The Weird Travels of Aimee Schmidt: Seeking Others

by J. A. Schreckenbach

Joseph eased off the bench, then started towards Aimee.

  Damn, she thought.

  In a few seconds Joseph joined her. “Hey,” he said.

  “Hi. So, I thought your office was in the science building?”

  “It is, but I had a meeting with some of the professors here.”

  “Oh,” Aimee said.

  “Are you heading to another class?” asked Joseph.

  “No. I have to get to work.”

  “I came by last week, but you weren't there. The young lady said you no longer worked there,” stated Joseph.

  Figures, Brandi would tell him that, Aimee thought. “That would be Brandi, and technically she was right. I don't work at that store,” Aimee said. “I got moved to the other store near here, which I like better.”

  “Oh,” said Joseph, “I'll have to find it.”

  Grrrr, Aimee thought. “We don't have near the rare book collection at the campus store.”

  “That's all right,” Joseph commented, “the store has a good collection of rare books, and a real charm, but that's not why I visit it.”

  “Hmm,” Aimee said.

  Joseph glanced over at her as they headed out of the building and down the steps. “You heading to your car?”

  “Nope,” she answered, hoping he didn't want to accompany her.

  Joseph continued walking with her. “Do you walk to work?”

  “Yep,” she said. “It's not too far from campus, and it gives me time to move a bit after sitting all day.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean,” Joseph replied. “Do you mind if I walk with you? I'd like to see where this other store is, and I don't have another commitment until five.”

  “I guess,” Aimee said nervously looking around to see who else was around them. She hadn't run into Dylan, or Brandi, or Andrew, or Sarah, or Lynn while on campus, but she certainly didn't want any of them seeing her with Joseph.

  The two walked about a minute in silence, then Joseph broke the quiet. “Are you okay?”

  Aimee glanced over at him, “What do you mean?”

  He looked at her, and Aimee looked back down quickly to avoid his stare. “Well,” he began, “you seem quite detached, like something rather beastly is really bothering you.”

  How could he detect that from only a few minutes together? she wondered. “I'm fine,” she quickly stated.

  Joseph said, “Well, I have a knack for sensing people's feelings.” He paused and glanced at Aimee. She suddenly looked up at him. Aimee had the same ability. “Anyway,” he continued, “I don't sense things are well with you.”

  Aimee peeked again at Joseph. She couldn't hide her feelings from him apparently, but she also didn't want to share anything about her personal life, especially her separation with Dylan.

  “So, how is Dylan?” Joseph pried.

  The rocks in her stomach started jumbling around, like they did whenever she got nervous. After an awkward few seconds, Aimee finally answered, “I guess he's okay.” They walked in silence again. Joseph stopped abruptly, and Aimee did too. She turned back to him and asked, “What's wrong?”

  “Something has happened between you two, hasn't it?” he asked. His crystal blue eyes filled with curiosity. As usual, they seemed to capture Aimee.

  She couldn't talk about this with Joseph. It wasn't any of his business, and she certainly didn't want to give him any reason to get friendlier.

  “Joseph,” Aimee started, “I really don't want to talk about it.” With that she turned and continued walking faster. Joseph followed and quickly caught up with her.

  They crossed the street, a block away from the store. Joseph didn't say anything for a long time. Finally, he reached over and grabbed her arm. Both stopped. Aimee checked his hand on her arm, then looked up at him. Her aggravation immediately dissolved. Joseph's eyes seemed to work magic on her. Joseph said, “Don't push me out. You need to trust me. I promise I won't try to move in on you, especially if you are feeling vulnerable.” He paused, took a long breath, then continued, “I just want us to be friends. You know, as well as I do, that we were meant to be together, and well, if they want us to be together, we might as well get along with it. And despite what people think, I'm not exactly the egghead others portray me as. I can relate to people, and I'm a great listener.” He dropped his hand from her arm.

  Aimee continued to stare into his eyes. It took extraordinary willpower to look away from them, but she finally managed and got her thoughts together. Without saying a word, she started walking again towards the store. Her mind was stuck on what he had said. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she knew he was right. They wanted Aimee and Joseph together, no matter how much she fought it.

