Advancing ((Advance Industries #2)) (3 page)

She doesn’t miss a beat. “Tell me you’re still willing to fight for us. That you’re going to drop the idea of going back.” She raises her eyebrows hopefully.

I rub my jaw. I promised myself if I got her back I’d do anything for her. We’ve literally just been reunited; we shouldn’t have this hanging over us. We should be happy. I look at her staring up at me expectantly and though it goes against every fibre of my being I find myself saying, “Okay done. I’ll drop it... For now. You’re right we don’t know enough about this city to decide yet. I just want to be with you.” I hate telling her what she needs to hear, I hate lying to her but I need to keep her happy until I figure this out. Her face lights up at my response and that white lie was undoubtedly worth the guilt I’m racking up just to see her body visibly relax. My body immediately imitates hers and all is back to being right between us.

“Come on let’s see what’s for dinner.”

We leave the room, walk down the hallway and spot my Grandparents in the kitchen. A small round wood table has been set and Gran is humming to herself as she potters around. Hearing us approach she turns and tuts at me playfully. I prepare myself for a lecture like she used to give about bedrooms being for sleeping in not frolicking but instead she tells us to sit. Right, I forgot that they don’t think they’re my Grandparents so why would she give me a telling off. I’m just a stranger to them.

She dishes up chicken breasts, new potatoes and salad and my mouth waters. I’ve missed Grans cooking and can’t remember the last time I sat down to a proper meal instead of quick packets to go.

As we eat she chirps, “I’ve been thinking...” Gramps coughs and she frowns at him. I smile. He’s on tenterhooks waiting for what’s about to spill from her lips. “We have a spare room so until you two find somewhere you’re welcome to stay here.”

Gramps starts spluttering and protesting and again she quietens him with a look. “Jack please, it’d be nice to have youngsters around again.”

“Again?” I question. Remembering them say their only child died and they had no grandchildren. In this reality.

“Oh yes, we used to foster until they said we got too old but they let us stay on site.”

“Who?” I ask already guessing the answer.

“Advance Industries. They take in any orphans or unwanted children temporarily until they can place them in foster homes for them to be looked after. We did it for years.”

My hand slides off Faiths leg where it had been resting peacefully and I try not to bring up the food I’ve just eaten. Pins and needles reverberate over my back. Faith shoots me a warning look but I don’t like the sound of this.

“Why would they do that?” I aim for nonchalant as I pick at my meal.

“Why wouldn’t they? We can’t have homeless children so they started a programme. They’re mainly children from families who have been... affected by Advancing. They’re just not capable of parenting anymore. It’s very sad. They stay at Advance Industries until a suitable home is found for them. It’s really a very good system.”

“I bet!”

“Kye...” Faith warns while my grandparents throw each other confused looks.

Faith sits forward and explains, “Fraser Laudnam was a scientist from my time. He experimented on children. We thought he’d died.”

“No, I don’t believe that. I’ve watched his election speech; it was that awful Johnson Franks that condoned those things. Thank God he never had any children else Fraser never would’ve had a chance to be elected.”

This time, it’s me that starts choking. Fuck! In all the chaos I never told Faith that she’s Johnson’s flesh and blood. Gran’s words just put everything into perspective. If we went back would that make Faith the President? Faith pounds my back in a pretence of helping me get over my coughing fit, what she’s really doing is giving me a not so subtle message to behave.

“What election speech?” Faith asks while continuing unhelpfully to hit my back a lot firmer than she actually needs to.

“Ooh, I have it saved on my Comm. It was one of the greatest historical events and he was sooo handsome,” Gran says. She types away on her Comm and a holograph is projected into the room. Gran’s eyes are dreamy as she stares at Fraser Laudnam – that same smug face stares out at me. I want to wipe it away with my hand but force myself to sit still and watch. I even manage to restrain myself from swearing. Gran would run for the soap and ram it down my throat, she has before and wouldn’t hesitate to do it to a so-called stranger. If she’s anything like my real Gran anyway.

