by Donna Raider
“How do you decide?” Sara asked
“Okay, Redman, I’m ready for our meeting,” Stiles bellowed as he knocked on her dressing room door.
Saved by the bell, Leah thought. Some things were too personal to share with her daughter. She opened her door. “Be right there.” She turned to Sara and hugged her tightly. “I can’t make up your mind for you. I can only advise you to follow your heart.”
##
“You sure there is nothing I can do to convince you to stay?” Stiles steepled his hands in front of his face. “I can get you all the money in the world. Put in a nursery for the baby. You can bring it to work with you.”
“No.” Leah laughed. “Mika and I have decided to leave New York and move on to the next phase of our life.”
“Where are you moving? We can move the studio there and continue shooting.” Stiles was trying everything to hang on to his beautiful star. “Leah, the show is at the top of the charts. Our commercial sales are record-breaking. We will do anything, just name it.”
“Our minds are made up.” She smiled. “I really want to leave while I am on the top. You have twenty-four episodes ready to go, so it’s not as if I am leaving you in a lurch. There is no reason to announce that I have left the show. You are set for next year. I would appreciate it if you would tell no one I am leaving. I do have an idea that will keep the show at the top of the ratings.”
“Let’s hear it.” Stiles shrugged. He had nothing to lose.
“I am taking the summer off and will be back in October. Mika has to be here for a few months. Begin as soon as possible to write Scarlett in as a stronger personality. As you know, Scarlett is the second most popular person on the series. We could have something happen to Candace. She could be shot and go into a coma. Have the writers script it, and in October, I could film several hospital scenes with me on life support and Scarlett discussing cases with me. Although I would obviously not speak to her, but show her reasoning things through, by herself, as she talks out loud to me in the coma.
“Have scenes where Trey sits with me and declares his love. Have him pour out his heart to a comatose Candace.
“We can change up the hospital room every time; add flowers, have a nurse come in and check my vitals, while the priest and Scarlett are there. Things like that would be easy.
“Gradually move Scarlett to lead detective and bring in another detective to assist her. Leave Candace in the coma. The writers are good enough to script it. As an actress, Scarlett is certainly strong enough to pull it off. I see wedding bells in Scarlett and Trey’s future. Add that and you guys will be the headline of every A&E channel and paper in the world for years.”
“Damn, that’s a great idea.” Stiles slapped the palm of his hand on his desk. “But, you see, that is why the show is on top. You always have suggestions and ideas like this. It just might work for a few more years.”
“You should have Scarlett begin riding with Detective Carlyle as soon as possible, so she can watch her work.” Leah wanted to distract Carlie. “I have learned so much from her. She is the one who makes this show so realistic.”
“I have to say,” Stiles said as he stood, “you are the most talented actress with whom I have ever had the pleasure of working.
“I appreciate the fact that you have come up with good ideas for the show’s continued success. Most actresses would just leave amid all the fanfare they could garner to further their career. You are very special, Leah Redman. If you ever want to make a comeback, please come back to me.”
“I will,” she promised as he engulfed her in a big bear hug.
##
“Um, something smells delicious.” Jennifer opened the door to her apartment, inhaling the aroma of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove.
“I thought you might like a home-cooked meal.” Sara smiled as she kissed her girlfriend hello.
“I like anything that includes you.” Jennifer laughed, delighted to find the light of her life in her apartment.
“Why don’t you get comfortable while I put the bread in the oven?” Sara suggested. She poured two large wine glasses to the brim and took a deep drink from one of them. She needed all the backbone she could muster tonight.
Sara sat on the island barstool and watched as Jennifer walked toward her. The doctor had traded her dark pantsuit for a pair of tight jeans and a sweater that showed off her perfect figure. Sara took another sip of wine before sliding Jennifer’s glass toward her.
