Paradigm (Travelers Series Book 3) (6 page)

So because of my dreams, I wake up exhausted, lightheaded even. Almost immediately upon waking up, I feel as if I have to take a nap—any doctor would probably say that’s why I have a fixation on caffeine. And I hate that Alex looks at me like a freak every morning, all sweaty and clammy. He doesn’t have to say it, I know it looks weird. I’ve tried explaining that they’re not night terrors, but as soon as he mentioned seeing a sleep specialist, I’ve stopped inviting him to stay over. It’s just easier that way. Sure, it puts an additional strain on the romance, but what’s a girl to do?

Present Reality

I
wake up this morning no different than I normally do: hair all frizzed and damp, face all flushed, and bed sheets soaked from sweat. Just a normal ordinary night of tossing and turning, at least that’s what my rumpled sheets indicate as I hop out of bed. I’m in desperate need of some coffee. No, Dr. Whatever, I don’t have a caffeine dependency. I just happen to love coffee.

So today, I decide to head over to Battle Grounds a little bit earlier than usual to try to beat the morning rush. I find that showing up ten minutes early makes a huge difference. Even though I’m running slightly ahead of schedule, I hope I don’t bump into anyone I know, least of all Cooper. For once, I’d like to enjoy my coffee, alone, before heading off to a day full of legal briefs and client baggage.

Since I’m not in a rush to get to the office, yet, I take time to savor their delicious brew of the day, when I see a familiar face walking up to me. So much for not running into anyone I know. My body instantly seizes at the sight of her. I shouldn’t feel apprehensive, but I still can’t shake the feeling I know her from somewhere. I have a feeling it has to do with my past. Damn Cooper for turning my life upside down, muddling my mind with nonsense. Now I think everything has a double meaning that stems from my harried past.

The woman waves hello from the other side of the coffee shop. It’s a good thing she’s the one approaching me. I don’t know if I have the guts to go over to her first. I actually like the woman, but it’s just an odd feeling I have.

“Well, hello there,” Maggie gushed. She obviously seems pleased to see me. “How are you and that strapping young man? Any plans to take me up on my offer for cooking classes?”

The tension I first felt upon seeing her again subsides as I stifled a giggle. “We’re good, thanks. And about those classes,” I start to say. I do feel a little embarrassed at having promised Maggie I’d take her up on her offer of free cooking lessons. With Cooper coming back into my life, I’d just been a bit sidetracked and forgotten about her generous offer. “I have a lot on my plate right now. I’m not sure if I have the time.”

Maggie’s hearty laughter lets me know no offense was taken. “Well, the offer still stands whenever you find the time. I’m sure spending time with an old coot like me isn’t as fun as that boyfriend of yours.”

“Oh, no! I’d love to learn how to cook. I promise, next chance I get, I’ll stop by. Mondays and Wednesdays, right?” She’s so nice, it’s hard saying no to her. Besides, maybe keeping myself occupied might be what I need to get my mind off things.

“Seven P.M. sharp,” she says as she begins to make her way out of the coffee shop. She’s still eyeing me as she stops abruptly, her smile turning into a frown. “What’s that?”

I realize I’m toying with the locket Cooper gave me again. I must have subconsciously pulled it out from beneath my shirt.
Damn!
Why am I still wearing it? Seems like everywhere I turn, someone has to ask about it. While I still didn’t really believe that it belonged to my mother, there’s a part of me that longs to be connected to something. Even if it is an old locket that may not have any real sentimental value. “What? This? A friend gave it to me.”

Maggie takes a step closer and tugs on the locket. “I know this piece. Where exactly did you say you got it?”

“My friend.” I don’t want to get into the details of the exchange over the locket and how it came to be in my possession, so I lie. “He found it at a pawn shop and thought I might like it. It was a birthday gift.”

Maggie looks into my eyes, unsure of what she sees in mine, and looks back at the locket. Maggie carefully opens up the locket, mindful that it’s still around my neck, and gasps. “That’s my sister-in-law,” she says, not quite believing what she’s seeing. “What pawn shop did your friend get this?”

