Little Mattie Mae stood staring down at the stone. She read the words slowly. It seemed strange to read her name on the head stone. But there it was, Mattie Mae Thomas. She knelt down to place the flower on the grave of her beloved aunt, whom she had been named after. Her little fingers traced the letters and the angel that was carved into the corner. She followed the lines of the face and then the wings. There it was, just as her dad had said. The little groove she was looking for, right where the wings met. She pulled off her locket. Inside there were two pictures, one was of her father Mark and his twin sister, Mattie. It had been taken the summer they had turned twelve. The other was of herself with her dad. Mattie Mae’s dad had given her the locket for her birthday last year. It had been Aunt Mattie’s. She had heard stories about her aunt her whole life. Her and her dad had been best friends. They had done everything together. They took care of each other. He always said that they had their own guardian angel. Aunt Mattie would always be looking after them.
Mattie Mae squeezed the locket and closed her eyes. This had to work. It just had to. She opened the locket and placed it inside the groove on the angel’s wings. The stone was low and in the shape of a wedge, so it was easy to lay back on it and look up at the sky. This is how her dad said he had talked to Aunt Mattie after she had died.
For a long time she laid there looking up at the sky. Was Aunt Mattie watching? Would she hear her? She looked over at the locket to make sure it still stood in the groove. It looked like the angel’s wings had come to life, sparkling in the sunlight. The stone was warm. It felt good to be here. She felt safe.
Finally she started to talk. She talked about anything and everything. It was like a dam had broken. Words and feelings came out that she didn’t even know she had. She told her aunt how her mom and dad had met. How they had to get married because her mom was pregnant. Until Mattie Mae was four they had lived in Cincinnati, Ohio as a family. She told her about all the fights they had. Her mom had wanted to be a singer on stage so she spent all her time and money on lessons. Dad worked all the time to pay the bills. He would get angry because her mom would never be home with her. So one day she left for New York City. She said she never wanted a husband and a snot nosed brat anyway. On and on Mattie talked. She told Aunt Mattie everything she could think of about her life and how good her dad was. How happy she was to move to Indiana to live by her grandparents. And how he had taught her how to ride a bike without training wheels and how her grandpa was teaching her to ride the ponies at his house. She was even on a little league baseball team and her dad was helping coach.
Mattie Mae fell silent and tears gathered in her eyes. “That is how he got hurt. It was because of me,” she whispered. “We were waiting for ball practice to start. He told me not to climb the trees. He said the storm made them weak…I forgot Aunt Mattie. I got stuck and couldn’t get down. I was scared and started screaming for Dad. But when he got there the big limb broke.”
Mattie Mae was crying so hard now that her voice shook with every word. Her tears splashed like rain on the headstone. The guilt and heartache were eating at her. “Oh, why did this happen? Why didn’t I listen to Daddy? He is going to die and it’s my fault.”
Mattie Mae cried until she was in a stage between sleep and wake. Then she felt it. Loving arms gathered her close. Someone was humming. It sounded just like the song her grandma used to sing to her. She was too tired to open her eyes, maybe even afraid to open them.
“Aunt Mattie?” she whispered.
The arms squeezed her gently and rocked her back and forth. She sighed, Aunt Mattie had heard her.
“Daddy’s in a coma. The doctor told Grandpa if he didn’t wake up soon that he might never wake up. Please help us Aunt Mattie. I didn’t mean for the limb to break. I didn’t mean for it to hit him.”
The warm feeling of being safe and knowing that help was on its way soon pulled Mattie Mae into full sleep.
Brie set and rocked the child gently in her arms. It broke her heart to see her cry so hard. She seemed so lost and alone. Her poor father was hurt and she thought it was her fault. Who was this little girl? And who was Aunt Mattie? Brie saw a flash out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw the locket and the name on the headstone. Ah, so that is Aunt Mattie. She glanced down at the bundle in her arms and then to the locket again. Everything was making sense now. She had seen that the older girl in the locket before. This was why she was here. This is what had called her to move here. This was the reason for the strange dreams. The little girl of her dream was the same as the little girl in the locket.
“Well Aunt Mattie, you got me here. Now I know what I have to do. I have to help this little girl and her father.”
Brie held the little girl while she slept. The poor thing looked so worn out. “Don’t worry sweetheart. Help is here.”
“Mattie Mae. Where are you, Mattie?” Brie heard the sound of a woman’s voice. It was Grace Thomas, her new landlady.
“Over here, Grace.” She called softly.
Grace saw Brie holding Mattie Mae and hurried her steps. “Is she alright? What happened?”
“She is fine. She is just sleeping.” Brie leaned back a little so that Grace could see the child.
“The poor thing, she hasn’t slept much since the accident. She is so worried.” Grace kneeled down and brushed the hair off Mattie Mae’s cheek. “What was she doing here?”
“I think she was talking to Mattie Mae Thomas. She was almost asleep when I found her. She called me Aunt Mattie.”
