― Henry David Thoreau
Great Hall and Ticket Counter - Union Station
The following day I met Ember for lunch at the Hart House Grill. She had two hours between lectures and so we'd have lots of time to eat and talk.
She looked lovely in blue jeans and a white sweater, but it didn't matter what she wore, she was always breathtaking.
"Besides, having a chance to be with you," I told her, "I wanted to ask what you thought would be the best approach with Lise."
She stopped munching on her bagel and frowned. "I was puzzling over that myself last night and I thought the best approach would be to ask about her dreams. If she is having past life flashbacks that's where we'd find clues about what's drawing her back to that previous time."
"I knew you weren't just a pretty face, " I chuckled, "That's an excellent suggestion."
"You know we're not in this alone. If Lise regularly attends the Mandela Society sessions, Eliot Granger will be able to help her, but there are others in the group who have skills we can use in our investigations."
"You're right― we can draw on others' expertise."
At that moment my cell buzzed―it was Lise.
"Do you think you and Ember could meet with me at the library at 430pm this afternoon?" she asked.
"Sure, we can manage that. What's up?"
"I had another of those dreams from the past last night and it was so vivid, I wanted to tell you about it while it was fresh in my memory."
"You did the right thing," I reassured her, "we'll be there for sure."
I ended the call with Lise and smiled at Ember
"Did you ever get the sense that these so-called chance meetings such as our relationship with Lise, are actually orchestrated by Fate?"
"Are you kidding?" she asked, rolling her eyes, "I get that feeling so often I feel I'm following a script."
"Lise wants to meet with us at 430 today to tell us about a vivid dream she had last night."
"I'm not surprised," she laughed, "but I'm curious to know what she dreamt that she couldn't wait to tell us."
"It must be juicy and I've got to admit, I'm really curious as well."
When we got together with Lise at the library, I had never seen her so animated—she was flushed with excitement.
" I've had many dreams before involving a certain man but never a dream so detailed as the one last night. I realized that he served in the Great War and was involved in some way with communications. The dream as so real, I could see details of his face."
"That is very vivid," I agreed, 'What else did you learn?"
"I think he worked for a radio station in Toronto during the Depression. The most striking thing was the clarity of the dream. I could see every line and detail of his face."
Ember intervened. "Do you recall places in your dream―locations familiar to you?"
She nodded. "There was a Greyhound Bus terminal and I remember meeting him there, late at night, and the sound of my heels echoing in the deserted foyer."
"Do you remember anything else?" I asked.
"That time, he was dressed in uniform. I think he was on furlough."
"That's good," I told her, "any detail no matter how small helps."
Ember's brow was furrowed and she was deep in thought. "Do you think you'd be able to describe details of his features to a sketch artist?"
Lis nodded. "I'm pretty sure I could, because I can still see his face clearly in my mind."
"Well, I know several members of the Society that may be able to help us research and get a clearer picture of your mystery man."
"That seems so exciting!" Lise enthused.
I felt encouraged too as if we were finally beginning to put together pieces of a puzzle and a clear image was beginning to emerge.