For Always Read online

  For Always

  By Janae Mitchell

  For Always

  Copyright © 2013 by. All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: November 2013

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1493626212

  ISBN-10: 1493626213

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  ~Dedication~

  For Jamie, Zayne, and Acoya —

  You are the breath of my life,

  for without you, I would cease to exist.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 1

  LIVERS

  Beau

  I never thought I'd be excited to see a snake headin' my way. Yet here I sit, on my tree stump, waitin' with anticipation. As he slithers closer, I slowly move toward him, anxious to see which one of us will get to strike first. It's sad that this is probably gonna’ be the highlight of my day.

  He spots me, hissin' the usual warnin' that would send most men runnin'. I jump in front of him, causin' him to strike for a second time. This time, he doesn't try to leave after his attack. Instead, he stops and looks straight at me, probably ponderin' his sanity. So I move slower, not wantin' to frighten him. I lay down on the ground, blockin' his path to the river. He slowly moves forward, hissin' and flickin' his tongue out at me. When he gets close enough to realize his tongue ain't makin' contact with nothin', he moves on—right through me. It always feels weird to have another livin' thing take up the same space as me. Like when it storms and ya don't make it outta the fields quick enough and your hair starts to stand up on end. It's an odd feelin'.

  I’ve often wondered what animals are thinkin' when they encounter me. They can obviously see me, but that's 'bout it. The most fun I've had since my death, as far as animals are concerned, was with a skunk. I think it sprayed me so much that I emptied out its stink tank. But just like the rest, it moved on after a while.

  I have the most fun of all with those that I like to call livers—people who are lucky enough to still be alive. I'm jealous of livers and like to annoy 'em whenever I get the chance, which is almost never. Since my family had to move away after my pa died, not many livers have come 'round.

  There was this one family, a husband and wife, who I grew rather fond of. They had money and brought all sorts of odd things with 'em that I'd never seen—lights, bathtubs, outhouses inside the house, and strangest of all, boxes that ya could hear livers talkin' out of. Sometimes I’d make their lights and talkin' boxes turn off and on, which usually made the wife scream out loud. Scarin' the dickens outta that woman, which made her husband think she'd gone insane, wasn't nice, I know, but it provided me with the only interaction with livers that I was capable of. I eventually decided to scare her husband, too. They moved out after that. A couple of families came and went, but none ever stayed. I believe word of my presence got out after a while ‘cause my home stayed empty for a long time. That's when Nellie Reed moved in.

  When she first came to look at the house, I didn't pay her no mind. Livers would look, probably out of curiosity, but usually never returned. So I was a bit shocked when I saw her movin' in. Either she was very brave or just plain crazy. I'd soon find out that she's a little bit of both.

  Nellie's first night in the house, she seemed on edge…like she knew somebody was watchin' her. I didn't wanna scare her right off the bat, so I just continued to spy. She was a small lady, maybe in her late sixties, with long, grey hair that was pulled into a braid on each side, which reminded me of how my little sisters used to wear their hair. She wore a long, brightly printed dress that flowed out around her when she danced, which she did quite a bit. She wore eyeglasses, but they had no rims and were slightly tinted a violet color. She was the oddest liver I'd ever seen.

  That night I waited in her room for her while she got ready for bed. I stood by the window lookin' out at the river that I still had a love/hate relationship with. Lost in thought, I didn't hear her comin' up behind me. When I did, I quickly moved so that she wouldn't go through me as she opened up the window, which flooded the room with sounds of frogs and crickets. I'd always loved the sounds of summer.

  As she turned 'round to head towards her bed, she stopped, lookin' like she had forgot somethin'. Then she turned towards me, lookin' straight in my direction, and said, "I know you're here. I've felt ya followin' me all day. I know you're just curious, but it's startin' to freak me out just a bit. Please leave so I can sleep in private." And with a slight smile, she turned and got into bed.

  I was shocked, to say the least. Nobody but Ma had talked to me since I died, and she only did it outta habit. So I did as I was told and left her room. But one thing was for sure—I'd be waitin' for her bright and early the next mornin'.

  * * *

  I came in when the sun came up and waited in the livin' room for her to get up. When she came down, she didn't say a word to me at first, even though I knew that she knew I was there. She sang some country song the whole time she made breakfast and didn't acknowledge me until she sat down to eat.

  "My name is Nellie, by the way." She told me that she knew I was a young man and that I didn't mean her no harm. "I'm just concerned as to why you're still here."

  So am I.

