Time Trap

by Danele J Rotharmel

  He and Crystal had fought their junior year of college, and she’d spent their senior year rebuffing his attempts to apologize. After they’d become TEMCO employees, she’d blatantly ignored him. Marc tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Frankly, her attitude was more than a little irritating, and it was time for it to stop. Being apologetic hadn’t worked—maybe it was time to try a different approach.

  Yanking his car door open, he stalked over and leaned against her trunk. The way he figured it, she wasn’t going anywhere without running him down. He watched as Crystal stared at him in her rearview mirror and slowly picked up her handbag.

  “We need to talk,” he said bluntly as she got out of her car.

  Crystal shrugged. “I don’t see why.”

  “Then you’re stupid.”

  Marc watched as Crystal’s face turned bright red.

  “Just who do you think you are?” she demanded.

  “Someone who is sick of being ignored. You’ve been holding a grudge against me for four years, and that’s four years too long. I know you’re a Christian. Get off your duff and study Colossians 3:13 and Luke 6:46.”

  Before she could reply, Marc turned on his heel and walked into the store.

  * * *

  When they arrived at Charles Shipley Medical Center, Peter watched as Laura smoothed her red hair away from her face. “Don’t fuss,” he said softly as she tried to tuck tendrils into her bun. “You look fine.”

  “I know you are fibbing,” Laura replied. “I feel like something the cat dragged in, chewed up, and left as a soggy mess on the floor.”

  Peter laughed. “Take it from me, you look far from soggy and chewed up.”

  Smiling, Laura stopped smoothing her hair.

  Peter’s shoes squeaked rhythmically against the linoleum as they entered the maternity ward and found Gil’s room. The door was open, and as he walked inside, he saw something that made him pause. Dan was curled on the bed next to his wife, singing a lullaby to Jay. The tenderness in Dan’s voice, and the love in the room, made a lump rise in Peter’s throat. Beside him, Laura stepped heavily on his instep as she tried to back out the door. Together, they retreated silently to the hallway.

  “Wow!” Laura whispered.

  Peter grinned. “Kinda makes you want to rush out and get yourself a spouse and baby, doesn’t it?”

  “That probably depends on the spouse,” she replied. “Let’s give them some time. I don’t feel like interrupting, do you?”

  Before Peter could answer, Dan’s mother came up behind them. “Oh, good,” Sue said. “We were hoping you’d come. Sam and I just finished eating downstairs, and we met Thomas in the elevator. Come on in, let’s make it a party.”

  Peter watched as Dan and Gil looked up with smiles as the group entered the room.

  “Look who we brought,” Sam said, tossing his son a paper-wrapped sandwich and leaning down to kiss Gil’s forehead.

  Rising, Dan offered chairs. “Sit down and stay a while.”

  After everyone was settled, Dan unwrapped his sandwich and asked Peter, “How’d things go after we left?”

  Peter hesitated. Not wanting to mention Wade’s possible alcoholic relapse, he simply said, “The cadets’ trip through the temporal portal went fine.”

  “Good.” Dan took a bite of sandwich. “Did you have any problems contacting Poppa?”

  “Not a bit,” Peter replied, removing the chain from his neck and trying to pass Dan the key.

  Dan shook his head. “Keep it for now. I’m going to need some time off.”

  Seeing the strain in his friend’s eyes, Peter murmured, “How bad is she?”

  “I’ll tell you later,” Dan whispered. “I don’t want to break down in front of Gil.”

  His heart tightening, Peter nodded and watched as Gil proudly showed Jay’s perfect fingernails to Laura and Thomas. She was opening Jay’s blanket to show off his tiny toes when the little boy began to cry.

  Across the room, Sam laughed. “Just listen to those lungs! It’s obvious my grandson wants his supper. While Gil nurses him, I’ll show you folks the vending machines. I could do with a bit of candy after that slab of Salisbury steak the hospital’s cafeteria served me.”

  * * *

  Crystal barreled her cart down the aisles, looking for Marc. She was seething inside, and she’d thought up several retorts that she’d love to let fly. After stomping around the store in fruitless pursuit, she arrived at the book aisle and ran her finger impatiently across the titles. She wanted to choose a few novels to read, but all the fun had gone out of the process.

