Delia was delighted.
All that she had wanted since fleeing Hidden Springs was to find a cure her baby Alexander and she had done just that, with the help of Goodwin. Now maybe she and Alex could begin to have a
normal life. He was still young enough
that he should be fine and easily assimilate into high school. 
She turned to Goodwin to thank him again, and he simply pulled her into
an embrace and just looked into her eyes. She felt more loved in that moment than she had since Francisco. He ran his hands through her hair and then kissed her sweetly. Delia melted.
It was late and Delia didn't want this wonderful day or moment to end, so she asked Goodwin to stay the night knowing
what would happen if he did.
He had just been so sweet and patient with her. She knew this was why
she kept him away the past year. She
wanted him and apparently he wanted her and that would have interfered with her plans for
Alex. But now Alex was no longer a
barrier and this new relationship with Goodwin both excited and frightened her at the same time. She didn't know that much about him except that he had always been there for her when no one else was. That was enough.
They had a wonderful evening and the next morning, she
asked Goodwin to leave before Alex woke up. He begrudgingly agreed - and said he needed to tend to some things at home anyway.
Delia had told Goodwin about the ‘time machine’ that the strange lady at the
Consignment Shop sold her making her believe if she went in she could find a
life fruit. Hah! What a joke that was. But he was curious none the less and wanted to see it.
It was sort of fun to go inside. She figured it was some sort of virtual reality and she got ripped off. Although, now that she is remembering, she did find some things while she
was on her 'time' travels. She was able to
conjure stones with the cauldron (oops, another secret that Goodwin must never
know, not now anyway) so maybe it was just magic. Yes, she just had that thought. Magic. Hmmm. No, Delia decided not to tell Goodwin she had brought
back stuff from the past and future.
Delia took him to the backyard and they went
inside. Things were cozy in the time
machine and Goodwin took full advantage of being alone with Delia in the
dark. She had to admit, time travel with
Goodwin was much more fun than alone! They came out giggling.
Things were settling into a normal rhythm. She adored cooking breakfast in the mornings for Alex and then watching him get on the school bus. It made her feel so normal.
She would need to get a job soon
as their money was just about running out and she could barely pay the bills. She had sold a few of the 'special' fruits but it just wasn't enough. That was okay – and very
normal.
Goodwin became a frequent visitor, but Delia didn't let him stay the night anymore. She couldn't with Alex around. Things were beginning to
get serious. She realized she had fallen
in love with him and was pretty sure he felt the same although he never said the words. Because he didn't, she was afraid to tell him. She didn't want to scare him off. His actions seemed to indicate he felt that way. He was loving and attentive and seemed very interested in her; always asking a lot of questions. She was more than willing to give it a little more time.
But then, things just never can stay the same. Just as she was coming to terms with the idea of having a steady boyfriend, a normal child and starting to look for a job, a strange child – well not a child
really – a 16 year-old boy – rang her
doorbell. He introduced himself as
Humberto, her and Goodwin’s "child from the past they left in a cave”! Of course that was completely
ridiculous. However, he was dressed the part.  |
| Humbeto |
The worst part was "Humberto" looked just like Goodwin. What a cruel turn of events. Goodwin said he was never married. If he had a child, it was strange he never told her about him. She, of all people would have understood. She had one. Of course she told Goodwin Alex's father was dead, which was true, his spirit just remained tethered to this world. Small detail.
Delia
figured this was indeed Goodwin’s son and he probably just ran away from his
mother. Goodwin was leading a double life. She told Humberto she would call his "father" and they would sort it out in the morning since he wouldn't tell her where his mother was and kept insisting she was his mother.
Delia went to bed a mess. Couldn't she fall for someone that didn't have a hidden agenda?
When she confronted Goodwin the next day he told Delia that was insane! He tried to make her believe this wasn’t
true. He had never been married before
and had no children.
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