Bridge of Mist and Fog (24 page)

***

Airy was waiting for him out front the day Fehin was released, her wide smile making his heart hurt. It had been over two months since he’d seen her. Christmas had come and gone, a sad affair here in the rehab center. When she hugged him he hugged her back but he knew that he wouldn’t be staying with her for long.

“I missed you!” she said in the taxi. “They told me not to come visit. I hope you realized I wasn’t allowed.”

“I knew,” he said, turning toward her. Her wide eyes looked very green. He had a strange sensation in his lower abdomen as though a magnet was pulling him toward her. “Are you doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Never mind,” he said, turning to look out the window.

Airy reached for his hand. “How was it?”

“It was all right. I’m glad to be out of there, though.”

“Carla is cooking a special dinner.”

“She shouldn’t have gone to any trouble. I’m only staying one night.”

“What are you talking about?” Airy’s clear-eyed gaze made his head hurt.

“I have to get a job, Airy. I can’t hang around without my…” he glanced at the driver, “magic,” he whispered. “What we were supposed to do depends on that and since I don’t have any I’m moving on.”

Airy looked struck, her eyes wide. “Don’t you love me?”

“I love you, but that’s not enough.”

“The hell it isn’t,” she said loudly, causing the driver to check them out in his rear view mirror. “You’ll get it back. I know because I’ve had a bunch of premonitions.”

Fehin scoffed. “You’re having premonitions? With me in them?”

“Yes, with you in them,” she hissed. “And you have your…abilities intact,” she finished, glancing toward the front seat. “You can be such an asshole.”

Fehin laughed so hard he had to double over. “Hearing you swear is totally weird. When did you start that?”

Airy sat up straight and folded her hands in her lap. “You bring it out in me,” she said primly. And then she giggled.

***

Fehin rolled over and took Airy in his arms. He kissed her and then moved his hands across the top of her T-shirt.

“Let me help you with that,” she said, pulling it over her head. And then he felt soft warm skin under his fingers instead of rough cotton.

Her hands were on him, her breath in his ear. He responded to what she was doing. They were underwater, the murmur of her rhythmic breathing, the sound of his own breath, blue-green lights going off inside his skull. She smelled of sweat and flowers.

***

“Fehin? Are you planning to get up today?” Airy was staring down at him with her hands on her hips.

He sat up. “What time is it?”

“Nearly noon.”

Fehin shook the sleep from his head. “I think I need a major dose of caffeine.”

“Coming right up, your highness.” Airy flounced out of the room leaving the door open.

He heard her in the kitchen as he made his way to the bathroom. When he looked in the mirror he was surprised to see how bright his eyes looked. He actually looked happy. He pulled on his jeans and went to join her.

“Why did you let me sleep so late?” he asked accepting the cup she handed him.

“This is your first day back. I figured you needed your beauty rest.” She poured a cup of coffee for herself, added cream and sat then down at the table next to him.

“I had the most amazing dream. We were…well, you know…you were touching me and I was…” Fehin shook his head smiling. “Anyway, it felt like we were underwater.”

Airy’s level gaze met his. “That wasn’t a dream. You woke me up in the middle of the night. It felt like that to me too.”

“We did it last night?”

“Yes, Fehin. Is that so shocking?”

“I was just surprised since we hadn’t really talked or…”

She stared at him. “Sometimes talking is overrated.”

“Did you know I was asleep?”

Airy laughed. “You were pretty amazing for being asleep, Fehin.”

43

Carla glanced out the window and then turned to Airy and Fehin. “There are cops out there. I suggest you two go into the bedroom.”

It was March now and they’d all relaxed about Wolf’s death so this came as a surprise. Airy met Fehin’s gaze and then they hurried toward the bedroom.

“I told you I shouldn’t have stayed here,” Fehin whispered once they were inside. “If you get in trouble because of me, I’ll…”

Airy put her hand over his mouth. “Stop talking,” she hissed. She grabbed a glass from the bathroom counter and then pressed it against the door and put her ear up to the other end.

Fehin stared at her, puzzled. “What are you doing?”

“Shut-up,” she mouthed.

