Chapter Six
Mara woke early Sunday morning. Despite knowing that even if she got an answer to the ad it would probably take several days, she checked her email anyway. All she found were coupons for various stores and an assignment clarification from her English teacher.
Disappointed, she pulled on her jeans from yesterday and a light jacket. She grabbed her purse and the notebook she'd been recording the visions in and headed downstairs. She would check her mailbox, and then head to the library to see if she could add anything new to the notebook.
Her mailbox was empty but for two catalogs; stuffing them into her purse she started the walk across campus to the library.
She proceeded to the back where the individual study rooms were located and began to read. She always tried to write out descriptions of her visions as soon as possible because it increased her ability to analyze them at a later date.
She had the first two visions written out, followed by her interpretations and the details she'd noticed as well as the research she'd done on the sons. The third vision, which she'd had in the stairwell with Reid, was described slightly vaguely, as it had been written into the notebook hours after the vision occurred. It was followed with any and all information on the Sons that I'd been given, as well as a word for word retelling of the Chase incident. The fourth and last vision was written out in detail next. It was followed by bulleted points of things that had stood out to me, and questions to ask the Sons at the meeting. The answers or more often follow-up questions were written and highlighted.
As Mara read through what she had written she wrote down more questions. Afterwards she documented her efforts to find Chase, leaving a few pages blank for whenever she was contacted back.
Lack of new information, but a plethora of questions left her feeling as though no progress had been made. She knew, of course, that there had, but this kind of slow progress was always frustrating, especially with the visions giving her a feeling of urgency.
She was just about to start reading through again when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Mara, its Sarah. We were just wondering what time you wanted us to meet for you to get ready for your date."
"He's supposed to pick me up at seven, so how about five?"
"Sounds good. See you then."
We said our goodbyes, and then hung up. After doing so I noticed that it was 12:30. I decided I should head to the cafeteria and get lunch before they shut down at one. So I packed my bag and began my trek back across campus.
When I woke Abby was already up. I could hear her humming in the kitchen as she cooked breakfast. I showered and dressed while turning over in my head the ad I had seen online. It said it was a matter of life or death. I didn't believe Caleb and the boys would be looking for me. They thought I was dead. So who was looking for me?
I entered the kitchen and couldn't help the smile that crossed my face.
"Good morning Daddy. Mama made waffles!"
My daughter sat in her highchair, her wide smile covered with sticky syrup. I kissed her head before sitting at the table and picking up my own fork.
"Good morning, Bee. Did you have good dreams last night?"
"Yep. And today I have a play date with Thomas. His mom's taking us to the pool."
"Well that's certainly very exciting."
Turning to Abby I saw the worry in her eyes. I reached my hand over to rest it over hers. I squeezed gently hoping to reassure her. Her smile returned, but still not enough to take the worry from her eyes.
We ate breakfast in silence to the background music that is my daughter's chatter. I volunteered to clean up the meal and Abby left with Bee in her arms to get her ready for her play date.
Just as I finished the doorbell rang. I head towards the front of the house and was nearly knocked over as Bee ran for the door.
"Bee, STOP," I said as she raised her hand to open the door.
She froze, and turned to me. "Why?"
"You always ask who it is before you open the door."
"But I know its Thomas."
"Doesn't matter. Ask who's there."
"Fine," she grumbled. "Who is it?"
"Tommy and Mrs. Glenn."
"See Daddy, I told you."
"You still have to ask," I replied as she heaved the heavy front door open.
"Hi Tommy, Martha. How are you," I enquired as a stepped back to let them inside.
"Fine Hunter. Tommy's pretty excited."
"He's not the only one," I commented as I watched Bee try and drag Tommy back down the walk to their car.
"Bridget. Come back here," Abby called as she walked up next to me.
"Wha-aat?" She whined as she turned back to the house.
"Try again young lady," Abby said as she crouched to Bee's level.
"Yes ma'am," she replied stepping back into the house to stand in front of Abby.
"Better. Here is your bag, with your suit and your swimmers-and yes you have to wear them. You stay where Mrs. Glenn can see you and no horse play in or around the pool. Someone could get hurt."
