Chapter 15 - Sunday’s Best
The setting sun slowly signified the reality that fate might be upon us come morning light.
Cameron and I started the evening rummaging through two closets of clothes that Leigh kept from those she had saved. She reminded us that each article of clothing was left in an abandoned boat, nothing had been stolen with sticky fingers. If the stakes weren’t so high, I’d have passed on the game of dress up with clothes from places unknown.
I landed on a black suit, with white linen shirt, adorned with a black tie that contained a small silver diamond right below the loop. Cameron chose similar but also picked out a faux fur vest to show me for comedic relief only. It seemed clear now that the real mission tonight relied on convincing him to take the vest seriously. Not many opportunities exist to double down on one’s name.
Alastor and Leigh had ventured to the old dock on the other side of the island, the haunted building containing Leigh’s past. It was a worthwhile guess that the torch that had been the introduction of Bon Bon had been depleted of kerosene by now. Cameron and I would wait patiently for their return, taking the last few idle moments to feel carefree before the storm that would be upon us. I turned to Cameron momentarily.
ATMOS: What kind of odds do we have that this will all go swimmingly?
CAMERON: I mean swimmingly is a high mark to hit. I’d first place a few bets on it going alright.
ATMOS: That's a terrible assessment, is it too late to swap out partners for this outing of ours?
CAMERON: Well I know the famed legend has her own role to play, that means you’d be stuck with Alastor. My mediocre outlook cannot be that bad.
I smirked, he won this round of banter.
ATMOS: Nothing could be worse than being stuck next to that man for a prolonged period of time.
I turned around hoping that the fates at be would place Alastor approaching our conversation right at the moment of my shaded comment. No such luck.
ATMOS: Perhaps we should go check on them. Now that our sunday’s best are both sorted out and you feel proud of wearing your faux fur vest.
Cameron smiled at the white lie, perhaps the battle was not yet over.
CAMERON: I’ll never wear that damn thing Atmos.
Cameron and I ventured away from the small storage shack that hosted our short lived fashion show and towards the boat dock where the others hid. We followed the soft spoken conversation untangling between Leigh and Alastor, noting the falling leaves of tension that surrounded them. Her face matched the sorrow soaked image I had imagined for the moment. A brief pat on my shoulder was self given for the knowledge that I just might be getting to know the untamed Leigh. This operation had placed a muddy shovel in her hand, forcing the past to be dug up in haste.
ATMOS: Were you two able to get this relic started?
ALASTOR: Tigerman, would you care to deceive to Atmos the utter commotion a craft of this size would make if it were running?
CAMERON: I think he gets it Alastor. If either of you were successful we would have heard it.
LEIGH: Maybe it's a sign, maybe we don't resurrect any ghosts today.
ATMOS: What other option do we have Leigh?
LEIGH: I just wanted to pretend that this was my decision.
Alastor squeezed the moment dry of empathy.
ALASTOR: Bon Bon, I do apologize in your involvement but I insist you focus on the task at hand. What in the devil have we not tried yet?!
LEIGH: You’re not helping Alastor. There isn't some aha moment regarding a forgotten part that I’ll trip over on my way out of this conversation. It's just going to take time.
ALASTOR: Understood, let's check in at sunset.
Alastor marched out of the room, Cameron kindly followed suit.
The urge landed on me like an insect to tuck Leigh between my arms and lull her feelings to rest with a hearty lullaby. I resisted such dramatics but approached her rain cloud and placed my hand on her shoulder.
ATMOS: You know that everything will be alright.
Leigh’s eyes looked predestined to roll.
LEIGH: How on earth could you possibly know that?
ATMOS: The truth is I don’t. But there’s this feeling that I cannot shake that it will be. I need you to know that.
LEIGH: Trust is important Atmos, at some point it will be what I NEED from you.
ATMOS: And just what point is that Leigh?
LEIGH: You know….if we keep at this tangled emotion of ours. I would like to know what that is like.
Her eyes described the colliding emotions caged inside, nervously pacing locations of little importance.
ATMOS: If I have a role to play just tell me.
LEIGH: I just want to feel as if a sliver of this silly operation is about me, that love is in the air and making one do foolish things.
