by Jill Cooper
“Scum.” Cassidy snarls at him as the goo we stand in begins to bubble in reverse and then disappears. The bullet that was suspended in midair, instead of going forward, flies backward and hits Cassidy square in the chest. When she gasps, I gasp. I grab her before she falls to the ground, and I can’t help but notice the puddle of blood coming out of her chest.
God no. Not Cassidy too.
“Molly can’t control it yet, but she will soon,” Cameron says.
I don’t look at him, I see only Cassidy, lying on the ground, our hands gripping each other’s. “Hang in there. Don’t you—.”
She struggles to take a breath. Despite my words, I know that I can’t save Cassidy. She’s going to die and at least I can be with her. “Stop him. Stop him.” Her head turns the side; she might not be dead, but she will be soon.
“Sorry, dear Lara.” Cameron’s behind me and he pushes the butt of Cassidy’s gun into the back of my head. “This is how it ends. Everyone you love is either mine or dead. You're obsolete. A little girl who died a long time ago. Say good night, darling.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. There’s a rustling behind me. Molly, is it possible that she could be awake? I prepare myself for what is about to come and take a deep breath, then with the grid of Métis shove my elbow into Cameron and twisting myself painfully backward, I grab his forearm. Cameron screams and places his open palm on my head, forcing me to be still.
Staring down the barrel of his gun, he fires. My gamble didn’t work, in an instant, I’ll be dead.
A horrifying scream rises from the end of the metal table, it jolts me backward. Cameron too is on his back on the opposite side of the room. I charge at him as a brilliant white glow encompasses Molly. The room fills with blue again, like an ocean made of gel. This time, I can move through it, except now I’m moving through it backward. I’m not in control of my body, it’s as if someone else is controlling me. I am being rewound.
Molly is rewinding not just me but time itself.
I watch everything play in reverse. Cassidy is standing beside me at the open door and the bullet goes back into her gun. Then time rights itself. Cameron stands in front of us with a slack jaw, a confused expression on his face.
“It’s not possible.” He shakes his head and backs up, only to say it again.
There’s so much I could say to him but instead, I stand back and let Cassidy step forward. When she raises the gun, I look away.
“You think you can kill me?” Cameron asks. “If you do, another one of me will rise up. From a different world, a different timeline. You’ll never be rid of me. This never ends.”
“I know.” Cassidy’s voice is hollow and flat. And then a gunshot rings out, but I care too much about Mike and Molly to spend any time grieving over the son-of-a-bitch who did this. I rush over to them and see their hands are still clasped and not only that––their hands are glowing.
I don’t know if it’s coming from Molly or if they were able to do this together. In either case, I have to get them out of here. With Cassidy’s help, I unstrapped their heads and unplug them from the machines. Molly is the first one to awaken. Slowly, her eyes blink and then she trains her eyes on me.
She gives me a sleepy smile. “Is it over now, Lara?”
I think of everything Cameron had said. “Yeah, it’s over.” I hold her to my chest in a deep embrace while Cassidy meets my eyes. I see the depth of her pain but right now, there’s nothing else I can say. I give her a nod and somehow she understands me.
Cassidy gets a sheet and uses it to cover up Cameron’s dead body. I don’t know what we’ll do with it yet, but I don’t want the twins to see it when they’re able to sit up again.
“Lara?” Mike’s voice sounds confused, more confused than Molly’s. “What happened? Where are we? How did—.”
I’m not sure what to say to him, but Molly gets off her table and crawls onto the one Mike is on. They hug and hold each other as if their lives depend on it. For them, maybe it does.
“I’ll be right back.” I turned to Cassidy and whisper, “I’m going to go back into the prison area. The kids don’t need to see that.”
I turn and walk from the room. I might’ve saved my brother and sister, but I wouldn’t call this a win. My heart only feels as if it lost.
Chapter Thirty-Five
With resolve, I step into the prison ward. I expect to see death and destruction; my loved ones and family dead. But that’s not what I see at all, instead, I see them inside all of their cages alive. Awake. Not even hurt.
