"Willow's Missing Tail" 28

Dillon stood in the kitchen doorway watching Martha blend tea with efficient movements. When she looked up he pushed away from the doorjamb and walked towards her. “We need to talk.”

A thread of conflict wrapped around the room adding weight to his words and Martha knew a serious conversation would be impacted by it. 

“Not now Dillon. I have to blend this tea just right,” she said in a dismissive tone.

Dillon scoffed. “I don’t see why we can’t talk while you blend your tea. How hard can it be to explain why you and Perfidia were so intent on getting Jon and me out of here?"

The variance in the air became even more weighted with discord. 

“I'll explain...later. Now, I have to help with the guests and-” Dillon stepped closer cutting off her words. “Martha I’m a guest here too, since you couldn’t shove me out a door or window, and I’m not without intuitions of my own."

Martha's eyes locked with his. “True, and now that you have a familiar to help-” she stopped abruptly. “Sorry, forget I said that.”

“You're right. Frankie does help but, even without that assist, I know something is off tonight. What’s challenging us Martha?”

“Aside from your lack of honesty-?” Martha slapped her hand over her mouth and mumbled through her fingers,” Sorry. I didn’t want to say that either.”

“Yeah I’m sure you didn’t,” not masking the sarcasm in his tone, “Look, if you want me to explain I-”

“No!” Martha insisted.

“Why not?”

“Because I know the urge to talk about it is hard to ignore. You’re being pushed to confront it,” she told him, “It’s the remedy we brought into the house to end the rivalry between Willow and Thistle; it’s in the room with them now.”

“What remedy?”

“It’s a ramulus from the primordial forest. It absorbed all the magic into itself at sunset and it’s taunting the cats to lay claim to it, to own it. Willow and Thistle have to ignore the narcissistic pull of power until sunrise. If they can, the rivalry will end.”

“And if they can’t?”

“Then one cat will no longer be a familiar and will lose all memories. The other cat will retain their memories and gain all the twin power they once shared.”

Dillon gave a low whistle. “I understand your concern.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“But why is the conflict happening beyond that room?”

Martha frowned. “We didn’t know it would do that and now we're all experiencing this need to confront anything we've been avoiding.”

“Hmmm…all things hidden demanding to be seen,” Dillon mused.

“Exactly, a recipe for disaster in any relationship, or friendship,” Martha concluded.

“And that’s why we need to wait to discuss the…dog in the room?”

"It is."

“We can intervene if we hear a problematic conversation begin,” Dillon suggested.

“Yes, but it'd be better to keep a distance between conflicted guests.”

Dillon’s gaze turned pensive. “Like us?”

“Yes,” she whispered and looked away. Complication hung in the air like a heavy mist.

Dillon touched her hand. “We can avoid any serious discussion and I’ll go into the study and try to keep the peace among the other guests.”

Martha smiled. “Peace would be lovely, thank you. I’ll finish making the tea and bring it in shortly.”

Dillon felt a troubling shove to say more but clamped his mouth shut and walked out of the kitchen before he gave in to it. He walked into the study and Percival scrutinized his serious expression.

“What’s got you looking so glum Dillon? Everything okay with you and Martha?”

Dillon didn’t have a chance to answer because Miriam responded for him.

“Why are you asking him about Martha? Why do you care what goes on between them, unless you still care about her?” Her jealous tone wasn’t lost on anyone in the room and all eyes turned to her, but it was Percival’s confused expression that worried her.

“Miriam? What’s this about?”

“I just think…we’re engaged now and you should concentrate on us and not worry about anyone else’s problem,” she reasoned.

Percival eyes narrowed. “I think there’s something else going on with you Miriam…you don’t like Martha. I’m not sure why but you look guilty about it.” He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time, and not sure he liked all he saw.

Percival’s probing stare and accurate conclusion had her flustered. “Why would you say that? Martha and I get along just fine,” she lied.

Across the room Perfidia scoffed loudly and all eyes now swung to her.

“You’ve something to add Perfidia?” Percival asked.

“Me? No, but I think Miriam has more to add.”

“I do not!” Miriam said with an adamant shake of her head giving Perfidia a pleading look to keep quiet. But she knew Perfidia wouldn’t comply if pressed so, to to avoid that happening, she pointed to Dillon and accused. “He has more to answer for than I do!”

“What now?” Dillon questioned.

“Don’t pretend not to know it’s all because of you. You pretended to be Percival while he was away that summer and allowed Martha to kiss you. When I saw you two kissing everywhere that week, I thought Martha was kissing Percival! That’s how this all started. It was because of you and your deception,” Miriam blurted out the secret of that complicated summer but then her eyes went cartoon wide. She’d just remembered Percival knew none of those facts. “Oh my,” she whispered turning to see the astonished look on Percival’s face. “Oh Percival…that’s not…I didn't...oh, I can’t take it back,” she mumbled.

