A reminiscent smile sweeps my face as I focus my thoughts deeply on my wife. So many memories have been shared throughout our lives. I wouldn’t trade any of them. I know we’re exactly where we are both meant to be. Sleep is coming for me. I feel it happening and I’m gladly letting it take me. This body needs a couple hours to recharge.
The sounds are muffled but apparent, and they continue to repeat until a bit of coherence hits me and I’m able to make out that I’m being addressed. “Ty. Ty, wake up. What’re you doing, man? We’ve got to roll.”
Out of sorts, and unable to comprehend why Colt is in my house, then why it’s so freaking cold, I take in my surroundings. Something isn’t right. This is all wrong. In fact, this can’t be real.
I know this place. I’ve been here a thousand times before, but it’s different, it’s the way it used to be when we were kids. Since then it’s been remodeled, rearranged and catered to the younger generations of Mitchells.
While scratching my head and taking in my surroundings, I’m still being badgered to hurry. “How much did you drink, dude? If you don’t hurry up they’ll get caught.”
“Who?” I’m pulling myself to a stance when my eyes meet Colt’s for the first time.
How can this be? His hair is dark and longer. There’s no gray. His eyes are full of life, no lines or crows feet when he squints to decipher what’s wrong with me.
“Did you hit your damn head?”
“What? No?” I feel it anyway. Something obviously happened, because this can’t be real.
“Snap out of it, Ty. Krista is on her way here. We’ve been fighting all day and I don’t want to be an asshole this close to Christmas.”
I’m flabbergasted with this revelation. Krista? Krista died years ago in a car accident.
Why would he say her name instead of Van? Why have they been fighting? Last I heard, they were taking turns hurling in the nearest toilets.
There’s no way his old ass would have the energy to get nostalgic and play a joke on me. He doesn’t have the time and it’s the middle of the night. Not to mention he looks so young and is wearing his college alma mater football warm-up sweats like he just got back from practice.
Plus, how did we get to Kentucky when I just fell asleep on the couch next to my wife?
“I’m dreaming. That’s what this is. It’s not real. I’m going to wake up any second and be back at home, wishing I could sleep all day tomorrow instead of being bombarded with a house full of kids and babies. Pop needs one day off.”
“Who the hell is pop? And also, who is coming over with kids and babies?”
I’m still placing my surroundings when I see him get closer and smack the back of my head. “I don’t know what your problem is, or if you’re just playing with me, but either you come help me, or I’ll leave your ass here.”
Grumbling, I figure this is just a dream I can’t wake from so I’ll let it play out. Hopefully it will end with me seeing Miranda naked or us in some compromising position. I sort of miss the old days when we were full of energy and sex drives that neither of us could turn off. I’m not saying we’ve stopped being that way, but it’s much less than when we were in our youth. I’m lucky if we stay awake past nine, and usually one of us falls asleep before the other. I swore we wouldn’t be that settled couple, but it’s what we’ve become. Old, happy, and completely settled.
We’ve gone back in time. The nostalgic vibe continues as we walk out of the barn and I get my first glance of the ranch, the way it used to be before all of the buildings went up, back when it was just two barns and the main house. There’s still a dirt lane that obviously leads to where Miranda and Conner grew up, though in this reality I’m not even sure where they live. All I know is Miranda is in trouble and that I’m going to be her hero.
Stopping dead in my tracks, I suddenly need to know how I look. Am I younger as well? Are we all teens again, and if so, should I attempt to change the future just to see how it will all play out?
You bet your ass I’m going to try it. I’m not one to regret a thing that’s happened to me, but I’m curious. If I’m dreaming it’s no harm in trying something new. Miranda would be mad if I didn’t.
This is nothing like I expected or remember. Colt meets Krista on the way to the long walk to the doublewide the two of them share. During our walk I asked Colt what was new with him. At first he dissed me, saying there’s nothing about his life that I don’t already know. He proceeds to threaten my nether regions if I didn’t knock it off and get with the program. Since he’s a lot bigger than me, in college, and obviously already set in his authority figure ways, I decline pushing him about anything else.
It’s not until I see Krista for myself that things feel completely off. I barely remember her, and knowing that she died tragically so many years ago doesn’t help with the way I react when our eyes first meet. “Is he okay?” she asks while taking wrapped Christmas gifts out of a large shopping bag.
“I think he’s drunk, that or he’s being an idiot.”
“What else is new?” Krista adds.
Rolling my eyes, I pick up an apple out of the basket on the table and bite into it, noticing the delicate taste and crisp it has. It’s so real, almost the best I’ve ever eaten. I’m staring down at the fruit when Colt slaps the back of my head. “Dude, there’s something seriously wrong with you tonight.”
He’s annoyed. I’m annoyed. Krista is alive, and judging from her belly, very pregnant, which is something Colt never experienced in real life. Then the bomb drops. The landline rings on the wall next to my head. Having not heard one in many years, I almost jump clear out of my skin. Colt points to the retro object with his brows raised. “Answer the dang thing, cuz.”
Taking a cue from the old, younger version of myself, I take the thing and put it up to my ear, loudly speaking into the receiver. “Ty’s Pizza and Wings.”
