Canvas Skies (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) (5 page)

“Keira.” He intertwined his fingers through
mine, and I turned back to him. “I want you to come away with me.
If you'll just change into that dress, we can get going. We'll pick
up some lunch on the way.”

“You're just going to disappear? What will
your parents think?” I was being sarcastic, but he answered
honestly.

“After our talk this morning, they'll
probably think I'm off on one last fling. I should call Ellie
though, so she doesn't worry.” Ellie was his secretary and another
member of the Resistance.

“Exactly what did you discuss?”

“My future. I agreed to stop playing around
and seriously search for a suitable life partner.” His deep blue
eyes kept me riveted. “My father reminded me that marriage is a
social contract, for appearances only, you see.” Guy's eyes clouded
over. “He hasn't been entirely faithful to my mother.”

“You're joking!”

“She's aware of it.”

“And she's okay with that?”

“I didn't say that.”

“Why doesn't she leave him?”

“She can't, not if she wants to keep her
status. Look, my father takes his responsibilities seriously. He
gives her pretty much whatever she wants, and he's not abusive. I'm
not saying it's right, but she doesn't have grounds for a divorce.
The Gov wouldn't grant one in her favor, and she knows it.”

I just shook my head.

“I'd like to adjust Kendra's status, bump it
up to Elite, if that's all right with you?”

I stared at him. “After what you've just
shared, you still want me to consider marriage?”

He sighed. “I'm not anything like my father.
Will you at least come with me and listen to my ideas?”

I shrugged. “I guess. Where were you
planning to go?”

“You pick. Any city within a day's
drive.”

Guy set one of his business cards on the
table where Eberhardt would be sure to see it. He flipped it over
and penned, “Back by Monday.”

Three and a half hours later, we pulled up
in front of a fancy hotel in New London, a city to the southwest of
Tkaron. It had a decent population, so it was likely we wouldn't be
recognized.

“We could go someplace smaller,” I
suggested, but Guy was already out of the vehicle. He handed his
keys to the valet.

Alone in the room, I was finally able to
express my reservations. “Guy, this suite is bigger than my
apartment.”

“And?”

“You don't need to impress me. I'd rather
the money was used to help people. We don't need a room this
extravagant.”

“Yes, we do.” He sounded so
matter-of-fact.

“Why?”

“To give you a chance to practice what it
will be like if you accept my proposal. And don't worry, we're not
taking from the Resistance, far from it. I've been successfully
living two very different lives for the past 12 years. You can't
really understand what it's like until you've lived it.”

“I know you keep your personal finances and
Resistance funds separate.”

“Yes, completely. But it's much more than
that.”

“From which accounts have I been paid?” It
was something I'd never really stopped to consider before.

“Your stipend comes from Resistance funds.
The monetary gifts I've given you on occasion, have come from my
other accounts.”

“Do you ever pay yourself from Resistance
funds?”

“No, of course not!” He paused. “Keira,
you're used to taking on different roles.”

I nodded.

“So with just a little practice, I don't
think you'll have any trouble becoming a permanent member of the
Elite.”

I began wandering around the suite, picking
up this and that: an ornate box, a fancy pen, little bottles of
shampoo and soap. I studied my reflection in the bathroom mirror. A
young woman with long wavy black hair and bright emerald eyes gazed
back at me. Who do I want to be? It was a question I'd already
answered. But now Guy was asking me to change. If I pretended for
too long, would the fantasy become real? Was it possible to become
Elite and still be me?

Guy had moved to the sitting room windows
and stood looking out. He waited patiently. Rain formed tiny
rivulets on the glass. Eventually, I joined him. Still, he waited
for me to make the next move. Finally, I laced my fingers through
his and leaned against him.

“I'm ready to hear your ideas.” Guy dropped
my hand and hugged me tightly. My voice was muffled against the
front of his shirt. “Don't pay me any more stipends though,
okay?”

He pulled away. “What? How will you
survive?”

“If we're to be married, we'll both live off
your salary, won't we?”

“Of course, but what if you don't like my
ideas?”

