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'Til the End of Time
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‘TIL THE END OF TIME
ISBN: 978-1-932926-44-6 (ebook version)
Copyright © 2004/2015 by Sabra Brown Steinsiek
Cover Photo: Nicolesa – Shutterstock
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Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review
Artemesia Publishing, LLC
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Tijeras, New Mexico 87059
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www.apbooks.net
‘Til the End of Time
Book 4 of the Taylor’s Girls Series
by
Sabra Brown Steinsiek
Artemesia Publishing
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dedication
For all the Fans of Taylor Morgan with gratitude.
In Memory of Rhen Busch and Toby Grossman, lovely women taken before their time and of Copper, Lead Sled Dog Extraordinaire
Acknowledgements
As always, there are many people to thank for helping me get this book written.
~My baby brother (and father of Jami Anne and Kelsey Caitlin), retired Master Sergeant James Andrew Brown, of the Army National Guard. I had already decided on Bosnia as a location when I found out he was going there. My thanks to him for details, and a heartfelt thanks to him and all the other men and women who serve our country so selflessly.
~To all of you who kept me going: my sisters Shannon and Eileen, Barb, Barry, Beth, Carolyn, Heidi, Jude, Kathy, Mark, Marsha, (and anyone else I might have missed!)
~And always, my husband, Will and our son, Jared, who never gave up on me and never let me give up on myself - I love you both.
Epigraph
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… A time to get and a time to lose…a time to keep silence and a time to speak…a time of war and a time of peace…
~Ecclesiastes 3
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prologue
Even after all these years in the public eye, Taylor Morgan hated interviews.
He didn’t let it show as he came into the room and greeted the reporter waiting for him. She, like so many before her, looked a little star-struck at meeting the legendary Broadway star. She began by asking about his new show, then went on to his history, and finally some personal questions.
“Your family is quite unique, Taylor. I understand you have three daughters?”
“We do. Megan is our eldest, but only by a few days. She was my goddaughter and I adopted her when her mother, Annie, and I married. After her mother’s death and my remarriage, Laura adopted her as well.
“Elizabetta is our second eldest. She’s only ten days younger than Meg and she’s adopted as well. We’ve often thought that the two of them were a single soul that was split and sent to two bodies, they’re that close to each other.”
The reporter interrupted, “Elizabetta is the Elizabetta - the designer and owner of Morganna’s?”
“She is. We’re very proud of her, but we’re proud of all our daughters. Megan is a child psychologist with her own practice. Not quite as glamorous but still important. She also is mother to our only grandchild.”
The reporter went on, “And your third daughter?”
“Annie came about the old-fashioned way,” Taylor said with a grin. “She was born just as we got the other two ready to go off to college. Now she’ll be heading off to college in a few months.”
“Your wife is Laura Collins. She’s a celebrity in her own right with her novels and freelance articles. Are there any ego problems at home?”
“No. I couldn’t be prouder of Laura. What I do changes people’s lives for a few hours, eases their problems, makes them forget the real world. Laura’s writing actually can change that world for the better. Our only problems come in the separations when she’s on assignment. We don’t much like being away from each other.”
Satisfied, the reporter wrapped up the interview and Taylor posed for photos. He was relieved when she left and the torture was over.
He picked up the phone and dialed home.
“Hello?” Laura answered.
“I just finished the interview.”
“And did you behave yourself?”
“If you’re asking did I hit on her, the answer is no. I learned that lesson when a certain red-haired reporter interviewed me in Albuquerque twenty-five years ago.”
“That redhead was the best thing that ever happened to you, Taylor.”
“Yes, you were, my love. You’re the only reporter I ever liked.”
“And it had better stay that way, Taylor Morgan,” Laura laughed.
Their talk turned to the everyday things in their busy lives and Taylor was grateful for whatever forces had sent Laura to that long-ago interview. How empty his life would have been without her.
Chapter 1
“Mother! What were you thinking?”
