Cemi Precious

Chapter 1

Jill’s brain told her she’d escaped Shelob’s lair, although she had no idea what that meant. The doctors said her senses were working properly, but her brain refused to receive the signals. Then one day it did. She had no memory of the year and a half before that day. The thirty-six years of her life before the accident were sketchy.

Jill lifted her kayak onto the roof of her Land Rover. Her duffel of climbing gear went into the cargo area next to the camping gear. She took off the orange down vest. The sun would be up soon, and she was accustomed to the Colorado early fall chill. Her hiking shorts, tank top and unbuttoned denim shirt would be good for the rest of the day.

“Coffee?” Marcus stepped out from the garage and handed Jill a mug. It had a silhouette of a woman suspended from an overhang with the words I’D RATHER BE CLIMBING.

“Thanks. Almost packed.”

They clinked mugs. Marcus said, “Man, I hate to see you go.”

“Yeah. Been a great year. I’m still not that good, but at least I’m fit now. They finished their coffee in comfortable silence. Jill put some last-minute things in the car and faced her mentor. Her breath formed and rose as she exhaled.

“Well, I guess this is it. Tell Megan I’m sorry I missed her, and congratulations to both of you on the granddaughter.”

They hugged. Even at five-seven, Jill had to go up on her toes to give Marcus a soft kiss on the cheek. Gravel crunched under her tires, and Marcus waved in her side mirror. She navigated down the mountain to Durango and turned north, parked at the Engineer Mountain trailhead. She tied her boot laces, redid her long auburn ponytail, grabbed her water bottle, and headed up. Jill loved the fresh pine smell of the forest. An hour in she took a seat on a fallen tree trunk, sipped water, and let some bikers by. A fish broke the surface of a lake some yards off the trail. Another easy hour with stops to look at interesting moss formations or a quirky bent tree landed her in a grassy meadow. The rising sun lent an orange tint to the bare gray rock pinnacle that rose like a giant tooth above the tree line. She’d been to the peak, but that wasn’t her goal today.

“I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but I surely will.”

Back at her car, she grabbed a sandwich, poured tea from a thermos, and sat on a rock. She pulled out her phone and read the text message that made her phone ding four months before. Jill knew it by heart, but had never answered it. She put her phone down, ate some sandwich and sipped tea. Picked the phone up. Put it back down.

Chapter 2

Bridgette

The hinges on her bedroom door cried. Bridgette stood still, not daring to breathe. She waited. Her father’s snores fractured the darkness. She hoped he was too drunk to come to her room. He was an angry drunk. Angry he was laid off at the pill factory. Drunk because he was angry. Bridgette took his abuse to deflect him from her baby sister. Ilse was only twelve. Her grandfather, who had emigrated from Germany to work in the pharmaceutical plants, would have beaten the shit out of his no account son. But he was long dead. She never thought her mom’s death three years ago was an accident.

It was now or never. Her long legs were meant for the runway, not the track. She was out of breath by the time she made it to the meeting place three blocks from her house. The BMW’s lights flickered.

She got in. The driver was a woman, pretty, with long black hair. Her voice was soft and steady.

“Bridgette?”

“Yeah. That’s me.”

“My name is Gloria. I’m glad you called.”

Bridgette snuck back in. Her father’s door rattled. She looked in on Ilse and slipped into her bedroom. For the first time since her mother died, she had hope. The portfolio she had put together with a photographer friend impressed the lady. Her face, an exotic mix of Teutonic and Latin, offset by silvery blonde hair, photographed well. Gloria said she would take her and Ilse away from her abusive father. She guaranteed her a lucrative modelling career. All she had to do was wait two weeks. She smiled in the dark.

The hinges on her bedroom door cried.

***

Gloria had her phone on speaker.

“This one definitely goes on the market. Look at her, and she’s barely sixteen. There’ll be a bidding war.”

“What about the little sister?”

Gloria shook her head. “She’s too young. We’ve had this discussion. I won’t do it.”

“Ah, yes. We all have our red lines.”

“Except you, my dear.”

What if we sold them together? Then they won’t be separated. Would that conform to your sensibilities?”

Gloria frowned. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it. Anyway, I’m going to pick them both up. I won’t leave the little one alone with the dad. She’ll be better off with a conventional adoption.”

“Very well. We’ll table the decision on what to do with her. What’s your plan?”

“We’ll get them while the dad is out drinking.”

“Will he be a problem?”

“Not for long”

Chapter 3

Jill stared at her phone. “This is stupid.” She dialed a different number. “Anne. Hi. Is this a bad time?”

“Well hello stranger. I just had a cancellation. So yeah, lucky you. What’s up?”

“I’m all packed up.”

“Good for you. I think it’s the right choice for you to settle things with Jack, even if it doesn’t work out.”

