Time Will Tell (Timeless Series) (4 page)

Grinning wide, Libby nodded. “
OK, Sam it is.” She left him to find Doug and quickly immersed herself in her new duties with the horses.

By quitting time she could barely move, even noted how much effort it took to turn the wheel of her car as she sped out to the main road on the way home. Libby couldn’t remember a time in the last three years
when she’d worked so hard.

Inside her apartment, she turned on her cell and noticed someone had left a message. There were four.
All from Dave. She connected to voice mail. The device came alive with his voice. The first two were friendly, but the last two indicated definite displeasure with her absence.

Libby sighed,
then checked her text messages. Dave had sent three in all. Her shoulders slumped. She’d have to call him back, but first she needed a hot shower.

The doorbell rang, interrupting Libby’s peaceful breakfast. She took a deep breath and gathered the morning paper into a pile, stalling as the impatient pealing continued.

He’s your fiancé, not an executioner.
The thought didn’t ease her trepidation, nor did she hasten her pace in answering his urgent summons. She wiped her hands on her slacks, took another deep breath, and braced herself as she swung open the door.

Dave pushed past her into the room, annoyance stamped over his expression.

At least I’ve had a good night’s sleep so I can deal with him, she thought. Libby kept quiet as he moved through her apartment, edgily pacing back and forth, reminding her of a caged tiger.

He stopped and glared at her. “Don’t you answer your phone anymore?” His tone was sharp. “Or return your messages?”

Libby decided to ignore his testy disposition. “Sorry. I got wrapped up in something and forgot I’d turned off my cell.” She offered a contrite shrug. “And when I got your messages, I’d planned to call you back after a quick shower, but I fell asleep. So let’s start over, OK? Good morning! Would you like some coffee?”

“I’m not in the mood for games. Where were you yesterday afternoon and last night? I was worried about you.”

She sighed. “Sit down, Dave. We need to talk.”

“I don’t want to sit down. You’ve been acting weird lately and I want to know why.”

“Sit!” Libby demanded. “And I’ll tell you. My shift at the store starts at nine, so I don’t have a lot of time. You can either listen to what I have to say, or you can leave.”

Dave pulled out a chair and sat, then impatiently drummed his fingers on the table.

Libby poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him. “I’m quitting my job today. I’ve found another one.”

He practically shot out of the chair.
“You what?” Total shock replaced annoyance in his expression. “You’ve only been a manager with Dillard’s for ten months. I thought we went over this.”

Libby held on
to her rising temper, but the effort cost her. “No. You told me your opinion and I listened. Now I’m doing what I feel is right for me.”

“You can’t keep quitting, Libby. Five jobs in four years
doesn’t look good on a résumé. It’s immature and irresponsible.”

Though the real number was six, she remained silent, eyeing the handsome man spouting off his explanation as if he
were talking to a child. She couldn’t help but smile. He sounded so much like her father. Dave Phillips was really a wonderful guy—the perfect height for her at five feet ten inches with wavy dark brown hair and soulful brown eyes—when he wasn’t telling her how to behave. In a sudden rush of insight, their relationship became clearer.

Libby already had a father, which was why she needed to take a stand now. Holding on
to her determination, she asked, “Do you like your job?

Dave’s brow furrowed and the bluster went out of his expression. “Why?”

Libby eyed him thoughtfully. “Just answer my question. Do you?”

His yes came out in a long sigh and he nodded.

“Did you always want to become a doctor?”

He rubbed the back of his neck.
“For the most part, yes.” Whether out of frustration or agitation, Libby wasn’t quite sure as he added, “I knew it was something I wanted fairly early on.” He aimed a narrow-eyed gaze at her. “How does my wanting to be a doctor have any bearing on what we’re discussing?”

“I’m done doing what everyone else wants me to do. I’m going to do what I love.” She took a deep breath, reaching for the courage to venture forth. “I’ve taken a job at the horse farm where I used to work in my teens.”

Deafening silence followed and Dave only stared at her like she’d grown horns.

