The Pirate

8

Meredith sighed in contentment, fighting the pull of wakefulness and sinking back into the hazy world of sleep. The fantasy had become real, and oh so perfect. Her pirate had come to her in the middle of the night, taking her with unbridled passion and fierce possession. And she had given herself to him, body and soul, heart and mind, until, in an exquisite instant, they'd become one.

Nestling into the warmth of his embrace, she pressed her forehead against the silky black hair on his chest, then drew a deep breath through her nose. The smell of their lovemaking still lingered on his skin. She listened to the strong, even sound of his breathing for a long time, then slowly opened her eyes.

She smiled and sighed softly. It hadn't been a dream. Griffin was here, in her bed, his naked body lying beside hers, his long legs twisted around hers. And for the first time in her life, she felt complete, as if she had found her place as a woman. She had waited all her life for this man, knowing he was out there, somewhere. And across time and distance, against all odds, they had found each other.

She drew her foot up along his leg and let her sleepy gaze drift up his chest to his face. Softened by sleep, his perfect features looked boyishly vulnerable, not at all like the intense and powerful man who had made love to her. Would she ever truly know him? Or would he always keep a part of himself, that part that belonged to the past, from her?

Taking care not to disturb his sleep, Meredith slipped out of his careless embrace. She pushed herself up on her knees and studied him intently. Slowly, she pulled the sheet away from his waist, uncovering him to her eyes, determined to know his body as he seemed to know hers. He was flawless, and so beautiful. Reaching out, she ran her fingers down his chest, tracing the dark path of hair from his collarbone to his waist and below. Emboldened, she touched him there, softly stroking the essence of his manhood.

"Mmm. Would that I could wake up to that touch every day, Merrie-girl."

Snatching her hand away, she looked up in surprise to find him watching her through hooded eyes. "I-I didn't mean to wake you," she said, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks.

He reached out and took her hand, then kissed her palm. "Do not be frightened to touch me, Merrie. I want to feel your hands on me."

She had never felt such a deep and abiding trust in a man before. With Griffin, she sensed that anything she did would please him, from an innocent kiss to a carnal caress. This was the man she loved, the man she would spend her life with, and from him, she could hold nothing back.

With trembling fingers, she reached down and took him in her touch. He sucked in a sharp breath and closed his eyes, growing hard beneath her hand. As she stroked him, her confidence grew and she became acutely aware of the power she held over him. By just a simple caress, she could stir the embers of his passion until they flamed bright again.

"God, Merrie, what you do to me," he murmured, his eyes closed, his expression tense with tightly held longing.

Slowly, she lowered her head and kissed him, the heat of his erection branding her lips. He moaned and twisted his fingers through her hair, holding her still for a moment above his finely muscled stomach.

She knew of the things that could be between a man and woman, yet never thought she would want to try them herself. But now, it all seemed so natural. She wanted to love him in this way, too, to experience every facet of intimacy with him.

Gently, she ran her tongue along the ridge of his desire, then took him in her mouth. As she moved over him, she listened to the sounds he made deep in his throat, taking her cues from his reactions. And then, as her movements quickened, his breathing followed suit, and she knew he was close.

In one smooth movement, he pushed himself up and grabbed her around the waist, whispering her name in a soft, urgent voice. Drawing her body above his, he spread her knees to straddle his thighs. His hands pushed down on her hips until she impaled herself on him, slowly, exquisitely, sinking onto him until she felt the whole of him deep inside her.

"Oh, my," she cried, breathless.

"Be still." His words were more a warning than a command. He held her there, keeping her from even the slightest movement. She shifted, trying to escape his iron hold. "Don't, Merrie," he breathed. When she stopped, he pressed his hand between them and gently touched her where they were so intimately joined.

Their gazes locked and she began to rock against him, drawing closer and closer to her peak. She felt herself slipping over the edge of the precipice and twisted above him, aching for more of his touch, allowing him a deeper thrust, knowing her release was near. And then, in the instant before it came, she felt her body tighten around him. She watched a myriad of reactions cross his face, pain, pleasure, surprise, but he refused to close his eyes and break their wordless connection.

He spoke her name once, and then again, the syllables borne on a desperate moan. She saw him tense, ready for his release and then, she let go, falling and falling, then swept aloft on a gentle draft of air, taking him with her in a soaring flight of sensual deliverance.

