The Will of Time Read online

  "And you knew all along about my father, and that I'd meet my sister in the past?"

  "I had a debt to this family, Leia, and making you happy was the only way I knew to repay it. You're like my own granddaughter."

  Leia stepped into his arms, hugging the older man around his waist. "Thank you, Martin. I have you, and Hettie, to thank for finding Brant, don't I?"

  He stepped back, setting her away from him. "You also have something else to thank me for, Leia. You see, when I first escaped and arrived in your cellar, you were a tiny blonde tot playing with TinkerToys. On first sight of me, this tall, dark figure, emerging from your cellar door into your dining room, you screamed and ran to find your mother. What I'm trying to say is, Leia, I caused your fear of the basement. I am truly sorry."

  She stared at him, nearly speechless. "Martin, it doesn't matter. I've overcome that. You gave me the chance to meet Brant, the man I believed could never possibly exist." Leia snapped her fingers. "And my father! You came through the very first time with him, didn't you? Oh, Martin, I love you," she said, trying to hug him again. "Would you be the godfather of my baby? I know Grandfather would approve. Hettie's going to be the godmother, you know."

  He didn't answer verbally, but he squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

  "What are you doing?" Brant asked, watching Leia try to dress. How could it be so difficult when the women wore so little clothing now? No corsets, no crinolines. Sometimes not even these bras, just bare skin under thin cotton. Not that he minded, but seeing all those breasts so clearly outlined severely tested his...patience.

  "Isn't it obvious?" She struggled to lace a summer camisole of thin rayon. "I've grown and my stupid clothes don't fit." He could see she had begun to perspire with the effort, and felt his body tightening in response.

  He moved to stand in front of her, his hands roaming her body. "I like the way you're expanding," he said, "it feels very nice." Her skin felt so good. "And I am very pleased that my child is growing right here." He made small circles over her belly.

  "Glad you think so," she said, stripping off the camisole and trying a Lycra sports-bra. It covered everything and apparently didn't hurt, so she left it on. Donning a floral tee-shirt and elastic- waisted shorts, she told Brant she was ready to take him driving.

  "Hettie's covering the office phones. She's great with people! Thank heavens, my clients are giving me another chance to earn their business. I'm not sure I'd give me another chance after that disappearing act. But they seem to be pleased that I'm a married woman now. Can you believe it?"

  He looked at her, hoping his eyes showed her how much he loved her. "You're too beautiful for other women to trust, so being married helps." He leaned in for a kiss.

  "No one's ever called me beautiful before, never," she said, then returned the touch of his gentle lips.

  "Never is such a long time, and we've seen a lot of time, darling wife," he said. "And just so they are positive you are a married woman, I'm going to replace your mother's wedding ring with one of my own."

  "You make jewelry, too?"

  "Sorry, no. But I' m earning money to buy one. Torin and I have done a little talking, and we will purchase gold bands for our wives, together. The world will acknowledge us as your husbands, and our families will prosper for a long, long time into the future. Perhaps into the next century. Am I dreaming?"

  His heart danced when she pulled the clothing back off the top of her body, her skin glowing with humidity and anticipation. She unbuttoned his shirt, slowly, as if each button was a valuable coin, and said, "If you are, it's my dream, too. It will never be long enough. I'll want you forever, in the past, present and future. Lock the door."

  Epilogue

  "Thank you, Dr. Kingston, I'm so relieved. We'll get Hettie's prescription refilled right away. She's improved a lot since she started seeing you. Did you know she's the godmother of our child?" She twirled the phone cord through her fingers, watching Brant across the room. He held a baby girl in his arms, a tiny blonde bundled in pink and yellow.

  "Really? That's great. What's the child's name?"

  "We named her Mary Katherine Douglas. Do you like it?"

  "It's a lovely name, Leia. Very Irish. We'll see Hettie next month at the regular time."

  Leia replaced the phone, and turned to take her baby from Brant's fatherly arms. "Are you leaving for work now?" She propped Mary Katherine on one shoulder and rubbed her little back.

  "Yes, I'm training new police recruits, demonstrating hand-to-hand maneuvers today." He leaned in to kiss her. "Torin's going to assist me. What do you have planned for today?" He touched the side of her breast, teasing her.

  "First Mary Katherine has her check up. I know the doctor gave her a clean bill of health, but I want to monitor her for a while. We're very lucky the time travel didn't affect her. Then later, I have an appointment with Mr. Sanders, Grandfather's attorney," she said, looking him directly in the eye, preparing for his interrogation.

  "Why?" The question was abrupt, rough.

  "Because I have a family now, you and little Mary Katherine. And an expanded family; Torin and Sara, Hettie, Martin."

  Brant touched his daughter's cheek. "And?"

  "And it's time I made my own will, revising the family tradition. I don't want my daughter to take a husband strictly to inherit the house."

  He smiled at that, now touching Leia's cheek. "God, you're beautiful. I've never met anyone like you, in any time." He kissed her goodbye with a soft caress, working around the baby.

  Brant left for work in the car Martin had taught him to drive, and Leia roamed the colonial structure, appreciating the walls that had brought her such happiness. She locked the back door, checking the latch. After setting Mary Katherine in the car seat waiting at the front door, she stuck her head into the dining room. The infant rattled plastic keys while her mother checked the house. A mild draft floated up from the basement.

  She closed the cellar door to the past, certain that since time could be altered, traveled through and guided, her new will would be based on love, not time.

  THE END

  THE WILL OF TIME Robin Bayne

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  THE WILL OF TIME Robin Bayne