He shrugged. ‘I won’t. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. There was only enough fuel for a one-way trip.’
I let that sink in for a moment. He was here for ever. ‘You’ve given up so much for me. Your destiny. The life you’re supposed to live in the time you’re supposed to live.’
‘Eden, I haven’t given up anything. My destiny might have been in the twenty-second century, but my heart was back here with you. Do you remember you once asked me if I believed in Fate?’
I nodded. ‘You said to ask you in a hundred years’ time.’
‘Well, I’ve seen a hundred years later and I know the answer to that question. I don’t believe in Fate. I believe that we make our own destiny. And my destiny is with you.’
As we sat on the beach, the sky charred and blackened as the world turned away from the sun, towards the feeble light of distant stars.
‘These Guardians of Time. Won’t they be able to tell that you’re here?’ I asked, gripping his arm. ‘You said before that they looked for energy signatures.’
‘Yes. But I portalled in yesterday. Just one day after we originally portalled out. With a bit of luck the energy signatures will be muddled and they won’t be able to tell.’
‘And what about Travis?’
‘His funeral will be in the newspaper. They’ll see that he died on the job. His wife will get his death benefits.’
‘He was married?’
‘Apparently.’
‘What if they do come for you, Ryan?’
‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. But I’m not planning on getting caught.’
‘But . . .’
Ryan put a finger on my lips. ‘No more worrying about what might happen. I’m here to stay. And you’re alive. I’d say we have quite a bit to celebrate.’
He pushed the champagne cork out of the bottle with a pop. I held the two glasses while Ryan let the champagne spill into them. I wondered if I would like champagne, if it would taste the way I’d imagined. Above us a million stars turned on like possibilities.
‘You once told me that your perfect date would be spent drinking cold champagne and eating warm strawberries while watching the sun set over the ocean.’
I felt my heart surge.
‘With someone I love,’ I said.
He looked me in the eye. ‘I’m making assumptions here – I guess I’m hoping that you feel the same way about me as I do about you.’
‘You don’t really need to ask me that, do you?’
He smiled shyly. ‘I’ve made quite a leap of faith.’
I clinked my glass against his. ‘Here’s to making our own destiny. And watching the sun set over the sea with someone you love.’
And then he kissed me and time stood still.
About the Author
Helen Douglas was born and raised in a small beach town in Cornwall. After leaving home to go to university, she lived in London, California, New Jersey and New York. She is now back in Cornwall, where she combines writing books with teaching secondary school English. A keen stargazer, one of her first memories is of getting up in the middle of the night to sneak outside and watch the Perseid meteor shower with a friend. It was a telescope that she received as a birthday gift that helped inspire After Eden. She is currently writing the sequel, to be published by Bloomsbury in 2014.