Free Rose for Rose: Book Two in the Angels' Mirror Series by Harmony L. Courtney

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    “Mama, why,” Duncan asked as Chosen threw himself down on the spot in protest, his little fists pumping the air in silence.
    Why the little boy threw himself so passionately about whenever he didn’t want to follow instructions baffled Edward, since he himself grew up never being able to get away with such behavior.
    And then there was poor Duncan, who always seemed to sense something was wrong, even when it wasn’t. Was he to grow into a worrywart, or would Edward and Paloma be able to rinse the thought pattern from his little mind before it became a lifelong pattern.
    “It’s alright, Duncan. Chosen, it’ll be okay. Mama and Papa need to talk for a few minutes. I’ll come get you soon,” she said.
    They obviously didn’t believe her, because Chosen’s protest spread to his brother, and soon they were both bawling.
    With yet a third sigh, Edward lifted one, then the other, thankful they were still fairly light, and with each tucked under an arm, tried to avoid getting hit too hard as he took them to their room.
    “Now listen here,” he said. “You need to do as Mama says the first time. Daddy can’t go carrying you around everywhere, and Mama can’t. She has Cherish to take care of also now, and you have to be big boys and help us make sure she has good role models. So listen to Papa and to Mama, alright?”
    He was beginning to tire, and wished he could take a nap before heading to his friends’ place. Finally, after more reasoning and threatening to send them to the corner, the twins were at peace, no longer upset, playing with some GI Joes in the middle of their floor.
    Glancing at the clock, Edward realized he would have to hurry in order to arrive on time. So, after briefly kissing a tired, smiling Paloma, and then his daughter’s cheek, he got his keys, pulled on his Stetson hat, and headed toward the door.
    “Call if you need anything. I’m not sure how long this will take, alright?”
    “Just be safe.”
    Cherish began to fuss as Edward opened the door and headed for the minivan. Though he felt bad leaving Paloma here alone with three babies at night, he was thankful it wasn’t often.
    With a turn of the key the engine came to life, and he began to whistle as he pulled out of the drive to meet the mysterious Rose.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    Seven
    Portland, Oregon… August 11, 2013
     
    Mark greeted Edward at the door, and even before he could get inside, he could hear Eugenie– and who he assumed to be young Rose - talking in the kitchen behind his friend.
    Mouse was barking at something, and Mark called for him to quiet down.
    Poor Mark , he thought as he entered, stopping momentarily to set his hat on the rack near the door. First he learns he’s going to be a Dad and now there’s a teenager in his house he’s never met, from another time and place!
    He tried to keep from chuckling as he found a place to sit at the long oak dining table.
    Eugenie was still wearing her pale pink 50s-style waitress dress, complete with little black pin-dots and a matching black apron and nametag.
    Whenever he saw her in it, or visited the café and someone else waited on him, it reminded him of the movies he’d seen with carhops in them.
    With a weary smile, Eugenie moved toward him to give him a hug, then quickly introduced him to Rose, adding, “And he came through the mirror, like you. It was a few years ago, but he came from a long, long time ago… and a whole other country.”
    Rose stared, then finally nodded. Her eyes held questions Edward couldn’t even begin to imagine, though he had been in a similar situation.
    “Want anything to drink since you’ve come all this way? Water, juice, soda, tea,” Eugenie suddenly asked them. “I’ve also got cocoa but it’s August, after all… and seriously, who drinks cocoa in August?”
    She sounded nervous.
    Tense.
    Unsure.
    The odd little laugh gave her away, as usual. But this time, she sounded