At this point I don’t know what to tell her. The realization hits me.
Maggie.
When Cooper mentioned her name I didn’t make the connection. That’s why I was initially thrown when I saw her. I knew the name was familiar, but I didn’t put two and two together until now. And why would I? I only spent a couple hours in Maggie’s cooking class. But there’s no doubt about it. This woman is my aunt. That is, if what Cooper said is true. How in the hell do I tell her what I know?

She must have seen the look of shock register on my face and think I’m pulling a fast one over on her. The poor woman must think I’m a big, fat liar. I am, but not the way she must be thinking. Cooper was telling the truth all along about the locket, about everything.

“I can explain,” I start to say in a rush.

Perhaps I’m not giving her enough credit. Instead of making a scene by calling me a liar and demanding the necklace back, she makes her way over to one of the tables and pulls out a chair for me. “Sit. You can explain it to me now. I’ve got nothing planned and I’m all ears. You can start from the beginning and tell me where you got that locket.” Only she doesn’t sound upset as she says this—she sounds intrigued.

A deep sigh escapes me as I don’t want to lie to her. There’s nothing denying she’s my aunt and just knowing that makes me want to tell her everything. As it is, all I want to do is wrap my arms around her, but I restrain myself for fear of freaking her out even more. For once in my life, I have a family and this woman is a part of it—even if she doesn’t know it yet.

“Go on,” she urges, noting my apprehension. “I don’t bite.” She tries to smile to show me she isn’t mad at me, but I know she must be confused about the whole situation. I’m pretty nervous myself.
God, where do I begin!

I start by taking a seat next to her. Better to just start with telling the truth. It’s not like I can lie my way out of this one. Not now, now that she’s seen the locket. “My friend Cooper gave this to me the other day. He told me that it was my mother’s locket.” I tug on the tarnished gold necklace and turn it over in my hand so she can see. “Etta and Isabel, 1993,” I read the inscription aloud. “He told me that this was me,” I point to the child in the photo. “That’s the year I was born. I didn’t believe him when he gave it to me. Guess the joke’s on me.”

“Etta,” she repeats back slowly, as if recalling a fond memory. “I had a niece named Etta. She died when she was only five years old in a plane accident with her parents. It’s an unusual name, but I didn’t really think anything of it when I met you the other night in class.”

She then roots into her purse and pulls out her wallet. “This was before the age of camera phones,” she says almost apologetically as she pulls a picture from the weathered wallet. It was one of those family photos people used to take at department stores. The family in the photo were all smiles, and I recognized the woman in the photo. Her hair was styled differently, but there’s no question she was the same woman pictured in my locket. The little girl has aged a few years, and I know that face as well as my own. It’s mine.

“That’s my brother and his family,” she finally says.

“Cooper told me I had an Aunt Maggie,” I whisper, still not believing these turn of events. I’d pinch myself, but I know it’s true. The evidence is right in my hand. She’s sitting right in front of me and I certainly feel connected to her, just like I did a couple nights ago back at her kitchen studio. “I just didn’t know he meant you.”

Maggie sits there, letting everything I’ve just told her sink in. “I guess we both missed the clues, didn’t we?”

Wait, does this mean she believes me?

“Yeah, I guess so.” What now? Do I go on and tell her about the alternate universe story? I still don’t quite believe it myself, so how can I expect Maggie to? It’s one thing to be reunited to an aunt you didn’t know existed, but skewed timelines and multiple worlds is something you have to really wrap your mind around.

I already know the truth, but I ask anyway. “So you really are my aunt?”

I hold my breath, waiting for her to dismiss my ridiculous story. Without knowing the alternate reality part, the bigger question is, why would she believe me? Does she somehow think that I didn’t die in that crash when I was little? Now I’ve gone and made things worse. How do I tell her that the niece she remembers really did die in that plane crash and I’m from a different reality? That is, if I’m to believe that story myself.

Maggie stares at me for a moment. “Honey, I believe I am.” She doesn’t waste any time and literally scoots herself out of her chair and embraces me in the kind of bear hug I wanted to give her myself a few moments ago. I can smell the sweet fragrant perfume, not flowery at all, that clings to her like a field of sugar cane. “I don’t know how you were lost to me, but by God, you’re here now and I’m not letting you go.”

