Senneterre, Quebec, was the birthplace of Abigail Piette Wentworth. Lili’s mother visited the town frequently after she married Lili’s father, Andrew.
Lili walked down the cobblestone sidewalk, remembering the last time she was there. Grayson and Lili brought Maggie and baby Vanessa there, because their grandmother couldn’t make the christening in New York City.
She threw open the front door and rushed inside. It was quiet. Not a soul around. Lili’s heart sank. She was certain Coleman was there. That was why he sent that text to Katherine. She walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. She reached for the half empty bottle of wine and read the label; Rose de St-Jacques, her grandmother’s favorite.
Lili walked around the living room and touched the keys of the piano that her mother used to play when she was young. Lili took a seat and began to play, making mistakes at first.
Lucette opened the front door and helped her mother inside towing grocery sacks over her shoulder.
“Is that my Lili?”
“Grandmére!”
“Ma petite-fille.” Lili’s grandmother made her way through the hallway to the kitchen, pushing her walker until she reached Lili.
Lucette dropped the groceries on the kitchen counter and grabbed her niece around her tiny waist.
The ladies chatted and laughed for half the hour before Lili finally asked, “Has Coleman Kavanagh been here?”
“He was here,” Lucette said. “Pose beaucoup de questions.”
“Questions about what?”
“Ta mére.”
“Why would Cole be asking questions about my mother?”
Her grandmother shook her head.
“I just need to find him. Comprenez vous?”
“Oui, amour.”
Lili could feel the frustration setting in. She envisioned meeting him in Senneterre. That would have made sense to her.
“Il cherche des réponses,” Lucette said.
“Answers to what questions? I’m so confused.”
“Ma petite do not be frustre. Coleman is your friend, oui?”
“Je l’aime,” Lili whispered.
“Amour, how wonderful,” Lucette said.
“Do you have any idea where he is going, Aunt Lucette?”
“Non,” Lucette shook her head. “He did mention something about witches and black cats.”
In the morning they all took the Rail to Montreal. Carmelle picked them up and they all returned to her home on de Maisonneuve. The four women entered the long hallway, and gasped at the artwork that hung on the walls. The entrance hallway, living room, and adjoining dining room had been turned into a gallery. Carmelle and her husband were supporting the work of local artist, Marie Roberge. Lili marveled at Marie’s work; the watercolors were beautiful blending into an array of flowers and facial expressions and geometrical designs.
“Lili, I think it’s important for you to know something.”
What little color Lili had in her cheeks withdrew immediately. The feeling was familiar, the panic was rising somewhere in the middle of her chest, the blood pounding behind her ears. The feeling bypassed her stomach and went straight to her knees.
“My goodness child,” Lucette said. “Sit down.”
“Verre d’eau. Verre d’eau,” Grandmére ordered.
Carmelle returned to the room quickly with a glass of water. “I just want to talk to you about something, ma petite. Mon dieu, Chérie.”
Lili guzzled the water but her mouth was still dry. “I’m sorry, I get overwhelmed sometimes. I don’t know why. Please go ahead.”
“We all wanted you to know about a conversation we had with your mother long before you were born.” Carmelle waited for the familiar pinkish hue to return to Lili’s cheeks. “You know your father could see the future, and no greater burden could there be on one soul.”
“How often he hoped that choices would change the outcome,” Lucette said, “and sometimes they did. Abigail never wanted to know when she was going to die, or when anyone else would die for that matter. That was her only rule with your father as a Gifted.”
“Vous comprenez?” Lucette asked Lili.
“Oui,” she breathed. “My father knew and he didn’t tell my mother.”
“That is all, Chérie,” Lucette rubbed Lili’s shoulders to help relax her.
“Abigail was not afraid to die!” Grandmére blurted.
“Well said, Mama.” Lucette shook her head and let out a giggle.
“Abigail wanted to live everyday with an open heart,” Carmelle said with a smile.
“I see my mother most days. There is no fear in her eyes, only light and love. She is my guide, Grandmére. I never thought to ask her if she was afraid, and I’ve never asked her what it was like. I feel her heart and it just never seemed necessary to ask her if she was angry or fearful, because I know in my gut that she was not.”
“Can you talk to her now?” Lucette’s eyes widened.
“I don’t do that, Aunt Lucette. I believe that everyone should take the time to communicate in their own way.”
“It took a great deal of trust for your mother to tell us of her life with your father but we have always been aware of the ways. We have integrated well with the Algonquin people,” Carmelle said.
“You would know since you married one,” Lucette laughed.
Carmelle could see her husband walking into the room behind Lili.
Lili turned around, “Uncle Kit!” Lili threw her arms around him. “I’ve missed you!”
“Naturally, that’s because I am the best storyteller you have ever known.”
“That’s the truth!” Lili smiled that bright gleaming smile.
Kit was short for Kitchi, his given name. He was born under the sun, unlike Lili, who was born under the moon.
“I see you are wearing your medicine bag,” he smiled.
Lili looked down at the small leather pouch that hung around her neck. It was a gift from Chief Taddahua.
“Never underestimate the power of the Indian ways, Lili. Practice the smudging ceremony everyday if you can. Since you’re here I have another ceremony to share with you. Will you join me outside?”
Lili nodded and followed everyone out into the tiny courtyard behind there townhouse. Several chairs surround a small fire pit that Carmelle lit. They all took a seat while Kitchi presented a ceremonial pipe to the group. Long feathers dangled off the end of the long, carved wooden stick. Kitchi stuffed the pipe with tobacco but before he lit it he reminded everyone of the purpose of this ceremony.
“It is time for you to be renamed by the Clan Mother of the Onondaga tribe.”
“Is this because I’m older now?” Lili smiled.
“…and wiser,” Carmelle laughed.
“Native American names are earned. I will now introduce you to the universe as, White Falcon. We will present you to the North, South, East and West. We will present you to the sky and the earth, the plants and to the animals.”
Kitchi lit the pipe and allowed the smoke to gather and rise. “You will be called White Falcon,” he announced.
He passed the pipe to Lili’s grandmother who took a nice, hearty toke and released the smoke in small rings. After everyone took their turn, Lili asked what they all wanted to know, “What does White Falcon mean?”
“The falcon means you are a leader who is looked to for clear judgment in difficult situations. White is the color of purity, purity of heart, mind and words.”
Grandmére took the pipe and said, “I have one more prayer to mother earth.” It was a silent prayer and no one would know what it was. Lili suspected her Grandmother was praying that her womb would not remain empty.
Kitchi burned some sage and cedar leaves in a bowl and walked around Lili waving the smoke with a large feather.
When the ceremony was finished Kitchi drove Lili to the car rental.
“Lucette called me while Coleman was there visiting,” Kitchi said. “I spoke to him on the phone briefly and arranged for him to leave Canada by boat. I only know the boat will be docking at Newport, Vermont. I hope that helps.”
Lili jumped out of her seat. “Witches and black cats! Vermont! Of course! I know exactly where Cole is headed!”