by Ashlee Price
She shakes her head and her auburn ponytail swishes behind it. “Don’t thank me. Tell me what I can do to help make you feel better. Anything.”
As she speaks, my eyes zoom in on her red lips. Come to think of it, I’ve kissed them once before. It was on board the Vessel, after her brother died. She was lonely and homesick and so was I, and it was one of those days when we weren’t sure if we would ever get back to Earth or if we still had an Earth to come back to. Nothing came of it, but I can’t deny it was good.
I cup her cheek and rest my thumb at the corner of her mouth. It doesn’t have to mean anything, but maybe, just maybe I can kiss her and it might make me forget everything for just a moment—all the pain, all the sorrow…
I lean forward and look into her bluish green eyes. Suddenly, they turn a deeper shade of blue.
I pull back.
No. It’s too soon.
“Michael?” Courtney’s eyes narrow.
“I’m fine,” I tell her before taking another sip of coffee.
“Sure you don’t want to ask me anything?”
I glance at the table and see her flash drive on top of the sheets of paper.
“Well, I’ve been missing my flash drive,” I inform her.
“The blue one?”
“That one. I haven’t seen it for days.”
“Well, when the last time you saw it?”
I shrug. “I can’t remember.”
“Of course you can’t.” She frowns. “Like I said, you haven’t been sleeping, so your brain doesn’t have enough time to store and process information.”
I glance at her computer. “Do you have access to footage from the cameras?”
Courtney nods. “Of course.”
I set down my mug and go around her desk to sit behind it. I pull the chair closer to the desk, face the computer and start typing.
She stands up. “Um, Michael, on second thought…”
“One second.”
I browse the video files from the various rooms I’ve visited the past days, hoping to catch a glimpse of myself with my flash drive around my neck. So far, I don’t see it.
I go to the next folder.
Just a little bit further back.
Suddenly, I stop. My eyes grow wide as I see the image of a woman in a gray dress in a screenshot taken from the footage from the facial reconstruction room a few days ago.
The same day Grace left.
I grab the edges of Courtney’s white coat. “Why was Grace here? What was she doing here? Why didn’t you tell me she was here?”
“I… I didn’t know.”
I sit down and continue watching the video with my breath held and my heart pounding.
That’s Grace, alright. And she’s going into the Rebirth Machine, the one that’s supposed to perform facial reconstruction and memory trims. It’s designed to heal facial injuries and help the victims forget the injuries ever existed, forget all the pain that went with them so that they’re completely free of scars.
One of my mother’s toys. Wasn’t it still in its experimental stage?
“Why did she go into the Rebirth Machine?” I ask Courtney.
“I don’t know, Michael.”
Maybe not. But there’s someone who does.
My mother.
~
“Calm down, Michael.” My mother gets off her bed and puts a hand on my shoulder.
I shake my head. I can’t calm down. “Why didn’t you tell me Grace was at the Lab? That she went into the Rebirth Machine? Why did she use it? Why was she allowed to use it?”
“I…”
I grab her shoulders. “Tell me what really happened to her!”
She sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. “Grace came to the Lab begging for help. She wanted to have that scar on her face removed. She said she wanted to look pretty for you at your wedding.”
My jaw clenches as my hands curl into tight fists.
“They called me, and I decided to help her. I mean, she was going to be my daughter-in-law. Of course I wanted her to look her best.”
“You should have called me,” I tell her through gritted teeth.
“I would have, but she wanted to surprise you,” my mother says.
“Then what happened?”
“The procedure went on smoothly. Her scar was removed. I also made some adjustments so that only the scar would be removed, not her memories of it, and I thought I was successful.”
“But you weren’t.”
“Grace was transferred to the medical ward to rest. The nurse said that when she woke up, she seemed confused and she ran off.”
I frown. “How dare you erase her memories.”
She stands up. “I didn’t mean it!”
“Are you sure? Because I think you did. You hated her, after all, didn’t you?”
She falls silent.
“And that’s not all you did.”
Her eyebrows go up. “What are you talking about?”
“I talked to Gordon, who was also in that room when the procedure happened,” I tell her, and her eyes grow wide. “He said that Grace took her ring and her necklace off and didn’t put them back on. You know what that means, don’t you?”
My mother’s cheeks pale as she drops onto the edge of the bed.
I step forward and take the silver ring off my finger. “This ring wasn’t on Grace’s finger. It was in some drawer, and you knew it. Yet you had someone get it and give it to me just so you could make me believe that she was dead.”
“For all I know, she could be dead.”
I throw the ring at her. “She could still be alive, too! No. She is alive. I can feel it.”
My mother looks at me and shakes her head. “Don’t do this to yourself, Michael. You know as well as I do what happens beyond the city walls.”
“You never even had someone go after her and try to find her and stop her, did you? Well, I’ve already sent out a team. They’re looking for Grace right now, and if they can’t find her in two weeks, I’m going out there to look for her myself.”
“No,” my mother gasps. She comes to me and takes my hands in hers. “Please don’t do this.”
“And I’m not going to come back until I find her,” I continue. “However long that takes.”
Her lips quiver as she shakes her head. “Michael, I’ve already lost one son.”
