The Wall People Read online

  “That’s your angel friend, Katie. He’s really nice!”

  Katie couldn’t find her voice, though she continued to stare at the image. After a moment, she was able to respond to the little boy.

  “That’s so beautiful, Bennie. Thank you so much for my wonderful drawing,” she smiled down at him. He grinned, happily.

  “Well, that’s my Bennie for you. He has quite the imagination,” Camellia laughed softly.

  “He sure does,” Katie answered quietly.

  She was slowly recovering from the shock, and it took effort to sound normal when she spoke.

  “I think your son is quite the artist.”

  “Thank you,” Camellia responded. “It’s nice that angels are watching over you, Katie. That’s a beautiful thought,” she smiled. “Well, we better be on our way. I have a few errands to run before lunch.”

  Mother and son waved their goodbyes and headed out the door. Katie put the drawing in her purse. She was careful not to bend it. It would be placed on her refrigerator when she went home. The image caught her completely off guard after last night’s dream. She was not sure what to make of it. Maybe it was just a silly coincidence. Looking at the clock, she realized that her styling appointment was in just a few minutes. She arrived at the salon just in time.

  CHAPTER 11

  The eclectic salon was modest, exactly what she needed. The owner was working at the front, by one of the styling chairs. He was sweeping up after his last client. The man appeared to be in his mid thirties. His strong build and deep voice was complimented by a surprising grace and subtle feminine charms. Long, golden cornrows cascaded over his shoulders and down his back. He smiled as Katie neared the front register to check in.

  He motioned for her to come on in and take a seat wherever she would like. Five chairs were available. His afternoon crowd was not due for a couple hours. A variety of paintings adorned the walls. She noticed several abstracts, a few Andy Warholesque things. There were a couple of paintings she recognized as old hip-hop legends.

  “Hi. I’m Jamal and I’ll be taking care of you this morning.”

  His tall, muscular body moved like a dancer’s as he made his way over to her.

  “Is this your first time in my salon?”

  “Yes. It’s been awhile since I’ve had my hair done,” she replied somewhat nervously.

  “Have a seat, sweetie. Let me get you a little duster. I’ll be right back.”

  He gracefully made his way to the supply shelf and returned with a shiny, hot pink apron draped over his broad shoulder. Tiny white polka dots covered its surface. He gently placed it over her head while turning her in front of the mirror. Katie gazed at her reflection, once again surprised by her glowing complexion. She decided to try something a little more daring than usual.

  “I was thinking about going red,” she said tentatively.

  A smile spread across his face as he replied, “Oh I’m loving it! You just sit back and let me work my magic.”

  Jamal sprayed her hair with several pumps of water and combed through her generous locks. He took his time brushing it out and giving her a professional trim. The absence of gray hair was a pleasant surprise. Normally her gray roots were making an unpleasant appearance throughout her hair. Maybe the sun was helping to fade them out. There had been a considerable amount of sunny days since she had left the city.

  Jamal parted Katie’s hair and worked out her cut section by section. He went in the back for a few moments and returned with a generous mixture of color.

  “You’ve been blessed with gorgeous curls. Oh yes. This is going to add a little depth. It’s hard to improve with your natural color,” he added.

  She smiled at the compliments, imagining he did this with all of his clients, yet it did not stop her from enjoying the attention. His strong hands were surprisingly gentle as he applied the dye and folded the foil wraps on each portion. The fumes were pleasantly mild compared to treatments she’d received in the past. The aroma had hints of incense and spice. He guided her over to the blow-drying chair and placed the headpiece over her hair. She relaxed with a gossip magazine as the dye worked its magic. Forty minutes later the bell sounded and she was escorted to the sink. She leaned her head back to the washbowl. Warm water rinsed the thick solution from her hair. Bright, crimson dye swirled lazily down the sink.

