by C. M. Murphy
"Hello," she said.
"You're home!" Haniel said into the line.
"I just got in."
"I guess going out today is out of the question."
"My aunt had an old friend in from out of town, and time just slipped by. I'm sorry."
"I'm just glad you weren't avoiding me."
Alma laughed and sat on her bed. "Is that traffic I hear?" she asked as she kicked off her shoes.
"My dad is nosy, and I wanted some privacy," Haniel said, surprised she could hear the traffic.
They made small talk about the gas station where he was, and how Haniel and his father lived in the back of the shop. Haniel caught himself laughing. It surprised him how much he enjoyed talking to Alma. The truth was, he'd been upset that he hadn't gotten to see her today.
"So can I take you out tomorrow?" he asked.
"Oh," Alma said. "I want to, but—"
"Alma, am I being too forward?" Haniel asked, his confidence shaken by his sense that she would turn him down for tomorrow as well.
"No, it's just..." Alma struggled with how to put things into words. "I wish I'd met you a year ago," she heard herself say.
Haniel's heart dropped into his stomach. "It sounds like you're saying goodbye or something. Didn't you enjoy our date? I thought we connected."
It surprised Alma how sad she was at the idea of saying goodbye to Haniel. "So much is going on for me right now. I'm overwhelmed by it." She wanted to say more, but her voice quivered more than she intended.
Haniel swallowed hard. He tried to tell himself he couldn't accept her answer because he needed to fulfill his father's plan, but that wasn't the truth. "Maybe you need someone like me around. Ease the tension or something." His voice trailed off.
Silence.
"I don't understand what's going on, but..." Haniel struggled to find the words. "I know we don't know each other very well, and it was only one date..." he paused again and looked up at the dark, moonless sky. "The idea that I can't see you just makes me sad. I mean, it surprises me how sad I am. Are you sure you can't see me? Ever?"
She wasn't sure. "I don't know. It's not that I don't want to see you—"
"Then see me."
Alma exhaled. "I don't know what tomorrow's going to be like. Things are kind of crazy in my life right now." Alma stopped talking. She didn't want to talk about what was going on with her.
"Are you scared?" Haniel asked. It hadn't occurred to him that Alma might sense something, but now it was obvious that she would.
"This isn't a good time."
"If you say it's not you, it's me, you'll break my heart."
Alma laughed.
"Your laugh is the brightest part of my day, you know," he said.
The tone of his voice and his sincerity tickled Alma's heart. She heard herself giggle. The stress of the day faded. She wondered if maybe she could make time to see Haniel. Maybe it would help bind her to the present day.
Haniel sensed an opening. "What about breakfast? Just a quick breakfast near your place? Tomorrow?"
Alma hesitated.
"I'll tell you what. Sleep on it. I'll be in your driveway at eight in the morning. Come down if you want to have breakfast with me. If you don't, no hard feelings. I'm going to hang up now, and my dad is sleeping so you can't call the house," he said, and pushed the receiver onto cradle of the phone booth with a satisfying click. Haniel headed home excited that he might get to see her.
But as he entered the shop through the back alley, it dawned on Haniel. He wasn't excited to tell his father about his date tomorrow, and he hated his part in the Grand Plan.
Chapter Eighteen
Alma sat up in bed and looked up at her microwave clock—six thirty. Haniel would be in her driveway in an hour and a half. A giddy excitement swept through her even though she hadn't decided for sure that she would go to breakfast with him. She didn't have time for a boyfriend. Too much was at stake.
As she made her morning coffee, it occurred to her that this was the first time in weeks that she hadn't awakened with that feeling of dread. She wondered if it was the distraction of Haniel, or if it had been because of Tita Win Win.
