Page 145 of After 5
“Me too. They found me in Louisiana about six month ago. Caiyan told me he’d be back for me the next moon cycle, but he never came.”
“I guess you’ll have to adjust to living in this time,” I said to Victory.
“From what I’ve seen so far, it looks pretty good. You’ve got phones that fit in your pockets, cars that practically drive themselves, great takeout, and thousands of movies on the TV. I think I’ll adjust fine.”
“Can I ask you something?” I didn’t want to be nosy, but I had to know. The secret was picking at a scab. “Why did you leave with Toches and break Caiyan’s heart?”
“I doubt I broke Caiyan’s heart. He doesn’t seem to let anyone or anything near his heart. It’s shatterproof.”
She made a good point, but I disagreed. “Don’t you want him to see the baby?”
She looked at me funny. “He can if he wants. He’s not good with kids, you know?”
I’d never seen him with kids. We never talked about it.
She rubbed her expansive belly. “This girl’s sure going to miss her daddy.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. I’d never break up a family.”
“Are you okay?” She cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah, I just wanted you to know that I won’t get in the way. After Caiyan recovers, y’all can see how things work out. I’m not sure he’s marriage material.” That might have been more my fault. I was the one who didn’t want to move in with him. Both of us had commitment issues.
“Oh, he’ll be mad at me for ditching him, but I knew Toches could take me home. I saw it in a vision. I wasn’t sure about the time or place, but I knew Caiyan would be here. And I knew you would rescue me from the Mafusos. It’s the reason I led them to believe I was on their side. When I saw you at the club, I knew my vision was correct. When this baby comes, I want you to be her godmother.”
“Uhm. I can’t do that. I mean. I’m going to give y’all some space so you and Caiyan can…you know. Be together.”
Victory threw her head back and laughed. “Do you think Caiyan is the father of this baby?”
I nodded slowly. Did I miss something?
“The guy has a heart of gold, but we’ve been friends too long for me to go down that road with him. Thomas is this baby’s daddy.”
“Thomas?” I asked with raised eyebrows.
“Yeah, Thomas Boon.” She placed her hand over her heart. “God, I loved that man. We didn’t always get on so well, but I loved him.”
“The man who died at Gettysburg.”
“Yeah. It’s Caiyan’s fault we got married.”
“Caiyan’s fault?”
“When Caiyan and Thomas finally found me, he…” she paused, by the look on her face she was deciding if she would offend me. “Let’s just say he had a good time with the plantation owner’s daughter.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was before me.”
She blew out a short breath. “The moon cycle closed, and Caiyan promised he’d return the next cycle with a transporter to bring me home. Left Boon there to work the farm. The next thing I know, the owner’s daughter’s accusing me of sleeping with Caiyan and that was punishable by a real beating.”
Her eyes went misty and I handed her a tissue from the box on the table. “Sorry, the hormones make me so emotional. Thomas gave up his freedom and took the beating in my place. I married him the next day, in a small grove of apple trees. Then the war broke out and the owner sold me to Miss Maggie. That’s how I ended up in Gettysburg.”
“Did Boon find you in Gettysburg?”
“Yes,” she wiped at her eyes. “Boon ran away from the plantation and found me. After that, we fought together to make sure the Underground Railroad helped as many men, women and children make it to freedom as we could. When I got pregnant, Thomas wanted to stop and use the Railroad to gain our freedom. But I had work to do at Gettysburg to make sure the South didn’t win that war.”
“But you knew the North won, right?”
“Did they?” she cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at me.
