On Hummingbird Wings

by Lauraine Snelling

  “Well, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. If you want me to go shopping with you, we better get going. Then we can have lunch and I’ll bring you back here.”

  “I have one other question.”

  “What?” Allie’s voice returned to short and sharp.

  “I don’t expect an answer right now, but I want you to think about it.” Gillian spoke slowly, trying to get her mouth around her idea. “If you could do anything, anything at all, what would you like to do the most?”

  “In the next two hours or…”

  “No, in general. With your life?”

  “I thought that was your question, what will you do with the rest of your life?”

  “I’m working on it. I need to make some choices, but I’m waiting until Mother and Enzio return before I make a final decision.” The feeling of Adam’s kiss flashed across her mind. Perhaps he was another consideration to take into account.

  “You have to admit, you had it all.” Allie dumped the remainder of her coffee in the sink, tossing the words over her shoulder as she put the cup into the dishwasher.

  “Stop there, I had it all perhaps. I had what I set out to accomplish. But now that is gone and I…” She moved her coffee cup in a circle. “Actually, now I have nothing.”

  “Nothing in New York, you mean?”

  “I guess.” Her mind continued with the thought. What have I lost? My position, where I had power and respect and work that I enjoyed because I had power and respect, working with people I respected—well most of the time. The money was a big part of it. I could pretty much do whatever I wanted if I could find time to do it. One thing I never had was time to spend in ways not connected with my job. So she no longer had seventy-hour workweeks, either. Nor the pressures of her job. She could go out and work in the garden if she wanted to. She put her cup in the dishwasher and shut it with a snap.

  “At one time, I wanted a husband and children, but that never happened and now it is too late. Let’s go shopping. Winnie, outside.” She opened the back door for the dog to go out. “I’ll be ready in a minute. Let her in will you please?”

  Once they were in the car and heading down the hill, she turned to Allie. “Why do you never return phone calls?”

  “Sometimes I do.”

  “But not usually, why?”

  “I forget to turn my cell on and I don’t think about the answering machine until I’m running out the door. There, are you satisfied?”

  Gillian shook her head. “Nope. How am I to get in touch with you then?”

  Allie shrugged. “Guess I’ll have to make more of an effort.” Something in her voice made Gillian think she didn’t really want to make more of an effort.

  “Doesn’t Jefferson get tired of not getting a response when he calls?”

  A half shrug and a slight pout and she answered, “I guess.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “You mean not a lot?” Deciphering the meaning behind the words was getting tiring.

  “Look, I said I’ll try harder. What more do you want?” Allie stopped for a red light. “Besides, everyone is always demanding something from me.”

  Gillian stared out the window, wishing she had more answers. Let it go, a voice inside her head commanded. But Allie is my baby sister, and I really want her to be happy. But she knew from all her years of studying people and attending training sessions on being an effective manager that only Allie could make Allie happy. Letting go of old issues took a lot of work. That she knew from intense personal experience.

  Saving Allie was not her job.

  But learning to get along was part of being a family, something she’d not had to pay a lot of attention to when separated by a broad continent. More to think about later, especially the part about Allie feeling that everyone continually demanded things of her. Had she been doing that, too?

  “Where do you want to go to look for the bedroom things?” asked Allie.

  “Where do you suggest?”

  “Depends on how much you want to spend.” Allie listed the stores in the immediate vicinity.

  “Well, not high end and not cheap, either. Somewhere in the middle, but where we have a good selection. I figured with cream walls, we could go about any direction.”

  “Just remember, Mother does not like frou-frou and fluffy.”

  “Neither do I.”

  Before they got out of the car, Allie stopped and stared at her sister. “Why are you doing this if Mother might not even live there again?”

  Gillian thought a moment. “I want her to have something nice and new to go along with her new life. Besides, I can’t think of anything else to give her.”

  “That she won’t put away to keep it nice?”

  “That, too.”

  Sometime later they dropped the large-size bags in the back of Allie’s SUV and got back in.

  “That was fast.” Allie started the vehicle. “Where do you want to go to lunch?”

  “No idea.” Gillian glanced at her watch. “You only have an hour. How about the burrito place by Lucky’s? That’s the only fast-food place I know about.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  With their orders in front of them, they looked at each other across the table. “Do you realize how many years it has been since you and I had lunch together in a restaurant without anyone else?” Gillian sat shaking her head. “I remember one time I wanted you to come to New York in the worst way so I could show you some of my favorite places. I called to ask, but you were so pregnant the doctor wouldn’t let you fly.”

  “I would have loved to come.” Allie unwrapped the end of her burrito. “I thought about bringing Sherrilyn and surprising you, but I figured you would not have time, so I never followed through.” She took a bite, continuing to shake her head. “And those times you came home, there was never even time for a real visit.”

  Not that the three of us knew how to really talk to each other anyway. Gillian just nodded. At least she and Allie were talking now. And Mother was even talking with me before she left. Was that what this whole thing was about?

  When they drove up to the house, she turned to her sister. “So, do you want me to come for dinner tomorrow night, even though I’ll miss the games?”

