The Summer Solstice ~ Enchanted (3 page)

“But you know about it and no one else has told
me, so please tell me. Unless you want me to march down to Rose’s den and
demand answers, please just tell me.” I begged her and finally I could see her
caving in.

“Oh
fine.” Her eyes narrow as if she’s breaking a law. “A little over 10 years ago,
there was an awful fire in the estate. No one even knows how the fire started but
your grandfather was in the library when it all began. He was trapped for a
long time and everyone began to believe he was dead. When help finally arrived
the firemen were able to help him out safely but he had many respiratory issues
as a result. It killed him a year later but not until after he’d started
rebuilding the house. Rose didn’t want to leave the place that your grandfather
and her had lived their whole lives. So she sought out help to care for Summer
Estate and I came into the picture a few years ago.”

Such a tragic story. My poor grandfather. But
the more I heard of the story, the more puzzled I became. Why did my mom keep
so many secrets from me? I’m sure she knew about the fire. Wouldn’t she have
wanted to visit him? After all, he did care for her like a father, even if it
was only a couple of years. And why didn’t she want me to meet my own
grandparents? I could only imagine that seeing Summer Estates again would
remind her of my dad and their life together – before he disappeared from
our lives.

I began to wonder if Rose knew anything about my
father. Has she heard from him? Is he even still alive? I shook away the
thoughts that I’ve never allowed myself to think much about. Someone who could
just disappear from my life and leave my mother to take care of a child alone
is not worth my thoughts.

“Thank you for the tour, Charlotte. I was
thinking that maybe I could take a walk on the beach now.”

Charlotte nodded, looking almost hesitant at
first and stopped me just before I reached the back door. “That’s fine I
suppose. Just be back in time for dinner. Is there anything you need at the
store?”

I shook my head and stepped outside, grateful to
be alone with my thoughts.

As
I made my way past the back patio, around the pool and out the back gate, I
wondered about Charlotte for the hundredth time in the past 24 hours. What are
her responsibilities exactly? And what are her responsibilities towards me?

Exhilarated from my short swim I pull myself from
the water and throw on my clothes. Rose’s private beachfront is the most
spacious in comparison to the other homes on the coast. Some homes were robbed
of a beachfront and instead are piled up against rocks to protect them from the
water’s edge.

Even from this angle it’s not hard to notice that
Rose’s estate is the most intimidating. Though there is one other that seems a
bit unusual. It is a darker shade of orange and appears to have a much larger
pool, with beautiful lion statues.

Minutes later, I have passed all of the houses down
the strip of sand and now find myself at an area of beach that leads to a long
rock walkway and juts out into the Bay.

A group of boys my age are sharing in a game of
volleyball at the shore’s edge. A group of teen girls are basking in the
glorious sun on the sidelines. I envy what it is to be one of those teens, no
worries in the world, just enjoying their young lives.

The volleyball game looks like quite the
competition. Even the female onlookers are deep into the game as they cheer on
the sidelines. I am intrigued by the effort of each player as they keep the
ball waving back and forth through the air. Time seems to slow down as I
witness a spike of the ball. I cringe just as the ball hits the face of an
opposing player.

To my left, sunbathers lay with oiled skin. Young
swimmers frolic near the shore. As I continue down the rock pathway, the music
of a teen’s stereo grows faint behind me and that’s when I come to the end of
pier. But instead of turning around I stop and take a seat on the rocks,
letting my feet touch the Bay water.

I lean back on my hands as I look up at the bright
blue sky. I close my eyes and let out a sigh. This is the first time in a month
that I have felt anything close to peace. I can finally breathe. In fact, being
here in this spot, as the sun soaks into my bones, is like I’ve escaped the
world, and it’s exhilarating.

Time passes. I remain still as memories of my mom
flash through my mind like a moving picture book. Her bright smile, as I’d come
through the door after playing basketball. Her quick paced walk everywhere she
went, always in a hurry. Our bicycle races, her warm hugs after revealing my
insecurities, the silly faces she’d make when I’d ask her about a date –
no one was good enough for her. I’ll never forget the sight of her reading the
newspaper every morning as she sat on the couch holding a fresh cup of coffee.
Her scent after her nightly shower was always fresh with the odor of baby
powder scattered over her body.

Sadness seeps into my
memories and this time I won’t allow it. I’ll never be done missing my mother
but I refuse to cry while remembering the good memories we shared. Instead, I
just drown myself in more memories.

I force my eyes open as a jolt of reality hits me.
When did I lie down? I sit up with a lurch. Where am I? The sky has darkened
considerably since I first arrived at the end of the rock walkway.

Still disoriented, I look around me and make out
the shape of the moon. As I slowly climb out of the haze my heart beats faster.
How could I have slept the entire day?
I stare out at the end of the
rocks into the Bay. It must have been those pills Charlotte gave me.

Rose
will have the cops out looking for me if I miss dinner.
I scramble to my feet and brush the rock residue
from my bottom.

It takes me just a few minutes to walk back down
the rock pathway that empties into the deserted community beach. The Florida
heat thaws away my anxiety as I head to the house.

The houses to the left of me come into view and I
can’t help but compare them to Rose’s estate. I am not surprised to see that
they are all almost the same size, possibly built by the same person. The next
house that I pass is the one that caught my eye earlier. My eyes sweep over
this estate again quickly but stop when I catch his eye. A guy, about my age,
is leaning over his balcony staring down at me – or at least it appears
that way. His hands are clasped together, an intense look on his face.