Libby had to force herself to breathe…to relax.
She couldn’t stop now. She took one more deep breath and kept going, ignoring the censure in his expression. “I see this news comes as a shock. I don’t know why. And I don’t know why I didn’t do it three years ago, since it’s why I’ve had so many jobs. I never should’ve quit. Working with kids and horses is what I wanted to do—what I love. I’m also moving out to the farm for the time being.”

“Libby, you’re much too bright to be mucking out stalls, filling hay bins, and playing camp counselor,” he finally said after a prolonged moment. “What about us? We’re going to be married the last week in June. That’s only three months away.”

Might as well go for broke! Still, Libby couldn’t meet his eyes. “I want to postpone the wedding.”

“What?” Dave shouted, coming out of his chair. “Where’s all of this coming from? Bev! That’s where. This is her idea, isn’t it?” He raked a hand through his hair and began pacing. The caged tiger was back.

“This isn’t about Bev.”

“The woman is bad news,” he stated in a clipped tone. “You should stay away from her.”

“Who are you? The friend police?” She clenched her fist.

He didn’t seem to notice, just kept talking along with his pacing. “Changing our date will be expensive, so that’s not the most viable option. Why don’t you work at your farm and even live there, but I’m sure once we’re man and wife, you’ll be too busy to work as a common laborer. Maybe you can buy a horse and stable it somewhere. That way we’re both happy.”

“You can’t be serious?” She gaped at him when he nodded. What was wrong with working with horses? He spoke as if his opinion was the only valid one, which did nothing to ease her worst fears. Did he really know her? Why had she never noticed before that he seemed to be molding her into someone he wanted her to be, rather than who she was?

Libby had no one to blame but
herself for his attitude, having let him get away with telling her what to do for too long in their year-long relationship. It hit her just then what she wanted—a partner who accepted her and loved her—faults and all—so this was worth the fight.

“How’s this for serious? Either we postpone the wedding or it’s off.” Libby stormed toward her front door. “I need to leave for work. You can show yourself out.” If she stayed, she’d end up saying something to make things worse.

“You can’t leave now.” His stunned tone stopped her cold.

She looked back and caught Dave staring at the empty space she once occupied, confusion clouding his eyes. She gave a mental snort and continued walking. Well, what did he think? That she’d just roll over and become someone else?

“Libby…wait!” He followed her, pleading while she grabbed her things, but she was past the point of waiting. She’d waited too long as it was to say something.

“Let’s not be rash. This is our future we’re talking about.”

“No, Dave. You’re talking about your future—not ours.” Her words, once out, were liberating, like a cinched belt being loosened so she could take a deep breath again. She’d finally verbalized her feelings after months of holding them in and she wasn’t about to back down now. “Your future involves only what you want. If I’m to be part of it, you need to include my wants and my needs in there. So far, all I see are yours. That’s just not good enough.” She yanked her coat off the hanger and headed to the door. “I have to go. Call me when you want to talk about us, OK?”

She stalked to her car with Dave on her heels. “Libby, you can’t drop a bombshell like that and leave. Damn it all. We need to sit down and discuss this rationally.”

“Fine.
But I’m not changing my mind now that I’ve made my decision.”

“I’ll pick you up for dinner tonight.”

“No. I can’t. I’m going out to the farm after work.”

“Come on, Libby,” Dave pleaded. “Why are you doing this?”

Libby continued walking and said over her shoulder, “I’m not doing anything but following my heart and being who I am. If you honestly loved me, you’d want me to be happy. Somehow, I’m starting to doubt that you really know me at all.”

“That’s not true. I love you just the way you are.”

The fervency in his voice tugged on Libby’s emotional cord, causing her to stop and turn. She looked him directly in the eye and said in a tormented whisper, “Then why do I feel you’re trying to change me? Why am I not good enough the way I am?”

He halted and stared, his eyes big as quarters, seeming surprised by her questions.

