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After two hours of serious deliberation that night, we decided that we would have two weddings, one in Valeria and one in the Flip Side. The one in the Flip Side would be a small private wedding for Gina and her family and Jim and his family and a few others, and then we’d have our large wedding in Valeria. After spending three more hours checking with both sides, it was accepted that this plan would work. I did have to swear to Gina that I would send pictures of the Valerian wedding.
Despite my protests, I couldn’t convince Florinda that there was no need for a ball after our wedding. Martin was no help. While Florinda gloated in a queenly fashion, Martin leaned to whisper in my ear. “We don’t have to stay, Joan. Yes, we’ll have to make an appearance, but we have to stay a few hours at most, then we can leave everyone else.”
That hadn’t occurred to me, but I realized that it was true. I felt a little better about the whole wedding after that.
“Joan, I am going to need that notebook back,” Florinda said.
I handed it over. “I made some changes that are non-negotiable.”
She laughed. “Dear, nothing is non-negotiable.”
I snorted.
She flipped through it, and then a few seconds later started scribbling.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“Joan, you can’t possibly expect that I’m going to let you wear this type of dress,” Florinda chided. “It’s far too simple!”
“I’m a simple type of person,” I argued. “And if that’s a bow, then you can just take it right back off because I refuse to wear a bow, and that’s the end of that discussion.”
“And what would it take to get you to wear a bow?” Florinda asked, pausing.
“A lobotomy.”
“I’m sure I can find something.” She frowned at Martin. “You don’t get to be a part of this. You don’t get to see the wedding dress until the wedding day.”
“I’ve already seen sketches,” he protested mildly.
“It’s not the same,” she chided. “Go on.”
“Florinda!” I protested.
“It’s all right,” Martin said, rising from the chair. “Call me if you need help.”
“Don’t throw a fit, Joan,” Florinda advised. “He doesn’t really want to be here anyway. This is a woman’s deal.”
I scowled. “You’re cutting off my back-up so I’ll give in. It doesn’t matter; I’m not wearing a bow.”
“What is so wrong with a bow?” she demanded.
“Because you can’t do little!” I retorted. “You’ll make the bow the size of Geidy and give me a train that goes to Unti! I like simplicity.”
Florinda shook her head in exasperation. “Must you be so difficult, Joan?”
“I’m being difficult?” I demanded.
Florinda held up a hand in acknowledgement. “All right, let me look this over. You’re going to have to make some concessions on the dress though.”
“Don’t bet on it.”
After hours of deliberation, we finished our negotiations for the day and had a basic outline for the wedding. Florinda promised to handle the ball afterwards, and since I wasn’t planning on staying long, I gave in.
We broke for the day for supper and I found Martin patrolling the wall. “Did it go well then?” he asked. “Since you’re not throwing knives.”
I wrapped my arms around him and leaned in close. “Not bad.”
He smiled, sliding his arms around my waist. “Well, I’d be happy to stay with you if you needed to calm down.”
I leaned closer and pressed my lips to his, hearing him laugh softly. “So when’s this wedding date?” he asked as we walked around the wall together.
“The one in the Flip Side is in six or seven months, but the Valerian one is in eight months.” I offered a half-smile. “Sorry. It takes time to plan the wedding of the century.”
He mused for a minute. “So that puts us in...March? April?”
I nodded. “What happens with us?”
He shrugged. “I can go there if you need me to.”
I shook my head immediately. “No, don’t Martin. I don’t want you leaving here until you have to.”
He brushed my cheek. “I’ll be okay, Joan,” he said softly. “I’m not going to regret choosing you over a job. I’ve already tried working without you, and I’m not going there again. I’ll stay here until the wedding, but then I’m moving with you and Cathy.” He squeezed my hand. “And I’m talking about the first wedding. It wouldn’t be right if we were separated the first months of our marriage.”
“Have you picked your successor yet?”
