Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 108 - Unexpected Memories

Nearly every bed was taken at the Abernathy's house on the last Friday night of 2007. Greg's many relatives got up early and attended Sabbath services at the local synagogue with him the next morning. Afterwards, they spent the rest of the day exactly as planned: visiting with one another. Except for Matt and Ashley, who were working, the Abernathy household and Greg's extended family spent the afternoon exploring the grounds around the Abernathys' home, starting with the fields at the front of the house. Cindy took Noah in his stroller while Olivia and Melody walked. Forest went with them and although Jessie took his leash, she didn't attach it to his collar right away.

"Shouldn't we?" Greg asked Susan.

"Not necessarily. Richard has been coaching Jessie on how to get Forest to walk with her, even when he's off his lead ... and the area around our service road and the gardens are relatively safe. They're the perfect place to practice until he gets better at it," Susan said.

"In that case, let's go this way," Greg suggested, leading them all out the front door to begin their walk.

They followed the driveway to the service road, then walked along that amongst the oak trees and the wild grasses, which were relatively green this time of year. Forest did reasonably well staying with Jessie ... that is until he spotted a deer a short distance away, just before the place the road curved to go down towards the guest rooms and the gardens beyond.

Everybody froze, studying the animal in the distance. Initially, Forest did too ... then he bounded after the doe. The deer took off through the trees, disappearing over the shoulder of the hill.

"Forest, come," Jessie commanded.

Forest hesitated only briefly when the deer disappeared before returning to Jessie's side.

"Good dog," she praised, giving him a treat.

"Good Forest," Melody told him.

Not to be out done, Olivia chimed in too. "Good puppy."

Meanwhile Noah in his stroller pointed at Forest and said, "Dog."

"How old is Noah?" Sophie asked Cindy curiously.

"Fourteen months," Cindy told her.

"He's talking quite well for someone so young," Sophie remarked.

"I think Melody inspires him," Cindy said. "He picked up a half dozen words while we were here for Chanukah."

"They do have an unusual rapport," Ali said.

Melody turned to look at the women when she realized they were talking about her. "Bobby," she told them pointing at Noah.

"Bobby?" Liam said. "Is that a nickname she's given him? Something like calling Olivia, Olive?"

"We believe it is something like that," Greg agreed.

"Except it's more than that, Dad," Alan said.

"Oh?" Liam said.

"We believe both Olivia and Noah have lived before," Alan told him. "Melody has an uncanny ability to recognize children who have."

"All children? Or only these two?" Malcom asked curiously.

Alan shrugged slightly. "I'm not sure. Do you know, Dad?"

Greg cocked his head. "Among Melody's gifts seems to be an uncanny ability to hear the heavens. If she is told a soul's name or has encountered someone before in a past life, she has the ability to recognize him or her and has a tendency to address them by their soul's name."