Time Break

by Jill Cooper

  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 Mike’s. They hug and hold each other as if their lives depend on it. For them, maybe it does.

  “I’ll be right back,” I turn 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 has 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 press it.

  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 rush to him and 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 hug 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…?” He peers up at me with frightened eyes 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 in front of us. Molly 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 charges 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 watch silently. 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.

  Mom’s face scrunches in confusion and I give her the cliff notes version. “I had to hide him to protect him. No one could know. I’m sorry, Mom.”

  Her eyes dart between me and Dad, but it’s like she barely sees me. “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 gaze breaks 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…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 arrive home quickly, but I don’t. Instead, I use that time to walk, and to 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 imagin
e 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 need 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 at the sound of 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 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.”