Observing him, Libby sighed as sadness filled her soul. She just didn’t think she could ever be what he seemed to need. She wasn’t a college graduate nor was she any great beauty. She’d never have a high-powered job, or look like she stepped out of a magazine, the way Candace and Victoria did. Her face was nondescript, with eyes that all but disappeared without makeup because her blonde eyelashes were the same shade as her hair. With a lean, five-foot-three-inch frame, she appeared almost juvenile, much younger than her twenty-three years.

Slowly, he shook his head, his gaze pleading. “Please
, Libby, don’t do this.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. Yet she couldn’t back down now or let that mournful brown gaze affect her. She opened her car door and slid into the driver’s seat. “I’ve got to be at work in ten minutes. Think about what I said
, Dave. Tomorrow’s my day off and I’m moving into one of the cabins at the farm. It’d be nice to have your help.”

“I can’t. I’ve got a horrendous day tomorrow.”

“I see.” She hesitated. “I was hoping to show you around a bit after I moved in so you could meet everyone. I thought maybe then you’d understand why this job is so important to me.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled the door shut. She gunned the engine, backed up, put the car in drive, and sped out of the parking lot, leaving Dave staring dumbfounded.

Libby shed tears all the way to work. Damn it all. Why should she have to choose between her horses or Dave? Did having Dave mean becoming a
Stepford wife? Definitely not her idea of wedded bliss.

I want it all
, she thought angrily. I want someone who loves me for me and I want to do what I love. Is that so much to ask?

Her chest felt tight as she drove. The only thing that kept her going was the pleasure she’d derived from working at the farm the day before. Libby parked, then pushed all of the problems out of her mind and headed into Dillard’s. She intended to give notice right away, which meant only ten work
days left before she could pursue her dream full time.

Thankfully, the day passed quickly. Libby drove to her apartment and changed into loose
-fitting jeans, leather riding boots, and a tailored oxford shirt. She glanced in the mirror and noticed her fair complexion lacked color. She shrugged. Didn’t matter what she looked like. No one but the horses would see her.

She ran a brush through short blonde
hair, not bothering to redo her scant makeup, then grabbed a vest and rushed out the door. Her new job waited.

Like the previous day, when she neared the two trees, Libby felt their pull. This time, curiosity conflicted with common sense and won. She stopped the car and climbed out. After walking over to the trees and peering up at the monstrous branches, she remained rooted for countless moments, trying to understand why they seemed so important. Maybe they really were wishing tre
es and her problems with Dave could be solved as easily as wishing.

As silly as it seemed, she decided what the heck. She closed her eyes. “I want it all. I want him to love me for me, to work at what I love
, and to fit into his world.”

Suddenly, she felt a jolt.

The earth shook. Panic engulfed her when everything seemed to break apart and she felt herself falling. Her mind went blank as the world around her flew by in a hazy blur.

Time seemed to stand still as the scene came back into focus. Eventually, her equilibrium returned and she could think again. Libby pivoted.
Oh my God, her mind screamed at the two big oaks standing before her, only much smaller than just seconds ago.

What had just happened?

The other majestic trees lining the drive were gone, so were the accompanying white fences and outbuildings. The scene looked bare, yet recognizable. Libby tried to make sense of it. There was something familiar about the experience, yet at the same time totally different. Was this a dream just like the last episode had been? Or was this some kind of answer to her wish?

She pinched herself. Other than hurting a bit, it did nothing to wake her up or change the scenery as she took another look around. The only thing that made sense was that she’d gone back in time somehow.

No.

She had to be dreaming. How did going back in time grant her wish? Maybe the last two days had been a dream and she’d wake up still employed at Dillard’s. She halted, stood completely still
, and closed her eyes.

“Wake up,” she said none too softly, pinching herself again, only harder. When she opened her eyes, the two smaller trees were still visible. This definitely wasn’t a dream. A bit of fear mixed with complete wonderment filled her. Had she actually been transported back in time? She could barely believe it possible, but she was here, wasn’t she?

But how? And why? Maybe that other time hadn’t been a dream either. Maybe she really had gone back in time to see her mother. She vaguely remembered wishing to see her mom back then, but wishing seemed to be the only similarity. She darned sure had no wish to be in the past.