timeaftertime

by Cynthia Luhrs

  ’Twas a notion he would have heartily embraced. Before. In his own time. Marriages were often made for financial or political gain. His own parents barely tolerated each other. But Drake wished to love the woman he spent his life with. To wake up next to her each morn, to share their dreams, and to know there was another who always had his back.

  Caroline admired her ring. “Remember what I told you about picking out my own ring? I wanted to be sure I had the one I wanted, since I’ll be wearing it for a long time. And I have a certain image to uphold.”

  She patted his arm. “My father will retire soon and we’ll be the power couple everyone talks about. As long as you’re discreet and don’t embarrass me, I don’t care if you see other women. As a species, we’re not meant to be monogamous. Of course, I’ll do the same, but only with men from out of town, and I’ll be very careful.”

  Her perfume tickled his nose when she kissed him on the cheek.

  “You’ll take care of the divorce. Quickly and quietly. And the wedding will go on as planned at Thanksgiving.”

  At the door to the room, she turned.

  “After all, my father saved your life all those years ago. You said you owe him your life, so I think marrying his daughter would be a fair trade on that marker, don’t you?”

  Drake swallowed. There was no reasoning with her when she had that look in her eye. And after all this time, if Mildred hadn’t married someone else, would she even remember him? ’Twas like yesterday to him, while for her it had been a lifetime. No, he’d marry Caroline, pay his debt to her father, and go on with his life. Mayhap he’d had his chance at love and the fates would not give him another

  “Caroline?”

  She paused, her serious face, as she called it, looking back at him.

  “I’ll call the lawyers and take care of this and you can have your Thanksgiving wedding.”

  “You mean we can have our wedding.” She frowned at him.

  “Of course.”

  But she was already texting someone on her phone, moving on to other business. “Good. And don’t worry about anything. Just wear the tux I picked out for you and show up on time. I’ll handle everything else.”

  He heard her heels tapping down the hallway as she left. Not sure how long he’d been staring out the window, Drake hit the speed dial on his phone. The lawyer answered on the second ring.

  “Harold? I find I am in need of assistance.” A Gregory always paid his debts, no matter what his heart desired.

  SEVEN

  Mildred woke trying to identify the noise. It was muffled and it took her a few moments to understand what she was hearing. It was the sound of someone crying. Karen.

  She pulled a white terrycloth robe over her nightgown and stopped outside Karen’s door, her hand raised to knock. Maybe she should wait until breakfast? But the sound came again, so full of anguish that she pressed her lips together and knocked.

  “Karen? What’s wrong?”

  The sound of sobbing grew louder and then the door opened. Karen wore a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt proclaiming her a bibliophile on the front. “I…I’m sorry I woke you.” She wiped red, puffy eyes and pulled something from her pocket, handing it to Mildred.

  It was a plastic stick with two dark pink lines. Confirmation.

  “I see.”

  Karen gestured to the bed at a pile of the sticks, all with two pink lines. “I thought maybe the test was defective, and then I thought I should try a different brand to be sure, and then, I don’t know, I think I just wanted a different answer.” She wailed and threw herself into Mildred’s arms, almost knocking her over.

  Caroline barreled through the glass doors, the sound of her heels muffled by the thick gray carpet.

  “Darling, Harold has the papers ready.” She handed Drake the manila envelope as if it were a present. “Sign them and I’ll see that they’re sent out overnight tonight.”

  “He found Mildred?” The hope in his chest made Drake want to find a horse and ride to her, rescue her. Take them both back to his own time, show her he hadn’t lied all those years ago and that he’d loved her with every fiber of his being.

  “Don’t sound so excited. I might think you still have feelings for this woman after all these years.” Caroline kissed his cheek. “It’s a good thing I’m not the jealous type.”

  His fiancée frowned, looking at her bright red nails.

  “It would have been so much easier if she were dead or married.” Seeing his look, she rolled her eyes. “Not that I wish your old girlfriend were dead. You know what I mean.”

