Deadly Passion, an Epiphany

by Gabriella Bradley

  “Mark?”

  “Oh, sorry, honey. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

  “I said, yes. You didn’t hear me. And no, Azim isn’t going to blow up the club.”

  “You, too? It couldn’t have been real. Surely? We couldn’t both have the same hallucination, could we?”

  “A hallucination that lasted years and years? Yet no time has passed at all. Maybe a few seconds. Then how do I know about Robin?” she said softly.

  Mark glanced at Georgia and Harry. They sat holding hands, looking rather serious and quiet, and he knew why. Georgia knew now what Harry had done, and Harry knew that Megan wasn’t his biological daughter. Both had a lot to absorb and deal with, but it was obvious they still loved each other deeply. Mark knew everything about Megan now, but it made no difference. He loved her and would have loved her all along if she’d have told him before.

  Her hand, the ring now glittering on her finger, lay in his. She squeezed his. “Don’t you think the aliens taught us a lot? I remember everything. I honestly don’t think I could have come to terms with the thought of my father killing those men, and I didn’t have the guts to tell you what happened to me.”

  Mark noticed Azim holding Izzy’s hand walking off the dance floor toward them. “Mark, Megan, my congratulations. I took your example, Mark, and I’ve asked Izzy to marry me and go away with me. The heck with our families. I love her and she loves me.”

  Now that he knew, Mark suddenly noticed how tight Azim’s jacket was around his midriff. It was as if Azim read his thoughts.

  “Don’t worry.” He rubbed his stomach, and smiling at Mark and Megan, pulled Izzy along to the exit.

  “He was wearing the bomb,” Mark said softly to Megan, leaning forward so only she could hear. “I guess I’m convinced now it wasn’t a hallucination. I’ve never met that couple in my life.”

  “Me, either. Hon, how about a Christmas wedding? At my parents’ ranch?”

  He noticed a cloud in her eyes suddenly and he knew why. Harry wanted to contact the authorities and own up to the murders. Her father might not be there for her wedding. “Sweetheart, we can get married right away if that will ease your mind.”

  “I so want my father to walk me down the aisle. If he goes to the police, that won’t happen. He’ll go to jail instead.”

  Mark saw her eyes fill. “Let’s announce our engagement. Okay? Dry your tears.” He stood and shouted to overpower the music, “Everyone, listen up. Megan said yes!” Grabbing her left hand he pulled her up and showed everyone the ring on her engagement finger.

  Within seconds all their friends and family surrounded them. They cheered loudly, overpowering the music that suddenly stopped. The dancing couples left the floor. Mark pulled Megan to the dance floor and took her in his arms. The band struck up a soft romantic tune, a song that had become Megan’s and Mark’s favorite. Arms around each other, bodies melding, they danced as if in a trance, until the music stopped.

  “To Megan and Mark! Congratulations on your engagement!” the announcer shouted loudly over the microphone. Loud clapping followed and the band struck up For he’s a jolly good fellow.

  After they returned to their table, Georgia and Harry said they’d like to crash for the night. Vera went with them. Jonas and Cassie, glowing with happiness, hugged them both.

  “I didn’t want to spoil your moment,” Cassie told them. “Jonas asked me to marry him, too. We’re going shopping for a ring tomorrow.”

  “Cassie, will you be a bridesmaid? I haven’t had a chance to ask Vera, but I’m sure she’ll be happy to be my maid of honor.”

  “Yes, of course. When is the wedding?”

  “I think we’ve pretty much decided on Christmas, but we’re not sure yet. Circumstances have changed,” Megan said.

  “Yes.” Cassie looked serious. “I know. We’ve all had epiphanies.”

  “You remember?”

  “Oh, every horrible minute of it. We’ve all been given a second chance. How many people are given such an opportunity?” Cassie said.

  “It’s so strange. We’re back where we began and only a few seconds had passed.”

