Omniscient Leaps (24 page)

I pulled away to study his face. “You say that like you won’t be around to see it happen. Do you know something I don’t?”

“No. The future is as unclear to me as it is for you,” he said softly. “I wish I could say with certainty that I will always be here for you, but I just don’t know.”

“And I don’t want to think about such depressing things today,” I announced, pulling him through the crowd of people who had gathered nearby. “I have someone I need you to meet.”

Mom appeared as soon as we reached the far end of the bleachers. “So I finally get to meet the famous Luke.” She put out her hand and he took it into both of his.

“Very nice to meet you Ms. Benson. I’m sorry I can’t make regular appearances, but I’m sure Kara has filled you in on the complications that come with being in a relationship with me.” My mom nodded her head and even gave Luke a small wink before she completely blushed and turned away.

“So what does the graduate want to do now?” Mom asked as she grabbed my hand.

I took Luke’s hand in my empty one and held tightly. “I want to go to lunch with my two favorite people, of course,” I replied.

We moved across the field together and, although there were all kinds of eyes on us, I knew the two people holding my hands were the only ones that mattered today. I didn’t know what the future held for me and I wasn’t ready to think about it. For today I would enjoy the time I had with the two people I loved most. Nothing in life was guaranteed and I had to make the most of the
now
I was blessed with.

(book 2)

By Kimberly Slivinski

The sun slowly moved its way westward behind the expansive hillside as the evening hours crept closer. My friends and I were headed off to the local drive-in movie theater, one of the only fun and non-mischievous forms of entertainment available to us in rural Pennsylvania. Although the summer had started off unseasonable warm, I could feel a cool breeze settling in as I zipped my sweater and waited to see if my boyfriend would make an appearance.  I was running out of ways to explain his mysterious materializations and I prayed Luke would show up within the five-minute time line—not that we even had set plans.

Over the last six months my life had changed in ways I never would have believed. Leaping through time to help God’s selected individuals while dating a nineteen-year-old who had been serving God for over one hundred years sounded like religious science fiction to anyone else, but it’s a normality I have learned to love.

“So what’s it going to be, Kara?” My spunky blond neighbor teased as she made her way up the sidewalk to my house. “Are you going stag or is your prince going to show?”

“Thanks for the drama, Rey,” I sneered, “but I’m sure I am not the only one going solo on this outing.”

“You’re right. Who needs a man when we are camping out under a canopy of stars with a slight nip in the air.” Reyna zipped her bright blue fleece as she batted her coordinating eyes mockingly. “Why does Luke have to be so mysterious anyway?”

“Who’s mysterious?” A deep soft voice echoed behind me as a smile tugged at my lips. He wrapped his arms around me and I forgot what we had been talking about.

“How do you do that, Luke?” Reyna asked with an obvious skepticism. “Kara made it sound like you weren’t coming.”

She was more observant than any of my other friends, but not likely to uncover truth. Even someone with the deepest founding faith would probably consider me insane if I enlightened him or her. Besides, a little anonymity made life more exciting.

I turned around to kiss Luke’s cheek. “I was just tying up some loose ends at work,” he began. He ran his fingers through his curly blond locks and amazingly kept his eyes locked on hers. Bending the truth wasn’t something he cared to do often. “So where are we off to?”

Reyna laughed and then tugged on a strand of my lengthy red hair. “I’ll let Kara fill you in.” Two cars rounded the nearby street corner and parked in front of my one story brick ranch. After spotting them, Reyna turned her back to us and began walking across the outstretched lawn.

“You know I have no control over when and where I appear, right?” Luke began.

I grabbed his hand. “Yes, we’ve been over this. I know you have other leapers to guide and that comes first. Frankly I’m surprised how much I’ve been seeing you lately. I’m starting to feel unworthy.”

I slumped down on the porch steps while I watched my friends horsing around on our abnormally green lawn. They obviously weren’t in any hurry to get going and I’d been avoiding this conversation long enough. I needed some reassurance if nothing else. Luke took his place beside me and waited quietly for me to explain.