  Jamal took his time, gently massaging her scalp, temples, and the nape of her neck. The attention was absolutely divine. She was beginning to drift off as he carefully wrapped a towel around her head. He led her back to the chair turning her away from the mirror. He spent his time combing out the damp curls. After awhile, he stopped, carefully regarding his work. With a coy tilt of the head, a smile brightened his face.

  “You ready, Katie?”

  She looked up with excited anticipation. He slowly turned her around until she was facing the mirror. For a moment, all she could do was stare. Katie’s flowing locks had been turned into a rich, scarlet masterpiece. Subtle highlights had been strategically placed throughout her hair. The rich color brought out the deep green of her eyes, while making her skin resemble a porcelain doll. She tried to find the words and was at a loss. My God, she thought, I look twenty years younger. Katie rose slowly out of her chair and faced Jamal. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill down her face. She rushed over and gave her new stylist a hug. He hugged her right back.

  “All right, baby girl. You come back in about two months for a touch up.”

  “I definitely will!”

  Jamal led her back to the register and penciled her in for another appointment. She paid her bill and added a generous tip. As she walked to her car, she caught the eyes of several shoppers.

  Katie decided to make one more stop before heading home. She drove a few more blocks down Main Street and discovered the Wednesday afternoon farmers’ market. A couple dozen tents lined the street. Farmers and food vendors were selling produce, flowers, and delicious gourmet food. Walnut trees lined the sidewalk. The tree’s leaves were colored brilliantly with scarlet reds, deep orange, and yellow. Fall was working its magic on the canopy. Their vibrant foliage cascaded down the branches. Vivid colors of autumn were seen under the market tents. Gold and orange chrysanthemums were displayed in front of the flower vendor’s tent. Their colorful petals caught the light of the afternoon sun. Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers filled the wooden crates of an organic vendor’s tent. Their skin glowed like rich orbs in the soft sunlight. Several of the produce tables displayed pumpkins.

  She headed to the information tent and was pleased to see the market manager chatting with some of the local vendors. She introduced herself. A tall, slender woman in her late forties greeted Katie with a smile. Her face was tan from working outside. She wore a pair of loose fitting jeans and a worn denim jacket. Her light brown hair was tied in a ponytail under her 49ers baseball cap. Her hazel eyes were alert, clear. Jane Davidson reached out warmly and shook her hand.

  “Katie, it’s wonderful to see you again! How was the move?” she asked.

  “Everything went really well. I should have all of my plants ready by March. The

  greenhouse and nursery supplies are being delivered tomorrow,” she answered enthusiastically.

  They chatted about the market, and Katie watched the interactions of the vendors with their customers. It was evident that there were many local patrons. The friendly transactions were easy and cheerful. Her heart was filled with excitement and anticipation at the thought of starting her new market. It was going to be just perfect.

  Before leaving, the manager introduced Katie to several vendors. They welcomed her to the market. This would soon be her new family. She tried to remember their names as she made her way down the rows of tents. There were several fruit and vegetable vendors, flowers, honey, eggs, and craft tents. It would take her a while to get to know each of them. She had been lucky in developing friendships over the years working with the farming community. Farmers tended to support one ano
ther. They were a tight group. She looked forward to the new friendships.

  She decided to stop by the flower stand before leaving the market. A petite, elderly woman named Margaret, introduced herself and encouraged Katie to pick out her favorite flowers. She chose a bouquet of deep yellow and orange chrysanthemums. The woman refused Katie’s money but agreed to try some of her potted herbs in the spring.

  “Do you ever grow Feverfew plants, dear?” Margaret asked.

  “I actually do. I’ll make sure to plant some up on Friday,” Katie answered.

  “That’d be wonderful.”

  Margaret carefully wrapped the flowers in a shiny sheet of orange plastic wrap. She tied the bouquet with a small yellow ribbon. Katie noticed her fingers were twisted and deformed. Her hands shook as she handed her the bouquet.