  Allie looked at her, question marks all over her face. “Why would that make any difference? Of course we want you to come. As soon as you can.”

  “I’ll call you before I leave.”

  Allie rolled her lips together. “I’ll make sure the phones are turned on. You need help carrying all that in?”

  “No, you get going.” Gillian pulled the bags from the car and set them on the concrete, then waved to her sister. Now that was about as big a turnaround as Mother made. What was going on here?

  Chapter Thirty

  So, are you ready for the great onslaught?” Adam asked Gillian as they headed home after their walk.

  “You mean Halloween?” At his nod, she shook her head. “I’ve not prepared at all.”

  “Come up to our house, we can share the duty,” Adam suggested.

  “But I haven’t bought any candy.”

  “We have plenty. Dad bought out the big bags of candy section at the Rite Aid. We better have lots of trick-or-treaters.”

  “I thought that was going out of style.” Gillian checked both ways as they reached the road again after walking the school grounds. Both dogs and Adam were panting like they’d run miles. “Keeping kids off the streets and all that.”

  “We live in a designated safe neighborhood. Parents drop kids off by the carload. I think there should be an age limit.”

  “Guess I’ll put Winnie in her crate then.”

  “Just leave your lights off. That’s the sign that there are no treats at that house.”

  “My word but things have changed since I was a kid. We used to have fun on Halloween.”

  “We did, too, though some of our fun was never shared with the parents.” These walks
were becoming the highlight of his day. Just the two of them, well, four including their canine friends.

  As they neared the house, Winnie picked up her pace, pulling at her leash.

  “Come on up right away. I’ll get a shower and we’ll be ready by dusk, which isn’t far off.”

  Gillian unlocked the door and unsnapped Winnie’s leash so she could run ahead for a drink. Had Gillian known she was going to Adam’s, she’d have fixed something to add to the dinner at least. This cooking on a regular basis was new for her. She fed the dog, locked her in the crate, and headed up the hill. Small bands of costumed children were already starting at the bottom of the hill.

  “Come on in,” Bill greeted her at the door. “Glad you decided to join us. We’ll take turns answering the door.” He gestured to a plastic bin of a mixture of wrapped candies. “You dump a few pieces into each bag. Don’t let the kids pick because there isn’t time. Last year we had over a hundred. Jen and Lawrence came out to help, so he kept track.”

  “I really enjoyed meeting Jennifer. You know…” She paused and smiled at him. “You have a wonderful family.”

  Bill blinked and nodded. “Thank you.” The doorbell rang. Thor yipped and she picked up the goodie bin.

  Adam took turns, too, and while one answered the other two demolished a bucket of fast-food chicken with all the trimmings.

  “I know, I’ll just open the door and you distribute the wealth. Tag-teaming ’em.” Adam warned Thor about his vocals and took up his position behind the door, opening it as soon as the bell rang. Gillian tried to greet each of the children, but after a while just dumped in the candy.

  “Here.” Bill refilled the bin, making sure he got a chocolate bar for his efforts.

  The horde let up just after eight, with only a few stragglers, mostly young teens with wild makeup and fewer costumes.

  “Well, we went through fifteen pounds of candy. After the next group, let’s turn off the light.”

  Gillian collapsed on the sofa, shaking her head. “I can’t believe this. Did my mother do this every year?”

  “She came up here a couple of times. Allie and the kids have joined her after they grew older.” Bill tossed the last bars into the offered pillow cases. “That’s it, kids. Happy Halloween.” He waited until they reached the sidewalk and turned off the light.

  “Welcome to the burbs.” Adam sat down next to Gillian. “They don’t trick-or-treat in NYC?”

  “I have no idea. At least not in my part of the city.” Gillian took the small packet of M&M’s he handed her. “Thanks.” After popping a couple into her mouth, she continued. “Well, tomorrow is a workday for me with the painter coming.”

  “You want some help?” Adam was leaning against the back of the sofa, eyes closed.

  Gillian turned to look at him. “Are you volunteering?”

  “I am.”

  “I plan to dig more in the garden, too.”

  “I’m game.”

  She turned to Bill. “Have I mentioned what a good son you have?”

  “Better save the compliments until you see how he does. I heard he’s a bit of a slacker on weeding.”

  “Come on, I’ll walk you home before my reputation is permanently shredded.” Adam stood and pulled her to her feet. “Tonight was baptism by fire. You are officially a member of the Bentley family now.”

  When they reached her door, Gillian could hear Winnie barking.

  “Fierce watch dog.” He wrapped both arms around her, pulling her close. “Gillian, where have you been all my life?” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You smell sweet like honeysuckle or jasmine.” He bent and kissed her. “And taste better. Night.”

  He could feel her gaze following him, so when he reached the sidewalk, he turned and waved. “See you in the morning.” Now that was the way to end a day. Maybe they could make a habit of it.

  “I say just rip it all out.”

  Adam shook his head. “You can’t do that. If I remember right, there are perennials in here that would be dormant now. That would be criminal to destroy those.”

  Gillian blew out a breath. “Makes sense, but my idea would be easier.”

  “Since when is gardening ever easy?” Adam mounted the two railroad tie steps to the garden area. “Some things we can tell by their foliage.”

