Neptune's Ring

by Ali Spooner

  “I am sure Carlos and I will have some questions for you on Monday when the construction starts rolling again,” Levi said.

  “Well call even if you just want to say hello,” Liz said. “I can’t begin to tell you how much we appreciate you taking the lead on this project,” she said.

  “I am glad to help out and this will be some very good experience for me when we start up the next resort,” Levi said with a wink to Nat.

  “That’s it, a whole chain of lesbian resorts,” Nat replied.

  “You two are too much,” Liz said with a smile. “Do call and let us know that you are settled in tonight though.”

  “Yes, mama,” Levi said with a grin. “If the house phone isn’t working yet, I will call you from the cell,” she promised.

  “Alright then, off with you,” Nat teased.

  “See you in a week or so,” Cass said.

  “Any message for Cat from you Cass,” Levi teased.

  “You can tell her I will call her tonight to make sure you got settled in ok,” Cass said with a blush.

  “Will do, my friend,” Levi said and after hugging each of them she walked out to the airplane. She climbed the steps and turned to see her friends smiling and waving at her. She waved back and entered the plane to find a comfortable seat.

  Levi gazed out of the window as the plane taxied and took off. Tears blurred her vision as she felt another chapter of her life come to close.

  Cat met her at the airport and within minutes porters had Levi’s bags stowed in Cat’s Land Rover.

  “Where do we need to go first?” Cat asked.

  “A grocery store for some supplies and then I should be good,” Levi said.

  “I took a list from Liz and had some staples already delivered to the island, so you basically just need food to last you a few days,” Cat said. “I plan to come out several times this week to check on you and Carlos so you can just make me a list of other supplies and I can bring them out for you.”

  “That sounds like a very good deal to me,” Levi said. “Grocery shopping has never been one of my favorite activities.”

  “I also want you to come into town on Wednesday if that is a good day for you and I will take you out to dinner,” Cat said. “Too much solitude on the island might get to your nerves, so feel free to come into town whenever you would like.”

  “Thanks, Cat, I would like having dinner with you and I hope you will come out one night and allow me to cook for you,” Levi said.

  “That would be lovely,” Cat said as they located a small grocery store and purchased Levi’s supplies.

  “I have a small powerboat that I will loan to you until the resort boats come in,” Cat said as they waited in the checkout aisle. “It is nothing elaborate, but will easily get you back and forth to the island,” she said.

  “Thank you, Cat. It will be another week before the first of the boats are delivered and I feel better knowing I can leave the island if I need to,” Levi said.

  Cat drove Levi by and showed her where her small house was. “This is where I live and my door is always open to you,” Cat said.

  They loaded Levi’s bags and groceries onto the small boat and Cat gave Levi a crash course on operating the small boat. She wouldn’t win any speed contests, but the boat was easy to operate and got them to the island quickly enough.

  When they entered the boat house, Levi was relieved to find a golf cart waiting for them.

  “Carlos had this idea,” Cat said with a smile. “It is just the perfect size for the path to the house and will come in very handy when taking these bags to the house.”

  “I really wasn’t looking forward to dragging these bags up the hill,” Levi said.

  “No need to do that now,” Cat said as she took a large bag Levi was handing her and placed it across the back of the golf cart.

  “He thinks of everything doesn’t he?” Levi asked.

  “Carlos is a very considerate young man and has been a joy to work with,” Cat said.

  “I look forward to working with him,” Levi said, as they loaded the last of the grocery bags and started up the hill.

  Levi had decided she would use the large master bedroom downstairs for its convenient location to everything. She and Cat took the bags into the house.

  “Why don’t you start putting your stuff away and I will take care of the groceries and build us a sandwich,” Cat suggested.

  “Deal,” Levi said, as she rolled one of her bags into the bedroom.

  She flipped on the light and felt the coolness in the air. She lifted the bag onto a small chest at the end of the huge bed and opened it taking her clothes and placing them in the chest of drawers adjacent to the bed. When the bag was emptied, she placed it in the back of the large walk in closet and went back out for another. Her hang up clothes were emptied quickly and when she went out for the third bag of clothing she found that Cat had finished with the groceries and was preparing to make sandwiches.

  Levi carried a small box into the bedroom. She carefully uncovered the picture of her and Vanessa and allowed her fingers to smoothly trace the length of Vanessa’s body. With a deep sigh she placed the picture on the bedside table. She removed a small journal Vanessa had given her before she left the island with a request to write down the activities of her days while they were apart. The last few items she removed from the box were several candles and a few more small pictures. Levi sat on the bed and was staring at the picture when she heard Cat call to her.

  “What kind of sandwich would you like?”

  “Turkey with mayonnaise for me please,” Levi answered as she rolled the last bag into the bedroom. She tossed a smaller bag of hygiene products onto the bed as she hung up the last of her clothing. After she stowed the bag she went back into the bedroom to gather her hygiene supplies and walked into the bathroom. She quickly set up her bathroom and was taking a last look around when Cat called her for lunch.

