Fallen Elements (20 page)

Ryan stopped as Leah stepped around the
counter. “I don’t think we should -”

Stepping forward, Ryan had to force herself
not to take the beautiful blonde’s hand. “We could try, and see
-”

“I’m old enough to be your mother.”

Ryan felt as if she had been punched in the
stomach, and took a step back.

Leah stepped forward and reached for Ryan’s
hand. “God, I didn’t mean - I’m sorry, that was in really poor
taste.”

Ryan was surprised to feel tears pushing at
the back of her eyes, and took a deep breath in an effort to clear
her head. “I should go.” She pulled her hand free of Leah’s and
reached for the door.

A look of pure anguish crossed Leah’s face.
“Ryan - I’m -”

The need to maintain some dignity and
self-respect sparked Ryan to look Leah squarely in the eyes as she
spoke. “I’m not looking for another mother, and that’s certainly
not what I want from you.”

Ryan pulled the door open with such force the
jingle of the bell was a sharp and garbled jangle as she descended
the steps and began walking quickly toward her car.

“Ryan!” Leah’s voice was preceded by the
slamming of the shop’s door as the woman jogged after Ryan.

“Forget it!” Ryan reached in her pant pocket
and pulled her car keys out. A firm hand grabbed her by the right
shoulder and spun her around.

“Wait. Please.” Leah stood in front of her.
The light morning mist clung to her hair, as her breath created
puffs of clouds in the space between them. “That was a terrible
thing to say, and I know you aren’t looking to be taken care of or
-” The blonde swallowed, her words coming in short bursts.
“Mothered.”

The sting of Leah’s words clung to Ryan, and
she had to force herself to hear the woman standing in front of
her. It had been a long time since she had felt vulnerable with
another person, and she wasn’t sure if the pain she felt was
proportional or right.

“Thank you for apologizing.” Ryan had always
believed when all else fails, politeness couldn’t hurt. “I’m going
to go.”

Leah grabbed Ryan’s forearm. The touch felt
akin to the sun on Ryan’s arm during a warm summer afternoon, and
she struggled not to step closer to the blonde. “Can we have
dinner?”

Ryan felt lightheaded, and the slight incline
of the street left her feeling unstable. Leaning on the car, she
managed to nod. “Okay.”

The warmth of Leah’s body seemed to be
seeping into Ryan, and she willed her arms not to wrap around the
beautiful woman.
What’s wrong with me?

“And maybe we can avoid chasing each other
down the street next time?” Leah teased.

Ryan chuckled, the swirling in her head still
leaving her off balance. “It’s my cardio.”

A broad smile spread across Leah’s lips as
she noticed Ryan’s car for the first time. “Hey, is this
yours?”

Ryan, still feeling unsteady on her feet,
continued to lean on the car. “Yep.”

Leah nodded her approval. “It’s nice.” She
stepped toward Ryan. “I’ll call you tonight with details.” She
leaned in, and placed a quick kiss on Ryan’s cheek before turning
and walking back to the bookstore.

The brief touch triggered more vertigo, and
Ryan barely managed to get the car door open before she collapsed
into the driver’s seat. She had never swooned before, and certainly
not with a single peck on the cheek. She chalked it up to no
breakfast, followed by an intense exchange with a woman she was
beginning to have significant feelings for.

“Marty!” Leah shouted the man’s name as she
walked back into the bookstore.

The stout man emerged from the back of the
store, a white ceramic mug in hand that read
Fluent in Movie
Quotes and Sarcasm
. “You rang.”

Leah put her hands on her hips, and glared at
the man. “Calls? Really?”

The man shrugged. “It seemed plausible at the
time.”

“Why not just tell me she’s here?” Leah
charged.

Putting the coffee mug down on the counter,
Marty winced. “I don’t think getting involved with another Myers is
advisable, do you?”

Shaking her head, Leah placed her elbows on
the counter. “Ryan isn’t Karen.”

“True, but Karen didn’t start out being Karen
either.”

Leah’s brow furrowed. “Explain.”

