"Willow's Tail" 20

Martha stood by the window in Perfidia’s kitchen staring out at the vibrant garden bathed in morning sunlight. A gentle summer breeze tickled the delphiniums and the tip of Willow’s tail could be seen slipping underneath its shaded domain.

Martha smiled at the sight but her thoughts were not fully on the moment. Yesterday had been a most unusual day and she awoke amazed by her continued buoyant spirit but also, a bit alarmed by it.

The tea kettle on the stove whistled and she turned from the window just as Perfidia, in her comfy, owl print pajamas and robe, walked into the kitchen.

“Good morning Perfidia.”

“Oh, good morning, I didn’t expect you’d be up already,” Perfidia said as she shuffled over in her big owl faced slippers.

“I’ve been up since sunrise,” Martha confided taking the tea kettle off the stove and eyeing Perfidia’s attire with amusement.

“Me too, I couldn’t stay asleep,” Perfidia mumbled and after a moment of hesitation added, “Yesterday was unexpectedly enjoyable and…I couldn’t rectify the feeling.”

Martha chuckled, “You wanted to remedy being happy?”

Perfidia gave her a self mocking smile.

“You know it’s not been my natural state of being,” she defended taking down two teacups from the cupboard.

“This may surprise you Perfidia, but I was caught off guard by the pleasant day too,” Martha admitted with a shrug.

Perfidia placed the teacups on the table and looked back at Martha with curious interest.

“Do you think it’s possible that shadowed figure had something to do with our happy reminiscences?”

“I don’t think our feelings can be manipulated but…they did force us to be here and attend the festival.”

“That’s true and if we hadn’t…”

“We wouldn’t have confronted those feelings,” Martha finished her thought.

“So are we to assume our manipulator has a benevolent motive in this craziness?” Perfidia’s question dripped with sarcasm; she certainly didn’t think these havocs had been driven by kindness.

“Whatever this is or isn’t won’t be revealed until we win so until then…we can only surmise their motive.”

“Right, so a skunk until proven otherwise; I’m good with that and besides, we’ll know the truth soon enough; we’re all certain to win…especially me.”

Martha began to pour hot water over the tea leaves in the cups but stopped a moment to give a friendly warning to Perfidia.

“None of us should be overconfident in our chances of winning.”

“I’m not overconfident Martha; I’m realistic. I’m certain your orchid has no competition,” Perfidia clarified as she picked up the filled teacups and carried them to the kitchen table.

Martha didn’t want her to underestimate their opponent; this game might still have unforeseen twists but asking Perfidia to be cautious would be wasted words.

We’ll see,” Martha said simply, hinting at that caution.

Perfidia didn’t understand Martha’s uncertainty and turned speculative eyes on her.

“Are you worried about winning your contest Martha? Because I'm sure Willow can bring whatever you need from your hidden garden and you’re welcome to pick any leaves in mine that you like.”

“Thank you and I do appreciate your offer but I have resources here.”

Perfidia’s brow rose with sudden understanding.

“Your old house…you never did sell it.”

“No, I didn’t and I’ll go over this afternoon to gather the leaves I need from my garden there.”

“Do you have a winning blend?” Perfidia asked as she placed the cream and sugar on the table and sat down.

“I shouldn’t brag but I do have a delightful blend. It’s taken me several years to cultivate but now it is sublime in both aroma and taste.”

“It sounds impressive, but can it win?”

Martha chuckled at her single mindedness.

“Yes Perfidia; it can win.”

Perfidia sat back and smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s all I wanted to know but I have to say Martha, you’re amazing; keeping up two gardens, one without anyone knowing. Even I wasn’t aware that you’d been a frequent visitor to your old home,” Perfidia stated with unabashed curiosity then leaned forward and questioned further, “So why didn’t I know?”

The oven timer beeped, as if on cue, and Martha turned away.

“I made fresh croissants,” she said dismissing the subject but of course Perfidia didn’t abide by the deflection.

“Could it be that you’re keeping the house because you want to move back here?”

“Do you want jam on your croissant, I see you have blueberry and raspberry, which would you prefer?” Martha asked with a steady, impassive stare.