  Narrowing her eyes, she glared at the shelves and summoned up memories of her junior year of college. She squirmed, remembering Marc’s hurtful comments about her clumsiness. It was his fault things were uneasy between them—not hers!

  Deep inside her spirit, Crystal felt a check from the Lord. She knew her unforgiveness was just as sinful as Marc’s cruel words, but she didn’t want to admit it. Pushing the Holy Spirit’s promptings aside, she ran her finger along the book spines. She paused when she saw a Living Bible tucked between two novels.

  Crystal pushed at her glasses. Looking over her shoulder to make sure Marc wasn’t around, she quickly turned to Colossians 3:13 and read, Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

  Setting her jaw, she turned to Luke 6:46. Why do you call me ‘Lord’ when you won’t obey me?

  Slamming the Bible shut, Crystal abandoned her cart and stomped out of the store.

  * * *

  After everyone left the room, Dan listened as his mother offered Gil helpful advice about how to feed the baby. Soon, Jay was busy nursing. There was something incredibly moving about seeing his wife nurse their son. The feelings in his heart went beyond pride and love. They were indescribable. Almost primal or mystical—

  “Don’t you dare!” Gil sputtered, looking up at him.

  Dan blinked and laughed.

  “Get that thought right out of your head!” Gil demanded. “I feel about as beautiful as a wrung-out rag. I will not have you immortalizing this moment in one of your love poems.”

  “Honey,” he murmured, kissing her lips. “I’ve never seen you lovelier.”

  “Well, maybe one poem”—Gil grinned—“but it’d better be a good one!”

  “It’ll be the best I’ve ever written.” Tenderly stroking Gil’s hair, he said, “If you can do without me for a while, I need to make arrangements with the staff for some time off.”

  “Go ahead,” Gil replied. “After all, I’m the milk wagon—there’s not much you can do to aid the process.”

  “Maybe not, but I kinda like to watch.”

  Rolling her eyes expressively, Gil tossed the burp rag at him.

  Flashing her a smile, Dan watched as she nuzzled Jay’s head gently with her chin. Suddenly, Dan felt fear chasing the joy from his heart. He couldn’t imagine his life without Gil. If things went wrong, he had so much to lose. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he left the room. In the waiting area, he saw his father passing Laura a bag of chocolate candies.

  “Give it to us straight,” Peter said as Dan sat down. “How bad is it?”

  “It’s bad.” Dan’s eyes misted. He brushed the moisture roughly away. “Jay’s fine, but giving birth ripped the scar tissue from Gil’s old stab wounds. Her doctor’s managed to slow the bleeding, but the damage needs surgically repaired.”

  “Will the surgery be held tomorrow?”

  Dan shook his head and forced himself to speak past the lump in his throat. “She needs to be on antibiotics first. The torn adhesions aren’t her biggest problem.”

  “Then what is?” Peter asked.

  “We learned today that Gil was born with a congenital heart murmur.” Dan ran shaking fingers through his hair. “The valve with the murmur doesn’t work properly, and it’s highly susceptible to infection. When Gil was stabbed a few years ago, a slow-growing infection be
gan attacking her heart. Tests show she has cauliflower growths on her weak valve which are making her valve leak. When she went into labor, her heart was stressed and it started fluttering instead of pumping properly.”

  “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

  “It’s potentially lethal. Without heart surgery, she’ll…” Dan’s voice trailed. He felt his father’s hand on his shoulder.

  Blinking back tears, Dan continued, “The endocarditis needs to be attacked by antibiotics, and her damaged valve needs replaced. Gil’s heart is beating erratically, and her blood pressure’s unsteady. I don’t understand it all. I just know that besides the risk of heart attack, the fibrillation’s putting her at risk for blood clots and stroke.” His voice shook. “The infection could kill her, and so could a traveling clot. The doctors can’t put her on a blood thinner to reduce the chance of a clot because she’s still bleeding too much from her torn adhesions. They’ll run more tests tomorrow.”

  “No one in their right mind would ever bet against Gil,” Peter said firmly. “She has more grit and determination than anyone I’ve ever met. She’ll pull through.”

