Blue Moon

by C. D. Ledbetter

  "No. I'm afraid."

  "There's no reason to be afraid. You're only an observer. Nothing can hurt you. You're only there to tell me what you see. Do you understand?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you still afraid?"

  "No."

  "Good. Reach out and open the door."

  More silence.

  "Is it open?"

  "Yes."

  "Step through the doorway."

  Her muscles tensed and her jaw clenched. Her breath came faster and faster.

  "Are you through the doorway?"

  "No. I'm afraid. It's so dark. I...I have to go back!" Her voice rose.

  "There's nothing to be afraid of, Mary. Step away from the door. I want you to take a deep breath, and tell me your name."

  "I can't, I'm afraid." She raised her hand to her chest. Fear paralyzed her; it was all she could do to move her lips.

  He sighed. "All right, Mary. That's okay. If you don't want to go through the door, you don't have to. Now, I want you to go back to the stairs. There's another flight leading to the floor beneath you. Go down these steps."

  Silence.

  "Are you still afraid?"

  "No." It was as if she'd left the terror behind.

  "Good. Go through the door at the end of these stairs."

  Silence.

  "Are you through the door?"

  "Yes."

  "Tell me your name."

  "Mary Corbett."

  "What do you see?"

  Her lips curved into a smile. "I see men and women."

  "Do you recognize anyone?"

  "Yes. Magdalene and Jean-Pierre Laroussard."

  "What are they doing?"

  "Dancing. A waltz. The Blue Danube." Her head swayed from side to side, as if she listened to music.

  "Are you dancing?"

  "No."

  "What are you doing?"

  "I'm...I'm standing in the doorway, watching everyone."

  "Can anybody see you?"

  "No, they don't know I'm here."

  "All right. Now, I want you to look around, and see if you can tell me where you are."

  She stopped swaying and fell silent.

  "Tell me what you see," he coaxed.

  "It's night. It's a beautiful room, with French doors and large windows. The floor is marble, but all the furniture's been removed, except for the dining room chairs, and a table in the corner."

  "What kind of building are you in?"

  "The plantation house, Maison de Fleur. Everyone's in the ballroom. There's a verandah off to one side."

  "Good. Now, I want you to look around, and tell me what else is in the room."

  "A large fireplace with a figures carved into the mantle piece. Horses, I think. There's an orchestra, playing waltzes."

  "Mary, look at the other people in the room, and tell me what you see."

  "I see men dressed in evening clothes, but some of them are wearing uniforms. The women are in ball gowns, with hoop skirts. They're wearing long white gloves, and have dance cards hanging from their wrists. Some of the men are signing the dance cards, but a group of them are standing together, talking."

  "What kind of uniforms are the men wearing?"

  "It's hard to tell. They have different kinds of uniforms. I think they're soldiers--Confederate soldiers. Some of them have swords hanging at their sides, and high black boots."

  She suddenly jumped. "Something's happening!" Her voice rose. "Wait, what's wrong?" She put her hand out, as if to stop someone.

  "Mary, listen to me. I want you to calm down."

  "No! You can't. Don't go," she cried, holding out her hand. "Stop!"

  Dr. Benton leaned across his desk. "Mary, listen to me. When I count to three and snap my fingers, you'll wake up. You won't be afraid. You'll feel refreshed." He counted to three and snapped his fingers.

  She blinked several times and rubbed her face. "What happened? How did I do?"

  He switched on the light. "You did very well for the first session. We made progress, but you'll need to come back several times before we can get to the root of your problem." He stared at her for a few moments. "Tell me how you feel."

  She remained still. "I feel okay, except..." She paused for a moment. "Why am I breathing so hard?"

  He patted her hand. "You became upset at something that was happening. That's when I brought you back to the present." He held her hand for a moment, checking her pulse. "You're sure you don't feel anxious or nervous?"

  She nodded her head. "No. Actually, except for breathing kind of heavy, I feel fine. Should I be nervous?"

  He smiled. "No, you should feel calm and refreshed."

  Her lips formed a smile. "Well, that's good, because I feel great."