Her brain fizzled with the memory of that day. The day she fled in a panic. The day they discharged her, and she was expected to restart a relationship with an ex-husband whom she barely remembered loving. She couldn’t do it. Jack was the only person she saw before she left. She saw him now, shoulders slumped, face a living pain as she crushed his hopes.

“Don’t wait for me, Jack,” she’d said. “I don’t know what’s ahead for me or if I will ever come back. I just know I can’t do this now.” The year he’d given her was up in four days.

Jill didn’t stop crying until she crossed out of Texas and into New Mexico. She didn’t stop actively hating herself until she summited her first rock face.

“Jill? Are you still with me?”

Jill’s brain sloshed inside its container.

“Yeah. Sorry.” She coughed. “What if he’s moved on? I wouldn’t blame him for hating me.”

“Bloody fine time to rethink the last year of free phone therapy. Why don’t you just call him?”

“Yeah right. ‘Hi Jack, this is your ex-wife, you know, the one who checked out and left you to deal with our daughter’s death. I know it’s been a year since we talked, but I was wondering if you’d like to hang out, maybe get back together.’ Solid plan that.”

“I see your point. How about Mason? You’ve said you don’t trust her. But think about it. She’s the one who took over the trust that funded your care, moved you to Florida, and got you the world class specialists. Me, for example. Why would she do that if she had designs on Jack?”

“But what if that’s changed? It’s been a year and I haven’t communicated with either of them. Although Mason sent me a text about four months ago offering me a job.”

“Oh really. Now that’s interesting.”

“Yeah, so maybe she’s trying to preempt me with this job offer.”

“All the more reason to call her. If she tells you to stay away from her man, then you can unpack your shit and go back to climbing rocks. Or take the job, whatever it is.”

“I don’t know. I feel so guilty.”

“We’re not going back there, Jill. You can’t blame yourself for going catatonic. That wasn’t a conscious decision. You were just as much a victim as Jack and Jessica.”

Jill picked up a rock and threw it down the bank behind the parking lot. “I know. It’s not that. When you finally let Jack see me, it was obvious he was still in love with me. I remembered loving him, but my head was so fucked up I didn’t know what I felt, except I had to get away.”

“Well, you certainly did a first-class runner. I call to set up our first appointment after your discharge and you’re halfway to Colorado. I thought, well, there goes some pretty good work. I’m glad at least we kept talking over the phone.”

Jill sipped her tea. “We loved each other once. I just don’t know if there’s anything left.” Or if she was worth loving.

“An unasked question has no answer.” Anne chuckled. “And that’s your free Moment of Zen for the day.”

“A few months ago, I heard him calling me. I had just summited Britton’s south face. The air was cold and clear, and I had that exhausted exhilaration one gets. I heard his voice saying my name. Impossible, really, but I decided it was my subconscious telling me there was something unfinished between us. Who knows? I’m more centered now. Maybe it will work.”

“That’s my girl. My advice, call Mason and get a read on her and Jack. If the door is still open, go for it. And Jill, don’t forget our work on letting go. It’s important.”

“OK I will. And thanks Anne. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Call me when you get down this way. We should have a few real sessions. At least I can bill for those.”

Jill laughed, rang off, and set the phone down. She fiddled with her boot laces and drank the last of her tea. She stared at the phone like it was a diamondback.

“This is bullshit.” She dialed.

“Jill. Oh my God. How are you? Where are you?”

“Hello Mason. I’m fine. Um, I’m in Colorado.”

“Awesome. Did you get the text? No wait, dumb question.”

“Yeah, well um I was wondering about the job. Is it still open?”

“Of course. Are you interested?”

“Maybe. Can you tell me some more, you know, like what you have in mind?”

“Sure. My business is finding and developing art talent. I saw your work at Jack’s. God what a shame to lose it when the house burned down. Anyway, you’ve got talent in spades girl. My philosophy is it takes talent to recognize and develop it, so you’re perfect.”

Her brain tripped on a rock named Jack.

“Jill? Still there?”

“Yes. Sorry. I..I don’t paint anymore. I tried a few times, but I think… I’m afraid it’s gone.”

“The talent is there and I’m sure it will come back to you. But you don’t need to paint, just see that spark in others and help them grow. So, does this interest you?”

Jill thought about it. She missed that which had captured her soul, defined her before Jack, and.. well before. Could she go back into that world as an observer? Maybe this would be the path to painting again.

“Yes, I think I am.”

“Outstanding. What are your plans?”

“I’m leaving Durango today, driving. It’ll take a few days. I can call you when I get to the Panhandle. Um, where, you know, where would I be based?”

“Didn’t I put that in the text? Sorry. I want you to develop the Caribbean. We’ll start in Puerto Rico. I have an associate there, but she’s limited as she runs her own gallery and only does sculpture. I need a full-time agent. Some very promising talent has fallen off the radar. Gabby just hasn’t the wherewithal to follow up.”

