CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The rusty grate crashed down unsettling dry dirt that quickly whisked upward in the breeze created by the sudden movement. There was no sound, just a mist of dust. An unseen light source threw a narrow beam across the room capturing the moving particles. Like fine snowflakes falling to the ground.
The familiar dark figure of Juliana moved into the beam revealing her face smiling. The tears of recent apparitions faded, she appeared happy.
Juliana looked different, a purple scarf around her neck. The long shimmering cloth wrapped once around her collar then draped over her head covering her brunette locks. She reached carefully at the scarf like a bride removing her veil, allowing it to slide from her head and fully reveal her face. It was unusually tanned, accentuating the white of her teeth and blue of her eyes to greater beauty.
Juliana smiled widely at Mitchell. She was radiant.
He saw detail of her face in a different light and reached through the bars to touch her. But like every other night she was out of reach and he begged her to come closer. But like a queen withdrawing from her realm to the comfort of her castle, Juliana turned on Mitchell retreating into the darkness. The last he saw was a welcoming smile and accompanying wink. He called her name, tempting her to turn; but she didn’t. She disappeared from his life again.
The shard of light quickly vanished and Mitchell woke in complete darkness.
≈
Despite the dream Mitch managed long hours of sleep and woke refreshed. His mind though hadn’t completely shut off and found himself torn between using the plate for his own needs against investigating the strange wire contraption found the night before. He thought longingly of the Bartholomew’s and how it changed their lives.
He’d resolved days ago to not change his past but to concentrate on others. However unfair, it was more noble and less complicated. But as Albert pointed out, Mitchell couldn’t let things pass. His attempt to change the lunch with Juliana failed, and although accepting it, he’d another idea. Something to at least satisfy his heart. There was a reason he purchased the mulberry scarf; he just didn’t know until last night.
“Fuck it,” he said loudly. His mind decided.
Mitch wanted to revisit the lunch with a different motive. The limited time frame complicated the issue, but as always, Mitch worked through the problem. Two trips were required - one in preparation, the other in execution. Timing of the second was critical relying heavily on a third party. He was ready to give it a try and jumped in the shower.
Peanut sensed a walk judging by her excited yelps, but Mitch could only pat her and say he would be going out alone. The guilt of neglect fell hard and he promised to take her out later that afternoon. The hanged look on Peanut’s face said she understood, but that didn’t lighten the burden any further.
At the plate, Mitch thought about his morning jog on the day he met Juliana and stepped onto the metal surface. When stepping off, it was two years earlier. He sat on the bench waiting for his phone to ring.
“Morning beautiful, how you doing?”
“Hey, I’m fine. You been running again? Listen, what are you doing for lunch today? I’ve got a pretty lazy day and will be in your area around one. I was thinking I could swing by to pick you up, and we could go down to that nice little restaurant by the beach you have been talking so much about.”
“Jules that’s a great idea, I would love too. But I have an appointment late morning so maybe I could meet you at the restaurant? That would be easier, and I guess give us more time together. Say about one-thirty?” Happily, Juliana agreed to the slight change in time.
Mitch tapped an email to his manager calling in sick and wouldn’t be in the office today. They wouldn’t care one way or another but Mitchell thought it best to remove his other self from the office. One less thing to worry about.
All of that only took twenty minutes and Mitch had over an hour to wait. He hadn’t a coffee in days and longed for the fresh brew he’d become accustomed to, so he headed to the café. On the way he noted the address of a house not far from the plate and dialled his second phone call of the morning.
“Yes, hello. I would like to book a taxi for this afternoon please,” Mitch addressed the operator. “1:00 pm.” The only way Mitch could make the restaurant in time was by driving and he guessed that would take about thirty minutes. He’d considered using his own car but dismissed it immediately. Time would be lost returning home, and there wouldn’t be enough left to drive it back after lunch. The car would remain at the restaurant when Mitch returned to the plate. Lost forever. A taxi was Mitchell’s only hope and he gave the operator the address of the house he’d just passed.
The aromatic scent of coffee was evident the moment Mitch entered the shopping centre; but it would wait just a minute more. He popped into the newsagency to buy a small card and envelope. As expected, Sarah was in the café seeing through the last of the early morning rush, looking a little fuller, her hair longer than Mitch remembered. Most notably though she looked withdrawn.
That may have been the cold winter spent indoors, but Mitchell suspected she’d suffered more than just inactivity. He did the math quickly figuring Christina’s accident happened three years earlier. The burden nonetheless must last a lifetime. Sarah was clearly not the same woman. He approached the counter and began greeting her by name before reeling in his mistake.
“Hi Sar…Hi. May I have a large flat white to take away please.”
“Any sugars dear?” Sarah responded with only an upward glance. She was definitely not the same woman. Mitch found it bizarre that in only a few days the two strangers would be having lunch together. He was eager to see the Sarah he knew again: not the broken woman hiding behind sullen eyes. Mitch wanted to see the vibrant, energetic person who captivated everyone.
