Waiting for Dusk (28 page)

Jackson helped Katie up the stairs and Joanna
was already in the bedroom making things ready. After Katie was in
her bed, she said to them, “Your work here is done. Fine job!” She
really wanted them not to hover and they respected her wishes.

After awhile there was a knock on the door.
Lindsey slowly opened it. “Hey, how’s the princess?”

“Get in here! How was school? Did Tyson go
today? Was Erin mad?”

“First things first, you didn’t tell me how
you are.” Lindsey sat down on the end of the bed.

“I’m feeling much better, now go ahead.”

“Tyson did come to school today. He was
acting like he was the hero who saved your life. All he did was
call 9-1-1. Erin was upset at first but is putting on a good show
now. She’s standing by her man and all that.”

Typical high school. Kate was glad she wasn’t
there to see it. “Wow, I should have guessed. Now, I need your
help. When I go to see Drew I won’t be here. Since I was just in an
accident my parents are going to keep checking in on me. I need
someone to sleep in my bed.”

“And you want me to do that. I’ll have to
tell my mom I’m sleeping over here and hope she doesn’t tell yours.
We’ll have to make up something so she won’t tell. You were just in
an accident so she’d probably say yes. This could work.”

“My parents have to think you’re going home
on Tuesday night. Then we’ll sneak you back in,” Katie had planned
most of this through while she was still in the hospital.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then, after school. I
hope you’re doing the right thing. After all, you just had a
concussion. What if something happens back in good ol’ 1927 and you
don’t make it back?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“You know I believe all this stuff. You’re
really going to the Grand Canyon and I won’t be able to help you.
Grandma J is also your friend and she’d never forgive me if I
didn’t lecture you.”

“I told you I’ll be fine but thanks for
worrying.”

“I’ll let you rest. See you tomorrow. And
don’t do anything stupid until I get back.” Lindsey closed the door
as she left the room.

It was almost dinnertime and Katie wanted to
go downstairs to join her parents. She needed to practice moving
around. She picked up the baby monitor which she couldn’t believe
her mother still had—you never know when you might need it she had
said--and called to them. “Mom, Dad, you there?”

Before she could even finish her request, her
father was at her door.

“I’d like to come downstairs. I’m bored up
here and need to move around.” Katie looked at him with her pouting
face that always worked.

“There you go again with your famous boredom
speech,” her father put out his hands. “I’ll help you up.”

Jackson carefully guided Katie down the
stairs and put her on the family room sofa. She was happy to be
sitting up in a regular seat. It felt pretty good. Katie still had
one whole day to get better before she left.

Her mother was in the kitchen making dinner
and soon they were sitting at the table eating and talking. Katie
planned on being extra good and was on her best behavior. She
didn’t want her parents to suspect a thing.

“You guys don’t have to check on me every
five minutes now when I go to bed,” Katie teased. “I’m getting much
better, really.”

“Then we will check every ten minutes,” her
father teased back.

They watched TV together and then her mother
helped Katie back upstairs. She gave Katie her phone and the remote
control. “No laptop today, it may make you dizzy. No reading for
awhile.”

“Okay, Mom, goodnight, or should I say see
you in ten minutes?” Katie was feeling a little tired. She planned
on sleeping and nothing else.

* * * *

Immediately turning on the TV the next
morning, Katie wanted to be distracted until Lindsey came over. She
mindlessly flipped channels. She was awake pretty early and most of
the channels had news and morning shows. Katie decided to watch the
weather channel for awhile because she needed to know what the
weather was like in Arizona for some reason. After hearing about
the mild November that Ohio was having no snow, not much rain, and
temperatures in the high fifties they finally got to the national
map. Flagstaff, Arizona was also having high fifties and sunshine.
That was the only difference, gray here, sunny there. That’s one
thing Katie missed the most, the sunshine and the blue skies. She
was starting to sound like her Aunt Lucinda. Ohio didn’t have many
sunny days in the fall and winter. Well, she would be there soon
enough.

Katie’s phone rang, playing the Anna music.
She excitedly picked it up because she would have someone to talk
to about her plans.