  DeeDee patted Mary's arm. "It was so cool, Mary. I felt like I was right there with you."

  Dr. Benton's smile turned into a frown. "DeeDee, I don't want you to say anything about what you heard tonight until after Mary listens to the tape. I want her to hear the entire session before we discuss the details. All right?"

  DeeDee nodded. "Fine. No problem."

  Mary shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "What happens now?"

  He studied her face for a moment, then looked at his watch. "I think we've made enough progress for one day. You've been here a little over two hours. I think that's long enough for your first regression; you don't want to become overtired. Tomorrow night we'll listen to the tape and discuss everything you saw. After that, we'll start the regression therapy again. How does that sound to you?"

  She nodded. "Sounds fine, Dr. Benton."

  "Good." He scribbled a few notes in her file, then rose from his chair. "If you'll follow me into the reception area, I'll schedule your next appointment."

  Mary followed him into the outer office. "Do you think we could make my appointment for about the same time? I don't want to take off from work."

  He glanced through his appointment book. "I'll put you down for the next three nights at the same time. After that, we'll see how it goes."

  She took his hand. "Thank you, Dr. Benton. It's such a relief to share this with someone. I'm looking forward to our session tomorrow."

  DeeDee grabbed her arm as they entered the elevator. "Wait until you hear the tape, Mary. It's like stepping back into the past."

  Mary sighed. "I have no desire to dig up the past, DeeDee, but if that's what it takes to get rid of these nightmares, I will."

  After DeeDee left, she wondered what could have made her so upset that Dr. Benton felt it necessary to stop their session. Obviously he felt there was something they needed to discuss. She wondered how long it would take to discover the cause of her nightmares. And, more importantly, what was that discovery going to be?

  Chapter 20

  Mary sat on the plump couch in Dr. Benton's office for the sixth consecutive night, and hoped that this time she could discover what terror lay behind the first door. DeeDee sat next to her, waiting patiently for the session to begin.

  Instead of turning off the overhead lights, Dr. Benton remained behind his desk, reading her file. What was he doing? He had a strange look on his face, as if he was trying to come to some decision. The look was replaced by a frown, and he glanced up and cleared his throat.

  "Mary, when you came to me, you were having terrible nightmares. Based on our sessions, I'm sure we're on the right track with regression therapy. I believe that your nightmares are caused by something you think happened to Magdalene at the plantation. In fact, I'm sure of it. However, although we've made a lot of progress, for some unknown reason, you're unable to vocalize what that something was. Until you're ready to do that, I can't help you."

  She started to speak, but he held up his hand.

  "For the first time in my career, I'm not sure what more I can do. I've consulted several colleagues about ways to approach your mental block, but none of the suggestions worked."

  Her jaw dropped in surprise. "But we've made such progress. Wouldn't more se
ssions help me break through?"

  He shook his head. "No. Whatever you think happened was so traumatic, you can't, or won't remember."

  "What should I do?"

  He tapped his pencil on the desk. "You may not like this idea, but in my opinion you need to return to the plantation and spend some time going through the house. Given what you've told me about Mrs. Martine, that may be difficult, but I think you should try. Being in the house may help you put whatever happened in perspective. I think that when you do that, your nightmares will disappear. That's the best advice I can give. I'm sorry."

  Mary glanced at her sister, whose eyes were wide with surprise.

  What was she going to do now? Obviously the doctor expected some sort of response. She considered her options, and decided the best thing to do was at least think about his suggestion.

  "I can't say I'm happy with your decision, Dr. Benton, but I can appreciate your position. DeeDee said you were a good therapist, and she's right." She held out her hand. "Thank you. I appreciate your honesty in telling me I'm wasting my time on further sessions."

  A look of relief spread across his face, and he clasped her hand. "Believe me, Mary, this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to tell a patient. Your case is fascinating. I've never had anybody with such a strong will. You're a unique individual. I hope I've helped a little."

  She smiled. "You have, Dr. Benton. I feel much better than I did before we started. I'm going to take your advice and go to the plantation. When I remember what happened, I'll let you know."

