She knew from the letters the taller one with the long flowing locks was Erin. Talullah imagined she could see the vivid ginger of her hair. The shorter one was Bernadine. Her sable hair framed her heart shaped face with tight ringlets. They looked so good together. So happy. Talullah could feel the love between them. If you were looking for it, you could see it in their eyes, in the way they held each other. She hoped their life together was a happy one. The picture blurred as Talullah’s eyes filled with tears. She thought about the courage it must have taken for Bernadine to take her children and leave her husband. She felt the sting of shame in her chest. If these two women could take such a chance, why couldn’t she? For once, the thought didn’t fill her with fear. Oh she still felt anxious and worried, but reading these letters and seeing the love Erin and Bernadine couldn’t hide, seemed to give her the courage and strength that eluded her until now.
Setting the picture aside, Talullah picked up the newspaper article and opened it all the way. The headline read: Mother and Children Killed in Car Accident
Talullah gasped. It couldn’t be. But deep in her heart she knew what the article was going to say. It was dated January 20, 1932. Talullah read as quickly as she could desperate to find out what happened. The article stated that a Mrs. Bernadine Leffingwell and her two daughters, Lola 9 and Roberta 4, were in a head on collision with a truck. They were going around a blind curve and the driver of the truck fell asleep and crossed the center line. The driver was in critical condition but Bernadine and her daughters did not survive. All three were pronounced dead on the scene. The article went on to state that when the police went to notify her husband of the accident, they found him in what was the girls’ bedroom dead from blunt force trauma. A note left on a desk downstairs written by Bernadine stated that she hit him on the head when she walked in and saw him touching their oldest daughter. She would not allow him to abuse her daughters the way he did her so when he wouldn’t stop, she hit him, took her kids, and left.
By the third time she read the story, Talullah could barely make out the words through her tears. Her shoulders began shaking as she gave in to the grief she felt at not only the lives lost but also the love that never got the chance to grow and flourish. She could only imagine the grief and perhaps even guilt Erin felt. Then her thoughts spiraled as she thought of losing Mykel like that. Her breath caught in her chest making it difficult to draw in a substantial breath. Her mind refused to even contemplate life without Mykel, it was too painful. Talullah tried to control her breathing and slow it down. She was beginning to hyperventilate at the thought of Mykel being lost to her forever. She couldn’t let that happen. She refused to let that happen.
Please don’t let it be too late, Talullah prayed.
Leaving everything behind, Talullah raced from the room. She skidded to a stop in front of the elevator and smacked the up button. She waited impatiently for it to start its decent from the second floor. She shifted from foot to foot unable to stand still. Finally, the doors opened and she hurried inside and pushed the button for the fourth floor. It was the longest minute of Talullah’s life. When the doors finally opened she bounded out and ran toward the meeting room where she knew Mykel was with the writing group she was a member of. Not letting anything distract her, she didn’t slow until reached the room where Mykel’s meeting was being held and burst through the door without bothering to knock first.
Everyone in the room turned to look at her in shock. She could only imagine the sight she presented. Her eyes were puffy, tear tracks streaked her cheeks, and her hair was wild around her face.
“Talullah, what are you—”
That was as far as Mykel got before Talullah was standing before her grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.
“We have to talk. Now.” Talullah said urgently. “Please,” she implored, her voice breaking on the word when it looked like Mykel was going to refuse.
Mykel studied her for a long moment while Talullah did her best not to squirm aware of all the eyes on them. Talullah didn’t know what Mykel was looking for but Talullah saw the instant her eyes softened. Mykel said a quiet okay and allowed Talullah to lead her from the room.
“Sorry for barging in,” Talullah said as she shut the door behind them.
They walked a few feet down the hall before Talullah turned to face Mykel. There were so many thoughts running through her head, so many things she wanted, needed to say she didn’t know where to begin. She opened her mouth to speak but instead of words a choked sob tore from her throat. Talullah’s breathing sped up and her eyes started to fill. Seeing the concern on Mykel’s face was enough to send them pouring down her flushed cheeks.
