Chapter 12

 

Thea climbed the steps to her studio. For the first time in years, she stopped to really look at it. Who had entered her haven, her secret place?

The barn ceiling, with its heavy wooden joists, soared above her. Small beams ran from wall to wall, row upon row, until they reached the very top. Bookmarks dangled on both sides of each beam, arranged by year of birth. Each year was arranged by horoscope signs, starting with Aries at the left end of the beam to Pisces at the far right. Thousands of bookmarks. How could anyone but a weaver find the exact one he was looking for?

She walked into the center of the big, open room and closed her eyes. She thought about Joshua, and his bookmark came to her. It was a beautiful creation, not linear in shape, but formed with soft, curving edges. Its colors were soft and muted, too. A delicate pattern for a gentle soul.

She held it to the light and studied it. Each color of thread symbolized a particular aspect of a person’s life. At the very beginning, when Joshua was born, a sage green thread--Josh’s personal color--twined tightly with a warm sunset orange--her own personal color. Gabe’s happy yellow thread braided in and out of their tight bond.

Thea carried the bookmark across the room to her larger loom. She hung the bookmark beside it, to study it, as she began to work. Josh’s life map would be about two feet by four feet when it was finished.

The first three years of Joshua’s life flew beneath her fingers with a cheerful mix of sage green, orange, and yellow. When he was three, a blue thread wove itself into the bookmark--Rachel’s birth and aura. The colors continued to combine in happy patterns until Joshua was six. Then the green tangled in a small knot.

Thea frowned, remembering. That was the year that Joshua joined Little League and sat on the bench most of the summer. After that, the green and yellow splashed back and forth while Gabe practiced baseball with his son every night. The next summer, Josh’s happy pattern returned. He’d learned to dig in and became a good, solid player.

At nine, Joshua’s green had a series of tiny knots and tangles. Thea nodded. Those were years when Joshua was struggling at school. He was a good student, and enjoyed his teachers, but math was a challenge. This time, the green and orange threads did an elaborate twist and turn as Thea tutored him every night.

At twelve, there was a bigger knot. That was the year that Joshua fell in love with Cecily Wharton, and she teased him mercilessly day after day. Finally, Rachel cornered Cecily in the cafeteria and told her that her aura was turning ugly brown, and Cecily stayed as far away from Josh as possible. Thea smiled, remembering.

She looked out the loft window and saw that the sun was sinking low enough that Hannah would be home from school soon. She was staying later than usual this week, practicing with the school choir for the end of year program, and Cynthia was bringing her home. Cynthia’s son, Toby, was in the choir, too.

“Did you find anything yet?”

Thea jumped and turned to see Gabe standing behind her. “Don’t do that. You almost scared me to death.”

“Sorry. I forgot I don’t make any noise.” He looked at Josh’s weaving. “How far are you?”

“Twelve and Cecily Wharton.”

Gabe grinned. “I was so proud of Rachel that year.”

“Me, too.” Thea frowned. “Since you’re here, I need to know. Can you come into the studio when I’m not here?”

“I don’t know. I never tried.”

“Try when I leave,” Thea said, “after I lock up.”

“Why?”

Thea told him about her mother’s theory. “How many ghosts are hanging around Emerald Hills?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen any but Aggie. You should ask Hannah.”

Thea glanced out the window again. No sign of Cynthia or Hannah. “Is Aggie happy?”

“Watching Hannah? You bet. Beau’s not so happy she stayed behind, but it’s no big deal really. Time feels different when you’re dead.”

“You’re not dead. You’re alive.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Your parents and Annabel are coming for supper tonight,” Thea said. “I’d better get started in the kitchen. Do you think you’ll be able to stop in and see them?”

“I might be able to see them, but I don’t think they’ll be able to see me. And I don’t want to scare them. That would be awful for Mom, if I were some kind of strange light show.”

Thea nodded. “I’ve got to get busy. Try to get into my studio when I’m not here and it’s locked, okay? And ask Aggie about any ghosts who might have a grudge against you.”

“Will do. Will you have time to finish the life map tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll try.” And they both left.