It seemed like ages before Karlen responded. “Take comfort in knowing that one day you both will be reunited, never to be separated again.”
Mira could barely contain herself. The revelation of Bobby’s death was no shock to her, but the timing of it was.
“This isn’t fair. It’s not fair!” she yelled. “He’s still so young. Bobby is the kindest, most considerate man I’ve ever met in my entire life. Why should he be cut down when he’s got so much left to give? How is that fair when horrible people are out there living until they’re eighty?”
Mira was experiencing a myriad of emotions, including anger and resentment.
“Life is not fair, Mira. I, too, was young when my life was snuffed out of me. I was younger than Bobby; younger than you. Was it fair that I was a slave and raped over and repeatedly by my master? Was it fair that I was slaughtered because of the love I had for another man?”
Mira was at a loss for words.
“It wasn’t fair,” Karlen continued. “Was it fair that Andy had to go on living for decades with pain and bitterness in his heart because I was taken away from him?”
“No, it wasn’t.” Mira angrily wiped her tears.
“I feel your pain, but in time, you will accept what had to be and you will anticipate your reunion—that wonderful reunion that will last forever.”
Karlen looked at Bobby again and then at Mira. “There is one question I must ask. With the knowledge you have been given, Mira, will you still marry him?”
Mira was surprised by the question and didn’t hesitate to reply. “Of course, I will!” Then a thought struck her. “If I don’t marry him, would it mean that he will live? You said the day of our wedding will be the day of his death.”
Karlen shook her head. “He will still die on that day—April fourteenth —whether you marry him or not.”
Mira was dismayed. She’d come to realize there was nothing she could do to push back time—to prevent Bobby’s visit with the dark angel in just a matter of a few short weeks. She looked at him with a heavy heart.
“I will marry him knowing we will never get to live out our plans together or even celebrate our first year’s anniversary,” she told Karlen. “But I promise you that I will never marry again and I will never love again. I will do whatever possible in the time we have left to make him the happiest he’s ever been while I feel like I’m dying inside.” She wiped another tear. “I can’t believe this is happening and I kind of wish I never allowed myself to love him because the pain of losing him will be too great.”
“You have no need for regret.” Karlen stretched her left hand to the side and a panoramic view of many of the good times Mira and Bobby shared together cut through the darkness. Mira was able to relive those memorable moments, remembering also the words they’d spoken to each other.
“This is what will remain with you.” Karlen put her hand on top of her own chest. “Within those memories, Bobby would have never died. You will carry him in your heart until you see him again.”
The images soon disappeared.
“How will it happen?” Mira asked. “How will he die?”
“All I can say is he will not suffer,” Karlen said.
“Should I tell him?”
“It’s up to you. But if you do, he will no longer proceed with the wedding. He will not want to knowingly make you a widow the same day he marries you. That’s how much he loves you.”
“Then I won’t tell him,” Mira replied, tearfully. “I won’t deprive him of the joy he deserves.”
“I’ve heard your response, Mira. Remember that you are not alone although you may feel as though you are. You have not been abandoned.”
With those words, the vision of Karlen Key faded to black and within a split second, the living room returned to normal. Mira looked back lovingly at Bobby. He was still asleep and snoring lightly. She picked up the TV remote control at his side and turned off the television, then eased up off the couch and grabbed her keys from the center table.
“Where are you going?” Bobby asked as she headed to the front door.
“Hey. I’ve gotta get home to Rosie now. It’s late,” she said.
“What time is it?”
She checked her wristwatch. “A quarter past ten.”
“Wait!” Bobby hurried up off the couch and went over to her. “You were gonna leave without giving me a kiss goodbye?” He was gazing into her eyes.
“I didn’t want to disturb you. You were snoring.”
He grinned. “Always so considerate. Since it’s so late though, why don’t you stay? Just call your mom and tell her not to wait up. Rosie will be fine.”
Mira shook her head. “I don’t know...” But that desperate look on his face was enough right then to give her second thoughts—not to mention the conversation she’d just had with Karlen Key.
“I have work tomorrow and don’t have any clothes here,” she said.
“I can get up extra early and get them for you.” He held her face. “No excuses, Mira. I really want to be with you tonight. I don’t usually ask...”
“You don’t?” She smirked.
“I mean, I do ask, but you always turn me down.”
“That’s more like it.”
“But I really wish you’d…”
She placed her finger across his lips. “I’ll stay and not just because you ask me to, but because I want to.”
His face beamed as brightly as the sun and he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, then led her into the master bedroom. That night, the two would shut out the entire world, lock themselves in each other’s protective embrace and explore realms of hidden passion deep within their core.
Mira did not get to make that all-important call to Sara until well after midnight.
* * * *
As Mira and Bobby lie in bed together, Bobby wrapped his arm around her.
“Why don’t you and I take an early vacation starting this week?” she proposed. “That way, we can spend more time together and take care of whatever’s left to do for the wedding.”
“I’ve put in for three days before the wedding and an additional two weeks after,” Bobby said. “We already discussed that would be enough.”
