Bought His Life (22 page)

“So many people died. We could’ve prevented their deaths. We could have eliminated the evil and changed history.”

“We had—we
have
no right to change history,” Jones said, waving a finger in the air. “I know how you’re feeling. I truly do. Guilt gnawed at me for years. As I read each report of what were horrible discoveries in Europe after the war. I blamed myself for not succeeding in our mission and for failing a race of people. But, one day, it hit me. Where would we be if we’d succeeded? Maybe the bastard wouldn’t have died? Maybe the war would have claimed even more souls. We don’t know. We’ll never know.”

“The United States is still here. Humanity has survived—at a very high cost,” Jack added. “But don’t you ever wonder about the good we could have done if we’d prevented him from growing so powerful?”

“Always,” Jones replied, rolling the edge of the napkin before him. “It wasn’t my place to alter the path of history. I had no right. We had no right. It wasn’t our duty to correct; it was our duty to protect.”

Letting the older man’s words work in his mind, Jack acknowledged that any interference would have changed the results. No one knew how. It had always been a gamble.

“You know, Emily—”

“Emily may have never been born,” Jones interjected. “If we’d succeeded, life wouldn’t be the same.”

“On a personal level, I can understand. We seem to have done all right, but I pray the damage and stain on the human race can recover.”

“All we can do is remember,” Jones added. “Remember and never allow history to repeat itself.”

Years of living had given Jones a wiser perspective than he’d had on the day Jack and his crew had climbed on board the plane. No matter what had transpired in the years between then and now, they had to live in the present. Had to make the proper choices in the twenty-first century.

“You know, Emily bought your watch at a lawn sale for your birthday.”

“Our Lucky Charm. That watch saved my life more than once. Before Jensen passed, I asked him whatever happened to the things we locked in that cabinet before we left on the mission. He couldn’t remember.” Jones smiled in remembrance. “He was a good man. A very good man.”

“I’m happy to hear you had each other.”

“We did. Sir, we were lucky. We are lucky.”

Jack nodded in agreement. They were so damn lucky. “Imagine, your own granddaughter buying it as a present for you. That’s where and how I met her. I was trying to retrieve it and return it to you, but your own flesh and blood took possession of your Lucky Charm.”

“And what are your intentions toward my Em, boy?” Jones demanded, tapping a thick, sturdy finger on the table.

“My intentions are simple.” Relief built inside Jack over the inevitable admission of his feelings. “I love her, sir. I want to start a family with her and spend the rest of my days with her.”

“You’ve only just met.” Jones pierced him with a daring look. “You sure?”

“You’re questioning my judgment, Jones? Do you think I would come to such a conclusion lightly?”

“No,” the older man replied, pursing his lips. “I just wanted to be sure. My girls are the dearest things in the world to me.”

Jack understood what his flight buddy felt. Ten days earlier, he’d have laughed and made a sarcastic comment, but as they sat at the round wooden table, he knew that Emily was the dearest thing in the world to him.

“Funny how things work, eh?”

“Not funny. It was fate. Luck. The Lucky Charm, sir.”

“Cut the sir stuff, Jones. It’s I who should be calling you sir, now.” Jack laughed. “You know, out of respect, ’cause you’re so much older. You’re damn old.”

“Serves you right, boy. I mean, Captain. It’s payback for all those evenings I spent shining your shoes.” Pops leaned across and hit Jack on the shoulder. He continued to chuckle.

Jack remembered the young officer’s initiation when he’d joined the unit. Demeaning his position was only part of it. The top dog image had to be maintained. They had young Jones doing more than shining his boots.

“True. You remember?”

“Hey, I’m old, not senile.” Jones wiped tears of laughter from the corner of his eyes and suddenly grew serious. “Does my little girl know?”

“Not yet. I was about to tell her when we heard about the tornado.”

