Short Story: A Dream Wrapped In A…

Short Story: A Dream Wrapped In A Sigh

Drucilla Evans, Dru to her family and friends, landed at Sacramento International Airport in the late afternoon and went immediately to claim her shuttle bus. Now, in the autumn heat with no air-conditioning, the airport shuttle-bus rattled and roared down the California freeway sucking in the hot fumes from the ancient relic as well as the commuter traffic, enveloping her in stink – and taking her back home.

Deplaning, she had found an overflow of travelers also needing shuttle services into town, and this vehicle was quickly conjured up out of a repair garage to accommodate the last ten people who, like her, had managed to endure twenty or so miles to their homes. Eventually Dru was the last wind-blown, suffering passenger left aboard the bus. Traveling this torturous trip with her, was her cherished companion, a little blonde Chihuahua dog named Tee Dee. He was drowsing in the confinement of a small travel kennel which she had lifted to her lap in order for him to get more moving air – hot though it was. He panted steadily with closed eyes.

She had been away almost a month, and tomorrow – no today – was to have been her wedding day! Numbly she stared out the window to the teeming life outside, until she recognized her street and they came to a stop before her half-plex. It was a two-bedroom dwelling which she had purchased two years ago, in order to live closer to her two adult children whom she saw only occasionally. That was not such an importance in her life; she did have a life, she had thought, without their presence.

Thankfully, she had managed to keep her head through the discovery of Ethan’s infidelity, and her own decision to end their plans. A small woman, mid-forties, she had short hair which had a tendency to curl in exasperating places, and which she now saw reflected in the window glass. She was not bothered by the tousled look. She simply did not care how she looked at the moment. The eyes reflected back were as brown as her hair, and full of anger.

The bus came to a stop and so did the flowing air; the door slammed open. She swallowed down her hysteria as her body was suddenly soaked with perspiration, as she took up the small dog carrier, left the bus, and walked through the gate to her front door. The driver followed with her luggage, set it at her feet and left with a small gratuity. She reached out to open the door with a left hand barren of rings.

Tee Dee gave a hoarse bark and she made sure the gate was locked then let him out of the carrier and watched as he gathered momentum streaking away, nose to the ground, circling until he found the place to lift a leg and hover seemingly forever. Ethan, she remembered, thought the dog held an amazing amount of liquid for one so small . . . She gulped, ‘Oh Ethan, what have you done to us?’ And then it occurred to her to wonder what would become of all the roses he had ordered for in front of the fireplace for the ceremony. Today? No, never, now.

The Delta breeze ruffled her hair, cooled her to a shiver and she went inside.

She had gone north to marry Ethan Andrews whom she had met at the hospital where she volunteered, where she found life exciting and full after family loss. Four people in eighteen months. Dru had resolved that trauma with this move, with new people and this new love affair with Ethan.

At the hospital Ethan was head of Ancillary Units, a vice CEO to the Hospital Administrator, Dan Nickols. Volunteers were an important part of the life at Emmanuel Memorial, and as President of the Guild, Dru had been absorbed in fund raising, working closely with Mr. Nickols and Ethan. The affair with Ethan had not been smooth, here in California where she learned of his desperate attempt to annul a bad marriage, nor in Idaho with his family at the end of three weeks prior to what was to have been their wedding, finally.

At last she let her mind fill with it all. How dear to her was Mildred Andrews, Ethan’ mother who was such a loving little woman, and his brother John and family; they had all been so accepting of her. She began to weep as she thought of the wonderful days with them, the time spent on a wilderness trek which was the family’s business. They had taken her into the wilderness, to lush forests, powerful rivers, incredible foliage, and beautiful wildlife so abundant.

She thought of snow-capped Teton Mountains, and the waters run off so cold and clear and sweet.

Throughout it all had been the precious intimacy with Ethan as they wandered from camp, hands clasped, and talked of their future together. It would be a second time for each of them, but they could overcome any obstacles at their age – the forties. Their children would welcome the new partner, they were certain, and if they didn’t Dru and Ethan would make their life without their contention. It would be perfect. Except that now the dream was dead, obliterated in one horrific moment.

Dru wiped her tears, looked around at her household furnishings. Glancing out the large window she noted the rose bushes covered with blooms of red, pink, white, yellow – all from Ethan. He also managed to send her red roses very often; in her suitcase was the wilted rose corsage that was to have adorned her wedding suit. She remembered the 24 yellow rosebuds that filled her living room for nearly two weeks with such beauty . . . she looked over at the plant stand in front of the window, upon which she had placed immense violets. Of course, roses were her favorites, but her friend and contractor Shawn Jansen grew and propagated violets. They were amazing, so large and healthy, so beautiful in color! She checked them out, got water and gave them a small drink before she let Tee Dee back inside.

