Chapter two:  Hannah                       ©Kim Calcagno 2008

 

A large pickup truck rumbled along the road and turned into the long dirt driveway.  When it pulled up in front of a small log house, a young woman got out.  She turned and thanked her friend for driving her home and then waved as he drove off.  Tossing her long blond hair back, she swung her backpack onto her shoulder and walked up the path towards the house.  She met a good-sized white and gray cat on the porch.  It mewed plaintively at her.

 

“Bonnie!”  She said to the cat. “How on earth did you get out here?  You should be in with your young ones!”  The lock clacked loudly as she turned her key, and she pushed the door open. The anxious momma cat scooted in.  She tossed her pack onto a chair and went into the kitchen. She smiled with amusement at the three neatly separated piles of mail.  Her housemate, Lisa, was a bit picky about the mail …and the laundry.

 

After pouring herself a glass of milk, she found another cat.  This time it was a large hungry chocolate brown tomcat. “Allo Nemo, old sot! How are you then?” she said scratching his head. “Did he forget you again, poor lad?”  She looked about and caught sight of her other housemate chopping firewood.  She leaned out the back door. “Hey Andy!”  She called.  He looked up from his chopping. “Will you come in and feed your cat?!”

 

“Oh, right!”  He said smiling sheepishly. “Thanks, Hannah! ‘be in in a minute.”  

 

Hannah shook her head and sighed as she closed the door.  Then, taking her milk and pile of mail she went into the living room. “Catalog,…catalog…postcard …religious flier ? Hmm… letter from Sue… and huh! What’s this? Package from home?” Ah yes, she thought, an English post mark! She turned the thick envelope over and carefully opened it. Inside was an ordinary looking letter and a thick, folded vellum with an odd white wax seal. She let her fingers stroke the strange paper for moment.  It gave her that bizarre chilling feeling that she sometimes experienced.  Many people had told her that she had amazing psychic ability, but she was never really sure what to believe.  

 

She took the other, ordinary letter in hand and unfolded.  Her eyes darted quickly over the paper, but after a moment she began again, reading it slowly and thoroughly:  

 

My dear Hannah,

As you will recall, I called you several days ago and informed you of your great uncle’s passing (May he rest in peace), but now I’m writing to tell you of his will. Cedric left all his belongings to the new head of the family, the eldest, your Uncle Quinton, as is the tradition. Among these belongings is the right to live on the ancestral estate, Goodwynde.

 

This estate, however, is not of this planet.  It is located on Betelgeuse five in the Orion constellation.  It seems so odd saying that, never mind writing it, but I realize that you understand this since we sent your cousin Kathryn to school on Asborine 3. I received a call from Kathryn yesterday and decided to add this note along with the enclosed letter, which I have forwarded from your Uncle Quinton.

 

     Call us soon.  We all love to hear from you.

      Love and kisses,

     Aunt Sarah   

 

 

Hannah blinked at the letter.  Her eyes moved over the letter again.  In two paragraphs her aunt had baffled her.  She had barely thought about her great uncle’s passing.  She had only met him twice and briefly at that. Now dear Uncle Quinton was leaving?!  Her mind ricketed at the thought -- getting on a spaceship and leaving?!

 

Quinton had been very close to his nieces.  He spoiled them growing up, not with material things, but with praise and attention.  He always said, “Young lives are best enriched with opportunities and encouragement.”  Hannah had always gained the courage and fortitude she needed from Quinton through all the challenges of life.  

 

She blinked back tears as her memory flashed back a year and a half when Quinton stood at her shoulder in the hospital.  Her parents had been struck in their car by a careening truck.

 

“They did not suffer,” he had whispered, “They did not even know.”  Then she had clung to him for her life.  She was eighteen.  She was graduating early from Oxford and had been at school when the call had come.  She flew from England with her uncle at her side. If only she had been home, she had repeated all through the plane ride.  When her parents had moved to America from England they had lamented leaving family and friends, and when their only child had left to go to college back in England they were outwardly joyous but inwardly devastated. But Hannah had known.  Family was everything to them.  She was so determined to go to Oxford, but she knew she had broken their hearts.  She doubled and tripled her class loads and was graduating early just as she had from high school.  Precocious and capable, she needed to return to her family in Boston.  Graduation events had only been one month away. Had it now all been for naught?  