  Within a minute they reached the store. Before they entered, Aimee stopped, made sure that they were the only people within earshot, then said, “Thanks, Joseph. I believe you mean well, but I'm not sure I understand what they want. I just know what my heart tells me. I love Dylan. But you're right, there is something terribly wrong, and I'm not sure what to do about it.”

  Joseph said warmly, “Let me help.”

  Aimee replied, “I'm not sure you can.”

  “Look, I have to run up to Oceanside for the day on Saturday to check on how my students are doing. Go with me.”

  “I can't,” Aimee quickly responded.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “Because I have to work Saturday.”

  “And what if you don't have to work,” he started, “will you go then?”

  “I'm on the schedule, and besides, Jeff spends most of his time now at the other store.”

  “I tell you what,” Joseph said. “If I get you off on Saturday, will you go? I promise it's just for the day, no hanky panky. I think it would be really good for you to get away. And you'll find the dig site fascinating, I'm sure.”

  Aimee was positive Jeff wouldn't let her off, because that would mean getting Cheryl to work on Saturday, which she swore she wouldn't do, or Jeff would have to cover. That would never happen now that he hung out at the mall store goggling at Brandi all the time. But, Jeff was at the campus store when they entered.

  “Oh, good afternoon, Dr. Smith,” Jeff cheerfully greeted. “Are you enjoying your additions to your collection?”

  “Yes, they are excellent finds. I'm looking forward to adding them to my collection in the office back home.”

  Aimee continued on to the office and put her backpack away. She watched the two through the open blinds for a few seconds.

  “Our collection of First Editions here is not as big as the one at the other store, but I'd be glad to show it to you,” Jeff stated as he moved towards the display holding the scant collection. “I think I have one you'll find rather interesting, a bit pricey, but worth every penny.” Joseph followed, glancing back as Aimee re-entered and stepped behind the counter to count the cash in the register. She listened to Jeff work his sales pitch.

  “So, Dr. Smith,” Jeff began, “can I show you the signed 1984 I have? It truly is the best First Edition I've managed to get my hands on.”

  “Well then,” Joseph replied with interest as he surveyed the 1984 gem under the glass. “I would like to take a look at it.”

  Jeff quickly spread out the felt clothe, then handed Joseph his gloves, slipped on a pair himself, and unlocked the display. He reached in and delicately secured the book, and laid it gently on clothe.

  Like handling a newborn baby, Joseph collected and examined the book, taking his time to look for any imperfections.

  “It's in excellent shape,” commented Jeff.

  “Yes, I can see that it is,” Joseph responded, “and one of my favorite authors. It would be an incredible addition to my collection...”

  Jeff cut in, “Aimee will be glad to package it right now.”

  “What would you take for it?” Joseph asked.

  Jeff waited for a few seconds, then answered, “Three thousand.”

  Aimee gawked at the two men negotiating the deal. Three thousan
d?! Omigod! she thought.

  Joseph countered, “I'll give you twenty-eight.”

  Jeff said, “Twenty-nine.”

  “I tell you what,” Joseph started, but paused and gazed over at Aimee who was watching the two men with amazement. He winked at Aimee, then continued, “I'll give you twenty-nine..”

  With a glow on his face, Jeff quickly stuck out his hand to shake Joseph's hand.

  “...but Miss Schmidt gets this Saturday off as part of the deal.” He devilishly smiled at Aimee, then waited for Jeff to confirm the proposition.

  Jeff's brows shoved forward as he first looked at Aimee, then Joseph. Aimee looked shock, then she mouthed No! at Jeff. Finally, he replied, “Well, I...uh, I guess you have a deal.” He stuck his hand out again, and Joseph quickly shook it, then pulled his wallet from his back pocket, dug out his debit card and tossed it on the countertop.

  “You can give that to Aimee and I'll get this packaged for you, Dr. Smith,” Jeff said happily, yet somewhat confused. He didn't understand why Dr. Smith requested Aimee to be off, but if it sold his most expensive First Edition, he would have given her off the whole weekend.

