“Sitting out on the patio talking with Maggie,” Jett said as he took a sip from his bottle of Diet Pepsi.
Matt looked to Linda Sue.
“I’ll run this upstairs. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes,” he said as she walked toward the couch.
“Please feel free to watch what you want on TV and as always, make yourself at home. If you want anything to eat or drink, it’s right there in the kitchen and while I’m not the greatest cook in the world, I can keep you from starving if you want something,” Jett said.
“I’m fine but I do appreciate your kindness. To be honest, I’m probably more nervous than afraid at this point. But I do feel safe here,” Linda Sue said.
“Nervous?” Jett asked.
Linda Sue fidgeted.
“Maybe I’m being silly and maybe I assume too much. But if Matt sees his mom tonight, I just feel like there’s a chance that I’ll see her too,” she said.
Jett couldn’t stifle the grin.
“Oh, I think that’s safe to say. But trust me, you have nothing to be nervous about and nothing to be afraid of – not from Rose,” Jett said.
“I mean it’s just this whole thing – it’s already so strange,” Linda Sue said.
Jett’s grin disappeared.
“I know it is and again, I am so sorry that you kids were pulled into this,” he said.
“Oh no, please, I’m not blaming anyone. It’s just a little tough wrapping my head around this,” she said.
“Yes, I know. It’s still tough for me,” Jett said.
Linda Sue’s face brightened.
“But how wonderful it is that you can see your wife again after so long and now Matt and Dan get to see her too,” she said.
“I agree there. It is wonderful. I can’t even begin to describe what it means to me,” Jett said.
“You know Matt still doesn’t fully believe it,” Linda Sue said.
“I suspected as much. But he’ll see for himself. Once he sees her and talks to her, he’ll be okay,” Jett said.
“So you really think she’ll...approve of me?” She asked.
Jett chuckled.
“She already does. Our son loves you and that’s good enough for both of us. You know, you do remind me of her – and I don’t mean just physically. You’ve got the same kind of heart. You two will get along fine,” he said.
Matt started down the steps.
“Sorry, nature called,” he said as touched down from the last step.
“Thanks for sharing,” Jett said.
“I just wanted to explain to Linda Sue why I left her to be bored by my old man,” Matt said.
As he was speaking, Dan came into the room.
“Well? What did Maggie have to say?” Jett asked.
“She’s...cautious I suppose is how to describe it. My guess is she’s like the rest of us - she wants to believe it but can’t understand how it’s even possible,” Dan said.
Jett nodded.
“You know I would love to see mom and talk to her but I think Dan said it best – I don’t see how it’s possible,” Matt said.
“As I told you, I don’t understand. I wish I did so I could explain. And just so that you will know, your mom hasn’t been able to either. There are certain things she cannot disclose – for whatever reason,” Jett said.
“You really believe we’ll see her tonight don’t you?” Matt asked.
“The only way you’ll be convinced is to experience it yourself. In a couple of hours – give or take – you will,” Jett said.
“I hope you’re right dad,” Dan said.
Matt nodded.
“So do me,” he added.
***
Just as quickly as she emerged from the dusk, Marie slipped back into the deepening darkness and simply vanished.
“I don’t think I could ever get used to seeing that,” Bud remarked as Mallorie stared silently at the spot where her mother disappeared.
“Wanna go in or would you rather sit out here?” Bud asked after about a minute of silence.
“Um...out here’s fine,” Mallorie said quietly as she slowly turned and sat back down the rocker next to Bud.
“I know this is really a stupid question, but are you okay?” He asked.
“I’m not real sure of how or what I’m feeling right now,” she said.
“I know it’s a shock. When you feel like talking, we’ll talk. If you’d rather just sit and not say anything, that’ll be fine too,” Bud said as Mallorie merely nodded in acknowledgement of his words.
She sat quietly for a couple of minutes before she turned to Bud.
“Do you know who killed my mom?” She asked.
“Not right now – at least we haven’t found the evidence yet to prove which one actually...took her life,” Bud said.
“Do you have an idea of how many people were involved and who they are?” Mallorie asked.
“I’m not sure of how many – again, not yet – but I do know a few people that I am certain were involved in some way,” he said.
“Is Granny one of them?” She asked.
Bud looked at her sadly and nodded. Even though he knew Mallorie had at best a strained relationship with her grandmother, he still hated to share the information with her.
“I don’t know that she’s the actual killer but she had a hand in planning it. I’m sure of that,” Bud said.
Mallorie did not appear to be surprised but did look to be emotionally numb.
Looking off toward the direction her mother left, she spoke just above a whisper.
“How about Granddaddy?” She asked.
“At most, I think he found out after the fact. I suspect that – combined with the grief over losing Marie – was the actual cause of his drinking binge. I don’t think it was grief alone - not anymore,” Bud said.
Then Mallorie turned back to him. It was almost as a light had been turned on for her.
“The dreams he’s been having. He’s not suffering from dementia – at least not to the level Granny claims,” she said.
