Cape May

Illusions

Her crying grew more uncontrollable, and I just held her next to me. The sun was starting to go down, and yet the garden was as bright as if it was midday. Mommy really did a great job with the property. If I hadn't known any better, I'd have thought I was at a Botanical garden or something. I guess people got tired of dancing salsa, cause they were now walking around and about. I saw my wife Holly strolling with my mother on the other side of the pond. It was like a small lake actually. I waved. They waved back. They saw me holding my sister and gave the perfunctory, serious look that one gives at occasions like this.

I put my hand under her chin and gently lifted her face. "You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm ok." She had stopped crying and was now wiping the tears with her free hand.

I looked at her face and saw the little girl that used to annoy me to no end. 'I miss you.' I said.

And with those words, the last eleven years were removed from our lives and whatever wall of awkwardness that stood between us disappeared. Again, the tears started running down her cheeks, and she took my hand in hers.

"I miss you too Bobby. So much."

I just pulled her to me and held her. Sometimes words are not needed. They just get in the way.

The sun was setting, giving everything in the garden a magical glow. My twins were playing with her kids off in the distance and I saw mommy talking to Aunt Sylvia. From our vantage point on the bench, I could see mommy had spent some dollars on the fish. Some were quite big and colorful. The pond was lit up from inside. Everything seemed so perfect and serene.

Sometimes life is an illusion.