 

Hannah steadied herself wiping away tears and leaning heavily on the counter over the letter.  Quinton had been her saving grace after that.  She did graduate.  She did go home to New England.  She got a job.  She made friends.  Praise and encouragement, always from him -- on the phone, in letters -- that had been her driving force. He reminded her that she was… is strong and is able…

 

She straightened up and sniffed resolutely. Calm down she thought. Aunt Sarah had written this only a week ago.  Surely he hadn’t gone yet.  She plucked a tissue and puttered slowly to the sofa in the next room.  Slowly, meticulously, her fingers slid across the folds of the second letter. With a gentle “crack” the wax seal was broken and another chill struck her. This time instead of shaking it off she absorbed it into her mind like some uninvited prescience, and before she even opened the letter she gasped and dropped it. The vision, instantly gone and forgotten, left her puzzled. She cocked her head and looked down at the letter on the coffee table. “Strange,” she mused aloud rubbing her fingers.  Breathing deeply as if to steel herself, she retrieved the letter.  Carefully she unfolded it.  It was in deep, thick, inky script:

 

My dearest Hannah,

I fear that my writing to you may cause somewhat of a stir as to your decisions for the future.  As you have undoubtedly been informed, your great Uncle Cedric has passed on – news that I myself have not yet come to grips with.  What you may not know, however, is that I have succeeded him as the patriarch of the family—yet more news that I have not come to grips with.  Ordinarily this status would not be very important, however as it stands in our family the head holds a status of great responsibility—caretaker of the ancient estate.  You see, my dear, we are in our family the last direct descendants of an ancient kingdom. The estate stands on the land where the kingdom one stood in the province of Vesperland on Betelgeuse five.  I have since arrived on this the estate of Goodwynde, and I must say I am overwhelmed with my new responsibility.  It is my hope that you and Kathryn will accept my invitation to come and live with me here.  Help me to manage the affairs of the estate and lend this old house and character and vivacity.

 

I know that I am putting before you the first big choice of your adult life, but I feel that though you are young, you and Kathryn are old enough to make your own choices. I also feel, however, that you do owe a certain responsibility to your heritage, and if you choose not to come and live here I must insist on you coming to visit for at least a summer holiday as I did when I was young. You’ll have a marvelous time.  It is important you learn about your lineage.  Smile and be happy!

  Best of luck, my dear,

   With deepest love,

  Uncle Quinton

 

 

Hannah covered her lips with her fingertips and lifted her eyes to the window.  She stared out at the clouds.  She had been a park ranger and field biologist for almost a year.  Finally she was feeling at home and confident.  She had everything she could want –living surrounded by trees and lakes, good friends, a job she loved. Finally she had achieved normalcy and now this.  She shook her head.  No…. no.  It was ridiculous.  No.  She huffed a forced chuckle. Resolutely she got up and tossed the letter into her basket on the counter.

 

Just then, Andy came in the back door.  His flannel shirt was covered with bark and leaves.  He pulled off his work gloves and clapped Hannah on the shoulder.

 

“How was your shift?”

“Fine,” she answered, sneaking a glance at his hand on her shoulder. “I was monitoring the research quadrant on the south bank of the lake.”  

“Good!  That means I don’t have to do it tomorrow,” he grinned.

“Oh yes you do!”  She pointed. “You are working with me tomorrow!”  She poked him.  He yelped and scooted back out the door to brush off his sleeves.

 

Andy was one of two rangers she lived with.  They shared a small log home owned by the Regional Land trust on the edge of the Little Brook Reservation. They worked maintaining trails, doing research and managing the hikers’ center. Lisa, Andy and Hannah alternated shifts at the nature center and out in the field between themselves and four other rangers.

 

Hannah looked after Andy with infatuation. She was a bit enamored with him.  What would ever become of that possibility if she moved to the next county -- never mind to another star system? She set her jaw, and looked again to the clouds. “Damn!"

