by Freda, Paula
Fiona returned to her seat behind her desk. Ben glanced at her, eyes focusing clearly on her face. “What did you do?” he asked, marveling at how much better he felt.
“Jessica won't be coming in," Fiona said, ignoring his question.
“If she went through a night like I did, I don't blame her. I'll go check on her.”
“She's resigned, Ben. Headed back to her hometown.”
“What?”
“She won't ever be coming back again,” Fiona told him.
Ben bolted upright. “When, when did she leave? Did she talk to you, tell you why?”
“How much do you love her?” Fiona asked. “Answer truthfully.”
Ben started to reply immediately. But the two words Fiona had tagged on, warned him that much depended on his reply. Did he love her enough to accept her as she was, good qualities and faults as well? Would not having her in his life, make any difference? Could he ever find someone to replace her?”
That last mental query tied his stomach in knots. No other woman could take her place. She might be as beautiful, as gentle-hearted, as creative, but she wouldn't be Jessica, because ... of those very faults that made her special to him. Her simple way of looking at life, her silly illusions, the way her eyes made contact with his very soul.
He answered, “For reasons beyond numbering, I love her more than life itself. More than I could ever love another. Please Fiona, help me bring her back.”
Fiona smiled her acknowledgment. She buzzed Lester on the intercom. “Mr. Lester Edwards,” she summoned in a no-nonsense tone, “Ben's on board. Let's go get Jessica.” Some of the bravado lessening, she added, “And let's hope we're still in time.”
Within fifteen minutes all three were on the road in Fiona's black sedan. At first, Ben assumed she was headed for the bus depot to intercept Jessica, but when he realized she was heading out of the city, he asked where they were going.
She replied, “Both of you sit back and calm your nerves. It's going to take at least an hour before we reach our destination.”
Ben glanced at Lester. “Is she always this evasive?”
Lester shrugged, “Only when she wants to,” he replied.
A thought popped into Ben's mind. He asked, “Where was Fiona born?”
Lester chuckled. “She never would tell me, the exact state or town. Just, Northeast.”
“She's been your secretary for years, and you never inquired further about her.”
“I hired her on the spot. I did have her checked out, when she wouldn't answer certain questions on the application. The few records available on her contained nothing amiss. She's a fine woman, best worker I ever had, not to mention the loveliest both in looks and character. I don't know how I ever got along without her.”
Ben lowered his voice to a whisper. “Are you in love with her?”
“I closed myself off to affections for the opposite sex when the first woman I ever loved abandoned me.”
Ben asked, beginning to understand, “How old were you?”
Lester stared ahead, as if reliving a memory. If anyone else asked, he'd tell them to mind their own business. But it was Ben asking, and in the present situation, where the young artist stood to lose as much as he had, he answered, “My father passed away shortly after I was born. I was eight years old when my mother left me forever in my grandparents' care. I hid behind the upstairs rail and heard her reply to their pleadings not to abandon me. To take me with her. Her reply that I'd only be in the way, hurt so much, Ben. Except for my grandmother who was always there for me, it took me years to trust any woman again. In college, I fell in love and took a chance. We got engaged. I honestly believed I'd found another woman to keep my heart safe. She dumped me a few months before our wedding date. That did it.”
“Lester, Fiona is not the type to hurt you. Look at all the years she has stayed with you. Myself, and everyone in the office recognizes that she is special to you. And it's equally no secret that she cares deeply for you. You may not know this, but several of your employees have asked her out over the years. She's straight, and she's all woman. But she refuses each suitor, tactfully, acknowledging her gratitude for their attention.
Lester glanced away. “I did ask her out. And she accepted. But by the third date, I knew I was falling in love with her, and dare not chance re-living the pain should she, as well, dump me.”
“How many years is it that she's remained at your side?” Ben asked, more as a reminder, than to hear the reply most knew.
Lester sighed. “Fifteen years I've been blessed with her loyalty and friendship. Best secretary ever. Conscientious, thoughtful, loyal. Counselor when I needed it. Caregiver when I was ill, best friend.” He paused, lips clenching with determination. “I won't risk losing her!.”
“You're not getting any younger,” Ben advised.
Lester said, “Fiona turned forty last week. I'll be forty-five next month. But friends can be forever.”
“So can a couple in love,” Ben said.
Fiona's voice halted any further discussion on the subject of herself and Lester. “Ben, stay out of it. Lester knows his own mind.”
The two men, immersed in their sensitive conversation, had forgotten for a moment who sat in front of them, driving.
Both feeling awkward, they stalled further conversation, and glanced out the windows, focusing their attention on the surrounding landscape slowly turning into a desert.
“We're almost there,” Fiona said.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Fiona drove the car off the road and headed east into the arid landscape. Except for an occasional cactus bush and a weak patch of vegetation, all that met their speculation was dry earth and sand. “Why in the blazes would she come here?” Lester voiced Ben's thoughts exactly.