  She told me a little 'bout herself, which was surprisin'ly interestin'. She'd lived in Nashville and worked as a songwriter and singer several years ago. She said she even got paid to dance on occasion. The singin' I could see, but the dancin', not so much. She'd never married, but she liked it that way. She did have a son, though, but like me, he was dead. This made me feel sorry for her, rememberin' how sad Ma was when I died. At that moment, Nellie stopped what she was doin' and looked toward me. Now I was the one gettin' freaked out.

  "I wanna try somethin'." She moved her plate to the side of the kitchen table and told me to sit across from her, pushin' the chair out with her feet so I'd sit. She put her hands up on the table and asked, "Do you mind talkin' to me for a few minutes?"

  This was gettin' odder by the second. But not bein' able to talk to anybody for the past hundred and two years, I was willin' to do just 'bout whatever she asked. So I sat down across from her, waitin' to see what she’s gonna do next.

  "Okay, I can't see or hear ya, but I can kinda feel ya." She put her hands on the table, palms up. "Now, I'm gonna ask ya a question, and if the answer is yes, just touch my hands. This s
hould be the easiest way for ya to communicate with me without usin' up all your energy."

  My energy?

  "I can sense that you're a boy. Still pretty young—late teens, early twenties, maybe. Am I right?"

  For the love of all that's holy. Freaked and slightly in awe, I slowly raise my hands and place them in hers. Yes, I'm nineteen. I pulled my hands back and waited for the next question.

  She smiled. "I thought so. Okay…did ya die here…in the river?"

  I placed my hands in hers again. Yes, savin' my little brother, Thomas. He was only eight and he was drownin'. I felt tears start to well up in my eyes, which I hadn't felt in a long, long time. I don't know why tellin' her this made me so sad, ‘cause I did save Thomas. My family was so grateful and Ma said I received great honor from the town of Dandridge. I brought my eyes back to Nellie and she looked sad, too. I quickly removed my hands, not wantin' her to feel my pain.

  After a moment, she smiled again and continued her questionin'. "Do ya mind me bein' here? I know it used to be your home at some point. Do ya care to share your home with us?"

  Us? She's the only liver I saw. I put my hands in hers again, lettin' her know I was glad she was here.

  She smiled like I had made her day. "I'm so glad ya don't mind. I would've hated to have to get the local church leader down here to get rid of ya." She laughed at herself, but what she said made me wonder. Could she really get rid of me? I might like that, dependin' on where my next stop would be.

  As she unpacked, she continued to tell me about her life and her family. She liked country music, which I was thankful for. The last family had listened to what they called 'crooners'. I'd have to go outside every time the radio came on. But Nellie…she was different—a wild one. So was I, but not the way she was. I had never once run 'round in public naked, streakin’, as she called it. I hoped she'd given up that habit.

  She told me 'bout her sister that was back in Nashville, and her teenage granddaughter that would be movin' back in with her as soon as school was out. That got my attention. Now I realized what she'd meant by 'us'.

  Nellie must've sensed my excitement at this latest bit of news ‘cause she started to smile. "Now, you better not go botherin' Malyn. She's a sweet little girl and…well, she's not a little girl anymore, I don’t guess. More the reason for ya to stay away." But seein' as how Nellie smiled when she said it, I assumed she didn't really mean what she was sayin'. So I still had hope that I’d be allowed to introduce myself to her.

  Malyn Reed. I learned she was sixteen, smart, and from her picture that sat on Nellie's hutch, absolutely beautiful; and she would soon be comin' to live with us. I couldn't wait for her to get here. But it wasn't long before my excitement turned to despair when I remembered one very important thing—I was dead.

  Chapter 2

  GOODBYE NASHVILLE

  Malyn

  Today had to be the longest day of my life. Every class seemed to drag on forever. I thought I would be sad leaving my school and all of my friends, but I was wrong. I’ll miss my best friend, Melissa, who I call LeLe, but I know we’ll still text and talk, so it shouldn't be too bad—I hope.

  I wasn't gonna miss this big school at all. And I couldn't wait to see Grandmama. She'd been gone to East Tennessee for two months now, but it seemed like two years. I liked Aunt Margaret and her family, but it just doesn't feel like home without Grandmama here. She called before school this morning and confirmed my plans for the trip to my new home later. It's only around four hours, but you would think that I was traveling across the country.

  "Okay, ya have your bus ticket and know where to catch it, right?" Grandmama was scared to death I was gonna get on the wrong bus and end up in California.

  "Yes. I have my ticket and I know when and where to go. Margaret is taking me to the bus station and said she would sit with me until my bus arrived." This seemed to pacify her.

  "Okay. I paid extra money so ya could ride on a nicer bus. I think it even has a TV so ya won't get bored. But call if ya need me. I'll be right here all day 'til ya get here. Just call when ya get close and I'll be waitin' on ya. I love ya."

  "I love you, too."