“I’ve had one mission, Luke, and I thought I did a good job,” I began. “After seeing how many lives were changed for the better, I couldn’t wait for my next assignment. It’s been weeks and the summer is nearly over.” I paused and gulped back a lump in my throat. “Maybe God didn’t like the job I did. Maybe I did something wrong or changed something I shouldn’t have.”

“Kara,” Luke began. He pulled my hand into his and I already felt more at ease. “That first assignment was rough and I’m sure you are just getting a long break.” He glanced up to make sure my friends were still entertaining themselves. “With or without leaping, I’d like to think you’ve had an unofficial impact on others around you over the past few weeks. You leave for school soon and you are going to have all kinds of changes. I am sure He has something in the works for you and we should just be thankful we’ve been blessed with this time together. Besides, time works differently where He resides.”

“You’re right,” I agreed. “Your inaccessible place in this universe is arbitrary so His must be too. I’m just over thinking stuff. That’s what an unscheduled, wide open summer will do to a girl who’s used to staying busy.” He winked, clearly sensing my need for reassurance. “At least I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Him daily doing the devotionals and readings you helped me select.”

“See,” Luke smiled supportively, “He’s got you working on your relationship with Him and I don’t think there’s anything more important than that.”

“You’re right,” I exhaled. “Thanks for listening.”

Reyna and the rest of my friends waved for us to join them.

“So what are we doing?” Luke inquired once more as I pulled him slowly towards the car. His eyes lit up like a child and I giggled. I forgot how new everything was for him after being away from the real world for so long.

“We’re going to see an outdoor movie,” I replied. His eyebrow arched, leading me to unleash a repressed giggle. “Picture a giant movie screen outdoors in a wide open field. We get to enjoy nature and technology at its finest together.”

“It sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he whispered, jabbing me in the side.

Although drive-ins, tucked into fields surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, were commonplace to the residence in rural Pennsylvania, I knew this night would be different. With Luke present it was certain to be a memorable evening.
If he can stay.

 I wrapped my arm tightly around his, wishing that my mere hold could keep him from being called away in the middle of our date.  Miraculous instantaneous departures were commonplace in our relationship, something I doubted any of my classmates could relate to or add to their list of dating impediments.

We pulled into the rocky drive, paid the minimal fee for a carload of moviegoers and scoped out the perfect location to park. Once we had unloaded our initial provisions, I stretched out on a shabby down comforter beside Luke while my friends trekked off to the snack bar. Unfortunately for me, staying behind meant I’d been tasked with finding the station necessary for broadcasting the audio for our first movie and the ancient radio we’d brought along was not cooperating. The sun had nearly set and if I didn’t find the correct station soon we’d be lip reading.

The large three-story screen illuminated just as a piercing blast exploded from the device in from of me. I snapped to attention while my fingers adjusted the knobs on the small sound box. Trying to ignore the glares I was receiving from the patrons around me, I worked to find the appropriate volume as quickly as I could.

“It’s nice of you to share our radio with everyone, Kara,” my friend Gage teased as he snuck up behind me. “But it appears they’d rather control the volume themselves.”

“Ha,” I snorted. “I didn’t think this piece of junk could belt out such a high level of decibels. I was obviously mistaken. Besides,” I stopped to scowl at the older couple beside us who were enjoying some alcoholic beverages, a little too much, “this is a movie theater after all… not a bar.”

“Technically the movie is just part of the outdoor ambiance here,” Reyna giggled as she tossed me a soda and glanced around as if she were on stage performing. “People come here for lots of reasons. Kind of an all-encompassing date spot, right?”

I shook my head and tried to focus on Luke. Reyna was persistent in her need for attention and my friends seemed to be more interested in her performance jab than the movie starting on the screen. My lips twitched and I tried not to crack a smile while she continued on.

“See that couple over there,” she began as she pointed to a couple sitting in their truck reading. They didn’t even seem to notice each other. “They have kids at home and they are just here to enjoy some quiet time away from them.”

