The Assassin: (Mortal Beloved Time Travel Romance, #2)

by Pamela DuMond

  I shook my head. “No. I just hate this cast; it’s so uncomfortable.”

  “Thank God it’s coming off next week.” She walked to my dad and he leaned down, smiled, and kissed her quickly and sweetly.

  “Enough with the PDAs!” My younger sister Jane screeched into the kitchen and plopped down next to me at the table. “I’m starving!”

  “I’ll show you PDAs.” Dad dropped his cooking utensils, ran over and smooched Jane loudly all over her face.

  “Ew!” she squirmed. “Gross! Leave me alone!”

  I couldn’t help but giggle and he winked at me. “You’re next!”

  “And I’m out of here.” I stood up and pushed back my chair. “I’ll be at Chaka’s today. Don’t count on me for dinner. Big history test next week.”

  “I thought the big history test was last week.” He walked the few steps to the stove, turned off the burner, lifted the bacon with tongs and dropped the slices onto a paper towel. “We need to add non-toxic paper towels to the grocery list, Sophie. These white ones release carcinogenic dioxins.”

  “Putting it on the list, Ray,” Sophie said.

  “I meant my Government test.” I made my way to the coat tree and grabbed my jacket.

  “Park it, Madeline.” Dad dished the eggs onto a couple of plates and placed two strips of bacon on the side. “Tofurkey bacon; much better for you than the processed stuff that comes from those poor pigs. Sit. Eat.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Like always when I had a dilemma, I met up with my BFFs Aaron and Chaka. We hung out in the family room at Chaka’s place: a pricey, modern high-rise condo with sweeping views of the city. Shiny vinyl records encased in Plexiglas hung on one wall. Gold records and various music awards hung on the opposite. The furniture was modern and cost more than dad’s car.

  Aaron wore his Saturday casual attire, that was more put together than my Sunday dressy attire, and sprawled with his laptop flipped open on the gigantic dark chocolate colored leather couch.

  “I can’t believe Samuel’s alive during our lifetime. You must be freaking out!” Chaka hobbled to a chair, sat down, leaned forward, her multi-hued braids brushed against her thighs, and she peered at her feet and the foam pedicure separators that spread her toes apart. “I like this shade of pink. It’s in the new Rock Starz beauty line Mom’s helping design.”

  “Super cute,” I said. “And yes I am totally freaking out!” My phone buzzed with another text from Ryan. “Can’t talk today. Busy with friends.” I hit send and dropped my phone on the coffee table.

  “That’s Ryan again, isn’t it?” Chaka asked. “Why don’t you talk with him?”

  “Not interested in what he’s offering,” I said. “This town’s not that big. I know we can find Samuel.”

  “Sanity check, Madeline,” Aaron said. “Almost three million people live in Chicago. Do you know his last name?”

  I frowned. “I don’t think he had one in 1675.”

  “Lavonne’s still here doing Mom’s acrylics,” Chaka said. “You want a mani-pedi so you’re all beautified up when you meet this guy for real? My treat.”

  “Thanks but I’ve already met this guy for real,” I said. “I just haven’t met him in present day.” I tapped my foot on the floor like a nervous Chihuahua with a mild case of fleas. “Aaron, how’s that search coming along?”

  He pointed out the floor to ceiling windows. “I think I spotted him. He’s right there.”

  I spun around, but Mr. Smartypants was pointing at Lake Michigan.

  “Ha-ha!” I said. “Something’s got to be on the Internet.”

  “What should I Google?” Aaron asked. “Hot Guys who have been re-incarnated?”

  “Instagram?” I asked. “Tumblr?”

  “Go with the obvious. I had my first tongue kiss in sixth grade summer camp and I found the guy years later on Facebook,” Chaka said.

  “Yeah,” Aaron said, “but you knew his last name.”

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “I knew his first name and the year he went to Camp LaBelle. It can’t be that difficult. Where’s my iPad?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Three hours later, a few espressos, one delivery order of Chinese from Hop Li, and we were ready to pull out each other’s hair. I paced in front of the windows. While I still didn’t enjoy the panoramic city views, I was apparently over my fear of heights. Weird.