“No. Don’t.” Pops raised his finger to his lips. “The girls don’t need to know. I’ll help you, Jack. I have a nice savings. It’s substantial, and it’ll help you get established so that you can take care of her.”

“Thank you for the offer, but no.” Jack smiled at the protection the man held over Emily. But looking out for her was now his job, and it was his choice to tell her. “I won’t build the rest of our lives on a lie. She’s strong and smart. She’ll be able to handle it.”

Emily returned, and Jack stood to pull out her chair. Looking from man to man, she wrinkled her nose and folded her arms.

“Okay, out with it. What are you scoundrels up to?”

“Jack was just telling me how you met and what the future holds for the two of you,” Pops spoke first. “Funny how things happen.”

“The future?” She shifted and sat on her hands. “Pops, you’re not playing matchmaker again, are you?”

Jack pulled her right hand from under her and into his lap. “Actually, sweetheart, we were talking about the past.”

Em listened to the story Jack relayed slowly and kept glancing over at Pops who confirmed every word. “It’s too much to believe.”

“I know, sweetheart.” Her grandfather gave her a sympathetic look. “Trust me on this one. You need to go on faith and leave reason to the side.”

Jack continued, leaving out no detail.

“So you see, the watch you bought, and the watch which brought us together, belongs to your Pops, John Kelsey ‘Lucky Charm’ Jones.”

Pops put down his coffee. “The mission which brought Jack here is also the one which introduced me to your grandmother.”

“And Lawson?” She asked, her mind racing, trying to comprehend everything she’d learned.

“Lawson is part of the team. But from the looks of things, no one wants to go back. Even if a way to jump through the years has been perfected, I believe we all are exactly where we’re supposed to be. Kimber and Lawson are reporting their findings on Saturday night, and I’ll know for sure.” Jack tapped the table and rubbed the dark stubble forming on his chin.

“Kimber is in on this?”

“I’m not sure how much she knows, but she knows,” Jack explained.

Em dropped her head into her hands and rubbed her temples. “This is way too much to absorb. What’s going to happen? What are you going to do?”

“Emily, if you’ll have me, I want to stay in the Keys. I know that by modern standards, we’ve just met, and it may appear rushed to call what we have between us a relationship, but for me, it is the ultimate relationship. I’m sure about us, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to convince you that we are meant to be together. I want to make my life here, and I want you and Jen in it. I will be the best father I can for Jen. I want to make a life
with you
.”

Emily jumped into his lap and kissed him full on the lips. Pops cleared his throat to remind her he was still sitting there, and she shied away with a smile.

“Well, I had a feeling my life would change today.” Pops tapped his fingers on the table and shook his head, sending Em a loving wink. “I knew it would never be the same again.”

She winked back, and the men joined her in laughter. “Now, I have my own Lucky Charm, or two.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Kimber’s sleepy gaze left the familiar bedroom-ceiling fan of her Key West apartment. She reached across the bedding and smiled when she felt a warm, hard body. Rolling over, she kissed the gorgeous man she’d been shacked up with for the last week. Being careful not to wake him, she crawled out of bed.

After donning a robe and brushing her teeth, she went into the kitchen to make coffee. She glanced at the answering machine, annoyed to see she had accumulated some fifty messages during her week-long vacation from life.

Scanning the phone numbers on her caller ID, she frowned. Most were from the office. What part of, “I quit,” didn’t they understand? She lowered the volume and listened to messages as she waited for the dark liquid to brew. Something on the counter caught her eye, and she picked it up. It was a small, white, folded card with her name scribbled on it.

“Where did this come from?”

She broke the sticker seal and opened the card. “Meet me at the café at ten. You know which one and which table. Don’t be late. J.”

She looked at the time. Shit, it was already twenty to ten.

Throwing on sweats and a tank top, she pulled her hair into a half-ass pony bun and ran out the door. Jogging all the way to the café, she arrived with three minutes to spare.