Removing her jacket, preparing to unpack and get on with things, she remembered the day they had gotten in from the trek. Mother Andrews and her companion, Bernice Fowler, had greeted them with a lovely meal, flushed with the exertion required of two elderly women. The trekers had rushed in to hug and kiss the two, untie aprons, give a tweak to free a strand of hair, grab a morsel of some delicacy at the expense of a hand-slap. Dru had watched with mixed feelings – her own family was gone – but when they pulled her into the melee, she knew she was at home again with family of her own once more.

"Mm, leave it to you, my Mother, to have a feast ready for us," John had laughed.

"Look at that turkey. Sure beats fish and wieners," said John’s teenage son, Clay.

"I like the yams," John’s wife, Laurie, offered, "we should have taken some with us. We could have put them in the coals to bake."

"What coals?" Clay laughed at his mother. "We used the camp stove, dork!"

"Hurry and wash, we are ready to eat," John ordered, "and you do not talk to your mother with such disrespect, Clay." But Clay was off in a flash, up the stairs and almost as quickly back as they all came to table laden generously with delicious offerings. Dru was missing, so Ethan went to find her, feeding Tee Dee outdoors with the other family dogs, brought her in after a few kisses with heated responses from both of then.

"Dear Ethan," she had whispered, "you know, I was just admiring the rustic setting of this house. I didn’t know a log house could be so big and beautiful. I cannot wait for our wedding to take place in a few hours. It will be unforgettable, my darling."

"Our wedding will be perfect, no matter where it happens, because you are the most beautiful bride in the world, my love.’ Ethan pulled her close and kissed her once more.

"Come on, love birds, we are waiting to eat," Mother Andrews called from the table.

With everyone seated and the meal in progress, Clay was eager to point out, "I guess this is your wedding feast," then he blushed, was nudged by his friend Perry and they engaged in a little tussle. There was laughter and well wishes for many feasts together, and coffee and pie followed the consumption of mounds of food.

When dinner was over, family dispersed to their various pursuits, but Dru helped with the clean up as Ethan stood watching her, loving her and thankful that it had ended with her coming to him. He was incredibly happy, for he had never loved like this. His first wife was such a burden with her mental aberrations that ended in suicide . . . but he wasn’t going there, he was free of the second woman now, a woman who finally was charged with entrapment and he thanked God that was over. His love for Dru was all consuming. He stirred as she joined him in the family room, the rest of their crowd filtering back to take up chairs, floor and any space the dogs hadn’t taken before the fireplace. It was so good, Ethan thought.

Conversation picked up in the room. The teens played at board games, the adult men began planning future trips for their bookings, and the women were concerned with the wedding tomorrow. Dru and Ethan shared a charged moment or two when suddenly Perry jumped up from his game and yelled, "Hey, there’s a car coming up the drive. Bet some of the kids are coming over from Larson’s to play games. I’ll go see —"

Before he could move, the door flew open, rapid footsteps clicked over the wood floor and a slim, graying – a made-up woman hurried in breezily, made the rounds of family in a wave of perfume and quick hugs that left the recipients gazing after her in amazement.

Dru noted the too-tight jeans, too small knit top and generous breasts that were obviously unrestrained. The woman made straight for Ethan who had stood suddenly. She threw herself into his arms which it seemed had opened and been waiting for her. His arms enveloped her, his hands went down to her hips and he pulled her into himself as they kissed long and intimate before she came up for air.

She said, "Darling, why didn’t you take me on this last trek? You know how much fun we have. I just love it. But I forgive you. Anyway, I just came to see if you were coming back home tonight. I didn’t wait dinner, since I wasn’t sure when you would get in."

"Unh!" grunted Dru as something socked her abdomen. She was not aware she had made a sound; no one else in the room had done so.

Ethan smiled at Dru, pushed the woman away and turned to Dru saying, "Linda, this is –" He stopped and began again, "Darling, no . . ." He moved toward her hands outstretched but was restrained by Linda’s grasp on his arm.

"Damn it, Linda, let go!" he roared, but she held fast, smiling.

"Ethan, what in hell is going on?" John was on the edge of his chair, had been speechless. He slid back and waited for the answer, astounded.

Taking it all in, Dru jumped up, stunned, and faced the family where she saw shock and horror on their faces. "– just a family friend," Dru finished for Ethan. "From California. Visiting for a short time. In fact I will be leaving tonight for my home . . . I was thinking it was going to be here but –" Her gaze fell to Linda’s hand still possessively clinging to Ethan’s arm. She scooped Tee Dee into her arms. "Nice to meet you. And now I really must get packed."

God forbid, she thought, that he brings you to his house in Sacramento and I ever have to set eyes on either of you again. She pulled Tee Dee against her.

"Dru," Ethan struggled to free himself, "I am so sorry." He gave Linda a hard shove to no avail. She clung still with a gleeful look on her face.

John tried to intervene, "Ethan, for hell’s sake what do you think you are doing?"

