Biebe: Waiting for the Freeze

(A continuation of Skinner: London Magic with

the cast of The House of Four Seasons)

By Atonia Walpole

Part 1:

“John, John, talk to me!” Donna Biebe called after him as he slammed into his vehicle and backed it out of the yard.

He hated it, hated that he couldn’t tell her what was happening, why things had changed, why he had to fly off to see people she didn’t know and he couldn’t explain. Something was going to have to give. He was going to have to tell her something. Ever since he got back from England she’d been on him, accusing him of things he hadn’t done, questions, questions. It gave him a daily headache.

He drove to the sheriff’s office and sat in his vehicle for a minute. He ran his hand over his face. He’d called Terry and, while sympathetic, Terry couldn’t solve his problem. Terry’s suggestion of sitting down and telling Donna the truth wouldn’t work. For one thing he couldn’t tell her about Toni. That she would never understand and without Toni in the picture, he couldn’t explain the rest.

He walked inside, tossed his jacket on a chair and sat down at his desk. It was then his cell phone rang.

“Biebe.”

“John, it's Max. I’ve been talking to Terry…”

“He’s not in another scrape, is he?”

“No, nothing like that. He was telling me about you and Donna. I’ve just, um, gone through something similar. I have a lady in my life and came up against the same thing…telling her where I came from and I asked Jack to come and help me out. He did a fantastic job of it. Connie is still with me.”

“Well, good. I’m glad to hear it, Max.”

“What I thought was if we could all gather it might be easier for Donna to understand.”

“Max, she ain’t gonna understand Toni. I don’t care how you explain it.”

“What if Toni explained it? I’ve asked and she and Terry are willing either at their place or at the House. That would be up to you. It would be easier for Jack to come to the House.”

“Well, that’s great except Michael is in school and we’ve got Joey here and Donna’s in the throes of morning sickness.”

“Can’t you find someone to stay with the children for a week?”

“You forget I’m the Sheriff in this town. I can’t just jet off like the rest of you do.”

“How important is this to you, John? Is it going to break up your marriage leaving things the way they are?”

“Oh, fuck, Max! You have no idea! I’m about to come unglued, you know? It’s not just me going off to parts unknown to her, it’s her whole life. I mean, sure, the town is here and some of the people but it ain’t Mystery anymore, it’s Macon. So she asks me you know, how can this be? She thinks she’s going crazy and damned if it ain’t driving me crazy.”

“I strongly suggest you consider taking a week and flying to Boston. A week at the house should change everything, John.”

“Yeah, she’ll kill me.”

“You know that won’t happen there.”

“So everybody’s coming?”

“Yes, just let us know when you can get there and I’m going to bring Connie with me. She wants to meet the rest of my family.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to her tonight and I’ll let you know if she agrees, then I got to find somebody to fill in for me here. Thanks, Max, it’s a good idea if it works and if it don’t, then you know…”

“Yeah, I know. I’m shit.”

John hung up his phone, tossing it on the desk. His deputy came in and his day of work began.

Donna washed up the breakfast dishes and dried her hands. “Joey, come and get your medicine.” Joey had an ear infection and he hated the pink cherry-tasting medicine so she found a Hershey’s kiss to give him for swallowing.

She was still upset with John and it weighed heavily on her because she really did not want to be upset with him. If he would just explain a few things to her instead of going off in a huff every time she asked a question.  “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” She popped a chocolate kiss in his mouth and sent Joey back to the living room to his cartoons.

Maybe what they needed was a break. She couldn’t remember the last time she and John had gone anywhere together and now would be a good time before everything froze over and the heavy snows settled in for the winter, making travel almost impossible. Maybe a weekend away somewhere? She could find somebody to sit with the kids. She thought she would mention it tonight…if they were speaking.

Later that morning she got a call from Michael’s school. He’d been fighting in the playground. She bundled Joey in his car seat and set off for the school.

“It’s not like Mikey to fight. Has something different happened lately that could be upsetting him?” the principal asked.

“Different?” If the woman only knew! “Things have been a little unsettled at home. That could be his problem, Mrs. Warner. I’m awfully sorry. His father and I will have a talk with him.”

Mikey was suspended from school for the rest of the day so she had both children in the car when she pulled up at the Sheriff’s office. John’s prowler was outside so she knew he was in. It seemed like she never came by his office with anything good.

“Hi, sweetie, I wanted you to know I have Mikey in the car. He’s been suspended from school for fighting. I’m taking him home and confining him to his room.”

“Fighting…Mikey?”

“Yeah…I think it’s our fault. We’ve been doing a lot of that ourselves.”

John looked at her warily. “I know and it needs to stop. Think you could get a sitter for a week? I’m thinking we need a vacation. You know, get away for awhile and get things settled between us.”

