Dream On ~ Epilogue

Epilogue

One year later

Arlyn mingled through the crowd, making sure to keep her breathing steady and her eyes on either Molly or Cordel. They had both teamed up to insure she came to the book launch. It had taken a little longer than the publishing house wanted to release the book. Cordel had insisted they wait until Arlyn was healthy enough to finish the book and Molly had threatened to quit and take her entire client list with her if they didn’t adhere to Cordel’s demands.

The publishing house had agreed to push the release day back and even covered Arlyn’s hospital bill that wasn’t covered by her insurance. They knew making Arlyn happy was the surest way to make Cordel happy.

She stood by Molly and scanned the crowd for Cordel. Once she found him, she was surprised to find that he was looking at her. Of everyone in the crowded room, he acted as if he saw only her and as she looked at him, she felt as if he were the only one in the room. He had made good on his promise to be patient and in turn she had ventured more and more out of her comfort zone. She wasn’t traveling the world with him, but he had opened the world up to her none-the-less. He was showing her what living was like, instead of just existing.

She gave him a small finger wave, as his assistant, Hillary, ushered him onto the stage.

“Good evening, everyone,” he said. “We’ve heard from the publishing house and fantastic my editor, Molly O’Hanaghan, so I guess it’s my turn to get up here and talk, something we all know I love to do.”

The crowd chuckled.

“When the studio came to me asking if I wanted to write a memoir of sorts, I laughed. I was surprised they knew I could put two words together, much less write a book. I jumped at the chance, or I guess I should say, my ego did.”

Another round of laughter.

“And I knew exactly who I wanted to write it with. Now, it’s common knowledge that I had help. Most of us in the business do, no matter what the others say. I, however, am humble enough to admit it.”

As the crowd laughed again, Arlyn looked at Molly. “You don’t think he’s going to pull me on stage or say my name do you?”

She could feel her nerves racing around in her belly.

“He can’t,” said Molly, “he signed a nondisclosure, remember.”

“Do you really think that’ll stop him?”

“Now, I can’t say this person’s name. I’m legally obligated to keep it a secret or I would shout it from the rooftops. I couldn’t have done it without them. This person not only found me on the page, but they helped me see the world in a different light. That it is okay to be still and appreciate the bliss of not having to run anywhere. This person has made me understand the world from a completely different angle, and I am a better person for it.” He held up his glass of champagne. “So let us salute those who got me this far, my parents, God bless them for not strangling me during my teens, the publishing house, The Voyage Channel, my staff and crew, Hillary, my fantastic assistant, Molly, and those people who have helped me all along the way become what I am, especially the one that I can’t name.” He looked right at Arlyn. “To you I say thank you and I love you.”

The crowd drank and applauded as Cordel stepped off the stage. Hillary handed him a book as he made his way to Arlyn.

“Great speech,” she said. “Thank you for not mentioning me.”

“I knew you wouldn’t want it,” said Cordel as he kissed her on the cheek. “But I did get you a book.”

He held up a copy of his memoir.

“I have that book,” she said. “It’s a best seller, all serious book owners need one on their shelf.”

“You might have a book, but you don’t have this one,” said Cordel. “It’s a signed copy. Go ahead, read the inscription.”

Arlyn took the book and flipped it open to the title page:

My dearest Arlyn,

I hope you will continue this grand adventure with me for the rest of our lives? Will you marry me?

Cordel Foster

Tears of joy swam in Arlyn’s eyes as she closed the book and nodded. Cordel wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. She worried she might go into cataplexy, because she had never been so happy, but she also knew if she fell, he would catch her.

The End

Note from the author:

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I appreciate you all understanding that this is a rough draft. Thank you for ignoring my typos, grammar mistakes, and other errors. Dream On will now go through my quality control of content edits, copy edits, and Beta edits. The story will change, it always does, so I hope when the e-book becomes available you will take this journey with me again. A writer is nothing without readers, I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your support.

Daring Destiny starts October 9th!!

Dream On ~ Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Arlyn woke to the sounds of a beeping machine and looked directly into the gray blue eyes of Cordel Foster. At first she thought she was dreaming, that he had put the honeysuckle back in her hair and that she was living her best dream.

He grabbed her hand, letting her know that it was not a dream, but very much real. She looked around and realized she was in the hospital.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I was a jerk again and you went into cataplexy and banged your head pretty good,” explained Cordel.

“How did I get here?” she wondered. “I remember you leaving.”

“I did,” admitted Cordel, “then I came back and I might have kicked in your door.”

“What?” Arlyn tried to sit up, but her head spun.

“Whoa,” said Cordel in a soft voice. “You’ve got a nasty gash and a concussion. Don’t worry about the door, I called someone to fix it right after the ambulance left. Your apartment is fine, so just concentrate on getting better.”

“You really came back?” asked Arlyn. Her head was still swimming, but now it was swimming her feelings for Cordel. “After I said those mean things, you came back?”

“I realized you were saying them to get me to go away, just as you said I would,” said Cordel. “I fell right into your trap, for a minute anyway.” He chuckled softly. “But I’m not falling for it again. First, I’m sorry I got you so worked up. It’s going to take me a while to learn how to deal with our disagreements, but I hope you’ll be patient with me.”

“Cordel we can’t,” said Arlyn.

“Yes, we can,” said Cordel, “if any two people can make this work, it’s us. Look, I’m not saying there won’t be problems, and ours may be a little more complicated than the average relationship, but I’m not willing to give up so easily. I’ve faced down poltergeists, sea monsters, and even big foot, so if you think I’m going to be scared off by a relationship that needs a little work, you don’t know me at all.”

Tears started to fall on her cheeks. She wanted so desperately to believe him, but her mind kept telling her to let him go. She could never give him what he wanted.

“I know you’re scared,” said Cordel, “and that’s okay. It’s like a roller coaster, terrifying, yet thrilling. You can’t help but keep getting on and the more you ride it, the more you realize the fun you’re having and you forget to be scared.”

“I’ve never been on a roller coaster,” said Arlyn, with a small smile.

“Then you’re in for a treat,” said Cordel, with a smile of his own. “Arlyn, don’t let fear stand in our way here. I know you have to be brave every day of your life because of your narcolepsy, let me be brave with you. Let us try.”

“Cordel,” she whispered as she took her free hand gently caressed his face. “I’m so glad you came back and not just because you got me to the hospital. I feel like you’re saving me from myself, as if you’re the hero I never knew I needed.”

She leaned in and he kissed her gently.

“Are you ready for this adventure?” she whispered softly as they broke from their embrace.

“It’ll be the greatest one I will ever go on,” answered Cordel.

Epilogue

Dream On ~ Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Cordel paced back and forth in the hallway. His mind races with everything Arlyn had said and all he can see is red. She had no idea what she was doing to him or to herself.

“Well if that’s the way she wants it, okay,” he said to himself as she stormed down the hallway and out of the apartment complex. “She gets what she wants, just like always. She thinks I’m some kind of playboy, that I’ll just throw her out with the empty beer bottles and donut boxes when I’m ‘finished’ with her. I mean, how dare she think that of me. I’ve never given her any reason to believe that. Her loss.”

He got into his car and slammed the door.

“Where to Mr. Foster?” asked the driver. “Home?”

“I don’t know,” said Cordel. “Just give me a sec.”

“Yes, sir,” said the driver.

Cordel sat back in the seat and chewed on his thumbnail, a bad habit he had quit years ago. Arlyn was driving him crazy but as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t help but feel like leaving was a mistake. He had never felt about anyone the way he felt about her and they had done nothing but talk, aside for a few kisses, which lingered in mind for weeks.

“Everything okay, Mr. Foster?” asked the driver.

“Not really?” said Cordel. “Just another moment, please.”

“Take your time, sir.”

Cordel thought about the excuses she had given. Some of them were crap, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more about her and less about him. She had said something mean to get him to leave … and he had. He had done the one thing she said he would do. He got upset instead of bored, but the end result was the same. He had left.