Mykel went to her and cupped her face, trying to brush the tears away with her thumbs. The tears were winning.
“Baby, what is it? You’re all disheveled. What’s happened?”
“I-I,” Talullah choked on the word.
She swallowed hard trying to get some semblance of control back. She clutched at Mykel’s wrists and looked up until amber locked with espresso.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I love you so much and I almost threw it away. I almost threw us away. I’m not too late am I? Please tell me it’s not too late,” Talullah begged. “I’ll do whatever you want, whatever it takes to keep us. Life is too short and I don’t want to live mine without you. You know tonight is family dinner night. I want you to go with me.”
“Talullah.” Mykel sighed. She took her hands from Talullah’s face and tried to step away, but Talullah tightened her grip. “Please don’t do this. I’m trying not to push. I expect the same courtesy from you. I’m not changing my mind. If that’s all you wanted, you shouldn’t have interrupted our meeting. I need to get back.”
Mykel tried to pull away, but Talullah wouldn’t let her. Mykel huffed in exasperation and stopped trying to get away.
“Damn it, T--”
Talullah let go of Mykel’s wrists and grasped her face forcing her to make eye contact.
“I want you to go with me to dinner at my parent’s house.”
The words were spoken clearly with a determination and certainty Mykel had never heard from her before.
“Talullah?” Mykel’s voice trembled and those espresso colored eyes Talullah loved so much filled.
“I know I’m acting a little weird,” Talullah said brushing away the tears Mykel couldn’t hold back. “I promise you I will explain everything when we leave, but I need you to know now how much you mean to me and I’m not letting you go. You are my best friend, my future, my life. I’m sorry I ever made you doubt me or my love for you. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I love you and I’m proud to have you as my girlfriend. And if you join me tonight I will proudly walk through my parent’s door holding your hand. And if they can’t accept us then we will walk out together. Because that’s all I want. Us together forever.”
“What happen to you, T?”
“Like I said I’ll tell you everything, but suffice it to say, I quite simply imagined my life without you.” Talullah shuddered. “It wasn’t pretty.” Talullah brushed away another tear. “Don’t sentence me to a life without you. Forgive me.”
Mykel’s smile was blinding.
“Nothing to forgive. I love you, too. So much. So very much, T.”
The next thing Talullah knew they were in each other’s arms holding each other tight. Talullah buried her face in Mykel’s neck and breathed her in. She felt a peace settle over her as she let the scent of her lover soothe her. She drew back and they looked at each other. Talullah leaned up as Mykel leaned down meeting her halfway. They shared a kiss full of love and a promise for the future.
They slowly became aware of the applause and whistles surrounding them. Drawing apart, the women turned to see Mykel’s writing group. They both blushed. The next thing they knew the group drew them into their circle and hugs and congratulations abounded.
The noise drew the other patrons from the other rooms on the fourth floor. The library offered
various classes and today there was a painting class as well as a yoga class going on. They happily joined the impromptu celebration. Although they weren’t overly loud, the cacophony was more than enough to shatter the tranquility of the library. People filtered out from the other floors and looked up trying to see what was disturbing the normal calm of the library.
Talullah and Mykel found themselves at the wooden railing looking over at the people below who were staring trying to figure out what the commotion was. Over the dissonance a strident voice, surprisingly loud and strong for someone so old rang out.
“Miss Fairchild, what is the meaning of this?” Mrs. Burns directed her patented glare at Talullah.
Talullah grabbed Mykel’s hand and held their joined hands high.
“Just claiming my girl,” Talullah called down before pulling Mykel into another kiss.
The cheers eventually died down.
“Miss Fairchild if you’ve quite finished disrupting the library I’d like to say congratulations on finally pulling your head out of your ass. Now get back to work,” Mrs. Burns said with a smirk, winking at the happy couple.
MJ is a member of a local writing group called The Wicked Wordsmiths of the West. If you enjoyed this story, check out the rest of the anthology, Stories From the Stacks.
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