Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) (11 page)

“I took that the day you got home. You must
have been five days old. Lena was showing you around the nursery,
pointing out her handiwork. She spent hours decorating that room
and she’d sing while she painted or talk to you about what colors
would be best. She couldn’t wait to meet you.”

Tears built on Gemma’s lashes as she pictured
her mother busily creating the baby haven.

“She’s so beautiful.”

“Just like you.” Gabe tucked a strand of hair
behind her ear.

“What was she like, Dad?”

The corners of his eyes curved north and his
mouth shimmied with a smile. His voice was like hot cocoa when he
formed his words. “She was like champagne… sparkling, rich,
decadent.” His grin broadened as he obviously pictured her before
him. “She was pure joy. Everything I ever wanted.”

Gemma’s throat clogged as she watched him. A
flicker of pain crested over his face, stealing his smile. Looking
down at the picture, she ran her thumb over her mother’s face and
suddenly yearned to meet the woman.

“I wish I could have known her.”

“Me too, kid. Me too.” Gabe wrapped his arm
around her and kissed her head.

“This is…” Gemma struggled to find her voice
as she studied the contours of her mother’s smile. “Thank you for
this. I’ll keep it in my locker at school so I can see her
everyday.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Abruptly turning, Gemma wrapped her arms
tightly around Gabe and rode the wave of emotion coursing through
her. “Thanks for looking for me… for not giving up until you found
me.”

“I would have crossed oceans for you,
kid.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“I love you, Dad.”

The fears that were constant companions were
quieted, if only for a moment. She nestled into the sanctuary he
offered and relished the peace residing there. Swiveling in his
arms, she pulled the photo of her mother into view and studied it
until her watch beeped with the command to go home.

* * * *

Being her 18
^th
birthday, she was
expecting to feel vibrant as she rose from her bed and showered.
Instead she felt a growing eminence that wiped the smile from her
face and followed her all the way to breakfast. Her parents were
overly chipper, showering her with excessive gifts and kisses. She
accepted them all politely then spent the next half hour on Skype
listening to her siblings gush about how she was all grown up. She
rolled her eyes and laughed at the teasing.

At school she was inundated with well wishes,
something she’d never experienced before. Being friends with
Courtney had its perks… or nuisances. Gemma took it all with a
courteous smile. Rosie did more gushing and even her History
teacher said something as he passed her in the hallway.

Gemma was sure her cheeks flamed all day.
Gabe broke the rules and called her on her regular cell phone. She
snuck out of the cafeteria and listened with tears in her eyes as
he related the day she was born. Hanging up with a sniff, she
erased any trace of his call before having to rush to class.

By the end of the day she felt frazzled and
near grumpy. Not one for much attention, everyone had totally
disregarded her needs and lavished her with it. Harrison was the
only one who seemed to get her and his quiet hand around her waist
for most of the day had been the only thing keeping her grounded.
Pulling her out of the school building, he leaned against his car
and drew her towards him.

“It’s Tuesday, so that means you have an
extra hour after school, because your parents think you are
studying with Courtney, am I right?”

Gemma nodded into his shoulder.

“Perfect, that’s plenty of time to give you
your birthday present.”

“Not you too,” she groaned.

Harrison chuckled then pushed her away so he
could look at her face.

“Trust me, you’re going to like it.”

Gemma frowned. With a cheeky grin, he dove
into his pocket and produced the keys to his Corvette.

“Care to take your boyfriend for a cruise
down the coastline?”

“In your car?”

Harrison breathed in slowly and nodded.

“You’re going to let me drive your car?”
Gemma felt her lips stretching with a smile as she grabbed for the
key.

“Just... be careful with her.”

“Babe.” Gemma gave him a pitiful look.

“I know, I know… you’re brilliant, but no one
else has driven her.
Ever
.”

Curling her fingers around the key, she
tipped her head and narrowed her gaze.

“Wait a sec, you’re not just doing this to
get a free ride on my Ducati are you?”

