Chapter 2. Cast your fate…
Daisy opened the door with a bright smile intent on surprising Sarah with Della's presence in her kitchen. The smile disappeared once she got a look at Sarah's face. "What's happened?"
The little house that Daisy had rented was warm and welcoming. Sarah hated like hell bringing her woes into the space. "It's my stepmother…" she said as her friend drew her into the house. "Karen's sick, and they won't tell just how sick, but I can tell it's… it's bad..."
Della, hearing the voice didn't bother trying to surprise the girl. "You look like you need a drink." She said firmly moving to the little bar that Daisy had set up on the counter. She poured a scotch neat for the younger girl and one for Daisy and her self as well.
Nodding Sarah agreed. "I can't believe they didn't tell me…"
"Sarah don't blame them, you didn't tell them much of what was going on these past few years either," Daisy reminded her as Della handed her a drink as well. "You didn't tell them how hard thing were, or that Linda had bailed on helping you."
"That's different," defended Sarah taking a long hard swallow of the drink. "That was minor stuff… so I never got a name… I got an education."
Raising her glass in toast, Della quipped; "To education."
After the toast, Sarah reached for Della's hand. "What the hell are you doing in our one horse town?"
"Tell her;" urged Daisy excitedly, "Can't you see she needs good news?"
Leaning back and looking like a cat full of cream, Della announced. "Remember Margo? She's opening a new branch of her franchise here… and guess who is doing all her advertizing?"
"Congratulations," Sarah hoisted her drink.
Daisy giggled pleasantly. "There's more Sarah, it's not for the agency…it's for herself."
Sock and then joy flooded Sarah's face. "You did it; you took a chance and opened your own firm!" she nearly spilled her drink jumping up to hug her mentor. "I'm so happy for you."
Della held the girl tightly and hugged her back. "Baby it's all gonna work out." She promised. "So New York wasn't what you had hoped, it wasn't what we had planned either. So what? We pick ourselves up and go on."
Daisy nodded enthusiastically. "It's a new day," she toasted again. "Here's to new beginnings."
"New beginnings," echoed the two other girls.
--
Armed with her portfolio, letters of recommendation and a stack of references, Sarah entered the office of the school administers. They turned her down for lack of teaching experience. Taking that same portfolio, and another stack of references she tired her luck with the smaller ad agencies, again finding she lacked experience. The last place on her list was the local paper; they were looking for a person to help in the ads department. She took the job, which paid little more than she made as a mannequin, but she at least had fewer bills living at home. However the plus side was that the hours meant that she was availed to help at home and take care of Toby.
Sarah laughed when she'd made the suggestion to her parents that she pitch in. "Big change from the spoiled teen, huh?" she asked Karen after the fainting incident.
Karen accepted Sarah's offers of help and support. She was worried about the toll this was having on Robert, and knew that with Sarah about to shoulder some of this it would go better for the family. When the paper's owner, a client of Robert's, learned that Sarah had joined the staff without asking for special consideration he was both surprised and pleased. When the girl asked for her schedule to be flexible he understood why, and was supportive.
The first week was the hardest, learning the ropes and learning to juggle her time to be at the school to drop off Toby, and then at the office on time. Picking Toby up was no problem as he took after school sports. But the time he was done Sarah was sitting at the school's curb in the little car her father had originally purchased for Karen. Each evening Sarah would help Karen do the clearing of dishes and discuss the day's news while they cleaned. By the end of the first month they had fallen into a comfortable system of daily life.
--
He watched from the window almost every night. It had been a month since the boy had been free to visit him in the park. He had missed the child more in that month than in the years they had been separated. Still, he understood how important it was that Sarah was back in the boy's life. He usual came in owl form to sit and listen at the window as Sarah read him from books in her room. Never once did she bring out the red leather book that was hidden in her vanity. Jareth knew she would not bring it out, and that right now Toby would not ask for it.