“Kathryn! Are you alright? Lindsey called me
last night and I just about fell off my chair when she told me what
happened to you. Here I thought you were busy with school and
that’s why I haven’t heard from you. I don’t think I like this
Tyson fellow very much. He’s bad news.”

“Anna, take a breath and let me talk! I’m
much better today. Tyson’s not a bad guy, just a teenager like the
rest of us. Don’t be too hard on him. I really want to discuss my
plan with you because I need your help.”

Anna and Katie talked the morning away. Katie
filled her in on everything but was surprised by what Anna said as
they ended their conversation.

“Maybe this should be the last time you do
your time traveling. Enjoy the here and now. Tell Drew you will
always love him and explain you live in the 21st century. I’m sure
he will understand.”

Katie could not believe what she was hearing.
Anna was a romantic who believed in love. Now she’s telling Katie
to just live in the present. She thought Anna understood she
couldn’t do that.

“You think I should tell him I live in the
future? Won’t he think I’m a little crazy?”

“Maybe not, you need to give him more credit.
How is the Jack Wood’s book reading coming along?” Anna completely
changed the subject.

“Fine, two down, one to go,” Katie didn’t
have the heart to tell Anna she used one of the books as a decoy at
Maya’s house.

“Which one is left?”

“The journal, but I have started it.” Just
then Katie heard her mother coming up the stairs. She was probably
bringing lunch. “It was so nice of you to call, Grandma J, and
check up on me. I’m doing fine, really.”

Katie’s mom entered the room and said, “Tell
Anna I said hi.”

“Mom says hi,” Katie could just picture
Anna’s face after she called her Grandma J.

“Okay, kid, I get your mom is there now. I’ll
let the Grandma J go this one time.” Anna was too funny. Then she
said, “I will be praying for you. Have a safe journey. Also, Happy
Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, and tell
everyone there we send our love,” Katie hung up her phone. ‘Thanks
for lunch. I think I’m going to rest again after eating.”

Katie planned on conserving all her strength
and quickly dozed off after lunch.

* * * *

“What are you doing in here?” the sound of
Lindsey’s voice woke Katie up. She opened her eyes and saw Tyson
and Lindsey in her room.

“Katie and I are working on a science report
for class. It’s done and on a flash drive. I was just looking for
it here on her desk. Her mom said it was okay if I came up. It’s
due next Monday. Gosh, Lindsey, you don’t have to be such a
brat.”

“When it comes to Katie, I can be more than a
brat! You’re not one of my favorite people right now, Ty.”

“Sorrr – ry! Geesh! I’m only trying to do her
a favor.”

“It’s okay. Ty and I are working on a paper
together,” Katie chimed in. She remembered signing up for a certain
topic and Ty made sure he did, too. They were assigned to write the
paper together by the teacher. Katie made sure they met at school
or at the library to work on it. She forgot it was due Monday.

“Thanks, Ty. I think we just need to
proofread and print.”

“You’re not supposed to be reading so I
thought I’d take it home and do it. Take care and have a good
Thanksgiving,” Ty came over and took Katie’s hand. He kissed it
lightly and left.

“You’re too nice to him!” Lindsey clenched
her jaw. “You need to be a little meaner, cousin.”

She walked over to Katie’s bed. “My mom
thinks I’m sleeping over at Jordyn’s. I didn’t want her calling
here at all. Jordyn knows I’m doing you a favor and will cover if
she has to. I’ll drive over there and she’ll bring me here. Then in
the morning she’ll come back to get me. She was great, didn’t ask
any questions. Maybe we need to bring her in on all of this.”

“Not yet,” Katie wasn’t up to trying to
explain anything to anyone. “Make sure you say good-bye to my
parents and they see you leaving. Call me when you are on you’re
way back tonight.”

Katie lay back on her pillows. There were
butterflies in her stomach and she knew they weren’t all from the
concussion. It seemed like hours before she heard from Lindsey.
“Finally! I thought you’d never call!”

“It’s only nine o’clock! Are you planning on
going to sleep already?”

“Yes, I am! Dusk was over three hours ago. I
could’ve been gone already!”

