* * *
That night in bed I’m thumbing through my new issue of Entertainment weekly while Sal is in the study on the computer. Checking the buzz I hear on my cell, I smile when I spot it’s a text from Maggie.
Hey…you up?
YES!
Within a second my phone chimes. “Hey Mags, did you get the picture?” I ask.
“Yes I did! How was the benefit?”
“Well it all started like a fairy tale then turned into a very scary nightmare. I was mugged in the bathroom at the Marriott!”
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
I get to tell what little I know about the entire event. I hear Maggie catching her breath from time to time, but she doesn’t interrupt. Finally, I stop talking, afraid to say the words.
“What, Gracie? WHAT?!” she hisses at me.
“Well…” my voice catches. I whisper, “Sal killed him.”
I hear Maggie suck in air. “He did? Oh my god, Gracie, is Sal all right?”
“Yes, he’s doing fine. I just keep feeling sick when I think about how this could of turned out…what if he was killed trying to help me. How would I live with that?”
”Don’t do that, honey. If everyone is all right, you have to focus on that. I can’t believe this has happened to you of all people, but I’m so glad Sal and Mimi were there for you.”
“Yes, so am I.” Some tears slip down my cheeks at the thought of the alternatives and I wipe at them. Toby comes closer and tries to lick at my face.
“I swear your going to give me heart failure one day Gracie. Where is Sal now?”
“He’s on the computer, he still keeps up with his work, plus I think he is doing a little detective work surrounding what’s been going on around here.”
“Wow, Gracie, unbelievable!” So, she says, jesting, “check you out sleeping with the Secret Service. Just like that movie, The Bodyguard!”
We both break up with laughter. “Mags, I can always count on you for comic relief.”
“Glad to be of service,” she says on a chuckle. “Oh yeah, Gracie, before I forget, the picture you sent? You looked stunning as always, and, Sal is a very handsome guy. Mike even said Sal looks like he stepped out of GQ! I have to tell you though, the way you’re dressed and posed in this picture with Sal, I don’t know why…but, it just seems like I’ve seen this picture somewhere before.”
“What are you talking about, Mags? You mean like a deja vu?”
“Yeah, it just kind of hit a chord somewhere in my gut. Don’t get me wrong now, I love the picture. I don’t feel bad vibes, I feel really good ones. You look very happy. I just get a familiar feeling when I look at the both of you in this picture. You both look like royalty, or something.”
I chuckle at my best friend’s comment. I inform her of my latest dream and my appointment to see his psychiatrist.
“Gotta tell ya Gracie, go for it. They know about stuff like past life regression–and if we mix in what the psychic told you, how can we not believe? You’re not crazy–I feel it too, every time I look at this picture. Keep me in the loop, okay? We’ll chat soon, my friend.”
“Thanks, Mags, I will. I’m glad you called–I always feel better after a chat with you.”
“Yep, me too, Gracie. Good night!”
* * *
The next morning Sal brought me coffee in bed.
“Good morning, Princess, I noticed you slept well last night.”
“I did, no dreams, did you sleep good?” I ask.
He nods once, “I did too.”
I take a sip and look at him, I have the appointment with Dr. Brooks later. I’m a little nervous about it.”
Sal stood and leans over to kiss me on my nose. “You’ll do fine, Dr. Brooks helped me.” Sal took his thumb and rubs at the crease between my eyebrows. “Don’t worry, nothing to be concerned about, then he seals his lips to mine.
* * *
I left the veterinary clinic just early enough to get to Dr. Brooks’ office ten minutes before my scheduled appointment.
I walk into the small waiting area, surprised to see how simple and quiet it is with only a couple of chairs and magazines. There’s no receptionist, just another door with a smoky glass window. I’m just about to take a seat when the door opens and Dr. Brooks pops his head out.
“Gracie,” he says, smiling, “come on in.”
“I’m early Dr. Brooks. I didn’t know if I was supposed to knock or..”
