An Inheritance

Chapter 19

As Abby snuggled closer, Lauren replayed the images she had seen this past night. 

In these dreams she walked through the cottage which was larger than even the plans she had seen for the remodel.  She had a wonderful warm welcoming feeling.  People were in the living room and she was at the sink, watching the old cypress by the bayou.  She could see that the barn had been rebuilt better and bigger than before.  Lights were on in the barn, and with the wide doors open, the yard and the edge of the bayou were illuminated.  People were mingling around, and Lauren could hear their laughter and the music that was coming out of the barn.  A band playing in the barn?  She felt someone come up behind her, but she wasn’t afraid.

Suddenly she was at a building she thought must be part of an apartment complex.  She heard talking and children playing, so she walked around to the back and saw women sitting and chatting while watching children play.  Some of the women had worn, tired, downcast faces, while others seemed to be trying to reassure them.  Lauren noticed this same difference with the children; while some were on the swings or running around, others just stood there as though afraid to move or cause a sound.

Lauren looked up and saw movement in one of the windows of an upper floor and just knew it was her grandmother;  she appeared as she had seen her in the picture with her mother.  She then walked around the yard but no one seemed to know she was there.  Two large men came out of the back door and headed towards the women.  For a moment Lauren was afraid, she knew they were carrying guns, even though they couldn’t be seen.  But the women called out to them by name and one of them poured the men glasses of lemonade.  Lauren relaxed and looked around.  She hadn’t noticed before but there was a tall brick wall all around the yard.  A prison?  No, a sanctuary.

Then there was a kaleidoscope of images.  Faces from Lauren’s life caused her deep emotions: a girlfriend from grade school brought feelings of trepidation; a feeling of longing washed over Lauren as her grandmother and her mother stepped out of the picture, walked towards her and disappeared; while pity overwhelmed her as she saw her father looking lost, confused and scared.  Then there were people she had met from Slidell who seemed to be beckoning her: Wanda from the bank, Jerry Washburn, Sarah and others she knew she hadn’t met, but were happy to see her.

Lauren buried her face into Abby’s soft fur.  “This place is really getting to me, Abby.  My dreams have taken a hold of me, and I don’t even have Danielle to run to.”  Abby looked up at her with a hurt expression.  “Oh, but I didn’t mean that you’re not a great comfort.  Danielle never snuggled up to me or rubbed her face against mine.  You are the best.”

As though somewhat mollified, Abby stretched and then dropped to the floor.  She was ready for her day to start, and that meant breakfast.

The sun was just starting to come up as Lauren went about preparing their meals.  She felt she deserved to have something more elaborate than the oatmeal she had been eating.  Bacon, pancakes and fruit were in order today with an extra piece of bacon to break into Abigail’s bowl.  As they ate their meal, the only thing she could think about was the last letter she had read.  She realized there had to be more to what was happening in her parents’ lives at that time, their problems couldn’t have started with her.  But she also knew that she couldn’t face any more letters today.  She needed a break.

After she finished cleaning up, Lauren changed into her gardening clothes.  She searched the bookshelves until she found the magazine she had seen that gave information on raised gardens.  She then took down a few of her grandmother’s carefully itemized garden ledgers.  Armed with these, a spiral notebook, and a tape measure, she headed to the backyard with Abby daintily trotting in front of her.