Caught In Deception

Experimenting with Dreams ~ I

It was her first time living by the Pacific Ocean. Shayla experienced a sense of peace and calm. This afternoon, she opened the sliding glass doors that led to her balcony. Letting the Pacific breeze rippled through her hair.  It was late November, the temperature hovering just around 72 degrees. It's a perfect day. This kind of pleasantness wasn't going to last much longer, with blue skies that stretched the horizon. The Intracoastal was calm despite the breeze and seemed to mirror the color of the sky. 

 Two seagulls perched themselves on the railing, nibbling at each other's beaks, and seeing the display of affection and love in any form stirred up emotions within Shayla.  She brushed a stray tear away from her eyes and smiled. 

"How sweet. I'll never get to experience Holland's sweet lips kissing mine." She said, sighing as she slid the door closed behind her.

But she was sure this was the right move and the best decision for her now. Even though her parents tried to convince her for months, it wasn't a good decision.  The family thought it was an awful idea for her to be alone at such a vulnerable and challenging time. She wanted them to be supportive and understanding. 

Instead, all they could do was ask why?

It took everything she had not to cry in front of them. She had to stop herself from telling her family how difficult they had been. Instead, she replied to their questions. 

"I own the house. It was a gift to me, from my husband. That's why I'm moving." 

"Sell it! You don't need a big house like that to live all by yourself." Her sister Sherise says.

"Not you too, Sherise. I thought at least you would be on my side." Shayla replies, hurt.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want you to move so far away." Her sister recants.

Shayla looked at her sister, then her parents, and their faces looked utterly confused by her actions. 

"No, I'm sorry, but I gotta do what's best for me. It is the one thing Holland had wanted to do and that is move." 

"Listen to yourself, baby, the man is dead and gone, he's' not your husband anymore, and you don't' have to follow his wishes." Her father said.

She couldn't tell them about the prenuptial papers she had signed, agreeing to do whatever she could to keep the beach house. Upset! Shayla picked up her purse and immediately left her parent's home. She waited until she was outside to break down and cry. 

~~~~~~~~

The first week of living at the beachfront property Shayla slept most of the days and nights away. Sleep was the only way to have peace of mind. Then, only rising to eat, especially since she hadn't eaten in two days. Shayla thought moving out to live independently in the house she was supposed to share with Holland would give her a new lease on life. 

But the memories of him and their love seemed to follow her where ever she went. Shayla, deep down inside, knew she should have gotten some therapy. The loss she experienced was too significant for anyone to handle and recover from so quickly all alone. 

But her family wouldn't' have understood or been sympathetic about her deep love for her husband and why she would need therapy to heal mentally and emotionally correctly. So when she lived with her family, Shayla had to pretend every day that she was getting over her grief when she wasn't. 

Now that she's living alone, she has to figure out how to cope with the day-to-day misery and pain. So Shayla started reading self-help books on therapeutic methods that encourage you to let your mind be accessible to your dreams. The book said that lucid dreaming had been studied extensively, but much is still unknown about the phenomenon. Some researchers believe activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex is related to the development of lucid dreams. During non-lucid dreams, people are conscious of objects and events within the dream state, but they are unaware of the dream itself and cannot distinguish being asleep from being awake.

 The book made a profound statement. "You must fully understand your history to know where you're going in the future." 

"Mmm..." Shayla thought there was some truth to the statement. So she decided to give this a try with hopes of living with her beloved husband Holland through her dreams. And hopefully, the self-therapy will help her accept his death and move on from this dreadful misery place of constantly wishing he wasn't gone but here with her. 

'Yeah, this might work, and maybe I can move on from my past.' But, Shayla thought the more she dwelled on the method expressed in the book she was reading, she asked, could it be effective?

 ~~~~~~

Since she had transferred to Trendy's' restaurant in Cheriton, she's been pretty busy. Being at work kept her memories of Holland at bay, and she didn't have time to dwell on his death. But it's when she gets home from work, and she's all alone that's when her thoughts go awry.

