Page 60 of Chasing Dreams
Minutes later, he appeared with both cartons they’d gone through previously. Shaine moved to sit on the floor beside him.
“What’s first?” she asked.
“Go for the gusto.” Boldly he reached into a carton and pulled out the worn bear. Shaine watched him make himself comfortable and take slow, deep breaths. He was relaxing, just as he’d taught her.
He held the bear between both palms, and she waited, her breath caught in her throat.
It had been so long. Could he still do it? Did he have the simple on-off switch he’d told her he had? What if he’d forgotten? Let the gift lay dormant too long?
It was taking too long, way too long. She bit her lip to keep from asking questions and distracting him.
The color beneath his tan deepened ever so slightly. She wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t been observing him so closely. Say something! Say anything!
Did he need her to talk him through it like he had her? Oh, she should have asked.
Minutes ticked by, and she wanted to scream.
Finally, calmly, he opened his eyes and set down the stuffed toy.
“Well?” she expelled in a gust of anticipation.
“He got it for his first birthday. There was a weird guy with an orange and blue hat on the cake—”
“Blippi!” she said excitedly.
“Whatever. Jack was happy and content. You were there.”
She nodded. “What else. Did you see Maggie?”
“I felt her more than saw her—sort of a warm, comforting presence. Sometimes it’s difficult to read from a baby’s perspective,” he said.
“Well, other things then. His cars.” She dug into the carton, found a plastic container filled with die-cast cars, opened it and held it toward him.
He took several cars and repeated his relaxation and concentration exercises, relating images of people and activities, but nothing that aided their search.
“Don’t look disappointed,” he said, and cuffed her chin gently. “I didn’t really expect to get anything from his things.”
“You didn’t?”
“Nah. I was just warming up.”
She cast him a fierce look.
He grinned.
Her gaze drifted to the box of Maggie’s things.
Austin pulled it toward him. Gingerly he opened the flaps and looked in. “What shall I use?”
“The watch,” she replied without hesitation.
“Was she wearing it?”
Shaine nodded.
He took the watch and folded his long fingers over it. His eyes closed. His breathing was almost imperceptible.
Austin forced himself not to fight the searing spark that shot up his arm into his heart. His entire chest warmed, the sensation flooding to his abdomen. With steady control, he directed the energy toward unlocking the vision that grew stronger and clearer. It had been so long, so long since he’d been down this corridor, but maneuvering it was effortless.
