When I woke the sun was nearly set and long shadows blanketed the room. Looking around I was struck by the magnitude of Claire's work. Her modern pieces were mesmeric. The viewer was drawn in; pain, happiness, despair, hope flooded the senses. What at first glance appeared simple was upon further study convoluted and multifaceted. I remember reading somewhere 'painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt' but I cannot agree. Claire's work went beyond mere sensation. It transformed the soul.
Finally my eyes settled on the portrait she had just completed as I slept. I had felt so grown, so mature but in her painting I was just a child, small and vulnerable. The detail startling, she captured the sunlight as it washed over me and a single tear resting on my cheek. The colors of the quilt she wrapped round me were vibrant and warm in sharp contrast to the muted moss green of the chair. Just looking at it made me feel safe and loved; rare feelings indeed. The painting later hung in Katherine's room, much to my surprise, but Katherine was doing more and more to surprise me lately. Years later my desire to locate it was for naught. I would have loved to own this painting, even now, but to my dismay I watched it be destroyed by Katherine, in a drunken rage. Fortunately though, I have been able to acquire several others over the years, my last acquisition and dearest to my heart was a self portrait that had vanished from my memory like dirty snow piles in spring; gently melting away until one day you finally notice they've been gone for weeks transformed into piles of sand blown away by the wind. It was the gardenia murders in Pine Valley that brought on my epiphany; the ribbon, the flowers, exactly as in the portrait.
My reverie was broken by shouting coming from Claire's room. Acting on my first impulse I ran next door. The locked door did not give way to my small frame "Claire! Claire! Are you OK?" The voices quieted and whispers ensued.
"I'm alright Alex." Claire's soothing voice drifted through the door.
As she spoke the door slowly opened. Standing there in the doorway Claire held her silk robe tightly around her willowy frame. The deep amethyst hue paired beautifully with her grey/green eyes; eyes reddened from tears, black smudges running down her cheeks. Attempting to push past her "What did he do to you? Did he hurt you? Let me in!"
I caught a glimpse of my father, naked, rising from her bed. "This has nothing to do with you Alex; unless of course you would like to watch."
"You disgusting pig, get away from her!"
"Shhh! Settle down, Alex!" Claire pressed her finger to my mouth and whispered. "You'll make things worse." Looking back to Alexander she raised her finger to say wait as we slipped into the hall. He nodded with a slick smile and spread out his hands to show off his still erect penis. Claire closed the door.
My rant continued, only quieter now. "What are you doing? How could you? He is the devil himself."
"Hey…Hero… Relax." she whispered. "Shut up and listen to me. I know what I'm doing…had the best teacher. Believe me when I say this will benefit us both." She put her forefinger under my chin lifting my eyes to hers. "I love you Alex and want nothing more than to see you safe. I would do anything, even sleep with the devil, if I thought for one minute I could get you away from this nightmare. Trust in me. Can you do that?"
I nodded. There were no words. My sweet, sweet sister had reached for my hand and touched my heart. She wanted me safe; now I wished the same for her.
With a wink her posture stiffened and she took on a look of strength. Her voice grew stronger, wanting Alexander to hear. "Everything is just fine Alex. We are both adults, you do not need to protect me. Now run down to the kitchen you must be starving. I'm sure Gretchen will fix you a snack." With a quick hug she walked into her room; a pleasing smile on her face.
I stood stunned, staring at the closed door. I was in awe of Claire's courage and devotion. How could she think for one second, that it was possible to out maneuver the master? What on earth was she trying to do?
Starvation got my attention, as my stomach began to rumble. I started downstairs to the kitchen just as Katherine was coming up.
"Alex! Where on earth have you been all day? Michael's been looking for you. He got some new Hotwheel cars thing that he was dying to show you. He was very excited, something about a new Gold Sizzle? Darn near drove me mad. I don't know about those things. I finally just got him to bed."
"Sizzlers!? I used to love those cars. They haven't been around for a while. Neat! I'll make sure he shows me tomorrow."
"That won't take much convincing. By the way have you seen your father he seems to be missing too? I thought maybe you boys were together."
"No Katherine, I have no idea where he could be. Maybe he went for a swim. After what happened today….that usually relaxes him. All I know is if my stomach growls any louder Michael will be waking up crying thunder." It was not my job to tell Katherine where Dad was. Claire had made it perfectly clear that she had things under control.
"Well then since it's just us two what do you say I make you a sandwich? Gretchen is probably in the middle of her third dream by now. It's been a while but I used to know my way around a kitchen. I cooked a lot for Claire's dad." She put her arm over my shoulder with a little squeeze and we set off for the Kitchen.
I was not sure how to take this attention. It certainly was unfamiliar.
Katherine emerged triumphantly from the pantry waving a can in the air. "I found a can of Tuna. Is that OK?"
"Sure, I think I could eat my socks. Hopefully your tuna will taste better."
Bread, assorted vegetables and mayonnaise where pulled from various bins, cupboards and drawers.
"Now where do you think we'll find a can opener?" Together we opened every drawer and finally found it on a hook in the pantry.
With knife in hand, chopping and slicing, Katherine paused and looked at me inquisitively. "How do you feel about finally starting school?
"You're kidding right? I can't think of any thing I've wanted more. No more private tutors, I'll actually get out of this house...make friends…play sports."
Katherine added kindheartedly "Be a kid…"
"What do you think made him change his mind? Is this one of his cruel jokes? When it comes down to the wire will he say….. 'It was all in the name of character building'?"
An aggrieved look passed over Katherine's face "Frankly I don't know what brought on this sudden change of heart. And Alex, I certainly hope he doesn't change his mind; but in all honesty, it wouldn't surprise me." She paused, lost in thought for a moment then asked "Now, do you want your bread, toasted?"
Within minutes Katherine handed me a sandwich and tall glass of ginger ale. "Here you go. Hope it tastes better than your socks."
We sat together while I ate. "It's good, thank you. I sure was hungry."
As we left the kitchen Katherine commented "I hope Gretchen doesn't get too upset by this mess. I don't clean up. Never did."
On our way upstairs she spoke without looking at me. "You are a fine boy Alex. There isn't a woman in the world that wouldn't be proud to call you son. Good night" And with that she walked on pausing briefly in front of Claire's door before continuing.
Lying in bed I was struck by the odd turns of the day; thoughts running around in my brain; jumping from person to person, event to event. My contempt for Alexander was reinforced, nothing unusual there. Claire had intrigued me with her comments. Had she been the one to convince father I would be better off in school? And then there was Katherine…was I dreaming or did she just prepare food…for me? Alexander's pure evil, Claire's confidence, Katherine's kindness and the blood, so much blood. School starts in just two weeks. And just when I thought I would never fall asleep, I did