Zander took a deep breath. “I have always loved you, Jade, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”
When they reached for each other, their hands and mouths were desperate and hurried, like they had to make up for lost time. Zander didn’t fight the urge to run his fingers through Jade’s hair. He framed her face and pulled her closer. Jade’s arms wrapped around his neck, meeting his passion.
Zander’s lips hungered for Jade’s as they pressed against each other. Jade’s hands greedily pulled at buckles, buttons, and zippers. They discarded articles of clothing as they made their way to the bed.
Their joy filled the room as they tumbled into the sheets. The touch and feel of each other’s naked bodies was warm and familiar. They explored every inch of each other until they were tired and satiated.
As Zander fell asleep with Jade in his arms, he prayed that this wasn't a dream. The loneliness of the last few years was worth it if they were truly back together. He wouldn’t let her leave again.
Morning sunlight peaked through the cracks in Zander's blinds. He felt Jade stir in the nook of his arm. Relief washed over him because last night wasn’t a dream.
Jade leaned over and kissed him. “Good morning, handsome.”
Zander made a noise that sounded like a purr. He reveled in the warmth of her body against his.
“Happy Thanksgiving Eve,” Zander said.
Jade groaned. “Can we skip the holiday?” The night before had gone so well. She didn't want Thanksgiving Eve’s bad luck to mess everything up.
“No way! It's my favorite.”
Jade kissed Zander's lips again because his smile was contagious. “Sorry, nature calls.” She gently scooted out from under Zander's arm.
She headed to the bathroom, passing the condom that had been tossed aside. “Oops, I guess we should clean this up.” Jade gave Zander a sheepish look as she reached down to pick it up.
The color drained from Jade’s cheeks as her face fell. The change had Zander sitting up in bed. “What's wrong?”
Jade didn't answer right away. “Nothing.”
It didn't look like nothing to Zander. He jumped out of bed. “What is it?”
Jade cupped her hands and showed Zander the condom. “I'm not sure if this rip happened before or after…”
“No, no, no, no, no.” Zander ran his hands through his hair. He loved Jade, but were they ready to start a life with a child?
“Slow down. Let's take a moment to breathe.” Jade tossed the condom in the garbage and started to pick up her clothes and put them on.
“We can’t take the risk that you get pregnant. We need to go to a drugstore.”
“No, I need to go home. I have a child waiting for me.”
Zander stared at Jade like she was an alien. “How are you calm?” He felt a bubbling panic from deep within. Why wasn’t Jade feeling the same thing?
Zander was wrong about Jade. She could feel the storm of anxiety building inside. Nothing went smoothly around Thanksgiving. She still had to explain everything about Rogues and the Isle of the Lost to Zander. Was this the universe’s way of forcing her hand?
Jade couldn’t afford to lose control. She reached into her core to find composure and prayed this wasn’t a day of reckoning with the shadows. It took Jade three years to get to this point, and she couldn’t fail Zander. Love would prevail. She was sure of it. “Let’s take this one step at a time. Come to my house and meet my son Kelvin.”
In a daze, Zander dressed and followed Jade to the train. He opened his mouth to start a conversation about the last twelve hours, but the words wouldn’t come out. Jade had put up her old shield of armor, playing it cool while Zander was left panicking. How had he fallen into the same role that he played years ago?
Zander bit the inside of his cheek. No, this time was different. Jade was a self-assured woman, and Zander was in love with her. He believed everything she told him last night, and he would continue to trust her.
As the train approached Woodpine Station, Jade felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck. She glanced out the window and spotted three eye floaters crossing the highway. “Let's go.” Jade hurried Zander into the station.
They stepped on to the train platform as another train whooshed by in the opposite direction. A chill crept up Jade's spine. Screaming voices mingled with the sounds of the train screeching against the tracks.
The jarring screams cause Jade to stumble. “Are you okay?” Zander asked as he caught her. The look of concern had been etched on his face since finding the condom this morning.
Jade straightened herself. “Fine.” At least she was determined to be fine. She took off for her car in the parking lot.
“Everything all right?” Lorenzo shouted from the front of his shop. He was standing with the bartender from McCallister’s and the doorman from Murphy’s Music Hall. Each man’s arms were crossed and their faces grim.
Jade shivered. They were the de facto Rogue leaders in Woodpine who kept a pulse on the activity in and out of their town. Was there news about PMI raids? Their concern for this year’s All Shadows Eve exacerbated her own fears.
“Fine, Lorenzo. Happy Thanksgiving,” Zander shouted back. There was an unnatural tone in his voice.
Jade got into her car without saying a word. She didn’t like the increased buzz of shadow activity or the shrill voices or the congregation of Woodpine store owners. Nonetheless, nothing would derail her from winning Zander back. She planned on telling Zander everything.
Minutes later, the car pulled up to Jade's mother's house. Nic was sitting on the front step, his hands cradling his head.
“Why is he here?” Zander asked.
This time, Jade couldn’t numb the panic by erecting her shield of armor or delving for the peace at her core. She rushed out of the car and ran over to her ex-boyfriend. “Where's Kelvin?” She couldn't hide the terror in her voice. Had the PMI showed up? Did they take her son?