  After saying her goodbyes to the flower vendor, she made her way over to one of the organic vegetable stands. The owners, Eric and Julie Blackwell, were a young married couple in their mid twenties. She spent some time admiring the produce and making small talk. She paid for her vegetables and two large pumpkins. Eric helped her carry the purchases back to her jeep. Once her vehicle was loaded with her favorite fall produce and flowers, she happily made her way back to the cabin filled with excitement over her upcoming market.

  Parking in her driveway, Katie grabbed her pumpkins one by one and carried them over to the wooden porch swing. She placed them on each side. After admiring them, she went back to the car. As she turned, she was startled to see her familiar goose sitting in front of one of the new pumpkins. He was nibbling away at the shiny skin, and he honked loudly as she gazed in his direction.

  “Hello, little boy. Are you ready for some dinner?” He honked enthusiastically.

  “Ok sweetie, I’ll be right back.”

  Katie let herself into the cabin. She walked to the sink and searched underneath. She retrieved a crystal vase and filled it with warm water. She took out her chrysanthemum bouquet and cut the ends off the stems and placed them in the vase. She put the flowers on top of the kitchen table by the window. She took the fresh vegetables and made a large salad, and divided the dinner into a large salad bowl and a smaller Tupper Ware container.

  The goose was waiting patiently outside for his dinner. She placed the bowl and large container of water alongside it. He eyed her softly and honked in approval. She drizzled some Italian dressing on her salad and poured herself a glass of Chardonnay. She came back on the deck and sat down in the cedar porch swing. The two of them ate their salad and enjoyed the beautiful woods.

  Later that evening, she watched some television. A reality show was on. Her eyes were growing heavy as the wealthy women screamed at one other in a fancy French restaurant. Glasses of wine were being thrown about. The fight had something to do with one of the housewives being excluded from a party. Katie could not keep her eyes open. She sat up and turned off the television. She fell asleep soon after. If there were dreams of angels or meadows, she couldn’t remember them.

  CHAPTER 12

  Camellia called the next morning and invited her to join the family for Sunday Mass. She accepted eagerly. A few minutes after the call, the sound of a car horn in the driveway echoed through the woods. Katie heard the Berry brothers’ van pull up as she was finishing her second cup of coffee. The boys opened their doors simultaneously and headed over to the cabin. She greeted them at the doorstep with a smile.

  “You can pull into to the open field.” She pointed to the large clearing behind the cabin. “I was thinking about setting up the greenhouse away from the trees. The trailer can go at the side of the cabin. I’ll bring out some coffee and meet you in the field.”

  “Thank you, Katie,” the brothers responded in unison.

  The boys began the work of moving her nursery supplies out of the van. As with their last visit, they patiently waited for her instructions. They worked together carrying large sections of the greenhouse into the open field. They assembled the pieces surprisingly quickly.

  They unloaded several dozen bags of soil, seeds, potting containers, and planting supplies. Large containers of seeds, soil and tools were moved back into the back shed while others were placed inside the greenhouse. Soon they were sharing stories of college life. She was surprised at how quickly the time went with their engaging tales of fellow students and classroom studies. Their positive energy was contagious.

  After spending several hours together, in pleasant company, Katie paid them in cash and added a generous tip.

  “I can’t thank you enough for all of your hard work.”

  “Katie, I think that the country suits you. You look absolutely beautiful,” Paul added shyly.

  “Thank you so much. I really love it out here.”

  “It shows,” Ted added smiling.

  “Give us a call if you need any more help.”

  “You’ll be the first ones I call,” she answered. “Now, you boys enjoy the rest of your afternoon!”

  They waved back from the van as they made their way down the hill.

  Katie took a deep breath and felt her excitement stirring. This feeling always surfaced at the beginning of a new growing season. She decided to start the new sweet peas and herb starts this afternoon. The recycled containers were soon lined up on a large potting bench next to the greenhouse. She opened a bag and reached her small hands into the rich, organic soil. The earthy aroma was soothing. Slowly and methodically she filled pot after pot with soil and seeds. She labeled each container with its variety and a brief description. She made sure to plant a few pots of Feverfew seeds. This plant could be very beneficial for her new friend, Margaret, at the farmers’ market. The herb was helpful in easing the pain of arthritis. She would make sure to give her several plants.

