by Jill Cooper
Dad puts his hand on my shoulder. “He’ll bounce back. Money or not, he’s smart and I’m sure if you two put your heads together, you’ll come up with a solution. For now, work hard. The both of you and I’ll keep paying your college tuition.”
I smile. “Thanks, Dad. I’m heading to Mom’s to check on Molly. If you want to come…”
He waves me off. “I have some things to take care of. Need to try to get my job back or find a replacement. Just tell her I said hello.” Dad kisses my cheek and then we part. I notice a glimmer in his eye when we talk about Mom. I’m sure I didn’t imagine it and I wonder what that means for the future.
In the future I remember, Dad was alone. And in another version of that future, Mom and Jax were still married and happy. Is there a third version happening in front of me? How would I even feel if Mom and Dad…
It’s something I can’t even put into words. By the time I arrive at Mom’s I’m starving. She is in the kitchen, hard at work. “Molly’s upstairs if you want to say hello before lunch. I’ll pack a take home package for you and Don.”
“You don’t have to do that. We’ll be fine.”
Mom silences me with a look.
“Dad says hello.”
“Oh?” The corner of Mom’s lip turns up. “Does he? Well, you tell him I said hello back.” She turns to the kitchen faucet and hums. Actual humming!
I smile as I head upstairs and I find Molly sitting on her bed. She’s ten-years-old and by all accounts just a little kid. But, the way she curls on her bed and stares at the ceiling, I worry that something big is weighing on her mind.
Knocking on the door I enter. I watch a slow smile spread across her lips as she sits up. “Lara, hi.”
I sit beside her and give her a big hug. “Hey, kiddo. You doing okay?”
Molly shakes her head. “I don’t know. Things happened that day. With you and Cassidy.” Her brow furrows. “Cameron.”
“It did. Lots of things happened.” Molly knew Cameron’s name even though I never said it. Had he told her his name? Or, based on other timelines did Molly just know these things?
“But why? I don’t understand. You’re special, but me—.”
“You’re special too. I just never realized in what way before.”
Molly pushes her lips together. “You’re special, but you weren’t born that way. You were made that way, in that lab.” She gazes down and shakes her head.
“I was, in a lot of ways. You’re right. But it worked because I was special. My brain works differently than other people’s do. I think it comes from Mom and since you come from her—.”
“Do you think Mike is special too?”
That I’m not sure about. He didn’t seem to understand what happened as Molly does, but his hand had been glowing. Or, it glowed because he was holding hands with Molly—she was his twin. Did that mean twins really did share everything?
“Only time will tell, but I promise I’ll help you, and Mike if necessary. I’ll keep your secret safe. No one is going to find out from me and it’s important, Molly, that you don’t go around telling people or using your gift.”
“I don’t even know how to use it.” Molly’s eyebrows furrow.
“I’m going to show you. I’ll train you, the best I can.”
Molly sighs. “It’s just so confusing. I remember things that never happened. I see things that could have happened, but never will.” She shakes her head. “It’s all a mess of twisted thoughts and I’m not sure I know what’s real and isn’t.”
I grip her arm. “We’ll fix it. We’ll find out why, and somehow, we’ll fix it.”
“What if you can’t.” Fear strikes Molly’s face.
“I’m Lara Montgomery. I don’t know the meaning of the word can’t.”
Molly laughs and we both stand up from the bed. I raise her hand and show her how I open a portal to the bridge. It’s a small glimmer, the size of a window into a different world. I don’t expect her to do it yet, she’s still so young, but she has to see how powerful it is. How powerful she is. It’s a wondrous thing and something that needs to be respected.
Cassidy turns when she sees us and steps through into Molly’s bedroom. “C’mon you two, there’s work to be done.”
Coming soon, Book 2 in the Bridge series.
Other Books that feature Lara Crane
15 Minutes
Rewind: The Novella
Plugged
Detached
Free Download
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Curious what happened right before this novel? Get the prequel story following Molly Montgomery, Shadow of Time, available now: https://instafreebie.com/free/xtmhs