Forecast (30 page)

“I want to live … really live. Without the Post-it notes.”

“You can now.” Lilia kissed her mother’s cheeks. “You have plenty of time.”

“I saw the other side, and it was lovely … but I’m not finished here.” Gwendolyn’s face crumpled and she cried with such sorrow. “I spent so much time wanting to be with Dorian, I didn’t see that I was wasting my time with you.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Rowie. “You do too much. I haven’t been there for you. If I’d taken over like you asked …”

Gwendolyn stroked her granddaughter’s hair. “No, love. I haven’t been there for you. You have every right to find your own path.”

“I’m a Shakespeare. The shop was my path.”

“No. Only part of it.”

“Now it’s too late.” It was Rowie’s turn to cry. “Mr. Mega Burger will destroy our beautiful shop … our history.”

Gwendolyn grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. “No, he won’t.”

“Of course he will,” sobbed Rowie. “You’ve met him. He’s vile.”

Gwendolyn composed herself. This decision had been the easiest of her—lovely, and very much valued—life. “We’re keeping the shop.”

“What?”

Gwendolyn looked apologetic. “I can’t sell.”

Lilia threw her arms around her mother. “Oh thank you, thank you.”

Rowie was surprised by the huge wave of relief that engulfed her. “Thank Goddess.”

“A Burger Boy!” snorted Gwendolyn. “Over my dead body.”

All three women look horrified for a moment and then burst out laughing.

“Almost
was
over my dead body,” Gwendolyn hooted.

“Oh that’s so awful, Mom.”

Rowie grabbed Gwendolyn’s hand. “I promise I’ll learn how to run the shop.”

Gwendolyn shook her head. “No thanks. It keeps me young.”

“But it’s my duty,” said Rowie.

“You know why so many Shakespeare women took over the business? Because they wanted to. That’s your duty, Rowie. To do what you love. To have the freedom to choose. That’s what countless Shakespeare women fought for.”

Lilia cleared her throat. “What about teaching me the business side of things?”

Gwendolyn stared at Lilia, a look of surprise on her face.

Lilia was determined to be heard. “I know I have my head in the clouds a lot, but it’s only because everyone expects me to,” said Lilia. “It’s time I expand my horizons. Besides, Jack thinks I have quite a head for business.” Lilia paused for a moment. “What do you think?”

Gwendolyn slowly nodded. She was impressed. Finally! “I think it’s an excellent idea, Lilia.”

Rowie wasn’t quite sure where that left her. “What about me?”

“You find your own job.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Rowie was finally able to share her excitement with her grandmother. “Actually, I’ve been offered my own TV show, Gran.”

Gwendolyn looked taken aback for a moment. “And you didn’t tell me?” And then she shook her head. “Well of course not. Probably too scared.” She grabbed Rowie’s face in-between her hands and stared at her with such love. “I’m thrilled for you. And very proud.”

“That means a lot to me, Gran.”

“I also think you should get that gorgeous man back.”

Rowie’s smile faded. “Drew? No, that’s over.”

“It can’t be.” Gwendolyn was adamant. “It’s destined.”

“What have you always taught me? Destiny is only a map …”

Gwendolyn and Lilia joined in: “… You still choose which road to take.”

“You’re on the wrong road without him,” said Gwendolyn. “Now go! I need my rest … I also need to call my boyfriend and tell him to buy me some chocolates and flowers.” Her face lit up like a young girl’s. “I’ve got quite a crush on him.”

Lilia and Rowie smothered Gwendolyn with kisses.

“We’ll come back later,” promised Lilia.

“I love you, Gran.” Rowie was smiling as she slipped out the door.

“Lilia!” called Gwendolyn.

Lilia paused at the door. “Yes, Mom?”

“Are you in love?”

Lilia’s eyes lit up. “Yes. I never thought I’d find it again. After Rowie’s father …”

“Then love really is blind.”

Lilia felt like she’d been kicked in the stomach. Why would her mother try to hurt her now? “I thought you liked him.”

“I do. Very much.” Gwendolyn had a sly smile on her face. “Do you know much about him?”

“Only what he tells me … my gift doesn’t work that well with him.”

“Have you ever seen him naked?”

“Mom!”

“Don’t be coy with me, dear. I know you’ve been at it like rabbits. I’m just amazed you haven’t seen …”

“Seen what?” Lilia demanded.