“I was thinking the same thing this morning. A whole week…I’ll try to find somebody.” She smiled.

“Do it. We both need it, Donna.”

“Where would we go?”

“I know a place. I’ll talk to you tonight about it. Better get Mikey home to his room.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you tonight.” She’d wanted to go around and hug and kiss him but he was all business and so she didn’t. She missed that closeness they’d had before he went off to Brazil. That’s when everything started going crazy for them.

John stopped by to see Scott Pitcher, the mayor. “I need a week, Scott. Donna and I need to get away for awhile. I think my deputy Betty can handle it.”

“A week? You just had a week, John. What’s going on with you anyway?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out. I got family, you know, and they got problems, too. We’re planning a get together back east and Donna’s never met them and I don’t know when this opportunity will come again anytime soon.”

“You’ve got another weeks’ vacation coming but you usually take that for hockey.”

“I’ll work that in somehow. So how about it?”

“Need to do it before Halloween. You know how that can get.”

“Just give me a date.”

“Next week?”

“Um, yeah, I’ll take it. Donna’s got to find a babysitter.”

“Try Miz Houle.”

“Good idea. Thanks, Scott.” Next week was a little sooner than he thought and it didn’t leave much time for the rest of them to get organized. He had some phone calls to make.

By the time he got home he had it all arranged. Now he had to convince Donna and tell her where they were going.

“It’s a house, Donna, in Gloucester, MA. I think you’ll like it. It belongs to, um, the family.”

“What family, John?”

“I have three brothers and a sister-in-law that you’ve never met.”

“What? I knew your family.”

“Well, you didn’t know all of them. It’s going to be a family get-together, and they’ll all be there.”

“I thought this was going to be a time for us to get away together. This is not what we talked about.”

“We didn’t really talk about anything. It’s all arranged and we’re leaving on Saturday.”

“John, this doesn’t make sense! We went to school together. I knew your parents. How can you have three brothers I’ve never met?”

“Trust me, Donna, can you do that, just trust me? Listen, sweetheart, things are going to get better, believe me they are. This trip is important to both of us…it’s going to explain a lot.”

Donna took a breath. “I do trust you, John, at least I want to…I’ll go.”

“Thank you. Now where is Mikey?”

Part 2:

Toni and Terry were the first to arrive at The House of Four Seasons.  They stopped arm in arm in front of the house and smiled at each other. It was fall and it was Terry’s season when they had been doing seasons.

“So many memories here, Terry.” Toni rested her hand on her round belly.

“Yeah, I know, Toni. I still get a rush every time I come here. At least this time I’m healthy,” he chuckled and walked her to the door.

The house was so excited to have them all coming back. It had outdone itself with autumn decorations. As they came inside a warm welcome surrounded them. All was as it should be. Upstairs the season’s bedrooms were ready and fresh-baked goods stood ready in the kitchen, along with everything they would need for the coming week.

How did it know they were all going to be there? It was aware of communications between them. Their magic was connected to the House and it was also aware there were two coming who had not been touched by magic. That would be taken care of in due time.

Toni walked through the house, touching things and remembering. She loved the house and her memories were good ones. She’d loved all her seasons equally and still did except for Terry, who was her soulmate and her husband.

“Do you feel like walking after sitting for so long?” Terry asked.

“Yes, I’d like that.” As she looked at the coat rack by the back door there was a jacket for her to put on.

“Nothing changes, does it?” Terry said as they walked off the terrace. “It’s always perfect.”

“I know. You notice it now, don’t you, but when we were here at least I didn’t. It was everything I wanted.”

Max drove along the road, looking for the sign, a warm feeling coming over him when he saw it. He turned up the road that would lead them to the gates of the house.

“This is it, Connie, The House of Four Seasons.” He drove through the gates and parked down next to Terry’s rental. “Terry and Toni are here.”

“It’s beautiful, Max, and the trees.” Connie craned her neck, taking in the fall colors and the House.

“Everything you could ever want is here. I loved this place.” Max took her hand and led her to the door.

The house sent it’s welcoming hug around Max as he entered and lightly warmed Connie, testing her a little. Was she the one to fill his heart?

“Oh, what was that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know...something…”

“It was a house hug, Connie. You’re in a magic house, you know. Anybody home?” he called out. “They must be outside somewhere. Come, let me show you,” Max grabbed her hand and led her though the house.

Connie loved it. It was warm and inviting. Each room made her want to go in and sit awhile. She felt a presence in the house and at first it alarmed her but now she knew it approved and maybe even loved her. “It smells so good in here.”

“It always does. It changes with the seasons. I was summer and there was a different scent in the house. Actually I’ve been here in all seasons, oh, not to stay but once we rescued John and Toni from outside the gates. There was a magic rule you were only allowed outside the gates for 24 hours and John had a wreck and ended up in hospital. Terry climbed the fence and got them over. John was winter so everything was covered in snow.”