Alma glanced down at the odd bracelet her aunt had fashioned and toyed with one of the beans. She hadn't wandered away from herself in her dreams or fallen into the existential oddness of being someone else. Magic beans. She decided to shower and do her hair just in case she did decide to go on her breakfast date, but didn't want to risk getting her bracelet wet. Using a trick she remembered from when she had to wear a cast on her ankle, Alma snagged a plastic bag and tape from a drawer and taped the bag around her wrist.
She told herself that she hadn't decided whether or not she was going to meet Haniel. It wasn't a good idea considering how much was going on, but she found herself humming as she did her hair and put on makeup.
At a quarter of eight, she peeked out the window and saw Haniel's car. A surge of excitement rushed through her. He was early! She tried not to read too much into it, but it flattered her. Ten hair-fussing minutes later, she decided she'd go to breakfast with him. She told herself she'd figure out a way to table their budding relationship until she'd saved her mother and then maybe she'd have time. But as she locked her door and headed down the wooden stairs from her apartment, she realized the truth. Once she changed the past, her whole life would be different. None of this would happen.
Haniel got out of his car and greeted her. "You look great," he said, and Alma allowed herself to enjoy the compliment.
"Thanks."
They walked to the car. His arm brushed against hers. Alma tingled with excitement. He opened the door for her and before she got into the car, she looked up at him. Their eyes locked. Haniel smiled.
"I like starting the day off seeing you," he said, surprising himself at how much he meant it.
Alma's face heated with embarrassed joy as she ducked into the car.
At Alma's suggestion, Haniel drove them to Norm's on Sherman Way just a few streets over. He would have taken her someplace more trendy or expensive, but Alma didn't want to go too far.
Haniel stole several glances at her as he drove. She'd styled her black hair, so it curled in at the bottom and framed her cute face. Her light makeup showed off her clear skin and big brown eyes. There was something so cute about her little nose and oval face that melted his heart. His mind flashed back to kissing her on their first date. Everything cute about her turned sexy when he touched her. He shifted in his seat as he drove and pushed those thoughts from the forefront of his mind to avoid embarrassment.
They drove in silence to the restaurant. Each enjoyed the other's company while also being preoccupied with the doomed nature of their relationship.
Haniel's mind whirred with thoughts on how to delay or stop his father's plan. Alma's thoughts vacillated between figuring out how to break up with Haniel to save her own heartache, or spending as much time with him before she saved her mother.
Haniel pulled into the parking lot of Norm's. He opened the door for Alma and helped her out of the car. "What's wrong?" Alma asked.
"Sorry, my mind just drifted to life stuff," he answered, impressed that she'd picked up on his change in mood.
"I can relate to that," Alma said. She could see that he didn't want to talk about what was bothering him, which made it something they both had in common. "Let's just pretend like we don't have any problems and eat pancakes," she said.
Haniel's gaze turned to Alma's face. Her determination to enjoy pancakes and each other's company lightened his heavy heart. He took her hand, pulled her in, and kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled like strawberries, and the feel of her body close to his soothed him.
"Pancakes it is," he said.
They slid into a bright-orange booth, sitting across from one another. Haniel enjoyed being able to see her face, but missed the warmth of her body next to his like at Casa Vega. For the first time that morning, he took in the sight of her white and pink T
-shirt. It wasn't too tight, but he liked the way it fit.
Alma reached for the menu tucked behind the napkin holder and pretended not to notice Haniel checking her out. The hungry expression on his face flattered her. She'd never thought of herself as "sexy," but the way Haniel looked at her made her feel that way. It also embarrassed her. She forced herself to act unaffected, but the tremble in her chest radiated through her entire body. She worried he might see her hands shake and opted to tuck them in her lap after the resting the menu flat on the table.
"You're so cute one minute and the next you're so..." Haniel stopped himself from saying "hot."
"Smart?"
"True, but not my thought."
"You must've been thinking about my awesome personality then."
"Something like that," he said and winked. He worried the wink was too cheesy.
She smiled at him, but he could tell she was shy about her looks and a bit embarrassed. For some reason that made her even more irresistible.
