Waiting for Dusk (13 page)

Carl and Mrs. Johnson looked at each other.
“Let’s just say it’s a realistic dream,” Mrs. Johnson answered.

“Do you use the books too, MiMi? Do you go
and visit Mr. Johnson before he...” she couldn’t finish. She
thought it was too cruel to say the word ‘died’.

She looked at Mrs. Johnson again. “Wait a
minute, you look an awfully lot like a Mrs. Johansson I know in my
dreams. Only Mrs. Johansson is younger than you.”

“This is all I will tell you, Katie. Yes, I
do use the books. When I miss Mr. Johnson and that Swedish accent
of his, I go back in time in my dreams and there he is. He’s
working at the boardinghouse and tending his horses. His dream was
to have a stable of horses and teach people to ride.”

Katie was confused. “So how did you end up in
the exact place in 1927 that I do?”

“Too many questions, child. I told you I
would help you and I will this one time only. Do not ask again. I
don’t want to go up against your mother and father.”

“They know about this, too?” Katie was still
trying to make sense out of all the new information. “Did you give
my mom that book? Is that how she came to have it?”

“Slow down, Katie. I will try to answer what
I can. Yes, your parents know that the books cause realistic
dreams. I gave your mother a book to read once when your father was
out of town. I thought it would occupy her thoughts and help her
pass the time. Just like I thought it would for you this
summer.”

Katie was taken aback. “You’re the one that
told my mom to give me the book to read this summer?”

“You did say you were bored, didn’t you?”
Mrs. Johnson chuckled.

“Yes, I did. I knew you could tell when you
came over for dinner, right after you got home from California.”
Katie smiled at Carl. She forgot he was still in the room.

“Mom, why don’t you call Joanna and tell her
that Katie can stay here for the weekend. She’s too upset to go
camping and won’t have fun. She’ll just make her parents
miserable.” Carl winked at Katie. “Besides she has a big project
due next week, don’t you?”

Carl was a good listener. He heard everything
she told him up to the little white lie she wanted to tell her
parents.

“Fine, if that’s what she wants. Your parents
may feel I’m spoiling you, but do you want to stay here for the
weekend?”

“Yes, I do!” Katie began to feel better.

Mrs. Johnson disappeared, and didn’t return
for quite awhile. When she did, she said, “Everything is set. I
don’t like lying to your mother. This is the only time I will ever
do this. You do understand that?” She looked hard at Katie.

“Yes, ma’am. Now may I have the book?”

She put out her hand giving Maya one of her
best little girl looks. Katie already knew which bedroom to use
because Maya had decorated it just for her. Mrs. Johnson liked
decorating and really enjoyed doing a girl’s room since she only
had Carl. The room was done in pinks and sea green with a quilt of
those same colors on the bed. The antique dresser was painted in
distressed white. The walls were a cool, calming sea green. Katie
loved going to her room. She was ready for her dream to start.

“You have to wait for dusk.”

Katie was confused. “Wait for dusk to do
what?”

Carl stood up. “What my mother means is that
the book doesn’t work until dusk. You have to wait till the sun
starts setting. Reading the book doesn’t work during the day.”

Katie thought back to the day she tried to go
back to sleep because she didn’t want the dream to end. It was late
morning and the sun was shining. Nothing happened. It was starting
to make sense.

“There is one more thing. I want to stay
there for three days in a row without coming back. How do I do
that?”

Carl and Mrs. Johnson looked at each other
again. Mrs. Johnson seemed to be struggling with an answer.

“You may as well tell her, Mom,” Carl said
softly.

“After you read the book, do not put it next
to your bed on a table or nightstand. Leave it in the bed with you.
The book will be in the bed when you wake up at the boardinghouse.
Don’t put it on a nightstand or next to you while you’re there.
Hide it in a drawer with some personal effects. On the last day,
take it out and put it next to you in the bed before you go to
sleep.” Maya fidgeted. “That’s enough. Now you can enjoy Lucinda’s
wedding. I’m sure it will be the finest wedding the state has ever
seen.”

