Lydia's Dream Ch. 03-04

"Well, I need to be going. I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about. I'll be praying for you both and the decisions you must make." She stood and hugged Pam and me for a long time. We all wept.

After walking Susan to her car, we hugged again. She promised to stay in touch and I promised to stop by the diner before we left.

Re-entering the cabin, I saw that Pam had added wood to the fire and was sitting on the sofa staring at the dancing flames. I walked over and sat next to her. We looked at each other and she reached for my hand.

I asked, "Well, what do we do now? What are you thinking?"

"Tom, I don't know what to think. I've been trying to wrap my thoughts around this since yesterday. I now know that all of this was not a coincidence and that this is serious. This is real serious. Your premonition was accurate and we were brought here to meet each other. This is the first time that I must get serious about life and the future. I've used the word 'scary' several times this week but now I'm really scared. What if it doesn't work out?"

"Lydia and I dated for three years and we gradually fell in love over that time. You and I've known each other for three days. I think we need time together to see if true love develops and that we want to fully commit our lives to each other."

"I agree. So what do we do?"

"When you came on to me like a sex-starved woman yesterday afternoon, was it because of what Susan had told you?"

"Partly. But, I was a sex-starved woman. Unlike most women, I need frequent sex. I love sex. If a lover is not available, I use the battery-powered one."

"You said you were scared. Why is that?"

"When Susan told me yesterday about Lydia's dream, I was both thrilled and scared. The thrill was from the fact that our relationship was meant to be. I felt a great freedom to come on to you, which I wanted to do anyway. You fascinated me; but I was scared that you'd reject me. You did refuse sex with me but you didn't reject me."

"Why would I reject you?"

"She was a lot better person than me. From what you said about Lydia, I knew I could never live up to her standards. I've had many guys but she was totally committed to you. I felt like a piece of crap compared to her."

"Pam, you're the real deal. Sure Lydia was different from you, but that doesn't mean that she was perfect and you're not. You're perfect in a different way. Yes, I'm sure you've had a lot of experience with sex and that's fine. You're exciting, full of life and you showed a lot of compassion for me the last few days. With your beauty and personality, it'd have been easy for you to take a different path that paid lots of money; but you didn't. You worked in a restaurant and lived the best you could on hard work, not on your beauty and sexuality.

"I'd like for you to come with me to Chattanooga. My house is big and rambling so you'll have your own space to the degree you want it. Is that okay?"

She paused and thought for a moment.

"Yes, I'd like that. Maybe I could go back to school if you could loan me the money."

"Of course. I think that'd be great to do."

"But I don't want to live off of you. I insist on getting a job and having an income."

"Whatever you want. I think a job would help you to stay busy. It's important to interact with others."

"The one thing I know I must do soon is visit with my mom. Would you go with me?"

"Be glad to. When do you want to go?"

"Let me call her now and maybe we can go tomorrow."

"Oh, that quick. Okay."
She went to the bedroom for her phone. I could hear the conversation.

"Hi Mom.

"Yes, I'm fine.

"I know, I should've called you before now. I'm sorry. Are you okay?

"I'm with a friend in Georgia.

"No, I quit the job in Charlotte and came here.

"Well, that's one reason for my call. Are you going to be home tomorrow?

"Good. I'd like to bring my friend and come see you.

"Yes, it's a boyfriend.

"We'll probably stay the night, if you don't mind.

"Oh, she will?

"Good. I want to see her.

"Okay, we'll be there for lunch.

"Thanks Mom. We'll see you tomorrow.

"I love you too.

"Bye."

She returned and said, "It's set. She was glad I called and wanted to come see her. My sister Jerri is arriving tomorrow night for a visit. So you'll get to meet the entire family."

"Good. What time do you want to leave?"

"Mom wants us to come for lunch. I think it'll take between three and four hours from here."

"So let's leave about 7:00 and we can stop for breakfast along the way."

"As long as I have some coffee to get going," she replied. 


We sat and talked in front of the fire the rest of the afternoon and snacked on leftovers for dinner.

There was now infinitely more to consider about our relationship. We cuddled in front of the fire and marveled at the revelation, wondering why each of us was chosen for the other. Exhausted, we retired to our bedrooms at midnight.