Grace picked up the locket. She gave a sad smile. “I should have known. Mark would come here every day to talk to Mattie. They were twins; my double blessing. They went everywhere together. Mark was always the first to jump but Mattie was never far behind.”
“You still miss her.”
“I do. You never get over losing a child. It all happened so quickly. They were walking down the sidewalk on Main Street. We were going to meet them at McDonalds Bob and I were setting outside watching them come down the street. It was a busy day. Boaters were everywhere. Coming and going to the lake. One minute I am watching my children laughing and playing and the next I see a boat break free from the truck pulling it. Mattie pushed Mark away… and then she was gone.” Grace wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I never intended to…”
“Don’t worry about it Grace. The last few weeks must have brought back a lot of memories.” Brie said gently.
“It has. Watching little Mattie Mae has helped.” Grace smiled down at the child. “She keeps a person busy. It doesn’t give you time to dwell on things.”
Just then the alarm on Brie’s watch beeped. “That’s my cue. I have to get to work. Would you like me to carry her back to your house for you?”
“No thanks. I think I will let her sleep for a while longer. It’s warm here and she needs it.”
Brie laid Mattie Mae’s head on Grace’s lap. On impulse, she bent down and kissed Mattie Mae’s cheek and whispered, “I will see you soon sweetheart. I promise. It's going to be ok.” Then with a smile to Grace she headed off for her first day of work at the hospital.

***


Brie’s first day of work passed quickly. The first half was spent going over the department’s routine and her new list of patients. With the hospital serving a farming community, it was a very small list. One elderly lady just out of hip surgery, two teenagers from an auto accident, a farmer who lost his hand while fixing a baler, and one young mother with a plate in her ankle from roller skating with her children. As a physical therapist in Indianapolis, it wasn’t what she was used to. It was more like a vacation than work. But it was a good feeling. Now she wouldn’t have to rush from appointment to appointment. She could take her time and give them what they needed.
The second part of the day she spent with Mrs. Martin, the hip replacement. “Hello Mrs. Martin. I’m Brie Holland, your new therapist. How are you feeling today?”
“Hello dear.” Mrs. Martin said. “It’s nice to meet you. But if you don’t mind me asking, where is Sally? I thought she had a couple months to go before the baby was due.”
“She is fine. The doctor just wanted her to stay off her feet until after the baby is born. So I will be covering for her for until she is ready to come back. Now, tell me how that hip is doing.” Brie pulled a chair close to the older woman so she could feel the muscles along her hip and leg.
“Well it just doesn’t work like it used too. I thought I would be doing better than this. It still pains me some. Every day around dinner time it starts to swell.”
“Why don’t you tell me you’re routine for a normal day. Maybe we can figure out what is making it swell.
“Well, let’s see. I get up about six and make Frank his breakfast before he heads to the barn. Then I clean up the kitchen and start laundry. If the morning dew has dried off, I go out and sweep the porch and check on my rose bed. You have to keep ahead of the weeds. Or else they will take over. After that, I work in the vegetable garden. Frank doesn’t like the ones out of a tin can. He says if it isn’t fresh out of the garden then it better be fresh out of a jar. Then Frank comes in and I fix lunch. After lunch and it depends on what day of the week it is, I either volunteer at the library for a few hours or my I go to my quilting circle meeting. We meet three times a week just like clockwork. You know, there aren’t enough younger people quilting these days. They have to buy everything. What will they do when they run out of money? They act like it grows on trees. Do you quilt Brie?” Mrs. Martin finally stopped talking.
Brie smiled. It was hard not to like this lady. “Yes I do. I enjoy making things.”
“Good for you honey. You will have to come to one of our meetings,” Mrs. Martin patted her on the hand.
“Thank you. It will be nice to meet some of my new neighbors. So what do you do after your meetings?” Brie was afraid to ask this question. It was no longer a mystery as to why Mrs. Martin’s hip was swelling.
“Oh, I have to head home and start supper. Frank likes his sweats so I usually bake something. Then, after cleaning up, I will set and do my mending while Frank watched T.V. He works so hard, he needs to relax for a while. Sometime I will work on the baby quilts. The girls and I make baby blankets for the newborns here at the hospital. It’s so nice to send something home with them, the little darlings. By that time it is nine o’clock and bedtime. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep. If you try to burn the candle at both ends for too long it will catch up with you and you won’t be good for anything.” Mrs. Martin paused and then said “That’s about it. The doctor told me I had to take it easy for a while.”
Brie chuckled. “I’m glad to see you are slowing down. But I think he meant a little slower than that.”
“Slower? If I go any slower I might as well be in the grave. Besides, who will take care of Frank?”
With a smile and a shake of her head, Brie started Mrs. Martin on her exercises. For a half an hour she worked the leg, trying to get more flexibility. Mrs. Martin grimaced a few time but never complained.