“No, it seems like Marie has been warning him. Who knows? Maybe your grandmother has taken those warnings to be Marie taunting her,” Bud said.
“I need to see him and talk to him,” Mallorie said.
“You might be able to get through the circle that Edna has placed around him. I spoke to Bill Kantrell about helping me to get into the house to talk to him. As politely as he could, he basically told me to stay the hell away,” Bud said.
“There’s something about that man that’s always bothered me – even when I was a little girl. There’s a darkness about him. I’ve never understood how he could have so many friends – especially Granddaddy,” she said.
“Up until today, I would’ve gladly said that I was one of those friends,” Bud said.
“I have a bad feeling about you and Jett dealing with him,” Mallorie said.
“Bad feeling huh? You mean like a, uh, premonition?” He asked.
“I don’t know what to call it other than that,” she said as her head flinched as though she suffered a sharp pain.
Bud leaned forward as she flinched again.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He asked.
“Talking about him...weird...I just – I just saw him in my mind,” Mallorie said.
“What do you mean, you just saw him in your mind?” Bud asked.
“So strange. It was like I was right there watching him. It was just for a couple of seconds, but it was as clear as day,” she said.
Mallorie looked worried and afraid.
Bud reached out and gripped her left hand.
“Do me a favor. Concentrate on him as hard as you can and tell me what you see,” he said.
Mallorie looked at him, puzzled.
“Why?” She asked.
“Please. This could be important,” Bud said.
Mallorie tilted her head slightly and closed her eyes. Her jerked with a start.
“Oh my God,” she whispered
hoarsely.
“What is it?” Bud asked.
“He’s talking to Granny,” she said.
***
Both Matt and Dan tossed fitfully trying to get to sleep. Not only were they unaccustomed to sharing a bed with each other, they were both eager to fall asleep. No matter how hard they wanted to believe their dad, they had lingering doubts.
Could someone speak from beyond the grave? And not just speak, could they really visit someone, if only in a dream?
Savage curiosity also fueled their thoughts and kept them awake far longer than they intended.
Linda Sue believed everything Jett said but the same level of curiosity plagued her conscious thoughts as well.
Dan rolled over to his left, sighed deeply, and closed his eyes.
“I can’t sleep,” Matt said, laying on his back staring at the ceiling.
“Me either,” Dan yawned. “Just close your eyes and try though. We still have to get up and go to class in the morning.”
Matt closed his eyes and rested silently for a couple of minutes. He was about to say something else to Dan when a movement on the foot of the bed caused him to open his eyes.
“Mom?” He asked as he bolted upright as Dan quickly followed his action.
“Is it really you?” Dan asked.
Both young men knew instantly what the answer was when they saw the love and warmth that radiated from the smile of the woman sitting on the foot of the bed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Yes baby, it’s really me,” she said.
They stared at her and took in the sight of their mother. She looked to be about 35 with raven hair in a bouffant style and wore jeans with a simple green knit top.
Small diamond studs sparkled in her ear lobes.
“Don’t just sit there staring. Give me a hug boys! You might be grown men now but I’ve missed you,” Rose said as she opened her arms.
Both almost leaped at her as though ready to make a tackle. They embraced her and she them, with her right arm around Dan and her left arm around Matt, squeezing tightly.
Each could feel her tears falling on their faces as she kissed each boy – Dan first and then Matt on the cheek. She then kissed Matt again and did the same for Dan.
Neither actually realized they were sobbing as well.
“And we’ve missed you,” Matt said.
“More than you’ll ever know,” Dan added.
“Oh honey I have pretty good idea,” Rose said with a laugh through her tears.
“Any doubts left?” Jett asked from across the room as the brothers sat back.
They looked confused for a moment as he sat down next to his wife, put his arm around her shoulder, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Sorry I’m late. I must have just drifted off,” he said.
Dan looked at Jett.
“Dad – how?” He asked unable to finish his question.
“Ask her,” Jett said with a smile.
“I can move in your dreams. Since you’re all asleep at the same time, I thought it might be time for us to be together again as a family. After all, it has been ten years,” she said.
“I’m so happy that you’re here now but why did it take so long for you to come to us?” Matt asked.
“I had to see your dad first. Our love for each other helped open a...passage you might say. After that, our love for you continued to open it even more. This is my first chance to actually talk to you and let you know I’ll be with you always,” she said.
“How is any of this even possible?” Dan asked.
Rose smiled softly and looked to Jett. Once more, she had that look in her eyes.
“I asked the same thing son and she couldn’t tell me,” he said.
“I couldn’t tell anyone until the passage was secure enough. It is now,” she said as stood and faced the foot of the bed.
“You have our attention dear,” Jett said.
“Once every one hundred years a select few from this side of life has an opportunity to come back to the ones they love in some capacity – such as I am right now in your dreams. Others might just appear as an apparition, unable to communicate but at least be seen. In some cases, one of us can even make a very limited physical appearance to a loved one,” Rose explained.
