Bridge to a Distant Star - Carolyn Williford [3]
On the deck of his fated ship, Captain Luis froze at the desolation unfolding before him. He watched in terror as huge pieces of roadway dropped into the violently churning waves of black, murky water. But he and every member of the crew recoiled in horror when, all eyes compelled to follow the surreal scene before them, they watched a bus, a Mercedes, and a van launch out into a void of nothingness.
And plunge into the depths of the Tampa Bay.
Book One
Deny Yourself
April 2009
Suburb of St. Petersburg, Florida
“Emilie, face it. You’ve run out of E’s,” Maureen needled her friend. “We’ve been through all of this before.”
By habit, Maureen’s gaze drifted toward the window to study the bluebird house in the backyard. The Roberts’ home was typical of the coastal section of Florida: stucco topped by a terra-cotta roof, a sprawling ranch with St. Augustine grass precisely trimmed, flowering bushes and fruit trees dotting the yard. The early arrival of spring this year had been conducive to lush growth, and the bushes and plants were already threatening to overwhelm their prescribed boundaries.
Her attention distracted again, Maureen moved to the sliding glass doors overlooking the pool. It had been cleaned yesterday, and the feel of its soothing water, now marked and variegated with alternating lines of shadow and light glistening in the sun, beckoned to her. Glancing upward through the slats of the screened pergola, however, she caught a glimpse of ominous clouds in the distance.
“I know, I know,” Emilie was saying, “But Ellie’s off to first grade in the fall—”
“And she’s your baby and you can’t stand the idea of being alone,” Maureen interrupted. “Listen to me. It has to stop sometime, Emilie. You can’t continue having another baby every time a child goes off to school.”
“But Emma’s a junior. She’ll leave for college in a little over a year.”
“Emma’s ready, you know that. A great student. Responsible. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to have more time for yourself?—squeezed in between caring for Eddie, Ethan, and Ellie. Not to mention your husband, or even Eunice the wonder dog.”
“Listen, I’m being serious now. Ed agrees with me.”
“Really?”
Emilie cleared her throat. “He even said the number seven is a biblical number.”
“You already have seven if you count the dog.”
“Maureen, I said I’m being serious. I think God really wants us to do this.”
Maureen sighed. Again sensing the weariness that had recently settled over her like a fog, she leaned against the sliding glass door, enjoying the coolness against her fair skin. Tall and willowy in build and movement, she had the usual coloring of an auburn redhead: freckles sprinkled liberally across light skin, with a concentration on her face, mostly across nose and cheeks. Which gave her a delightful eternally youthful and slightly mischievous look. What wasn’t typical, however, were the hazel eyes flecked with darker accents. Rarely did anyone glance at Maureen without noticing those lovely eyes, and ultimately feeling drawn to look more deeply into them. Maureen’s eyes promised a beauty and depth that few could resist. “I’m sorry, Em. I guess there’s no question then. I mean, if Ed’s on board and you’re both sure that’s what God wants …”
“Right. Although lately, Mo, there’s been … well, somewhat of a dis—”
A slammed door and raised voices interrupted the conversation. “Mom. Aubrey’s been in my room again and messed with my stuff.” Maureen winced as she heard each of Colleen’s words escalate in intensity.
“Emilie, I’m so sorry. But I have to go.”
“Sounds rather umm … testy over there.” Emilie chuckled, probably relishing the fact that the squabbles were currently at someone else’s home.
“Collie has Rabbit.” Aubrey’s wail reached a fevered pitch that matched her older sister’s, and Maureen’s shoulders tensed in response. “Rabbit is missing and I had to finded him and …”
“Your