  “I know. It’s unbelievable, but it happened. Jonas and I loved each other before, and we are going to make a fresh start with unbelievable, fantastic, new friends in our lives!”

  “How about we all get together tomorrow for lunch or dinner?” Mark asked.

  “Sounds great. Call me,” Cassie said and pulled Jonas back to the dance floor.

  “How about it, hon? Do you want to go home?” Mark asked.

  “Yes, oh yes. I want to spend the rest of this night in your arms. I’ve missed you so much.”

  Mark chuckled. “And I you. But really, we were only gone a couple of seconds.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Together at last…

  Mark had taken a room in the same hotel as her parents, of which she’d had no idea. Much to her surprise, she arrived in a room filled with flowers, an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it and candles everywhere.

  “Seriously? You did all this? Hon, I don’t have a thing with me,” Megan said.

  “All taken care of. Your toiletries are in the bathroom and clothing is in the pink suitcase.”

  “When did you do all that?”

  “Woman, will you stop asking questions and go and freshen up and change?”

  “It’s almost like a wedding night,” she said softly.

  “Call it a pre-wedding night,” Mark said, sending her a wide grin while he popped the cork of the champagne bottle.

  Megan opened the suitcase and found a lovely negligee. He’d also packed a pair of jeans and a top for her and her runners. He hadn’t forgotten clean undies or socks. She was absolutely amazed how a man could remember the details of a woman’s needs.

  Quickly, she headed for the luxurious bathroom. She undid her hair and let it tumble down her back, removed her makeup and brushed her teeth. The negligee fit her to perfection and somehow reminded her of the light blue silken gown she’d worn during her time in the transition building. She had no idea what else to call it.

  When she went back into the room, Mark had dimmed the lights and was waiting for her on the bed, as naked as the day he was born. She grinned at his pulsing cock waiting for her. Damn, she’d missed him, missed their togetherness, their great sex.

  Are you stupid? You had great sex with him last night. She giggled and joined him on the bed. “Why do I have to wear this when you’re naked?” she asked.

  “I saw it and knew it was meant for you, babe. Come here,” he said and pulled her on top of him. “Damn, I’ve dreamed of this moment for years and years.”

  Megan laughed. “I just had that same thought. Yet we were together last night.”

  “You mean the night before last. It’s past midnight, sweetie.”

  “Well, if you want to be technical. Geez…”

  “All those nights in the mine, or were they nights? I don’t know. Whenever I was in that cot, you haunted my dreams.”

  “Haunted, huh?”

  “You know what I mean. Come here, temptress.”

  In seconds the negligee landed on the floor and she lay naked on top of him, his lips claiming hers in a kiss that needed to satisfy their hunger of so many years of separation. It was weird, it was strange, but it was almost as if they’d never made love before, as if the separation had been real.

  All her senses were more alive than they’d ever been. Her flesh tingled, her blood rushed through her veins, her heart pounded and her pussy felt like it was going to burst with need.

  His hands were tangled in her hair. With one fast swing, he had her on her back and he was above her. She looked at his beloved face, his dark gaze devouring her, before his lips crashed down and claimed her in a kiss straight from heaven. He sucked her tongue into his mouth, then explored her mouth, every crevice, with his. He rained kisses on her forehead, her nose, her chin, then slowly moved down to her breasts, her nipples. M
assaging her taut breasts, he sucked her nipples in turn until they were completely erect. Moving down further, he licked her stomach, her bellybutton, down to her pubes until he got to her clit. When he sucked her clit, she squirmed.

  “Dammit, Mark, I want you. Stop teasing me,” she shouted. But he didn’t listen and continued his onslaught of her clit, her pussy, sucking her until she managed to flip him over and get on top of him. In one move, she positioned herself above his pulsing cock and sank down. Letting her breath out she relished the sensation of his engorged cock within her and squeezed her vaginal muscles tight.

  She leaned forward slightly so he could reach her breasts. He tweaked her nipples, massaged her breasts and she started to ride him, harder, faster, until she felt the tremors throughout his body. He was ready, and so was she. “Come, baby, come! Now!”