“I just think we should start our vacations sooner. You have a whole month this year that you can take. Why not take it all one time? I can speak with Doctor Barns and I’m sure it won’t be a problem for me to get two weeks off before the wedding too.”
“Honey, why do you wanna do this? Hasn’t everything already been arranged for the wedding? I didn’t know we had that much left to do.”
“We don’t,” Mira replied, fingering the thin strands of hair on his chest. “I just really want to spend more time with you. I don’t think we get to see each other a lot and with my demanding career, not much is bound to change after the wedding, especially when Doctor Barns retires in May.”
Bobby sighed, then gave her a peck on the forehead. “Okay, whatever makes you happy.”
His words brought a smile to her face and she held him more tightly.
“Mira...”
“Yes, honey?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“For starters, you’re a bit more affectionate than usual and you don’t really call me honey. What’s up with you? Is that you or is someone else in there?” he gently tapped her chest.
“Can’t a girl change?” She arched a brow. “You call me honey all the time. I think that occasionally I can return the favor.”
He laughed. “Return the favor, huh? But seriously… what are we gonna do with all this free time on our hands?”
Well, we can go for walks on the beach; go to the movies; eat out more; spend more time here at your place...”
A hearty smile stretched across Bobby’s face. “You know what? I really love the idea of this early vacation.”
“You do; don’t you?”
“More than you’ll ever know, Mrs. Newton.”
The sound of her future title was bitter-sweet.
6
_________________
Mira had made it home just in time the next morning to see Rosie off to school. The bus had pulled up ten minutes after she arrived.
“I’m so glad I’ve signed up for that bus service.” She said, climbing on a stool at the kitchen counter. “Why didn’t I do that years ago?”
Sara’s hands were covered in flour as she rolled dough to make home-made bread. “I didn’t expect you to not come home last night, dear. Leave something for after the wedding okay?” She glanced at Mira.
Mira was a bit embarrassed. The thought of her own mother imagining what she and Bobby had been doing and making reference to it grossed her out. “I’m sorry I called you so late, Mom. Bobby and I fell asleep on the couch and by the time I got up to leave, it was after ten. He thought I should stay there instead of driving home at that hour.”
Mira knew she didn’t need to explain anything to her mother as far as what she did with her time, but she felt she at least owed her that respect.
“I understand, dear. I’m sure Bobby was looking out for your best interest...and his too, of course.” She smiled, then they both chuckled.
Sara scooped up the neatly-rolled dough, put it in a baking pan and placed it inside the oven. “You’re going in to work late this morning?” she asked.
“No. Actually, I’m not going back to work until after the wedding,” Mira replied. “Neither is Bobby.”
“Why’s that?” Sara started washing her hands at the sink.
“We just decided it’s the best move to make, that’s all.” Mira reached for the pot and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Why are you baking so early?”
Sara dried her hands on the dish towel. “I dreamed of baked bread last night and knew I had to make some.” Her eyes had a spark in them which reminded Mira of how they used to be when her dad was alive and her parents were engaged in the most interesting conversations.
“You surely get excited over baked bread!” she remarked.
Sara leaned forward with her elbows on the counter. “So, you called Doctor Barns, huh?”
“Yep. It wasn’t a problem. I planned to start vacation tomorrow, but he encouraged me to start today instead. Said he can get a friend of his to come over and help with the workload.”
“You hit the jackpot when you linked up with Barns; that’s for sure.”
Inwardly, Mira agreed.
“So, what’re you two going to do today?”
Mira took a sip of her coffee. “Bobby’s finalizing some stuff at the office and will come by as soon as he’s done. We’ll do some shopping, then have lunch at the deli.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Thankfully, when he spoke with his boss this morning, he got the early vacation time approved pretty much on the spot. I guess planning for a wedding is a good enough excuse.”
“It surely is even for two lovebirds whose wedding arrangements have all been taken care of and who have barely anything left to do other than walk up the aisle.”
“So, you plan on ratting us out or something?”
Mira had made up her mind as she lie awake most of the previous night that if Bobby’s last days were going to be happy ones, she’d have to put on the ‘act of her life’. She’d have to compartmentalize her deep sorrow and do her best to put on the facade that everything was all right. So far that morning, she thought she was doing pretty well.
“Who’s to tell?” Sara replied.
As Mira went to take another sip of her coffee, there was a knock at the front door.
“I wonder who that is at this time of morning,” Sara said, making her way through the living room toward the front door.
Mira continued to drink her coffee; her thoughts still fixated on Karlen’s visit the night before.
“Mira...” Sara started, moments later.
Mira twisted on the stool to look back at her mother. Behind her stood a tall, clean-shaven gentleman with short, salt and pepper hair.
“You have a visitor,” Sara continued.
Mira descended from the stool and walked over to where they both stood.
“Doctor Cullen,” the man started. “I’m very sorry to intrude. My name is Charles Cooley. I flew in from Chicago yesterday and was wondering if I can speak with you for a few minutes.”
