Wish - H.R. Davison (best books to read TXT) 📗

should be. “You pass.”

 

Kat

 

I am back in the dream, standing at the edge of the bridge. I peer over the edge, knowing what I will see, the wreckage below, my mother calling out for me. Closing my eyes I inhale deeply, bracing myself for what comes next. This is always the worst part, seeing my mom in what I imagine as her final moments.

 

Drawing courage from the oxygen as it fills my lungs to capacity I slowly open my eyes. The first thing I notice is that the rain has stopped and the sun is out, warming my face I look up to the sky. How can this be? I know it was raining only moments ago.

 

“Kat.” A musical voice says from behind me. I know that voice. That is my mother’s voice. I would recognize it anywhere.

 

Spinning around I see my mother standing on the center line of the abandoned road. I run to her, fully expecting her to vanish into thin air the instant I attempt to embrace her. Instead I feel her warm arms enfold me a nurturing embrace.

 

This is just a dream. This is just a dream. This is not real. My mother is dead.

 

“Shhh, shhh…” She says soothingly, smoothing my hair down as she comforts me. I hold her tight to me, breathing in her scent.

 

Backing away slowly I look at my mother. She is exactly as I remember. Wearing the same scrubs she was in the morning of her death, pale blue with kittens on them. Reaching out with one hand I touch the sleeve of her shirt, rubbing the fabric between my fingers to make sure it’s real. “How is this possible?” I ask her. “You’re…” I trail off, unable to complete the sentence. Unable to tell my mother she is dead.

 

She smiles at me closemouthed in a knowing way. “Kat sweetie, I don’t have much time.” She looks around and behind her, leaning close she whispers in my ear. “There is much I need to tell you, but they are always watching. They want to find you. They want to use you against me as leverage so I will work with them.”

 

“Mom, I don’t understand.” I utter. “What happened? Who is watching? Work with whom?” I am so confused.

 

“Shhhh, shhhh. Quick now, hush.” She says drawing me in for another hug. “I love you so much Kathryn, but listen to me.” She grabs my shoulders to face her. “I am not who you think I am. I am much more than your mother. The Thirteen, they want to find you. Don’t let them find you… they will…”

 

Before she can finish the sky turns black, as if someone has turned off a light switch. A bright flash of lightning cracks through the inky sky. Momentarily blinding me I blink my eyes. My mother’s grip on my shoulders tightens and then vanishes. “Mom!” I call out, “Mom!”

 

Lightning flashes again and I see the dark figure with the red eyes standing where my mother was moments ago. Pointing at me with a skeletal hand, the figure reaches for my shoulder. I back pedal away from the dark man to get away. Seeing the figure so close is terrifying, my heart leaps into my throat, suffocating me. Fear sends shivers up my spine. “What… what to you want?” I whimper.

 

“You.” The figure says reaching out to me. “Kathryn...” The rest is cut off by a resounding peel of thunder.

 

*************

 

I jolt up in my bed screaming. It was a dream, just another dream. But it felt so real. My heart is beating like a drum in my chest, my pulse is racing. The room is dark so it must still be in the middle of the night. The angel nightlight my mom got me when I was little emits a faint yellow light. Before my eyes adjust to gloom I grab my phone from the table next to me, checking the time. 6:13am, again. “Ugh.” I say out loud to the empty room. “This is getting old.” My voice cracks with emotion as tears well up in my eyes.

 

There is no way I can go back to sleep after that dream. I want to feel close to my mom. Deciding to get up I amble through the house, touching things my mom once touched, I sit in the recliner she would relax in after work. Passing by my dad’s room I peer in, it looks disused and dusty. My eyes are drawn to mom’s hope chest pushed up against one wall. Stacks of papers clutter the top of it. Swiping them off to the side I open the chest releasing the pungent odor of spruce. Inside the chest are all my mom’s treasured possessions. Papers, mostly old bills, her nursing degree, and my birth certificate, I shuffle through the papers absently tossing them to the side. There are photo albums, an old afghan, a jewelry box that plays music when you open it, although it is absent of any jewelry inside.

 

Soon I am surrounded by a semi-circle of relics from my mom’s life. I can’t seem to find anything here that would comfort me, or make me feel closer to my mom. Frustrated with myself I give up, storming out of the room I make a mental note to clean the mess up before Andy comes back next week. I can’t have him thinking I am having a mental break down or anything. He is such an absolute nerd he would probably have me locked up if I even mentioned the wild nightmares I have been having since my mom’s death.