  She came at the same time as him. His cock slowly shrank, but he stayed firmly within her. She collapsed on his chest, sought his lips. He kissed her gently, lingeringly.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Christmas Eve

  The farm was ablaze with lights, from the gate, along the long drive to the farmhouse, all the trees in the front yard, and the house itself. It had snowed and the farm would have made a beautiful Christmas card. It looked picturesque.

  It was the night before her wedding. Megan had taken her horse and gone for a horse ride in the snow. Bella didn’t mind snow. She’d ridden her many times in it when she was still living at home. Bending forward, she rubbed Bella’s neck. “I’ve missed you, girl. I really do hate city life. Wish I could convince Mark to live here, but what can an office geek do in the country?”

  For quite a while she sat on her horse to gaze at the lovely scene. Tomorrow, she’d become Mark’s wife. The barn was ready for the reception. The whole town was invited. Hell, it was a small town where everyone knew each other.

  After much debate and discussion with his wife, Mark and Megan, Harry didn’t contact the police. The wives of the three men he’d killed had moved on. Two of them had left town and the third one had married a local man. They decided that if he went to the police, he’s stir up a hornet’s nest. Georgia felt he’d done his time by working in the mines. Though in all reality he’d only been gone a couple of seconds, to him, to her, it had felt like many years.

  Harry had suggested he should send an anonymous note to the police where the men were buried, but again, they decided it would cause a lot of trouble for the three women who now were all living happy lives. They had done their homework and checked up on the two women who’d moved away.

  Megan was grateful her father would be giving her away. Like her mother, she felt her father did his time in the mines and he was truly sorry for his deed. Maybe it wasn’t right not going to the authorities, but who would ever know, or could ever know or believe what they’d all experienced.

  “Go, Bella, let’s go home,” she said, patting the horse on the neck. Bella trotted through the snow back to the stables. Once there, Megan unsaddled her, brushed her and took her to her stall. She kissed Bella on the nose. “See you tomorrow, girl.”

  “What took you so long?” Cassie asked, lounging on the floor in front of the fireplace, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

  “Mm, hot chocolate. I could use a mug. It’s damn cold out there.”

  “You’ve missed Bella,” Harry said.

  “Sure have. I think she missed me, too. She trotted like a young filly.”

  “Tomorrow you’ll be a married woman by this time,” Georgia handed her a mug of hot chocolate.

  “Yeah. It doesn’t seem real. Is this the real world, or is the world we left the real one? I often wonder about that.”

  “I think about it a lot,” Cassie said. “It all seems like a dream now, yet I know it really happened.”

  “So you and Jonas are waiting until spring to tie the knot. Have you set a date yet?” Megan asked, looking at Cassie.

  “No. Jonas wants to bring his family over for the wedding and we haven’t decided yet if we want to stay in New York.”

  “Mark and I haven’t made up our minds either. I’d love to live closer to the farm, my family.”

  “I wonder what the guys are up to right now,” Cassie said.

  “Having a whale of a time at the local bar, I’m sure. I just hope they don’t get too drunk.”

  “We didn’t even do a girl’s night out. Not fair. They get to do the bachelor thing, and you get to sit home and drink hot chocolate.”

  “We’ll fix that in a hurry,” Georgia said. “Just wait.”

  They chatted for a while until the door chimes sounded. Georgia hurried to answer the door. Much to Megan’s surprise, a whole troupe of her school friends filed into the living room bearing gifts and bottles of champagne and wine.

  Harry had disappeared and Georgia put on some music. “Surprise, daughter. Of course you get a bachelorette party!”

  Within minutes, the party was in full swing. Megan giggled at the crazy gifts—condoms, sex toys, sexy lingerie, mood lotions, and the final gift, a dildo. She felt overwhelmed and never would have thought all her school buddies to be that risque. They laughed, drank, and played some games until Georgia turned the music off and told everyone to sit somewhere. Megan wondered what the next surprise was, but didn’t have to wonder long.