The murmur of voices went on for some time and then finally the sound of the front door closing. A few seconds after that Carla knocked on the bedroom door. “You can come out now.”

“What did they say?” Airy asked, opening the door.

“You couldn’t hear through the glass?” Fehin chuckled, following her into the living room.

Airy gave him a look. “It didn’t work as well as it should of,” she whispered.

Airy and Fehin had spent the last month going over the possible meanings of a bridge while they waited for Fehin’s magic to return. They walked every day and went to the library on campus, researching the politics of the past ten years and trying to come up with an answer that made any sense.

Once a week Fehin went off to his Narcotics Anonymous meeting, coming back in a darker mood than when he left. When Airy asked he said it saddened him to see so many people struggling. Other than that he wouldn’t talk about it. She worried that he’d be tempted to use again but when she asked him, he shook his head vehemently. “I’m not going down that road ever again. And if I do you have my permission to kill me.”

Fehin’s magic was still absent, a glaring problem that obviously plagued him. Every day Airy asked him what to do and every day he said he didn’t know. Airy’s magic was stronger than ever, her connection to Fehin reaching mystical proportions. She felt linked to him all the time, even when they were apart, which wasn’t often, and always knew what he was thinking and feeling. When he talked about getting work she told him she didn’t want him wandering around where the cops could find him. But in reality she couldn’t stand the idea of being parted for even an hour. After everything they’d been through she just couldn’t risk it.

Carla glanced at the two of them and then went to sit at the kitchen table. “They finally linked Wolf and Fehin, which led them to the construction site. I guess Wolf knew someone at the college? That’s how they knew where to find you, Fehin. And you put this address on your application.”

“Damn it!” Fehin said loudly. “I can’t believe they didn’t find me sooner.”

“What did you tell them?” Airy asked, moving to a chair next to Carla.

“I said he’d been living here for a while but I hadn’t seen him in several weeks.”

Airy felt like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. She leaned over to catch her breath.

“Airy, what’s wrong?” Fehin was by her side in an instant, his hand on her back.

“She’s hyperventilating,” Carla said, unconcerned. “It’ll pass in a moment. They could come back with a warrant to search the house since they don’t have any other leads,” she continued. “I think you should take my car and the camping gear and drive west.”

“Neither one of us know how to drive,” Airy said, glancing at Fehin.

“It’s an automatic, about as simple as it gets. I’m sure you can manage if I explain a few things.”

Fehin frowned. “But won’t they come looking for us?”

“I suppose they could but these sorts of deaths happen all the time. It could have been another drugged out addict who shot and killed Wolf. And they don’t have the gun or the prints. Actually I’m surprised they’re still working the case.”

“What about the other two people?” Airy asked, worried.

“Those two are totally out of it,” Fehin said. “They’re the ones who provide the drugs down there. They could be busted for that. Even if they said something no one would believe them.”

“They might be in jail already,” Carla added. “Perhaps that’s why the cops are still looking into it.”

“Well, Fehin?” Airy said, taking hold of his hand. “Do you still think it’s a good idea to head off without me?”

Fehin laughed mirthlessly. “That plan was gone a month ago.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Carla said. “You two need to stick together. Whatever is going on has made it very clear that you belong together. Don’t squander what’s been given freely by the universe.”

Airy laughed. “I like that. I wish we didn’t have to leave though. I’ll really miss you.”

Carla smiled. “I have a feeling this won’t be forever, Airy. Our lives are too intertwined now to imagine never seeing you again. Why don’t you go pack and then when it gets dark I’ll take you down to the garage and show you how to operate the car.”

When the front door opened they all turned. “What’s up?” Fan asked, staring from one to the other.

44

I was dark by the time Fehin and Airy followed Carla down to the garage. Fan had gone to bed knowing they were leaving. All of them were crying by the time they closed the door to her bedroom.

“Okay. Stow your stuff and then one of you get behind the wheel.”

Fehin threw his pack into the backseat and climbed in. “This is a pretty nice car to just give away,” he said.

“It’s a Range Rover but it’s nearly ten years old. I just don’t drive much and I have several years before Fan’s old enough. I signed the title over to Airy since she has a passport. It’s in the glove compartment with the insurance card. If you get stopped for any reason they’ll ask for them. I’ll keep paying the insurance. It isn’t much. Here’s the lever to set the seat where you want it and over here is the shift.”

