'Til the End of Time

by Sabra Brown Steinsiek

  “Annie,” Taylor said, “what’s this about you skipping the Winter Dance?”

  “I assume Abuelo told you. Abuelita never would have.”

  “Yes, and I’m glad he did. It seems we need to talk.”

  “The dance is no big thing, Dad.”

  “It’s the first one you’ve missed. I’d say that makes it a big thing especially since your grandfather told me it was because you feel like you have to stay around to watch over me.”

  “Is it legal to kill your grandfather? Would it be grandpatricide?”

  “He only told me because they’re worried about you, and about me. Is it too late to change your mind and go? Who asked you this year?”

  “Yes, it’s too late and it’s none of your business who asked since I’m not going.” Annie calmly picked up a textbook and began to thumb through it. Taylor watched her for a moment then went and turned the book right side up, closed it, and took her hand in his. Sitting on the floor in front of her, he said, “Talk to me, Princess.”

  “It was too much, Dad.” The words tumbled out, all the pent-up feelings propelling them into his heart. “There would have been a dress to buy and it wouldn’t have been like when Mom was here. I can’t go shopping with you and my sisters have their own lives. Besides, I figured you’d never notice and it would just make me miss Mom more because she always made such a fuss about the dances.”

  “You’re probably right and I’m sorry. I thought being there for dinner and breakfast was enough. I let my own hurt and sorrow eclipse yours.”

  “I know you loved her, Dad, but I did, too. And now I feel like I’m losing you, too. Look at you! You’ve lost weight and there’s no laughter in your eyes anymore.”

  “Annie, I’m sorry for letting you down. I’m just not very good at keeping things together without your mother.”

  “I know that and I understand. But it’s been awfully lonely at home lately.”

  “Give me another chance?”

  “Like I have any choice?” Her smile was tremulous and her eyes still threatened to spill tears, but it was his own smart-mouthed Annie who was speaking.

  “No choice at all, little girl. You’re stuck with me. Can you take a break from studying? I’ve suddenly got a yen for pizza.”

  * * *

  Taylor took the time while they were waiting for the pizza delivery to take a shower and shave. When the doorbell rang, he answered the door, paid for the pizza, and turned to find his daughter staring at him. “Wow, Dad, you clean up good.”

  “Brat!” he said with a grin. “Let’s eat.”

  They both served themselves and, while they ate, Annie filled him in on what was happening in her life. Taylor realized that this was the first food he’d actually tasted in weeks and he was suddenly ravenous, fighting Annie for the last piece, which they finally split.

  “Back to the books, Dad,” she said reluctantly when they’d finished.

  “I’ll clean this up. You go on.”

  As she started to leave the room, he said, “You were wrong about one thing, Annie.”

  “Only one?”

  “Only one this time. Give me a try sometime—I can be a great shopping companion.”

  Chapter 28

  Chris was young and healthy so his recovery was going fairly easily. Betta still babied him, since he couldn’t use his shoulder yet. He was anxious to get back to work. Staying home recuperating left him entirely too much time to think about what had happened.

  They were both anxious to hear about the adoption. “I don’t want her to be there one minute longer than necessary,” Chris told Betta after their latest conversation with the authorities. While things seemed to be moving along, they were moving much too slowly to suit them.

  A friend had developed the film and printed the digital photos he’d brought back. There had been so many pictures of Laura that both he and Betta had cried as they looked through them. But tempering their grief were the pictures of Rhen…laughing…solemn…playing. They fell a little more in love with her each time they looked through them.

  Betta was swamped with holiday dress sales and she spent much of her time in Morganna’s making sure things were running smoothly. It helped her get through the long days.

  Both she and Meg had been worried about Taylor. Annie had spoken to them a little about his withdrawal and they’d been ready to go talk to him when, magically it seemed, he did a turnaround and began to be part of the world again. They were just grateful to see him getting out and being part of their lives.

  He was spending a lot of time with Kat, picking her up after school, taking her Christmas shopping, asking her help to pick out gifts for the family. The two of them grew closer than ever and he was grateful for her company.

  He and Annie had talked and decided they didn’t really want to go to New Mexico for Christmas this year. It would be hard enough to handle their memories here at home. To participate in Las Posadas, and be with Laura’s friends, would make it much harder. They chose to stay in New York and planned to have dinner this year at Meg’s home.

  Maria and Sean made the difficult decision to stay in New Mexico. Maria was still not coping well with Laura’s death and they decided it would be too difficult to travel. It would be the first Christmas the family had not shared together since Taylor and Laura’s wedding.

  For Taylor, Christmas would be bad enough but he was truly dreading New Year’s Day. It would have been their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. He’d cancelled the reservations for the cruise he’d planned and he wanted only to spend the day alone, remembering what they’d had. He was honest with Annie about his feelings and she agreed to fly to New Mexico the day after Christmas to spend the New Year with her grandparents.

  As painful as it was, life went on.

