Balefire (23 page)

Chapter Fifty-six
 

MR. HARDCASTLE, A very gracious host escorted Silke and her fam
ily through the house to the large flagstone patio. A dozen or more
people enjoyed cocktails and some animated conversation. On the south
east corner of the patio, her sculpture stood draped in a white gauzy fabric.

Mr. Hardcastle tapped on his champagne flute. “If I could have your attention for just a minute, I think we’re ready to begin. My guest of honor, the very talented Silke Dyson is here to unveil her masterful work of art, entitled “Balefire,” for your enjoyment. Would you do the honors?”

The noise around her muted, and she looked up at the draped object. In an instant, an unencumbered mixture of the work, the agony, the suffering, and then the joy overwhelmed her. Unbidden tears ran freely down her cheeks as she took a hold of the cord that would release the drape.

She struggled to breathe, a burn spread in her chest. She glanced around to find Kirin right behind her and smiled. It was almost as though creating this beacon had been a self-fulfilling prophecy. She hadn’t realized until just this moment, this powerful symbol of hope and safety. Her creation.

A gentle tug loosened the drape, which slid to the ground forming a circle around the base, resembling foamy surf. The small crowd gasped
and the applause grew loud and steady. The setting sun triggered the sen
sor as storm clouds gathered to the west. With a flicker, the blue white light came awake, and a murmur droned among the guests.

Silke wiped the tears from her cheeks. Floodgates to the magic. The
host applauded wildly and accepted congratulations from his friends. Rog
er and John were there, and she hugged them both. Phillip wrapped her in a bear hug, followed closely by her mother and the rest of the family.

Several loud pops startled her, but they turned out to be champagne corks.

Kirin put an arm around her waist and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Silke, I have someone here I’d like you to meet.” Mr. Hardcastle waved his hand.

Kirin swept her hand down Silke’s cheek. “You go ahead. I’m sure people have a lot of questions for you. I’ll be here.”

After an hour or so, the conversations diminished and Silke’s family said their farewells. She walked around the patio and could not find Kirin. On a whim, she looked over the railing and saw Kirin on the pier below.

Fortunately, she could navigate the pathway because it glowed with a series of solar landscaping lights. Kirin was seated on an elegant bench facing south toward the Milwaukee skyline near the end of the long pier.

Silke walked slowly to the bench with the inky black lake beyond. Light from the beacon provided her a guide. “I’m glad I spotted you down here. I was afraid you might have been overwhelmed with all of the glad-handing. I’m relieved it’s over.”

Kirin stood up. “No, I just thought this was your time to be in the spot
light and I sucked it up and decided to share you.” She pulled Silke into a hug. Silke clung to her, energized by her strength.

“I had no idea I’d be so overwhelmed with emotion.” Silke sniffed, and Kirin handed her a tissue.

“You deserve to be as emotional as you want to be.” Kirin gazed at the lighthouse. “You created a magnificent piece of art, and it looks perfect in this setting.”

Silke looked up the hill, and her breath caught. From below, the light
house looked even more majestic. From a distance, the workmanship
paled in
comparison to the dramatic appearance. She shivered and snuggled closer to Kirin.

“I’d forgotten you named it,” Kirin said. “Tell me again why you chose Balefire?”

Silke clasped her hand. “Because of the story you told me during the surprise picnic at the lighthouse.”

Kirin nodded slowly.

“You told me about an interview with an old woman in Scotland who said that bonfires were lit in order to guide fishermen on their way home. I really liked that idea of having a beacon to guide the way back, back to where you belong. The more I worked on this the more it felt like a symbol of what you had become to me.”

Kirin pulled her close. “You did tell me, and that’s exactly how I feel about you.”

They sat close together on the bench, enjoying the soft ripple of Lake Michigan washing over the shoreline and the occasional call of a night bird. They kissed once in shared gratitude and with a growing love.

Kirin sat up a little. “I have a question.” She pointed at the path along the steep hill. “How did you manage to get down that path without falling on your ass?”

Silke laughed. “You really are an unredeemable romantic, but sometimes you come up with the oddest questions at the oddest times.”

“I’m serious. That path is not easy to navigate and you know I worry about you. Coming down here by yourself was foolhardy—”

Silke put a finger on Kirin’s lips. “Ssh. Things have been so busy, and I wanted the right time to tell you, but I saw the eye doctor and he’s very hopeful that I will get most of my vision back.”

Kirin squealed. “Awesome. That is wonderful news.” She hugged Sil
ke. “Is there more?”

“Remember when we were out on the boat a couple of weeks ago and I saw that strange light show while I was looking at the water?” Silke asked. “Well, after that, I started seeing more frequent bursts of light that, in hindsight, were actually returning peripheral vision. It was never constant,
and it was in different areas. Anyway, he said that the circulation is com
ing back, and he wants to check again in three months. I wanted to be sure before I said anything.”

Kirin wrapped Silke in a hug. “I’m so happy for you. That is just the best news ever, especially now when you’re ready to start a new project in Belize. I just can’t believe it. Crap, now I’m crying.” She swiped her cheeks.

Silke kissed her lips and stroked her cheek. “Thank you for being here, thank you for loving me. It means so much to share this with someone. But there is something else . . . I wanted to make an announcement tonight and I forgot how to talk. In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you that while you were in the shower this morning I got a phone call that I am one of the recipients of an NEA grant.”

Kirin stared at her, stunned. “Unbelievable.”

“The official check won’t come for a while, but that money will come in handy. And it means I won’t have to worry while I’m in Belize about whether I need to sell the house or not.”

“You know, I suspected that life was about to change for both of us, but I had no idea to what extent.” Kirin took Silke’s hand in both of hers.
“We’re both on a brand new path, and the sky’s the limit. And I’m so unbe
lievably grateful that I’ll be able to share it with you. I love you so much.”

Silke kissed her and hugged her close. “Speaking of sky and limits, let’s make reservations tomorrow and leave as soon as possible. I want to be in Belize, on the beach in the moonlight—with you.”

Kirin captured her mouth in a deep passionate kiss. “I suppose that will also mean . . . being naked.”

Silke laughed and pulled Kirin up the path.