Page 38 of Harbinger of Destiny

“I had to thank you somehow. Without you, I wouldn’t be here today. I have a wonderful life, a loving family, a fulfilling job. All thanks to you.”

“A job? You still work? I mean, you must be eighty-one by now.”

“Eighty-two actually, but who’s counting?” She smiled. “I’m a plastic surgeon. One of the best.”

“I thought you were studying engineering back then.”

“I was, but after the pandemic, after I realized that I would see you again in the future, I switched to medicine. I wanted to give back what you’ve given me.” Rosie brushed her fingers over Amy’s scarred face. “I developed a unique laser technique that can erase any and all scars. It’s an outpatient procedure. It takes only a few hours, and the healing process is quick. In less than twenty-four hours I can make your face look flawless again.”

Flawless? Amy let the words sink in. She could be beautiful again. No more disfiguring scars. Nobody would stare at her anymore. Joshua wouldn’t reject her. She would be just as beautiful as Kelly. Would he choose her then? But if he did, would she ever really know if he truly loved her?

She knew the answer to it.

“If I do that, if I accept your offer, and Joshua comes back to me because of it, I could never be sure of his feelings for me. You understand that, don’t you?”

Rosie nodded. “I understand.”

“He has to love me with the scars, or not at all.”

Rosie took her hands and squeezed them. “Then we have to find out why Kelly is suddenly back in the picture. You need to open Joshua’s eyes so he can recognize that you’re the right woman for him, not Kelly.”

“How?”

Rosie winked and tapped on her holocom. “Let’s see what Kelly’s been up to since Joshua entered the time-travel program.”

22

YOU’RE SO VAIN

Joshua rang the doorbell, and waited. But nobody was answering at the Shipley residence. He put his face to the glass door and shaded his eyes so he could see inside. Nobody appeared to be in the large living area, but he saw a movement beyond it, where the backyard and pool were located. He turned away from the entrance door and walked to the side gate that led onto the property. The gate wasn’t locked, which wasn’t unusual. Crime was extremely low in 2085, even in a large city like Los Angeles.

When he turned the corner of the house, he saw Kelly lounging near the pool. She was dressed in a bikini with a short sarong around her waist and hips. Her blond hair shimmered golden in the sun, and she looked just as beautiful as he remembered her.

He approached, and Kelly turned her head in his direction. Surprise flashed in her eyes, and a smile formed on her lips, as she stood up.

“Joshua,” she murmured in that seductive tone she always employed when she wanted something.

“Kelly.” He remained standing several feet away from her.

“You came.” She took a few more steps toward him, her movements graceful and seductive. “I’m glad you’re back.” She put her hand on his chest and leaned in.

Joshua took her hand and pried it off him, before stepping back. “Don’t.”

Surprise flashed in her eyes once more, but this time it was laced with annoyance. “But I’ve forgiven you.”

“Forgiven me?”

“Yes, for your little time-traveling fling. I’m not mad at you anymore.”

Joshua narrowed his eyes. “You’re not the one who has reason to be mad. I’m the one who’s mad at you. What the fuck were you thinking harassing Amy and telling her lies about us?”

“Harassing? I wasn’t harassing her. I was simply telling her the truth.”

The anger inside him was close to boiling over. “And what truth is that?”

“That you’re not going to marry her.” She huffed. “I mean, why the hell would you marry somebody so ugly when you can have me?”

“You?” He shook his head. “May I remind you that you dumped me for Corbin Carmichael? Shouldn’t you be planning your wedding, rather than feeding lies to my girlfriend?”