Chapter 3
“Putain!”
Kasey was jolted awake, her foot kicked by a passing French waiter in a rush scowled down at her. He stormed off, red faced and shiny still watching her. She couldn’t tell if the look of distaste was directed at her or her icy feet that were flat across the concrete thoroughfare. Kasey gave the man a plastered smile and attempted to push herself up. She felt a small bit embarrassed. Although it had been a long night, passing out after 3 flutes of champagne was not her typical style, though there was no point dwelling on it.
she laced her fingers together and stretched them above herself, making no effort to stifle the yawn that signaled the stiffness of her slumber. no one else seemed to walk down the balcony, in fact it seemed strange that a staff member from last night’s very tame gala was still around at, Kasey checked her watch, 7:27 on a Saturday morning. she didn’t think too much of it, as soon as her eyes fluttered back open to face the greying sky, thick with rain clouds, already it had started to rain. droplets quick with conviction seemingly desperate to soak into the grass below. the moment rain brushed her cheek she was quick to jump up, wobbling to her feet in the soft sued peachy coloured heels that were encrusted to her feet with a net of buckles and zippers.
She reached the sheltered archway of the bay door. Standing proudly as the portal between the stormy exterior and the constantly buzzing ballroom. The energy was different, hours after the event had ended yet retained a feeling Kasey couldn’t quite place. Her eyes scanned the high ceilings and deep crevices in the walls. Windows stood, stained and opulent, if sun were to trickle through them the space in which Kasey stood would likely be veiled under rich greens and maroons, a projection of a melancholy window scene made by an artist many moons ago. Picking up her walking pace, Kasey hobbled across the parquet floor, her heels making an uneven “clack” sound on the polished wood. The position which she had slept in caused the girls right leg to fall partially asleep, making it increasingly difficult to walk naturally and quietly through the empty space. Apart from herself and the waiter, Kasey was seemingly alone. The rain was amplified on the slate roof, echoing through the arches, and harmonizing with the small atmospheric whispers of the ancient walls. Kasey stopped, nearly in the center of the ball room, she inhaled, quickly and brightly, the rush of cool morning air acted as a much-needed stimulant.
The bags under her eyes did not fade, nor the ache in her neck and calves, yet she was awake; in the truest sense. Surrounded by air that was thick with magic, memories not of just gallery opening fundraisers, but baptisms, weddings, festivals and celebrations of life dating back hundreds of years, all leading up to this very moment. Lives both old and new, as vibrant and real as her own passing through Kasey’s vessel as she closed her eyes. Drawing in another breath, deeper than the last, she could swear the taste of someone else was here, a thousand other exhales, synchronized with her own.
Did they think about me in that moment?
She pictured a woman, robed in velvet, her thick braided hair pinned tightly back. Her face a painting, tears heavy at the rim of her deep honey eyes. Kasey stands in the same place as this woman, a new mother in fact, her infant cradled close to her heart. It doesn’t stir, the layers of snow white linen it’s wrapped in are the same sheets that their mother sleeps under. Kasey wonders; does the mother know in thirty years her son will stand here too, his eyes as big as saucers, just as they were when they first opened. His hair thick and impossibly dark, just as his mother’s was. His wife stands close, lilacs and daisies woven into her own. She smiles at the man, moon faced and beaming, her freckles looked like flecks of gold in the sun. One day the children she bares will stand here, as her ancestor did.
Kasey did not plan to have children. She thought of the characters who will exist whilst she decomposes in the earth only a few feet away from the balcony that she awoke from. The moments she took to think, the rain only got heavier, and the lighting dimmed to a lazy grey.
The lamps dotted throughout had been left on since the evening and pooled their surrounding surfaces in a rich orange glow. Kasey’s’ round face was illuminated in this light, it ran down her nose and traced her moving form, following as she reached the foyer. The slanted arch of the church building cascaded down on either side, meaning the ceiling of the room dipped incredibly low, the grandness of the main room starkly contrasting to this much smaller, carpeted space.
