Chapter Twenty-Four

Johanna

I curl my toes into the sand and watch as the waves cascade along Traveler’s strong back muscles. I’m finding it hard to concentrate on talking to Mary-Beth. He leaps over the waves, testing his strength, and then disappears under the water before resurfacing. He looks back to me, and I throw him a thumbs-up. The sun is warming my skin, I lay my head back and close my eyes. The phone is pressed to my ear, and I’m listening to her and Andrew talk about Trey.

MB: —It was so good to see you guys yesterday. You seem really happy, Jo. And tan. Tan and happy. Beach life suits you.—

Andrew: —Tell Traveler I want a rematch in pool. He’s hustled me.—

Me: —Trey has grown so much in just a month. And I am happy. The happiest I’ve ever been. We will be back to visit again soon. Better start practicing now, Andrew.—

MB: —Bye Jo, love you!—

Andrew: —Bye sis!—

Me: —I love you guys, too.—

Yesterday was the first time that Traveler and I shifted back to Alabama. It was a test that we had been looking forward to, and dreading, for a while now. Jaqueline went a day ahead of us and scouted the area. She went to my store, and walked the woods behind my house, extra vigilant to see if there was anything that might signal another shifter could be in the area looking for us.

Jaqueline has been working with Traveler for weeks. Once his body was on the mend, she guided him on how his mind and mental state during shifting would be his greatest asset. His physical capabilities exceed her own, but with her guidance, he has unleashed something inside of himself that none of us expected. He is remarkable.

Underneath the ocean currents there is a faint glow of blue emitting through the surface. I pause and wait. And within seconds the sand stirs beside me from an invisible breeze, and Traveler manifests on his bright orange beach towel. His skin is damp, and he shakes the salty sea water from his hair. “Hey baby.” He grins, obviously proud of himself.

“You could have just walked up here, you know?” I smirk at him.

“You heard what Jaqueline said. Practice makes perfect.” He rolls over, leans his head down and kisses my lips. His beard grazes across my cheeks. For the past month he’s been growing out his facial hair to cover the scar underneath his right eye. Somehow it makes him even sexier than he was before.

“She also said you need to work on your discretion,” I remind him, playfully wiggling out from underneath his weight and standing up. His eyes roam my entire body. I know that look. “Jaqueline will be here any minute so don’t you dare.” I throw my swimsuit cover over my shoulders.

He laughs and takes a long pull of water from a bottle. “Was that MB and Andrew?” he asks. I nod my head.

“She said I seem happy.”

“And are you?” he asks, tracing circles along my ankle with his thumb.

“The happiest,” I tell him honestly. He stands up beside me and rolls his towel before shoving it into my oversized beach bag.

“You know, I was worried that going home might make you change your mind or regret that you left everything behind.” His expression grows serious.

“I haven’t left behind anything that wasn’t already pushing for me to do so. It was time for me to move on, babe. You just gave me a reason to do what I needed to all along.” I smile at him. “MB, Andrew and Trey are going to grow together as a family in my parents’ home. They are happy, and supportive, and perfect. The Great Outdoors is in Gina’s capable hands. You saw the fax she sent out on our profits. Business is great. And the most important thing of all, I have you. We have each other.” I lean on my toes to kiss his jaw. I find myself having to remind Traveler less and less of these things. He gave up a lot for me too, and we will find a new start together.

“After things die down, and we get settled somewhere, we can go visit more often. We can shift there as much as you like,” he promises.

“Speaking of…we should get back to the house. Jaqueline will have news for us.” We walk hand in hand toward his mother’s beach home.

Jaqueline is waiting for us on the back deck. She has a glass of wine in her hand and she seems relaxed. “How’s the water?” she asks, giving Traveler a stern look.

“Saw that, huh?” He lowers his head timidly, like any son would being scolded by his mom.

“Discretion. Blending. These are things that you learned from day one in the program, and they are the things that will help keep you…and her…alive.” She taps her foot against the floor. “It would have taken one tourist with a camera pointed at the water at the perfect time to ruin you. If a picture like that went viral, the Division would know it before you could even blink. They are searching for you, Traveler. One false move, and they will send the blood hounds hunting for your head. Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should,” she adds for good measure, and then stands to leave.

