A Time to Mourn A Time to Dance - A SciFi Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novella

Chapter Eight

The rock had simply been rock. The group had slowly dispersed, including Anastasia, who went off to concoct her amazing macaroni and cheese.

But Jason and Geraldine had remained, watching me.

In the past I'd welcomed their presence.

But for some reason, today, I felt their eyes on me. As if they were evaluating me. Tracking my breaths.

Once my mother had died, I'd been in foster care. I'd been shunted from home to home. I'd never fit in. I'd never felt right.

Computers and virtual reality had been my escape. Where I could just be me, without comments on my clothes or household or anything else.

Now I had people staring at me. Judging me.

At last, by 3pm, I couldn't take it any more. When Penjami had finished her latest session on the mating habits of Dimetrodon, she left the room with a satisfied smile.

I turned on Geraldine and Jason. "All right. This has to stop."

Geraldine complacently folded her hands in her lap. "What do you mean? We are merely watching the films."

"You are watching me," I countered, "and it's causing me stress."

Geraldine frowned, but she nodded. She turned to Jason. "All right, then. Let's go."

I almost opened my mouth. I almost said that I found Jason's presence soothing. But then I realized Geraldine would undoubtedly take offense at that. She'd been there for me since the beginning. She wouldn't understand why her concern would bother me.

Jason held my gaze for a long moment. Then he nodded and stood.

He followed Geraldine out of the room.

I was alone.

I was all alone.

I would have thought I'd have relished it. I was used to being on my own.

Except with Jason it'd been different.

I'd looked forward to the times with him. Underwater dancing to celebrate the double solstice. Riding crimson-winged dragons over the cerulean deserts. Sitting on the mossy banks by a waterfall and just being ... being ... being ...

The theater door pushed open, and I looked up with hope.

Yakira walked down the aisle, a big grin on her face. "All right. Time to delve deeper into the lakes and water tables of Chennai."

I smiled and nodded. Out of all the things concerning me, my personal concerns still didn't even come close to the seven million people currently desperate for water to drink.

Everything in perspective.

Still, I found myself glancing at the empty front row as the scenes from the video played out. As Kizimo came in to study how London managed traffic during the transition from horse-drawn carriage to gasoline-powered cars. As Devon documented the Aboriginal culture in his native Australia.

I grabbed a plate of Chicken Kiev at dinnertime, then settled down in the front row. I knew Firdaus would be along soon. He was going to explore glass makers in the Persian Empire. I was looking forward to it.

I took a taste.

Delicious.

I ate, once again appreciating Anastasia and all she did for us.

At last, I finished up the plate and put it to the side.

The door opened –

It was Jason. He glanced around before coming down to me. "How are you doing?"

It was as if I'd been thirsty and hadn't realized it until now. As if I'd been hiking at a high altitude and just gotten a full breath of oxygen.

I said, "Jason."

His brow creased in concern. "Phuong, are you all right?"

I nodded.

He took the seat next to me. "God, Phuong, I had no idea Leonardo was Charles Leventis. Or that you were married to him. Either of him."

"Of course you didn't," I assured him. "Nobody did. That was the point. For Charlie, Leonardo was his alter ego. Once where he could just be himself." I looked down. "I imagine the Hive was that for most of us. A place to be different. To shake off the real world."

He nodded, but his face remained serious. "Still, I am a journalist. I was told stories about Charlie by fellow reporters who worked the entertainment beat." He ran a hand through his hair.

"It's all right," I assured him. "A lot of that act, Charlie did on purpose. You know, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The more you play the fool in public, the less closely people watch you."

He nodded. But I could see the uncertainty in his gaze. He'd been a journalist for enough years to understand the double life.

But he also understood the converse.

That sometimes a lifestyle drew you in.

At last he said, "When you told me Leonardo died, I was sad for us. For losing a mentor. But you'd lost your husband. And I had no idea."

"You helped me through those worst days. You were the one who was there for me. It didn't matter if you knew he was my husband or my mentor. You listened to me. You cared. That's what I needed."

"I'm glad I was a help."

"You were more than a help. You were my lifeline."

His gaze held mine –

Geraldine came down the aisle, her eyes sharp. "Have you been eating, Phuong? If he's distracting you again –"

I pointed at the plate. "I had a delicious dinner. And I'm sure Firdaus will be here in any moment. We're going to watch some glassmaking."

The door swung open, and indeed Firdaus came down the aisle, his middle-eastern looks almost movie star in scope. "Are we ready to begin?"

Geraldine aimed a look at Jason.

He pushed to standing. "I'll take your plate in. Would you like anything to drink?"

Geraldine said, "I'll get her some water. She needs to stay hydrated."

I held in a sigh. "Thank you, Geraldine. I appreciate that." I turned to Jason. "And thank you. For everything."

He gave me a small bow. Then he collected up the plate and headed out.

An ease came to me. Jason knew the whole truth now. There were no more lies or deceptions. No more dodged questions or half-truths. I had removed the veil.

And he was still here. Still with me.