Connections of the Mind

by Dowell, Roseanne

  Rebecca put her hand on Julia’s shoulder, drew her close, held her for a moment, and then released her. A comforting silence lingered between the two women.

  Rebecca didn’t feel the need to speak—the hug said it all. Besides, how could she tell Julia in these few short days that she had fallen in love with her son?

  Julia smiled. “Coffee’s ready, when you are. Would you like some breakfast?”

  “Just coffee is fine. I’ll be down after I shower.”

  Julia nodded and left the room. Rebecca opened her bag. She had forgotten about Jeremy’s clothes. She almost laughed out loud. Good thing Mrs. Marlin had left. She took out her clothes for the day.

  “Oh my gosh, Lester.” A vision of her brother huddled in bed in a hotel room with Allison curled next to him came to her. She grabbed her cellphone, flipped it open. Nine missed calls. All last night from Lester. She punched in his number. God, she hoped nothing happened to him or Allison. Why had he called so many times?

  “Beck, are you okay?” Lester answered on the second ring.

  “I’m fine, what about you and Allison?”

  “We’re fine. Are you sure you and Jeremy are okay?’

  “I’m positive. Why did you call so many times last night? It says I missed nine calls from you. What’s going on?”

  Lester sighed. “We were worried about you and Jeremy. I had a horrible feeling something happened to you. I thought you were in trouble. Then when you didn’t answer your phone. Hell, I was worried sick about you.”

  Rebecca sat on the bed. “You had a feeling about us?”

  “Yeah. It was weird. I couldn’t shake it. It was like…I don’t know what it was like. I can’t explain it.”

  “You don’t have to. I know what it was like. Are you sitting down, Les?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “’Cause I have to tell you something. Can you put it on speaker so Allie can hear too? I only want to have to say this once.”

  “Hold on.”

  “Beck, are you okay?” Allie said.

  “Yeah. I’m fine. Someone tried to kill Jeremy last night. He…”

  “What?” Lester screamed. “Where are you? I’m coming over there. What the hell is going on, Beck?”

  “It’s okay, Lester. Calm down. There’s no need to come here. I’ll meet you later for lunch and explain the whole thing. I’m fine. Jeremy is fine. Honest.”

  “Oh my God, Beck. Are you sure everything is okay? I mean…I don’t know what I mean. Can’t we come there? See for ourselves. Your brother is walking around in circles.”

  “Okay, fine. Come here. But give me some time to shower and stuff. Okay? You have to remember Mrs. Marlin has had a big shock, so don’t come storming in here like crazy people, okay? Get some coffee into Lester, maybe some breakfast. I’ll see you in about an hour.” Rebecca hung up before they had a chance to respond. Just what she didn’t need was her brother pouncing in here trying to take charge.

  She picked up her clothes and headed for the shower. Her cellphone rang before she got to the door. She flipped it open. Lester again.

  “Hello.”

  “You forgot to tell us where Jeremy lives,” Allison said.

  Rebecca couldn’t help but laugh. After all the tension of last night and this morning, it felt good. She gave Allison the address and directions. “Remember what I said about calming Lester down. I don’t want him upsetting Mrs. Marlin anymore than she is.”

  “Promise. See you in an hour.” Allison hung up.

  After her shower, she entered the bright yellow kitchen. Julia sat at the table, a contemplative look on her face.

  Rebecca hated to disturb her. She went to the old-fashioned stove and poured herself coffee then joined Julia at the table.

  Julia looked up, as if surprised to see her.

  The door banged, and both women jumped at the sound. Jeremy stormed into the kitchen. Rebecca’s stomach tightened, her head began to ache, and her heart thumped as if it wanted to pound out of her chest, as Jeremy’s anger seeped into her.

  “Jeremy, what is it?” Julia went to her son. “What happened?”

  “That bastard!” He balled up a towel and threw it across the room. “He killed Pop.” Tears fell on his cheek. He brushed them away.

  “He killed Pop, and he tried to kill me.” He slid to the floor, buried his head in his hands, and let the tears flow.