Fehin and Airy paid close attention as she went through the various pedals and levers and what they did. She explained everything on the dashboard.

She had them practice backing and moving forward, braking and accelerating. And when it was over they were cross-eyed with exhaustion.

“I know you’re tired but I think it best if you leave tonight. There will be less traffic on the road. One of you can sleep while the other one drives. I’ve put maps of the country in the glove box and there are also state maps. Airy, you have your cell phone?”

“I do but once the bill comes they’ll cut it off,” Airy said.

“I’ll pay it for you,” Carla said. I wouldn’t want you to be out there without a phone. I suggest you stop at a bank and withdraw all your money. If your grandparents call I’ll tell them you went camping.”

“But…”

“No buts, Airy. You’re like a daughter to me now.”

When Carla reached to hug her, Airy burst into tears. “I can’t believe we’re leaving. I’ve been living with you for over a year now.”

Carla laughed. “Remember how you said you’d stay one night?”

Airy tried to smile. “Thanks for everything, Carla. I’ll keep in touch.”

“You still have your computers, don’t you?”

“I sold mine to buy drugs,” Fehin said. “But Airy has hers.”

“Just e-mail once in a while.”

“What route should we take?” Airy asked.

“Take whatever one calls to you. And don’t be surprised when Fehin has magic again. I see a change in him.”

Fehin smiled and then reached out to give her a hug. “I hardly know how to thank you,” he said. “Without you, I’d…”

“Fehin, I met you when you were seven years old. I always had faith in you. Sometimes we have to go through terrible things to find out what we’re made of.”

Fehin started the car as Airy got into the passenger seat. His eyebrows came together as he moved the gearshift into D1 and took his foot off the brake. He briefly glanced at Airy before putting his foot on the gas. A moment later they were rolling down the street.

45

“Are you hungry?” Airy held out the bag of sandwiches Carla had supplied. They’d already reached the border between Massachusetts and New York and were heading south toward Route 40. Airy was navigating using a small flashlight she’d found in the glove box to read the map.

Fehin held out his hand and took the sandwich she handed him. “I’m not even tired,” he said, glancing her way.

“Me neither. I love the night. There’s something exciting about it.”

Fehin grinned. “Maybe it’s because we’re making a new start. I feel better than I have for over a year.”

“No more Wolf,” she said.

Fehin swiveled toward her for a second and then returned his eyes to the road. “I used to chant that when I was a little boy after they put him away.”

“It just came to me. Sometimes I feel so connected it’s like we’re one person.”

“Can you read my thoughts?”

“Sometimes, but it’s more about feelings. I can feel you here.” She placed her hand on her belly.

“Sure it’s not just sex?”

“This is different and it’s there all the time, not just when we’re…you know.”

Fehin laughed. “Are you afraid of the word? Sex sex sex.”

“Stop it! I don’t consider what we do sex.”

“Really? And what would you call it?”

“It’s deeper, Fehin. I feel like we go somewhere else, like we’re in another world. It isn’t just physical, you know.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I know what you mean. It’s so much more than what I experienced when…” His voice drifted off and he glanced over at her with a worried expression.

“I don’t care about that. You were someone else then.” Airy stared out the window. “There’s no place to camp around here. I was hoping we could camp. What is it with all these mud lots and sick looking cattle? And it stinks.”

Fehin grimaced. “We have to get further west. Wait until you see Wyoming.”

“You’ve been there?”

“I was all over the place, Airy.”

“I hoped we’d discover it together.”

“There’s still a lot of wild out there even if the animals are gone. I didn’t go everywhere. Why don’t you get some rest? You’ll need to drive pretty soon.”

When Fehin announced an hour later that he needed a break, Airy drove for a few hours. Her nervousness left her as the car moved smoothly down the nearly deserted road. It was sometime near dawn when they decided to stop. By this time they both needed some sleep in a real bed instead of sitting up in a car. It wasn’t hard to find a motel. They undressed and took a shower together and then fell into bed, asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.