Hello there,
Thank you so much for joining me for this continued reading of Moonlight at Mistarwis.
This is my unofficial,
Independent,
Fan-written sequel to The Blue Castle,
Which was published 100 years back in 1926 by Canadian author Lucy Moore of Montgomery.
Montgomery apparently never wrote a sequel herself to The Blue Castle.
So here I am a hundred years later with my offering.
I do believe that The Blue Castle was the only novel she wrote that wasn't based on Prince Edward Island.
So for some people,
They find it special in that way that she was writing not just about Prince Edward Island,
But about the mainland.
And indeed,
I believe the story is that she was inspired to write The Blue Castle after being on a family holiday in the Muskoka region of Ontario.
I also spent quite a sizable amount of time in Ontario also,
About 20 years ago at this point.
It's such a beautiful region.
I don't remember necessarily going exactly to Muskoka,
But such a beautiful part of the world.
And if you're listening along to the story,
I do hope that you're enjoying.
As always,
You can look for the playlists for The Blue Castle and Moonlight at Muskoka Star Wisp here on Insight Timer if you'd like to listen to the previous chapters or for a refresher.
So for now,
Before we get further into the story here,
Let's just take a moment to have a nice,
Deep exhale.
Letting go of the day.
Letting go of whichever baggage we might be bringing along with us into this moment.
For right now,
There's nowhere else we have to go,
Nothing else we have to be doing.
So we can just relax,
Get ourselves comfortable and enjoy the next installment of Moonlight at Miss Star Wars.
Chapter 25 You are beginning.
The morning of Olive's departure dawned clear and cold,
A thin mist rising off the lake as if the island was exhaling in farewell.
Windward stood quiet behind her,
Its humble roof tipped with dew,
And Olive paused once more on the path to take it all in.
She had slept beneath those rafters for the last time for now.
Listened to the loons through its thin walls and dreamed under its weathered shelter.
Toolshed or not,
Windward had become her sanctuary.
Good luck came padding up the path and rubbed himself firmly against her ankle.
Olive looked down at him.
Then,
After the briefest hesitation,
She bent and stroked his head.
His purr started up at once,
Warm and steady beneath her hand.
Perhaps some of your luck will rub off on me She murmured.
Barney and Valancy were waiting by the boat.
Barney steadying the prow against the rocks,
Valancy's shawl drawn close about her shoulders.
Olive's trunk was already aboard,
Stowed securely for the crossing.
Olive carried her satchel with surprising ease,
As though its modest weight matched the lightness she felt inside.
The moment was bittersweet,
Yes,
But not overly heavy.
It was change.
And,
Somehow,
Change no longer terrified her.
I'll live glanced between them.
These deer.
Unlikely companions.
Who had become somehow her safe harbour.
Thank you both.
Thank you.
For not asking me to be in it.
Anything but myself here.
The lancy's eyes shone.
We only wanted olive.
The real olive.
Barney coaxed the motor.
Well,
The other version looked like far too much trouble.
Olive laughed,
Then sobered.
The trouble is… I'm still not sure what Toronto will make of me.
I'm afraid I may turn into the old olive again.
You managed,
Miss Star Wars,
Rather better than you expected,
Commented Valancy.
Barney nodded,
Though his eyes were still on the tiller.
Besides,
If you forget,
We'll only have to drag you back here and remind you.
He cast her aside long glance,
A flicker of amusement in his eyes.
Anyway.
You're lucky those bramble scratches are pretty much healed now.
Wouldn't do to step into the big city looking like you just wrestled with a blackberry patch and lost Olive gave a short laugh,
Touching her cheek as if to make sure.
They did leave me looking rather like a cautionary tale,
Didn't they?
Well,
Let Toronto think what it likes.
Miss Darwis will always know the truth.
The boat nosed away from Miss Starwes.
Olive kept her eyes on the island.
As long as she could.
Trees crowded the shoreline,
Gold and russet glinting among the evergreens,
The cabins half-hidden,
Yet bright with memory.
As the distance grew,
The shapes blurred,
Until only a line of trees and sky marked where she had spent this unexpected,
Glorious summer.
Altered her life.
At the landing,
Barney tied up the boat and loaded her trunk into the back of the car with efficient strength.
Valancy tucked Olive's smaller satchel beside her on the seat,
Then climbed in close so their shoulders touched.
The motor rumbled to life and they set out towards the train station.
The road rising and dipping through gold-tipped maples.
No one spoke much.
Every now and then,
Olive and Valancy's hands brushed in the space between them,
Light touches that said more than words,
As their destination drew nearer.
