Unbreakable Bonds (28 page)

“You really have a potty mouth.”

“Too much television.” She smiled sheepishly.

“You watch TV?” Ta-Mara was surprised.

“What else do I have to do to pass the time?” Calliope made a shooing motion with her hands. “Stop stalling and go after Levi. Or maybe you don’t want him? Maybe I made a mistake and you don’t deserve to be with him. You’re not worthy of his love.”

“I love him and he is mine,” she said forcefully and went to the steps.

“Wait. Don’t take the book with you.”

Ta-Mara set the book on the porch and ran down the steps, hurrying toward the trees. She had no idea where Levi was but she would find him. She went toward Jessie Mae’s but then turned to the lake. Ta-Mara burst through the trees and when she saw Levi, she kept going. He stood facing her.

“I—”

“Shut the hell up.” Ta-Mara stopped before him. “You listen to me. I might have liked you from the book but to say I loved you because of it is an insult. I will admit I did find the man in the book an honorable one who loved his woman enough to face anything for her.” She pushed her finger in his chest. “You are that same man, Levi, but I now know you on a personal level. I learned about you from the book but fell for the man before me. The one who would build a ramp for a woman he didn’t know. The one whose gentleness was so seductive. I love you and you love me. Deal with me knowing stuff about your past. That is past, but I’m your future. And I’m not letting your stubbornness get in the way of our happiness.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

“You told me to shut the hell up.” He smiled crookedly. “Just following what my love says.”

“Good.” She harrumphed.

“I love you, Ta-Mara.”

Her heart skipped a beat as he said it. Relief filled her that he wasn’t walking away again.

“Love you, Levi.”

He held out his hand and she placed hers in it. He drew her to him and kissed her. Ta-Mara rested on him, opening for him, loving the kiss. Levi pulled back and rubbed his knuckle gently along her cheek. She turned into it.

“Let’s go home.”

She nodded and he led her toward home. Ta-Mara put her hand on his waist as they walked.

“You have a lot of baggage.” She thought of Calliope. “You come with a ghost… Wait, excuse me, a spirit.”

“Calliope interfering again.” Levi chuckled. “She’s always been one to be stubborn and try to make you come around to her way of thinking about things.”

“She has a set of lungs on her.” Ta-Mara looked up as they approached her house. “She wants you to be happy. She’s a spirit matchmaker.”

Levi laughed. “That totally fits her.” He escorted her up the steps.

Ta-Mara noted the book was gone. She figured Calliope had taken it.

“Sit.” Levi helped her then sat beside her, pulling her close. “Calliope shared with you what she remembered. You read whoever put it on paper’s account of what happened, but I want to tell you what I recall. That is what I was trying to do earlier—share my past with you. You are my future but I want to tell you this. Will you listen?”

“Of course.” Ta-Mara put her hand on his knee, palm up.

Levi put his hand on hers. “I have to start from when I first spotted Calliope. There she was, this sassy woman whose regal bearing made me want to know her. Sh…”

Ta-Mara leaned on his shoulder as he told her the story of his life.

* * * *

Ta-Mara propped her chin under her hand and stared at the clock. Time was moving so slowly. She and Levi had a date and she really wanted the day done so she could meet him. After Levi had shared his story about Calliope, they had gone in to bed. He’d held her all night and when they’d woken, Levi had made slow, sweet love to her. She shifted on her stool, getting wet just thinking of him taking her with that intense look on his face.

Come on, clock, move, so I can go to him.
She was looking forward to hearing more about the life he’d led. Levi had started with his love story but over the last few weeks, he’d shared more and more about his past. Having a firsthand account of how it was during his time was interesting. The history books didn’t have as much insight as hearing it from someone who’d lived it. Again checking the time, Ta-Mara figured Levi and Matthew would be returning from their fishing trip. After the last disastrous time when they’d got into the fight, the men had had to again find time to go. A thump made Ta-Mara jerk. She watched around, leery. The store was empty expect for her. She got up and headed toward where she’d heard the noise.

“Don’t worry, it will be fine.” Going around the corner, she stopped.

In the middle of the aisle, Ta-Mara stared at the book there. The yellowed pages and cover made her know which book it was.

“Calliope, why did you give me the book back?” she called.