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

What would ever make someone do such a thing?  She thought. Why would you leave all you had?  Why would you tear your heartstrings to leap halfway across the galaxy… she laughed with giddiness.  Every time she tried to think about it her brain refused to process it as a reality. How could it be real?  Another planet!  It was ridiculous.  But somehow her brain couldn’t leave it alone.  She had been sitting in her room with her head in her hands for two hours trying to reason with herself. She felt almost possessed. Ordinarily an easygoing cheerful sort, she felt cornered, strangely altered—ever since she touched that letter.

 

She sat bolt upright.  The letter!  Her eyes peered towards the bedroom door. “I wonder,” she started.

 

“Hannah,” called Lisa from the kitchen. “Andy said you haven’t been out of there for hours.  Are you okay?” Hannah looked in the mirror and studied herself for a moment.

 

“Are you?”  She whispered.  Then she called out. “Yes, luv, just fine.  I’ll be out in a minute.”

 

After a few moments she grasped the doorknob and turned it, watching her hand intently. Walking into the living room slowly, she rubbed her hand against her thigh.

 

“There you are,” crowed Lisa from the kitchen. “Are you feeling alright?”

 

Hannah smiled weakly at her. Her mind was focused on the letter.  She had to test her theory. “I was feeling a bit woozy,” she said standing before her mail basket. “but I’m okay now.” She stared at the letter.  She wondered if the letter was doing this strange thing to her.  She reached out and inconspicuously stroked the edge of the thick paper. There was a slight electrical buzz that shot up her arm and made it tremble. She grabbed her own hand and put it in her armpit. Smiling, she looked up at Lisa. She was right.  It was that paper; something about that paper was doing this to her.  She wondered if Lisa had seen her reaction. As she was about to say something she caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror. She blinked at her reflection.  What was she doing? It was just a piece of paper… wasn’t it?  She realized that she couldn’t say anything without appearing foolish.  She picked up the letter (she was getting more used to that electrical feeling) and started to walk back to her room, but she stopped halfway there.  She stood a moment in thought and glanced back at Lisa who was busying herself with dinner.  Hannah walked back to the kitchen pretending to have forgotten something and gently brushed the letter past Lisa’s arm. There was no reaction.  Hannah went back to her room with the letter.  This time she really didn’t feel well.    

 

* * * * * * * *

 

After a quick nap and an uneventful dinner, Hannah put on her favorite sweater and went out to sit on the deck. She lowered herself gently into the creaky Adirondack chair and propped each leg up on the deck rails.  The sun cast an orange and purple glow across the trees and lake below.  

 

What could be better than this place?  She thought with a sigh.  She could hear the crickets beginning to sing and the crick of katydids heralding the end of summer. Could Betelgeuse 5 be anything like home?  Are there hawks and worms and dragonflies there? Or green grass, would there be flowers or clouds?

 

She felt very tired.  Just a few hours ago she knew exactly what her life was about.  Now she felt torn between the life she possessed and the intense curiosity surrounding the offer and her love and loyalty to Quinton. He said he needed help to manage the estate.  She had the chance to give a little back for all he had done for her. But she didn’t want to give up her job and her home and her friends.  She cradled her cheek into her hand.  Quinton had never asked her for anything – ever…

 

“I guess he’s been saving up,” she whispered into her hand.

 

She cleared her hair out of her face as the breeze rose. Night had settled in around her.  She rested her head on the back of the chair to look up at the sky.  Two faint stars had appeared. She knew that the constellation of Orion wasn’t really visible this time of year. What would she have done if she could see Orion?

 

“Why the long face?” asked Andy as he stepped out the back door.  Hannah turned her head over to him and smiled weakly.  At that moment she realized there was no one on this continent that she could talk to about this.  Ordinarily she would have called Uncle Quinton when she needed advice.

 

“I…uh…got a letter from home today,” she began. “I’m… well… it just…upset me a bit.”

 

“Nothing serious I hope,” he said, sitting down in the chair next to her. “… someone sick?”

 

“No, nothing like that … it just… I… they need… want me to move home.”

 

“Back to England?”  He asked gently.  She looked over at his eyes.  He was asking out of true concern. “Are you going to go?”  He asked hesitantly.