She had hurt him before he could hurt her. Something she knew he was going to do, and he did. He had to go back and show her that he wasn’t going to run when things got hard. That even though there might be some distance between them when he was filming, he wouldn’t just forget about her. They owed it to each other to see where things went. She cared about him, he knew it, and if she wasn’t going to protect herself, then he was going to protect the both of them.

He got out of the car and hurried back to the apartment. He knocked on the door.

“Arlyn, it’s me,” he said, making sure his voice was steady and not full of the anger he had felt before. “I know you don’t want to see me right now, but I’m hoping you’ll listen through the door as I say what I need to say, then I hope you open it … open up to the possibility of us.”

He took a deep breath. “These weeks with you have been some of the best times of my life. I didn’t need to travel an ocean or explore an abandoned island, I just needed to be with you. Even though we just talked, it felt right to me, you know? I felt as if a piece of me that I didn’t know I was missing had been found.” He laughed softly. “I know I sound crazy, but even though we never went out or did all the traditional couple things, I think I’m falling in love with you.”

The words came out of his mouth, surprising himself. Did he really think he was falling in love with her? The door remained closed and he felt his heart ache at the thought she might not open it, that she might be so stubborn that she let him leave.

He knocked again. “Arlyn, please give us a chance. We’ll take it slow. Please, don’t give up on this, not when we’ve barely begun.”

He waited but heard nothing. Leaning his head against the door, he fought the urge to cry. He wasn’t a crier, even when he broke his arm in the third grade he didn’t cry and now here this woman was breaking his heart.  “I just want to love you.”

Picking up his head, he sighed. She wasn’t going to open the door. She had decided it was over and that was that. He took a couple of steps down the hallway and then stopped, her voice ringing through his head.

“I can’t guarantee there won’t be,” Arlyn had said when speaking about her cataplexy, “but it is usually brought on by sudden, strong emotions, like a laughing fit, fear, anger, or stress.”

Fear raced through his body. It was possible Arlyn wasn’t answering the door because she had gone into a cataplexic state. He raced back to the door and knocked harder.

“Arlyn, open the door,” he demanded. “Just so I know you’re okay and then I’ll go away. I promise. I just need to know that you aren’t hurt.”

Nothing.

He banged on the door again. “Arlyn, if you don’t answer I swear to God I’ll break this door down. I just need to know you’re okay.”

Nothing.

Adrenaline raced through his body as he took a step back. “Move away from the door if you’re there, because I’m kicking it in.”

He took a step forward and then kicked the door with all his might. The apartment door was no match for the force behind the fear. As the door swung open, he saw Arlyn’s feet first. He gasped as he saw her lying on the floor, blood pooling on the floor by her head.

His mind raced as he ran to her. “Arlyn? Arlyn? Wake up, honey. Come on, wake up.”

Her eyes fluttered but she didn’t wake. Cordel didn’t know if she couldn’t wake up due to the narcolepsy, or if it was due to her head injury.

He dialed 911 on his cell and quickly told the 911 operator the address and what had happened. Keeping the phone to his ear, he kissed Arlyn’s cheek, and prayed he wasn’t too late.

Chapter 12

Dream On ~ Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Cordel walked into Arlyn’s apartment and handed her a tea. They had been working together for over a month and Arlyn was finishing up with her fact gathering portion of her ghost writing. It would take her a month to six weeks to write the book, another month for edits and usually that was it. The life of a ghostwriter was faster than that of a traditional author. Less room for creative differences and more of a “you’re the boss” type of mentality.

“We should go outside,” said Cordel. “It’s beautiful out there.”

“There’s a nice little gazebo in the courtyard,” said Arlyn. “We could go there.”

“And leave your cave?” Cordel joked.

Arlyn laughed. The more that they had worked together and gotten to know each other the more he had teased her. “Even we hermits need vitamin D on occasion. Also it’s our last interview day, so let’s make it special.”

“I don’t want it to end,” said Cordel.

“Of course you don’t,” teased Arlyn. “You love talking about yourself. Though I have to admit you’re a pretty interesting guy. Come on let’s go outside.”

She gathered her tea, phone, and notebook and walked towards her patio. She could hear Cordel following her. She was fairly certain when he said he hadn’t wanted it to end, that he meant them seeing each other every day. If she were being honest she would admit that she would miss him, and more than just a little.

Shaking the thought away, she went out onto her patio and then through the patio gate that led to the courtyard.

Cordel let out a low whistle. “You mean to tell me that you’ve been hiding this gem from me when the whole time we could’ve been working out here. This is beautiful.”

Arlyn looked around the courtyard and couldn’t help but agree with Cordel. Bright colored flowers and dark green shrubs outlined the courtyard, that also boasted several large trees creating an abundance of shade over the luscious green grass. A crystal clear pool sat at the far corner of the courtyard, which Arlyn used just about every day, but in the center sat a large white gazebo surrounded by orange and yellow trumpet vines growing up the sides.

“The moment I saw this courtyard I knew this was the place for me,” said Arlyn, as she walked across the grass towards the gazebo. “The pool is always maintained, which allows me to continue my exercise schedule and I’m pretty sure the owner was a horticulturalist in a past life. She just seems to know what will grow where and how to keep it thriving. I, on the other hand, have a black thumb up to my elbow.”

“Not true,” said Cordel. “You kept the honeysuckle I gave you alive.”

Arlyn knew she was blushing as she remembered going to sleep with the small bud behind her ear, hoping to dream of Cordel as her true love … and she had. She not only dreamt of him, but of the perfect life they had together. In the dream, he had shown her a whole new world and she had shown him that it was okay to be still. They were very much opposites, but found their rhythm.

“Arlyn?”

She felt her cheeks grow hotter as Cordel snapped her out of her day dream. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a minute.”

“About the honeysuckle?” asked Cordel.

She nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I have been able to keep it alive. It’s a small miracle and I guess I hadn’t given it a lot of thought until now.”

Sitting at the patio table under the gazebo she was thankful for the cool breeze. Hopefully, it would help to ease the redness from her face and the thoughts of living happily ever after with Cordel. She had had a silly dream and that was all. The real world didn’t work that way, dreams seemed to lose all complications and reality wouldn’t let die.

“Shall we begin?” she asked as Cordel sat down.

He nodded and they began the final interview. Roughly three hours later, Arlyn closed her notebook and turned off her phone’s audio recorder. “That is it.”

“Interview portion of the Mr. Adventure pageant is over huh? Did I win the crown?” teased Cordel.

“If by crown you mean best seller, I’d hate to jinx it, but you’ve got a solid shot,” said Arlyn. “I’ve written a lot of books and this one has me more intrigued than most. You’ve lived an interesting life chasing big foot, Cordel Foster.”

“How long until you send the book to Molly?” asked Cordel.

“I’ve been writing this whole time, so I think I can get the rest of the rough draft to her in a couple of weeks,” answered Arlyn. “It’ll take her and the copy editor about a month to go through it. If they have anything that needs clarification they’ll let me know and I’ll let you know, but for the most part, our work is done… well until it comes out and then you’ll have to work the system to market it.”

“Okay,” said Cordel, with a smile. “So dinner at my place in two weeks.”

It wasn’t a question, Arlyn noted. “What?”

“We agreed to keep it professional until the book was out of our hands,” explained Cordel. “In two weeks, you’ll be finished with the rough draft and unless they need some context clarified the editors will handle the rest, correct?”

“That is usually how ghost writing works,” said Arlyn. “I don’t have a lot of pull in the final project, but I’ve never had to fight for a change or lack of one either. Molly is a great editor.”

“So, dinner in two weeks, my place.”

“I don’t think so,” said Arlyn. The truth was she really wanted to say yes. It had been beyond hard for her to not think of their kisses every time he came over and even harder not to beg for more. Those kisses had released something in Arlyn that made her crave more, but like her craving for carbs she had stifled it with work opposed to carrots.