Once or twice the girl had nearly caught him, as he tarried too long watching the boy. Then one night he had taken the chance to sit at the limb outside her window. He watched her, wondering if she'd ever thought of him. He didn't have long to wonder, as she opened a drawer to remove the crystal music box. Originally it had played Green-sleeves, but since that night she'd spent in his kingdom it had played a different tune. Upon hearing it the first time, Sarah had hidden it in the drawer and refused to look at it or listen to it; until tonight.
Now she opened the draw slowly, and solemnly picked up the crystal gazebo shaped music box with the pretty little dancer within. She turned the key, placed it on the vanity and moved the leaver that turned on the mechanical works within. The dancer spun about slowly, and the music filled the room. Sarah cradled her face in her hands as the tears spilled out of her.
The owl watched silently, biding his time.
--
It was just before Halloween, and the fencing school was having a celebration in the park. All the students had been invited, and Toby was riding over from school with his friend Tommy. Sarah was to pick him up at the park just before five. Some of the older boys had gotten rowdy, and the fencing master took his eyes off Toby for a moment. Toby wandered down to the pond, and was tossing bread crumbs into the waters for the swans. He was bored, thinking this would have been more fun if they had allowed the boys to bring their swords. He tore the bread with angry hands, tossing the scraps down to the swans below.
"So angry," Jareth said drawing the boys attention.
"Jareth," Toby gasped as the bread fell from his hands. He swiftly ran over the bridge and down into the glade to the man who was not taking a seat on the stone bench. "I'm so glad to see you."
"It's been some time," agreed the elegant man. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."
Toby snickered, "I don't think so."
Looking past the boy and back in the direction of the large group of children, Jareth asked. "What is the celebration?"
"Halloween party for the fencing school," Toby grumbled.
"Don't you like fencing?"
Looking up into the stormy eyes, Toby huffed. "I love it when they let us have a sword… but no, it's watched your arms and bend those knees….boring stuff." He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed again.
Understanding the boy's desire for adventure, Jareth smiled. "Toby, my boy…" his hand came under the boy's chin. "Fencing is more than just winging a sword about. It's living and breathing the rules. The arms and knees are important, and one who takes up the sword needs to practice the moves until they become part of one."
Critically the child looked at the man, "Do you fence?"
"Indeed I do, and not just with a sword…" Jareth teased.
"Not with just a sword? What else is there?" the little boy demanded to know.
"Words my lad, with words;" Jareth replied coolly.
Considering his answer, the child frowned. "I'm not sure I understand."
A warm smile graced the face of the elegant man. "Show me what you've learned." He urged the child.
Toby moved into the path that was empty of traffic, took a stance and curled one arm while extending the other. He focused his thoughts and energy, beginning the advance. Knees bent, crab walking one step at a time on the path. His breathing controlled, he moved into a lunge. Jareth watched, trying to be observant of what progress the child had made. The style that the master was teaching these students was slightly different from how he'd been taught, but he thought he could improve upon what Toby was learning.
"Stop," he ordered softly. "You need to work on that advance, Toby… you're still a little sloppy there."
Toby frowned, "I know, I just can't seem to get it."
"It's like dancing," Jareth said standing up and moving to the path. "Watch…" he then mirrored the movements Toby had been trying to perform. "You have to make it flow." He said without looking at the boy.
"You make it look so easy," the boy complained.
Jareth dropped his arms and laughed, "Years of practice. I was far worse than you when I started out." He tapped the boy's nose. "Let us try again… mirroring me." He faced the child knowing no one would look for him among his contemporaries as he had placed a spell on the glade. He looked at the boy, golden haired and blue eyed; knowing anyone seeing them could easily mistake them for being family members. That pleased the man immensely, far more than he'd have cared to admit even to himself. "Arms," he said firmly but gently to his apprentice. He watched as the boy mimicked him. "Curve it just a bit more, that's it… now the extend…" Jareth focused on his own arms and then looked at the boy. "Breathe son," he said gently.
Toby nodded, as he focused on his arm placements.
Jareth dropped his arms, "Bend your knees; let me see if you're in the right stance."
Toby obeyed the man without question, "Like this?"