“LARA!” In groups and one at a time, they call out to me.
I rush over to the computer console to free them. I don’t know what I’m looking for, but finally, I find a button labeled release, and I let them go.
The doors open and they stumble out. One by one, they greet me. I’m happy to see them, all of them, but it’s Dad I look for. When I spot his confused eyes and stumbling walk, I crush him in a hug. “Dad!”
He’s not dead. He’s right here with me. I didn’t lose it all. It’s like a dream as I smother my face against his chest; I never want to let him go.
He crushes me as hard as I crush him. “Thank God,” he kisses the top of my head and holds me tighter than ever. “I thought that mad man hurt you. I thought he—.” Dad presses his lips together to keep the surge of emotion out of his voice.
Other Lara… I don’t have to tell him about her sacrifice because her pain and love, well it’s mine now. “I’m okay. Everything is okay. We won, we finally won.”
“You bet we did,” Cassidy says from behind me. I glance at her and see she’s holding Mike and Molly’s hands. Molly beams with happiness and Mike looks lost, dazed, and confused.
“Kids,” Dad’s eyes open, horrified. “Are you all right?”
“We’re okay, Uncle John,” Molly says.
But Mike just shakes his head. “I have no idea what’s going on. Lara…?” His frightened eyes peer up and I stroke the back of his head.
“I’ll explain it to you, but first let’s get you home, okay? Mom and Dad are really worried about you guys.” I throw a glance at Cassidy. “We send these people back to where they were taken and then you go back too, Cass. Go back and live your life.”
Cassidy’s eyes barely flicker up. With a sigh, I touch her shoulder. “Please, listen—.”
“You listen, Lara. You listen.” She points at the cages. “Someone needs to keep an eye on this place. Someone has to make sure no one else finds this place. I stay here, I use the bridge to monitor time. Anything comes up, we can stop it. You and me. You in the TTPA. And me here, on the bridge.”
I open my mouth to argue, but I’m not even sure what I’m going to say.
“You know as well as I do that a place like this is just trouble. Other people, other timelines, everyone is going to want it. And I’m going to protect it. So, the future can live on.”
“Even if it means you never get to? Your life—.”
“This is my life. Another version of me will be born one day, I hope, and that one will be happy. Not carry the burdens I do. Maybe she’ll even meet someone nice.” Cassidy shrugs.
Oh, Cass… My heart breaks for her. I want to tell her that as Molly hugs her around the waist and buries her face against her shirt. Cassidy goes rigid and then, slowly, she strokes Molly’s hair.
Molly’s face is tear streaked when she gazes up at her. “You’ll find someone nice too.”
“I doubt it,” Cassidy says, “but thank you…Molly.”
If Molly says it, it might be true.
Chapter Thirty-Six
We step out from the bridge into frozen time, in front of Mom’s townhouse. Dad and I hold hands, Mike and Molly standing behind us. She blinks even though time is frozen and when time speeds up, Molly rubs her forehead and then she looks at me. There’s a quizzical look on her face as she gazes at me and my dad. “Finally,” she smiles as if everything is okay. Like everything is right.
Not quite, but
almost.
“You kids go in first.” I give them a little push toward the door.
They run inside and Mom runs toward them, with Jax following close behind. The family of four crush each other in a giant hug and the happiness is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Their eager, wide arms engulf the kids.
I glance at Dad and see tears in his eyes, but there’s a giant smile on his face. Happy tears, at a happy reunion. I place my head against his shoulder as we silently watch. Maybe I should feel like I’m intruding on a private moment, but I feel part of it instead.
We step inside quietly and before the door closes behind us, Mom gasps and gives us a stare. “John?”
I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t get a chance as Mom races toward us. I expect she’ll yell at us for lying to her, but she just hugs him. I move off to the side. Tears run down Mom’s face as she gawks at Dad. “Am I dreaming? Is it really you?” She caresses his cheek and their eyes fixate so intently on each other, I doubt they know I’m even in the room.