Savouring the coffee Mitch returned to the bench. He was feeling good now and toyed with the idea of dropping in to see Lyle and Ethel. That could be dangerous. He’d done all he could for them, and while ‘catching up on the past’ seemed intriguing, he just couldn’t risk it. Besides, Mitch would soon be home preparing for another trip that afternoon. Sarah though stayed with him. She looked so forlorn and Mitch wanted to help. He considered how, and by the time he finished his coffee, had found a way to brighten her eyes again.
Before long purple and blue light flashed across his eyes.
Mitch casually walked home making another telephone call to someone he’d never meet before but anxiously wanted to see.
The second trip was an important one. Mitch again showered and dressed in his normal office attire. Luckily that was always casual: a pair of jeans and untucked long sleeved shirt. He felt relaxed and relatively normal, full of confidence to carry out the plan. Before leaving he sat at his desk to write some unrehearsed words on the card purchased that morning. The words came freely and from the heart. When finished, Mitch grabbed the little gift bag from the hallway closet where it remained untouched. He removed the receipt checking the price for the first time. He was shocked, but it didn’t bother him. She deserved it. Mitch left the house and made his way to the plate.
He recalled Juliana’s second phone call when arriving at his office and stepped onto the plate. Having turned around, it was the stroke of one when he stepped back off. Adjusting his eyes to the softer light, Mitch saw a taxi pull up to the address given earlier in the day and thanked god for making the booking…and for getting a punctual driver. His plan was working. Time was limited though and things needed to run like clockwork, so he jumped into the backseat and asked the driver if he knew the restaurant.
“Great. I’m running late. Can we try our best to avoid any delays?” Mitchell pleaded.
The cabbie engaged in small talk, no doubt bored nearing the middle of his shift, but quickly realised Mitchell was neither interested nor responding. Conceding defeat, the remainder of the trip was in silence. Mitch conducted conversations in his head. Mouthing silent words and checking his watch at every traffic light. The taxi driver wondered what was so important.
“Too much anxiety for someone so young,” he muttered before returning his attention to the road.
Exactly twenty-eight minutes later Mitch was delighted to see they’d arrived at the restaurant doubling the fare in appreciation.
Mitch requested a table for two and a young waitress ushered him toward the window. He excused himself before being seated to enter the men’s toilet. There he placed the small carry bag behind the cistern of the farthest cubicle hoping it remained undiscovered. Who would bother to look? He returned to the assigned table awaiting Juliana’s arrival. His heart raced, yet there was no reason to be concerned. Mitchell knew what was going to happen regardless of his actions. He needed a drink.
The waitress returned and Mitch pre-ordered wine. Patiently he watched the waves break on the almost deserted beach wishing things could be different.
Juliana entered the restaurant and spotted Mitchell in the corner. He stood as she made her way to him, her dress flowing as he remembered, her hair cascading the length of her back. He took purpose in appreciating her beauty…it might well be the last time I see her. They met and kissed affectionately. Juliana placing a hand behind Mitchell’s neck pulling him closer. Mitch wondered if today would be different. Of course it wouldn’t. He steadied his thoughts and guided Juliana to her chair.
They talked like before, asking of each other’s day, and Juliana’s eyes couldn’t hide her intent. Mitch needed to sway the conversation.
He wanted today to go another direction and promised himself she wouldn’t need speak the pained words she found so hard the last time. He didn’t want to hear the words again anyway. Mitch channelled Lyle and his unselfish love of Ethel to avoid the pain. It seemed to work, and their last time together would be remembered, as it should be, happily.
While Juliana was preoccupied telling the waiter how lovely the meal was, Mitch stole a glance to see it was 2:21 pm. He was running out of time. The dishes were finally cleared and Juliana began to speak.
“Mitchell…” but he stopped her.
“Can you hold that thought? Too many coffees this morning, I really need to be excused.” She gave a surprised look as Mitch kissed her forehead and rose from his chair. “Give me a minute beautiful girl.” And I’ll give you a lifetime he added to himself.
Leaving her was harder than imagined. He fleetingly turned to see Juliana gaze to the distant ocean with a melancholy look on her face. Denied the opportunity of saying what she intended. But time was ticking and despite the guilt of denying her that moment, Mitchell returned to the amenities to retrieve the hidden parcel which had remained untouched. He left the carry bag where it lay and took the card and decorative box back into the restaurant. An idle waiter was stationed not far from the door and Mitch asked him to give the lady seated at the corner table the package. He further handed him enough money to pay for lunch. Mitch wouldn’t leave Juliana with the bill, and although it wasn’t the preferred exit, it was a better than vanishing before her eyes during dessert. He slipped another note into the waiter’s hand for his obedience and quietly left.
Mitchell returned to the toilet one last time and unceremoniously sat in a cubicle ready for the trip home. Tears welled and he soon began sobbing. He had lived this day on three occasions now and it wasn’t getting any easier.
Had the portals’ window been greater than ninety-nine minutes Mitch would have seen Juliana reading the card and opening her gift. Curious staff watched with eager eyes, one managing to steal a glimpse of only the last few lines of the note.
Whenever you wear it think of me. Because every time you do, I’ll be thinking of you.
I love you with all my heart.
Mitch
xxx