Transversals

XVII. The Fisherman's Dream

I stepped down the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible, hoping not to wake Hanna. But she was a heavy sleeper and if she hadn't woken yet, then I was certain I'd be in the clear.

I had explained the entire plan to Lana, who was busy trying to get Ben on his feet and down the stairs. He was conscious but still shivered uncontrollably, still not quite strong enough to walk on his own yet. Plugging the cord into Lana's secondary phone, a screen came up with a list of options for dreams to invade. I picked the one under Axelson, Mark and laid down on the couch quietly, looking at Dad out fast. He didn't like to sleep in his bed ever since Mom left.

Positioning the green clamp on my finger, I set my hands on my stomach and closed my eyes.

I woke up standing, surprisingly. Before me was the big, beautiful ocean, sun just beginning to set behind it. The sky was streaked and smeared oranges, reds, purples and pinks, not a strip of orthodox blue in sight. The pier had no boats docked, but the wood was dark in places where wet footprints might've stepped. Behind me was a row of shops without labels, but they started to appear the more Dad probably visualized them. The ground I was standing on was a sidewalk, paved with seashells and cement mixed together. I looked up again, finding Dad sitting at the end of the dock, feet crossed, swinging back and forth the slightest, beer at his side.

I walked up and sat beside him, as he turned to me in surprise, "Oh Harley," he exclaimed, leaning back on his hands while I untied my shoes. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know," I said, setting my shoes beside me. "Thought I'd join you I guess." I glanced down and let my legs dangle. My feet didn't touch the water, thankfully, and a salty, warm breeze coaxed my eyes closed with a sigh. Warmth again.

"I'm glad you did," he said, patting my hand. "It's a gorgeous place out here." Dad picked up the beer from his side and sipped, sighing. "I miss fishing, though. I used to do it so much when I was younger."

"When you were younger-younger, or...?" I began.

Dad tilted his head back and laughed, taking another sip of beer before responding. "Younger in my terms. Early thirties."

I laughed along lightly. "Forgive my youthful ignorance."

He smiled down at the water, the reflection of the sky making it glow like thin, golden honey. "You can never stop being sarcastic, Lee. I'm glad you got that from me."

We sat in more silence, admiring the scene before us. The sun was just dipping below the horizon, intensifying the colors like a remastered video. Minute by minute, second after second it changed. The reds became crimsons, the yellows became bright dandelion, the purples graduated to ultraviolet.

"I always wanted to see a sunset," Dad commented, nodding. I looked to him, finding the reflected beauty in his crinkled eyes as he gazed thoughtfully. "Like the east coast and sunrises, I really do. But I've always wanted to see a sunset from California." He broke the trance and reached down for his beer again, taking a casual sip. "Remind me to take you girls sometime."

"I'm going to hold you to that," I said.

He laughed in response. "That'd be a good trip, I don't mind. God, I haven't gone since..." He swallowed a bigger gulp of beer with near distaste, setting it at his side again. "Since college with your mother."

I was focused on how much I wish I could conjure up my own slushie to slurp, but the mention of Mom brought me right out of it. "When in college did you meet her?"

"My third year in undergrad. I was studying biomedical engineering and she was the perfect chemical engineering student across the hall, you know. Stars crossed lovers."