Dancing in the Oaks

A Mistake or a Coincidence

"The Dales house burnt down last night." Nick said.

I smiled as the birds warped past. "Yeah that's what I heard. Maybe they shouldn't be doing what they did. My parents need an eye opener. It's not just me that needs it." We just sat outside on the porch and watched the horse graze in the field.

"Exactly. Maybe they'd eventually turn themselves in. That seems impossible at this point." He said. "You know, you told me about two dreams that you had of me at the register. What does this have to do with... us?" He asked patiently as he put his cowboy hat on.

"Now I'm not a dream understanding person. I didn't do that for attention, but that is true. I did see you a few times after we moved in and I never stopped having a crush on you Nick. I never talked to you and I never told you. Then I had these dreams and actually met you at the store. I couldn't believe it. Then you were so nice. When I found out your name was Nick my heart stopped because that's my most favorite name. I got to touch your hair, hug, then kiss you. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't stop having a crush on you Nick. I just didn't know if you'd like me back." I said as I stared at his deep eyes.

"Oh of course I like you back. Norah!" I knew he was smiling. I looked up at him.

"You saved my life not once, but three times." I said quietly. "Who did you think burnt down the Dales house?"

"Remember how you were talking about Berry having a brother..." He talked quietly.

I interrupted Nick, "he would be my brother too."

"Ugh right. That's so weird to think about. I'm sure that Berry killed him because she didn't want anyone to be around. She lives alone and wanted to hurt anyone that didn't fall in compliance with her standards. Sounds ridiculous, and it is, but the point is: the Dales and the Jeans are both responsible for what happened to this town. The Reeds did too. You and I are both good people. We aren't in compliance with their terrible practices." His hands touched my face. "We all want the truth, but we will never get it. That's something we can't have. That's something that we both have to accept and everything else." His eyes looked into mine and he looked at me like that every time.

"I get it... this is... I can't go on like this. It's..."

"Tough. I know." Nick hugged me. He always tried to help me when I was struggling with something. I took a deep breath and squeeze him tighter.

"Don't leave please." He is my only friend. He is my only advocate that will support and argue on my behalf.

"I'm not. I swear."

"What about the fact that we both lost everything too. Our reputations are pretty much fried. Like a wire that had a malfunction. If they find out what both our families did and the Dales we would be shunned. I want people to know about what happened, but on the other hand we would forever be branded as what they did. Even though someone is totally different doesn't mean that they still did the same thing as their relatives. We're dating so it would hit us the hardest. This is crazy and this is never going to get better unless they leave." I said.

"You know..." he just kissed me for a few seconds and walked me over to sit on the couch. "I'll be back." He brought a book with brown writing on the gray cover. "This was my father's. It's time to read it. What do you say?"

"Yeah. I'm scared though. Books, people, etc. what else are we gonna find out?" I have to admit that this whole thing made me paranoid of evidence.

"I just say let's get this done." He turned to the first page. "He began to read, "Dear Nicholas, the reason why I'm writing this is to tell the truth. What is the truth? I do not know, but I have it for you. At least this is my side of the story. I never killed anyone. I have a clean slate. I only turned myself in because I never wanted to live with the burden of people pressuring me into it. It just wasn't something I could handle. Norah is a wonderful person, but her family is not. They have hurt others and this includes me. Berry and Norah are twins and Norah was adopted. I never did kill your mother. I do not know who did that because they knocked me out. Y'all have to leave town as soon as possible. I am alive and well. I'm never coming back to Oak Ridge until everyone is safe. I will not say where I am as this is a dangerous place." Nick finished reading.