“No,” I tell her as I pull my hands away and step back. “You lost the second the day you decided you didn’t want Grace for a daughter-in-law.”
Her eyes fall to the floor.
I swallow the lump in my throat. She’s my mother, I know. And that’s why I always wanted to see the best in her. I always tried. But in so doing, I became blind.
That ends now.
I march towards the door.
“I’m not going to let you leave the city, Michael,” my mother says. “You’re too valuable.”
I stop. Somehow, I knew she’d say that.
I glance at her over my shoulder. “What are you going to do, mother? Put me in jail?”
She swallows. “If I have to.”
I shake my head and scoff. “Travis was right. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
I continue towards the door.
“Michael!”
“If you want to stop me, you’ll have to kill me,” I tell her as I leave the room. “Because if you put me in jail, I swear your precious Lab will go up in flames.”
I walk down the hall but stop after a few seconds to punch a wall.
If only I had found out sooner. Maybe Grace would be back by now.
Still, it’s not too late. Grace is a fighter. As long as she stays strong, she’ll live—and as long as she’s alive, there’s a chance I’ll find her.
No. I will find her.
Wherever you are, I promise I’ll bring you back, Grace. Hang in there.
Chapter 16
Grace
“There.”
I let go of the zipper at the back of Nancy’s dress after
pulling it all the way to the top and lead her in front of the mirror.
“Well? Do you like it?”
Nancy runs her fingers over the lavender dress, a ball gown that I altered to become a mermaid dress with a tiered skirt for her birthday.
“I don’t believe it,” Nancy gasps as she places her hand on her chest. “The dress looks so elegant, and it makes me look so… young.”
I smile. “No one will be able to guess your age, not unless you put the correct number of candles on the birthday cake.”
She looks at me. “Travis wasn’t lying when he said you were a genius when it came to altering clothes.”
I shrug. “I guess I had a lot of experience. We weren’t rich, so I had to find a way to make my clothes last longer and keep them interesting.”
Nancy holds my hand. “You really are such a kind and hardworking woman. I really am glad you came to Hope Creek.”
“It’s not so bad.”
She chuckles. “Though of course Travis seems to be the happiest man in all of Hope Creek. Why, I’ve never seen him with such a wide smile on his face.”
My own lips curve into a wide smile. I’m glad that he’s happy, because so am I. In fact, I doubt we’ve ever been happier than in the past few days.
“Tell me…” Nancy pulls me towards the bed and sits on the edge. “Does he show his affection for you?”
“Yes, he does now,” I answer. “He didn’t at first. I think he still hadn’t moved on from his first wife.”
Nancy nods. “Ah. Angie.”
“Plus he lost a baby, too.”
“That he did.”
“But now I feel like he’s learning to let go of the past. I feel like he’s let me in.”
Nancy squeezes my hand. “That’s wonderful. And what about you? Have you let him in? Judging from that look on his face, I’m guessing the answer is yes.”
My eyes narrow. At first, I feel puzzled; then, as I realize what she’s talking about, I blush.
“Oh, forgive me.” Nancy pats my hand. “I know I’m an old woman who’s no relation of yours. I mustn’t talk about such things with you.”
I glance at her and shake my head. “It’s alright. You’ve been like a mother to me.”
“Oh, you don’t know how happy I am to hear that.” She strokes my cheek. “And I don’t mean to intrude or anything. I’m just curious.”
“Well, we are husband and wife,” I tell her.
“Of course. And well, just between you and me…” Nancy leans towards me. “Do you think there’s a chance you might be pregnant?”
My eyes grow wide. Me? Pregnant?
It’s never even crossed my mind.
“I don’t…”
“I mean, did you get your period yet?”
“No,” I answer. “But it’s always been a little irregular, and I was under some stress just a week ago.”
“Right. And you don’t feel anything unusual?”
I shake my head. I’m just happy. Is that unusual?
“I’m not just asking these things because I’m a meddling old woman, you know. I’m also a doctor, and I want to make sure you’re in good health and you’re taking care of it.”
“Well, I think I am,” I tell her.
Nancy nods. “Well, if you ever want to tell me anything or ask me any questions about health or anything, don’t hesitate, alright?”
“I won’t,” I assure her.
She sighs. “I’m sorry. I guess I just miss being a mother.”
I feel confused. “You have children?”
“Had,” she answers. “But can we not talk about it? I’m afraid I’ll just get more emotional. I always do get emotional on my birthday. That’s why I told Phil I didn’t want a birthday party.”
“I think that’s exactly why he thought you needed one,” I say. “Maybe he’s trying to cheer you up.”
“And I seem to be more emotional this year, too. Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis. I am turning fifty, after all.”
“You don’t look at it all,” I reassure her. “Not in that dress.”
“Well, I am turning fifty regardless, and fifty-year-olds don’t need birthday parties. Yet once Phil makes up his mind about something, there’s no changing it.”
“Then just enjoy the party.” I squeeze Nancy’s hand. “I know I will.”
She shrugs. “I guess I might as well.”
I smile. “That’s the spirit.”
She looks at me. “Shouldn’t you go home and get ready? There are only a few hours left, you know.”
