AUTUMN LEAVES

“Don’t forget your tablet, it’s on the dining table,” Sidney shouted from the bedroom as he packed his clothes preparing for their return to Pittsburgh early that morning.

Autumn came into the bedroom, the tablet in hand and a deep frown on her face.

“Who books a flight at 5:30 in the morning?! It’s still dark outside” she complained.

“I told you, it was the only option since we’re taking a private jet. I had to pull many strings to have access to that small airport” Sidney said.

“An airport that is two hours away,” she mumbled.

“Someone is grumpy,” Sidney said as he hugged her to him, aware of the real reason behind her sombre mood. He was feeling the same way. They were leaving their haven to go back home where they will have to face some life-changing decisions and all the repercussions.

“I really hope Pat changes his mind. Finding another agent may take time,” she said.

“Yeah,” Sidney said sighing. “Let’s finish packing; we have a two-hour drive ahead of us.”

Autumn felt her phone buzz in her jeans pocket.

-When are you going back home, my love?

“It’s Mario. He’s asking when I’ll be back home,” Autumn said as she typed a response.

-Will be home later this morning.
“Don’t worry, he will be back next week,” Autumn reminded Sidney as she got another text.

-Safe travels, sweetheart. I will be back end of next week as planned. I love you, take care.

“What did he say?” Sidney inquired.

Autumn gave him her phone and went to the bathroom to pack their toiletries. As she was standing in front of the large mirror, Sidney appeared behind her and hugged her against his chest; his arms encircled her stomach as his chin rested on her shoulder.

“Soon enough, we won’t be lying to him anymore. I will figure something out, then we will tell him as planned,” he whispered as he looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Autumn gave him a weak smile as she rested her arms on his. “I just wish we didn’t have to leave this place,” she said as she met his eyes in the mirror. “I can picture a life where we live in a remote place like this, without a single worry in the world. Maybe a warmer place, like Hawaii. I bet no one cares about hockey there.

“I could work at a local clinic and you could…. maybe teach sports or something. We would have a mediocre, ordinary life, where you are not the hockey superstar, and I’m not the wife, or ex-wife, of another one,” she said pensively.

“I know,” Sidney said. “Maybe not now, but one day that will be us. We will retire and live a lazy, happy life together,” he added, his smile instantly appearing at the thought of their future together.

“Hawaii may not be the best choice though. It is crowded with American and Canadian tourists, who, I believe, know a thing or two about hockey,” he said.

“I was thinking more about the smaller islands where only locals live, not the hot touristic spots,” Autumn said. “I’ve been to Hawaii twice. It is every bit of the paradise that people talk about.

“There is this small town in Maui, it’s called Lahaina. When I’m stressed, I close my eyes and try to remember my time there; the smell of the ocean, the sound of the local markets, the taste of Hawaiian pineapple, and the people. They’re so happy all the time, Sidney. I mean, why wouldn’t they be? They live a simple life, in a true heaven on Earth.

She sighed dreamily, “it’s my happy place.”

Pecking her shoulder, Sidney turned her in his arms and kissed her lovingly. “How about you show me your happy place this summer then? he said.

“I would love that,” she said with a bright smile.

“It’ll be our second getaway, but our first real vacation together,” he said.
“Let’s go back home now. Let’s start working on the future that we both want. Shall we?” he spoke. Autumn nodded as she placed her face in the crook of his neck, enjoying the scent of his after-shave.

Autumn locked the cabin’s door as Sidney closed the trunk of their rental with a more than necessary force. She climbed into the passenger seat and retrieved the hand-written directions back to the airport. Sidney started the car and gave her a sad smile as he secured her hand in his.

Scenery after scenery passed outside the window as they drove in silence, both lost in thought. Autumn contemplated her trusty dreamcatcher as it danced with the bumpy ride. It was the only thing she had form her biological parents, the only trace of the real family that she could have had.

She took it everywhere she travelled, except the night of the car accident, she mused. She believed this webbed willow hoop has always protected her from harm; the same way it did when she was left in front of an orphanage at four weeks of age, the dreamcatcher hanging above her head in the small pink bassinet.

Many Native American legends spoke of a Spider Woman that protected her children when she was away through the magical webs of the dreamcatcher. Autumn wanted to believe that, deep down, her mother did not leave her to die that night; that despite not wanting her daughter, her mother wanted her baby to be safe, from wherever she was.

“Hey, we’re here baby,” Sidney said, bringing her back to reality. “I cannot believe this thing is 30 years old,” Sidney said as Autumn delicately removed her keepsake from the rear-view mirror. “How can you even be sure that it’s the original one and not some fake?” he asked.

“It is. Aliya, my caregiver, told me. She said when I was a baby, nothing would calm me down except for these fluffy feathers. So, they kept it above my bed and saved it for me until I was older. I’ve had it with me for as long as I can remember,” Autumn said.

“In every car you’ve driven,” Sidney commented. “And you make fun of my superstitions,” he said shaking his head as he took their luggage out of the trunk.

“Oh please. No one can even come close to your level, Sidney,” Autumn said, “but I love you all the same,” she added as she gripped the lapel of his coat. “I mean, as long as you leave me out of your crazy routines.”

The couple continued to chat lightly during their flight back to Pittsburgh, avoiding the more important subjects.

