In the Fullness of Time

by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

Chapter 39

  Taylor stood on the balcony of their New York apartment. After almost five years in New Mexico, the city he looked at was crowded and noisy. The sweeping view lifted his spirit, as always, even with the emptiness where the towers had once dominated. He felt his heart and head responding to the ever-present beat of the city and knew that he’d come home at last.

  Taylor felt Laura put her arms around him and lean her head against his shoulder. “What are you thinking, Taylor?”

  He turned to take her in his arms. “Just resting a minute before I go tackle more boxes.”

  “Liar. You’re out here because you’re enjoying being home.”

  “How can I tell you that when I’ve just ripped you from your home? I know what a sacrifice this move was for you.”

  Laura shook her head, kissed him, then said, “Taylor, don’t you know by now that my home is wherever you are? It’s true that ‘home is where the heart is’. My heart is always with you.”

  “How did I ever get so lucky to marry you?”

  “Obviously, you did something very bad in a previous life.”

  “No, it was something good.”

  The sounds of giggling and delighted shrieks reached them before Annie tore out of the doorway and hid behind her father. “Help me, Daddy!” she cried as Meg came out the door after her.

  He scooped her up and said, “Why Princess Annie, what is this creature chasing you?”

  “It’s Megan! Megan the…the…” Annie thought hard to find something horrible enough to name her sister. “Megan the Monster! She’s after me, Daddy! Save me!” she shrieked in his ear as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

  “A monster am I, Annie?”

  “Must be,” Taylor answered. “The Princess says you are, so you must be.”

  “Too bad. I was going to take Her Highness for ice cream but she wouldn’t want to go with a monster like me. I guess I’ll have to go by myself.”

  “Wait! You’re not a monster.” Annie wiggled out of her father’s arms and ran to hug her sister. “I’m sorry, Meg. You’re not a monster. I love you!” she said as she held her arms out to be picked up.

  “Sure, I’m not a monster now that I mentioned ice cream.” Meg said as she kissed Annie’s cheek.

  “I don’t know, Annie. Maybe it’s a trick. I’d better come along to protect you.”

  “Right, Taylor,” Meg said. “The ice cream’s no attraction to you at all, is it?”

  “Me? Never touch the stuff unless I’m alone or with somebody. Want to come along, Laura?”

  Laura laughed at them. “No, I think I’ll stay here and enjoy a little peaceful. But you can bring me back a scoop if you’d like.”

  “Annie, what flavor shall we bring Mommy?” Meg asked.

  “Chocolate!” Annie shouted. “Mommy loves chocolate!”

  “Almost as much as I love you, little one. Have fun.”

  Laura watched as they went out the door then went back down the hall to their bedroom. So much unpacking still to do but at least this room was done. The whole apartment was freshly painted, arranged by phone ahead of their move with the building manager. Meg, with still a month before medical school started, had volunteered to fly back from New Mexico early to make sure Annie’s room was ready. It had been so hard for Annie to adjust to the idea of the move. All she’d ever known was New Mexico and the ready presence of her beloved grandparents. Having her room ready and waiting had been a help in the transition and now, almost two weeks later, she seemed to have settled in.

  Copper and Penny raced into the room as fast as their little legs could carry them. The miniature dachshund siblings had been a gift for Annie’s fifth birthday. Taylor’s idea, but they had all grown to love the mischievous pair. “Hello, guys,” Laura said as she leaned down to rub their ears. “At least you seem to have adjusted.”

  Looking out the window at the city below, Laura was overwhelmed with a wave of homesickness. It didn’t matter that she was a grown woman with children of her own, she missed her mother and father desperately. Tears came to her eyes and, rather than holding them back, she picked up a box of tissue and allowed herself to cry the hurt out.

  * * *

  Taylor was pleased to be out in the bustle of New York. He still had a talent for being invisible in public and still loved the vibrant sidewalk parade. Unless people were expecting to see “Taylor Morgan”, all they saw was a father out with his daughters.

  Annie seemed to find the city as stimulating as he did. She chattered about the cars and had developed a love of taxis. She waved at every one that passed and, usually, got a wave in return. Even the most curmudgeonly taxi driver found it hard to resist the happy little girl with the halo of red curls.

  As they went into the ice cream store and began the decision making process, they didn’t notice the blonde woman who came in behind them. Since Annie was weighing her choices, the clerk helped the woman first. She took a seat in the corner where she could still see Taylor and his daughters. Her ice cream melted as she concentrated on the man who never left her thoughts.

  * * *

  The phone rang and Laura took a few deep breaths to clear her head before she answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Laura. It’s me.”

  “Hi, Beth.”

  “What’s wrong? You’ve been crying. I can hear it in your voice.”

  “Sometimes it’s a real pain to have a friend who knows you so well.”

  “So give. What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing. Everything. Taylor and the girls are gone for a little bit so I was indulging myself in a good cry. I’m homesick.”

  “I miss you, too, Laura. I got used to having you just a couple of hours away.”

  “I know. Me, too. It was great being able to see you every couple of weeks. How’s Jason? And the boys?”

