Like a Bird (12 page)

“I need to disconnect this damn thing. Don’t touch it again.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sky looked up at Gareth and waited for more, but he turned and left the room. She remained on the floor and stared at the light fixture with new curiosity. She gathered up her clothes and went to rinse herself of the experience.

- -

Back in his office, Gareth contacted Kitty.

Are you all right? I haven’t heard from you.

Kitty saw the message from Gareth. She put her phone down on the café table and sipped her chai latte, both hands wrapped around the warm mug. “Gawd the A/C is just frigid in here,” she said to Creep, who sat across from her.

He glanced at her from the business magazine he was reading. A woman entered the café and gawked at the girl with the pink hair and glitter platforms sitting opposite a scrawny man with a shaved head and piercings. Creep shot her a withering look with his different-colored eyes.

“Oh stop that.” Kitty slapped his arm. He only smiled at her before returning to his magazine and black coffee. The front cover’s bold letters read, “The Top 40 Under 40?”

“What are you reading that’s interesting enough to ignore the person sitting right across from you?” Kitty asked.

“You don’t like to be ignored, do you?” Creep said, giving her his signature glare.

“It’s not me, it’s just rude.”

“Well, Miss Manners, if you must know, I am reading about all the wealthy fucks who are going to buy my art in the near future. Even as an artist I believe it helps to think like them.” Creep leaned toward Kitty and tapped his temple. “I hear you’re a business woman now, too, so you should probably start reading this.”

“Who told you that? Daniella?”

“Yep. And I hear you’re not seeing that interesting fellow anymore. What’s his name? Gareth?”

“It’s good to know who I can trust to keep a secret. And who I can’t,” Kitty said.

“Oh don’t get your thong in a twist. She only asked me to give you some business insight, that’s all. I think she just wants to help. She adores you, as do I. We both want to see Kitty Enterprises take off.”

Kitty smirked and sipped her latte. She tossed back her freshly died hair and straightened up. “So, all-knowing-one. What do I need to do first?”

“You need to get an influx of cash to up your game.”

“Uh-huh. And how do I do that?”

“It’s all in here.” Creep patted the business magazine that lay on the table between them.

- -

There was something mesmerizing about standing next to an indoor pool as rain crashed down on the glass ceiling and poured down the walls. It was like being cleansed without getting wet. Sky figured the weight of the water on the glass might cause it to crack at any moment and kept a close eye on the ceiling. She stood a few feet from the pool wrapped in a fluffy towel.

Gareth walked through the door in his bathing suit. She tried to take her eyes away from the mottled skin on his arm and shoulder and ended up staring at his Hawaiian-print bathing suit.

“It’s not really my style, but Denise picked it out for me,” he explained.

Sky smiled and held her towel close. Gareth hooked his thumbs under the towel and slowly slid it off her shoulders and out of her grip. Once exposed, she held onto herself instead. Gareth guided her to the pool steps. She moved forward with less hesitation this time but insisted he go first. He held her hand as she slowly descended each step as though she might break. When she reached the bottom she kept close to Gareth and gripped him with her small hand. Even her short arm clamped him tight.

“Easy there, I’m right here,” he said gently and pulled her arms away so they were now in his hands. He leaned back and pulled Sky through the water toward the ledge. She screamed a little and laughed when they reached the side, where she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him.

“You’re trying to scare me,” she said.

“I’m trying to get you used to the water. You won’t be able to cling to me forever.”

“Yes I will.” She rested her head against his shoulder.

The water rocked them softly and Gareth embraced Sky.

“How did you get your scars?” Sky asked, barely above a whisper.

“Hmm?” Gareth tilted his head. She had spoken into his deaf side and he turned his good ear to her.

Sky swallowed and repeated herself. “How did you get your scars?” She rubbed her smooth cheek against the textured skin on his shoulder.

“It was an accident at work. A pipe filled with a corrosive chemical burst right in front of me.”

“That must have been really painful.”

“I blacked out soon after and woke up in the hospital. That was painful, as were the skin grafts. But, I probably don’t need to tell you about that.”

Sky nodded. “And then there’s the other kinds of pain.”

“What other kinds?”

“The emotional ones, when you know things will never be the same. When you realize you’re
literally
less of a person.”

“That’s an awful way to look at it.”

“But it’s true. You must have felt that. Why else would you be out here all by yourself?”

“I’m not by myself. You’re here,” Gareth said, and raised his eyebrow.

“You know what I mean. The emotional bullshit takes longer to heal. If it ever does.”

Gareth said nothing and played in the water, dragging his hand through it like a paddle.

“And then there’s the pain of losing people, as if losing a part of . . .”

Gareth spun himself and Sky around and pushed off the wall. Sky screeched and clung to his neck, almost choking him.

“It’s time to learn how to swim,” he said.

- -

Warm morning light bathed the valley and the moisture that had soaked the earth overnight seeped into the ground. Gareth hit the speed bag as fast as he could until the timer went off. He paused to wipe his forehead and squirt water into his mouth, then reset the timer for another round.

Two floors above, Sky lay in Gareth’s bed like a starfish in a warm tidal pool, her dark hair spread across pillow. She rolled over to check if Gareth was still there. She rubbed her hand over the cool spot where he had been and nestled into his pillow. Something cold touched her face and she recoiled. Laying on the pillow was a photograph.

The image appeared slightly faded, so Sky held it close to make out the faces of two girls playing near a large tree, one with long, dark pigtails and the other with a blond bob. Sky pulled the image back to take it all in, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.

