Charming

by Susie Kaye Lopez

  “Charming, I didn’t dream about you and now I have to get through a whole day before I get another chance.”

  I tried to imagine Charming’s reply to my words. I knew he’d probably tell me that it would be okay and to remember what Melissa said about being patient. Did Melissa know that there would be no dream last night? I wish she would have just come right out and told me so I wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.

  I showered and threw on white shorts and a navy and white striped tank top, pulling my hair up in a ponytail so I wouldn’t have to blow dry it. I felt a little better when I thought I could call Melissa and make another appt. for today. Why did I have to wait until next week? I had plenty of money. Melissa could tell me what Charming was thinking, get the answers to my endless questions. I applied a quick coat of mascara to my already black eyelashes and some peach lip gloss before grabbing my cell phone from the charger. I looked up Melissa’s number and pressed the talk button, listening to it ring several times until finally voice mail answered.

  “Hello, you have reached Melissa Montgomery. I will be traveling out of the country this week and unable to return calls. Please leave a message and I will get back to you when I arrive home on Sunday. Thank you, and have a wonderful week.”

  I clicked the phone off without leaving a message.

  “Damn it!” I pouted, and threw myself down on my bed. “What am I going to do now?” I allowed myself only a few minutes to wallow in self pity before dragging myself out the door. Classes would be a much needed distraction.

  I sat through Math and while the teacher started in on our first lesson, a review that thankfully included things I already knew, I doodled Charming’s face in a variety of expressions. The girl sitting next to me leaned over and whispered.

  “He’s hot, who is he?”

  “My boyfriend,” I whispered back and smiled. I had never in my life said those words before. It felt good, really good.

  After class, I had an hour break so I decided to grab something to eat. It wasn’t crowded, so I didn’t have to wait long for my cheese quesadilla and fries. I sat outside at an empty table on the patio to enjoy the beautiful day outside. This time of year they all were and I decided an afternoon at the beach would further lift my spirits. Danica had told me about a park in La Jolla where a lot of the kids went to study and I decided I’d check it out, maybe do some sketching.

  I was halfway done with lunch when someone said “Is this seat taken?” and I laughed when I saw Kara standing there, again decked out in workout wear. “Hi! Where’s Spike?” I asked as she pulled out a seat and opened a water bottle.

  “Oh, he’s home, I can’t bring him if I run. I let him go on walks, they’re more his speed. How’s everything?”

  “Good.” I replied. “I took your advice and found a medium. Her name is Melissa and she’s great!”

  “Wonderful. You are going to be able to learn a lot that way. Of course, your dreams are going to be the best part.” She smiled and kept talking, “You’re bummed out because you didn’t dream last night, right? Your buddy is nodding his head.”

  I turned my head quickly to my right where I felt Charming and wished for the millionth time I could see him too.

  “Hang in there. You’ll see him soon.”

  “Tonight?” I asked hopefully.

  “Yep! I think so!”

  “Kara, thank you!! I’m so glad I ran in to you!”

  “Well, I kind of ran into you, remember? I had this strong feeling that you could use a friend and a little peek into the future. This is a crazy ride you’re on, but worth it I would say!”

  “Totally, but Kara, how will it end? Will he always be here?”

  “Slow down Sophie. Let’s take this a day at a time. I am psychic but I’m not God. I can see some things and others I have to wait for. I do see that he’s meant for you and I see happiness and love for both of you. Now if that means only at night in your dreams I’m not sure. I can’t see the path it will take right now, but when I can I promise you will be the first to know. Okay?”

  “Fair enough. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Well, you have class and I’ve got to run, literally. You are going to the beach this afternoon, but how about some shopping tomorrow? We could walk the mall and you could pick up those sunglasses you’ve been wanting.”

  I hadn’t mentioned any of this to her and I laughed at the way she could know everything about me. It was oddly comforting. “What do you think I’m going to say?” I teased. She laughed.

  “3 o’clock is perfect! I’ll drive over and pick you up in front of the fountain where we met. Will that be okay?”

  “Perfect.” I replied, and with a hug we were off to our respective activities. My day had suddenly gotten a whole lot better and I knew Charming’s had too.

  ~

  I awoke slowly, conscious of the sound of splashing water and the happy chirping of birds. I was lying on my back and saw through a canopy of oak trees that the sky was a clear, bright blue. The air was hot and heavy with humidity. I must have fallen asleep reading as there was a heavy leather bound book open across my chest. Sitting up I saw I was wearing a white cotton dress that was pulled up showing my calves and bare feet and my hair fell over my shoulder in a braid, much longer than my hair had ever been.

  My hair reached mid-back, but now it touched my waist.

  Another splash made me look up and forget all about my hair. My heart ceased to beat for a moment as rising out from a beautiful pond was an even more beautiful Charming.