So tonight was her first time letting her thoughts, memories, and dreams take her where they may. Then, finally, Shayla begins to embrace the idea fully. She laid on the sofa, closing her eyes, wondering where her memories and tonight's dream would take her right now. At first, her mind wandered hither and thither, not settling on anyone thought. But, eventually, she relaxed and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

~~~~~~~ 

How could this stranger know her better than she did? How could he, this man she had only known for a few hours know Shayla McFarland better than she knew herself? 

The scene within her dream changed to when she first met Alwin Holland Hunter. Shayla had just got hired at an upscale restaurant.

The employer says. "I see your references are impeccable. You're conscientious, tidy, and a hard worker."

"Thank you, Sir, but I still have a lot to learn, Sir, and working for you would be an honor." Shayla humbly replies, smiling, happy that her previous boss had written such a great reference about her work.

"Well, everything seems good on paper, Miss McFarland. You can start tonight. Be here at 6 pm sharp!"

~

She only worked the first weekend, and being at a place like Trendy's was exciting!  Trendy was a luxury type of restaurant that overlooks the beautiful Pacific ocean. It served the best Asian/American food that only the wealthy could afford. It was a dream job for Shayla, being that she had recently finished culinary school.

Her goal is to become a Fusion cuisine chef. Finally, this was the type of job she had been hoping to land, one that could pay off her school loans. The owner promised her the minute she had an opening in the kitchen. She could join as an intern cook.  He asked her if she minded working as a waitress at night? Shayla happily took the position as a waitress since it was only temporary.  She hoped the tips would be great!

After her first full week of working, she got a birds-eye view of all the famous and rich people who frequent Trendy. But mainly, she enjoyed getting exposure to some of the best cuisine prepared by the elite chefs. Her boss informed her that she would be working full-time next week. So over the weekend, Shayla prepared to go back to work looking more upgraded from that day forward. 

~~~~~

Since she's earned enough tips from the first weekend, Shayla decided to treat herself to the hair salon. She enjoyed the break from washing and styling her hair. Most mornings, Shayla wore it in a variety of different ponytails because that's all the time she could devote to it. So this salon visit, she's letting someone shampoo and condition her long curly hair. After several minutes under the dryer, Shayla was led to the lounge area to relax with some hot tea and her book until her stylist was ready. Tuning out the other women's conversation also waiting, she read the latest novel from one of her favorite romance writers. Eventually, the low-volume conversation caught her attention. 

 "I wouldn't date a man from a different culture. I am strictly into the chocolate," stated one girl with a wrap that was presumably whose hair was going to be curled or flat ironed. 

 "Why not? Men or men, girl." stated the other lady, who was a little older with twist locs that were about to be retwisted. 

 Shayla tried to continue with her book, but it was impossible. She and her girlfriends had just had this conversation in which she had stated the same thing as the first woman. Shayla never thought about dating any other culture ever. Then one of the ladies turned their attention to her asking.

"Miss, would you date a man from a different culture?" asked one of the women, talking to Shayla. 

"Who, me?" Shayla queried, looking up from her book. Knowing the way she was raised and her family background, it was a question she never considered. Nevertheless, the ladies pressed on with the questions, waiting for her response.

"Yes, you. Would you date a man from a different culture?"

"Hmm. I rarely change the way I style my hair. "She snickered. "I'm not that big on change. Besides, I love me, some chocolate if I can find a decent one. So, I'm with the woman over there. I'll stick with what I know, aren't most people like that?" She replied. 

"Even if he were hot, and let's say he's a Billionaire?" The woman kept on with her persistent questioning. Making Shayla ponder thoughts she's never entertained ever!

"Hot? He'd have to be very hot to melt this chocolate." Shayla threw out, causing the other women to break into giggles. 

"Well, now, I've heard it all!" The woman with the twist locs exclaimed.

 ~~~~~~~

Shayla left the salon thinking about the conversation more than ever and other things too. Shayla is independent, made many decisions for herself, and had a pretty full life, especially now that she's working full time. Shayla comes from a family whose grandparents and parents had strong views about this matter. The way she saw it, her family would staunchly oppose a mixed union. No one in her family has ever married someone from a different culture. The words were never spoken to her, not to.

 It was something that was just understood. 

 Admittedly, it would be nice not to be single and feel stuck in a box. But, on the other hand, there is a lot of variety in the big world. Also, Shayla worked long hours because she hated coming home feeling lonely and didn't like sleeping around. Being that she was a girl who didn't make too much of a fuss over herself, it made her wonder if that's why she didn't get the attention of more prestigious men. They all seem to be interested in beauty over brains.

She got tired of being flirted with by guys who were only looking for weekend fun. She wanted more. Shayla needed a man who would be committed only to her. She wanted a man who respected her smarts and who would love her without conditions.  But more than anything, she wanted to get married. But the few men she knew weren't marriage material. Shayla wanted someone with his life together. Who didn't have children for other women? A man who had a good job or owned his own business. His conversations were on point. He had goals and was open-minded. 

Hopefully, fine too, and one who could move his hips!

The circle of men she came in contact with, none of them measure up to her standards. And Shayla wasn't about to settle for less. So she thought she would be single forever! 

Her dreams shifted to one of the most amazing days in her life. It was the day her views about dating, love, and marriage all changed.