Twilight's Serenade

Twilight’s Serenade

  Sometimes it seems that life has gone on for everyone but me.”
“But you’ve experienced an entire world that you might not otherwise
have known while you traveled and attended school.” Lydia smiled at her
youngest. “I hope it was everything you wanted it to be.”
Britta hoped her smile would reassure her mother. “I could never have
had the same education in music had I remained here in Sitka.”
“I can hardly wait to hear you play the violin for me,” her mother said
proudly.
Britta had taken up the violin mainly to please her mother and follow
in her musical footsteps. But as the years passed, Britta found the violin to
be an extension of her own soul. When she pulled the bow across the strings,
it seemed as though the music came from somewhere deep within Britta’s
own heart.
“We shall have a wonderful time playing together,” Britta replied.
“Just like we did in the old days.”
 “The old days?” her mother questioned with a raised brow. “You
speak as if you’re a little old woman instead of a beautiful twenty-four year
old.”
Britta pushed back her empty plate and reached for the teacup.
“Sometimes I feel very old—almost as if I’ve lived a hundred years in the
last six.”
Lydia’s tender expression almost drew a confession of purpose from
Britta’s lips. Her mother’s love was evident, and Britta didn’t wish to keep
anything from her. Still, now was not the time to explain. There were too
many issues at hand. Too many ghosts that needed to be dispelled.
A knock at the front door caused mother and daughter to pause in
conversation. Lydia got up and went to see who it might be while Britta
gathered her wits. There was no sense in pouring out her heart. Especially
when she couldn’t quite figure out what her heart wanted.
That’s not true. I know very well what my heart longs for. I simply
cannot have it. She took herself to task silently and waited for her mother to
return.
“That was one of the Masterson boys. Caleb, in fact. You remember
him, don’t you? I think he’s nearly sixteen. Anyway, he’d just come from
the Belikov place,” her mother declared as she hurried back into the room.
Britta felt as if a knife had been run through her heart. “Yuri’s house?”
“Yes. Marsha is about to give birth and needs my help. I sent Caleb on
to fetch the doctor, but I could use your assistance, if you can spare the time.
Their little Laura is only three and well be terrified to witness her mother
going through labor.”
The years seemed to drop away at the mention of Yuri’s family. Britta
stiffened. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Good. I’ll gather my things and then we can go.”
“Should I get the wagon?” Britta asked.
“No. Yuri’s cabin isn’t all that far. It’s just half a mile or so down the
coast road. It won’t take us long to get there on foot.”
Britta said nothing. Her stomach churned, and she wished she’d not
eaten that last piece of bread. The thought of Yuri and his wife left her sad
in a way that Britta could not ever admit to her mother.

Twilight’s Serenade
Copyright © 2010
Tracie Peterson