by Jill Cooper
“Then I’ll try my best.” I sit down on the sofa and rest the flowers on the end table beside me. Donovan sits too and places his hand on my knee. I lace my fingers through his.
“This is really hard for me.” Donovan swallows and his jaw tenses.
“You can tell me anything.”
“I know.” Donovan gazes away at the wall rather than look at me. “Dad and I…we trusted the wrong people. I was too eager. Stupid,” he gazes down at his hand, “I lost it all. Everything.”
“Everything?” My voice quakes.
Donovan nods and glances at me for a brief second. It hurts him to look at me, I can see it on his face. “I can sell the car. That’ll buy us some time, but this apartment…might have another month left. I’m…I’m sorry, Lara.” He hangs his head.
I run my fingers through his hair as he leans forward and places his forehead against my shoulder. “We’ll find a way through. It’ll be all right.”
“Can you forgive me?” Donovan asks.
“Yes,” the answer comes easy and tears that I desperately don’t want him to see flow from my eyes, “Of course, I can.”
“There’s something else.” Donovan straightens up and he reaches inside his pocket. When he pulls out the envelope Cassidy had given him, I quiver.
“What is it?”
He places it in my open hands. “A woman, someone I think who was following us…she gave it to me. It could make all our dreams come true, but I don’t know how she got it. I suspect it’s illegal or bad. She wanted me to introduce someone to Delilah, so I took the envelope. So I could hand it over to you.”
I can’t believe what he’s saying. I glance at the envelope. “You took it so we could—.”
“Warn Delilah. I don’t know who this woman is, but I figured you and Delilah might be able to track her down.”
I flip the envelope over in my hand and it's still sealed. My mind floats away at a dizzying speed at what this all means. “You didn’t even open it?”
Donovan shakes his head. “I was afraid I might be tempted. Stupid, right? It could save us.”
“Not stupid.” I realize my words are too sharp. “Thank you, Don. Thank you.” I stroke his cheek and he leans in to kiss me.
I let it happen. More than that, I will it to happen and fall into his arms with unabashed trust. Nuzzling his cheek, I rest in the comfort that is his embrace.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Donovan says.
That doesn’t even matter to me. I simply don’t care what we’re going to do. All that matters is we’ll do it together. “We’ll figure it out. For now, we can get jobs. I can drop—.”
“No, no you won’t. School is important to you. We’ll…” Donovan shrugs, “Find a way. I’m just…really embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” I kiss his cheek. “You’ve done the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Donovan laughs. “Me? Braver than the infamous Lara Crane?”
“Definitely.”
He considers this with a laugh. “We should go through everything. See what we can sell to help us by,” Donovan groans, “All my expensive suits.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Don’t worry, we can buy you some from Sears.”
Donovan groans louder than before. “You’re teasing me.”
“Just a little bit. That’s how sure I am you’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”
“And the wedding of your dreams?” Donovan touches my chin.
“We’re the dream. Not the wedding.”
He sighs as if I’ve offered him the world. “You said you had to talk to me too. What was it you needed to tell me?”
“My dad…Donovan…” I touch his face and bring it closer to mine and then I whisper, “He’s alive. My dad’s alive.”
I watch the wonder spring across his face and then I tell him everything—well, mostly everything—about what has happened. One day, he’ll be ready to hear about the future and the other decision he had made, but I’m not willing to ruin our special moment bringing it up.
“So, you’re going to join the TTPA? And work with this girl Cassidy on the bridge? To protect the timeline.”
“That’s the plan,” I bite my lip and hope he’s with me. Hope he’ll support me, “What do you think?”
Donovan sits for a moment and then pulls me closer as he puts his feet up on the ottoman. “I think there isn’t anyone better suited for the job than you.”
Epilogue
Dad has to answer the questions of the police. Technically, what we’d done was illegal; traveling in time and bribing the funeral-home director—among others—would have put me in hot water. Luckily, his lawyer managed to use Dad’s wrongful imprisonment to our advantage and we’re let go pretty much with a warning never to do it again.