  Rebecca went to him and knelt beside him. She took him in her arms and held him. “Shush,” she whispered. “It’s okay.” She soothed him.

  Julia sank into a chair. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The door slammed again, and Dan’s stocky frame appeared in the doorway. He looked from one to the other and went to Julia.

  “Jules.” He took her hand, helped her out of the chair, and put his arms around her.

  “I don’t understand, Dan, I just don’t understand. Why?” She spoke through her sobs.

  “Revenge.” Dan took a breath, caressed her back and continued.

  “Mike arrested Lee’s mother, Mz. Derrick, a long time ago for drugs and alcohol. The court sent her for rehabilitation. Lee was just a kid, so the court put him in a temporary foster home.” He led Julia back to her chair, went to the stove, picked up the coffee pot and refilled her cup, then poured one for himself.

  Sitting down next to her, he took a sip. “When she got out, she went on a drinking binge. She died later the same night, alcohol poisoning.”

  Rebecca gasped. Jeremy calmer now, stood up, helped Rebecca to her feet, and poured them each a cup of coffee. They joined Dan and Julia at the table.

  “The foster parents abused Lee, beating him every day, and they made him work on their farm after school. No one ever knew. The Johnsons didn’t come into town much, ‘cept on Sunday for church. Lee quit school at sixteen, and no one questioned him. The beatings continued until Old Mr. Johnson died when Lee was seventeen.” Dan stood and moved around the kitchen, running fingers through his hair. He shook his head.

  “Lee confessed to killing Mr. Johnson. He had a bad heart; Mz. Johnson thought he died in his sleep. No one suspected. Then Lee spent some time in jail a few years back for attempted burglary. He got time off for good behavior and took the job at the pizza shop a year ago.”

  “Oh dear Lord.” Mrs. Marlin wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  Jeremy slammed his fist on the table. “So he got away with two murders all this time?”

  “We got a psychiatrist gonna examine him to see if he’s sane enough to stand trial. I believe they’ll find him so.” Dan went to the sink, rinsed the cup, and put it on the sideboard. He came back, leaned toward Julia, and kissed her cheek.

  “I have to go, Jules. I’ll see you later.”

  She returned the kiss, got up, and walked him to the door, leaving Rebecca and Jeremy alone.

  Rebecca shifted in her chair, uncomfortable with Jeremy for the first time since she met him. She lowered her eyes, twisted her hands, an ache began deep in her stomach. Crap, Lester would be here any minute. She didn’t need this now. Maybe if she called him, she could stall him.

  The doorbell rang. Too late. She stood and looked at Jeremy. “That’ll be Lester and Allison. I told them they could come over. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, I don’t mind. I guess they have as much right knowing what’s going on as we do.”

  Mrs. Marlin came into the kitchen, followed by Lester and Allison.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Lester hurried to Rebecca. “We just heard what happened in the restaurant. Why didn’t you tell me on the phone?”

  Rebecca sighed. She should have known they’d hear about it. Forgot how fast news spread in small towns. “I’m fine. Really. Look, can we go someplace for coffee?”

  “No need to leave, dear, I can make more coffee. Would anyone like some breakfast?”

  Jeremy came to stand by Rebecca’s side. “Sit down. We’ll explain what happened.”

  Later, after all the excitement died down, and Mrs. Marl
in insisted on fixing everyone breakfast, Lester and Allison left to register at the cabins. “No point in wasting a week’s vacation,” Allison said.

  Mrs. Marlin said she had an appointment, and Jeremy and Rebecca were alone for the first time in hours.

  “What are you going to do now?” Jeremy asked. “Are you going home?”

  Rebecca stood, smoothed her blouse and looked at him. “I still have to finish my course.”

  “And after that?”

  Rebecca shrugged. After that was up to him.

  “I’d like you to stay.” He stood next to her. “I love you, you know.”

  Rebecca saw the desire in his eyes, and her heart leaped for joy. She smiled. Oh, she’d stay all right. For however long he wanted her. After all, it wasn’t just their minds that were connected.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “You okay?” Lester kept his eye on the curving, hilly road. Allison had been exceptionally quiet since they left Rebecca.

