Hearts of Avon

it. She tried to control it, and did somewhat, by moving around and pulling the string, but the kite itself harnessed the wind and moved where it was carried.

  It is a reflection of life, Ben realized while watching this beautiful girl maneuver the kite’s string. Her hair curled and moved in the wind around her. We hold the string of life, trying to harness and control where our paths will lead. But something else controls us and carries us where we go. He pushed the thought from his mind. He was determined to enjoy his time with Caroline and not dwell on where tomorrow may lead.

  “Woah!” Caroline called out as the kite was pulled by a sudden stream of air. “Care to take a turn?”

  As Ben took the kite’s stick and string from her, Caroline’s hands touched his, sending a warm feeling through him. Soon, though, he was feeling the pull of the kite above him. He enjoyed the chaos and strength of its movements, determined to hold some sway over its destiny.

  When they were through flying the kite they toured the museum and Caroline bought a disposable camera to take pictures with.

  Ben marveled at her beauty as she would line up a shot to take, carefully eying each angle and looking to get the best contrasts of color in her photos.

  She took pictures of the museum’s displays, the replica of the Wright Brothers’ plane there and the expanse of field that stretched out where the brothers had first flown.

  A metal replica of the brothers’ plane and statues of the people who were there during that first flight was set up past the field and Ben and Caroline took turns doing goofy poses around the statues and taking pictures of each other.

  “What is that?” Caroline asked as the two of them walked up a hill toward a white pillar that slightly resembled a wing.

  “That’s where they began their first flight,” Ben told her.

  A woman in a bright shirt saw them as they climbed the hill. “Would you two like me to take a picture of you?” she asked.

  Soon they were standing in front of it as the camera flashed, freezing their images forever in time. Ben had his arm around Caroline and she held herself close to him.

  “Thank you,” Caroline said as the woman returned her camera.

  Then Ben turned around, seeing the part of the statue’s inscription that was facing them. “I think there’s a reason we came here,” he told Caroline, pointing to the base of the statue.

  “Achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith…” she read aloud. “It’s a good reminder.”

  “Resolution and faith will see us through this,” Ben said, squeezing her hand with emotion.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out and answered, “Hello.”

  “Ben, I’m calling from the police station. They’ve let me out and I’m headed home. Where are you?” Mason sounded tired.

  “Thank goodness. How did they clear you?”

  “Excelsis is conscious and he backed up our story. He’s at The Outer Banks Hospital if you want to check in on him. Gustav said he’s been asking for you.”

  11

  Caroline’s hands shook as she waited outside Excelsis’ hospital room. Ben was already inside. She peered in, watching Ben talk to Excelsis as the man scratched his forehead. She couldn’t go in yet, but had told Ben she would be in soon. The way the old man moved, showed how well he was recovering.

  It was all too real. The morning with Ben had allowed her to escape things somehow, but here she was, about to face the man her ex-fiancé had shot and almost killed. She massaged her temples for a moment and tried to collect herself. She could feel tears begin to well in her eyes. You can do it. Just go in. She wiped tears away with her sleeve.

  Buzz-buzz, Buzz-buzz. Her phone vibrated in her purse and she pulled it out. A random Outer Banks phone number flashed across the screen.

  She clicked ‘Talk’ and brought it to her ear. “Hello.”

  There was silence on the other end.

  “Hello?” she asked.

  “Caroline… I… I love you.”

  She was frozen. Fear swept through her. “John…” she managed. “What are you doing? It’s over.”

  “They said I could have one call.”

  “We can’t do this. I… You…” She punched the ‘End’ button on the phone and held it before her, powering down the phone and watching its light go off. Caroline let it drop back in her purse and slumped against the wall. She let her hand relax. She had gripped the phone so tight when she heard John’s voice.

  There was hatred in her, fear, and some small attraction to the man that she hated to admit still existed. That feeling made her disgusted.

  The door to Excelsis’ room suddenly opened.

  “Are you alright?”

  She turned to see Ben’s concerned eyes. Cold ran through her.

  -- --

  Something was wrong. Ben could see that in her eyes, in the way she stood. Who had been on the phone? John?

