“Are you okay dad?” He asked.
It seemed as though the words were coming from miles away and he had to wait for each to form.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s just the pizza bothering me again,” Jett lied again.
“It seems to have been rough tonight. Maybe you ought to lay off of it for a little while,” Dan said.
About that time their attention was drawn to a whistling Matt coming through the front door.
“I take it you had a good time tonight,” Jett said.
“Not bad, not bad at all,” Matt said as he walked through the living room. “Cool beans! Leftover pizza! Can I have it?”
“All yours,” Dan said.
“Wear it out,” Jett said.
Matt picked up the box, plopped down in a chair, and started in on a piece of pizza.
“So whaddya talking about,” Matt said through a mouthful of pepperoni and sausage.
“I told dad I’m switching majors,” Dan said.
“Thank God! I was afraid I would it slip before you said something,” Matt said.
Jett laughed.
“Are you changing majors too?” Jett asked.
“Me? No, I’m the greedy one. I want a law degree and a career in politics,” Matt said.
“Still want to be governor huh?” Jett asked.
“Oh yeah,” Matt said as he tore into his second slice.
“You sound more like your Aunt Violet every day,” Jett said.
Violet Elkins Sheppard – Rose’s sister – was a very successful attorney with her own practice in Corbin. She was also very active in the Democratic Party and had twice sought the nomination for a seat in the state senate.
“It could be worse,” Matt said.
“Yeah, you could want to be a dancer,” Dan said as Jett laughed.
“Huh?” Matt asked.
“Never mind,” Dan said.
“You were telling me about a dream,” Jett said to Dan.
“Yeah, like I said, this is going to sound weird. But I dreamed I was standing in the bedroom upstairs that you said Matt and I shared. I told mom what I wanted to do. She smiled, hugged me, kissed me, said she loved me, and was as proud of me as you are,” Dan said.
“Son, that doesn’t sound that unusual,” Jett said trying to resolve the questions in his own mind.
“No, but...it just seemed so...real,” Dan said.
“Wow! Was she wearing her navy sweater and jeans?” Matt asked.
Surprised, Dan answered.
“Yeah, how did you know that?”
“That is weird. I had the same dream - same room and everything,” Matt said. “She said the same thing to me. And she said, ‘be good and take care of your dad.’ And then she started to leave and I asked where she was going,” he added.
“And she said to see you,” Dan said to Jett.
“Yeah! The same as in my dream! That is weird – even for the weirdness that goes with being a twin,” Matt said.
“That’s it! When we were talking about music earlier. That song...’True Blue,’ was playing in the background in my dream,” Dan said.
Matt looked a little puzzled.
“There was music in my dream too but that wasn’t the song. It was that other one she liked so much,” Matt said.
“The Lady in Red?” Jett and Dan asked at the same time.
Matt stared at both of them wildly for a couple of seconds.
“Yeah, that one,” he said.
The three Bradley men sat silently for a few seconds. Jett pondered sharing his own dream and that of Alicia. He decided to wait to talk to them about it. There remained the possibility of a logical explanation, though the chances seemed more and more remote.
“That is strange or at least an odd coincidence,” Jett conceded, “but your mom has been on our minds a lot lately, especially with me moving back here and into this house.”
“I guess you’re right,” Matt said after a few seconds.
“I don’t think it’s anything you boys should worry about,” Jett said.
Dan smiled. “I actually enjoyed seeing her again – even if was just a dream,” he said.
“I hated waking up,” Matt said.
Jett felt the lump in throat grow.
“I know the feeling. Every time I dream of her, I hate waking up,” he said.
An hour or so later, Jett left his sons watching an old western on the TV. He was tired – bone tired in fact but at the same time his mind was racing. Yes, his body ached for sleep but his mind longed for answers.
Jett did not know what was happening. He was confused and at a total loss of understanding but he was certain of two things – first, it wasn’t his imagination and second, he was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Rose again that night.
After tossing and turning a bit more, his mind relaxed enough for him to drift asleep. He immediately recognized his surroundings. Jett was looking at his old room in the dorm. It looked exactly as it did in 1985, right down to the swimsuit model and football posters on the wall. Just above the desk was a large round Pet Ice Cream clock. On the desk sat a stack of desk trays filled with legal pads and a blue and green SKU souvenir cup filled with various ink pens and pencils. There was also a tray of poker chips – red, white, and blue - along with a couple of decks of cards. A biography of Theodore Roosevelt sat in the middle of the desk.
Taped to the wall on his side of the desk was his class schedule for the semester. Taped to the wall on the other side was the class schedule of his roommate J.D. Blake, who sat in his desk chair holding a chrome ink pen. It was his favorite pen and he guarded it jealously. From the looks of things he had been working on a book report.
Jett looked up and saw his 20-year old self enter the room. He felt as though he was watching a movie about his life.
“Well, how did it go with the flower girl?” J.D. asked.
“You mean Rose? We had a real nice night,” Jett said.
J.D. smiled. “How nice was it?”
“C’mon man, it was a first date,” Jett said.
“I’m just ragging on you. Think you might see her again?” J.D. asked.
“Uh, yeah, tomorrow night,” Jett said.