The voice on the opposite end of the call causes my eyes to widen. “Hey, babe. We’re almost there. Dad and Mom wanted to stop for a quick bite to eat that’s why we got delayed. I hope you weren’t worried.”
I recognize the voice. I hear it every single day of my life. She’s one of the closest friends I’ve ever had, but to hear her call me babe feels all wrong. “Van?”
“Duh. Is there a problem with the line? Can you hear me? These stupid pay phones.”
Payphones??
Unreal!
“I hear you. You said you’re almost here. To the ranch?” I say it because I need confirmation. Why in the world would Van and her parents be coming to the Kentucky ranch? I never invited them. They didn’t even like me when we were dating because, let’s face it, I was a piece of shit boyfriend. I wasn’t faithful. I strung her along never once considering how much she cared about our relationship.
Gulping in order to prepare for words, I turn to avoid Colt seeing my face before responding. “So I’ll see you when you get here.”
“Okay. I love you. I can’t wait for our families to be together for Christmas. This will change everything, Ty, I just know it.”
A temporary smile forms, but I’m not sure why. I don’t want to see Van, not like this. I don’t want to say this to her, but I have to keep up this charade until I can find Miranda. “Yeah, me too. Later, you sexy babe.”
I know why I’m smiling. In real life if I called Colt’s wife a sexy babe he would have tried to kick my ass. Right now he’s embracing Krista while rubbing her baby bump and whispering something in her ear that’s got her grinning.
Once the phone is hung up, I look around the kitchen. It’s different than the one Miranda lived in. The layout is all backwards. We came in through the kitchen, but the open floor plan makes the space appear larger. A Christmas tree separates the room from the living space. It’s decorated with red and gold ornaments with matching ribbon and lights strung throughout. There’s just one ornament that stands out from the rest. It’s a framed photo of a sonogram. I remember how excited I was when I got to see the first on
e of my twin boys. A knot forms in my stomach. This may be some sort of weird dream to me, but it’s real life to Colt and I can’t, no matter how much I want to, push him to believe none of this is actually happening.
There’s just something about seeing him with a sparkle in his eyes again, that hope for a future that he didn’t get to have, even though I know Van is his soul mate. I can’t explain it. I just refuse to interfere.
“So, Van and her parents will be arriving shortly. Did you need me to help with that issue before I head over to meet them?”
I could wake up at any second, so I need to do whatever it takes to see my young wife before it happens.
Krista gives Colt a look. I have years of experience getting that same kind of death stare. It’s basically a woman’s superpower. A man should know when this particular look appears on their woman’s face it’s time to surrender all ideas and kneel. “You don’t mind going alone?” He questions.
I shrug like it’s not a big deal. “Na. Just tell me what to do.”
“Miranda is with this guy she’s forbidden to date. He’s trouble with a capital T. I’ve wanted to kick his ass for a long time. Feel free to give it a go. I’m sure you’re sex deprived by now, being that you haven’t seen your girl in a couple days, so you’ve got some pent up energy ready to release. Have at it. Beat him to a pulp. He sure as shit deserves it.”
Krista adds, “Exactly the reason Colt doesn’t need to get involved. He will end up spending Christmas in jail for giving the guy a beat down.”
I can respect that. Miranda has terrible tastes in men, at least until we hooked up. I try not to think of her promiscuous past, even though mine was way worse in comparison.
Colt’s old truck reminds me of my first ride. This isn’t the truck he takes into town anymore. It’s been replaced twice by nice shining new models. My uncle likes his son to have only the best of things, while Colt enjoys hanging on to sentimental pieces of his life. He still does.
It takes a few turns of the key to get the old hunk of junk to come alive. The exhaust is loud, probably because the muffler has rusted away. The steering wheel is almost down to bare metal, as the years of use have worn off the softer material. The dashboards lights come on and an old country classic plays on the radio, while a quick burst of hot air smelling like maple syrup shoots from the heat vents. It’s not too cold out tonight, but chilly enough where I appreciate the added higher temperature and the fact that this old machine can still work efficiently. The younger me would question why Colt would keep something like this, while the old me understands completely.
While adjusting the rear view mirror, I take a quick glance at my younger self for the first time. The quick glance turns to a solid few minutes of staring. No gray hairs in my beard. The top of my head is thick and all the same color. There are no lines at the corner of my eyes or where I frown and smile. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this version of me. I’m a little freaked out at what I’m seeing. This dream is so vividly detailed it feels more real.
For a quick second I contemplate driving this old truck off a ravine so I can wake up next to my wife and a house full of wrapped presents. It’s when the smirk hits my face when I hear the sound of someone clearing their throat in the seat next to me.
This can’t be possible.
My eyes are playing tricks on me for certain. This can’t be. It’s a nightmare in red sexy lingerie. Dumb curiosity causes me to do a double take, then another full on once over. “Hi Ty. I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.”
“Oh hell no! I’m not even playing this.” Climbing out from the vehicle, I take a few steps backward while still watching the character poised in the passenger seat. She leans her body in order to keep an eye on me.
“You can’t run from this.”
