by Jill Cooper
He relaxes into a laugh as we slip into the limo. He pours himself some champagne and offers one to me. I shake my head and hold up my hand. “No, thanks.”
“Not thirsty?” Donovan asks as he takes a sip.
“No…I mean, I’d take a water if there’s one.” I don’t want to keep it from him. I’m terrified of keeping it from him, to be honest. If I want him to be honest with me, doesn’t that mean I have to be honest with him?
“Dehydrated, huh?” He flips the small water bottle in his hand before he offers it to me.
“I’m pregnant.”
Donovan nearly chokes on his champagne and almost spits it out. “Pregnant? Well,” he grins, “isn’t that something?”
“It’s something all right. I’m still coming to terms with how I feel about it.”
His face clouds over. “I…I’m sure it’s confusing for you. Have you decided what you’re going to do?” He swallows hard and his jaw stiffens.
“I’m going to have the baby, if that’s what you’re asking. Donovan. I could never….” Part of me is shocked he felt the need to ask, but maybe after meeting your killer daughter from the future, it’s a good question.
“I want things to be different for her than they were. I want her to have a good life, Don.”
He grins at me but gives a bark of nervous laughter. “Is that why…Is that why you want to go to dinner with me? Because of her?” There’s fear in his eyes, afraid of what I’ll say.
I shake my head and touch his cheek. “It’s not the only reason.”
He places his hand against mine. When he leans in to kiss me, I let him. It’s gentle and sweet. Maybe we don’t have all the answers, but it’s the beginning. Maybe new beginnings are what we need.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Donovan leans forward with a confused twinkle in his eye. “All right.”
“She lives in a nursing home. I…pay for her bills. But I know when you meet her, you’re going to love her.”
“Well, if you think I’m going to love her…. When do I get to meet the lucky lady?” He grins. Maybe he’s happy that we’re having a baby. Perhaps he’s happy that we’re sitting together. Either way his happiness spreads to me.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
Epilogue: Cassidy
Weddings are becoming commonplace for the Crane and Montgomery family. I admit, I enjoy a good conga line more than I let on. The music still swells through the reception hall and I break away to catch my breath. When a glass of champagne is offered to me, I take it as I step out onto the balcony.
It’s already dark out and the brisk night air blows my hair back gently. With a deep breath, taking in that subtle scent of evergreen trees and it reminds me that winter is coming. Soon, the family will be celebrating Christmas and New Years. Maybe now that Jax knows we’re family, perhaps I'll be included.
Maybe it’s too much to wish for but already I can see myself sitting at the table and exchanging presents. It’s all I ever wanted.
“Easy there, Winters,” I mutter to myself as I down the rest of my champagne.
With it gone, I step back into the reception. Miranda and John are feeding each other wedding cake. Delectably sweet frosting is the last thing I want to miss. I’m sweeping past the blowing curtains when pain unlike any I’ve ever felt, hits my head.
Oh God, it hurts. It hurts so bad.
I grab my temple and feel my knees go weak. Something must’ve been in my champagne, I’m sure of it, but who would’ve done such a thing? Who here could’ve done such a thing?
“Cass!” I hear the terror in Lara’s voice as she grabs my elbow but I’m slipping and falling to the ground. “Don!” There’s a rush of footsteps all around me, but it’s too late. I’ve fallen to the carpet and I struggle for breath as I gaze up at the ceiling.
The light’s flicker and slowly the chandelier disappears and is replaced by hospital lights. Everything is moving like I’m on board a ship, but that’s not it at all.
I’m strapped down to a board and someone is rushing me through a corridor. I hear their mocking voices, I listen to the squeaky wheels of my gurney. Whoever has me, I can’t see her face until she leans in past the glowing lights of the hallway and smiles at me.
She smirks at me with absolute malice.
“Lara…” My heart shudders and my voice shakes.
No…not Lara! Not Lara….
****
“Lara!” Cassidy screams my name and gasps for breath as the EMT slides an oxygen mask over her face. They slip her onto a gurney even as she claws at my shirt and is desperate to hold onto me.
“Easy, Cass,” I whisper and gently remove her hands. “Stay calm.”
The EMT pushes me away as they snap the gurney up onto its wheels and I’m left staring after her. All I want to do is help, but I’m told there’s nothing I can do.
“Heart attack, Ms. James. Follow along to the hospital if you wish, but we have to move her now.” The EMT talks to me like I ride the short bus to school, and I stare off at them as they rush Cassidy out of the reception hall.
Heart attack? Cassidy? I don’t believe it. No, it has to be something else.
All around me people slowly break up, start going back to the party even as my own terror lingers. Donovan never leaves my side. “I’ll drive you.” It’s not even a question if I’m going. It’s not a question of what I’m going to do.
I’m Lara James. Saving people, fixing time, it’s what I do.