Free Karen D. Badger - Yesterday Once More by Karen D. Badger Page B

type of paranormal experience.”
    Kale nodded “You are absolutely correct. I think you’re nuts!”
    “Hear me out. I did some research on paranormal experiences. There are dream experts who believe the mind experiences different levels of consciousness, that it can receive input from different spiritual realms. I think Maggie is asking for my help. I think she’s putting visions in my mind before I read about them in the diaries to convince me they’re real—and that she’s real.”
    An uncomfortable silence fell between them. It was interrupted by a faint beep signaling that the coffee had finished brewing. Kale rose, poured two cups, and returned to the table. He placed one cup in front of Jordan and sipped from the other. After a few moments, Kale placed his hand on Jordan’s arm. “Let’s say that you’re right. Let’s say that Maggie is trying to contact you. You’ve lived in this house all your life. Why now?”
    Jordan looked at Kale, a faint mist clouding her eyes. “Don’t you get it? She isn’t just contacting me now. I’ve had the same dream ever since my accident at age sixteen.”
    Kale sighed deeply. “If you’ve had the dream for years, why are you only making the connection now?”
    “I didn’t realize Maggie was behind it until now. I think the fact that we were both involved in equestrian accidents has somehow linked us through time. Each dream has become increasingly real, so real that I can’t believe they’re just dreams. I don’t remember them being this vivid when I was a child.”
    “Did you say dreams, as in more than one?”
    Jordan nodded. “I had another dream a few nights ago. You asked me how I knew Maggie was gay. I know because she told me so herself.”
    Kale was visibly agitated. “You’re starting to scare me. How could she have told you she was gay?”
    “Remember when you worked on the machine all night because you couldn’t sleep? I went to bed and drifted off. Next thing I knew, the door flew open and in came Maggie, in a rage because some kid at school had called her a lezbo. She went on and on for several minutes, ranting and raving until she suddenly threw herself down on the bed right next to me. Kale, I could feel her touching me! I swear on my life, I could feel it. Anyway, she continued to jabber away and finally came to the conclusion that she was indeed attracted to women.”
    “Jordan, I’m sure that dream was prompted by something you read in the diaries.”
    “No. No, it wasn’t. The next morning, I read the second diary, one I hadn’t started reading yet. The first entry was an exact description of the scene with Maggie the previous night. Don’t you see? I had the dream before I read about it in the diary.”
    Kale ran his hand through his hair. “You’re really scaring me. There has to be a good explanation for all of this.”
    “There is. I’m telling you, Maggie is trying to contact me.”
    Jordan touched his arm. “There’s a third reason I believe Maggie is trying to contact me now. You see...” Jordan’s voice trailed off as she searched for the right words.
    Kale leaned forward. “What?”
    She looked up at Kale. “Third, the timing is right. We haven’t had the means to help her until now.”
    Kale looked at Jordan for several long moments. He shook his head. “Tell me you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking.”
    “We have the technology. You have the technology. You said yourself that you were close.”
    Kale jumped to his feet. “No. Are you out of your mind? It’s totally untested. Hell, it doesn’t even work yet. No. Out of the question.” Kale paced back and forth, his hands planted on his hips, clearly agitated.
    “Kale?” Jordan said tentatively.
    “I can’t deal with this right now, Jordan. I’m going to the barn.”

    While Kale worked, Jordan sat in the house and sulked. Her stomach rumbled. She looked at her watch—it was almost 7:00 p.m. Tired of waiting for Kale to come back from