Passing

This is a short chapter, sorry.

Reflections

“Mom! He was hitting on Claire!”
“I can take care of myself, little brother!”
I ignored the kids and stared at the young man in front of me. He couldn’t be Kit, not after all these years and yet the resemblance was uncanny. He could only be….
“My name is Melody,” I said. “I knew your father long ago and I’m looking for him.”
He stared at me wide eyed. I took a step towards him and he suddenly turned and ran.
“Wait,” I yelled and tried to follow but by time I reached the alleyway he had disappeared.

I fell to my knees clutching me chest as a spasm of pain gripped me.
“Mother!”
“I’m alright,” I assured Claire and Peter. “I just over exerted myself. We need to get back to the hotel so I can take my medicine.”
I really wanted to tear the town apart looking for the boy but killing myself in the process of finding him wouldn’t do any good. I gathered myself up and led them back to the car. I was frustrated and hopeful at the same time. I had a lead, if I could just find him again.

Back at the hotel, I took my medicine and started feeling better. I finally managed to get Claire and Peter to go down to the pool with a load of assurances that I would be alright. They changed into their suits grabbed towels and left. I got out the stack of letters from Kit and started looking over them again. I wasn’t sure why, I had read them all two or three times already but they and an unknown boy were my only connection right now.

A few minutes later Peter, towel wrapped around his waist, knocked on the door.
“I forgot my key,” he said as I let him in.
He sat down opposite me at the table as I sat down to look at the letters again.
“Why are we here Mom?” He asked suddenly.
“You know,” I said. “I’m looking for an old friend.”
“The one who wrote all these letters.”
“Yes, he is someone very important to me.”
“But if he is so important, why didn’t you write him back?”
I looked up and stared at him.
“I thought you understood why I’m so angry at Aunt Joan. She and Mom kept my letters from getting to him and hid these letters from me all these years.”
“Oh,” Peter said looking at the pile of letters.

“What about Dad?” He said at last.
“Peter. I loved your father very much and nothing will ever replace him in my heart. Kit was someone I loved and might have married had things been different but that doesn’t change my love for your father or my two special children. Understand?”
“I guess. What about this Kit person, do you still love him?”
“Yes,” I said looking at the pile of letters. “I still do, does that bother you?”
He hesitated like he was thinking it over then he tilted his head a little.
“I’ve got to go.” He said.
Jumping up, he left the room again.
I shrugged my shoulders and turned back to the letters.

A few minutes later I heard Claire and Peter entering their room next door through the door adjoining with mine.
“You sure you didn’t see who took it?” Peter was saying.
“It wasn’t my job to look after it; it’s only a hotel towel anyway.”
I considered calling Peter in to follow up on my question but I decided his hasty retreat was sign he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
“Hurry up and get dressed.” I called. “And think about what you want for dinner.”

~~~

I woke early the next morning and was just considering what my next step when there was a knock on my door. I opened it to pleasant surprise.
“Deana!”
“Hello Melody.”
I threw my arms around her, almost tearful in joy.
“I’d almost given up hope of finding you, how did you know I was here?”
“A little bird told me,” she said with a canary eating grin.

I stepped back and looked at her. She had aged well but at least she had aged. After my encounter yesterday I was beginning to wonder if people at Spirit Peak never changed.
“So,” she said. “How soon can you pack?”
“Pack?”
“Yes, I’m here to invite you and your family to Spirit Peak Resort, all expenses paid courtesy of Lady Beth and Spirit Singer.”