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Taking his earlier suggestion, she thought she’d heat up the soup.
But just as she reached for the fridge door, something stopped her and she grew very still, vampire still. She rarely experienced her mother’s genetics. Yet, instinctively she knew that being with Rez had awakened this tougher side of her nature.
Yet, her fae senses were equally heightened, especially her time-pathing frequency. She felt a strong pull toward the past, but she had no idea why.
What had Vojalie instructed her to do in such moments? She must rely on her instincts a thousand times more than her rational mind. Very fae.
Without hesitation, she entered the time-path and as expected she saw the kitchen as though it was slightly blurred. Her fae senses told her, however, she wasn’t in the time-path to observe Rez in the past. Something very different needed to happen here.
She focused on the kitchen itself and felt decades of life and movement, of hands preparing meals, of laughter, of the occasional squabble especially during the holidays. She saw glimpses of Rez, his wife teasing him when they would bring the children to visit his father, his children at various ages. Rez’s father doting on his grandchildren when they were very young. She didn’t, however, see his mother.
Her throat grew tight knowing this was what Rez had lost, what had changed him so completely. Maybe her brother had died, but she still had the comfort of her parents, her sister, grandparents and several generations of great-grandparents, as well as a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
What did Rez have by comparison?
No one.
She kept moving backward swiftly until the continuum itself drew her to a stop. This time, she saw Rez’s mother and was stunned by how much he favored her, from her wavy brown hair, light blue eyes, the shape of her face.
The room had changed significantly given that Rez was nearly a hundred years old. Gone was the more modern, though antiquated gas oven and stove. In its place was an ancient black cast iron version fed with wood or perhaps coal.
Rez’s mother stood with a towel-wrapped casserole in her hands. The stove was behind her and she faced into the room. “Who are you?” she asked. “It’s okay. You can come to me, if you want. I know you’re there. I’ve been expecting you.”
Once more, Holly was sincerely surprised. She knew Rez’s mother was speaking to her. Again, she didn’t hesitate, but stepped out of the time-path and into the past. Her vampire nature especially could feel the year and the day. It was almost a hundred years ago.
“I’m Holly. I work with Vojalie. I’m fae and I’m a time traveler.”
“And I’m Marion. I’m half-fae myself, though I’m vampire dominant. But my fae-self has been shouting at me all day. Now you’re here.”
The woman teared up. Her jaw worked as she crossed to set the steaming potato dish on the wood counter near Holly. She turned back in the tight quarters and closed the oven door. “He’ll be here soon, so we don’t have much time. You know my son, Rez?”
She’d just made love with him in the future against the oak tree in the back pasture. “Yes. I know Rez.”
“I’ve been feeling it all day, the future crowding me, speaking to me. I wasn’t expecting you so much as something to happen. Now I know it will.”
Her eyes once more flooded. “My time has come and I won’t get to see my grandchildren. But I can feel them in the future. Oh, Sweet Goddess. There is too much pain coming for Rez. Too much.”
Holly began to hurt. It was one thing to be distressed by a man’s choices, but another to be confronted with this powerful wave of a mother’s love for him. “What can I do, Marion? How can I help?”
Marion nodded quickly. “Please, you must tell him not to be angry that I had to leave him. But as sure as I’m standing here, I know I have something to do for him on his behalf well into the future. I believe it has to do with his children, maybe even his daughter. Yes. His daughter.”
Holly drew close, staring hard at the woman. She felt a profound connection to her.
Marion gripped her arms. “Thank you for coming. I couldn’t have born leaving him otherwise.” But as Holly touched her, and the past and future came together, Marion’s blue eyes lit up with an otherworldly glow. “It’s you. Oh, it is you. My dear child. I have seen you in the future.”
Suddenly, Holly was wrapped up in an embrace that felt full of warmth and light. “Thank you, Holly. Thank you. I know this won’t make any sense to you right now, but I promise it will soon. Now you must go. He’s coming.”
Marion turned toward the doorway that led to the hall and the smaller bedroom. She dipped down and held out her arms as a young child raced into the room his eyes alive with life and every possibility.
Holly gasped and took a step backward. This was too much. She pressed her hand to her chest trying to hold back the emotions.
She knew the child was Rez. He was only a toddler. And she had to leave as Marion gathered him up in her arms and held him close. She turned in such a way that his back was to Holly.
So much love.
Holly had tears running down her face as she slipped into the time-path. She watched mother and son, but only for a moment.
She hurt so deep in her chest, she could hardly breathe. She swept the time-path back to the close-present in what was the very same kitchen, but with the more modern, yet outdated appliances. She remained frozen in time for a long moment, her hand still pressed to her chest.
