Sisterhood of the Traveling Book
by donalee Moulton
It is October 31st. All Hallows’ Eve hovers on the horizon, and my friend Lynn and I have decided to ignore the portent, the heavy mist, and the grey clouds as we make our way down a dirt road to the gravesite of a little girl who died more than one hundred and thirty-five years ago. Catherine McIntosh.
headstone at Catherine McIntosh’s gravesite
Catherine plays a central role in Cardinal. The book is my first foray into the paranormal, and this trip my first visit to the last place Catherine called home. The gravesite is as depicted by those who have blogged, posted, and written about this little girl. It appears to be in the middle of nowhere, on land that was once a family farm. Getting here is not easy. Getting out is just as challenging.
It is worth the drive. Catherine’s gravestone seems unravaged by time. It sits near the road surrounded by flowers, cards, dolls, and other gifts all a tribute to a young girl who never lived to celebrate her ninth birthday. Some kind soul has draped lights above the headstone. I wonder what it would look like at night. I wonder if I have the nerve.
We bring gifts, a small angelic ceramic candle holder from Lynn and miniature bouquet of artificial flowers from me. We make our way to the headstone wondering if, like many others, we will feel Catherine’s presence. We do not. And we should know better.
I place the small vase at the foot of the headstone, and I introduce myself. I tell Catherine I have written about her. She is an important part of my book. I hope she will be happy to know that. As I start to lift my head from the treasure trove of gifts, a red bird looks back at me. A cardinal. Plastic, but nonetheless a cardinal. So, Catherine knew we were coming.
I’m not moving. “Lynnie, there’s a cardinal in the tree.” Lynn turns to look in my direction. Her head sweeps over the small, forested area. “No,” she says. “They are all over the place.”
Someone has festooned branches with red birds, not all cardinals, but all red and all close enough to the title of this book. We thank Catherine, and we leave.
Off the dirt road and back on pavement, we breathe. We realize we have time for a coffee and a walk around a nearby town on our way to a weekend yoga retreat. We park, grab a hot drink, and make our way to the first gift shop. I open the door. A table chock-a-block with lovely toys, trinkets, and treasures holds centre stage. In the middle of this table, a large cardinal. I turn and walk out.
It’s time to leave brilliant red birds behind us. We land at the resort, put on our swimsuits, and make our way to the pool. There is a large locker room. Some of the lockers have names on them. I turn the corner and stop before the first locker. One with a name on it. The name is Catherine MacIntosh.
There are forces at work that surround Cardinal. I don’t know what they are, but I am grateful for them.
Get a copy of Cardinal here.
Love the real life location to your story!
It was a special place. Not sure if that is because I felt connected to the story, or simply because.
Oooh… how amazing is that? I am a firm believer of signs from those who have passed. Cardinals are widely believed to be messengers from loved ones. But you probably knew that!
The main character in this book also appears in a short story in your anthology Midnight Schemers. This is her first full-length appearance.
Ooh ahh!!! I love that.
Wow! I got chills reading your blog. Can’t wait to read the book.
The day reminded me that truth is stranger than fiction.
Just wow!
That sums it up!
I think you made Catherine very happy. I wonder how long she’s been waiting for you.
She holds a special place in my heart.