As the sky grew dark, I slipped on a dark red strapless dress and Joshua put on a nice pair of slacks and dress shirt for the evening festivities. I felt the slight bubble of excitement brewing within me. “Nervous?” I felt Joshua’s breath on my ear as he’d snuck up behind me in the bathroom.
“No reason to be.” I smiled into my reflection in the mirror. I fixed my hair, curling the ends before following Joshua down to the city square. I wanted to look amazing for tonight. The city square that used to be no larger than a few hundred feet now stretched for half a mile. Spade had grown and with the hard work and dedication put forth, the town was spending the evening celebrating. We had all earned it and I looked forward to the festivities, music, food and dancing.
I took Joshua’s arm and together we headed down the stone corridor. There was no forgetting tonight as from the moment we stepped out of our room we could hear the music and excitement from below. Walking out into the night air, I pulled Joshua close to keep warm.
“Hi, Olivia!” Elsa waved to me as I held Joshua’s hand. We mixed in with the crowd. Music filled the air and candles encased in colored blown glass hung overhead to offer a beautiful ambience along with some light.
Joshua tugged my hand, pulling me tighter. His lips brushed my ear and I smiled, glancing at him. “What’s that?” I asked, having missed what he’d said. It was loud and though I tried to focus on his words it was difficult with the music and commotion. I had also been a terrible lip-reader and every time I attempted to figure out what he said, I failed.
Happy Anniversary. He smiled and my eyes lit up like the stars in the night sky. Had I forgotten it was today? I laughed, smiling as I pulled him tight into my arms and planted a kiss to his lips. Just kidding. Joshua laughed aloud and I breathed a sigh of relief, shaking my head in dismay.
“I can’t believe you!” My voice barely reached his ears, but he heard me. My cheeks reddened from the embarrassment of having been caught.
Joshua smiled, shaking his head. “Me? You don’t even know when our anniversary is.”
“Which one?” I smirked. “We have technically been married twice now.” I dropped another kiss to his lips, laughing as I pulled away. My hand stayed planted in his as I pulled him towards the upbeat music, dancing with the crowd. I wanted to be a part of it. Forgetting all we’d been through, unwinding for the night and just letting it all go.
Maybe it wasn’t our anniversary. Maybe there’d been too much going on to remember the exact date that we’d been wed in front of our friends and family. I hadn’t cared. I had Joshua and he had me. I danced like there was no tomorrow. My feet spinning and hands clapping with the music as the song changed but I never stopped. I never let up. Not for an instant. I didn’t want to forget this memory. Even if the date I wouldn’t remember, this moment I would for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER 19
The party had been much too short. Henry had announced the news of the thirteen women who were pregnant and that there was a possibility all the women who had been under Isaura’s influence in Torv may in fact be fertile. The crowd buzzed with electricity at the news and the excitement roared within Spade.
Inside our quarters I slipped out of my dress and into pajamas while Joshua changed before climbing into bed. “What a night.” I slipped in beside him.
“What’s that?” I asked lying on my back, my head turned slightly in his direction.
“You forgetting when our anniversary is.” Joshua laughed dropping a kiss to the tip of my nose. “It’s okay, you’re forgiven.”
“Oh, come on.” I rolled my eyes. “You know the exact date?” So much had transpired over the course of the year that I was glad just to know the day of the week when I woke up.
He moved to lie back on the mattress, not giving me the satisfaction of an answer. “You did amazing tonight.”
“What do you mean?” I rolled onto my side to face him.
“You figured out something none of us could have discovered on our own. What was it like, to travel through time?”
I laughed. “I didn’t believe her. Never considered it was possible. In fact in my dream, when I’d been under Isaura’s spell–” I paused, hating how it sounded, but I had been helpless under the sedative. I felt Joshua rest his hand on my arm when I’d paused, urging me to continue. “You told me it wasn’t real. That it was what she wanted me to see and believe but it had been a trick. You were the logical side of my mind trying to talk reason into everything that happened.”
Joshua laughed. “Do I sound like that?”
Slipping closer to him, I pulled the covers up around us. “Sometimes you do. I don’t mind it. For all that we’ve seen, it’s good to have someone logical and sane.”
The smile spread wider across his face. “Are you declaring yourself insane?”
I laughed, shaking my head in dismay as I rolled Joshua onto his back, straddling his waist. “I would never do that.” I smiled staring down at him. I leaned down, dropping a kiss to his lips, feeling my pulse quicken and the warmth of his body pressed beneath mine.
“Olive,” he rasped, opening his eyes and staring up at me. They had darkened a deeper shade of blue and my cheeks flushed. My fingers moved across his arms, danced over his abdomen as I pulled at his shirt. “We have to be careful, remember?” he breathed between kisses.
“I’ve been careful. The doctor here procured plenty of Siliphium and I’ve been having it every night for the past four months.”
“Thank God!” He laughed, rolling me over and covering me in kisses.
CHAPTER 20
The town of Spade had moved its resources of building the town to manufacturing more clothing and food. Preparations were being made for a larger schoolhouse within Spade as word grew that thirteen children were soon due and others were pregnant from natural conception. An entire baby boom had happened overnight. From the moment the festivities had ended five months ago, more women had conceived and would soon give birth to a new generation of children. It seemed impossible that everything was going so well. New members of Spade were studying midwifery and becoming doctors. Others focused on making sure the children were cared for, even if that meant the new mothers needed additional help with cooking and cleaning.
I couldn’t have been happier. I was no longer the only girl capable of naturally conceiving a child. I was no longer one in a few who had been treated with Mindonsiphan. Isaura may have wanted me, but I was no longer significant to her. I was just another ordinary girl. For the first time since Joshua and I had gone on the run from the government I felt the overwhelming sense of relief. It all seemed perfect, albeit a little too perfect.
That afternoon while Joshua and Aidan spent time with the commanding officers of Spade securing the borders and gathering intelligence I headed over to the schoolhouse to visit Adelaide when she’d finished her studies for the day.
“Olivia!” Her eyes lit up with excitement.
“Adelaide.” I smiled and her arms tightened around my neck as I’d bent down to her level for a hug. “You’ve grown so much.” I was surprised by how much she’d shot up in the past few months.
“I’m seven now.” Adelaide pulled back showing me her fingers proudly.
I couldn’t help but give her another hug and knew I’d need to find a birthday gift to give her the next time I visited. “You look seven.” I smiled and stood up taking her hand.
“I know I do!” Adelaide boasted. “We had chocolate cake for my birthday at school. It was so good!”
I laughed, glancing down at her. “It sounds delicious.”