“I’m thinking Liam. He won’t want it, but he’d be good for the position. Randall’s looking to retire soon. I think he’s only sticking around to be sure I don’t make another mistake.”
I giggled as we rounded another corner. Martin stopped to talk to the guards on duty for a moment, then we resumed walking. “What about you?” he asked. “When are you going back?”
I sighed. “First of August, like last year. I have to get everything ready for Cathy. I have to tell the king and queen today.”
We were silent for a little while. I wished things were easier. I wished we didn’t have to worry about where we were living and for how long. I wasn’t regretting that I had to take care of Cathy; I was regretting that Cathy wasn’t older so that we’d know how all this turned out. Our life was still so dependent on when Cathy turned thirteen and what happened then. I was sure that none of us would get a wink of sleep the week of her birthday. I’d probably go crazy with extra energy and she would probably cry, because that’s what she did with stress.
Martin must have realized I was worrying again because he drew me close. “Things will work out,” he promised. “It will all work out for the better.”
As soon as I got to the Flip Side, I had to go find Jim. He’d said he needed to talk to me, and I needed to tell him my wedding plans.
“Hi, Jim,” I said cheerfully as I snuck up behind him, laughing as he jerked and spun around in his chair. “Not very observant today, I see.”
He mock scowled at me. “Is that any way to treat your godfather?” he asked in a grumpy tone, a teasing look in his eyes.
“You can’t take a little fun?” I teased back.
He sighed and rubbed his brow. “There hasn’t been a lot of fun here, Joan, not lately.”
I became serious. “Big case?”
He shook his head. “No, just a personal case.” He shoved a case file towards me. “There was a gang killing in the prisons. Three of them, actually. Stabbed with a toothbrush.”
I winced, looking at the photos. “Do you know who did it? I assume you do?”
His look was grave. “It’s Jak.”
I stared at him, wide-eyed. “Jak?” I repeated. “Jak Zefferin?”
He nodded. “I told you Jak had a gang. He’s becoming a lot more dangerous, Joan, and you’re at the top of his list.”
“But Jim,” I protested, “if you know he’s the one killing these people, and you have proof, there’s no way he’s getting out anytime soon!”
“And his gang?” Jim asked. I could see new lines creasing his face. He’d obviously spent a lot of time worrying about me.
“Why would his gang kill me?” I reasoned. “Jak’s the only one with a grudge, and if he’s new to this gang, he’ll have no standing.”
“He’s gaining standing.” Jim thumped the file. “He’s moving up the ranks fast.”
“What do you want me to do?” I asked, bewildered.
He rubbed his brow. “I don’t know,” he said sadly. “The best choice for you would be to leave here and move someplace far away.”
I felt a pang. If that happened, we’d be even further from Valeria, and I’d be even further from Martin. He’d move with me, of course, but to be far from Valeria would be hard on us both, and hard on Cathy to leave everything she had. “What about Gina?” I asked.
Jim shook his head immediately. “Gina means nothing to him. He blames you for everything. You are the sole focus, and it’s a dangerous place to be.”
There was a commotion out in the hall and someone called Jim’s name.
“What now?” he demanded.
“Another death!” a female cop called. “Same as last time, only he was caught in the act this time.”
Jim swore as he stood, putting on his gun belt. “Another kill for your buddy,” he said grimly.
I stood as well. “I’ll catch you later then,” I said, shaken. I still could hardly believe it. Jak, a killer? I’d never thought he would be able to go so far. I knocked on the window, calling Cathy over. Cathy had been waiting, chatting with the cops at the front desk and she came over to me now. Jim started to turn, probably to warn me, but never got it out.
“You!”
I whirled around, my hand going for a knife that wasn’t there. The familiar voice rang across the room and my eyes locked on Jak’s furious expression. “I’ll kill you!” he screamed.
“Get him out of here!” Jim roared.
The two cops started to drag Jak away, but he was incensed and out of control. Somehow, he managed to pull free, knocking one of the cops to the ground. He grabbed the police officer’s gun and started shooting, one side of the handcuffs dangling, unlocked.