When they had both floated back to reality, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face between her breasts, his breath still coming in hard gasps. She smoothed his hair with her fingers and smiled, content to stay as she was, joined with his body, touching his soul.

"No woman has ever done that to me," he murmured, his words hot against her skin. He drew back and looked up at her, a sheepish grin twisting the corners of his mouth. "'Twas…astonishing," he said. "Truly extraordinary."

"I'm glad I was your first," she replied, drawing her finger down his damp chest.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her, long and hard. "And I am glad I was your first, Merrie."

She grinned and turned her blushing face to the side. "I used to think I was silly for waiting as long as I did," Meredith admitted. "But now I know, I was waiting for you. Somehow, I knew you would come for me. First in my dreams, and now in real life. I think we were always meant for each other, Griffin."

"That is hard to dispute after the beauty we have shared together, love," he said.

Her heart skipped at his simple endearment. They hadn't said the words yet, but she knew how she felt. She loved this man, more than she ever thought it was possible to love. And whether he could tell her the same or not, it didn't matter, for she knew deep in his heart, he loved her, too.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"I could use a soda pop," he murmured, nipping at her shoulder. "And some of that cold pizza."

"For breakfast?" Meredith laughed. "It hasn't taken you long to develop a taste for twentieth-century food, has it? I'll make you something more nourishing. We have to keep up your strength."

She slipped naked from the bed, breaking their carnal connection with a soft sigh. She felt his eyes follow her as she moved about the room, picking up his clothes scattered over the floor. Yet, she made no move to cover herself, for she felt no embarrassment at his silent appreciation.

"It's chilly out here," Meredith said, rubbing her arms.

"Then come back to bed," Griffin said. "I'll find a way to warm you."

She picked up a pillow as she passed the bed and tossed it at his head. "I'm hungry. Why don't you close your eyes and go back to sleep. I'll make some breakfast and we'll eat in bed."

He held the pillow over his face and spoke in a muffled voice. "I vow I'll need all the rest I can get in order to keep that sweet smile upon your face, Merrie-girl."

Merrie walked across the bedroom and opened the closet door. As she reached for her robe, her foot struck a cardboard box at the back of the closet, and something fell on her toes. She bent over and picked it up, then froze, a familiar musty smell touching her nose.

A wave of anxiety overwhelmed her and she grabbed the door to steady herself. Suddenly, all the events of that fateful night came rushing back at her, the wind, the rain, the fear. Everything coalesced in her mind until all she could see was the book she held-the gold inlaid letters, the worn leather-bound cover, the strange warmth seeping into her fingers and the vibrations. Rogues Across Time. She repeated the words silently to herself, her lips forming the words. Across time… across time.

She glanced furtively at the bed, relieved to find Griffin's face still buried beneath the pillow. Then she snatched her robe from the closet and tugged it on, tucking the book into the pocket.

"Would-would you like coffee?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light and even.

He pulled the pillow from his face and grinned. "Mmm," he replied. "Coffee. And orange juice. And some of those toaster waffles with jam."

She forced a smile in return, then hurried out the door. When she reached the kitchen, Meredith finally let the breath she was holding escape her lungs. "No," she murmured, throwing the book into the tall wastebasket beside the refrigerator. "No, it can't be. Not now. Please, not now!"

She sat down at the kitchen table and pulled her feet up, never taking her eyes off the wastebasket. A shiver raced through her, and she wrapped her arms around her legs and hugged her knees close.

"I just won't tell him," she said. "He never has to know that I know." She felt a tear spring from the corner of her eye and she angrily wiped it away. "He's come so far for us to be together. He's happy here now. I can't give him up. Please don't make me give him up."

She sat alone in the kitchen for a long time, trying to rationalize her behavior, trying to convince herself that what she was about to do was right. But no matter how she tried, her conscience told her differently. In the end, she retrieved the book from the trash.

The decision was not hers to make, it was his. And if their love was meant to be, then it would be based in truth and trust between them. For she knew, if she kept this from him, it would return to destroy them someday. Besides, she couldn't be certain that he would choose to return. After all that had passed between them, maybe he would want to stay.

As if in a trance, she walked back to the bedroom, every step she took tearing at her resolve. She pushed open the door, then stood and watched him silently. He slept again, his arm thrown over his eyes, the sheet twisted around his waist. Her heart tightened painfully and she could barely breathe. But she moved into the room and sank onto the bed beside him.

