Part 12

MAIDEN'S PATH

Suppertime at the Home. Many people, each playing a part in preparing the meal, like a scene from an Italian restaurant. Savory smells: meat sauce, garlic, basil and wine. Cordial words and smiles. A victrola in the corner of the room churns out Dean Martin. Some sing along.

Dr. Ravenscroft preferred to keep his tenants busy. Years of experience had taught him that, when dealing with people who consider themselves peculiar, many of them needed something to get them out of their heads, to loosen their ruminations on the peculiarity. Staying busy with practical chores was that something. Peculiarities don't matter much when dinner needs to be made.

A knock at the front door. Someone yelled "come right in!". The door opened and Edward and Kim, both in winter coats, walked into the crowd, where Millvina spoke to Kim.

"Oh, don't you and Eddy just make the most charming couple?", she fawned. "Young love. Be still, my heart!"

Kim giggled in a polite, reserved way as they shook hands. Dr. Ravenscroft made his way over next.

"Are you Dr. Ravenscroft? Nice to meet you, my name's Kim."
"Kimberly? Pleasure's all mine. Welcome!"

Kim laughed again. Usually, her full name was uttered only by Peg, during her most forbidding moments.

During mealtime, the four of them sat next to one another in the dining room, under ambient low lighting. Dr. Ravenscroft and his wife learned more about the special lady in Edward's life.

"How did you and Edward meet?"
"He was a roommate. He lived with my family last year. My mom met him one day and found out his living situation wasn't really the best, so she took him in."
Millvina was touched. "Such a Good Samaritan..."
"Yeah, she goes above and beyond for the people she cares about."

Edward ate light, having just a few sausage slices and a piece of garlic bread. He didn't even attempt to use silverware, resigning himself to defeat in that category after several fruitless attempts over the past year. Stabbing the sausage to bring it to his mouth was far more efficient and nobody in the Home seemed to mind.

"Are you from Florida also?"
"Yeah, just north of Tampa. I'm a college freshman, I'm visiting here for winter break."
"What's your major?"
"Psychology."
"Yes! That's what we majored in, decades ago", the Ravenscrofts beamed at having found a fellow traveler on their path. "Do you know what you want to do after you graduate?"
"Oh, I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking maybe going into social work...maybe something involving rehabilitation. There's lots of options."

A siamese cat leapt onto the dining room table and sauntered across it. Someone then shooed it away.

"I noticed there were alot of pigeons flying around here. Do the cats ever eat the pigeons?", Kim asked with concern.
Dr. Ravenscroft dispelled her fears: "No, they're a lot smarter than the average bird. There's an aviary in the attic. That's the only place in the house the pigeons go. And cats are strictly kept out of there."

Edward finished eating the last slice of sausage and pushed his place forward. A few moments later, a woman sat in an empty chair to his left. She seemed about 40 years of age, Filipina, with a round face that took on a fatigued expression. She turned to Edward.

"Sir, are you new here?"
"Yes, my name is Edward."
"Hello, Edward. I'm Celini."
Dr. Ravenscroft intervened: "Celini is a real lionheart, Edward. She inspires me quite a lot."
"I come here once in a while."
"Isn't it a great place?"
"It's very good for someone like me. I come here because I haven't slept in 20 years."
Edward was harrowed by this claim. Celini didn't sleep? Edward would have a sleepless night every few months or so, and he always felt moribund the next day. To not sleep was a curse. The adversities he'd experienced, the loss of his father, an electrical shock during a talk show interview, being arrested on attempted burglary charges...they seemed to crumble when compared with Celini's interminable insomnia. Didn't humans need sleep to live? How was she alive?

"I didn't know that was possible…", Edward's voice was like a child who'd just been told a ghost story.
"When my first son was a baby, he wasn't getting enough sleep.", Celini told him. "My husband and I were very worried. I remember saying 'please let my son get to sleep. I'll go without it, just let him be okay'. My son slept fine after that. But I never slept again."
"Are you alright?", he said with absolute compassion.
"I'm alright…but I've never told my husband or my children about it. I close my eyes late at night when I'm in bed and relax. My husband thinks I'm sleeping...but I'm not. I feel like an alien living in space. The world is surreal when you can't sleep. The people here understand what I'm going through."
"That was very loving of you, to give up sleep for your son."
"Thank you, Edward."