Marty took a sip of his coffee. “The way you
tell it, when you two met it was all sunshine, lollipops and snow
cones.”

“Don’t forget unicorns.” Leah jabbed.

Marty grinned. “And happy little elves on the
unicorns. But then, she was - in the end - a Myers, and everything
that goes along with that.”

Leah straightened up, and taking a deep
breath looked at the ceiling. “I like Ryan, and I want to be
friends.”

“I know you look thirty, but she’s nearly
twenty years your junior. What could you possibly have in common?”
Marty put the coffee mug back down.

Leah tisked. “Low blow, Marty.” The woman
looked at the coffee mug, ran her index finger along its warm
ceramic side, and then smirked as she walked toward the back of the
store. “Besides, that’s the point of being friends, to figure out
what you have in common.”

Marty shook his head, and picked up the mug
of coffee. When he tilted it back for a drink, a dark block of ice
pressed to his upper lip. Marty turned the mug over, and the frozen
coffee fell with a thud onto the counter.

The man rolled his eyes, and shouted to the
back of the store. “You owe me a coffee tomorrow! Something
expensive that takes as long to order as it does to make.”

What a wretched time I have had! It has been
nearly a month since I last wrote in this diary as illness has been
upon me in one form or another since shortly after the gathering at
the Tynan house. I do not know that I have the strength to
endure.

My stomach is in a constant state, and I
have awoken each morning with the worst sickness. Margery and
Abigail both have taken to visiting me daily, as has Coleen, and on
occasion her sister Hester accompanies her. I am blessed to be
surrounded by such caring and concerned friends and neighbors.

Margery was over just yesterday as Coleen
and I sat in the front room visiting. It was the most peculiar
thing as once again I am convinced the two women know each other.
The expressions of recognition that I witnessed between the two was
unmistakable, but I must confess I was too weak to implore with
either of them.

It saddens me, but I do not believe Margery
or Coleen are destined to get on. Once the initial introductions
were over, Margery immediately left for the kitchen to prepare my
daily herbal tea. Coleen had watched her closely – I dare say
suspiciously, and it was only after I spoke to her twice that she
turned her attention back to our visit.

I do not know what history – if any – there
is between these two women, nor can I imagine, given Coleen’s
travels, how they would have met, but I do wish they had struck a
truce for my sake. I do enjoy them both so very much.

Even now as I write, my concentration wanes
as waves of sick cramping shoot through my stomach and lower
regions. Isaac has done what he can, but his obligations to the
court and the town are great. He continues to manage the situation
with the Sebille family, though I am at a loss why it should take
so long for the court to decide how to manage the issue of the
family’s contract.

I did manage to ask Isaac, and he told me it
was too complicated to explain, but that once our baby was born I
should have nothing to do with Margery or her family. I could not
imagine, and I told him Margery was more than a midwife to me – she
is a friend.

Isaac was very cross with me, and I could
see he was restraining himself for my sake and the sake of our
child. He made it clear though – in no uncertain terms – the
Sebilles were not to be fraternized with once my pregnancy was
over.

I commit to these pages what is in my heart,
and confess that I lied to my husband when I told him I would honor
his wishes. I do not know how as of yet, but Margery and I will
remain friends no matter what!

I can barely manage to put into words the
events of this day. It is as if I have left this world and ventured
to some dark place I dare not speak of, and cannot escape.

Isaac returned home from court the other day
with dire news. The Sebilles were not only being driven from their
home, but they were to be excommunicated from the town. My husband
was in a state I have never witnessed before. His eyes were wide
with fright and his face flush with heat. He had returned not so
much to tell me the news, but to retrieve his family’s pistol
before returning to the town center.

“
I have not the time to explain what are
complicated and urgent matters, Remembrance. Just know, the
Sebilles – and I am sorry, but Margery too – are to be removed from
town immediately.” He spoke rapidly as he stored the pistol in his
leather bag.

“
And you need a gun to do this?! You are
not one of the constables, Isaac. Let them move the family.” I had
pleaded with him for, as much as I care for Margery, the idea of
Isaac putting himself in harm’s way set off in me a wave of
panic.