  Into the living room came two men dressed as cops. Music started, sexy music, and they danced. Male strippers. Oh, my God. I can’t believe it. Mom, or Cassie, or whoever, hired male strippers!

  She could hardly believe how her mother hooted and hollered as the two men cast off one piece of clothing after another. They were young and they were hotter than hell, their bodies to die for. But Megan had to admit to herself, they couldn’t beat Mark. Not in looks or body.

  It was after midnight when she finally crawled into her bed, absolutely exhausted. Yet adrenaline about her upcoming nuptials still kept her awake for a while. Lying in her bed, gazing up at the ceiling, she felt her thoughts drift back to the explosion, to her ordeal in the hospitals and everything after that. It was almost too unbelievable. I’m going to write a book about it all. I’ll get everyone’s permission before I start, but I think we need to tell our tale.

  Still thinking about how she’d start the book, how she’d approach everyone about it, she drifted off.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Christmas Day

  Megan woke up with a start. She’d forgotten to close the blinds and a bright sun sent its rays into her room. Glancing at her alarm, she noticed it was only just after seven. She stretched and sat up. Her wedding gown hung on her closet door all wrapped in thin plastic. She’d had it made in New York, along with the bridesmaid gowns. After some thought, she’d asked her younger sister to be a bridesmaid, too. Jonas was Mark’s best man, and to her surprise he’d asked Azim and his brother to be groomsmen.

  After they were engaged, Mark had contacted his family and they’d visited them. He’d reconnected with them and vowed he’d never ignore them again.

  Jonas had searched for and located the woman he got pregnant to find out he’d fathered a little girl. Cassie adored her from the moment she’d seen her, said she was the image of the little girl she’d seen and held during her epiphany, as she called it. The woman, still not married, had come to an agreement with Jonas. He promised to pay child support and she in turn gave him joint custody of little April. She was with Jonas and Cassie and little April would be her flower girl.

  It was so strange how they all knew each other’s deepest secrets now. All because of some aliens that had decided to yank them out of their time to a different place, to a different time, a place and time where they’d all had an epiphany of one kind or another.

  The door opened slightly. Megan turned to see who it was. It was Cassie holding April by the hand. “She wanted to see her gown again, Megan. Do you mind?”

  Megan laughed. “Of course not. Go look. It’s hanging next to my gown, babe.”

 
“I’m not a baby,” April said.

  “Of course not. You’re a big girl.” Megan watched as April carefully examined her royal blue gown.

  “Are you sure it will fit me?”

  “Yes, it will. Cassie took your measurements.”

  “It’s a pretty color. Can I try it on?”

  “Sweetie, how about we go and have breakfast? You can try it on later, okay?” Cassie said.

  “I’ll join you. From what I can sniff, Mom’s making waffles or pancakes.”

  April hurried out of the room and down the stairs. Megan smiled and said to Cassie, “You’ll make a wonderful mother, hon.”

  “I could have been and—“

  “Yes, I know. But you have a fresh start with the man you love. What more can you ask for?” Megan watched the sad expression leave Cassie’s eyes.

  “I don’t know how the aliens could have shown her to me. She was gorgeous. April looks a bit like her.”

  “I don’t know about aliens. I’m starting to believe it was some kind of divine intervention.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yup. Hey, how do you feel about me writing a book about all of it?”

  “Really? You can do that? I’d love to be able to write. Sure, go ahead, but please, use fake names and places?”

  “I guess I could do that. I wouldn’t have to ask anyone’s permission in that case. If I don’t write it in first person, it can pass for fiction. I’ll have to think on it some more, but it came to me last night that I’d like to immortalize our experiences by writing about them.”

  “Did you write your vows?”

  “Nope. I know what I’m going to say.”

  “Seriously? Damn, I don’t know if I could do that.”

  “Let’s go eat, girl. I’m starving. That smell is driving my stomach insane.”