the lighthouse when I was six, what was I wearing?”
“Good heavens, Susanna, I have no idea,” her mother laughed.
“Was it cloudy, sunny or rainy?” she pushed for an answer.
“ Susanna …”
“Do you remember anything else about that day?” she was becoming impatient.
“Just that you weren’t listening . You were tired of going from place to place and you wandered away a lot. I had to come and find you in the lighthouse. You were perched on a window watching …”
“Sheep?”
“Yes, sheep! There were tons of them on the island.”
Susanna was silent.
“Did you remember?” her mother asked.
“I think so,” Susanna trailed off.
“Good! You really did like it there. As a matter of fact, I remember you crying when I pulled you away from the window. You cried in the boat to, all the way back to the mainland.”
Susanna sighed, “Thanks mom. I’m sorry I woke you up this early.”
“Oh, your father’s had me up for about an hour. You be careful up there. Stay warm.”
“I will.”
Numb with confusion, Susanna stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the water for a shower. She reached into her bag to find her contact case and pulled it out to set it on the narrow counter. Looking up she found the mirror fogged with steam. She reached out to wipe it away and as she did, she vividly remembered her dream where she had done the very same thing to the window at the lighthouse.
“I’m seriously going crazy,” she whispered as she wiped it away.
In the shower she leaned against the tile wall for support as the searing water poured over her. Every time she closed her eyes she saw his, they were crystal clear as if he was standing in front of her, a warm vibrant copper that held her entranced. She remembered little else about his features except his mouth, full and parted as if he were trying to speak to her. She stuck her face under the water in an effort to make the vision disappear.
Susanna slammed the handle down on the faucet, shutting the water off, “ I’ve got to get it together or it’s going to be a long damn week.”
Downstairs the Baileys were already at the table with steaming cups of coffee in front of them.
“Good Morning Ms. Shaw!” Emma called to her, “I trust you slept well.”
“I did,” Susanna lied with a forced smile.
“We’ll get some food in you then we ’re off,” the ever business like Bill said without looking up from his morning paper.
Emma eyed her suspiciously, “Are you alright?”
Susanna smiled, “Yes, excited about getting started.”
Emma disappeared into the back and came out with a plate full of food, “I hope you like omelets. I can make you something else if you ’d like.”
“No, this looks wonderful,” Susanna answered graciously.
Emma put both hands under her chin and studied Susanna silently from across the table, “Bill, can you check the gas before you leave? We may be running low and I want to be able to call them today if we are.”
“I just checked last week,” he answered, sipping his coffee.
“No, it was weeks ago!” Emma replied, winking at Susanna, “I know you’ll be busy for most of the day, I just want to be sure.”
“Fine, fine,” Bill said closing his paper and setting it on the table.
“Susanna will be along after she finishes breakfast. Her bags are by the door, you can load those into the truck.”
“Bossy woman,” he said with a grin, “I don’t know how I would manage without you telling me what to do.”
Susanna offered Bill a timid smile as he shuffled out the door.
“Now, he’s gone. Tell me, what happened last night?” Emma leaned across the table towards Susanna.
Susanna was caught off guard, “What do you mean?”
“You, my dear. I can feel the tension oozing off of you. Your aura is very gray today, totally different than the purple you were exuding last night.”
Susanna struggled to swallow a mouthful of omelet, “My aura
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