That sounded so familiar. “Then you’ll be
there, Mrs. Johansson?” Katie was sure now that Mrs. Johnson was
Mrs. Johansson. She just quoted Lucinda’s words about her
wedding.

“Mrs. Johansson will be there, I’m sure,”
Maya got up and walked into the kitchen. “I guess it’s dinner for
three tonight, isn’t it?”

Katie was outgoing and bubbly for the rest of
the day. She helped Maya in the kitchen and bantered with Carl. She
loved being with her second family. She knew they would help her
and they did.

While they were eating dinner outside,
Katie’s parents came over. They walked up on the deck.

“We just wanted to say good-bye and to tell
Katie to behave for Mrs. Johnson,” her mother told them and then
turned to Katie, “You stay here at her house and no long nights at
Lindsey’s.”

They bought the lie, Katie thought. Mrs.
Johnson must have been very convincing.

Joanna patted Carl on the shoulder. “I heard
you’d be here for the long weekend. Good to see you!”

Katie’s dad didn’t look as calm as her mom
did. “I hope we’re doing the right thing, letting you stay here.”
He gave her a quick hug. He shook Carl’s hand and then saluted
Maya. “It’s all in your hands now.”

“Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll be here
when you get back all safe and sound,” Mrs. Johnson said.

* * * *

After dinner, Katie ran back to her house and
got some things to have at Maya’s for the weekend. She decided to
sit on the Johnson deck and wait for the sun to set. Waiting for
dusk, she thought.

Excitement pumped through her. Katie planned
over and over in her head how to get to the train station. It just
had to work. How could she explain any of this to Drew if he caught
her lying? Katie closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened
them, the sun was finally starting to set. When it reached the
horizon, she held her breath. Only a minute to dusk. Katie forgot
how beautiful and peaceful that time of day was. It was not quite
dark and everything seemed to have a natural glow about it. When it
was finally dark, and the first star appeared in the sky, Katie
went inside. Maya sat on the sofa knitting while classical music
played softly in the background. Carl was reading the newspaper in
a corner chair.

“Good night, everyone,” she said quietly.

“Such an early bedtime. I couldn’t get you to
bed this early when you were little,” Maya teased. “Good night,
Katie. Book is on the nightstand.”

Katie leaned over, and kissed her on the
cheek. “Thanks, MiMi. I love you.”

Maya patted Katie’s hand as if almost to say
‘enjoy the weekend’.

Carl looked over the top of the newspaper and
said, “Hey, sis, be careful out there.”

“I will. Love you too, Carl.” Katie thought
that was an odd thing for him to say.

She didn’t really care or give it much more
thought as she ran up the stairs, two at a time, and into her
bedroom. She grabbed her bag of clothes, went into the bathroom and
got ready for bed.

Katie came out and carefully folded the
comforter placing it on its stand. Then she fluffed up the pillows,
slid under the cool, crisp pink sheets and reached for the book.
The cover looked the same as the book her mother gave her. She
wondered what the story would be about and laughed. There would be
no way to compare the stories because she didn’t know what the
first book was about. She opened to the first chapter hoping and
praying this would work.

Chapter Seventeen

Her heart pounded as
she slowly opened her eyes. Relief flowed through her as she gazed
around her boardinghouse room. Katie got up, put the book in the
drawer and hurried to get ready. She tiptoed into the kitchen and
grabbed a piece of banana bread from the table, not wanting anyone
to know she was there.

“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?”
a loud whisper came from behind her. Katie jumped, and whirled
around to see Anna. “You’ve been gone for two weeks, Kathryn. It’s
seemed like forever. Why didn’t you say good-bye before you left?”
Anna’s shoulders drooped.

“No time to get into details now. I am very
sorry about that. Two weeks was a lifetime for me. I want to get
started walking to the train station. So please forgive me.”

Anna handed her a small bag. “Tell Drew you
left most of your things here since you knew you were coming back.
I packed a few things for you.” She gave Katie a hug.

“Wish me luck!” Katie was out the door.

She ran along the road toward the park and
train station being careful to stay hidden. As she walked along,
Katie hoped Anna got a message to Drew and he would be meeting with
her when the train came. Knowing Drew, he would come early to meet
the train so it had to work. Her head hurt trying to sort all the
details.

