The Reset Life of Cassandra Collins

by Shawn Inmon

  A smile flickered at the edge of Curlee’s mouth, but it wasn’t the cocky, lop-sided grin he usually had. It was softer. Genuine.

  “Cass, I’m so sorry. You have been the best part of my life. I can’t imagine living it without you.”

  “I know. As hard as I've tried, I couldn’t imagine it either.”

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Cassandra and Curlee had once been flower children, albeit briefly. Even so, when they reunited, they decided to commit to each other in a conventional sense.

  Curlee asked Cassandra to marry him less than a month after she forgave him and accepted him back into her life.

  They were married in a small, private ceremony in the back yard of the Collins Estate.

  There was no ice sculpture.

  They were able to save a little money by moving into a one-bedroom apartment in Middle Falls, but they were not able to save much, if at all.

  Curlee’s father owned a winery in Napa, California, and offered Curlee a job acting as a sales representative for him. Curlee and sales were almost a preordained match.

  Cassandra had enjoyed being back near her parents, but she knew that she and Curlee would need to make their own way in the world. They mulled the offer over for a few weeks, then accepted.

  In the second month of the Me Decade, Curlee and Cassandra packed up their still-few belongings and moved south.

  Curlee did well selling wine and moved quickly up the ladder until he was named the General Sales Manager for Lonely Tree Vineyards in 1975.

  As it was in her first life, Cassandra was never able to become pregnant. That had been a burden for her and Jimmy, but she and Curlee had never planned on children and were a complete family unit without them.

  In 1981, the year Curlee turned forty, his father retired and Curlee took over all operations of the winery. Cassandra had been working for the county government for ten years by then, but it wasn’t a terribly exciting job, so she quit to stay home and paint.

  She and Curlee had a single-story home built on a wonderful piece of land adjacent to the vineyards. It wasn’t huge, like the Collins Estate, but Curlee designed a large sunroom with southern exposure that became her painting studio.

  She spent thousands of hours there, doing her best imitation of Ethan and painting canvas after canvas and hanging them around the house. Mostly, she painted the vineyards and rolling hills that had become their home.

  In her first life, things started to go bad in the late 90’s, when first her father, then her mother had died. This life echoed that one, and although it didn’t happen on the same days, her parents once again passed away.

  In this life, though, Cassandra was able to capture her brother Grant’s ear with a few eerily accurate predictions early on. When she began to advise him to divest himself of certain businesses while they still had value, he listened.

  The Collins empire in 2005 wasn’t what it had been forty years earlier, but it was still a viable, functioning enterprise. Cassandra made Grant promise that he would keep up with the repairs and upkeep on the mansion, which he did.

  Her first life, Cassandra felt completely alone when first her parents, then Grant, then Jimmy had died.

  This time, Grant and Curlee both lived into old age.

  Curlee seemed like a fine wine himself, only improving with age. His hair grayed at the corners, then completely, and, at least to Cassandra’s eyes, he looked more handsome with each passing decade.

  They had lost contact with their friends from California completely in 1967. When Facebook became popular, Cassandra used it to reconnect with them.

  The first person she found was Billie, who was married and still living in Los Angeles. Her music career had never evolved past the heights she hit with New Generation, but she was a happy grandmother now. She and her husband flew up to Northern California and spent a weekend with Curlee and Cassandra.

  There was a reunion of New Generation—one night only—on the back patio that night. Cassandra found she still remembered all the words to Not for Marching.

  A year later, she tracked down Carol, who was still in touch with Barbie and Dara.

  In 2009, they started a tradition where they gathered in San Francisco for a girl’s weekend full of wine and shopping. Their lives were all happy, but they laughed more on that weekend than all the other days of the year combined. Of course, they all stayed in one room.

  In 2012, she even managed to find Ethan. He still lived in Berkeley. In fact, he still lived above the same garage he had in 1966. She had never thought to look for him there. Mrs. Grant had died in 1977 and, having no living relatives, had willed the house to Ethan. He had no interest in giving up his apartment, so he stayed where he was, rented out the house, and used the monthly proceeds to open up a painting supply store in downtown Berkeley. He gave free lessons to anyone who wanted them in his store every weekend.

  Not surprisingly, Ethan was still single.

  One beautiful spring day in 2018, Cassandra woke up knowing it was a special day. On this date in her last life, she had died, alone and so sad. Today, she pulled the curtains back on a gorgeous sunrise, which caused Curlee to roll over and say, “What did I ever do to you?”

  That night, she bustled around her kitchen, preparing a special dinner. She wanted to have a celebration, even if she was the only one who knew what it was for.

  That night, when Curlee saw the spread laid out on the table and the candles lit, he asked, “Did I forget something? Was I supposed to stop at the florist in town today?”