It was not the same way Jareth had been taught, and he was not sure if Toby had gotten it wrong or if the fencing master was using a different approach. "That will do for now," he said to the boy leading him to the bench. "I'm going to see your fencing teacher," he informed the boy. "I want to be sure he's giving you the right kind of instruction." Toby blinked his face a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Jareth placed a hand to the boy's shoulder. "Is there something wrong?"
"No," he said in a voice far to quiet of a boy going on eight. He looked at Jareth, his blue eyes filling with confused feelings. "My dad never checks on me…"
"He has other things on his mind just now," Jareth said with sympathy.
The little boy, still trying to put on a brave face, nodded gravely. "I know, but it…" He looked away. "It still hurts." He got off the bench, moved toward the pond and huffed. "No body seems to know what to do with me…"
"Nobody?" Jareth challenged.
"Well nobody but Sarah," Toby corrected himself. "But she's a girl." He complained.
Still seated, and looking as if he were fighting laughter, Jareth nodded. "Yes, she is… Toby… I've taken a vested interest in you ever since you were but a babe." He stood up looking regal and impressive and heroic. "And I'm here now." He opened his arms to the child.
Toby moved faster to the man's open embrace than he'd intended to. He was sure he wasn't supposed to be showing his feelings so freely to anyone. However it seemed so natural to be with Jareth. It felt so comforting and welcoming to be held and protected by the man. Toby felt safe. "You're like a kind of God father aren't you?"
"That's a very satisfactory way of seeing our relationship just now," agreed the soft voice at the boy's ear. Stormy mismatched eyes looked affectionately at the child. "And like a God-father, I take my responsibility seriously." He patted the boy's back, and then stood up. "Now come tell me about your day."
Toby looked at the place where the rest of the fencing school was gathered. "Sarah is going to be here soon." He said almost in a warning tone.
"Yes, she will," the man said softly. "So until she arrives, let us talk…my boy."
--
Sarah had been fighting a strange feeling all day. She wished that her parents would tell her what was going on. It was hard to concentrate on work when she was thinking about what was going on at home. Karen had taken to sitting in the parlor listening to sad sweet songs on the record player. And Sarah was not sure that was helping her. Her father was once more pretending nothing was wrong.
It was Toby that Sarah was most concerned with, he had become her charge and she worried that the dark clouds in their house were taking a toll on the little boy. She made a mental note to spend more time with him. What was it he'd suggested, her taking fencing classes with him? She knew that was not possible, after all the instructor was working with little boys in their first year of classes. The last thing they needed was a full grown woman in that class. Still the idea of really knowing how to fence gave her a strange feeling. She had always desired to take up fencing… and having something she could share with her little brother pleased her.
Phillip Reynolds, the owner of the paper came out of his office, his eyes focused on the girl standing in her cubical in a state of confusion. He smiled to himself, wondering if the girl was aware she had been standing in that same stance for five minutes. He had known the girl's father for years, even before Sarah's mother had just up and abandoned them. He moved to the cubical and knew the girl was in an almost trancelike state of deep thought. "Stand there any longer and they are going to put a pond in under you, girl." He said softly.
Sarah shook, freeing herself of the thoughts and looked at her boss. "Oh I'm sorry…stuff on the mind…"
"How are things at home?" He asked taking a seat on the edge of her desk. "Karen any better?"
Looking at the man who was her father's contemporary, Sarah moved closer. "Do you know what's wrong with her?"
"No," Phillip said honestly. "Your father was not in a sharing mood."
Sarah slumped to sit beside him on the edge of her desk. "How well I know." She turned her face up to the man with respectful eyes. "Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Reynolds?"
Gripping the edge of the desk he smiled. "Morry suggested we have you do the fashion page. He said you cleaned up some sketches for the Jenner account." He winked at the girl. "Means a raise."
"The fashion page?" she had a strange look on her face. "Well it's different from having to be on the runway."
"On the runway?" he asked with a quizziacal look.
"Yeah," Sarah said sliding off the desk. "I worked as a mannequin in a store in New York." She smiled sadly.