“You have a lot of memories here.”

“Yes, I do, Connie. This is a house of love. That’s what it’s all about.”

“I still have problems with the whole concept, the four of you and Toni.”

“You remember Jack told you about her falling in love with John. That’s what started the whole thing. The only way she could have him was to live here and have four seasons.”

“But she loved all of you?”

“Yes, and we loved her. Let’s go find them. I would think they’re at the pond. That’s the first place we all seem to walk to.”

Toni and Terry had made it to the gazebo. Toni sat down Terry was leaning in the doorway. “You know what I was thinking about, the day I stood you against this wall and…”

“Yes, how could I ever forget that day, Terry, and the tub that night.” Their eyes met, remembering.

Terry walked over and took her face in his hands and kissed her. “Nothing has changed, Toni.”

“I know, except for my tummy here.”

“I love your tummy.”

“We’ve got company.” Toni caught sight of Max and a woman on the other side of the pond.

“So we have. That’s Connie.” Terry was as interested in Max’s Connie as Toni was.

“They’re in the gazebo,” Max waved. “Let’s go this way. It’s shorter.”

Connie was a little apprehensive. She was about to meet the woman Max loved and had married. She wasn’t sure how she would feel about that. She’d fallen in love with Max during the week they’d spent in London and although neither of them had actually said the ‘L’ word she thought he felt the same about her.

When she called her father to tell him she was going to America with him to meet his family her father had been delighted and told her to take all the time she needed. Of course he would, she thought. She took a breath as they neared the gazebo and felt Max tighten his grip on her hand. He knew.

“I thought you might be down here. Hello, Toni.” Max bent and kissed her lips.

“Max,” she smiled up at him

“Terry, good to see you healthy, and now may I present Connie Duncan-Smythe.”

Toni stood up and took her hands, looking into her face. “I’m so glad to meet you, so very glad.”

Connie smiled, “I’m glad to meet you, too. I’ve certainly heard a lot about you.”

“This is Terry,” Toni said.

Connie looked from Terry to Max. “I can’t believe it. Nice to meet you.”

Terry’s eyes twinkled, “Nice to meet you, too. You’ve done well, Max.”

“Yes…I have,” he smiled and bit his lip.

They all sat down and Toni said, “So you’ve been told all about us, have you?”

“Yes, Jack told me a story I found hard to believe, but it's true, isn’t it…all of it?”

“It really is, Connie, and it all happened here in this place. How could you look at these two and not believe it?” she smiled.

“I believe it. We went DVD shopping this past week and I’ve watched all the movies. Max was all the proof I needed that it happened.”

“How are you coping now that you’re out, Max?” Terry asked.

“Okay now. It was pretty bad the first couple of weeks after I got back to London. I felt lost and I had to discover what was and was not real on my own. But you were right, Toni, Provence is where I needed to be. Things started falling into place for me once I got there.”

“I know the feeling. My first few days back in London weren’t easy, either,” Terry commented.

“And then I stepped in and screwed up your life.”

“No, you didn’t. It’s working out good now. Wyatt and Brian are running the store in London and Dino is running it in South America.”

“What do you do?”

“Rake in the money. Toni won’t let me go in the field…but I want to.”

“He promised me he would be with me during our pregnancy. After the baby’s born we’ll talk again.” She ran her hand over the back of his neck. “He has to learn not to put himself in danger. I make him repeat that several times a day.”

Terry shifted his feet and smiled, “She does, you know.”

Max chuckled, “When I called John and said about coming here the first thing he asked me was if you were in another scrape.”

“Not this time. I think John is, though. I hope  it goes well when he gets here.”

“It won’t be as easy for Donna as it was for you, Connie, to accept all this. She, as you know, was part of the movie. I don’t know what he’s told her, if anything.”

“I don’t think he’s told her anything, Toni, and knowing him he won’t until she gets here,” Max sighed.

“When are they arriving?" Connie asked.

“Tomorrow afternoon,” Toni replied. “I hope Jack gets here about the same time. He’s good at this sort of thing. He’s good at most things. He takes control, Connie, and he’ll keep you on track, too. We’ve called on him so many times.”

“He loves it, though,” Terry leaned back on the gazebo wall, “master and commander.”

“I got that impression. He was very good with me,” Connie said. “He looks you in the eye and tells you something and you know it’s true.”

“He would be, you’re a woman.” Terry smiled.

“If I’d told you the same story, would you have believed it?” Max asked Connie.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I might have after you bought the DVD.”

“Me and mine are getting hungry,” Toni said, rubbing her tummy.

“When is the baby due?” Connie asked.

“February, and I’ll be glad when he gets here.”

“Have you picked out a name?” she asked.

“He will be called Jack but his name is Terrence John Maximillian Thorne,” Toni smiled.

