* * * *
Levi exited the Mariner and pulled out his cell. He read the text Ta-Mara had sent. He was happy for Heather and Matthew—they were getting married and would be having a little one soon. He put away his cell and strode toward the docks. He checked the slips, looking for the number Matthew told him was his. Levi reached a corner and went to go around it but paused when he heard raised voices.
“I can’t fucking believe you invited that man.”
Levi didn’t recognize the masculine voice.
“Who? Levi?” Matthew sounded confused. “I told you I did that a while ago. Why is it a problem now?”
“He’s with that woman.”
“Ta-Mara?” Matthew was even more baffled. “She’s a nice woman, John. What’s your problem with her?”
“She’s black,” John roared.
“So?”
“He’s dating her and fucking her,” John said.
“So what?” Matthew said softly.
“It’s nasty. Not right. She’s a n—”
“Don’t say it.”
“Why not? You can’t possibly like the woman.” John sounded disbelieving.
Levi waited to hear what Matthew would say.
“I not only like her. I love her like a sister because she is best friends with my woman. The woman who will be the mother of my children and my wife.” Matthew lifted his voice. “And just to make sure it’s clear… Heather’s African American. And I love each and every inch of her.”
The sound of flesh hitting flesh reached him. Levi went around the corner and he paused, watching as Matthew wiped his mouth then spat. Blood was leaking from the corner.
“I gave you that one,” Matthew said softly. “Our partnership is over. I will send your shit to you. How did I never know you were a racist asshole?”
“I can’t believe you’re ending our partnership over a n—”
Matthew hit him, and John dropped to his knees. He was up and swinging at Matthew and the men exchanged blows, swearing at each other. Light reflected off a blade John pulled and Levi went to step in. He grabbed John’s arm and the man turned on him with a snarl. The hate in his eyes made Levi flash back to another time. He felt the bullet ripping through him. Then saw this man standing over him before he strung him up. Levi roared and hit him. John reared up to stab him, and Levi blocked it. He hit him again and twisted his arm, disarming him. He flung the knife away then kicked John in the knee, going to the ground and beating him. Levi straddled him, hitting him repeatedly. Hard arms grabbed Levi, pulling at him. Levi resisted and kept hammering John.
“Levi.” Matthew’s voice broke through the fog clouding his brain. “Stop before you kill him. He deserves it but you’ll go to jail. Think of Ta-Mara,” he yelled in his ear.
Levi stilled, reason flooding back into him.
Matthew held him tight, and Levi said, “I’m okay. Let me go.”
He did, but pulled him back from John, who was in a pile on the planks of the dock. Levi looked at the battered face and tried to feel regret but didn’t.
“I’m going to call the police,” Matthew said. “It was self-defense, since he came at me with a knife, then you. But we need to make sure to do this right so we don’t both get arrested.”
“Why would they take our word for it?” Levi faced Matthew.
“Thank God the dock owner installed cameras all over.” Matthew pointed up. “Sound and video. It will cover our asses.”
“Okay.” He held out his hand to Matthew. He took it and they shook. “Thank you for defending Ta-Mara.”
“No thanks needed, man. John was insulting my woman too. I never knew he was a racist. When you think you know people, you find you don’t…” Matthew shook his head as he dialed.
Levi glanced up and he shuddered. The rage coursing through him brought everything back to him. He just wanted to go home to Ta-Mara but knew that wasn’t possible yet. Soon he would.
* * * *
Levi stopped on the porch, looking up into the night. The day had slipped away from him as the cops came and questioned him and Matthew. They had taken John to the hospital. Neither he nor Matthew had called Ta-Mara or Heather, thinking it best to tell them in person. They had spent a few hours at the station as the police reviewed the tapes to confirm their accounts. John was being charged with assault instead of them. When they had left the station, they had gone for a drink and something to eat.
“Where have you been? I was getting worried.” Ta-Mara spoke from inside the house.
Levi watched her through the screen door. “I missed you, Ta-Mara.”
She came outside and grabbed his hand. “Levi, what’s wrong?”
He explained what had happened. Ta-Mara’s eyes were wide when he was finished.
“Oh God. It’s a good thing we got you identification.” She smiled. “See, I knew it would come in handy.” She squeezed his hand. “Coming to Matthew’s aid like that… It was good of you to do.”