“Ok, I think that should do it for today. Instead of the whirl pool why don’t I give you a massage? We will see which one helps more.” After Mrs. Martin was comfortable, she started feeling all along her hip and thigh. Brie’s hand could “see” the problem better than her eyes. She didn’t know how it worked but she counted it as a blessing. Mrs. Martin seemed to be coming along just fine. The only problem was that the woman had too much energy to wait for the hip to heal. That wasn’t a bad thing. Especially since Brie could help speed things along. She concentrated on the new hip, kneading then smoothing the muscles surrounding it. Her hands began to warm from the healing energy. They almost glowed.
Mrs. Martin stayed silent until after Brie was finished. “My mother was like you.”
“What do you mean Mrs. Martin?”
“She had the healing hands too.” She gave Brie a knowing look.
“It was just a massage Mrs. Martin.” Brie smile as she helped her off the table. “Your hip isn’t healed.”
“That’s what my mother used to say. And I will tell you the same thing I told her. If that was just a massage then the ocean is just water and the sky is just blue. I felt how warm your hands were. My hip isn’t healed but it feels a lot better, better than it has in a long time. I fully understand why you don’t advertise what you can do. There are more non believers than believers. But honey, you are a blessing. Don’t let anyone tell you different.” Mrs. Martin gathered her things to go. She patted Brie on the cheek. “I’ll see you next week. And don’t worry; your secret is safe with me.”

***


Brie wasn’t able to check on Mattie’s father, Mark until the next day. Over her lunch hour she slipped up stairs to his ward. The nurses there were friendly but there wasn’t much they could tell her. The doctors had no idea why he wasn’t waking up. Physically he was healing. They couldn’t find anything else. Test after test had been run, with no results. It was as if his mind was just falling away.
“Do you mind if I go in to see him for a minute,” Brie pointed to Marks room.
The head nurse gave her a searching look, “Are you good friends with the family?”
“Grace Thomas is my landlady. I just wanted to check on him before I went home. Mattie is very worried about her dad.” She hoped this was enough information. She didn’t know what to tell them if they ask for more.
“Little Mattie was in here this morning with Grace. The poor child looks worn out. She had tears in her eyes the whole time she was here. Grace said she hates to bring her but if she doesn’t it is even worse.” The nurse shook her head sadly. “You go right in and see him. Tell Mattie we are keeping a close watch on him.”
Once she was inside Mark’s room she partially closed the door for privacy. She didn’t need any questions. With her eyes closed to the outer world, she quickly ran her hands along Mark’s body, searching for any problems that the doctors might have missed. She found nothing until she ran her hands along his neck. There was the small fracture, but it was healing just as the nurse said. Brie concentrated even harder. She didn’t want to miss anything. She felt another fracture on the left side of his skull, some bruising on the brain, no surprise there, the nurses had told her all this. There was nothing on the surface that she could see.
Her face wrinkled in concentration, blocking out the world around her. She sent herself deeper. On and on she went. Probing every little nook and cranny with no results. The deeper she went the harder it was to see. It was like she was looking through a veil. The farther she pushed the heavier it became, until she was in total darkness. She could feel a wall in front of her. What was this? She pushed against the barricade. It moved slightly, revealing a sliver of light. She pushed harder, trying to open the crack enough for her to see through.
An unbearable pain radiated up her arms, causing her to break out in a sweat. Brie gasped and pulled her hands away from Mark, breaking the contact and stopping the pain. “What the hell was that?” Brie panted as she rubbed the traces of pain from her arms.
“Did you find anything?”
Startled, she turned and saw a man leaning in the doorway. “I’m sorry what did you say?”
“Did you find anything? I hope so because I am at a loss.” He walked towards her, holding out he’s hand. “I’m Doctor Chris Lowe. I take it your Brie Holland, our new therapist.”
Brie shook his hand, “Nice to meet you Dr. Lowe.”
He looked down at their joined hands. He gave a small chuckle and said very low, “Well I be damned. She was right.”
“Dr. Lowe let me explain….”
“I think we need to talk.” He didn’t let her finish. “Come on, let’s do this over coffee. I need a brake anyway.”
She followed him to a small room he used as an office while doing his rounds. What was she going to tell him? He will think she was crazy if she told the truth. Everyone always did. And how did he know who she was?
“Please help yourself to the coffee,” he said pointing to a coffee maker. She poured them both a cup and set down at the table. They both set sipping their coffee until Dr. Lowe finally broke the silence. “Sara Martin is my aunt.”
Brie looked down at her hands. “I don’t know what she told you Dr. Lowe but...”
He cut her off again, “I believe everything she said. I didn’t at first but then I felt the heat when I shook your hand.” He held up his hand to silence her. “Please let me finish. I know what everyone says to someone with your ability. I have heard them before. I have also seen the proof that on a rare occasion there are people in this world that can do the unimaginable. My grandmother passed away when I was fifteen. She is the reason I became a doctor. I wanted to help people like she did. But I couldn’t do what she did. I don’t have that ability. So I became a doctor. I remember when I was small if I became sick; mom always took me my grandmother. She would hold me in her arm while she rocked me to sleep. I would feel as if a warm cocoon would surround me. When I awoke, I was always better. Maybe not fully healed but well on my way to being so.” He pushed his cup away and leaned forward to look Brie in the eyes. “I just have one question to ask you. Can you really help Mark?”
