“We did it.”
“No, Paige you did it. You initiated it, there was no resistance on my part and we became one.”
“How do we get out?” She turned to look at Voyager. “I did it.”
“Your still here, so you’re not finished. You can still fail, Girly.”
She frowned before brushing off his words. “Are you ready?”
Cal nodded, they walked down the hill together looking for a way out. The lush green grass at their feet made Paige feel more confident. The soft breeze felt refreshing after all she’d been through. All they needed now was the door.
“What do you think he meant?”
“I don’t know, nothing was like I thought it would be in here.”
The sound of a baby crying stopped her dead in her tracks, “Do you hear that?”
“Sounds like an infant.”
They turned towards the crying; it was coming from a section where the grass was taller obscuring any view they would have of an infant. They waded in looking for the baby. Cal stomped down the grass making a path for Paige. Finally after walking for some time they came upon a basket that was hidden in the tall grass. A blanket covered the basket and a crying sound emerged from it.
“We can’t leave a baby here, Cal. Where are the parents?” Her voice was distressed as she looked at the basket. It took everything within her not to rush to pick it up and comfort the child inside.
“I don’t know.”
“I have to pick it up.”
“Alright, but do you think that’s wise?”
She took a step towards the basket and stopped.
“Paige, what’s wrong?” Cal looked from her to the basket.
“It doesn’t feel right. Who leaves a baby in the middle of nowhere? I still want to pick it up, comfort it, but every time I try to move towards it I get a warning to stop. How can I leave a child to suffer?” She walked closer to the basket, her hands itching to pick it up. Her heart cried out for a child left alone.
“What if it’s a trap?” He reached out a hand to halt her progress.
“How can I turn my back on it, Cal?”
She took another step towards the basket. The need to protect overwhelmed her. No one protected her when she needed it, how could she turn her back on this little one?
“I suffered because no one was there for me, Cal.” A tear slid down her face. “A poor helpless baby.”
She took another step closer before she broke down and cried for all the times she wanted someone to hold her. Cal slipped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“We’ll do whatever you think is right, Paige.”
“I want to comfort the crying child but I know that to pick it up is to condemn you to death. I won’t, I can’t do that.”
Voyager came forward clapping his hands. “Very good, Girly. If you picked up this bundle certain death would have followed.”
He waved his hand and the exit appeared.
“Paige.” Voyager called her making her stop in her tracks with shock.
She turned back to look at Voyager.
“I knew you could do it.”
Chapter Eleven
Paige opened her eyes to find herself lying next to Cal.
“Cal?”
“We made it, Paige.”
She looked around to find Victor and Selma smiling at them.
“Congratulations, we were getting a little worried about you two. You’ve been out for a while.” Victor stretched his hand to his brother.
“My leg.” Paige sat up and looked at her skin. It was smooth. “I thought…I got bit wherever we went and I thought I would see it on my leg when I woke up.”
“It was a nasty bite,” Selma said.
“Your smooth skin was a gift from Voyager. You must have impressed him.”
“He grows on you after a while. I wonder who he is.”
Victor and Selma laughed not responding to her.
“He definitely grows on you,” Selma said. “We will leave you two, it’s about time for Vick to come home.”
Paige turned to face Cal after Victor and Selma walked out closing the door behind them.
“So that’s it, we’re married?”
“In my world yes, married and more than married. Together forever.”
“So what happens next? I move in with you, wash your clothes, and make you dinner?”
“Back up, Sunshine. Clothes washing is a serious commitment. I know you’re anxious to see what’s under these pants, but you’re going to have to wait. I’m not that easy.”
Her laugh flowed easily as her lips twitched and her eyes crinkled. Genuine mirth filled the room, she couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, and she felt so free.
“There’s no need to rush, I’ve waited a long time, we have more time than you can imagine.”