I squeeze her right back, silently giving thanks that she accepts the news with open arms.
She believes me!
We’re either both delusional or everything I’ve been led to believe is in fact real. There’s no one to thank but Cooper on this one. If it weren’t for him, my aunt and I would have never connected. I owe him big time. Maybe that’s why he came back. If that’s the reason, I’m eternally grateful. Is it weird that I don’t care that she’s the aunt of the Etta from this reality? The little girl that died all those years ago? No, I decide. In the end, she’s still family.

Maggie finally breaks her hold on me and looks me in the eye, “Honey, is this where you’re supposed to be?”

I’m still stunned over being reunited with her that I’m confused for a second by her question. “Sure. I’m a few minutes late for work now, but no biggie.”

She laughs. “No, I mean, is this the reality you’re supposed to be in?”

“What?” She’s not saying what I think she’s saying, is she? How does she know? I guess I don’t have to break it to her that I’m not her niece from this reality after all.

“Hon, I know my niece died in that crash all those years ago, but I also know
you’re
my niece, too. If you’re here, that only means you’re not from this reality. Isn’t that right?” She raises her eyebrows as if I’m supposed to know what’s going on.

“So, Cooper was telling me the truth. I don’t belong in this world,” I say, dumbfounded. In my mind, I know he told me the truth, as I’m sitting here with my aunt, but actually saying it out loud cements my fate.

“I’d say, you’re friend is correct. Tell me dear, when he presented you with that locket, did he mention anything to you about how you came to this reality?”

I slump back down in my seat. “How do you even know this?” Maggie doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who believes in multiple universes. She cooks and bakes pies for crying out loud!

She rejoins me at the table. “There’s so much you don’t know. And the only reason I do is because of your father.”

My father.

All roads lead directly to him.

Thornberry Reality 2017

“D
o you know where Chase went?” Etta asks his twin Chance.

Chance didn’t take his eyes off the chart he was working on. “I believe he went with Jenny on some kind of trip.”

“Do you know where?” Etta couldn’t imagine what would be more important than to leave during a time as critical as this. Then again, they were talking about Jenny. But Chase was supposed to be the responsible one. She only hoped he was keeping her in line. Once Jenny got an idea to do something, there was no hope of changing her mind.

He shrugged. “I have no idea. Perhaps someone else knows where they went off to,” he offered. Which in Chance code meant:
leave me alone and go bother someone else.

“No, that’s okay. I just hope they get back soon. It’s pretty irresponsible of them to take off, just as things are starting to get worse around here.” She could expect this kind of behavior from Jenny, but not Chase. He and his twin were the only reliable ones of the group. But if Etta knew Jenny, and she did, she knew Jenny was no doubt responsible for their absence at the most inappropriate of times. “And speaking of taking off, are you ready to go back and meet with the past me?”

Chance looked nervous. “To be quite honest, I don’t think my going to visit you in the past will help matters.”

Etta was taken aback for a moment. They’d spent the last couple of days coming up with a plan to ensure Etta’s arrival in this future reality, including this assignment in particular, and they were all in agreement that Chance would be one of the ones that would go back to the past to help her. If he didn’t think he was up to it, he should have said something sooner.

“Why? We all decided this was the best course of action given the circumstances,” she argued. “Besides, I’m standing right next to you. I remember coming to this world two years ago. It works.”

“Yes, but the probability of this working is not in our favor. Something could disrupt the timeline again, only this time, I’ll be here working and you won’t be right beside me. Any time we meddle with the past, we run the risk of changing the future. ”

“And you know this how?” Etta wondered why she even bothers arguing with Chance. It was useless talking to him about his abilities, or rather probabilities. It was his specialty.

“I see the past, Etta. Granted, my ability to see into the past is not one hundred percent accurate, but I’ve already been foretold of the outcome. This plan fails.”

In the time that Etta had known Chance, she knew he was usually right. It wasn’t often that he was wrong about predicting the past. But this was different. Chance was making predictions about the future, one that he knew he can’t predict.