly pried her fingers open while he spoke. “No. He probably figured that out on his own. Just tell him.”

  “Tell him what?” Sarah exclaimed.