"I had no idea," he stayed on the edge of the desk as he observed her move about the cubical. "Robert never said a word."
"He didn't know," Sarah said confessing a secret. "You see, Daddy thought my mother was helping me… and I didn't have the guts to tell him the truth."
Phillip's gray eyes studied the girl; she was a conglomeration of confusion to him. Her features were similar to those of her breathtakingly beautiful mother, and yet she didn't have the..drive… or the… ambition to hustle as Linda had. Sarah was not Linda, Phillip decided. "What was the truth?"
Sarah frowned, but the words came out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "That my mother didn't want me in New York… that all the talk of us working on stage together was just that… talk." Sarah huffed. "She refused to help me get an agent… or anything…. So I ended up taking odd jobs and then working as a mannequin as I put myself through school."
"Why didn't you tell your dad?" He asked.
"Pride," Sarah said shrugging. "I was too damned proud to admit I'd been… wrong."
Phillip laughed lightly, his angular face softening as he did. "OH Sarah." He moved from the desk. "Hey, isn't it time for you to go get Toby? We'll see you in the morning and start you on the fashion page, there's a fashion show at McKenna's you might want to take in."
"MeKenna's," Sarah laughed as she grabbed her little jacket. "Since when do they do fashion shows?"
"Things have changed here, little girl." Phillip said dismissing her as he returned to his own office. He watched as the girl moved out through the aisles of desks and out the door. He wondered what it was she'd modeled and began to fantasize about his lawyer's daughter.
--
Sarah pulled her car into the lot at the end of the park with mixed emotions. It had been a life time ago that she'd been here it seemed. She had enjoyed bringing Toby here when he was a baby. She would roll him in his stroller telling him wonderful stories. All but the story they shared, never once did she tell him how she'd nearly lost him. The park had been her secret place, and then it was theirs. Then had come the move to New York and the reality that dreams were just that… dreams.
The moment she exited her car, the feelings that had plagued her all day returned in full force. She felt panic rise, but she put it down to being back here. She'd not been to the park once in the time she'd been back. Even though both Daisy and Della had invited her, she'd resisted coming to the park. Today there had been no choice.
Tucking her hands into the pockets of her knockoff Dior coat, Sarah took her time walking down the path to where the fencing school had set up their celebration. It wasn't much different than walking a cat walk, she told herself. Head up Sarah, slow deliberate steps Sarah. She moved with a grace that was natural but almost exaggerated. It had been months since she'd worked in rags, and pretending right now almost seemed fun.
She saw and waved to Tommy's mother who had driven both boys over from school. "Hi Enid," she called out warmly. "Thanks for bringing Toby over."
Enid Dalton smiled at the girl, "Not a problem." She wrangled with the bag of goodies the fencing party had given to each of the students. "Toby's things are there, and he's feeding the swans."
"Oh," a shadow passed over her face as she looked toward the path that lead to her glade. Her secret place, where… She shook her head, no, she must not think of that. "I'll just go collect him." She said to the woman watching her.
"Oh you're Toby's sister, aren't you?" another mother stopped her.
"Yes," Sarah said quietly.
"He's such a little dear," the woman gushed.
Sarah rolled her eyes, "Not always," she assured the woman who was now keeping her from her task.
--
Jareth looked up, turned his face slightly and smiled wistfully. "Sarah's here," he informed Toby quietly.
Toby stood up, "I have to go…." He said with melancholy, not wanting this time with his special friend to be over.
"For now," Jareth said without emotions, not rising from the bench. Toby paused, then impulsively wrapped his arms about the man's neck and hugged him before running down the path and over the bridge calling his sister's name. Jareth remained on the bench for a moment savoring the moment before he transformed into owl form to observe Sarah.
--
Sarah heard the boy, rushed toward him, and dropping to her knees pulled him into a loving embrace. "Toby!" she said happily.
The owl settled in a branch above them, unseen.