Brie stared at Dr. Lowe, not knowing what to say. She wanted to trust him. If he was anything like Mrs. Martin, she believed she could. Pushing her fears aside, she said in a strong confident voice, “Given the chance, I do believe I could.”
Time flew by after that. Dr. Lowe set it up for Brie to see Mark on a daily bases. As a therapist she was to work his muscles to keep them strong. He let his staff know that Brie wasn’t to be interrupted and she was to report straight to him. This gave Brie a chance to work her magic, as he called it, without calling too much attention to her. Brie went home that night with a feeling of everything falling into place.
That night her dreams were confusing. She was a little girl again playing along a stream. Two other children were there with her. Mattie she recognized from her dreams before. The boy was the same as she had seen in Mattie Mae’s locket. It had to be Mark. The three of them were laughing and playing. She called for them to come over to her side of the stream. Mattie quickly jumped across then looked back at Mark. He just shook his head and said, “I can’t.” Then Mattie looked sad and jumped back to the other side of the fence. She motioned for Brie to follow her. Again and again she tried to jump across. Something was holding her back. She would leap for the other side, only to land back where she started.
They watched her try to cross, and then the twins looked over their shoulder as if listening to someone talk. Turning back Mattie had tears in her eyes. “They won’t let you come. You don’t belong here.” She looked at Mark then back to Brie. “You have to find another way. Please find another way.”
Then she was all along. “Wait! Please wait for me!” she yelled, hoping they could hear her.
“Hurry Brie! You have to hurry.” Mattie’s voice echoed from the darkness that was closing in on Brie.
Over and over she had the dream. It never changed, always ending with Mattie telling her to hurry. At dawn she finally gave up on sleep. She decided maybe a walk would help. She steps lead her to the little grave yard in the woods between her house and Grace’s. Mattie’s grave had fresh flower. She sat there while the sun rose and started to warm the new day. She replayed the dream over again for the hundredth time, only to find no answers. Frustrated she said allowed, “Come on Mattie, help me out here.”
“You talk to Aunt Mattie, too?”
Brie was startled, she thought she was along. She gave the little girl a smile. “Hello, Mattie Mae.”
“Do I know you? I think I do. But I can’t remember your name.” Mattie Mae watched Brie. “I have seen you before. You were at the hospital.”
“That’s right. I’m Brie Holland, I work there. I also live across the woods,” she pointed back towards her house. “I rent the house from your grandparents.”
That was good enough to calm Mattie Mae’s fears. She came to Brie’s side to look down at the headstone.
“I come here every day,” she said. “I talk to Aunt Mattie all the time.”
“I find that it helps to talk to people. I do it all the time.” Brie said gently.
Mattie Mae smiled at Brie. She liked her. It was like she understood, even though she hadn’t told her anything. “Do you want to come to my house for breakfast? Grandma won’t mind. She says the more people the merrier.”
“I would love too, Mattie Mae. But I’m afraid I have to go to work.” Seeing the sad look on the girl’s face, she quickly added. “Could I come tomorrow instead?”
The smile returned to Mattie Mae’s face. “That would be great. I will tell grandma your coming.”
They both looked up, for in the distance you could hear Grace calling, “Mattie Mae, it is time for your breakfast.”
“I’m coming Grandma.” She yelled back. “I guess I will see you tomorrow. I will meet you here. Is that ok?”
Brie couldn’t help but smile. The little girl had a way of capturing your heart. “It’s a date. I will be here.” She watched as Mattie Mae skipped across the field to her waiting grandmother. The sun sparkled on the polished stone, drawing her attention. “Is this your answer Mattie? Is she the answer of finding my way?” It was like a light had been turned on. “She is the way to Mark.”
***
Brie had one hour she was to work with Mark. After her lunch she went upstairs to his room. There was no change he laid there silent. But he didn’t look restful. His face was drawn. Almost as if he was in pain.
Brie had never tried to help someone in Mark condition before. She had done small things, broken bone, muscle strains, colds. She always had a starting point. A were does it hurt kind of thing. Then she remembered something her father had told her once. “If you don’t know what you are doing than you have to start at the bottom and learn your way up.” So that is what she did. She started at his feet.
Right away, Brie felt a difference. Instead of just a healing energy flowing from her body to her patients, it was an essence of her too. As if she was leaving her body behind. She was being pulled in two directions. Her hands and the healing energy were working their way up Marks legs. Yet she was standing by the stream in her dreams. There was Mark and Mattie, playing as before. Mattie saw her. She held her figure to her lips, signaling Brie to stay silent.
It was like watching movie, except it happened right before your eyes, flashes of memories playing out before her. The twins were very little, five or six maybe. It was cold outside. Snow was on the ground. Mark was running toward the creek.
