CHAPTER 12
Brian sat on the deck of the house strumming his guitar. This was the one concession to his working life that he would still gladly allow to invade his private time. He was always at peace as he plucked his fingers over the strings, a sweet melody floating over the breeze. A tune that had been nagging at the back of his mind was literally writing itself and Brian wondered if perhaps it had been one that had haunted him in his dreams as Skye had.
Skye! She was the reason he had picked up his guitar and began to play. The upcoming date had him a bundle of nerves and he knew that playing his guitar always calmed his nerves. This time was no different, but the tune he played was new, yet eerily familiar. Where had his subconscious come up with this tune? He needed to think of the lyrics to go with it still, but he knew it would have something to do with Skye.
He looked at his watch. Now was not the time the lyrics would get written. It was time to call on Skye and his body was suddenly humming, losing the built up nervousness he had been feeling. He tried to tell himself the guitar playing had done it but had to admit the mere thought of seeing Skye again had him excited. He wanted to see her again.
As he grabbed his leather jacket he heard the familiar voice asking the same question again. “Are you going to kiss her?” Brian rolled his eyes and pretended to ignore her. “Brian, please, are you going to kiss her?” The voice came again, but he recognised the playfulness in it.
“I don’t know if I am going to kiss her. The time has to be right.” Brian answered her with patience.
“I know,” she conceded. She knew he was an honorable man and would do things the right way in a romance with her grand daughter. “ You are a good man Brian and I am happy you respect her enough to wait. I will stop asking you,” she trailed off as if she really didn’t wish to utter the promise, “but please remember until we know she is happy again, we cannot leave. Our unfinished business is Skye. We must know she is happy.”
Brian wanted to argue the merits of happiness but felt silly at the thought of debating with a voice. What was true happiness and how was someone assured of forever happiness even when they find it. He had thought before he had found happiness only to have it ripped away. He turned and looked around the empty room. He wanted to say something, but there was no one here. So he turned around and left the house, jogging slowly to his car, unaware that a pair of ghostly eyes watched him leave. “He is the one to bring true happiness. I know it.”
***********
Skye fretted over what to wear first, then how much makeup to use, then wondered if she would be ready on time and finally over how the evening would go. In reality, other than Trevor, Brian would be her only date. She thought about the two of them and felt the familiar tingling going through her. This was so different to anything she and Trevor had ever shared and it was all new to her.
Trevor and Skye had known each other since they had been kids and the progression to boyfriend and girlfriend had been almost a natural phase in the relationship. It was the next step, something everyone had expected to happen, and when Trevor had asked her to marry him, Skye had no hesitation in saying yes. She loved him more than anything, but it was a comfortable love, one that fit like a glove.
The relationship with Brian was different though. Not that they had much of a relationship yet, but with all the dreams she had been having it felt as if they did share more than the three brief meetings. The thought of building a relationship from nothing excited and scared Skye at the same time, it was all new to her. Her heart pounded with anticipation whenever she thought about spending time with Brian and getting to know him. She had never felt that with Trevor.
She heard a noise and looked at the watch on her arm. It was too early for Brian yet. The ring on her finger flashed and almost instantly tears welled in her eyes. Why Trevor, she thought. Why did he leave her?
Slowly she slid the ring off her finger and sat staring at it. All the years they had shared seemed to flash before her eyes, ending with that fateful day when he had left her to go out on the water that day. When she had been given the news about his accident her world had fallen apart. A tear slid down her cheek as she remembered.
A pair of arms came around her shoulders for comfort and she immediately knew it was Jay. “It’s okay to let go Skye,” she told her.
“But why did he go? We were so happy.” Skye sobbed.
“It’s one of those things we just can’t explain, but you have to let go Skye. He isn’t coming back and as much as that hurts it isn’t going to change.” Jay told her, hugging her close to soften the words.
