A Soul Mate's Promise (19 page)

“No,” he says, “you’re just fine! I spread out my appointments so clients don’t usually overlap.”

I follow him into the interior office. “Have a seat,” he gestures to a pale blue wingback chair.

I sit but feel my hands perspire and my feet want to tap. He takes a seat in front of me and laughs softly.

“It’s perfectly fine to be nervous, Gracie. Everyone is at first. Why don’t we start with Sal? Tell me how and where you met.”

I fill the Doctor in on the particulars of how Sal and I became a couple. I tell him about Richard and our tumultuous marriage. Then, I tell him about the dreams. He’s taking notes and looking pensive. Dr. Brooks puts the end of the pen in his mouth and raises his eyebrows. “And when did you say these dreams or visions started?”

I could feel my face begin to warm. “Right after I met Sal. I believe it was the first night we kissed.”

He smiles. “Okay, now, so you both went on a trip. A romantic weekend. You sat with a psychic who told you about old souls and soul mates. Did you dream that night?”

“No, but Sal thought I would. He wasn’t too thrilled about the whole thing.”

“And what about you, Gracie? How do you feel about what she told you?”

I tilt my head to look up at the ceiling while taking a deep breath, then I look back at the doctor. “Well…at first I was a bit shocked, but not scared. I rolled it around in my head for a while. Now it makes sense to me.” I need to be honest with him. “Dr. Brooks, these dreams or visions I have are a part of me and Sal. Please don’t hypnotize or medicate them away – that would scare me more.”

Dr. Brooks sits back in his chair and puts both his hands up. “We will not do anything you don’t want to do Gracie, but, I will tell you this: hypnosis is not harmful and maybe we can get more details if I put you under. Would you like to try? I promise you, this won’t impact the dreams. ”

I agree to let him try.

After several attempts, and no matter how many ways he tries to persuade me to relax, I won’t go under.

At one point I giggle. “Sorry, Dr. Brooks. I guess I’m broken…”

“On the contrary. You’re will is very strong and protective. Not everyone can be put under, but that’s all right Gracie, we will figure all this out.”

He grabs his schedule book and flips through. “Now tell me…would it be at all possible to get you and Sal in here together say, Friday afternoon?”

I shoot him a cocked eyebrow. “Together? Yes, I suppose we can, but why?”

He sits behind his desk and smiles into space for a bit. Then his gaze meets mine. “I want you both here to discuss some things. Now nothing at all to be alarmed about but, I want to talk to both of you about past life regression.”

“Is that what I’m experiencing Dr. Brooks?”

“I’ll see you both on Friday–we’ll talk about it then. Have a nice week Gracie and don’t worry. You’re fine.”

*       *       *

Richard paced the floor of Leonard Burnes’ office as they waited for Gracie. The last divorce paper was awaiting signature on the big oak desk and he knew from their conversation that she was aware of it. Where the hell was she? Did something else happen?

“Mr. Boumont, why don’t you have a seat? I’m sure she will be here momentarily.”

Richard peered at the old lawyer, sitting there looking so smug. “She’s early for
everything
. Why can’t she be early today? That was one of the good things I did love about her.”

“Why don’t you just have a seat, Mr. Boumont. She’ll be here.

Richard checked is watch for the third time in as many minutes. Burnes was staring at his gold-lettered law books on the shelf, but in two minutes, Richard was leaving. Grace could just set up another appointment that met with her busy life.

“So Mr. Boumont, everything going okay at the offices?”               Richard gave him a sarcastic grin. The man had obviously never been audited and been caught short. “Oh sure. Things are just fantastic, thank you.”

“Hey, don’t get pissy with me. If not for us, you would have never known you were being embezzled. It could have been too late before you found out.”

“Yes that was a fortunate accident.”

“Any word yet?” Burnes asked.

“No, it has seemed to appear that whoever was stealing has ceased. But everything is locked and or frozen until further notice.”

“Ahumm, I see, and how’s Ms. James feeling about that?”

“How do you think she feels, she’s pissed off! She’s worked hard to grow the company and now this….”

Both men snapped their heads to the door as Gracie breezed in.