  “Nothing. I’ll be fine.”

  Her complexion was pale and he could see where she had been crying. If she meant for him to know, she would tell him. “If you want to talk, when you want to talk, I’m here for you.” He decided he would let it go for now. They both had been through so much. Maybe she just needed her space.

  “It was John,” she said, her eyes focusing, or rather not focusing, somewhere away from his. “He’s in custody and awake. I was his one call.”

  “Don’t they have rules against that?” Ben asked as her cold hand touched his rigidly.

  “I don’t know. I need to stop thinking about things.”

  “Ok, but I’m here for you.” He couldn’t do anything else for her now. If he went to hold her, Caroline would just back away. “Are you coming in?”

  “Sure,” Caroline said and followed behind him into the hospital room.

  Excelsis moved to adjust himself on the bed as Ben returned to him. He cringed in pain and Ben moved to help him, not knowing what to do. “It’s ok,” the old man told him as he was finally able to sit up. Tubes and wires protruded from his skin and Ben could see where he was well bandaged beneath his scrubs. “They say I’ll need to stay for at least a week so that they can monitor me.” He looked to Caroline. “Good morning, lass. It’s good to see you’re well.”

  It took a moment for Caroline to respond. She came to Excelsis and put her hands on one of his. “We were so worried about you. Thank you for being there. If it wasn’t for you… Ben or I, or anyone at my aunt’s party, could be dead.”

  Excelsis huffed and then briefly choked, holding his hand to his chest as he did. “I was just looking for a place to sleep.”

  “We know you were watching out for us,” Ben said. “And we appreciate it. Give me a call once you are released and I’ll pick you up. You’re staying at my house, at least until you are fully healed. I’m sure Mason will agree.”

  “Normally I’d say no. But I’m not too proud to know when I need to take someone up on their offer. Thank you.” Excelsis slowly let himself lie back down in the bed as a nurse entered the room.

  “We’ll let you rest,” Ben told him and gave Excelsis’ hand a firm grip. “Let me know once you’re cleared or if you need anything. Don’t worry about the hospital bills. Mason and I will pick up those as well.”

  “I…” Excelsis was at a loss. “I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

  Ben stopped at the room’s door. “You already have, with our lives. I’m just thankful you were there and that you’re ok.”

  As they drove the long stretch of road back in to the Outer Banks islands Ben once again felt that Caroline was cold to him. What can I do? he thought, watching dunes of sand moving quickly by his window. We are connected now, he realized. We have experienced too much together not to be.

  “Can you take me home?” Caroline asked, looking away from him. “Thank you for taking me out. I need to rest… to think.”

  Ben took a second. “Sure.”

  A half-hour later, after a car ride full of silence, Ben pulled into T
he Ocean’s Whisper’s driveway.

  “I’ll call tonight,” Caroline said after giving him an emotionless hug.

  “And I’ll answer!” He tried to smile while saying it and waving goodbye. He watched her walk away and into the house. I can’t believe that what I hate more than the way John stalked her is what he is doing to her mind, to her heart. He couldn’t wait to get back home and see Mason. He needed to see how his father was and to just feel like his world was normal for a change.

  Ben flicked on the radio out of habit, turning it up in an attempt to drown out the noise of his thoughts. Maroon 5’s song, ‘Moves like Jagger’ cranked out his open windows. He pulled into the carport of his house as the song went off.

  He was about to turn off the Jeep when a newscaster came over the line. “We interrupt our broadcast with this news update. Hurricane Irene is currently a category 3 hurricane and is set to make landfall along the U.S. eastern coastline, Friday or early Saturday, this week. It appears to be on course for North Carolina’s coastline and the Outer Banks and should be a category 2 or 1 hurricane when it makes landfall. If you are in this area or along the coast, please plan to evacuate and board up windows and doors. This hurricane should be taken seriously. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.”

  Great, Ben thought while shutting off the engine. He and Mason would weather the storm in The Seaman’s Watch. They had been through many bad storms there and he knew they would do it again, but he would have to do a lot to prepare.

  Caroline and Eva will leave early. The realization hit him. His fears