“Since when are so religious minded?” Kris asked. The question was genuine, not snarky.
“I’m not. I’m just saying that reincarnation is a tough sell for me, that’s all.” Roni turned her attention back to Cassie. “So spill. What’s going on?”
Cassie waited a long time to reply. The flickering candles cast a warm glow on the porch. The comfortable silence was broken only by the sounds of the waves and the soft repetition of the swing. The ocean breeze was cool for early April, so the girls each had a blanket nearby.
“I’ve been having dreams,” Cassie finally admitted quietly. “But they feel so real, that they’re more like memories. I wake up with total recall, not just a few wispy remnants like most dreams leave behind.” She stopped, considering how much more to tell them.
“Like nightmares?” Kris was thinking of the bits and pieces that she carried from her own recent dreams.
“No…yes…sometimes. The memories range from strolling along a beautiful garden walkway to buildings falling down around me. The man is the only constant.”
“There’s a man?” Roni asked.
“Buildings falling?” Kris chimed in.
“Yes, to both. The man is always there, no matter what time period or what’s happening around me. Sometimes we’re fighting like we hate each other and others….” She stopped, not wanting to remember the rest.
“Well don’t stop there, are you always angry?” Roni encouraged Cassie to continue.
“No. We are definitely not always angry, but there is always passion.” Cassie struggled with the rest. “Sometimes I spend the day crying because I miss him so much. It’s like there’s a giant hole in my heart that nothing can fill. And he’s not even real!” Cassie took a deep breath. “At least I don’t think he’s real, but what I feel for him is absolutely real. How can I be in love with a man from my dreams?” A tear rolled silently down her face.
Kris and Roni looked at each other, neither knowing what to say. Was Cassie losing her mind? Finally, Kris broke the silence.
“Maybe he is real. Stranger things have happened. Maybe he is someone you once loved, a lifetime ago.” Cassie wiped her eyes and looked hopefully at Kris. Roni remained silent. Kris continued, “Love is a powerful thing, who’s to say that it can’t span time? What concerns me is that these dreams are affecting you so strongly now. Why now? What’s changed?”
“I don’t know. The dreams started a few months ago, but only one or two a week. Now they’re coming almost every night.”
“Have you thought about seeing a therapist? Someone who specializes in dreams or reincarnation?” Roni could see how affected her friend was; no matter what she thought, Cassie believed in the dreams.
Maybe it was the look on Roni’s face or the absurdity of the notion, but Cassie burst into laughter, even as she wiped her tears away. “Sure, I can just see how that will go. ‘Doctor, I’m in love with a man who rocks my world, but only in my dreams.’ I don’t think my insurance will cover an extended stay at Crazies-R-Us over reincarnation delusions.” Kris and Roni both smiled at her lighthearted response. Cassie continued, “Thanks for listening guys, but I really don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’m doing research and hopefully, I’ll figure it out on my own.”
“If that’s what you want, fine. But you can always talk to me, you know, if things get too strange to handle.” Kris got up to blow out an unruly candle, dancing a little too much in the wind.
“And me. No matter how I acted before, I’m here for you.” Roni leaned over to squeeze Cassie’s hand.
“What is that?” Kris’s sharp question commanded attention. She was peering into the darkness to the left of the porch.
“What is what?” Roni and Cassie said in unison. One of the side effects of knowing each other so long was spontaneous and simultaneous thinking.
“That light, there, on the deck next door. It’s moving.”
“Moving? Like a candle flickering?” Roni asked.
“No, like walking around moving. The thing is, there are no lights on in the house. And the new owner’s not supposed to be here until sometime in the next few weeks.” All three were now peering into the darkness.
“Maybe we should go check it out.” Cassie said.
“Maybe we should call the police.” Roni said.
“And tell them what, there’s a light walking around next door? I think we should go over there.” Kris was already looking for her shoes.
“Wait a minute, find a weapon.” Cassie picked up a heavy flashlight. “This works.”
Roni grabbed the lighter. “I’ve got mine.”
Kris reached for the baseball bat behind the sliding glass door. “I’m ready.”
They looked at each other and broke into a fit of nervous giggles. “Shhhhh,” Kris said. “We’ll lose the element of surprise.” That only made them laugh harder, thanks in part to the wine and in part to the absurdity of the situation. After a minute, sanity prevailed.
“Okay, stay together and try to be quiet. Let’s go.” Kris led the way to the path that circled around to her neighbor’s deck stairs. She stopped suddenly, listening intently.
“What is it, why did you stop?”
“I thought I heard something… where is the light?” With a clear view of the deck and the porch, it was obvious that no light source, moving or stationary, came from either. They stood quietly, straining to hear anything above the noise of the waves.
“Maybe it was a firefly. There’s nothing there now. Let’s go back, this is creeping me out.” Roni turned back down the path.