“Why not?” asked Cordel. “We’ve spent just about every day for the past six weeks getting to know each other. Though it was my interview, we had conversations, some of the best conversations I’ve had in a long time, Arlyn. I want to get to know you better. I want to show you things and share future stories.”

“So call me,” said Arlyn with a shrug. “We can still be friends.”

Cordel stood. “I don’t want to be just friends and as nonchalant as you’re pretending to be, I don’t think you do either. That kiss meant something to me. Your lips on mine is what I’ve been holding on to in order to keep it professional.”

Arlyn stood. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Does this?” Cordel reached over, grabbed Arlyn around the waste and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

Arlyn felt herself sinking into Cordel’s arms as she embraced the kiss. Her lips caressed his as he pulled her tighter. The wind seemed to dance around them as they both surrendered into each other, as if the wait was finally over and now they could be free.

Arlyn shook her head as she backed away from the kiss and turned around. She wasn’t free. She couldn’t be with Cordel, she was shackled to her routine and if she broke those shackles then only embarrassment and heart ache would follow. The shackles kept her safe.

“Arlyn?” Cordel said softly.

She turned and started to gather her stuff. “You need to go.”

“Arlyn,” he said again, “just stop and look at me.”

“I’ll have Molly let you know when the book is ready for you to read and approve.” She started towards her apartment. “You can go through that breezeway and gate over there, it’ll be faster getting back to your car.”

She hurried towards her apartment and could hear Cordel walking behind her. She turned and stared him down.

He held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. “I left my phone on your table. I just need to get it.”

“Okay,” said Arlyn, relenting.

She walked through her patio and into her apartment. As she sat her stuff on the table she realized there was no cell phone sitting there.

“Don’t be mad,” said Cordel as he closed the patio door. “I just wanted to talk to you and I didn’t think this conversation needed to be had in the courtyard surrounded by your neighbors. I know how much you need your privacy.”

“There’s really nothing to talk about,” said Arlyn.

“I think there is,” said Cordel. “We have a connection. We have kept it platonic all this time, during the interview, but it was still there. We respected the business relationship, and yet that desire is still there. I felt it, Arlyn. Just now when we kissed. It wasn’t my imagination that you kissed me back … that you desire me too. Why can’t we see where this goes?”

“Molly has already lined up my next book,” said Arlyn quickly. She didn’t know that to be fact, usually Molly told her nothing until she was done with her current project so the voices of the people didn’t get mixed up in her head. Most often than not, Molly kept Arlyn busy with one project after another.

“People work and have relationships all the time,” said Cordel. “That’s a crap excuse and you know it. So why not give us a chance?”

“Because I’m not most people,” she snapped back. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Are you okay?” asked Cordel, concern dripping on every word. “Do you need to sit down?”

“I need you to leave,” said Arlyn, gripping the back of the couch.

“I just want the real reason you aren’t giving us a shot and then I’ll go,” said Cordel. He gave her a small smile and held up three fingers, “Boy Scout promise.”

“You really want the real reason?” asked Arlyn with a sigh, feeling her body growing tired. She needed him to leave. She needed to lay down. So she would have to tell him the truth. It was the only way.

“Yes,” said Cordel.

“We can’t be in a relationship because we are from two different worlds,” she started. “As I said, I’m a normal person. I depend on schedules and routine, where you … well you’re off traveling the world. You’re constantly on an adventure, whether you’re searching the rain forest or whether you’re at a fancy gala. There is never a dull moment in your life, where I thrive on them.”

“Our lives are different,” said Cordel. “That’s not an excuse to refuse to see where our lives together might work.”

“You will grow bored with me,” said Arlyn. “I can’t travel with you. I can’t go to parties with you. I can’t be with you the way you need someone to be with you. I’ll have to say no and you’ll start to resent it, then it will get ugly. So let’s just avoid all of that, shall we?”

Cordel rubbed his hand over his face. “Is that what you really think?”

“That is what I know,” said Arlyn.

Cordel shook his head. “After all this time, do you really think that little of me? That I would be unsympathetic to your needs and just throw you away because you aren’t tending to mine?”

Arlyn’s heart sank. She wanted to run into his arms and tell him no, that she knew him better than that. That he would never just throw her away, but she knew if she went there then he wouldn’t leave.

“Yes,” she said, her head high. “That’s what you do right? You forget I had to do a lot of research on you. I watched you show up with woman after woman, never staying with one very long. You used them, then once you were done, they were no longer in the picture. Well, you might be able to use those other women, but not me. I’m not going there.” She smirked. “But hey, I’m sure with the way you play the field, you’ll have someone else in your sights within the hour.”

She walked to the door and opened it. Cordel stared at her, mouth open, and she knew she had said the right thing to get him to leave.

She was right, without another word, he walked right out of the door.

Arlyn felt her whole body heave with despair. Her heart screamed at her to go into the hallway and beg for his forgiveness, to give him a chance, but her mind made her stay put. It hurt now, but she had done the right thing.

Arlyn took deep breaths trying to steady her nerves. She wasn’t going to let him get to her, this had been her choice. She raised her head and took two steps toward the table. Her body seized, refusing to move. The last thing she remembered was falling towards the table and the grotesque sound of skull hitting connecting with a solid surface, before everything went black.

Chapter 11

Dream On ~ Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“Is Cordel coming over today?” asked Molly as she looked at her watch.

“He said he’d be running a little late,” said Arlyn, “but yes, he’ll be here.”

Molly cocked her head. “Oh, so off schedule?”

“Gave me time to have tea with you didn’t it,” said Arlyn with a wink.

“Touché. How’s the book coming?” asked Molly.

“I’m really getting to know him,” said Arlyn, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“What is this?” asked Molly, pointing at Arlyn and waving her finger around as if to trace her face. “What is happening here?”

Arlyn shrugged. “Are you asking me as my boss or my friend?”

Molly twisted her mouth. “I’m going to go with friend first, but with a hint of boss.”

“We kissed last night,” said Arlyn with a giggle. “He came over with a movie and I fell asleep in his lap. I woke and he was caressing my hair, and then we kissed.”

Molly nodded slowly but didn’t smile.

“Don’t worry, it won’t affect my work,” assured Arlyn. “We are both professionals and the book will be done on time.”

“Oh honey,” said Molly, “I’m not worried about the book. I’m worried about your heart.”

“My heart?” Arlyn shook her head. “My heart is happy.”

“Of course it is,” said Molly. “Cordel is a handsome man and even though I’ve seen him have some jerk moments, I believe he’s a good guy, but hun.”

“What?” Arlyn could hear the snap in her voice. She wanted her friend to be happy for her, but Molly seemed anything but.

“Don’t be mad with me,” said Molly. “I’m just trying to be a voice of reason and this is strictly your friend talking here. The boss went to the next room to hyperventilate the minute you said you kissed a client.”

“Okay,” said Arlyn. “I’ll listen.”

“Cordel Foster is a known playboy,” said Molly. “I know you don’t watch television, but I do. He’s never seen with the same girl at events covered by the media. He’s never been known to have a steady girlfriend. He just kind of plays the field.”

“Molly, we just kissed,” argued Arlyn. “I’m not looking to walk the red carpet with him.”

“That’s the other thing, Arlyn,” said Molly. “He lives a life that is very much in the public eye and you are very much the opposite. He has to go to premiers and red carpet events. It is expected of him by his studio and producers. He has to remain popular and he has to continue to do his show, which means he travels a lot. You’ll hardly ever see him and that’s why I’m afraid for you heart.”

Arlyn laughed awkwardly. “Molly you’re acting like we’re about to get married. We just kissed. Why don’t you hold off and getting the divorce papers ready for now.”

She got up and took her mug to the sink. As she rinsed it out she thought about what Molly had said. Maybe getting into a relationship with Cordel wasn’t the smartest move, at least not until the book was finished. By then he might not even want to kiss her any longer, after he found out how boring she was. Her heart ached at the thought, but Molly was right. She couldn’t get carried away with Cordel Foster.

