Dark Echo

Chapter 9

December 20, 2014, Cru CaféTara rushes inside the cozy restaurant and spies Laura and Leanne at their usual table in the back, toward the window, across from the fireplace. Saturday brunch, once a month at Cru Café, has become the norm for the girls. They"d sit and talk about everything while relaxing and enjoying a meal.

“Tara, we got your text. So, we went ahead and ordered a bottle of wine. I thought you might like Peirano Estate,” Laura says with a devilish grin and a sip of Merlot.

Tara hadn"t disclosed her recent discovery to either Laura or Leanne. “How"d you know I like Peirano Estate?” She asks leaning over and kissing Laura and Leanne on the cheeks.

“Oh … Just a hunch … I thought you might enjoy Peirano"s Merlot,” Laura says realizing her slip.

“Hmmm … well, you thought right. I"m so sorry I"m late. This weather is driving me crazy. I must have changed ten times before finding the right outfit,” Tara says with a deep exhale.

“Sweetie, it"s okay,” Laura says, pouring her harried friend a glass of wine. “I had the same problem. When in doubt, a simple dress will do. And so does what you"re wearing. You look hot! And I don"t mean temperature wise,” she says with a chuckle. “Well, you know what I mean,” she explains with a wink.

Leanne peers around the menu. “Oh my God, Tara, when do those legs end,” she says inspecting her outfit. “Those skinny pants are made for you. You"re stunning!”

“Well, I tried my best,” Tara says with a gracious smile, appreciating her dearest friend"s opinions. She cherishes their easygoing friendship, unlike her catty friends in New York. Somehow in their presence, she"s calmer and more carefree.

“Look at you two,” Tara says, dissecting her friend"s attire. Both have a unique sense of fashion and are always so well dressed. “You look so stylish,” Tara praised. She loves Laura"s feminine ways. The consummate-Southern Belle, dressed in a purple sheath dress and fetching knee-length boots, she looks impeccable with simple diamond stud earrings that make her bluish-green eyes sparkle. Laura"s strawberry blonde hair falls in loose waves, giving her a girlish charm. Possessing the skin of a thirty-year-old, Tara still can"t believe Laura is forty-five. Her Southern charm draws people to her anywhere she goes. Like her profession, she makes an ordinary person seem special in her presence.

Leanne, forever composed, sits back in the dark leather booth with that cool Chicago mentality. Like Laura, she loves the qualities Leanne brings to their friendship. She"s the strong one who bonds them. Tara figures she developed a thick-skin earlier than most; growing up in an unfavorable environment, Leanne had to be strong not only for herself but also for her mother after her parents" divorce. Intellectually, Leanne seems mature beyond her years, as if she was born with wisdom older than her time on this planet. At thirty-nine, she"s easily mistaken for twenty-something. With her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, her high cheekbones and green eyes are more prominent. Her Greek and Irish lineages are apparent with her olive complexion and raven hair. Dressed in a black miniskirt, a simple gray sweater set, and ankle boots, Leanne"s style is always city chic.

Tara scoots beside Leanne just as the waitress ambles toward their table. She"s been craving Cru"s Chicken Club Sandwich all week, but before she parts her lips, Laura takes the words right out of her mouth.

“She"ll have the Chicken Club Sandwich on Sourdough Bread with Butternut Squash Soup.”

“Laura, you did it again,” Tara states in awe.

“Oh, Tara, I"m sorry. Didn"t you say you"ve been craving this all week? Do you want something else?”

Tara, doubting herself, doesn"t remember ever telling Laura about her cravings. “No, I"ll keep the order,” Tara says with a curious frown at the waitress.

Pursing her lips, Laura mentally chides her lack of self-restraint. Tara hadn"t verbalized what she wanted; she"d caught her thoughts once again. Laura continues giving her order. “I will have the Grilled-Portobello Wrap and Spinach Salad.”

With arched brows, Tara wonders how Laura always senses her thoughts. Can she read minds? And she laughs inwardly at that idea.

Can she read minds?Peering at her two friends, Leanne shakes her head with a grin. “Laura knows too much for her own sake,” she says with a look of disapproval and a light tap of Laura"s foot under the table.

Laura throws Leanne an unmistakable glare as she taps back in response. But she"s taken aback by Leanne"s glasses. “Well, shut my mouth! Honey, I"m so glad you finally let go of that pride. They"re becoming my dear.”

Conscious of her new spectacles, Leanne touches the rim and replies, “Well, I got tired of squinting at my iPad.”