“Nope, cats out of the bag,” Perfidia agreed with a delighted chuckle enjoying the secrets that were unraveling, so long as they weren’t any of hers.

Percival turned accusatory eyes on his brother. “What is Miriam talking about Dillon?”

At that moment Martha walked into the room carrying a tray laden with tea kettle, cups and a platter of warm scones, unaware of the tension between Percival and Dillon.

“I’ve tea and scones for everyone,” she said placing the tray on Perfidia’s large desk before looking up and registering the fact that everyone was staring at her, as if they’d expected something more. She shrugged and offered, “I can make sandwiches if everyone would prefer that?”

“What I’d prefer is an explanation of the summer my brother pretended to be me!” Percival demanded in an angry tone. It was a tone Miriam had never heard him use before and she slid down into the nearest chair afraid of what she’d started.

“What?” Martha asked, color rising on her cheeks. Percival was never supposed to know about that summer. Had Dillon confessed to him? Her eyes swung with accusation to Dillon but he looked as flustered as she by Percival’s question.

“I said,” Percival reiterate darkly and walked towards his brother, “Did you pretend to be me with my girlfriend while I was away?”

Dillon looked askance at Martha but since Miriam had dashed their hope of keeping that summer a secret, he held Martha’s gaze as he confessed to Percival. “Yes, I allowed Martha to assume I was you but it’s your own fault Percival, for not telling her you had a twin brother.”

“I...of course I did,” Percival’s eyes swung to Martha for confirmation, “Didn’t I tell you my brother was a twin?”

“No, and I wish you had,” she said flatly.

“I was sure I had,” he held her gaze confused by her denial but at the shake of her head his anger reared up and his eyes swung back to Dillon, “Well, that’s beside the point. You could have informed her of her mistake by telling her you were my twin!”

“Yes, you’re right. I could have done that but…she was too charming and I rather liked the idea of her as my girlfriend,” Dillon acknowledged with a confident smile, his eyes turning to and softening on Martha.

“You…You,” Percival sputtered wanting to defend Martha’s honor and punch his brother in the eye. He raised his fist with intent but Miriam stood up and stopped his arm from making the necessary arc towards Dillon’s face.

“Why are you so upset?” Miriam asked in a seething tone, “You were seeing me Percival. Don’t you remember…before you left that summer? And you were going to talk to Martha when you got back; weren’t you?”

Percival thought back to that time. “I…I did like you Miriam and we had been having lunch together most days before I left but…Martha was…” he hesitated giving Dillon a sideways glance of anger as he concluded, “still my girlfriend,” he stressed with condemnation.

Miriam was shocked by his answer and lessened her grip on his arm. Percival took advantage of the freedom and hauled off and punched his brother in the nose but Dillon was quick and moved his head far enough away not to get the full brunt of that fist. It only glanced off his nose.

Dillon defended the next attempted with an arm block but he wouldn’t hit his brother back. He could easily have decked Percival if he’d wanted to but his brother had a right to his anger. He had deceived both Martha and Percival by his actions that summer. 

He held up his hands to show Percival he wouldn’t fight him. “I’m sorry Percival. I don’t have an excuse for my behavior except to tell you I fell in love with your girlfriend and I didn’t think of you or my actions that summer, not until it was too late…and I’d lost her too. So, I’ll admit to my part but if truth is on the table,” he swung his eyes to Miriam, “I think your current girlfriend has a lot to answer for too. Did you know she brought havoc to Martha’s home? Caused chaos at the last summer solstice festival? Everyone in attendance had repercussions because of her meddling.”

“What’s this?” Percival turned to Miriam, “What’s he talking about?”

Miriam had the good sense to look ashamed. Sorry now she’d started these accusations, pointing out the actions of others had come full circle back to her.
I didn’t intend for it to go the way it went,” she said in a contrite voice.

“What had you intended?” Percival’s words and eyes questioned her.

Miriam panicked and looked for another patsy, and found one. “I hired him,” she pointed to Avery, “He created the havocs on Martha and everyone else and he was very thorough. Believe me Percival, I only hired him because I thought you still loved Martha.”

“Why did you think that?”

“You kept searching for her, every day. I had to find out if your feelings for her were stronger than your feelings for me. But I know it was foolish to doubt you. After all, you had written those beautiful love letters to me. I’m sorry I was jealous. Can you forgive me?” she began to sob.

Percival was upset to learn of her actions and was about to tell her so when she brought up those switched love letters. Then he was the one fidgeting with a secret. They’d never been intended for Miriam. Yes, he loved Miriam now but at the time he’d written those letters he’d been trying to get Martha to forgive him. Those letters were meant for Martha not Miriam, but someone had switched them. 

“Miriam…about those letters,” he began in a hesitant voice.

“I wouldn’t go there brother,” Dillon whispered the warning but his brother shot him a ‘mind your business’ look and Dillon shrugged, “Your choice.”