With a sigh, he pulled his arm from his eyes and turned a sleepy gaze in her direction. "Is breakfast ready?"

She shook her head and held the book out in front of her, praying that he wouldn't take it.

"What is this?" He glanced up at her and frowned. He reached out and touched her cheek and stared at his damp fingers. "Merrie, you are crying! What is wrong?"

She nodded at the book. "That's it," she said, her voice shaking with emotion.

"What are you talking about?"

She bit down on her lower lip to keep it from trembling, then reached down and clumsily opened the book. He levered himself up in bed and she placed it in his lap. "There," she said, stabbing at it with her finger. "The picture of the pirate. That's how you came to be here."

He stared down at the illustration. "I don't understand. This is just a drawing."

"You see, I forgot all about this," she said, her voice sounding as if it belonged to someone else. She drew a ragged breath. "I was looking at this picture the night of the hurricane. I focused on it, trying to forget how frightened I was. And then the book turned warm and it seemed to hum with life. The wind stopped and I crawled out of the closet and I walked outside." She brushed a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. "And-and then I found you on the beach."

He stared down at the book, then ran his palm across the yellowed page. "This is how I came to be here? This book?"

"I-I'm sorry, Griffin," Meredith said. "I forgot all about it. I was so scared during the storm and then you turned up and I never thought about it again. And-and then, it just dropped on my foot while I was getting my robe from the closet."

He stared down at the book for a moment, then looked up into her watery gaze. "Tell me what this means," he said softly.

"You know what it means," she said.

"I want you to say it, Merrie."

"I-I think it means you can go back…if you want."

"And what do you want?" he asked.

"Don't ask me that," Meredith said. "Don't ask me to make your choices for you, because I won't." A sob broke from her throat. "I won't!"

He pushed the book aside and pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair as she wept. "Don't cry, Merrie. Please, don't cry. Everything will be all right, I promise."

But his words were little consolation, for in her heart, she knew he would leave. And when he did, nothing would ever be right in her world again.

They spent the rest of the day in bed, making love, sleeping, and then making love again. Griffin brought her to completion with his fingers and his mouth and his body, each time trying to drive every thought of his departure from her mind. But no matter how he pleasured her, he couldn't erase the sadness from the depths of her gaze.

Though they had avoided all discussion of his decision, it still stood between them, looming like a storm on the horizon. She knew he needed to leave, and so did he. Yet by not speaking of it, they could still deny what midnight would bring. And with each hour that passed, the clouds came closer and Merrie's anxiety grew.

Finally, as the time for his leaving neared, he pressed his lips against her temple and inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. "Tell me that you understand," he murmured.

He glanced down at her, but she refused to meet his gaze. She seemed a million miles away. He wanted to draw her back, bring her close, so they might spend their last hour together as they had the past twenty-four. But he knew it was time to talk.

"I don't," she said. "I don't understand."

"I have left part of myself back there," Griffin explained. "Something unfinished. A debt to my father, and my family name. And until I finish with Teach, I can't live here. I won't be… whole."

"He's not responsible for your father's death," Merrie said.

He nodded. "I know that now. You helped me to see that. But I still have a job to finish. He has to be stopped and if I'm not there to see it done, it may not happen. Who knows how many more people he will harm before he meets his end?"

She sniffled. "I should have left the book in the trash. I should have never told you."

He placed his finger beneath her chin and turned her green gaze up to his. Tears swam in her eyes, but she valiantly fought them back. "But you did," he said, "and it was the right thing to do."

"I don't want you to leave."

"Merrie, I wouldn't leave unless I was certain I'd be able to return."

She pushed herself up and braced her arms beside him, looking down into his eyes. "You can't know for sure whether you'll be able to come back. We're not even sure how you got here-beyond the book. And that may not even be it."

He slipped his hand over her nape and drew her closer, covering his mouth with hers. He drew deeply of the heady taste of her, knowing it would have to last him a very long time… perhaps forever. "What we share transcends all time and space, Merrie-girl. I refuse to believe that we will not be together. If not in this lifetime, then in another."

"What am going to do without you?"

He pulled her down onto this chest and held her head to his heart. "You're a strong woman, Merrie. Stronger than any woman I have ever known."

"I don't feel very strong right now," she said in a small voice.

They stayed that way for a long time, her arms wrapped around his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest. And then, as if they both knew it was time, she loosened her grip and pushed away from him, turning her tear-stained face from his gaze.

