Black Cat (Gemini 2)

Then I heard Elliot's laugh.

Noble lowered his head, turned, and started for the forest.

A cloud drifted over the sun and dropped a long, dark shadow around him. It seemed to swallow him up until he was gone.

Leaving me feeling even more alone.

8

Patience and Faith

.

If I was ever afraid to ask Mama any questions

about her and Mr. Fletcher. I was now. I didn't want to do anything to lead her to believe I hadn't been purged of the evil she thought had entered the house and me. Fortunately, she was too involved in her relationship with Mr. Fletcher to notice my nervousness. At breakfast she went on and on, bragging about the sacrifices Mr. Fletcher was willing to make for her.

"No, not just for me, for us, " she emphasized. "He's putting his house up for sale immediately."

I looked up quickly. Immediately? When did she intend to get married?

"It takes time to sell a house, especially one like that," she continued as if she had read my thoughts. "However. Dave knows there is no way I would agree to move from here, and he's quite happy about moving in with us. He's selling all of his furnishings as well, and if his daughter doesn't return home, he'll put all of her things in storage. He might even give much of them away to needy people, who would appreciate it more than she does.

"You look surprised. Noble. What is on your mind?" Mama asked with a smile. "Go ahead, tell me."

"When will you be getting married?"

"We're discussing the exact date soon. I want the wedding to be held here. He wants to have it catered by some well-known company in the area. but I explained that I don't want any strangers who have no real interest in us other than money to be part of our joining together. Besides, ifs not going to be a big wedding party by any means. I can certainly handle the number of guests we'll have, and you'll do a great deal to help me set up for it.

"I've already talked to Mr. Bogart about it. He has suggested the minister to perform the ceremony. It's someone who appreciates our way."

"There'll be no honeymoon as such," she continued. "Sometime later, when events permit, well take a holiday. All of us. Just like any other family."

"What about your work?" I ventured.

"Oh, my work. I've told you how much Dave respects my herbal remedies, and as for spiritual things... well, you'll be surprised at how much he believes. He's not capable of what were capable of doing, of course, but his beliefs aren't at great odds with ours. In time, because of his love for me, he will accept everything, especially when I show him a world he never imagined existed right around us. He's always complimenting me on my temperament and voicing aloud how much he wants to learn so he can escape from life's worries, especially" -- she made a disapproving face -- "the worries he has about his daughter!' Mama laughed. "He calls me a 'fresh drink of water.' My grandfather used to use that expression. Still does," she muttered.

What did all this mean? I wondered, Had she ever told Mr. Fletcher about our family spirits, about crossing over, or was their talk only about spiritual harmony, peace. meditation? Would he become like Daddy, tolerant, understanding, or would he run for cover the first time Mama told him someone else was in the room beside us?

She didn't seem a bit concerned, and that both worried me and made me curious. The biggest question was yet to be asked: What about me? What would she ever tell him about me? And as a consequence

of that, what would she ever tell him about Baby Celeste? How could we keep our secret world from him if he was living here? Or would we? Was his love for Mama so great that she believed she could trust him with everything? What did she know that I didn't?

"Please wipe that look of worry from your face, Noble. I promise you nothing will change, nothing will interfere with our spiritual balance. What we do now, we do for Baby Celeste." she added, looking at her. "She's our future, and therefore, she's everyone's future. Do you understand? We must protect her, protect everything that has been entrusted in our care. Ill be depending on you."

"Yes. Mama,"

"When a precious little girl like Baby Celeste grows up in a world without a real mother and a father, she's always at a disadvantage. People will mark her as an illegitimate child. There are so many stupid prejudices floating about out there. Of all people, you and I know that too well. I want to make sure our Baby Celeste has no disadvantages.

"You'll set," Mama said, patting me on the hand. "In time everything becomes clear. Noble. It just takes patience and faith, the cornerstones of our lives. I should have named my children that. Patience and Faith." She laughed. "Maybe Baby Celeste will name her children Patience and Faith." Mama looked at her again.

At the sound of her name. Baby Celeste looked up quickly and smiled.

"You will, won't you?" Mama asked her. "You'll marry the right person and you'll be a blessing to all you touch and all who touch you. Won't you, my dear, dear child?"

Baby Celeste nodded as if she truly understood. I was beginning to believe she did.

"And as to you," Mama said, turning back to me as if I had done something wrong already. "you need not worry about Dave interfering with you or trying to change you. He will be here to do whatever we ask. Whatever suggestions he makes to you, you can accept or reject. Be with him as much as you like or as little as you like. Just don't insult him or give him any reason to think you don't appreciate him. Do you understand?"