Laura looked up from her desk at Annie standing in the doorway. Tall, elegant, with a flair for the dramatic, Annie was h
olding her hair away from her head, looking totally frustrated.
“Actually, I was thinking about the upcoming elections. Is that any help?”
Annie rolled her eyes. “Mother, look at me! Look at my hair! What were you thinking?”
“I’m very fond of your hair, darling. After all, I’m a redhead, too.”
“Then why didn’t you think? Why did you name me Annie! Of all the names in the world you could have picked, you had to choose Annie?”
“You know very well you were named after Meg’s mother. Do you want to tell me what this is about?”
Laura smiled as her daughter fell onto the sofa in her office. “My hair. I have red hair…red, curly hair. And you named me Annie!”
“And that’s a problem?”
“Mom, all I need is a bald father and a dog who says—” At the word “dog”, their dachshund, Copper, raised his head and barked. Even Annie had to laugh at his timing. Pleased that he’d made them laugh, Copper got up, disturbing his twin, Penny, and they both began to bark cheerfully.
“Hush, puppies!” Annie giggled.
As the dogs settled down again, Laura asked, “Now do you want to tell me what this is about?”
“Auditions, Mom. I have to get my resume together and my headshots for next semester. I started working on it and looked at my name under my picture and realized that every producer and director I audition for will be thinking of that Annie and not seeing me. I can’t even use my middle name instead since you gave me your name. Collins? Do I look like a Collins?”
“Actually, you do. Your grandfather and me.” Before Annie could protest, Laura held up her hand. “But I know what you’re saying. I’m sorry. When you were born your father and I weren’t exactly thinking of your future plans.”
“You should have been,” Annie muttered. “Think Dad would let me change my name?”
“When you turn eighteen next year you can do whatever you want. Do you have something picked out? I’ve always been fond of the name Melanie. How about Melanie Morgan?” Laura shook her head. “No, that sounds like a romance author not an actress, unless you’re planning on a soap opera career.”
“The fact that I’m planning on a theatre career makes it a problem. And while we’re on the subject of a career, I’ve decided not to go to college.” Annie made the announcement as calmly as if she was asking for a glass of water.
“Guess again.”
“It’s my decision, Mom!”
“It’s our money that supports you!”
“But Dad…”
“‘But Dad’, what?” An amused voice came from the doorway and Annie turned to find her father leaning against the doorjamb, regarding her with that ‘what’s my little girl up to now’ look.
Annie darted a glance at her mother who just raised her eyebrows and settled back to watch the show. Taylor and Annie were both such strong personalities that they clashed more often than they agreed and the “discussions” were never dull.
“So what’s up, Princess?” Taylor pushed his daughter’s legs from the couch and sat beside her.
“Dad, I’ve asked you not to call me that!”
“Only in private, Annie. So what’s the disaster this time?”
“I just told Mom that I’m not going to college.”
“Guess again,” Taylor said.
“That’s what Mom said, too!”
“She’s right. You need to finish school before you start out.”
“Why? You didn’t.”
This time it was Taylor who looked to Laura for help. She shook her head silently. This was going to be good.
“No, I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.”
“And it doesn’t mean that I should!”
Taylor had an ominous sense of déjà vu…
“But, I know it’s what I want to do…what I’m supposed to do!” Eighteen-year-old Taylor Morgan had just told his parents he was giving up college to head straight to New York.
“Taylor, I have no objection to you trying for a theatre career,” his father answered. “I just think you need to take it a little slower, finish school first.”
Taylor looked to his mother for support. She was the one who had gotten him interested in theatre in the first place. She’d driven him to all of his theatre classes and never missed a performance. Surely, she would understand!
“Don’t look at me like that, Taylor Patrick. Your father’s right. We’re not going to try to stop you. We just want you to wait until you’ve finished school and are a little older.”
“Mom, older won’t change anything. I’m sorry. I know what you want me to do but I can’t. I’m going to New York by the end of the summer, with or without your support!”