“There is a very good reason,” Fiona said, as she brought the car to a halt, switched off the ignition, pocketed the car keys, and turned to face them. “I've checked, and we're still in time.”
Ben asked, “Is someone picking her up?”
Fiona said, “You could say that.”
Lester said, impatiently, “Please Fiona, be clear with us. No double-talk.”
“She glanced outside, and the expression on her face grew deadly serious. She opened the door and stepped out of the car. “It's here. Please step out, and follow me.”
Puzzled, and growing wary, they nonetheless did as she asked. She led them further into the desert until they came to an open space where nothing at all grew.
“Look ahead,” she said.
“I see her,” Ben said, anxiously.
“Now look up,” Fiona ordered.
“Oh my God,” Lester cried. “This can't be happening.”
Ben swallowed nervously. She was telling me the truth,” he murmured.
“Yes, she was,” Fiona said, addressing both men. “Here, Lester.” She handed her boss the car keys. “If you accepted my love, I would never leave you. Those that left you did not truly love you.”
She turned to Ben. “I asked you once, how well you loved her.” She waited for Ben to answer. He appeared dumbstruck. “Hurry, there isn't much time left.” She began walking towards Jessica.
Ben found his voice, “Fiona is from the same world as Jessica.”
“It appears so,” Lester said.
Ben said, “We're fools if we let them go.” He didn't wait for Lester's decision, but ran toward the two women who stood directly beneath the spaceship some fifty feet above them. It spun softly, capsuled in an undulating aurora borealis that made its actual shape indistinguishable. He recalled something Jessica had said over dinner once as they discussed her imaginary world. “The colored lights are actually a cloak to hide the space vehicle from detection by the earth's technology.”
As he reached the woman he could never let go, he cried out her name. Jessica did not turn, but he sensed she was fully aware of his presence beside her. He dare not touch her for fear the ship might take her before he could speak to her. “Forg
ive me, my love, for doubting you,” he said. “Don't leave me. Don't condemn me to a life without you.”
Jessica turned and he saw tears streaming down her face. But she was smiling. He clasped her in his arms and felt hers encircle him tenderly.
Fiona's attention turned to the other man drawing close to her.
Lester spoke. “What he said, it goes double for me ... if you'll still have me? Will you? Will you be my wife, Fiona?”
A spray of incandescent light issued from the base of the ship above and illumined the two women, eerily omitting the men.
The two women gazed up, their eyes fixed on the circular hatch opening above them. In unison, they placed their arms about their chosen mates. Some form of communication not audible or visible to the men, passed between the women and whoever piloted the spaceship. The spray of light remained a few seconds longer, then it rose up, back into the ship. The hatch slid closed. The vehicle hovered a moment more, as though reassuring itself. Then, its gentle spin increasing, its image blurring altogether so that all left discernible was a prettily colored humming top, it whisked up back into sky, and disappeared beyond the clouds and the earth's atmosphere.
EPILOGUE
Seven Years Later
Summer had come early. The weather today was especially beautiful — low humidity, comforting warmth, and cool breezes blowing across the Montana plains and green meadows. A barbecue was in the works. Ben's parents had retired, but instead of the condo they planned to buy, he and Jessica had convinced them to remain on the ranch, and settle into a lovely cottage built specially for them.
Visiting today, were neighbors and friends, sharing the fun along with the ranch hands, and offspring of assorted ages. A girl and boy, six-year-old twins, in plaids and jeans, came running from the barbecue pit where frankfurters and hamburgers, and veggie burgers, fries and carrot slices, sizzled and steamed.
“Uncle Lester, Aunt Fiona,” Clarissa, her chestnut brown hair in braids, called, as she ran towards them, stopping short of knocking over the jovial middle-aged man and woman seated on the oversized log.
“Come on,” Jeremy clamored, hair slightly darker than his sister's. He tugged at Lester's sleeve. “Food's ready,” he announced, excited to be the one relaying the breaking news.
Clarissa, pulled Fiona's arm. “Daddy and Mommy have saved your usual seats next to them at the head table. Mommy set up the booster seat for little Matthew right next to your seat.”
Fiona glanced down adoringly at her two-year-old son who sat in the netted playpen, busily stacking wood and jumbo Lego blocks.
Clarissa added, with utmost reassurance, “We split the pretty flowers you brought into bunches, and put some on each of the tables, in the middle, between the sweet potatoes and the veggies. Mommy used her best vases.” She tugged again impatiently at Fiona's arm. “Come on, I'll help you.”
Fiona exchanged a patient smile with Lester, who added, “We'll both help her.” He stood and offered his arm to his pregnant, near-term, wife. She rose slowly to her feet, relying mostly on her husband, but making sure to hold Clarissa's hand, to show gratitude for her help.
Lester called to some of the ranch hands perching on logs nearby to lift the toddler from the playpen and bring him to Jessica who waited to place him in the booster seat. Lord permitting, by Autumn little Matthew would have a baby sister to be jealous of, bicker with, and hopefully in time bond to, and protect with brotherly affection. He thanked the ranch hand who hurried over and lifted his son from the playpen to bring him over to Jessica. Gingerly, Lester assisted his wife across the grassy area, careful to avoid any rocks or felled tree roots.
