There Are Secrets in the Fog

I couldn't help but smile at Ms. Ida. Straight to the point, no chit chat. I liked that about her. I wasn't one for much chit chat either.

I gave Rihanna a quelling look and stepped out of the truck. Rihanna smiled sweetly back at me and slammed the door as she got out.

"Good morning, Ms. Ida. I hope you don't mind, but I brought my sister along with me." I waved in Rihanna's general direction as we both made our way to the front porch.

Ms. Ida met us at the bottom of the stairs. She gazed up at Rihanna, a slight frown on her face. Then, she looked at me.

"Twins, I see. Identical." She stuck her hand out towards Rihanna, "I'm Ida Pendleton. You can call me Ms. Ida."

Rihanna hesitated for a split second, then took Ms. Ida's hand. "Nice to meet you. My name is Rihanna."
They stared at each other for what felt like an hour, but was probably only a few seconds. They held hands for a wee bit longer. When they finally let go of each other, Rihanna seemed nervous.

Ms. Ida looked back at me. She had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Kiara, I'm sure you have a wonderful plan to get my yard back into shape, just let me know when you want to start, and how many strange men I should be expecting to invade my yard."

She dipped her head quickly, as if agreeing to something. "Well, with that business out of the way, why don't the two of you come inside. It seems we may have a few other things to talk about."

Ms. Ida looked at Rihanna. Her thin lips were pressed into a smile, which gave her the air of a nun in charge of a school for recalcitrant girls.

She turned and walked back up the steps and into the house. The screen door banged behind her. I looked over at Rihanna, who seemed rooted to the step. "Well," I said, "let's get on in there. You should be just bursting at the seems with curiosity about what she has to say."

Rihanna didn't look at me, but continued to stare at the screen door. "Curiosity is not the adjective I would have picked to tell how I feel at this very moment, sissy."

Rihanna smiled then, and turned to me. She had what could only be described as a devilish grin on her face. It made my skin crawl.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see wisps of black smoke beginning to crowd around the front porch. Rihanna saw it too. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "Ah, sissy, doesn't the air smell wonderful!"

"Not really," I said. I walked up the stairs and opened the screen door, motioning for Rihanna to enter before me. It gave me time to look around the porch. The black fog seemed to be growing darker and more dense.

As if in reaction to it, Rihanna seemed as if she was getting colder and more calculating.

The inside of Ms. Ida's house was tastefully furnished and could have been taken directly out of the pages of Southern Home and Garden Magazine. It was bright, and airy, and cheerful.

I led Rihanna through the den to the back of the house to the kitchen, where I knew Ms. Ida would be waiting. She did all her entertaining in the kitchen. Secretly, I rubbed my hands together, wondering what kind of treats she would have for us.

"Chocolate chip cookies!" Rihanna said, "those have always been my favorite!" Rihanna clapped her hands like an excited little girl. I tried to keep my expression neutral. Chocolate chip had never been Rihanna's favorite.

"Thank you, Ms. Ida." I said as I took a couple of cookies and sat down at her big, thick-wooded table.

The table was a family heirloom, having been passed down multiple generations. It was round, and I could just imagine King Arthur talking to his knights around a table like that on some cold, gray wintry day.

"Please, sit down Rihanna." Ms. Ida said. As Rihanna took a seat, Ms. Ida brought over iced tea in beautiful cut crystal glasses. It looked delicious in those glasses.

"Got these as a wedding present." Ms. Ida said as she took a chair for herself. "I have used them rarely, so I thought it would be fun to use them today."

"Ms. Ida, you have a wonderful home." Rihanna said, "It's so big. I bet it gets lonely here at night."

"Rihanna!" I said.

Ms. Ida looked at me with a patient smile. "It's OK, Kiara. Your sister is entitled to her opinion."

Ms. Ida turned to face Rihanna, "Young lady, I am going to give you a piece of advice. You can take it or leave it."

Rihanna smiled and straightened up at the table. She was all eyes for Ms. Ida. "Yes, ma'am, I'm listening."

"Shadows offer nothing but empty secrets. There is no excitement, and there is no love."

Rihanna's eyes hardened, "I'm not looking for love, Ms. Ida."

Ms. Ida ignored the comment, and continued, "So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love."

I could see gray storm clouds brewing over Rihanna's head. Ms. Ida seemed unaware of the coming thunderstorm.

"Look to these three things for fulfillment, and not at the darkness. Because, if you continue to allow yourself to be fulfilled by darkness, you will not only lose your mortal life, but quite possibly your soul."