“No Mark. Mom said to stay away from the ice.” Mattie yelled while running after him.
“I’m not going to get on it. I just want to see.” he looked over his shoulder to yell back. When he turned back around the bank was to close. Trying to stop, he slid down the bank, breaking the ice. He reached his hand out, searching for anything to hold on to. A clump of frozen grass stopped him from going all the way into the water. “Mattieeee!!” he yelled.
Brie jumped up to help. But like in her dream she couldn’t get across. They couldn’t even see her this time.
Mattie tried to get down the bank, only to have more dirt break free to fall on Mark. As Mark tried to pull himself out of the water his feet slipped. Mattie lay on her stomach and reached out to Mark. “Take my hand. I will pull you up.”
Mark reached up to her, while Mattie stretched farther over the crumbling bank. At last their hand met. Mattie pulled with all her might. Mark was out of the water. Then the bank gave away and Mattie went tumbling down. In a blink of an eye their situations were reversed. Mark was on the edge of the stream holding Mattie’s hand pulling her from the water. Her hand was the only thing that wasn’t wet. Her lips were turning blue. Mark yelled and screamed for help while holding Mattie out of the water.
A flash and Brie was in a hospital room. Mattie was in bed and Mark stood by her side. “I’m sorry Mattie. I should be in that bed not you. But I’m going to look after you. I promise.”
Brie was back in Marks hospital room. The small timer was going off, letting her know that the hour was up. She looked down at Mark and gave a sigh. “What are you trying to show me Mattie? What’s keeping him asleep?”
Frustrated from not finding any answers she gathered her thing and left for her next appointment. On the way to the elevator she passed Dr. Lowe.
“Anything?” he asks.
She shook her head. “I will try again tomorrow.”
***


The next day she was up and waiting for Mattie Mae in the grave yard. Grace came with the little girl to assure her that she was welcome for breakfast. She ended up staying the whole morning with them. Mattie Mae chatting away like a magpie. They ate breakfast then baked cookies and cakes for the church bake sale they were putting on that weekend. In no time at all Brie’s watch alarm signaled the time for her to leave for work.
“That’s my cue,” she said.
“Awe, do you have to go? I was going to show you my pictures.” Mattie pointed to a stack of photo albums on the coffee table.
“I have to go to work. Could I come back again tomorrow after work and you show me the photos then?” It was hard to say no to Mattie Mae.
“Can she come again, Grandma? Please, please,” Mattie Mae hopped on her seat with excitement.
Grace smiled and said, “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Grace walked with Brie to the door. “I haven’t seen her that way in weeks. Having you around takes her mind off of Mark.”
“She is a darling little girl,” Brie smiled her pleasure. “I enjoy spending time with her.”
“In that case, I invite you to come over anytime you want. I would do anything to help her through all this.” Grace said as she gave a worried look over her shoulder at Mattie Mae.
That was how Brie started to spend all her extra time with the Thomas’. They treated her as part of the family. They even talked her into having a sleep over on the night before the church’s bake sale. She felt as if this was where she belongs. But each time she left them the feeling that time was running out came back stronger.
All week she worked with Mark. It was the same routine. She would set her little timer for one hour. And then lose herself in his memories. Each time it was a different show but always the same results. First, it was Mattie getting sick from falling in the stream. Then, she broke her arm falling from a tree Mark dared her to climb. Stitches came next because Mark said she was to girlie to jump her bike across a ditch. They were all a little memory of the twins playing together, only to have Mattie get hurt and Mark blaming himself.
Frustration ate at Brie. She set in the conference room on Mark’s floor going over her personal note. What was she missing? The patterns of the memories were all the same. But what was she to do with it?
There was a knock on the door then Dr. Lowe poked his head in. “Do you have a minute?”
“Sure. Do you want a cup?” she held up her coffee cup. “I just made it.”
“I would love some. You sit I will get it.” He set at the table and started pulling stack of paper out of the box he had brought with him. “I have to show you something. These are the results from the monitor we have on Mark. They record any brain activity.” There were five stacks of papers. He opened each one to a place he had marked. “Each one is the same. Minimum activity except of the hour you are with him. Then they are off the chart. If I was to go just by the chart I would say he was awake during that time.”
“But he isn’t. I never see a change in him. Every day it’s the same. I feel as if I’m going nowhere.” Brie ran her hand through her hair. “I don’t think I am helping at all.”
“But you are. Whatever it is your doing, he is responding to it.” Dr. Lowe pointed to the hours he had underlined in red on the paper. “I tried everything I could think of, with no results. By the end of your hour with him, I would say he is almost awake. I want you to extend the hour. Monday, I want to try an hour and a half. Can you do that?”
“I’m willing to try anything Dr. Lowe. But I haven’t found what is stopping him from waking.”
“Brie, I have faith in you. Just keep doing what you do for a little while longer.” He reached across the table to pat her hand. “You can do it kid.” Clearing his throat, he gave Brie a questioning look. “One more thing and then I will go. Do you mind if I am there the last half an hour? I will be there just in case Mark decides to awake.”