Mira glanced at her mother with a puzzled expression as to why she’d invited a mere stranger inside the house.
“Mister Cooley lost his family in the plane crash last week,” Sara explained.
“Oh! I am so sorry, Mister Cooley. Sure, I can speak with you. Please have a seat.” Mira led the way to the sofa.
“I will allow you two to speak privately.” Sara said, walking away.
“No, that’s not necessary, Mrs. Cullen,” Charles said. “You don’t have to leave.”
“Okay...” Sara sat down next to Mira on the couch that was directly facing him.
Mira thought the man seemed more than just dejected, but somewhat agitated too, and understandably so.
“I went to the clinic yesterday with hopes of speaking with you there,” he said to her, “but after I walked in, I got the feeling that I shouldn’t have come to disturb you on your job. So, I left.”
“How did you find out where I lived?” Mira asked.
“My sister Tess, who’s in the car, lives in the subdivision just down from here. After we left the clinic yesterday, she was able to get directions from a friend on how exactly to find you.”
“I see. Usually by now, I’m at the clinic.”
“Well, I called there first thing this morning and was told you were on vacation, so I decided the earlier I can see you, the better.” He glanced at Sara momentarily, then fixated his eyes again on Mira. “I guess the truth of the matter is I needed to come here this early because I couldn’t sleep last night in anticipation of coming to see you.”
Mira’s initial thought was that they’d both been staring up at the ceiling the night before with insomnia. “That’s all right, Mister Cooley,” she said. “How can I be of help to you?”
“I guess you’ve heard that since the plane went down, the officials involved have not been able to locate it?”
Sara looked at Mira, recalling what she’d said after the crash and how they won’t be able to locate the wreckage.
“Yes, I’ve heard. That’s very unfortunate,” Mira replied.
“I was wondering if there’s anything you can do to assist in the effort,” he continued. “Since the crash, as you can imagine, I’ve not been handling things so well. My wife and daughter are my whole world and it kills me not to know where they are. If I can’t have them back alive, at least I want to be able to give them a proper burial.”
Mira did not immediately respond, which Sara thought was odd. They had no idea of the pain inside she was desperately trying to suppress. She wasn’t in the frame of mind where she felt she could actively embark upon something so serious to help someone else when she couldn’t even help Bobby, for that matter. Her entire train of thought was wrapped around him and the little time she had left with him.
“I’ve given this much thought and have made arrangements to hire a helicopter we can use to search for the plane,” Charles said. “But I can’t afford to make it a fruitless effort as the cost per hour is very expensive. That’s why I was wondering if you had any idea where we can search which would be a tremendous help.”
Mira’s face was suddenly void of expression. She finally replied after some consideration. “I’m very sorry, Mister Cooley, but I’m afraid I’m unable to help you.”
His facial expression dropped and all the color vanished from his face. “Oh, okay. I guess...”
Sara cleared her throat, interrupting him. “Uh...Mira, can I see you privately for a minute?” she said. “Please, give us a moment, Mister Cooley.”
Mira got up and followed her mother into the adjacent TV room. “Honey, what are you doing?” Sara whisper
ed. “You told me yourself where you saw the plane go down. You can help this man.”
“I don’t know where the plane is, Mom. I told you what I saw, but I don’t know the location. If I did, I would’ve said so.”
“I noticed though that you didn’t say anything to assist with the investigation. The little you knew might’ve been of help to the authorities in locating the plane. This isn’t like you, Mira. You’ve never turned your back on a living soul that ever came to you for help. Why are you doing so now?”
“I’m not turning my back on him. I said I can’t help him. The little snippets I saw aren’t enough for me to go with to the authorities. I’d look like a fool.” She was becoming annoyed. “Look, I already told him I’m unable to help him and that’s it! Leave me the hell alone, will you?”
She walked off.
Sara was left standing in awe at her daughter’s behavior. Mira had never spoken to her like that. As she re-entered the living room, she met Mira showing Charles Cooley to the door.
“Again, I’m very sorry,” she told him.
“Thank you, Doctor. If, by chance, there’s anything you find out, can you please give me a call? I’m here for a few more days and will be staying at my sister’s house.” He scribbled his contacts on the back of his business card.
Mira accepted it and slid it into the pocket of her jeans.
Sara looked on as Charles headed back to the white coupe parked outside and she spotted the blonde, older lady behind the wheel.
Mira locked the door behind him, then walked past her mother. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said as she headed to the bathroom.
Not another word was said about Cooley’s visit.
Later that evening…
Bobby, Mira and Rosie pulled up in front of the church. Bobby’s best man, Reggie’s car, was already there.
“Good evening to you all!” Father Bob welcomed them as they entered the cathedral. As Bobby approached, the priest tried not to focus on what Mira had told him in confidence and from the look on Mira’s face, he could tell she wanted him to act normally.
“Bobby, it’s great to see you again!” the priest said. “How was your trip?”
The Cornelius Saga Series (All 15 Books): The Ultimate Adventure-packed Supernatural Thriller Collection Page 81