He walks on to a stage limping heavily and leaning on a cane. At least he wasn’t completely unscathed, the thought makes me smile inwardly. The applause is deafening and then he launches into his speech. I actually scoff when he says ‘Our city needs to be based on honesty and trust’. Faith kicks my foot under the table while still managing to smile sweetly at Gran who is watching the feed transfixed by the face of the devil. When it ends Faith and I stare at each other in shock. We both know that speech was bull but I have to give it to him, he’s very convincing. No wonder the city went wild for him.

“I wouldn’t put it past him. He had shifty eyes. You can tell a lot about a person through their eyes. His son is different though I’ll vouch for him,” Gramps states.

“Shifty eyes! Don’t be so ridiculous Jack. You never liked him because he was a heartthrob and I had a crush on him. After all the years we’ve been together and he still gets jealous,” Gran says shaking her head and tutting loudly.

“Look I know you don’t believe what we told you earlier but I’m going to try one more time. Fraser Laudnam was evil, Johnson was too but Fraser messed around in Faith’s head. Why would we make that up? Why would I try to convince you that we’re related? You two brought me up. You taught me to never lie unless it’d hurt a woman’s feelings to tell the truth – thank Gramps, by the way, that’s worked out pretty well for me.” Faith nudges me in the ribs but her smile tells me I get away with it.

“You’re no fools, if you really can tell a lot by eyes then read mine. I know it sounds far-fetched, it seems unbelievable even to me and I’ve lived it – am living it, but it’s true... all of it. You were so proud when I joined the law upholders and when I was promoted to team leader. You cautioned me about Advance Industries. I know you remember none of this because I messed up. Whatever I changed, changed you and I’m so sorry for that.” I drop my head, my voice breaking, my chest aching that my grandparents don’t know me. I’ve wanted to wrap them in my arms since we arrived. Faith entwines our fingers and rests our joined hands on my leg.

“I’m sorry. Excuse me for a moment.” I push back my chair, drop Faith’s hand and stride outside.

I walk around the tiny bungalow but my gaze keeps straying to the big building. I have so many questions – all of which I doubt I’ll find the answers to. Why did we appear on the beach? What has happened to my team? What the fuck happened in the past? How do I fix the future or I should say the present? How do I keep my promise to Faith when it’s crushing my soul? If I go back on my word, I’ll crush hers!

The door opens and I spin expecting to find Faith approaching to calm me down but I’m met with the curious stare of my Gramps. He doesn’t say a word as he gains on me but holds out a pack of fags. Another change. My real Gramps does not smoke but I grin and take one. I know I shouldn’t, but what the hell, why not?

He props one between his lips, lights it, then lights mine as I follow suit. He inclines his head for me to follow him around the back of the building and I do. We sit on a garden bench, puffing away quietly. He’s unnerving me because I can tell he has something he wants to say but he’s working up to it. I focus on the fact that I’m sitting with my Gramps, spending time together alone once more. Bonding. Spending time with the greatest man I know. The man who brought me up and is more like a father. Well, the man that resembles him anyway. This man instilled my values in me, my sense of right and wrong.

He sighs and slouches over. “Are you going to stay for a while?” He asks.

Not what I expected but I guess he needs to lead with something, after all right now I’m a stranger to him. We have nowhere else to go and I’d love to be in their company so I reply, “If the offer still stands we’d love to. Thank you.”

“Good then you can make yourself useful. I’m the caretaker/groundskeeper for the labs. I could use a helping hand from time to time. Don’t tell Lizzie I admitted that though okay?”

“I’m happy to help however I can,” I tell him smiling at his reference to Gran and realising that if I help I get access to Advance Industries. Recon can’t hurt can it? If there’s nothing to find I can breathe easy. Gramps worked his magic and has perked me up. I can be useful, find out anything there is to find and keep my word to Faith for a while longer. Win, win, win!

“Kye I see your pain and if your story is true then this must be difficult for you and, I’m sorry for that. At the same time, I’m old but still have all my faculties, when something seems too good to be true it generally is. All I can promise is to keep an open mind. I’ll admit it’s in the realm of possibility so won’t rule out what you’ve said altogether. Advancing has a lot to answer for. I make no promises but you need help, you need to talk then I’m here, okay?”