“You look so chic, Leanne,” Tara states. “They give you a smart-chic style that says, yes, I"m beautiful and smart, don"t-effing-mess-with-me look.”

don"t-effing-mess-with-meA wicked laugh escapes Laura"s mouth. “You"re right, Tara. I couldn"t have said it better.”

“Okay, girls, thanks for trying to appease me,” although Leanne agrees after seeing her reflection in the mirror this morning. She likes the way they define her angular face and high cheekbones, but more importantly, she can read the menu. Leanne hands the menu to the waitress, who"s waited patiently since the girl"s discovery of her eyeglasses. “I"ll take the Garlic Marinated Chicken Club Sandwich as well.”

Taking another sip of wine, Laura peers around the table with glee—basking in the comfort of wine and her two dear friends. “So darlings, are you done with your Christmas shopping yet?”

Engrossed in thoughts of Adam, Leanne remembers the difficulty she"s having finding him a gift. “No, I have one more,” then she segues into an entirely different line of thought—jumping right into what"s been on her mind for weeks. “Girls, I don"t know what to do about Adam.”

Leanne"s declaration surprises Tara. She turns, facing Leanne and asks, “What do you mean?”

“Well, he"s pressuring me to make a decision soon. I"m not sure I"m ready for marriage.”

Laura perceived Leanne"s turmoil earlier, but with Tara"s presence, she can"t mention Leanne"s clairvoyance and crafts her words carefully. “Honey, Adam"s nine years with you should be enough proof he loves you.”

Tara"s seen Leanne and Adam together countless times, and her instincts about them as a couple are always strong. Leanne"s sudden doubt puzzles her. “What exactly is holding you back?”

“Me,” she states pointblank, “and inevitably winding up miserable like my parents. I saw my mom and dad go from cordial and loving to hostile and unhappy people. Their divorce was nasty and bitter, and we ended up hurt.”

Stunned, Tara jerks her head back. “Come on … Your parent"s marriage is no indication of yours with Adam. I"m amazed you feel this way. You and Adam are so right for each other.”

Sensing Leanne"s pain across the table, Laura is aware of her animosity toward her father. “I realize it was painful watching your parents go through a divorce, but you can"t let their failed marriage haunt you. You and Adam are special. You"re meant to be together. Pardon me for saying this, but you"re not your parents. They probably should never have married.”

“Well, mom got pregnant before they married. I believe they would have married other people if she hadn"t gotten knocked-up,” Leanne says while studying the short nail on her pinky.

Tara realizes Leanne only bites her nails when she"s stressed. Now aware of the seriousness of her concerns, she rubs her shoulder. Obviously, there"s more to her family than she perceived. “Leanne, if your mother hadn"t gotten pregnant, you wouldn"t be here. Well, if only for your birth, thank heavens for their union. They did one thing right, they had you. Besides, Laura and I need you to keep us in line.”

”Laura senses another concern of Leanne"s and adeptly crafts her words. “Leanne, your parents were together only because of the pregnancy. But honey, you and Adam are best friends and truly like each other. Love is important, but if you don"t like the man, the relationship won"t work. You"re meant to be, sweetie. From what I understand of Adam, he"s accepting of your uniqueness.” Laura hopes Tara doesn"t pick up on her last statement, as she taps Leanne"s foot under the table. She sips more wine as if parched by her little speech. Grasping Laura"s meaning Leanne throws her a smile of acknowledgment.

Unaware of the moment between her two friends, Tara thinks they"re just more words of wisdom from Laura; and admires her ability to provide helpful advice when needed. “Laura"s right, Leanne. The first time I saw you and Adam together, my guts told me he"s the one. And my guts are always right.”

more words of wisdom from LauraWith her two friend"s assurances, concern softens in Leanne"s eyes. “Girls, you have good judgment, and I respect your opinions. I need to stop dodging Adam and be truthful with him. But ladies, in five years if I"m in divorce court; I"ll never let you live this conversation down.” Leanne smirks, pushing her glasses up her nose.

Amazed at Leanne"s acceptance of the eyeglasses, and uncharacteristic vulnerability, Tara, and Laura wear disbelief on their faces. This is not their Leanne, who"s always cool, calm, and confident.

Clicking the goblet with her fingernails, Laura changes the topic to Tara"s intuition. “Is your gut giving you any clues about the Tahoe location, Tara?”

