Days of Darkness

Chapter 62

I saw myself, a baby in my father's arms, riding in the trunk of a police car. Tom's car. I saw Tom roll down the windows as a scent wafted from the trunk. It was a ghastly smell, a mixture of sewer and death. Still my father held me tight in loving arms. I knew then, he would never stop loving me and would shield me from all harm. Unbidden, my love exploded into Dad. It flew back with equal force, wrapping me in his security. I broke the link when my smile threatened to tear my face.

"Damn," Tom said, "you're more powerful than I remember. Still the most beautiful music in the world." I fell into his arms, and he hugged me back.

"Thank you," I whispered. It wasn't just for saving me so many years ago. It was more for the song that broke down the walls I hadn't realized existed.

"Do you remember me?" Tom asked with surprise.

"I do now," I replied. He didn't know what I saw. The linking, even at it's most powerful levels, wasn't completely two-way. We saw what we wanted to see, or what we needed to see and feel. "For the first time, I understand why Dad calls me Stinky," I added. We broke apart in laughter which did as much for our friendship as the link had.

"Caleb doesn't know about the bonding," I told Tom. "No one's supposed to know. We're still kind of in hiding."

"How can he not know?" Tom asked. "I saw you holding his hand."

"I usually block the bonding," I answered. "The song you two played opened me up and I accidently bonded with Wendy." Wendy smiled at me as she circled her arm around Tom. I had inflamed something in her. Tom turned and kissed her in response to the arm. I almost felt in the way.

"I'm confused," Tom said, "Caleb finishing the song suddenly made sense when Wendy told me who you were. Now, you tell me you never bonded with him."

"I didn't even know him when you two first met," I said. "We only became friends about a week ago."

"Maybe it's fate," Tom said with a sly smile. "He's a good kid, you could do worse."

"Stop it!" Wendy interjected for me. "She'll make her own decisions in her own time." I liked having an older sister, even if it was just for the night. Tom nodded and dropped his weak attempt at matchmaking.

"Tell me," Tom asked, "Sam and Natalie? Are they together?" He became hesitant at the end, wondering if he had intruded into something that should be left alone.

"Mom and Dad," I nodded with a forgiving smile. "I also have a brother who's a freshman." Tom laughed. I let the curiosity show with raised eyebrows.

Your mom," Tom explained, "kind of flirted with me to get you all out of a jam. The first time I bonded with you, I saw how she saw your father. Mind you, it was before your father thought he had a chance. I knew she had eyes for only one man. I'm just happy it worked out."

"She flirted with you?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Wendy was just as curious. Tom filled in the blanks on how things had progressed. I enjoyed his description of Rose, the grandmother I was too young to remember. Dad and Mom mentioned her from time to time, but I had no reference, at least none I could remember. Pictures do little to give context.

Caleb came back and ended our conversation. I could see he had spent some time cleaning up and combing his hair. His breath smelled of mint which made me smile. He was primping for me. For some reason, I was suddenly concerned about my appearance as well. I excused myself to use the restroom as well.

The second set that the Smooth Gliders played was as enjoyable as the first. Caleb brought me out on the dance floor again, this time with confidence. I was slightly perturbed with the attention some of the women were giving him. I guess it was due to his stage presence. The looks weren't disguised, and it was obvious he was with me. Insulting was the only word I could come up with to describe it. Some of them were old enough to be his mother for God's sake.

Ignoring the crowd allowed me to have more fun. Caleb's brief stint on the stage had given him a more relaxed attitude. Or maybe it was that we were getting to know each other better. He laughed more easily and my attempts at teasing him were faltering into his knowing smile. I really liked spending time with confident Caleb.

The concert ended around 11:00. The Smooth Gliders played 'Life on Easy Street' as their encore song. It was a jazzy tune that had a melody that wanted to stick in my head. Sometimes rhythms fit well in my mind and tried to dig in. This one wanted to make a permanent home. Luckily, we stuck around, as the place emptied, for some coffee and conversation. Good back and forth could always clear my head.

"Where are you two going next?" I asked Wendy and Tom.

"Columbus, Ohio," Wendy answered with an exaggerated groan.

"She's not impressed with Ohio," Tom laughed, pulling Wendy close.

"Where's home?"

"We have a house in Sedona, Arizona," Wendy sighed, "but we're only there six months out of the year. The start of the tour is fun. It's the last month that seems to drag. Living out of a suitcase gets old."

"The life of success," Tom summarized.

"I hear you're going to MIT," Wendy mentioned to Caleb.

"That's the plan," Caleb sighed. "The life of success."

"I thought you have a full-ride scholarship," Wendy continued.

"I do," Caleb nodded, "and my parents want me to go to their alma mater, Stanford. In truth, I would prefer something different. Making music is so much more appealing than math and engineering."

"Parents don't see it that way?" Tom asked. I nodded, not waiting for the answer.

"They think music is too risky," Caleb replied, shrugging. "I guess they don't want me moving back in with them if I fail." Wendy chuckled at how he said it.

"I think they're wrong," I said. Not sure why I decided to put my two-cents in, but I did it anyway. It was a shame that anyone would pursue a career they didn't desire.

"They're not wrong," Tom jumped in. "Music is a risky business, and you need to be prepared to work some crappy jobs when you start out." It surprised me that Tom was siding with Caleb's parents. I expected something more from an artist.

"What about happiness?" I said, stronger than I intended.

"There is that," Tom said with a little laughter.

"I owe them enough to try their way," Caleb said without much conviction.

"It's easier for an engineer to be a musician than a musician to be an engineer," Wendy added. I didn't expect that from Wendy. I felt outnumbered by the very people who I expected to support the artistic point of view.

"Is there some age where all adults lose the ability to dream?" I said with more than a little disdain.

"No," Tom replied with a smile, "If I had to do it again, I would have never been a cop."

"You were a cop?" Caleb asked. Tom nodded.

"Over ten years."

"And you just gave it up and started playing?" Caleb continued.

"Yep," Tom said then smiled at me, "when a dream smacked me in the face. I liked being a cop, but I love being on stage."

"Then why are you encouraging him to go to MIT?" I asked befuddled.