Griffin pushed back the sheets and sat up on the edge of the bed, raking his hands through his hair. He felt her touch on his back and reached over his shoulder to clasp her hand. "I swear to you, it will be all right."

He waited until her fingers loosened, then drew his hand away and stood.

"Your clothes and boots are in the hall closet." Her voice was even, dispassionate, as if she'd already distanced herself, to stave off the pain.

Slowly, he walked from the room, then gathered his clothes and dressed. He found the leather purse, on the mantel where it had lain untouched for nearly a month. When he was dressed, he returned to the bedroom.

She was sitting on the bed, wrapped in her robe, looking much smaller and frailer that she had just minutes ago. "Is it time?" she asked, refusing to glance at the clock for herself.

"Not yet," he said.

"I can't do this," Merrie said, her head bent. "Please don't make me."

"You can do this and you will. For me. Do you remember what to do?"

"Tell me again," she said.

"Do exactly what you did that night, the night I came here."

"And then what? If it works, how do I get you back?"

"You have told me that Blackbeard will meet his end on November twenty-second. At midnight on that day, you must summon me, the same way you did during the storm."

"And what if you don't come back?"

"You summoned me here once and you can do it again. I will come back."

"Unless you're dead," Merrie said, her voice cold. She turned to him, a suddenly desperate look in her eyes. Her fingers clutched at his waistcoat. "Promise me you won't die. I promise not to grieve if you don't come back, as long as you don't let yourself get killed."

He knelt down in front of her and pressed her hands between his. "Merrie, 'tis time. You must gather your courage and do this one last thing for me now."

She took a long look at him. "I'm going to close my eyes," she said. "And when I open them, I want you to be gone. No goodbyes." Her eyelids fluttered shut, but a tear escaped and traced a path down her smooth cheek. "I'll pretend it was all a wonderful dream."

Griffin stood over her for a long time, looking down at her lovely upturned face. Then he gently brushed his lips across hers, tasting the salt from the tears she'd cried.

"I refuse to hope that this works," she murmured, her eyes still closed.

He smiled. His beautiful Merrie-girl, stubborn to the very end. He took one last look at her face, then turned and walked out of the bedroom, leaving his heart and his soul behind.

The beach was bathed in a silver light from the nearly full moon. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the live oaks and the boughs of the tall cedar. He drew a deep breath, the tang of salt thick in the night air, then slowly walked to the water's edge.

The urge to rush back inside the house and pull her into his arms was strong. He turned around and stared at the light filtering from the bedroom window, trying to imagine Merrie inside.

She would crawl out of bed and pick up the book from the bedside table. He held his breath as he saw her figure pass in front of the light.

Then, she would turn off the light and step inside the closet. He watched the window go black.

"It's all right, Merrie," he murmured. "You can do this. I know you can."

He waited, counting down the seconds until midnight. Suddenly, the air around him went deathly still. The night sounds stopped-no crickets singing, no trees rustling, even the waves were silent.

He looked up at the sky, but it was no longer black. The stars had faded into a shimmering blue background, alive with swirling cyclones of light. The wind picked up and the ground shifted, throwing him forward. His legs were swept out from under him and he felt himself falling.

He looked down to see nothing beneath his feet except a great gaping darkness. Fighting back a flood of panic, he closed his eyes and threw out his arms, bracing himself for an impact, preparing to die.

And then, the moment before the ground rushed up to meet him, once more he felt the urge to turn back, to take shelter in Merrie's arms and to stay in her time. Regret surged through him and he cried out her name. Then everything around him went black.

A brisk autumn breeze sent a shower of orange and yellow maple leaves floating through the air and drifting down around Meredith's feet. The breeze was unusually warm for mid-November, following so closely on a series of chilly nights that had set the trees aflame with color in tidewater Virginia.

Meredith sat on a weathered wooden bench and stared out across Crim Dell, a lovely little spot in the center of campus. Across the pond she watched as young couples strolled over the picturesque footbridge. Several couples stopped atop the graceful arch and kissed. She frowned as she tried to recall the legend that was told about the bridge.

"They say if a young woman walks over the Dell bridge alone, she is doomed to spinsterhood. I wish someone would have told me that before I started jogging over it three times a week."

Meredith smiled and stood at the sound of Kelsey's voice. "Hi, Kels." She reached over the bench and gave her best friend a hug.