Jill frowned. She fantasized it would be Switzerland or maybe Chile, some place with mountains and rivers. Not a goddam tropical island. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can live on a beach. I need to be in the mountains.”

“Perfect. The mountains in Puerto Rico are only slightly lower than the Adirondacks. And much of your work will be up in the center of the island, the highest part.”

“Oh well, that may not be a deal killer then. I’ll look it up.”

“Great, so I’ll listen for your call in a few days.”

“Yeah. Sure. Um, Mason?”

“Yes? Something else?”

“Um..h..how is Jack?”

“He’s ok. Pretty much recovered from the gunshot. Are you going to see him?”

“Yeah. I am. The year’s up.”

“Ah. That’s right. I’m glad.” Was she?

“Mason. Um.. please don’t tell Jack I’m coming. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Of course. Jill? You sound a little uncertain. Are leaving room to change your mind?”

“N..no. I’m.. well um.. Yeah, I’m gonna see him. I mean, un..unless he’s moved on.

“He hasn’t moved on from anything, Jill. This has been a rough year for him, and I wouldn’t want to see him hurt again.”

“I won’t let that happen, no matter what.”

“Ok then. Can’t wait for you to get here. So excited about us maybe working together.”

I’ll bet.

“Well, I guess I’d better get on the road.

Chapter 4

Stellaris

By the time the woman made it to her usual table, Stellaris was already heading toward it, her service tray loaded with a mug of tea and a blueberry muffin. The woman smiled.

“Gracias, chica. Have you something new to show me today?”

Stellaris plucked a portfolio from the opposite chair. “Si signora. I think you’ll like them.” She moved away to check on another table. When she returned, the woman had two watercolors out on the table.

“These are very good. You’ve made amazing progress over the last several months. Have you thought about formal training?”

Stellaris frowned. “No ma’am. I don’t think that’s possible. We barely get by now on what I make. I couldn’t paint at all without the supplies you give me. Besides, if I went off to school, who would take care of my little brother?”

“Ah yes. And how is little Adaberto? He’s what, thirteen now?”

“Fourteen.” Stellaris smiled. “He’s a handful, too much for my aunt.”

The woman put the paintings back in the portfolio. She stood and placed two twenties on the table. “I know someone who maybe can help you. What time does your shift end?”

“I have a double today, and then I pick up Adaberto at school and take him to soccer. Then I have to cook supper and help with homework.”

“So much for an eighteen-year-old to handle.”

“I don’t mind. I love my brother. He needs stability after our parents were murdered, and my aunt can barely take care of herself. Once he gets older, maybe there will be some time for myself. I just wish I could paint more.”

“Beautiful and talented girl like you deserves a better life. I’m going to talk to my friend. Can we meet tomorrow?”

“I’m off at eleven. I can walk down to the Plaza de Armas.”

“Perfect.”

The temperature in the mountains was a good ten degrees cooler than the Puerto Rican coast. The walk from the restaurant to the plaza was pleasant enough, although Stellaris hardly noticed. Her mind was doing its best to not be hopeful that just maybe she was about to get a break. The woman stood as Stellaris approached. The way she dressed, she must be rich. Stellaris had changed out of her frumpy uniform, but still was embarrassed by her ragged jeans and turquoise blouse. With her current lifestyle, there seemed little point in spending money on clothes for herself when Adaberto needed soccer shoes. The woman hugged her.

“I brought sandwiches.” Stellaris set a paper bag on the bench between them.

“That’s so sweet of you, but you shouldn’t have.”

“It’s ok. My boss comped them.” She lifted a sandwich out of the bag. “I got egg salad, figured that was safe enough.”

The woman smiled. “How long have we known each other, Stellaris?”

“Not long enough for me to know whether you eat meat. Or your name, for that matter.”

The woman laughed. “Oh my. You’ve been serving me for almost a year and I’ve never introduced myself?”

“No ma’am. Or ordered anything but tea and muffins.”

“Well, let’s fix that.” She held out her hand. “Gloria. Nice to meet you. I do sometimes eat meat.”

The two women shook hands and ate in silence. Gloria set her sandwich down.

“So. Do you have a boyfriend?”

Stellaris laughed. “Hardly. I’m gay.”

“Ok, girlfriend?”

Stellaris shook her head. “I’m not out. It’s still too much of a stigma, especially out away from the city. I don’t want to do anything to hurt my brother. Anyway, there’s no time for a relationship.”

Gloria said, “I spoke with my friend about you. He thinks he has a way to get you into a residency program. Would that interest you?

“Very much so, but I won’t abandon my brother.”

“Of course. Let me see what I can do.”

***

Gloria called while navigating back down the mountain.

“Did you get the photo?”

“Yes. She looks good.”

“You should see her in person.”

“Are you thinking of marketing her?”

“No. She’s too smart and fiercely loyal to her brother. She should go to the resort, where we can control her.”

“And use the brother for leverage.”

“Exactly.”