She waited and when there was no answer, Ta-Mara picked it up. A chill raced through her and she almost left it there, but she didn’t. Ta-Mara took it to the back, where she set it on the shelf next to the radio then went back to the front. Only moments had passed when Ta-Mara retook her previous seat, staring at the clock.

* * * *

Levi put a plate in front of Ta-Mara and bent to kiss the side of her neck. She lifted her hand, stroking along his cheek then turned, winking at him.

“No kissy face over fish,” Matthew teased.

Levi chuckled and sat beside Ta-Mara. Heather leaned against Matthew, who was across from them. She lifted a fork and ate. After their success at fishing, Levi and Matthew had decided to cook some of their catch for the ladies. When he and Ta-Mara had gotten home, they had got to work fixing some sides. By the time Heather and Matthew had arrived with the clean, gutted and already seasoned fish, they’d just had to slip it the oven. While they’d waited for the fish to cook, they had talked, laughed and had fun. Levi knew he and Matthew were on their way to becoming friends.

Although Matthew looked like the man from his past, he’d shown he was nothing like him. Levi was amazed how in one time he was a racist murderer and in this one he was a good guy, getting ready to be a husband and a dad.

“How are the plans coming along for the wedding?” Ta-Mara took a bite of her fish and made a humming sound. “Good.”

“It’s going well.” Heather smoothed her hand over her belly. “Just another two weeks and I’ll be a wife.”

“My wife.” Matthew lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

Heather smiled, nuzzling her nose to his. Levi glanced at Ta-Mara and the smile on her face was wistful. He wondered what it was about but her expression cleared and she went back to eating. She asked more about the wedding. They all talked about it then later, when Heather and Matthew had left, he followed Ta-Mara to bed. They got ready then soon slid between the cool sheets. He held her and, listening to her breath, Levi moved his hand over her stomach. A shaft of longing filled him. He wanted her to have his child. Have a little one with her eyes and smile. Levi closed his eyes, imagining her with their child. Pleasure filled him at the thought.

* * * *

Levi stopped outside the bookstore window. He looked in and smiled. Ta-Mara was bopping around behind the counter and from the way her lips were moving, he figured she was singing. All day he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. He’d felt compelled to leave his current job and come see her. He opened the door and went in. The bell over it tinkled and Ta-Mara glanced at him. She smiled and hurried in his direction. Levi opened his arms and hugged her when she was close. He swayed with her and she laughed delightedly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Came to see you.” Levi winked. “Maybe have a quickie I’ve heard so much about?”

“I’d love to but”—Ta-Mara pouted—“I can’t. I have a shipment of books coming in. The driver should be here any minute. I was actually going to text you and tell you I would be home late. I need to check and make sure everything is there. Get it on the shelves.”

“I can help you out.”

“I don’t want to take you away from your project you are on,” Ta-Mara protested.

“I’m ahead so I have time,” Levi said. “I want to spend the time with you.”

“Okay.” She held his hands and walked backward, leading him. “I’ll show you what to do and we can have fun together. Just like old times. Those first few weeks when you first came here.”

“Yes.” He went with her.

She chatted as she showed him. Levi worked by her side and when she bumped hips with him, Levi chuckled and did it to her. They moved around each other like a well-oiled machine. Customers came and went and many greeted him, saying they had thought he’d moved on since they hadn’t seen him at the store anymore. Levi hadn’t realized that he’d made such an impression on people.

“Sure, I’ll show you the military books, Mr. Carlson.” Levi led the elderly gentleman to the section.

He showed him what they had as he usually did. Mr. Carlson took a seat in the chair Levi had placed there for him months earlier. He was pleased to see it was still there. When he’d been here working before and had conversations with Mr. Carlson, Levi had noticed he had tired but had stubbornly kept talking. To save him his pride, Levi had put in the chair. Levi leaned against a bookcase, settling in for a nice chat about the military with him.

“So, young man, have you been watching the news?”

“I have.” Levi found it a hoot that Mr. Carlson called him ‘young man’ when technically, Levi was born way before him.

“Don’t just stand there.” The man waved his hand imperviously. “Tell me what you think. Before you do, make sure you come by at this day of the week at this time. I will be here.” The man glared at him. “You will be too.”