Levi knew it was time. “I didn’t do it for him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Matthew and John look exactly like the men who almost killed me before I came here.”
Ta-Mara drew in a harsh breath. “L—”
“I need to tell you about my past.” Levi held her hand tighter. “About Calliope. You might hate me for calling her by your name when you find out about us.”
“Levi.” Ta-Mara looked guilty then she disentangled her hand from his. “Wait here a second.”
She turned and hurried into the house. Levi frowned, wondering why she would leave when he needed to talk to her. Ta-Mara came back into view in moments. She pushed open the screen with one hand and Levi immediately was drawn to the book she carried. Ta-Mara stopped before him and held it up so he saw the cover. The words
Unbreakable Bonds
seemed to glow. He reached for it but she held it away from him.
“This book is my favorite. I was reading it when you appeared at my job a few months ago.” Ta-Mara lowered her head then lifted the book again and touched the cover. “It’s the story of a man named Levi Madison and his love, Calliope.”
Levi narrowed his eyes. Ta-Mara told him of the story in the book and Levi listened in disbelief as it detailed a lot about him and Calliope. Then how Ta-Mara had fallen in love with him in the book, thinking he was such a great man.
“The book isn’t complete and left a lot out. I know that now.” Ta-Mara raised her head. “I’ve been having dreams of Calliope, experiencing things like I’m in her shoes.”
She told him about the dreams and Levi went rigid as his most intimate moments with Calliope were laid out by Ta-Mara.
“I should have told you before that I knew about you.” Ta-Mara held out a hand to him. “I didn’t know how.”
Levi stepped back before she could touch him. “So let me get this straight. You know me from some book. So basically, you love this man from a page.” He gestured to the book. “I’m not that man, Ta-Mara. You fell for some hero in a book. I’m just a man, Ta-Mara. I have faults and am not perfect.” He turned away. “I thought you loved me but I see I’m wrong. I wish you luck in finding a man who can live up to the expectations you have built up from the man you read about.”
“Levi—”
He ignored her call and went down the steps. He went into the woods and to the trail that led to Jessie Mae’s, but he veered off and went to the water. He stood on the bank staring out at the moon.
“For God’s sake, Levi,” Calliope said behind him.
“Go away.” Levi pivoted to face her then turned away.
“Between you and Ta-Mara being so stubborn, I’m not going anywhere.” Calliope sighed. “Don’t get all broody and withdraw, Levi. Ta-Mara loves you.”
“She loves the myth of our love. Why did you let her see your memories?”
“I—”
“Don’t deny it. Her dreams were you somehow messing with her. Why?” He glanced at her.
Calliope averted her gaze. “She needed to know everything about us. Not just things from a book.”
“What we did during sex wasn’t necessary for her to know.”
“It was.” She met his gaze glaring at him. “We were great together, Levi.”
Levi clenched his fist. “If it was so great, then why did fate take you from me? Why did you die and I live to be transported here?”
“Levi, it is as it should be.”
“Don’t give me that.” He turned on her. She was still dressed in white. He closed the distance to her. “You know something, Calliope, and you need to tell me.”
“I don’t know anything,” she protested, backing up.
“I know you, Calliope, like I know my soul.” Levi advanced. “You are lying. Tell me.”
“Fine. I interfered, Levi,” Calliope said, “I could not let you die. I made sure you would find the one woman who is yours.”
“That was you,” Levi said shakily.
“No.”
Levi stared at her and it dawned on him what she was inferring. “Ta-Mara.”
In a whisper, Calliope spoke, “Levi, you are a man whose love is pure. In a world divided by color, you never faltered. Despite everything put to you, you stayed true to your heart and never turned your back on your soul mate. For that, I tell you this—rest now, fear not, for you shall be returned to the arms of your love. Trust your heart, for it won’t lead you astray.”
He stepped back, recognizing the words. Memory flowed into him and in this time, no longer in pain, he realized it had been her voice.
“Why?” He shook his head. “No, it makes no sense. You’re my soul mate.”