*****

“Focus and repeat quietly in your mind:
I am strong
I am powerful
I am confident
I am respected
I am loved
I feel great about myself
I deserve to be confident
I am in charge of my life
I can do anything
Today everything is easy

Now it is time to bring yourself back...”

A knock on the door was what brought Lauren back to reality. She paused her iPod and checked the security camera outside of her apartment. Abby was early.

“Hey sweetie, sorry I know you only got here yesterday,” Abby quickly said as she gave Lauren a quick hug. “If it weren’t urgent, I wouldn’t have come this early. I–”

“Abby, come in and relax. And for the love of God, tell me what is going on?” Lauren asked.

Abby nodded and sat on the couch, the menacing envelope secured to her chest.

“Listen, I… I received this at the office,” Abby said placing the envelope in her lap.

“What’s this?” Lauren asked.

Abby was fidgeting; that envelope appeared to be the source of her stress.

“It’s a… um…” Abby stuttered. She opened the envelope with shaky hands and handed the white and gold card to Lauren.

“Mario, don’t trust your wife,” Lauren read the message aloud. She looked up at Abby in confusion. “Who sent you this?” She asked.

Abby pursed her lips. “I don’t know,” she answered.

“Don’t trust your wife,” Lauren whispered. “They address it to papa?” Lauren asked, and Abby simply nodded.

“That bitch is cheating on him?!” Lauren said.

“Laura honey, it may be a prank for all we know. I haven’t told your father because… well, this is too personal,” Abby said. “I am leaving this in your hands as his daughter. You make that call.”

“Are you saying that maybe I shouldn’t tell him?”, Lauren said as she stood up and towered over Abby, blazing with anger.

“That’s not what I said. I…. I think you should think calmly about this before you talk to your dad. If it’s some sort of joke, it may cause him unnecessary distress,” Abby said.

“Who would joke about something like this and why?!”, Lauren said. “I had every inkling that she married him for nothing more than prestige. It does not shock me if she is having an affair. How can a woman like her be interested in a divorced man with three children, and who’s 15 years older, huh? Explain this to me!” Lauren said.

She paced across her living room, bumping into the number 87 hockey stick display from the 2009 championship, a housewarming gift from Sidney.
“You’ve been around her enough to see how she’s always had every man’s attention in a room. Why do you think that is? Yes, she is beautiful, smart, fucking perfect!” Lauren said, standing in front of Abby.

“Laura, please calm down,” Abby said.

“No! Not just my father, Abby! Even Sid is so smitten by her. She took my… friend away from me. She’s all he talks about. He’s been ignoring me ever since that bitch intruded herself into our lives. And now you’re telling me that she’s cheating on my dad?!” Lauren said.

“I did not say that," Abby said as she stood up and placed her arms around Lauren and hugged her tightly.

“Oh honey, I know,” she said rubbing her back as Lauren cried. “It’s always about Sid, with you. I know how Sid’s friendship with Autumn has always bothered you. But let’s not get sidetracked from the real issue here. What is more important now is your father’s wellbeing.

“Look, it may be something or nothing at all,” Abby spoke. “In fact, there may be a way to find out,” Abby said holding Lauren at arm’s length.

“How?” Lauren chocked out.

Abby went back to the couch to retrieve the envelope that held the potential answer. With a sigh, she took out the purple USB key and held it up. “This. It came with the card.”

Lauren snatched the USB from Abby’s hand and inspected it. “Is this… what’s on it?” Lauren asked, her eyes moving back and forth between Abby and the small object in her palm.

“I don’t know. I haven’t looked. I am not comfortable with this whole situation Laura. It is not my place. That’s why I came to you,” Abby said.

“I’m sorry to put you in this position, honey. I know the last couple of years were not easy for you and your sisters.” Abby squeezed Lauren’s arm affectionately.

“I have to get to the office. Your dad is coming back today,” Abby said giving her a quick hug and kiss.

“I trust that you will do the right thing, Laura. Take care,” Abby said before closing the door on her way out.

Lauren stood stiffly in the middle of her living room. The object in her hand felt more like a weapon than a USB key. After a few moments, she turned on her heels and retrieved her laptop.

Her hands were shaking as she attempted a few times before successfully inserting the USB key. She rolled her eyes as her vigilant anti-virus automatically started to scan the “new detected device.” She tapped her long nails on the keyboard as she watched her laptop taking its sweet time to open the content of the key.

As the “no threats were found” message finally popped-up, Lauren chuckled nervously. “Threats,” she said, but her chuckles quickly faded as the content of the key became on display. As thumbnail after thumbnail appeared on her screen, she thought that a “list” view would have been easier to digest.

Her cursor hovered over the first file. She double-clicked and instinctively closed her eyes. Holding her breath, she opened her eyes and winced at the screen.

She recognized Autumn immediately; her piercing green eyes and magnificent blond hair were hard to miss; so was the date at the bottom. She was cheating on her dad; there was no question.

Her lover, on the other hand, was unclear. She opened the next file, then the next one, then the one after in the hope of figuring him out. The man’s shape looked familiar, despite the blurriness. It cannot be, Lauren thought.

Reviewing the files for a countless amount of times the rest of that morning had only served to upset her more. What she had just witnessed left her stewing in anger. Nothing was going to keep her from telling her father, nothing. Nothing was going to stop her from showing him who Autumn truly was; the consequences be damned.

Notes