Suddenly the sky opened up, and rain poured down. The rain felt cool and warm at the same time.
“Unbelievable,” Calvin said, as he looked up at the rain.
“What is?”
“The rain. It is the first we have had in many months,” he said excitedly.
“Really?” I was surprised. We had just had rain earlier that week.
“Yes, but I do not want you to be soaked. Let us find a dry place to wait it out.”
Calvin led me to a denser part of the forest where the tree cover blocked the rain.
“Is this okay? You are not cold, are you?” he asked, concern clear in his voice.
“No, no, I’m perfect,” I assured him, snuggling in as close as I could.
We sat down in the grass under the trees. Calvin took both of my hands in his. My hair was wet, and my ponytail was slipping, so I pulled my hands from his to fix it. He touched my wrist gently to stop me from putting the hair band back in, so I let my hair fall down around my face.
“You have such beautiful hair. Please, can you leave it down?” He brushed a few strands away from my face.
“Yes, of course.” I put the hair band around my wrist.
“Who are you, Charlotte?” Calvin asked, once my hands were back in his.
“Who am I?” I asked, confused.
“How is it that I meet the girl of my dreams when I am only home on leave for a fortnight?” He squeezed my hands lightly.
“So, you don’t always live here?” I asked, suddenly afraid I wouldn’t see him again.
“My family is here, but I am now training in Bellgard.” His tone let me know that this was something to be proud of.
“Bellgard?”
“Yes, the capital. I have started at a good rank, and the prospects are great. I have to return soon.” He looked happy by my interest.
“When?” I hoped we had some time.
“In three days,” he answered solemnly.
“Oh.” Sadness flooded through me. He was leaving in three days; I wouldn’t even get the chance to get to know him. Somehow, that thought finally snapped me out of my daze long enough to make me realize that I needed to go home.
“I have to go,” I said reluctantly; it was the exact opposite of what I wanted to say.
“Now? Please, will you not stay?” he pleaded.
“I want to, but I know that my family might start to worry.” I hoped it was still night at home so Monty wouldn’t have called the police thinking I was missing.
“May I see you again before I leave?” Calvin asked.
“Yes, when can you meet me?” I knew that I would find a way to see him whenever he was available.
“I do not think I can get away tomorrow, but what about the following day, at the same time?”
“I can do that,” I said, as he helped me to my feet.
“I will walk you home, Charlotte. A young woman should not be walking unaccompanied, although I am so glad you were today.” He smiled and held my hand in his again.
“Me, too.”
We walked back out through the forest and into the field. I would have had no idea how to get back, but Calvin led me. He looked over at me every few seconds. When he wasn’t looking at my face, he was looking at our hands. Calvin walked me back through the garden, and we stopped at the gate.
“I live right through here,” I told him, wanting him to know where to find me.
“I will meet you right here in two days time.”
“I can’t wait.” I gave him a light smile even though I hated to say goodbye.
“Me, either,” he said quietly. I was about to take out my necklace to open the gate, but he suddenly pulled me to him for a kiss. I was left breathless.
“You really make me do things I normally would not, but am I right to assume that you do not mind?” he asked, smiling.
“Not in the slightest.” I returned his smile.
Calvin squeezed my hand before slowly letting it go. I inserted the crystal key in the lock and felt the gate give way. I looked behind me as I walked through, and Calvin stood watching me.
“Until next time, Charlotte,” he said quietly.
“Bye, Calvin.” I closed the gate.
Chapter Eight
Charlotte
Daylight was just breaking through the clouds as I walked back into my yard. I felt a mix of disbelief, euphoria, and fear as I ran down the path and slipped as quietly as possible into the house. I walked up the first flight of stairs and tiptoed past Monty’s and Kevin’s rooms. I soundlessly went up the last set, ran into my room, and quickly changed into pajamas before collapsing on my bed.
I rolled around in bed for hours, unable to stop thinking about Calvin and the intensity of feelings I had experienced. Now that I was away from him, the craziness of my actions hit me— had I really followed a boy I didn’t know into the woods, kissed him more than once, and made plans to see him again? Even more bizarre, I knew I had made the right decision. Being with Calvin was the most natural thing in the world. I was also contending with thoughts about where I had been. The evidence was irrefutable; the gate led to a place that was nothing like Charleston, or any place I had ever seen. That was when the doubt set in.
Had it been a dream? Calvin seemed too wonderful, too real, to be a dream. If not a dream, maybe I imagined it all. I must have finally fallen asleep because, when I glanced at the alarm clock next to my bed, I saw that it was already noon. I crawled out of bed and went to pick up my jeans from where I had thrown them earlier. I noticed a vivid flash of color and realized with surprise that it was a feather, a feather that could belong to only one bird. The bird was real; Calvin was real! I felt like I was flying. But how was I going to make it two whole days? Suddenly hungry, I jumped out of bed.
As I walked downstairs, beautiful piano music filled my ears; Monty was playing a song I had never heard him play before. I had barely heard him play since we got home, and I had been meaning to ask him about it because usually he played often. The melody was in a minor key, creating a sorrowful, melancholy sound full of emotion. I stopped right behind him at the bottom of the stairs. He immediately stopped playing.
“Morning, Charlotte. Rough night?” He turned around to look at me.
“Um, yeah.” I assumed he was making fun of me for sleeping so late.
“Char, you are absolutely glowing. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Excuse me?” I tried to understand how he could possibly know. Was I really glowing?
“I’m no expert on teenage girls, but I do know what that glow means.” He smiled. I leaned over the piano to examine the music and noticed that Monty had been playing one of his own songs. I focused on it so I could avoid looking at him. He continued, “Fine, keep your secrets, but I have my hunch, and I’ll find out sooner or later.”