Timeless

Entry #1

Location: Darien, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Date: April 25 / 26, 1997

"Good evening, Miss Taylor."

With a smile, Michaela glanced to her greeter.

"I'm sorry I came back so late, Hannah; work was murder today. I hope Kara wasn't any trouble..."

"Oh no, she's been wonderful." the teenager replied. "She finished her homework early so I ordered some sushi for her as a reward. I hope you don't mind, she told me she really likes it. She's asleep right now."

"No, it's alright. Thank you for looking after her again; I know you're busy with your own studies..."

"Oh, I studied all I needed to. Kara didn't disturb me; she's a really sweet girl. But I should be heading home. Let me know if you need me to stay with her again."

Handing the girl some money, the woman nodded.

"I will. Thank you again, Hannah."

"Good night, Miss Taylor."

Once the girl had departed, the young woman locked the door and went upstairs to her bedroom. After a quick shower and a change of clothes she tiptoed to the door at the end of the corridor, which had been left ajar. Opening it a bit more, she peeked inside where her ten year old daughter was asleep hugging the stuffed bear she had gotten from her father just a few days before he had left.

"Mom...?"

The girl's sleepy voice stopped Michaela who had been just about to leave. Smiling, the young woman now stepped into the room and seated herself on the bed.

"Hi, baby..." she said tenderly, leaning down to kiss the girl's forehead. "I'm sorry I came back so late again."

Rubbing her eyes, Kara turned on the bedside lamp and rolled onto her back.

"It's okay... I know you have a lot to do at work."

"Hannah told me you finished your homework early today."

"It was easy..." the girl shrugged.

Falling silent Michaela spent the next few moments simply stroking the girl's chocolate hair. Sometimes she couldn't get over how mature Kara could be at times; she had wondered quite often if it was even normal.

"Mom..." Kara said, snapping the young woman out of her contemplation. "When is daddy coming home?"

It was at those words that the young woman's heart sank; she dreaded this daily routine, because she only had one answer to give. And it was always an answer which brought such sorrow to her daughter's eyes, that it left Michaela heartbroken. Two years had passed since her husband had left, and she could still remember that day as if it had happened just moments before.

At least he'd had the decency to wait until Kara was at school; she dreaded the idea of her daughter witnessing the terrible scandal triggered when her husband had said that he was leaving on an assignment. In truth, it hadn't been the news itself which had caused the tempestuous departure; after all, Michaela had known what she was getting into when she'd agreed to marry a CIA agent. No, what had angered her had been the fact that he'd informed her before leaving, of the fact that he had deleted his email address and had changed his phone number, claiming that it was best for her and Kara to not be in touch with him – and that he didn't know if he was ever coming back. When Michaela had demanded to know what sort of assignment was so important that he would break all ties with his own child, they had ended up arguing.

The last memory she had of her husband – other than the framed pictures scattered throughout the house or stored in photo albums – was his angry and hurt expression as he left the house. True, she hadn't been the perfect wife as he hadn't been the perfect husband; but with all said and done she still loved him. Even now she still hoped he would one day show up on their doorstep and that they would be a family again. Once she had mentally prepared herself for Kara's usual reaction, she drew a deep breath and lightly shook her head.