“Yes, sir,” Levi replied.

“Good.” He gestured. “Go ahead and tell me what you think.”

Levi did just that. He and Mr. Carlson had a lively discussion. He noticed Ta-Mara peeked in the aisle to check on them, smiling each time she did.

Much later, when Levi escorted the man out, he said, “See you next week.”

“See you then.”

Levi held open the door for him. He went through and Levi watched after him. Mr. Carlson’s wife came out of the hairdressers and they hugged. He’d met Mr. Carlson’s wife a few times and had heard the story of how they met, how long they had been together, and all about their lives. Levi watched them and another type of longing filled him. He glanced at the store and noticed it was empty. Levi flipped the lock then walked to the display that Ta-Mara was straightening. She glanced at him curiously.

“You had a good visit with Mr. Carlson?”

“Yes.”

“He asked about you every week when he came in.”

“I promised him I will be here next week.” Levi smiled. “I’ll make sure to make time for that.”

“Good.”

He took her hands then, looking into her eyes, he went down to one knee. Ta-Mara’s expressive eyes widened.

“I don’t have a ring to give you yet. But in my heart I know I need to ask you now.” Levi took a breath. “Will you marry me, Ta-Mara?”

“Yes, Levi. Yes.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll marry you.”

Levi rose and hugged her fiercely. “Thank you, Ta-Mara. Thank you for trusting me with your heart.”

“And me with yours.” Ta-Mara put her hand on his chest.

Levi lifted her, swinging her around. Ta-Mara kissed him and he held her, slowly setting her on her feet. A pounding on the door had them breaking apart.

“Did you lock the door?” Ta-Mara asked.

“Yes, I didn’t want us to be disturbed.”

“I’ll tell them we are closing earlier.” Ta-Mara went toward the door.

“I’ll go get your things.” Levi went to the register.

As he passed her, Levi touched her back. Ta-Mara pushed into his touch and blew him a kiss. He continued on his way. At the counter, he stopped and stared at the book with
Unbreakable Bonds
on the cover. The words glowed and Levi reached out to touch it.

“No! Don’t touch the book.” Ta-Mara screamed.

There was a whooshing sound in his ears and he stumbled as dizziness overcame him. Levi dropped to his knees and moaned, holding his head. He gasped as pain swamped him. Touching his side, Levi lifted his hand and looked at his fingers in disbelief. The blood was bright in the moonlight. Immediately he realized it was dark, and he lifted his head. Confused, he stared at the canopy of trees over him. Levi shifted and the feel of his clothing gave him pause. He gazed down at himself and the Confederate clothing made his breath catch. His hearing came back with a pop and Levi heard the wind rising and the rain falling on him.

“There is nowhere for you to run, Levi. We will find you.” A deep, drawling voice rose above the storm, carrying through the trees.

Chills ran down his spine and Levi glanced into the darkness.
No, this can’t be happening again.

Chapter Nineteen

Fear gripped him as he realized he had returned to the time when he’d lost Calliope—that dreadful night. The night they’d hanged him. The noose choking him was vivid in his mind. He touched his neck and shook, knowing what was coming. Levi inhaled deeply and the scents of the forest filled him. Disbelief raced through him at being back in the eighteen hundreds.

Memories of the last few months appeared and Levi shook as he saw the beautiful honey-skinned woman who had taken her into his home. That first glimpse of Ta-Mara and her fear of him, yet being willing to help. Her taking him home and making him feel at home. The shopping trip and their first kiss. He touched his lips and imagined never tasting her again. Never feeling the press of her satiny skin against his. In his mind, he saw her on the stage singing karaoke with her friends, then with him before singing to him. The moments they spent together flashed through his mind like a movie just beyond his reach.

“It was real,” Levi whispered.

It had been and he’d lived it with her, and he’d thought he would be there forever. He’d gotten comfortable, not believing that fate would be so cruel to part them—yet here he was. On the breeze, he heard her pain as she screamed his name. Lifting his head, Levi saw the wavering image and his heart clenched as Ta-Mara held him and he disappeared. He didn’t know how he was seeing what had happened. It ripped him up as she wept for him, sounding so lost. He lifted a shaking hand to the image and it vanished, taking that last bit of her from him.