Taylor tried to pull himself back to the present. He met Laura’s eyes and knew she was remembering the story he’d told her. The problem was, his parents had given in!
It hadn’t been easy for any of them. Taylor had always gotten along with his parents and that had been the only serious argument of his whole life. After days of slammed doors and arguments, his parents had offered a compromise. If the university would let him defer his scholarship for a year, they would help him through a year in New York. If, at the end of that year, he wasn’t self-supporting, he would come back and go to school.
He’d been determined to make it and he had…but with only a month to go.
And it certainly hadn’t been easy. Long hours, not enough money, working nights, auditioning days, no time for rest…Annie had no idea what she was wishing for.
“Dad?”
“Annie, humor me. Finish applying for colleges. We’ll discuss it at Christmas.”
Annie stood up and looked down at her father. “Fine. Christmas. And don’t think I’ll forget!” She stalked from the room and, a moment later, they heard her door slam. Only then did Laura laugh.
“Oh, Taylor, if you could have seen your face!”
“What was I supposed to say, Laura? Sure, it worked out for me but I’m not going to have my daughter living like that. It’s out of the question.”
“And how do you plan on convincing her?”
“I don’t know. I have ’til Christmas to think of something.” Taylor ran his hand through his own reddish hair in a gesture so similar to Annie’s that Laura had to smile.
“That wasn’t all of it, by the way.”
“There was more?”
“It seems we did her a terrible injustice in naming her Annie. She wants to change her name.”
“Laura, I know I wasn’t this much of a trial to my parents, so it must come from your side of the family!”
“I don’t doubt it, Taylor. She’s one of the Armijo women. Don’t forget, we generally get our way.” She stood up and dropped a kiss on top of his head as she headed out the door. “How long do you think it will take you to get used to calling her Melanie?”
Chapter 2
Taylor was in his office a few days later when he heard Laura come in. The “dogbells”, Copper and Penny, announced her arrival, and he could hear her talking to them. It was unusual for her to be home at mid-morning. Evidently her meeting had ended early.
“Taylor?” He heard her call out.
“In the office.”
As she came in, she kissed him before depositing her briefcase, and the file folders that wouldn’t fit, onto the nearest chair. Her emerald eyes were sparkling and Taylor could practically see the waves of energy and excitement surrounding her.
“You’ll never believe what happened, Taylor!”
“You won the Pulitzer finally?”
“No, but don’t think I won’t. In fact, this may be it—the story that wins it for me.”
She sat down in the armchair across from his desk and tucked her feet up under her. Taylor smiled. Grandmother or not, she didn’t lo
ok a whole lot older than when he’d met her. Never mind that their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary was coming up on New Year’s Day.
“This must be really big, Laura. I haven’t seen you this excited about a story for a while.”
“It is, Taylor. The Times wants me to go to Bosnia and do a story on the changes in the country over the last few years.”
“Laura, that’s still considered a war zone! You can’t be seriously thinking about it.”
“The war’s been over for years. The military presence is there to help in the rebuilding. I’ll have military escorts and my photographer. They’ve given me carte blanche in the focus of the story and I’m going to ask Chris to go along as my photographer.”
“Betta’s going to love that,” Taylor commented.
“Well, I hope she’ll be a little more supportive than you’re being.” Laura sat up and leaned forward. “Taylor, this is the chance of a lifetime. I have to take it. This is the story I’ve been waiting for my entire career.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“A month or so. It depends on what I find.”
“That could take you away over the holidays!”
“No, it shouldn’t. This is still September. I don’t leave until the end of October. Even if it went longer than a month,” she raised her hand at the look on his face, “and it won’t, I’d only miss Thanksgiving. You have to work that night anyway.”
“My working or not isn’t the point, Laura. You’re heading into dangerous territory. I’ve never stood in the way of your career and I don’t intend to now, but you can’t blame me for being worried.”