  After a gentle spray of water, she moved them into the greenhouse. Several hours went by. Planting was a form of meditation that she relished. The sun began to set just as she was finishing her last batch of herbs. She placed the tray of seeded containers in the greenhouse and closed the door. She noticed that it had already warmed up considerably in the afternoon sun. She headed back to her cabin feeling content with her hard day’s work. She turned in early that evening. The next day would be a marathon of planting and soil preparation. Sunday would be her day to rest. She looked forward to it with anticipation.

  CHAPTER 13

  The Sanchez family arrived at Katie’s cabin mid morning. They offered to drive her to church. After Mass, she would join them for Sunday dinner. She invited Camellia and Steven inside while the children hunted for the goose. Camellia’s husband offered to take a quick look at the bedroom ceiling. He studied the varnished paint job for a few moments and asked if he could borrow a ladder. He went back outside to survey the property. After several moments he came back looking somewhat perplexed.

  “Katie, I’m afraid that the space above your bedroom ceiling isn’t big enough for an attic. The roof lines up with the cross beams of the cabin just above your bedroom. There might be some insulation above but not much else. That’s probably the extent of it. As far as the varnish goes, it really doesn’t make much sense. Whoever applied it wasn’t very familiar with home improvement projects at all. There may have been some slight cracking in the beams from seismic shifts in the ground. It would’ve been a much better idea to apply some fiberglass mesh tape, and some drywall depending on the severity of the damage. It could’ve easily been sanded down. But the varnish is a temporary fix. It’s just a matter of time before the cracks reappear.”

  Katie was disappointed to hear the news. It would have been nice to have the extra attic space for her antique collections. She realized that she would either have to hire someone to repair her ceiling or find the time to do it herself. It was another home improvement project to add to her growing list. This was one of the sacrifices of home ownership.

  “On the plus side, I did call my friend Daryl who works with the home security firm my wife told you about. He was able to work out a deal on a sec
urity package for your home if you’re interested.” Steven remarked.

  “Wonderful. That’d be great,” Katie answered.

  “Perfect. I’ll give him a call this week to set it up.”

  The family piled into the back of their white mini van and made their way to church. Saint Brigid Catholic Church was a modest building. Colorful stain glass windows adorned the sides of the cathedral. The Stations of the Cross were beautifully depicted within the detailed images. The family blessed themselves with holy water before entering the church. Katie followed the family to their seats and quietly kneeled before making her way down the aisle. The aroma of candles filled the room. Katie noticed a large statue of Saint Brigid in the corner of the church. This happened to be her patron saint that she had chosen for her Confirmation name many years ago.

  Saint Brigid is best remembered for her charity work, spiritualism, and protector of women. She founded a famous school of art in Kildare, Ireland. Her illuminated manuscripts were known to be some of the most beautiful in the world. It was one more sign that she was in the perfect place in life.

  The congregation rose from their seats and joined along with the choir as they sang the entrance procession song. A nice looking teenage boy, dressed in white robes, carried a large, gold Crucifix down the center aisle. His face was rigid with concentration as he made his way toward the altar. Lizzie smiled as he passed their pew. He was followed with several altar servers, as well as three children dressed in white. A small, elderly priest named Father Peter followed slowly behind. Little Bennie’s face lit up when he saw the priest. Mass began and the young children were soon called up to attend Sunday Bible School. Bennie ran as fast as he could to the front of the church to join the class. Father Peter gently patted Bennie on the shoulder.

  “We have one more lamb to add to our flock today. Good lad,” he added.

  The congregation laughed quietly. Camellia put her hand over her eyes and appeared to be positively mortified by the entire scene. Katie gave her a reassuring smile. The church choir sang aloud as the children made their way back down the aisle. Their Sunday school teacher, a middle aged, heavyset woman, proudly led them outside to their morning teachings. Bennie waved to his family as he walked by their pew.