They ordered breakfast, and Haniel found himself in the unusual position of not knowing what to say. He'd always been a natural with women, but this morning he found himself swimming in awkwardness.
"Did you grow up in California?" Alma asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes, I was born in the Valley. What about you?"
"Technically I was born here, but I grew up in Florida. I moved here two years ago," Alma said, regretting that she'd taken the conversation in this direction. She knew what question would come next.
"What made you move?" Haniel asked. He'd wondered where she'd been all this time. His father had looked for her.
"My father died," Alma said.
"I'm sorry," Haniel said, surprised. He knew that his father had killed the man who was Alma's real father, a few months before he killed her mother. Guilt stabbed at Haniel's heart. She wondered if Alma knew the man who raised her wasn't her biological dad.
"I don't want to bum you out or talk about anything heavy. My dad was a great dad. I miss him, but we're here to enjoy pancakes."
Haniel understood Alma's reticence. His mother had died when he was a kid, and he didn't want to talk about that either. The only problem was that he couldn't think of anything else to talk about. The waitress came by with their breakfast. "Saved by the pancakes," Haniel said, grateful for the distraction.
They ate in silence. Alma had been so stressed over the last few days that she enjoyed eating in Haniel's quiet company.
Haniel, in contrast, found himself feigning calm while his hands sweated with anxiety. He worried he'd lose Alma forever if he continued to be so boring.
"Did you go to school?" Alma asked, breaking the silence.
"I got a bachelors from CSUN in philosophy with a minor in math," he said, happy to have something to day.
"What made you choose math and philosophy?"
"A search for truth and knowledge. I think I liked math more."
"Because?"
"I liked the concrete nature of it," Haniel said, an answer he'd given on many a date.
"I always thought math was abstract with some very concrete and real-world applications, of course, but still abstract."
Her answer impressed Haniel. So many other girls would just nod and be impressed by how smart he was, but Alma had made an interesting point. "I guess concrete isn't the word I meant to use. It's more that, in math, for the most part, there's a right answer and a wrong answer. Philosophy isn't like that."
Alma nodded. "I did enjoy that about math, but I didn't enjoy some of the frustration."
Haniel laughed. "Are you in school?"
"No," Alma said, not knowing how to follow up.
"Is it because of your dad?" Haniel asked.
Alma tilted her head, surprised he'd guessed right.
"You said it happened two years ago, and given your age and your short answer, I figured."
His quick understanding made it easy for Alma to talk. "At first I figured I'd take a year, establish residency here, and adjust to the change. But then I got into the job at Valley Classified." She stopped talking and shrugged.
"You really dig it there? Is it fun?"
"My boss is a jerk, but it's fun working with Doug and I enjoy, 'mining for gold,'" she said, using the air quotes gesture.
A flash of jealousy struck Haniel at the mention of Doug, but he reminded himself that her friend was gay and enjoyed the easy flow of conversation. She talked about enjoying finding antiques.
"Are you like one of those people Professor Cassidy talked about at the bookstore?" he asked.
"That night was the first time I'd ever heard of her or her book. I didn't recognize her in your store. Do you believe in that stuff?" Alma asked.
Haniel knew his father would be pleased by the information he could glean if he steered the conversation down this path. It almost made the young man change the topic, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to know what Alma thought about all of this Infinite Truth stuff. "I'm worried you'll think I'm a weirdo, but—"
"So you believe? In reincarnations, psychics, witches and whatnot?" she asked.
Haniel noticed her voice and body seemed tight with worry. A paranoid part of his brain thought she might somehow have suspected that with this answer, he'd tipped her off to his identity somehow. And yet he continued. "Don't hold it against me, but yes."
Alma's eyes grew wide, and her shoulders relaxed. Haniel thought he caught a sense of relief from her.
"Have you read about paramortals?" he asked.
Alma shook her head no. She didn't dare say a word.
