Troublemaker

by Trice Hickman

  Alexandria knew her mother would start talking about the wedding ad nauseam, so she quickly jumped into the purpose of her call. “Mom, I have something very important that I want to talk to you about, and I need you to hear me out, okay?”

  “Uh-oh, what’s wrong?” Victoria asked with concern.

  “I wouldn’t say that anything is wrong, but something’s definitely about to happen. Yesterday Grandma Allene contacted me.” Alexandria could hear her mother’s sharp intake of breath, as if anticipating that something bad had already taken place. “Calm down, Mom. . . .”

  “Please just tell me what’s going on.”

  Alexandria spent the next five minutes repeating to Victoria what she’d told PJ last night. “So you see, Mom, we need to go back to Nedine. I wouldn’t be pushing this if I didn’t think it was important, and Grandma Allene certainly wouldn’t be here in our world, wanting us to come there, if she didn’t think it was necessary. We all need to go.”

  “What do you think she’s referring to about burying the past in order to start new beginnings?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think, since she wants all of us there, it will mean different things for each person.”

  “Do you think our family is in any kind of danger?”

  “The only thing that I can say with a fair amount of certainty is that whether we are or aren’t, we need to travel to Nedine next weekend. I know Grandma Allene has a reason for wanting us to go, and everything she’s led me to has been right on the money.” Alexandria knew that her mother worried over her, and that she still felt guilt for not being able to help her deal with her gift when she was growing up. “Mom, I told you this so you’ll know what’s going on, but I don’t want you to worry. It’s going to be all right. Grandma Allene won’t let anything happen to me or any of us.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I guess I’m a little antsy because so much has been going on lately. It just seems like the devil’s always trying to stir up trouble.”

  “I can’t argue with you on that point. And that’s all the more reason why we all need to go to Nedine, and especially Christian.”

  “I worry about him so much. He called a few days ago and I know without a doubt he was either drunk, high, or both.”

  “Are you serious?” Alexandria ran her fingers through her heavy mass of curls as she thought about how out of control her brother was becoming.

  “I’m afraid so. There was loud music and laughter in the background, so I guess he was having a party.”

  “What did he want?”

  “Nothing,” Victoria said in a heavy, frustrated breath. “He claims he just wanted to say hi. He mumbled a few incoherent words and then hung up.”

  During Alexandria’s last conversation with her brother a few weeks ago she could tell that something wasn’t quite right, and he’d sounded drunk or high, as her mother had just said. She didn’t want to use her gift to peer into his life, but she also wanted to know exactly what was going on with her brother.

  “I’ll have to pack my patience in order to deal with your brother right now,” Victoria said. “Your father nor I will tolerate him using drugs, period. And he better not bring any to the house.”

  Alexandria didn’t put it past her brother to do exactly what her mother had just said, but she refrained from telling her. “I pray that he gets some help. Hopefully next weekend will be a start toward it.”

  “Wait a minute.... I just glanced at my calendar. Do you realize that your wedding is two weeks away from next weekend?”

  “Yes, I know. But it’s going to be such a quick trip, and all the wedding plans are finalized so there’s nothing pressing that needs to be done that can’t be taken care of when we get back. Besides, I know you’ve got everything ironed out to a tee.”

  Victoria let out a small chuckle. “You better believe it.”

  “There won’t be any problems, Mom. I’m going to focus on the positive side of this trip. I think it’ll be a good getaway for us.”

  “To tell you the truth, your father and I haven’t had a getaway in quite a long time, probably a year or two.”

  “Everyone’s schedule is so busy that none of us have taken time to connect and unwind. We can use this trip to bond as a family and come closer together.”

  “Now that I think about it, it would be nice to have a break and a change of scenery to slow things down before the rush of your wedding. I haven’t been back to Nedine since your grandfather passed away six years ago.”

  “I wish I’d had the strength to travel down there to attend the burial,” Alexandria said with a little sadness in her voice. “But it was all I could do to sit in the church at the memorial service you planned. Back then I was still terrified of the spirits that might come to haunt me if I went to Nedine and saw the actual gravesite. But I’m not afraid anymore, and I have Grandma Allene to thank for that.”

  Victoria’s voice filled with the same sadness that had just overcome Alexandria’s. “I wish I could see her, and my parents, too. Sweetie, your gift is a blessing.”

  Alexandria wanted to tell her mother that at times, her gift could also be stressful and disturbing. But just as she was going to claim a bright outlook on their family trip, she was going to do the same about her gift.

  “Yes, I do feel blessed to be able to see, feel, and connect with their spirits.”

  “Just thinking about the fact that we’re going back to the place where my parents were born and raised makes me feel good. I used to love going there as a child. The more I think about it, maybe there’s nothing wrong at all. Maybe Grandma Allene simply wants us to enjoy each other as a family. Putting an end to old things and starting new beginnings makes me think about the fact that you’ll get a chance to visit your grandparents’ final resting place as you prepare to move on to the newness of your upcoming marriage.”