Dressed in a rumpled blazer and a skirt, Kelsey circled the bench and sat down beside her. "Imagine my surprise when I got your message this morning." She handed Meredith a paper cup. "Cappuccino with almond flavoring. Your favorite."

Meredith pulled the top off the cup and peeked inside. "Decaf?" she asked.

Kelsey laughed. "Since when have you given up the benefits of a high-caffeine diet?"

"I'm trying to cut back," Meredith said.

Kelsey shrugged and took the cup back. "What are you doing back here? I figured you were blissfully happy on that island of yours. After all, I haven't heard from you since our hasty little visit in September. So, did you do it? I've been dying to know!"

"Don't tell me you've spent the last two months speculating on the state of my sex life."

Kelsey nodded. "I think about it when I'm not contemplating Bernoulli's derivation of Boyle's Law. Particle physics and sex have many commonalities, you know. So, did it happen?"

Meredith felt the tears pushing at the corners of her eyes. "Yes, I-we-" Her voice caught in her throat. "I'm sorry."

Kelsey stared at her with a concerned gaze. "What's wrong, Meredith? You might as well tell me now, because you know I'll get it out of you sooner or later. Was it that bad?"

Meredith stifled a sigh. Whenever Dr. Kelsey Porterfield happened upon a puzzle, she didn't give up until she had figured it out. And though Meredith had managed to shuffle her out of the cottage without an explanation, she knew she'd have to come up with one now.

"It was wonderful," Meredith said. "Everything I'd imagined it would be."

"So, what's wrong?"

"He's gone," Meredith said.

Kelsey's hopeful expression fell. "Oh, no. I'm so sorry." She slipped her arm around Meredith's shoulder.

"He left over a month ago. And-and I think I'm pregnant." Though she'd suspected as much for the past week, she confirmed the fact with a home pregnancy test and a visit to her doctor earlier that morning. Yet, this was the first time she'd admitted it out loud. Suddenly, it was no longer just a concept, but a reality.

"Oh, my," Kelsey breathed, her eyes wide with surprise. "What are you going to do?"

Meredith forced a shaky smile and placed her hand on her stomach. "I'm going to have a baby," she replied.

She wasn't sure when she'd first suspected she was pregnant. One day she'd been convinced that her problems were merely a result of the stress of Griffin's departure, and the next day, she just knew. Somehow, she had sensed the life growing inside her and from that moment on, she'd loved the child with all her heart and soul.

These sudden and intense feelings, the instinct to protect her baby, filled her with wonder. She'd never believed she would have children. Now, she would have Griffin's child and she knew, in her heart, that this was right.

"Can you do this alone?" Kelsey asked.

"Yes, I can. But I'm not sure yet that I'll have to."

"Does he know about the baby?"

Meredith shook her head. "No. Not yet."

"Where is-" Kelsey cursed softly. "Can we at least call him by name here? He's not some deity, at least not in my book."

"His name is Griffin," Meredith said softly, letting the sound of his name linger on her tongue. "Griffin Rourke."

"Where is this Griffin Rourke?"

"He's gone," Meredith replied. "He had to go…back home… to take care of some business."

"What kind of business?" Kelsey demanded, a note of disdain in her voice.

"Family business," Meredith said.

"So is he coming back?"

Meredith bit her bottom lip and tried to stem a flood of emotion. "I don't know. But I'll find out tomorrow night at midnight."

"What happens at midnight?"

"At midnight tomorrow night, November twenty-second will be over. I'm supposed to… call him… to see how he is."

"Then you know where he is?" Kelsey asked.

Meredith sighed. How she wished she could tell Kelsey everything. At least her friend might be able to give her some hope or encouragement. But Kelsey would never believe everything that had happened in the past two months. "Not exactly."

"But you have his phone number. You said you were going to call him."

"But he might not be there," Meredith said. "In fact, that's why I came back. If things don't work out, I'm moving back here right away. I talked to Dr. Moore today and told him I wanted to teach that seminar in colonial American history for next semester."

"So rather than face your problems head-on, you're going to retreat into your work. If I were you, I'd go after the bum. And if you don't, I will."

"I-I can't. And neither can you."

Kelsey shook her head in disbelief. "Just where did this Griffin go that you can't find him?"

Meredith laughed softly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," Kelsey challenged. "I've heard them all, from 'The dog ate my homework' to 'I was abducted by aliens the night before my final exam.' Whatever you say, I'll promise to believe you."