 

“I don’t know.  I haven’t really thought about it enough yet.”  Andy seemed to visibly relax.  Damn you, she thought. We live under each other’s noses for months and… nothing.  You pick now to have feelings about my presence or absence.  Andy kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something.  Then he turned toward her.  “I…uh…wow!  That’s quite a choice.  If you… I just…”he started to reach out his hand but pulled back. “I don’t know what to say.”

 

“Well,” said Hannah wistfully.  “No need. I have made no decisions.” She gave him a meaningful glance.

 

“I understand,” he said momentarily patting her hand.”  If you want to talk about it…”

 

“Thanks,” she smiled. He got up to leave her alone.  As the wooden screen door clapped close behind him she relaxed a bit.  That’s the problem, she thought.  She wanted desperately to talk about it.

 

She glanced at her watch in the light from the window.  Quickly doing the math she decided it was too early in the morning to call England.  She pouted and blew out her cheeks in frustration and fidgeted her feet.  She really wanted to call Kathryn, but knew she couldn’t. Earth had no way of transmitting messages effectively over such huge distances.

 

Asborine III was the planet where Kathryn had been sent by her parents to “gain focus.”  Asborine Academy was supposedly a prestigious and highly intense institution.  Hannah had never really understood why Aunt Layla had sent Kathryn away at all, nevermind the extreme reaction of shooting her off to the stars to some knuckle-cracker of a school. She thought Kathryn was quite intense enough without any encouragement.  Thank you very much.

 

Kathryn and Hannah were always very close growing up.  They were also about as near to polar opposites as you can get but always seemed to be the perfect foils for each other. They were both “only” children so their parents kept them together constantly -- more like sisters than cousins.

 

She hadn’t seen Kathryn in two years.  Letters kept them close.  She knew Kathryn was dying to graduate and “get on with it” as she would say.  She knew Kathryn had grown tremendously as a person on Asborine, but she would never admit it.  Hannah remembered when Kathryn was sent away.  She was angry and defiant and wide-eyed with angst. Hannah secretly thought her Aunt Layla found Kathryn’s spirited attitude a bit too close to home.  They were alike in many ways. Kathryn’s mother, Layla, was determined and had sat them both down and explained what was to happen.

 

They were never to tell anyone about space ships or where the shuttles land or how to contact them.  No one would believe them and if someone did it would mean public uproar.  On the whole, Earth was not ready for that kind of exposure to the rest of the universe.  Or was that vice versa? Hannah and Kathryn knew simply from their own reaction to such enlightenment that their family rule of secrecy was appropriate to say the least.  Hannah had never been away from Earth, but Kathryn seemed to have space travel in her blood from the first trip to school.

 

Hannah pursed her lips.  She could not talk to Kathryn.  She guessed she would call home tomorrow morning, when it was afternoon in the UK.  She figured she might as well go to bed until then.  She whispered a gentle “Goodnight” to Andy and Lisa as she puttered off to her room. Andy and Lisa exchanged glances.  Andy had told Lisa of the letter.

 

“Poor thing,” she said.

 

“I know,” Andy said looking after Hannah. “What do you suppose she’ll do?”   

 

Lisa looked over her shoulder toward Hannah’s room. “I don’t know,” she said thoughtfully, “but … you know… God, what a decision!… We really have to let her decide.”

 

“Well, of course” he said.

 

“No,” she corrected, “I mean we can’t tell her what we think she should do.  She has to decide.  We can tell her what we feel if she asks… but that’s it,” Andy looked at his feet.

 

“I suppose.”

 

“I mean, what if we influence her and she regrets it later?”

 

“Yeah, you’re right.”

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 

When the sunlight broke through Hannah’s window the following morning its slunk up the bed and shown on her cheeks.  She opened her eyes and stared at the window.  She had had no trouble sleeping, but she didn’t feel rested. All night she dreamed busy, disconcerting dreams.  A vision of horses and war and flashes of light was all she could remember, but she had a strong lingering feeling of defensiveness.  

 

She lifted off her covers to get up, and there was a rustle of paper.  She bent over and picked up the letter.  Her fingers buzzed as she looked at it, puzzled.  She didn’t remember putting it on the bed.  Laying it carefully on her nightstand she stared at it as she dressed.   When she finished she picked up her phone extension and dialed the operator to get a call through to the UK.