Shaking her head, she said, “I don’t mind at all. Maybe you can tell me when you start to see a difference in him. I am not looking at his face when I work on him. Right now I feel like I am at a wall I can’t get around.”
They set a time for Monday then Brie went home for the weekend to the rest of Mark’s family.
***


The weekend was perfect for the bake sale. You couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. By the end of the day there wasn’t a crumb left to sell. The jolly mood carried them home. As it was getting dark, Brie finally said it was time to head home. Mattie Mae didn’t want her to go.
“Can you please stay? I don’t want you to go.” She climbed into Brie’s lap and wrapped her arms around her. “Please Brie. Please stay.”
Grace gave Brie a smile as if in apology. “Come on Mattie Mae. It’s time for bed anyway. We have to a lot to do tomorrow. It is cleaning day at church.”
Mattie Mae gave Brie one last hug for goodnight. Then she went upstairs to get ready for bed. At the top she stopped and said, “Can I see you tomorrow Brie?”
Bob chuckled. “I think that girl is trying to sow herself to your hip.”
“I don’t mind at all. I love to spend time with her. Why not let her spend the night with me? I had planned on spending the day at the last tomorrow. She could show me around. We could have a picnic. It will be fun.”
Mattie Mae heard Brie. She came running down the stairs. “Oh, yes. Please, please, please!! Can I go?” She jumped up and down clapping her hand as only a little girl could. Everyone laugh to see her so excited.
“Ok. You can meet up back here for supper.” Grace held out her hand to Mattie Mae. “Come on. Let’s go get you ready and pack you a bag for the night.”
The little girl talked all the way to Brie’s house. Her excitement was infectious. Brie found herself laughing and playing along with her. In no time at all, they had both skipped their way to her front door. Bed time didn’t come for another couple of hours. Each sported newly painted fingers and toes, with braids in their hair. Lying on her bed, she read a story to the little girl. Mattie Mae had fallen asleep so she turned off the lights and snuggled down for sleep.
“I wish Daddy was here,” Mattie Mae whispered half asleep.
Brie gave her a small squeeze, “I do too, honey.” Mattie Mae never answered. She was asleep. Brie was awake for a little longer. How could that be? How could she be falling for a man she had never talked to? But she was. She cared for Mark almost as much as she cared for his little girl. Seeing his memories first hand and hearing the stories Grace and Bob told her, she felt as if she knew the man. He was a good man.
The next day they found them at Brookville Lake bright and early. Around midday they found a little inlet with a small beach. “This is a perfect spot for lunch. What do you think Peanut?”
Mattie Mae giggled. Brie started to call her peanut because she only liked peanut M & Ms. “Can we go swimming for a little while?”
“I don’t see why not. We can swim first then eat lunch.” Brie said as she stripped down to her swim suit.
By the time they were finish with lunch, they were both yawning. Stretched out on the sand with the warm sun as a blanket, they both took a nap. Brie found herself in the same dream as before. She was with the twins playing by the stream. Only this time she wasn’t alone. Mattie Mae was setting there with her. The child talked and talked. Mostly about her dad and all the things they used to do together. There was another thing different too. Mark would stop playing with his sister long enough to look over at them. Mattie was waving at them to jump over to their side. Brie didn’t want to try. She knew what would happen. But Mattie Mae pulled on her hand until they were running. At the edge of the stream hand in hand they jumped. When they landed Brie looked up expecting to see Mark and Mattie on the other side of the stream. She was wrong. They had made it over the stream. Mark was walking towards them.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Brie was startled out of the dream. How did she make it over the stream? What did she do different? Nothing the only thing different was... “Peanut” she said aloud.
“No Brie. I don’t want to wake up.” She groaned. “I want to play with Daddy.” But it was too late. The spell had been broken. She set up and smiled. “I had a nice dream. I was playing with Daddy. You were there too. And so was Aunt Mattie.”
Brie felt a chill go down her back as the little girl talked about the dream she had. Was it possible they had the same dream? Was Mattie Mae the answer to get Mark to wake up?
“Come on Peanut, it’s time to go. We have to meet your grandparents for supper.”
Back at the Thomas’ house Brie couldn’t stop thinking about the dream. Mattie Mae had to ask her twice if she wanted to watch her favorite movie. “Sure Peanut. We can watch it.” With a giggle at peanut, Mattie Mae started the movie. Brie thought she would be watching a Disney movie. She was surprised to see it was a home movie. Many home movies placed on one disc. It started with Mattie Mae as a baby. Again and again she watched Mark and Mattie Mae on the screen. You couldn’t miss the joy and happiness he had while being with his child. Her heart opened to him. Mark was a special guy. If she wasn’t in love with him before, there was no question of it after watching him for two hours on the screen.