I raised an eyebrow as Luke chuckled beside me. “A logical assumption, but why didn’t they just go to the library or café?”

“They have to front some excitement,” Reyna replied. Then she turned to point to another couple snuggling under a blanket. “They came here to—”

“I think it’s clear why they came here,” Jenna, Gage’s girlfriend and my close friend, chimed in. Our entire group was sporting various degrees of disapproving smirks while Luke, who often forgot the raging promiscuity in our current times, just appeared confused.

“They came here to sleep?” Luke whispered, doubt plaguing his question.

I nodded my head slowly, closed my eyes and bit my lip briefly. “They are making out.”

 “Out here in the open for everyone to see?” Luke’s face fell. “Is there no chivalry?”

“Shameful, I know,” I sighed in a whisper. Reyna had long since moved on. While my friends continued to fuel her ego with their enthusiasm, Luke and I had somehow silenced the clatter around us and were having our own private discussion. “Sadly, television is the most influential role model young people have and promiscuous behavior is a big draw for viewership. The days of wholesome shows teaching young people moral lessons are passé. I don’t know how else to explain it. Why do you think I stick with the programs that focus on facts and history?”

His eyes reflected a keen understanding while a depressing expression tugged at his lips. “I’ve listened to you talk your about your social gatherings. I guess I just didn’t realize how widespread the conduct was.”

“Didn’t any of your leapers ever enlighten you on the free love of the sixties and seventies?” I teased. His expression didn’t change. “It’s been like this for a while, Luke. What can I say? Most of us are blinded by what society tells us is appropriate and we don’t know any better. We need a major moral overhaul and I don’t know if there is anyone able or willing to step up for such an undertaking. Maybe if the obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah had happened some time during the last century we’d actually get it.”

“Kara,” he began, a small grin cracked through his gloom. “I’m not judging, just trying to understand. Every period in time has had its fill of transgressions... I’m just experiencing yours firsthand and—” His eyes wandered over to the couple under the blanket. “Out in the open.”

“Hey downers,” Reyna was shouting. “I know I’m no comedian, but you could try to act amused.” She plopped down on the blanket and I tried to think of something to say. I hadn’t heard the last five minutes of her dialog. After glancing at the screen, and before I could open my mouth, she added, “And don’t tell me you were into the movie previews because we haven’t turned the sound back to an audible level since returning from the concession stand.”

“Luke was just telling me about one of his work debacles,” I replied. Because he looked twenty something, my friends believed Luke was a pilot and although it wasn’t exactly an accurate title it was close enough. “Sorry we tuned you out.”

Reyna squinted her eyes and puckered her lips disapprovingly.

 “Let’s just watch the movie,” Jenna pleaded as she turned the volume up.

I shifted my body beside Luke and winked at Reyna. She grabbed a handful of popcorn, shoved it in her mouth and shook her head. As she turned to face the giant screen I watched her trademark smile settle in. No boyfriend or college plans, yet she had a strength and confidence I admired from afar. I only hoped my new path in life, as a leaper and college student, would transform my insecurities.

Our first feature film was
Twilight
. Most of us had seen the movie several times, while this was Luke’s first movie ever. I had once asked him if he ever read any fiction and he said non-fiction and historical fiction were usually the only books I’d find on his expansive bookshelf. He didn’t have control over his selection and didn’t seem to mind either.

Seeing how engrossed he was with the picture made it hard for me to pay attention. I enjoyed watching his expressions and I only tuned in when someone in my group noticed me staring too long at Luke. By intermission we were all ready for a good stretch.

“So Luke, being the only one who’s never seen that movie,” Reyna began, a sly grin manifesting on her face, “does it make you believe there are actual vampires out there?”

Luke stretched his arms and ran his fingers through his blond curls. “Anything is possible, I guess. If they can hide themselves so easily, why not?” He winked at me and I was immediately filled with an unexpected excitement and fear.