“Okay,” Kris and Cassie turned to join her. “If it was a firefly, it was the size of a golf ball and I sure don’t want to run into it.” Kris tried to ignore the quick chill leaving icy tracks up her spine. Every nerve ending was suddenly on alert. She spun quickly to see if anyone was following them, but no one was there. She turned back toward home just as the man stepped away from the dark side of the house.
Chapter Four
Kris woke the next morning with Pegasus curled tightly against her and enticing aromas floating up from the kitchen, tempting her out of bed. The sounds of muted voices in the kitchen told her that Cassie and Roni were already up. Peeking at the clock with half-closed lids, she reached out to cuddle Peg. The fact that he was still with her while someone was cooking was a testament to his devotion. Or his laziness.
Kris kept her eyes closed and tried to recall the dream that she knew had just left her. Most of it was fuzzy, but she remembered running toward an old movie. She couldn’t make out the people or the scenery, but the lines scrolling up the film looked like a home movie from the fifties. Strange.
She let her mind go blank, in case the images from the dream were important enough to become clear. Her visions usually made more sense than a jumbled dream, but she had never been part of them before. The visions always came in an unexpected flash while she was awake, not while she was sleeping.
Nothing came to her, so she rolled over and got out of bed. Every muscle in her body seemed to protest. “I’m either getting old, or working out in my sleep.” She told Peg. “Let’s go see what’s cooking.”
~~~~~
Roni smiled at Kris as she sat down at the breakfast bar. Cassie saluted her with a cup of coffee. “Morning, sleepyhead. You’re just in time for breakfast; I’m making a country ham frittata.” Roni slid a baking dish filled with the ham, egg and cheese mixture into the oven.
“I forgot how disgustingly cheerful you are in the morning.” Cassie held her coffee like a l
ifeline.
“Best part of the day.” Roni sat a platter of fruit and leftover ham between them on the counter.
“I love it when you visit, but I always gain five pounds.” Kris smiled at Roni as she poured her own cup of coffee. “I’m really glad we remembered to get a new coffee carafe. How many bottles of wine did we go through last night?”
“Too many.” Cassie mumbled. “I’m too old for this.”
“Thirty-two is not too old for anything.” Roni was busy chopping fresh herbs to garnish the frittata. “Besides, we haven’t all been together like this for ages. We deserve to celebrate.”
“I can’t believe you’re only here for the weekend. Why not take a few days off and stay around awhile?” Kris watched as Roni expertly wielded the knife. Pegasus had finally made it downstairs and was rubbing against her foot, begging for whatever it was that smelled so good. She tore a piece of ham from the leftovers and dropped it down to him before he became vocal.
“No wonder that cat weighs twenty pounds. You spoil him.” Roni frowned at Kris. “Thanks for the invite, I’d love to stay, but duty calls. I’m trying to get the ‘final’ final draft done and sent to the editor this week, or we can’t tie the book sales in with the infomercial.”
“From the way you guys were talking last night, it sounds like this little project could really take off. I’m so happy for you both.” Cassie was finally coming to life. “Just remember the little people back home when you become famous.”
“Look who’s talking. ‘Little people’, my ass. How is the new best seller selling, anyway?” Roni grinned at Cassie and fake popped her with a dish towel.
“It’s doing, thanks. I can’t seem to focus on the next one, though. Maybe I need to take a breather. How about I move in with you for a while, Kris? I could get used to this. Look at the sun sparkling on the water. And I can’t remember when I slept so well. The waves really do make a difference.” Cassie lived in a mostly-restored Victorian in the heart of Charleston. The house was her pride and joy, but it was a constant project.
“Mi casa, su casa. The guest room’s always ready. That goes for both of you.” Kris tried to ignore Pegasus as he prepared to jump up on the counter. She knew it was just a pipe dream, he’d never clear the bar stool. “I’ve missed us.”
“At least you two live close enough to see each other whenever you like.” Roni started to clear away the dishes.
“Leave those; I’ll get to them later. Let’s take our coffee outside.” Kris tried not to trip over Peg as she dropped him another piece of ham.
The unseasonably cool ocean breeze welcomed them as they settled on the porch. A couple walked hand in hand near the water, both bundled in heavy sweaters. The house was built on pilings to avoid rising water, increasing the distance from the women and the beachcombers. Seagulls circled noisily over the water’s edge, diving for unsuspecting sea creatures as they washed ashore.
A shrimp boat trolled about a mile off the beach, nets dragging in their wake. The crisp, salty air had the women reaching for their blankets. Kris couldn’t imagine a better day. Spending time with her favorite people in her favorite place; what could be better?
The thought had barely left her when a banging noise tried to compete with the seagulls. The sound was obviously coming from next door.
Kris moved out onto the deck to get a better look. She could see a door swinging on the back of the house, close to where the light was walking last night.
“That’s weird, looks like the screen door is open. That house has been locked up for months, why would the door be open now?”
Ever the rationalist, Roni looked for logic. “Maybe the wind opened it. It is blowing pretty hard.”
