Moonlight Dancer

©2011 Mona Ingram

All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places, and

incidents are either the product of

the author’s imagination or are

used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to actual persons, living or dead,

business establishments, events,

or locales is entirely coincidental

Charlie took one last walk through the condo, checking to make sure she’d left nothing personal behind. At first she’d been taken aback when the renters requested the removal all of her personal possessions, but the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She’d want the same consideration if she rented someone else’s condo.

She paused at the sliding glass doors leading onto the small deck and took a moment to gaze over the city to the foothills beyond. She was surprised that she didn’t feel more emotion. Had it really been only a few months ago that she and Carson had stood here planning their future together? She gave her head a quick, decisive shake and forced her thoughts back to the present. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about that. Next thing you know, she’d be re-visiting the ongoing discussion–okay, argument–she’d been having with Allie ever since she told her of her plans to leave.

“You’re running away!” her best friend had insisted.

“No, I’m not.”

“Are too.” Allie’s chin jutted out and Charlie recognized the signs. Her friend simply didn’t know how to back off when she decided she was in the right. “He’s not worth it, Chuck. He’s a tight-ass lawyer and you’re much better off without him, but there’s no need to run away.”

Charlie clenched her teeth. “Sometimes you can be a real pain, you know that? It’s a good thing we’ve been friends for so long.”

“Okay, okay.” Allie’s tone softened. “It’s just that I’m going to miss you, ya know? I wish you’d taken a bit longer to make the decision to sub-let.”

“Sure you do, because you would have done your best to talk me out of it.”

“That’s true. It all happened so fast…” Allie’s voice trailed off.

It had indeed happened quickly. Charlie’s thoughts drifted back in time.

* * *

Charlie had taken a deep, calming breath when she saw her mother’s name on call display. It was the second call in as many days. She picked up. “Hi, Mom.”

“How did you know it was me?” The querulous voice grated on her nerves.

“Call display, Mom. You should get it. Then maybe you could avoid all those crank calls you complain about.”

“That’ll be the day when I can’t screen my own calls. Just because you’re too rich and famous to answer your own phone.”

Charlie forced a laugh. “I’m not rich and famous, Mom. I’ve told you that before. It’s just that when I’m working I hate to be disturbed.” Why was she even trying to explain this to her stubborn mother? She’d tried many times before, and it hadn’t worked then…why would it work now? The woman simply didn’t want to understand what Charlie did for a living. It was her own fault, though. She’d left two checks in a file on her kitchen counter on a day that her mother, a well-known snoop, was scheduled to come over for coffee. They were sizeable amounts; one from Amazon and one from a small movie studio that wanted to option the movie rights for one of her books. Ever since, her mother had been convinced that Charlie was “rolling in it”.

“So what can I do for you, Mom?” Might as well find out.

“Do you remember your Aunt Janelle?”

“Uh…not really.” Charlie vaguely recalled visiting her aunt in Saskatchewan, but that had been many years ago…she couldn’t have been more than eight or nine. “Why do you ask?”

“She’s a widow, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Her husband died about four years ago. Lung cancer. But then he was a smoker, what do you expect?” Her mother’s disapproval hissed through the air.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Charlie trolled through her mind for what she knew of her aunt. All she could come up with was that Janelle was younger than her mother, and that the sisters had never been close. Other than those slim facts, she knew nothing about her aunt.

“How is she?”

“Well, that’s what I’m calling about. I called her this morning to wish her Happy Birthday and she’s had an accident. Broke several bones in her foot.”

“Ouch.”

“It’s not funny, Charlotte.”

“I wasn’t being funny…”

Her mother cut her off. “Anyway, she’s having a hard time and I thought of you. Lord knows why she’s kept that farm, but there’s a lot of physical work involved and now that she’s laid up she just can’t manage on her own.”

“You thought of me?” Where was this going?

“Yes. I was thinking about what you said yesterday, when you were telling me that you’d broken off your engagement to that nice boy. You said that what you’d really like is to get away from Calgary for a while.”

She should have known better than to confide in her mother, but the call had come when she was feeling low, and she’d spilled her guts. And then there was that small, discreet notice on the tenants’ bulletin board in the lobby, looking for a rental.

“I know. I did say that but…”

“I just thought I’d mention it, that’s all.” What was this? Reverse psychology? Her mother usually hammered home a point with all the finesse of a construction worker.

The ploy, if that’s what it was, had worked. Within a few days, she’d rented her condo, packed up all her personal possessions, and was about to hand over the keys to her condo.

The decision had been easy once she talked to her aunt, who had insisted that she call her Janelle.

“None of this ‘aunt’ business,” she’d said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

Charlie had been intrigued. The woman sounded so different from her mom.

“I have to tell you something, though.” Janelle’s voice had lowered as though imparting a secret. “I can manage quite well on my own. I don’t know where your mother got the idea I need help, but I’m delighted you’ve decided to come.”

Charlie’s stomach fell and she was surprised at the depth of her disappointment. “Would you rather I don’t come?”

“Heavens, no. I’m thrilled, but I wanted to be up front with you. Your mother always was a drama queen about stuff like this. I suppose you could say we’re opposites in that respect.”

Charlie bit her tongue. There’d be lots of time to discuss that later.

“Okay,” said Janelle. “Let’s run over this one last time. You’re leaving your car behind as part of the rental, and you’re coming on the bus.”

“Yes. I’ve sent some clothes ahead in a small trunk. I hope that’s okay.”

“No problem. Okay, you know where to get off the bus, then.”

“Yup.” Charlie checked her notes. “The corner of Old Clearwater Trail and Whiskey Jack Road. It sounds like something out of a book.” She paused. “A Western.”

“It does, doesn’t it? I’d forgotten that you’re a writer. A heads up, though. There’s nothing there. It’s just an intersection in the middle of the prairie, but someone will be there to pick you up, okay?”

“Okay. And Janelle?”

“Yes?”

“I’m not a nine year old any more. I’m twenty six now. I think I can take care of myself if you’re late.”

Her aunt laughed. “Gotcha! See you in a couple of days.”

* * *

Charlie dragged her thoughts back to the present. Allie was driving her to the bus depot and she was rarely late. Charlie picked up her computer bag and her carry-all and headed downstairs.

“I can’t believe you’re actually taking the bus.” Allie looked around the bus depot as though she’d been transported to an alien land. “Nobody takes the bus any more.”

Charlie laughed and gestured to all the people. “Somebody does. Besides, it’s actually faster than flying. Even if I flew to Regina, I’d have to do the last bit by bus.”

“Never should have included your car as part of the rental,” muttered Allie. “Listen. You’ll call me when you get settled, right?”

“Of course I will.” She glanced up at the departures board. “I’ve gotta run. See you soon.”

* * *

“How far are you going?”

Charlie jumped slightly, startled by the woman in the seat next to her. “I’m going to Clearwater Springs. That’s in Saskatchewan.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever been there.” The woman rummaged around in a voluminous purse and came out with a roll of lifesavers. She picked off a bit of fluff and popped one into her mouth. “Care for a lifesaver?” she asked, shoving the roll under Charlie’s nose.

“Ah…no thanks.”

“How about you? Have you ever been there? Clearwater Springs?”

“Once, but it was a long time ago.” Memories of a large farmhouse lingered in the corners of Charlie’s mind. She also thought she recalled chickens scratching in the back yard, but she wasn’t sure. Perhaps her imagination was working overtime.

“That means you’ll be changing buses at Regina.” The woman looked at her watch. “Should be there in about an hour.”