“Hello, Mr. Burnes,” she said, stopping short just inside the office doorway. “What’s he doing here? I thought he signed already.”

Mr. Burnes stood and handed her a pen. “This paper gets signed together, with a witness–me.”

While she read the document and bent to sign it, Richard looked at her and pondered for a moment how really confident and radiant she seemed to be. He wondered if the ghost she had turned into during their marriage had been his doing. He’d known she was miserable but just didn’t know how to help her. Perhaps she was right and they were just not meant to be.

“There–done.”

Richard took the pen from Burnes and scribbled his name on the line.

Mr. Burnes picked up the paper and shot them both a satisfied smile. “So, now it’s done. Your marriage has been dissolved. Gracie is to be rewarded half a million up front and on the first of every month residuals from the company until she remarries or God forbid, dies–as per the deal instead of alimony, correct?”

Both Richard and Gracie nodded in agreement.

As they were leaving the attorney’s office, Richard turned to Gracie, taking her by the arm. “How are you? Any news on the thief who cornered you?”

“I’m fine, really. And I haven’t heard anything new about the whole thing. Sal is with me all the time and so is Pop, so I’m sure I’m safe.”

“POP?” Richard looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, Antonio…ahh… Tony wants me to call him Pop now that Sal and I are together.”

They both got onto the elevator.

“Well Grace, I must say, you have been looking wonderful. I guess having Sal around makes you happy.”

She touched the sleeve of his jacket lightly. “Yes, Richard, having anyone you love around you all the time should make you happy. Aren’t you happy with Camille?”

“You
love
Sal? Already?”
How long had they really known each other?

“Yes, I do.” She swallowed and he thought he might have seen tears, but she continued. “He mended my heart Richard, something you don’t know anything about. Why are you so cold? Was it the money? The power? Maybe it’s just in your gene pool–your dad was cold, too. I used to feel sorry for your mother sometimes.”

The elevator doors opened and they walked into the lobby.

He fought the urge to shake her. Was she out of her mind? “Feel sorry for her? For my mother? My mother had everything she ever wanted; cars, a beautiful home, maids. She wanted for nothing–my father gave her everything!”

He was talking to her back, but she stopped and turned, giving him what seemed to be sympathetic eyes.

“Not
everything
, Richard. Your father forgot to give her the one thing she wanted, and what most women want.… Love.”

He watched her waltz through the doors and had a sense that he’d lost something very special.

*       *       *

I arrive home to find Sal in the driveway cleaning his motorcycle. He flashes me that big wide smile of his and comes to open my door.

“My Princess,” he bows. “How was your visit with Dr. Brooks?”

“Really interesting.”

Sal scrunches his eyebrows and twitches a crooked smile. “Interesting? That’s a different reply...”              I lean in to hug him. “Umm… he wants to see us
both
on Friday afternoon. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes, of course, but about what? Did he explain anything for you?”

“He mentioned past life regression, he also tried to hypnotize me, but, I wouldn’t go under.”

“He has put me under a few times to relax me. I don’t remember much, he just says I talk about some of my missions, when I was held prisoner, and some other stuff he was never quite sure about. But it helped some with the night terrors.”

“Really? You never told me you’ve been hypnotized.”

“Yeah. I didn’t think I could be put under, but he was able to.”

Raising my eyebrows, I’m wondering. “Huh….How does the CIA or your special tactical people feel about knowing one of their special agents can get hypnotized?”

Sal gives me a narrow-eyed look. “Well…” he hesitates as though searching for words. “It’s kind of what I went through years ago. To be programmed to become good soldiers they drill stuff into your head. I chose Dr. Brooks for just that reason–he needed to de-program me. He can’t take it all away, but I learned coping mechanisms, and, then…there was you.” He reaches out, pulling me into him for a kiss. I lean away from him.

“Me?”

“You,” he answers. “I told you when we first met. Talking to you, being around you, was like snapping back to reality from a bad fog. You calmed my thoughts–you calmed me.”

I put my hand to his stubbled cheek. “You have the kindest heart.”

Sal ducks in for another passion-filled kiss. When he backs away from me, he’s got a wicked grin spreading across his face.

I grab at his dimpled chin. “What are you thinking?”

