Edge of Time (Langston Brothers Series) (12 page)

“I suspect you know more than that.” He leaned toward her. “Show me your favorite constellation.”

For Marissa, this was far better than any dinner and a movie date she’d been on. She licked her lips, thinking of how she’d like for the “date” to end. “Orion the Hunter,” she said, and pointed to the grouping of stars
.
“When I was little I had terrible nightmares and one night my grandfather told me that I didn’t need to be scared because Orion was there to protect us and chase bad dreams away.”

“A hunter and a protector,” he murmured in a soft voice. “Do you need him still?”
Gentle fingers
reached out to pull a stray lock of hair from her face. She shivered from the contact of skin on skin. He must have noticed because, still holding the strand of her hair between his fingers, he gazed into her face
long and hard
. “Marissa, what’s wrong?”

She shrugged miserably.
“Oh, it’s just been a long day I suppose.”

“That’s not what I mean, and I think you know it. Something else is bothering you. Please tell me. Let me help you the way you helped me.” The hair slipped through his fingers, fluttering on the breeze, ticking her face. “I meant it when I promised to return the favor. I never make a promise I don’t intend to keep.”

Marissa shuddered again as the gentle warmth of his voice washed over her and seeped into the frayed edges of her soul. He looked so compassionate and sincere in his desire to help. “I just feel so out of place here,” she blurted. “I’ve lost everyone I ever cared for and everything I’ve ever worked for.”

Craig nodded. “I understand, but don’t forget, you have your aunt Genie.”

“Uh-huh.” Marissa blinked furiously against the sting of tears. “But I didn’t even know about her until recently. She and my mother were estranged,” she
explained
, using the same story Genie had given Carolyn. “She’s been nothing but kind and welcoming, but...”

“You have a home, family with her and Carolyn,” he reminded her.

“You don’t understand, Craig, I really have lost everything.
Everything!
And all I want is to go back to what I had.” Despite her best efforts the tears burst forth and fierce sobs racked her body
.
“
The worst part is… I-I
don’t even know if I was happy before.”

“Oh, Marissa!” He rolled to his knees and gathered her within the fold of his arms. “Hush, love, I’m here for you.” Gently he slipped an arm beneath her knees and pulled her across his lap, ever so softly brushing his lips across her hair. “Marissa,” he pulled back just enough to look directly into her eyes, “I understand what you’re going through, really I do. But we cannot change what’s already happened. You reminded me that all we can do is move on and not allow ourselves to be consumed by regret and bitterness.” His eyes burned like blue embers at the base of a flame and a fire,
his
fire, ignited something deep within her veins.

Her breath hitched. “I don’t know, Craig. It’s s
o hard to start over completely.
I don’t have anything left of my old life. Everything is just so… different.”

“What’s so wrong with different?” Craig gently ran his knuckles up an
d down her arm, it was soothing.
“Nothing in life is ever easy, but I believe things happen for a reason; even when it’s not fair and makes no sense. Have you ever heard the saying when a door is closed a window is opened?”

“Yes,” she sighed miserably against the warm comfort of his chest. There was true irony in his statement, she thought, thinking of that one-way portal that had drawn her to this time in history. Pulling back she flashed a watery smile. “Thank you for this, but I think I ruined your shirt.”

“Ah,” he shook his head without looking at the splotches of tear stains and, unfortunately, snot. “Shirts wash and I’m just glad to help.” Flashing her that irresi
stible grin, he held out a hand.
“Come on. I’d better get you home. And tomorrow, you take the day off. It’s Sunday.” Before climbing to his feet he leaned in to press a quick kiss to her lips.

The touch left her feeling warm and more than a little fuzzy all over. When he kissed her the gaping hole Brian had left in her heart flickered and caved just a bit around the edges. But Craig was more than a bandage for past hurts. He was like a salve, soothing, numbing and oddly
warm
.

“And I was wondering...” His gaze lingered on her face. “Will you be attending the officers’ ball next weekend?”

“And why would you like to know, sir?”

“I was hoping to see you there.”

“What about Miss Jamison?”

“What
about
Miss Jamison? I’m not having dinner with her
or
hoping to see her at the officer’s ball.” His smile was intoxicating. “I will, however, be heartbroken if
you
aren’t in attendance.”

“Heartbroken? Well, we can’t have that,” she answered, casting thickly lashed eyes downward in sudden, and not at all assumed, shyness. “Don’t worry, Craig, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Good, then I will take this opportunity to ask you for the first dance.”

Gazing up at him, into his eyes, she felt as though she could lose herself in their blue depths forever.

“The first dance will be yours.”

*
             
*
             
*

Despite being utterly exhausted
Marissa lay awake long into the early hours of the morning thinking about Craig Langston and how he’d held her in the moonlight.