“How’s Don?” Dad asks me as we walk to the train station together.
“It’s hard for him. He’s never had to do the things he’s doing now. I guess, technically, in this timeline I haven’t either, but I remember you and me struggling when I was a kid. He’ll get through it.”
Dad puts his hand on my shoulder. “He’ll bounce back. Money or not, he’s smart and I’m sure if you two put your heads together, you’ll come up with a solution. For now, work hard, the both of you. And I’ll keep paying your college tuition.”
I smile. “Thanks, Dad. I’m heading to Mom’s to check on Molly. If you want to come…”
He waves me off. “I have some things to take care of. Need to try to get my job back, or find a replacement. Just tell her I said hello.” Dad kisses my cheek and then we part. I notice a glimmer in his eye when we talk about Mom. I’m sure I didn’t imagine it and I wonder what that means for the future.
In the future I remember Dad being alone. And in another version of that future, Mom and Jax were still married and happy. Is there a third version happening in front of me? How would I even feel if Mom and Dad…
It’s something I can’t even put into words. By the time I arrive at Mom’s I’m starving. She is in the kitchen, hard at work. “Molly’s upstairs if you want to say hello before lunch. I’ll pack a take-home package for you and Don.”
“You don’t have to do that. We’ll be fine.”
Mom silences me with a look.
“Dad says hello.”
“Oh?” the corner of Mom’s lip turns up, “Does he? Well, you tell him I said hello back.” She turns to the kitchen faucet and hums. Actual humming!
I smile as I head upstairs and I find Molly sitting on her bed. She’s ten-years-old and, by all accounts, just a little kid. But, the way she curls on her bed and stares at the ceiling, I worry that something big is weighing on her mind.
Knocking on the door, I enter. I watch a slow smile spread across her lips as she sits up. “Lara, hi.”
I sit beside her and give her a big hug. “Hey, kiddo. You doing okay?”
Molly shakes her head. “I don’t know. Things happened that day. With you and Cassidy,” her brow furrows, “Cameron.”
“It did. Lots of things happened.” Molly knows Cameron’s name, even though I’d never said it. Had he told her his name? Or, based on other timelines, does Molly just know these things?
“But why? I don’t understand. You’re special, but me—.”
“You’re special too. I just never realized in what way before.”
Molly pushes her lips together. “You’re special, but you weren’t born that way. You were made that way…in that lab.” She gazes down and shakes her head.
“I was, in a lot of ways. You’re right. But it worked because I was special. My brain works differently than other people’s do. I think it comes from Mom and since you come from her—.”
“Do you think Mike is special too?”
That I’m not sure about. He doesn’t seem to understand what happened the way Molly does. But his hand had been glowing. Or, had it glowed because he’d been holding hands with Molly—she is his twin after all. Does that mean twins really do
share everything?
“Only time will tell. But I promise I’ll help you, and Mike if necessary. I’ll keep your secret safe. No one is going to find out from me. And it’s important, Molly, that you don’t go around telling people or using your gift.”
“I don’t even know how to use it.” Molly’s eyebrows furrow.
“I’m going to show you. I’ll train you, the best I can.”
Molly sighs. “It’s just so confusing. I remember things that never happened. I see things that could have happened, but never will,” she shakes her head, “It’s all a mess of twisted thoughts, and I’m not sure I know what’s real and isn’t.”
I grip her arm. “We’ll fix it. We’ll find out why, and somehow, we’ll fix it.”
“What if you can’t.” Fear strikes Molly’s face.
“I’m Lara Montgomery. I don’t know the meaning of the word ‘can’t’.”
Molly laughs and we both stand up from the bed. I raise her hand and show her how I open a portal to the bridge. It’s a small glimmer, the size of a window into a different world. I don’t expect her to do it yet; she’s still so young, but she has to see how powerful it is. How powerful she is. It’s a wondrous thing and something that needs to be respected.