She turned some ideas over in her head. And after putting Mattie Mae to bed she go up the never to ask Grace. “Grace, do you mind if I took a copy of the home videos of Mark. I want to play them in his room. I just had a thought. Maybe if he heard her voice for a while we might get a reaction.” She explained to Grace all that Dr. Lowe had told her about the response they received during the time she spent with Mark.
“I know all about that, dear.”
Brie was at a loss for words. “But…you never said anything.”
“He came to talk to us before he talked to you. We gave our consent.” She put her arm around Brie and handed her the home movies of Mark and Mattie Mae. “We knew his grandmother very well. And Sara Martin is one of my best friends. We had lost hope until you came here. If you think these movies will help, take them with our blessing. We had weeks of no response from Mark. Then you came along. Dr. Lowe said that every day you are with him he see more changes. You were sent to us, Brie. Not only is Mark improving but Mattie Mae has changed also. Watching her grieve was like watching Mark all over again after Mattie died. She was blaming herself just as he did. You were sent here to heal this family. No matter what happens we love you and have faith in you.”
Brie started to get excited. This was it. She knew how to help Mark. Would it work? It had to. “Grace, would you tell Peanut I won’t be going to church with you. I have to go to the hospital. Are you still going there afterwards?” At Grace’s nod she smiled, “Good. I will see you there.”
She didn’t even bother to go home. She called Dr. Lowe to tell him what she wanted to do. Fifteen minutes later she walked through the doors to find him waiting for her. She explained everything that happened that day, from the dream at the lake, to talking to Grace. “I think this will work. Mark feels it is his fault that Mattie died. And he feels as if it is his fault that Mattie Mae was hurt. I strongly believe he feel he should have died that day instead of Mattie. And the place he is in now is where he belongs. We have to change his mind. We have to show him he belongs here with Mattie Mae.”
They entered Mark’s room. Dr. Lowe but the disc into the DVD player as Brie went to the head of Mark’s bed. She didn’t bother with the massage. Touch was all she needed. Right away the images started. This time Mark and Mattie were older. She followed her on her first date. She caught him watching them at the movie theater. Mattie wouldn’t talk to him all the next day. On and on it went. She watched flashes of memories. Always she was on the opposite side, across the road or isle, never with them and unable to get across. As time went on, you could tell Mark was distracted. He looked around him searching for something. A couple of times he even took at her, as if he could see her. Then Brie started to hear it too. A child’s giggle, a man’s laughter, it was the home movies.
For hours, Brie stood with Mark. Dr. Lowe set the DVD on auto replay. The readout on Mark was showing brain activity, yet he never moved. The movie played through again. Trying to ward off sleep, the doctor stood up to move around. That is when he saw it. Mark move it hand. He stared at it for a long time, willing him to move again. Just as he was about to give up, he moved again. He looked at Brie. The young woman stood with her hands on Marks shoulders. She hadn’t moved in hours. What was she seeing? He sat back down to wait. Then he saw Mark’s foot move. He checked the read out again, then started to pace.
Brie had no knowledge of the passing of time. She was too busy trying to find a way across the barrier the separated her from Mark. He knew she was there now. Mattie would look up and try to way her over. Each time she tried and each time she failed. Then came the day of the accident, the twins were walking down main street. Boaters were everywhere. It was a beautiful day. Brie waved franticly at Mattie across the street, trying to get her attention, trying to ask for help across.
Mark and Brie had the doctor’s full attention now. Brie still had not moved but now her hands were glowing and a sweat had broke out across her face. Mark’s hands and feet were constantly twitching; his eyes were blinking as if he was in the REM stage of sleep. He looked to the window. It was just after dawn. Bob and Grace would be up by now.
No matter how hard she tried neither Mattie or Mark would look her way. Mattie was trying to talk to Mark. He would listen for a few seconds but then he would hear the child laugh again. Every time Mattie Mae would laugh on the video, he would turn to search for her. They were almost at McDonalds now. Brie could see a younger Bob and Grace setting at the picnic table there. Just them Mattie Mae gave a high pitched squeal of laughter. Mark turned to look behind him. He didn’t see the boat coming their way but Mattie did. She shoved Mark into the bushes, taking the hit. Mark wasn’t on the ground for long. Before the boat could come to a rest he was on his feet running.
“Mattie! Mattie…”his scream echoed across her mind as the scene changed for Brie.
They were in the grave yard. Mark set by Mattie’s headstone. Only, he was older now. He looked like the Mark of today, not the Mark of memories. It was very quiet here. You could no longer hear the sound of the video playing in the background.
“Mark? Mark, can you hear me?” Brie asks softly.
He lay back on the headstone with his hands behind his head. “It’s beautiful here isn’t it?” He turned his head to look at Brie. “I have seen you before. What’s your name?”
“I’m Brie.” She replied, trying to step closer, only to be held back an unseen force.
“Did you hear that child laughing before?” he asks with a puzzled look on his face. “Who was it?”
“That was Mattie Mae.” She said as she tried to step forward again. The barrier was weaker now. “She is your daughter.” She took another step. Remind him of Mattie Mae, she thought. That was the key. “She is at home waiting on you.” Brie had reached his side now. She sat down beside him.