 

Glancing at the time I see it is already after 11am. How has so much time passed already? I need to get ready for my date with DJ. I take the quickest shower in my life, rushing around to get ready like a mad woman. I put on the dress I borrowed from Lilli, a light green summer dress that hangs down to my knees. I am applying lip gloss when the doorbell rings. Giving myself a once over in the mirror before I head down stairs. Not great, but not bad, I guess it will have to do since I am officially out of time to primp.

 

DJ is standing at the door with a big grin on his handsome face, his chocolate colored eyes light up when he sees me. I imagine what it would be like to run my fingers through his chestnut hair as his athletic arms pull me close to his solid chest. I have to shake my head to break that train of thought. He is holding flowers in my directions. “Anthurium?” I ask. What an odd choice for flowers. “They are beautiful. Let me just put these in water.” I gesture for him to come inside. “Have a seat, I will only be a minute.” Walking into the kitchen to get a vase for the flowers I shout back to him. “Where are we going today?”

 

“Have you ever played goofy golf?” He asks from right behind me, startling me I drop the vase. I hear it shatter on the ground.

 

“DJ!” I exclaim clutching my chest to calm my palpitating heart, “You scared me, I thought you were in the next room.”

 

“Sorry Kat, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He holds out the vase to me.

 

That is odd. I thought I heard it shatter on the floor. Maybe I am losing my mind. “Thanks.” I mumble, replaying what just happened in my head. No, I definitely heard the vase break. Holding up the vase questioningly. “How…” I start to ask.

 

“Quick reflexes.” DJ says flexing his arm. “So, as I was saying, goofy golf, you ever played?”

 

“Yes.” I reply sarcastically rolling my eyes at him.

 

“Good.” DJ says, “Then I will have some real competition, but don’t let win on account it’s my birthday?”

 

Today is his birthday? How could I have not bothered to know that? Thinking of what a terrible person I must be I say. “Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to get you anything.”

 

“No worries babe, you spending the day with me is all I need.” He responds “Ready to go?”

 

My stomach rumbles loudly as we get into the car to leave. I was so busy going through my mom’s things this morning I didn’t have time to eat. “Hungry?” He says.

 

I look at DJ silently apologizing. “Apparently.” I say, “Would it be okay if we ate something before we go?”

 

We eat lunch at a small local diner in town that I haven’t had a chance to go to yet. The waitress is very friendly with DJ, repressing the urge to let my jealous side show I concentrate on the menu. After a few minutes of obvious flirting on her side, I have had enough. Staring daggers at the waitress I clear my throat to get her attention. DJ’s face is bright red as I glare in his direction. “I believe I am ready to order.” I announce to the waitress. She seems completely oblivious of my resentful tone. She takes our orders and departs. Before she is out of earshot I state to DJ. “If you plan to flirt with every girl you see today, you might as well take me home now.”

 

His mouth falls open in shock at my bold statement. “Kat… I’m sorry.” Reaching for my hand across the table I quickly pull away. “Please.” He continues. “I am sorry. I guess I just don’t realize I am doing it, trust me, you are the only girl I want to flirt with.”

 

Can he actually be unaware he is flirting? Has floating through life with such good looks made him blind to the women around him? He must be used to batting his long eyelashes and having any girl around him go weak in the knees. Since I have already decided to accept his apology and continue the date I guess he is used to it for a reason, but I am not about to give him the satisfaction of thinking he is off the hook yet. “I will finish lunch at least, how the rest of the day goes will depend upon your behavior.” I say with a huff, crossing my arms across my chest in defiance. I don’t care how good looking he is, the moment he starts flirting with another girl I am done, I promise myself.

 

Before long our food arrives. The waitress strives to engage DJ in small talk but he politely ignores her attempts, telling her the food looks great and dismissing her with a wave of his hand. I smile victoriously at her backside as she walks away. I struggle to be lady like and nibble at my salad, but before I know it I have inhaled the whole thing down in a matter of minute, as DJ is only halfway through his meal I excuse myself to the restroom.

 

When I get back to the table DJ has already finished eating and paid the bill, the home wrecking waitress is nowhere in sight, which is just fine by me.

 

It is a perfect day out for goofy golf, the September air is still warm, but the breeze keeps it from being humid. We played three games, I even