She threw on one of Gareth’s T-shirts that hung off her like a baggy dress. She ran into his office and found his chair empty. She nearly tumbled all the way down the stairs in her rush to find him. In the foyer she stopped and listened to her own heavy breathing. There were thumping sounds coming from the basement. She found Gareth in the gym, where he was focused on the bag in front of him. She waited, dancing from one foot to the other.

Gareth caught sight of her from the corner of his eye, so he stopped. Sky ran over to him, embraced him tightly and pressed her face into his wet skin.

Gareth tried to pull her away. “I’m all sweaty,” he protested. But Sky held tight.

He lightly placed an arm around her. She looked up at him, her cheeks glistening. “How did you find this?” she asked, breathless, and stepped back to look at the photo. “This is . . . this is so incredible! I thought I would never see her again.”

“I wasn’t sure if it really was a photo of you and your sister. The little dark-haired girl kind of looked like you.”

“I remember that tree. We played in it all the time. I would sit in it and read sometimes. How did you find this?” Sky asked again.

Gareth shook his head. “I don’t revel my secrets,” he said and then turned away to wipe the sweat off his face and chest. He picked up the timer and turned toward the bag.

“Why don’t you go have some breakfast,” he said, looking back at Sky.

She skipped out of the room and up the stairs.

- -

Shortly before lunch, Takao let the unfolded tablecloth float down onto the dining-room table. He adjusted the alignment slightly and Sky, who had offered to help him, placed two plates on the fresh linen.

“How old were you when you left Nagoya?” Sky asked.

“I was twelve, and my sister Rose was ten,” Takao replied.

“That must have been scary, having to move so far away just after your father died.”

Takao nodded. “Yes, but I had to pretend not to be afraid for my mother and sister. I was the man of the house.”

“Well, it’s nice that you have your sister. You’re very lucky . . .”

“Yes, I am lucky to have Rose.”

“And so is Gareth,” she quickly added, making Takao laugh. Sky started to place the silverware on the napkins.

“This one goes on the outside.” Takao showed her the proper arrangement of the cutlery.

As Sky placed the second setting for Louis, the sound of the helicopter approached. “I gotta go,” Sky said. “Thanks!” She flashed a quick wave good-bye and scurried out of the room.

Gareth looked up from his computer and glanced out the window as the helicopter began its descent. He turned back to his keyboard and continued typing.

Rose fluttered about straightening pillows and making sure each room was stocked with necessities. In the dining room, she checked the cutlery for water stains and straightened the place settings. She saw Louis strolling to the front door, and she set off to outpace him to the foyer; she opened the door just as he set foot on the steps.

“Rose!” Louis opened his arms wide.

Rose smiled broadly, “Welcome, Mr. O’Byrne. It’s great to have you back.” She stepped aside and Louis entered the otherwise empty foyer.

“What kind of a greeting is this? No offense, Rose. But where the hell is the Sasquatch?”

“I believe he’s in his office. He might be finishing up some work. I’m quite sure he knows you’re here.” Rose nodded at Louis. “Would you like to wait in the living room?”

“No, no,” Louis waved her away. “I’ll just go and get him myself.” Louis said, heading up the stairs.

Gareth’s office door flew open and banged against the doorstop. Wisdom growled at Louis, though Gareth just glanced at the overstuffed bear who marched into his space.

Gareth put out his hand to signal Wisdom to stop.

“Geezus, I fly all the way out to the sticks and I get nothing but crickets. What the hell? Hey there puppy, you still don’t like me I see.”

Gareth snickered and stood to embrace Louis. They slapped each other on the back and Gareth motioned for them to take the leather chairs in front of the fireplace.

Louis dropped down into a chair and put his feet up on the table. “So where is everyone?”

Gareth frowned. “What do you mean? This is everyone.”

“The little nymph, where is she? Do you still have her?”

“You mean Sky?” Gareth went to the bar where a tray of appetizers sat ready. He placed it on the table between them.

“Yeah, her. The little dark-haired one with the nice rack.” Louis popped an entire appetizer into his mouth. “Why don’t you bring her round,” he said with his mouth full. “It’d be way more fun.”

Gareth’s frown deepened. “This is a business meeting.”

Louis reached for more food. “Exactly, which is why we need entertainment. It’s way too stodgy in here. Just a couple of dudes sitting around talking about work.”

Gareth leaned back in his chair. Louis stood, brushed the crumbs off his pants, and then headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back.” Louis held up his index finger.

Gareth propped his elbows on his knees, looking deep in thought. When it dawned on him where Louis was going, he dashed to the door. He looked down the hall to see Louis knocking on Sky’s door. Without waiting for a reply, he opened the door and let himself in before Gareth could stop him.

Sky was sitting in her cage, propped up with a book. She stared at Louis, wide-eyed like a startled animal.

“Hey, what are you doing in there?” Louis went to the cage door and he poked his head inside. “Why don’t you join us?” he said, smiling at Sky.

Sky hid her face behind her book, just peering over the top at Louis but cautiously reached for his outstretched hand. Louis helped her out and Wisdom scampered over, happy to see her. Sky gave the wolf some affection and then looked to see Gareth standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. He sighed but said nothing and walked back down the hall toward Rose, who was standing at the top of the stairs.

“Lunch is ready,” she said.

Gareth nodded and signaled for the rest to follow him to the dining room.

Louis guided Sky along with his arm around her shoulder. “So, how are things out here? Do
n’
t you get sick of staring at trees?”