“It’s me, Miranda. It’s me,” Dad’s voice is soft.
“Don’t you ever, ever do something like that again. You nearly killed me, John.” I cringe at the irony of her statement, but neither of them notices. They just go back to holding each other—as if time itself holds them still.
Their eyes close and the embrace is so much more than what it is on the surface. My eyes break away and fall on Jax. He’s staring at Mom and Dad, and his face is crestfallen, but his arms remain around his twins. “Come on, kids. Let’s get you something to eat.” He ushers them away. “Lara, do you want to join us? Must be one hell of a story to tell.”
I’ll say. “I’ll tell it soon, but first…I have to find Donovan.” Time to come clean and tell him—why it’s over.
Jax nods, but Molly races over and takes my hand. “It’ll be okay, Lara. It’s all going to work out.”
I hope she’s right. I lean down and give her cheek a big sloppy kiss. “And you…I’ll see soon. We have a lot to talk about.”
Molly’s smile is carefree and jolly. I don’t know if she knows what is about to come, but seeing her happy means the world to me, just as it always has.
****
I could use time travel to quickly arrive home, but I don’t. Instead, I use that time to walk and figure out what I’m going to tell Donovan. Except in my heart of hearts, I don’t want to say anything. I want to pretend that none of this is happening.
He chose the money over me. He chose to lie, instead of telling me the truth. And that just can’t be allowed to fly.
I stand outside our apartment and place my hand on the doorknob, but I don’t open it. Instead, I sigh and lean my head against the wall. Against my ear is my cell phone and after I’m done talking, I listen to Delilah take a sharp intake of breath.
“Are you sure this is what you really want, Lara? You want a position at the TTPA? I won’t lie, this is what I’ve dreamed of, but if you’re not sure—.”
“I’m sure. There’s a lot I need to tell you, but can we do it another time? Right now I’m just…tired.”
Tired. That was a good way to describe it. I am so tired that my bones ache.
“Of course. Let’s meet in a few days. I can just imagine how you must be feeling. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk, at your father’s service.”
That was something else we needed to talk about. “I’ll talk to you soon. You’re going to flip when I tell you everything.”
Delilah laughs. “Well, I can’t wait, dear.”
I end the call and finally push my way into the small apartment. Although it hadn’t been home long, it feels as if it is, as I slip my keys on the hook by the wall.
“Lara?” Donovan’s voice rings out from the living room and my heart pangs to hear his voice. “Can you come here? I need to talk to you.”
“I need to talk to you too.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a split second to ride the wave of pain. Steeling myself, I adjust my purse across my shoulder and head into the living room.
Donovan’s sitting on the ottoman facing me, I try not to look at his face, instead, my eyes focus on the simple bouquet of wildflowers he’s holding.
I don’t remember this ever happening before.
“What’s this?” My voice shakes as I stop in front of him.
“Thought I’d get something nice for you—for putting up with me for the last few days. I know I’ve been withdrawn and not easy to deal with. I thought before I explained—.”
Before he explained? My heart patters and comes alive with hope. “They’re beautiful.” I take the simple bouquet from him. Usually, Donovan buys me roses. Long stem. Always splurging, but these flowers are beautiful in their simplicity. Purple, yellow, and white, their color bright and gorgeous.
I don’t realize there’s a tear in my eye until I wipe it away. “Sorry,” I whisper and Donovan’s eyes hold deep worry.
“Please, don’t cry. If you do, I might not be able to say what I need to.”
“Then I’ll try my best.” I sit down on the sofa and place the flowers down 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 flow from my eyes that I desperately don’t want him to see. “Of course, I can.”
“There’s something else.” Donovan straightens up and he reaches inside his pocket. When he pulls out the envelope Cassidy gave 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 figure it out.”
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 against 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 lean up on my elbow to kiss his cheek. “You’ve done the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Donovan laughs. “Me? Braver than the infamous Lara Crane?”
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 did 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 I struggling when I was a kid. He’ll get through it.”