  “I will be right there,” she yelled back to Cat. Levi picked up the computer bag and walked into the office next to the master bedroom and set up the laptop and several files she had brought with her from Venus Rising.

  When she walked back into the kitchen Cat was sitting at the small breakfast bar waiting for her.

  “Getting all settled?” Cat asked.

  “Clothing is put away and the bathroom is set up,” Levi said. “I placed the laptop in the office so I am well on my way.”

  “The phone is working too,” Cat said. “I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to activate the service until Monday, but it looks like they worked you in earlier. I put one of my cards with my home and cell numbers by the phone in case you need to reach me.” Cat smiled as Levi sat down next to her. “It also has my email address if you want to drop me a quick note.”

  “Thank you for everything you have done for me and for us,” Levi said. “You have been a tremendous help to me today as well.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Cat said.

  “Oh, by the way, Cass asked me to tell you she would be giving you a call to make sure I am all settled in,” Levi said with a grin. She bit into her sandwich and watched the smile on Cat’s face grow.

  “Thanks, I will be looking forward to that later,” Cat said. “How well do you know her?”

  “I have only known her for a few weeks, but she is a very special woman,” Levi said. “Her lover of ten years died and she has been alone since then searching unsuccessfully for a new soul mate.”

  “She seems so down to earth for someone of her stature,” Cat said.

  “Cass feels she is just like anyone else and she doesn’t flaunt her wealth or social status. I think most of all she just wants to blend in and be a part of someone’s life.”

  “What do you think my chances are of being with her?” Cat asked.

  “The chemistry between you was very obvious from the first meeting,” Levi said with a grin. “I know she is very interested in you, so I would say your chances are very good.”


  “We have exchanged a few emails and she has called several times this week,” Cat said. “I am very anxious to see her again if you couldn’t tell.”

  “Maybe just a little bit,” Levi said with a soft smile.

  They finished their meal and picked up the kitchen together. “Is there anything I can do to help you get settled?”

  “Thanks, Cat, but I think I just need to get adjusted to my new surroundings,” Levi said. “All of my belongings are put away so I thought I might do some exploring later today.”

  “Well if you will give me a ride across to the mainland I will leave you to your exploring then,” Cat said.

  “No problem,” Levi said and they walked out of the house to the cart and drove back to the boat house.

  Levi dropped Cat off at the docks and promised to call her later in the evening. She watched as Cat walked to her Land Rover and waved as she pulled away. She then turned the boat and steered back to the island. When she pulled into the boat house she cut the engine and allowed the boat to glide into the slip. She moored the boat securely and walked back to the cart. Levi drove back up to the house and plugged the cart up to charge as Cat had earlier instructed her.

  She walked around the base of the house and found a small trail leading from the back yard into the heart of the island. Levi walked briskly as she followed the trail to see where it led. Her steps took her into a small clearing ringed by small twisted trees. Someone had taken great pains in planting a small flower garden and Levi was rewarded by the fruits of their labor as the fragrant plants were in full bloom. Levi continued down the path with a promise to come back and enjoy the beauty of the garden at a later date.

  The path brought Levi to a small flight of stairs that lead down to the beach. She climbed down and stepped into sugar white sands that squeaked under her feet. Levi walked to the edge of the emerald green water and knelt down to test the temperature. The water was warm to her touch and so clear she could see to the bottom as far as her eyes could see. Levi slipped out of her shoes and waded out into the water as a cooling breeze blew across her skin.

  Small fish darted around her ankles as she waded deeper into the water and her eyes spied a conch shell several feet ahead of her. Levi bent down and took the large shell in her hands. She turned it in her hands marveling at the perfect edges of the bright pink shell. The shell was an incredible find. It was so rare to find a fully intact and perfect conch shell and Levi smiled at the treasure she had found. She was about to walk back to shore when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

  Levi turned just in time to see a pair of dolphins sailing through the air. She stood and watched them frolic in the calm waters and then when they tired of entertaining her, they turned out to sea and disappeared.

  Levi smiled to herself and walked back to the beach to retrieve her shoes. She tied the laces together and tossed them over her shoulder as she walked along the beach. She reached the back of the resort and climbed up another small set of stairs. She walked around the resort and checked the boat house to ensure the boat was secured and with the sun fading quickly, Levi returned to the house.

  She dropped her shoes at the front door and walked into the kitchen. She rinsed the salt water from the shell and placed her treasure on the small counter before she walked to the refrigerator for a cold beer. She picked up her camera and tripod and walked out onto the porch setting her equipment up to catch her first sunset on the island. She set the camera up to take multiple shots every few minutes and sat back to sip her beer and gaze out across the beautiful water.

  She checked on the position of the camera and made adjustments several times before the sun slipped beneath the horizon. She took the camera and tripod into the house and carried it into the office. She would look at the pictures later, once she tired of the cool breeze on the porch and retired inside the house for the evening.

  Levi pulled one of the oversized chairs close to the railing and sat back as she listened to the island come awake. Insects sang in the distance as a pair of loons called to one another across the still water. Levi laid her head back and thought of Vanessa as she watched stars begin to appear in the night sky. “I love you my baby,” she said aloud.

