Return To Maine Chapter 19.
A/N: So sorry for the delay in this chapter. I don't expect anyone to understand this when I don't understand it myself, but it is the only excuse, if you can call it that, that I can offer.
Writers stress and agonize over getting all the details, settings, the dialogues right for the readers, they agonize over writer's block and these past couple of months I have spent many days when I couldn't think of one single idea or think clearly enough to string anything together that would make any kind of sense. As I said, not an excuse but all I can offer.
This has not been fair to any of you and I am so sorry if I have disappointed any of you. I am disappointed in myself. It was never my intent. That being said, in writing this chapter, I hope I get some clarity and direction, otherwise I will close this out for the time being and hope and pray I can bring it back with a final sequel at a date even though, I had much rather continue on to bring the entire story line full circle with a satisfying ending.
I finally reached out to WRTRD and she read through the first part of the chapter and tightened it up for me. WRTRD, if by some chance you happen across this, I found it! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to her. THANK YOU!
And if you are just now joining us, this is the second installment that begins with "For The Love of Kate".
WARNING: This chapter deals with tragedy involving a child, but doesn't involve any of the characters of the story, but based on a real event and while the actual details leading up to this is still unknown, I have filled that area in to the vest of my ability and hope I did okay with it. I used RedGage's article of "Fatalities In Acadia National Park" as reference.
Ocean Path meandered parallel to Park Loop Road and was fairly easy to navigate, considering the throng of park visitors apparently headed to the iconic Thunder Hole, less than three-quarters of a mile away. The stunning, panoramic views of natural wonder and beauty were accompanied by the aroma of salt air and pines, pungent with wildflowers and wild roses.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Rick asked, squeezing her fingers gently.
"Mmmm. Absolutely spectacular. I don't want to go back and yet I know that we have to. Going back means that I'll lose you for another 5 to 7 days and I know that it isn't a long time and we've been separated for longer times than this…"
"But it seems like it will be an eternity?"
"Yeah. And leaving all this behind is kinda like a double whammy. This has been such a beautiful. magical weekend and it's rapidly coming to a close. We only have a scant few hours left…"
He stopped abruptly on the path . "Wait! Did I just hear you use the term magical? I didn't think you believed in magic?"
She laughed, elbowing him in the side. "Not that type of magic, babe. The type of the everyday magic of life. Things I can see and touch and feel. Like the first shoots of green grass that suddenly pops up beneath the snow, the Flatiron building, the way I feel when I hear Coltrane."
"The way you feel when you're in my arms?"
"Mmmmm. Especially then." she replied.
He pulled her into his embrace, her body so snug against his that it bordered between the line of what was decent and what was not for being in public , but god he loved it when he could feel every line, curve, and angle of her lithe figure slotting so perfectly against him. "Yeah, for me, too. God, I love you so much Kate!"
"I know you do, and I love you, too. But right now, I wish I loved you a little less."
"What? Why?" he asked, pulling back a little to look down at her.
"Because then maybe this separation wouldn't be so hard. "
"I know. The separations are hard on me, too. Especially when all I want to do is cuddle up next to you in our bed, but maybe, we'll be so busy that the time will fly. Or we could become time travelers."
Kate's gentle laughter rumbled against his chest. "Our bed, huh? There's no such thing as time travelers, so the chances of us becoming such is pretty much impossible. Any more suggestions, Obi Wan?"
"Nope. Not at the moment."
"I didn't think so."
When they arrived at Thunder Hole, they found a small gift shop that offered very little in the souvenirs department, but sold cold drinks and a few snacks such as chips, nuts and candy bars due to it's lack of refrigerators.
Right next to the stairs that lead to the ocean were large groupings of wild roses, deep pink with touches of brown and peach, their scent so rich and sweet.
They read the rules and regulations posted on a sign outside the gift shop, cautioning them that the terrain was steep; the rock steps could be slippery when wet; to stay within the marked boundaries, and not to venture outside of the fenced areas as people had been swept off into the sea.
"I don't think Thunder Hole is going to live up to its name and reputation today, do you?" Rick asked as they made their way down the stairs.
"No. The tides and weather conditions aren't right."
"You're not disappointed are you?" he asked as they found a boulder within the boundaries to sit on.
"What? That we're not going to experience Thunder Hole in all its power and glory?"
"Yeah," he answered.
She shook her head, slightly. "No. Not even a little bit. Not when we're surrounded by all this natural beauty."
"Maine has really made its mark on you, hasn't it?"
She laughed softly. "I guess it has and it's all your fault."
"What? What did I do?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what you did. You bought a cabin sight unseen in Otis, Maine and you brought me up here."
