Edge of Forever by Sherryl Woods

Author:Sherryl Woods
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2013-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Thunder rumbled ominously as Nick drove away from his mother-in-law’s house. Dark clouds rolled in, dumping a torrential rain in their wake. Troubled by his meeting with Jessica, Nick went to his favorite spot overlooking the river, parked under a giant weeping willow and sat staring at the water through the rain that lashed at the windshield. Usually the serenity of the Potomac soothed him, but today the storm-tossed water churned in a way that mirrored his emotions.

Why hadn’t Jessica told him about the rumors and been done with it? But even as he asked himself the question, he knew the answer. She was not the type of woman to spread hurtful gossip. Whatever she’d heard about Dana must have been terribly convincing, and very damning, for her even to mention it. But for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine Dana ever having done something for which she might be ashamed.

“We all make mistakes,” he muttered aloud, thinking of Dana’s silences. “We all do things we regret.” As wonderful as he thought Dana was, she wouldn’t be human if she hadn’t made some mistakes in her life. Whatever hers might have been, he believed they could deal with them if they could only get them out in the open.

Dreading the task before him, Nick drove back to his office and called the library. It had been days since he and Dana had talked, and he had no idea what sort of reception she would give him. Dana answered on the fifth ring, her voice breathless and edgy.

Nick was immediately alert. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

There was a long silence.

“Dana, what’s going on over there?”

He heard her take a deep breath, as if she were drawing in the strength to speak.

“Nothing, Nick,” she said finally. “I’m fine. I was up on a ladder in the back when the phone rang. It took me a minute to get here. That’s all.”

“I see.”

This time he was the one who hesitated for so long that Dana eventually asked, “Did you want something, Nick?”

“Yes. Dana, could I see you tonight? There’s something I think we should talk about.”

More guarded silence greeted the suggestion. At last, she said wearily, “Nick, we’ve been through everything.”

“Not this.”

“No. It’s not a good idea.”

“Dana, please. It’s important. We could go to a movie.”

“I thought you wanted to talk.”

“I do. We can stop for coffee afterward.” What he didn’t say was that he wanted to prolong their time together, that sitting beside her in a movie would at least give him the temporary illusion of the togetherness he’d missed so much. It would also put off a conversation that was likely to have a profound impact on their future.

“How bad could it be spending a few hours together?” he coaxed. “It’s even that George Clooney movie you’ve been wanting to see. Remember we talked about going?”

There was a heavy sigh of resignation. “Is this going to be like bingo? Are you just going to badger me until I give in?”

“Probably.

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