He tosses a glance at his bike then back at me with a raised eyebrow. “Want to go for a ride, Princess?”

Reluctantly I agree. Sal helps me put on a purple helmet he purchased for me a while back. He lowers the dark face shield and taps me on the helmet.

“I’ll get on, then you swing your leg over and climb up behind me, okay?”

All I can do is nod. I’m partly terrified, partly excited.

He straddles the Harley, hits the start button and points at me. I climb on board, wrap my arms tightly around him and he pats my leg.

“Ready?” he yells over the throb of the engine.

“Ready,” I shout back.

Sal takes off nice and easy until he feels me relax against him. As the feeling in my fingers returns because I’m no longer terrified, he speeds up and we follow the winding road easily. I feel as though I’m flying as I hang on against the steady rush of wind. When we stopped at a traffic light, he checks to see if I’m okay.

“I am. I trust you, Sal.”

“Good to know, Princess. Good to know.”

We rode up and down the coast taking in the sights and in a matter of an hour or so, I can understand why he loves to ride the bike and why I’ll be right behind him again soon.

I love my life-my free, stable and secure life. I love this man. There is no doubt in my mind we are kindred spirits.

CHAPTER 19

Friday afternoon Gracie and Sal arrived at Dr. Brooks’ office hand and hand.

The doctor sat behind his desk this time and told them to have a seat.

“How are you both this afternoon?” he asked.

“Good,” we answered in unison.

“How ‘bout you, Sal?” he continued, “any more night terrors, or fatigue?”

“No,” Sal answered, “I’m calmer.” Squeezing her hand a little tighter he and Gracie gave each other a knowing smile. Dr. Brooks nodded.

“Yes, I can see. Well then, let me get on it, then.” He pulled a file from his desk and opened it. “Sal,” he said, “this is your file. After I had my chat with Gracie I went back and went over some things. Would you care if I shared what happened on some of our sessions?”

Sal’s eyebrows bunched as he lifted his chin. “No, if you think it’ll help.”

“There were times when I put you under hypnosis and you talked about many things, but, it wasn’t until my appointment with Gracie that I realized you both mentioned some of the same things.

“If I may, for instance, Gracie told me about her dreams. Now during one in particular, she mentions you in a revolutionary uniform taking off on a horse. In one of our sessions, while you were under, you mentioned a horse and leaving behind a fiancée. Then you mentioned a freezing winter, and you were enfeebled with hunger, a word used in 1700’s. When I asked you what you were doing, you replied, ‘Fighting for what’s right.’ I asked you who you were fighting and you indicated the British. Then you jumped to a battle you were fighting in–British troops attacked in a frontal assault–you were shot and stabbed by a bayonet. I made you come to because you were in pain.”

Sal shook his head.
None of this makes sense
… “Wait a minute. Are you telling me I spoke about a past life? Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

Dr. Brooks scratched at his head. “To tell you the truth Sal, I didn’t think that it was anything other then mixing what you been through into something like a nightmare. That’s usually how our minds cope with traumatic situations and it’s quite common.”

Sal glanced at Gracie and then looked back at the doctor, but remained quiet.

“Dr. Brooks, tell us please, is there more?” Gracie asked softly.

Scratching his head some more, he responded almost excitedly. “Yes, a few more things. Sal, one time you muttered on about Germans raiding trenches and then it just went dark. Gracie had a dream about WWI and that was the puzzle piece for me right there. And her latest dream of WWII….” Dr. Brooks smiled and shook his head in amazement.

“I’ve got to tell you, she mentioned Pearl Harbor and the USS Oklahoma. Now Sal, in a session we had a few months ago, I wrote here that you were mumbling on, but, I managed to hear the mention of a fiancée again, and
Hawaii
. You also went into a bit of a trauma about explosions, fire and being trapped on a ship. Again I thought it was your mind compensating. It wasn’t until Monday during Gracie’s visit that I started to come to conclusions. Never did I put much belief in the theory of past lives, but I have been reading up since Gracie came in. I have to be honest with you both- I am stunned and almost speechless over these comparisons.”