"Miss Williams?" an older man in a blazer with the crest of the school on the pocket was coming toward her. "It is Miss Williams isn't it?" He had snowy white hair that was so thick it didn't look real, but it was, it was all his. Deep waves, thick and snowy white, matched by the mustache over his thinly drawn lips; he was tall, lean and moved like a gazelle.
Sarah stood up, facing the man addressing her. "Yes, I'm Miss Williams." She hand her hands on her brother's shoulders, and her face was schooled and businesslike. Her head was held high on squared shoulders. The chin was a bit too defiantly held, but that was Sarah.
"I'm Talbot Cortland," he extended a long lean hand toward her. "I'm the owner and director of the Fencing School."
"A pleasure to meet you sir," Sarah took the hand extended and gave him a firm but not painful handshake.
The tall man looked down at Toby and said, "Toby, go see Mr. Banning for your bag." He then looked at Sarah. "I was wondering if I might have a word with you."
Sarah watched her bother run to the table set up with goodie bags that Enid had pointed out. "Is something wrong?" She asked worriedly.
"I'm sure you would know that better than I," Cortland said formally. "The boy seems to be losing his concentration. Are there problems at home?"
Sarah was not sure how much information she should give out, "There's an illness in the family right now." She said choosing her words carefully. "I'm sure Toby is aware, and reacting to it."
"Ah," Cortland nodded and placed his hands behind him. "Well, perhaps we can get the boy back on track." He looked toward the table where boys and girls were gathering. "He has talent; to be sure…however he is not…practicing. Perhaps if you encouraged him," the older man suggested.
Sarah bit her lower lip, "Do you take older beginner students?" she asked
Cortland looked at her; he judged her by her movements and now addressed her. "I had thought you perhaps had some training with foils… I saw you coming down the path…"
"Cat walks," Sarah said a bit self-consciously.
The older man raised a hand, tapped his chin thoughtfully and made a suggestion. "I've a class I offer right after the class Toby is in… it's only a small class but if you come and let him watch…while he waits for you …"
"That's my thinking… if I have to practice so will he." Sarah said in concert with the older man.
Talbot Cortland smiled, "Come into the office sometime this week, we'll get you signed up and get your gear." He offered her his hand once more. "I wish all guardians were as conscientious as you."
Sarah had been on the verge of saying she was not Toby's guardian, but held back. Something in her would not allow her to deny this new responsibility that was on her shoulders. "I'll be in tomorrow," she assured the man before taking her leave.
Talbot watched as the girl collected her younger bother and exited the park. He was slightly startled when a voice behind him drew his attention.
"Mr. Cortland? Mr. Talbot Cortland?" Turning the Fencing master came face to face with a commanding figure who smiled a strangely pointed toothy smile. "I'm Jareth Tuatha Dé Danann; I believe you were expecting me."
"Ah the new fencing instructor to take Beckets place," Cortland said with relief extending his hand to the handsome figure of a man before him. "Master Dé Danann it is a pleasure to meet you at long last… I have so been looking forward to your joining us."
"As have I," Jareth assured him in his best courtly manners.
--
Karen was putting up the carved pumpkins on the porch when Sarah and Toby arrived home, placing them on the caps of the posts to the porch. "How was the party?" she asked Toby who came bounding from the car toward her. She braced herself and opened her arms to her son. Toby hugged his mother, telling her of the wonderful time he had. She looked over at Sarah as the boy spoke of his day. "Well fine." She looked at her stepdaughter. "Sounds like they had a good time," there was pain in her eyes. "Sarah do you think you could take Toby on the trick or treating this year?"
"Saturday? Yeah, fine." She nodded. "Oh I'm going to his fencing school to sign myself up tomorrow." She mounted the porch stairs and passed both the boy and his mother up going into the house. "I wonder if I still have any costumes up in the attic."
"What ever for?" Karen said following her into the house.
Sarah turned, looked at her stepmother from the staircase. "Halloween, of course."
Toby snorted as he followed her up the stairs.
