Dr. White tore off a piece of paper from his pad and began to write on it.
“Reincarnation isn’t my area of expertise,” he said. “But I do have a colleague at UVA who’s spent twenty-five years devoted to proving its existence. Dr. Van Dean is part of a collection of doctors devoted to the study of reincarnation at UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies. I’ve read a few of his published papers, and both their methods and findings are fascinating.
“From what I’ve read, the department and Dr. Van Dean devote their research exclusively to young children, and normally Lily would be about ten years too old for him to consider seeing. However, I’m hoping that if I send him the copy of her session under hypnosis—with your permission, of course—he’ll agree to evaluate her and talk to the both of you.”
Dr. White handed Mom the folded piece of paper and she took it. “He’ll be able to help us?” she asked.
Dr. White leaned against his desk and folded his arms. “He will.”
“Okay, but what do we do in the meantime?” Mom asked next.
“Go home and try not to let this upset you. I know it’s a shock, but Lily isn’t alone in her experience. Far from it, according to Dr. Van Dean. If the nightmares persist and she’s unable to sleep through the night, call me and I’ll write her a prescription for a sleep aid. I’m hopeful that, now that Lily knows the dream’s source, it will interrupt her sleep less.”
“That’s it?” I said. “Just go home and hope that this other doctor will see me?”
Dr. White reached out to put a hand on my shoulder. “Yes, Lily. But try to remember that all the terrible events that happened to Amber happened to her. In another life. At another time. In this life, you’re safe and protected and alive and well.”
I stared at him in disbelief. I felt anything but safe. I felt totally freaked-out.
Mom got up and, as she was still clinging to my hand, I got up with her. “Thank you, Dr. White,” she said.
I knew I should’ve thanked him, too, but I just didn’t have it in me.
I HOPED THAT I HAD enough courage in me to face Spence and tell him the news. I hoped even more that he’d find a way to be happy for me, because I was ecstatic. Also nervous and anxious, but most of that was due to the fact that I didn’t know how Spence was going to react.
I’d gotten the letter three days before, but it’d taken me this long to get up the nerve to talk to Spence, and as my birthday was a week and a half away, I figured maybe I should tell him the news before he did anything big and romantic for me.
Not that I thought he’d break up with me. At least I hoped he wouldn’t. That thought gave me pause as I neared the gym where I knew he and Jamie and a few of the other football players would be racing back and forth doing their sprints to keep in shape for track season in the spring.
The track was currently covered in snow, and track season didn’t even start until April, but Spence and his buddies never took time off from their training. Most of them fully intended to play college ball, but only Spence was being actively recruited by scouts. I slid quietly into the gym and made my way over to the bleachers while watching a line of boys race each other across the basketball court to touch the wall, then back again.
“Did you tell him, yet?” I heard from behind me as I took my seat. Turning, I saw Sara making her way down from the top of the bleachers to me.
“No,” I said. “I’m afraid he’ll get mad.”
She sat down next to me and pushed at her curls, which were extra full today. Taking a scrunchie off her wrist, she bound up a section of her hair, causing her bangle bracelets to clink together pleasantly.
“You look cute,” I told her, realizing she’d made an extra effort.
She smiled and nudged me with her shoulder. “Thanks, but let’s not get off track.” Pointing to Spence she said, “What’s he gonna do? Tell you not to go?”
I didn’t answer her, because I didn’t know what Spence would say. The truth was, I didn’t know if I truly had the courage to leave him. I couldn’t imagine us being apart, but I also couldn’t imagine giving up such an amazing opportunity.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“Amber, he’s gotta support you,” Sara said, leaning in to hug me sideways. “I mean, this is an awesome thing, right?”
“It is.”
“Well, then, there you go,” she said easily. “And if he says something stupid, signal me and I’ll come over and kick his ass!”
That made me laugh. “You will, huh?”
“Yep,” she said confidently. “Just give me a week or two to get an army together.”
I laughed again. “You’re a good friend,” I told her.
“Aww,” she said, giving me an extra squeeze. “Takes one to know one.”