"I can explain. It isn’t what she’s making it out to be. Dru, let me explain, honey!"

Dru murmured, "She did that for you. I really must go." And she did, stopping only to embrace Mother Andrews, give her a kiss on the cheek and went on quickly to her room.

She closed the door, leaned against it and trembling put the dog down. Intending to go over to pack she heard Ethan’ voice through the door, "Darling, Darling Dru, don’t shut me out. I know how hurt you must be. I saw it . . . don’t leave me! It is you I want, always have. Let me tell you about Linda, Give me a chance. I had almost given up on us – Dru, open the door."

"The door is open, Ethan," she said calmly. But I am no longer open to you.

"Honey, let me tell you . . ." he stepped inside and closed the door.

"You needn’t tell me anything about Linda. I saw it all, Ethan. No words can erase that sight from memory. Your intimacy with her was so blatantly obvious," she held up her hand to ward him off. "I can understand. You gave up on us, couldn’t give me time to seriously sort out what has happened since I met you."

She went on, "What a shock," she could hear the hysteria in her voice, "what a shock it must have been when I called to tell you I was coming to marry you!"

"It doesn’t mean anything with her, Dru."

"Did you tell her about us?"

"Well, no, not really. I didn’t know if we were still — aw, hell!"

"Well it means something to me, Ethan. Your love for me was strong enough to last what? A month after you left Sacramento? Maybe not even that long. A man needs a woman to lean on in troubled times, any woman available, is that it? And, Ethan, after marriage, what then?"

His face flushed. His eyes were glittering with unshed tears. He clenched his teeth.

"It is over, Ethan. I will be ready to leave for Idaho Falls in an hour. I wonder if John or one of the boys would drive me there to a hotel? I’ll book the next flight out."

"I don’t want to lose you!" His voice was deep and hoarse. He reached out for her, but she brushed him away, like brushing cobwebs, then backed away from him.

"You have already. In fact the day you took up with Linda. No, no, let me go home, now. I cannot take any more grief. I am sick to death of death!"

He looked startled, "Death. Who died? What are you talking about?"

"Love. My love for you is now dead. It was shot down a few minutes ago before your wonderful family. I will grieve for what might have been between us, but then I will survive this, also."

"You are being damned melodramatic, unforgiving. Just listen, Dru!"

Dru went to the closet, got out her luggage and began gathering her things. When she returned from the bathroom, hands full of toiletries, he was gone. And when she was finally ready to leave, there was no sign of either Ethan or Linda, as she went down the stairs with Tee Dee and her bag to face the family, she said goodbye.

She would never forget their silence and shame of countenance, nor the pity, as they gathered around her with unlimited love, pleading with her to think it over, keep in touch and come back very soon. They loved her. For the moment their love strengthened her.

John, so like Ethan in dark looks and light eyes, but so stable, held her close for a moment with Laurie at his side rubbing her back. And then John drove her to town, with only one attempt to talk to her.

"I am so sorry, Dru," he said over the purring engine. "I am so sorry, I wish I knew what to say to fix everything. She left fast when we informed her of the cruel mess she had made of it all, coming in like that. It was certainly not anything but a cruel joke. We told her to get out." He looked over at Dru, "I am not sure where Ethan went, but it was not with her, I can tell you that. He is done with her, if he was ever was with her, if you get my drift."

"Oh, John, it is all fixed. Not the happy ending I’d hoped for. But thank you, I love you all. Mother Andrews is so dear to me. You must help her with the shock, help her to know Ethan is still her beloved son. She doesn’t need to concern herself over every affair he has. He will probably have many more, because it seems easy for him. But, John, it is reprehensible to think of spending married life forgiving his indiscretions. Someone once said to me that I expect too much of people. Is that wrong? If we cannot submit to our partners and remain committed, then is that truly love? I don’t feel that it is. But I have said too much, dear John."

John reached over, and took her hand.

"Thank you for everything."

Rousing, aware of being in her own little house in California, Dru sat at the table and began making lists of things to do; calls to make, groceries to buy, mail to gather up from the post office, the auxiliary must be notified of her return to duty, check her e-mail. But first on the list must be food for her and the dog.

Sitting, empty, and weary, she murmured once more, "Thanks for everything."

She put her head down on the lists and began a final bout of weeping, long and deep for all the cumulative loss. But she was soon cleansed of the emotion, she drifted into exhausted sleep for twenty or so minutes and awakened to the telephone ringing.

What will I do next, she thought, as went to answer it?

"Hello. Shawn! Hello!"

"Hi, love. You are finally home. Listen, is it too late in the day to bring you a violet? I have propagated a beauty, white with pink-tipped edges on the blossoms. Wait until you see these."

"I – okay, Shawn. It is never too late. I’ll put on a pot of coffee. Want a sandwich? Okay. See you in, um, thirty minutes? Great." She replaced the receiver.

Dru sighed, violets today. No roses ever again.