J. Robb - Bump in The Night

„All right. So we found some things we’ve both been searching for. You’ve got your dog, and I’ve got my mother, but that still doesn’t explain…“

He stood and framed her face with his hands. „You’re forgetting about the most important thing we both found.“ He leaned close. „Love. I love you, Grace. You’re exactly what I’ve wanted in my life. The part that’s been missing all these years.“

At his words, she blinked back the tears that threatened. „I love you, too, Josh. I don’t know how it happened. I certainly never expected anything like this, but here it is.“

„Here it is.“ He lowered his mouth to hers. „So what are we going to do about it?“

„We could hide out here for the rest of our lives.“

He nibbled her lower lip. „It’s tempting. We could shut out the world and create our own little paradise.“

Bamaby suddenly raced to the door and began barking.

Grace and Josh stepped apart. With his finger to his lips he shoved her behind him and picked up the fish knife before opening the door.

Barnaby rushed out and began racing along the dock, barking furiously.

When Josh stepped outside, Grace hurried to catch up. „Whatever is out here, you’re not facing it alone. We’re together now, remember?“

„I don’t want you hurt, Grace.“

„I’m not going back inside without you.“ She took hold of his hand.

When they reached the end of the dock, they paused beside Barnaby. The dog had gone eerily silent and was staring at the lake.

And then they saw the light, dancing across the dark waters, heading directly toward them.

Grace’s hand tightened on Josh’s as the light began to shimmer and glow, before it assumed the figure of a woman. As she drew closer, they could see her gown, dazzling white, and her hair, a glorious cascade of red-gold curls.

„Oh, I have waited so long for you. So long.“ Her musical voice was as clear as a bell. „I could not take my rest until I fulfilled my heart’s desire to see you happy.“

„Mother?“ Grace said the word haltingly and wondered why it sounded so right. So perfect. It was the first time she’d ever said it aloud. She took a deep breath and said it again. „Mother.“

The woman smiled. „I have waited a lifetime to hear my daughter say that word. It is the sweetest sound ever created.“

„How long have you been… gone?“ Grace couldn’t bring herself to speak of death.

„In the world it would be a year or more. It is a mere moment in this place, where time is of no consequence. My love for you burns brighter than the sun, Grace. Far too bright to be dimmed even by death.“

Grace was so moved by those words, she couldn’t find her voice. She stood, tears streaming down her cheeks, drinking in the vision that was her beloved mother.

Beside her, Josh draped an arm around Grace’s shoulder to offer his strength. „How does Wyatt Eagle fit into this?“

„Wyatt is my guide to the Great Beyond. It was he who taught me that great love can wield great power.“

„And so you went through all this elaborate scheme“ – Grace’s hand swung to include Josh and the dog at their feet – „just to make me happy?“

„Your happiness has been my greatest concern. It was necessary for you to know how deeply you are loved, Grace. Without that knowledge, you would be incapable of fully giving love.“

„But why Josh? How did he happen to get caught up in this?“

The woman turned to Josh. „Your father was… dear to my heart.“

Grace turned to Josh, and knew, by the stunned look on his face, that his thoughts mirrored her own. His father had been a warrior who had given his life in battle.

„He was here once, wasn’t he? That’s his army blanket I found in the shed.“

The woman nodded. „He and I were here together once, in that long ago time. And then, all too soon, he was gone.“

„Why can’t I see him? Why isn’t he here, too?“ Josh’s voice rose in anguish.

„As much as he wanted to show himself to you, he ceded his power to me. My need was greater, because my daughter never knew me. You know your father, Josh. So well, in fact, that you have striven to emulate him all the days of your life. And he remains with you forever.“

Her smile grew radiant. „He and I hoped, by bringing the two of you together in an idyllic setting, you would open yourselves to the love that is possible. Now mat you have found it, the rest is up to you. But remember this. Love so easily found in paradise can be lost or squandered when the realities of the world intrude. Only the two of you can decide the final outcome.“

Before the last word was spoken, the woman’s image began to shimmer and fade.

„Wait. There’s so much more I need to know.“ Grace reached out a hand, but like wisps of fog, the image dissipated and began drifting back across the dark waves until it was nothing more than a distant light.

As they continued to watch, the light flickered, then faded as it disappeared beneath the waves.

Before they could say a word they heard the sound of a plane coming in hard and fast.

The sky lightened, and they were startled to see the sun hanging low on the horizon. It was no longer nighttime, but late afternoon.

Grace was the first to speak. „That isn’t my supply plane.“

Josh stared in astonishment. „It’s one of ours. The one that’s been missing for days.“

The plane made a perfect landing on the water and rolled up to the dock. As soon as the door opened, Josh strode forward.

Marty was the first to step out, followed by the pilot, Brady Stewart, with the rest of the crew spilling out behind him.

„Where’ve you been?“ Josh strode forward to meet them.

„Following you, buddy boy.“ Marty removed his sunglasses and pointed. „Didn’t you hear us applauding you? That was a hell of a fine landing.“

„Landing?“ Josh stared beyond the plane to see his own, bobbing in the water, tethered neatly to a buoy just offshore.

For the space of a heartbeat he couldn’t find his voice. When at last he spoke, his tone was incredulous. „Are you saying I just came down?“

Marty glanced at his watch. „Not five minutes ago.“

Josh looked at his own wrist and realized that his watch was now working perfectly. It read four-ten.

Grace stifled a cry and turned away, running blindly, with Barnaby following.

Brady Stewart chuckled. „Your agent warned us you’d manage to find some gorgeous model even in the wilderness. How’d you smuggle her in here?“

„We’ll talk later.“ While the rest of the crew milled about, setting up camera equipment, Josh made a dash toward the cabin. When he stepped inside he saw the dog lying by the fire.

Grace was pacing the room. She looked up as he entered, and he saw the tears before she flew into his arms. Her words were muffled against his chest. „I was afraid I’d only imagined you as well.“

„Yeah. I had the same fear.“ He ran a hand over her hair, down her back, as though to reassure himself that she was indeed real.

„What happened to us, Josh? Was all of this a dream?“

He gave a quick shake of his head. „We’ll need some time to figure it all out. But this much I know. It was no dream. Barnaby is real. So are those letters and pictures of your mother.“ He took her mouth in a hot, fierce kiss. „And so is this.“

She returned his kiss with one of her own. On a sigh she stepped back. „But what do we do about it?“

He shrugged. „You heard your mother. Now we deal with our feelings in the real world.“

„But how can our love possibly survive? Our careers take us all over the world.“

He nodded. „That’s right. I have a contract to fulfill. A journey to take through the wilderness. And you have a photo essay to file.“ He grinned. „I’ll be curious to see how you describe the mysterious legend of the lake now.“