During the night, another messenger came.

Chapter 4


I think you've won my baby sister's heart.

I heard the alarm scream at 6:00 am and struggled with the bedcovers to reach it. I muttered, "Damn, that alarm's loud."

Walking to Pam's door, I knocked and slowly opened it. She was up on one elbow staring at me.

"Was that the alarm in your room?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's loud, I know."

She collapsed back onto her pillow and stared at the ceiling. The room was almost dark at that time of the morning.

As I turned to walk to the kitchen, she asked, "Do we have to get up yet?"

"Why don't you relax a little longer," I said, "and I'll turn the coffee on."

I always prepared the coffee for brewing the night before. Just as the brew cycle was ending, Pam walked in. She again had on that beautiful robe that'd belonged to Lydia.

We kissed and she wrapped one arm around my waist and laid her head on my chest. I handed her a cup. She reached up and kissed me again. "Thanks sweetheart."

I asked, "Did you have any dreams last night?"

She glanced up at me and smiled. "Yeah, I did. It was really strange and I've no idea what to make of it. I heard a woman's voice and dreamed that I woke. She said 'give it back.' I remember in the dream getting out of bed and following her voice into the kitchen. Everything was then quiet and the voice stopped. That was it. I wasn't scared in the dream. If anything, I felt happy."

"Wonder what, if anything, that means? Give what back? Who was the woman?"

"I've never heard that voice before. All she said was 'give it back' but I don't know what to give back. What about you? Did you have any dreams?"

"No. I thought about Lydia for a long time before dozing off. I was surprised she never told me about confiding in Susan. We had talked about everything, I thought, during those last two years but she never talked about those particular dreams or visits."

"You said that she seemed happy and unconcerned about her pending death."

"She was concerned about me; but yes, she was unconcerned about herself. I attributed that to her faith and trying to put up a good front for me. I knew she was worried about what I'd do after she was gone. You need to understand that I depended on her. She completely devoted herself to our marriage and to me. Her business helped by giving some balance to her activities and interests; but she always believed her number one job was to support me. I don't know why she didn't tell me about those dreams? I had no idea she was keeping secrets from me."

"Maybe by doing it the way she did," Pam replied, "she was making sure you knew it was for real and not just some hallucination caused by the chemo. If she had told you that a woman would be at the cabin this week, would you have believed her?"

"Probably not. I'd have thought it was the chemo affecting her."

"Both of us know there's no way this could be faked-absolutely no way. For some reason, God brought us together. I don't know why He chose me. I sure wasn't being a good person."

"Nor I. I wasn't being very nice to many people, in fact. I don't know why I was introduced to such a wonderful young lady as you. You are so far out of my league it's not funny."

Pam thought for a few moments, as if trying to make sure she wanted to say something.

"Tom, do you actually think I'm all that wonderful? I surely don't. I've slept around with several men, disobeyed and dishonored my parents and hardly even have a family because I chased them all away. I probably was the major cause of my dad dying so young. I was selfish and egotistical and very dumb."

I could see tears welling in her eyes. I wrapped both arms around her and pull her head to my chest again. She started shaking as she wept.

"I imagine you've had your moments, but we all have in one form or another. What matters is the future. I think God sees in you the things I see in you. You love people. You have a great compassion for others who are struggling. You realize you made mistakes and are working to move past them. I think you've asked for forgiveness in your own way and He forgave you."

"I truly hope so. I've done a lot that needs forgiving."

"Pam, we all have."

We kissed again and walked to the bedrooms to shower and dress.

****

As soon as we reached Interstate 85, we began looking for food. I asked, "Any place special you like?"

"Not really. Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans Restaurants are usually good if we can find one."

We eventually saw a Cracker Barrel at Exit 129 and pulled off into the parking lot. It was fairly busy but we were seated right away.

As we sipped coffee and waited for our orders to come, I said, "You seemed very quiet in the car this morning. Are you worried about going home?"

"Yeah, I am. The last time I was there, my mom and I got into a really big argument about my lifestyle and my future. She was right and I was wrong, that's what hurts so much. I must look her in the eye and apologize and tell her that she was right. She didn't deserve any of the abuse I gave her."

