Heaven is Here, chapter 1
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
They dance slowly, swaying as he sings. All the girl can do is grin, his voice filling every part of her. His big hands cover her five-year-old ones completely; her small bare feet are on top of his.
"I used to do this with your mother, Jessica," Her father's voice was soft as he talked, swinging them around on the hardwood. "When you were just a baby. We would dance and dance, and when she got too sick, I put her on my feet."
"Like me!" the girl, Jess, squeals happily.
"Just like you, Jess," He grinned. "I put her on my feet and I would dance for the both of us."
She presses her face into his worn jeans as he begins to sing again in his smooth voice, a voice she cherished more than anything.
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
* * *
Jess snapped the picture of the blank gravestone in front of her. There was no engraving on it, no flowers. It was like the person had never existed, wasn't important to anyone. She wondered sadly to herself, who was this person? Why weren't they remembered? Why was their grave blank? Didn't they have a family?
The wind picked up around her, and she knew she should be leaving soon. She gently pulled a tiny white flower from the damp earth and lay it against the grave. Then Jess snapped one more picture before moving on, this time of a person remembered.
She only wanted one more picture before she left. The path she was on took a turn. One grave in particular caught Jess's eye, and she instantly knew that it would be her last picture. She slowly walked toward it.
Unlike the last grave, this one was not forgotten. A bunch of fresh red roses rested against the cool stone. Bending down, Jess read:
ADRIENNE NESSER
Obviously, this Adrienne Nesser was much loved by her family. Glancing at the dates, Jess saw she had died tragically young, only twenty-five. She had died two years ago.
She stroked the velvety petals and stepped back. She snapped the picture, the wind moving the roses ever so slightly. It was time to go.
* * *
Billie Joe climbed out of his car, rubbing his stiff fingers. Why did it have to be so damn cold? He locked the car door and swung open the familiar gates of the cemetery. It was quiet as it always was, and nobody was there except him.
Everyone knew better than to come here today of all days. "The advantages of an impossibly small town," Billie muttered bitterly to himself.
He began walking down the well-worn path, a single rose in his hands. The wind blew around him, chilling him even more than he already was and ruffling his dark hair.
A car sounded behind him, and Billie turned back. A woman with dark brown hair and a camera was standing near the gates, watching him. When she saw him staring, she smiled and gave him a friendly wave. A little peeved that someone was here besides him, Billie just stared for a moment. She didn't look familiar, and he knew everyone in town. So she must not know.
The woman looked so friendly, so he smiled back sadly and nodded his head before turning and continuing down the path.
When Billie reached her grave, he knelt down in front of it like he usually did. Today was the two-year anniversary of the day she had died. He gently placed the single red rose with the others, just adding another to the ones he brought every single day. He knew he couldn't stay for long because Jakob was coming home from school in ten minutes and he had to be back by then. So touching the grave once, Billie let a tear fall from his eyes onto the roses. "I love you, Adie."
* * *
She had overworked herself the doctors had told Jess. She needed time to relax, or she was going to work herself into an early grave.
That was how Jess found herself in this impossibly small town in California. Her boss, Jen, had insisted that she take a week off to herself. And she was glad she had. This town was gorgeous, perfect for taking pictures. Already, she had gotten some great ones of the graveyard and of the town center. Everyone she passed either waved or tipped their hat to her. It was like she had stepped into Pleasantville.
Now, Jess eagerly awaited the development of her photos. She paced the small, dark hotel bathroom she had converted into a temporary, crudely set up dark room. When they finally developed, she carefully slipped out of the bathroom and sat on her bed to study them. She was pleased with how they came out. It was the last one that really caught her eye though.
Jess found herself desperately wishing she knew who Adrienne was. She must have really, truly been loved to have fresh roses, even two years after her death. What a lucky woman to have had a man for any amount of time that cared so much for her.
* * *
Jakob was at Mike's for the night. He and Estelle constantly fought over everything, but yet they couldn't live without each other. Young love, Adrienne had called it.
Billie considered his options for the night. He would probably go home, watch TV, eat some sort of TV dinner, and go to bed. What fun.
He glanced outside, seeing the dark sky. It would snow, either tonight or tomorrow. His bones would ache, his fingers grow stiff, just another few joys of getting older.
Nobody was out, but in this town, most people were in bed by eight, and it was already seven o' clock. Time to close shop.
Billie flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED and turned out all the lights. He stepped outside and began to lock up the shop behind him.
Suddenly, a brown-haired blur rushed passed him to the drug store next door where, Mr. Landy, the owner, was also closing up. "Please, sir, can I buy some film?" the woman asked.
Mr. Landy looked at her and shook his head. "Sorry, Miss. There's a storm on its way, and I've gotta get home to the wife," he motioned to the darkening sky. Then, with an apologetic smile, he tipped his hat and walked away.