#

“Good morning, beautiful,” said Cordel as Arlyn opened the door to apartment to let him in. “I’m afraid I’ve been a bad boy. I brought donuts.”

Arlyn smiled. “I’ve already eaten, but have at it.”

“Are you sure you won’t be tempted by me eating this yummy ring of heavenly fried dough, slathered in icing?”

“I’m not even sure how you can eat that after all the Chinese food and popcorn we ate yesterday,” said Arlyn.

“Well,” said Cordel walking to the table. “It takes a lot of carbs to keep this machine going, as long as I’m not being insensitive to your cravings …”

“No,” said Arlyn with a shake of her head. “I’m a narcoleptic, not an addict. Your donut consumption is not insensitive in the slightest.”

“Okay,” said Cordel taking out a chocolate covered donut and sitting at the table to eat it. “Where do we start today boss?”

Arlyn handed him a napkin. “I think we’ll start by clearing the air.”

“I like the air,” said Cordel, “it smells like fried heaven.”

“We’ve established you like donuts,” said Arlyn, taking the seat across from him. “I would like to talk about last night and the kissing.”

He gave her a smile. “We could talk about it or we could do it again. I vote for the latter.”

“Cordel,” she said, “we can’t. That was very unprofessional of me last night. I crossed a line by agreeing to the movie marathon and then again with kissing you. We need to make sure this book comes first and, well, a tryst would be a distraction from that.”

“A tryst huh?” Cordel shook his head as he laughed softly.

“You know what I mean,” said Arlyn. “We need to remain professional.”

“Until we are done with the book,” said Cordel.

“In general,” said Arlyn, “after this book comes out, you’ll be busy promoting it and your new season. So we just keep it casual and professional, forget last night happened, and make this book a success.”

“Okay,” said Cordel, finishing his donut. “You’ve got a point, but I would like to change it up just a bit.”

“How so?” asked Arlyn.

“Instead of a broad no tryst agreement, I think we should, as you said, finish this book without any hanky panky.”

“Hanky panky, huh?” Now it was Arlyn’s turn to laugh softly.

“You get to use tryst, I get to use hanky panky.”

“Fair enough.”

“Okay,” continued Cordel. “So no hanky panky, until the book is out of our hands.”

“Which could be up to a year,” said Arlyn. “I know they’d like it to be out in six months, but stuff happens.”

“I know how it works,” said Cordel, “my change is that we keep an open mind. We the book is not a factor we just see where this takes us.”

Arlyn sighed. She knew the relationship couldn’t take them anywhere. He would be off traveling the world and she would still be in her apartment, following her routine, watching him eat donuts, when she wanted nothing more than to devour one herself. He would be going to galas, balls, and making public appearances, while she sat in the shadows working on another book for another client. They lived in two different worlds.

“Arlyn?” Cordel cocked his head.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll keep an open mind. Most likely you’ll grow sick of me during this interview and it won’t even be a factor.”

“Oh, I’m already planning our first date,” said Cordel.

Arlyn tapped her watch. “It’s time to work, so keep your promise.”

Cordel held up his Boy Scout salute, “I promise.”

They spent the rest of the day talking about Cordel and his early life as an adventurer. They had agreed that even though parts of his childhood would be mixed in, the main story was about his current life and how he made his adventures in cryptozoololgy a resounding television success.

“So I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Arlyn. “We made excellent progress today. Thank you for staying focused.”

She opened the door and was surprised to see Cordel’s driver standing outside of it a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

“Thank you,” said Cordel as he took the flowers. “I’ll be right down.”

He handed the bouquet to Arlyn as a sweet aroma filled the air coming from the small white trumpets. He pulled one delicately from the group and intertwined it in Arlyn’s hair. “These are for you. Their honeysuckles, my mother used to grow them. You can actually take this bouquet and start your own vine back there on your patio.”

“Thank you,” said Arlyn, “but you really shouldn’t have. This isn’t exactly professional.”

“Just a little symbol of my appreciate of you,” said Cordel. He stepped out the door and then turned abruptly. “Oh and there may or may not be a folklore that those who wear the honeysuckle flowers will dream of their true love.”

He gave her a wink, before walking down the hallway.

Arlyn shook her head and then reached up to take the flower out of her hair. She stopped herself, smiled, and went to go take her nap, wondering if she would dream of Cordel.

Chapter 10

Dream On ~ Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“We made some really good progress,” said Arlyn as she walked Cordel to the door. “I think those embarrassing stories are just what this book needs.” She gave him a wink.

“I do have veto rights,” he joked back, “and you’ve signed a nondisclosure, so my secrets are legally safe with you.”

Arlyn laughed. “Any big plans for tonight?”

Cordel shrugged as she opened the door. “I’m feeling like an Indiana Jones marathon is in the works for me.”

“Fun,” said Arlyn, “enjoy, I’ve never watched them.”

Cordel stopped in his tracks. “What?”

“I don’t watch a lot of movies,” admitted Arlyn. “I hardly ever get through them without falling asleep.”

“These aren’t just movies,” countered Cordel. “They’re history! They’re action! They’re romance! They’re iconic!”

“Well you enjoy,” said Arlyn. “See you tomorrow.”

“Tell me your schedule for tonight,” said Cordel.

Arlyn gave him a side look, but answered anyway. “Nap, answer e-mails, eat a light dinner, work, read, and then bed. Why?”

“How long is your nap?” asked Cordel.

“About ninety minutes,” answered Arlyn. “Why?”

Cordel shrugged. “I just don’t want to be ignorant.”

“Mmm … kay,” Arlyn said slowly. “Thanks I guess. See you tomorrow.”

She closed the door and walked over to the couch smiling. It had been a great afternoon with Cordel. She couldn’t remember the last time she had just sat and gotten to know someone like that, much less let them get to know her.

She yawn and smiled as she laid down on the couch. As she drifted off to sleep, she swam in the gray blue eyes of Cordel Foster.

Arlyn woke from her nap feeling refreshed and ready for the evening. After getting a glass of water she sat down and started to answer e-mails. She had just finished her e-mail to Molly, assuring her friend and boss, that everything was all right, both with her health and the book. She also let Molly know that she had told Cordel of her condition and thanked her for keeping it confidential.

She hit send as a knock came at the front door. Furrowing her brow, she walked to the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but her mood lightened when she figured it was probably Molly coming to check on her after work.

Opening the door, she was surprised to see Cordel. He stood smiling on her doorstep with his hands behind his back.

“Did you forget something?” asked Arlyn.

“I did not,” said Cordel, entering her apartment without invitation, careful to keep his back away from her and his hands hidden. “I am here to remedy a wrong.”

She closed the door. “Cordel you’ve already apologized for the earlier. We don’t need to rehash it.”

“Oh no,” said Cordel. “Not that wrong, this one.”

He pulled his arms from behind his displaying two DVDs. One read, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the other said, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. “Do you have a DVD player? I’ve got one in the car and the driver will bring it up if you don’t. Do you know how hard it is to find a place that rents DVD players? No one needs them anymore, everyone just streams movies now. Such a waste.”

Arlyn cocked her head. “I do have a DVD player, but I believe I made it clear that I don’t watch a lot of movies, especially movie marathons, because I usually fall asleep and that takes the fun out of it.”

“That will not apply to these,” said Owen as he walked over to her TV and opened to the cabinet under it to find the DVD player. “You’ll be on the edge of your seat, and when you have to sleep, we’ll stop. You didn’t say what time you went to bed, so I thought we could at least get the first one in and maybe the second.”

“You’re messing with my schedule,” she said.

“You said, ‘nap, e-mail, eat, work, read, sleep’ right?”

“I did.”

“Okay, have you finished all the e-mails that can’t wait until morning?”

“I have,” admitted Arlyn.