Seeing my concern, Isaac took my hand,
pressing it firmly to his lips. “I am merely there as an observer.”
He had glanced down at the bag which hung from his shoulder. “This
is simply a precaution.”

“
Why do they have to leave the town? Is it
not enough they should be forced from the only home they have ever
known?” I was thinking of Margery and Abigail, but also Goody
Sebille who – in spite of a prolonged illness – was still alive,
and I could not imagine in any condition to move.

“
Just know they must be removed. Is it not
enough that I have said so?” Isaac had reached the front door, his
hand hesitating over the latch as he saw the tears his words had
triggered begin gathering in my eyes.

My husband is a kind man, and is not immune
or deaf to my feelings. That second he put his bag down, and pulled
me into his arms. I felt a relief come over me, and I held him
near.

“
Wife, there are things in this world you
are not meant to know – not yet anyway.” He had leaned back from
me, and I could see the worry and love in his eyes. Though I
thought to argue, my heart was no longer in the fight, and I let
him go.

Nearly four hours passed. The sun had
already set, and the house was cast in shadow when I heard
footsteps on the front porch. The sound of multiple men gathering
near my front door sent a shock of fear down my back, and I grabbed
the iron fire poker though I did not know what I should do with
it.

The door opened, and to my great relief it
was Isaac in the company of Goodman Payne and Goodman Tynan. “Wife,
why are you standing in the dark with an iron poker in your hands?”
Isaac’s eyes had narrowed as he looked upon me.

“
I was frightened, and did not know for
certain it was you.” I quickly placed the poker back in its holder
and greeted our guests. “May I offer you a spot of ale?”

Goodman Tynan stepped forward. “We did not
mean to frighten you, but it has been a trying day.”

Goodman Payne had huffed, and sat his bulky
frame down in the chair nearest the fire. “You, my friend, are the
master of understatement.” He looked up at me, his narrow brown
eyes glimmering in the fire light. “I will take that ale, Goody
Allerton.”

I was surprised when Isaac followed me into
the kitchen. “We will not be staying long. The court is being
gathered.”

I turned to face my husband, surprised a
matter as simple as evicting a family from their home would warrant
gathering the town’s elders at night. “Can it not wait until the
morning? What could be so urgent as to draw you back out into the
night?”

Isaac’s eyes darted back and forth, and I
could see he was deeply troubled. I took his hands in mine, and
squeezed gently. “Husband, what sits so heavy on your heart?”

A faint smile found his lips but for a
second, and then his eyes went to the floor. “The Sebilles are
witches.”

I recoiled from the very word as I took a
step away from Isaac. “That is not possible. Margery, Abigail –
they are god fearing –”

“
They are witches, Remembrance. And the
town has known since the crossing, but has looked the other way
until now.”

I was so taken aback by this revelation that
my speech left me, and I could only cover my muted lips with a
trembling hand.

“
The family ensured a safe passage across
what could have been – and most certainly would have been –
horrific and cruel seas. In exchange, they were contracted a salary
and house by the town.” Isaac took a tentative step toward me, his
eyes brimming with concern. “You know I speak the truth. Look into
your heart.”

I was looking. Every second of every day I
had spent with Margery running through my mind, and I could find
nothing wrong or evil in the woman. “You knew?”

Isaac shook his head, his brow furrowed as
he was clearly remembering. “My father had alluded to it, but I
thought it was rumors.” My husband shuddered, and I instinctively
stepped to him, needing to comfort him. “I was not certain until I
assumed my current duties, and had access to our town’s
records.”

“
You knew and yet you continued to allow
Margery to tend to me and our child?!” I spoke more harshly to
Isaac than I had at any other point in our marriage, and I could
see from the pained expression on his face, he was
surprised.

“
I was not sure, wife.” Isaac pleaded.
“What would you have me do? You had been so ill, and there is not a
doctor to aid us.” Once again my husband could not meet my eyes. “I
did not know what to do, but trusted that had anything seemed
amiss, you would take the steps required of you.”