“Hmmm … No, not yet; but I think Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place.” Tara remembers the ominous twitch in her left eye and the dreaded number thirteen and concludes they"re too simple to be any real intuitive warnings. “Of all the locations Cody has chosen, this one poses more risk. Think about it girls. The Sierra Nevada Mountains sits on not one fault line, but three. Now, earthquakes are alarming, not to mention the wildfires and snowstorms. I spoke with Cody earlier, and he joked about the Donner Party, which is a chilling piece of history. I was a little concerned these facts might taint our fans perception of the area. Well, nothing we can do about history, but will our fans appreciate a million-dollar home in a potential hazard zone?”

“Tara, many people live in California and move there every day. They purchase homes fully aware they"re sitting on fault lines. We need to examine the history of the location; when was the last earthquake in the region? Also, the Martis Camp community has never been touched by a major earthquake or wildfire. Okay, so, there are tremors now and then, and who"s to say a major earthquake won"t happen. The beauty of the area is the mountains, the lake, and the ski resorts. I believe our fans will appreciate the resort environment and its amenities.”

Tara nods her head in agreement. “True.”

“If we worried about natural disasters we"d never build homes, especially given tidal floods, nor"easters, sinkholes, and tornadoes occurring lately. AHD has always constructed homes to withstand Mother Nature.”

“You"re right, Leanne; I"m just concerned about giving our winners the best possible environment.”

Laura shakes her head in wonder. “Goodness gracious, we"re talking business on our day off. This is not good. Let"s get back to being women for a day.” Quickly, she peers around the restaurant. “Where"s that waiter? I"m famished.” Swiftly, she diverts her thoughts to Christmas. “Tara, are Nyla and James around for the holiday?”

“Lately, my parents are never around. I can"t keep track of them since mom"s retirement. I believe they"re spending Christmas in Australia this year. They"ve decided to enjoy their senior years traveling the seven continents.”

“What an ideal way to grow old,” Laura murmured, remembering her plans to tour the world with Daniel. “Are they okay with you spending the holidays with us the last two years?”

“Ha! Are you kidding? You know the answer to that, Laura. They love you and Leanne. They"re just grateful I have you two to celebrate the holidays. Besides, Nyla is tired of planning large holiday meals every year. At their age, it"s time they relax and have their needs catered to for once. You know …” Tara says in thought, “I"m amazed …”

“Amazed by what, sweetie?”

“Amazed at how their marriage has grown stronger after so many years. You would think they"d be tired of each other by now.”

Leanne notices the fond expression on Tara"s face and purposely bumps her shoulder. A vision of Tara and her parents invade her mind, with sensations of love and a familial bond so strong, she"s never known. “I wish I"d had your parents, Tara.”

“Oh, Leanne, stop it. Your parents are amazing.” As a mother, Laura can"t tolerate criticism of parenting skills. “Parenting is not an innate ability. It"s an acquired skill and no one"s perfect. Sweetie, your parents, did their best given the circumstances. You"re a remarkable woman because of them. And you"re an incredible businesswoman because of your family, Tara.”

Tara realizes Laura is a loving mom to Callie, but she"s sure it"s not always been easy. “Laura, I"ve never heard you talk about your parents.”

“Hmmm … Why would I? There"s nothing special to tell. They"re just your typical Southern Anglo-Saxon family with old-fashion values. And they expected nothing more of me than to marry and bear children,” Laura says with a grin. “They never dreamed I"d have both a successful career and marriage. But, I love and respect their values and never saw fit to dispute them.”

Really Laura … typical … There"s nothing typical about the Gowans; Leanne thought and throws a shrewd glance at Laura. Anyone who"s lived in Charleston long enough, have heard about the clairvoyant Gowan women. But Leanne understands Laura"s inability to speak about her family"s reputation in Charleston—not just yet.

Really Laura … typical … There"s nothing typical about the Gowans;Laura eyes Leanne, acknowledging her thoughts.

Tara takes another sip of wine, amazed she"s already finished one glass. Merrily, she refills the glass to the rim. Wine suppresses her inhibitions and emotions flow as she sits appreciative of her friends. “I can"t get over how our friendship developed. Laura with your in-law"s ties to my father"s family and Leanne your dad"s relations to the Alcotts, we"re predestined.”

“Predestined—that"s the correct word for it. I"d often wondered if we"d be good friends if Daniel hadn"t brought us together. Tara, I remember when your dad introduced you the first time. There was an immediate connection. I felt I"d known you my entire life,” Laura says.

