CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
(part six)

“You have to kick this thing,” Jacob said.

“I can’t,” Delphie said.

“You couldn’t,” he said. “You can now. What’s the question?”

“Why has all of this misfortune come over us?” Delphie asked.

“What misfortune?” Sam asked on his way into the kitchen. He hugged and kissed Delphie good morning.

“All these law suits, Val losing her movie, poor Sandy’s past coming back to hurt her, Jacob’s heart problems, the company’s struggles, the list is pretty long. And it’s happened all at once.”

“I lost my baby,” Honey wheeled into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

“Honey’s baby,” Delphie said. “The doctor said the baby was fine.”

“No genetic problems. There was no reason for the miscarriage,” Honey said. “They’re guessing it was because of the injury but….”

Honey shrugged then sighed. Delphie kneeled to hug her.

“That’s a lot of misfortune,” Delphie said.

“At least we have each other.” Sam placed his hand on Delphie’s back. “That’s all that matters to me.”

Delphie stood to hold him.

“I think it’s Johansen.”.

Delphie’s head jerked to Jacob. Jacob poured a travel mug of coffee for Honey. He gave her milk then poured a cup of coffee for himself.

“Then Johansen must die,” Honey poured the milk into her coffee then gave it back to Jacob. “Asshole. I don’t even know the man and he takes my baby? MJ better not find out. He will flip out.”

“He’s evil,” Delphie said. “He can do things… You’d be surprised.”

“How did he get in the house?” Sam asked. “I thought the house was protected by white light or Goddesses or some other thing.”

Jacob nodded to Delphie.

“I didn’t let him in,” Delphie said.

“Cloud?” Jacob asked.

“Oh God,” Delphie’s hands flew to her face. “It’s all my fault! Just like Delbert. It’s all my fault!”

“That’s how,” Jacob said. “He rides in on your guilt.”

“I was there when Delbert died, Delphie. Delbert did what he wanted to do, what he needed to do for himself,” Sam said. “Surely you know that.”

“I don’t give a shit how he got in here,” Honey said. “I want to know how to get rid of him. I don’t play nice when people hurt me or my family. It’s all just bullshit!”

Honey wheeled out of the kitchen.

“You have to let go of your guilt.”

Jacob put his hand on Delphie’s shoulder. He kissed her cheek then went up the stairs to his apartment.

“He’s right.” Sam prepared a cup of coffee then started another pot. He turned on the burner to the tea pot.  “What would it take to let this go?”

“Forgiveness,” Delphie said.

“Whose forgiveness do you need? Celia never blamed you. Ever. Her mother always said that Delbert did whatever he wanted all his life. Even Celia’s weirdo sister never thought it was your fault.” Sam pulled her to him. “I never thought it was your fault.”

Delphie rested her head against Sam’s shoulder.

“Jake decorated the tree,” she said.

“I hope he’s not too shy to un-decorate the tree this year,” Sam said. “That’s the real work.”

Delphie chuckled.

“Forgive yourself,” Sam said. Kissing her forehead, he stepped back. He made Delphie’s green tea then gave her the cup. “I need to keep moving.”

Delphie nodded.

“Ask Celia to help you.” Sam turned at the door. “If anyone can do the impossible, it’s Celia.”

Sipping her green tea, Delphie realized that Celia would fix this. Celia would think it was funny. She just needed to ask. When she was a child, she never asked to be free of Levi Johansen because she didn’t know she could. She didn’t know life without him. She knew life now.

Delphie jogged up the steps to her apartment. Sitting back down on her meditation bolster, she lit the candles and restarted her incense.  Closing her eyes, she whispered:

“Celia, help me lift this cloud.”

The silence was deafening.

Denver Cereal continues on Monday….
Please note – Denver Cereal will skip Christmas and catch up with the gang near New Years. The Christmas segment will be available as a special chapter during the holiday season.