“So that leaves eat.” He pulled two folded bags of microwave popcorn from his back pockets. “You said light dinner, so we eat popcorn for dinner while the movie plays. Schedule intact.”

“Then work,” said Arlyn.

“Indiana Jones was one of my biggest influences as a child. I really wanted to be him, except for the professor part. I would never want to be stuck in a classroom if I could be out in the field. Unfortunately, for Indie, he had to teach in order to afford his adventures. I’m lucky enough to have a T.V. studio pay for mine. My point is, watching Indiana Jones movies is getting to know me better, it’s getting to know where some of my motivation came from when getting into my field of cryptozoology.”

Arlyn sighed. “And the reading?”

“When you’re reading to read, I’ll just turn on the subtitles,” he said as he turned the TV on.

“So you’ve thought of everything,” said Arlyn.

“Even you turning me out and breaking my heart,” said Cordel, as he gave his heart a pat and pouted his lips.

Her heart panged at his last three words as her eyes were drawn to his luscious lips, causing her to lick her own.

“Please, say you’ll watch what you can,” said Cordel. “It’ll mean a lot to me to share these with you.”

“Fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I’ll watch, but I make no promises to stay awake.”

“Great! I’ll go pop the popcorn,” said Cordel as he pushed play. “You sit and watch, I’ve seen this part a million times. It’s so exciting.”

Arlyn sat down on the couch as the movie started with the pre-credits. Cordel practically sang with joy as he put the popcorn in the microwave. Before she knew it, he was sitting next to her with a big bowl of popcorn.

“Scooch in and get some of this popcorn,” he said. “You can’t watch Indie without popcorn and you do have to maintain your schedule.”

Arlyn shush him as she shifted her position to where she was leaning into him, with her hand in the bowl. She practically held her breath as Indiana Jones replaced the gold skull with a bag of sand and then squealed when the boulder started to chase him.

Cordel had been right. The movie was turning out to be great and she could see why he said she would be at the edge of her seat. She saw him watching her out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to face him.

“I thought you wanted to watch the movie,” she said.

“I’m finding watching you watch the movie is just as entertaining,” said Cordel.

She knew she was blushing and looked for a way to change the subject. “Eyes on the screen pal, you’re distracting me from the movie you wanted me to watch.”

He chuckled but did as she asked. She leaned into him to reach the popcorn bowl and was met with the salty scent of the popcorn mixed in with Cordel’s scent. He reminded her of the beach, a bit of coconut with a hint of sea air. She couldn’t help but find it refreshing.

She shook the thought away and concentrated on the movie. He was her client and they were already walking a fine line between colleagues and friends, by watching the movie together. There was nothing wrong with being his friend as long as she kept it platonic.

Arlyn woke up feeling somewhat disoriented. She knew was in her apartment and Indiana Jones was still on the screen. He and Marion were being led by the Nazis to some place in the desert, but the angle was weird as was her pillow.

It was then that she realized she had fallen asleep in Cordel’s lap. Embarrassment flooded her body, she knew it had been a mistake to try and watch a movie. It was against her routine, but just as she was about to burst up and out of his lap, she felt his fingers gently caressing her hair.

Arlyn closed her eyes and let his gentle caress take over her senses. The sweet, simple movement of his fingers intertwining with her hair made her want to curl up into his lap. She opened her eyes slowly as she realized how lonely she had been.

In high school dating wasn’t really an option for her. She felt too big and too self-conscious about her narcolepsy to even try to find a boyfriend. She didn’t go to football games, parties, or dances. In fact, she barely tolerated group projects, much less crowds. She was excused from all speaking assignments and gym class after suffering what her teachers thought was a seizure during a speech assignment. Though she wasn’t yet diagnosed with narcolepsy, her doctors thought the “seizures” were caused by stress.

It wasn’t until her junior year at college, when she had another cataplexic episode that her professor recognized the symptom and that it wasn’t a seizure. His daughter had narcolepsy and he encouraged Arlyn to go to a specialist, which she did.

Her final years of college had been spent getting her Masters in English and sticking to her rigorous schedule. Even while dropping the weight and getting noticed by men, she wasn’t interested. She shook her head gently, not it wasn’t that she wasn’t interested it was that she was afraid.

“You awake?” Cordel askes softly as he stopped caressing her hair and paused the movie.

She turned and looked at him, but didn’t rise. “Yes.”

“Good,” said Cordel, “this is the best part. I was afraid you were going to miss it.”

His voice was still soft, his eyes gentle as he looked at her. Her eyes fell to his soft lips and she knew she wanted to kiss him. He made her feel brave and she didn’t want another moment to pass being afraid. He gently brushed her hair from her face as she leaned up, placed her hands behind his neck and kissed him.

To her surprise he didn’t back away, but folded his arms around her back, bringing her closer and drinking in her kiss deeper. She broke the kiss and leaned back a little, her arms still locked around his neck and his arms remaining put around her back. “You’re right, that was the best part.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her again. She shifted her body so that she sat on his lap, taking the burden of her weight from his arms.

“Don’t,” he whispered through their kiss.

She paused and leaned back. “Don’t what?”

“I can carry you,” said Cordel. “You don’t have to worry about carrying yourself.”

It was a simple sentence but to Arlyn it meant so much. She had been alone for her entire life, she didn’t know what it was like to be carried by someone else. She placed her head on his shoulder and let him hug her tightly as he whispered. “I got you.”

Chapter 9

Dream On ~ Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Arlyn paid and thanked the delivery man for the Chinese food, giving him a large tip for getting it to her apartment so quickly. As she turned with the giant bag, Cordel let out a low whistle.

“Either you’re feeding a small army of men who will be here shortly to kill me for what I witnessed, you think I’m as hungry as a lumberjack, or you’re as hungry as a lumberjack.”

“I’m as hungry as a lumberjack,” said Arlyn, “and I did order extra because I wasn’t sure how much you’d eat, but I’d hoped you’d eat with me while I explained.”

“Before you explain,” said Cordel, “I need to apologize. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that. Molly said to leave it alone, but I couldn’t. I needed to solve the mystery of you. It was so selfish and I am so sorry.”

“The mystery of me?” Arlyn shook her head as she headed to the coffee table and started to take out all the Chinese food containers. “I’m far from a mystery.”

“Says the woman who just passed out in front of me right after telling me not to call an ambulance,” said Cordel as he grabbed two plates and some serving spoons from the kitchen and brought them to the couch.

“Fair enough,” said Arlyn as she sat.  Cordel handed her a plate as she sat beside her. She started to spoon herself out some fried rice. “First, I didn’t pass out. What you saw was called cataplexy.”

“What is that?” asked Cordel as he helped himself to some sweet and sour shrimp.

Arlyn added some sesame chicken and egg rolls to her plate, topping it off with some of the shrimp. Cordel eyed her plate. “You really do eat like a lumberjack and here I thought you ate only carrots.”

“I snack on carrots,” said Arlyn, “even though my body constantly craves carbs. I have narcolepsy, one of the symptoms is cataplexy another is being hungry all the time.”

“So tell me about the cataplexy,” said Cordel before taking a bite. “This really is the best Chinese food I’ve had in town.” He said around his bite.

“I told you,” said Arlyn with a smile. “Cataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone, it can look a lot like a seizure, but basically I can’t move my arms and legs or keep my eyes open, but I can hear everything around me, so thank you for not shoving the wooden spoon in my mouth or calling an ambulance.”

Cordel’s cheeks turned red. “So you heard that huh?”

“I did,” she admitted. “Also thank you for the pillow. That was very kind of you, next time though, no need to stare at me.”

“Will there be a next time?” asked Cordel.

“I can’t guarantee there won’t be,” said Arlyn, “but it is usually brought on by sudden, strong emotions, like a laughing fit, fear, anger, or stress.”

“Stress huh?” said Cordel as he poked at his fried rice. “Like someone interrogating you and threatening to hurt your best friend by getting her fired, because he’s a total jackass?”