“I don't need much, and I'm already living
in an apartment you own.” I shrugged. “If your ideas really stink,
then you can pay me by the job, okay?”

“You're serious?”

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and
nodded.

“We can do this, Keira. Together.”

I twining my fingers through his hair and
pulled him forward. Guy responded immediately, his warm soft lips
gently caressing mine.

We spent the next few days practicing
everything from greeting well-to-do strangers at the theater to
discussing how to behave during business meetings. Guy really had
thought this through from every angle. It was what made him such a
good businessman and the perfect leader for the Resistance. In just
a few short months, if everything went as planned, I would be Mrs.
Kendra Burke.

I thought I was ready, but when the day of
my departure arrived, everything seemed to be moving all too
quickly. And then, a delay at the airport, an unexpected hiccup. I
looked at the vidscreen once again. My flight had been grounded due
to fog.

Danielle and Noah busily explored the gift
shop while Nadine, covered with a pink blanket, slept peacefully in
her carrier on the floor by our feet.

I turned to Scott. “You should go. Don't
worry about me.”

I glanced at the Terenian soldier seated in
the waiting area. He wore a grey dress uniform; the badge over his
left breast pocket said, HARLOW. Scott had assured me that he knew
this man personally and that David Harlow could be trusted. Scott
had introduced me as Aimee LaFleur, an upstanding Mediterran
citizen and art dealer who was moving to Terene.

Scott smiled. “The President can wait.
You're more important to me. If he can't understand that, then I
don't want the job.”

“But Scott, if you put me before the needs
of the realm, what will that say to him?”

“That I'm compassionate and loyal, admirable
traits that will make me a strong advisor, don't you agree?”

I started to argue, but he held his index
finger to my lips. “We're waiting with you until you board the
plane.” He held my gaze until I nodded.

A couple of months after my arrival, Scott
and Danielle had received an invitation to a luncheon at the
Presidential Palace. A separate invitation had been sent in my name
and routed through my fake address. I'd been overwhelmed at the
mere thought of attending such a formal event and with the
President no less!

Danielle had taken me shopping and helped me
find an appropriate outfit. The long yellow satin summer dress was
less formal than I would have chosen on my own. A white hat and
simple gold chain necklace completed the look. Danielle had assured
me that it was perfect, and I had trusted her judgment.

When we arrived, I immediately saw him for
what he was: a kind, just, compassionate and strong leader. It was
an interesting mix. I never before would have described leaders in
quite that way. There had been no lies with him. Scott had
introduced me as his sister, April. He had also explained my
training and the intention behind it. He had spoken all this aloud,
in a garden full of people. In that moment, I'd realized that I
didn't have to hide or pretend here, except to prepare myself for
the lies I would have to tell when I returned home.

When I'd left Tkaron last spring, everything
had been a blur. All that information, coming at me so fast. In one
day, I'd learned that the man of my dreams, as well as my sister
and brother, weren't at all who they seemed. They were leaders of a
secret organization that was helping hundreds, if not thousands, of
Terenian citizens. I'd thought they were insane to be part of
something like that. Certainly, it would only get them killed.

Yet, I'd also been backed into a corner. I
was in serious pain, and I'd understood that as soon as Lance
Beckett's murder was discovered, his wife would hire people to look
for me. I was a servant. No one of importance would take the time
to listen to my side. I'd needed to leave, and Guy, Keira and Scott
had provided the means.

It wasn't until I met the President that I
finally understood. By forging alliances with foreign Gov leaders,
the Resistance stood a chance of making positive changes back home.
I now believed that it was possible for a few people to make a big
difference.

After that, I'd put all of my efforts into
learning my new trade and identity. I wanted to forget my old life
and devote my future to the Resistance. I became Aimee, heart and
soul, a Mediterran citizen who would live and work in Terene. My
only distraction had been Nadine, and because of her, my dreams
continued to haunt me.

Nadine. I bent down and removed her from the
carrier. As I began to gently rock her in my arms, Scott's
transceiver signaled an incoming call. He moved away in the
direction of the gift shop. I took this opportunity to say goodbye
to the little girl who had almost been my daughter, but who was now
my niece.

