Hidden Talents

stirred. She glanced down and smiled. “Don't worry, your daddy will be here soon. He'll take us home.” Tiny Emily Crystal Ventress waved a tiny hand.
    The twins had been born, safe and sound and without complications, in their parents' bed in Witt's End. Their father had caught them both in his arms.
    The drama had no sooner concluded than word had come that the road had finally been cleared. The aid car arrived a short while later. The medics took Serenity and the babies to Bullington Memorial for a routine medical examination.
    Mother and babies had been pronounced fit and healthy by a cheerful doctor who had praised everyone concerned. Serenity, Gordon Trevor, and Emily Crystal had spent the night in the hospital. Now it was time to go home.
    Serenity crooned to the infants while she gazed in wonder at the hospital room. She had awakened this morning with a curious sensation of déjà vu. It hadn't taken her long to recognize her surroundings. A stark white room, golden sunlight, and a closed door. It was straight out of the vision she'd had last year in the pool cave.
    “Impossible,” she whispered to Gordon and Emily. “Sheerest coincidence.”
    She could have sworn that she heard a waltz playing.
    The door opened.
    A man walked into the white, sunlit room.
    He smiled at her.
    “Damn,” Serenity said. “Wrong man.”
    “Hey, hey, hey, Serenity. How's the new mother?” Lloyd Radburn bounced cheerfully over to the bed. He was grinning hugely. In his hand were two rolled-up copies of what appeared to be an academic journal. There was a pink bow tied around one and a blue bow tied around the other.
    She smiled. “Hi, Lloyd. What have you got there?”
    “This?” Lloyd held up the journal. “Just a little present for the kids. An advance copy of the next quarterly issue of the Journal of Social Dynamics . My article is in it. Thought maybe it would make a good souvenir for the twins.”
    “Why, thank you, Lloyd. That was very thoughtful of you.”
    “Think nothing of it. It got me the promotion. You are looking at the new head of the Department of Sociology at Bullington College.”
    “Congratulations.”
    “Hey, couldn't have done it without you.” Lloyd chuckled as he looked down at the infants in her arms. “The paper didn't turn out quite the way I had anticipated, but the editor said it was a unique piece of work. I, of course, agreed.”
    “What's the title of your paper?”
    “‘From Outsiders to Entrepreneurs: The Effects of a Small Business Enterprise on the Social Structure of a Typical Frontier Town.’”
    “That sounds impressive.”
    “Thank you. I thought so, too.” Lloyd tried and failed to appear modest. “Got to admit, I owe you, Serenity love. If you hadn't told the good people of Witt's End that it was okay to cooperate with me, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere with that paper.”
    “I'll show your article to little Gordon and Emily as soon as they're able to read,” Serenity promised.
    “Great. Say, uh, I've been thinking, Serenity…”
    Serenity looked up and saw the familiar gleam in his eyes. She groaned. “No, absolutely not. I told everyone to cooperate once in order to get rid of you. Don't expect any help on another study. I've got too much else to do these days.”
    “But this study will have more of an anthropological orientation,” Lloyd said persuasively. “I'm thinking of calling it ‘Visions, Traditions and Change: The Development and Modification of a Legend in a Typical Frontier Community.’”
    “Forget it.”
    “But it's perfect, Serenity. Especially now with little Gordon and Emily, here. Big finish for a living legend.”
    “What living legend?”
    “You.”
    “Lloyd, I'm warning you, I have absolutely no intention of helping you do another sociological study of Witt's End. Is that clear?”
    “Sure, hey, no need to worry about it right now,” Lloyd assured her. “You've got other things to think about at the moment. I understand that.”
    “I'm glad you do.” Serenity frowned. “Lloyd, do you hear a waltz?”
    “Someone's got a radio on down at the nurse's station.” Lloyd leaned forward get a better look at Emily Crystal.
    The door of the white, sunlit room opened.
    Caleb came into the room.
    He smiled at her.
    For an instant time stood still.
    “Right man,” Serenity whispered. “We've been waiting for you.”
    “Hey, hey, hey.” Lloyd stuck out his hand to Caleb. “Congratulations, Mr. Mayor. Kids look just like