  “Yes, and speaking of new beginnings, PJ and I visited Gary last night and he’s coming along well.”

  “Awww, that’s great! He’s such a special little boy and I know you and PJ have become very attached to him.”

  “More than attached, we love him.”

  “I can tell by the way you sound when you talk about him. I can’t imagine abandoning my own child. Poor thing. What’s going to happen to him once he’s well enough to leave the hospital?”

  Alexandria smiled on her end of the phone. “If all goes well, PJ and I plan to adopt him.”

  “What?! When did you make that decision?”

  Alexandria could hear surprise, concern, and caution all mixed into her mother’s question. “I’ve known it for some time, but PJ and I just decided last night. We know it’s a big step and a huge commitment, but trust me, Mom, we’re ready. I’ve seen the vision and we’re ready.”

  Alexandria could picture her mother biting down on her lip as she said, “But you’re going to be newlyweds.”

  “And new parents,” Alexandria said with confidence.

  “Sweetheart, I know you’ve got a good head on your shoulders and you think things through before you do them. But are you sure about this? Motherhood adds a new dimension to life that you wouldn’t believe.”

  Alexandria simply smiled. “I’ve seen that firsthand from your example, and it’s an experience I’m ready for.”

  Victoria let out a heavy sigh. “But it also comes with a whole heck of a lot of responsibility. Children can bring great joy, but they can also bring a lot of headaches, too. And trust me, marriage alone will guarantee you some of that.”

  “It’s going to be all right. Trust me on this.”

  “You don’t know what I know.”

  “Actually, in some cases I do.” Alexandria was referring to her gift, and she knew her mother understood exactly what she was saying. “But I don’t have to look into the future to know this is right—I’ve looked into my heart, and it always steers me right.”

  Victoria was quiet for a short pause before she spoke. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the l
ast year, it’s that when you have a feeling about something it’s usually on the money. I trust your judgment, sweetheart, and if this is what you and PJ truly want, you have my full support.”

  “Thanks, Mom. It’s a big step, but we’re ready.”

  “This certainly is a new beginning. And now that I think about it, I’ll be a grandmother.”

  “You sound excited,” Alexandria said with surprise.

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I kind of am,” Victoria said with a light laugh.

  Alexandria was glad that her mother actually sounded excited about the trip, and in particular, the news she’d just delivered. She’d initially thought she’d have to spend hours convincing Victoria about her and PJ adopting Gary, let alone going to Nedine. But the fact that her mother was accepting of both was further confirmation that grandma Allene was right and that a visit to Nedine was just what their family needed.

  “This is actually happening at just the right time,” Victoria said. “Sometimes inspiration comes in unexpected ways.”

  “Yes, and as a matter of fact, I was looking on the Nedine website last night and the town is celebrating a big flower festival that weekend.”

  “Oh, yes! It’s an annual event that’s really grown over the years. I remember Mom, Daddy, and Uncle Maxx going back for it, and they always said they had a ball.”

  “It seems to be a pretty big deal because there’s a ton of activities planned, and they’re expecting a large turnout of people from both in and out of town.”

  “It’s a good thing we won’t have to worry about trying to find hotel rooms because small towns fill up fast. We can stay at the family homestead. It’s the house Daddy grew up in, and it’s beautiful. You’ve never been, but it’s a grand old place with six bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. I’ll call Percy at the property management company and make arrangements to have it spruced up before we arrive.”

  “That sounds perfect.” Now Alexandria was just as excited as her mother.

  “Okay, I’ll call your dad now, and then I’ll see if Christian can make the trip.”

  “I have a feeling that Christian needs to go more than any of us.”

  Victoria breathed a deep sigh into the phone. “Unfortunately you’re right. I’d hoped he would change his ways and do what’s right, especially given the fact that he’s about to start grad school this fall. I can’t believe he’s willing to throw it all away over a temporary high.”

  “Who knows? Maybe he’ll get some kind of revelation from being around good energy.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears.”

  Alexandria nodded. “He hears everything we say and watches what we do.”

  “Yes, that’s how God works.”

  “This is going to be a great trip, Mom. You’ll see.”

  After Alexandria hung up the phone she felt a sense of relief and hope. She was relieved because now that her mother had bought in to the trip, she knew the rest of the family would follow, and she felt hope for the new and unlimited possibilities that lay ahead for her and her family, which was going to soon expand. “Everything is going to work out. It has to,” she said aloud.

  She walked over to the window and smiled as she looked up at the sky. A big gray cloud that had been looming all morning suddenly burst open, producing a hard rain. The unexpected downpour sent an immediate chill through Alexandria’s body. In that instant, all the happy optimism she’d just felt was gone, replaced with the uncomfortable knowledge that something bad, and maybe even dangerous, was lurking, waiting to happen.

  Alexandria watched the rain puddle on the ground several stories below as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the sky. She knew this wasn’t a quick passing storm, and that the rain would continue every day for the next two weeks until she and her family arrived in Nedine. “Grandma Allene, please guide me, and watch over us all.”