Meredith drew a deep breath. Maybe if Kelsey knew the truth, she might be able to help. After all, she was a scientist. She had to have an open mind about the unknown. "Remember when I asked you about traveling in time?"

"Yes," Kelsey replied.

"Well… that's it." The words rushed out of her along with a tightly held breath.

Kelsey scowled. "What's it?"

"Time travel."

"What about time travel?" Kelsey asked.

Meredith sighed inwardly. How was she supposed to explain without sounding like a lunatic? Kelsey could be very protective when her friends were troubled. The last thing Meredith needed right now was Kelsey fussing and hovering over her. "You see, I… well, he… I'm not going to write a novel," she said, the last sentence tumbling out of her mouth unbidden. "After all, everyone knows that time travel just isn't possible."

"Of course it's not possible. At least not now," Kelsey confirmed. "But I told you that in September."

"And I listened," Meredith replied, swiftly altering her course, knowing that now was not the time to tell Kelsey. "I've decided to finish my Blackbeard book. And I'm going to take on a few more classes next semester, so when I have the baby I can afford to take some time off."

"Are you sure you're ready to raise a child alone? It's hard enough with two people."

"I love Griffin," Meredith said. "And I know he loves me. And even if we can't be together, I'll have a part of him with me because I'll have his child."

"Did he tell you that he loves you?"

Meredith shook her head. "I know he does. He's just not very good at expressing his feelings. He loves me, Kelsey."

"Then why did he leave?" Kelsey demanded.

Meredith closed her eyes and tipped her head back, letting the breeze blow against her flushed face. "He had no choice." She opened her eyes and gave Kelsey a sideways glance. "Can you at least be a little bit happy for me? What happened between Griffin and me was wonderful. And even if I never see him again, I'll never, ever regret it."

"How can I be happy when your life is in chaos? I'm worried about you, Meredith. You've always kept such tight control over your emotions. You've led such an orderly life. Now you're a wreck. Look at you. You look like you haven't eaten in days."

Meredith pushed to her feet and hoisted her bag up on her shoulder. "I haven't. So why don't you buy me lunch at that pretty little tearoom on Prince George Street. Then, I've got a long drive back to Ocracoke. I borrowed a car from Tank Muldoon and he needs it back by morning."

"Why don't you forget about going back?" Kelsey asked. "Stay here."

"I can't. All my research is still at the cottage. And I've paid the rent through the end of December. But if you're so worried, you can come down and pick me up before Christmas."

"I should have never agreed to take you down there in the first place. I feel like this is partially my fault. I should have talked you into staying in Williamsburg to Work on that damn pirate book."

Meredith looped her arm in Kelsey's and grinned. "You know I never listen to you, Kels."

"I know," Kelsey said with a pout.

"But you're still my very best friend in the world. You always will be." Meredith tugged on Kelsey's arm and they started off in the direction of College Yard. As they walked through the Sunken Garden, Meredith looked at every beautiful building, every ancient tree and every perfect flower. This was her home and she felt safe here. If Griffin didn't come back, she would find a way to be happy here again.

Strange how quickly life changed. For the longest time, she couldn't imagine being content anyplace but William and Mary. Her career had been her whole life. Though she had worried over publication and tenure and class assignments and campus politics, she'd reveled in her life and her research.

The whole time, she'd never realized there was something-or someone-missing from her life. And now, in such a very short time, Griffin had carved out a place for himself in her heart and soul, a place she never knew existed. She could imagine being happy anywhere, as long as she was with him. And if not with him, then with their child.

When they reached the center of College Yard, Meredith stopped and turned to take a long look at the Wren Building. It stood sentinel over the campus, a picture of symmetrical elegance made of soft red brick. Its multipaned windows sparkled in the sun and the weathervane perched on the cupola clock tower swung with the vagaries of the autumn breeze. "It's very old, isn't it," she murmured, shading her eyes. "Hard to believe it's lasted three hundred years."

"I've never seen anyone so attached to a bunch of creaky old buildings as you are," Kelsey teased.

"I wonder how they looked when they were brand new," Meredith said.

Griffin would know. She scolded herself inwardly. How many times did she think of him everyday? I wonder what Griffin would think of this, I wonder what Griffin would say about that? If he didn't come back, she would have to learn to put him out of her mind. She would focus all her attention on their child. And more important, she would choose to believe he was still alive and happy-somewhere.

But until she tried to summon him tomorrow night, she had to believe that he would return-to her and to their child.