  “That’s right,” Laura insisted. “After all, Twinkles wouldn’t exist if Gil didn’t make it.” She squeezed his hand. “You concentrate on your family, and don’t worry about TEMCO. We’ll watch the lab for you. Most of the staff and students have already left campus. If it wasn’t for Drake and Phoebe’s exam, we’d be closed for the summer.”

  Dan gave her a faint smile. “Thanks, I knew I could depend on you all.” Leaning his head against the wall, he asked, “So, who were Drake and Phoebe assigned to counsel?”

  “Nicki Cunning,” Laura replied. “A fourteen-year-old artist who’s about to commit suicide. You should see Nicki’s drawings. They’re exquisite. The depth of her talent will be astounding as she grows older—if she grows older. Our cadets traveled twelve years into the past to convince her that life’s worth living.”

  “A suicide prevention should be manageable for them,” Dan said. “I’m glad we stopped assigning death-row cases to students—they’re hard enough for seasoned professionals.” He shuddered. “Gil’s experience with Rick taught us that.”

  Silence fell.

  Dan cleared his throat. “How’d the grant review go, Tom?”

  “We received the money,” Thomas replied. “Was there any doubt? Besides the ‘in’ we have with the current administration, our statistics speak for themselves. Last year, TEMCO directly led to one hundred and twenty-two murderers vanishing from death row. Making sure we continue operation has become an even greater priority with the government than it is with us. I doubt we’ll ever need to tap into your camera money. You should use some of it to take Gil and the baby vacationing somewhere exotic.”

  Dan forced a smile. “I like the sound of that. Thanks for handling the meeting for me.”

  Before Thomas could reply, Peter jolted as Laura elbowed him. Dan quirked an eyebrow and watched as Laura began to grimace and gesture.

  “I think you’re going to need this,” Peter said, taking a razor from his pocket.

  Dan chuckled as Laura handed him a can of shaving cream from her purse. “What?” he asked. “No hedge clippers? How am I ever going to manage?”

  Laura’s emerald eyes twinkled. “You’ll find a way. Right now, Gil is busy with the baby, but I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when her mind turns back to bristle brushes. What consequences are hanging over your head if you grow another beard?”

  Dan’s lips twitched. “You don’t want to know, and I don’t want to tell you. They’re embarrassing enough that I’m grateful for the razor.”

  Thomas chuckled and rose from his chair. “I’d better get home. Prixty needs her walk. Please give Gil a hug for me, and if you need anything, just ask.”

  “Actually,” Dan said, “do you think you could give Mom and Dad a ride to my house? I’m going to spend the night here, but I don’t think Dad’s shoulder is up to sleeping in a chair.”

  “I’d be delighted,” Thomas replied. “It’ll give me a chance to hear about…Charlesberg.”

  Peter grinned. “I heard rumors about your visit to Colorado. I see the rumors are true.”

  A blush flooded over Thomas’s bald head. “Well, now,” he blustered. “Mercy me! I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re not fooling anyone.” Peter laughed. “Enjoy getting your updates about Charlesberg’s pretty librarian.”

  Laura rose to her feet. “I’ll go get Sue. Dan, you and Peter should go to the restroom and see about your beard. I promised Gil I’d see your beard bite the dust, and I mean to do so.”

  * * *

  Steel-toed boots crunched over dead beetles as Wade Kingston’s attacker walked across a splintery wooden floor. Dust flew up in a cloud as he dropped a heavy duffle bag. In one violent motion, he unzipped the bag and pulled out a set of iron chains. Kneeling, he began screwing the shackles firmly to the floor.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Laura crept quietly into Gil’s room. Gil was still nursing Jay, and the baby was on the verge of falling asleep in his mother’s arms. Slipping to Sue’s side, Laura whispered, “Thomas is ready to give you and Sam a ride.”

  Sue rose to her feet. Lightly stroking her grandson’s cheek, she murmured to her daughter-in-law, “If you need me tonight, call.”

  Nodding, Gil said in a shaky voice, “I’m glad you’re here, Mom.”

  Sue kissed Gil’s cheek. “Me too.”