"Yes Mama."
"Good. I love you," Abby whispered as she kissed Bee's cheek before standing.
I grabbed Bee around the waist, swinging her up as she giggled. "And I love you, too."
"I love you too Daddy. And you Mama. Now I have to go."
I laughed as a placed her gently back on her feet and she again proceeded to drag Tommy towards his car.
Martha laughed and headed outside. "I'll have them back around 2. Okay?"
"That's perfect Martha. We'll be here."
I closed the door and turned to wrap my hands around Abby.
"It's going to be okay."
Her arms wound around my waist as she buried her face in my chest. "How can you know that," she asked, her voice muffled by my shirt.
"I just have a feeling. I'm going to answer the ad. If it's really important I have to know. I can't risk you and Bee being in danger."
"If it was dangerous…would you leave?"
"Of course not, but I would do everything in my power to make you safe."
"I love you."
"God, Abby. I love you, too."
I pulled her even tighter against me as my mouth found hers. Before I knew it we were back in our bedroom and responding to the ad was the last thing on my mind.
I was just returning from the shower when I saw Sarah and Kate walking down the hall towards my room.
"Wow you guys. Perfect timing," I said as I caught up with them.
Sarah turned to smile at me. "Actually, it's 5:10. Seems everyone's running late."
"Ohh," I laughed. We stopped at my door and I unlocked it, letting them in.
Sarah headed immediately to my dresser, searching until she found my underwear drawer. She threw a matching navy lace bra and panty set at me. "Go put those on." I grabbed the dress I had bought the day before and headed into the bathroom.
I exited dressed and was immediately pushed into my desk chair as Kate began to brush out, and then blow out my hair into soft curls. During this time Sarah raided my closet, chucking random items onto, or at least near, my bed.
"Hair is officially perfect. Sarah?"
"Done."
The two girls switched places, this time for Sarah to do my makeup and Kate to riffle through the items Sarah had picked. After my makeup was complete I was ordered to stand and try on the different accessories the girls had chosen.
A ruched navy clutch was chosen and sat next to my everyday purse on my desk. The blue feather earrings were placed in my ears and a beaded leather wrap bracelet with trailing white feathers encased one wrist. Sarah and Kate decided on a thin red shrug and were currently having me try on the same few pairs of shoes over and over trying to decide which was best.
"I like the red."
"Yeah, the color's good, but the sandals are too casual."
"I know, but the navy pumps just make it too dark."
"Maybe the silver agai—"
"Wait," I interrupted. "I think I have the perfect compromise."
I headed to the closet, and began digging amongst the stacks of plastic shoe boxes. Finding the right one, I pulled it out narrowly avoiding a shoe avalanche. "I think these will be just right Goldilocks."
I sat in my desk chair and pulled on a pair of ruched red leather Alexander McQueen pumps. I had bought them last year for prom, an impulse buy as they had cost more than my dress. Standing up I look to the girls for their approval.
"They are beautiful," Sarah gushed.
"Not just beautiful," countered Kate. "They're like a work of art. And they make that outfit."
"Great," I said and heard a knock at my door.
I leapt past Sarah and Kate narrowly beating them to the door and opened it a crack, I pressed the door lock and slid out through the narrow opening closing the door behind me. I could hear Kate and Sarah scuffling through the door as I took Tyler proffered arm and we made our way to the stairwell.
When we were almost there they burst out the door giggling uncontrollably.
"Have fun you two," Sarah shouted.
"Not too much fun," Kate added and the giggling resumed as they headed to the opposite stairwell.
As we made our way down the stairs I tried to apologize for Kate and Sarah, but Tyler just waved it off, laughing.
"It's fine Mara. By the way, did I tell you how amazing you look tonight?"
"No, but thank you. You're not looking too shabby either Mr. Simms."
It was true. Tyler wore a pair of charcoal colored slacks and a navy pullover under the standard black wool pea coat that The Sons seemed to wear like a uniform.
"Why thank you."
He led me outside to the parking lot and I looked for the massive yellow hummer.
"Where's your car?"
"Today is an occasion, and deserves something a little special, so no hummer tonight. Instead we'll be taking this," he said indicating a classic red convertible.