“So can I call you Gramps?” I tease trying to lighten the fact that another lump is forming in my throat. He’s willing to be open to what I told him, he just needs time. My Grandparents are such good people, pure and welcoming. Not many people would treat strangers the way they’re treating us especially with the messed up story I told them but they enjoy helping. They believe that everyone deserves to receive an act of kindness. That something as simple as a smile can make the difference in a stranger’s world. Could I love this man anymore right now?

“Don’t push it boy. I’ve never been a Gramps so can’t live up to whatever it is you expect. Let’s stick with Jack.”

I stand after finishing my fag and stub it out in the ashtray on the table. “Thanks... Jack. I’ll go see if Gran kept me some of her desert.”

“Don’t you be calling her Gran either! She’s dozy and will lap it up. Oh and a warning, like I said you’re welcome here, both of you, but my Lizzie is my world, don’t break her heart.” He waggles his eyebrows thinking he looks stern but he looks ridiculously comical and I bite my lip to stop from laughing at him. He cracks me up. I heed the warning though because I understand he means if I convince Gran of who I am and then disappear he’ll be left with the aftermath - her heartbreak.

I walk around the bungalow to the front entrance and stare at the labs again. Now it’s been offered I can’t wait to get to work. I enter the house again and as it’s open plan I can see Faith and Gran with their backs to me, shoulder to shoulder at the other end of the room in the kitchen. I can’t see what they’re doing but they’re smiling, forging a friendship that had already been forged before. I lean against the door soaking in the sight of my two favourite women acting so ordinary. Faith lives for the simple things in life, things that most people would see as a chore or boring she thrives off because of her upbringing. She could easily be consumed by bitterness or resentment but she doesn’t let her upbringing define her. It’s one of the things I love about her most – her resilience. She’s unique... and all mine! I could watch her all day, just content to soak up her reactions.

I creep up behind them, wrap my arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck inhaling the scent of her strawberry hazel locks. She doesn’t even jump but Gran does.

She slaps at my arm. “Oh... You! You can’t creep up on old people like that. My heart hasn’t galloped this fast since...” She breaks off, offers a small smile and turns back to the task at hand. Faith turns and I whisper, “Wanna get out of here for a bit? Go exploring the city?”

“You’re like a big kid Kye!” She grins at me. “But okay I could actually do with some new clothes, shopping sounds fun.”

My face drops, she said the S word. The word most men including me dread. Shopping? Why is it so much fun for them? They just wander around looking at stuff and then disregarding it anyway. I delighted in her very first shopping experience because it was all new to her. She was so cute but then she turned into a proper woman and started shopping the way most others do, which I don’t class as shopping.

I open my mouth to retract the offer or to say something quick-witted but stop when I see her eyes glinting with humour. She’s playing me! Before I can call her out on it Gran says, “Sorry to burst your bubble but if you’re from the past as you say, how do you expect to pay for your purchases? Your Comms won’t register an account.”

Shit, I never thought about that.

“But your Comm worked when you came to my time,” Faith says.

“It never. That wasn’t, isn’t my Comm,” I tell her looking at my cuff on my wrist. “I... acquired one, we all did when we got to your time along with the tent and other things. You didn’t think I travelled with all that stuff did you?”

She narrows her eyes. “I didn’t stop to consider it; I was too caught up in being abducted!”

“ABDUCTED?” Gran shouts.

“Uh yeah but it’s not as bad as it sounds, honest.” I run my fingers through my hair. Jesus this is hard work! Thank fuck Faith doesn’t focus on how I acquired the stuff. I worked my arse off for those items, luckily I was in her time for weeks just waiting for the opportunity to take her and that gave me time to heal. I direct my attention back to Faith not wanting to face Grans wrath and hoping Faith will be the lesser of two evils. “I had two Comms. The one I used to get to your time and bring us back here but the other was for use in your time, to unlock doors and communicate with my team.”