Inside, she sat at their usual table and waited, wishing she had woken up earlier so she could have made some attempt at looking presentable. After all, it had been years since she’d seen Scott’s childhood best friend.

Jason had joined the CIA after college, and she and Scott had joined the military, and later, the DEA. His job, even more secretive than hers, had him gone for long periods of time without contact. Every once in a while, she’d get a post card with a picture of some obscure overseas location on the front, but no return address.

However, despite the lengths they would go to without seeing each other, he always managed to make it back to her when she needed him the most. For their wedding, for the time after her husband’s death when she was sure she’d lose her mind, Jason showed up, as if he knew she needed him. He’d only stay for a few hours, but that was enough for her.

A single purple orchid appeared in front of her.

She jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around him.

“You’re looking beautiful as always, Kimberleigh,” he murmured in her ear.

She released him and pushed him back so she could examine him. Every time he came to her, he had a new look. Today was dark against white. His crisp white pants and buttoned short-sleeved shirt were bright against his dark shoes, dark sunglasses and deeply tanned skin. Even a white Panama hat sat upon dark hair.

She hugged him again. “I missed you.”

He guided her to her chair, gestured for her to sit, then took the chair across the table from her. “And I missed you. But unfortunately, I can only stay a few minutes.”

She stared at him in awe. “I just can’t believe you came.”

“How could I not? When I read the letter you sent along with the documents, the one requesting your favor, I knew something major had changed in your life. That letter convinced me it was something more important than killing a cartel drug lord.” He paused and winked. “And I knew it was more life-altering than leaving the DEA.”

She laughed, always amazed at how quickly he found out what was going on in her life.

“Ahhh,” he said slowly. “I haven’t heard that laugh in many years. Have you found love again, Kimberleigh Jane?”

She nodded, tears springing to her eyes. She wanted to tell him everything, but she had no words that could express her elation.

He put his hand on hers. “I understand. First laughter, now tears of joy. I’m glad you found happiness. I won’t have to worry about you as much. He just better treat you right.

“He does,” she assured him.

“Good.” He squeezed her hand before he released it, then stood and produced a large envelope out of nowhere. “I must leave in a few minutes, but I’m always near if you need me for anything.”

“I know. Be careful,” she whispered.

“Me?” He laughed. “How about you being more careful? Only seven days off the job, and you’ve already lost your touch.” With a smile on his face, he started to leave. “Have fun at your party tonight. Eat a piece of birthday cake for me.”

She wiped the moisture from her eyes. “What do you mean I lost my touch?”

He walked to her side and bowed. “You allowed yourself to be followed.”

She turned in her chair and watched Jason depart. Then she saw what he meant. Sitting at an outside table, Lawson, wearing his white Havana hat with the brown band, was busy reading a paper. Jason dropped the envelope on his table then paused to say something to him before disappearing into the crowd of window-shopping tourists.

Grabbing her flower, Kimber ran outside to Lawson’s table and took the seat closest to him. She waited for him to acknowledge her, but he continued to read his paper.

“Well, what did he say?” she asked.

Never taking his eyes from his reading, Lawson picked up the envelope. “Passports, birth certificates and social security cards, our wedding present,” he responded casually.

Squealing for joy, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. He was legal in this century. They could get married; they could have a normal life together. They could catch the first available flight to Zurich and retrieve his retirement money.

Lawson put down his paper, pulled her into his lap and nuzzled her ear.

She swatted his arm. “Don’t try to distract me. Tell me what Jason told you that made you smile.”

“He said he liked the hat.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jack needed to legitimize his existence in this century, shit, this millennium, and find a proper way to earn a living. Bussing tables and picking up odd repair jobs at the local motels would not be enough. He required more.

If he went to the authorities, Jones could substantiate his story. At best, the old man might have a name or two Jack could call on. There must be someone, somewhere, alive, other than Jones, who would testify to the truth. Then, their ‘experiment’ could be investigated and time travel could be studied, their trip starring in the stats.