  She glided over, wrapping her arms around him.

  “She’s not married?” Did he truly love her still? Or was it the torrent of memories like the doctor had said, causing his emotions to amplify, confusing him?

  Caroline sniffed. “I didn’t ask. I bet she’s married, a grandmother by now.”

  The thought hurt, but he kept his face carefully blank. “Then she will not care and will quietly sign the papers so she is not married to two men at once. But I will not mail the papers. I needs go in person.”

  “What?” She arched a brow. “You don’t need to go in person. There’s too much to do with the wedding and the holidays. The casino will be slammed with customers.”

  “Imagine the shock of finding out I’m alive. No, I’ll do it myself.” Drake coughed. “It was a long time ago. I needs explain what happened, put things to rights, that’s all.”

  He stepped back, picking up random papers from his desk to put space between them. Conflict raged within. Her father had rescued him and he’d sworn an oath to repay the man with his life, or some service her sire might later request. And Caroline had called the debt due with the blessing of DiSilvio. Drake was a man of honor, so he must divorce Mildred and marry Caroline. It had been forty years—Mildred likely no longer remembered him. Drake slumped at his desk, his chin resting in his hands.

  “What’s going on, darling?” Caroline narrowed her eyes. “Is there a problem?” Then she did the unexpected, which always made Drake nervous. “I’ll come with you.”

  “Come with me?” he repeated like a witless babe.

  “Of course. It will be fun to meet the woman you were in love with back then.” She tapped a finger against her lips. “Why are you wearing jeans?” She frowned. “You have your shirtsleeves rolled up.”

  “I was mingling on the floor earlier,” he smoothly lied. How could he explain his custom-made suits were too tight, pulling at him, tight and itchy, as if they belonged to another man? What would she think if she knew he carried a dagger in each boot?

  “Caroline. You and I cannot be gone at the same time. You know this. Stay. I’ll only be gone a couple of days.”

  Work. It was the one thing he could count on to keep her here. No way did he want her along. Drake wasn’t sure how he would react seeing Millie after so long. What if he cried like a babe? Or bellowed at her? Nay, she would stay put so he could handle this situation. Once Millie signed the papers, he would return and marry Caroline, take over the casino, and his debt would be repaid. Caroline was beautiful. Driven. She would make a good wife. So why did Drake want to bellow and stomp about? Cursing the fates? He was a dolt.

  “I don’t like it. You’ll call when you get there? And keep me apprised? I don’t want any delays to our wedding. I have everything planned.”

  “Of course I’ll call. I’ll be back before you notice I’m gone.”

  A few hours later, Drake had taken care of the things requiring his immediate attention and was sitting in the plush leather seat, looking down at the earth beneath them. He loved flying like a bird though the sky. So much so that he’d taken lessons and learned to fly the metal birds himself. Flying was so much faster than traveling by horseback, though some days he missed the slower pace, the horse’s company.

  He’d tried so many times to go back after he arrived, consulting various psychics, shamans, witches, and even a druid he’d met in the desert, but nothing had worke
d. And then he’d met Mildred. Made this time his own, flourished in the future. The life he had left behind had turned to dust hundreds of years ago. Even if he could go back, he would not. He would stay in the here and now. This time and its marvels fascinated him. He had nothing to go back to but warring and wenching. He would not look back.

  As the plane brought him closer to North Carolina, he thought of all the time he had lost. Even with the amnesia, how could Drake have forgotten the woman he loved more than life itself? Thoughts of a girl made of sunshine and the sea filled his senses. He could smell the ocean in her hair, the scent of roses on her skin. She had the softest skin, and when she smiled, it made Drake feel as if he were the only man in the world. What would she say when he appeared at her home? Would she embrace him or throw a candlestick at his head?

  When he was on the ground and seated in the waiting dark sedan, Drake’s phone rang.

  “The pilot said you’d landed. Get this done quickly, darling. I want you back here.”