Katie arrived at the station. She looked at
the large clock and saw she still had an hour to wait. It would be
best to stay undercover while waiting for the train. At last she
heard a whistle. The train was coming. Katie ran into the station.
The clock said one-fifteen so it was early. She couldn’t believe
her good fortune. If only Drew would be late, things would work out
for her.

She sat on a bench in the station as Drew
walked in right on time. “I am so sorry I’m late! I planned on
being here early but got a message from Anna to meet her in the
kitchen of the restaurant. Let me take your bags.” Drew looked
around.

“I only have this one. I left most of my
things here. Please don’t be sorry about being late. I was early.”
Katie looked longingly at him. Two weeks was a long time, and she
realized how much she had missed him.

As the two left the station, Drew picked
Katie up and swung her around. “I was worried you might not come
back with the way you left!” He set her down and kissed her lightly
on the lips.

“Not my fault. Blame my parents!”

Before she knew it she was on the horse
holding onto Drew, and heading back to the boardinghouse. Drew
slowed to a stop before they reached the house. Gently lowering her
to the ground, he continued on to the barn and then came back to
join her.

“I know this will be a busy weekend for you.
I wish I could have you all to myself. So if you don’t mind, I
would like that time now.” He took her hand. They strolled awhile,
not really going anywhere in particular, and finally sat down under
a tree. Drew reached into his pocket. “I have something for you, my
darling Kate.” He handed her a little velvet box.

Katie took the box carefully, not knowing
what to expect. She opened it slowly and let out a light gasp.
“Drew, how did you know the bridesmaids’ dresses were blue?” She
was staring down at a gold chain with a blue sapphire enclosed in a
tear drop setting. “I already have something to wear on the wedding
day. It’s beautiful though.”

“I didn’t know about the dresses. This isn’t
for the wedding. It’s for you. The gemstone reminded me of the
color of your eyes when I saw it. The tear drop symbolizes how I
feel when I am away from you.” Drew pulled her close, kissing the
top of her head.

Katie never heard anything so romantic. Kids
her age just didn’t talk that way. Even in the lyrics of most of
the songs she liked, she never heard anything like it.

“Put it on for me.” Katie pulled her hair
back and up. She felt the necklace slid down her neck and she
touched it with her fingers. Then Drew’s lips were on the back of
her neck and she shivered. She leaned back into his lap and stared
up at his handsome face. He pulled her up toward him and kissed her
for a very long time. She ran her hands up into his hair and around
the back of his neck. That was the passion Lucinda was talking
about. She didn’t want it to ever end.

Finally, Katie was able to take a breath and
said, “This is too much, really.” She touched the necklace.

“It’s only one of many that I would love to
give you.”

“Oh, this is plenty. I don’t need any more,”
Kate laughed. “I probably won’t ever take this off.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He kissed her
again.

Katie had no idea how much time passed. She
knew she needed to get to the boardinghouse because they all
planned to drive out to the ranch for the wedding rehearsal later
that afternoon. “I have to get back,” she said sadly.

They walked slowly to the house. “Drew, thank
you, I...I...lo...” Katie was interrupted by Anna.

“Finally! I was getting a little worried. We
have to get ready to go. See you tomorrow, Andrew!” Anna pulled
Katie into the house.

“Anna, you’re hurting my arm.” Katie
struggled to get away.

“You’re lucky I’m the only one who saw the
two of you out there. Loretta, Ruthie and Molly already went to the
ranch with Lucinda. She will be staying at the ranch for good, and
never come back here,” Anna sighed. She looked a little sad at the
thought. “Mr. and Mrs. Johansson are packing the Buick with things
for the wedding. Now we have to get ready, and out to the car.”

The ride to the ranch took awhile, maybe an
hour or so by Katie’s guess. When they arrived there were many cars
already parked by the house—which was more like a mansion than a
house. Katie was surprised the house was so big, with everything
painted white making it look even more majestic. Plus there was a
new section being added onto the house. She couldn’t believe they
would need any more room.