And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like Arabs,
And silently steal away.
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Refuge
I told Izzie an abbreviated tale of what happened in town this morning, but left out the part about planning to kill Albright.
I'll tell her the whole story one day, but hell, it's my birthday and that calls for a celebration, so I just told her the good news--Albright, Wells and the entire Clan were already arrested and going away for a long time.
I managed to keep it together until I got home, but just the sight of the house nestled under the budding Maples brought tears to my eyes.
Everything about my life was renewed, filled with the promise of spring and rebirth and now the tawdry dreariness of Granger and The Boys was no longer my concern. Good riddance.
The aroma of home baked pies filled the house and reminded me of my childhood. I know my mother would have loved Isabel because it finally dawned on me that she was so much like her.
We spent the afternoon working outside, planting new shrubs and mulching the gardens.
And when we paused for lunch on the patio, a summery breeze stirred the trees and a ridge of cumulus clouds towered above us.
It was a golden day, carefree and free of the shadows that had previously oppressed us.
At seven that evening, our guests began arriving. This was an entirely new experience for me and I was enjoying every moment.
Alison James, Izzie's colleague and friend from The Clarion showed up first and immediately pitched in to help Izzie. They were giggling and gossiping like coeds when Alfred Rosenberg, my father's lawyer and friend arrived at the same time as Belle Brooks from Pets 'N Things and they seemed to hit it off immediately.
Soon the house began to come alive. Jake and Marnie arrived, along with Tech and Will Novak and Jeff Fielding from The Lakeside Project and Jeff Ford, Izz's former boss from The Thirsty Cactus.
Later that night, when the party was in full swing, Izzie called me aside.
Her eyes were shining. "I want to give you something I made for you."
"You made me a birthday present?" I croaked.
She nodded and handed me a wrapped gift and an envelope.
"Open the gift first, " she smiled.
I did and was taken aback. She had the key to the house gilded that I gave her the first night we met and mounted on a plaque.
"Now read the card," she whispered.
She gave me a handmade card with a message in calligraphy:
When you're broken, everything gets a little honester - you make mistakes and don't give a damn - you give up on perfection, but get real...This is you and I love you. You gave me the key to your heart.
Before I came back to Dundas, I thought I was a stone man, incapable of feeling, but I was wrong.
From the moment Izzie took me in as she did Frizzy, our stray kitten, I wasn't the one offering refuge, but sheltering in her warmth and love.
I thought I came back here to bury the past but it was to find my future and as I glanced about the room filed with new friends, I saw the wheel had come full circle...
And it was then that Breton came in, my guide and mentor, the man who never doubted my character...
the one who would marry Izzie and me and usher us into our future.