Don't Wake Me if I'm Dreaming Read online

  I slightly lifted my head and glanced over my knees. His face expressed an equal share of confusion and worry. “I don’t know what to tell you.” I tried to think up a legitimate excuse but failed. “It made me feel safe I guess.”

  He sat next to me and placed a hand on my leg. “Talk to me, babe. I can’t help until I understand what’s going on.”

  “You’re going to have to let it go. I have nothing to share, and I need to clean up,” I snapped, jumping to my feet, handing him the remote control from the coffee table. “I’ll hurry.” I grabbed the gun and clip, darting toward the bedroom avoiding any further questioning.

  “Damn crazy woman,” he mumbled.

  During the awkwardly silent drive in his work truck, Matt pulled up to a drive through for sweet tea and sandwiches on the way to Lake Norman. His parents owned a vacation rental on the lake that was in the process of being listed on the market, and he needed to retrieve his fishing boat from the garage. The house was small and lovely, but his parents intended to retire soon and were through dealing with the upkeep.

  “I can’t believe we haven’t been here since last summer.” I glanced at the lake, unbuckling my seatbelt. “It doesn’t get much more serene than this.”

  “Will you be a help?” He pointed to the garage keypad. “Star seven six, six three hashtag.”

  “Hashtag?” I laughed. “Got it.” I hurried to open the garage.

  He backed up the truck, got out, and lowered and locked the ball mount and hitch together. “I’m going to miss this place,” he said, connecting the brake cables.

  “Twenty-five years of memories, I would too. I still can’t believe they’re selling it.”

  “More like twenty. I don’t really have infantile memories.”

  “Smart ass!” I slightly laughed.

  “My best memory of us was on that dock.” He looked at the weathered, wooden dock that stretched over the lake. “That was a hot night in more ways than one.”

  “We don’t need to leave just yet, do we? I want to hang out for a bit.”

  “Depends. Are you going to tell me what that was all about in the apartment earlier?”

  “Could you not bring it up one more time, please?”

  “Fine, I’ll bring it up two more times if that’ll get me an answer.”

  I scowled at him. Our stubbornness was two halves of the shell.

  “You’re lucky. I actually want to show you something.” He held out his hand. I looked to see what he wanted to show me. “You don’t have to hold it.”

  I guffawed, feeling idiotic. “I thought you were showing me something.”

  Matt reached for my hand, laughing. “It’s not a long walk.”

  We followed the shoreline through a clearing to a cluster of old trees and a few short stumps. We were still close to the water, but in a more secluded area behind his parent’s house. I looked around, curiously, wondering what it was he wanted to show me.

  “Okay, close your eyes until I say it’s okay to look,” he said.

  I grinned at him and did as he asked. “Mathew Ryan Stephens, what are you up to?”

  “No peeking.” He took my arm and carefully walked me ten steps I assumed between the trees. “You can look now,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulders.

  I opened my eyes and looked at the large tree that was a canvas of engraved initials proclaiming one’s love to another. “Aw.” I reached, placing a finger on a heart. “This is so romantic.” I looked at the clusters of carvings. “Is that us, MS and SO?”

  “Do ya like it?” He glanced at me.

  “I can’t believe you never showed me this before.”

  “I knew I’d eventually get around to it.”

  He removed his baseball cap leaving his brown hair a mess, and rested it on my head, then pulled off his sweatshirt and adjusted his T-shirt. He spread the shirt over a stump to form a makeshift seat cover. I hopped up on the stump and made myself comfortable.

  “I may never get the chance to do this again.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a Swiss Army pocketknife. I observed as he crossed out the O initial, and carved an S next to it.

  I laughed lightheartedly in agreement with what now read SøS. “You think so, huh?”

  “All in good time.” He flashed his dimpled smile at me.

  I looked out across the water, blushing. “Mister Stephens, that’s a rather bold assumption.”

  “Ah, well, I probably won’t get the chance to do it later, and I couldn’t just leave the O hanging around forever.”

  “You’re rather self-assured, aren’t you,” I stated rhetorically speaking.

