FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Chapter 8 - Sakura

VISIT #2 - JULY

The UK called it a heatwave, but for Camila, it was just a pleasant summer's day. She had enjoyed a few weeks in Miami with her family and after her stay at Unger Hall she was starting the Europe leg of her tour with a night at the O2 Arena in London. She and Shawn had been in constant touch, and he was coming to the show as well, before he headed back to finish work on his album, planning for a September release. His flight from Toronto didn't get in until later in the day, so he was meeting her at the house. She had plenty of time to get ready to see him.

She knew there was something wrong when she saw Tally waiting for her because he was dressed in more casual clothes, with a light jacket despite the warm day, and a hat.

He came and opened the door for her when the car pulled to a stop and she hugged him tight as they farewelled the driver.

"What's going on Tally, where are you off to?"

"My daughter just called, she is in hospital, emergency surgery, and she wants me to come look after the girls for about a week. I'm sorry Miss Camila, I only see the two of you for a few days a month, and of course it is Murphy's Law that this happens now!"

"Oh God, Tally, don't give it a second thought, we can manage! Go be with your family! Tell me anything I need to know and then we'll see you next month."

He gave her a list he had written of where things were and how to work things, and then he left. She took her bag in the elevator to the first floor and stood outside Shawn's room. Were they sharing one room this time? Or did she take her things to her own room? She decided on the latter, but mostly because she wanted to check out the letters in the old music box. She decided to eat first, she was starving and although it wasn't lunch time yet, she couldn't wait. She found some salad items and made herself up a bowl and washed her dishes when she finished. Then she walked around. Without Tally and Garry, and especially without Shawn, it felt cavernous and empty. She went into the morning room, her favourite room in the house, remembering the first time she had stayed overnight. She had found Garry here in the morning, his wheelchair pushed up to the table, staring out the window at the dreary rain, a piece of paper in his hand. She had startled him, he had been so deep in his thoughts, and obviously melancholy, and the paper had fluttered out and in an uncanny manoeuvre had slipped in through one of the vents.

She had forgotten about it until now. She bent down to look at the vent. It had been years ago, what would be the chance it was still in there? She went into the kitchen and found a knife and a pair of tongs and then played with the screws of the vent which had long been painted shut. She got a couple out and then a third but the last was stuck fast, however the vent fell to one side and she used her phone as a flashlight and looked inside. There were years of dust balls, a dessicated dead mouse, old spider webs and then, on the bottom, a yellowed piece of paper. She pulled it out with the tongs, shook off the dust and put it on the table.

It was an old newspaper article, and although it was hard to read she could see it was about a ceasefire in the Malay conflict, announced July 12, 1960. Today was July 13, 2020. This had happened sixty years ago, when, by her calculations, Garry had been twenty two years old. The fact that the anniversary of the event had been the day before sent a shiver down her spine. Yet, it was a strange article to keep, she thought, until she looked closer at the picture. She recognised the young Gareth from the photo she found in the music box. There were a number of officers and some Malay officials. Standing beside one of them, in traditional dress, was the beautiful Jamila.

She went into the study and retrieved the photos she had seen, and, on impulse, the poetry books, and returned to her room to begin laying things out on the chest of drawers in the dressing room. The music box, the newspaper clipping, the framed photos, the letters and photo. She pulled out the rest of the letters, there were a lot to go through, but as she started to do take them out, her phone rang. It was Shawn.