Kasey scanned the room. Empty, though a considerable number of coats and hats left dormant in the coat check. Just to the left of the exit was a door, a passage to a landscape of coat hangers and abandoned purses, patiently waiting to be claimed. Kasey thought it rude to leave so many lavish textiles ownerless so she tried the doorknob. The dark oak door put up no fight and swung inwards, bringing the contents of the large closet in full view. The room was dark as she stepped inside, but light enough to see the outline of fur, leather, and cord jackets and their companion scarves or hats. The rain was much quieter in there, stifled by the padding on the walls and the insulation stuffed above the low ceiling (is what Kasey deduced, at least).
She checked her watch, 7:39. I should hurry up. At this rate I won’t make it.
She flicked her wrist up again, reading the clock face. 7:40. She knew the rain had only just begun outside, and chose out a heavy brown leather jacket. It reached just below her knees, and the worn down fuzzy lining swayed with her movements, lapping at her bare thighs. A hat, of similar style hung above where Kasey had grabbed the jacket which now sat comfortably around her shoulders. With no real time to inspect her appearance, she pulled the bucket hat over her hair and reached for the brass door handle. The outside world was just as windy and unpleasant as Kasey had expected. The borrowed coat was useful, but not incredibly effective to keep her vessel from getting christened by the elements. The footpath that lead from the church was lined with great spruce trees, each trees base was embellished with a healthy patch of small white flowers.
A quick glance at them could fool an untrained eye into thinking that the first snowfall of the autumn had graced the earth, though mother nature was not known to be hasty with these things.
Snow was never rare in Valshire, but instead often waited until the last possible moment until the grey sky turns white, as do the rolling hills and inky forest surrounding them. Blanketing the landscape in thick snow, for seemingly months, sleet and ice mapping the roads well into spring. Kasey was thankful it didn’t snow in autumn, as horrid as the rain was, walking through the CBD in high heels through ice-cold slush seemed a far worse challenge.
A soft rhythmic buzzing pushed at the palm of Kasey’s hand. Her phone had been tucked away the majority of the night yet was still low on battery, she noticed, bringing it up to her rain drop patterned cheek. “
Morning Simon, how are you feeling?” Kasey answered the call as brightly as she could, these being the first words uttered of the new day.
“Good morning my love”
Kasey chuckled awkwardly in response.
He was difficult to hear, as she was maintaining her fast walking speed, and the wind whistling in her ears only made his low, raspy voice even lower and raspier.
“What did you get up to?”
“Not much my sweet. I didn’t want to miss the gala you know, I felt guilty the whole night truly.”
“Please don’t worry Simon, I’m serious. Its ok. Your family didn’t fall apart because you didn’t end up at one fundraiser thing.”
Simon said something in response that was lost to the wind.
“Your coming to dinner tonight I hope.” Simons voice was far louder and sterner than only moments before. Kasey cleared her throat before responding.
“umm, yes if that’s still on the table. I’m excited to finally meet everybody”
“Of course it’s on the table, don’t be daft” His voice carried that same tone.
“I’ll pick you up from where? Work?”
“No, home would be better, I want to get changed first”
“Work clothes are fine, I’ll pick you up from the gallery, alright?”
Kasey pondered telling him that she hadn’t gone home after the gala, but quickly decided against it. She had the odd blouse or two stowed away in the office at her work, she hoped they would meet Simons expectations.
“Ok sweetheart, that’s fine then.” He didn’t react.
“Where are you?” “I’m out right now, works only a minute or so away.”
She checked her watch, sandwiching her mobile between her shoulder and ear. 8:04. Late.
“stay safe, ok?” Simon hung up before she could respond, though her pace quickened, the gallery was in sight. The rain hadn’t subsided at all but Kasey felt a small bit warmer than she did before.
She hoped the dinner would go smoothly.
Bea will be there too, she thought.