  “Yeah. Just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “A lot of things. I can’t believe what happened with Rebecca and Jeremy. I mean, my God, they both could have been killed.”

  Lester reached down, picked up Allison’s hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “Let’s not think about it.”

  “Hard not to. You know it’s weird, you had the same kind of intuition Rebecca has sometimes. I mean you knew something was wrong.”

  “Yeah, that was strange. Can we talk about something else? I mean, we’re supposed to be on vacation, and I know what happened was bad. But Jeremy’s a cop. Sometimes bad things happen to cops.”

  “I know. It’s just everything. Rebecca won’t be coming back to Cleveland, and it’s not going to be the same. I guess I’m a little sad.”

  Lester pulled in front of the registration office. “Come on, let’s go register. Then we’ll go into town and pick up some groceries. Do you like to cook out?”

  Allison waited for Lester to come around and open her door. “I love to eat out. I’m not much of a cook on the grill. My cooking is limited to the stove.”

  “Okay, you do the stove cooking, and I’ll cook on the grill, deal.”

  “Deal.”

  After they registered, Lester drove down the hill and found their cabin. “Let’s get settled inside, and then we’ll go to the store.”

  Allison followed Lester and waited while he unlocked the door. “Wow, not too shabby.” She looked around the cabin.

  Lester followed her inside and set their suitcases down, let out a low whistle and put his arms around Allison. “I think we’re going to enjoy that fireplace. Come on, let’s check out the bedroom.”

  “Very nice,” Allison said.

  “Hmm, very nice indeed.” Lester bent down and kissed Allison.

  Allison giggled. “Okay, we really do need to go to the grocery store. We can’t live on love.”

  “Maybe not, but it would be fun trying.” Lester nibbled her ear. Nothing he’d like better right now than to try out the bed. But she was right; they needed to shop. Stores weren’t open all night in these small towns. Not like at home. In fact, he wasn’t sure they were even open late. Another quick kiss, and he pulled away. “I guess you’re right. We better shop. Should we make a list, or just pick up whatever we feel like?”

  “Let’s be spontaneous. Whatever strikes our fancy.”

  “Okay, but we’re picking up a couple good steaks for sure and don’t forget charcoal. That isn’t a gas grill outside.”

  “Maybe we better make a list. My memory isn’t what it used to be.”

  Later, Lester poured charcoal on the grill. Allison stood at the doorway and watched him. God, she loved watching him. Loved the way he moved with such care and precision. She smiled at the way he placed each lump of coal to form a pyramid. She loved everything about him. Always had. And he asked her to marry him. After all these years worshipping him from afar, she finally heard the words, “I love you.” She went back into the cabin to make a salad and put some potatoes in the microwave to bake. It was fun doing things together. Even shopping with him was fun.

  “Oh crap,” Lester yelled.

  Allison ran to the door. “What’s wrong?”

  “Stay there. Don’t come out.” Lester backed up slowly toward the door.

  “Lester, what’s wrong?”

  “Skunk.”

  “What?”

  “Shh. Stay there and keep quiet.”

  Allison opened the door and looked out. “Oh crap!”

  With that, the skunk lifted his tail and sprayed. Lester made a beeline for the door, dived inside, and barely escaped getting hit. He closed the door against the disgusting odor and turned on the air conditioner. “I told you to stay here.” He ran around and closed the rest of the windows.

  “Well, you could have told me why.”

  “I told you it was a skunk. You should have seen him stomping his feet at me and hissing. I think it wouldn’t have sprayed if you hadn’t opened the door.”

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea. I didn’t hear you say it was a skunk. I thought you burned yourself or something.”

  “Yeah, well do you have any ideas for dinner? I’m not going back out there.”

  “Why not? He’s probably gone.”

  “Didn’t you smell it?”

  Allison couldn’t control a giggle. “Honey, it even stinks in here.”

  “True, but not as bad as out there.”

  “So what, we’re going to stay in here the rest of the week?”

