Operation Aorta
Chapter 1
Version 2
Here I am now, lying in bed. This place is the upstairs of the Bearditch House. I don't know what is going on, but I know I can't think but one person. One blonde woman with brown eyes and the most stunning smile I have ever seen. Who is she? Where is she from? How did she get in and why? There are no answers, only questions. I close my eyelids and let my thoughts wander back to the discussion I had with Irina earlier that day. We were in Irina’s car and Irina was driving us from the airport to the Bearditch House.
"Are you tired?"
“Not much.”
"The Bearditch House won't be far anymore. Then you can rest. I believe Auntie Anita has....Oh no!"
“Tell me!”
"I did not tell them about your arrival! Auntie Anita will kill me for this! What are we going to do now?"
"Oh come on, Irina! Your Auntie Anita can't be that bad!"
"You do not know my relatives, Raul....wait a minute! Or...is it a good idea after all...?"
"Just tell me already what you are up to!"
“All right, if you insist that. We could call to the Bearditch House and let them know there is one extra guest coming. There is space for three guests, so if there is no one except you, me, Auntie Anita and Uncle Juan, we should fit in perfectly."
"That sounds like a plan."
I grab a pen and some paper I have with me. I write some words on paper. After that I fold the paper and drop it in. Then I lick the glue and close the envelope's flap. I leave the letter on the table. I try to guess the name of my mysterious nightly guest, but I can’t guess what her name could be. I decide to call her as “Helen” untill she will tell me her name. I add the name on the envelope, put myself back to bed and close my eyes. The mysterious woman won't come back tonight. I don't know how I know it, but I do.
I change my position every so slightly and turn my thoughts back to the events of the day. We all were in the large kitchen. I can still remember Anita’s words she said during the evening tea.
“You can stay one week here with us. I do not know how long Irina is going to stay, but she is a relative.”
“Thank you. I feel honored I can stay that long.”
Next morning I wake up when Anita walks upstairs and calls my name from the stairs. I open my eyes and look at her. She is maternally roundish woman and probably in her late forties. She has a permanent silver willow's leaves’ color in her hair, and I could be interested about her if she was not married.
"It's time to eat breakfast," Anita says. I look to the direction of the table. The envelope is still there, and the name “Helen” is clearly in sight.
"I'll be right there," I answer. I rise and pull my pants on. Then I go down the stairs. After I have visited outside to do the things everyone usually do in the morning, I turn on my heels and go back in. I am glad Juan and Anita let me stay. I tried to prepare myself last night to the worst scenario. If that would have happened, I could have been only one evening with Irina and maybe even read some of her writing. But now I am allowed to stay a little bit longer. How did Irina manage to convince her Auntie and Uncle of my harmlessness? Only she herself knows the answer. But on the other hand I don’t even care. All I care about right now is the fact I am here. And I am allowed to stay here at least one week.
"Good morning, Raul." That is Irina's voice. Irina Silver is Juan's and Anita's niece, and I am Irina's beta reader. My name is Raul Lane. This is the first time Irina and I have met face to face. Irina has her summer vacation now, and I have all the time in the world in my hands, because I am on pension. My coming here was all Irina's idea, so she invited me. This place, Bearditch House, is Irina’s late paternal grandparents’ home. Irina’s father was born in here. Irina and I exchanged many emails, untill we got the details all worked out – between us. But no one is perfect. The same mistake Irina did with informing her Auntie and Uncle, could have happened to me. I could as well have forgotten to tell Norma that there will be one extra guest in the house for a week.
"Good morning. Mm...What is this delicious smell?" I sniff the air.
"It's Auntie Anita's porridge. I'm crazy about it." I can hear the smile in Irina's voice. She must like her Auntie's cooking.
"Did you sleep well?" Now the speaker is Juan Hunt, Irina's uncle and Anita's husband. He and his wife are about the same age, I guess. Juan's hair, moustache and beard are all gray.
"Yes, thank you." I don't know if I should tell them about "Helen" or not. I decide to stay silent. None of them has probably met "Helen", so they may think I am crazy and I must give them a good first impression. I may even get invitation to come for another visit – or lengthen this one. And it may be that "Helen" is just a vision only I can see. Oh how much I miss her even now! But I have to keep my head cool and be patient. I know for sure the sunset will bring “Helen” back to me – even for one moment only.
"OK everyone, just take some porridge before it gets cold", Anita's voice returns me back to reality.
I take one helping and carry my plate carefully back to the table. I am not that hungry on mornings, but I must eat so I would not make Juan or Anita suspicious. Irina’s words from the previous night keep ringing in my ears. "You may have to take a flight home tomorrow morning or even tonight.”
Oh “Helen”, if only you were here! I'd have so much to say to you...so many questions to ask of you...but maybe you are just a dream...a beautiful dream of which I'll awake.
Once my plate is empty, I carry it to the washing table in the other end of the kitchen, near the stove. On my way out I pass by the White Room, which is the festivity room, and the Green Room, which is the master bedroom. Between the White Room and the Green Room there is only one wall – which has a door too. It means one can go from the Green Room straight to the White Room, but to get out of either of the rooms one must go through the kitchen.
"Thanks for porridge, now I must go out. Irina, where did you put that folder of yours?"
"Oh, that. Just look for the swing." Irina puts her head back down and keeps eating her porridge. I put my shoes on and rush outside. Now I know for sure I can concentrate on Irina’s writing. The time between our arrival and the evening tea that same night…that was terrible! I hate uncertainty in my life. But now there’s nothing between me and Irina’s writing.
I take my pen from my pocket and open the blue folder. I mark a spot here, another there. Few hours go by before I can even realize.
When I have reached the end of the first chapter of Irina’s writing, I hear a cowbell ringing behind me. I close the folder, leave it behind me and step down from the swing.
“It is time to eat lunch!” Anita’s strong voice says. Suddenly I feel hungry. I wash my hands in the rain water barrel and head inside.
“What have you cooked, Auntie?” Irina asks as soon as we have seated.
“Just smashed potatoes”, Anita replies.
I decide to take only one helping, just like in the morning. But I have hardly taken my helping and carried it back to the table, when someone knocks on the door between the porch and the kitchen. Anita answers the door and the guest behind it steps over the threshold. When my eyes catch her face, I almost drop my fork. I just can’t believe my eyes! The timing is all wrong…and still I know for sure I recognize her. I swallow hastily and put my fork on my plate. I don’t want her to see how badly my hands shake. Joy and nervousness fill my heart at the same time. The woman on the door is my nightly guest, “Helen”.
TBC