 

There was a commotion on the line when her aunt answered.  

 

“Hello?”

 

“Aunt Layla?” asked Hannah.

 

“Hannah? No, this is Sarah, dear,” came the strained voice, “How marvelous to hear from you… could you…… hold on a moment, dear, would you?”  There was a pause, then Sarah was shouting for everyone to keep it down please.

 

Her family was very old and all lived on a grand estate in England. She never really thought about it too much. Sarah was her mother’s cousin, but she was always called Aunt Sarah. She was very sweet, if a bit flamboyant. “Everyone’s gone mad, I fear, since Kathryn’s come home.”  She apologized. “She’s still so head strong, but you know, dear, I think she’s done well for herself at that school.”   

 

“Did you say Kathryn is home?”  Asked Hannah, suddenly energized.

 

“Oh yes, dear!” she affirmed, “she’s tearing Layla’s wing of the house apart gathering her belongings… well of course, you know the news… to move to the manor house.”

 

“The manor house?”

 

“With Quinton, dear… by the way, are you ready to go yet?”

 

“What…I… I don’t know what I’m going to do… I guess that’s why I’m calling.”

 

There was more commotion on the other end of the phone.  She heard her Aunt Layla shouting: “Oh yes, you are!  I don’t care of Quinton didn’t ask for it. It belongs to him and you are going to bring along… what do you mean?  You don’t have to carry anything.  I’ll put it in a crate.  The crate gets loaded here, unloaded there… what’s the problem?”  

 

Hannah cringed. “I think Kathryn’s coming,” said Sarah, “Would you like to speak to her?”   

 

“Yes please!” breathed Hannah.

 

Hannah could hear the phone being covered and muffled words and muffled shouting.  Finally the noises came clear.

 

“Cousin!”  came the strong voice.

 

“Hello, luv,” grinned Hannah.  

 

“What’s this I hear that you’re not packing?”

 

“Yes, well,” she said, “I just don’t know what to do.  You know I love where I live and my job and my friends.  I don’t want to give that up.”  

 

“I hear you, luv, but there’s so much to see and do…I mean… you’ve never been off-world. I can’t explain the… places and beings you’ll meet.  Besides, what’s more important than family?”

 

That was something Kathryn had never talked about before.  That was a change in her.  Hannah remarked on this.

 

“That’s why I can’t decide.  It’s so sudden.  I feel like Uncle Quinton has asked this one single thing at me and I’m so torn.  It’s a lot to ask of someone – to up-root themselves and move all they have- to another planet for pete’s sake!”

 

“Well, I guess I can’t relate,” sighed Kathryn. “I can’t wait to go, personally.  I can’t wait to have peace and quiet and my own room and horses!  I’m going to get horses!” she sounded like she was deciding this as she spoke.

 

“There are horses there?”  asked Hannah doubtingly.

 

“Of course there are,” retorted Kathryn as if it were absurd.

 

“Well I don’t know,” defended Hannah grasping the phone with both hands. “For all I know they’ll be ten legged, one eyed animals that play calliope music.” There was silence on the phone. “… and people with purple skin and feathers instead of hair! How should I know?” she was getting upset.

 

“Well…” Said Kathryn, “occasionally… there are… out of the ordinary people and… many animals are very different but most things are like what you’re used to.”  Kathryn’s usual sarcasm and rancor had given way to a demonstrative and sympathetic tone.  Hannah was the only person, other than Uncle Quinton, that Kathryn would ever talk to so gently.  Kathryn had little patience or sympathy when it came to others.

 

“But…I … well” Hannah said quietly, “I mean… how weird are we talking?”

 

Kathryn smiled wryly. “Well, I’ve never seen anyone with more than four primary limbs but a girl on my hall at school has silver hair…”

 

“Really?”

 

“… and purple skin.  She’s really rather stunning ”

 

“Wow!”

 

“Even people with purple skin have a better complexion than me.”  Finally, Hannah chuckled.