  “Okay, I’ll go out long enough to make the steaks. But if he comes back, I’m out of here.”

  Lester opened the door and stuck his head out. “Yuck! You got anything we can spray out here?”

  “Only the spray I bought for the bathroom. You can try it.”

  “Anything is better than that smell. Get it for me will you?”

  Allison hurried to the bathroom and came back with the spray. “I don’t care how bad it smells, I’m getting hungry.” She had no idea Lester had such an aversion to smells. Although, why should that surprise her? He was immaculate about himself: the way he dressed, the way his hair looked. Everything about him reeked neatness. Lord, if he had gotten sprayed, he’d probably die. She stifled a giggle at the idea of Lester being sprayed by a skunk. Another second or two, and he might have been.

  Lester put his arms around her and pulled her close. “Me, too, but not for food, and what are you grinning about?”

  “Enough. I need to eat.” She didn’t dare tell him her thoughts. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He had no idea he was obsessive. “Come on, Les. Fix the steaks and hurry back. I want to talk to you about something.”

  “What? It sounds serious.” Lester nibbled her ear.

  “It is, sort of. Go make the steaks and we’ll talk after dinner.”

  “Hey, you can’t start a subject like that and leave me hanging.”

  “Okay, it’s about what you said, about getting married.”

  Lester pulled away and looked at her. “You do want to marry me, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. I wasn’t sure you meant it.”

  Lester ran his hand along her cheek. “Why wouldn’t you think I was serious?”

  Allison shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought maybe you were caught up in the moment.”

  “Don’t you know me better than that?”

  “Well you have to admit, we really don’t know each other very well. I mean, we’ve only been together a few days.”

  “Allie, Allie, Allie, I’ve been in love with you since the first day I saw you with Rebecca.”

  Allison took a deep breath. “And I was supposed to know this how? I don’t have the gift your sister has. I can’t read minds, and I don’t have visions.”

  “Okay, you have a point. But these last few days, I feel like we’ve been together forever.”

  “Lester.”

  “What?”

  “I really am hungry. Can you make
the steaks now, and we’ll talk more after dinner?”

  Lester laughed and patted her butt. “Okay, but remember one thing. If I come back in here smelling like skunk, it’s your fault.”

  Allison laughed and pushed him toward the door. “With that nice breeze, the smell is probably gone by now.”

  After dinner, Lester helped Allison clear the table and do the dishes. “So,” Allison said, “can we talk about the wedding?”

  Lester almost let out a groan. “I was thinking about eloping.”

  “Eloping? Are you kidding?” Allison jumped up and stood with her hands on her hips. “You’d deprive me of a wedding with a white dress and your sister as maid of honor and deprive my father the privilege of walking me down the aisle.”

  “Sorry, what was I thinking? Of course I wouldn’t deprive you of all that.”

  “Good! But you’ll be happy to know, I want a very small, intimate wedding in my parents’ back yard. That’s been my dream ever since I was a little girl.”

  “Hey, sounds good to me.” Lester pulled Allison down on his lap. “I was afraid you wanted something big and extravagant. I’m not good in crowds. To be honest, they terrify me, and I actually get sick.” He kissed her cheek and rubbed her back. “I don’t mean nervous, I mean really sick, vomiting and the whole bit.”

  “You get sick? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Ask Rebecca. At our parents’ funeral, I had to leave several times. I couldn’t even stay in church.”

  “Okay, how are you in a crowd of say fifty people?”

  “Fifty I can handle. I can probably handle seventy-five. Anything over that, and I’m in trouble. The bigger the crowd, the sicker I get.”

  “Okay, fifty it is. When are you going to tell Rebecca?”

  “Rebecca! I totally forgot about her. I’d rather tell her in person. It’s not something I want to tell her over the phone. Besides, I think we should tell her together, don’t you? After all, you’re her best friend.”

  “Okay, we’ll tell her when we leave. She’s not going to be surprised, you know? In fact, she almost predicted it.”

  “What do you mean, she predicted it. Don’t tell me she has physic powers, too.”