“Sounds like you two did have a good time. What’s she like?” J.D. asked.
Jett looked down at the floor and thought for a moment.
“She’s...she’s very special,” he said.
When he looked up, the room was the same but his younger self was gone and J.D. was replaced by a middle aged Judge Blake. His shock of dark brown hair was gone, replaced by a smooth scalp with short gray hair around the outer crown of his head. It was the way he looked before a massive coronary took his life.
“Turns out she’s a great deal more special than you could ever know Jett,” he said.
Jett looked to his old friend with tears in his eyes.
“Please, J.D. What’s going on?” He begged.
J.D. smiled warmly. “Listen amigo, when Rose said she would love you forever, she meant it.”
“But...how? When will I see her again?” Jett asked.
“There’s questions I can’t answer. But you will see her again – and likely soon,” J.D said.
“What can you answer?” Jett asked.
J.D. only smiled.
“Tell my wife and daughter I love them,” he said before he started fading. “I mean it Jett. Tell ‘em. They’ll believe you,” he said as he disappeared.
With that, Jett woke up. He looked at the clock. It was almost 8 a.m. and he didn’t know what surprised him more – the dream or that so many passed in such a seemingly short period of time.
Chapter Three
Alicia checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. In her opinion, she looked like a wreck. The casual observer wouldn’t think so but she could see the bloodshot eyes and the dark circles that make up barely covered. Lack of sleep had cruel effects and not just on appearance.
Alicia’s nerves were frayed. The past few days had dra
ined her emotionally. She took an extended leave from school. With summer vacation upon them, it was really not a big deal.
Try as she may, her mind kept returning to the dreams she couldn’t understand or perhaps more appropriately, did not want to understand. As illogical as it sounded, Alicia suspected she indeed had an explanation. It was so farfetched that scientific mind refused to accept it. She also felt something else – haunted for lack of a better term. Alicia couldn’t imagine her dear friend trying to cause her worry of any type and wrestled with guilt for even allowing such passing thoughts into her mind.
As she traveled down the interstate, Alicia watched the sun coming up over the horizon. She looked in the passenger seat at her daughter Maggie. A rising junior at the U of L, Maggie had her mother’s trim, athletic figure and green eyes. Unlike her mom, Maggie had dark brown hair and an olive complexion. She had her dad’s broad smile and much of her father’s personality – especially his sense of humor. Maggie was flirty but intelligent. She initially considered a career in the law like J.D. but decided it wasn’t for her. Maggie opted for a double major in English and journalism. She discovered she had a passion not just for writing but for storytelling as well after she spent her sophomore year on the staff of the college paper as part of a class requirement.
Maggie wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of getting up so early and leaving the urban confines of Northern Kentucky for the rolling hills of the southeastern corner of the Bluegrass State. She was less than enthusiastic at the thought of her mother driving a few hours alone at that time of the morning.
Alicia turned her focus back to the road.
“There has to be another explanation,” she mumbled.
The sound caused Maggie to stir.
“Say something mom?” She asked.
“No honey, just talking to myself,” Alicia answered.
“You know, you never did tell me why you’re in such a hurry to get to Crystal Springs,” Maggie said.
“I’m not sure I can explain right now. Please trust me when I say it’s important...and let it go at that,” Alicia said.
Maggie yawned and stretched as much as the seat belt of the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder would allow.
“Do you want me to take a turn driving? You look like you need some rest. Did you sleep at all last night?” She asked her mom.
“Sleep is overrated. I learned that in grad school. But if you’d like to take over, we’ll stop in Versailles for coffee and a bathroom break, maybe a Danish too,” Alicia said.
“Okay, but you don’t need any coffee. Come to think of it you could find something a little healthier than Danish for breakfast,” Maggie said.
“Okay, I’ll get a bran muffin. Happy?” Alicia said.
After about a minute of silence, Maggie spoke again.
“You know, if you do want to talk, I’m a good listener.”
“I know honey. And when the time comes, we’ll talk,” Alicia said.
Maggie nodded and watched the landscape zip past.
***
Dressed in jeans and a gray SKU knit shirt, Jett headed to the kitchen. The shower helped refresh him but he needed caffeine. He could smell coffee already brewing. Dan was already at the kitchen table with the newspaper and a glass of orange juice.
“How long have you been up?” Jett asked as he walked to the cabinet looking for a coffee mug.
“A couple of hours. I got up and went for a run and worked out, showered, and put on some coffee,” Dan said.
“Had breakfast yet?” Jett asked.
“No, but I can scramble us up some eggs and make some toast if you’d like,” Dan said.
“No thanks, I’m still feeling the pizza from last night. But you go ahead and have something. I’ll grab a doughnut later,” Jett said as he sipped his steaming black coffee.
“I’m fine. The juice is enough for me but you need eat something more than a doughnut. I’ve noticed you’ve not been eating well lately,” Dan said.
“Really, I’m okay. Matt still in bed?” Jett asked.
“Yeah. He was still up watching TV when I went to bed,” Dan said.
“Anything good in the paper?” Jett asked.
“Uncle Bud’s fired up over the county budget. The judge executive has proposed cuts to the public library,” Dan said.
