After Jacinda and Ezzy had talked a little more, Ezzy packed up Mae and headed home. She still hadn’t heard anything from Stan and she was madder than a wet hen. Jacinda didn’t envy Stan when his wife finally caught up with him.
Feeling more insecure than angry, Jacinda bundled up Clay and headed downstairs. She could tell Berg was busy in the backroom from the sound of the printing press. Hannah Peale was hunched over her little writing desk penning an article for the next issue of the newspaper. The girl had really taken to journalism and when she wasn’t busy writing, she was always willing to babysit Clay.
“Miss Jacinda,” she said when they came downstairs. “Are you going out?”
“Yeah, I’m going over to the library to see Adam,” Jacinda replied.
“Shall I watch the little one for you?” she asked with a smile.
“Thanks, Hannah, but I think I’ll bring him along,” Jacinda said. “He’s been asking for his daddy all morning.”
“All right, see you when you get back,” Hannah waved.
“I’ll make us some lunch when I do,” Jacinda said as she pulled the door closed behind her.
***
It was a cool February day and Jacinda did her best to keep the wind from hitting the baby. Once again, she was glad that the library was right next door to the newspaper office. She pulled open the double glass doors and stepped inside. A warm gush of air met her as she walked further into the building. Almost at once she spotted Adam on the far side of the large reading room. He was sprawled on the couch with a dozen books scattered around him.
As soon as he saw them, he jumped off the couch and ran over to them.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Jace,” he said as he pulled both mother and son into a big hug.
“You are?” she asked slightly taken aback by the greeting.
“Course I am,” he replied with a smile as he took Clay from her. He bussed the boy on top of his head and then pulled her against him and kissed her soundly. When he finally let her up for air he whispered, “Last night was incredible Jace.”
Heavens, how that man made her weak in the knees! Here she had come all the way over here to berate him and there he was looking like that and kissing her like that…how was she supposed to stay upset with him? She watched as Adam cradled his son and saw how the toddler worshipped him. She sighed and followed them to the book-strewn sofa.
Adam pushed some of the books out of the way so she could sit next to him and then spoke, “Jacinda. I’ve been thinking a lot. About Alexa.”
“You have?” she asked casually as she picked up one of the old books and started thumbing through it.
“Yes. And I have a wonderful idea,” he said excitedly. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. I suppose I was just so shocked by her arrival.”
“What are you saying?”
“When Alexa and I were together on earth, it nearly killed me that I couldn’t do anything to help her,” he said. “And after she died, and I went after the Methuselah Stone it almost *did* kill me.”
“You loved her very much,” Jacinda said absently as she concentrated on an unintelligible article in "Political History of the Achaemenid Empire."
“But here in Edan, I think it can be different.” He reached out his hand to gently turn her face towards him. “Look at me, Jace. I can save Alexa here.”
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth unsure of what he wanted her to say. Was she supposed to be happy? She guessed if Adam could prevent someone’s death, then she should be. But what happened after that? Pulling away from him she stood up and wandered over to another bookshelf. She knew she had to say something. “That’s great, Adam.”
“Aren’t you interested in how I plan to achieve this?” he asked, the eagerness still plain in his voice.
“How are you going to do it?” she asked out of obligation.
“The same way you and I conceived Clay,” he said.
“What?” He had her attention now.
Smiling, he put Clay down. The child held onto the edge of the low reading table and immediately started to cruise around it. Adam went to where she stood and explained simply.
“The fae."
“You’re going to take Alexa to see Endora the fertility fae?” she asked warily.
“No,” he shook his head. “One of the others. Ancelin. I can’t tell you how many times Shepherd has regaled me about her healing charms. If anyone can heal Alexa, she can. Just like Temperance McBain was healed of her TB.”
He stood there looking triumphant waiting for her to say something. She had to admit it was a good idea. Surely the healing fae would help a poor girl dying from leukemia. It was friggin’ fabulous! Oh what a horrible person she was! How could she be anything but ecstatic for Alexa? If she were dying, she’d want someone to help her, wouldn’t she?
“So what do you think?” he asked as he put his hands on her shoulders and began to gently knead the muscles there. “Do you think Alexa will agree to it?”
“Why wouldn’t she agree to it?” Jacinda asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied uncertainly. “She doesn’t even know me here.”
So you could just stay out of it and Alexa would never know the difference! Jacinda regretted the thought as soon as she had it. Why was this bothering her so much? Was she really that insecure in her marriage? Didn’t last night with Adam prove anything? Of course if he really loved her then he wouldn’t have said what she thought he’d said. She supposed she should just come out and ask him what he’d said. But how to bring it up?
“Jace,” Adam called.
“Yeah?” she asked as she looked up at him.
“Something on your mind? You’re a million miles away.”
“Actually, I need to ask you something,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “Something important.”
“What is it?” he asked concerned.
In a barely audible voice, she asked, “Adam, are you still in love with Alexa?”
Just then Clay let out a frightened howl and Adam spun around to see that the little boy had pulled down some books from a shelf and looked like he knew he was in trouble. Then Clay took a tentative step forward and fell down which launched an entirely new crying jag.
Adam went over and scooped the boy up and cooed to him telling him everything was all right. Concerned for her son as well, Jacinda followed behind him and then reached out to take the child from him.
Adam looked at his watch and announced, “I need to get to Joe’s before the noon rush. Hopefully I can get Alexa to at least talk to me about this.”
“Don’t you want anything for lunch?” she asked as he reached for his coat.
“I’ll get something at Joe’s,” he promised as he leaned over to kiss her again. “But I’ll be home for dinner.”
She watched him pull on his coat and head for the exit. It wasn’t until after the double glass doors shut behind him that she realized he hadn’t answered her question.