  Wearing only what looked to be cut-off grey pants, he smiled his gorgeous, dimpled smile at me and shook the water from his golden hair. His body was so perfect he could get a modeling contract tomorrow. How did I rate such perfection? He came towards the wool blanket I was sitting on and plopped down next to me, shaking his head and spraying me with water droplets. Before words came out of either of our mouths we were kissing and I was praying I’d never wake up. We kissed until we were both breathless and Charming’s lips traced a path of small kisses down my neck and back up to my ear where he whispered “you’re here.”

  I smiled and wrapped my arms tighter around him. “And I never want to leave.” We held each other, kissing until we were both breathless.

  “I love you, Sophie. Do you recognize this place?” he asked, with a hopeful note in his voice.

  I sat up, reluctantly letting him go and looked around. It truly was one of the most picturesque sights I had ever seen. The huge oaks surrounded the sparkling pond, their branches reaching across to touch and provide a natural umbrella.

  “No,” I said sadly “I don’t remember it, but it’s so beautiful.”

  “As are you,” he said simply. Then we were kissing again, more urgently as if we were running out of time, which of course we both knew we were.

  “Charming… I want to stay here. I want it all back, I want my memories. I only know that I love you and I can feel that with all of my being. How can I be so sure, know it so completely and remember nothing?”

  He pulled me closer, if that were possible, and I clung to him as he spoke. “I don’t know sweetheart, but if it helps you I can tell you about us. This place, this was our favorite spot. We would meet here often and you would bring a picnic and we’d read to one another and swim, and hold each other like this. This is where I first kissed you and where I asked you to be my wife.”

  “Oh!” I cried, looking up and feeling bad for both of us that these memories, so precious, had been taken from me. I could see in his eyes how much he wanted me to remember. Knowing exactly what I was thinking he cupped my cheek gently.

  “It’s alright, Sophie. You may never remember us when we were Lily and Charlie, and it saddens me, I admit. But it’s time for Sophie and Charming now. We need to make new memories while we are able. If these dreams are all we have so be it. They are more than I could have asked for. We must make them ours.”

  I took his hand from my cheek and kissed his palm. “
You’re right. I’m so happy to be here with you in this perfect place. It’s so different from yesterday, sitting on the grass in La Jolla, with all the people around. The ocean is so tranquil, but there was just this loud, busy mass of humanity surrounding us.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. It’s not private like this, but I enjoyed being able to watch the craziness swirling around you while you tried to read your homework. You know what I find most interesting about the time you live in?”

  “What’s that?” I asked, curious.

  “Tattoos.”

  “Tattoos! Why?”

  “Well, because everyone seems to be getting them and it’s such a personal expression yet so public because everyone sees them. I find it fascinating to see what meant so much to a person that they’d display it for a lifetime.”

  “Wow, Interesting.”

  “What? You don’t like tattoos?”

  “I just think it’s become a really huge fad and everyone is going to regret marking up their bodies someday.”

  “Well some people overdo it and then I agree, but one or two meaningful ones? That would be okay.”

  “Well, if you were able, would you get a tattoo?”

  “Yes, I would.” He smiled and his dimples deepened.

  “Really? And what would it say?”

  “It would say Sophie” he said seriously, staring into my eyes.

  I laughed, but butterflies flew in my stomach. “And where would you put it?”

  “Right here” he stated simply, touching the left side of his chest over his heart. Suddenly, my opinion of tattoos had changed dramatically.

  “I’m starting to think you’re earning your nickname.” I smiled, he laughed and the kissing commenced again. Then all to soon he was whispering against my mouth.

  “We’re out of time. I’ll be with you. I love you Sophie.” And I opened my eyes to the dorm room ceiling.

  “I love you too Charming.” I said aloud.

  Chapter 7

  Classes went by slowly but smoothly and I was happy when 3 o’clock finally rolled around and I was waiting for Kara at the fountain. A sleek black Mercedes Benz pulled up and Kara waved happily from behind the wheel. Hopping in, I greeted her.

  “Hi! Wow, psychics must make a great living! Your car is awesome!”

  “Thanks! Yeah, I have been pretty fortunate that my gifts have given me a great livelihood. That’s mostly from my book sales and seminars. I don’t do too many private readings, they drain my energy.”

  “I didn’t know you wrote books!” I exclaimed in surprise.

  “I sure do. It’s fun and I can help reach a lot of people and share my expertise with them. I love to help guide them on their spiritual journey.”

  “Well I know you have definitely helped me! I’ve never asked you, but are you married? Do you have children?” I realized how little I knew about my new friend.

  “No, and no, not unless you count Spike,” she laughed. “I was engaged for a short time, but I knew he was planning on cheating on me before he even did. Sometimes I’d rather not be psychic, believe me!”

  “That’s awful. Can you see your own future?”

  “Not usually. That would be cheating I guess. Sometimes I’ll get a certain feeling that something big is coming and that is pretty exciting.”

  “I don’t know what Charming and I would have done without you.”

  “Oh,” she said as she pulled into a parking space at the mall, “you two would have communicated sooner or later. I just got things rolling.”

  “Maybe, but I am so glad you and Spike took that walk!”

  “Me too. Hey, that wasn’t coincidence. I was meant to meet you that day. You have no idea how much of life is meant to happen.”