“Something like that,” said Arlyn, with a forgiving smile. “Yesterday morning I didn’t answer the door because I had overslept and didn’t hear it or my phone. I was stressed from our argument the evening before, and didn’t follow my schedule. I tried to get back on track yesterday after I finally did wake up, but your questions didn’t help and then … bam … cataplexy.”

“So you could just fall asleep while we’re talking?” asked Cordel. “Just at any second, you could be snoring?”

Arlyn shook her head. “No, it’s only like that in the movies. I know when I need to sleep, when an event is coming on. I can usually get to a bed, or the couch in time. It doesn’t happen often because as well as the medicine I take in order to help regulate it, I stick to a schedule.”

“The schedule I agreed to keep when I signed the contract,” admitted Cordel.

“Yes,” said Arlyn, “but this isn’t all your fault.  I should have been upfront with you. I just hate sharing my diagnoses with people. Once they know, they start treating me different and it’s like everyone is walking on eggshells around me. No one wants to trigger the narcoleptic girl.”

She piled more fried rice and another egg roll on her plate.

“Well I am sorry I triggered the narcoleptic girl,” said Cordel. “Regardless of your illness, I acted like an entitled turd this morning. I’m sorry.”

Arlyn gave him a smile.  “I think you just came up with the name of your book … Entitled Turd.”

Cordel let out a hearty laugh. “Sounds like a best seller to me! I know a lot of entitled turds who will think it’s their autobiography.”

“Oh but there can only be one entitled turd,” said Arlyn.

“I am one of a kind,” confessed Cordel. He sat his plate on the table and leaned back. “I’m a stuffed one of a kind. How are you still eating?”

“As I said earlier, it’s a side effect of the narcolepsy,” explained Arlyn. “The food sensors and sleep sensors in the brain are very close together, so sometimes my brain mistakes being sleepy for being hungry. Since I’m so tired, my body craves carbs for a quick fix. After cataplexy, my brain is not only confused about my food sensors, but since my body has been stressed it thinks I need fuel.” She pointed to the banquet on the table. “So I eat, like a lumberjack.”

“This is all so fascinating,” said Cordel. “I feel I should be writing a book about you, instead of the other way around.”

“You can write?” joked Arlyn.

“Hardy, har har,” said Cordel. “You know this isn’t fair. You can make all the jokes you want to, but if I start to joke, you’re going to go into a cataplexic state again.”

“True,” said Arlyn, matter-of-factly. “You just have to put up with me and my lumberjack appetite. Just be glad you know me now. I used to a mess.”

“Used to be?” Cordel raised an eye brow.

“Hardy, har har,” mocked Arlyn. “In high school I had no idea how to manage my hunger. It controlled me instead of the other way around. I was a big girl due to that lack of control. The lunch lady once found me in the cafeteria eating all the bread rolls that were meant for lunch. They bought them pre-cooked and then just stuck them in the oven to reheat. There I was, eight in the morning, skipping my first period class eating cold rolls. I was so embarrassed.”

“Oh that’s nothing,” said Cordel, “and I don’t even have a medical excuse for my embarrassing story.”

“Do tell,” said Arlyn, “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“Oh there are many,” said Cordel. “In junior high, we were doing sit-ups in gym class. I got partnered up with the prettiest girl in school. She was holding my feet, with her hands. We’d had ham and beans for lunch … and…”

Arlyn gasped. “You didn’t.”

“I did,” said Cordel. “I farted right in her face.”

“What did she do?” asked Arlyn.

“She was totally cool about it,” said Cordel. “She kind of laughed and then stood, so she could hold my feet with her feet. I tried to apologize after and she told me not to worry that things like that happen.”

“Oh that could have been so much worse,” said Arlyn. “I had a huge crush on one of our soccer players, of course he didn’t know I existed.  But one day I thought I heard him call my name as I was walking down the hall. I turned, still walking, but didn’t see him, I turned back around and rammed my face right into an open locker door. Made such a racklet that everyone in the hallway turned to see what had happened. Had a goose egg on my head for almost a week.”

“Ouch,” said Cordel, “but that doesn’t beat making out with a tree.”

“I’m sorry what?” asked Arlyn as she cocked her head.

“Senior year, it was one of the last parties and I got totally wasted,” explained Cordel. “It was not a pretty sight and it didn’t help when I was moments away from passing out I found a lovely tree. Seriously, it was love at first sight. She had nice big, spacious roots, and soft moss creating the perfect chair. I sat down and leaned my cheek against the moss that was growing up her roots. I was so thankful for a comfortable place to sit that I started to hug the tree and telling her that I loved her.”

“You did not,” said Arlyn in shock.

“Oh I did,” said Cordel. “I’m just thankful it was a time before everyone could record on their phones or I’m pretty sure the press would’ve gotten their hands on it by now. Definitely not one of my finer moments.”

Arlyn started to gather up the food. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I can’t believe you used to be a big girl,” said Cordel. “Not that there’s anything wrong with curves, but I can tell you’ve made some really good healthy choices.”

Arlyn couldn’t help but blush at Cordel’s compliment. It had been a long time since anyone had made her blush.

“Thank you,” said Arlyn. “Once I was finally diagnosed with narcolepsy, by a specialist, I was able to realize what was a symptom of the disease and what was actual hunger.”

“Wasn’t that hard though?” asked Cordel as she helped her gather up the Chinese food. “I hate being hungry.”

“That’s where the carrots come in,” said Arlyn. “I’ve always loved carrots, so instead of running for the carbs, I ran for the carrots in-between meals. That being said, I do allow myself to have a meal like this on occasion. Food is very much a comfort to me as much as it is fuel for my body, so I also took up swimming, which I found to be stress reducing, created a schedule that would work for me, and cut out all caffeine.”

“No caffeine, that sounds painful, as a narcoleptic, I figured caffeine would be your go to,” admitted Cordel.

“I have to stick to my schedule, which includes naps,” said Arlyn. “If I’m drinking caffeine, then I risk getting off my schedule because the caffeine is keeping me from having a good rest.”

“Wow,” said Cordel. “I had no idea it was so complicated.”

“Most people don’t,” said Arlyn, as she gather the leftovers and headed to the fridge. “Most people see an exaggerated, stereotype in T.V. and movies and think narcolepsy is just falling asleep in the blink of an eye or used for comedic purposes.”

“Doesn’t that piss you off?” asked Cordel, as he put the plates into the dishwasher.

“It used to,” said Arlyn. “Now I find it annoying and ignorant, so I advocate as much as I can for awareness. But that is enough about me.” She looked at her watch. “We still have two hours of interview time left and we have to get busy talking about you and this book.”

Cordel rubbed his hands together and joked, “Well, I am my favorite subject.”

Chapter 8

Dream On ~ Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Arlyn threw open the door to her apartment before Cordel even had a chance to knock.

“I am so sorry about yesterday,” she said. “That was totally my fault and it will never happen again.”

“It’s okay,” said Cordel as he walked in the door, “well it will be as soon as you tell me why.”

“Why?” Arlyn cocked her head as she closed the door.

“Yes, I would like to know why you refused to answer the door after making such a fuss about me coming here and not changing the schedule,” answered Cordel. “I did what you asked.”

“You did,” admitted Arlyn, “and I appreciate that more than you know.”

“Then show me your appreciation by telling me why,” he said.

“All you need to know is that it won’t happen again,” stated Arlyn. She could feel her blood pressuring rising at Cordel’s insistence. Why couldn’t the mana just accept the apology?

She gave him a smile. “I would have brought your favorite food, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t carrots and I had no idea what it would be, so you’ll just have to take my apology.”

“Or I could terminate the contract,” said Cordel as he sat on the couch.

“You wouldn’t.” Arlyn crossed her arms.

“I would,” he said putting his feet on her coffee table.

Arlyn walked over and slapped his feet down. “It’s none of your business.”