  Chapter 29

  Christmas was less than a week away when the phone call came. Betta was working in her office when Chris called from upstairs.

  “Betta! Get up here fast!”

  Dropping everything, she ran out the door and up the stairs, sure that he had fallen and re-injured his shoulder. She ran into the apartment only to find him standing in the middle of the floor with a crazy smile on his face.

  “Chris! Are you all right?”

  “More than all right. They just called.”

  “What? Who just…” Then it dawned on her. “Rhen?”

  “She’s ours. The paperwork’s complete.”

  She screamed as she ran to wrap her arms around him, his one good arm coming to embrace her as he kissed her.

  “Oh, when Chris? When do we get her?”

  Some of the shine dimmed from his smile and he said, “That’s the only thing. It will be another month before they have someone who can bring her to us.”

  “That’s not so long,” she said, trying to keep the tears from falling. “But I’d so hoped to have her for Christmas.”

  “We still could, you know.”

  “How?”

  “We could go get her.”

  Betta looked at him in surprise. The trip home had been painful for him with his injuries. She couldn’t see asking him to make that trip again. “No, Chris. That would be too much for you. We’ll have to be patient.”

  “I don’t want to be patient. I want her here before something can go wrong.”

  “Then I’ll go.”

  “Not a chance, Betta. Not by yourself.”

  “I am perfectly capable of traveling alone.”

  “To a normal place, yeah. But not there. Too much can happen.”

  Leading him to the couch, she sat down and pulled him gently to sit beside her. “Chris, nothing’s going to happen. I’ll go and be back in a day or so. A quick turnaround and we’ll have our little girl.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “You aren’t. I can’t take care of bo
th of you.”

  “Then we’ll wait.”

  “No, we won’t. Now that I know it can be done, I’m going to get her and bring her home to have Christmas here. Besides, Chris, someone has to stay to get her room set up and buy her Christmas presents.”

  The argument went on for another hour before Chris conceded defeat. He handed the phone to Betta so she could call and make a reservation. She would leave tomorrow evening and, if all went well, be home on Christmas morning with Rhen. Only Meg was told of their plans so that she could keep an eye on Chris while Betta was gone. The rest of the family would know on Christmas Day when they brought their daughter to Meg’s for dinner.

  Chapter 30

  Amala was worried about Laura. After the news that her family had given up on her, the American woman had begun to fade. She ate only when Amala coaxed her and slept much of the time. She was profoundly depressed, and Amala was afraid that Laura would die from heartbreak if she were not released.

  She knew her husband was gaining political power in high circles and she feared for his safety. If he failed with Laura, they would not be forgiving. Yet, she knew him well enough to know that he would not hurt the American willingly. She had never interfered in his affairs before, but he had never involved her in such a way, either. She would speak to him and plead for Laura’s life.

  Even he had noticed that Laura had begun to fade and he knew that converting her to his cause was never going to happen. Still, it was a matter of pride and safety. He could not back down and let her go without losing some of his power. And, if he were so foolish as to release her, she would lead the authorities back to them and he and Amala would be separated…perhaps by death.

  “The American is not doing well,” she said quietly as they began their evening meal.

  “She will get over it,” he said.

  “No, I do not think that is true. She pines for her husband and child. She is dying by inches.”

  “She will get over it. You have been happy to have her as a companion, I think?”

  “I have, but I do not want her to suffer so. You are a good man at heart. Can you not release her?”

  “It is impossible. It would mean the ruin of us all.”

  “She will die…soon, I believe. You have left her nothing to live for.”

  “Amala,” his voice was soft and he took her hand before he pronounced sternly, “she will stay here for as long as she lives. I will not release her. Please do not speak of it again for I will not change my mind.”

  She saw the anguish in his eyes and felt it in the clasp of his hand. With tears spilling over, she nodded her head. Laura would die and she could only watch.

  * * *

  Later, in his study, after Amala had returned to her quarters, “Ishmael” sat in darkness trying to figure out what to do with Laura. It had seemed so simple at the time, when they had brought her to him. A hostage who would tell their story, or else. The problem was, he had grown to admire Laura for her convictions and spirit. He’d never be able to follow through on the ‘or else’. He wasn’t a murderer as so many of his colleagues had become.

  He was caught. If he let her go, he would lose his standing in the political community, and worse, risk all that he had and loved. If he killed her, he would be no better than the terrorists that the world was associating with them. If he let her die, the easiest solution, he feared he would lose Amala’s love and respect.

  Silently, he cursed the day that Laura Collins Morgan had been blown into his life.

  Chapter 31

  The flight was long and grueling, with delays on two legs of it amid the crush of holiday travelers. Finding a ticket had almost been impossible and she’d been routed to several cities, changing planes again and again before she reached her destination. It took most of two days to get there and it was late when she arrived. As she left the arrivals area, she was planning on getting a cab and going straight to the orphanage.