  “Jason’s wonderful as usual. He’s working on a new series of sculptures using the boys as models. You’ll love them. The boys are their usual terrible selves. I can’t believe they’ll be starting full-day school this fall! But I think the kindergarten teacher is relieved to have them moving on,” she said with an indulgent laugh. Her twins, Tomás and Taylor, were high-spirited boys, full of mischief but impossible not to love instantly. “They miss Annie and want to know when we can come and see you. They don’t seem to get the concept that New York is much further away than Albuquerque.”

  “Annie, too. She wants to know when they’ll be coming for a visit. Soon, I hope?”

  “We’ll try, Laura. It will be harder now. We have to be here in the summer for the tourists. And with the boys starting school in the fall, there’s not a lot of open time there.”

  “I know, Beth. Just wishful thinking on my part. I’ll try to come out before Annie starts school but it will depend on how things are going here.”

  Laura heard the door open and the sound of her laughing daughter coming down the hall, as she was welcomed with hysterical barking from the dogs. “They’re back, Beth. Want to say hi to Annie?”

  “Sure. And I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”

  “Thanks. Love you, too.” She held out the phone to Annie. “Want to talk to Auntie Beth?”

  Annie plopped down on the floor and took the phone. As she began an earnest conversation, Taylor came through the door carrying a container of ice cream. “Chocolate fudge this time, Laura.” He stopped as she came over to take it from him, “Tears?” he asked as he ran his hand gently over her cheek.

  “Just a little homesick. I’m fine. Beth called and I talked it all out with her.”

  He drew her into an embrace and whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry, my love.” Stepping back he said, “Let’s go out for a grownup dinner tonight. By the time we get home, maybe there will be an opportunity to make you feel more at home.” He smiled at her and she fell in love all over again. “Eat your ice-cream before it melts. I’ll go let Rosina know that we’ll be out this evening.”

  Chapter 40
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  “Morning, Laura.”

  Laura looked up from the paper. “You’re up early, Meg.”

  “I know. And it’s not fair since I have today off.”

  “Isn’t that the way it always goes?”

  Meg poured a glass of juice then sat down at the table.

  “So what are you going to do with the day?” Laura asked.

  “I have a couple of errands to run this morning, then I thought I might take Annie to the zoo.”

  “She’d love that, Meg. But you must have more exciting things to do than baby-sit your little sister.”

  “Not one. Until I go back to school, babysitting Annie is about as exciting as it gets. I’m not going to be around much once med school begins so I choose to spend today with my little sister. Has she got anything to get in the way?”

  “She has dance class at ten but then she’s free the rest of the day.”

  “I’ll pick her up from there if that’s okay.”

  “It would be great. Matteo can drive you.”

  “I thought we’d take a cab. You know how crazy she is about them.”

  “I know and I’m hoping she outgrows it before she has to choose a career. I never imagined any of my daughters being cabbies.”

  “Not to worry. Annie is destined for the stage.”

  “Taylor been brainwashing you?”

  “No. You just have to watch her. She’s going to light up a theatre someday.”

  “Am I being replaced?” Taylor asked as he walked in the door. He gave Laura a lingering kiss then dropped a quick one on Meg’s head before he took a glass of juice and joined them.

  Meg grinned, “Honestly! You two. Don’t you know you’re too old to be behaving that way?”

  “What way?” Taylor asked, playing innocent.

  “As if you can’t wait for me to get out of the room so you can be all over each other.”

  “Hmm, not a bad idea. So, when are you leaving, Meg?”

  “Never. I’m going to be around and in your way forever.”

  “We’ll manage somehow. Now, who’s this new gift to the theatre?”

  “Meg thinks Annie is destined for a theatrical career. I think she’s going to be a cabbie.”

  “Meg’s thoughts make a lot of sense,” Taylor said, “but I’ve got to agree with you, Laura. I’ve already repainted her room yellow. The next thing will probably be a checkerboard floor!”

  “You laugh,” Meg countered, “but you’ll see.”

  The person in question came into the room and ran and threw her arms around her father. “Daddy!”

  Taylor scooped her up and kissed her. “Pretty fancy this morning, Miss Annie.”

  “I have dance class, Daddy. These are just my leotards. We don’t get to wear the tutus until recital.”

  “Okay, I understand now. What’s up after dance class?”

  “I wondered if Annie would like to go to the zoo with me?” Meg asked.

  Annie’s eyes lit up. “The zoo? Will we see the butterflies?”

  “We will.”

  “Oh, Mommy, can I? Can I go to the zoo with Meg?”

  “I think that would be all right. As long as you promise to stay right with her and not wander off.”

  “I promise!”

  “Then I’ll pick you up at class, Annie. After breakfast, we’ll find some zoo clothes for you to change into.”

  “Hooray! Butterflies!” Annie shouted as she jumped down from her father’s lap and ran to her own chair. “Butterflies, butterflies, butterflies!”

  Chapter 41

  Laura glanced at her watch as she waited for the elevator to their apartment. She'd cut her last appointment short hoping to get home in time to spend a little quality time with Taylor before he went to the theatre. Since Meg had promised to pick up Annie after her dance lesson and take her to the zoo, Laura didn’t have to feel guilty about engineering this time without child or work. Annie would have a wonderful time with Meg—while her parents, with any sort of luck, would have a wonderful time without her.