“The wind is always blowing on the beach. Maybe the new owner moved in, I’ll check for a car.” Kris continued down to the deck stairs and followed the path to the front of the house. No car. No signs of life anywhere. Everything looked the same as it always did. She ran back up to the deck, only to meet Roni and Cassie rounding the corner.
“I’m going over there; maybe an animal somehow opened the door. If it keeps banging against the house, it will drive me crazy before it comes off the hinges.” Kris turned around and headed back toward the other house.
“Wait up, I’ll come with.” Cassie followed Kris.
“I’ll stand guard, just in case.” Roni took up a post at the deck rail.
As soon as Kris crossed onto the neighbor’s property, chills began to crawl up and down her spine. This is crazy, she thought. It’s broad daylight. What the hell is going on? She didn’t voice her sudden fear to Cassie. No use making both of them antsy.
There was nothing unusual about the stairs leading up to the deck, but Kris stepped warily, just the same. Cassie followed her lead.
The screened porch door was swinging wildly, hitting the side of the porch, but not the door jamb. Something lay on the floor between the jamb and the door, preventing the door from closing. As Kris got closer to the opening, she saw what it was.
“How did that get there?” She reached down to pick up the brick. Cassie grabbed the door to keep it still. “No wonder the door wouldn’t close.” Kris glanced quickly inside the porch. It was empty, just as it had been since she moved in next door.
“Let’s check the lock on the sliding door.” Kris was already moving forward inside the porch. Cassie inspected the lock on the screen door.
The chills magnified as Kris crossed the porch. She ignored them and tried to open the glass door. It didn’t budge.
“The lock’s not broken, but it’s scratched.” Cassie reported on the screen door.
Kris cupped her hands and tried to see inside the empty house. Nothing was obviously wrong, but she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling. It felt like someone was watching her.
“Everything looks fine, but I’ll call Joanie and let her know about the door. Let’s lock it behind us and prop the brick against it.” They hurried back down the deck stairs, faster than when they arrived. Cassie didn’t say anything, but Kris could tell that she felt something, too.
Neither woman noticed the well-dressed man hiding behind the piling, just beneath the stairs.
“Nosy bitches.” he growled softly.
Chapter Five
Kris spent the evening going over her plan of attack for the herbal remedy project. Roni and Cassie had left, both promising to visit sooner rather than later. Even though Cassie was only minutes away, their respective schedules prevented them from spending as much time together as they would have liked.
The colors of the sunset were fading into deep blue as Kris remembered to try the realtor again. She’d left Joan a message about the screen door incident, but she had never returned the call.
“Oh well,” Kris sighed aloud, “maybe I’m making too much of it.” As soon as the thought left her, she felt another chill and instinctively knew that the light and the door were more significant than they seemed. She glanced next door, but saw nothing out of place. The beach was completely empty as far as she could see; the only sounds those of the waves reaching for the sand. Normally, Kris loved the privacy and the solitude, but tonight she was leery of the isolation.
The beach cottage had been her sanctuary for the past three months. She had never felt anything but safe here. Sullivan’s Island was a sleepy stretch of land most of the time, nestled between Charleston and Isle of Palms. She had moved to Charleston after graduating college, but was never comfortable living in such a bustling area. It took years of saving and searching to finally land in her dream location; ocean front and out-of-the-way.
A light rustling in the sea grass growing a few f
eet from the porch startled Kris out of her reverie. She watched the spot for several long minutes, but nothing else moved. Get a grip, she thought, it’s just a bird or something settling in for the night.
Pegasus chose that moment to jump into her lap, meowing for dinner. Kris jumped, and then laughed. “Thanks buddy; you nearly gave me a heart attack.” Having Peg near and hearing the sound of her own voice took the edge off of her jitters. “What d’ya say we get something to eat?” Pegasus jumped down and headed for the sliding glass doorway.
Kris had left the door open, along with most of the windows in the house, to let in the cool ocean breezes. One of the many perks of living at the beach, she thought. After filling Peg’s bowl, she made herself a quick sandwich. She hesitated slightly before heading back out onto the porch, her favorite place for dining. “Whatever’s going on next door will not keep me from enjoying my home.” She told Pegasus as she resolutely strode back outside.
Her cell phone started ringing as she sat down. “Hi Joan, thanks for calling back.”
“Hi Kris, sorry it took so long, but I didn’t have my notes with me. Jack and I went to Hilton Head for the weekend. I checked, and the new owner is not moving in until a week from Wednesday. We closed by proxy, he hasn’t even picked up the keys yet. There’s absolutely no reason that anyone should be next door. You know that Mrs. Morrison passed away, and all of her kids live in California.” Joan finally took a breath.
“I thought that’s what you told me, that he wasn’t moving in for a week or so. I’m sure it’s nothing, maybe some kids playing around. Nothing seemed out of place, except the door being open. The light could have been a firefly. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
“Don’t be, I appreciate your looking out for the place. Let me know if you see anything else, and I’ll send someone to check it out.”
“Thanks, Joan. I’ll do it.” They chatted a few more minutes, with Kris promising once more to call if anything happened.