Lifting her hand, Gracie approached the subject of the psychic. “Dr. Brooks, going back to Amina, the psychic. She told us about being old souls and soul mates. We were
always
together and a trauma has always separated us”.

“Yes, I remember you mentioning that. I don’t usually put stock into that sort of thing either, but it looks like I am getting enlightened. I suppose all of this is plausible.”

Sal sat forward in his seat. “Did I ever mention names?”

“Ah,” the doctor lifted a finger, “not really. Every time I asked you about who you were, your response was vague or you would say you were a soldier. I have asked on occasion who your fiancé is, but you always say
Gracie
. Hence my thinking you’re just mixing things up since she is a constant in your life as of now.”

Sal and Gracie sat holding hands tight, listening to the doctor go on.

“Let me tell you what I have found. Sal, you and Gracie both have told me about how you met. Now, both stories are a little different but you both have said the attraction was magnetic, and familiar.

“Past life regression is a reincarnation of our souls. We may have lived multiple lives and we keep finding each other or should I say the heart recognizes each other even when our appearance isn’t what we are now. They say the souls know. There is a sudden feeling of familiarity, and perhaps a feeling of safety. For Gracie, meeting you was her jolt of recognition, and hence she has dreams. This can also happen with family members or best friends. Our souls seem to seek out each other over and over. It’s not always a romantic thing.

“Sal, you were repressing memories from Iraq, Bosnia and a few other missions. Under hypnosis, past life regression came out, but it didn’t surface until after you met Gracie. I wrote down what you told me that day before I put you under.”

Doc, I met a princess named, Gracie. I don’t know what it is, but I have to be near her. It’s like I have been missing her my whole life. Something about her calms the crazy in my head.

For you Sal, that was
your
awakening.”

Sal put a hand up to his scruffy chin and scratched. “I got to wrap my head around this. It’s all so unbelievable and hard to rationalize.” He took Gracie’s hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a peck. “Gracie, what are you thinking?”

She took a deep breath and exhaled. He was almost afraid of what she had to say…

“I am very pleased with what Dr. Brooks has surmised. “I knew this,” she said, eyes sparkling. “I knew, I felt it in my heart. Those dreams were very real. I could smell things and feel things. Emotionally I was affected by it. Normal dreams don’t do that. I believe it, Sal. The day I met you I looked into your eyes and it was a shock. Like Dr. Brooks said, a jolt of recognition. I just
knew
.”

They left Dr. Brooks’ office with a tentative appointment for January. He wished them a wonderful Christmas and a great trip to Napa and sent them off with a short list of books that might be useful to their quest for answers.

*       *       *

Later that evening as I was getting into bed, Sal was deeply engrossed in the book we’d stopped to buy on the way home.

“Any good?” I ask.

He looks up from the book, his serious expression relaxing as I climb in and snuggle under his arm.

“Yeah, it’s . . . just so hard to comprehend. I need time to wrap my head around it and let it soak in.”

“Why is it so hard to believe? Your dad believes it and so do my friends.”

“Maybe I could believe it more if I had dreams like you do. When I’m hypnotized I don’t remember anything. When Dr. Brooks tells me I said these things, it’s not real to me.” He closed the book and wrapped an arm around me. “I do know without a doubt, I love you and we are meant to be together.”

Sal gazes at me with sleepy eyes, then he smothers my mouth in a searing kiss and his tongue searches out mine. His hands move up and down my body, setting little fires all over me.

As he rolls on top of me, I feel his hardness press against me. He pauses for a moment to look at me as if he is waiting for permission.

I arch my back, coaxing him on. His mouth once again seals on mine. I hear a thump as the book falls to the floor… along with my panties.

*       *       *

Christmas is fast approaching as I send cards, bake cookies, wrap presents and get some shipped. An unexpected call from my brother Steve is a delightful gift.

He tells me he will be celebrating Christmas in Haiti at the mission post along with the other missionaries, but he’s going to have a few days off right after Christmas and he wants to come see me for New Years.

I’m thrilled, of course and I tell him all I can about Sal and the abbreviated version of everything else.

“I’m spending Christmas in Napa with Sal and his family,” I conclude with giggles. “We will be home on the twenty-seventh.