“His tattoo, Lilia. It’s not a past life you know him from.”

Time ticks by differently in a hospital waiting room. Drew and Jack sat side by side … waiting, watching the clock move at an outrageously slow pace. Sometimes it seemed to go backwards. Jack and Drew paced the room. It was cliché, but made them feel like they were doing something.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” said Drew.

Jack gave a nod. “Yes … tough old girl.”

Suddenly Rowie rounded the corner and gave Jack a huge grin. “She’s okay.”

Jack slumped into a chair. “Thank God.”

Rowie felt someone watching her. She turned and noticed Drew in the corner. Heat filled his eyes and slowly but surely he moved towards her.

“What are you doing here, Drew?”

“Taking control of my destiny.” He kept moving.

“I thought you didn’t believe in destiny.”

And moving. “And then I met you.”

Rowie wasn’t ready for this. “Wait … Stop …”

Drew didn’t. He kept moving towards her. She noticed a wheelchair nearby, so grabbed it and hurled it at him.

Drew leapt out of its way, shocked. “What the hell are you doing?”

“You can’t just waltz in here, ‘Oh I believe in destiny now.’”

“But I do. Nothing has made sense since I first kissed you. I can’t explain you, Rowie … And I’ve realized, I don’t have to.”

Rowie placed her hands on her hips. As much as she wanted to forgive him … immediately, she needed to hear one more thing. “It’s not enough.”

Drew rolled his eyes. He’d read up on redheads on the Internet, so figured this was part of the temper thing. “What more do you want? My soul?”

“An apology.”

“An apology?” The nerve! “You screwed me over. Remember?”

“I didn’t know I was,” Rowie reminded him. “You did.”

“Why you … stubborn … witch.”

They glared at each other for a moment, both refusing to back down, until Drew couldn’t stand it any longer and grabbed her. His mouth crushed down on hers. Rowie felt the anger drain from her body as a different heat took over. Her arms slid around his neck as she dissolved into him.

“Nothing,” she sighed.

“Everything,” he whispered.

“Will it ever work?”

“Who knows?” And then he thought he’d better check. “Do you
know?
”

Rowie shook her head. She had no idea … and it was lovely.

Drew grinned, relieved. “Me either. I can’t predict the future …”

She searched his eyes. “And everything that’s happened between us?”

“It’s in the past. All I know is what I feel right now. I love you. I don’t want to spend another second without you.”

There was a long hospital waiting room pause … and then Rowie smiled. “Then don’t,” she said.

Drew swept Rowie into his arms and they kissed.
Blissful nothingness.
And then a feeling of utter joy filled him and he laughed and twirled her around. There was no way he’d ever let her go again.

“We’ll let the future take care of itself.” Rowie was finally happy to do so.

Jack watched them and felt like doing a happy jig. About time, he thought. And then he saw Lilia marching up the corridor and his own heart skipped a beat. He smiled at her, but she didn’t smile back. Something was wrong. Something had happened. No, not now, thought Jack, not when everything else was so right.

Lilia walked up to Jack and without uttering a single word, removed his jacket.

“Hey, whoa … watcha doing? Honey, not here,” he said. Had she gone mad? He tried to turn it into a joke. “Wow, you want me to turn the lights off?”

Lilia dropped Jack’s jacket on the floor. She unbuttoned his shirt cuff and pushed the sleeve up to reveal a tattoo of a mermaid.

The mermaid.

“Blue eyes and a mermaid tattoo,” she whispered. The heat of the Beltane fires from so long ago surged through her veins. She stepped back, reeling.

Rowie and Drew stared at the tattoo, shocked. They immediately understood the implications.

“Jack’s the missing urn!” said Drew.

Rowie shook her head, confused. It didn’t make sense. Jack? “A mermaid?”

Drew turned to Lilia. “How did you miss that?”

“Lights off, Drew,” she explained. “I breast-fed Rowie for two years. I prefer to wait, until I’m totally comfortable.”

Jack was completely confused. “Did I miss something?”

Rowie turned to her mother. She had to be sure. “The fires of Beltane?”

Jack realized what they were talking about, what he had always, on some level, known. “That was you, Lilia? The May Queen mask? No wonder I …” And then thirty years of longing filled his eyes. “I never thought I’d find you again.”