“What about them?” Miriam asked wiping tears from her cheeks but seeing Percival’s sheepish expression she knew. They weren’t meant for her. “You wrote them for Martha, didn’t you?”

Percival opened his mouth then closed it again and shrugged.

Miriam’s face turned red with indignation. “You did write them to her! Then maybe you and this ring belong to Martha too!” Miriam whipped the engagement ring off her finger and threw it at Percival. It bounced off his chest and into the fireplace. Thankfully there wasn’t a fire going but it was still thick with ash.

Miriam walked out of the room into the hallway that led to the kitchen to get away from Percival.

Percival got down on his knees to unearth the expensive diamond from the thick soot in the fireplace.

“I think you should go after her,” Dillon advised.

“Leave me alone; you’ve done enough,” Percival snarled at him and went back to sifting through the ash.

“This is fascinating,” Avery chuckled refilling his empty glass.

“You’re despicable, and as deceitful as those two men,” Daphne sneered, “All men are despicable!”

Avery scoffed, “I disagree. I’ve found the female of the species to be the most deceptive. They ply you with flirtatious looks before they drop the hammer on you and try to steal your hard earned lifestyle!”

“I stole nothing Avery. You have your precious business assets! And if you’re too stupid to realize why I tried to get your attention I-” she stopped her words too late and what she’d just admitted to was humiliating, but she was more annoyed at him for making her say it. “Oh, go fly a kite!” she snarled and went to walk out of the room. Once again she was unable to leave. That invisible force was still in place so she stood at the unrelenting doorway grumbling, “Stupid, so stupid.”

“Not stupid at all, enlightening.”

The whispered words were too close to her. Avery had followed her to the doorway. 

She looked over her shoulder and disagreed. “It was stupid. I was stupid to think bankrupting you would make you see me.” She shot him a self mocking expression.

“Daphne, you had to known how focused I was on sending my business into the stratosphere of success at that time. I didn’t think of much else but…I never lost sight of you on the periphery.” His voice was low and intimate and way too close to her ear. 

She didn’t turn around as she answered in a vulnerable voice. “You didn’t seem to see me even peripherally. We didn’t go on dates anymore, not unless it was a business dinner and every conversation was you schooling me on the next project you needed me to oversee. I felt unseen but I kept hope alive until she walked into the office and your attention riveted to her face.”

“Who is this?”

“Ms. Bel Ami,” Daphne snorted in disbelief, “I’m sure you haven’t forgotten her.”

Avery’s smile was slow and cocky. “You were jealous.”

“I…no…maybe, seeing you ogling her after all I went through to meet you, paying and plotted how to get you to Hawaii and….,” again she’d said more than she’d intended. "oh bother," she grumbled and peeked over her shoulder. Avery’s brow was lifted in interest.

“Go on...you got me to Hawaii and...?”

“Uhh…yes it was me.”

“So…you worked for the Audubon Society? And booked my services for that rare bird sighting?”

Daphne grimaced and shook her head, “Not exactly, it wasn’t the Audubon society. It was the Audibon Society. I’d created a look-a-like website in order to offer you the study. You just didn’t notice the spelling differences on my site.”

“Why?”

“Why did I create the site?”

“Why did you go to that extreme?”

“Because I found your website fascinating and wanted to be a part of your business. At first that’s what drove me. Then after I met you, it was a different kind of fascination.” she confessed and waited but Avery’s expression didn’t give her any clue to how he took that information so she continued, “I admit, I should have told you the study was a ploy and I meant to tell you but I never found the right moment.”

Avery silently processed the new information, allowing it to superimpose over the history he thought he knew about them. When it all clicked in place he had a better understanding of what had truly occurred on that last day, and why. His eyes sharpened on her.

“I think we have a few things to discuss Daphne; it’s a pity we can’t leave this room to discuss them in private.” 

A sudden gust of air pushed them both through the doorway to the other side. Surprised. Avery and Daphne looked back at the occupants in the study before taking advantage of their freedom and heading off in the direction of the sunroom, intent on having a very private discussion to set things right, in a mutual direction.

“Do you think we can all leave now?” Percival asked pocketing the now sooty diamond ring he’d just retrieved from the fireplace. 

“Let’s see,” Jon said and walked full speed towards the doorway but his progress was halted when a solid wall of air pushed back like a rubber band stretched to its limit, and shot him back into the room but he somehow managed to remain upright.
He looked at the others and shrugged, “Guess it’s still blocked."  He walked back to the chair he’d vacated. His eyes slid to Perfidia but she was still actively avoiding him. 

He didn't understand why she’d tried to shove him out the front door and then the window. Why was she so intent on getting rid of him when he was the one betrayed? She'd used a love potion in a bracelet thinking to keep him interested. Why? The action begged questions. Had she ever loved him or did she just like the idea of his loving her? Her need for that bracelet’s particular charm pointed to the latter. 

His disillusioned eyes sharpened on her as the air grew colder with discontent.