Nic raised his head. There were dark bags under his eyes. “Calm down. He's inside. Your mother forced me to wait on the porch.” Jade put her hand over her pounding heart. Her son was safe.
“Is this where you were all night?” Nic motioned to Zander. Zander stood by the car. He couldn’t imagine the day getting any worse.
“It's none of your business,” Jade said, crossing her arms.
“Good luck to you, man. She's a hand-ful.”
Zander's lips formed a straight line, but he didn't say anything. Jade's reappearance in his life was new. Plus, he needed to keep a cool head to deal with the morning's discovery.
“Go home, Nic,” Jade said as she tried to push past him and go inside the house.
Nic grabbed Jade's arm to stop her. “I can't.”
Zander took an aggressive step forward. Verbal abuse was one thing, but he wouldn't let this guy physically hurt Jade.
Nic released Jade's arm to show he meant no harm, surprised at Zander's assertive move. It looked like Jade’s boy toy was more than brains and career goals. Nic respected a man who showed grit.
“What do you mean you can't?” Jade asked.
Nic looked at his shoes. Desperation meant he was about to eat a slice of humble pie. “I need your help.”
“My help?”
Nic lifted up his head. There hadn’t been love between them, but there was a special bond. He looked in Jade's eyes, begging her to understand. “Ollie is in town.”
Jade's eyes widened. “You saw Ollie in Department L?”
He nodded his head. “He was…different.”
“Different how?”
“Crazed and wild.” Nic looked distraught.
“Do you know where he is now?” Jade asked.
Nic shook his head. “Can we go somewhere safe and talk?”
Jade stared at him, unsure if she wanted to help him or not. Ollie was Nic’s problem, not hers. Then, she remembered the dire stories he had shared about the Isle of the Lost. Could she deny someone the chance for a better life?
Zander broke the silence. “We can go to my folks' house.” He didn’t know who Ollie was, but he could tell the situation was bleak. Jade and Nic needed help.
Nic was taken aback by Zander’s offer. He didn’t know whether to be grateful or wary, but the decision was made when Jade headed to her car, and Nic had no other option but to follow.
* * * *
Chapter Ten: The Thanksgiving Eve When Love Might Steer the Stars (Part 2)
Three Years After Jade Discovered the Truth about the Rogues
Age: 28
The car ride to Zander’s parent’s house was tense. No one wanted to make small talk. Zander kept sneaking glances in Jade’s direction, but she kept her eyes on the road. Her face was determined. She was ready to head into battle, if she had to.
Nic slid down low in the backseat and peered out the window. The image of an enraged Ollie burned into his mind. He had looked like a rabid dog, foaming at the mouth and ready for a fight. If his old friend was hidden inside the angry man who entered Department L, Ollie had buried him deep.
As he reflected on last night, Nic realized the raw tension from the Rogues who crossed had been palpable. He had written it off as excitement as he waited for Ollie, but now he realized it might have been something else.
Jade parked the car on the street outside Zander’s family home, and the awkward trio raced up the stairs and into Zander's childhood room. Jade sat on the bed and crossed her legs. Her dangling right foot tapped the bedspread. Her eyes followed Nic as he paced the short distance of the room.
Zander could tell they were spooked, but he didn’t have all the facts. “Who is Ollie?” He managed an outward calm despite the tightening in his gut.
Jade didn't know where to start. She had planned to tell Zander everything, but not like this. Not with her ex-boyfriend in the room and his crazy friend on the loose. What choice did she have? She turned to Zander and grabbed both of his hands in her own.
“Do you remember when I told you that I see shadows and hear voices?”
Zander paused and then nodded his head once. He wasn't sure where this was headed, but there was no turning back.
“They weren’t a figment of my imagination. They were real.”
“The people screaming in Murphy’s Music Hall?” Zander asked. His eyes were wide as saucers.
“That’s right.”
“The spot in the backyard at the house party?” Zander asked. He hadn’t thought about those experiences with Jade in a long time.
Jade nodded. She reminded herself to be patient. She had years to get comfortable with the idea, and she was asking Zander to believe her ludicrous story in one day. “Yes. There is an alternate universe with people living parallel lives to our own. Unfortunately, the world they live in is rife with discontent, and the people are unhappy. They want to escape to our world.”
To Zander's credit, he didn't pull his hands away from Jade as she spun the crazy tale. “People from an alternate universe come here?” He couldn't hide the skepticism from his voice.
“Yes, and I'm one of them,” Nic cut in.
“And my mom, too,” Jade added, ripping off the Band-Aid.
“I can prove it,” Nic said, trying to hurry things along. Zander watched in awe as Nic faded from view. His body became a gray fog until it condensed into a black floating spot.
Zander was speechless. He had believed he knew how the world worked. He had taken the science courses, studied biology, and knew what was solid on the ground in front of him, but this changed everything.
Vicki and Rayley burst into the room. They had been peeking into Zander’s bedroom since they heard him come in.
“He turned into one of those things you think is a black spot floating in your eye!” Vicki screamed. Zander and Jade were momentarily stunned.