  She had always taken good care of me and made sure I had everything I needed. But she also made sure I wasn't spoiled. She said she couldn't stand rotten kids and that I was not allowed to become one. Even though she had money, she lived a modest life. She said people left her alone that way.

  I had packed up all of my stuff earlier that week so that I would be ready to go as soon as I got out of school. My bus left at four o'clock, so that gave me an hour to get to Margaret's, get my bags, and head to the bus station. I was excited about my trip; I had never ridden on a bus like this before. It was my idea to take a bus and it took some convincing with Grandmama before she agreed that it was the best option. I didn’t want to worry about her driving all the way here, just to have to turn around and drive all the way back.

  Margaret met me at the door when I got home and said the car was loaded and ready for us to leave. I thought she was anxious to get rid of me until I looked at her. She looked like she was about to cry.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I'm just gonna miss you. Nellie moving away was tough enough, but now you're gonna be gone, too. We like having you here." Margaret loved her family. Grandmama was the only sibling she had, and I know she hated it when she moved away. She cried the entire first day that Grandmama left. I did, too. But I knew it wouldn't be long before I'd be right back with her, unlike Margaret, who thought she would never see her again.

  "You know she'll be back before too long. She loves the music here too much to stay away." This was true—she wouldn't be able to stay away from Nashville for too long.

  "I know. But I still hate y'all being so far away," she admitted as her eyes dropped to the floor, probably hiding tears. She turned and headed into the kitchen to get her keys. "You have everything? Your toothbrush? All your clothes? The ones hanging in the laundry room? All your stuff out of the bathroom?" She kept on naming everything I owned, and some things I didn't.

  "Yes, I’ve packed everything. And if I forgot something, I'll just go shopping and replace it. Maybe I should forget a few things on purpose," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't.

  I learned more about Margaret on the ride to the bus station than I thought possible. She didn't stop strolling down memory lane until we sat down to wait on the bus; then she just looked at me, smiling a sad smile, like she was trying to memorize my face.

  "Stop," I ordered her, half laughing, but serious. "You will see us again. I wouldn't be surprised if Grandmama visited you at least once a month to get her Nashville fix. She loves you too, you know. I'm sure she misses you just like you do her."

  "I know. I'll go home and call her and let her know you're on your way. You know how she worries about you." She was quiet for the first time since we left her house. "I think your bus is ready." She helped me get my stuff loaded and hugged me tight. "Call me when you get home."

  "I will." I was finally let go and stepped back to look at her. "Thank you for letting me stay with you. I would've hated to switch schools before the end of the year."

  "You're welcome at my house any time. Now go on or you're gonna miss your bus, then Nellie would kill us both."

  I waved bye as I boarded the bus, and when I looked up, I’m sure my mouth fell open. Grandmama was gonna get a big hug for this one. This had to be the nicest bus available. I found a comfy seat near the middle and was lucky enough to have an empty seat next to me. The TVs were playing a movie, but I didn't really pay attention to what it was. I took this time to catch up on what my friends were doing online and say bye to everyone that I didn't get to see at school. LeLe was logged in so we messaged back and forth. When I was done, I set my phone aside and looked out the window for a while.

  Tennessee was beautiful. I loved the hills, the mixture of city and country, and the people. Grandmama said I was gonna love Dandridge. It was
a small, historic town nestled near the lake and mountains. It being an historic town, and me with my special ‘gift’, made me a little nervous, but I tried not to think about it. Grandmama was happy there, so I assumed it would be okay. But then again, I think she could live anywhere and still be happy.

  Being an entertainer when she was younger gave her the opportunity to travel all over the states. At some point during her travels, she became pregnant with my dad. She said she had hand-picked my dad's father for his good looks and intelligence, but said he was not daddy material. She said she had more fun with him than she would have had going to a sperm bank. It was at this point in her story that I stopped her and said that was all I needed to hear.

  She did well raising my dad by herself. They never went without and always lived in a nice house. When she had a gig out of town, Margaret would go with them to watch my dad while she sang. He grew up to become a star basketball player and got a scholarship to college. That is where he met my mom. I only remember her through pictures and stories. She died of cancer when I was two.

  Grandmama said that he worked a lot more after that. Not that he didn't love me or that he loved his work more, but that he was just so lost without her—work was his escape. And work was what took him from me. He had taken a business trip to New York City in 2001 and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They never did find his body in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

  I remember bits and pieces of my life with my dad, but it almost seems like a dream. I remember Grandmama crying as she tried to explain that he was gone. I didn't understand that when she said gone that she meant forever. After months of Grandmama sadly having to tell me over and over that he wasn't coming back from his trip, that's when it finally sank in. He really was gone.