My hands are flailing, before one finger points in her direction. “I’m dreaming this. None of it is real, so do me a favor and get the hell out of my head.”
“Say my name Ty.”
“Screw you!”
“If I were you, I’d be nice to me.”
“Why the hell would I want to do that?”
“Because, I’m the only other person who knows this isn’t real.”
I have to bite my tongue. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this person, and even though my family has done a lot of forgiveness, the mere sight of her brings back everything we had to go through as a direct result of her actions. “Just give it a second. If I get mad enough I’ll wake up and this shit will be over.”
She giggles, as if this is funny to her. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way, Ty. Get in the truck. We need to go help Miranda.”
“There is no WE, first of all. Get that through your head.” Refusing to say her name, I continue. Secondly, don’t even say my wife’s name.”
“She’s just a girl, Ty. You mean nothing to her right now. There’s no children, no hot romance. There’s no marriage. Right now you’re just the asshole who sleeps around on his sweet, innocent girlfriend, Van. Right now no one trusts you as far as they can throw you. In fact, right now I’m your only ally.”
My hands drag through my hair as a heavy gust of chilled wind coasts across my face. The night air makes this scene more realistic, all of my senses acknowledging my predicament. “This is nothing but a terrible dream. Let’s not make this more than it is. Somewhere my conscious feels like kicking me in the nuts for things I’ve done in the past. I’ve lived the rest of my life being the best me, so this nightmare can suck it!” I begin to walk away from the running truck with the half naked young vixen inside. Part of me wants to ask who put her up to this, while the other knows this alternate reality is not humanly possible.
The truck engines revs, next thing I know it’s approaching me on the cold dark lane.
“You can’t run from this, Ty.”
“Maybe not, but I can run from you, Heather.”
There. I said it.
“You haven’t missed this body in all the years that have passed by?”
“Not even once,” I truthfully admit.
“You turned out half decent. It’s surprising.”
Finally wishing she’d stop following beside me, I come to a halt and turn to face her. “What is this Heather? What do you want from me? Why are you here? What is happening? If you know something, tell me. I just want this to end. It’s Christmas and I don’t belong here with you.”
She snickers, that all too familiar laugh taking me back to my teens. “It’s sort of a long story, one that you probably don’t have time for.”
“Give me the cliff notes.”
It’s like she wants to make me wait with anticipation for as long as possible before she responds. She taps on her lips with her red manicured nails. “It’s sort of like having the ability to right your wrongs, to have a do over per se.”
“I don’t want to do anything over. Let’s skip to the part where I get kicked in the balls and wake up next to my sleeping wife.”
“Or how about we take a quick trip down memory lane first.”
“How about we don’t,” I counter.
The chill in the air captures my attention again, almost like Heather is controlling it on cue. I hate her as much as I did so many years ago. It’s like it was yesterday. A sick feeling wraps around my stomach, a nauseous wave of stress consumes my thoughts. I’m beginning to feel trapped, like this nightmare is never ending.
“The sooner you come with me, the faster you can get back to being Santa Claus.”
Of course I’d be challenged with something horrible. On the other hand, I still need to rescue Miranda from her past bad choices, so I’m going to take the offer to join Heather so all of this goes away.
Hopping in the passenger seat, Heather takes off at full speed, the tires kicking up the dirt of the road, leaving behind a trail of dust so heavy the house is lost in the distance. By the time we’ve gotten to the main stretch of road minutes have gone by in silence.
“Expla
in all of this. It’s a dream, right?”
“Sort of.”
“You still taking me to my wife?”
“Ty, you need to remember she’s not your wife. This reality is not the same that you remember.”
I know this is true. “Like Krista being alive and pregnant?”
“That’s one example.”
I hate that I’m speaking to Heather, occupying a small space in an old truck in Kentucky. “Colt didn’t get a chance to tell me about Miranda.”
“Your wait is about to be over. Keep your pants on.”
“Is that supposed to be humorous?”
“Am I your only regret, Ty? Out of everything in your life am I the only thing you regret?” Heather pulls the truck over on the side of a desolate patch of road. Even in the dark I can see her wide eyes waiting for me to answer.
“If you hadn’t been a part of my life a lot of things would’ve played out differently.”
“Like what?”
“You know what. Everything.”
“So, just to clarify, you wish I was never a part of your life? You wish I never existed in any part of your world period?”
“Is this a trick question? Everything bad that ever happened in my life is a direct result of you. If we never met I wouldn’t have had to go through the shit we went through. My family would be happier and without the bad memories. So yeah, I wish you never existed.”
She throws the vehicle back into drive and pulls away from the shoulder. “Then you’ve answered your own question as to why you’re here and can’t wake up.”
“What are you even blabbing about?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll soon understand my reason for being here and why you and I can’t be erased.”
“Fat chance. Just make this quick. I’m old and I’ve got to get some sleep before the family shows up. I promised my wife I’d make Christmas breakfast for the grandkids. You probably don’t know this, but half the family has come down with a virus so Miranda and I are trying to manage everything until all are recovered.”
It Came Upon a Mitchell Clear: A Mitchell Holiday Novella (Mitchell Healy Series Book 16) Page 2
