Chances Aren't (32 page)

"Emily?" Opening my eyes, I try to focus and see the woman walking away. My senses are dulled from the pain or the medication they're pumping into me or both. I'm in a hospital bed with wires attached to my chest and an IV connected to my arm. I try to lift my neck and the pain is too intense so I rest back down. The memories come flooding back... the reservoir and that asshole. Was that Emily? I must still be back in nineteen eighty eight.

The woman returns to the room alone and I can finally see just clearly enough to make out that it's not Emily. It's Laura.
Oh shit, where's Emily.

"The reservoir," I say.

"What?"

Opening my eyes wider, I can see Laura is in her forties now. "Wow, you're old."

"Gee, thanks." Chucking, she runs her fingers through my hair. My gaze travels to the flat screen on the wall tuned to the local news. We're definitely not in the eighties.
Shit, am I married to Laura?

"What year is it?"

"Seriously?" She gives me a look.

"Yeah, what year?"

"Two thousand thirteen."

"I remember I was on the ground in the woods and… and I saw you and that guy from the car and—"

"That was more than twenty years ago." She runs her fingers through my hair. "There was a car accident. You’re a hero. You saved a family."

"What?"

"Do you remember the accident?"

"Just tell me did Emily... did she die at the reservoir?"

"No, she's fine."

"Thank God." I narrow my eyes. "Are you and I... married?"

"What?" She burst into laughter.

"I guess I'll take that as a no." Finding the button to control the bed, I push it raising my head a little as I open my eyes wider, my head slightly clearer now.

"Take it easy," she says.

"I'm okay."

The door opens and Emily rushes into the room. "Ben, I'm so sorry I had to drop Annie off with my mother."

"He just woke up," Laura says.

"Annie?" I repeat, confused.

"How do you feel?" Emily kisses me on the cheek and sits down in the chair next to the bed stroking my hand. Emily asks Laura. "What did the doctor say?"

"We're still waiting for him," Laura replies.

"Annie?" I ask.

"She doesn't have strep."

"Oh good..." I shake my head confused. "But who is she?"

"He doesn't remember much," Laura says.

"You poor thing." Emily caresses my shoulder. "Annie's our daughter."

"We have a daughter?"

"Three, actually."

"What? I don't remember any of this."

Emily smiles. "She's six and she has your fat feet."

"My feet… I got you pregnant?"

"You sure did. She was a surprise. You rolled over one night at midnight and, you know... surprise." Emily flashes Laura a smile.

"Molly and Lisa are on their way back from college now. They should be here in a few hours. Molly is at Virginia Tech. We adopted her when she was a baby and Lisa, well, she's, you know, Damien gave us that sperm donation, remember?"

"Oh, Damien… Yeah, maybe." I narrow my eyes searching my foggy brain for answers. Some of this seems a little bit familiar. "Can I see a picture of them? Do you have one?"

Emily opens up her purse and pulls out her wallet. Opening it to a picture of all three beautiful girls, I smile. "Annie looks just like you when you were that age."

"I know."

"The other two, please tell me they're not dating, I don't think I'm ready for that."

Emily rolls her eyes. "I'll tell you about it later."

"Oh, you're on again," Laura says, looking at the television.

"Huh?" I look up to the screen to see an image of a reporter standing in front of a burnt out van that's smashed into a tree. Laura takes the remote and turns up the volume.

Local hedge fund manager, Ben Hunter, was injured earlier today while saving a family from a car accident. Hunter pulled the young mother, father and eighteen month old baby girl from the wreckage, just moments before the explosion. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Hunter has played the part of hero. In July nineteen eighty eight he rescued Emily O'Brien, his then girlfriend, at Loch Raven Reservoir from a man named Jordan
Clark
.
Clark
was found wounded and unconscious at the scene— the result of Hunter's intervention. A search of Clark's home uncovered evidence in three other unsolved murders. Clark is currently serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole. Mr. Hunter is currently recovering from non-life threatening injuries and reports are that the members of the family he saved are expected to recover fully as well.

Laura turns the volume down on the television.

"William survived?" I ask.

"Him you remember?" Emily asks, shaking her head.

"Yeah, I sorta do."

"He's going to be fine— just a broken leg and some minor burns."

"Oh, good and…" I narrow my eyes, confused. "I'm a hedge fund manager?"

"You and Greg, yeah," Emily says.

A doctor enters the room carrying a chart. "Mr. Hunter." Emily hovers over me as Laura moves out of the way.

The Doctor shines a light into my eyes and nods his head. "Your tests came back normal. You only have a mild concussion." He makes a note in my chart then gives me a smile. "We're going to keep you tonight, but I don't see any reason why we can’t let you go tomorrow."

"Great," Emily says.

The door opens and Alan appears with a woman.

I smile. "Alan."

The Doctor heads for the door. "I'll stop by in a few hours."

"Thank you."

Alan moves next to the bed and smiles. "A hero… What the hell are you doing?"

"I don't know." I shrug before narrowing my eyes at the woman standing next to him.

"Hi Ben," she says.

"Hi. You are?"

The couple shares a confused look.

Emily says, "Some things are still a little fuzzy. Ben this is Carrie, Alan's wife. You were best man at their wedding."

"Carrie… from Maryland?" I ask, confused.

"Yes, we had some classes together and you sort of introduced Alan and I," Carrie announces with a smile.

My jaw drops open. "Hold on. I just pictured an image of a red, white and blue body suit."

"Yep, that would be mine." Alan nods.