  “I’ll take care of it, Caroline.”

  No “I love you” or “I miss you” from his bride-to-be. She was practical. He cared for her. They didn’t have a great romance, or that feeling of not being able to breathe whenever she walked into a room, but they were compatible, and after such a passionate summer, Drake knew he couldn’t survive another love like the one he’d shared with Millie.

  Would there be anything left between them? Or would the passion have faded into nostalgia? He wasn’t sure which he wished for as he stuffed the manila envelope into his bag. Looking at it made his heart crack.

  As the driver took him closer to the ocean, Drake surfed the satellite radio stations until he found a song about mercy and heartbreak, and just like that, he was eighteen again and had just gazed upon Millie for the first time.

  EIGHT

  Shelly left the house sparkling, the scent of clean laundry filling the first floor as Karen dumped a warm pile of towels onto the sofa.

  As she folded one, a giggle escaped sounding like a cross between a hiccup and a snort.

  “Only downside of the plastic: you have to be careful.” She pointed to the floor. “Half the towels slid right off.”

  As Karen gathered them up, purposely dragging a finger on the plastic to make a noise, the corners of Mildred’s mouth tugged up, the ends creaky and unused.

  “Yesterday I slid halfway off the sofa before I caught myself. Maybe we should add a few Velcro strips.”

  The image of Karen or herself sitting down and getting stuck to the sofa made Mildred choke on the sweet tea. Wiping her mouth and eyes, she let the laughter loose, enjoying the small feeling of happiness trickling through her. It had been far too long since she’d laughed.

  “Though it might sound like we were tooting whenever we got up,” Karen added, and Mildred wanted to frown at the mention of bodily noises but instead gave in and laughed along.

  Perhaps the spirit of her sister didn’t linger but stopped by once in a while to check on Mildred and her house, and that was why she felt lighter than she had in years.

  Mildred finished folding the sheets, since Karen couldn’t fold the fitted sheet properly. The clean laundry was stacked in the basket.

  “I’ll take it upstairs,” said Karen. As she leaned down to pick up the basket, she swayed. Alarmed, Mildred reached out, but Karen shook her head. “I must have stood up too fast. I’m okay.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  The greenish tinge spreading over her face at the question was answer enough. Mildred thought about all the changes that were about to hit them both square in the face.

  “I ate a little something, but I think I’m coming down with a stomach bug. We better get the disinfectant spray out.”

  Karen hefted the basket under one arm, Mildred watching her. When she made it to the stairs without incident, Mildred relaxed and turned around to pick up a stray washcloth. The thump had her knocking over the glass of tea as she jumped up.

  “Karen.”

  The basket of laundry was scattered across the floor, the young woman’s head resting on the bright pink bath towels. She sat up, a hand to the back of her head. “Did I faint?”

  “About scared the bejesus out of me.” Mildred helped her sit up then gathered up the clean laundry. “I don’t mean to pry, but didn’t you suspect you might be pregnant when you didn’t get your period?”

  As Mildred watched, she could almost hear Karen counting back, and her face drained of color.

  Eyes wild, she held on to Mildred’s hand. “We were only together twice, and I was so consumed with Tom pulling away from me, I didn’t notice.”

  “It only takes one time.” The sight of her hand, the veins standing out, over Karen’s young hand, shifted something within Mildred. Ever since she’d lost Pittypat and Lucy and then Melinda and Charlotte, Mildred had been unsettled, felt the sand undermining the walls she’d worked so hard to build up and maintain all those years ago.

  “Didn’t anyone talk to you about preventing pregnancy?”

  Karen looked much younger than eighteen as she rubbed her arms. “I knew, but he was so persuasive, it was hard to say no. I wanted…I wanted him to love me. To keep me. Not send me away like all my foster homes did.” A single tear slid down her face.

  Mildred stroked her hand. “He was a bastard for taking advantage of you. Come sit on the sofa and prop your feet up.” She helped Karen stand. “I’ll get you a piece of toast and some hot tea.”