The officers’ ball?

How quickly time had passed. She’d never planned to be here long enough to attend the ball. She’d thought to find a door
or wormhole back to 2012
quickly and never have to deal with the reality or hurt of being sucked too far within the contours of
this
life.

She didn’t want this life
…
did she? Didn’t she want
her
life? Life with running water, and grocery stores, and dear
G
od, fast
food!

Craig’s blue eyes flashed through her mind and her heart lurched. This wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t fair. Fate and destiny weren’t fair, because the cold reality was, she was falling in love with Craig Langston. When she looked at him she could see the whole dream. She could see blond children with sparkling blue eyes, a husband worth adoring and the perfect balance her life had been craving. When she was with Craig the shoddy laces holding her soul together tightened.

But could it work? Could it ever really be? She didn’t belong here. Even in sleep words like destiny and fate haunted her, swirling around the shimmering statue of a god reclined in the moonlight.

*
             
*
             
*

As Craig walked home after seeing Marissa safely to Carolyn Reed’s house his thoughts followed a similar train.

She was incredible.

Beautiful and intelligent, Marissa seemed his match in every way. He wanted her. He wanted her as he’d never wanted another woman and… and what? She was what he’d spent years dodging, a woman to share his future with. But she was more than that.
She was an angel, too, but no,
his thoughts ran on,
that wasn’t right; she was Venus, or Aphrodite, she was…
Dear Lord but he was acting like some love struck fool! He was no poet and yet his mind ran circles trying to find an adequate description for Marissa.

Raking a hand through his hair, Craig contemplated the course of his future. He’d spent years skirting the alter and it wasn’t just looking for a woman with genuine qualities, but a deep seated, almost irrational fear of losing the one he loved. He’d been but nine years old when his mother had died giving birth to his youngest brother and his father had nearly been destroyed by despair and loneliness. And then three years ago, his brother David had lost his wife, also in childbirth, just one year after they’d been married. Davy had been
wrecked
leaving Craig to wonder what quirk of the soul possessed people to fall in love. He’d decided then and there that family life wasn’t for him, but now that perspective was changing, shifting, and maybe it was the war or maybe it was the awesome force of nature that was Marissa.

Marissa…

Surely just one of her dazzling smiles could tide a man for a lifetime.

Six

Marissa rose late after another restless night, unsure if she was in good spirits or confused spirits. Craig had told her to take the day off as it was Sunday, and her body had more than welcomed a few extra hours of sleep. Humming to herself she threw the covers back and dressed as quickly as she could, still a most cumbersome task.

“Good morning.” She breezed around the corner of the stairs. “Sorry I slept so late.” The mantel clock read after ten in the morning.

“Oh, Marissa, don’t feel bad,” Carolyn replied. “Mother told me about all the work you’ve been doing and how you cared for the men who were hurt in the accident. I am so impressed. Are you a doctor?”

“No,” Marissa stated, perching on the settee facing the two women. “I’ve had some formal training though.” Carolyn and Genie were sewing and she gestured to the silk in their hands. “What are you working on? That fabric is beautiful.”

Carolyn and Genie shared a conspiratorial glance. “Well, with the ball coming up we knew you needed a dress.”

Marissa gazed at the beautiful green fabric in amazement. “You mean…”

“It’s for you!”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Carolyn continued, “but we had to reuse material from some older gowns.”

“No, of course I don’t mind.” She couldn’t stem the burn of tears. “Thank you. Why, why are you being so nice to me? You only just met me and, and…” Marissa couldn’t find the words to finish her sentence.

Genie rose and came to her. “Marissa, you’re family.”

Lookin
g into Genie’s eyes she knew the other woman
meant it. “Oh, Genie. Thank you so much!”

Genie winked with a bit of the devil in her eye.
“Do you th
ink Dr. Langston will like it?”

Marissa couldn’t help but laugh, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Mama,” Carolyn drew their attention. “Speaking of Dr. Langston, I’ve been thinking, with Marissa working at the hospital nearly every day it doesn’t make sense to drive back and forth. I think you and Marissa need to stay here indefinitely. Especia
lly in light the mysterious man
digging in your woods. Fredrick and Grace can take care of the house during the day and you can drive out every week or so to check on things.”

“That would be wonderful Carolyn, thank you.”

Marissa’s
light
mood deflated with Genie’s words. Over and over
she’d
blamed the man in the woods for
thwarting
any
immediate attempts to get home
. She crossed her arms in frustration. B
eing away from the farmhouse permanently
would only
stem further attempts
to r
eturn
to her time
. She was thoroughly intrigued by the hospital and Craig. Every day spent in 1863 Charleston
pulled her further from
home
and closer to heartbreak.
It was high time she made a real effort to fin
d that gateway back to
where she belonged.