  Chapter 10

  Victoria

  Victoria sat behind her desk and said a quick prayer of thanks as she watched the rain fall outside her office window. She’d just made three important phone calls, each ending in the result she’d wanted. Ted, Christian, and her uncle Maxx had all agreed to travel to Nedine next weekend. She’d simply explained to them that Alexandria had requested it on behalf of Grandma Allene, which was all that needed to be said to make her case. Although, clearly, no one in the family understood the extent of Alexandria’s gift, including herself, they all knew it was real, and if going to Nedine was what Alexandria said they needed to do, they were going to be there.

  When Alexandria had first told Victoria that Grandma Allene had contacted her and wanted the family to return to Nedine, Victoria had been cautious and a little afraid. She immediately associated a visit from Grandma Allene with trouble—a sign that something bad was on the way. But the more Victoria talked about the trip, the more it made her think about her current situation, and how a visit to her parents’ beloved hometown might just be the answer to her problems.

  Ever since her ill-fated attempt to clear the air with Ted and jumpstart the passion in her marriage last night, Victoria had been feeling at a loss about what was really going on with her husband, and more importantly, what she could do about it. But when Alexandria had told her that Grandma Allene had said traveling to Nedine would allow them to bury the past so new beginnings could start, she’d known that was a good sign.

  In addition to what she felt the visit would offer her daughter, which was an opportunity to gain closure by releasing the last of her fears and pay final respects to her grandparents and their parents before them, Victoria’s gut told her that Grandma Allene’s words about burying the past and beginning anew held a special meaning for her life, too. Parker was the past, and what she planned to reignite with Ted represented a new chapter in their marriage as they entered the golden years of their lives.

  She and Ted hadn’t taken a vacation or even a quick weekend getaway together since she could remember, which was very unlike them. She knew they needed to escape from what had slowly become a dangerously mundane routine. “We need to find our way back to each other,” Victoria whispered to herself.

  Once they were away from the stress and hectic grind of their everyday lives, the peaceful quiet of Nedine she hoped that being in the house her grandfather had built, which was full of love, would reignite the spark that had always kept her and Ted’s marriage going.

  Every time Victoria thought about the huge wedge she’d put in their relationship by nearly sleeping with Parker, all she could do was shake her head. She hadn’t made many mistakes in their marriage, and she’d worked hard to be a good wife, but her transgression with Parker and the way it had all unfolded still haunted her today. And what was worst of all, Ted couldn’t seem to let it go.

  There were days when Victoria wished she’d never walked into The Cheesecake Factory all those years ago and spotted Parker, instantly falling for him. “If I’d only stayed home and made a sandwich,” she said, thinking about that night. But what was done was done, and she knew there was no way to change the hands of time. All she could do was deal with what was in front of her and move forward the best way she knew how.

  As she thought about dealing with tough situations, her mind fell on Tyler. She’d wanted to meet him for coffee this morning, but his schedule was tight so they’d decided to have an early lunch. Victoria hadn’t liked the tired sound in his voice and she’d known the problems in his home were taking a toll.

  “Everybody’s going through something,” Victoria said as she rose from behind her desk, grabbed her handbag and umbrella, and left to meet Tyler. She hoped that just as she was going to fix the problems in her marriage, that Tyler could repair the trouble in his home.

  Victoria ate her soup and salad as Tyler stared at his untouched cheeseburger and French fries. Seeing him face-to-face made her even more concerned.

  Tyler had always possessed a calm, carefree, and relaxed attitude that complemented his youthful good looks and
spirit. As the years passed and his hair had started to gray, he had begun to look more distinguished, which had elevated him from cute to handsome. But over the last twelve months, Victoria had noticed that he’d begun to develop more lines across his forehead, and his eyes often looked heavy with worry.

  As she studied Tyler’s face more closely, she had no doubt that the idea of his sixteen-year-old son becoming a father had aged him a few more years, practically overnight. For a man who’d always had a healthy appetite, and would eat anything that was put in front of him, the fact that he hadn’t taken a bite of his food was further proof to Victoria that her best friend was in bad shape.

  Victoria took a sip of her sparkling water and then cleared her throat. “I can’t pretend to know exactly how you feel right now. But I’m here to listen and help you in any way I can.”

  “I don’t know where I went wrong,” Tyler began. “I run one of the most successful at-risk youth programs in the state, and arguably the region. My curriculum modules for YFI are taught at nonprofits across the country. I lecture to groups at national conventions, and I give individual counseling to some of the roughest knuckleheads you can imagine. I can help prevent young men in the street from becoming teen fathers, but I can’t keep my own son from going out and making babies up and down the East Coast.”

  Victoria stopped eating her salad in mid-bite. “What do you mean, making babies up and down the East Coast? Does Chase have more than one girl pregnant?”

  Tyler slowly nodded his head.

  Now Victoria’s food sat untouched just like Tyler’s. She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Samantha doesn’t know about this, does she?”

  “Hell no! You know my wife. She’d hit the damn roof and show out so bad I’d have to give her a sedative.”