  Her beer had been finished for an hour as Levi marveled at how brightly the stars shone in the darkness of the sky. The absence of lights allowed the heavens to light up the night and Levi watched as the blinking light of a passing jet moved across the sky to a destination unknown. Levi sighed and reached down to pick up her beer bottle and walked back inside. She closed the door behind her and clicked the lock out of habit. She was certain she was alone on the island, but life in the big city had taught her to not leave safety to chance.

  She turned the lights off in the kitchen and walked into the office where she had left her camera. Levi turned on the computer and removed the camera from the tripod. She attached the camera to the computer and hit the download button and walked to the kitchen to call Cat while the pictures were transferred.

  After a short conversation with Cat, Levi returned to the office to check on the photographs she had taken. The computer screen was flashing that the download was complete and Levi pulled out the chair to watch the slideshow loading on the screen. The camera took some great images of the beautiful sunset and Levi made a note to send a few of them to Vanessa to show her what she had to look forward to on her visit.

  Levi watched as the final photos move across the screen and was about to shut the slideshow down when she saw several other images flash across the screen. Levi was certain that she had turned the camera off when she brought it back inside, but the images on the screen made her doubt she had turned it off. The first few images were of the desk and laptop. Levi stared in shock as she watched the photographs slide by and she witnessed the mist form slowly behind the chair she was sitting in.

  Levi pushed the chair back from the desk and swiveled around to search the room, her heart racing as her eyes darted around the room. She was totally alone in the house, yet she felt the hair on her neck and arms standing at attention again. When she could turn back to the computer she cried out in surprise at the image looking back at her.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The camera was focused on the desk and Levi could clearly see the mist form in the shape of a small human. Levi leaned in closer to the screen to try to make out more detail, but there was none to be seen. She sat staring at the image on the screen waiting to see if it would come more closely into focus. Levi had no idea of how long she sat staring at the computer when she was jolted back to reality by the jangling ring of the telephone. She wiped her eyes and reached for the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Levi this is Nat. I was calling to see how your first day has gone,” Nat said.

  “Hi, Nat, everything has gone fine so far, I am all set up in the house and had enough time to do a little exploring on the island before it got dark.”

  “Have you encountered any problems that we need to help with?” Nat asked.

  “No, Cat has been very helpful and Carlos brought a small golf cart for my use, so things have progressed well so far.”

  “What plans do you have for tomorrow?” Nat asked.

  “I thought I would do some more exploring on the island while I still had some free time. I am sure once construction starts again on Monday things will stay very busy.”

  “I am sure they will,” Nat said. “Is there anything we can do for you?”

  “No, I am good for now, Nat,” Levi answered.

  “Give us a call sometime tomorrow when you can then.”

  “I will, I promise.”

  There was a moment of uncomfortable silence on the telephone. “Levi?” Nat said.

  “Yes, Nat, what is it?”

  “Are you ok, you sound kind of, well distracted,” Nat said.

  “I’m sorry Nat, I was looking at some photographs of the sunset when you called,” Levi said, which was true.

  “Ok
, then, I just wanted to make sure you are fine,” Nat said.

  “Fine and dandy,” Levi said, hoping her voice came out steadier across the phone lines.

  “Call us tomorrow then and enjoy your exploring,” Nat said.

  “Thanks for calling. I will talk to you tomorrow,” Levi said and placed the telephone back on the receiver.

  Nat put the phone back on the cradle and stared at the phone for few seconds. Liz watched her lover and when she looked up she had a puzzled look on her face.

  “Is everything ok?” Liz asked.

  “Levi said everything was fine, but she sounded, I don’t know, just distracted,” Nat said.

  “Well we have placed her in a very stressful situation, being isolated from everyone,” Liz said. “We have to trust Levi to tell us when she needs a break or if something isn’t going as well as planned.”

  “I know you are right, but something in her voice left me unsettled,” Nat said.

  “Do you want me to call Levi back?” Liz asked.

  “No, no, she has promised to call us tomorrow,” Nat said. “Maybe she just needs a good night’s rest.”

  “Ok, we will give her until lunch time to call and if we haven’t heard anything we will give her a call,” Liz said.

  When Levi turned back to the computer screen she was shocked to find she was looking at a dark screen. She moved the mouse and the photographs came back into view. She moved quickly through the images of the sunset and frowned when the pictures of the office flashed across the screen. The figure in the mist was gone. She scrolled forward to the other photographs and they showed the desk, laptop and chair as clearly as day.

  Levi wiped her eyes and looked back at the screen. Was she more tired than she thought or were her eyes and imagination playing tricks on her, she pondered. She let the slideshow run through one more cycle and still there was nothing out of the ordinary. Exasperated, Levi turned off the computer and walked into the bedroom.

  She had just finished brushing her teeth when the telephone on the bedside table began to ring. Levi picked up the receiver and was pleased to hear Vanessa’s voice on the other end.