"Which you were very leery of as I recall. You called it 'The Money Pit' as I recall after that Shelley Long and Tom Hanks movie."
"I was very leery and I was worried that you had done something stupid like that, but I'm glad it didn't turn out that way."
"You didn't trust my judgment." he mock pouted.
"No, I didn't. Buying a cabin sight unseen out of state and planning on running away up here to start his life over, telling no one about it, not even his family, doesn't exactly sound like the actions of a sane person to me."
"Well. I'll admit that I wasn't acting exactly rational then, but I would have done it if you hadn't shown up when you did."
Guilt tugged at her heart and churned in her belly. Her running away and hiding at her dad's cabin and staying radio silent for three months had nearly driven him up here and she had nearly lost him for good.
"I know you would have and I wouldn't have blamed you." she said, sadly. "I feel badly enough about that. That being said, I'm just glad I caught up to you before you moved up here on your own and all alone. Can we talk about something else, please? That's in the past, anyway."
"Sorry. You're right. That is way in the past, but look where we are now and what has happened since. Where we are as a couple now is what's most important."
"I agree." she replied, snuggling closer to him.
"Besides, I forgave you a long time ago and that is where it belongs. In the past."
At the sounds of voices behind them, Kate lifted her head from Rick's shoulder and they both turned to see a couple in their mid 30's and two kids, a boy about 12 and a girl about 10, clambering up on a boulder behind them.
"I told you this trip to Thunder Hole would be a bust. The conditions aren't right." the woman complained.
"Shut up, Janet. Look around us. Even if the conditions aren't right for Thunder Hole, the view is so worth it! This site offers a view of everything! There's Otter Cliff to the south, Schoodic Peninsula in the far distance, Sand Beach and Great Head to the north. What more could you ask for?"
Kate and Rick turned away from the couple and she returned her head to Rick's shoulder, but silently agreed with the man. The views were spectacular!
"Did I ever tell you kids the story about the tragedy on August 3rd, 1853?" the man asked his children.
"Oh, God! Here he goes again! Brad, do you have to spin some wild ghost story of Acadia every single time we come?"
"It's a legend not something I'm making up, Janet! It really happened!" Brad retorted hotly.
"Whatever!" Janet rebuked.
Kate clamped her lips together tightly to smother her chuckle, but elbowed Rick in the ribs.
"What? I'm interested." Rick whispered.
"Of course you are!" Kate snorted
Ignoring his wife, Brad began his story. "Way back in 1853, before there was an Acadia National Park, all of this was just cliffs, farmlands and timber with a few trading posts here and there and some logging camps. Bar Harbor wasn't Bar Harbor then. Back then, it was Eden, a seaside settlement that thrived on the timber, the fishing and farming as well as shipping goods to other ports both here in the states and other countries. Bar Harbor, or Eden as it was known as consisted of a General Store, a small church that also served as a school, a diner, a small hotel, a one cell jail, a saloon and not much else."
"And he's off and running." Janet said sarcastically.
Nonplussed, the young boy looked to his dad and said, "Go on, dad. I want to hear this."
"You just remember, Jimmy that this is just a story. Probably one that your dad is making up as he goes." Janet complained.
Kate bit down hard on her bottom lip and buried her face further into Rick's shoulder in an attempt to smother her laughter and keep her composure. She could just see this same scenario playing out with them a few years from now.
"What happened dad?"
Ignoring his wife's sarcasm, Brad continued. "Well, back in 1853, the reverend to the church in Eden, Reverend Jim Douglass lived with his wife, Priscilla, twelve year old daughter, Lucretia and his fifteen year old son, Jonathan Henry and they lived up on what was then known as Schooner Head Road that worked as a logger trail then."
In spite of trying to mind her own business and not eavesdrop, which was impossible to do due to their close proximity, Kate was drawn into the story, too.
"Go on, dad." his son prodded.
"Well, the morning of August 3, 1853 dawned clear and bright for 12 year old Lucretia Douglass. She was excited for school that morning because she and her best friend, Beth were walking to school together that morning and after school, they were walking back to the Douglass home for the evening meal and Lucretia who was an excellent student and quick learner was going to help Beth with her spelling words and then she would walk Beth halfway home. Beth had a school girl crush on her older brother John Henry and it was always fun to watch her best friend flirt coyly with her brother and how he would blush at all her attention. Lucretia loved teasing her friend about her older brother."
"Seriously, Brad? I can already see where this is going." Janet chided.
Kate whose head was still on Rick's shoulder could sense the irritated woman's eye roll as she envisioned this same scenario in her and Rick's future with their kids. She could just see it now.