“It’s the same thing every year. Little Wade Lowell proposes cuts to the library and the fiscal court restores it. He claims he cut costs and then turns around brags on funding reading programs. It’s the same thing his daddy, Big Wade, did 30 years ago,” Jett said.
“You’d think people would catch on,” Dan said.
“They don’t though. There’s been a Lowell in that office since 1961. I don’t know if anybody in their family could hold a non-county job,” Jett said.
“I’ve meet the guy and I just don’t see the appeal - I mean he’s not exactly dynamic,” Dan said.
“Yep. Compared to him oatmeal is interesting. I’ve seen corpses with more life,” Jett said, shaking his head. “But it’s not about appeal, charm, or charisma. It’s about being related to more people in the county than any other candidate – which accounts for people not catching on. You’d think they’d stop reproducing. They’re like rabbits,” Jett said.
Dan started laughing.
“Was it that funny?” Jett asked.
“You don’t understand,” Dan said laughing.
“Enlighten me,” Jett said.
“Matt,” Dan managed to get out.
“What about Matt?” Jett asked.
“The girl he was out with last night – Linda Sue Banks,” Dan said.
“What about her?” Jett asked.
“Little Wade is her uncle,” Dan said.
Jett grunted.
“Figures.”
“What’s the matter dad? Afraid Matt’s gonna pull us into the Lowell clan?” Dan asked.
“It’s just one date,” Jett said.
Dan looked at him for split-second as if to say something and then simply said, “You’re right.”
The hesitation bothered Jett. Dan knew something but he wouldn’t press him about his brother. If there was anything to be concerned about, Matt would come out with it.
Jett started to speak but the sound of the doorbell cut him off.
They both stood.
“I’ll get it,” Jett said as Dan sat back down with his juice.
He answered the door and there stood Alicia, lovely as ever, not looking anything close to her age. She embraced him.
“So good to see you,” she said. He could see the worry in her eyes but he could also see that was glad to be there.
“It’s been too long.” Jett agreed. “Please, come in.”
He looked up to see a beautiful young woman following Alicia.
“Wow, you’ve grown up,” Jett said to Maggie as he embraced her.
She smiled as she walked over and also hugged him.
“It’s so good to see you too Uncle Jett,” Maggie said looking up at him.
“How are you? How’s school?” He asked.
“I’m fine. And classes are just about over for the summer - thankfully,” she then stopped, looking beyond Jett in surprise. “Danny?”
Dan stood briefly in the doorway between the kitchen and living room offering a crooked grin before he too made his toward the two women.
“Hi Maggie.” He stopped when he got to Alicia, who embraced him.
“You look more like your mom everyday – only much taller. Talk about growing up. What are you feeding this kid?” Alicia asked. “And where’s Matt?”
“Getting his beauty sleep,” Jett continued, “Well come on in and get a seat. Want some coffee?”
“That sounds good,” Alicia said.
“How about you Maggie? Care for something to drink?” Jett asked.
“No thank you. I had a couple of bottles of orange juice on the way down here,” she said.
“Black, two sugars?” Jett asked.
“
Always,” Alicia said as took a seat on the couch.
As Jett retreated to the kitchen, Alicia noticed Dan and Maggie looking at each other. They had known each other all of their lives and had once been close. Both stood looking at each other in a way she had never seen before – at least between the two of them. It was almost like they had never met before.
Maggie joined her mother on the couch and Dan sat on the love seat, leaving the recliner for his dad.
“So Dan, what have you been up to?” Alicia asked.
“Classes and spring football. Not much time for anything else,” he said as Jett returned with a cup of coffee for Alicia and one for himself.
“Did he tell you the news?” Jett asked. “He’s changing his major. Journalism – wants to be a professional jerk like his old man.”
Alicia smiled. “That’s sounds familiar.”
“It’s a great major,” Maggie said with a laugh.
“It just seems like the world has enough lawyers and maybe I could do more good helping kids,” Dan said quietly.
“We have more than enough lawyers,” Maggie said.
“I’ve heard the same thing about journalists,” Jett said.
“There will always be need for quality journalists,” Maggie said.
“And she’s pretty good – if I do say so myself,” Alicia said.
Jett looked at her and pondered for a moment before speaking. “What are you doing this summer?”
“Trying to find a job somewhere – make a little of my own money for my senior year,” Maggie said.
“Have you considered an internship?” Jett asked.
“She applied to several papers but they’ve already selected their summer interns,” Alicia said.
Jett nodded. “I understand. It’s a tough market right now – even for experienced journalists. Cutbacks are the rule rather than the exception these days. Nothing like corporate ownership.”
“That’s what I keep hearing,” Maggie said.
Jett smiled. “I’m glad I don’t work for corporate ownership anymore. But we can talk newspapers later. How long are you in for?” Jett asked Alicia.
“Maggie has class Tuesday, so we’ll leave sometime Monday,” she said.
“Got a place to stay yet?” Jett asked.
“No. We stopped here first. I thought we might the Trailblazer Inn. I hear it’s a really nice place since the renovation,” she said.
Only When I Dream Page 5