Fated Memories (23 page)

“Sam,” Simon whispered. “Am I losing my mind? Were you there? Really? Is it true?”

“Yes, Simon, it’s true.” Sam whispered back. “The things I saw were amazing. A tiny lever on the wall lights up the whole room. Turn a knob and steaming hot water pours out. And the women, they go around the streets half naked. Catherine says I’ll get used to it, but I’m not so sure.”

Simon laughed and cried at the same time.

Maggie gathered her composure. “Okay, but wait. Let’s do this right. We can’t just disappear and not, at least, say goodbye to the Brunswicks. Look at how much they’ve done for us—the clothes, the care packages, your wedding, the
dress
. They’re part of this somehow. We can’t ignore that.”

“Of course not,” Sam said. “That’s why they’re waiting for us now at their hotel.”

“Oh, God, you guys thought of everything.” Maggie kissed the newlyweds and helped Simon with his cane.

***

The Brunswicks and Sam McCabe, Sr. had finished breakfast and were lingering over coffee as the foursome arrived. During the hack ride over, they had agreed to tell everyone their plan to rejoin Simon’s business in Wellsboro, only omitting the part about returning to the twenty-first century. Easy laughter and warm conversation filled their corner of the room until the inevitable time of departure came.

This wasn’t just a casual goodbye. Centuries would divide them. Knowing it would be for the last time, Sam embraced his father longer and tighter than he ever had. For Maggie, Simon, Kitty, it was impossible to say everything that filled their hearts. Tearful thanks and warm, lingering hugs passed among them.

Emotionally drained from the heart wrenching farewell, there were still important matters to discuss as they returned to Maggie and Simon’s room. Though they were eager to go home, the transition had to be carefully planned to minimize any chance of error or surprise.

The safest time to return, they decided, had to be the day after they disappeared. They had no idea what the consequences would be if there were two versions of them in the same place at the same time.

“I was holding you both by your arms when we ran from the club that night. I bet we have to be touching to travel together. Otherwise, only the person holding the locket would go.” Simon reasoned.

“That’s a good point.” Kitty agreed. “Sam and I were… um, touching when we woke up in my room.”

Maggie clutched the locket as they huddled close with their arms around each other, and wished to be in Maggie’s house on June 28th, 2015.

O
n the first day of class her palms were so sweaty she could barely hold her briefcase. The registrar had told her the roster was not only full, but several students were on the wait list.

Kitty’s preparations had been meticulous: the syllabus studied, lectures prepared and rehearsed, slides chosen. She’d even lined up a guest speaker for each side. Although she couldn’t very well tell them how she’d come by it, she’d be offering a unique perspective on the subject. This class on the American Civil War would be the best Penn State had ever seen.

By the time they’d come back she’d had enough of hospital work in any century to last a lifetime. She did feel a need, though, to tell people not only what a soldier’s life was like during that time, but also the lives of the women who supported them. Kitty had pitched that idea to the University, and they’d loved it.

Sam had been so patient and supportive while Kitty finished her Master’s and beamed with pride at the graduation ceremony. For a man of his time, he was quite progressive.

So much had happened in the three years since they’d returned to the twenty-first century. The niece that Kitty had expected turned out to be a big, healthy, bawling, baby boy. Maggie had been so worried that coming down with the chickenpox would cause a birth defect, but little Max was perfect. Kitty forgave Maggie for ruining the girls club when she and Sam brought Cameron Abigail McCabe into the world.

Simon had been telling the truth when he told Doyle about his thriving business and Sam’s degree in engineering won him an executive spot in the company. Of course, the fact that he’d saved Simon’s life didn’t hurt either. Simon’s brother, Matt, knew a guy who knew a guy, and got Sam set up with an ID and credentials.

Sam found the adjustment to the technology of this century challenging, but met it head on with enthusiastic determination. Everyday things like cars, refrigerators and telephones, that everyone took for granted, were new to him. Watching him discover and master each new advancement helped bolster Kitty’s own courage to follow her new path. Even his disdain for the current clothing styles had become a thing of the past and girls in their summer clothes were freed from his gaping stares.

The four of them had given up trying to unravel the complexities of how they were connected to Simon’s memories, and if the “butterfly effect” of the lives they’d touched hadn’t surfaced yet or had always been there. It would take greater minds than theirs to sort it out. Still, the bond between them remained strong, and the warm, dry house they all shared overflowed with love.

The infamous rose locket had been safely stowed away.

A transplant from the concrete sidewalks of New York City to the sunny beaches of Southern California, Ms. Carney enjoys writing stories about women who are strong—whether by nature or circumstance—and the men who love and respect them for who they are. Bold coffee and dark chocolate fuel the artistic fire inspired by her family, friends, and psycho cat.