Free Mine Tomorrow by Jackie Braun Page A

have done if she’d been sent to live with strangers,” Devin admitted. That had been her worst fear at the time. “We had no other immediate family willing to step into the void and take on a teenager.”
    “And you still finished your education.”
    It was more statement than question, but she answered anyway.
    “I graduated with a business degree. Em’s in college now.”
    “Two smart women. I’d say your parents would be very proud of you both.”
    “I think so, too.” She smiled.
    “I can’t wait to meet her.”
    Devin managed to keep her smile from faltering as a thought occurred to her. If this wasn’t a dream, if somehow she really had been transported back in time to 1945, what would happen to Emily in present-day New York?
    Her sister needed her. They were all each other had. She couldn’t leave her, desert her. Could Devin ever be truly happy here without her sister?

Chapter Eleven
    After they returned to the apartment, they made love once more. As evening fell, they took their time, exploring each other’s body with as much reverence as passion. Devin was determined to remember everything about Gregory. Just in case.
    “Going out for food was a good idea,” he murmured from next to her on the mattress.
    Cuddled up against his side with one of her legs tossed possessively over his hard-muscled thighs, she merely grunted in agreement, too tired to speak coherently.
    What a day it had been. She was exhausted, both emotionally and physically. But when her eyes closed, she forced them back open. She couldn’t fall asleep. If she did she…she might never…she might never see him again.
    But no matter how hard she tried, her eyelids kept drifting shut. They were simply too heavy to heed her command. In the final moment before sleep claimed her, she heard Gregory whisper, “I love you.”
    * * *
    Devin shot awake, jackknifing to a sitting position on the mattress. The room was pitch black and as such too dark to make out the décor. Was she in her efficiency? Had she woken up to the present day with nothing more than memories of a phenomenal dream to share with her sister?
    She was alone. That much she knew for certain after running her hand over the spot next to her where Gregory had been laying. The bed was empty, the sheet cool to her touch. Tears pricked her eyes. A dream, it had
all
been a dream. The man, their marriage, their sweet, sweet lovemaking.
    On a sob, she fell back against her pillow and covered her face with her hands. More sobs followed, but Devin didn’t try to muffle them. Instead, she allowed them to seep out from her broken heart and echo in the room.
    Vaguely, she was aware of the sound of running feet. From a neighbor’s apartment probably. God, she hoped no one would call the police on her. The last thing she needed was for New York’s finest to show up at her door, asking if everything was all right.
    Nothing was, nor would it ever be again.
    “Gregory!” Even though she knew it was futile, she hollered his name.
    She sucked in a breath when she heard him shout back, “Devin!”
    At first, she thought it was wishful thinking, her mind playing tricks on her. But then she felt the mattress sag under his weight, and a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders.
    “Devin! My God! What is it? What’s wrong?”
    She opened her eyes, blinked as he switched on the lamp.
    “I’m still here,” she whispered as she glanced around in amazement.
    She wasn’t in her tiny apartment. She was in the one she shared with Gregory. Her husband. In 1945.
    “Of course you’re still here. Where else would you be?” he asked.
    The time had come, she knew, to explain everything.
    “I have something to tell you,” she began slowly.
    “Let me get you a glass of water first.”
    He was gone less than a minute, hardly enough time for her to plan out what she was going to say. When she’d finally fallen asleep the evening before, she really had believed that would be the end of it. A