Everything turned into chaos at that moment. Police officers hit the ground or threw the innocent people out the doors, following quickly. I threw myself down behind a desk and heard six shots; I was counting, and then a grunt. I found myself splattered with blood. Cathy cowered beside me. My eyes locked on Jim, one hand to his chest, eyes puzzled as he fell to the floor.
“No!” I screamed. “Jim!”
I started to scramble to him, but had to duck low as two more shots rang out. Jak laughed harshly. “Come out!” he called mockingly. “How many more do you want me to kill before I get you? I’ll get you eventually! I’m not alone now! I have a gang, and they’ll swear to kill you and your sister. You’re dead, Joan! I’ll make you regret the day you ever stood up to me!”
Jim groaned. “Joan...gun...” He couldn’t manage any more than that, wheezing for breath. I saw the gun inches away.
I grabbed the gun and pressed myself against the desk. “You’re a coward, Jak!” I shouted. “You’ve never been able to beat me! If I don’t stop you, someone else will!” I inched my way to the left, towards Jak. I saw in the reflection of the glass that Jak was well protected in the spot he had chosen. He was against the wall, behind a desk, shielded by filing cabinets. There was just one narrow opening, and I had one chance to get it.
He gave an ugly laugh. “Do you think it matters?” he demanded. “It doesn’t! Whether I kill you or someone else does, you’ll still be dead!” He was screaming at this point, and out of control. He shot off too many rounds for me to count, and then I heard the click I’d been waiting for. Without pause, I rolled into the aisle, aimed the gun, and fired twice, one bullet for each leg.
Jak went to the ground howling, his gun useless in his hands. The police officers moved into action now, grabbing him.
I wasn’t paying attention anymore, focusing on Jim. “Jim!” I screamed, leaning over him, the gun abandoned as I pressed my hand over the blood. There was so much blood. “Somebody get a medic!”
He opened his eyes blearily. “Did you...stop...?”
“I got him, Jim,” I promised. “Don’t move; wait for the ambulance to get here.”
Cathy appeared beside me, coming out from under the desk, resting her hands over mine. “You’re bleeding,” she said shakily.
I had a scratch on the back of my hands. “I’ll be fine, Ca...” I started to say, but stopped, gasping at the feeling of cool water washing over my hand. “Cathy!” I gasped. I pulled my hand out, and sure enough, the scratch was healing. I could see that Jim’s wound was getting better too; the blood wasn’t coming out as much and his breathing was easier.
“Move!” a medic told us curtly, shoving beside us. We moved, our hands blood-stained and dripping. Another medic grabbed our hands, checking them over brusquely.
“We’re fine,” I told him hurriedly. “But Jim...”
“We’ve got him,” the medic said.
Jak was still screaming in agony and rage.
“You’re sure you don’t have anything I need to fix before I go help him?” the medic asked, eyes blazing in anger. “I wouldn’t mind letting him suffer a little longer.”
“No,” I said, voice shaking. “We’re okay.”
Jim was quickly wheeled out and another police officer came over. “Do you...?”
“We’re going with him,” I said instantly, daring him with my eyes to stop me.
“Call us and give us an update,” was all he said.
I gave a grateful nod, grabbed Cathy’s hand, and rushed after Jim. “We’re coming,” I said. “He’s my father.”
“Godfather,” the medic driving corrected. “Get in, Joan.” There were perks to working in dispatch. I’d been in touch with most medics, officers, and firemen so that they all knew me.
I helped Cathy up and climbed in after her. One of the medics pointed to wipes so we could clean our hands. “How’s he look?” I asked, fear gripping me. My engagement ring was covered with blood and I tucked it in my pocket.
The medic grunted. “No knowing. Not too much blood. Must have missed something vital. His heart’s still going, but erratically. Shock.”
Cathy tugged on my hand. “Call Martin,” she begged. “Call Martin and Joe.”