  As soon as she stepped off the elevator she could hear the “dogbells” start up—Copper and Penny made it their job to announce every visitor. So much for a surprise arrival, she thought, as she used her key to open the door. “Hush, you two! No barking.” Copper stood there hoping for a biscuit while Penny rolled over hoping for a tummy rub. They were both disappointed as she dropped her purse and briefcase onto the chair inside the door and headed for the bedroom. Without the dogs barking, the apartment was quiet and, for a moment, she felt keen disappointment of a lost opportunity. Then she realized that she could hear the water running in the master bath and she smiled in anticipation.

  In their room, Laura quickly undressed then let herself into the bathroom. She paused to admire the silhouette of her husband's body then opened the shower door and stepped in.

  Taylor turned in surprise then smiled at her, the slow, lazy, “cat that ate the canary” smile that never failed to turn her knees to jelly. Pulling her under the warm cascade, he said, “You're home early.”

  “Early enough?” she replied as she ran her hands down the length of his back.

  “Early enough.” He leaned down to kiss her and that was enough for a while. Then he lifted her, bracing her against the wall as he joined their bodies. Wordlessly, he looked into her eyes, the green eyes that had so bewitched him from the beginning, and was rewarded with the pure pleasure he saw reflected there.

  Sliding his hands from behind her, he brought them to her breasts, caressing the nipples, slippery now with water and laughed as she caught her breath, then catching his own as he felt her tighten around him. She wrapped her arms around him, one hand behind his head, pulling his mouth to hers greedily. As he slid deeper into her, she felt the wave begin that, much too soon for both of them, crested, leaving them breathless, hearts pounding, as the water wrapped them both in warmth.

  * * *

  Meg watched with the waiting parents as Annie's class finished their ballet lesson. They tried so hard. At only five years old, they'd begun to master the intricacies, some demonstrating remarkable grace. Meg was pretty sure it wasn't just her imagination that Annie was one of the ones who seemed to have the gift. She remembered the hours she had spent in her mother's studio at the same age.

  When the class was released, Annie ran across the room and launched herself into Meg's arms. “Meg! Are we still going?”

  “Of course we are, silly girl! I promised. And I don't break my promises, you know that. Get your things, go change, and we'll go.”

  Hand in hand the two of them left the studio, Annie chattering all the way down the stairs, barely pausing for breath as Meg hailed a taxi. She was too busy laughing at Annie to notice the blonde woman who watched them intently from the shadows; the woman who heard Meg tell the driver, “To the zoo, please.”

  * * *

  Taylor came out of the bathroom, already dressed and ready to leave for the theatre. Laura sat on their bed, wrapped in a green silk robe he'd given her because it matched her eyes. Her long hair was still wet and she was drying it with a towel as she sat there. Not for the first time, he regretted that his career took him away from her at night. These stolen times were hard to come by with a lively five-year-old in their life. He was contemplating just how late he could be when the phone rang and Laura reached across the bed to pick it up.

  Chapter 42

  It happened so quickly. Meg was watching Annie as she ran after the butterflies and lectured everyone who would listen. She could name most of the butterflies now but some still had nonsense names she’d made up. She was chattering at the zoo docent when a school class came in with two teachers and several mothers. There was plenty of room but Meg thought she ought to be where she could keep a closer eye on Annie. When she stood, she scanned the crowd for her sister’s red hair and finally saw it bobbing off in the distance. Beside Annie was a blonde woman who had come in with the school group and they seemed to be hurrying away.

>   “Annie!” The panic in Meg's voice alerted the adults in the crowd that something was wrong. “Annie!” Meg broke into a run and ran toward the rapidly disappearing woman and child. Weaving through the children, she tried desperately to keep the woman in sight as they headed for the exit.

  “Annie!” The woman turned at the sound of Meg's voice, then scooped up Annie and began to run. Meg ran behind them but was suddenly caught up in another school class exiting the monkey house. By the time she pushed her way through the crowd and made it to the Southern Boulevard gate, the woman and Annie had vanished.

  * * *

  “Hello?” Laura watched her husband as he braced one foot on a chair to tie his shoe. She'd always liked this view and was not really paying attention as she answered the phone.

  “Laura…it's me, Meg. I can't find her. Someone took her.” Meg's voice was choked with tears and hysteria. Laura's heart seemed to quit beating. Taylor turned and saw the blood drain from her face, her hand holding the receiver in a death grip.

  “Megan! Slow down. Take a deep breath and start over.” Laura didn't feel nearly as in control as she sounded. Her eyes met Taylor's and he saw the panic there. He turned and ran down the hallway, picking up the portable phone just in time to hear Meg continue.

  “She was right there. I was watching her. She was chasing butterflies and then she was gone. There was a woman…” Meg's voice was lost in helpless sobbing.

  “Meg! Megan!” Taylor nearly shouted into the phone trying to get her attention. “Where are you? “ He made his way back to the bedroom, his own face nearly as white as that of his wife. “Where are you, Meg?”

  “The zoo. Oh, God, Taylor…please come…“