"This is yours?"
"A 1950 Edsel convertible. My dad's, but it's mine tonight."
"Wow," I said as Tyler opened the passenger door for me, closing it before heading around to the driver's side.
As he settled into the seat and turned the key the car revved with a low growl and I couldn't help but say 'wow' again.
As we drove through town and headed out in the direction of Caleb's colony house Tyler and I chit-chatted, mostly about school and our families. The seven and the visions regarding them were off limits, but Tyler had a lot of questions about my visions in general and I had plenty of questions about the Power.
After about thirty minute we arrived at a huge open field and Tyler pulled down a little gravel path to park in the center. It was dark by that time and I couldn't see anything.
"And now you kill me and bury me in the woods" I joked.
"Nope. Now we eat," he responded, getting out of the car and heading to the trunk where he pulled out a picnic basket then headed around to my door. He opened it with a flourish and held my hand as I stepped out. He kept his hold on it and pulled me around to the hood of the car where he sat the basket down, opened it and a pulled out a picnic blanket and spread it over the hood of the car. He then gave me a hand up to sit on it, before grabbing the basket and climbing on himself.
He opened the basket and began to unload the food packed inside. Chicken salad sandwiches, a bowl of mixed fruit, two bottles of cola and two Jell-O pudding cups. Taking the soda he handed to me I opened it and took a sip as he sat the basket back down on the ground.
"So we're gonna have a picnic in a field, in the dark, on top of a classic car."
"Close, but no," he replied as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed. "Go ahead," he said before turning back to me. "We're having dinner and a movie...in a field."
As he spoke a giant screen set several feet in front of the car lit up with the classic movie countdown. As the credit rolled and music swelled from speakers I could just see hidden in the grass, I began to laugh.
"You certainly do know how to impress a girl."
"That's always my goal," he responded with a grin, before taking a bite out of his sandwich. I scooted up on the hood of the car and gasped as the title card appeared.
"Roman Holiday?"
"You've seen it?"
"Yes, but never like this. It's one of my favorites."
As the movie began we fell into silence and ate our dinner.
As the ending credits appeared on the screen Tyler reached for the basket and began to load our dirty dishes into it before sliding of the hood. He offered his hand once again, assisting me to the ground. He then led me back to the passenger door, opening it and closing it after I was in. He folded the blanket and tucked it back into the picnic basket and stowed the basket back in the trunk before sliding in to driver's seat.
The drive home was quiet, but not uncomfortable as I focused on the landscape, painted a dramatic black and white by the waxing moon. As we pulled back up to school, Tyler once again opened my car door for me and walked me to the dorms front door.
"So, what did you think," he asked, his expression just a little shy.
"I think…that I can't believe you don't have a girlfriend. This date was amazing. Thank you, Tyler."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it Mara. I certainly did."
Tyler used our still clasped hands to pull me toward him and lowered his head to plant a soft kiss, just on the corner of my lips. My eyes slid closed as our lips met again and my arms circled his waist as the met a third time. Slowly Tyler pulled back, resting his forehead against my own and raising a hand to caress my cheek.
"Good night, Mara," he whispered before pulling away completely to open the door. As I stepped inside, I turned back to look at him.
"Aren't you coming in," I asked.
"I have to return the car. I don't trust my fellow students enough to leave it here overnight. I'll sleep at home and Reid'll pick me up in the morning."
"Oh. Well…goodnight Tyler. I had an amazing time."
"Sweet dreams, Mara."
Tyler turned and headed back toward the parking lot and I could hear him begin to whistle as I turned to head up the stairs. I didn't need a mirror to know that a sappy grin and a schoolgirl's blush covered my face.
I undressed and slipped into bed a few minutes later and as I closed my eyes I relived our goodnight kissed. But there was just one problem. It wasn't Tyler's tousled brown hair and cornflower blue eyes that I saw. It was Reid's shaggy blonde hair and electric blue eyes.
I hope you enjoyed this next installment of Can You Fight Fate?. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. I can't even tell you how excited I get when I see that review alert in my mailbox. 'Til next time my devoted (hopefully) readers, 'til next time.