“I would be lying if the thought hadn’t
crossed my mind, but no, today, being your birthday, is all about
you.”

Gemma chewed on her cheek as she enjoyed the
warm bubbles massacring her stomach. Taking her time she weighed up
the pros and cons then started speaking before she changed her
mind.

“I did miss your birthday.”

She saw a tingle of hope light the corners of
his eyes.

“So I guess it would be fair to give you your
gift today as well, right?”

Her lips quirked as she watched him struggle
to be noble.

“Seriously, Gem, it’s okay. You don’t have to
let me ride your Ducati. I just really want you to have a great
day.”

Taking a step back, she eyed him thoughtfully
before digging into her pocket and producing a key.

“You’re sure you can handle it?”

His grin was delectable. “I’ve ridden a few
bikes in my time.”

“It’s a powerful beast, Harrison.”

“I’ll be just fine.” He looked cocky as he
reached for the key. Gemma let a wide smile spread over her lips,
enjoying the teasing.

“Race you to Anastasia then.”

Anticipation warred with anxiety as she
hopped into the Corvette and watched Harrison swing his leg over
her Ducati. The milling crowd seemed to fall silent as they noticed
the sudden change. Eyes lit and tongues wagged with excitement as
two engines roared to life then squealed out of the parking lot to
loud whoops and cheers.

Gemma won in spite of Harrison’s efforts. She
was both miffed and impressed that he could handle her machine so
easily. He nearly had her at the end and if it weren’t for some
swift maneuvering she would have been pulling in behind him. He
took the defeat graciously, although she did note his very close
inspection of the car as she was stepping out of it.

“Handles like a dream.” She swung the door
shut.

“Your ride’s not too bad either.”

“I think I’d rather drive a car though.”

“I think I’d rather ride a bike though.”

They said the lines in unison and both
laughed. Gemma giggled her way into his arms and thanked him with
an elongated kiss.

“I love you.” She brushed her hands through
his waves. “Thank you for making this day perfect.”

“I do what I can.”

He took her hand and led her to the beach
where they spent the next hour just playing. They wrote each
other’s names in the sand, surrounding them with love hearts, then
raced down the beach, Harrison catching her up and swinging her
over his shoulder. They wrestled near the surf, which turned into a
passionate kissing interlude before Gemma’s alarm began beeping.
They reluctantly returned to the parking lot and leaned against the
Corvette to say their goodbyes.

Harrison’s eyes turned mushy as he gazed at
her then produced a small box. “Here’s your real present.”

Gemma felt her breath catch.

“I know it’s not practical with your travel
and stuff, but I just had to buy it for you.”

Taking the box with shaking fingers, she
slowly undid the ribbon and pulled off the lid. Nestled inside was
a gold chain holding a small star shaped diamond.

“It looks like a morning star, don’t you
think?”

She nodded, speechless.

“And since you are my morning star.” He
kissed one cheek. “And my jewel.” He kissed the other. “I thought
it’d be perfect.”

He lifted it from the tissue paper and undid
the clasp, reaching around her neck and refastening it.

“You can hide it under your clothing,
so...”

Gemma pulled it away from her skin and
studied the small jewel.

“It’s perfect. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” He slid his
finger down her jaw line.

“Thank you, Harrison. I love it.”

She blinked at the depth of emotion rising in
her eyes and lurched into his arms. She no longer cared if she was
late. Nothing could dampen her spirits now.

Chapter
Fifteen

St Augustine, Florida – 2011AD

Harrison sauntered into the house with a
whistle and dumped his keys on the counter. Bryan watched him with
puzzled eyes. Harrison shot him a wink and would have swung
straight past him if it hadn’t been for a solid hand on his
chest.

“Spill.”

“I just got to ride her Ducati.”

Bryan’s skin mottled with shades of olive
envy.

“But that’s not the real reason you're
smiling is it?” His mother breezed into the room and hung up the
dishtowel she was folding. “Did she like the necklace?”