“Almost ready.” She smiled as Jennifer slipped between her knees and put her arms around her neck. She held her breath as Jennifer closed the distance between their lips and kissed her slowly, cautiously nudging her lips with her tongue. Sara parted her lips, running her tongue along the other woman’s lips before slipping into Jennifer’s mouth. The buzzer on the oven pulled them apart.
“Wow! Saved by the bell.” Jennifer exhaled, reluctant to release her.
Sara slipped from the stool and removed the bread from the oven. The room smelled wonderful.
“I could get used to this.” Jennifer laughed. “Not the food, the kissing.”
“I think you will love the food too.” Sara smiled. “If you will grab the bottle of wine, I will carry our plates.”
They discussed their day. Jennifer had performed three surgeries: two planned and one emergency.
“I lost the emergency one.” Jennifer grimaced as they settled onto the sofa. “Some guy on the FBI’s most wanted list got into a shootout with the police. A bullet through the heart is usually fatal.
“The bullets everyone uses now don’t just make a hole; they explode on impact. The heart can only withstand so much damage.
“But enough about me. What did you do today?”
“I picked up my new passport. I must leave for Geneva on Friday. I visited my mother for a long time then shopped for dinner.” Sara didn’t want to ruin their evening by telling Jennifer about her encounter with Carlie.
“Was she in a better mood today?” Jennifer laughed. “I am still shaking from yesterday.”
Sara thought of Leah’s mood with Carlie and then the mood she had gotten into talking about Mika. “When I left her, she was in a wonderful mood.”
“Good.” Jennifer smiled. “I like it when Queen Mommy is happy. So, what did you two talk about?”
“Devotion, trust, and loyalty. Just girl talk. I think she may be pregnant again.” Sara giggled. “She had that glow about her, but she hasn’t announced it yet. She always gets so excited and makes a very big deal out of the announcement.
“She said she and Mika discuss everything with each other, but she decides all by herself when to be with child. She likes to surprise Mika.”
“I hope we have the same relationship your parents have,” Jennifer said seriously. “Devotion, trust, and loyalty—I think those three things are truly the basis of a good marriage.”
Sara leaned back, her eyes locked with Jennifer’s. “Marriage,” she whispered.
“Yes, I want to marry you,” Jennifer said slowly. “I love you and I want to spend my life with you.”
“Even eternity?” Sara watched Jennifer’s eyes.
“Even eternity.” Jennifer’s eyes danced. “Especially eternity.”
Sara laughed as if they were playing a game. “What if you could be immortal?” Her tone was teasing and playful as one would be when playing the what-if game.
“I would love it as long as you were too.” Jennifer grinned.
“What if only you were immortal?” Sara looked up at her through long, dark lashes. Her dimples played at the corners of her mouth.
“I would still want to marry you,” Jennifer declared. “I would want to have as much time as possible with you, even if it meant an eternity of misery after you were gone.
“So, Sara Cross, will you marry me?”
“I want to tell you a story. After I finish, ask me that question again or say nothing at all and I will understand.” Sara inhaled deeply; she didn’t want to disclose everythi
ng about her family, so she had chosen a different way to tell Jennifer her story.
“Do you remember when we first met, three years ago?” Sara began. “I was working on a genetic marker for eternal life.”
Jennifer nodded. “I remember you were so excited about it and then suddenly you pulled the plug on the whole project and destroyed all your research and notes, everything. You refused to discuss it.”
“Yes,” Sara continued. “Like Icarus, I flew too close to the sun. There are some things best left for God.”
Jennifer frowned, not understanding where Sara was headed in this conversation.
“I am immortal,” Sara blurted out. “My experiments, I…”
Jennifer stared at her. “You can’t be. I have watched you grow from a young girl to a self-confident young woman. I have watched you age.”
“I will age until I am thirty-four, then I will be eternally thirty-four.”
“Just like your parents.” Jennifer scowled. “Don’t you think I have noticed that your mothers look more like your siblings than your parents?
“No mortal woman that looks like your mother could ever birth twelve children and still look as beautiful and young as she does.
“Don’t you trust me enough to tell me the truth?”