It had been a busy morning with everyone helping to set up the tables with all the scrumptious goodies. Everyone had cooked and brought something to complement the slaughtered steer roasting on the spit. Jessica rarely partook of the meat. But it would be millenniums before this society learned to hold dear all life that felt pain, whether sentient, self-aware, or not.
When everyone was seated, little Matthew safely ensconced in the booster seat beside Fiona and Lester, all gazes turned to Ben for the Blessing.
He gazed at Jessica beside him. On hectic days, she tied her hair into a pony tail with a blue velvet ribbon. A few strands had come undone during the chore-filled morning, and as she turned her head to return his smile, the loosened strands fell softly against the sides of her face. Ben silently thanked the Good Lord for sending her to him, and their children, twin gifts of love that made his cup of joy continuously overflow. With equal gratitude, he glanced at Fiona and Lester, and their toddler playing with a mini plush pony toy attached to the booster seat's tabletop. He gazed down the tables taking in the smiles and warm expressions on the faces of all those waiting to join with him in a prayer of thanks.
He glanced lovingly at Jessica again, repeating silently as he often did, a short poem he'd composed the morning after their wedding,
The girl in blue velvet
who fell from the stars
to earth,
in my backyard, among the mimosas,
with a blue rose for an anklet
and a smile and a wink
my heart to link
For love and for life
To me, and mine, my wife
Ben crossed himself reverently. Taking Jessica's hand in his, he bowed his head and said aloud his prayer of thanks for the good times, and for continued strength and forbearance in the harsh times. Everyone joined him.
Done, he hollered with a whoop, “Okay folks, everybody dig in!”
Hope this story brought a smile to your lips and a warm feeling to your heart.
Wishing you all the best,
and peace of mind and spirit.
Dorothy Paula Freda
About The Author
Paula Freda, homemaker, mother of two grown sons, grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren, and former off-the-desk publisher of a family-oriented print small press, (1984 thru 1999), The Pink Chameleon, that she now publishes on line, was raised by her grandmother and mother, and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Even before she could set pencil to paper, she would spin her stories in the recording booths in the Brooklyn Coney Island Arcades for a quarter per 3-minute record. She states, "I love the English language, love words and seeing them on display, typed and alive. A romantic at heart, I write simply and emotionally. One of my former editors kindly described my work, "...her pieces are always deep, gentle and refreshing...." Paula further states, "I love writing, despite that I still have much to learn, and am grateful to any editor who takes the time to help me improve my skill. Although I've no fancy that I will ever be famous, or even want to be, my hope is that my writing will bring entertainment and uplift the human spirit. If someday in the future, someone reads my work and feels the better for it, then I have fulfilled myself." Her e-books & paperbacks are available through Amazon.com & several other online publishers.
OTHER NOVELS, NOVELLAS,
SHORT STORIES, AND ARTICLES
BY PAULA FREDA
E-BOOKS
Roses in the Dark
(Also available as four stand-alone Novellas)
The Blue Jay and the Sparrow
Driscoll's Lady
Henderson Sands
Adventure in Panama
Rubies, Sapphires,
Red, White and Lavender Blossoms
(Inspirational Four Romance Novellas)
The Heart Calleth
The Sketchbook
Inspirational Stories - Set 1
Inspirational Stories - Set 2
Inspirational Stories - Set 3
Blonde Angel
The Ugliness Without
The Lord's Canine
Is There More To Life Than What The
Realists Claim
(with a special bonus) The Giftless Christmas
The Camellia Lady / My Three Fathers
Cathy and the Dolphin
A Valentine Bouquet
&nbs
p; Stardust (Old Woman in the Park)
A Cup of Humanity
Shannon and the Angel (A Mortal Man)
Welcome Home, Amy
The Scent of Camellias
The Intangible
The Lonely Heart
A Ghost of a Story
The Gently Cursed
The Offering
The Good People
The Novices Guide
To the Art of Writing
The Adventures of Grace Quinlan and
Lord William Hayden
(five stand-alone adventures)
The Adventures of Grace Quinlan and
Lord William Hayden
(the complete novel)
Blossoms in the Snow
Sunrise in Paradise
Lilac in the Spring
Sapphire Blue in the Straw (Jenny's Story)
Orange Blossoms in December
The Consequential Heart
I Dream of My Lady in Red
The Girl in Blue Velvet Who Fell From The Stars
PAPERBACK EDITIONS
Time Encapsulated (Poetry of the Soul)
Romantic Short Stories
Science Fiction and
Fantasy Short Stories
Inspirational Short Stories
The Complete Collection (Sets 1, 2, 3)
The Novices Guide To the Art of Writing
The Adventures of Grace Quinlan and
Lord William Hayden
(the complete novel)
Roses in the Dark
(Also available as four stand-alone Novellas)