“She
loved
it.”

“I knew she would. What girls don’t like
diamonds?” Helen shot Bryan a pointed look. He replied with an eye
roll that after a firm slap on the butt turned into a guilty blush
that was followed by a chuckle while he scooped his wife into his
arms.

Harrison decided to leave them to it and
headed for his room. He spent the rest of the evening re-reading
the letters from his father. Nathaniel seemed wise beyond his years
and the advice he shared throughout his letters was poignant.
Harrison was soaking it all in like a sponge. His attitudes about
his future were being molded and shaped as he read through the
recounts of his father’s life.

Nathaniel remained a bachelor until his death
at the age of 51. His last letter was written with a shaky hand and
Harrison could only assume that he died a short while later of the
pneumonia that had ravaged his body. The letter had been written in
St Augustine, where Nathaniel had spent his last days.

Up to the point of his death, Harrison’s
father had devoted his time in America to serving others.
Abandoning his writing career he had saved that passion for his
letters and spent his days roaming from village to village, helping
out where needed. He had built houses, farmed fields, nursed the
sick, taught children. His wages were as simple as a meal and a bed
for the night.

Harrison was enthralled by his different
adventures and wished he could have seen the man in action. The
letter he was currently studying was about the time Nathaniel had
spent with an Indian tribe, trying to master their language and
culture.

He was so absorbed in the writing that he
didn’t even hear the knocking on his door until it opened.

“Oh hey.” He glanced up from the aging
pages.

“I just wanted to ask you something.”

His mother stood in the doorway looking a
little nervous. Harrison placed the letter on his nightstand and
sat up.

“You okay?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about what you
said… about Gemma.” She sighed and came to perch on the edge of his
bed. “I know you’re right. I can’t keep pretending that I didn’t
behave abominably. I want to apologize to her… and thank her. When
should I do that?”

Harrison felt his heart lift. Gemma would be
over the moon.

“Why don’t I bring her home after school
tomorrow. You guys can chat then.”

“Okay.” His mother smiled then shifted her
gaze to the nightstand. “Which one are you reading?”

Harrison followed her gaze and reached for
the letter. “The one about the Indian tribe.”

“I like those stories. He seemed to really
enjoy his time there.”

The aching wistfulness that used to live in
his mother’s eyes had now vanished. In its place was a warm
peace.

Harrison grinned as he studied her. That
torturous day of waiting had been worth every second.

Chapter
Sixteen

St Augustine, Florida – 2011AD

Harrison’s knee bobbed, a sure sign that he
was feeling edgy. Gemma studied him with narrow eyes. She was
taking a big risk letting him whisk her off again for the
afternoon. After the huge berating she got upon arriving home late
yesterday she didn’t think her parents would consent to a
spontaneous, after school, shopping spree with “the girls.” Much to
her surprise they had relented and she now had a whole two hours
before having to be back at the house.

She checked her watch then adjusted her alarm
accordingly. She wasn’t going to be late two afternoons in a
row.

“So, where are we going? Why aren’t you
telling me?”

Harrison gripped the steering wheel then
sighed. He didn’t usually give in so easily and it took her off
guard.

“We’re going to my place.”

“What!?! Why? You know your mother hates me!
Does she know I’m coming?! Because if she…”

“She’s the one who invited you.”

“Oh.” Gemma sat back in her seat. “Now I know
why you wouldn’t let me bring my bike.”

“Couldn’t have you ditching on me.”

“Are you sure she’s not just luring me into
the house to… you know, get rid of me for good.”

The car filled with Harrison’s belly laugh.
Gemma smiled with him and rolled her eyes.

“It’ll be fine, sweetie. She just wants to
make amends. She’s probably more nervous than you are.”

“That’s because I’ve only just found out. I
haven’t had time to put my nerves on full alert!”

“Hence the reason I didn’t tell you.”

“I hate that you know me so well.”

“You love it.”