  “If I look at one more high school’s official Facebook page, I’ll put a fork in someone’s eye,” Chaka said.

  “Glen Ellyn High School is having a festive Winter Carnival next weekend,” Aaron said. “Looks like fun!”

  “Probably your eye,” Chaka said.

  “Samuel can’t be completely absent from social media.” I wrung my hands. “That would mean he’s one of those back woods guys or he’s in a cult.”

  “Not everyone’s on social media,” Aaron said. “Maybe he’s a brilliant scientist or an amazing athlete and doesn’t have time for the Internet.”

  “Maybe his name’s not Samuel in this lifetime,” Chaka said.

  “Then why did he turn around when I shouted his name?” I hollered.

  “Don’t shout at me!” Chaka said.

  “I’m not shouting!” I shouted. “And why did Ryan say that Samuel was a Healer in this lifetime?” My phone buzzed.

  “Ryan’s texting you again. When do we get to meet him?” Chaka asked. “I remember when he rescued you when you fell in front of the train. He was super cute.”

  “I nearly died and you were checking out a guy?” I asked. “Oh, God, what if we can’t find Samuel? What if I just get to see him only once in this lifetime and that’s it?” I started tearing up.

  “Hold up on the waterworks,” Aaron said. “You were on the “L” platform at The Merchandise Mart headed south last night, right?”

  “Right.”

  “And he hopped on a train headed north?”

  “Yes.”

  “What was he wearing?” Aaron asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “Guy clothes.”

  “What kind of ‘guy clothes?’” Aaron asked and scrolled furiously on his laptop.

  “It was night out. He had on a dark jacket, I think it was black, and he carried a backpack.”

  “He wore his backpack on one shoulder like normal people do?”

  “My dad’s a chiropractor and he says wearing your backpack on one shoulder is terrible for your spine,” I said. “Yes.”

  “Anything you remember about his jacket?”

  “Some kind of blue lettering on the back,” I said. “Why?”

  “Blue, blue, blue,” Aaron said and scrolled through pages on his computer even faster. “Black and Blue. I saw something like that here. I just skipped past it.”

  “Black and Blue was the thirteenth album by the Rolling Stones,” Chaka said. “Mom did a guest backup gig with them twenty years ago when they went on tour.”

  “Hang on, hang on… Found it! New Roads High School has blue and black as their school colors.” Aaron enlarged a picture with a flick of his fingers, swiveled his laptop around and pointed to the screen. “Is this your Samuel?”

  I leaned in, gazed at the photo, and my knees went weak. “Oh my God, yes!”

  “I want to see, I want to see!” Chaka grabbed the laptop from Aaron and held it in front of her. “Holy smokes, he’s hot!”

  “Yes!” Aaron thrust one fist in the air. “I’m like your own personal private investigator. You owe me a latte!”

  I tackled him on the couch and kissed him. “I love you!”

  “I love you back,” he squeaked, “but your knee is dangerously close to my manly parts.”

  I moved my knee. “What do we do next?”

  “It’s Saturday. They’re having a football game this afternoon,” Chaka said. “Let’s go.”

  “He was wearing a school jacket,” Aaron said. “There’s a good chance he’ll be there.”

  “But I have nothing to wear!” I said.

  “I
have everything to wear,” Chaka said. “Therefore you have nothing to worry about.”

  ~ ~ ~

  This time I didn’t let Chaka give me a trampy makeover. This time she transformed me into the prettiest, most casual version of me that was possible. She styled my long hair into soft waves that framed my face and loose curls that bounced down my back. She applied subtle makeup that defined my eyes, gave my cheeks a bit of a blush, and made my lips look like they were soft and full.

  “Who is this person?” I gazed into the enormous mirror in her bathroom.

  “You, goofy,” Aaron said.

  “Chaka, you are beyond talented,” I said. “I look more than presentable.”

  “Oh honey, wait ’till I’m through dressing you. Samuel doesn’t stand a chance—at least not in this lifetime.” She grinned.