“I do.” Sara closed her eyes. “I just wanted to protect my family.”
“From me?” Jennifer asked, gently taking her hand. “Surely you must know I would never hurt you or your family.”
Sara refilled their wine glasses. “You will probably need this.” She smiled as she began the true story of her family.
When Sara finished, they both sat silently for a long time.
“Leah is a witch. Not just any witch, but the most powerful witch to ever exist,” Jennifer almost whispered.
“Mika is an angel, but you really don’t know much about her or how she came to be on Earth.
“You and all your siblings are immortals and have inherited your parents powers. Do you have wings?”
Sara nodded.
“May I see them?” Jennifer asked in awe.
Sara stood and removed her blouse and bra. Slowly she unfurled her wings and rose taller. She was magnificent. Jennifer had never seen anything so beautiful. The doctor held her breath as she gazed upon the pure beauty of the woman she loved. She was too beautiful to touch.
Slowly, Sara retracted her wings and replaced her clothes.
Jennifer stood and walked into the bedroom. In a few minutes, she returned. Sara had gathered her purse and coat and was almost to the door.
“Where are you going?” Jennifer asked.
Sara turned to face her. “I told you to ask me that question again or say nothing at all. You said nothing at all. I understand. I trust you will keep our secret.”
“I said nothing at all because I wanted to say it the right way.” Jennifer fell to one knee in front of Sara, holding her palm out to her. “Sara Cross, will you be my wife or witch or angel, or whatever you want to be? Just be it with me for the rest of my life, please?”
Speechless, Sara stared at the woman in front of her.
“A simple yes will suffice.” Jennifer smiled nervously.
“Yes, oh yes.” Sara fell to her knees, hugging Jennifer to her. Jennifer caught Sara’s left hand and slid the brilliant diamond ring onto her finger.
“How soon?” Jennifer asked.
“How soon, what?” Sara questioned.
“How soon can we be married?” Jennifer laughed out loud. “How soon can I do more than just kiss you?”
“More?” Sara looked at her fiancée questioningly.
Jennifer blushed as she realized that Sara had no idea what she was suggesting. “You know what, darling? We’ve covered enough new ground for tonight. The important thing is that we are going to be together for as long as we both shall live.”
“Yes.” Sara nodded, thinking she really needed to have a more in-depth talk with Queen Mommy.
##
Once he had identified her, Cruzar had no problem stalking Priest Mika Cross. Cross was tall, so she stood out walking down the street in a crowd. He followed the priest to a nice restaurant named Vincent’s. Cruzar slipped into a booth that was across the room but provided a clear view of Cross.
An amiable man with “Joe” embroidered on his jacket slid a menu in front of Cruzar. “May I bring you something to drink, sir?” He smiled.
Cruzar was ordering wine when he noticed an incredibly beautiful woman enter the restaurant. She smiled when she saw the priest and walked toward her. Cross stood, bent down and kissed the woman, then motioned for her to sit down beside her.
“Isn’t that Leah Redman?” Cruzar asked his waiter.
“I’m not sure.” Joe was always protective of the Crosses’ privacy. “You were saying wine, sir. Any particular year?”
“House is fine,” Cruzar grunted. All wines tasted the same to him.
As Cruzar continued to watch the Crosses, two more beautiful women joined them. One was obviously Mika’s daughter. She was tall and athletic looking. Her long, wavy blonde hair was the same color as Mika’s and her skin was almost a golden-brown color. She flashed Mika’s same incredible blue eyes. She wore an engagement or wedding ring on her left hand. She was holding hands with the other woman.
The other woman was five or six years older than the Cross girl and slightly taller. Her hair was flaxen colored with platinum highlights. She obviously doted on the other woman.
Interesting, Cruzar thought. A lesbian priest who has almost single-handedly done away with celibacy in the church and her daughter is also a lesbian. No wonder the church wants her dead.
Joe placed the glass of wine in front of Cruzar. “Is that woman married to that priest?” Cruzar asked his waiter.
