Into the Woods (DeBeers 4)

When I was dressed I sat on the rear loggia and waited. I remember I was thinking it was partly cloudy with a warm breeze, but there were no sea mills around the dock today, and there were no ships out there gliding across the horizon. The whole world seemed at pause, even the waves were gentler than usual for this time of the day. Everything was waiting for something special to happen. What was it?

Linden came out and stood there looking at me strangely. He ran his fingers over the railing and looked at me again.

"You saw my daddy, too, didn't you. Linden? You saw the naval officer, and you saw him salute, didn't you? Remember?" I said, saluting with two fingers.

He smiled, but he was more fascinated with some of the cracks that had farmed in the railing. The shapes intrigued him, and he traced them and studied them as if they were the answer to

some great mystery.

A man in a chauffeur's uniform appeared. and Mommy came out of the apartment quickly to give him orders.

"The suitcases are ready and waiting right inside." she told him.

He nodded, gave me a passing glance, and went inside. A moment later he was carrying them out. Linden was very curious about him. He was at the age where he was curious about everything now.

"It's time to go. Grace," Mommy said.

She was dressed very nicely in one of her designer suits and had her hair pinned up. She wore her nicest diamond teardrop earrings, too, and had her favorite cameo pinned above her right breast.

I stood up, and she took my arm and directed me toward the stairway. Lourdes came out and stood beside Linden. He watched us but said nothing,

"I should say goodbye to him," I said "I should kiss him goodbye, shouldn't I. Mommy?"

"No," she said sharply. "You'll only make him cry, Grace. It's better if you just leave. You'll be back soon," she promised. "It's easier for everyone. Go on, walk." she ordered. and I went down the stairs.

The car was there, a black Town Car. The driver stood at the rear door that was opened and waiting for us,

"This is the car that will take us to the airport." Mommy said when I stopped walking.

"Oh." I tilted my head with confusion, "Why are we going to the airport? I forgot."

She made a face of impatience.

"We're going to South Carolina." she said slowly, pronouncing each syllable with deliberateness. "So we have to fly there. That's where the clinic is and where Dr. De Beers waits for you. You'll be fine after a while, and then you can come home." she said, but she didn't sound very sure of it. It sounded too much like a promise, and promises were more like wishes for me now.

We started toward the car again.

Linden, I kept thinking. I'm going so far and I'm leaving without saying goodbye. It doesn't seem right, He'llwonder about me, and he'll be looking for me, especially in the evening. I -won't be there to read him a story, and my bedwill be empty. It doesn't seem right.

At the car I paused and turned back toward the rear of the beach house. Lourdes had him in her arms and had brought him around. She was pointing toward us and telling him to wave goodbye.

"Get in. Grace." Mommy said, her voice dripping with impatience. "We've got to go. We can't miss our flight."

Linden was looking at me so hard. My heart began to feel like a rock in my chest.

"Grace."

"Wait," I said firmly, pushing her hand off my arm.

I raised my hand slowly, bringing my two fingers to the tap of my forehead.

Little Linden watched, and then he brought his hand to his, his two little fingers returning the salute.

He had seen him. I thought. He had seen Daddy.

I would be back after all.

.