"I have. It's a hobby of mine. My mother..." Haniel swallowed hard and paused. He hadn't intended to reveal this, but he wanted Alma to know that they had this in common. "She was a paramortal, an empath."
"Was?" Alma asked.
"She died when I was seven," Haniel said.
Without thinking Alma heard herself ask, "Was she murdered?"
Her question shocked Haniel, and he confessed something to her that he'd never allowed himself to say out loud or even dwell on more than a moment before burying it. "My father never told me, but I think she was."
"My dad never told me either," Alma said.
Haniel reached across the table and put his hand on top of hers. The smooth, soft skin of the top of her hand warmed his. A sense of peace slipped over him. The relief of his confession unburdened his mind. His father had acquired his mother just like he'd done to Alma's mom.
"Are you a paramortal?" Alma asked.
Haniel sighed. "I don't think so. I always wished I were someone special like her, like you, but I'm not," he said.
Alma jerked her hand away and shook her head. "I'm not."
Haniel gave her a half smile and tilted his head. "I've read enough to recognize an Awakening when I see one."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alma said.
Haniel regretted pushing her. "I don't mean to pry or make you feel weird. Your secret is safe with me."
"I don't have a secret," Alma snapped. Her eyes darted around the room to see if their conversation was being overheard. "Listen, I have to get going soon."
"I'm sorry," Haniel said in a panic. He lowered his voice to a whisper when he noticed her expression. "You're scared. You're worried what's happened to our moms will happen to you. It makes sense." Haniel began to put it all together. "It's why you can't see me, isn't it?"
"Listen, I've got to go. Don't you have to be at the shop when it opens?"
"Nope, Dad will do it," he said. "What about you? Do you have work today?"
"Sundays are busy days," she said. "Will you take me home now?"
"Baby, it's Monday," Haniel said.
A thrill of being called "baby" took Alma by surprise, as did the day. She searched her memory and remembered that she and Doug had called in to work yesterday. And today she had off, but didn't want to let Haniel know that. But since it was Monday, the mall would be open earlier. "What time is it?" she asked.
<
br /> "Almost nine thirty," Haniel said.
"I need to get to the mall and buy a birthday present for my aunt before work."
Haniel froze at the mention of a birthday. "Birthday?" he asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
"My aunt's birthday party is Sunday," Alma answered, glad to have something to talk about other than her new powers.
"Are you going to have a party? Like in the backyard?" Haniel said, feigning like he was just curious, but hoping that she would say they were all going to meet at a restaurant or some place different.
"Yes, Tita Win’s friends are coming in from all over. Listen, can we go?"
Haniel swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Of course."
His father's vision was true. He'd foreseen a birthday party. James had assumed it was Alma's own, but now Haniel knew the truth. His father was right. Her power had to be already growing, and his destiny factored into her death this Sunday.
He pulled into the driveway behind Alma's car. She worried for reasons she couldn't explain that someone would see them. She wanted to keep Haniel a secret. Meeting him for breakfast felt like it had been a mistake—some kind of weak-willed decision that she was ashamed of.
"Listen, I'm sorry if I pried too much," Haniel said, turning to face her in the passenger seat.
"Thank you for breakfast, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to see each other anymore."
"You can't mean that!" Haniel said, his voice louder than he intended. His body quivered on the inside with panic. "You're just scared. What killed our moms is after you, but I can help."
"How do you know that?" Alma said. She hadn't appreciated his assumptions at breakfast, and now his accurate assessment of her situation made her apprehensive.
"I told you, my mother..." he said, but he stammered with his words and he avoided direct eye contact.
Alma knew he was lying. And then it dawned on her. His mother hadn't died like hers. He'd probably just gotten research about Alma's mother and made up that story. Haniel was her Witness. A sinking shame stuck in her gut. She'd thought this guy had been truly interested in her, but it was just his job to watch her. She could tell by how mad he was that she wasn't admitting to being a paramortal.