“Okay, lady, up!” Terry stood up and pulled Toni to her feet. “Dinner should be ready about now.”

“I thought he might be little Terry,” Max said, standing.

Toni turned, “You know why he will be Jack? Because I chose John but Jack suggested you and warned me against Terry because he said we would fall in love, that he would be another John to me. So, you see, he’s responsible for you two. When I chose Terry I was ready to fall in love with him.”

Connie shook her head, “It’s amazing, it really is. So how did Jack come to be spring?”

“Ah, now that is a story unto itself, Connie. I’ll tell you sometime this week.” Toni put her arm around her as they walked up the path to the house.

“I knew they’d get on,” Max said, falling in step beside Terry.

“You found yourself another Toni, didn’t you?”

“Similar, very similar.”

“It’s good, Max. I know she left a void in your life. Now it’s filled.”

Part 3:

John stopped his vehicle outside the gates. “We’re here, Donna, and I’m gonna tell you that you’re about to enter a magical place. Don’t question it. It just is.”

“You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have. I’m serious about the magic, honey. You are going to find out why things are different now than they were while we’re here. You got to keep an open mind and accept it.”

Donna sighed, “Magic, now you’re going to tell me it’s all magic…? John, I really…”

The gates opened and he drove through. “Terry and Max are here already.” And so is Toni, he thought.

“These are your brothers that I know it’s impossible for you to have?” She looked at him.

“Nothing is impossible, Donna.”

“It’s a great looking house. Oh, look at the leaves! We just don’t get this at home.”

“Yeah, I love this area of the country. You, uh, get all four seasons here.” He took her hand and guided her to the House. When he opened the door he felt the warm rush, the welcoming love he always felt when he came through the door.

Donna backed up and stepped back outside the door. She’d felt something, too, and it frightened her. What kind of a place was this?

“Hey, it’s okay! Come on back in.” He met her eyes and she stepped back inside the door and grabbed his hand. “It’s called welcome, Donna. The House is welcoming you here. I told you it was magic.”

“It’s weird, scary.”

“Nothing to be afraid of here.” He heard voices coming from the kitchen, and added, “They’re in the kitchen. It’s this way.”

They were all sitting at the table around the remains of lunch. “John’s here,” Toni said, catching sight of him coming down the hall.

Toni got up, came around the table and was enveloped in his arms for a good hug, “John, you made it.”

“Yeah,” he raised his brows. “Toni, this is Donna.”

“Donna, how good to see you here! This is my husband, Terry, and this is Max and Connie.”

“Hi, nice to meet you.” She glanced around the table, her eyes coming back to Toni.

“Have you had lunch?” Toni asked.

“We stopped in Salem,” John said.

“Pull up a chair.” Terry scooted his over a bit, “Donna, good to have you here.”

“Thanks.” She looked from Terry to Max and back to John, her eyes wide.

“We’re brothers,” Max said. “The resemblance is remarkable, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. I didn’t know he had any brothers.”

“Got any coffee?” John asked Toni.

“Of course. Donna, coffee?”

“Yes, thanks. I love this house. It’s really pretty.”

“It belongs to Toni,” John said, taking  a seat.

Connie handed Toni the plates from the table and finished clearing it off while Toni poured cups of coffee. “Anybody want dessert? There’s gingerbread.” She sliced it up and put it on the table with a plate of butter.

“Well, we’re almost all here. Any idea about Jack?” John asked.

“He’s on the horizon. We spotted the ship before lunch,” Max replied.

“So that puts him here when, sometime tonight?”

“I don’t expect he’ll come ashore until morning,” Terry said. “He’ll anchor off shore tonight.”

Conversation had quieted down now, as they were unable to talk freely about them and their lives and their memories. John felt it. “So, ah, Max, how’s the chateau coming along?” he asked.

“Oh, John, it’s like nothing I have ever experienced, living there. The boiler went out so I’ve no hot water. I went into Gordes to a dealer and after nearly an hour back and forth I may have a new one this year or next. No one is in a hurry and your emergency is not theirs.”

“How’s your French coming along?” Toni asked.

“Slowly. Anyway I’ve found a couple of good-sized buckets and I heat water on the stove and carry it up to my bath. Jack would be perfectly at home.”

“But not in France,” Terry laughed.

“Oh, right!”

“You live in France but you have an English accent?” Donna wondered.

“I am English but I inherited a chateau and vines in Provence from my Uncle Henry.”

“Where are you from?” she asked Terry.

“Australia, but I live in Virginia now and in London.” He glanced at John, knowing where this was going.

Donna was staring into her coffee cup.

Toni picked it up. “Donna, I understand you’re pregnant, too. When is the baby due?”

“April 23^rd. How about you?”

“He’s coming around the middle of February. How are you doing with it, your third, right?”

