Heartsong (Logan 2)

I lookedat Kenneth and he smiled as we both waited. She popped her eyes open and gazed into my face with such intensity, I nearly laughed.

"The first time I drove up here, I knew Kenneth had felt the energy and that had brought him here. Remember, Kenneth? Remember how we just sat for hours and hours holding hands, soaking up the twilight and feeling the vibrations?"

"Yes, Holly," he said in a tired voice. "Why don't I help you with your things?"

"Oh, yes. It's so wonderful to be here again. You don't know how something like this can recharge your batteries, Melody, until you're away in the world of chaos, drowning in tension."

"I think she has some idea," Kenneth said with that inscrutable smile of his.

Holly turned back to me.

"Oh? I can't wait to get to know you, Melody. Kenneth hasn't told me very much. You're like his little secret," she said.

I glanced at him, wondering what that meant, delighted that he'd mentioned me to Holly. That meant I was important to him. But then, why had he invited her here? Who was she?

"He hasn't told me anything about you," I said. "You must be his other little secret."

Holly laughed and for the first time, I saw Kenneth Childs blush deeply.

"Your things?" Kenneth reminded her firmly.

"Oh, yes, my things." She uttered another little musical laugh and went to the trunk of her car. It was stuffed with small, battered suitcases. "Let's just take in these for now," she said pulling out the two largest. Kenneth took them from her and started toward the house. She opened the rear door of the car and something rolled out. It looked like a large, clear stone. The back seat was filled with clothes, books, and art supplies, and a lamp lay on the floor.

"Can you take this for me, Melody," she said, lifting the stone object. "I'll get the other things."

"What is it?"

"My crystal," she said. "The energy is drawn into it and then I draw it into myself. I never go anywhere without putting it alongside my bed. Kenneth doesn't mind," she said.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, you'll see. We have so much to tell each other," she declared.

"How long are you staying here?" I asked.

She paused, gazed around a moment, took a deep breath, and then nodded, before closing and opening her eyes.

"Until I stop hearing it," she said.

"Hearing it? Hearing what?"

"The voice that called me here." She smiled.

"You'll understand. I promise," she said and reached down to pick up a packet of incense off the floor in the back of the car.

She closed the door and we started toward the house.

"I only know a little about Kenneth's new work, but from the way he talks, I can see it's the most exciting thing he's done in years. I'm glad he found it. He was beginning to worry me," she said with a serious face, her eyes darker, her lips tighter. "I was beginning to think the shadows of the past were overtaking his bright light and dimming his spirit. I'm so happy for him, and if you had anything to do with it, I'm grateful to you," she added.

I just looked at her, failing to find the words to respond to all this. I turned to carry her crystal to the guest room and she stopped me.

"Not that way, dear. I told you," she said, "that has to be beside the bed." She nodded toward Kenneth's bedroom and smiled.

I hesitated,.. my chest feeling hollow, no heartbeat, no blood, no lungs, just an echo chamber full of surprise and disappointment.

Kenneth appeared at the bedroom door.

"I put your suitcases by the closet. Anything else you want brought in right now?"