  Laura sank into Sue’s vacant chair as Gil carefully held Jay to her shoulder to burp him. When the little baby gave a loud belch, Gil giggled and tied up her gown. Laura watched in concern as Gil tried to change her position. The exertion was causing her to gasp. Gil’s skin had a transparent hue, and her eyes looked bruised in their sockets.

  “Do you want me to take Jay for a while?” Laura asked, quickly rising to her feet.

  Gil shifted painfully on the bed. “You haven’t gotten to hold him yet, have you?”

  Laura shook her head. As Gil put the sleeping baby in her arms, Laura pressed her lips to Jay’s head. “Mmm!” she murmured. “There’s nothing in the world like baby fuzz. How can their hair be so soft?”

  Settling down on her pillows, Gil asked slyly, “So, any plans of getting one these adorable creatures for yourself?”

  Laura rolled her eyes and cuddled Jay. “In case you hadn’t noticed, the pool of eligible men is at low ebb. All the good men are married, too young, or dead.”

  “You’re completely blind,” Gil sputtered. “What about Peter?”

  Laura sat down. “What about him?”

  Gil gave Laura’s knee a swift swat. “Peter’s single, just the right age, and definitely not dead! And besides that, he’s one of the most decent men I know.”

  Laura groaned. “You aren’t going to practice your matchmaking tactics on us, are you?”

  “Why shouldn’t I?”

  “Please don’t. Peter and I are friends—good friends—but that’s all. I’ve known him since college, and there’s never been a spark of anything romantic between us. He’s like my big brother. Dating him would be really strange.”

  “Sometimes strange is good. Look at me and Dan. Nothing could be stranger than our relationship. When I found out that Dan was the ten-year-old kid I was counseling all grown up, it felt really weird. But I wasn’t about to toss a good relationship out the window just because it had an aspect of the bizarre associated with it. So how about it?”

  “Peter and I wouldn’t work,” Laura said firmly. “We’re friends—nothing more.”

  “Good friends make the best lovers. Friendship is the basis of my marriage with Dan.”

  Laura gave a sputtering laugh. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “I’ve been told that before, but I’m pretty smart about these things. Who do you think introduced Thomas to Doraline Miller over spring break?”

  “You didn’t!”

  “Of course I did! Th
ey’re perfect for each other. She even likes shelties. Trust me! I know what I’m doing. If I can fix Thomas up, I can certainly fix you up. Give Peter a chance. He’s quite handsome, you know.”

  “I can’t deny he’s easy on the eyes,” Laura murmured, nuzzling the top of Jay’s head.

  Gil grinned. “Promise me you’ll take off your friendship goggles and look at him as an eligible bachelor for two weeks. If you do that, and still only want him as your friend, I’ll stop bugging you. No more hints. No more looking for cute little ways to throw you two together. No more squashing you next to him in the car, and in the elevator, and in the movie theater.”

  “You were doing that on purpose?”

  “Of course I was.” Gil laughed. “You really don’t think that even a pregnant woman the size of an elephant needs to take up that much room, do you? Sometimes squashed proximity will do what my nagging can’t.”

  Laura’s lips twitched into a reluctant grin. “You had me practically sitting on his lap during that taxi ride.”

  “Did it work? Did getting up close and personal make any sparks fly?”

  Laura rolled her eyes. “Other than making me aware that Peter’s one solid hunk of muscle—which I already knew—the only thing your scheming produced was a big, fat fizzle. Peter and I just don’t think of each other that way.”

  “Not yet, but maybe…” Gil leaned forward. “You’ll promise me? A two-week trial?”

  “If it’ll make you stop scheming, I’ll promise. For the next two weeks, I’ll look at Peter Matthews as if I were looking at him for the first time and not for the umpteenth-thousandth.”

  “Good! If in two weeks you haven’t figured out what a perfectly delicious man he is, I’ll wash my hands of you with great delight. You can become an old spinster lady with thirty-two cats and a colored string collection, and I won’t say a word. I’ll simply buy you parcels of catnip and purple yarn, and I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

  “You have a deal.” Laura chuckled. “I and my thirty-two future kitties thank you!”