“Do we need to hear all this? Let’s go into the library.” Terry stood up and Max and John followed.

“Girl talk now,” Connie smiled.

“We’re hoping for a girl this time, you know, with two boys already.”

“That would be sweet. Are you bothered with morning sickness?”

“Oh, yeah, it was hard flying but I have some medication for it.”

“I found just lying in bed and drinking tea and eating crackers for a couple of hours in the morning helped me.”

“Well, I can’t lie in bed with Joey and Mikey so I get up and throw up and take my pill and eat crackers.”

“This all sounds disgusting,” Connie laughed.

“You don’t have children then?” Donna asked.

“No…not yet.”

“You haven’t told her anything?” Max asked.

“What…what the hell could I tell her? I told her she would have an explanation for all the changes and stuff, that things would get better after this trip. That’s what I told her and that this was a magic house but I don’t think she believes that.”

“What do you think her reaction is going to be to Toni?” Terry asked, lighting a cigarette and opening a window.

Max watched him remembering Toni opening that same window when he was smoking cigars in the room. He looked around for the scented candle and saw it on the desk, got up and lit it. Sometimes memories were almost painful.

Terry noticed the candle and looked at Max. It was the kind of thing Toni would do and probably had done.

“I think it’s going to hurt her, Terry. She won’t understand how I could love somebody else and still claim to love her. But I do, you know. I still love Toni. Sorry, I know she’s your wife now but if it all went away and we were back here for winter, it would still be the same. It’s kinda hard for me, too. I love Donna. She’s my wife and mother to my children.”

“You chose them, John, over Toni. That should count for something.”

“Ah, Terry, you know how that was. I knew as soon as I came in here that night that something had changed. You were still here. I tried to brush it aside but the next morning in the cold light of day I realized it wasn’t going to be me she would take out. And she mentioned my children and that was the point I knew I had to leave. It was not a good place I was in there, you know?”

Terry placed a hand on John’s shoulder. “I know, John. That’s why we’re here now, to try and put things right for you.”

“We will put them right for you before we leave here. You’ll be okay,” Max said.

“In answer to your question about how I came into this house, Donna, I was working in Boston, writing for a local magazine, and I wanted to write for myself, wanted to get away somewhere. I quit my job and found a house on the internet, this house, and I leased it for a year, packed up my cat and drove up here. There was a guide I met in Salem, his name is Andy, and he brought me here and stayed for a week, explaining how the house worked and to make sure I understood what I’d gotten myself into.”

Toni looked up at Donna. “It’s more than just a house. I know I could have left, gotten in my car and driven back to Boston, but I loved the place and the possibilities were…intriguing.” She wondered just how far she should go here. “It is a magical place, Donna. The house is old but it was built on an even older, ancient magic. It’s the magic of love. And when I say magic, I mean it. I didn’t cook the meal we just ate. The House provides, anything you want or need, it will provide. Not just anybody can come here. There’s a very intense approval process. I know because the application I filled out asked some pretty personal questions.

“This house is a living thing. It loves and it heals with that love.”

“I felt it when I came through the door, a presence, and it alarmed me at first but then I felt it was love,” Connie added.

“I felt it, too, but it scared me,” Donna said.

“You aren’t scared now, are you?” Toni asked

“No, I feel well…at home, like I might belong here. It’s strange.”

“You do belong here because you are connected to John, because he loves you.” Toni finished her coffee.

“But how did you…did you buy the place? It must have cost a bundle.”

“No, I didn’t buy it. I spent a year here and it was passed to me by the previous owner. You can’t buy this place. It decides who its owner will be. I really want to tell you about it, about the first year I spent here, but I’m a little hesitant. I’d like to wait for Jack to get here. What did you think of Jack, Connie?” Toni was curious.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first, not quite sure what he was about. I thought there must be a fancy dress party somewhere and he’d stopped off, you know, but once he began to talk…he’s something very special, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he certainly is. I can’t wait for you to meet him, Donna. He’s a captain in the Royal Navy and he commands a man-of-war. It will be here tonight, anchored way off shore and he’ll be brought to land in the morning. He’s not from this time, this era. His ship operates in 1805. It does ,you’ll see. I just wanted to tell you that so when you see him you will understand.”

“Max told me not to be alarmed. It’s what he is. He came to us in London to explain everything to me about Max.”

“Indeed, he is what he appears to be. He functions in this time period and kind of floats between his world and this one. Magical, that’s what he is.” Toni smiled and looked at Connie, who understood.

Donna tilted her head. “Magic? I know I’m just not with it. Part of me wants to believe and the other part of me says this is insane.”

“But, Donna, you are part of the magic, very much a part of it and you’ll find out just how much tomorrow. Something else, too…nothing and I mean nothing that ever happened in this house in any way affected you and John in Alaska. I want you to know that from me. You understand that, too, don’t you, Connie?”