  When dinner was done, she poured them a glass of wine and they sat on the back patio, looking over their business, their hills, their life.

  It felt like a time for reflection.

  Both lives were good, but this one feels better. This time, I tried a little harder. Chased my dreams. At first, I thought I hadn’t caught them, but now I know I just wasn’t ready for them. I found Curlee, who still makes my toes curl and at my age that’s a marvelous thing. I could worry about what will come next. Will I wake up back in my bed in Middle Falls again? If so, what will I do then? Instead of spending my energy worrying about that, I’ll enjoy what’s before me, because it is so much. I am so blessed.

  She set her glass on the table, stood up and offered her hand to Curlee.

  “Come on, let’s go make some new memories.”

  They did.

  Coming Soon

  The Tribulations of Ned Summers

  When a young woman is murdered in Middle Falls, Oregon, in 1952, Ned Summers is the primary suspect. He’s never arrested, but he is convicted by the court of public opinion. Soon, he finds himself an outcast, living alone in a cabin in the woods.

  Until he dies and opens his eyes again, back in Middle Falls in 1952, a few days before the murder took place. Can he stop the crime before it happens?

  Author’s Note

  First, I have to ask if you recognized Jimmy Velvet, who made a brief appearance here in Cassandra’s story? If so, then you’ve likely read Rock ‘n Roll Heaven. If not, I will send you a free copy of Jimmy’s adventures, just for joining my email list. You can join here: http://bit.ly/1cU1iS0 I only send an email when I have a new book coming out, so you’ll only hear from me about six times per year.

  My friend Al Kunz of the Big Al’s Books and Pals Blog says that in most cases he prefers to not have a tour of the sausage factory, for fear he will lose his appetite. In other words, he likes the book to speak for itself, without the author giving too much of a behind-the-scenes tour.

  If that’s the case for you as well, I apologize.

  This book began to take shape in early summer, 2018. My older sister Lana, who this book is dedicated to, had battled liver cancer for a number of years. In June, she called to tell me that she only had a few months to live. I drove to her house that weekend and we spent a wonderful few days together. Neither of us is much for despair. We both preferred the joy of life, and that’s how we spent those days—laughing, rememberi
ng, and telling stories.

  I returned home only to learn a few days later that my sister had lied to me. She didn’t have months. She had days. She knew that when I was there, but didn’t want to add another layer of impending doom to our final visit. She passed less than a week after I saw her. My last words to her were, “I love you, and I’ll see you very soon.”

  There are worse last words to share with someone you love.

  When she passed, I decided I wanted to honor her by creating a character, and a story, in her memory. Cassandra Collins is that character. It’s not fully Lana’s story—we were definitely not born rich—but her spirit is everywhere in this book. I think it would have pleased her.

  I was born in 1960, so I saw that turbulent decade through the eyes of a child. Nonetheless, I’ve remained fascinated with it. When I realized I hadn’t yet set one of my Middle Falls books primarily in the sixties, I knew this one was the perfect vehicle.

  I buried myself for a month in research, then began the story.

  By the way, the KFRC Magic Mountain Festival that I write about in some detail in the book was an actual event. It was the first rock festival of its kind, coming just before Monterey Pop. If I am ever afforded the opportunity to time travel, I will want to be on that mountaintop that weekend in June, 1967.

  Oh, one more visit to the sausage factory—sorry.

  I was at a writer’s conference in Las Vegas the first week of November. While there, I tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and fell into a curb, breaking some ribs. I know what image that brings to mind—drunken author stumbling around Las Vegas. I was stone cold sober that night, but I am helplessly clumsy.

  Breaking my ribs put me dramatically behind schedule on this book. For the next three weeks, I had a tough time sitting at my laptop and writing. The ultimate result of that was that I wrote 75% of The Reset Life of Cassandra Collins in just two weeks. I didn’t sleep much during that time, but I did finish on time and hit my deadline.

  One last piece of useless trivia. As I’ve noted before, I listen to a single song on repeat as I write each book. The selection for this book was Darkness, Darkness by The Youngbloods. If you find it on Spotify or YouTube and listen to it, you will hear what was in my ears as I wrote every word of this story.

  I need to thank the people who helped me in the creation of this book.

  If you’ve read my book Rock ‘n Roll Heaven, you may remember a song that Jimmy Velvet sang called The Edge of Heaven. I needed an original song there, because any kind of recent songs are copyrighted, so I couldn’t quote their lyrics. I did my best to write those lyrics myself, but I will say this: I stunk at it. I turned, then, to my friend Steve Larson, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing since the 1980s. In short order he turned out a set of lyrics with exactly the imagery I needed.