I look at my shirt. “Well, I do need to change into something more suitable. I can’t look shabby when you look like a princess.”
“Oh, child. I’m sure you’re the one who’ll end up looking like a princess.”
~
And I feel like one, I think as I stand in front of the mirror in my powder blue empire waist dress.
It was already a beautiful dress to begin with, one of Angie’s favorite maternity dresses according to Travis, but I’ve stitched it here and there to make it tighter and trimmed the top of the bodice into a sweetheart neckline. Then I added some lace from an old curtain to the hem to make it reach the floor. As a result, the casual dress now passes for a gown fit for a bridesmaid. Or for someone attending a friend’s glamorous fiftieth birthday party.
Still, I can’t help but remember what it used to be, and as I recall Nancy’s words, I place my hand over my belly.
Could I be pregnant?
A whistle behind me interrupts my thoughts. I quickly place my hands at my sides and turn around.
“So?” I lift my shoulders.
Travis lets out a gasp. “What did you do to the poor dress?”
“I…”
I stop and shake my head as I realize he’s just messing with me.
“You are a devil.”
“You mean devilishly handsome in this tux that I found at the bottom of some old suitcase?” He turns around. “I know it needs dry cleaning, but we don’t have that here in Hope Creek, so…”
I look at him from head to toe. I don’t know what or whose suitcase he’s referring to, but the black and white suit looks beautifully made and fits him like a glove, making his shoulders look a tad broader and his legs longer. His necktie is impeccable, too, and he has his hair combed back.
Devilishly handsome, huh?
Well, I can’t deny that.
“You look great,” I admit. “The lack of dry cleaning suits you.”
I turn around. “Now, seriously, how do I look?”
Travis shakes his head. “I don’t like the dress.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” He shakes his head again. “I think I’d rather take it off.”
He walks towards me and places his hands around my waist.
I push him away. “Not yet. We have a party to go to.” I glance at the clock as I grab my purse. “And we have to go right now, actually, or Nancy and Phil are going to get mad.”
“And we can’t have that,” Travis says. “We can’t piss of Hope Creek’s favorite couple.”
I turn to him with furrowed eyebrows. “I thought that was us.”
“We’re a runner-up. They have years on us, after all.”
“Oh.”
He offers me his arm. “Shall we, my fair lady?”
I take it and smile. “Yes, good sir. Off to the ball we go.”
~
The party starts out mellow. The venue is the gym of Hope Creek High, which has been transformed into a wonderland by strings of fairy lights and paper lanterns.
In a way, it reminds me of my high school prom.
As the evening goes on, though, it becomes livelier as more people arrive, the men in their dress shirts and slacks or tuxedos and the women in their dresses. Nothing couture, but all elegant. The music shifts, too, and the dance songs of the 80s and 90s take over from the ballads.
“It seems like everyone’s here,” I tell Travis as I look around the crowded g
ym.
I spot Jen and Sean holding hands and wave at them.
“It does seem like that,” Travis agrees. “Even Mrs. Pensworth, who rarely leaves her house. Have I told you she has the best flower garden in all of Hope Creek?”
“No,” I answer as I look at the middle-aged woman in the yellow dress that he’s pointing at.
“And there’s Jerry Hamilton.” He gestures to a man in a dark blue tux. “He’s the mayor.”
I nod. “I see.”
“Can you excuse me for a sec? I just need to talk to him for a bit.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
I watch him go over to the mayor as I lift my glass of punch to my lips. Nothing alcoholic, and a bit on the sour side, but still enjoyable.
“You’re Travis’s new wife, right?” A woman in her twenties wearing a black dress walks up to me. “The one who lost her memories?”
“That’s me,” I acknowledge. I stretch out my hand. “I’m Grace.”
“I’m Wendy.” She shakes my hand. “Nice party, huh?”
“Yup.”
“Though I bet you’ve seen better,” Wendy mutters.
I lower my glass to the level of my waist. “Why would you think that?”
“Because they say you’re a Pioneer, and everyone knows Pioneers were either geeky or rich. You don’t look like a geek, so you must have been very rich.”
I lift my eyebrows. “A Pioneer?”
What on earth is that?
Suddenly, the music dies and I see Phil go up onto the stage with the mic in his hand. I finish my punch and put it down on a nearby table before moving closer.
“Good evening, everyone,” Phil says. “And thank you for coming. I hope you like the punch. It’s Nancy’s recipe.”
“It’s more of a jab,” someone says.
Someone laughs.
“Speaking of Nancy, it’s her birthday today, so let’s all allow her to say a few words, alright?”
He gestures to Nancy, who shakes her head. At first she doesn’t seem to want to take the mic, but after some convincing from Phil and a few good-natured encouragements from the crowd, she gives in. The gym bursts into applause as she takes the stage.
“Good evening,” she says. “Like Phil said, thank you all for coming. This party was all his idea, as most things are, but I am glad to see you all.”
She pauses to take a deep breath.
“Since you’ve asked me to say a few words, then just allow me to take this opportunity to look back on the greatest things that have happened in the fifty years of my life. I grew up in a world that was still full of life, crazy but wonderful, and with so much food.”