“I was, for an all too brief moment.” Calliope blinked, tears raining down her face. “Ours was a love that survived throughout time, Levi. My love for you made me know I had to let you go. I had to bring you to this time so you could find a woman who would be yours. You are meant to be with her now. She is your heart, soul and body. Bu—”
“You interfered.” Levi pivoted. “I’m tired of women making decisions for me. Keeping things that are important from me.”
“Le—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“L—”
“Didn’t you say you needed me to let you go?” Levi slashed his hand. “I did. I let go of the anger, and you should be gone.”
“You were always such a stubborn ass,” Calliope said.
He turned, glaring, and she faded from view. Levi focused on the lake, crossing his arms. Pain ripped through him with the discovery of Ta-Mara not really loving him, but only caring about him because of some book she’d read. And now Calliope and her interfering… Levi sat on the ground, legs under him. He needed to figure out what he would do.
Chapter Eighteen
Ta-Mara staggered when he walked away. She went to the railing and gripped the post, staring after him as he went into the trees.
“Levi,” she whispered.
She knew he would be angry but she’d never expected the hurt in his gaze. She had messed up so badly. Ta-Mara sat heavily on the porch. She held the book to her chest.
What the hell am I going to do
?
“Get off your ass and go after him.”
Ta-Mara gaped at the ghost before her then started to laugh. “Perfect. First the man I love walks away from me, now I’m seeing things. Yes, I am going crazy.”
“You’re very sane.” Calliope put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “Why are you still sitting there? Go after Levi.”
“I’m not doing what some ghost tells me.” Ta-Mara rolled her eyes. “God, I’m talking to a ghost.”
“I’m not a ghost.” Calliope paced back and forth before her. “I’m a spirit.”
“Excuse me, oh Miss Spirit,” Ta-Mara scoffed. “Ghost or spirit—it doesn’t matter because you are not real.”
Calliope narrowed her eyes then squatted by her and reached out. Ta-Mara scrambled back, gripping the book.
“Well if I’m not real, why are you afraid to let me touch you?” Calliope snickered. “Not afraid of a ghost, Ta-Mara?”
“Don’t taunt me.” She sat up and glared. “What the fuck is your problem? In my dreams, you were much nicer.”
“I’m nice, but right now I’m pissed.” Calliope set her hand on her knees, glaring at her. “After all, I did to get Levi to you. You go and fuck it up with that damn book. I wish now I never gave it to you.”
“What?” She started at the cover then Calliope. “You gave me this?”
“I put it where you could find it.” Calliope rubbed her fingers along the bridge of her nose then lowered it. “I wanted you to know him before you met him. Hell, I’ve been haunting you—get it, haunting you—a ghost reference. Never mind. I let you see what we had.”
“Why would you want me to know him? He was the love of your life.” Ta-Mara narrowed her eyes. “Hey, wait, you’ve been fucking with my dreams. I should deck you!”
“You can try.” Calliope beckoned to her. “That is, if you are over your being afraid of me. As if I am frightening.” She smiled widely.
“I want to know why you gave me this.” She held up the book. “And why you would mess with my dreams.”
“I already told you why I gave you the book.” Calliope pursed her lips then sighed. “My memories were to show you what we had. So you could see the man he was and the one he was with you. You are his and he yours.”
“But you are his soul mate.”
“He said the same thing.” Calliope narrowed her eyes. “Now listen up close. For my time, Levi was my soul mate. But it was brief and I made a deal that he would get love again—that he would find someone else who was his soul mate. One he would have a long happy life with, and many kids. Levi will be a wonderful father. It has taken a long time for what I set in motion to be fulfilled. Now it is happening and I’m not going to let you muck it up. Go after him.”
“He’s hurt. I need to give him time,” Ta-Mara said.
Myself some time, so I can figure out what to say to make it right.
“Stop being a coward and go after him. To hell with time.” Calliope shook her head. “If you give him time to brood, Levi will get stubborn and dig his heels in. He’ll have himself convinced you did only love him because of the book.”
“He wouldn’t listen to me. I was trying to tell him that was not true.” Ta-Mara rose.
“Don’t tell me that. Tell him.” Calliope stood in a fluid motion. “I swear, between you and Levi, I’m going to be stuck here forever.”
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“Because I want him to be happy,” Calliope roared. “With you, the one who is the soul mate, that he will grow old with. That is, if you can get your shit together.”