“Well, you better say goodnight to your
parents. They’re guarding the nest you know! Almost there, Jordyn’s
dropping me off about three houses away.”

“Tell her thanks and I love her! See ya in a
minute!” Katie hung up and went downstairs. “Mom, Dad? I’m going to
sleep now. I want to get rested up for Thanksgiving.”

“We can come up, honey, and watch TV in our
room so if you need us we’ll be close by,” her mom got up. “Come
on, Jackson. Let’s go.”

“I’ll be there in just a minute. I want to
get a soda,” Katie hoped that would work and they’d go without
her.

Her dad walked through the kitchen and said,
“See you upstairs.”

Katie tiptoed to the front door. She opened
it quietly. Lindsey was already standing there, again wearing her
black hoodie. It was hard not to laugh at the sight of her. She
slipped in and the two went up the stairs trying not to make a
sound.

Katie hid Lindsey in her bathroom. She handed
her the soda and closed the door, then put on pajamas and walked to
her parents’ bedroom. She climbed in bed with them and hugged and
kissed them goodnight hoping it would be enough.

“I’ll be fine tonight, don’t worry about me,”
she hugged them one more time and headed back to her room. Lindsey
was in her bed when she got back.

“You have to stay in the bathroom until I’m
gone. What if you end up going with me?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. This is kind of
scary!” Lindsey shivered.

“You don’t have to do this, I’ll understand,”
Katie rubbed Lindsey’s shivering arms.

“No, let’s do it. I’ll be fine,” Lindsey
walked back to the bathroom and closed the door.

Katie went to the bag and got out her book.
Then she walked over to her desk, found all the letters she wrote
Drew and tucked them in the book. Climbing into bed, she opened the
book to start reading. After a few minutes, Katie felt tired and a
little dizzy so she put the book down to rest for a minute.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Katie looked around
at the familiar surroundings. It was so good to be back. She
quickly searched around in the bed for the book, sighing with
relief when she found it. The letters were inside. They made the
trip with her. Katie slipped out of bed and into the hallway
searching through the little closet that contained her clothes. The
smell of Swedish coffee filled the air. Mr. Johansson must be in
the kitchen. Katie grabbed an outfit and ran back to her room.
After she was ready she entered the kitchen.

“God morgon, Mr. Johansson,” Katie remembered
to use the Swedish he taught her.

“Flicka! I did not expect to see you
already,” Mr. Johansson came over and gave her a big hug.

“Could I ask a favor?” Katie’s heart was
pounding. She just wanted to get to the canyon.

“Of course you can! Anything for my wife’s
favorite girl,” Carl smiled like a proud papa.

Favorite girl? Maya must have talked to Carl
about me. Katie liked that. “Would you be able to drive me over to
El Tovar?”

“Let me have my coffee and we will head
over,” Carl headed over to the stove. “Ruthie and Molly have to
work today but not until the dinner shift. They’re sleeping
late.”

“What about Anna?” Katie was unsure if she
wanted to see her or not.

“She’s not working today. I believe she’s
going riding with Daniel later,” Carl sipped his coffee.

Anna was probably sleeping, too. That was a
good thing. Katie needed to stay focused. She sat at the table with
Mr. Johansson while he had his coffee with a cinnamon roll. It
looked good but Katie’s stomach was not in the mood for eating. She
just made small talk and hoped he would hurry and finish.

Finally Carl stood up and said,” I’ll find my
hat and we’ll get going.”

Katie ran outside, and jumped in the Buick.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the air was cool.
She hoped Drew was already here, and they could enjoy this day
together.

Mr. Johansson dropped Katie off at the back
of the building as usual. She waved good- bye, and told him not to
worry about her. Katie didn’t know if she should go inside or not.
She would love to see all her friends, but seeing Drew was more
important. Just then, Thomas came out the backdoor.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Kate,” Thomas said
with one of his wonderful grins.

“Thomas, I’m so glad to see you. Do you know
if Andrew is here yet?”

“Yes, he is. I guess you want to know where
he is.” Thomas teased. “I believe he’s over at the Studio. He’s
helping out there today, preparing for the big lecture.”

“Thanks so much, you are the best.” Katie
started running.