Page 45 of Destiny Reclaimed
“Preservers only travel when their adversaries dictate it. History is what it is and cannot be changed,” his father interrupted in a tone that let him know this conversation was over.
––––––––
Sluggishly, Jack climbedthe steps and walked down the long hall to his and Gwennie’s room and attempted to quietly push through the door. In the dark, he glanced at the bed. The blankets were disarranged, but she was not beneath them. Then, he heard her sniffle causing another thin crack to run through his heart.
She turned on the tiny dark-shaded lamp on the small table.
“Is it true?” she asked in not much more than a whisper.
Her red-stained eyes pleaded with him for an answer, but he didn’t know what she was asking. When he stepped toward her, she pulled her legs up, knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs as she bored herself farther into the chair, as if shielding herself from him.
Unsure how to react, he stopped in his tracks. Why did she gape at him like he was taboo? “Sweetheart, is what true? What are you asking me?”
“Are you really a time traveler?”
The jolt of her question, stiffened his spine. How in the hell did she know to ask that? Had she overheard him and his dad talking? For two weeks, she’d hardly come down the steps for anything. How was it she happened down when they were holding this private conversation?
“Well?” she asked in a tone a bit more demanding than a few seconds ago.
Being so caught off guard, he was in a quandary, unable to figure a way around the truth.
Think dammit. Think.Recalling the conversation he’d held with his father minutes ago, he knew his dad was the master of averting direct questions to avoid having to lie outright or divulge the truth.
How would Dad reply?
He arched a brow. “Time traveler? Really? What on earth gave you that notion?”
Anger instantly knotted her jaw. His words had been fine, but his delivery had been horrible, making the situation worse. He hadn’t meant for his tone to sound like he’d thought her question foolish, but her hardened scowl let him know she didn’t appreciate it.
He took another step toward her, palms up in a submissive manner. When her features didn’t soften, he stopped short and took a seat on the bed, facing her from a couple of feet away. He hoped the distance would provide her the security to slacken her tense body.
“Tell me, sweetheart, tell me what’s going on.” He was pleased his tone was much more controlled and concerning than it was moments earlier.
“You won’t believe me. Nobody does,” she replied exasperatingly.
As if defeated, she lowered her head and rested her cheek on her knees, but her gaze remained on him.
Slowly, he moved forward, taking a knee in front of her. She didn’t flinch or move. She just stared at him.
“Tell me, please.”
Methodically, she lifted her head.
He cupped her cheeks with his hands, leaned forward, gave her a light kiss, then inched back with his palms still pressed to her face. “I love you. You can tell me anything. I’ll believe you.”
She closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath, and held it for a moment before letting it out. The tension released from her facial muscles, and she opened her eyes.
He lowered his hands, resting one on her bent knees, and scooping up one of her hands in the other.
“Gary’s been coming to me in my dreams. He’s said some oddly strange things to me. I know it will sound silly to you, but I believe him.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and clamped it between her teeth.
He fought the urge to fill the silence.
“I’ve told you this before. My brother and I shared a closeness, a different kind from what I shared with Marvin.”
He waited out another pause.
“We felt each other’s pain. Knew each other’s thoughts.” Her eyes watered. “As I’ve said before, I know the instant he was killed. He called for me. Then pain, like I’d never known, pierced my heart.”