  He escorted them to the door. "I'll look forward to it. Keep in touch."

  DeeDee was thoughtful as they rode the elevator. When they reached the ground floor, she said, "I can't believe he dumped you like that! What are you going to do now?"

  Mary shook her head. "I don't know. I only know I can't leave things the way they are." She bundled her scarf around her neck, and hugged her coat tighter as they trudged through ankle-deep snow to the car. "Why don't we get a cup of coffee somewhere?"

  "I think I need a stiff drink," DeeDee said. "Let's go to Zorba's. It's only two blocks from your place, and we can get something to eat."

  Mary realized her stomach was grumbling. "I'm starving--sounds like a good idea."

  The intensity of the snowstorm increased, and after several near-mishaps, they agreed that stopping at a restaurant didn't make sense. They both let out a sigh of relief when Mary pulled into an open parking spot near her building. The wind whistled around their heads and tiny ice crystals stung their faces as they trudged through knee-deep snowdrifts. The warmth of Mary's apartment contrasted sharply with the bitter cold outside. As they stepped into the living room, DeeDee kicked off her boots and raced to stand on the floor vent. Mary grinned and tossed her coat and scarf to her as she headed for the kitchen. Minutes later, the aroma of French Vanilla coffee and smell of pizza in the oven lured DeeDee from her perch above the vent. She sniffed appreciatively. "Smells good. How much longer?"

  "About fifteen minutes. Why don't you pour us a cup of coffee and clear a spot on the table."

  They ate their meal in silence, and Mary put down her napkin with a sigh. "I hate being that hungry. All you do is gobble your food. It takes all the fun out of eating."

  DeeDee refilled their cups. "Yeah, but it was great while it lasted." She took a sip of coffee, then put the cup on the table, and folded her hands in front of her. "No more talk about food. We have more important things to discuss." She shook her head in bewilderment. "I still can't believe Dr. Benton dumped you."

  Mary nodded. "I know. I was shocked, but you have to give him credit for being honest. He could have dragged these sessions on for quite a while. I've been thinking about what he said, and he's right. The last three sessions really haven't given me more information."

  DeeDee looked puzzled. "They have, too. Last time you described how Jean-Pierre and Magdalene worked on building the plantation. You talked about the people who worked in different sections of the house."

  Mary shrugged. "Yeah, but it didn't tell me that first thing I saw. Each time Dr. Benton led me back, I was too terrified to describe what was behind the first door. I think he's right. That part of Magdalene's life has to be what's giving me the nightmares. Otherwise, I would've figured it out by now." She held her hands in front of her. "What could have happened to her that's making me so afraid?"

  DeeDee ran her finger across the rim her cup. "Are the nightmares still as bad as they were?"

  "Not really. The last few nights I've dreamed about Magdalene instead of having the nightmares." She grew quiet and stared at the design on her coffee cup. "It's strange, but I've dreamed so much about her, she feels real. It's like a visit from someone in our family. It's peaceful, not scary." She glanced at her sister and blushed. "Does it sound like I'm losing my marbles when I tell you that?" An image of Jack crossed her mind, and she wondered if he worried about losing his grip on reality.

  "Well, it doesn't sound like something you'd usually say, but then your life hasn't been very normal lately." A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "However, if I were you, I wouldn't go around telling people that. Someone who doesn't know what's going on might think you're a little strange."

  Mary chuckled. "It does sound pretty far-fetched. I guess I need to figure out what to do next. I haven't been able to find any backers for my bed and breakfast plan, and I can't swing the deal by myself. Besides, there's no way Nicole Martine would sell me that house. Our last parting wasn't exactly amicable."

  DeeDee shifted uncomfortably in her chair, and studied her coffee cup. "You do have one other option."

  "What?"

  "Aunt Elizavon."

  Mary grimaced.

  DeeDee held up her hand. "Hang on a second before you say no. We both know she's got enough money to buy that plantation ten times over and not miss a dime. I know she's not your favorite person, but you have to put personal feelings aside. Do you, or do you not, want to get rid of your nightmares and buy the plantation? Because if you do, then Aunt Elizavon is your only hope."