Nic transformed back into his human form and said, “Now that we’ve cleared that up, time to get the rest of the story straight. Are you two together now?” Nic motioned to Zander and Jade’s clasped hands.
Jade and Zander looked at each other and spoke at the same time.
“She came over last night—”
“I went to his place last night—”
Rayley’s eyes widened in surprise. It was the last thing she expected. Jade had torn out Zander’s heart and left him to rot. It had taken Rayley years to pick up the pieces.
“You slept together?” Vicki asked. Their embarrassment was a telltale sign that the relationship went from zero to one hundred in one night.
“And the condom broke,” Zander said. The panic forced him to word-vomit his fears. Rayley gasped and put both hands over her mouth.
Jade put her hand on Zander’s cheek, forcing him to look her in the eyes. “It’s going to be all right,” she whispered.
The care and concern in Jade’s voice made Nic squirm. He knew that a romantic relationship between himself and Jade was never going to happen, but he didn’t want to watch little hearts form in her eyes when she looked at someone else.
“Look, we don’t have time to pick apart your love escapades. Ollie is running around Woodpine like a Tasmanian devil. We need to find him and calm him down before he gets caught by the PMI authorities.”
“If he’s so dangerous, why shouldn’t we let the authorities find him?” Zander asked.
Nic scowled. “He’s not dangerous, just misjudged. You wouldn’t understand because you come from a cushy life on this side.”
Zander wasn’t sure what to believe, but he saw the panic in Nic’s eyes. There would be time to ask more questions and think through the story logically. Right now, there was a pressing matter to deal with. “Where should we look for him?”
Nic was relieved that Zander was willing to help. He adjusted his hat as he paced the room. “Ollie likes to party and cause a scene. He would likely go to places with lots of people.”
“I can check McCallister’s downtown,” Zander offered.
“I’ll go with you,” Rayley said before anyone else could offer.
“I know where there are house parties,” Vicki said.
“We can pick up Marcus and Bobby on the way,” Jade said, agreeing to go with Vicki.
“I’ll check Department L in your office building. Maybe someone traveling to this side knows what his plans were,” Nic said. “Be careful to avoid the authorities.”
Zander jumped in the passenger seat of Rayley's car.
“The condom broke?” Rayley asked with a worried frown.
Zander stared out the windshield. “Yes.”
“When did you get back together?”
“Last night.”
“She's using you.”
Zander snapped his head to stare at Rayley. “What?”
Rayley looked serious. “I mean it.”
“How can you say that?” Zander was shocked at his sister's accusation. He knew Rayley wouldn’t be thrilled about his reunion with Jade, but this was harsh.
“There's something off about her and that guy Nic. If the story she told you is true, her family isn’t safe in Woodpine. She's trying to trap you into a relationship to distance herself from this other world.”
“You're crazy! Jade would never do that. I love her.”
“But does she love you?”
Zander was boiling inside. How could Rayley make such a heinous accusation? “Let's go to McCallister's. I don't want to talk about this right now.”
Rayley let the conversation drop because she had already given Zander her two cents. There was nothing else she could do. Only he could decide if he was blinded by his love for Jade.
“So, your mom is an alien?” Vicki asked Jade as they got into Jade's car. Vicki never filtered her thoughts before and didn’t bother to start now.
Jade gave Vicki a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”
“She wasn't
born here. She's not human.”
“We're all human. She was just born on the Isle of the Lost.”
“That’s what they call the parallel universe?” Clearly not interested in an answer, Vicki shrugged her shoulders. She didn't care what Jade said. She always had a feeling that Jade's brother Bobby had otherworldly blood running through his veins. No matter how poorly he treated her, Vicki always felt a thrill when he was near her.
Plus, there had been nights when Bobby was in a drug haze and talked about seeing people in the shadows. He had said the people begged him to save them. Vicki had chalked it up to incoherence from the drugs, but now it broke her heart to realize he was truly haunted.
Jade pulled up to her childhood home. Her mother ran out of the house with Kelvin in her arms. She approached Jade's window with concern written all over her face.
“You are doing something dangerous for Nic, aren’t you? It’s related to the crossing Rogues, isn’t it?”
“Mom, please.” She didn’t have time to explain, and her mother would never understand.
“Don't do this, Jade. Think about your son, Kelvin.” She leaned over to show Jade her son's sweet cheeks and round blue eyes. “Stay out of Nic's drama.”
Jade's face was pained. She loved her son with a passion that she had never known before, but Nic needed help. She and Kelvin would never be safe if Nic was in trouble. Ollie on the loose was bad news for all of them.
“I have to go, Mom. Take care of Kelvin.” A lump formed in her throat. This wasn't a request to babysit. Jade had no idea what type of danger she was heading to. If something dreadful were to happen to her, she was trusting her mother to step in as caretaker.
Ms. Miller studied Jade’s face. Her daughter made her own decisions. She could no longer protect her, but she could watch out for her grandson. She nodded her head once and stepped back as Marcus and Bobby came out the front door. She held the baby close to her chest, bearing the weight of the responsibility.
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