“I do. I believe the feelings are still there for you, Toni. I know they are for Max but that part is all over now. Life is different for all of you. It was all in the past and we’re moving forward now.”

“You are a very smart lady, Connie.” Toni smiled and stood up. “I’ve got to move around. Want to go for a walk, Donna, Connie?”

Part 4:

Jack Aubrey’s launch rowed back to his ship, but he didn’t immediately climb the cliff path to the house. He spent a little time walking over the rocky shoreline, trying to gather his thoughts. He was there, of course, to save his brother’s marriage to Donna and to explain something to her that no sane individual could possibly believe. But then, perhaps none of them were sane. The whole thing was outrageous.

Something brought his eye upwards to the edge of the cliff and he smiled. She was there. He turned and climbed the path.

“What are you doing out here and in your nightclothes at that?” He gathered Toni in his arms and kissed her soundly.

“I’ve been watching for you. The others are at breakfast.” She looked up into his blue eyes, tasting his kiss on her lips.

“And so should you be, my pet. Being with child suits you. You’re blooming.”

He put his arm around her and they started for the house. “Maybe it was the sight of you brought bloom to my cheeks?” She teased.

“Ah, would that it were so. Is everyone here?”

“Yes, they are. It went well last night. I really like Connie and Donna, too, and I hope she will still like me later today.”

“How could she not?” He gave her a pat on her bottom as they entered the door to the kitchen.

Max set his cup down. “Jack, good of you to come.”

“I don’t believe I had a choice. Connie, how are you dear?” He bent and kissed her forehead. “And you are Donna. How lovely you are.” He gave her a direct look and kissed her hand.

“John. Terry, good to see you upright.”

Terry grinned, “Good to be upright, Jack. How are ya?”

“Very well, thank you.” He found a chair. “Well then, John?”

“Yes, Jack, sorry about this.”

“Not at all, my brother, not at all. Thank you, my pet.” He received a cup of coffee from Toni.

Toni watched Donna’s face and smiled to herself. He always had that effect. Oh, but she had seen him differently and she remembered. “Do you want anything to eat, Jack?” she asked.

“No, thank you. I’ve had breakfast aboard ship.” He tipped his cup up for a drink. “This promises to be quite a day.”

“I thought we might gather in the living room,” Toni suggested.

“I should like to talk with Donna alone for awhile, if that meets with everyone’s approval, John?”

“Yeah, Jack, that’s okay with me.” At this point John was up for anything.

“Are you feeling well enough this morning, Donna?” Toni asked.

“I’m okay now…I…I don’t know what this is about,” she said nervously.

Jack smiled at her, “I shall explain it to you over the course of the day."

After everyone was finished in the kitchen Toni went up to dress and as she brushed out her hair, a knock sounded on her door.

“Jack…?”

“You are dressed?”

“Yes, come in.”

“Connie said you talked a little last night. What exactly did you tell her?”

“I told her about coming here, why I came, but I didn’t say why I stayed. None of that. I really wanted to but I couldn’t.”

“Understandable.” He walked over to her balcony. “What did you think of Connie?”

“I liked her right away. She’ll be good for Max.”

“I think so, too. She’s very like you in a way. She fits right in with us and, of course, she would have to because of the closeness, the bond we share. I did ask Terry if I could come up. He had a rather amused look in his eye when he said yes. He trusts you implicitly.”

Toni chuckled, “What did you have in mind when you came up here, Jack?”

“It would make you blush, my pet,” he grinned over his shoulder. “Actually I wanted to talk to you about Donna. But should you have a momentary lapse?”

“Come and sit with me.” She sat on the sofa. “What about Donna?”

“I’m not sure about her, Toni. I hope to be proven wrong today. Give me your opinion of her.”

“She’s confused and upset. There have been so many changes in her life since they came out that John couldn’t explain. Not all the people in their town were real. In fact the name of the town is different. She’s experiencing things she can’t understand and John has been little help. He told Terry he couldn’t tell her about me and without that he couldn’t explain the rest of it. It’s been very difficult for him, too.”

“She loves him enough, do you think?”

“Yes, I do. She’s known him most of his life, his movie life, but you know that’s all there is. They have shared memories, the birth of their two children, their school days together. She knew his parents and therefore three obscure brothers appear and she’s not believing it, especially since you are all basically the same.”

“Are we…the same?”

“No, you aren’t.” She met his eyes. “The resemblance is what I meant.”

“I know what you meant. All right, then, I shall take her for a walk and be at my most charming.”

“That’s rather formidable,” she grinned. “Ah, Jack, I love you.”

“And I you.” He kissed her softly and stood up. “Have I been up here long enough to give Terry cause to worry?”

“I believe so,” she smiled.

“Then I shall go down.” He left her room.