  The conversation soon turned to more normal subjects and we spent the next two hours gushing over shoes, clothes and accessories. I bought the sunglasses that I had been wanting and Kara bought three pairs of jeans and a jacket. We finished the day over salads and I was back in my dorm in time to call both my parents and grandparents and then end the evening with a video chat with Rylee. By the time I got in bed, I was exhausted and fell right to sleep.

  ~

  It was a moonlit night, cool but not cold and I stood with my arms resting on a balcony railing looking out over the grounds of what must have been a plantation or huge estate. I could see stables, buildings, gardens, and somewhere in the distance I heard a waltz playing. Looking down, I saw I was wearing a gorgeous rose silk ball gown that fell off my shoulders and reminded me of something Scarlett O’Hara would have worn in Gone With the Wind. I glanced up at the millions of stars twinkling above and smiled as I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist from behind.

  Sighing contentedly, I snuggled back into Charming’s chest, heart racing as he rained kisses down my neck. Twirling around to face him I wrapped my arms around his neck and greeted him with a kiss.

  “Hello,” I smiled up at him.

  “Hello,” he replied, his eyes boring into mine. “You look breathtaking tonight, Sophie. May I have this dance?”

  “You could if I had any idea how to dance, much less waltz. I’ve never danced before.”

  “Actually you have, many times, right here, with me. Let’s see if it comes back to you.”

  Before I could take a breath he drew me tightly against him and I found myself floating gracefully around the verandah.

  “You see, some things you never forget.”

  “Or perhaps you are just amazing at leading.” I laughed and joy filled me completely. We danced until my feet were sore and then he took my hand.

  “Come, let’s go have a rest.” Leading me to a staircase that took us down to the lawn I half ran to keep up with him as he pulled me toward an enclosed gazebo surrounded by a lush, fragrant garden. Entering, I saw a blanket had been laid down and a picnic sat ready nearby. The full moon gave off just enough light to see our perfect surroundings.

  “Would you like me to light some candles?”

  “No, this is perfect.” I grabbed handfuls of my beautiful but very full skirt and plopped onto the blanket, yards of fabric bunching around me. “I so love these gowns but they aren’t as practical as my shorts and tank tops.”

  “I have to admit I’m partial to your modern wardrobe myself” Charming said as he sat as close to me as my dress would allow. “I must also admit I would like to wear the casual clothing I see on your campus.”

  “I wish… Oh, I have to stop saying that, I’m just so happy to be with you now, and you look so amazing in that suit by the way. I’d love to have a picture of us together.”

  “You could sketch one of the two of us. That would be even better.”

  I smiled at him, and had my sketch book been close at hand I would have already started.

  “Charming, I can hear the music and we’re obviously dressed for a special occasion. Where are the guests? If we went inside could I see them? Could they see me? Would they know me?”

  “Whoa, so many questions! In your dreams we seem to be in places that were special to us both in our lifetime. But Sophie, they are dreams and I’m afraid that if we were to walk inside to see who’s here and find out if they can see the two of us you’d simply awake and the dream would end. Our time together is so precious. I don’t want to risk that, do you?”

  “No!” I stated emphatically. “Do you remember me wearing this gown? Have you seen it before? It’s just lovely.”

  “It pales in comparison to you, my love. Do you even know how beautiful you are my Sophie? I do remember the night you wore it. It was the night I could tell everyone we cared about that you had agreed to be my bride. I have never been so proud, or so happy. I knew I was the luckiest man on earth.”

  “There you go again, earning your nickname.” I teased him, feeling so full of love and wonder at this boy who stood before me. He was mine, heart and soul, and I was so blessed. His perfection wasn’t limited to the exterior, he was just as wonderful on the inside. His e
yes sparkled in the moonlight and he raised my hand to kiss my palm.

  “You didn’t say anything about your engagement ring. What do you think, too old fashioned for your present day?” I must have looked confused because he laughed at me and turned my hand over kissing each finger.

  The twinkle of diamonds shocked me as I stared at the lovely ring on my finger. How had I not noticed? It was a beautiful white gold setting with a large heart shaped diamond surrounded all the way around by smaller diamonds. It was stunning and definitely timeless. In fact, I had always loved it and had tried it on many, many times as I was growing up.

  “How did you get this?”I questioned him, surprised.

  “I had it made for you.”

  “My gran’s ring? It’s mine? Are you sure it’s the same one?”

  “Positive.”

  “I love this ring. My gran says it’s been in granddad’s family for generations… Wait!”I said struggling to remove it, “did you have it engraved?”

  I tried to see but the light was too faint.

  We both spoke at the same time, “beyond forever.” Our eyes met and only mine held a question.

  “Whenever I told you I loved you, you would look at me with those big brown eyes and say “forever?” and I would always answer beyond forever.”

  “Wow, you meant it didn’t you?”

  Nodding his head he lowered his face to meet mine and I melted into his arms. We seemed to spend a majority of my dreams kissing and I was definitely okay with that. I thought he was telling me the dream was ending when he said

  “I love you, Sophie.”