Dr. Brooks shakes my hand, his eyes kind, his manner friendly. He’s my kind of person in jeans and a button down shirt, no tie, and a pair of loafers.
“No,” he says, “you’re just fine! I spread out my appointments so clients don’t usually overlap.”
I follow him into the interior office. “Have a seat,” he gestures to a pale blue wingback chair.
I sit but feel my hands perspire and my feet want to tap. He takes a seat in front of me and laughs softly.
“It’s perfectly fine to be nervous, Gracie. Everyone is at first. Why don’t we start with Sal? Tell me how and where you met.”
I fill the Doctor in on the particulars of how Sal and I became a couple. I tell him about Richard and our tumultuous marriage. Then, I tell him about the dreams. He’s taking notes and looking pensive. Dr. Brooks puts the end of the pen in his mouth and raises his eyebrows. “And when did you say these dreams or visions started?”
I could feel my face begin to warm. “Right after I met Sal. I believe it was the first night we kissed.”
He smiles. “Okay, now, so you both went on a trip. A romantic weekend. You sat with a psychic who told you about old souls and soul mates. Did you dream that night?”
“No, but Sal thought I would. He wasn’t too thrilled about the whole thing.”
“And what about you, Gracie? How do you feel about what she told you?”
I tilt my head to look up at the ceiling while taking a deep breath, then I look back at the doctor. “Well…at first I was a bit shocked, but not scared. I rolled it around in my head for a while. Now it makes sense to me.” I need to be honest with him. “Dr. Brooks, these dreams or visions I have are a part of me and Sal. Please don’t hypnotize or medicate them away – that would scare me more.”
Dr. Brooks sits back in his chair and puts both his hands up. “We will not do anything you don’t want to do Gracie, but, I will tell you this: hypnosis is not harmful and maybe we can get more details if I put you under. Would you like to try? I promise you, this won’t impact the dreams. ”
I agree to let him try.
After several attempts, and no matter how many ways he tries to persuade me to relax, I won’t go under.
At one point I giggle. “Sorry, Dr. Brooks. I guess I’m broken…”
“On the contrary. You’re will is very strong and protective. Not everyone can be put under, but that’s all right Gracie, we will figure all this out.”
He grabs his schedule book and flips through. “Now tell me…would it be at all possible to get you and Sal in here together say, Friday afternoon?”
I shoot him a cocked eyebrow. “Together? Yes, I suppose we can, but why?”
He sits behind his desk and smiles into space for a bit. Then his gaze meets mine. “I want you both here to discuss some things. Now nothing at all to be alarmed about but, I want to talk to both of you about past life regression.”
“Is that what I’m experiencing Dr. Brooks?”
“I’ll see you both on Friday–we’ll talk about it then. Have a nice week Gracie and don’t worry. You’re fine.”
* * *
Richard paced the floor of Leonard Burnes’ office as they waited for Gracie. The last divorce paper was awaiting signature on the big oak desk and he knew from their conversation that she was aware of it. Where the hell was she? Did something else happen?
“Mr. Boumont, why don’t you have a seat? I’m sure she will be here momentarily.”
Richard peered at the old lawyer, sitting there looking so smug. “She’s ear
ly for everything. Why can’t she be early today? That was one of the good things I did love about her.”
“Why don’t you just have a seat, Mr. Boumont. She’ll be here.
Richard checked is watch for the third time in as many minutes. Burnes was staring at his gold-lettered law books on the shelf, but in two minutes, Richard was leaving. Grace could just set up another appointment that met with her busy life.
“So Mr. Boumont, everything going okay at the offices?” Richard gave him a sarcastic grin. The man had obviously never been audited and been caught short. “Oh sure. Things are just fantastic, thank you.”
“Hey, don’t get pissy with me. If not for us, you would have never known you were being embezzled. It could have been too late before you found out.”
“Yes that was a fortunate accident.”