  ~ three ~

  New Roads football game wasn’t held on their campus today, but at an athletic field at Lakeside Park; a large historic recreational area just a few miles north of Chicago. Majestic pines and firs and spruces dotted the property and made the air smell magical, like Christmas. Other trees had shed their leaves and their highest skinny branches curved toward each other resembling skeletal arches.

  Clusters of picnic tables were arranged throughout the park. A sign boasted that the Mary Palmer House, an old brick two-story structure at the deep end of the park, was a historic landmark part of Chicago’s Underground Slave Railroad. A narrow sandy beach led to Lake Michigan, its waves dark and choppy.

  “We’re late!” I walked across the parking lot wearing my cast and clothes I’d borrowed from Chaka: a pretty black skirt and a matching thin turtleneck sweater, one low-heeled, fleece-lined Italian boot and a styling long warm coat.

  “These football games run on forever,” Chaka maneuvered behind me on high-heeled boots. “Besides, beautification doesn’t happen in seconds you know. It’ll be worth your effort. You’ll see.”

  “If I find him,” I said.

  “He’s right there,” Aaron said. “On the sidelines, wearing the jacket. He’s not playing. He’s helping. He’s like an assistant coach or a trainer.”

  Samuel wore the same black jacket today with the blue letters, but he wasn’t outfitted in football attire. He helped the athletes stretch out next to the field and hung out with the coaches on the sidelines. He didn’t call the plays but on occasion he’d lean in and comment to one of the coaches.

  I stood behind a large grove of trees with Chaka and Aaron as I watched him, just breathed him in, and willed my hands not to shake.

  “I think we should move in a little closer,” Aaron said. “Blend in with the crowd so we don’t look like creepsters who hide behind shrubbery.”

  We walked toward the playing field and the crowd filled with fans cheering on the game.

  Chaka glanced around the bleachers. “There’s some halfway decent looking guys at this game. I might have to break my rule about not dating boys that live in the suburbs.”

  “Take a look at that wide receiver on New Roads team,” Aaron said as the crowd roared.

  “Who?” Chaka asked.

  “The beautiful man who just caught the pass and made the first down,” Aaron said.

  “The hot African-American guy?” Chaka said.

  “Yes!”

  “Go for it!” She said.

  I tried not to stare at Samuel. Really, I tried. I pretended to watch the game. It registered that New Roads lost when Downers Grove North scored a field goal with only seconds left on the clock. The fans cheered and booed as the players shook hands with the other team, left the field, and talked with their coaches. Samuel gathered equipment, stashing gear in satchels and bins, and the crowd started thinning out.

  “I’m going to introduce myself,” Aaron said and headed toward the cute player.

  “Well that was fun.” I turned and started walking back to the parking lot.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Chaka grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. “This is it. We didn’t spend all that time straining our eyeballs for you to wuss out. Now’s your time. Go.” She literally pushed me in his direction and I willed my legs to walk until I stood in front of Samuel.

  “Hi,” I said.

  His eyes searched my face. “Hi,” he said. “Wow, it’s you!”

  “Madeline,” I held out my hand and he shook it. “Madeline Blackford.”

  “Samuel Delacroix,” he said.

  “I saw you last night on the “L” platform. The one at the Merchandise Mart,” I said. “I haven’t seen you in… a while. I called out your name and you turned around.”

  “Right,” he said. “I remember it well. You seemed upset. Are you okay?” he asked and looked at the cast on my leg. “I was worried about you. I got off at the next stop and caught the train back, but you were gone.”

  He came back for me…

  “I’m fine. That was so nice of you. Thanks. This stupid thing.” I rapped my knuckles on my cast. “It’s coming off in the next couple of days.” I reminded myself to act cool: not break out into a sweat, or fall onto the ground, or pass out.

  “Good,” he said. “What happened to your leg?”

  “Fracture,” I said. “An accident.”

  “Trip and fall? Sorry, too many questions. I’m at Loyola in pre-med. I volunteer at my old high school as strength and conditioning trainer and offer the occasional insight to the coaches.”

