Secrets and Love Don’t Mix

Lara Matthews was wearing down the fluffy white carpeting in her family room as she paced back and forth, alternating between drinking her white wine and checking the time on her gold-and-silver Cartier watch. Refilling her wine glass, she contemplated the task ahead of her that night. She needed to talk to her fiance, Richard Plant. 

High school sweethearts, Lara knew Richard would be the man she would marry the moment their eyes connected the first day of Junior High. Everyone knew they were meant for each other and teased they were already married. But they put off marriage while they finished their degrees; her’s a Doctorate in Fine Arts and his a Master of Education.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. In their second year of university, Lara’s family was killed in a car accident, her father’s blood alcohol level four times the legal limit. Her parents and younger brother were killed instantly, while her older sister hung on for a few hours longer, the doctors doing everything they could to save her life, but to no avail. She was too badly injured. 

It was Richard who made all the necessary arrangements and notified people; Lara was so devastated she could barely speak. She stopped eating and spent nights pacing their tiny apartment, crying. She became gaunt; her long black hair only emphasized how pale she’d become. But Richard was right next to her the entire time she mourned, taking care of her. He rarely left her side. They both took a semester off to help Lara work through her grief and devastation and slowly Lara began to recover, deciding one day, after almost six months, it was time to clean out her family home, which she had inherited and which she and Richard planned to move into when Lara felt ready. They fought over her going to the house to start boxing up her family’s possessions.

“It’s something I have to do myself,” explained Lara. “It’s nothing against you but they were my family and I need to be the one to do it.”

“I can just be there for support. You shouldn’t go alone. A gentleman never permits a lady to do anything alone.”

Despite her anxiety about being in the family home for the first time since her family was killed, Lara smiled and brushed an errant strand of his blond hair out of his dark blue eyes. “You know you’re my knight in shining armor, my hero. But you have to let me do this alone. Please try to understand.”

Richard reluctantly backed down and while he studied, Lara drove slowly to her childhood home. Parking, she stood on the sidewalk staring at the enormous three-level structure, which after no one living there for months, appeared neglected. Weeds were everywhere, some of the shutters had come loose and the structure looked to Lara as an abandoned shell once occupied by her dead family. Memories, good and bad, flashed through Lara’s mind - kids chasing one another around the house, playing hide-and-seek on the huge estate, family dinners and holiday celebrations filled with love, happiness and cheer. Lara didn’t realize she was crying until an elderly black lady, weighed down by shopping bags, stopped to ask her, “Miss, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” replied Lara, wiping away her tears. “Thank you for your concern.” The woman looked dubious as she continued on her way, occasionally looking back at Lara. 

Gathering all her courage, Lara fought to open the rusty locks, the door opening with a creak and groan. More memories came rushing back and Lara needed to steady herself against the wall to keep herself from collapsing. She did some deep breathing exercises, squared her shoulders and headed to the master suite.

Opening the double doors, she was enveloped in the smell of her mother’s favorite lilac perfume. For a moment she simply looked around at everything looking as though her parents would walk in any minute. 

Lara randomly opened her mother’s musical jewelry box, the melodic tune turning back time to when her family still existed and was whole. She pulled out her favorite necklace; a large oval amethyst gem set in gold. Without thinking she hung it around her neck and felt a strange sensation come over her. Lara looked at herself in the mirror over the dresser and saw nothing different. But she suddenly felt compelled to go up to the attic. 

Before realizing it, Lara found herself in the attic with no recollection of climbing the stairs. She somehow knew what she was looking for was in the bottom box in the left corner. Digging it out, she caused a number of other boxes to fall over but left them where they lay, some opened, with their contents, mainly papers and photos spilled out on the floor. 

Lara searched frantically through the box until she found what she wanted. An old, cracked brown ledger, Lara knew exactly which page to turn to. When she found it, she realized it was a letter addressed to her in her late mother’s precise penmanship.

My Dearest Daughter, 

I’m afraid if you’re reading this, I’m no longer with you on this earthly plane. I wanted to explain your inheritance of a special gift, as I did for your sister. But since I can’t, I’ll have to do my best to explain in a letter. 

As I mentioned, you inherited a special gift. It’s a gift all the women in our matriarchal line inherit. You found the necklace which directed you to this journal and the pages where I explain your gift. 

The necklace has been in our family forever; it is the key to your gift and you must take care of it. With it, you are a superhero. Wearing the necklace allows you to hear the cries for help of innocents. It is your duty to save them. 

I know how crazy this sounds and wonder what you’re thinking but please accept your gift and use it for good. 

Wear the necklace always and you’ll have the power to conquer the villains while protecting yourself. You cannot be harmed if it’s on your person but it doesn’t mean you’re invincible. You have inherited the gift of saving innocents, an all-powerful superhero. But never abuse your power or it will turn against you.

Accept your gift but tell no one. Use your gift to help humanity. If not for you, then for me and all the women in our family throughout the centuries.

I will always be with you to watch over you.

I love you so much. One day, far in the future, I wait to hug you again.

Until then, accept your gift and make the world a better place.

Love,

Mom

Lara fondled the necklace between two fingers, feeling its heat.  A superhero? Her? She was afraid of spiders yet supposed to fight villains! How was she supposed to beat them? She had no training in fighting, martial arts or any defense techniques. 

But she was a superhero expected to save innocents in danger? Really?

*****

Now, because of her gift, she had to give up the love of her life; her superhero. He’d almost caught her saving innocents a few times and couldn’t risk being found out. 

The phone rang, startling Lara.

“Hey babe. Just wanted to let you know I’m on my way home to you and will be there in less than 10 minutes. Did you make dinner or do you want to order?”

It took her a moment to process his words. “Order. I’m not up to cooking. I need to talk to you.”

“I’ll be home in three minutes. What’s wrong?”

“We’ll talk when you get here,” said Lara before disconnecting the call. The phone rang again but Lara ignored it, resuming her pacing. 

A couple of minutes later, the front door burst open and Richard came running in, his blond hair disheveled and an expression of concern on his handsome face.  “Lara, I’m home! Where are you? What’s going on?”

She came out of the study, crying. Richard hugged her tightly. “Lara, what is wrong? Talk to me.”

She pushed him away and stared at him, a dull look in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Richard. I can’t marry you.”

“What? Why not? What happened?”

“It’s over. Please pack your things and go. I’ll stay at a hotel for a couple of days to give you time.” Her voice cracked. “I love you but I can’t marry you. Find a normal woman and be happy.”

“Normal woman? You are normal and I am happy,” he declared.

“It’s my fault we can’t be together. I’m sorry.”

“How is it your fault?”

“That doesn’t matter. Just promise you won’t mourn me.” 

“Lara,…”

She pushed past him, put on her jacket and collected her suitcase. 

“You’re leaving already?”

Lara pulled herself together. Straightening her spine, she walked past him, stopping at the front door. “Richard, you will always be the love of my life. I know this makes no sense, but I’m doing this to protect you. Maybe one day you’ll understand why.”

Her long black hair whirled in the wind, the last thing he saw before Lara closed the door, leaving him confused, bewildered, hurt and sad.

“Goodbye, Lara,” cried Richard to the empty room. “I could not and will not ever love any woman more than I do you. We were meant to be together. What did I do to make you leave?” He slumped to the floor, sobbing, grieving the loss of the only woman he would ever love. 

Outside, Lara stood crying, listening to her beloved’s cries and feeling her heart shatter. Then, with tears pouring down her face, she got into her black Honda CRV and drove away without looking back.