 

“Luv, I don’t know about this.  I’m scared. “

 

“I know,” said Kathryn with no judgment.

 

There were several moments of silence on the line.  Growing up, they had spent a lot of time in this way.  Some they have the ability to find comfort and meaning in mutual silence.  It was as if they could communicate without speaking.  This used to greatly annoy Hannah’s father when they would sit silently over a long distance call from Boston to England.

 

Her father came from a down to earth lower middle class family, and he made sure his daughter was raised with humility and a powerful work ethic.  The wealth of her mother, Dale’s family never seemed to be part of her life.  The truth of the matter is that Dale’s family believed the same thing.  All the children were raised with hard work and study. Wealth and luxury seemed to be relegated to those of autumn years. This never seemed to be of much concern or discussion to any in the family, but nonetheless if you call England you had better at least be talking to the person on the other end of the phone.

 

“If you hate it, you can always come back home.”  Said Kathryn quietly. “It’s like college, ya know? You go off not knowing what to expect with the hope of better things.” There was a staunch reasoning in her tone, another unusual showing for Kathryn.

 

“… but my job, my…home.” Said Hannah distantly. “I just…”

 

“I know, luv,” said Kathryn.  There was a pause and an appreciable sigh. “Listen, I’ve got to go for now.  I have to make my shuttle… think about it… I hope you come. I think we’d have great fun… adventures.  I think we’re meant to do this.” There was a click.

 

“… bye,” said Hannah even though she knew no one was there. She sighed and leaned back against her bedside table.  The letter wrinkled under her weight. She frowned and reached behind her.  The letter buzzed away under her touch. She tossed it away in alarm. That stupid letter seemed to be everywhere!  She shuddered and grabbed her backpack and hurried to leave.

 

* * * * * * *

 

Hannah found it hard to concentrate on anything that day.  Known to everyone as there ever cheery and genuine “Pollyanna” (or “Polly-Hannah” as the case may be) to quote Kathryn, the other rangers were met with barely ‘hello’ or ‘have a good day.’

 

Once out in the field, Andy caught her staring out at the hills in deep thought several times. He wished he could help, but she kept assuring him that nothing was bothering her.

 

“How’s it going up there?”  He shouted up the trail. Hannah, perched on an outcrop with her research data, was once again startled out of her to fog.

 

“Oh, um…” she shuffled the papers, “fine, fine! Um, what was that last measurement again?”

 

Andy chuckled at her attempt to cover her bases. “I haven’t given you one yet.”  Hannah blushed furiously and straightened her pile of sheets.

 

Slowly, gently he plodded up the trail and knelt down next to her.  With two fingers he swept the hair back from her face and then put a hand on her shoulder. “This decision has really got you beat, huh.”

 

Hannah drew up her knees and looked at him with her haunted eyes.  Andy sighed wistfully.  She was so beautiful.  The sun glittered in her sad lavender eyes. He thought no one else on Earth could possess eyes that color.  Now they were welling up and he squeezed her shoulder. “I don’t know what to do.”  She quivered.  He pulled her into a hug.  He couldn’t bear to see her so troubled.  She was always so cheerful and positive.

 

“Won’t you let me help you?” he whispered.  He thought briefly of Lisa’s warnings about influencing her, but he dismissed it. “Friends help friends,” he said aloud.  She nodded slightly. “What is it?”

 

She knew she could not tell him.  She looked up at him again.  She liked the touch of him.  Was this what it came down to? “How do I know that my life would be better there?  How do I know I would not be leaving some wonderful possibilities…a happy life… here?”

 

“Well…” He mused, loosening his hug so that he could look at her. “What do you have here that is so hard to leave?”  Hannah frowned at him.

 

“My home, my job… friends… Lisa, the other rangers, … you.”

 

“And…” He licked his lips, “what you have there?”

 

She pursed her lips. “I don’t know,” she whispered. It was not a lie. He chuckled and pumped her shoulder.

 

“Of course you do,” he said giving her a gentle shake. “You’ve got family, and your ancestral home… old friends of the family and the possibilities of new friends.”   

 

She smiled ironically.  She knew he was talking about England, but somehow he had nailed it. Then she looked at Andy again and searched his eyes. She thought to herself; what about you? Is my future with you?