I pulled out the phone. “Martin,” I blurted out when he picked up. “I need you. Jim’s been shot, and...and...” I couldn’t say anything else as the ambulance stopped and the doors were thrown open, Jim wheeled out into the hospital. “Martin, I need you,” I said as tears started streaking down my face.
Martin was there within minutes. I didn’t have a clue if he was invisible or not, and I didn’t care. I stood and he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me as I cried. Joe appeared a minute later. “What do you know?” he demanded.
“Jim was shot in the chest,” Cathy said, eyes wide just like she’d been since the shooting had begun. “It hit his lung, and one of his ribs, and it was bleeding a lot.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want him to die!”
She moved into my arms and Martin shifted to let her in. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “Joe will go check on him, see how things are going.”
Joe nodded and disappeared. Cathy wrapped her arms around my neck as Martin pulled me beside him. That moment of contentment, that my problems weren’t as overwhelming, helped to calm me down. Sensing that, Cathy managed to calm down as well. Joe exited a few minutes later. “Surgery’s going well. They’ve taken the bullet out, and it looks like nothing truly vital was hit.”
I fought to hold the fresh wave of tears in. Cathy wasn’t so inclined and sobbed on my shirt. Martin was hesitant at first, but he rubbed her back, trying to soothe her. She leaned her head against Martin’s shoulder, worn out. I couldn’t help but give a watery smile at Martin’s bewildered look and gently gathered Cathy in my arms.
Martin may have been uncomfortable with Cathy, but he knew what to do with me. He stroked my hair and whispered that Jim would be okay and he loved me over and over. I finally lifted my head and wiped my eyes. “I have to call the other police officers,” I whispered. “I promised I’d update them.”
Martin let me disengage. “Go make your phone calls. I’ll be right here.” He wrapped an arm around Cathy, who curled into his side now, her face still tear-stained and her eyes showing how scared and tired she was. I pressed a kiss to her forehead before I dug out my phone.
As soon as I finished calling the police station and Marcy, Jim’s partner, Jim’s wife, Leona, came in. “Oh, Joan! Is Jim all right? Where was he shot? Which doctor is doing the surgery?”
Cathy rushed towards Leona as I explained everything. Leona would have gone into a state but for Cathy. She was too busy soothing my anxious sister to get too worked up herself. When the doctor came out two hours later to say the surgery had been a success and there hadn’t been any complications, Leona was calm enough to understand that Jim was going to be all right and she and Cathy burst into tears of joy. I was close, but I managed to hold them in, clinging to Martin tightly. The cops who had showed up didn’t cry, but a few of them looked like they were close.
When we got to see Jim, he was barely awake and he looked terrible. Joe was with him and he assured Cathy, Martin, and me that Jim wasn’t going to have any complications and that he’d healed all he could without anyone noticing. “The rest has to heal on its own,” he said. “The body needs to heal itself.”
“Thank you,” I whispered to him.
“It was the least I could do, Joan,” he said. He checked his watch, letting out a yawn. It was almost dark outside by this point.
“There’s an extra bed if you want to stay at my house,” I said. “And don’t argue.” Under my breath I muttered, “Because I’d look silly arguing with no one.”
Both Joe and Martin chuckled and Joe nodded waving his hand. “I’ll be at your house in an hour.”
Cathy was bouncing with anxiety once I picked her up from Leona’s care. “Joe’s sure Jim’ll be okay?” she asked over and over again.
“Yes, Cathy,” I said patiently. “You can ask him yourself when he gets here.”
The instant Joe walked in the door, Cathy started badgering him with questions until I clapped a hand over her mouth. “Cathy, chill out,” I said sternly. “Joe knows what he’s doing. It’s late, go to bed.”
“But you said...” Cathy protested.
“He’s tired, you’re tired, Martin’s tired, and I’m tired. It’s been a long day. If there’s a problem, someone will let us know.” I directed Joe to the guest room, which had been the master bedroom, the room Martin had turned down. Then I turned to him. “Why do you insist on sleeping on the couch?” I demanded.