  A familiar voice called her name and Betta was relieved to see the familiar face of Sergeant Jim Brown waiting for her. He had been their advocate in the adoption and had hurried it along as best he could.

  “Mrs. Flynn! It’s good to see you.”

  “Please, call me Betta. I can’t tell you how glad I am to be here.”

  “Little Rhen will be glad to see you. You and Chris are all she’s talked about. How is Chris doing?”

  “He’s mending well. He should get the final cast off after the New Year.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. Any luggage we need to take?”

  “No, it’s all in here,” she said, indicating the large tote bag she carried over one shoulder.

  “Let me take that for you and we’ll head back to the compound.”

  “No chance of seeing her tonight?”

  “She’s long asleep,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s almost midnight.”

  “If it wasn’t for the lack of light, I wouldn’t even know it was nighttime, let alone what time it is. I guess we’ve waited this long. I can make it through another night.”

  “We’ll go to the orphanage first thing in the morning. Then there will be a lot of paperwork to sign, but you should have custody of her by tomorrow evening. Your flight leaves day after tomorrow, right?”

  “That’s right. It will get us home in time for Christmas.”

  “Wish I could tag along. I’ve got two girls back in Kansas I’d love to see,” he said as he opened the door to his vehicle for her. “Guess Easter will have to do. I’m scheduled to rotate home then.”

  When they got to the compound, he took her to her quarters. She called to let Chris know she had arrived, then collapsed on the bed, too tired to even change clothes. Thinking she’d get up in a minute to brush her teeth, she let her eyes close and fell deeply asleep.

  * * *

  Betta woke to the sound of something sliding under her door. She lay in bed for a few minutes thinking of what the day would bring. By tonight, she and Chris would have a daughter. She smiled at the thought of it.

  The arrival proved to be a newspaper published in English, by the military, for the Americans in the community. She was surprised to see a picture of Rhen on the front page followed by a story about the orphanage. Rhen was featured as “one of the lucky ones who would be going to live with a new family in America by Christmas.” She was further surprised to see their names listed as the adoptive parents, but could see that it was good publicity for the orphanage. She did have a moment of wishing they had asked permission, or had at least waited until after she and Rhen were gone, to publish the story.

  The story also noted briefly that she and Chris had found the little girl when Laura had been killed. How Laura would have loved that Rhen was joining the family! Betta felt a new rush of sorrow at the loss of the woman who had been her mother for so long.

  Dropping the newspaper into her carry-on bag, she went to shower and dress. Today was a new beginning for all of them. At least one good thing would come from their terrible loss.

  * * *

  Sergeant Brown arrived to take her to breakfast, then to the orphanage. Over breakfast, Betta asked about the newspaper story.

  “I’m sorry, Betta. It may all be my fault.”

  “I’m not complaining. Just curious as to how it came about.”

  “One of my buddies is in charge of the paper. If you looked at much of it, it’s really like a small town rag. Lots of gossip and small happenings. I’ve been talking about it all this time and told him you were coming. I guess the temptation of having a real story for a change was too much.”

  “It will be a nice piece to begin Rhen’s scrapbook.”

  “I’m glad you’re not upset.” He paused to take a drink of his coffee then, sheepishly, said, “He wants to come along today to take some photos and do a follow up. I told him I’d ask, but you don’t have to say yes.”

/>   “I don’t see any reason he can’t.”

  A voice from behind her said, “I’m sure glad to hear you say that, ma’am. The sergeant here was just about ready to take my head off when he saw the story.” The dark haired young man with a camera around his neck slid onto the bench next to Sergeant Brown. “I’m Toby Grossman, editor, writer, photographer, and printer of the paper.”

  Betta was delighted by the grin the young man gave her. “Mr., or should I say ‘Sergeant’?”

  “It’s Sergeant, ma’am, but I prefer plain old Toby.”

  “Well, Toby, thanks for the article. We’ll be glad to have you come along today and, if you’d like, I can send you a follow-up on what happens when we get home. We’re scheduled there on Christmas and almost none of the family knows.”

  “That would be great! Thanks! I’ve been to the orphanage with Jim a couple of times and she’s sure a sweet little girl. I’m glad she’s got a good home to go to.”

  “Well,” Jim said, rising and taking his now empty food tray, “that little girl is waiting for us. Are you ready, Betta?”

  “Very!” she answered with a brilliant smile. She could hardly wait.

  Chapter 32

  “Ishmael” always got a copy of the compound newsletter by mid-morning. It wasn’t a classified document by any means and was easily obtainable. He liked to read it to keep up on what was happening in ‘their’ world.

  He was surprised by the front-page story and quickly read his way through it, pausing to read and re-read the paragraph about the tragic death of the newswoman that had led to the adoption. While he found no joy in one of his country’s children leaving, he knew the orphanage was overcrowded and not a good place for a child to grow up. They did their best, but there were so few volunteers and so many children.

  After reading the article one more time, he sent his guard to ask his wife to join him for the midday meal.