Lilia broke into the most beautiful smile and stared up at the man she’d waited three long decades for. “We always knew we’d find you, Jack.”

Jack stared at Lilia. She was the one, the one woman he had been with so briefly, yet loved for so long. How had he missed it? How had …
what?
Did she say …
we?
The whole room seemed the shift. He turned to Rowie. “Is she … are you?”

Both Rowie and Lilia nodded.

Jack stalled for a moment, shocked … and thrilled. How could something so bizarre, so outrageous, feel so right? Rowie stared at him, silently pleading for him to say something, anything. Finally, he reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek. “No wonder you’re so familiar,” he whispered.

Rowie had to agree.

The Grove’s annual Yule party was in full swing, Shakespeare style. There were witches, psychics, healers and dozens of friends currently in spirit, in both the dead
and
alcoholic sense.

Rowie wandered through the rooms chatting to old friends and checking that everyone had a drink. She noticed the transparent forms of Isabel and Grandpa Dorian drifting near the stairs. They had discovered a genuine affection for each other and were now spending time together until their soul mates joined them. She squeezed through a corridor and saw Officer’s Washington and O’Hare drinking bourbon while they chatted to a woman who channeled Picasso. The woman had given Gwendolyn one of her most recent paintings, and declared it should be worth a flipping fortune.

Rowie stopped and chatted to some of her new work colleagues. Her show was a success and she loved every minute of it. The heady popularity she experienced at USBC had settled and she now had a loyal audience for her Monday night show and weekday morning report.

She excused herself and headed out to the garden. It was covered in a light dusting of snow and looked like a magical fairyland. Taye, Michelle and Mac were standing around the bonfire chatting, while Sunny, Min and their granddaughter danced to the Celtic band. Despite the snow, the garden was warm, and they were all laughing and wiping sweat from their brows.

Rowie sighed with happiness. How she loved this garden and the magic it housed. How she loved her home. She’d be moving out in a few months. Drew and her had agreed to spend the warmer months on his boat, but during the winter they would live at The Grove. Balance. It was perfect.

The Grove was so full of life and love lately. William was always dropping by, and Jack had quickly married Lilia and moved in. He understood Lilia’s need to remain in the rambling old house.

And then there was the new life headed their way.

Rowie walked back inside and discovered Angel, Shin, Petey and Georgette all sitting around the kitchen table.

“Don’t you look gorgeous,” said Georgette.

Rowie glanced down at her black top and deep green velvet pants. She felt great. Glowing. “You should talk, Georgie. You look wonderful.”

Georgette was wearing a pink sweater that showed off the color in her cheeks. She was going from strength to strength. She still had one more course of chemo to go, but was feeling positive. She’d already defied the doctors’ predictions and intended to continue doing so. Petey was hopeful. He refused to consider, even for a moment, that he would lose Georgette. He was just thrilled to be loved by such a beautiful, smart woman.

Angel and Shin had recently announced they were moving to Tokyo. Rowie had been inconsolable for about ten minutes until Angel promised it would only be for twelve months and an excellent opportunity for Rowie and Drew to visit Japan. Angel was already embracing all things Japanese. Tonight she was wearing an incredible blue top with kimono style sleeves, and her hair was heaped on top of her head and held in place using chopsticks.

Rowie pulled up a chair with her friends and started shoveling some crisps into her mouth. She was always hungry lately.

“Wild party, Rowie,” giggled Georgette.

“This is nothing,” said Petey, deadpan. “You wait until they sacrifice the goat.”

Georgette’s eyes bulged in horror and Petey burst out laughing. “I’m kidding.”

Rowie turned to Angel. “So when are we going to see this book of yours?”

“I haven’t even seen it yet,” said Shin. “I’m not completely certain it exists.”

Angel gave him a playful punch. “You’ll all see it soon,” she promised. “It’s nearly finished.”

“I’m proud of you for writing it,” said Petey. “What’s it about?”

“I’ve written about what I know,” she said, gesturing to the scene around them.

Petey ruffled her hair. “It’ll be a bloody short book then.”

Drew pushed his way through the crowd and over to the table. “Here’s the gang.” He slipped his arms around Rowie and kissed the top of her head. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” she laughed. “Stop asking.”