“Can you – make a physical appearance I mean?” Dan asked.
She smiled again and nodded.
“With a couple of rare exceptions, those appearances are restricted to just one person,” Rose said.
Matt smiled.
“Let me guess – dad,” he said.
“It had to be your dad. Not only is our love the foundation of my passage to this side, I couldn’t choose between the two of you,” she said.
Matt nodded and flashed the grin that made him look so much like his dad.
“Mom, it’s okay. We understand,” he said as Dan nodded in agreement.
“You said ‘a couple of rare exceptions.’ What does that mean? What exceptions?” Dan asked.
Rose looked at Jett with raised eyebrows.
“He is your son. You look like you’re ready to take notes Danny,” she said looking back to her son.
“You can’t blame us for being curious,” Matt said.
“No sweetheart, I guess not,” Rose agreed before continuing. “The exceptions are if an injustice has been committed to someone or that the loved one has been born with the ability to look into our world across the barriers of time, space, and even dimension.”
“Wow. I guess that makes Marie a double whammy,” Jett whistled.
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Rose said.
“Is that why she could appear in my dream?” Matt asked.
“That’s exactly why,” Rose answered.
“But how did the old woman appear in Linda Sue’s dream?” Matt asked.
His mom’s expression darkened.
“Two reasons. One, she has developed some level of the physic ability through unnatural means. And two, it was meant for Marie but she deflected it to you as a warning for all of you to be careful,” Rose said.
“Can you define unnatural means?” Jett asked.
“She called upon the powers of darkness, specifically hell,” Rose answered.
“And these powers of darkness, are they limited in scope? I mean, are they just for looking at the other side?” Jett asked.
“No. It’s an evil I can’t describe. I can’t say this to any of you enough: Please be careful in dealing with this woman,” Rose said.
“Mom? What’s her name?” Dan asked.
Rose looked at her sons and then her husband.
“Her name is Edna Atkins,” she said as Jett’s head bobbed slowly – his suspicion confirmed. “Your dad can tell you more about her. My main purpose tonight – other than talking with my family – is to warn you.”
“Is Linda Sue in danger?” Matt asked.
“No more than the rest of you but I want you all to know that I’m here and I can help,” Rose said.
“What will happen when whatever is going on with the old lady is over? Will we still be able to talk to you?” Dan asked.
Rose hesitated before answering.
“That’s the plan,” she said as she looked at Jett.
“What can we do to help?” Matt asked.
“I’m afraid it’s a waiting game right now but I have a feeling things are going to start happening and soon. Your dad and I will be there with you every step of the way. So will Uncle Bud, Alicia, Maggie, and Linda Sue,” Rose said.
“And that means listening to us and none of you going off on your own. For better or worse, this is a family effort and we’ll see it through together,” Jett said.
“Only our family. Say what you want about us but at least we’re not dull,” Matt said.
Rose shook her head and looked at Jett with a smile that gave just a hint of dimples.
“He’s your son too. I’ve been away from them far too long,” she said.
Jett
stood and took her hand in his.
“I agree. You want to catch up with them a little? We can talk later,” he said.
Rose squeezed his hand and gave him an appreciative look.
“I’d like that,” she said as pulled him down for a quick kiss. “And I will see you later.”
Jett walked toward the bedroom door and opened it. He lingered about halfway out of it for a couple seconds before turning to close the door.
“We’ll talk more in the morning boys,” he said.
Rose turned to her sons.
“Now boys, let’s make up a little lost time,” she said
“Where do you want to start?” Matt asked.
“Let’s start with the pretty young lady in the room next door,” Rose said as she sat back down on the foot of the bed.
“I love her – with all of my heart mom. She’s something special,” he said.
“I’m so happy for you – for both of you. I only wish I could have been here for everything else for both of you boys – the proms, graduation, and football games – all of it. Actually, I was there, you just didn’t know it. I was always watching – even those times your dad burned supper, when he taught you to drive, or when you guys broke the leg on the wingback chair and secretly glued it back,” she said with a laugh that had been sadly missed over the years.
“Mom, we understand. It’s not your fault,” Dan said.
“If it helps any, we both felt you with us,” Matt chimed in.
Tears trickled down her cheeks.
“It does. It helps a lot,” Rose paused for a moment. “But I’m here now. I want to hear all about Linda Sue,” she directed her look to Dan. “And I want to hear about how you and Maggie finally figured out what everyone else already knew.”
Dan nodded.
“I think maybe...maybe I’ve always loved her. I think I just had to find out the hard way there was nobody else for me,” he said.
Rose reached out and gently patted his face.
“You are so much like your dad,” she said with a sweet smile. “Maggie is such a wonderful young lady. I couldn’t be happier for you.”
Matt shifted nervously.
“Do you plant to visit Linda Sue?” He asked.
“Yes I do. I want to get to know this young lady. I think I’ll like her,” Rose said as Matt nodded then grinned slowly.
“What?” She asked.
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