“We’re working together,” said Cordel. “I need to know you’re reliable.”

“I’m telling you I am,” said Arlyn as a tingle started to assault her arms. She took in a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. If she went into a cataplexic state now, she’s have to tell Cordel and that was the last thing she wanted. “The fact that I’ve authored over thirty books as a ghost writer should also tell you I am. I will also add that ten of those hit the best seller lists.”

“Why don’t you have any existence on the internet?” Crodel asked. “I had my assistant do a back ground check and nothing came up.”

“I’m a private person,” said Arlyn. “My whole career is to be listen, write, and never been seen.”

Cordel shook his head. “I think it’s more than that. I think you’re hiding something from me.”

“Because I am and it’s none of your business!”

“I’m making it my business,” said Cordel as he stood. “I don’t work with people who are keeping secrets from me. That’s a good way to get hurt.”

“We’re not on location,” said Arlyn, her legs starting to grow heavy. “We’re in my apartment. Now I need you to stop.” She paused taking another deep breath. “Please.”

“You need to think of Molly,” said Cordel. “What will happen to her if I terminate this deal?”

Her thoughts turned to how devastated Molly would be if she lost her job. A job Molly loved and it would be all Arlyn’s fault, just because she refused to tell Cordel about her condition.

Arlyn’s body started to go numb as she sat on the couch. Cataplexy was happening and she wasn’t going to be able to stop it. “Don’t call an ambulance.”

#

Cordel watched as Arlyn wilted onto the couch and appeared to pass out.

“What the …” he walked over to her and took her pulse. It was high so he pulled out his phone to dial 911, when he remembered her last words and put his phone back into his pocket.

“Don’t call the ambulance?” he mused out loud. “I don’t even …” He stood and started to pace, thrusting his hands through his hair. “I mean any normal person would call an ambulance.”

He thought about the way she moved to the couch before she passed out. She knew she was going to, he decided and that’s why she told him not to call an ambulance. He paced some more and tried to think of what to do. He grabbed a throw pillow and placed it behind her head.

“Okay, now what?” to the unresponsive Arlyn. Again he raked his hands through his hair and then bit his fingernail, a nervous habit he had shed back in junior high. “She’s breathing, so that’s good. Maybe I should elevate her feet?” he mused out loud. “I wonder if she needs a spoon in her mouth so she doesn’t bite her tongue.” He slapped his forehead. “That is a seizure, not ...” he guestered to the sleeping Arlyn. “…whatever this is.”

He rubbed his hands over his face. “Think Cordel, you’ve had field training in first aide. You know what to do.” He shook his head. “No, you have a medic on staff for these things telling you what to do.”

“You’re talking to yourself, Cordel,” he said. “You sound like a raving lunatic.” Maybe he was a lunatic? Maybe he had caused this? “You just had to push. Molly told you not to.” He snapped his fingers. “Molly!”

Arlyn had said nothing about calling Molly.  He tapping in the number and waited. “This is Molly.”

“Molly, thank God, this is Cordel Foster.”

“Mr. Foster, I hope everything is okay,” said Molly.

“No, it isn’t … far from it,” replied Cordel. “I came over to Arlyn’s apartment for our interview and I was trying to get to the bottom of why she ditched me yesterday and she just passed out on the couch, but not before … and get this … she told me not to call an ambulance.”

“Is she breathing?” asked Molly, calmly.

“Yes, but her blood pressure is high,” said Cordel.

“It always is during one of these attacks,” said Molly.

“So this happens often?” asked Cordel.

“More than she’d like,” said Molly. “Did she bump her head on anything?”

“No, she was near the couch,” answered Cordel.

“Good. She’ll wake up, just give her time.”

“Wake up? Molly, what is going on?”

“She’ll tell you when she wakes up,” answered Molly. “She’ll have no other choice. I would tell you if I could, but I really can’t. Trust me when I say it’s not life threatening, but if she quits breathing, call an ambulance.”

“Well that is all totally reassuring,” said Cordel, knowing the sarcasm was thick in his voice.

“This is why I asked you to let it go,” said Molly. “I practically begged you yesterday, you didn’t and now this has happened.”

“So this is my fault?” asked Cordel, all bravado gone from his voice.

“I’m sure your questions certainly didn’t help,” said Molly. “Now, you wait there. I don’t care how long she sleeps, you stay. Understand?”

Molly’s tone was that of a mother and Cordel couldn’t help but say. “Of course.”

“Any changes in her breathing you call 911 and then me. Text me when she wakes up,” she ordered and then hung up.

“This is crazy,” Cordel said out loud, but he grabbed a chair from the dining room table and sat it directly in front of Arlyn. He sat, with his elbows resting on his knees and watched.  

#

Arlyn woke up and stared into the clover green eyes of Cordel Foster.

“Take it easy,” he said gently. “Something happened, but you’re okay.”

Arlyn let out a groan. She knew exactly what had happened. She had let Cordel work her into a state of cataplexy.

“You okay? What do you need? Water? I can take you to the doctor. Do you have meds somewhere you need?”

All of his questions were making her head spin. Of course she couldn’t blame him. “Water, please.”

He hurried from his chair and rushed to the kitchen. As he opened various cabinets looking for a glass, she slowly sat up and stretched her aching muscles.

Cordel came back with a glass of water in one hand and ice cubes in his other. “Ice? My hands are clean, I promise. I washed them about a dozen times in case I had to CPR.”

Arlyn nodded and forced a smile. “Yes, please. Thank you.”

She took the glass after he put the ice in and took a long drink.

“Easy,” he said, “maybe you should sip?”

She used the time drinking not only to quench her thirst but to think of what to say next. She had told very few people about her condition and never someone who was a practical stranger, like Cordel. The fact remained he deserved an explanation and the best course of action was to tell him the truth.

“Carrots!” he said, making her jump from her thoughts. “Do you need your carrots? I’ll get them.”

“Actually,” said Arlyn, with a light laugh. “I’m starving, do you like Chinese food?”

Chapter 7

Dream On ~ Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Cordel stared at the closed door and looked at his watch. He was on time, but Arlyn wasn’t answering. After the fuss she had made the day before about him needing to be at her apartment at their scheduled time, without compromising once with his schedule, and now she wasn’t opening the door.

“Arlyn, come on,” he said through the door. “I’m here on time, even though I had to leave my breakfast early. I even brought coffee. Well, I had my driver get coffee, but the fact is, I’m here. I know you’re mad, but let’s be professional. Open the door.”

There was no answer. He put his ear to the door, holding his breath to listen for movement inside. Nothing.

He pulled out his phone. Maybe she had decided to meet him at his place and they had just missed each other in traffic. She should have called, but maybe she was trying to make a grand gesture of apologizing like he had done with the carrots?

He tapped the number for his assistant. She answered right away.

“Hey, Hillary, are you at the house?” he asked. Cordel had converted his pool house into the Finding Folklore offices and Hillary had her own office there.

“Yeah, I’m in the main house. The AC guy is here working on the office air. What’s up, boss?”

“Good, did Arlyn Wade show up by any chance?” asked Cordel.

“No,” said Hillary, “Mr. Oliver came by wanting to discuss some things that he didn’t get a chance to talk about with you at breakfast since you left so early.”

Cordel let out a groan. He knew he had come off unprofessional, even though the group of execs from The Voyage Channel had told him it was fine, and that the book was important. “Did he seem mad? He was mad, wasn’t he?”

“No,” answered Hillary, “more like concerned. It’s not like you to skip out on a meeting with the execs.”

Cordel ran his hand over his chin. “Okay, I’ll call him and make time go into the Voyage offices to rub elbows. Man, I can’t believe this.”

“What’s going on?” asked Hillary.

“I left that breakfast to meeting with Arlyn and work on the book, but she’s not here and now I feel like an idiot.”

“I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding,” said Hillary. “Is there anything I can do?”

Cordel shook his head. “No, not unless you have a time machine.”