“Raspberry please,” Perfidia answered watching Martha closely.  

Martha placed the requested jam on the table next to the warm plate of croissants and sat down.

Perfidia stirred a teaspoon of sugar in her tea before deciding to give Martha her experienced advice.

“I understand the need to shut everyone out Martha, believe me I do…but you’ve made peace with Percival so why not come back home now?”

Martha picked up a buttery croissant and wished Perfidia would drop the subject but maybe, she should examine what she was feeling. She placed the croissant on her plate and looked past Perfidia to the sunny day framed in the kitchen window and slowly opened up those locked away feelings.

“When Miriam received those letters and told everyone about them I didn’t so much care that Percival had fallen for someone else, I was having doubts about us by then too, but I was hurt he hadn’t told me first. It felt like a betrayal and I couldn’t accept the duplicity so close after…anyway, I didn’t have the strength to confront him. So I left, hurt and confused and needing a distance from everything here…but I couldn’t let go of my home. And yes, I did continue to tend the garden with Willow’s help and we kept it thriving, just not when anyone would see us.”

Perfidia heard the brief hesitation and it almost sounded like there was another betrayal and with curiosity she probed, “But now that you’ve closed that painful episode with Percival, isn’t that betrayal over?”

Martha hesitated. She may be open to discussing the letters that were switched but the other reason she’d fled was off limits, no one knew about it and she didn’t want to confide it to anyone. She smiled at Perfidia and shrugged.

“Yes, I suppose talking with Percival did pave a smooth path back; I’m just not sure I’m ready to step back into this life.”

“Okay, I get it; you’ve harbored those feelings of betrayal for a long time and letting the hurt go won’t happen with one nice day at the fair.”

Martha laughed. “That is an accurate analogy Perfidia.”

“I thought so.”

Perfidia smiled and lifted her tea for her first sip. She did understand Martha’s dilemma because it had felt nice to think of her dad yesterday without sorrow, without the pain of loss, but even with the unexpected day of comfort, the state of being “happy” didn’t feel natural to her; at least it hadn’t in a very long while.

“Do you need me to go with you to gather your leaves?” Perfidia asked.

“No, I’ll take Willow with me and it shouldn’t take us long we should be back long before we need to leave for the fair.”

“Doesn’t Willow have to do a run on that obstacle course in the preliminary round this afternoon?”

“Yes, but she isn’t pleased so don’t mention it.”

Perfidia laughed.

“Oh but that should be so much fun to watch.”

Willow sauntered into the kitchen and as if she knew the laughter was being directed at her, she turned and gave Perfidia a sour look.

“Hey, no offense,” Perfidia said lifting her hands in peaceful surrender, “I know you’ve got it all over those common house cats.”

Willow sneezed as if ridding herself of a nasty thought of retribution before nodding an acceptance and continuing over to her breakfast bowl.

“I think your quick apology saved you from a windstorm of a response.”

Perfidia agreed with Martha and patted her stylish coiffure, glad it was still in place.

“I’m learning to respect that cat,” Perfidia stated quietly.

Martha chuckled.

“I think Willow might be learning the same about you.”

Perfidia’s eyes grew surprised and she turned to look at the sleek black cat. That cat could be a formidable foe and she would like to think they were becoming friends. She’d never had a pet-” her thoughts skidded to a halt as Willow turned from her food and gave her a harsh look and a low, grumbling meow.

Perfidia was sure Willow had just scolded her for thinking she could be anyone’s pet.

“Can your cat read minds?” She asked Martha.

Martha was startled by the question and began to thoughtfully chew the bit of buttery croissant she’d just taken in contemplation of an answer.

“I’m not sure of all of Willow’s talents but I wouldn’t be surprised if she could.”

“Hmmm, I think she can,” Perfidia mumbled as her gaze slid back to the complicated cat.

After the dishes were done, Martha left with Willow to gather the leaves she’d need to enter for her contest and Perfidia went upstairs to change out of her comfy owl pajamas into something more fashionable to wear to their second day of the fair.