"I made him wear it last night." Carrie gives him a sexy smile.

"It still fits for the most part." He nods proudly.

After catching up for ten minutes with my old roommate and his wife, the nurse opens the door. "Sorry folks, there's a limit of two visitors at any one time and Mr. Hunter really needs to rest."

Alan takes hold of Carrie's hand. "We've got to run anyway. Her parents are having this thing, but we'll stop by tomorrow."

"Great. Thanks for coming," I say.

As Alan and Carrie head out the door with the nurse, Greg enters the room, hugs Emily, and says hello to Laura then gives me his signature bright cheery smile. "Hey buddy, you had us worried."

"I'm going to be okay." I give Emily a smile. "Yeah, I think I'm finally going to be okay."

Emily and Laura move away from the bed as Greg begins, "Hey, we need to make a decision on the gold. Do we sell? It's down to $1366. We're still up one hundred percent, but your, uh..." He whispers, "Your instructions never say when to sell."

"Oh, shit. That's right. I don't have a clue what's going to happen next." I frown. "Do you?"

Greg shrugs.

"I think we should sell it all then."

"Our clients aren't going to be happy." He raises his hands up. "Screw 'em... we've averaged a fifty five percent return the last fifteen years. No other fund was even close to that."

"Wow." My eyes widen. "I guess it's time to retire."

He nods. "I'd say we've made enough money to relax maybe a little."

"I'll say."

"Hey, anyone want any coffee?" Greg looks to the women.

"I'd love some, cream and sugar," Emily says.

"Same for me," Laura replies.

"Be right back." He heads out the door.

I look to my two favorite women in the world and smile. They're standing together across the room whispering to one another. They seem oddly close and I'm intrigued. I put on a mock frown. "Hey, have you forgotten about me?"

Laura glances my way and giggles as she touches Emily's forearm. Emily leans in close to Laura's ear and whispers something. When she pulls back they share a laugh.

"Um, ladies," I say, rolling my eyes.

They return to my bedside, sit down and each take a hand on either side of me. My gaze shifts between them both. "You guys seem really friendly."

"We're the best of friends," Laura says.

Emily smiles in agreement.

"I don't have my memory back fully, but I'm seeing a flash in my head of all three of us together I think."

"We do spend a lot of time together," Laura agrees.

"Oh, good, so I'm not just dreaming that."

"We're just so glad that you're going to be okay," Emily says.

"Yeah, me too. Life is pretty good."

"This could be just the drugs talking, but..." I give them a hesitant look. "But please tell me that we get together for a threesome every now and then."

The two women share a look then each place a hand on one of my knees and rub in sensually. "Every now and then..." Emily wrinkles her nose. "…try a couple times a week."

"Wow, life is really, really good." I'm suddenly feeling much better.

"At first, we didn’t think you could satisfy us both, but you never have any trouble," Laura says slowly, running her hand up toward my groin.

"Really, well, I do try to keep myself in shape."

"You’re amazing," Emily says sliding her hand up my leg as well.

The women nod, glance at each other then burst into laughter, pulling their hands from my leg.

"What?" My face sinks.

"We're messing with you," Emily says.

"No threesomes?"

They both shake their heads no.

"Not even once?" I ask, devastated.

"No, sorry. We're like sisters. That would just be weird," Laura replies.

"Yeah, like sisters."

"Huh." I look straight ahead. "You really had me going there."

"Sorry." Emily shrugs.

"Well, I don't think it would be weird. Laura, you're still a lesbian aren't you?" I ask.

"Not exactly. I found I'm bisexual."

"Even better." I nod my head, confidently and turn to Laura. "Wait, didn't you promise to sleep with me one more time."

"When was that?" Shaking her head, Laura narrows her eyes. "I don't really..."

"Now this I do remember, come on. It was that night of the whole reservoir thing. Remember we were at your house getting dressed and—"

"Okay…" A look of enlightenment spreads across her face. "That's right, yeah." She scoffs. "And that's what you remember… out of everything that's happened, that's one of the few things you remember?"

"Uh, yeah… I'd say that was pretty memorable." I widen my eyes before turning my attention to Emily. "And we didn't do it." I wave my finger around pointing between Laura and myself. "I was too busy saving your life that night." I give her a smug look as I wait for a reply.

Emily frowns. "But, uh, aren't you forgetting that you were the cause of my almost getting killed that night? I mean, if you hadn't gone back in time and been a complete asshole none of this would—"

Placing my finger to her lips, I stop her from continuing. "We don't need to go into all that. I'm sure I apologized a million times."

Emily shakes her head and laughs. "You really are a piece of work."

I fold my arms like a spoiled child. "I just think you guys should consider it. Life is short and I am a two-time hero and everything."

Emily and Laura look past me for a moment, apparently giving it some consideration, before turning to each other and sharing a one raised eyebrow look.

"What do you think?" Emily asks.

Laura shrugs. "Well, I did promise."

Together they turn to look at me, each taking a hand and Laura says, "Keep dreaming."

"I was just testing you both." I manufacture a smile. "I would never, ever do that, of course."

Together they say, "Yeah right."

Suddenly serious, Emily frowns. "So, why didn't you tell me where you were going yesterday?"

"I knew you'd try to stop me."

"Yeah, I would have." She scoffs.

"I owed William so much. He's the reason I found you again and I had to do it. For years I tried to find him so I could warn him, but I didn’t know his last name so, I didn't know what to do. All I knew was the date, time and the place."