Chapter 56
“But you said you could, we have plans…” Luna was sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of Beckett’s mountain house. The sun was setting, lighting the sky in a pink glow.
“I know, I wish it could be different. I just can’t come. They won’t let me, there’s so much going on here — they’ve cut off all vacation for a month and sadly my weekend falls in the middle of it.” Beckett shook in the vibrating rumble of a far-off explosion.
“What’s that noise?”
“A train probably. Seriously, I miss you so much, if I could, if they let me have the time, I would be there in a second.”
“When do you think you can come home?” Behind Luna, through the screen door in the kitchen, Dilly was cooking dinner. By now Luna had grown used to the comforting sounds — pots lightly clanging, water splashing, jars, cans opening, spilling, shaking, and through it all, Chickadee at the kitchen counter, working on some project, a screenplay, or really anything she had thought up that week, talking about her work. Dilly would say, “Uh huh,” when her thoughts were on the food, and occasionally, “Exactly!” when her thoughts were on Chickadee’s project. Because Dilly agreed with Chickadee on most everything, being, in Luna’s estimation, one of the most agreeable people in the world.
Chickadee was strong-willed, and bossy, kind, but also certain and stubborn, prone to big ideas and constant implementation. Dilly on the other hand was empathetic and loving, nurturing and sweet. She had a poem for every situation.
Luna loved them both, but she especially loved talking to Dilly, because Dilly woke up in the night and sat with Luna on the porch, for hours, if that’s what it took to calm Luna’s mind.
Dilly got the In-Betweens as Luna’s mother used to say. The stuff inside the pauses between the words. The down deep.
Beckett's voice brought her back to their conversation. “Since I’m missing the three month visit, they’ll definitely grant me the next leave. Once they lift the moratorium. I’ve put my name in, as soon as they tell me, I’ll call . . .”
“Oh, okay.”
Luna wished she was better at the In-Betweens. She was better when she was out on the ocean, but here on a porch, in a strange place, on a phone, she was out of her element. She was sure Beckett wasn’t telling her everything, but without knowing enough about how this world worked, she couldn’t guess.
“Could I come?” She pulled her knees up and rested her head there. “Chickadee said she would drive me, even if it’s just for a few hours.”
“They won’t let us have visitors, it might get me in trouble.”
“That’s what Dilly thought too. I was really hoping to talk to you about some—” Her hand rested on her small rounded stomach.
“What? Are you okay — is something going on?”
She clenched her eyes shut. “No, I’m good. It’s nothing. I just miss you so much.”
“I miss you too. And it’s only going to be a week or two, three at the most, and they’ll grant my leave and — we’ve only got two-and-a-half months left. We’re over halfway there.”
“Yes, sure, time will fly.”
“And you’ll be there? I mean, I know, but I — you will right? You’re happy living there?”
“Yes, I’m happy. I’m also heartbroken.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Neither of those things will make me leave.”
“I’m glad. Knowing you’re there is the only thing that keeps me going. I’ll call you next week.”