Billie watched as the brown-haired woman stood in front of the drug store, staring frustratedly inside. Then she turned her head to him. She looked familiar. "Excuse me," she said. Now he knew. The woman from the cemetery a few days ago.
He grinned at her, and she seemed to recognize him too. She fidgeted with her camera. "Um, I don't mean to bother you, and I know you probably want to go home, but do you sell film?" the woman asked.
Billie stifled a laugh and pointed to the sign above his store. "I own a record store."
The woman looked up and blushed. So he did. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Now he laughed. "I'm Billie Joe."
"Jess."
A snow-white flake drifted between them, and both watched it fall to the floor. Jess looked up as it began to snow softly.
Billie studied her face while she looked up. She had gray eyes. He was sure he had never seen her in this town before. "You don't live here," It was a statement, not a question.
Jess shook her head. "I'm visiting."
"Ever been here when it snows?"
She shook her head again.
"It's really beautiful."
Jess stuck out her palm and caught a snowflake in her palm. He watched, intrigued as she giggled. It was like she had never been in snow before. He did the same, feeling chilly as the snow melted into a tiny puddle in his hand. "Jake's gonna be happy tomorrow," he laughed to himself.
"Your son?" she asked.
"Yeah, he's five." Billie's eyes took on an affectionate look as he said this.
"That's sweet. Five is such a great age," as Jess said this, her mind was wandering back to dancing with her father at that beautiful age where everything seemed to make sense. "Are you married?" she asked.
Billie Joe seemed a bit uncomfortable, even at suck a casual question. "Um, no. My wife died a couple years ago."
"I'm so sorry."
The ease of the conversation was gone, and an awkward silence fell between the two.
Jess leaned on one foot, then the other. "I should probably go."
He nodded. "Bye, Jess. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Bye, Billie," Jess grinned to herself. Something in her knew that she would be seeing him soon. She turned and walked back down the snowy street.
"Hey, Jess, are you walking?" Billie called after her.
She turned back. "Yeah, the hotel is just down the street."
"I'm going that way anyway. Let me drive you," He had no clue why he had said that. He lived on the opposite side of town.
Jess made her way back toward him. Snow was gathering on his shoulders and hair sweetly. Without thinking, she brushed it off. Then she answered, "Sure."
have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
They dance slowly, swaying as he sings. All the girl can do is grin, his voice filling every part of her. His big hands cover her five-year-old ones completely; her small bare feet are on top of his.
"I used to do this with your mother, Jessica," Her father's voice was soft as he talked, swinging them around on the hardwood. "When you were just a baby. We would dance and dance, and when she got too sick, I put her on my feet."
"Like me!" the girl, Jess, squeals happily.
"Just like you, Jess," He grinned. "I put her on my feet and I would dance for the both of us."
She presses her face into his worn jeans as he begins to sing again in his smooth voice, a voice she cherished more than anything.
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
have you ever seen the rain?
* * *
Jess snapped the picture of the blank gravestone in front of her. There was no engraving on it, no flowers. It was like the person had never existed, wasn't important to anyone. She wondered sadly to herself, who was this person? Why weren't they remembered? Why was their grave blank? Didn't they have a family?
The wind picked up around her, and she knew she should be leaving soon. She gently pulled a tiny white flower from the damp earth and lay it against the grave. Then Jess snapped one more picture before moving on, this time of a person remembered.
She only wanted one more picture before she left. The path she was on took a turn. One grave in particular caught Jess's eye, and she instantly knew that it would be her last picture. She slowly walked toward it.
Unlike the last grave, this one was not forgotten. A bunch of fresh red roses rested against the cool stone. Bending down, Jess read:
ADRIENNE NESSER
Obviously, this Adrienne Nesser was much loved by her family. Glancing at the dates, Jess saw she had died tragically young, only twenty-five. She had died two years ago.
She stroked the velvety petals and stepped back. She snapped the picture, the wind moving the roses ever so slightly. It was time to go.
* * *
Billie Joe climbed out of his car, rubbing his stiff fingers. Why did it have to be so damn cold? He locked the car door and swung open the familiar gates of the cemetery. It was quiet as it always was, and nobody was there except him.
Everyone knew better than to come here today of all days. "The advantages of an impossibly small town," Billie muttered bitterly to himself.
He began walking down the well-worn path, a single rose in his hands. The wind blew around him, chilling him even more than he already was and ruffling his dark hair.
A car sounded behind him, and Billie turned back. A woman with dark brown hair and a camera was standing near the gates, watching him. When she saw him staring, she smiled and gave him a friendly wave. A little peeved that someone was here besides him, Billie just stared for a moment. She didn't look familiar, and he knew everyone in town. So she must not know.