Wait! What? Where the hell had these thoughts come from? Yes, they loved each other wholly and completely. She couldn't imagine herself with anyone else but marriage? She knew that was normally the next step and having children after that. But why was she even entertaining these thoughts now? Hell. no one even knew about them yet and they were still slipping around, most nights at her place as it afforded them with the most privacy. Yes, they had talked about it, but never extensively. Neither of them had even given any thought to this in awhile and why did these thoughts still scare the hell out of her?
An involuntary shiver ran up her spine and she nestled further into Rick's shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded her head even though she wasn't quite sure of it herself. And as if the thoughts of marriage didn't scare her enough, the thoughts of becoming a mother terrified her even more. Why? If they ever got married and she sincerely hoped that they would one day, would he want more children and if he did, would she be able to step up and give him what he wanted? Would she eventually get over fears and want that too?
Behind her, Brad's tale of woe continued. "So their school day went on as planned and when they returned to the Douglass home, Lucretia went over the spelling words with her friend they had been learning that week in preparation for the weekly spelling test on Friday and then helped Priscilla put dinner on the table. At dinner Beth flirted with John Henry, Lucretia and her parents watching with suppressed amusement as Beth rambled on about what she hoped for her marriage. It was plain to see that Beth although not admitting it, was hoping her future husband would be John Henry."
"Really Brad?" the annoyed Janet scoffed.
"What? I can't help it. Back then the people married at very young ages. It isn't my idea, but how the legend goes, Janet. Get over yourself."
"So what happened next dad?" the boy asked.
"Well, after dinner, the girls helped Priscilla clean up and Lucretia was going to walk Beth halfway home. They walked down Schooner Head Road and according to the story Beth later related to the Douglass family, she had wanted to climb over to the Precipice to The Great Cave and see if they could see her uncle's farmstead farther below on Schooner Head Road. They began climbing up and made it about three fourths of the way up the side of the Precipice when Lucretia ran over to a huge boulder and began climbing up. As Beth was climbing up to join her friend, the boulder gave way, throwing Beth off to the side with only some scratches and a couple of bruises who could only watch in horror as the boulder carried Lucretia screaming, down the mountain to her death."
A heavy silence fell over them and after a moment, the boy asked his father what happened next.
"Beth ran screaming back down Schooner Head Road to get Lucretia's parents but by the time they arrived back at the scene only to find Lucretia's bloody, mangled body at the base of the hill. Legend has it that Priscilla lost faith in God and mourned Lucretia's death so much that after a few months after her death, Priscilla left her husband and John Henry asleep in their beds and walked down to that spot and threw herself over the edge of the cliff to the rocks below. They say that to this day, on the anniversaries of their deaths, Lucretia and her mother haunt the Precipice looking for each other to this day."
The little girl behind them threw herself into her mother's arms sobbing. "Are you happy now? Look what you've done!" Janet cried hotly.
Kate couldn't blame her. The overwhelming grief those parents endured! She could not fathom having to suffer the loss of a child. No one should!
Saddened by the tale, she raised her head and gazed into Rick's eyes.
"You good, honey?" he asked, concerned.
What she saw in his eyes, that pure unadulterated love he had for her and she knew they shared only cemented her love for him. It was no longer an if he proposed, but a when instead. Whether that was tonight, a month or more, hell six months from now made no difference. Life was short and her future lay in this man and that was a future that she would embrace with open arms and more joy than she could contain. And having little Castle babies? What the hell had she been afraid of? Her fears and insecurities be damned! She wanted this so bad she could taste it! And right now, she couldn't wait to get him alone in their hotel room to reenact some of their antics from last night.
She smiled up at him. "Yeah. But you know, we really should go now."
"What? Why? I thought you were enjoying this."
"I am, but we have dinner reservations and if we are both going to need to shower and we both know how small that bathroom is." Oh, but the plans she had for that bathroom when they got back!
At his pout, she leaned up and whispered in his ear, watching as his eyes darkened with arousal, light up and twinkle merrily at her suggestion.
"Yeah, we should go now."
A/N: Okay. That's it for this chapter. When I started this chapter, I had planned on tying it all up and calling it complete even though I still felt that there was so much that could be done with it. But I am not ready to do that. My life has gotten more complicated now and while I may not be able to post weekly, I'll do my best to post biweekly. I make no promises though. All I can do is do my best, but I am very hopeful. Sorry for the inconviences, but hope I won't lose anyone. Any thoughts or ideas? Anyway, thank you all fot your time, comments, and support,