Cardinals
Walking this path – their path – again, after so many years – opened a stream of emotions for Jacqueline. She could clearly see Peter, in her mind – his eyes keenly sweeping the sides of the path, looking for movement – any movement. He always let her walk slightly in front of him – and with a broad smile he said, “I want to enjoy you fully in my vision.” This always had the same effect on her – she would blush a deep burgundy shade of red.
Instinctively, she reached out for his arm, like she’d done so many times before. The cool autumn breeze flowed through her fingers – teasing her memory. She felt the sway of her dress against her knees as she walked. She knew that simple movement always entranced Peter – and he would pull her close to him. She reached down to touch the moving fabric – somehow, it made her feel as if he was there – and he was there with her, she decided.
…
They ambled along the path – neither of them in a particular hurry. Jacqueline slid her arm inside of his – their hands locked. She tried to remember their conversation – it was something about … why couldn’t she remember … ah, yes – they were talking about the cardinals at play in the trees along their path. “Quick – right there in that oak tree to the left Jacqueline”, Peter would say.
She would hear the rustle first and then see the brown cardinal dart out, quickly followed by a red cardinal. Then they would sit close to each other on a branch – but not too close. The red cardinal would slowly, almost cautiously, hop towards the brown cardinal – and she would let him almost reach her – and just as he was almost next to her, she would dart off to another branch.
“It’s their dance,” Peter would say – with that simple smile.
…
As she rounded the corner on the path and came upon their spot next to the lake, she felt the first tear…
Ripples
She heard the familiar rustling sound, followed by the sight of the brown cardinal as she darted from a tree in the clearing by the lake to another tree – near the spot Peter would take Jacqueline on these walks. She wondered if this was the same cardinal they had seen so many times before – she hoped it was. Jacqueline expected to see the red cardinal dart out to chase his mate – but, moments passed and he didn’t appear.
After several minutes of peering through the tree waiting to see the red cardinal dart out, Jacqueline finally decided to sit down near the lake’s edge – maybe he would show while she was there. The brown cardinal – Jacqueline decided to name her “Hope” – seemed to acknowledge Jacqueline’s presence and sat alert in a branch just above her head.
Looking out towards the lake and feeling the tears well up inside her, Jacqueline fought hard not to cry – she was determined to make it through this walk without tears.
…
She could see Peter walking around the lake’s bank, looking for the perfect pebble to skip across the surface. He would say, “Each skip is a kiss upon your surface.” She always smiled at that thought – his words sent ripples of emotions through her.
And there he was – with his exaggerated wind up, about to skip his perfect pebble across the lake’s surface. He would first look to her with a simple smile in his eyes and then whirl around in one fluid motion to skip the pebble. He would count out the skips – one, two, three, four, five, six – and sometimes there would be seven.
With the final skip, he would pull Jacqueline close to him and say “and she accepts his final kiss” as their lips would meet – yes, ripples.
…
She didn’t hear Hope leave the branch, but saw her come into her line of sight as the bird skipped across the surface of the lake several times causing little ripples to appear – and then she returned not to the branch, but landed a few yards from where Jacqueline sat on the ground.
And … was that a smile in Hope’s eyes as she peered up at Jacqueline?
Chance
Hope stared at Jacqueline a few seconds more – then tentatively hopped a couple steps closer. Entranced, Jacqueline dared not move … dared not even take a breath. Hope suddenly let out a melodic set of chirps and darted up to the branch above Jacqueline’s head.
Completely confused, Jacqueline stared up at Hope – expecting something … not quite sure what … just something more. But, Hope seemed disinterested in her friend now – instead she made quick jerky head movements towards the trees across the clearing.
After a few minutes of watching Hope and with no sign of acknowledgement, Jacqueline decided she was just overreacting – yeah, it was just a coincidence that the bird had skipped across the water and then landed back near her – just a coincidence – wishful thinking on her part perhaps.
Funny, how the mind can play tricks on you, she reasoned. Jacqueline returned her gaze to the lake – and to thoughts of the last few weeks. Considering all that had pass, she was surprised she had decided to walk this path today and especially sit here – in their spot. Yet, something drew her here today.
She could see the light waves wash along the bank of the lake – a soothing rhythm. The cool autumn breeze on her skin seemed to match the rhythm of the waves – a cleansing feeling began to wash over her. She began to wonder if it was possible… but, no she thought … too much had passed between her and Peter.
The chirping sound from Hope brought Jacqueline out of her revelry. But, it was the returning chirps from across the clearing that really caught her attention. And there he was – the red cardinal, whom Peter had named “Chance” – at least Jacqueline wanted to believe it was him.
And just like that, Chance darted to the branch where Hope sat. He stopped a few feet from her – and slowly hopped closer – this time Hope remained. Then, both birds seemed to look directly at Jacqueline – or more precisely, just behind her. The sight caused a tear to well up in her eyes … thoughts of Peter returning full force.
And then … there he was – sitting down beside her – at first Jacqueline thought she was dreaming. But he reached in with his simple smile and kissed her tear away – and said “We can make this work Jacqueline – just need to give it a chance.”
Artist: Richard Miller; Author: Mike Evans