“Any word yet?” Burnes asked.
“No, it has seemed to appear that whoever was stealing has ceased. But everything is locked and or frozen until further notice.”
“Ahumm, I see, and how’s Ms. James feeling about that?”
“How do you think she feels, she’s pissed off! She’s worked hard to grow the company and now this….”
Both men snapped their heads to the door as Gracie breezed in.
“Hello, Mr. Burnes,” she said, stopping short just inside the office doorway. “What’s he doing here? I thought he signed already.”
Mr. Burnes stood and handed her a pen. “This paper gets signed together, with a witness–me.”
While she read the document and bent to sign it, Richard looked at her and pondered for a moment how really confident and radiant she seemed to be. He wondered if the ghost she had turned into during their marriage had been his doing. He’d known she was miserable but just didn’t know how to help her. Perhaps she was right and they were just not meant to be.
“There–done.”
Richard took the pen from Burnes and scribbled his name on the line.
Mr. Burnes picked up the paper and shot them both a satisfied smile. “So, now it’s done. Your marriage has been dissolved. Gracie is to be rewarded half a million up front and on the first of every month residuals from the company until she remarries or God forbid, dies–as per the deal instead of alimony, correct?”
Both Richard and Gracie nodded in agreement.
As they were leaving the attorney’s office, Richard turned to Gracie, taking her by the arm. “How are you? Any news on the thief who cornered you?”
“I’m fine, really. And I haven’t heard anything new about the whole thing. Sal is with me all the time and so is Pop, so I’m sure I’m safe.”
“POP?” Richard looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“Yes, Antonio…ahh… Tony wants me to call him Pop now that Sal and I are together.”
They both got onto the elevator.
“Well Grace, I must say, you have been looking wonderful. I guess having Sal around makes you happy.”
She touched the sleeve of his jacket lightly. “Yes, Richard, having anyone you love around you all the time should make you happy. Aren’t you happy with Camille?”
“You love Sal? Already?” How long had they really known each other?
“Yes, I do.” She swallowed and he thought he might have seen tears, but she continued. “He mended my heart Richard, something you don’t know anything about. Why are you so cold? Was it the money? The power? Maybe it’s just in your gene pool–your dad was cold, too. I used to feel sorry for your mother sometimes.”
The elevator doors opened and they walked into the lobby.
He fought the urge to shake her. Was she out of her mind? “Feel sorry for her? For my mother? My mother had everything she ever wanted; cars, a beautiful home, maids. She wanted for nothing–my father gave her everything!”
He was talking to her back, but she stopped and turned, giving him what seemed to be sympathetic eyes.
“Not everything, Richard. Your father forgot to give her the one thing she wanted, and what most women want.… Love.”
He watched her waltz through the doors and had a sense that he’d lost something very special.
* * *
I arrive home to find Sal in the driveway cleaning his motorcycle. He flashes me that big wide smile of his and comes to open my door.
“My Princess,” he bows. “How was your visit with Dr. Brooks?”
“Really interesting.”
Sal scrunches his eyebrows and twitches a crooked smile. “Interesting? That’s a different reply...” I lean in to hug him. “Umm… he wants to see us both on Friday afternoon. Is that alright with you?”
“Yes, of course, but about what? Did he explain anything for you?”
“He mentioned past life regression, he also tried to hypnotize me, but, I wouldn’t go under.”
“He has put me under a few times to relax me. I don’t remember much, he just says I talk about some of my missions, when I was held prisoner, and some other stuff he was never quite sure about. But it helped some with the night terrors.”
“Really? You never told me you’ve been hypnotized.”
“Yeah. I didn’t think I could be put under, but he was able to.”
Raising my eyebrows, I’m wondering. “Huh….How does the CIA or your special tactical people feel about knowing one of their special agents can get hypnotized?”