  When I needed another original song for this book, I asked Steve again. Once again, he came through like a champ. In about twenty-four hours, he wrote the lyrics for Not for Marching, which I thought sounded exactly like the kind of song that could have come out of Haight-Ashbury in 1967. He gave me permission to use the lyrics, but of course, all rights beyond that belong to him.

  Terry Schott remains my alpha reader. The poor man has to read all my chapters in rough draft form—typos, wandering ideas and all. He does a tremendous job in helping me know when I’ve wandered from the path of the story, and when I’m in the zone. I wouldn’t want to write a book without him reading it first.

  Linda Boulanger created the cover, as she’s done for almost everything I’ve ever published. Linda and I have been working together so long that we have our process down to shorthand. She is always able to reach inside my brain and pluck out what I want, even when I can’t verbalize it. She is a wonder, and I am so grateful for this cover, and all she has done for me.

  Dan Hilton once again served as editor on this project. Because we were on such a tight deadline, Dan had to go above and beyond—editing the book in pieces, which is not preferable. It was the only way we were going to finish this book on time, though. As always, he did a tremendous job for me, fixing my wayward punctuation and untangling my knottiest sentences.

  Deb Galvan and Mark Sturgell were my proofreaders and they, too, had to work in sections. They did yeoman’s work in catching those gremlins, those last-minute mistakes that always find their way in to every published book. I hope to never publish without them.

  I love my beta readers, who read earlier drafts and make suggestions for improvement. For this book, that included my writer friend Deb, who writes under the name DM Potter, and my friend Marta Rubin, who has been with me since the beginning.

  I appreciate my friends in my Advance Readers group, who read samples, see cover reveals, etc., before the rest of the world. If you’d like to join my group, just ask to join here.

  I am most grateful for you. Thank you for reading my stories. You are the reason I write.

  Shawn Inmon

  Seaview, Washington

  December, 2018

  Other Books by Shawn Inmon

  The Unusual Second Life of Thomas Weaver – Book one of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Thomas Weaver led a wasted life, but divine intervention gives him a chance to do it all over again. What would you do, if you could do it all again?

  The Redemption of Michael Hollister — Book two of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Michael Hollister was evil in Thomas Weaver’s story. Is it possible for a murderer to find true redemption?

  The Death and Life of Dominick Davidner – Book Three of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. When Dominick is murdered, he awakens back in his eight year old body with one thought: how to find Emily, the love of his life.

  The Final Life of Nathaniel Moon – Book Four of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Nathaniel Moon gains perfect consciousness in the womb, but when he tries to use his miraculous powers to do good, difficulties follow.

  The Emancipation of Veronica McAllister – Book Five of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Veronica McAllister said she was no good at life. When she dies and wakes up back in 1958, though, she has a second chance.

  The Changing Lives of Joe Hart – Book Six of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Joe Hart dies in 2004, but wakes up in his eighteen year old body and decides to change the world. As always, that isn’t easy.

  The Vigilante Life of Scott McKenzie – Book Seven of the Middle Falls Time Travel Series. Scott McKenzie is a Vietnam Vet who has a hard time adjusting to civilian life. When he overdoses and dies, he wakes up just after he was released from the VA hospital. He decides to stop crimes before they are committed.

  Feels Like the First Time – Shawn’s first book, his true story of falling in love with the girl next door in the 1970’s, losing her for 30 years, and miraculously finding her again. It is filled with nostalgia for a bygone era of high school dances, first love, and making out in the backseat of a Chevy Vega.

  Both Sides Now – It’s the same true story as Feels Like the First Time, but told from Dawn’s perspective. It will surprise no one that first love and loss feels very different to a young girl than it did for a young boy.

  Rock ‘n Roll Heaven – Small-time guitarist Jimmy “Guitar” Velvet dies and ends up in Rock ‘n Roll Heaven, where he meets Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jim Morrison, and many other icons. To his great surprise, he learns that heaven might need him more than he needs it.

  Second Chance Love – Steve and Elizabeth were best friends in high school and college, but were separated by a family tragedy before either could confess that they were in love with the other. A chance meeting on a Christmas tree lot twenty years later gives them a second chance.

  Life is Short – A collection of all of Shawn’s short writings. Thirteen stories, ranging from short memoirs about summers in Alaska, to the satire of obsessed fans.

  A Lap Around America – Shawn and Dawn quit good jobs and set out to see America. They saved you a spot in the car, so come along and visit national park
s, tourist traps, and more than 13,000 miles of the back roads of America, all without leaving your easy chair.

  A Lap Around Alaska – Have you ever wanted to drive the Alaska Highway across Canada, then make a lap around central Alaska? Here’s your chance! Includes 100 photographs!