Jack set off with Donna toward the pond, taking the long way around. “What do you think of the House?”

“I love it. This whole area is so nice and huge, too.”

“Yes, it’s quite extensive. And the magic of the house, have you experienced any of that?”

“Meals. I see it so I have to believe it and it’s a good feeling I have here.”

“That means the house loves you, Donna, as it loves all of us. Toni told you how she came to be here, did she not?”

“She rented it off the internet and ended up owning it after a year.”

“But she did not tell you what happened during that year or that she stayed for six years, did she?”

“No.”

“She, of course, had no idea when she came here that with each season she would have a different companion. This was explained to her by the guide, Andy. He would be someone she chose or the House would choose for her. That’s what the House of Four Seasons is, four seasons of love. She could choose anyone she wanted to, real or unreal. There was a stack of DVD’s in her room and she had watched several, I believe, but one stayed with her and that was the beginning. The name of the movie was Mystery Alaska and the companion she chose for winter was John Biebe.”

“But that’s not possible!” She had a wild, confused look about her.

Jack took her hand. “We are talking about magic, Donna, and it was possible. It had nothing to do with you or your life with John. In fact you never even knew he was gone, did you?”

“No, he didn’t leave.”

“But he was here from just before Thanksgiving until the end of February. I know you don’t understand it but, in effect, your world stopped and resumed when he returned. Mystery Alaska is a movie, Donna, and you were part of that. You aren’t part of it now. That’s why things have changed for you. You and John and your children are out of the movie into real life.”

She pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around herself, walking a few steps ahead. She remembered what Toni had said the night before about what had happened here had nothing to do with her and John in Alaska.  “What happened here with John?”

Jack walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “They fell in love with each other, rather seriously in love, but at that time the rules of magic were that when he left here he would have no memory of her should he ever return. He was only allowed to come for three months and not a day longer. The day he left she was beside herself. I was contacted by the previous owner to come and sort her out. You see this house has existed for a long time. She was not the first one to come here and, in fact, John had been here before with someone else but he, of course, does not remember who it was. I found her in quite a state and ready to leave.”

“John and Toni were lovers?” she said in a monotone.

“Yes, they were and it was because of her love for him that we are all here today. He was the first season. Do not zero in on that particular thing, Donna. As she told you last night, it had no effect on you and John and your movie life.” He turned her around. “I said movie life. I want you to watch that movie today and there are a few more you should watch so that you will understand where we all came from. I, too, am a movie, so are Max and Terry.”

“But not Toni?”

“No, not Toni. In the end she had to have four seasons, four companions. She chose Max for summer and he remained her summer. There were a few others that did not become eternal. Then came Terry for fall and at last I was spring. She had four loves, Donna, and she could not have one without the other. They each had to be strong and to represent the four elements so that she would be balanced. It’s the way of the magic here. There were some changes to the magic rules because of a disastrous spring, not me, by the way, but someone else. She changed the magic and when she did she was able to have the same seasons back each year. She did it for John.”

“Oh, my God!” Donna began to cry and Jack folded her in his arms. He wondered if indeed she had heard anything other than John and Toni were lovers.

After a little bit Donna wiped her eyes. “I’d like to watch those movies, Jack.”

“And so you shall. Let us go back to the House. All the bedrooms have a TV and so does the library, wherever you would be most comfortable. We are all closely bound together here and will be forever. You are part of this, Donna.” He put his arm around her as they walked back to the house.

She chose to watch the movies in John’s room and, surprising Jack, she left Mystery for last. She watched his first and he was in and out of the room, not liking to watch himself on screen. Besides, he knew the story.

A tray of drinks and a bucket of ice appeared on the bedside table and she helped herself. Next she watched Terry’s movie and he came in and sat on the bed with her for a little while.

“Terry, were you sad that Alice wasn’t real?” She was beginning to understand a little about them.

“No, in fact I was glad she wasn’t. That was not a very professional thing for me to have done.”

“Are you still in that business?”

“K&R? Yeah, but I’m not out in the field now. Toni won’t let me.”

“Wise woman. You almost got yourself blown away. Why was it you that she married and not John?”

“We all married her but after that she found out there would come a day when she had to chose one above the other and take him out into reality, out of this place into the real world. I helped prepare her for that and I’ll tell you I worked it every way I could think of to make sure it was me she chose. I love her more than life, Donna. I think I had it in the bag at the end of my season and John knew when he came that it wasn’t going to be him. She also reminded him that if he chose her he would not be going back to his movie life where he had you and his children. That did it for John and he left the day after he came.”

“She could have taken any of you out then?”

“Yeah, but Max was the only one I was really worried about. John took himself out and then Jack did, too, so that left Max, and I knew there was a strong love there. Fortunately Max blew it.”

“What if he hadn’t?”