The woman looked so friendly, so he smiled back sadly and nodded his head before turning and continuing down the path.
When Billie reached her grave, he knelt down in front of it like he usually did. Today was the two-year anniversary of the day she had died. He gently placed the single red rose with the others, just adding another to the ones he brought every single day. He knew he couldn't stay for long because Jakob was coming home from school in ten minutes and he had to be back by then. So touching the grave once, Billie let a tear fall from his eyes onto the roses. "I love you, Adie."
* * *
She had overworked herself the doctors had told Jess. She needed time to relax, or she was going to work herself into an early grave.
That was how Jess found herself in this impossibly small town in California. Her boss, Jen, had insisted that she take a week off to herself. And she was glad she had. This town was gorgeous, perfect for taking pictures. Already, she had gotten some great ones of the graveyard and of the town center. Everyone she passed either waved or tipped their hat to her. It was like she had stepped into Pleasantville.
Now, Jess eagerly awaited the development of her photos. She paced the small, dark hotel bathroom she had converted into a temporary, crudely set up dark room. When they finally developed, she carefully slipped out of the bathroom and sat on her bed to study them. She was pleased with how they came out. It was the last one that really caught her eye though.
Jess found herself desperately wishing she knew who Adrienne was. She must have really, truly been loved to have fresh roses, even two years after her death. What a lucky woman to have had a man for any amount of time that cared so much for her.
* * *
Jakob was at Mike's for the night. He and Estelle constantly fought over everything, but yet they couldn't live without each other. Young love, Adrienne had called it.
Billie considered his options for the night. He would probably go home, watch TV, eat some sort of TV dinner, and go to bed. What fun.
He glanced outside, seeing the dark sky. It would snow, either tonight or tomorrow. His bones would ache, his fingers grow stiff, just another few joys of getting older.
Nobody was out, but in this town, most people were in bed by eight, and it was already seven o' clock. Time to close shop.
Billie flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED and turned out all the lights. He stepped outside and began to lock up the shop behind him.
Suddenly, a brown-haired blur rushed passed him to the drug store next door where, Mr. Landy, the owner, was also closing up. "Please, sir, can I buy some film?" the woman asked.
Mr. Landy looked at her and shook his head. "Sorry, Miss. There's a storm on its way, and I've gotta get home to the wife," he motioned to the darkening sky. Then, with an apologetic smile, he tipped his hat and walked away.
Billie watched as the brown-haired woman stood in front of the drug store, staring frustratedly inside. Then she turned her head to him. She looked familiar. "Excuse me," she said. Now he knew. The woman from the cemetery a few days ago.
He grinned at her, and she seemed to recognize him too. She fidgeted with her camera. "Um, I don't mean to bother you, and I know you probably want to go home, but do you sell film?" the woman asked.
Billie stifled a laugh and pointed to the sign above his store. "I own a record store."
The woman looked up and blushed. So he did. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Now he laughed. "I'm Billie Joe."
"Jess."
A snow-white flake drifted between them, and both watched it fall to the floor. Jess looked up as it began to snow softly.
Billie studied her face while she looked up. She had gray eyes. He was sure he had never seen her in this town before. "You don't live here," It was a statement, not a question.
Jess shook her head. "I'm visiting."
"Ever been here when it snows?"
She shook her head again.
"It's really beautiful."
Jess stuck out her palm and caught a snowflake in her palm. He watched, intrigued as she giggled. It was like she had never been in snow before. He did the same, feeling chilly as the snow melted into a tiny puddle in his hand. "Jake's gonna be happy tomorrow," he laughed to himself.
"Your son?" she asked.
"Yeah, he's five." Billie's eyes took on an affectionate look as he said this.
"That's sweet. Five is such a great age," as Jess said this, her mind was wandering back to dancing with her father at that beautiful age where everything seemed to make sense. "Are you married?" she asked.
Billie Joe seemed a bit uncomfortable, even at suck a casual question. "Um, no. My wife died a couple years ago."
"I'm so sorry."
The ease of the conversation was gone, and an awkward silence fell between the two.
Jess leaned on one foot, then the other. "I should probably go."
He nodded. "Bye, Jess. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Bye, Billie," Jess grinned to herself. Something in her knew that she would be seeing him soon. She turned and walked back down the snowy street.
"Hey, Jess, are you walking?" Billie called after her.
She turned back. "Yeah, the hotel is just down the street."
"I'm going that way anyway. Let me drive you," He had no clue why he had said that. He lived on the opposite side of town.
Jess made her way back toward him. Snow was gathering on his shoulders and hair sweetly. Without thinking, she brushed it off. Then she answered, "Sure."
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