 

“You’re right,” she said.  Encouraged by this, he went on.

 

“Well, here, you know what you have,” he said patting his hand concretely. “You live it.  You know your job, the cabin… Lisa, and you know me,” Hannah nodded. “You know what this reality is. Moving there, you know the things you’ll start with and then there’s the mystery of what could be.” Hannah continued nodding. “The question is: is life here, now, all you need to be happy? Because you know life here… that’s not going to change.”  Hannah stopped nodding suddenly and stared intently at Andy.

 

“No it isn’t. Is it?” she said, knowing finally what she had sought for the last two days. His touches, his words did not pass the line of friendship.  He cared for her as a friend but not more. This life, here, was not all she needed to be happy.  She did not want to guess and wait and hope.

 

“Um….”Andy was taken aback by the intense look Hannah was giving him. He let go of her shoulders with a bit of alarm. She reached down and patted is hand, reassuring him.

 

 “C’mon,” she urged, “it’s almost quittin’ time.”  

 

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

By the time she got back to the cabin it was getting late. Lisa had made dinner.  She greeted them at the door with the dinner rolls she had just pulled from the toaster oven.  Andy popped one into his mouth and groaned with food delight. Hannah did not take one.  She wanted to wash her hands first.  She opened her pack to toss her keys in, but then stopped with gasp. The letter!  She reached carefully into her pack and grasped the parchment.  To her surprise there was no customary zap to her fingers.  She waved the letter from hand-to-hand.  Nothing.

 

“Hmmph!” she grunted curiously.

 

“What is it?” asked Lisa.

 

“Oh, it’s just this letter,” said Hannah tapping the corner of it on the counter with a slight smile.  

 

“Is that the one from home?” she asked tossing the salad.

 

 “Yup,” Hannah looked slyly down at the yellow vellum.

 

“Have you…” Lisa shot a look at Andy who then looked at Hannah. “… thought anymore about…” Hannah’s eyes rose solemnly to hers. “… my God… you’re going to go aren’t you?”  Hannah didn’t have time to answer as Lisa grabbed her into a tearful hug.

 

 * * * * * * * *        

 

Hannah had given notice to the Park District of her decision to leave, much to their disappointment. She had also called home to her aunts to tell them of her decision to move, much to their great joy. Hannah felt like she was in a great whirlwind.  This met with her great approval because she felt that if she stopped to think about it she might reconsider.

 

It had been two weeks since her day on the outcrop with Andy, and today was her last day at work. There had been cake, hugs and words of encouragement. Everyone talked of how much they would miss her smile and friendly face and how she’d be so hard to replace. Now, as she was preparing to head home with Andy and Lisa she felt the giddy excitement overtaking her. Her gear was nearly packed. Tomorrow they would drive her to the airport.  She would depart to England and then to the secret off world shuttle.  She laughed out loud every time she thought about it.  She wouldn’t be able to fathom it until she was actually experiencing it.  For now she would spend the evening saying goodbye to the two people she would miss the most.

 

* * * * * * * * *     

 

Rumpled tourists, well-coiffed business people and cranky children filled the noisy international terminal at the airport. Amidst it all were the crying people saying goodbyes. Lover’s parting, grown children going off to college and the three good friends, each in their own muffled shell that ignored the bustle of the world going by.

 

“It’s almost time,” said Hannah, misting up for the tenth time that morning. Lisa couldn’t speak. She just smiled weakly and hugged Hannah.

 

“I’m really going to miss you,” Hannah whispered.

 

“I’ll miss you too,” Lisa answered, taking her face into her hands. “Do try to keep in touch.  I know it’s hard, but do try,”

 

“I will,” said Hannah.  There was an announcement for her flight.  This was really happening now.  Andy gave her a long, powerful hug. She savored it. She knew it would be her last. A new life, a different future lay before her now.  He pulled away and looked at her. “Thank you,” she said, looking from one to the other.

 

“For what?” asked Andy.

 

“…for being part of my life,” she sniffed.  They all hugged their last hug.

 

A few moments later as Hannah settled into her seat she began to wonder what she was really doing.  What was she really doing?