Daniels Song. Katherine Dobney
gave me a glance of horror, and then asked Daniel, “Do you study astronomy?”
“The stars are a passion of mine, they always have been. I tried to show Hope how you can read the stars like a map.”
I pointed my finger toward the sky. “They look different on paper than when you look up.”
“I’m going out Sunday night, if you’d like, I could take you. That is if your father doesn’t mind.” Daniel and I looked at my Dad waiting for his answer. He was staring at the pendant deep in thought. Then he finally spoke, “I haven’t seen that emblem in a long time.”
Daniel looked a bit quizzical and I watched my Dad smile at us. “It was when I was in college. We were studying some artifacts from a dig in England, that mark was on a number of them.”
My Dad was one of the smartest men I knew; one day I should tell him that. “Dad, do you know what it means?”
He looked steadily at Daniel, “Something like ‘star warrior’, as I remember.”
“Yes, it’s called the Genesis Star,” Daniel said as he nodded to my father. “My father gave it to me long ago.” This was the first time I could remember Daniel’s eyes light up as he referred to his father. He was just as proud of his Dad as I was of mine.
“Daniel does your Dad enjoy history as much as you do?”
“More”, he said with a small laugh. Dad and Daniel returned to their conversation. I couldn’t stay on track feeling like a child at the adult table.
My mind drifted as I watched them use their hands to describe something every now and then. Daniel had large strong hands with long fingers, which I knew to be gentle as well. The kind of hands Toby once described to me as the hands of a musician. Toby had said that his were too small to be really good at playing the keyboard or guitar. I was lost in my own thoughts staring out the window or staring at Daniel. Whenever I caught myself watching Daniel I noticed I always had a strange feeling of wonder, one that I couldn’t explain even if I tried.
Slowly Daniel stood up followed by my Dad. I glanced around wondering why we were leaving so soon when I noticed a woman walking toward us. She had light brown hair that went past her shoulders in waves. As she got closer I noticed her beautiful smile and green eyes, almost the color of jade. I was starting to dislike meetings like this wondering if I should know the person but not quite recalling the face or name. When Daniel gave her a little hug, I felt relieved that he was the one knew her, not me.
“Elizabeth I’d like you to meet some friends of mine. Elizabeth Jensen this is Robert and Hope Shears,” he gestured with his hands.
Elizabeth was focused on my dad as she spoke. “Nice to see you again.” Her voice was as beautiful as she was.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know, you already knew each other.” Daniel said with a smile.
My dad didn’t take his eyes off her as he replied. “We met at the hospital, Elizabeth would keep me up-to-date on Hope’s progress, with an endless supply of coffee. I don’t know if I ever said thank you?” The sound of my dad’s voice was so sincere.
“You did many times, and you`re welcome.”
“We should up-grade our coffee date to lunch one day,” my Dad remarked smoothly.
“I would enjoy that.” Elizabeth smiled and walked away. I sat there stunned. Dad, Elizabeth, and coffee dates? I didn’t remember her. It made me so frustrated I wanted to cry. I kept thinking if Dad knew her shouldn’t I? My head hurt and I was getting tired.
Though I wanted to enjoy my time with Daniel, and Dad, I felt as if I was so out of it for the rest of our evening. They carried on through the meal and Daniel was gracious with thanks going both ways before we parted for our separate journeys. Even on the way home all I did was look out the window, watching all the cars go by, wondering where they were heading. When we finally got home, Dad went to the dining room table, which was full of papers.
“Hope don't wait up for me, I've got a lot of paperwork that needs to be done before tomorrow.”
“That's okay, I think I ‘m going to take a hot bath.”
After I took my bath, brushed my hair, and put it in a hair tie, I put on my favorite comfy pajamas. I tried to remember if there was anything else that I had forgotten to do? I found myself thinking ‘STOP’. Finally I crawled into my bed pulling my fluffy quilt around me. I did remember Daniel giving me a hug goodnight and he kissed the top of my head. “Sleep well” was all he said when we parted tonight. Sleep well, and I closed my eyes. I waited for my beautiful nightmare to begin. This part of going crazy I could deal with, as long as I could see my angel.
As I sat on my bed looking into my closet, wondering what to wear, the pile of laundry on my floor reminded me how fast the weeks had flown by. I had taken my finals and passed. I could not have done it with out Daniel’s help. He volunteered whatever time it took, just as he had with Kayla. Daniel worked so hard to help me when he really didn’t have to. Heaven knows I was no easy task. All that he asked in return was for a picnic to celebrate and he told me he had a gift. “A little something to remember the journey,” when I told him I didn’t need any gifts.
Still staring at my closet I jumped when I heard the doorbell. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt as I heard Dad yell down the hall “Hope! Daniel’s here.” I got dressed as fast as I could and left the disaster I called a room for later. As I reached the living room I could hear them talking.
“The best place is the cove. The easiest way to reach it is when the tide is low.” Daniel was telling my Dad.
“I think she would really enjoy it. She needs to have a little fun, start living again.”
I walked into the room as if I didn’t hear their conversation, smiling, then looking at Daniel. “So where are we going?”
“To the Column. It’s got a great view. You can see the mountains and the Columbia River. With a beautiful day like this, we might even see some sailboats.” Then Daniel nodded at me, “Are you ready to go?” I grabbed my sweater and headed toward the door hearing Dad tell Daniel “Thanks again, and take care of her.”
It was a quiet ride. No one had spoken. I hadn’t noticed until Daniel asked. “Are you alright?”
“Ya…. just thinking.”
Over and over in my head I heard Dad’s voice, “Start living again.” How do you start when you’re going crazy? Where do you start when the people you loved are gone? How do you begin when you feel your world is falling apart around you, how? I just wanted one thing to make sense, needed one thing to make sense.
I was surprised to feel Daniels hand on mine as it rested on the center console. “We’re here!” I realized, for the first time, I was at the top of the ridge looking out towards the river. Scattered across it like fall leaves were the colorful sails of the sailboats he had wished for. It was beautiful with the blue sky broken up with a hint of cotton candy clouds. The sun was warm on my skin. The airs smelled fresh and clean, with the hint of fresh cut grass. It was a perfect place to celebrate. A place I could forget about my life for a little while.
Daniel retrieved something from the hatch. Glancing back I saw that Daniel, of all people, was carrying an old-fashioned wicker picnic basket in one hand and a handmade quilt in the other.
“Coming?” he asked as he passed. Daniel walked to a sunny patch of grass as I followed him. I always felt warm when I was around Daniel for some reason. I stood and watched as he laid the blue and yellow quilt on the grass next to the picnic basket.
Daniel looked so different from those study nights at the college. His hair was soft waves down around his shoulders, not pulled back with his usual piece of leather. Wearing a pair of worn and faded blue jeans, a pale blue shirt with the