  He turned facing me with a short laugh. “You see, it’s all part of my master plans.”

  “Do enlighten me, please.”

  “All righty!” He hindered a moment in thought. “First and foremost, I intend to muster the courage for a little chitchat with Doug.”

  “Ah, I see, and tell me about this chitchat you plan on having with my dad.”

  “No problem.” He smiled clearing his throat. “I’ll say something like, Doug, I promised we used protection, I’m just not sure how it happened. It was likely her fault, but I intend to make an honest woman of her.” He held in the laughter that escaped after I playfully shoved his arm.

  “Psssh right, you’ll have to do better than that if you intend to walk away with both legs.”

  “All right then, how about this.” He stood up straight and scratched his head a second. “Doug, the last year has been the best of my life. You see, I met the most amazing woman, your daughter, and man does she ever make the world go round. She shows me how good it feels to be loved. She’s brilliant, kind, has a heart of gold, she can’t cook worth a lick, and she’s slightly irrational at times—”

  “Irrational?” I interrupted. “And you enjoy my cooking just fine.”

  “Would you just let me finish?” His lips pulled to the side suppressing a smile. “But she’s beautiful and she take’s my breath away. I promise you,” he stepped closer to me, “if you allow me the honor, I’ll prove to you and her, that I will love her unconditionally. That I will take care of her without question, and I will always give her the best of me, if you allow me to marry her, sir. So how did that sound, not too cheesy I hope?”

  Touched by his words, I smiled tenderly. “Assuming he approves?”

  “After I give you the most romantic and amazing night of your life, I will get down on bent knee, and say,” he knelt down on a root in front of me, “Sasha,” he took my hand, “it would do me the greatest of honor if you will say yes, that you agree to give me your sweet sugar forever and become my wife. And this is where you say—”

  “Guess you’ll have to wait to find out.”

  “Aw, come on, give me something.”

  “Here, a token of my love.” I handed back his hat, then hopped down from the stump and wrapped my arms around him. “I love you, but there is no need to rush any of this. I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t need a ring to hold that promise.”

  “I love you, too.” His voice saddened, but his brown love-struck, puppy eyes held mine a moment before he leaned in for a juicy, lasting kiss.

  When he attempted to move his lips from mine, I reached, grabbing his shirt, pressing him against me. “Not so fast, lover boy.”

  He took a seat on the stump and helped me on his lap.

  I wrapped my legs around his midriff, locked my ankles behind his back, and then leaned back against his legs, tipping my head back. My eyes stretched across the upside-down view of the water.

  His hands rubbed the denim swathed around my hips then he released a small and delightful laugh. “I could chew these off with my teeth about now.”

  “Oh my! You don’t suppose the people on the boats would mind us making love on a stump, do you?” My voice strained, using my stomach strength to pull myself back up.

  Matt shrugged indifferently. “I say we give ‘em a show.” His hands slid up the inside of my blo
use lifting it slightly. “I’m just messing with you, baby. No one gets to see my girl’s tatas but me.” He grinned.

  “Then we better go inside.”

  He helped me to my feet and pulled his sweatshirt back on.

  “Hang on a sec.” I reached into my blouse pocket and pulled out my cellphone. “Will you stand by the tree? I want a picture of you and your declaration of foreverness carving.”

  He turned his hat backward, then knelt by the tree, and exaggerated a smile as he pointed to our initials.

  “You’re such a dork.” I took the picture and presented it to him.

  “That’s a keeper. Our grandkids will appreciate it someday.”

  “Ha! That’s a very dubious assumption, but you’re full of those today.” I laughed. “You’ll be lucky if I settle on trying to keep a plant alive.”

  He took my hand. “You wouldn’t give me a baby if I asked?” His tone holds some humor.

  “No!” I said with a humorless laugh.

  “What if I beg you on a bent knee?” He knelt down.

  “I’d tell you you’re getting your jeans dirty, and the idea of unwed conception does nothing for me.” I grinned, pulling him back up. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  “So marry me.”