“Me too, Laura. Our first conversation was so effortless; I felt I"d been speaking to you for years.”

Laura"s lips curl a big smirk. “I had my doubts, you know, you being a city gal and all. I was surprised we hit it off so well.”

“Well, darling,” Tara says, feigning a Southern drawl, “I believe I have some Southern charm given I"m the product of two Charlestonians.”

“Excellent, Tara, your accent is perfect. Perhaps there"s a smidgen of Southern Belle in you after all,” Laura says with a fond chuckle.

,”Tara peers at Leanne and ponders the Davis" ties to the Alcotts. She"d heard they"re first or second cousins but she"s unsure. “Leanne, how"s your family connected to the Alcotts again?”

“Well, dad"s a close relative. Daniel"s aunt, my father"s mom, married into the Davis family so, I believe that makes us first cousins.”

“How did your parents end up in Chicago?”

Leanne had discovered everything about her father through precognition. She"d never asked the how or why her parents settled in Chicago, she saw with her own eyes her father"s past. “My father was tired of small Southern towns and moved away to pursue a writing career.”

“Hmmm …” Laura simpers.

“What are you thinking Laura?” Tara asks.

“Oh …” she says with puckered lips and tapping one finger at a time on the table, “… just something Daniel used to say. He always referred to the Davis" as the artistic, bohemian side of the family. He"d say, "The Alcotts are all business and the Davis all talent,"” Laura says with mimicry.

“Yep, dad"s bohemian. He"s also got an artistic temperament. He would lock himself up for days-at-a-time writing, and forget mom and I existed. Artists … I run the other way if a man tells me he"s a writer.”

Squinting and chewing on her bottom lip, Laura senses Leanne"s qualm with her father runs deeper than her revelation.

Tara"s confounded. She"s always seen Leanne as an artist, no matter how much she fights being like her father. She"s read many of her articles on AHD"s website and magazine and believes Leanne is way too gifted to be writing about architecture and home design. “Perhaps you"re such a talented writer because of your dad. I think you squander your talents on blogging. You should consider writing novels?”

“I did … But I don"t have the patience to write for days as my father does. I like what I"m doing. It"s much more interesting connecting with people.”

Laura, fixing her face in a small silver compact, sighs and says, “Such a waste of talent, honey. You could be a celebrated author, telling incredible stories with that mind of yours. My hunch tells me one day you will write an astonishing novel.”

Leanne smiles; realizing Laura has read her thoughts. She ponders the countless unfinished novels saved on her laptop—novels she thought she"d finish one day. Laura winks at Leanne again, acknowledging her thoughts once more.

Tara recalls the first time she met Leanne, and how easily the conversation went. Just as it had with Laura, the conversation came easily, as if they"d been talking all their lives. “Well, we were lucky to bring you into the AHD family. I remember the first time we spoke. You were so open and honest. I had an immediate connection with both you and Laura—”

“Yes,” Laura interjects, “Leanne, you"re younger than me, but you always remind me of the big sister I"ve never had. So mature and wise beyond your years. Wow, we"re three peas in a pod,” Laura says with an eye roll and grin. “My lord, we"re quite the admiration club aren"t we,” she continues with her distinctive soul-piercing laugh.

“Hmmm … It"s just strange. I felt as if I"d seen you two before we met,” Tara says, squinting across the table at Laura.

“Well, Tara, you know what they say; at first glance, real soulmates have instant recognition. Maybe the three of us are meant to be friends.”

“I guess you"re right … What other reason can there be?” Tara ponders why she"s never experienced this with men in her life. Obviously, they weren"t the one. Suddenly, she remembers the odd sensation as her finger brushed Ellison"s. Hmmm … Running her fingers through her hair, and peering out the window, she mulls over her last conversation with Nyla and her persistent worries about her settling down with the right man.

HmmmLaura hears Tara"s thoughts but waits for her to speak. She senses Tara"s doubt and her need to voice her concerns.

“Speaking of soulmates, Nyla worries I"ll never marry and have children. It"s so frustrating trying to assure her I"m okay being single and independent. Honestly, I think she"s just worried she"ll never get the chance to be a grandmother,” Tara chuckles dubiously and takes a sip of wine. “I"m okay if I never find "Mr. Right," or bear children.”

Laura places her hands over her mouth, stopping an urge to dispute Tara"s statement. She senses her doubt. “You"re honestly okay with never finding a husband and experiencing childbirth? You"d make a great mother. Don"t you want that experience?”