I reached across the table for her hand. "She will forgive you and love you unconditionally. I remember some of my rebellious periods and how I put my parents through hell with my words and actions. They forgave me. Thankfully, that stuff is behind us and we learned from it. Moms and dads seem to have an infinite supply of forgiveness."

"I hope so. I'm glad you're going with me. I need you."

****

After leaving the restaurant, we made our way up I-85 and eventually saw a sign for Greenville. "Take the next exit and then turn left," she directed.

I followed her turn-by-turn instructions for another six or seven miles as we drove into the foothills. The mountains here weren't as high as the Great Smoky Mountains but were stately and serene. We arrived and Pam directed me up a long gravel lane to the house. Her mother heard our car coming and walked out on the porch as we drove up. She waved as I parked the car.

Much to my surprise, Pam burst from the car and ran at top speed to her mom. They stood on the porch, hugged and kissed, and for several minutes, exchanging quiet thoughts that I couldn't hear. I gave them the privacy they needed until Pam turned and yelled for me to come.

Mrs. Davis started greeting me as I walked up the steps. "Welcome! Thank you for bringing Pam home." Both had tears in their eyes.

Between sniffles, Pam introduced us. "Mom, this is Tom Sumter. Tom, this is my mom, Ruth."

We briefly hugged. Ruth was a beautiful woman and obviously took great care of herself.

"Tom, I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Ruth, I am very happy to meet you. Pam has told me much about you and this farm. It certainly is a pretty place." I glanced at Pam. She appeared to be very relieved.

"Thank you. Please come in out of the cold."

We walked past the open screen door and heavy wooden front door into the living room. This was obviously an old and very traditional farmhouse. The ceilings were very high which helped cool the house in the summer before air conditioning was invented. There were two fireplaces in the large living room. Just beyond and to the left appeared to be the kitchen. I could smell various spicy aromas from the lunch Ruth was preparing. To my immediate left was the dining room with a beautiful old and large trestle table.

"Please make yourself comfortable Tom. I have some cooking on and just need to check it." Pam and her mom walked together to the kitchen.

Walking around the room, I looked at photos, mementos and all the little knickknacks that tend to find their way into our lives. Several photos were of the two girls at various ages. Both Pam and Jerri were beautiful, even as young girls. Their dad was a tall and ruggedly handsome man, his face showing the evidence of hard farm work.

Only one of the fireplaces was burning and I added a stick of wood to it. Standing with my back to the flames, I warmed my trouser legs and hands. Occasionally, I could hear snippets of the conversation in the kitchen.

"Well, he sure is handsome."

"Chattanooga?"

"Oh, I'm so happy for that."

"She's flying in from Houston tonight."

"We can go together."

I decided to join them and walked to the doorway and knocked on the open door.

"Come in, Tom. Sorry for the mess. Pam was just telling me a bit more about you."

I joked, "Does that mean I have to leave now?"

Both laughed. "No, of course not. It sounds to me like she thinks a lot of you. Pam says you can even cook."

"Not me! I enjoy puttering around the kitchen but I just stand back and watch when Pam takes over. You did a wonderful thing by teaching her to cook."

Ruth stood at the range and stirred whatever was in the pot. She turned and smiled.

"Both girls spent time in the kitchen but I had the impression it was more like a jail sentence than a classroom."

I smiled when Pam exclaimed, "MOM! You know we loved to be in here with you."

"Yes, but that was because the alternative was out in the fields with your dad."

Pam replied, "Well..."

I said, "So she learned to cook by default." I smiled as they laughed.

"Tom, do you like vegetable soup?"

"I love it, and my mouth is watering as I stand here."

"I always add some sirloin steak and veal sausage and let it simmer for several hours so all the flavors blend."

"Mom is also baking her legendary sourdough bread. Wait until you taste it. I've missed her cooking. Mom, how long will it be until it's ready?"

"About 15 minutes before the bread's done. The soup is ready now."

Pam responded, "Tom, could we bring our luggage in?"

"Sure, please excuse us Ruth." She smiled and turned back to her soup.

As we walked to the car, Pam reached inside my arm and said, "You were exactly right. It was like our last argument never happened. I can't believe she was so happy to see me." I smiled.