Sal gives me a narrow-eyed look. “Well…” he hesitates as though searching for words. “It’s kind of what I went through years ago. To be programmed to become good soldiers they drill stuff into your head. I chose Dr. Brooks for just that reason–he needed to de-program me. He can’t take it all away, but I learned coping mechanisms, and, then…there was you.” He reaches out, pulling me into him for a kiss. I lean away from him.
“Me?”
“You,” he answers. “I told you when we first met. Talking to you, being around you, was like snapping back to reality from a bad fog. You calmed my thoughts–you calmed me.”
I put my hand to his stubbled cheek. “You have the kindest heart.”
Sal ducks in for another passion-filled kiss. When he backs away from me, he’s got a wicked grin spreading across his face.
I grab at his dimpled chin. “What are you thinking?”
He tosses a glance at his bike then back at me with a raised eyebrow. “Want to go for a ride, Princess?”
Reluctantly I agree. Sal helps me put on a purple helmet he purchased for me a while back. He lowers the dark face shield and taps me on the helmet.
“I’ll get on, then you swing your leg over and climb up behind me, okay?”
All I can do is nod. I’m partly terrified, partly excited.
He straddles the Harley, hits the start button and points at me. I climb on board, wrap my arms tightly around him and he pats my leg.
“Ready?” he yells over the throb of the engine.
“Ready,” I shout back.
Sal takes off nice and easy until he feels me relax against him. As the feeling in my fingers returns because I’m no longer terrified, he speeds up and we follow the winding road easily. I feel as though I’m flying as I hang on against the steady rush of wind. When we stopped at a traffic light, he checks to see if I’m okay.
“I am. I trust you, Sal.”
“Good to know, Princess. Good to know.”
We rode up and down the coast taking in the sights and in a matter of an hour or so, I can understand why he loves to ride the bike and why I’ll be right behind him again soon.
I love my life-my free, stable and secure life. I love this man. There is no doubt in my mind we are kindred spirits.
CHAPTER 19
Friday afternoon Gracie and Sal arrived at Dr. Brooks’ office hand and hand.
The doctor sat behind his desk this time and told them to have a seat.
“How are you both this afternoon?” he asked.
“Good,” we answered in unison.
“How ‘bout you, Sal?” he continued, “any more night terrors,
or fatigue?”
“No,” Sal answered, “I’m calmer.” Squeezing her hand a little tighter he and Gracie gave each other a knowing smile. Dr. Brooks nodded.
“Yes, I can see. Well then, let me get on it, then.” He pulled a file from his desk and opened it. “Sal,” he said, “this is your file. After I had my chat with Gracie I went back and went over some things. Would you care if I shared what happened on some of our sessions?”
Sal’s eyebrows bunched as he lifted his chin. “No, if you think it’ll help.”
“There were times when I put you under hypnosis and you talked about many things, but, it wasn’t until my appointment with Gracie that I realized you both mentioned some of the same things.
“If I may, for instance, Gracie told me about her dreams. Now during one in particular, she mentions you in a revolutionary uniform taking off on a horse. In one of our sessions, while you were under, you mentioned a horse and leaving behind a fiancée. Then you mentioned a freezing winter, and you were enfeebled with hunger, a word used in 1700’s. When I asked you what you were doing, you replied, ‘Fighting for what’s right.’ I asked you who you were fighting and you indicated the British. Then you jumped to a battle you were fighting in–British troops attacked in a frontal assault–you were shot and stabbed by a bayonet. I made you come to because you were in pain.”
Sal shook his head. None of this makes sense… “Wait a minute. Are you telling me I spoke about a past life? Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”
Dr. Brooks scratched at his head. “To tell you the truth Sal, I didn’t think that it was anything other then mixing what you been through into something like a nightmare. That’s usually how our minds cope with traumatic situations and it’s quite common.”
Sal glanced at Gracie and then looked back at the doctor, but remained quiet.
“Dr. Brooks, tell us please, is there more?” Gracie asked softly.
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