“I don"t know, Laura.”

“Well, don"t let AHD consume your life. There"s more to living than just work. Besides, time won"t wait for you to make up your mind.” Laura realizes she"s hit a nerve but continues. “However, it"s never too late to find Mr. Right.”

Tara pauses; deliberating Laura"s question. “Well, all I know right now, at this stage of my life, I"m not ready. You remember why I broke up with Steve last year. He wanted a family, and I didn"t.”

“Ha!” Laura scoffs. “I know what Steve wanted, sweetie. He wanted a traditional wife at home, pregnant with his child, and meals prepared for him after work—what we call in Charleston, barefoot and pregnant.”

“Yep … And that"s just not me,” Tara says with one arched brow. “I"m honestly okay with being alone right now. I"ve been dating, it seems, all my life. I need some time to myself.”

“Honey, don"t stay out of the dating scene too long. You"re gorgeous and have so much to offer a man. I suspect you will have another sweetheart in your life soon. I"m not too worried about that,” Laura says with a wink. Laura"s motherly instincts take over, and she supplies more words of wisdom. “You realize your parents want what"s best for you. So, cut them some slack.” She recognizes Tara"s needs for affirmation and suspects deep down she wants a family but fears the loss of her career and autonomy. “By the way, who was the gorgeous hunk helping you from the taxi?” Laura asks with an astute grin.

“Oh … That was odd. He"s one of my dad"s students over at Charleston Law. The moment I stepped into his taxi, there was a peculiar feeling. I felt like I knew him. I couldn"t stop talking to him. Generally, I would have put my earpiece on, but there was this pull to continue talking … It was strange.”

“What did we just say about soulmates, that instant recognition? I hope you got his number.”

“For heaven"s sake, Laura … Yes, I got his number,” Tara says with a playful eye roll.

“I"d follow up with him; those intuitions are usually right.”

Again, Tara thinks, Laura"s managed to read her mind.

Quietly, Leanne listens to her friends, but at the same time, studies a childlike apparition blurring in and out as it melds through waiters entering and exiting the kitchen door. It moves toward their table, sits behind Laura, and stares into the unlit fireplace. Leanne doesn"t remember seeing this image, but she"s seen many others in the restaurant. Laura shifts and follows Leanne"s gaze. Her dilated pupils are alarming, but Laura dare not ask what she sees, because she too senses strong vibes behind her.

An hour later, after four glasses of wine, good food, and lips the color of blueberries, Tara exclaims whimsically, “I love you guys!”

“Tara, you"re plain tipsy! We love you too sweetie.” Laura says, recognizing Tara"s show of affection when she drinks too much, signaling it"s time for her to stop.

“Okay, four glasses is enough for you,” Leanne says and moves the wine bottle away.

“I was just getting started,” Tara jests. “I admit, I can"t keep up with you two, but I"m allowed to have fun every once in a while. She holds the glass aloft and toasts the air, “Cheers!”

Laura peers at the waitress, hearing her thoughts. If they don"t leave soon, I"m going to have to ask them to go. No … I can"t do that they"re such good customers, besides they tip well. Glancing toward the entrance, Laura notices the long line of customers waiting for tables. “Girls, our time is up,” she says motioning to the waitress. “Please put this on my tab.”

If they don"t leave soon, I"m going to have to ask them to go. No … I can"t do that they"re such good customers, besides they tip well.Concerned about Tara"s state, Laura decides to drive Tara and Leanne home. “Girls, my car is around the corner. Wait here.” Pulling the SUV in front of Cru, she sees three men checking out Tara and Leanne. “See what I mean, Tara. Men are everywhere.”

Thirty minutes after dropping the girls off, Laura arrives at the Alcott estate. She stops, presses the controls, and impatiently waits as the gate opens. Finally, driving through, she feels she"s leaving the world onto her own island as she continues up the private tree-lined road. The approaching home makes her smile, sensing Daniel"s presence around the entire estate. Half a mile later, she arrives at the four-door garage. Inside the home, Sammie"s barking alarms her. Quickly, she opens the mudroom door. Sammie rushes straight to the car, barking and growling fiercely at the home"s interior.

“Sammie, come here, boy.” With teeth bared and a vicious growl, Sammie stares inside the house. “Sammie!” Laura screams with a stamp of her foot.

Sammie approaches, then pause, his sight fixed on the mudroom. “What"s wrong, boy?” Sammie has never behaved this way. Laura senses something"s wrong, but what?

but what