Page 62 of City of Love

The Mayor nodded once. “I understand. And we’ll work out a system to carefully allow for that access. On a very limited basis.” She stepped forward and placed a hand on Gideon’s shoulder, her voice softening. “Believe me, I realize you have a lot more at stake here than just the investigation. I understand the horrible timing of this for you, and I’m truly sorry.” She dropped her hand when Gideon tensed. “As one of our most valued citizens for so very many reasons, I wish we could grant you the favor of taking the time you need with your relationship. But you must realize how it would look to the rest of our citizenry for your woman, or you, to continue going back and forth at your leisure.”

Gideon stood silent a moment, staring down at his feet, before finally looking back up and acknowledging his colleague. “Yes, of course. I appreciate your point of view, and I agree with your assessment of the situation.” He truly did.

And because of that, he was torn in two. Like he was being cleaved asunder by a hatchet.

“Look, we’ll give you a few weeks,” she said. “Enough time for Miss Cross to wrap things up and prepare for her transition should she decide to go forward with that. I’m sorry, Gideon.”

They shook hands as everyone except Vik headed off.

“Can Lexi not decide immediately?” Vik asked, the two of them pausing to let the others head out first, waiting to follow so they could talk with privacy. “My God, it’s asking a lot of her, I know. But she’s a special woman, brother. She’s incredibly brave.”

“That’s just it. With every passing day that she can’t get a vision of her future, the colder her feet get.” The hall now emptied, they stepped out into the warm night. “Right about now, her toes are pretty chilly.”

“Damnit.” Vik said as they turned down Fifth, walking toward Gideon’s home. “If it wasn’t for the hysteria that’s gripping the town, we could probably get Catherine to grant you more time. But now, whenever a husband comes home from work fifteen minutes late, his wife goes into a panic.”

Gideon nodded, understanding well the situation, but resenting it all the same. “She feels that with all eyes on her as the new head of this city, she needs to show the population everything’s under control. It doesn’t matter that no one else has been taken as far as we know, or that our precogs aren’t seeing any sign of imminent danger to the town. I understand her need. And she’s not wrong.”

The pleasant stroll home did nothing to help Gideon’s stress. He was going to have to talk to Lexi immediately. They didn’t have a day to spare.

His chest burned with acid at the thought of that conversation. If he couldn’t convince her to take the leap of faith, then…

“Should I have Alana talk to her?” Vik asked as they stopped in front of Gideon’s home. “A reassuring woman to woman chat might be helpful. Especially with Alana… er… talking.”

“No. I appreciate the thought, my friend, but we can’t voice Lexi into this decision.”

“Of course. You’re absolutely right. I just…” Vikkras stood there, shuffling his feet and fumbling for words. “Alana and I both adore her, G. And we love you. If there’s anything we can do to help her make this decision, we’re here for you.”

With a fullness in his chest and a lack of words in his mouth, Gideon hugged his closest friend. “I know. Thank you.”

He stepped inside, lighting the candles with a wave, and checking the clock on the mantle. Still early enough in the evening. He should change clothes and cross over to her world. This was a conversation that couldn’t wait, and would be best done in person.

As he began to climb the stairs to his room, he felt her knock on his mental door. The soft brush across his mind that always tickled, made him smile, and somehow, strangely, even smelled good. Like she was standing right before him.

He sank into an overstuffed chair in his room. Apparently, the conversation was happening now, telepathically. He might as well jump right into the deep end of the pond.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Her mind embraced his with longing. But there was also a nugget of fear that startled him, having grown larger, like a cancer, even since they’d last spoken.

“Hi, Gideon. I miss you. Between my trip to Phoenix and yours to London, we’ve only seen each other in the flesh twice in the last two weeks.”

Relief washed over him. At least she still wanted him, despite her fear.

“Indeed. I do need to see your flesh very soon.”

She laughed, and the sudden thought that he might not be hearing that laugh for rest of his life turned his muscles rigid. He rose and began to pace.

“Do you want to get together this weekend?” she asked. “If you want, you can come here. I’ll introduce you to all the best food from my Philly. I’m guessing you’ve never had a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz.”

She was babbling, which he knew by now meant she was nervous. But why now? Had she made her decision and was afraid to tell him? Maybe his own bad news was already a moot point.

He made to lighten the mood. “I’m wondering exactly how something termed ‘Cheese Whiz’ could possibly be a food item.”

“It’s not really.” He sensed her smile. “But if I’m going to leave all this behind, I’d better load up on it now, even if all the artificial food coloring makes my hair fall out first.”

He coughed, his eyes going wide.

“I’m kidding,” she said, and her laugh soothed him.

---