“I know. I’m ready to let go.” Skye stood and put the ring safely in the ring box it had come in and in the drawer. Slowly closing the drawer she held her breath but felt relieved once she had done it. She had to move on, and now seemed a good a time as any to start. Taking emotional baggage into a new relationship was not going to work. Brian deserved more than that. They both did. “It’s okay now Jay, you don’t have to worry about me anymore.”
“Oh?” Jay looked at her sceptically. “Does this have anything to do with your dreams?”
Skye shrugged. How was she going to explain all this? “Sort of, yeah.” She took a deep breath. “They have made me think. Trevor’s appearances in them, telling me to move on have to mean something. They are a sign, divine intervention, whatever you want to call it. I was ready to let go, then last night things changed.”
“Last night?”
“Meeting Brian.”
“Brian? You mean Daniel’s cousin?” Jay was confused and rightly so. “He dropped you home last night. Did something happen between the two of you?”
“Well, no, not really. We had some coffee and talked.” Skye watched Jay for a reaction. “But he is the one.”
“The one?”
Again Skye took a calming breath. “He is the one I have been dreaming about,” she said and closed her eyes, waiting for her answer.
“Get outta here.” Jay squealed. “Are you serious?” She watched Skye closely. “ You ARE serious. He's the one you have been dreaming about? Oh My God Skye, are you sure?”
Skye nodded slowly. “Yes, it’s him, there’s no doubting it.”
“And you are okay with this? I mean you aren’t freaked out or anything?” Skye could tell Jay didn’t know how to react to this news and she had been more than a little shocked by her announcement.
She thought for a moment before answering, a small smile on her face. “Yes Jay, I am okay with it. Yeah it did freak me out a bit when I saw him, but you know he is every bit as nice as I dreamt about and just as good looking,” she winked at Jay,” or even better looking than my dreams because now I see the whole face instead of just his eyes and smile. And he is quite stunning. But when I first saw him last night I did panic a little, then calmed right down.”
“And he brought you home. Tell me more.”
Skye spent the next half hour telling Jay all about the events since the night before when she first met Brian, including her thoughts about Trevor and how she had decided it was time to move on. She would never forget him, but she had to let others in, and that included Brian right now.
“Now enough about me. Where did YOU get to last night?”
Jay’s face lit up and she smiled cheekily at Skye. “As if you didn’t know.”
Skye smiled back. “Daniel right? You two finally hit it off?” Jay nodded enthusiastically. “I’m glad Jay. It’s been a long time coming. Just be careful.”
“I will. But Skye he was so wonderful. He is an amazing person, even more so than I ever thought. He just makes me feel so good inside.” Jay said in a dreamy state, her mind wandering off in thought. Skye shook her head and chuckled. When Jay became passionate about something she never did it in half measures. This time her passion was directed at Daniel and Skye knew it was a good thing. They would make a perfect couple.
A knock at the door broke into her thoughts and she bounced off the bed. “Oh My God, he’s here. Look at me, I need to freshen up after that crying spell. Jay, could you please answer the door and let Brian in?”
“Sure thing. It’ll give me a chance to give him the once over.”
“Jay!” Skye warned her. “You keep your sights set on Daniel. I’ll have his cousin.”
“Oh keeping it in the family, sounds good to me.” She jumped up. “Go get yourself ready, I will entertain your man.”
“Jay, behave,” Skye warned as she walked out smiling sweetly at her as she left. She freshened up and fixed the little bit of makeup she had on and walked out of the bathroom. With one last lingering look at her now ring less finger and over to where the ring was now stored, she sighed deeply and set her resolve. Brian deserved her attention now and she was going to make sure he got it…
********
Jay was laughing with Brian when Skye came out of the room. She smiled at the ease at which the two of them seemed to be getting on. Brian saw her in the corner of his eye and stopped talking to Jay, his mouth opening when he watched her.
“Brian, you’ll catch flies,” Jay whispered in his ear, laughing.