  “Loyola. Great school. Pre-med. That’s tough!” I said. “Actually my accident was more like a push and fall, but the outcome was the same. So… how are you?” I asked.

  “I’m good,” he said. “Everything’s good. I wish the game had gone better, but there’s nothing I can do about that crazy outcome.” He shrugged and smiled. “You must be happy your team won.”

  “Oh, I don’t go to Downers Grove North,” I said. “I’m at Preston.”

  “Huh. Funny that you ended up here at the game, but nice to see you. Really glad that you’re okay,” He said. “I’ve got to get back to my girlfriend. She’s waiting for me somewhere in that sea of black and blue clad people.”

  “Right.” My stomach sunk.

  Of course he had a girlfriend. What was I thinking?

  “Take care.” He smiled and walked away.

  Something poked my brain and told me that if I didn’t ask him now, I probably never would. “Hey, Samuel.”

  He stopped and turned toward me.

  “I feel like I know you. Not just from the train tracks the other day. Like maybe we’ve met before, or hung out. Do you ever get that feeling?” I stared up into his hazel eyes and hoped.

  He shrugged. “Honestly, no. I’m sure I would have remembered. I’ve never seen you before last night on the train platform. Sorry. I’ve gotta go.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “I’m going to be sick,” I said stumbling past the historic landmark sign and the skeletal trees.

  “You are not.” Chaka pinched my arm and steered me toward the parking lot. “You are going to keep your head up like nothing happened. We are leaving here with pride and dignity.”

  “I’m going to curl up and die,” I said.

  “Keep walking, Madeline.” Aaron put his arm around me, proprietary, and propelled me forward.

  “He’s looking at me isn’t he?” My hands were shaking and my breath turned raspy, and I just prayed I wasn’t going to have a stupid panic attack.

  “Who cares what he’s doing.” Chaka sniffed. “I for one don’t care what that loser is doing and you shouldn’t either.”

  “I know he’s looking at me. I can feel him looking at me,” I said. “Just tell me!”

  “You are not allowed to lose your shit.” She held her phone up in the air like we were having so much fun we needed to memorialize the moment with a selfie. “Smile!” She took the photo. “Yes, he’s looking at you.”

  Aaron grabbed the phone from her. “He’s looking at you like he just did the dumbest thing in the world,” he said. “I know that look.
I perfected that look.”

  “Oh, God.” I said. “He has no idea who I am. None whatsoever. What do I do now?”

  Chaka grabbed my phone from my purse and keyed in a message. “You’re texting Ryan back.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Mí Cucina was a greasy little hole in the wall with the best garlic rolls and fettuccine alfredo I’d tasted in my entire life. Stained posters hung on the wall depicting some of Italy’s more famous tourist attractions: the Coliseum, the leaning tower of Pisa, and a few candy-colored towns that clung to cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The Amalfi Coast looked amazing and I swore I’d get there as well as Sicily one day if it killed me.

  But I think today might have already done that.

  Aaron, Chaka, Ryan, and I sat at a four top in the back of the restaurant on the way to the kitchen. Chaka was seated next to Ryan on the inside corner and munched on her insalata caprese. Aaron dug into his spaghetti and meatballs. I toyed with my fettuccine, swirling it around and around on the plate, making little pasta art groupings with my fork.

  “Since I’m buying tonight,” Ryan speared a shrimp in his risotto, “I’d appreciate it if you’d actually eat some of that.”

  “I’m not all that hungry,” I said.

  “Look, Madeline.” He leaned forward. “I’m sorry about what happened today. I truly am. But what did you expect? This isn’t the same Samuel you met in 1675. Like I told you, Healers don’t time travel like Messengers or Hunters; they re-incarnate.”

  Aaron and Chaka stopped mid bite and stared at him.

  Ryan blinked. “They know all this, right? You assured me that they know.”

  I nodded. “Most of it.”

  Aaron coughed. “We’ve known since the day after Madeline came out of her coma. And might I add, thank you for rescuing her on the “L” platform. That train was bearing down and I thought she was hamburger. That was very heroic of you.”

  “Super heroic,” Chaka batted her eyes at Ryan.