Joseph nodded, and looked at her knowingly.
“We hoped that you would come with us. If you’re comfortable giving it a try, that is.”
Carolina dimmed at the prospect of facing the gray mist again. The idea of what could be lurking within the depths of the ominous, dark fog terrified her to the core. But she had to admit that the last time she ventured out onto the grounds beyond Jacaranda Manor’s borders, nothing bad had happened. And shedidwant to see the lights of downtown St. Augustine again. She truly did want to see her paintings displayed for the public to see. Carolina looked out the window, beyond the long gravel drive and into the trees. It was a cold, clear and sunny January afternoon, and there was nothing in the forest but bare branched trees and the great beyond.
“All right then,” she nodded. “Let’s give it a try.”
“Really?” River said. “Awesome!”
With that, the little boy beckoned her to follow him out of the sitting room, into the foyer and onto the front porch. Joseph followed behind, petting their barking dog and locking the front door of Jacaranda Manor behind him. River hopped into the back seat of the Jeep, and Joseph opened the passenger side door.
“Am I to ride with you then?” Carolina asked.
“Well, you can float your way there if you want, I guess?” Joseph said. “I thought it would be nice if I could drive you though.”
Carolina looked into the front seat of the Jeep gratefully. The thought of facing the gray mist alone was already terrifying, but if Joseph was next to her, then she stood a chance of beating it.
“Very well then,” she said, entering the car. “But don’t be surprised if I scream and disappear. If I see something suspicious, I won’t think twice of heading back to the estate.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Joseph said, closing the door behind her.
Joseph entered the driver’s side door and turned over the engine. The big black box of a vehicle rumbled to life and loud, screaming music played on the radio.
“Sorry,” he cringed, turning the volume down. “Ready?”
Carolina clutched her hands tightly together in her lap. She could tell that her silhouette was dimming more and more by the minute. Joseph breathed a puff of warm air into his hands as he cranked the heater, but Carolina felt nothing. She was completely frigid and gripped with fear.
As the Jeep’s tires crunched over the gravel driveway, Carolina could sense her anxiety build. The treeline grew nearer as Joseph slowly drove away from the estate, yet the gray mist didn’t accumulate. A great pressure began to build behind Carolina’s eyes as though she could cry, and as the Jeep reached the end of the estate clearing, her hand shot out into the air. She wrapped an icy cold hand around the top of Joseph’s fist where it rested on the center console. She squeezed his hand until they drove past the boundaries of the yard and into the tree-lined forest that surrounded the home. It had been ages since she had been this far, and to her astonishment, no creeping, ominous vapors appeared. No dark, dastardly mist rolled in to claim her. It was only sunshine and River and Joseph.
“I made it!” she exclaimed, still holding on tightly to his hand. She let out an exuberant cry of relief and disbelief as she looked back at the manor in the distance.
“You did,” Joseph said, smiling at her from behind the wheel. She knew her whole body was likely burning up and glowing by now. Their hands were still clasped firmly together, his energy flowing through to her in a sweet and euphoric wave.
“Thank you, Joseph,” she said, her eyes shining. “I think I finally feel free.”
***
So much had changedin downtown St. Augustine since she had last been there. The Castillo de San Marco still looked very much the same, still standing watch over Matanzas Bay, its ancient stone formations protecting the city that she so loved. A bridge guarded by lions had been installed linking downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island, but many of the buildings and landmarks were still there and were the same, just slightly different. Her hometown had been long ago updated in an alien sort of way. That’s what Carolina felt like. An alien in an alien world that felt familiar and unfamiliar all at once.
Carolina’s show was to begin at seven p.m., though Joseph rolled his Jeep into downtown an hour early, just before dark. He grabbed hot dogs for himself and River from a street vendor and together they all sat on the sea wall overlooking the bay. Carolina wished that she could smell the food and feel the salty spray of the choppy water on her face. She wished she could lean over and rest her head on Joseph’s shoulder as she admired the smiling couples and families taking carriage rides up and down the cobblestone street. She was there in the world, but not really there. Still, she was grateful to be away from Jacaranda Manor for a change. She was also anxious to see her artwork, and though she was confident in her skill, also worried what people would say.
“If people are cruel to me, I’ll have to disappear Joseph,” she said, as they whizzed through the Spanish quarter. Carolina locked eyes for a moment with a costumed young girl with cascading auburn hair as she guided a group of tourists toward the Castillo. For a moment, Carolina was certain that they could see each other, but she continued on at Joseph’s heels.
“No one will be mean to you,” River said.
“Remember, bud,” Joseph said, tugging his son along. “No talking to Carolina once we get into the studio. People won’t understand.”
“Got it,” River said and pantomimed zipping his lips.
“It’s going to be just fine, Carolina,” Joseph reassured her. “We’re here.”
Westing Art House was a small, but sleek studio in the heart of downtown St. Augustine. Carolina was surprised to see a line, already out the door, of well-dressed individuals waiting to view her work. A tall man dressed in a dark suit with dark glasses waved Joseph and River past the line and Carolina slipped in behind through the doorway and into the sparse, bright space.
“Joseph! You’re here!”
Carolina felt her silhouette dim as Emma Westing strode toward them. She was outfitted in a clingy green dress with heels and dark red lips that showed off the whiteness of her teeth. She looked like the very image of Christmas and Carolina balked at the way she kissed Joseph on the cheeks in the European style. Her envy toward this lively, radiant woman would have to be contained somehow.
“The show is just about to start,” Emma said, leading him and River to the back of the room. An open bar and buffet had been set up just for the event with finger foods that Carolina didn’t recognize. Soft orchestra music floated down from the ceiling, just loud enough to be heard over the murmur of the crowd outside.