“Then I don’t know. Toss a coin, I guess. Really, though, we’ve got something together that she didn’t have with the others. I knew it then and I still do.”

“But doesn’t it bother you knowing she’s been with your brothers? I mean how can you deal with that?”

“It was the way it had to be. None of us could change it. I don’t know. Now maybe it makes us all closer. That pairing off doesn’t happen anymore. She is my wife by choice, just like you’re John’s wife by choice. He did choose you when he left so abruptly. Think about that.” Terry patted her hand and left the room.

Donna quietly watched the last part of Terry’s movie. She liked Terry and Jack, especially Terry. She got up and inserted Max’s movie and when she got back on the bed she noticed a plate of sandwiches had appeared and looked at her watch. It was after two o’clock but it was okay. This is what she wanted to do, get to know them and where they’d come from and perhaps why Toni had chosen them.

Max came in during the scene with his friend Charlie at the restaurant. He brought Donna a brownie.

“Oh, chocolate, thanks.”

“I know the way to a woman’s heart.”

“If this was you, you aren’t there yet,” she indicated the screen.

“I get better. I’m a changed man at the end. One of the things I didn’t find out in reality was my friend Charlie. I’m afraid I was friendless and out on the streets, so to speak.”

Donna made a face at him and ate her sandwich. Max sat quietly beside her, leaning against the headboard.

“Now this gets good. The chateau was real and I found Duflot and his wife.”

“But you were so bad, Max.”

“I’m not really.” He cocked a brow at her. “I’m really rather nice.” He reached around her for a sandwich.

“They didn’t feed you downstairs?”

“Ummpf, yes,” he said around a mouthful of ham sandwich.

“Oh!” she laughed when he fell in the pool.

“You think that was funny? Imagine how filthy and I was battered and bruised.”

“But kinda cute,” she managed.

Later on he commented, “There was no Fannie, either, and the bistro wasn’t there. That was…sad.”

“I’ll bet it was. You had no one, did you?”

“No, and I knew Toni  was lost to me. But then I met Connie and I think that’s going to work out for us. Things are looking up,” he smiled.

“Were you very upset when she didn’t chose you?”

“I was devastated. I won’t lie to you. I still don’t think it was handled very well by all concerned. I know I didn’t come through for her when I needed to. I think I could have won if I knew it was coming, but I had no idea she’d decided to take someone out that year. She’d decided in fall after I’d left her with Terry.”

“You don’t think she loves him like that, I mean enough to take him out, to marry him?”

“I know she does and I know what he feels for her but I also know without a doubt in that split second that I blew it. It could very easily have gone the other way. We’re that close, Donna.”

“You still love her, don’t you?”

“I always will. That will never change but that doesn’t take away from what I feel for Connie. It’s early days yet but I think something strong will develop between us. You’re very lucky you already have that with John. Now watch this part, see how sweet I am.”

Donna smiled at him and watched the next scene. She could see what Toni saw in him, little boy lost but a sexy little boy. He got up a little later, brushing crumbs off the bed and grinning.

“You’ll love me in the end.”

“I don’t doubt it,” she smiled as he left the room.

When the movie finished she rolled over on her stomach and thought about them all. She had been upset about John but now she knew when he was here it wasn’t part of their life. She tried to imagine Toni with her seasons. It must have been something, she thought. Dashing, charismatic Jack must have swept her clean off her feet. Terry with his quiet subtle presence she thought might hide something else. He was sexy, Max cute and sexy, and then John. John she knew well and could understand any woman falling in love with him.

She looked at the cover to Mystery Alaska. She knew that story, had lived it and she didn’t need to watch it. What she did need right now was John and she was wishing he’d come up.

“Do I need to throw my hat in first?” he asked, peeking around the door.

“I was just wishing you’d come up. No, John, no hat needed.”

John came in and lay down beside her. “Am I forgiven for not telling you? I couldn’t.”

“I forgive you and I understand why you couldn’t. I know why things are different now and, you know what, I’m glad we’re not locked into the same old thing all the time.”

“Something else we’re not locked into, too. We don’t have to live in Alaska. I know the only reason you stayed there was because of me. It’s a nowhere town going nowhere. I’m ready for something else. You know, I’ve been around a little and I’d like to talk to you about moving.”

“Where to?”

“I dunno, somewhere maybe around here or up the coast. We could sell our place and I’ve still got magic money to spend. We could swing it, Donna. I can find some kind of a job. I know I can.”

“Before the freeze sets in and we can’t get out. Oh, I’d love it, John!”

John smiled, “And I love you.” He rolled her on top of him. “We won’t be waiting around for the freeze this year. We got a week’s worth of baby sitter. Let’s make use of it and find a place we could live.”

“Umm,” she kissed him and kissed him again.

“Donna, close the door,”  he whispered in her ear.

ON TO AUBREY: DANGEROUS SHOALS

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