“Maybe you should look for one of those on your next adventure?” teased Hillary. “Do you want me to call her?”

“No, thanks, I’ll do it,” said Cordel with a chuckle. He hung up, thankful to have Hillary. She was not only the best assistant he had ever had, she took life in stride and never seemed to stress. He was glad to call her his friend.

Cordel scrolled through his numbers and found Arlyn’s. He tapped the number and waited. As the cell started to ring on his end, he also heard music playing from inside Arlyn’s apartment.

He banged on the door again. “I know you’re in there Arlyn. I can hear you’re cell phone!”

Cordel waited sure she would finally answer the door. Her voicemail clicked on and he waited for the beep. “Arlyn, I’m at your front door. I can hear your cell ringing, so I know you’re there. This is unprofessional. I did what you asked.”

He jammed his finger into the “end call” icon wishing he could slam the phone down instead. He banged on the door again. “Arlyn, this is ridiculous, let me in.”

He put his ear to the door and heard nothing. No television, music, or footsteps, not even typing on the computer, the woman was being a ghost. Like most ghosts that Cordel searched for, she was being a pain in his neck and not showing up.

Shoving his phone into his pocket, he stormed down the hallway and through the front door. He looked down the street, thankful his driver had found a parking spot in the shade to sit and wait. He marched to the car and thrust the door open.

“Mr. Foster,” stammered the driver as he pulled his ear bugs out and closed his tablet. “I’m sorry I thought you’d be a while.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Cordel. “I’m not upset with you. I’m quite capable of opening a car door, what I’m not capable of is tolerating bratty women, who insist on one thing and then when you do it, they change their mind. So incredibly childish.”

The driver looked over his shoulder. “Back home then?”

“No,” said Cordel, “go to the publishing house. I need to have a word with them.”

The driver gave Cordel a nod as he set off for their destination. Cordel tried to calm himself during the drive downtown, but the longer the drive took the angrier he became. He could not shake how he had gone out of his way to reschedule his whole day for Arlyn and then she didn’t even bother to open the door.

“We’re here, Mr. Foster,” said the driver. “No parking on the street, text me when you’re finished and I’ll meet you out front.”

Cordel gave the driver a nod before he got out of the car. He tried to calm his walking from a march to a normal pace, but his steps seemed to match his racing heart. He knew Arlyn’s editor Molly, was not to blame for Arlyn’s actions, but she was going to get an earful, none the less.

He stormed inside, took the elevator to the appropriate floor and then marched to the front desk. “Tell Molly O’Hanaghan that I need to see her immediately.”

Cordel didn’t give the receptionist his name. It was apparent by the way her mouth dropped open and she stared at him that she knew very well who he was. Molly was around the corner in an instant after the receptionist had hung up the phone.

“Mr. Foster,” said Molly, a big smile on her face, “this is quite the surprise. Can I get you a coffee, tea, water? I think we might have some soda in the fridge if you prefer.”

Cordel found him anger melting away at Molly’s smile. She was older than he, with a short brown hair and a smile that reminded him of his mother’s. It was a smile that said, she’d help in any way she could and then cook him a chicken pot pie for dinner because he was getting “too skinny.”

“Just a private place to talk,” said Cordel.

“Of course,” said Molly. She looked at the receptionist.  “Hold my calls please, Ann. Right this way.”

Molly led Cordel through the office filled with cubicles and he worked hard to ignore the stares. He knew they were all wondering why he was there and if they could ask for an autograph, but they knew it would be unprofessional to ask. He appreciated their professionalism, which was more than he could say for Arlyn.

Molly gestured to a comfortable looking couch in her office, offering Cordel a seat, before she closed the door. Instead of going to her desk, she sat on the other side of the couch and turned towards him.

“How can I help you today, Mr. Foster?” she asked.

“It’s about Arlyn Wade,” said Cordel.

“Okay,” said Molly, softly, “I understand it’s been a bit of a struggle getting to know one another, but she reported your last meeting went very well.”

“It did,” said Cordel, “until she wouldn’t relent from her strict schedule and come to my house for the interview, so I rearranged my entire day to come to her apartment as she so stubbornly insisted, but she wasn’t there. I find this very unacceptable, Mrs. O’Hanaghan.”

“Please, call me Molly,” said Molly as she reached for her phone. Cordel noticed that her smile had faded into a look of worry. “Just give me a minute and let me call her.”

He was surprised when she stepped out of her office and closed the door to make the call. He tiptoed to the door and tried to listen through it. Then he shook his head and walked back to the couch. That was the second time that morning that Arlyn had him trying to eavesdrop through doors.

Molly came back in, her smile returned. “Good news, I got a hold of her and she’s all right.”

Cordel cocked his head. “She’s all right?”

Molly sat beside him. “I can’t go into details, but I can say that when you told me Arlyn didn’t answer the door this morning that gave me cause for concern. That isn’t like her.”

“So you know her well?” asked Cordel.

“I consider her one of my best friends,” said Molly. “So I ask that you be patient with her and I don’t think I’d be betraying her trust to say that there’s more going on that meets the eye. She has to have this schedule, that’s why she doesn’t typically do the initial interviews with clients. She usually meets them later after she’s reviewed what information has already been given. That’s what has worked best for her in the past.”

“I’m trying very hard, but when she pulls a stunt like this morning, it makes it very difficult,” said Cordel. “I expect a higher level of professionalism, but I’ll do what you ask, because you’ve given me something that intrigues me.”

“What is that?” asked Molly.

“The mystery of Arlyn Wade to solve.”

“Mr. Foster, that is not what I was getting at,” state Molly. “I’m asking you to respect her privacy, not totally disregard it.”

Cordel stared at Molly and thought about his options. It would be easier just to find another ghost writer and not put up with the annoying and, what he considered to be, incredible unprofessional behavior. There was something about Arlyn that grabbed at him. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. She wasn’t intimated by his celebrity status, which in a way made her easier for him to talk to, but she acted like a diva herself. If one were looking in from the outside they might think that Arlyn was the celebrity the way she demanded things.

He sat back and shook his head. Everything she was demanding, he had originally agreed to. He wanted Arlyn Wade to write his autobiography. He wanted to come out looking like an explorer and not fool searching for noises with an overactive imagination.

“Mr. Foster, do we have an understanding?” asked Molly, snapping Cordel out of thoughts.

“We do,” he said with a nod.

“So you’ll respect her privacy?” asked Molly. “You’ll not pry and you’ll take my word for it that she has a good excuse for not answering the door?”

He gave her a smile. “Molly, I like you.” His smile widened as Molly’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “You’ve been honest with me and yet, you haven’t betrayed your friend.”

“I’m also her boss,” said Molly, “and I assure you that if you stay on schedule, this will not happen again. You’ll be glad you stuck it out with her, she’s excellent at what she does.”

Cordel rose and Molly followed his lead.

“I’m sure I will,” said Cordel. “Thank you for talking me off the ledge. I guess I’m not used to being stood up.”

“Again, she didn’t mean to,” assured Molly. “It was out of her hands as much as it was out of yours.”

“You know,” said Cordel, “it would be easier if you just told me what was going on. I can be very a very understanding guy.”

“You’ve shown as much in this office,” said Molly, “but it’s not my story to tell.”

Cordel nodded and walked toward the door. “Fair enough, thanks again for your time. Tell Arlyn I’ll her tomorrow at our usual time and place.”

He shook Molly’s hand and left the office, telling her there was no need for her to see him out. He knew the way. He had originally thought to stop and talk to some of the workers at the publishing house, make it a little meet and greet, but he was on a mission that couldn’t wait.

The minute he walked out of the building he texted his driver that he was ready and then called Hillary.

“Hey boss man,” she said. “Did you get everything worked out with Arlyn Wade?”

“For the most part,” said Cordel, “but I have some research work for you.”

“What can I help you with?” Hillary asked.

“Find out everything you can on Arlyn Wade.”

Chapter 6