In the previous Chapter:

Cynthia went home and left Jeremy at Lighthouse Island.
Val and Jane Hunter didn’t dare to speak about Jane’s independence.

Credits to:  Fredbrenny for her assistance and above all for ‘Alejandro’; Mangio for ‘Carmen’; and introducing ‘Rosalind King’ ~ Thank you Spladoum.

*****

Jeremy felt better now that he was alone again. He spent the day reading and working out.

That night he slept like a baby. It had been a long time since he slept this well.

Next day, while working in the garden, he told himself that he could do exactly what he always did being alone. He could work in the garden in his underwear if he wanted to. There was nobody he had to consider. Nobody would tell him what was appropriate and what not. He only had to take care of the garden, do some exercises and relax…; relax…. That word made him feel so good. He wouldn’t have to walk on his toes being afraid of hurting other people’s feelings. He had no need to understand the reason why Cynthia reacted the way she did…. always so unexpected.
He was better off alone; only himself to deal with…. He didn’t know yet how true that was!

At a certain moment he felt if though he was being observed. He turned around and what he saw almost made his blood freeze in his veins. He stood eye in eye with himself when being a young adult!

What was this? A nightmare? He was so shocked that he lost consciousness.

*****

Aunt Dawn looked puzzled. A woman of her age has seen many possible and impossible things and time had taught her not to give a quick comment on things she didn’t understand but she didn’t believe much in a message sent by a spirit…. That’s why she looked puzzled when she saw Cynthia coming out of a taxi. How could Raph have known this? Or was it just a coincidence?

Cynthia greeted Dawn and told her that she was sorry for having been away longer than expected. Aunt Dawn explained everything that had happened during Cynthia’s absence. She saw that Cynthia looked a bit tired and she offered to stay there to prepare lunch for all of them.

Cynthia accepted that offer thankfully. She went inside to change into another outfit. The children would soon come back home from school.

After that, she went to the garden to wait for Raph to come and they gave each other a big hug.

From the corner of her eye she saw a girl going into the house. ‘Ah…, that must be the girl Aunt Dawn had been talking about; I will greet her later.’  She listened patiently to all the news her son told her.

When Risto came home, he ran to his mother for a hug and Raph smiled and said: “Didn’t I tell you…? I knew she would come here, dad told me so!” Cynthia looked at her oldest son and decided to analyze this sentence later.

For the moment she was pleased to see the children happy and was grateful that Aunt Dawn had taken good care of them. They introduced her to Carmen who, again, was shy because she had never seen Cynthia before.

That afternoon Aunt Dawn told Carmen to pack her things because now they would go to Dawn’s house. Risto said he wanted Carmen to stay with him and Raph remarked: “Don’t be silly, she will be living next-door.”

After the children had gone to bed, Cynthia thought about what Raph had said. ‘Dad told me yesterday that you would come today’. She thought: ‘How is that possible? Yesterday I didn’t even know myself that I would go home today. I made that decision after having cut the photo. Could Raphael possibly have known that I would do so?’

The answer came in a dream. She only heard Raphael’s voice: ‘Dear Cynthia. I’m so pleased you could free yourself from the shield… This has been your proof. You were depending too much on me and you had to learn to trust yourself. There was no need to cut the photo; your determination was firm and you would have freed yourself anyway by taking the decision and having that shower. Water always washes negativity away…; of course, only if you are determined enough. Are you aware that if you are able to take the shield away, you will be able as well to create one if you need it? I’m proud of your achievement! Now…, stand on your own feet and take your life into your own hands. Eventually you might stray away from the light and need help to find the enlightened path again… Then I will be there for you.’

*****

When Dawn came home, she noticed immediately that somebody had been in her house. She had a quick look around and saw that nothing was missing.

When she went downstairs to prepare the bedroom for Carmen, she noticed that one of the rooms was occupied because there was a suitcase and she found clothes in the drawer. She didn’t have to wait a long time to solve that mystery. She heard the front door opening and went upstairs.

She started smiling from ear to ear when she recognized her 2nd cousin. She hugged her dearly and said: “My dear Rosalind. I’m so happy to see you here. How’s your mom? Why did you come here? I thought you were working as a teacher…. Tell me all about it…!”

–  “Auntie Dawn; you’re as sweet as I always remember. It’s true…; I’m a teacher back home at Sutters Landing but I’ve got very demanding students, problem kids, in my class and I needed a break really bad. So I decided to take this sabbatical, one year for myself. As I’m very interested in psychology, I decided to study it. Doing so may help me understand the pupils’ behavior better. Psychology always has been a hobby of mine. Besides that, I needed a change of air. I hope you don’t mind that I came here to you. Mom gave me your address and I found the key underneath the flower pot.”

The young woman smiled at her 2nd aunt and Dawn really was very pleased to see someone of her family. She hugged her again and said that she was always welcome to stay. Then Dawn saw from the corner of her eye that Carmen came out of the living room.

Dawn said: “Oh, how stupid of me! I was so happy to see you that I forgot all about Carmen.” She called the girl and said:  “Carmen, I want you to meet my second cousin, Rosalind King. Rosalind…, this is Carmen, a young friend of mine who will live here a few months until her mother comes back.”–“Pleased to meet you madam”, said Carmen. She was shy again. Today had been a stressful day for her and all she wanted was to be left alone and she hoped that she could find something to play with in this house.

When she noticed that the women continued talking, Carmen escaped and went downstairs where she found the Gnome-in-a-box and she enjoyed the music.

*****

At Val’s and Daisy’s place, Jane had just made her bed when her sister in law came inside. They joked a bit together and then Jane said:
–  “Daisy…, I’d like to know your opinion on something.”

–  “Yes Jane…, tell me what it is.”
–  “I don’t know how to say this and I don’t want to be rude because you have been so kind to me.”

–  “Go ahead Jane, you can tell me anything.”
–  “Do you think that my brother would be offended it I would look for a place of my own? I really would like to be independent but I never dared to tell Val about it because he’s the only family I’ve got…”

Daisy hurried to answer: – “But Jane, you are very welcome here and for us you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to…”
–  “I know, but I really need a change although it makes me sad to leave little Daniel as well.”

–  “Hey…, don’t worry about him and don’t you worry about your brother. He’s a grown man now and I’m sure he will understand…! Do you want me to talk to him?”
–  “Oh, that would be great…, if you could prepare him for this separation…, I’d appreciate it very much!”
–  “It will not be a separation. You only want to live in a house of your own which is quite normal. You can come and visit us and we will visit you. Don’t worry Jane, I will make him understand that.”
Daisy was relieved and hugged her sister in law. She was a nice person but a young couple needs privacy and, to be honest…, Daisy almost couldn’t resist sneaking into the one-persons-bed with her husband.

*****

That same morning Alejandro woke up with a very special feeling. There was something special in the air; he could feel it…; something promising….

He got up, took his phone and called Jane.

–  “Señorita…, how about having lunch together at the Bistro…?” He waited patiently for Jane to think it over and then a smile brightened his face. ‘Yes…, she said yes…!’and he thought ‘it’s now or never…’

He couldn’t stop smiling while he showered and sang out loud a beautiful love song. He prepared himself to meet his ‘Dulcinea’.

To be continued…