  Joseph stepped over to the register and handed his card to Aimee. She took it and glanced up. He had a smirk on his face. She tried to ignore his enthusiasm. After ringing up the purchase, she gave the receipt to Joseph to sign. He quickly signed, then stuffed his card back into his wallet, and the wallet back into his pants.

  “Thank you,” he said readily to Aimee, “and I'll see you Saturday morning. Shall I pick you up at your place?”

  Aimee peeked at Jeff, who was standing there with the package in his hand ready to hand it off to the new owner. She shook her head, then reluctantly she answered, “I'll meet you here.”

  “Very good, then. 7:45. Here,” he said with a smile as he took the package from Jeff. He nodded at the owner and stated, “You drive a hard bargain, but I like doing business with you.” At that, Joseph left the shop.

  Jeff watched him leave, then he looked at Aimee for a few seconds. “I'm not gonna ask what that's about. It's not my business.”

  Huffily, Aimee commented, “Good, because it isn't what you're thinking.”

  “Well, whatever is going on, he just made me $2900, so I'll be glad to cover your shift on Saturday.”

  “I don't want to go,” she groaned.

  “You have to, or he'll want his money back,” insisted Jeff. He frowned at Aimee, handed her the display keys, then disappeared into this office.

  Aimee walked to the front door and stepped outside onto the sidewalk. She looked up, then down the street, but Joseph was gone. After a very long sigh, she went back inside. Whathahell just happened? she fumed. Joseph had wrangled his way into getting her to go with him to Oceanside...and she agreed to it! I am sooo not going, she decided.

  Chapter 18 Road Trip

  Before Aimee slipped into her car that evening, she opened her daily text from Dylan.

  Hey sweetheart...hope you had a great day...I hate being by myself in this big house...let's start over...please forgive me and come home for our first anniversary Saturday...all my love, dylan

  Aimee stared at the message for a long time. Deep down her brain told her she loved him as much as she had ever loved him. The daily texts or voice messages, or both, were hard for her. Part of her brain wanted to forgive, but then the other half would replay the video, so her heart couldn't get over the hurt. She hadn't been able to discuss this with anyone other than Sacha. When she spoke with Chels, she didn't dare tell her, or she would try to persuade Aimee to move to New York to get away from the jerk. From her years in therapy, Aimee knew she needed to confront it somehow to get through it, and talking it out with someone, although painful, would help her. Maybe getting away with Joseph might give her a chance to not think about it for one day, if only for a few hours, or just maybe he might be able to help her. He did say he was a good listener, Aimee remembered. Oh well, she thought, I better go, or Jeff might fire me. Swiftly she texted back she was getting away for the weekend to take some time to think, and she would talk to him when she returned.

  Saturday morning, an hour before opening, Aimee parked her car a few spaces down from the store front. She noticed Jeff's truck was already there, but she didn't want to go in to say hi. She was still upset with him for agreeing to Joseph's deal. Joseph was supposed to meet her there by 7:45, but he was late. She looked at her phone. It was 7:50. Aimee almost stuck the car into Reverse and left, but a truck pulled into the space next to her, and she looked over. Joseph waved at her to come on. Reluctantly, she turned off the car, grabbed her backpack, and got out. Joseph jumped out and opened the truck door for her.

  “Hiya,” he greeted with a big smile. He was unusually chipper this morning.

  Aimee eased into the passenger seat, and then answered not as enthusiastically, “Good morning.”

  “Sorry, I'm late, but I had to stop and get some petrol. So, are you ready for a jolly good day going back into time?” asked Joseph as he slid into his seat.

  Aimee stared at him, then she asked, “Literally or figuratively?”

  Joseph chuckled. “Let's hope we'll just see history at the dig site.”

  “I'm good with that,” said Aimee. “I've always thought those shows about excavations are really interesting, but I'd prefer not traveling back into time today, if we don't have to.”

  “Well,” Joseph began as he started the truck, then backed out, “I'm not feeling at all remotely like I do before a journey.”