“I like your couch,” he protested. “It’s comfortable. I’m considering it a perk to the marriage.”
“A couch?”
He smiled and took my hands. “Where’s your ring?”
I pulled it out of my pocket and we both stared at the blood on my ring for a long minute. He closed my hand around it and gently pushed me towards my bedroom. “Go get some sleep, honey. I’ll be right here.”
“That’s the problem.” But I gave in and left him to sleep in the living room.
I was more alert the next morning, and more perceptive. I awoke early to find Martin already awake and fuming over something. “Martin?” I asked softly.
He turned and his face eased into a soft smile. “How are you?”
I leaned against him. “I think I’m okay. How are you?” I saw his jaw tense. “You’re not okay,” I whispered.
“Just worried for you.”
I knew that wasn’t it. “Martin, if you’re worried, you don’t usually look like you’re going to kill someone.” My eyes widened. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
He held my face in his hands. “I will not let him hurt you,” he said firmly. “Never, Joan.”
I couldn’t answer; I didn’t know what to think. Martin’s gaze never changed as he waited for me to say something. “Martin,” I whispered through a tight throat. “You can’t. It’s one thing to kill in battle, but it’s another to kill out of rage. I don’t want to think this of you.”
“I will not lose you, Joan. If killing him is what it takes to make you safe...”
I placed my hand over his mouth. “Martin,” I begged. “Don’t say that.”
His eyes said what he couldn’t because my hand was still over his mouth. What else could we do if Jak and his gang were determined to kill Cathy and me?
“Killing Jak isn’t going to solve anything,” I whispered.
His look didn’t change.
“Killing him makes you no better than Mickey. I’ll be all right.” But would I? If I had a gang after me, after Cathy, we’d be in danger wherever we went. Even staying at home wouldn’t be safe. Jim had warned me already, and I knew he wasn’t understating the dangers I was now in. “We’ll just move somewhere else until we figure out what we’re going to do,” I said, trying to convince myself. “It’s not the best way, but...”
Martin removed my hand from his mouth as I drooped. “Joan, you can’t live the rest of your life afraid and wondering if you’re safe today. I’m not going to go out and kill him, but I’m not going to go out of my way to let him live either. If he keeps sending people after you, there’s only one way to make that stop.”
I felt wrong when I thought about it. Killing anyone, me killing or him killing for me, just felt wrong. It was only a matter of time before Jak attacked again, and Martin wasn’t going to be patient.
“Honey, I just want you to be happy and safe,” he said quietly.
I let him pull me close and hold me, not knowing what to think. “We’ll see how things go,” he promised. “Things will work out for the better.”
We both knew that he thought it would be better if Jak was gone forever.
“I hate to bring this up now,” he said softly, “but I can’t stay for very long. I have to go back to Valeria for a few days.”
“I understand,” I whispered. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” he corrected. “I’m sorry, Joan. I wish I could stay.”
“Maybe it’s better that you don’t.”
He gave a snort but gently squeezed me. “This doesn’t mean that you can’t call me. I expect a call every single day and if you have a problem. Don’t stop talking to me and don’t keep things from me. Promise me that, Joan.”
I nodded. “I promise.”
“I’ll be back in a few days. I love you, Joan.”
“I love you too.”
He didn’t let go, aware of the bad feelings between us at the moment. He gently let loose the clips in my hair, his eyes growing warm as I slid my fingers in his golden-red hair and he cupped my neck and one side of my face. “That didn’t sound very sincere,” he teased quietly. He moved closer, but stopped less than an inch away. “Well?” he asked, his lips brushing mine as he spoke before pulling back a little.
“I love you,” I breathed.
“Better.” He pressed a light, teasing kiss to my lips, giving in and deepening the kiss when I clutched him tighter. He groaned softly when we heard Cathy moving in her room. When we heard Cathy’s door open, he pulled back to my sigh.
“Joan?” Cathy called a little sleepily.
