“Waldo”
“Big beard and huge nose. He’s a local. Looks a bit older than you. He found out I'm staying at your place and I’m…”
“Worried that he’ll know who you are? And then everyone else will find out where you are?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” I hear a long breath coming down the line. “I hate that you feel you have to live like this. Can we
revisit the idea of restraining orders again?”
“No, darling Aunt, we cannot.”
“Very well. Then at least let me put your mind at ease about Waldo. It has to be Waldo Hendry. I’ve known him forever—well, as long as Patsy and I have had the cabin. He is a complete dear. Doesn’t say much, but heart of gold.”
“He’s the house manager at Gold Creek Ranch,” I tell her.
“And that’s where you saw him? You went up to the Ranch?”
“Not on purpose. There was a series of events. But here is the kicker…have you heard of a band called Mercury Rising?”
She’s silent for a minute then answers. “Is it the one with that nice Harry Styles?”
Bless her.
“No, that was One Direction. Mercury Rising did the soundtrack to the last Bond film. Angsty indie rock stuff.”
“Ah, gotcha. Three lovely looking boys though, am I right?”
“You are. And those three lovely looking boys are living in Gold Creek Ranch.”
“What on earth?”
“Yeah, I don’t know why they are here—maybe they're on a retreat or something. But they now know I am at the cabin now. I’m freaking a bit. Waldo knows I’m here, and he could put the pieces together about who I am. And then having a rock band as my neighbors. They are in Dad’s world. What if they have visitors who know me? Or I don’t know…”
I trail off. There are so many variables.
“Breathe, honey. What name are you using at the cabin?”
“It’s still Harmony. I like it. It’s what I want in my life.”
“I like it too. The perfect counterpoint to that,” she pauses, I know she wants to say ‘awful’ but restrains herself, “...that name your parents gave you. So the band knows you as Harmony, so who is going to tie you to the old you?”
“I guess you are right.”
“Of course I am! OK then, here is the plan. I haven’t seen Waldo for years, but I’ll get in touch and explain a little…after all, he knows who my ex-brother-in-law is.”
“Sheila…this all makes me very nervous.”
“I won’t tell him everything. Just enough so he knows to keep quiet, and also keep an eye out for you.”
“And you think I can really trust Waldo?”
“I know you can.”
It was all very well Sheila saying that. I didn’t know that at all.
But I did trust my aunt.
