The Gift of Remembering

by C. L. Shaffer

  "Take me back," was all Tia said as the frigid winter wind blew.

  Recalling the memory, Irene turned to Charlie. "I think seeing for herself what she was a part of has changed her. And like you said, she has two sisters who don't let her get away with anything."

  Out of the corner of her eye, Irene noticed Chris chatting with someone by the pond. "Now, if you'll excuse me . . . my husband is flirting with a redhead."

  Irene got up from the bench and strolled toward Chris, who looked her way as she approached. He patted the woman on the arm before moving away.

  "I always thought gentlemen preferred blondes," Irene said to him.

  Chris rubbed his chin as he looked to the ground. "Perhaps I'm no gentleman."

  "That I can attest to."

  Chris pulled her in close. "That's because, with you, I'm not a gentleman." He kissed her roughly, jesting.

  She pushed him away. "In front of the whole town?"

  "Well, we'll give them something to remember." He embraced her, and they both turned toward Wallace and Tia. "This war," he said softly, "was different from the last. Without firing a bullet, the labor camps were freed, the terrorists were caught, those who wanted their memories back—got them, and The Firsts were judged." He rubbed her back gently. "But despite the lack of death and destruction, this war was . . . more difficult."

  Irene looked up at him. "That's because this war was fought among our family."

  "True. And I have to admit, that was something worth fighting for."

  Irene patted him on the chest. "Look at us. We agree on something else."

  The comment made him chuckle, and Irene put her other arm around him more fully. "Now, are you going to tell me what Natalie found out about The Gift of Remembering?"

  "Nothing conclusive, I'm afraid. It seems many people had it, but we're still not sure if it was a glitch in The Firsts' technology or a miracle. I suppose it all depends on who you ask."

  "Well, I like to think the glitch was God's miracle," Irene said.

  Chris held her tighter. "That's something else we can agree on."

  Special Acknowledgments

  C.L. Shaffer would like to thank Lee Warren as well as Grammarly.com for their assistance with editing. She would also like to extend a special thank you to The Cover Collection for the design of this work’s book cover.

  Other works by C.L. Shaffer:

  The Link That Could Not Be Broken (Christian fiction)

  The Wonderful Journey of Edmund Beasley (Christian fiction)

  False Beliefs: The Serpent Seed Doctrine & Kenite Myth (Christian nonfiction)