***
Adam pushed open the door to Joe’s cantina and walked inside. After his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he spotted the proprietor across the room behind the bar. Sidestepping two giggling fae who were exiting, he made his way over.
“Hey Joe,” he greeted. “How about a beer? I’m going to need the impetus.”
“So you’re speaking to me again?” Joe asked sardonically. “Lucky me.”
“All right Joe, I’m sorry for chewing you out last night,” Adam apologized. “I was just in shock.”
“Yeah, you and me both,” Joe said as he pulled a pint for his friend. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Where is she?” Adam asked ignoring the question.
“Alexa?”
“No, Alice in Wonderland,” Adam replied sarcastically as he took the head off the beer.
“She’s upstairs taking a break,” Joe informed him. “Been real busy today.”
“How does she seem?”
Joe shook his head. “I don’t know. How’s she supposed to seem? She’s in a strange place, she’s dying and the only respite she has is taking drink orders in my tavern. How would *you* seem?”
Adam drained half his beer and said, “I’m going upstairs to talk to her.”
“You think that’s a wise idea?”
“Have to do it sooner or later,” Adam said.
“You gonna tell her the truth?”
“What truth? That we were lovers, but she just doesn’t remember it?” Adam asked. “That I risked my life to cure her but failed? I’m not sure how appropriate that would be, Joe.”
“So what are you gonna say to her, then?”
“That I want her to go see Ancelin at the clinic,” Adam explained. “That I think the fae can heal her.”
“You think so?” Joe asked hopefully.
“It’s been done before,” he said. “With Temperance McBain.”
“That’s right! Why the hell didn’t I think of that?”
Adam shrugged and downed the rest of his drink.
“What does Jacinda think of all this?” Joe asked.
“What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t mind?”
“Why would she mind Joe? This has nothing to do with the two of us,” Adam said.
“Doesn’t it?”
“Don’t start that with me again,” Adam warned as he gracefully slid off the barstool. “Why don’t you whip up some lunch for Alexa and I? I’ll bring her down after I’ve told her the good news.”
"Be careful, man," Joe said under his breath as he went back to polishing the bar.
***
Adam rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he climbed the stairs to Alexa's room. Why was he so nervous? He smiled to himself remembering what a fool he'd made out of himself when he'd first asked Alexa to go out with him.
"That was a lifetime ago," he said to himself when he reached her door. Raising his hand, he knocked.
A few moments later the door opened and Adam caught his breath. She was exactly the way he remembered her. Not from the hospital in Geneva when she was near death, but from their trip to the Grand Canyon when she had been so excited to see the American landmark.
She smiled nervously and said, "Yes?"
"Uhm, I'm Adam Pierson," he said awkwardly sticking out his hand in her direction. "We met at the party last night."
"Yes, I know," she replied shyly. "I'm so sorry that I ruined it."
"No, no you didn't ruin anything!" Adam insisted. "Don't be silly."
"That's just what your wife told me," she said.
"I should be the one apologizing," Adam went on. "You must have thought me daft for running off like that."
"Well, it was kind of strange," Alexa admitted.
"Is it all right if I come in for a few minutes?" Adam asked. "I'd like to talk to you about something."
"I guess so," she hedged, "but I do have to get back to work soon. I'm just on my break."
"Don't worry about it," he assured her. "Joe and I are very close."
When she stepped back to let him pass, he said, "Alexa, I know this must all be very confusing to you."
"It's the strangest thing I've ever heard of," she agreed as she sat down in a whicker chair by the bed. "If it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't believe it."
"Has Joe told you about Edan?" Adam asked, sitting down on the foot of the bed. "Anything about the...special inhabitants?"
Alexa shook her head.
"Well, you'll find there are many extraordinary beings here," he explained, warming to the subject. "There are Immortals, faeries, vampires, werewolves, witches, gods and goddesses..."
"And which are you?" she asked curiously.
"I'm Immortal," he replied. He'd never admitted that to her before; it seemed too cruel. "And if you hadn't already noticed, there are quite a few here with the same face. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but I can assure you it's a wonderful place to live."
"I'm sure it is," she said quietly, "but I don't know how long I'll be able to enjoy it."
The way her face fell made his heart ache. She once asked him if he'd ever wished time could stand still. And how he had wanted to make it stand still at that very moment. Helping her get well now would be the next best thing.
"That's what I've come to talk to you about," he said, his tone serious. "I believe that there is someone here in Edan who can help you. Cure you."
He could tell she was wary, but it didn't dim the hope that appeared in her eyes. In a small voice, she asked, "What do you mean?"
"Some of the fae here specialize in the healing arts," Adam explained, leaning towards her with his elbows on his knees. "And they can work miracles where medical science has failed. I want to take you to see one at the clinic. Her name is Ancelin."
Alexa got up from chair and walked to the one window in the room. Adam knew she was thinking over what he had said. She wouldn't want to believe in false hope, but he could tell she was intrigued.
"Have you spoken to this Ancelin about me?" she asked, not looking at him.
"No, not yet," he replied, "but I'm sure she'll do it. You don't have to worry about that."
"And you're sure she could heal me?"
"I don't see why not," he said as he got up and went to stand behind her. "We have to try."
"You don't even know me, Adam," she whispered, still gazing out the window. "Why do you want to help me?"
His words to her from a lifetime ago echoed in his mind: Because the alternative is unthinkable.
"Because no one deserves to live in pain when there's a cure to be found," he told her. "Will you go with me to the clinic?"
Alexa turned around to face him and again he was struck by her quiet determination.
"Yes, I'll go with you, Adam."
At that moment, he ached to pull her into his arms, but decided against it. Instead he just nodded and led her downstairs.