  “That was a very weak proposal, and graciously, it’s being declined.”

  “Ouch. Hop up.” He knelt back down and lifted me on his back.

  I rested my head against his and hugged his shoulders. “Isn’t it enough to just be loved?” I asked kindly.

  The lake house neared emptiness, except a few pieces of covered antique furniture, a broom in the doorway, and a few boxes on the kitchen counter.

  Matt lowered me to my feet in front of the fireplace. “No beds. They’ve already been moved.”

  “I don’t mind.” I glanced at the wood floor, indifferently.

  He touched my face with his fingers and slid one to my lips. His face wore little expression, only hooded eyes. I couldn’t get enough of that look, the same look a puppy gives when it’s yearning for affection. He looked around the room, then walked toward the table and removed a sheet. “Will this do?” He shook the dust from it.

  I nodded slightly.

  He draped the sheet over my shoulders then unbuttoned my blouse, each button, taking his time. He stroked his hand along my side, touching my skin tenderly as we kissed.

  Bedroom talk was never his strength, but after a little clumsy verbal foreplay while undressing me, he gave me a lingering kiss before unbuttoning his pants.

  “We had our first kiss here,” I whisper in his lips.

  “Actually, it was over there.” He glanced at the kitchen remembering. “I thought you were going to sock me.”

  “It was a little brash to assume I’d embrace a kiss in front of your mom!” I faked a small scowl, remembering. “It was sweet, though, and you kept me waiting long enough.”

  He laughed. “Come on, it was two days after we met, and I was already introducing you to my parents.”

  “That’s because you’re a momma’s boy.” I sniggered. “And you brought me here to swim, not intending for me to meet your parents.”

  His short laughter held a surprise. “I knew they’d be here. I wanted to show you off. And, it was a tasteful kiss when she wasn’t looking, and you were teasing me wearing that little ruffle summer dress.”

  “Huh, it was awkward, and the dress was pleated, not ruffled.” I smiled, rolling my eyes.

  Matt pulled his shirts off. I ran my hands over his chest, tracing the muscular curves. It was gorgeous as the rest of his athletic body. He playfully flexed his pecks. “Is that sexy or what?”

  “Mmm,” I good-humoredly moaned. “Way to turn me on.”

  “Come here.” He pulled me to him, his voice susurrated into a whisper. “I love you more than you can imagine.” He kissed me, again.

  “I love you.”

  Sex came naturally with him, always comfortable. We fit together well, and he was gentle with me, even when things got a little wild. He always wanted to try new positions, and in the most unlikely places. Most often it worked, except the time I was on top and we caved in his wicker hope chest, and he ended up with six stitches in his hip. We also broke the leg on his parent’s table. We discovered sex in a hammock doesn’t work well. Broke the wall-mounts on his bathroom sink, and dented the hood of my car one night in his garage. The real humdinger was in a family bathroom at the airport after not seeing him for five days—my shoe slid in the toilet, getting stuck in the drain. Regardless, we had fun, and the times he wanted to take it slow and easy, like now, were just as enjoyable. He knew when to be romantic, and often tried. It wasn’t always graceful, but it was entertainingly sweet.

  Matt’s hands grabbed my waist, pulling my body against his with a loud pleasurable grunt.

  I grabbed hold of his shoulders, lifting my back from the floor, but he pressed his chest against mine, pushing me to the sheet. His eyes met mine with an amorous stare. “You like that don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” The word escaped in a pant.

  His hand moved to my chest, staying there only a few seconds. With a swift movement, he was gripping the sheet above my head and his lips were on my neck.

  I felt a little friction burn on the small of my back when he braced his fists on the floor and trembled out a pleasurable groan. I rubbed his shoulders allowing him to finish.

  Matt rolled on his back to catch his breath. “It amazes me how that never gets old.” He showed a dimple.

  “Let’s never be that couple that grows tired of sex and sleeps in different rooms.”

  Both dimples appeared this time. “I like that.” He turned onto his side and pulled the sheet over my chest, resting his hand on my hip.

  “Like the idea of always having sex or sharing the same bed?”

