SYNCHRONICITY (Dream Walker) 🖋

Debbie & Sarah - 2

Topher rolled the Jeep up to the bed and breakfast and parked. Debbie and Sarah pulled up next to them in the wide driveway and exited the rental car. Alison and Sebastian were the first up to the door, followed closely by James, who'd been waiting by the wrought iron fence. Topher escorted the two women onto the porch and looked toward Sebastian. "Call me," he said and Sebastian nodded and opened the door to the house.

"There's trouble in that man's camp," Debbie said beneath her breath as she watched him return to the Jeep and Sebastian turned his head and stared at her for a moment.

"I think he heard you, Auntie," Sarah whispered and Debbie chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sure he did! This is a lovely house," Debbie said as they stepped over the threshold.

_____

Alison didn't know where anything was kept and she eyed her son for assistance, which he happily gave. She thanked him and took leave of them for a moment. "Coffee Dad?"

"I believe he'd want something a little bit stronger," Debbie said.

"Are you reading my mind," Sebastian asked of her directly.

Debbie smiled. "No. I'm not a clairvoyant. I'm an oracle. There's a difference."

"I'm aware of that. Your sister told us."

Debbie nodded. "I've seen this conversation at least a hundred times. It doesn't always go the same way, but it always ends the same way."

"And how does it end?"

"You all learn the truth and I...I have to come clean to my sister. She thinks I'm dead. I sent her a gift, as it were. I had to break her heart to keep her...all of you safe..."

"Yes," Sebastian replied. "A charred hand with a family ring..."

Debbie nodded. "They would have torn her up from the inside out to get the truth out of her and truthfully, it really wouldn't have been that difficult."

"Why didn't you come forward sooner," Janes asked.

"Because. Rose—Alison hadn't found Sebastian yet. She was married to a very nice man...albeit the wrong man, but still." She shook her head. "She wouldn't have left David for him. Her heart rules her head and not the other way around." Her eyes cut into James. "She...well...She just wasn't raised like that." She stared at the table.

"Then why come at all?"

She raised her head and smiled. "Because you all need all the help you can get. And...And damn it, Diane's family needs her!" She winced at what was coming next and Sarah took hold of her hand attempting to comfort her.

"Maybe we need you too," James said. He felt the heat radiating from the woman from across the room, much like others felt it from him; her power radiated from her in waves. Sarah was fanning herself with her own hands and even his own father was beginning to perspire. His eyes met with his father's. "I'm going to the porch." He changed his mind when he saw his mother heading in their direction, her eyes ablaze with purpose.

Alison appeared with her tablet in her hand and her eyes moved from her hands to her aunt. "Someone wants a word with you."

"Like I said, it doesn't always go the same..." She nodded as her eyes filled quickly. "Oh, I really hate this part..." she murmured then sighed and took the tablet from her niece's hand. Her eyes looked at the still pale woman staring back at her. "Hi Di," she said as her face crumbled. "Oh honey, you're so thin..."

"This is a joke, right?" Diane's eyes were large dark round orbs staring out through the tablet at the woman claiming to be her deceased sister.

Debbie sat perfectly still, only her eyes betrayed her.