It hits me like lightning
– so hard and fast that I’m falling to my knees. Jolts of pressure are
stabbing me behind my eyes. The palms of my hands press against my ears. My
mouth opens as if to scream, but no sound comes out. The pain is excruciating.
A flash of bright white light takes over my vision, and then another, and
another, and another. I don’t know how many times it hits me but each flash
feels like a jab of electricity. After what seems like forever, the light
sticks. The solid white light is accompanied by an overwhelming peace that
makes up for all of the jolts that just entered my brain. I am sinking.

What I see now
makes no sense but it’s as clear as the sun that’s setting over the Bay. In my
vision I’m in the great room with Rose and Charlotte. Balloons decorate the
room brilliantly, a few dozen hanging in mid-air, as if levitating. A
three-tiered birthday cake sits in front of me displaying white frosting with
green trim. It reads “Happy 16
^th
Birthday, Katrina” in gold
lettering. Gold decorative leaves are scattered on the second layer. It is the
most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen. I am on the couch across from my
grandmother who sits in her oversized chair. Charlotte stands at the window,
smiling. It’s like a scene from a movie, as my life plays out before me. Rose
pulls out a rectangular object, wrapped in silver and gold paper. She hands it
to me. My vision jolts forward to my small fingers
opening
the jewelry box. And then there is a close up of the gift inside. A necklace
with a stunning green stone attached sits in the palm of my hand. The next
vision is of an overly joyous me wearing the necklace – and then it’s
gone.

I’m knocked out of whatever vision my mind forced
me to have and I’m back on the beach. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter,
suffocating the pain I once felt. My breathing is rapid as I try to get ahold
of reality.

What
just happened?

I remember feeling pain but now all I feel is
– alive.

“Hey!” A voice is shouting at me. “Hey, are you
okay?” A figure drops down beside me in the sand.

It takes me a few seconds to adjust back to the
present time.
What was that?
I ask myself this again and as I do my
heart begins to race inside my chest. Suddenly, I go from electric – to
terrified. I think back to that dream I had the first night in the estate, and
now this – a vision that felt as if I was there.
Why am I seeing these
things?

“Can you hear me? Talk to me.”

The panic in the stranger’s voice shakes me enough
to look up. Confused as to why this person is here with me now, I focus. My
eyes are still closed.

Slowly, I open them but all I see is a blurry dark
shadow. As my eyes adjust to the new image before me, the shadow fades to
normal and I see him. A boy, my age I guess. Concern floods his face as he
stares down at me.

“Thank you.” As soon as the words come out of my
mouth I wake up completely. I try to sit up but dizziness overtakes me and I’m
falling into a set of arms.

I focus in on the face above me. His hazel green
eyes, even in the growing darkness, are clear. His short wavy hair is a dark
shade of brown. His face chiseled and unspoiled. The touch of his arms burns
through me. I’ve stared at him too long.

“Hey.” His voice is lighter now as he realizes I’m okay.

“I – I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened to
me.” I find my voice, and when I do I’m shocked at how put together I sound.
I’m seeing things, feeling electric shocks through my body, and now I’m calm?
Impossible.

I’m able to sit up now so he helps me and then sits
with me. I watch him search my body for damage. I scoot inches away. When his
eyes fall back on mine I find comfort in them immediately. Who is this guy?

“I was at my balcony when I saw you fall.” He
explains. “You looked like you were in pain. I just wanted to make sure you
were okay.
Are you okay?
” His voice is gentle; I can’t help but notice
it. And his eyes – there’s something about them.

I make the connection now as I look up to the
balcony. “I remember seeing you there. That’s when it happened.”

“What happened?”

“The – headache.” I don’t know why I’m
choosing to be vague right now but it’s like the right thing to do. “It hit me
out of nowhere. And then I fell. And it just seemed to – linger.”

The boy nods, seeming to accept my story. “Maybe I
should take you to the hospital. I don’t think those kind of headaches are
normal.”

I edge myself away from him and shake my head.
“Thank you but I’ll be fine. I feel fine now.” I stand effortlessly to prove
it.

He looks unsure with my decision but rises with me.
“Can I at least walk you back to where you came from? Where
did
you come
from?”

What
a strange question.
“I’m just next door, almost there.” My eyes move towards Rose’s estate. “I’ll
be okay, I promise.”

“You’re Rose’s granddaughter.” His voice changes
but I can’t make out the tone. He’s confident in his assumption. And
disapproving? I shake the thought away – now is not the time to try to
understand anything.

I nod my head. “Yes.” I turn away slightly, but
sneak a look at him from under my eyelashes. “I should go.”

I turn toward the place I’m forced to call home
before he can argue and disappear from his sight.

Maybe I was slightly rude to just take off like
that, but this situation is much too strange to explain to a complete stranger
– a stranger whose name I didn’t even ask. But it didn’t matter.
Something told me I would be seeing him again soon.

I’m able to sit up now so he
helps me and then sits with me. I watch him search my body for damage. I scoot
inches away. When his eyes fall back on mine I find comfort in them
immediately. Who is this guy?

“I was at my balcony when I saw
you fall.” He explains. “You looked like you were in pain. I just wanted to
make sure you were okay.
Are you okay?
”
His voice is gentle; I can’t help but notice it. And his eyes – there’s
something about them.

I make the connection now as I
look up to the balcony. “I remember seeing you there. That’s when it happened.”

“What happened?”

“The – headache.” I don’t
know why I’m choosing to be vague right now but it’s like the right thing to do.
“It hit me out of nowhere. And then I fell. And it just seemed to –
linger.”

The boy nods, seeming to accept
my story. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital. I don’t think those kind of
headaches are normal.”

I edge myself away from him and
shake my head. “Thank you but I’ll be fine. I feel fine now.” I stand
effortlessly to prove it.