“Wow, you look beautiful.” Brian said to her walking towards her.
“Thank you Brian.” Skye said and the two stood gazing at each other.
Skye heard Jay giggle. “So where are you two off to this evening?” she asked them to break into their dreams. At the thought of dreams Jay looked at them both and wondered if it was truly possible. Skye said she had dreamt about Brian, not just once, but every night for months. Was it really Brian she had dreamt about or was it her wishing it had been Brian?
“The Valentine,” Skye said naming the restaurant she had mentioned to Brian earlier.
“Oh nice,” Jay said to them. “I’ve been there once, only not on a date. Maybe I should get Daniel to take me there some day.”
At the mention of Daniel Brian asked, “Have you known Daniel long?”
“Ever since he moved here,” Skye told him. He lived in that house you are in for a while till he bought the house he is in now. We got to know each other that way.”
Brian nodded, knowing when Daniel had moved in. It was one time he had been overseas and he had visited when he had got back to the States. It was a shame he hadn’t met Skye that time. He couldn’t remember her at all. “So a while then. I have been here before,” he informed them.
“I don’t remember Daniel ever mentioning you before, let alone having a visitor.” Jay said to him.
“Has to be about 4 years ago now,” Brian said to them. He was keen to work out the time frame as well as clear up why he hadn’t seen them before.
“I was living with my parents then. That would explain why we never saw you. The two of us have only lived here a little over twelve months.” Skye said to him, feeling the sadness of the time again.
Jay picked up on her mood change and tried to change the subject. “You know I don’t know what took Daniel and I so long to get together. How dense are we?” she said making Skye laugh aloud, changing her mood.
Brian silently thanked Jay for the change in subject because he too had picked up on her sadness. He guessed what the reason was but had no way of making the change. “He’s always been slow where women are concerned,” he laughed.
“Well, he’s your cousin, does it run in the family?” Jay joked with Brian, batting her eyelids innocently.
Brian blushed. “Well, actually, yes, to an extent.” He looked uncomfortable and Skye felt she had to come to his rescue.
“Jay you are such a teaser.”
Jay pretended to be hurt. “I am not. I was making fun of myself too.” She laughed.
“It’s okay Skye. Daniel and I are alike in a lot of ways.”
“Ooooooo, Do you sing like him too?” Jay asked suddenly taking Brian by surprise.
“Sing? Daniel?” Brian knew Daniel could sing but really didn’t want the subject of singing to come up.
“Sure, he sings beautifully. I thought that might have run in the family too.”
“Maybe it does.” Was all Brian could think of saying. She had surprised him with the question and wasn’t thinking of a very good comeback. He didn’t want his life of singing to be the topic of conversation just yet, but he knew he would have to tell Skye if things got serious between them.
“I’d like to hear you some day then.” Jay said to him, unaware of the turmoil her question had caused Brian. The phone rang then and she jumped up. “I bet that’s Daniel now. See you later you two. Have a great time,” she said and she was gone.
Brian felt like a whirlwind had hit him and he looked at Skye. They didn’t know what to say then suddenly both of them burst out laughing. “Brian, I’m sorry, did Jay make you feel uncomfortable at all?”
“No, it’s okay. I think she was just looking out for you.” He smiled at her.
Skye knew that was the case. “Yeah, that’s our Jay. She is my best friend and we always look out for each other. With Daniel though, I know I don’t have to worry about her. He has been a wonderful friend to both of us. Always there when we have needed him.”
“Well, I’d like to say that runs in the family too.” They smiled at one another warmly. “So, shall we go now? You’ll have to direct me.” Brian said and linked his arm through hers as they walked to the door. Skye felt sure being a wonderful friend did run in Brian’s family and she felt great anticipation at this date she was about to go on. She truly felt it was the beginning of a new era in her life.
As they walked out each one of them heard their respective ghost whisper in their ears. “Don’t forget the kiss.”
Chapter 13
Index
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