“I don’t have a daughter.”He sounded very confused.
“Yes, you do. She is at home with your parents. She is waiting for you. You have to go back. You don’t belong here.” Brie tried to reason with him.
“What are you talking about?” he said angrily. “This is where I belong. Everyone I love gets hurt because of me. I should have been here first instead of Mattie. Now she can go back and no one will be hurt.”
“You’re wrong Mark. What about Mattie Mae? If you were here, then how was she ever born?” Brie closed her eyes. Mattie, please help me, she prayed.
“She is right, Mark.” Mattie was there beside them.
“Mattie, what are you still doing here?” Mark set up to take his sister’s hand.
“This is where is I should be. You have to go home.” She reasoned with him. “Mattie Mae needs you.”
“Mattie Mae? My daughter?” his face began to clear. “My daughter, she looks just like you.”
Mattie smiled, “That’s right. My time was over Mark. It wasn’t your fault. I did my job. Now it is time to do yours. It’s not over. There are still people there that need you. You have many years yet before you can come here.”
“But Mattie, I am here now. You could go back.” He tried again.
“No I couldn’t. I can never go back. But you have to.”
“Are you really happy?” he asked. “I would trade placed with you if I could.”
“I know, brother. And knowing you love me is enough. Many years from now, when it is your time, I will be waiting here for you. But for now, you have to let Brie take you back.” She took Mark’s hand and placed it in Brie’s. “I will always love you. And you had better be good, I will be checking in on you from time to time.”
Beep. Beep. Beep. Brie looked down at her watch in confusion. She forgot she has set it for church. She looked over at Mattie who said with a smile, “That’s your cue.” With her hand in Mark’s, the grave yard started to fade.
Brie looked around her and blinked. She was in the hospital room. Only, to her surprise, Dr. Lowe and Mark were not the only ones there. Mattie Mae set on the edge of the bed and Grace and Bob were standing beside her.
“Brie, is Daddy going to wake up now?” Mattie Mae looked at here with hopeful eyes.
“Just talk to him, Peanut. He needs to hear your voice.” Brie said as she walked around to the foot of the bed to give the Thomas’ more room.
“Daddy can you hear me? Daddy wake up and talk to me. Please Daddy, just talk to me.” Mattie Mae was crying now.
“Don’t you cry Peanut. Daddy is here.” Mark’s voice was raspy from lack of use.
“Thank the lord.”
“Praise the Saints, she did it!”
“Daddy!”
Everyone was talking at once. Mark was back. Brie smiled and just whispered, “Thank you, Mattie.” Then she slipped out of the room.
***


It was three full days before Dr. Lowe would let Mark leave the hospital. He wanted to run test to make sure he was alright. Even then he has a very short list of what he could do and a very, very long list of what he couldn’t do. Either way he didn’t care. It was good to be home. Mattie Mae was never far from his side. She waited on him and foot. So a week later when he woke from his nap, he was worried when he couldn’t find her.
“Mom, have you seen Peanut?” he asked Grace as he entered the kitchen.
“Yes dear. She is out at the grave yard with Brie.”
“The infamous Brie, maybe now I will finally get to meet her.” He put on his ball cap and headed out the door.
“Tell the girls that lunch is almost ready, don’t stay long it is almost time to eat.” Grace called after him.
When he entered the stand of trees surrounding the grave yard, he didn’t see Mattie Mae. He went to Mattie’s grave to wait. Looking down at the stone he realized that this was the first time he had come here and not felt the guilt of being alive. “I understand now Mattie. You don’t have to worry about me. I will get it right this time.”
“Get what right, Daddy?” Mattie Mae asked from behind him.
He turned to answer her but forgot what he was going to say. Standing beside Mattie Mae was his angel. He had seen her in his dream.
“I’m Brie.” She said. “It’s finally nice to meet you.”
He looked at her so long that Brie started to blush. Unbelievable, he thought. She is ever prettier with the rosy color in her checks.
In the distance, you could hear Grace calling them for lunch. “Come on, you guys. I am starving.” Mattie said as she pulled both their hands.
With a smile to each other, they followed her across the field. Half way to the house she stopped. “I forgot my locket. Wait for me. I will be right back.” She ran all the way back and fell to her knees. “Ok, Aunt Mattie. I’m counting on you. In my dream, Brie was my new mom and I had two baby brothers. That’s not too much to ask for, is it? Brie is very special. I can tell she really like my dad.”
“Mattie, are you coming?” She heard her dad yell.
Grabbing the locket, she kissed it and put it back on her neck. “Bye, Aunt Mattie. I will talk to you later.”

Exactly one year to the day, Mattie Mae was leading her new family across the field to introduce her two baby brothers to their Aunt Mattie. They had to move slow, because Brie, she could call her Mom now, was still recovering from giving birth to Matthew and Luke.

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 18.03.2011

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