Senior Year Box Set

“This is Lexi, my PA. She begged to sit in if it’s okay with you,” I said.

“Why don’t I give David a general reading, and if I need to get personal, maybe Lexi could step out?” Jeremy compromised.

“No problem,” Lexi said.

Jeremy relaxed into his chair and closed his eyes. He took a couple of deep breaths and slowly let the last one out. Then his eyes snapped open.

“There are a couple of people fighting for attention. The most insistent is a young man who claims to be your best friend.”

“Jeff,” I supplied.

“Jeff wants me to tell you that you have to help your friend Alan. He’s lost his way and is angry with you and the world. Jeff is afraid Alan has lost sight of what’s essential and will sabotage his life out of spite.

“I get the impression that Alan hasn’t been the most pleasant person, and this is something you don’t want to do,” Jeremy said.

“I really don’t. When Jeff passed, our friendship began to fall apart.”

“There was a fourth in your group. A girl who you have strong feelings for.”

“Had,” I clarified. “We’re still friends, but we don’t have anything beyond that anymore.”

Jeremy shook his head.

“All this makes Jeff very sad. You four called yourselves the four musketeers. It was you against the world. Since his passing, you’ve all drifted apart. Jeff says that you and the girl …”

“Tami,” I supplied.

“… Tami are meant for each other. He’s sad because he thinks your chance to have happiness may have passed you by.”

I started to get emotional, which caught me off guard. I hadn’t experienced those feelings about Tami in a long time. The idea of talking to Jeff about them ripped that wound wide open again. He was one of the few people who understood how close Tami and I were at one point. All I could say was that for now, being her friend was all I could be.

“What does Jeff think I can do for Alan?” I asked to change the subject away from Tami.

“He doesn’t know, and he thinks Alan won’t be receptive to you offering him an olive branch. Jeff says it’s not just about Alan. You need to forgive both him and Tami for you to move on. He won’t reveal why this is, but he says in your mind, you realize it wasn’t their fault, but you’ve never given yourself a chance to heal your heart. I get a sense of betrayal,” Jeremy guessed.

“Okay, I’ll work on that,” I promised my friend.

Jeremy rocked back into his chair and smiled at me.

“Your grandfather is here. He wants me to tell you how proud he is of you. He wants you to know, though, that you’re not your grandmother’s favorite grandson.”

“What? He’s full of it. Grandma loves me best,” I shot back.

Both Jeremy and Lexi chuckled. Jeremy shook his head.

“He says that she loves you and your brother equally.”

I rolled my eyes because I didn’t believe that for a second. Grandma Dawson had told me I was the favorite all my life. Of course, she’d told Greg the same, but she was just trying to make him feel better. At one time, we called her on it. She’d explained that whenever she said it to either of us, she meant every word.

“Last time you and I talked, you told me I had five kids. Tell me what their futures hold,” I said.

“Your grandfather suggests you start calling Little David, Dave. He will be the smallest of your boys, stature-wise, and he doesn’t need that reinforced with his name. Your grandfather also says you plan to adopt Dave and encourages you to make that happen.”

This was the first thing Jeremy mentioned that I thought he would have no way of researching to find out. All the others, he could have pieced together via social media and the like. I was suddenly taking what he said more seriously.

“I’ll do that,” I agreed.

“Dave will be an important part of your family’s dynamic. He’s the one who the rest of your kids will go to when they have a problem or need someone to listen to them. He’ll be the glue that keeps them all together and will mediate any disagreements they will undoubtedly have.

“There’ll come a time when his mother might feel she needs to take him with her. Don’t let that happen. In the long run, it will be better for both of their happiness,” Jeremy foresaw.

“That couldn’t be any more vague.”

Jeremy shrugged.

“Please keep in mind what I said and try to do what’s best for them.”

“Okay,” I said, unsure about what to do with that.

Jeremy brightened.

“Your son Allen is an interesting one. He’s your creative kid, and you need to encourage that in him. He will end up being either a musician, artist, or writer when he gets older …”

Jeremy had trailed off and looked confused.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing’s wrong, I’m just surprised. Allen has hidden talents, talents like I have. Were you aware his grandmother Kincaid has abilities? She can see things that are going to happen. It skipped a generation.

“Please don’t make him ashamed of what he is if he begins showing abilities when he’s young. I know from experience how horrible that can be …” he trailed off and then looked at me. “But I’m sure you would never do that.”