  “Me neither,” Aimee added. It seemed odd, almost surreal, having this discussion with someone, but then again, she hadn't known anyone with the gift until Joseph. “So, what signs do you get?” she asked.

  “Well, so,” Joseph began, “my head usually starts feeling really light, like I can't focus, and then it feels like it might explode, and sometimes when I return I'm a bit dickey.”

  “Dickey?” Aimee replied

  “Not feeling well.”

  “Oh,” Aimee commented, “that's so weird. I usually get a horrible headache before, during, and after, but not always. Lately I've had some journeys that just happened. No warnings. Nothing.”

  “Me, too,” Joseph said as he glanced at Aimee, then he brought his attention back to the road. “So, how long have you been traveling?”

  Aimee peeked out the side window thinking back to when she was four. She looked back at Joseph and answered, “The first one I can really remember was when I was four.”

  “Seriously?!” he responded shocked. “I didn't start traveling until I was almost sixteen, but I knew for years that my parents were special so I understood the complex problems it presented living amongst the normal. Fortunately, Edward knew about my parents, and believed them. So, when either of them came back with any injuries, Edward would mend them. And then when I started traveling, he was right there to help if I got hurt.”

  “Geez,” Aimee replied, “I can't imagine the whole family being time travelers.”

  “So, does anyone know about you?” asked Joseph.

  “Nope,” she replied after a sigh, “and it's not been easy keeping it a secret from everyone. You don't know how many close calls I've had leaving and returning with others around, and then several times I got pretty messed up and I had to make up some crazy stories.”

  Joseph replied, “That’s total crap.”

  “Yeah, but that's not the worse part.”

  Joseph glanced over his shoulder, then sped around a car on the interstate, and eased back into the right lane. He snickered. “I'm getting better at driving on the wrong side of the road.”

  Aimee laughed, then agreed, “You seem to have the hang of it.”

  “So,” he said getting back to the conversation, “what's been the worse part?”

  Aimee peered down for a long few seconds, then stared out her side window. Finally, she looked at Joseph. “I...uh...I really don't feel like talking about it, okay?”

  Joseph glanced
at Aimee. He could tell she was struggling with something about traveling. It was time to change the subject. “Right,” he responded. He turned up the radio a notch, and they drove without talking for about ten miles. At last, he said, “So, I really like the Oregon coast. It reminds me a bit of the coasts back home, maybe a bit more timbered, but the weather is similar.”

  Aimee replied, “I grew up around the coast. I was born in Galveston, Texas, and Dad moved us to Oregon when I was three, almost four. He's a surfer so I kinda didn't have a choice. My dad raised my brother and me by himself, so when he went to the coast to surf, I had to go, and it wasn't long before I got hooked on surfing, too.”

  “Really,” Joseph commented surprised, “you surf?”

  “Not much any more, but yes, I surf.”

  “I've never really known anyone who surfs, I don't think. That's really natty,” said Joseph.

  “Natty?” repeated Aimee.

  “Yes, let's see, uh, awesome, or cool, as you Yanks say it.”

  “Geez,” Aimee stated, “I didn't realize just how different your English is.”

  Joseph scoffed. “Yes, well, if you remember, the people who founded your country spoke the same English language, then somehow over time you blokes have made a bloody shambles of the language.”

  “Yeah, right,” Aimee replied. After a few seconds she asked, “So, you've spent a lot of time on different coasts, right?”

  “Yes, but only in search of history,” he answered.

  “Hmm,” Aimee said. “It's interesting how your gift has kinda weaved into your career.”

  “Yes, you're right, I guess, but I hope you'll enjoy a look at history in a normal way today as much as I do.”

  Aimee snickered. “Yeah, I'm sure I'll enjoy looking at some old bones.”

  Joseph shook his head. “Oh, there's more to this than just old bones. You'll get to watch how meticulous the process is, and how it is like a detective doing a giant jigsaw puzzle sometimes with thousands of pieces.”

  Aimee smiled at Joseph. “Well, I'm sure it will be more interesting than wiping down glass counters and straightening books all day.”