Karen laughed, but sat down suddenly, trying to catch her breathe. She gasped, holding on to the rail, grateful that neither of her children had seen the attack. She wanted to keep things as calm as she could for as long as possible. She looked up the stairs; relief flooding her just knowing Sarah was in the house. She could hear the banter of bother and sister going on above her.
"So what are you dressing up as?" Sarah was asking Toby as they moved toward the stairs that lead to the third floor of the Victorian and the wonderful turret room where Sarah kept her out grown belongings.
Toby following her frowned, "Mom got me a cowboy outfit, but I'm not so sure about it now. I mean there's nothing scary about a cowboy."
Sarah shrugged, "There is if the cowboy is one of the walking dead."
Karen winced, but sat quietly listening.
"I'd rather go as a Batman or Dracula! Something that is at least close to being scary," complained the boy as they entered the attic. "But she doesn't like anything messy…"
"She?" Sarah turned and glared at her brother. "She has a name," she snapped. "And you had better be a bit more respectful about her."
Chastised the boy blinked. "Mom," he corrected himself. "Mom doesn't like messy stuff… and she… Mom says that Dracula is a messy costume… I think that Mom just doesn't want to make another costume."
Taking a seat on one of the odd old chairs in the attic room, Sarah held her hand out to her little brother. "I think maybe she's not feeling up to making another costume… so tell you what. Let's see what I have up here and maybe I can put something together for you."
Eyes growing like saucers, the boy threw his arms about his sister's neck. "You mean it?" he exclaimed.
Laughing Sarah nodded. "It won't be night of the living dead," she warned. "But I think I can come up with something a bit more dramatic than just a cowboy."
Toby pulled back, "Thanks Sarah, I knew you'd understand."
Sarah opened one of the trunks she'd used to store the costume odds and ends she'd collected during her high school years. Within the trunk was an assortment of various kinds of costumes. It was the medieval ones she concentrated on, finding a cape that would fit the boy and a wonderful flouncy cap with a feather flourish. Remebering that the boy had been forced into taking riding lessons this past year, Sarah began to question him. "Do you still have your riding boots and breeches handy ?"
Cocking an eye upward the boy answered. "Yes, but those breeches things are… silly looking."
"They won't be when I get through with them," she promised. When he gave her a strange look she warned. "Be grateful I'm not sticking you in a Kilt!" she waved a bit of tartan material at him for emphasis.
"You are one evil sister," Toby accused taking a seat to watch her go through the piles. "What are you thinking?"
"Oh something on the order of Ivanhoe, or Lancelot," she murmured while holding up fabric and shirts
"I'd rather go as Merlin," Toby scowled.
"Merlin?" Sarah sat back and giggled. "Of course!" she opened another trunk and began pulling things forward. "Merlin it is, and I can go as Morgan Le Fae." She pulled out the dress she'd worn so long ago in the park; "Or the Lady of Shallot."
Toby rolled his eyes, "Who?"
"Someone you'll be reading about in a year or two or six…" she smiled back at him gathering the items she planed to use. "Come on, we've got work to do…we have only one day to pull this together."
--
Jareth looked at the comfortable apartment above the fencing school. "This will be more than adequate," he assured the owner as he moved into the pleasant little sitting room that was off the entry foyer;"Very nice."
Cortland felt a bit embarrassed. "I know it's not what you're use to, sir."
Jareth looked at him with thoughtfulness, "Were I going to be staying her forever it would not do, no… but for the time I'll be here… it is adequate."
Looking as if a weight had been lifted, the owner moved toward the French doors that were on the one wall. "Here is a lovely balcony and view of the park."
Joining the man with white hair at the window, Jareth smiled. "How I love a view of the park," he murmured. "Thank you, Cortland. I'll be fine… my luggage will be arriving soon. I should like to take this time to acquaint myself with the accommodations."
Cortland bowed, and quietly departed.
Jareth moved to the balcony, watched the man leave the parking lot and laughed softly before he transformed back into owl form and took to wing. It was a beautiful night, and he was going to make good use of it. He soared into the heavens before he turned to head towards the old Victorian at the edge of town.