Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 (7 page)

If all else fails, I
’
ll buy her some of her blasted sheep.
She can spend a few years perfecting her sheep and spinning skills and maybe by then, I
’
ll have something else to interest her.
I could always insist that she learn woodworking.
After all, eventually I
’
m going to get old and find it hard to do some of these things.

She just brought me peach tea.
She hates the stuff
—
even the smell of it but she did it for me.
Lord, I don
’
t deserve such a wonderful daughter.

Chad closed the pages and laid them on his nightstand.
He understood Kari much more than Willow ever would.
Her concerns about men
—
she
’
d even considered the possibility of Bill.
How wrong she
’
d been.
Chad remembered the pain in Bill
’
s face as he shook hands at arrival and their leaving.
The waltz
—
Willow had sought him out and danced not realizing how much it hurt him to do it.

She
’
d been right about one thing.
Willow was wonderful.
The more he thought of it, he realized that
everything he thought he
’
d ever wanted in a wife
—
Willow had.
“
She is wonderful Lord
,
and like Kari, I don
’
t deserve her
.”

Rain pounded the roof and earth.
Willow stared out the window and Chad stared at Willow.
Such
a ridiculously exciting moment in their new marriage.

“
Bowling?
”

Willow shook her head
The idea sounded revolting.
“
No thanks.
I
’
m tempted to let the puppy in
.”

“
You
’
ll regret it
.”

“
I know
.”

He
’
d hoped she
’
d relent and agree to
let Portia inside
.
Chad
hated the idea of that poor puppy out in the
c
old and the rain.
The stupid animal kept sitting in the yard howling for some
one to rescue her from herself.
“
What about a movie?
There
’
s an action movie in Fairbu
r
y right now…
”

“
I don
’
t want to get sick.
I think all that moving around on that huge wall would make me sick
.”

He
’
d never seen her bored like this.
It was hysterical.
“
Well…
”
His mind raced with ideas from roller skating to museums.
Finally he jumped to his feet.
“
Get your shoes on.
Let
’
s go to the Aquarium
.”

“
What is it?
I mean, I know what an aquarium is
—
we almost got one once
—
”

“
Well, the Rockland Aquarium is huge.
It has fish from all over the world.
There are actual sharks and octopi and even penguins
.”

Rockland
Metro Area Aquarium and Water P
ark
loomed before them.
Chad led her eagerly to the door, talking about all the shows he’d seen, an overnight class trip, and the special exhibits that came from time to time
.
“The water park is cool, but it’s only open in summer—except for rainy days.
Closed on rainy days too,” he chattered as he urged her inside toward the exhibits.

At the first wall of glass, Chad
met
the Willow Bill
saw
when she first arrived in Rockland
, but he didn’t realize it
.
Her eyes widened, her breath became shallow, and then she froze.
He wandered back and forth, admiring the various fish, pointing out unique specimens, and looking for hidden ones. She never moved. Oblivious to all but his delight with the fish, Chad enjoyed himself until he
came back to her side and took her hand absently.
The coldness of her fingers surprised him.

“
What
’
s
wrong
?
”

“
Is it safe?
”
She couldn
’
t believe she was having this conversation again.

“
Is what safe
.”

“
That wall,
”
she whispered
,
shuddering at the mental image of the glass giving way and drowning a room full of people.

Chad pulled her close to him turning her away from the wall and through a doorway.
“
It
’
s safe.
Thousands of people come through this room every week.
Not once has that glass even cracked
.”

“
But the second law of thermodynamics
—”

“
I know,
”
he agreed soothingly.
“
But no one said that the decay was rapid. Look how well preserved the earth is after six thousand years.
Look at that tree in California, Methuselah.
It
’
s been around since the time of the flood
,
and it
’
s still standing.
It
’
s dying like everything else but it doesn
’
t happen overnight
.”

She nodded.
This she could understand.
“
How will they know when it isn
’
t safe?
Will they know before someone is hurt?
”

She tried to glance back at the wall of glass
,
but the darkness in the aquarium made it mercifully impossible.
At the jellyfish tank, Chad pointed out the sizes and colors of the translucent creatures
, and though she could sense his blatant attempts to distract her, Willow appreciated it. By the time they reached t
he penguins
,
she was so delighted by their odd waddles, that her fear dissipated.

Alas
, Chad forgot the famous Rockland
Under the Sea
exhibit.
They followed a tour guide through the archway and into the dome of the exhibit.
At first, Willow was as awed by the incredible sights of the water around her
,
but when a small shark swam straight for her, she screamed.
Her voice, echoing through the room, pierced the ears of everyone and frightened sever
al small children.
Their wails, combined with her panicked screams created instant chaos.

She found herself wrapped in Chad’s arms with her head buried into his shoulder.
Slowly, he backed them out of the room.
Her screams ceased the moment he pulled her from the tunnel leading to the exhibit.

“
It
’
s ok,
”
he murmured sitting down and pulling her closer.
“
It
’
s just a room.
I forgot about it
,
or I would have warned you
.”