“Perfect,” my brother says. “I can be in by the twenty-eighth, then I leave on the second of January. I’ll see ya then, sister dear. Have fun and Merry Christmas!”

*       *       *

The morning of the twenty second of December I’m getting ready to leave for the airport and going over things in my mind. I’ve shipped presents to Napa ahead of us and made a fresh batch of cookies to bring to Mary and Joe. That is if they make it… maybe I’ll hide them in a suitcase to be sure. 

I pull out a long black jersey knit cotton skirt that feels like sweat pants. It has a slit to my knee and a drawstring waist with a matching hoodie that zips up the front with pockets. I slide on my chunky sandals knowing I can take them off and put my feet up on the plane.

“You ready to go, Gracie?” Sal shouts as he hauls suitcases out of the house and into Pop’s van.

“Yes, Toby is out back and I just want to check all the doors before we go.”

I call for Toby, then do a sweep of all the doors making sure they are locked up good. Sal joins me in the process and does a double check upstairs.

“I told Lou to come and drive around a few times to check on things. He’ll keep a watch out but I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” Sal reassures me.

We set the house alarm, pile in the van and head to Jacksonville Airport.

We arrive, park and make our way to the terminal that services the private planes.  We are through security in a flash. Sal sees his friend and waves.

A tall thin man with short-cropped brown hair and ice blue eyes strides over to us. “Sal! Merry Christmas, mate!” They hug like two drunken sailors and I can’t hide my grin.

“Good to see you, man,” Sal says to his buddy. “Hey thanks for helping us out. I appreciate it.”

“Oh, no worries then. Always a pleasure to be in the company of a true mate.”

Turning and pulling me by the hand Sal introduces us. “Nick, this is the love of my life, Gracie, and my father, Antonio.”

“Pleasure to meet you both. Ah and who do we have here?” Nick squats down and lets Toby have a sniff.

“That would be Toby,” I answer. “It will be his first time to fly.”

“Oh, he is a handsome boy. No cargo hold for you on this flight boy. You get to sit with your mum in the human section.”

“Are you from the U.K, Nick?” I love the accent.

“No, I’m an Aussie, but everyone gets it confused.”

“Have you been a pilot for a while?”

“Twenty years! I am in the air more than on the ground. Have no fear, it’s a good day to fly.”

He gives me a wink and a smile. “Right, if the inquisition is over, why don’t we make our way out? After you.” He gestures with his hand and bows to the glass doors that slide open with motion detection.

We walk on the tarmac and up a flight of stairs that enter the plane. Toby is the first to trail his way in. I look up at the jet, a silver exterior with a red metallic stripe running along the body.

I make my way inside and stand in awe of the elegant interior. My face must tell it all because when Sal turns to see where I am, he chuckles. Pop gets a ride up in a special chair lift and we help him settle into one of the white leather recliner’s.

“Isn’t it something?” Sal says. “Come, let me show you around. This jet is a 2010 Bombardier global XRS. Nick bought it last year. It’s his baby.”

As I make my way through the fourteen-passenger jet, I take in the white leather recliner seats on the right and a long white couch on the left with black and red throw pillows. A black plush carpet covers the floor. In the back is a black mirrored wall with a door. I walk through it and can’t believe there’s a galley kitchen equipped with microwave and coffee maker and black granite counter tops.

Behind the galley is a room with four white leather club chairs, a shiny black conference table and wifi hook ups. In the corner is a door that is marked: LAVATORY.

Does the plane meet your standards then?” a voice asks.

I turn to see Nick with his hands at his hips, his smile proud and friendly.  Sal is right behind him.

“Yes, it’s spectacular. I’ve only flown commercial, so I’m a bit speechless!”

“I’m glad you like her. Alrighty then, everyone take your seats and let’s get this baby up, shall we? Sal, how would you like to join me as first mate and get her up?”

Sal nods and rubs his hands together. “I’d love to. Sounds great.”

“Wait a minute,” I stop them, holding up a finger, “if I may cut into this bro-mance, Sal, you can fly a plane?”

He frowns, then smiles. “I can make my way around a cockpit. I’m not a seasoned pilot like Nick, but, I can fly a plane.”