  Mary tipped back her head and expelled her breath in a long sigh. She had to admit she'd already thought about her aunt. She tried to think of something nice about the old woman, but all she could recall was a mean old spinster with cold blue eyes, thin gray hair, and a mouth that never smiled. "I don't even know if she's still alive. I've only seen her once in the last five years, and that was at Mom and Dad's funeral. Do you still have her phone number?"

  DeeDee grimaced. "I think it's in the address book Mom gave me." She retrieved her purse from the living room and dumped its contents on the table. When she found the tiny address book, she waved it through the air. "Do you want to call her? She's probably still up." DeeDee's eyes twinkled. "Go ahead, Mary. Give her a call. I dare you."

  She shook her head. "Not yet. I want to contact the realtor first." She glanced across the table and grinned sheepishly. "How about it? Will you call him and ask if we can stay in the plantation house for a few days?"

  DeeDee groaned. "Do I have to?"

  Mary's smile widened. "If you love me, you'll do it. Besides, if he says yes, we can go down to the plantation for a few days. You said you wanted to go somewhere before you went back to work. Here's your chance."

  "I wanted to go somewhere fun," DeeDee complained. "Your stuffy old plantation house doesn't sound like it fits that bill."

  She handed her the phone. "Just talk to him, okay? I'll dial the number for you."

  DeeDee sighed dramatically. "All right, but you owe me big time."

  She waved her hand. "Whatever. I want you to tell him you're interested in the house, and want to spend the night there. Tell him you want to make sure there aren't any ghosts."

  "You really think he's going to fall for that?"

  Mary slowly let out her breath. Sometimes DeeDee was impossible.

  DeeDee composed herself quickly as the realtor answered the call. "Mr. Duchette, this is DeeDee Edson. I s
poke to you the other day about the plantation you have for sale. I apologize for the late hour, but I'm very interested in seeing it, and wondered if it would be possible to spend the night there. I want to get a feel for the atmosphere. You know, to see if I'm going to be happy there, should I decide to purchase it." She lowered her voice to a hoarse whisper. "I'm very into spiritual beings, and I want to see if there are any in the house."

  She murmured a few short responses, then hung up. "Sorry, sis. He said nobody's allowed in the house without him, and the Martines would never let anyone spend the night."

  Mary sat back in her chair. "Damn. I was hoping for at least one night there. Thanks for trying."

  "So, are you going to call Aunt Elizavon or not?"

  "I'm thinking about it. I need to be in the right frame of mind to approach her, so it won't be tonight. I'm too tired." She wandered to the window and looked out. "Looks like you're stuck here for the night. Snow's coming down pretty heavy. I'll drop you off in the morning on my way to work."

  "Changing the subject won't work, Mary. Are you going to call her or not?"

  She sighed. "Yes, but I'm not doing it this late. I don't want to irritate her before I start." She rubbed her face. "I don't know about you, but I'm beat. I'll fix the sofa bed for you, and then I'm going to turn in. If we're going to see Aunt Elizavon, I have a lot of work to do before we go."

  DeeDee grabbed her arm. "Sorry to tell you this, sis, but I'm not going with you." She grinned at Mary's shocked expression. "She hates my guts. Remember the argument we had the last time I saw her? She said if I ever set foot in her house again, she'd have me jailed for trespassing."

  "Don't be silly. I'm sure she's forgotten all about that."

  "Don't bet on it. Mom always told me to keep away from Aunt Elizavon. She never forgave Mom for marrying Dad. Mom said that woman has a memory like an elephant, and she never forgets anything. I'm not taking any chances. If you want to go see her, you'll have a better chance on your own."

  "Thanks a lot. Nothing like family support in times of crisis, DeeDee."

  "I am supporting you by not making her mad before you give her your bed and breakfast pitch," DeeDee said with a smirk. "Be sure and curtsy when you see her. After all, she thinks she can rule the lives of us lesser mortals. She probably has a crown she wears when she sits on the throne to take a dump. I'll bet she even has a long cord she pulls to have a maid flush the toilet."