The station was as familiar as it was transformed by the moment.
Its clapboard walls,
The blackboard with chalked times,
The faint smell of coal and oil,
Travellers,
Porters,
Children clutching parcels,
All these had belonged to countless other ordinary days.
Yet.
To Olive.
They seemed to tremble with new significance now.
The clatter and shuffle of ordinary departures only made her own departure feel more momentous.
Barney swung her trunk down from the car with ease,
Setting it on the platform while Valancy hovered close,
Thrumming with anticipation.
Olive had rehearsed clever parting words on the drive.
Brisk,
Witty,
Endearing,
But now,
Staring at the flat stretch of track running away into the autumn distance,
She found her throat thick.
She managed only.
Wow.
Here I am,
Off to conquer Toronto.
Her laugh was thin,
But Valancy seized her hand with warmth.
You needn't conquer all of it,
Valancy said.
A small piece of Toronto will do to begin with.
Olive gave a shaky laugh.
Perhaps a very small piece.
Start with Aunt Josephine's spare room.
That I may be able to manage.
A whistle sounded in the distance.
Olive's smile disappeared.
Beside her,
Valancy went suddenly still.
Barney moved closer at once,
His arms settling around her.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment,
And something unspoken passed between them.
Valancy drew a deep breath.
For one dreadful instant.
The train.
Ceased to be an idea.
And became.
A real thing.
Bearing down now upon Olive.
A giant,
Beastly,
Black engine that meant Toronto.
Strangers.
Art school and no possibility of quietly changing her mind tomorrow.
Olive swallowed hard and her fingers tightened around Valancy's.
Her other hand slipped into her coat pocket.
And closed around the clear marble from windward.
The faded red ribbon was safe between the leaves of her sketchbook.
I will write,
She said.
You had better.
The train came steaming into the station a moment later.
Brakes shrieking as it slowed beside the platform.
Barney lent in closer.
Mind you don't let that city swallow you whole.
And if it does,
Write and tell us where it put you.
Olive looked at him.
Very comforting,
Barney.
I do my best.
And,
Windward,
She asked,
Still yours whenever you want it?
Something in Olive's face crumpled for just a second.
Oh.
Bother you both,
" she said and hugged Valancy.
Then the conductor called and.
.
.
The moment had arrived.
Olive stepped back quickly before her courage wavered.
She turned to Barney,
Whose nod of approval was steadier than words,
And then,
Gathering her skirts,
She mounted the steps into the waiting car.
From her seat,
She pressed her gloved hand to the glass.
The platform blurred a little from steam from her bleary eyes,
But she caught sight of Valancy's small dark figure,
Waving with both hands,
And Barney beside her,
Lifting his hat in a grave salute,
His messy hair ruffled by the station wind.
The train jolted,
Then rolled forward.
The area she had always called home.
Now slipped away.
And with it.
Miss Star Wars.
And yet.
.
.
Olive's heart felt stretched.
Not broken.
The rhythm of the wheels beneath her.
Seemed to say what words had failed to.
You are beginning.
The drive back was quiet.
At the landing,
Barney parked the car and Valanci stood for a moment,
Looking across at Mastawis.
Funny,
She said.
What is?
It looks the same.
" Barney followed her gaze.
Were you expecting Olive to take a few trees with her?
Valancy smiled and exhaled.
Possibly.
They crossed over in the boat with the September sun warm on their backs.
Windward was the first thing Valancy noticed when they came up from the shore.
Its door stood shut.
Barney glanced towards it too.
Poor old Windwoods lost its tenant.
Temporarily,
Said Valancy.
Inside the main cabin,
Valancy set the kettle on the stove.
She reached automatically for three cups.
Her hand stopped.
Barney saw.
Neither of them said anything.
Valancy.
Put one cup back.
They ate quietly,
Though the food was good.
Barney had roasted trout over the fire,
And Valancy had sliced the last of the season's tomatoes.
The meal felt both ordinary and strangely solemn.
Like the closing of a door,
They would never open in quite the same way again.
When the dishes were stacked and the kitchen tidied.
Barney reached for her shorts.
Come on,
He said,
Slipping the shawl around her shoulders with the familiar gentleness that always softened his rougher edges.
Let's stretch our legs before the night settles in.
The maples had begun their slow fire,
Edges tipped now with scarlet and gold.
The air smelled of fallen leaves and damp earth,
Rich with endings and beginnings alike.
Valancy leaned into Barney's side.
