Chapter 1
I was crazy. No, really, I was.
I'd survived twenty years locked up in a psych ward.
I'd been shocked by electricity more times than I could count.
People said I had a husband and a kid, but not once had they ever come to see me.
An accident sent me to my death right there on the electroshock table.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in 1985.
It was the day of my blind date.
Suddenly, several lines of floating text appeared above my head.
[Mom, it's me, Cheryl!]
[I'm your daughter, Mom!]
[Don't go on that blind date! That guy's Dad!]
Turned out I really did have a husband and a daughter after all.
*****
[You can't go!]
[Stay away from him!]
I ignored the floating text and followed Rhea, the matchmaker, out the door.
"Ramona, come sit down. This is Abbott Sarratt, a technician at the chemical plant. Doesn't he look sharp?" Rhea said.
I glanced up at the man, and sure enough, he was the one I'd seen in my dreams.
He had clean-cut features and stood tall.
This was the man who'd been my husband in my previous life.
But he kept his head down the whole time, never once looking at me.
More lines of text popped up above my head: [Mom! Why won't you believe me?]
[I'm telling the truth! Stay away from him!]
I bit my lip and stayed silent.
Honestly, I couldn't help but feel a bit bitter inside.
After all, in those twenty years locked up in the psych ward, neither Abbott nor Cheryl ever bothered to visit me. Not even once.
Rhea smiled and said, "Ramona, you know, there are tons of girls who like Abbott, but he hasn't shown interest in a single one.
"The fact that he agreed to meet you today. Well, you're meant for each other."
Above my head, Cheryl's text shook violently. [Mom!]
Rhea nudged Abbott's arm. "Abbott, say something, will you?
"The Fraley family is known for being hardworking and reliable.
"And Ramona is smart, considerate, and knows how to take care of a family.
"Whoever marries her is basically winning the lottery."
Abbott glanced up at me, his tone bland. "I'm fine with whatever."
Just then, the floating text appeared again, practically shaking with frustration.
[No! Absolutely not! Mom, don't let him fool you!] Cheryl pleaded.
[I can only send ten messages a day, Mom! Please, just snap out of it!]
The last line of text scrolled past.
And just like that, my head fell silent.
Just then, a woman stepped out from the back room, holding an enamel tray with tea. "Rhea, Ms. Fraley, have some water," she said.
Rhea grinned and introduced her, "This is Abbott's sister-in-law, Hattie Dickinson. She's really hardworking and kind, but life hasn't been easy for her.
"Her husband ran off to dodge his debts a year ago. No one's heard from him since."
Hattie smiled as she handed over the coffee. I got up to take it from her.
But my hand slipped, and the scalding coffee splashed right onto the back of her hand.
Hattie hissed in pain.
I panicked and blurted out, "I'm so sorry!"
Abbott, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly jumped up, grabbed Hattie's hand, and rushed her out to the yard.
"Are you okay? Is it really bad?" he asked, worry in his voice.
He quickly drew a bucket of water from the well and gently lowered Hattie's hand into it, careful not to hurt her further.
He was like a completely different person from the cold, distant man he'd been just moments ago.
Rhea leaned in close to me, unable to hide her admiration. "See? Abbott might look aloof, but he's got a gentle heart.
"If he's this caring toward his sister-in-law, you can bet he'll treat his wife even better."
I watched Abbott's back as he hurried away, and my heart started racing.
Maybe in my previous life, my illness made me hurt Abbott and Cheryl, and that was why they never came to see me.
As I thought about it, most of the resentment in my heart faded away.
The way Abbott looked so worried just now—it wasn't an act at all.
He was indeed gentle and attentive.
Feeling shy, I lowered my head and nodded lightly. "Yeah, he's actually pretty nice," I said.
Just then, the coffee on the stove started boiling, so I got up to pour some for everyone.
While I was at it, I went ahead and washed all the utensils piled up in the sink.
As soon as I finished, Abbott came in, helping Hattie back inside.
Rhea saw what I was doing and couldn't help but praise me loudly, "Ramona, you're so capable. Always on top of things.
"And just look at you, you're definitely the type to give Abbott a big, healthy son!"
She grinned at Abbott, "Abbott, you better not let a girl like Ramona slip away."
I felt my cheeks flush even deeper.
Abbott looked at me, nodded a little awkwardly, and said, "Yeah... we can, uh, start seeing each other..."
I looked up at him in surprise, then quickly dropped my gaze, my face burning. "Okay, sure," I mumbled.
Rhea laughed so hard she could barely keep her mouth closed. "Perfect!"
Hattie saw what was happening, her eyes turning a little red, and without saying a word, she slipped quietly into the back room.
Abbott didn't hesitate—he left me and Rhea behind and followed Hattie inside.
Rhea gave an awkward smile. "Looks like Abbott's just shy.
"Well, let's head out for now. You two can figure out your next date yourselves, right?"
I nodded, following her out, but couldn't help glancing back at Abbott's house every few steps as we left.
That night, I slept like a log and dreamed about my life with Abbott after we got married.
In the dream, he gently warmed my frozen, red hands.
He crouched by the stove late at night, cooking my favorite dishes just for me.
Whenever I got sick, he'd stay up all night, worried sick and unable to sleep.
*****
When I woke up the next morning, the floating text appeared above my head again. Cheryl's words were full of disappointment.
[Mom, do you hate me?
[Is that why you won't believe me?]
I stared at the text and, for the first time, responded to her, "Why would I go crazy? I was happy with your dad after we got married."
[I don't know...
[When I was one, you killed Uncle Andrew and got sent to prison.
[Everyone called me the killer's kid. They chased me and beat me up...
[Right around then, the old house got demolished, and we got a big chunk of money, so we moved downtown.
[Twelve years later, you got out and found us, but not long after, Dad sent you to the psych ward...]