As I unloaded the two overnight bags, Pam asked, "Is it okay if we stay an extra day? I was thinking we'd just stay tonight and go back tomorrow afternoon. But I think I want to stay a little longer. My sister is going home on Saturday."

"That's fine. I'll need to wash a shirt and underwear but the jeans will be good for another day."

"Do you have to wear underwear?" I glanced and saw that devious grin I was learning to love.

I smiled. "I suppose not."

"Good, you never know when this sex-starved lady will attack. The fewer layers I have to remove, the better." She leaned into me and we kissed before she flashed that grin again.

I carried the bags upstairs. There was a long central hallway with bedrooms on both sides. Whoever designed the house planned for maximum ventilation during the summer months. There were windows at each end of the hall to create a nice breezeway. There were transom windows that could be opened above each bedroom doorway. This allowed the outside bedroom windows to be open and let the air flow through the room into the breezeway created in the hall. It was an ingenious design for an earlier time.

Pam led me to one of the bedrooms. "I told her you'd be here in the guest room and I'd sleep in my old room. Jerri will be in her old room. Of course, I can visit you at night, just to make sure you're okay." Again, she flashed that grin I found so charming.

"You're cute, young lady."

She replied, "If you think I'm cute, wait until you see Jerri. You'll probably want to do nightly visits to her room."

"You're more than I can imagine, plus she's an old married lady."

"Yeah, but she loves sex as much as I do. I'll bet anything that you'll hear a lot of buzzing in her room after she meets you. Maybe I should lay a spare set of batteries on her nightstand." She grinned again.

"When does she arrive?"

"Her plane lands at 5:00. She's on Southwest from Houston. The airport is only 45 minutes from here and I told Mom we'd all go together to pick her up. Maybe we can have dinner somewhere."

"That's a good idea. We don't want to be a burden on your mom any more than necessary."

"There's a fine restaurant named Soby's on Main Street. They have good Southern-style food but with a contemporary twist... lots of unusual food combinations, and they're really fun to try."

"Sounds good. I always like to check out what other good restaurants are doing."

"I'll call and make a reservation for 6:30. That should give us time to get her luggage and drive to the restaurant."

We walked downstairs to the kitchen and arrived just as Ruth was ladling the soup. The loaves of bread looked fantastic, as good as any bakery bread I'd seen. We took our bowls and a basket of the warm bread to the dining room, which was next to the living room and on the front of the house. The large front windows let in a flood of sunlight that warmed the room.

We sat and Ruth said she wanted to ask the blessing. We bowed our heads and held hands. "Our Father, thank you so much for bringing Pam home. It means the world to me that she and Tom are here. I ask that Jerri has a safe trip in and that this family reunion will be perfect in every way. Bless this food and us to Your service. Amen."

I glanced at Pam and saw her wiping a tear away as she said, "Thank you, Mom."

The soup was very flavorful... a little spicy but with a rich vegetable taste that comes from using the best ingredients and simmering a long time. The sourdough bread was among the best I've tasted. I was amazed she could get such a wonderful hard crust using a home oven.

"Pam, could you learn how to make this bread? I'm blown away by its taste and texture. And the soup is delicious." I smiled at Ruth and added, "You madam, are a marvelous cook." She grinned and thanked me.

She looked at Pam. "I can give you some of the sourdough starter if you'd like."

"I'd love that, Mom."

After lunch, Pam and I washed the dishes and the pot while Ruth put the leftovers away. Once everything was in its place, Pam called the restaurant and made the reservation.

Ruth said, "Let go to the living room and enjoy the fire. I want to get to know you a little better Tom."

Pam and I sat on the sofa facing the fire and Ruth was in her favorite chair to our right. Pam took my hand.

"Pam tells me that you two recently met and that she's really impressed with you."

"The feeling is mutual. You raised a wonderful young lady."

Ruth smiled and glanced at Pam. "She's a wonderful daughter. We've had our rough patches, like all families do, but that's all behind us now. Pam is a very passionate person. She and Jerri can be the sweetest people in the world but they can also fight like two wildcats."

"MOM! That's all behind us. I've changed my ways."

"I'm sure you have, sweet. Tom, she tells me you live in Chattanooga."

"Yes, just outside the city on a hill overlooking the valley."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I own a few restaurants and a retail store that sells kitchen equipment and supplies."