  “Even when it is dead?”

  “Not dead. Dormant.” The look on her face made him smile. “Just look at this as training for your new job.”

  “I think I understand cost estimates and production proposals better.” She pulled on a pair of her mother’s gardening gloves and stared across what looked more like a plant cemetery than a thriving garden. “Surely Mother started to retreat long before she took to her bed.”

  “Were there any stakes in the garden shed?”

  “What kind of stakes?”

  He measured two feet or so with his hands. “Wood, flat wood. Usually comes in bundles.”

  “I didn’t see any.” She bent over to pull out mustard plants. “Good grief, do these roots go clear to China?”

  “Near there. Was there a digging fork?”

  She shrugged and used both hands to pull, leaning against it with all her weight. Slowly the plant released its hold on the soil, and she staggered back when it gave up. She banged the root ball against the ground to dislodge the clumps of dirt.

  Adam headed for the shed area. Surely Dorothy had what he needed. “I can bring down the tiller when we figure out where the perennials are.” Not surprising, all the tools were cleaned and hanging on the rack on the wall. He loaded forks and spades into the wheelbarrow and took it all out to the garden. He’d take the chipper in the corner out later. He arrived back in the garden just in time to see Gillian win the war with another mustard but end up on her rear in the dirt for her efforts. Hiding a grin, he parked and picked her up from behind.

  “You might wait and loosen the big ones with the fork.”

  Her mutter made his grin fight to get out. “Okay, we need a plan here.”

  “I plan to get this mess cleaned up and…” She picked up the wilting plants and tossed them in the wheelbarrow. “How could she let this go like this? The garden was always such a source of pride for her.”

  “Depression’ll do that to you.”

  “But how could she have been so depressed and Allie didn’t pick up on it?”

  Adam let that comment lie and prowled the parameter looking for familiar foliage. “Here are the peonies.”

  “Oh, I loved the peonies. Big fat blossoms.” Gillian came to stand beside him. “There used to be several colors, pink, red, and white. I think I remember pink tinges on the white. Mother would pick the peonies and we would take them to the cemetery to put on my father’s grave. I haven’t thought of that in years.” She pointed to fluffy branches with bright red berries. “What are those?”

  “Asparagus. And these are daisies, I think. Not sure if they’ll come back or not.”

  Winnie’s barking caught Gillian’s attention. “The painter must be here. I’ll go get her started. You want something to drink?”

  “Yes, please. You might want to brush the dirt off your rear before going in the house.”

  She glared him a look that said a whole paragraph, but did as he suggested.

  Adam watched her walk away, smiling both inside and out. When she got something on her mind, she wore determination like a flak jacket. Bet she is something in a boardroom. I’d rather have her on my side than across the table.

  Sometime later, with the pile of weeds on the second wheelbarrow full, they turned at a “halloo” from the fence.

  “I brought lunch.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Adam wiped his dripping forehead with a bandanna from his rear pocket. “You should be wearing a sun hat. Your face is getting red,” he told the woman beside him.

  “Oh, great.” Gillian headed for the gate to let Bill in. “Let’s eat at the patio table.”

  “Looks like you’re accomplishing a
lot,” Bill said as he set his baskets on the table. “I brought drinks, too.”

  “You are one sweet man.” Gillian removed her gloves and brushed her hair back with the back of her wrist.

  “All I did was go to the deli.” He started setting out wrapped sandwiches and chips. “They wrote on them so we’d know what was what.”

  Gillian and Adam washed at the hose and, wiping their hands on their pants, took the chairs in the shade.

  “Wonder what Dorothy did with the arbor?” Bill asked after starting on a roast beef sandwich.

  “That’s right, I’d forgotten about that, too.” Gillian held the iced drink against her forehead.

  “It’s up behind the compost heap. Looking much the worse for wear.”

  “Wonder if it is worth repairing?” Bill looked to Gillian. “I remember right, it’s an old one, probably antique status by now. Do you mind if I look at it?”

  “Not in the least. Do you know if she worked out here during this summer?”

  “No idea; I’ve not been much of a neighbor lately. You might ask Maria Gonzales. She kind of keeps an eye on the neighborhood.”

  “I will.” Gillian wrapped half of her sandwich. “I’m going to see how Madison is doing.”

  “She’s got the window taped.” Adam nodded over his shoulder. “Taping takes about as long as the painting.”

  “Or longer. I always hated that part, but your mother didn’t mind.”

  Adam caught himself in a quick look at his dad. He’d not mentioned his wife much this last year. Come to think of it, sitting down with the scrapbooks had been the first time. Maybe he had more to thank Gillian for than he’d realized.

  After lunch they checked out the arbor, and Adam promised his dad he’d bring it home when he came.

  “Let’s take it now. I have some time…”

  “Okay, now is fine.” Jubilance felt good. The three of them picked up the arbor and hauled it up the hill.

  “That thing is heavier than it looks.” Gillian puffed as they set it down in the Bentleys’ garage where Bill’s workshop covered the back wall.

  “That’s what makes it worth repairing.” Bill was already tapping with a hammer to look for dry rot.