“I really couldn’t say.” Joe smiled. “Have you decided on your meal, sir?”
##
Mika looked around the table at the three beautiful women in her life. She thanked the Lord for the many blessings she received every day. Sara had returned from Geneva yesterday, and it was their first opportunity to visit.
“So,” she said as she inhaled deeply, “you two have something to tell us?”
“Yes, Mika.” Sara held out her hand, exhibiting the diamond ring. “We want to get married.”
Everyone sat in silence as the priest signaled for Joe to come to their table. “Joe, we will be celebrating tonight.” Mika smiled. “Your best bottle of champagne, please, and a bottle of Ferrarelle for my wife.” Mika smiled at her wife and squeezed Leah’s hand on her leg as she ordered.
“Mom’s drinking water.” Sara said knowingly. “I think your news is even more exciting than ours.”
Mika blushed slightly and bowed her head as a sweet grin brightened her face. The look she gave Leah was breathtaking.
“Enough about us.” Leah smiled, squirming in her seat. Damn, she is so cute when she does that childish grin. “Let me have a good look at that ring.” She caught Sara’s hand and admired the engagement ring. “This is exquisite.” She glanced at Jennifer. “It is good to see my daughter is marrying a woman with good taste.”
“Thank you.” Jennifer smiled.
“Have you set the date yet?” Mika asked Sara. “You know we have a lot going on over the summer.”
“No.” Sara frowned. “I have to go back to Geneva, then on a tour of several countries, and then the construction of the new research lab. I’m thinking sometime next year.”
“Next year!” Jennifer’s exclamation was a little loud, and several diners turned to gaze at the family. “I’m sorry,” she said, blushing, “but, next year?” Her inquiry was softer this time.
“Obviously, you two have some discussing to do,” Leah noted. “Dates aside, we are delighted for you. Jennifer, I cannot think of anyone I’d rather see our daughter marry.”
“Thank you.” Both women smiled and squeezed each other’s hands.
Mika raised a questioning eyebrow at her daughter and tilt
ed her head slightly.
“Yes, I have told her about us.” Sara nodded.
“And you are okay with this?” Mika asked seriously.
Jennifer nodded. “I love her. I can’t live without her.”
“Darling,” Leah said as she leaned lightly against Mika’s shoulder, “perhaps we could go to our apartment after dinner and speak more openly about everything.”
“I would like that very much.” Jennifer smiled. “I have many questions.”
“Anyone would.” Mika nodded.
“I saw you made the headlines today,” Leah said, addressing Jennifer. “That was quite a feat.”
“Not really,” Jennifer said, blushing, “it has been done thousands of times in other countries. The US is just slow to recognize the advancements of science and medicine. I will probably be imprisoned for saving that boy’s life.”
“Imprisoned?” Sara gasped. “What are you talking about?”
“The heart and the procedure I used aren’t exactly legal in the US. There is a big hullabaloo going on over how I got the heart in the first place.” Jennifer shrugged.
“How did you get it here so quickly?” Leah asked.
“I brought it here.” Sara frowned. “I would not have done it if I had known it would get you into trouble.”
“Ooh.” Leah exhaled softly. “We really do need to finish dinner and move to the apartment.”
They placed their order and waited until Joe was out of hearing distance.
“I haven’t seen the news today,” Mika said. “Will someone tell me what Jennifer did?”
“Fourteen-year-old conjoined twins from a Middle Eastern country were flown here four months ago,” Jennifer explained, “a boy and a girl. They were joined at the back shoulder. It was a fairly easy surgery to separate them.”
“But you aren’t a regular surgeon.” Leah frowned. “I would think that would require a specialist.”
“That is why I was called in,” Jennifer continued. “They shared the same heart. The heart was in the proper place in the girl’s chest. They had made up their minds to be separated. Neither of them wanted to go through life like that. They drew straws to see who got the heart. The girl won. I was asked to separate the girl’s heart from the boy and let him die.