Cassidy turns when she sees us and steps through into Molly’s bedroom. “C’mon you two, there’s work to be done.”
Time Thief: Book 5
Chapter One: Lara Montgomery
Tomorrow it finally happens and I’ll become Lara James. Wed and happily ever after are in my future. So close to the finish line and I feel nothing but dread.
As if time will catch up with me and ruin everything. It always has.
Time travel, it seems, is more of a curse than a blessing. It’ll forever be my cross to bear, I’ll always be looking over my shoulder, even as I go about my mundane day.
I ease into the receptionist’s brown leather chair to grab the ringing phone. “James and Montgomery Consulting,” I answer the phone with a smile, leaning over the receptionist counter even though it’s supposed to be my day off. “Mr. Crane will be with you in fifteen minutes. He’s stuck in traffic, but I promise he’ll be right there.”
It’s a family affair now with Donovan’s eye for business and my Dad’s natural ability for numbers. We work together, play together, and soon we’ll all be family. I think about that as I gaze at the understated diamond ring on my finger.
Earned with hard work, it means more than the four-karat ring I had in the timeline where we had it all. My ability to time travel has led me here and I’m happy as I can be with a cloud of worry looming overhead.
I hang up the phone in time to see the receptionist, Maggy, coming around the corner. She’s a young thing of twenty-one, with flowing blond hair with purple tips. She wears a loose black dress and high heels that really set off her legs.
I might only be twenty-five but my time travel escapades have age me and made me too serious for my years. She scrunches up her nose and carries a full cup of coffee. “Sorry, Lara. I know you’re only visiting today. So sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m here to see Don anyway and it’s good to hear the phones ringing off the hook.” Ringing phones means we can keep paying everyone and pay the bills.
Truth be told, as hard as it was to get this business off the ground, I was happy to pitch a hand.
After everything Donovan and I had been through, losing all of our money in the stock market, being tempted by time travel assassins with stolen stock information from the future, the phones ringing makes me happy.
The office might’ve been small and decorated on a budget, but it’s warm. The walls are the color of a creamy coffee and the rugs are plush. People bustle back and forth. The sounds of keyboards clacking and fax machines beeping guides my way down the hall.
Donovan’s small office has a view of the parking lot. Humble beginnings, he always said would lead to big things. Great things.
Just like the upcoming wedding to celebrate our love.
I knock on his office door before I stick my head in. He’s sitting on the edge of the desk, his suit jacket is thrown across his chair and his white shirt is unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up. Clearly, he’s in for the long haul. As he talks, his forehead creases in that sexy way that it does and I stare at him. I want nothing more than to glide my fingers across his brow.
He catches me when he lifts his head and waves. The skin around his eyes crinkle with a smile. “Listen, let’s finish this tonight. No, tomorrow I can’t. Tomorrow I’m the luckiest man in the world. I’m getting married. Thank you. Sure. Okay…bye.”
As he hangs up the phone, I slink inside and close the door. “Is the lucky girl anyone I know?”
Donovan stands and approaches. He swoops me in his arms and gives me a tender kiss. “I don’t know. Do you know any good-looking brunettes with curly hair?”
“I can think of two others that look pretty similar.” I hang onto his shoulders, lean in for another kiss, happy to be where I belong.
“Oh, that’s right. Well, I didn’t think that through very well, did I?” Donovan kisses my button nose and I laugh, running my hands down his back.
“You sure we can’t spend the night together? You’re making me think lots of naughty things.”
Donovan raises his eyebrows. “We’ve had enough bad luck, I’m not going to risk fate by doing something so bold as that.”
I pout with disappointment and kiss his cheek, taking in his musky scent. “Will you at least take me to dinner?”
“And have you tempt me all night long?” Donovan snorts and I laugh in reply. “Don’t you have a sleep over with your sister?”