  Karen looked so lost and scared that Mildred wanted to pull her close, but the moment passed and she busied herself making a cup of ginger tea with lemon and honey and a piece of plain toast. Once she’d made sure the girl wasn’t going to faint again, she sat in the overstuffed chair covered in a shell print and called her doctor’s office, explaining what Karen needed. By the time Mildred had finished, Karen had a bit of color back in her cheeks.

  “Come on. They’re fitting you in. You’ve put it off long enough.” Mildred gathered up her bag and keys, giving Karen time to pull herself together.

  “Going to the doctor makes everything real.” Karen blew her nose. “I know I’m having a baby and it’s silly to try and pretend I’m not, but going to see a doctor—there’s no going back, is there?”

  “No, there’s not, but I’m here and I’ll never ask you to leave.”

  Karen nodded, wiping her eyes as she followed Mildred out to the car. On the way, she didn’t say a word, looking small in the passenger seat of the big white Caddy, hands clasped together, knuckles white. Nor did she say a word at the doctor’s office. When the nurse called her back, she looked to Mildred.

  “Go ahead. I’ll be right here. Have the nurse come get me if you need me.”

  As the door closed behind them, Mildred let out a breath. Busy making lists, she didn’t know how long it had been before Karen was standing in front of her, eyes bright.

  “Can we go?”

  “Of course. Do you feel up to eating lunch?”

  She shook her head, the ponytail making her look even younger than she was.

  “I can skip the Woman’s Club meeting today and stay with you,” Mildred offered as she drove out of the parking lot.

  “No, I want to sleep.” Karen turned to face Mildred. “What am I going to do?”

  And wasn’t that a loaded question? Carefully, making sure to keep any judgment out of her voice, Mildred asked, “What do you want to do?”

  Something in the tone must have given her away.

  Karen gasped. “I’m going to have the baby. I just meant…what am I going to do with my life?”

  “Sweet girl, if I could answer that question, we’d be sleeping in gold beds.” Mildred handed the girl a tissue. “You don’t need to answer such a big question today. Right now, you need sleep. I’ll bring you some soup on my way home.”

  Later that afternoon, Mildred picked up chicken noodle soup and saltines before going home. She’d been thinking about the huge changes Karen had brought into h
er life. She’d been around babies when her nieces were little, but to have one in the house? Gracious, talk about change. And at her age.

  “Karen? Soup’s ready.” The Royal Doulton pale yellow china, she decided, as she poured the soup into the bowl and arranged the crackers on the plate underneath.

  When Karen didn’t come down, Mildred decided to go up and check on her. Quiet, in case she was sound asleep, Mildred paused on the landing. But the door to the room was open, a plastic garbage bag on the bed. Small sobs filled the room as Karen tossed her clothes into the bag.

  “Are you leaving, then?”

  She whirled around, face red and wet. “How could I stay? I’ve already caused you so much trouble. You should have left me on that bench.”

  Unsure of what to do, Mildred stood in the doorway. “Where will you go?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe stay with a friend from high school…”

  Her voice trailed off, and the look of utter helplessness on her face propelled Mildred into the room. She gathered Karen into a hug, stroking her hair.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll stay here. Anyway, I’ve already picked up your prenatal vitamins from the pharmacy and can’t return them. Next week I thought we’d take down the bed in the guest room next to yours. Then we’ll go pick out things you’re going to need for the nursery. And the ladies in my bridge club are making you blankets and clothes for the baby. We can’t hurt their feelings by telling them you ran away.”

  Karen let out a wail, crying so hard into the folds of Mildred’s sweater that Mildred had a hard time understanding her.

  “Tom laughed when I called to tell him.” Karen hiccupped, wiping unending tears from her eyes. “He laughed. Told me the brat wasn’t his, that I was a tramp and I wasn’t ever getting a dime from him. I didn’t want money. I thought he’d want to know he was going to be a dad even if we weren’t together.”