It was from this conversation with Celini that Edward began thinking about the nature of love, and realized that love demanded sacrifice in certain situations. His mind played through scenarios where he had to sacrifice himself: for Kim, for her family, for Dr. Ravenscroft and everyone at the Home, even for his father, if he were still living. It was frightening, yet he felt like it was a duty he was growing into.

That wasn't the only thing on Edward's mind. When Kim said the phrase "winter break", he became aware, almost obsessively, of passing time. The bottle must empty, the ride must halt, one year must grow old and be replaced. All things must pass.

The following afternoon, they went on a walk together through the hilly streets of Edward's neighborhood. It featured staircases carved into the hills, creating an entire circuit of shortcuts. It was energizing enough and there were plenty of quirky houses to ogle, but Edward's mind kept repeating the message: "Kim's leaving. Kim's leaving. Kim's leaving..." He decided to bring the topic up:

"When winter break ends, you have to go back to college?"
"Yeah, it's in less than two weeks. And before then, I've got to go home and pack some things up, see some friends..."

Edward's heart filled with pain and his insides burned and charred as the looming day of departure was revealed to him.
"What's going to happen to us?"
"We'll be just fine. We can be a long-distance couple for a while, and then in May, I'll be back here to see you."
"I'll miss you so much until then", he said with sad, soulful eyes.
"Me too! But there's this saying, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. I bet that's what will happen with you and me."

Edward, skeptical of her sunny disposition, asked: "Do you actually want to go back?"
Kim confessed: "I'm…torn. I've had the time of my life out here with you."
"So have I.", said Edward. "Our relationship is strong, so far. I think we're helping each other become better people."
"I completely agree. You've given me courage to do things I couldn't before. But I have an obligation, and a mission in life. Just like you have one. I can't just put that aside."
"Yes, you have a mission." Edward countered. "But you can go to college here. I've seen signs for them. There's a college near Dr. Ravenscroft."
"You're right, I could transfer. Or get an internship out here. But it can't happen right away. There's a lot I'd have to do first."
"Like what?"
"I'd have to get those things approved by my college. And I'd want a room of my own. I'm living with a roommate right now, and it's only so-so. I need more personal space. Plus, living alone would be a good way to become more grounded in myself…so I don't slip back into people-pleasing."

Edward was proud of her for the effort she'd been making.

"But I know things aren't cheap out here. Could I even afford to live alone?"
"You'll have to research it." He paused and added, "Would you have to get Bill and Peg's permission?"
"Not really. Mom's used to me being out of the house. And dad says I'm my own person and I can make my own decisions, but..."
Kim's eyes looked from left to right quickly: "I'd be so far out of my comfort zone. California makes me sort of anxious. It's huge here, there's so many people...I'd have to get used to it."

Edward knew what could help her. He took his right scissorhand and, very slowly and carefully, played with her hair like he was petting her, sweeping long, strawberry blonde strands. It made her head tingle pleasantly and sent a soothing chill through her. She closed her eyes and relished the sensation.
"Does that feel comforting, Kim?"
"Mmm. Yes it does.", she said in a voice not much louder than a whisper.
Edward lowered the volume of his voice to match hers as he continued playing with her hair: "just imagine yourself making new friends here...doing great in your classes here. And the mountains are so close, and you can camp and hike in them. And you can go to the beach. And imagine everything being easier than you thought. And just imagine me being right here. Supporting you. Sharing my world with you."
"I love your imagination, Edward...it's so different than mine. You use your imagination to make dreams and fantasies real. Mine comes up with alot of worse-case 'what if?' scenarios."
"It's okay. You're good at some things I'm not good at."

Edward's visualization session had motivated Kim. Attempting a move would be like jumping into a frigid pond, but daredevils still managed to pull that stunt off. Maybe her dreams of being a psychologist and being close to Edward could be achieved simultaneously. Maybe she was the only thing holding her back.

"I've come this far...", she thought. Could it really be so bad to venture farther?