“Mom, wait,” he cleverly uses the term of endearment to soften her. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” He engulfs her in his arms. “I’ll be more careful.”

“Only practice indoors, and in unpopulated areas. Not a beach. Though it may seem empty, someone is always watching.” She pats his back. He winks at me over her shoulder, and I give him a look to let him know I disapprove of his antics. She loves Traveler, she risked her life and everything for him, and she is helping us even now with all the dangers we bring. I would obey anything she asked of us at this point.

“Jaqueline, how was the trip?” I anxiously ask, ready to hear her evaluation.

She sits back down and takes a sip of her wine before beginning. “The woods and mountains certainly provide the needed coverage for a shifter.”

“Good. That’s the most important thing,” Traveler says.

“The area isn’t one hundred percent unpopulated. It’s also ideal considering most people tend to keep to themselves, and they didn’t ask a lot of questions about an out-of-state realtor looking for a large swath of land in the area. Overall, I was pleased. It’s only…why there?”

Traveler looks at me and smiles. He reaches over and places his hand on my knee and squeezes. “Colorado makes sense to us. We need to stay in 2016 because of Johanna’s family. We want to create the appearance of normalcy as best we can. To her family, it makes sense for her to relocate to an area known for its outdoor lifestyle. And I grew up in Colorado,” he answers her. I nod my head in agreement.

“Well, the area was clean. I didn’t see any evidence of shifters coming and going. Arden said the area isn’t on Vlad’s radar.” Hearing his name causes my grip to tighten around Traveler’s arm, and he smooths his hand over my leg in response.

Jaqueline takes notice and gives an apologetic tilt of her head. “It’s good his name sparks a reaction in you. So long as he’s breathing he won’t stop looking for Traveler. He won’t stop searching for either of you. Nor myself.” The conversation has us all on edge. Jaqueline scans the shoreline.

“I’m sorry you have to move from here. It’s a lovely place.” I feel sad that it’s her last night here. A place that means so much to her.

“Nonsense. Travis and I fell in love in this town. And if Authority kept any record of my actions while I was in the division, they will come looking for us here first. It’s necessary that we all leave.”

“Where will you go?” Traveler asks.

“Sometimes it’s good to just start anew. The world is at my fingertips,” she says, wiggling her fingers in the air. We all laugh together, ignoring the underlying threat that is awaiting around the corner.

“Are you all packed?” she asks the two of us.

“We put everything in the Jeep when we shifted back from Alabama last night. We had a feeling Colorado would work out.” Traveler smiles at his mom.

“Well, it’s a long drive and you two better get started.” Her eyes gloss over as she hands Traveler an envelope. He tips it over and a pair of keys spill out into his hands. “It’s a beautiful cottage resting on eighty-two acres. The address is inside the envelope, along with your bank account information.” She smiles at us and we stare back, confused. “Turns out 1950’s Jackie did well in the stock market, and then disappeared never to be heard from again.” She throws us a wink and tips back her wine glass, emptying the last drop into her mouth.

****

Traveler closes the back of the Jeep and walks over to his mother. He wraps his arms around her, and she is obviously holding back tears. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

“You are my son. And I am so proud of you. One day you will understand that love yourself,” she says, smiling at him and patting his face. “Call me and text me updates along the way. Be safe. Smart decisions, okay?” Traveler nods his head.

Jaqueline walks over and embraces me. She hasn’t showed an ounce of disapproval toward me since that day on the mountaintop bluff. “Watch out for him,” she whispers in my ear, and I nod my head to her, letting her know I understand. Her trust in me to look after him, and for us to protect one another, is humbling.

Traveler and I get into the Jeep and close the doors. He rolls down the window and leans his head out as we pull out of the drive, smiling at his mom and giving her a wave. As we merge onto the interstate, he reaches over and twists his fingers into mine. “Are you ready, baby?”

“I’m ready,” I say, as we drive toward a new life together.