Her tiny eyelids fluttered open and revealed
a pair of grey eyes. She was far too young to understand what I was
about to say or to remember it later. Even so, I had to say it, and
I needed to know she'd heard it. She would hear it again later,
when she was older. Scott and Danielle had promised to tell
her.

“I carried you for nine months, little one,
but I'm not your mother. Don't ever think that my leaving was your
fault. It's not. It's because of things that happened to me. We
were both victims, but you're not a victim any longer. I've made
sure of that. You are beautiful. You are wonderful. And you deserve
a family that will love you for all that you are. I'm giving you
that family. They are my gift to you, and you are my gift to them.
Goodbye.” I gently pressed my lips against her smooth forehead.

She began to fuss, so I picked up her diaper
bag and carrier and walked toward Harlow. He glanced up and smiled
when I approached. I sat next to him and rummaged around in the
diaper bag. There! I held a bottle of formula in front of Nadine
until it caught her interest. The rest of the family soon
returned.

Finally, my flight was called. It was time.
I stood and handed Nadine to Danielle. Just then, Noah slipped
something into my pocket. I began to reach for it but stopped when
Danielle shook her head and whispered, “Later. He wants it to be a
surprise.”

I knelt down and hugged him. “You be good,
kiddo.”

“I will, Aunt Aimee.”

Then I stood and hugged Scott. “Good luck!
The President will be lucky to have you on his team.”

“And we're lucky to have you on the team
too. Say, 'Hi!' to Keira. Tell her we miss her.”

I nodded.

Then he turned to Harlow, and they shook
hands. I noticed a small flash of white as Scott handed him
something.

When we settled into our seats in the cabin,
Harlow turned to look at me with comforting warm brown eyes.

“What?”

He grinned. “What did the kid give you?”

“Oh.” I smiled and reached into my
pocket.

“A car?”

It was. It was a red toy car. “Yes, it's his
favorite.”

“Where are the wheels?”

“It's a hovercar. It's what they use
here.”

“Really? I need to get higher
clearance!”

I studied him for a moment. “You've never
been out of the airport?”

He shook his head, so I began to tell him
about life in Mediterra. I spoke quietly. I didn't think I was
sharing anything I shouldn't, but with all that our Gov was hiding,
I didn't want to take any chances of being overheard by the wrong
people. The roar of the engines helped to keep our conversation
private. When I'd finished, Harlow sat in stunned silence.

“Why did you sign on?” I asked, changing the
subject. I was referring to the Resistance, but anyone listening in
would think I meant the military.

“I'm not like you,” he explained. “Growing
up, my family had very little. I want everyone to be protected, to
be safe. That's why.”

“We're more alike than you realize.”

Harlow just stared at me. Then he unbuckled
his safety belt and stood. “Will you be alright for a minute?”

“Of course.”

He moved down the aisle toward the lavatory.
When he returned, he seemed on edge. A little while later, the
flight attendant arrived with the drink cart. I tried to tell her I
wasn't thirsty, but Harlow ordered drinks for both of us anyway. I
shot him a look of irritation, but he simply replied, “You don't
want to dehydrate, Miss,” and set a glass of apple juice on the
tray in front of me. When he removed his hand, my drink and a tiny,
folded up note sat side by side.

I glanced at him but didn't speak. Sitting
between Harlow and the window with my tray down, it would be easy
to read the note without anyone else being able to see it. It was
in Scott's handwriting and simply said, “Change of plans – delivery
to Sgt. McGraw.” What did that mean? I was the delivery, but who
was Sgt. McGraw? I refolded the tiny note and took a sip of my
apple juice.

“How's yours?” I tilted my head toward his
ginger ale.

“It's fine.” His voice was tense, on guard,
more distant. The note concerned him, and I finally realized the
full implication. Keira would not meet us at the airport. Something
about our itinerary had changed, but why? Who called Scott? Was it
Guy, or Keira, or someone else? Surely it isn't something too
dangerous, or Scott wouldn't have sent me, would he? I thought of
the two of them shaking hands, Scott and Harlow. Harlow had been
entrusted with my safety.