That’s true, I do. I’m sleeping at my parent’s place for the last time as a single woman and hoping to keep things cordial between everyone. No one ever said life was easy and life with time travelers make it even worse.
“But I’ll call you,” Donovan whispers and kisses my cheek, then my chin. “With each passing day, I think I love you more.”
The way his eyes sparkle when he says that, makes my heart soar. Going from the penthouse in the Back Bay to living in a simple one-bedroom apartment in Somerville would’ve been enough to break some couples, but not us.
With any luck, and lots of commitment, nothing would ever be able to break us apart again. But that fear and dread that something horrible is coming, it never lets go.
****
Years ago, I changed time to save my mother’s life. Back then, I hadn’t realized how much my actions would screw things up. The only thing I could think of was that Mom would be alive and back with me and Dad. Boy, was I wrong. Instead I got a step-father, a new half brother and sister, and a conspiracy that put all our lives in danger.
That happy ever after that I dreamed for my parents, it was here, and I couldn’t be happier—even if I did walk in on them in Mom’s kitchen. The sink is on, but it is the last thing on their mind. Mom leaning against Dad’s chest. His sleeves are rolled up as if he was going to wash the dishes and got distracted.
There’s so much love in that room that I can’t help reaching behind Mom, grabbing a handful of chips, and munching on them loudly. I might be grown up, but when I’m with my parents, I still feel like a kid and not a twenty-five year old woman.
“Lara!” Mom wipes her mouth as if to clear what I saw away, but that isn’t happening.
“Pizza’s here. I thought you guys might want to know. Want me to send some in here or should I just send it up to your room?”
Mom puts her hands on her hips with a pretend glint of anger in her eye. “Lara Montgomery…”
“Tomorrow it’ll be James,” Dad says and rests his hand on my shoulder. “I feel like I just got back to you and your mom. And you’ll be growing up on me just like that.”
Mom lets out a deep sigh. The guilt she feels for the ten years Dad spent in prison thanks to her ex-husband, my ex-step-father, is real. So is the love I feel for Jax, too. He made som
e mistakes, some big ones, but he raised me since I was ten-years-old in this timeline. It confuses my emotions and my sense of loyalty split between two men.
I kiss Dad’s cheek. “You’ll always have me. I’m not going anywhere. Donovan and I will always be nearby.”
He smiles, but there’s sadness. “Send some of the pizza in here. Have fun with Molly.”
Mom twists her hands together. “If you see Mike, send him around, will you? He’s been spending too much time in his room.”
“Because of me,” Dad says and runs his hand through his hair. “I can go if you—.”
“Not on your life, John Crane.” Mom pulls Dad closer to her as if I’ve already left the room. “I just got you back and I’m not letting you go that easy. Never again.” Mom kisses him and while part of me is elated, part of me wants to give them privacy.
I back into the dining room and head up the stairs to the second level. Mike’s bedroom is first and I knock. “Mike, pizza’s in Molly’s room if you want any.”
All I can hear is the thump of bad rock and roll music. “Mike!” I knock a little louder and finally the door opens.
“What do you want?” Mike crosses his arms and leans against the door jam. He’s in black jeans and a black t-shirt. When did my baby brother turn into an emo teenager?
“Pizza, if you’re hungry, it’s in Molly’s room.”
“I’m good,” Mike starts to close the door and I wedge my foot.
I scowl as the door hits my bare toes. “Mom wants to see you downstairs, too. I know things have been rough for you with the changes, but she’s worried about you. Mom isn’t the enemy.”
He stares at me with disinterest. “Everything you’ve done and you can say that with a straight face?”
“Hey,” I chastise and my eyebrows draw together. “I’ve done what I need to keep this family together. That includes you.”
“My family is Mom, Dad, you and Molly. Not your dad, Lara while mine is left out in the cold.” Mike turns his back on me and heads back into his room.
