But before he did any of that, he wanted to talk to Pearl and tell her he knew the truth of what happened to Alice. He sensed that underneath that tough exterior, she yearned for forgiveness, and he believed he might be able to help in that department. She had been waiting a long time to find some peace of mind.
He said to Kathleen, “I know what happened to John and Alice after they left the Barn Dance.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’ve had a dream of what happened that night.”
“Recently?”
“Since I’ve been here. I guess it was the anesthesia.”
She sucked in a breath and exhaled in disappointment. “Oh no. Another dream?”
“This time felt different,” he said, struggling to explain. “It felt like the end, like this has run its course, and it’s over now. I don’t think I’ll have any more dreams.” He’d so badly wanted to stop having the dreams, but now that they were over, there was a sadness to it. A finality. Like saying goodbye to old friends.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I believe,” he said thoughtfully, “that you and I have been re-creating their time together. Our own version of it anyway. That night at the Barn Dance, we sort of relived their last night, but for us, it turned out differently because of you. You changed the ending.”
She tilted her head to one side. “I changed the ending. What do you mean?”
“Let me tell you.” And then, to her wide-eyed amazement, he told her the whole story.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
1983
Joe heard Linda’s voice in the hallway just outside his hospital room, so he was ready when she burst through the door. His mom and dad followed, both of them with concerned expressions on their faces. “Hey, Joe!” Linda said. “Guess what? We have a new grandmother.”
“I know! Isn’t that something?” He grinned at her, amazed to see that her earlobes were adorned with tiny studs. Linda had long wanted pierced ears, but their mom had sworn she would have to wait until she was fifteen. Linda had an adorable way of wheedling to get what she wanted. Apparently, she’d worn their mother down.
“How are you, Joe?” His mom looked down on him in concern and then noticed Kathleen, who stood from her bedside chair and introduced herself.
“Are you Joe’s girlfriend?” Linda asked.
“Yes, she is,” Joe answered before Kathleen could say a word. “Be nice to her. I don’t want her scared away.”
They made small talk, discussing Joe’s injuries and the drive up to Pullman. Chicago traffic had been particularly bad, his father said. Eventually, when the nurse came in to take his blood pressure, Kathleen excused herself and slipped out of the room.
“Your girlfriend’s pretty,” Linda said, watching her go.
“I think so too.”
His dad said, “So it was a jealous ex-husband who did this to you?” His forehead creased with concern.
Joe nodded as the nurse slipped the blood pressure cuff over his arm. “That’s right.” He waited for his father to expand on this, to say that Kathleen was trouble, or that he should really date someone closer to his own age, but he only said, “What’s wrong with people?”
They stayed to visit until Joe was too tired to keep his eyes open, then decided to leave to visit Pearl. His father made a face and said, “We made the trip here. We might as well see her while we’re in town.”
His mom smoothed the cover on Joe’s bed while talking to his dad. “Just be pleasant, Bill. She’s an old lady. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.” She leaned over and gave Joe a kiss on the cheek. “We’ve missed you, Joe. I hope you feel better soon.”
Linda gave him a hug and a loud smooch. “We’ll be back tomorrow.” And then she leaned in and whispered, “I’ll tell you how it goes.”
Even his usually undemonstrative father leaned in for a hug and a pat on the arm. “Follow the doctor’s orders, son, and you’ll be healed in no time.”
When Joe was preparing to leave the hospital the next day, his family suggested he drive back with them. His dad said, “Joe, I really think it would be best if you come home to finish recovering. We’d love to have you with us. You shouldn’t be here all alone.”
Joe appreciated the offer and knew it was made with love, but he also knew he wasn’t finished with Pullman and all it had to offer. Also, his dad had gotten it wrong. He wasn’t alone.