*                                                 

The noon day sunshine bounced off the hood of her little convertible as Martha drove down the familiar street relieved to see none of the neighbors outside. When she spied her beloved home at the end of that long tree lined road she sighed. 

Willow purred softly from the back seat and they both felt the serene atmosphere that enfolded them as they neared their old home.

The garage door rolled up in welcome and the little car’s engine purred contentedly as she pulled into the driveway.

“We’ll come back someday; I promise,” she whispered to Willow before stepping out of the car.

 Willow stretched languidly in the back seat then jumped from the car to follow her human.

 

Martha stepped into her beloved garden and absorbed the peaceful space and breathed in the rarefied air of aromatic blooms and memories that would forever hold her heart.

Willow sauntered past her human to slip under the rainbow of delphiniums waiting for her and immediately rolled onto her back under its shade. Her contended meow was kittenish, brought about by thoughts of her younger days spent under these magnificent, sheltering flowers.

“I’ll gather the tea leaves,” Martha said to the feline with a catch in her voice.

Willow peeked out from beneath the long stems and, with little desire to leave this welcoming space, followed her to the shed.

The soft afternoon light filtered through the south windows of the shed and reflected off the well organized gardening tools hanging on the potting bench.

Martha chose the ones she would need then took down two containers from a shelf filled with flower pots and storing containers.

She carried the gardening tools and containers with her and walked with purpose from the potting shed to the drying area but just inside the doorway she stopped and stared in disbelief at an empty room.

“What happened here?” Her voice sounded unsteady.

Willow entered behind her and sniffed the air; she knew a certain black cat had been there recently and gave her human a telling meow.

“But how had they slipped through undetected?” Martha asked Willow, wishing her eyes were deceiving her and her plants would reappear, but that didn’t happen.

Someone had cleared out every trace of her hard work. Years of tedious cultivation gone; her delectable tea leaves missing.

Her brows drew down over stormy eyes.

This havoc was beyond a game. They’d stolen more than a chance to win from her and she was not about to let this…this…unwelcome person win, but unfortunately she didn’t see a path to victory at the moment.

“Willow, please refill the room,” she requested in a calm, fortifying tone gathering her resolve to best this nemesis anyway she could.

Willow flicked her tail and the room was filled with drying tea leaves, leaves from Martha's other home garden, not the rare leaves lost, but they were the best she could work with. She wouldn’t have time to cultivate these to perfection but they would do…until she unmasked that culprit and demanded the return of her precious plants.

Martha began to fill the containers, taking her time, choosing the best.

She’d blend these leaves with some of Perfidia's in hopes of finding a blend that would deny that shadowed thief their imagined triumph.

When she was done she placed the filled containers in the trunk of her car and called to Willow. 

*

“I can't believe it Martha. They had the nerve to just walk into your garden and steal all of your leaves?”

“I wish it weren’t true Perfidia, but that’s exactly what they did.”

“This is too much. We’re already following every demand and yet they continue to havoc against us.”

“It looks that way.”

“You do have a plan right?” Perfidia asked thinking of a havoc of her own she’d like to implement.

“Yes, I plan to win.”

Perfidia didn’t want to sound discouraging but if these leaves were not her best, could she win?

“But can you win without that perfect blend of tea leaves?”

Martha gave her a sour look. She didn’t want to be reminded of that loss but no matter the setback…she would win.

“I’ll make due with my leaves and yours and make no mistake Perfidia…I will win,” she said it with determination, staying positive, even if the outcome tottered on the whims of hope.

“Then I’ll believe you can win too,” Perfidia said with encouragement but it lacked enthusiasm.

Martha wanted to cry over her loss but wouldn’t allow it. She wouldn’t give that shadowed man and his cat another thought.

Martha’s expression was set with determination and Perfidia tried harder to be supportive.

“So let’s get your leaves into my drying room and combine them with the best of mine because we need to leave for the fair in less than two hours. I don’t want to miss the elimination of the first Orchids at five today; I want to be front row center to see Gloria’s face when they tell her to take her orchid and go home.”

Martha wanted to warn Perfidia again not to be cocky because that shadowed being didn’t play fair but maybe being cautious didn’t matter either; it certainly hadn’t helped her.

*