His arm heavy and reassuring around her.
Neither of them spoke at first.
The forest filled their silence with its own language.
Twigs snapping underfoot,
The faint scurry of a rabbit in the underbrush,
The faraway hoot of Leander beginning his watch.
They walked on until the trees thinned and opened into a small clearing.
Here,
The world seemed to pause.
The moon was lifting over the dark horizon.
Enormous and luminous.
A giant lantern,
The colour of pearl.
Its light slipped between the branches and laid itself across for Lancey's face,
So that Barney stopped short,
Arrested by the sight.
You'll blind me if you keep shining like that,
He said,
But the jest trembled with something deeper.
Valancy tilted her head.
It's the moon's doing,
Not mine.
Barney only smiled.
She slipped her hand into his and stood very still.
For weeks now,
She had carried her suspicion quietly.
Watching her body.
Measuring time.
Listening to herself in ways she had never dared before.
At first,
She had spoken of it only as a possibility.
Half afraid to give it voice.
But now.
.
.
Three missed cycles had come and gone.
And the truth.
Was no longer a fragile hope.
Eat?
Was certain.
Delightfully.
Fearfully.
Certain.
Her voice when it came.
Was steady.
We may feel a gap on the island right now,
Barney,
But She pressed his fingers.
I believe in you.
It really won't stay empty for long.
Barney turned to her,
Searching her face,
As if to be sure he hadn't dreamed the words.
She nodded.
Her smile radiant under the silver light.
It's true,
Barney.
By spring.
There will be.
Three of us.
For a heartbeat.
He simply held her gaze.
Then a sound escaped him.
A juddering,
Raucous half-laugh He caught her against him,
His cheek pressed to her hair.
Oh!
Moonlight.
He whispered,
The word breaking on his breath.
I'd half dared to believe it,
But.
.
.
Hearing you say it now,
Valancy pressed her face to his chest,
Her own laughter spilling out,
Rich and trembling with joy.
We don't have to wonder anymore.
Awe Little one.
Will fill this island with new sounds,
New stories,
A whole new life.
Barney drew back just enough to study her,
His eyes fierce with fear.
Tenderness.
Your world?
Truly well.
She nodded happily.
I feel stronger than ever.
All of this,
She gestured to the trees,
The water,
The moon above,
Is lending its strength to me.
They stood in the clearing,
Wrapped in the humming hush of the woods.
The leaves trembled in the silver glow,
As if the island itself were rapturously listening.
At last,
Barney chuckled,
His voice rough with wonder.
I suppose I'd better get to building a cradle next.
Can't have our little mite just.
.
.
Sleeping in an apple box.
Valancy giggled,
The sound light as a girl's.
Her mirth rang through the clearing,
Bright as the moon itself,
And Barney caught her close again,
Laughing too.
Then they grew quiet,
The laughter giving way to something.
Deeper more tender.
Barney smoothed her hair back from her face.
Whatever comes.
Noisy,
Messy,
Sleepless nights and all.
I'm so glad it's with you.
On this island.
Nothing else matters.
Valancy exhaled deeply.
Yes.
Let it come.
Let it all come.
I'm ready.
We're ready.
Bani's thumb lingered at her temple his eyes searching hers Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?
Valancy tilted her head against his chest,
Smiling.
I've no idea.
A girl with your wild hair,
Perhaps?
Or a boy with your stubborn chin?
Barney gave a mock groan.
Heaven help us if it inherits my chin.
Better,
A girl with your laugh.
That would soften anything.
Valancy laughed again,
Then grew thoughtful.
Truly,
I don't care which.
Only that it arrives safely.
His arm tightened around her.
That's all I ask too.
Boy or girl?
It won't matter.
We'll love it.
With everything we have.
She pressed his hand to her middle,
Her voice low and steady.
We'll muddle through the rest somehow.
" Barney bent and kissed her hair.
Of course we will.
Barney was quiet for a long moment,
His hands still resting against her.
When he spoke,
His voice was hushed.
I.
.
.
Never imagined this,
You know?
Being a father?
My life's been so lonely in stretches.
I never would have thought of that.
This.
I thought I'd chosen it that way.
To keep clear of hurt,
Of people.
Never thought it would turn out like this.
Never.
Not before you.
Balancy looked up at him,
Her face open and tender in the moonlight.
And now,
Barney.
He gave a low laugh with a soft shake of his head.
Now.
I can't picture anything else.
You.
Me.
This little scrap of life we've somehow called into being?
It's more than I ever dreamed.
I love you.
Moonlight.