  “Well that too, but I meant you were talking about us like we have a future together.”

  “Ah, well, only time will tell.” I kissed the tip of his nose.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

  “It does for now.” I reached kissing his lips, claiming the sheet, and headed toward the bathroom to avoid furthering the marital conversation.

  “You’ll change your mind and want to do it sooner than later,” he hollered after me, with a confident laugh.

  “We’ll see about that.”

  Departed

  Channel surfing became a nightly habit; it kept me awake even at ridiculous hours. Unfortunately, there was nothing remotely interesting on basic cable TV. I sat texting with Aimee and Matt, but they eventfully stopped responding. I tried doing yoga in the studio, but it made me that much more tired. I even sat in front of the piano reading sheet music and laced on my pointe shoes just to see if I could stand tippy-toed. Nothing could slow the hours from creeping, and a great weight tugged at my eyelids as the numbers on the clock stared at me, inviting me to rest. I thought about going for a run since it had been a few days, but didn’t want to be outside in the dark alone. I began thinking about my last dream and remembered the gun crossing over with me, which sent me rushing to the closet.

  I changed into appropriate forest apparel and collected the gun. This time, I locked the front door. After finding a comfortable sleeping position on the bed, I closed my eyes and tried relaxing, but instead began laughing. The mental image of Matt’s expression after witnessing the bullet lodged into the wall was priceless. Yet, he still wanted to engage in the forever-biding topic of marriage. That conversation gave my mind something to ponder for a while before drifting to sleep.

  ***

  The water is untouched, and the crisp scent of trees fills the air. I marvel a moment over the beauty of the lake. My mission is clear, find the man and save Aimee. I just have to figure out how.

  I’m still unsure if there is a connection between the man and Aimee’s lifeless body, but I’m not exactly sure there isn’t. I tuck the gun in the waistband of my pants and prepare myself for the unk
nown.

  I see the little boy standing at the shoreline as I walk toward our usual meeting scene. I stop just short of him and try to smile “Hi.” I wait a few seconds to see if he will respond, but it’s as if he doesn’t notice me standing here. I glance to the water but don’t see Aimee’s body this time. I stretch, looking further into the water to be sure. “Will you take me back there, to the campground? I need to find the man from the other side of the lake.” I point across the cove. “I think he might be a bad man, and I need to tell him to go away.” I stand staring, waiting for a reply that doesn’t come. “Okay then, where are your mommy and daddy? Can you take me to them?”

  The little boy lifts his inquisitive green eyes and looks across the water. My eyes follow, but find nothing more than the usual surroundings. I extend my arm, offering my hand. “It’s okay. I’ll help you find them.”

  His eyes study my hand before he reaches for it. With a warm little grip, I feel the same rush of air as before enveloping my body.

  My feet are suddenly against new dirt. Promptly, we return to the campground. I briefly scan the untouched surroundings, following the boy’s lead to one of the tents. He crawls in retrieving his dinosaur and returns wanting to hold my hand, again. “Do you know where to go from here?” I ask and don’t receive a verbal response, but he leads us, seemingly knowing which direction to head.

  We reach the top of the trail. I take a deep breath in preparation, meeting the man face to face as he swiftly approaches. He’s wearing the same tuxedo as in previous dreams. His hand is cupping a small object. The little boy grips my hand firmly, turning his face into my leg. I fearfully reach for the gun, and swing my arm in front of me, pointing it at the man’s face. “Stop—stop now!” My voice breaks, sounding more terrifying than threatening. My unsteady hand has me equally scared for the man’s life.

  Abruptly the man freezes; his gorgeous face is horribly distraught as he glances down to the little boy then to the gun.

  “Please, I need your help,” he speaks, slowly, apprehensively. “I want to help his mother, but I can’t without your aid.” The man’s smoky, stout voice expresses honest concern. He slowly opens his hand, without any other movement, letting a necklace slip through his fingers into a dangle. As the swaying stops, I recognize the heart shape locket. It is identical to the one Vance gifted Aimee on their first Christmas together.