Page 18 of Destiny Reclaimed
"But, we're still here. Are you sure?"
"Yes, until the threat of Arthur is over, we will remain. The eerie sensation I get when an evil soul is present has lightened but still persists." Quizzically, she studied him. "You do feel it, don't you?"
He knew what she meant. Since the moment he landed in the Spitfire he couldn't ignore the dark, unnerving awareness clinging to him. But, for the past few minutes, he'd been so caught up in thoughts about his son, he selfishly pushed that sensation—assignment—aside.
He sat back down, and the nurse began to stitch his earlobe.
Gabriela paced the room.
Where was Arthur? Would he attempt to gain access to the surgical room—to his father in order to change history?
His ear tugged. He sighed. Would the nurse finish already so he could ask his Protector more questions about how this time travel worked, and more importantly, more questions about his son. She seemed to be in the know.
The nurse leaned back and studied her handiwork. "You're all set."
"Thanks," he replied as he slid off the cot and headed for the doorway pulling Gabriela along with him.
Once out of proximity of the nurse, he stopped and spun to face his Protector. "So, regarding my son..."
A fiery gust of air encircled them, spinning so fast it sucked them off their feet. His head went light. Bile rose in his throat. His vision blurred. He reached toward Gabriela but she faded out of sight.
Chapter Five
Jack banged down hardon his right knee. Emotions ripped through him. Three seconds ago, he was in the midst of a D-Day battle saving his father’s life and getting a sneak peek at his future son and the man he'd grown up to be. Pride swelled in him. Now, here he was on one knee with the love of his life staring down at him with hopeful, teary eyes. His heart was full as he stared into the gaze of the woman who’d mother his son.
He tightened his nervous fingers around the soft velvet box he held. Funny to think not long ago his fingers were gripped around the stick of an aircraft about to crash and shook less than they did now.
The only thing that could make this day any better would be if Gwennie said yes to the question he was about to ask. His love’s mesmerizing caramel gaze drifted from his to the side of his head. Her brows knit as she reached forward and softly brushed his earlobe before she moved her fingers back to his sightline.
A tinge of alarm emitted from her gaze. “What happened to your ear?” she asked as she studied the smear of blood on her fingertips.
Jack stood and touched his lobe. A small amount of sticky moisture clung to his fingers
“It’s nothing. An uneventful story, really. It’s all fine now.”
In the split second after those words left his mouth, he realized he’d just lied to the person he was about to pledge himself to. A lump rose in his throat. Was this telling of how their lives would be? A life filled with time travel and lies? The bulge in his esophagus doubled in size. He couldn’t breathe. Hiding the truth is as good a lying. How had his father kept this secret from his mother all these years? They seemed happy. Maybe she knew. No, she couldn’t. Of the very little his father had time to inform him about their roles as Preservers, secrecy was at the top of the list. With as dignified as his dad was there was no way he divulged the secret to anyone.
