Dancing in the Oaks

Tree, Ooh

The next morning seemed to bring a more promising sense of joy. The birds sang their last songs before winter. After I ate some breakfast Nick came over again to talk about some things with me. I walked outside and met Nick in the barn. He sat on the hay bales with his hands covering his eyes. "Nick, I freaking hate this. Can you just tell me what's happening? I will stand here until you say something. I'm here okay? So please, tell me."

"I had a dream. A dream you're gonna die Norah! I can't let that happen." He said with a raspy voice. A dream where I died?

I sat next to him and put my arm around his neck. I always found a safe place in the barn, but ever since the accident it seems as if nothing is the same. I remember coming out here and sitting on the hay bales and pondering life. "Hmm. That doesn't necessarily mean anything. Alright, how about I ask you something else. Why does Berry like blue so much?"

"I don't know. Why?" He asked. His eyes were still covered by his hands.

"No, Nick, stop worrying please. I am begging you. Just stop okay. I understand the stress and frustration. This morning has already been a struggle. I'm not feeling very well. I'm sure I have the flu. I know Cassidy came down with it yesterday. It's okay. You have to accept this as being the only way out. Mr. Nick has nothing to do with this situation. Mr. Nick is the most amazing person I've ever met. I thought about something last night. I couldn't sleep. So when my family died and you found their bodies do you ever remember seeing a silver ring on my mother's hand?" I said confidently.

He finally stood up and gave the pigs grain. "N-no."

I laid down on the hay bale. "Look, okay, this may seem crazy and whatever. I need to find out what happened to that ring." He ignored me then I finally said, " Hey, what's going on? Please tell me."

"What do you mean what's going on?" He turned around and walked closer to me. "Norah, nothing is going on." I know him too well now. There is something going on inside of him.

I rolled my eyes to the back of my head. I already knew something was bothering Nick. I always hate to see Nick mad or sad. "Let's just talk and go on a walk okay?"

I was indeed surprised when he agreed with my idea. We both didn't have work today, but the farmers market is later tonight. The walk started on the west side of the property and all the way to the back acres. The back acres are my favorite because of the dense oak trees that surround the area. I would take walks back there to escape the bonds of the house. He started to kind of joke around. "You know, this is nice. Being able to walk around and laugh a little."

"I know, right. Look at this for a second. What if the answer to the big question is right in front of us?" There was no seriousness in the situation. He began to chase me around with a smile. The problem was that he is a lot faster than me. I cannot run for the life of me.

Eventually the game turned into tag: two twenty year olds playing tag. At this point anything to get my mind off the murder worked. I found myself running into a tree. It did not feel good against my arms. When my body slammed against the tree I felt a wave of pain across my chest and arm. "Ugh!" I had fallen over and hit my leg on a rock that stuck out of the ground.

Nick immediately helped me up, which even with help was a struggle. "You 'Kay?"

"Yeah. Yeah! That was so much fun!" I immediately took notice of the number that had been carved into the tree face. "12. Why is there a 12 carved here?" I was alarmed.

"You know I couldn't tell you. It's an Oak tree." he laughed.