56.
~ Alex woke up to the feel, and smells of what would be a comfortable spring day. It had been cold the night before and he'd slept well. It was the kind of sleep that left him feeling refreshed and energetic. For the first time in his life, he didn't want or need coffee to feel awake.
He opened his eye to see the bedroom filled up with mid morning sunlight.
'I must have slept in.' He thought scratching his chin. 'Gotten here late.' He realized, without thinking too much.
The windows of the large bedroom were opened and he could smell the fresh, clean air coming from the mountains. The barest trace of snow still being carried in. The white sheer curtains billowed out with the cross breeze and he realized slowly there was no artificial air or heat pushing in and out of the room. Everything felt natural, clean and good.
He knew he didn't have to work today. He had the whole day to himself and was well rested and full of energy.
He threw off the comforter and practically jumped out of bed, hardly realizing he was naked.
All the windows in the old house were wide open and let in the spring air to blow away everything dark and dirty from the house. Romero had never seen the house like this. Not this clean and still smelling like new lumber. It was like the house had been freshly built. A new home, with no bad memories at all.
He looked out the large bedroom window. This high up, he could see everything coming and going. He wasn't sure why he expected to see the motel. The 'Bates Motel' that he was so used to seeing everyday from this window.
And now it was gone. Yet, he wasn't at all surprised to see it was gone. Only a rich green pasture was there with cows awake and hungry. There were large trees in front of the house as well. Shade trees at least a century old, but he had remembered planting them when they were still young. He could remember buying them and deciding where they should go. But that couldn't be. It had always been like this.
Hadn't it?
He could smell something different now. He could smell food cooking. Bacon to be specific.
He dressed himself quickly. His clothes feeling comfortable and light weight. The morning was lazy and he felt like he had all the time in the world now to be lazy with it, but he was happy and full of energy.
The house, downstairs felt clean and inviting. The windows were all open here to. Even the front doors and the entryways were opened to allow a natural air to purify everything.
The living room looked bright and cheerful. A large stack of old photo albums were sitting on the coffee table in the living room.
It was a peaceful house. A calming place. Nothing bad had ever happened here.
He could smell food cooking and the kitchen was warm from not just the stove, but of the morning sun flooding in.
"There you are!" Came the laugh of a blond woman in the kitchen. Her back was to him and Alex was slightly fixated on her perfectly tied apron bow; how luminous the color green it was. He didn't remember ever seeing the color green look so beautiful.
The blond woman was slender and quick in her movements. As though she had a thousand things to do, even though she had all the time in the world to do them.
"I thought you were going to sleep forever." She scolded with a smile. Her smile was radiant and she seemed to glow with sunrise.
"Norma." He said softly staring at her in amazement. It felt as though it had been so long since he'd seen her, but he'd seen her just yesterday. Hadn't he? Hadn't it always been like this?
She had prepared a large breakfast for him. The percolated coffee he liked and even muffins. The kind that were made from scratch.
"This looks… great." He smiled down at the food. His mind diverted from Norma to breakfast and he realized he was very hungry. A healthy hunger that felt good.
"We have all day together." Norma said snapping off her apron, quickly putting plates down and sitting at the kitchen table.
She'd always had so much energy. No matter what.
"I had.. a strange dream." He told her sitting down slowly. The smell of the food was making him drool.
"Oh? Norma asked pouring them both a small cup of percolated coffee. The coffee smelled comforting. His grandmother's house smelled just like this first thing in the morning. A lovely memory of a spring morning; just like this one.
"I was dreaming." He said. "It was…"
He shook his head. He couldn't remember now.
"It's gone now." He admitted. His dream, whatever it was, was gone as quickly as the dawn chasing away the mist. Gone as though it had never been.
"No dreaming for you." Norma chastised. "After we do the dishes, I want to go into town and see what they have at the farmer's market."
"Alright." He nodded.
"It won't take long." She reminded him. "I have to go through all the family photo albums to. I'd been looking for them for a long time. It's like I'm suddenly finding everything I've ever lost."
She looked off in the distance. Her expression confused but not unhappy.
"They're always in the most obvious places to. Places I should have looked sooner. I even found my old stuffed bear. I thought I'd lost him when I was eight, but he was right here all along." She added with amused smile.
"How long have you been awake?" Alex asked. He almost asked 'how long have you been here?' But that wouldn't have been right.
They had always been here.
"Oh." Norma searched her memory. "Since dawn."
"Who else is awake?" Alex asked with sudden curiosity.
"I think Dylan and Emma will be here soon. Lulu will to. Eventually." She said with a contented smile.
She said this as though they were planning a reunion. A family get together for dinner maybe.
"That'll be nice." Alex nodded. "We should have dinner in the dinning room."
"I was thinking we could have it out front on the lawn." Norma said. Her bright smile returning. "It's such a pretty day. We can eat and watch the sunset together. I can make up the guest room for everyone if they want to stay the night."
"Will…" Alex started to say and couldn't remember the name. There was someone else he was thinking about. Someone else who's name he couldn't remember.
"Norman." He said. The name feeling odd and he saw shadows creep into the kitchen for the first time.
"Norman's playing in his room." She said brightly. "I already gave him his breakfast."
She nodded to a blue booster seat in the chair next to him.
He realized belatedly that Norman was a small child. A small child around five or six. That he'd always been a small child who was sweet and kind and who loved them both.
"He woke up not long after I did." Norma said with an amused smile. "He was so happy to see me. I got him out of bed and he kept holding me in his arms and telling me how much he loved me."
Alex smiled.
That was how Norman was. He was an affectionate little boy.
"I just want him to stay this age forever." She mused happily.
"He will." Alex said, unsure of how he knew that. How he knew that Norman would be this age forever. Would be their little boy forever. They would be his parents and never question it. Then he realized it was okay. Norman was a sweet, happy little boy who was mindful and only wanted them to love him. He didn't seem to want or need anything more.
Alex saw himself, in a memory or an idea, that he was reading to the little boy. Some adventure book and Norman was nestled into his lap. The small child fighting sleep. Wanting to stay awake because Alex was awake. It was a good thought, a happy thing. The little son he'd always wanted was there. Ready made.
Alex shook his head.
"That dream I had, was so strange." He said. "I don't remember any of it."
He looked at Norma who smiled back at him.
"But I slept well." He said.
"Me to." She nodded. "I felt like I had the best sleep of my life."
"Lets just enjoy the morning." He decided. "We can take Norman into town with us; to the farmer's market."
Alex smiled. He remembered his mother taking him to the farmer's market when he was little. All the brightly colored fruits and vegetables were exciting to him as a young child.
He realized Norman would be the same now. A small child amazed by simple things and having to hold hands with his parents.
Alex was happy at the prospect.
"We have so much to do today." Norma said finishing her breakfast and standing up. "Busy day, Sheriff."
He laughed.
Norma was running hot water in the sink and starting on the dishes. The soap she was using smelling of bright citrus. Clean and comforting.
"Yeah." Alex nodded.
"It's going to be a good day." Norma called after him, and he knew she'd be right.