“In here,” I called.
“Could you come here for a minute?”
“I’ll be right there.”
“I’m sure whatever it is can wait,” Martin murmured.
We heard Joe’s door open and Martin gave up. He pressed a short, burning kiss to my lips before letting me go.
“Can I check on Jim?” Cathy begged when I entered her bedroom. She was already dressed and ready to go.
“Cathy, Joe promised that he would be fine.”
“I just want to check on him,” Cathy pleaded.
“Jim’s going to be okay,” I promised. “He’s getting the best care of anyone.”
Joe appeared in the doorway. “I predict Jim’s going to make a full recovery.”
“But...”
“I do believe she doubts your healing ability,” Martin said with amusement as he sat down next to me.
Cathy looked irritated and fretful, bounding up in anxiety. “But no one mentioned his lung!” she blurted out. “His lung was hit and bleeding and I don’t know if it’s really fixed or not!”
Joe looked surprised. “His lung? No, both his lungs were perfectly fine.”
“So he was breathing okay?” she begged. “He wasn’t breathing very well when his lung got hit, and he was going into shock, and he was bleeding a lot. The bullet didn’t go through Jim, so I know they had to take it out, and maybe everyone missed the lung injury because it was so small compared to his heart and the main artery leading to it, but I know it’ll be a big problem if no one knows about it!”
“How do you know all that?” Joe asked, bewildered. “I haven’t even told anyone that. I healed the nick in the main artery so that not even the doctors knew!”
“She’s a shaman.”
Martin was startled and pulled back. “Did you just say...?”
“She’s a shaman,” I said again. “I felt it. His lung is fine because she healed it.”
Martin brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “Honey, you might have...”
I didn’t give him a chance to finish. I held out my hand to Cathy and she stared down at me. “Just like you did with Jim,” I said softly.
She hesitantly placed her hands over the scratch on my hand, and I felt the coolness sink into my skin. Joe stared in shock. “A shaman,” he whispered, taking my hand, where the cut was completely gone. “It fits. How she knew her leg wasn’t broken, how fast she heals; the signs were all there.”
Cathy’s eyes were lit with wonder. “I’m a shaman,” she said.
I smiled and opened my arms. “Cathy, do you know what that means?”
Her eyes widened. “I’ll see them!” she squealed. “I’ll always see them!”
I laughed and she threw herself into my arms for a tight hug. “That’s right, Cathy. We’ll always see them.” It was such a load off my chest. I felt free. I would be able to go back to Valeria. Cathy could come with me.
Joe was ecstatic. “Imagine, all this time,” he said in awe. He bowed to Cathy. “Catherine Alexandra Ilion, it would be my honor to teach you to be a shaman.”
Cathy beamed. “So you’ll be my teacher?” She threw her arms around his neck. “Yay!”
Joe looked caught off guard, but he gently hugged her back.
I walked to the front door with them while Cathy celebrated in her room. Joe was just as happy as Cathy and he kept saying in excitement that it had been right in front of them and no one had ever known. Martin pushed him out the door and hugged me tightly. “This opens a few more doors,” he said, smiling. “I always knew your family was special. I’ll call and we can go celebrate when I get a break.”
“I’ll talk to you this evening?”
“Maybe sooner, but definitely this evening.”
“Martin!” Joe called impatiently.
I giggled. “You’d better go before Joe combusts from excitement.”
He squeezed me for a moment then hurried out the door.
Cathy came running out. “We can go see Jim still, right?”
I laughed and hugged her out of sheer joy and relief. “Of course. Right after breakfast.”
She skipped to the kitchen, beaming. “What happens now about Valeria? When can I go train with Joe? Do I still have to go to back to school?”
I shrugged. “I’ll need to think and we’ll have to talk about it.” I couldn’t stop smiling though. “At the very least, we have our summers planned out, don’t we?”
She laughed and grabbed my hands, pulling me so we were dancing in a circle, our happy laughter ringing through the house.