Chapter 45: Third Interlude-The Morning After

'Waking up' with a beach outside your bedroom door can have a major impact on your world view, especially when you live at the base of a small mountain range 80 miles from the nearest ocean. Having your teenage son lead you out onto that beach with your daughter and her best friend waiting for you can be a bit of an eye-opener. Getting a hug from an eight-year-old girl you've never met but that you know is actually a 20-year-old woman in a coma -- that tends to put big dents in your skepticism. Meeting Amy was the final straw for my mom. She could deal with me "waking her up" in a dream, taking her someplace she's never been; walking on a beach she's never been to with her family. All of those she could rationalize. But when Amy shook my fathers hand then threw her arms around my mother's waist and begged her to let me help her sister, well that was it for her. What mother could say no to that? Not mine, that's for sure. As usual Amy could only stay a short time. And without a word, we all knew when it was time for her to go.

I stepped out of the shower the following morning with a strong sense of relief. I no longer had to hide from or lie to any of the people I loved. Mom was sitting at the table sipping her coffee when I reached the kitchen. She watched as I dropped my usual 2 slices of bread in the toaster and started it; waited patiently as I poured my orange juice, and then patted the spot next to her for me to sit down.

"That was the most amazing experience I think I have ever had," she said. "Bob was right, you can tell yourself you believe, and I really didn't, but then to actually have it happen." She shook her head and when she turned to me something had changed.

"That means the rest is true too, doesn't it?" She didn't wait for a reply. "All of it; the FBI, the murders, everything. Jimmy, it scares me to have you involved with these things."

Mom never calls me Jimmy. "I know, Mom. It scares me, too. But..."

She cut me off, "I know. You have to do it. I don't like it, but I know you have to do it. I didn't sleep a lot after we got back from your little island. I spent more time talking to God last night than I have spent in a very long time. I don't know why He chose you for this Jimmy, but Bob was right there too, I don't know too many people I would trust with something like this, and it makes me very, very proud to see how well you're handling it. To know that you are putting it to good use and not doing the kind of things that most anyone else would do. And I promise that I will try to be understanding and supportive. No guarantees, but I will try. Just promise me you will be careful. Please, don't take chances. I know it sounds awful but let Rebecca take the chances, that's her job."

"I know that, Mom, and trust me, I have no intention of doing anything in the real world that I don't have to. It makes me nervous every time I think about how many people already know about what I can do. I've learned to be very careful anytime I find myself in a new person's dream. Mostly I just observe and leave things alone. I rarely have to actually do anything, and then I try not to do it as myself. As far as reality goes, I don't think Rebecca would let me anyway. She knows what is at stake if the wrong person finds out. She doesn't even want to see me when we're awake. As far as anyone knows, she is playing cat and mouse with the bad guy and we're doing everything we can to keep them thinking that."