SYNCHRONICITY (Dream Walker) 🖋

Home Sweet Home - 4

James hit the road and was two hours and fifteen minutes behind them. Although he hadn't known her long, he was worried for his mother and he was scared for his aunt, a woman he'd never even laid eyes on. He hoped his mother's dogs would know their owner on sight and prayed that his father wouldn't have to intervene...he was worried for him too; tonight, he wasn't in charge...his mother was and Sebastian Matus was accustomed to leading missions.

Prior to leaving the hotel, he had texted Alexis, waking her from a sound sleep to see if she could glean anything, but she reported only darkness. She was still half asleep and he didn't know if she meant literal-darkness or was speaking metaphorically. And that worried him too. He threw everything in the back of the Jeep and headed out to meet his parents at the agreed rendezvous point.

Finally, he came upon the rest stop and saw his father's parked bike and breathed a little easier. His father said that they would wait for his arrival, but he also knew that she had his dad wrapped around her little finger and he was fully prepared to have to pack up the motorcycle as well and continue alone.

Relieved, he turned off the engine and got out of the Jeep then locked it up and entered the building.

He saw them sitting in a far corner holding hands on top of the table; she appeared to have dozed off while leaning on his shoulder. She opened her eyes and slid over to stand before him. She circled her arms around his neck and held him tightly to her.

"Please don't do that again," he whispered.

"Don't worry. You're not getting rid of me that easily. Thank you for coming."

"As if I had a choice..."

She reached up and kissed his cheek. "Want some coffee?"

He nodded, "yes, please."

"Hungry," she asked, reaching across the table, pulling the fringe from his eyes.

He shook his head as his father smiled at him...his son was milking the mommy thing for all it was worth.

While Sebastian went back up to the kiosk, Alison busied herself drawing a layout of the property on a napkin, notating where all the known gopher holes were as a joke in the hopes of breaking down at least some of the tension. She showed him the layout of the barn and the two lofts as well as how to get up there, the outbuilding and the house, including the basement and the attic and how to access both areas. When he pressed why she was presenting him with a map, she replied, "it's dark and we don't know what's out there. Plus...if what I saw is accurate, there's no electric in the barn."

"Why not?"

"A tree limb took it out. Took out my sister's car too. She's gonna be soooo pissed!"

James smiled. "Your vibe has changed with her?"

"If what I saw is right, she's got no clue what's happened. It isn't her fault..."
She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

She showed them where the dogs usually hung out, what their breeds were and their names. She did the same for both the indoor and outdoor cats. Which ones would trip them up and yes, even which ones that were smart enough to help them.

They finished their coffees and exited the building and secured the motorcycle back on the trailer. All three were unusually quiet for the last leg of their journey.

When they reached their exit and paid the tolls, Sebastian got out of the Jeep just prior to exiting on to the state highway and let Alison finish the drive to her house. Sebastian didn't realize they were only minutes away.

James' could hear his pulse in his ears and it grew louder as they drew closer to the property.

She turned off the exit and maneuvered down the darkened hill slowing down at the areas where she knew deer would be.