The Last Laugh novel Chapter 49

Heather's POV:

*I'm sitting by yellow lake. Our lake. Mom is probably looking for me, I don't care. I might get punished. But dad will defend me. I know he will.

I'm thinking. But someone touches my shoulder. I turn. Sheridan!

I smile and stand up to hug him. I'm only ten but I believe I love him. Though I don't really understand how love works.

"I bought you something," he says and hands me a packet of cinnamon biscuits. My favorites.

"Thank you," I kiss his cheek. He smiles. We both redden.

"Wanna swim?" he asks.

"No, you go. I'll sit and watch."

"Okay."

He takes off his T-shirt and jumps into the lake. I giggle as water splashes on me.

I sit down and watch him.

He plays and I laugh.

All of a sudden, he starts crying in the water and looks at me. I panic.

"What's wrong?!" I ask. He keeps on crying. He stares at me and blows a kiss to me.

Then he disappears and I see blood in the water.

I scream. I scream. I scream!

"Nooo! Sheridan!" I close my eyes in pain.

When I open them, I'm in my office crying.

I'm twenty two.

Sawyer and mom are standing in front me.

"The bastard is dead!" Mom screams in a shrill voice.

"Get over it! You're twenty two, you idiot!" Sawyer adds.

"Nooo!" I scream and grip my hair.

I close my eyes and start pulling my hair off. Screaming.

"Stop!" I hear someone angrily say and person grabs both my hands.

I open my eyes.

It's– Ace??

He's standing right there in the office with me. He's angry with me.

"Why? Are you doing this yourself??" he asks angrily.

"Sheridan! Sheridan!" I begin to scream crying painfully, "He's dead!"

He wraps me forcefully in his arms and tries to calm me down.

"Be calm, Heather! He promised to be back. He will be."

I stare at him.

"He'll come back for you," he says.

He hugs me. I hug him back, feeling relieved. I close my eyes.

By the time I open them, I'm ten years old.

Sheridan is sitting by me, his hand holding mine.

I smile. He smiles back. We stare at yellow lake together.

I'm at peace.*

**

"Heather? Heather?? Get up!" I heard Shirley saying. I woke up. I was all sweaty in my bed and my heartbeat was faster than usual. I sat up, breathing fast.

"Wh– what happened??" I asked confused.

"You had a bad dream. You were screaming Sheridan."

I remembered. I put my head in my hands and tried to calm down.

"It– it was a very strange dream, Shirl," I said, beginning to sob.

"Oh, honey," she hugged me, "What was it about?" she asked.

I took my time and explained the whole dream.

"Ace??" she asked surprised.

"Y– yeah..."

"After he calmed you down, you were back with Sheridan?"

"Yes," I was as confused as much as Shirley.

"Why him?"

"I don't know, Shirley. I don't know."

She was thoughtful for some time.

"This could mean two things."

"What and what?" I asked.

"Either Sheridan is not dead and will be back for you,"

"Or?"

"Or, Sheridan is dead and the only person that can bring you as much peace, happiness and comfort as Sheridan did, is Ace."

I stared at her. Shirley was quite the superstitious type and believed in things like destiny and so on.

"I'm serious, Heather. I don't take dreams for granted. Don't lose that Ace. He's not ordinary. I think he might be important to you."

Shirley had a special but odd, gift. When ever she said something, you had to take her seriously because most of the time, what she said turned out to be true.

"Are you saying–"

"I'm just saying he might turn out to be a true friend or more. I'm not sure, but he is important."

I was silent. And confused.

The dream had two meanings. Either Sheridan was alive, or Ace would turn out to be great comfort to me and help me forget my past.

Which of the two meanings was I supposed to believe or expect?

**

By six thirty in the morning, I was driving my way to the office. I tried my best to ignore the dream I'd had. I didn't want it to spoil my day.

I reached the office and took the elevator to my floor. I was in a strange mood and so I greeted no one on my way to my office.

I reached and closed the door behind me. I settled and began to work, hoping it would occupy my thoughts.

After about an hour, I received a call from Kevin. I smiled to myself. At least something positive.

"Hello, baby," I heard him say. I smiled to myself.

"Hello, honey."

"How are you? I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, baby."

"How about we have dinner tonight?"

"That'll be awesome."

"Alright, then. Have a great day at work."

"You too. I love you," I said. I'd never told him that.

"I– I love you too," he seemed surprised, "I'm so happy you just told me that."

"I know."

"Bye, love."

"Bye."

I hung up. I felt a little better. I'd ended up falling for Kevin.

At nine, there was a knock. I asked the person to come in. It was Ace. My heart skipped.

He seemed to be more handsome with every single day that passed. He had this smooth, attractive face that made me smile automatically.

He had my favorite biscuits again and coffee. He was so sweet.

"Good morning. Brought you some breakfast again," he smiled and gave them to me. I smiled back.

"Thank you so much. Sit please,"

He did.

"You look different today, Heather. You're eyes say your sad but your smile says the opposite," he noticed.

"It's a long story. Don't ask."

"Oh, okay. What are you doing tonight?" he asked.

"Um, I'm going out with Kevin."

His smile faded.

"Kevin."

"Y– yes."

I saw him clench his jaw slightly, almost invisibly. I didn't know why.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, lost.

He smiled and I knew it was a fake smile.

"No boss," he stood up and pocketed his hands "Have a good day. If you need anything, call me."

"Uh, yeah."

What had I said that had changed his mood?

He walked out of the office. I hoped he wasn't angry with me. I really appreciated him.