My hand dived down her shoulder and pressed on the small indent of her lower back. She darted her powder eyes up at me, searching for a flint. My lips drew closer to hers, delivering the next step in our story. A lifetime of tinder erupted as Leigh aggressively grabbed my body and continued.
Seconds into this new love affair, a storm cloud appeared in the distance of my thoughts. I was nervous, the feeling of new intimacy was foreign to me. Although shiny and new, I couldn't help but shield my eyes from the brightness.
My delay in accepting Leigh’s invitation unearthed a foreigner of doubt that appeared on her face. Spoken word would become our new foreplay, acting as a maze to the time that was just abandoned.
LEIGH: Was I wrong about us Atmos?
Damn these nerves of mine, trespassing on my desires and holding the room up at gun point. Somehow my thoughts drifted to blame Carmine, surely I am experiencing side effects of quitting her obedience.
ATMOS: Cobwebs have me caught Bon Bon.
Her indecision turned into delayed laughter.
LEIGH: So typical of spiders, splatting places they don’t belong.
ATMOS: I guess what it really is Leigh…. I’m just not attracted to anyone who uses the word splatting.
A slight snort surfaced.
LEIGH: Atmos!
I grabbed her reactive body and held her close, our eyes inches from one another, starring into the calmness centered in the storm. Knowing damn well without looking down that a smirk was splattered on each of our faces.
I kissed her with electricity, jolting the heart monitor of the moment into areas off screen. I would look back later and acknowledge that it was comedy that brought me past the gate of Carine, a form of intimacy unknown to me. Our bodies continued to burn at both ends, resulting in every box checked of our actions performed. We laid on the ground of the shop, a sudden urge struck me for a cigarette. I had to remind myself that Leigh wasn’t that kind of girl, she was better, preparing me to be better in her image.
ATMOS: Well, I take it back, I don’t want the radio tower without linens as my accommodations, I’d much prefer the shop.
She giggled bubbles of innocence.
LEIGH: That was nice Atmos, what was your favorite part?
I felt thrown off by the question, Leigh knew how to stay quirky.
ATMOS: You are my favorite part Leigh.
LEIGH: Hmm, I suppose I’ll accept that answer.
She smiled and proceeded to stand up, deja vu dreamt into the air.
LEIGH: I’ve been stalling you know, I’m afraid Atmos, of what is next. Of this damn boat, of losing you. My judgement tells me to continue to be stubborn but I don’t know what to do.
ATMOS: Oh Leigh, I’m sorry you’re troubled so. We both started this call to danger together, how about we end it together.
LEIGH: Grrr, I knew you’d say something like that! Is it too late to runaway together.
ATMOS: I’m afraid so Bon Bon.
LEIGH: Using codenames in the bedroom now?
ATMOS: Oh I forgot your shop doubles as a bedroom.
LEIGH: Fine Atmos!
She commanded every muscle to push back the smile naturally forming.
LEIGH: I’ll fix the boat. Just please take care of yourself out there. I know you like me, but Carmine, she feels like an empress still to the parts of you frozen in time.
Her sharpness scratched my skin, my witty response would mask the bucket of sorrow filled from the statement.
ATMOS: Since you know I like you, maybe you know that it is just enough for me to come home safely.
Her eyes followed my lips.
LEIGH: I can’t wait to see your home.
I began gathering my garments, it would be cordial to let Leigh finish work on the haunting boat. With my last button pulled tight in its home, I headed for the door of this warm room.
ATMOS: I’ll go tell the others the good news.
Leigh spun around.
LEIGH: That we just had sex?!
ATMOS: That, or the fact that you’ll be able to fix the boat now.
LEIGH: Oh. Of course. Maybe only tell that part.
ATMOS: If I must limit the news, I shall do my best.
I exited and found immediate regret in the darkness of night. Her warmth almost enough to radiate through the door. The pitter patter of my footsteps approached the door of the guest quarters, Alastor and Cameron would be eager to begin preparing for the end.
CAMERON: Did you already wrinkle your Sunday best Atmos?
ATMOS: Working on boats is wrinkly business my friend.
It was quickly decided by the three of us that Cameron and I should head out in the cover of darkness to set up for the morning rendezvous on the train. I craved badly one last moment with Leigh.
—------- insert last moment —-------