All My Tomorrows

by Karen D. Badger

  "I don't know. Why don't we go find out?" Jordan replied.

  Maggie and Jordan approached Chuck. "Do you need a hand with something?" Jordan asked.

  "Nope. After three years, I'm an old hand at this," he said as he pulled a medium sized wheelchair out of the back of the SUV and opened it.

  Jordan and Maggie stood by as Chuck wheeled the chair to the side of the car and opened the back passenger door.

  "Come on, sweetheart," Chuck said as he lifted the young girl out of the car and placed her in the chair, then swung the chair around to face Jordan and Maggie. "Ladies, I'd like to introduce to you, my daughter, Jessie. Jessie, this is Jordan and Maggie."

  Maggie was immediately on one knee beside the wheelchair. She took Jessie's hand in her own and shook it. "Hey, Jessie, I'm Maggie."

  "Nice to meet you, Maggie," the girl replied somewhat sullenly.

  Instead of squatting down, Jordan stood beside the chair and extended her hand. "Jessie, I'm Jordan," Jordan said, forcing the girl to look up at her. Jordan maintained eye contact with her as she shook her hand. "You and I are going to become good friends," she said.

  Jordan noticed how uncomfortable Jessie was at making conversation as the girl looked away. She squeezed Jessie's hand to get her attention once more. "Hey, do you like horses?"

  Jessie nodded.

  "Maggie, would you mind taking Jessie to the barn? I think Shawny and Sally might enjoy meeting her." Jordan spoke volumes to Maggie with her eyes.

  Maggie smiled. "Of course I will. Come on little one. You're in for a treat," Maggie said as she pushed Jessie across the barnyard.

  Jordan turned to Chuck. "How long has she been depressed?"

  Chuck shoved his hands deep into his pockets as she watched Maggie and Jessie enter the barn. "Almost from the beginning. As you said, being in that chair is the worst part of this for her."

  "Does she know about your association with me? Have you talked to her about the implant?"

  "No. I thought it might be good for her to get to know you and Maggie first."

  "Okay. I just didn't want to blindside her with anything you hadn't prepped her for."

  "I appreciate that, Jordan," John said. "Oh, I almost forgot." Chuck opened the front passenger door of his car and retrieved a legal sized manila envelope. "This is for you," he said as he handed it to her.

  Jordan looked between Chuck and the envelope before opening it and retrieving the documents inside. Her eyes opened wide. "Chuck, I can't thank you enough. How did you do this?" she asked as she scanned the birth certificate, social security card and passport she pulled out of the envelope.

  "Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it," he said.

  Jordan's eyes filled with moisture. "I can't tell you what this means to me."

  "Well, I can't tell you what your work means to me, and to Jessie."

  "Chuck, I would have helped Jessie regardless of whether you could produce these documents or not."

  Chuck nodded his head.

  "So, I assume you had to go through illegal channels to do this. Is there anything I need to do to assure neither of us gets into trouble over this?" she asked.

  "Just stay on the right side of the law and no one will get hurt," Chuck replied. "The way I look at it, you're not really an illegal. You're just here at the wrong time."

  "So you know how I got here?"

  "I suspect how you got here. What was it like?"

  "Bright light, brilliant color, a little pain. Kind of like I would imagine being born would be like."

  "Are you able to go back?"

  "No, but then, I don't want to. I am here for Maggie, and to help people like Jessie."

  Just then, their attention was drawn to the barn where Maggie and Jessie emerged. Jessie wore a huge smile on her face as Maggie pushed her back across the yard and stopped in front of Chuck and Jordan.

  "Anyone interested in a horse ride?" Maggie asked.

  "Can we, Dad? Can we? Please?" Jessie begged.

  "I thought we'd ride out to the north pasture and check on the new foals," Maggie said.

  Chuck looked at Maggie worriedly. "Is it safe for her to ride?" he asked.

  "She'll be fine. In fact, she can ride in the saddle in front of me," Maggie offered.

  "Maggie is one of the best horsewomen I've ever seen, Chuck. I don't think you need to worry."

  "Please, Dad," Jessie said, batting her eyes at her father.

  He pointed at Jessie and looked at Jordan. "See what I have to deal with? How can I resist that face?"

  "Is that a yes?" Jessie said hopefully.

  "I guess so, but you need to mind Maggie, okay?"

  "I will. I promise," Jessie said excitedly.

  "Why don't we all go?" Maggie suggested. "Jordan, we can saddle Trixie for Chuck. She's a pretty gentle mount. Do you ride Chuck?"

  "I haven't ridden since I was a boy, but I'm willing to give it a try."

  "All right then," Jordan said. I'll go saddle the horses."

  "I'll give you a hand, Jordan," Chuck offered as they both headed toward the barn.

  Maggie turned to Jessie and put her hand out for a high-five.

  * * *

  For the next three hours, Maggie, Jordan, Chuck and Jessie rode out to the north pasture and spent time with new foals. When they reached the new barn, Jordan fashioned a make-shift chair out of some hay bales and covered it with a horse blanket so Jessie would have a comfortable place to sit. The smile never left Jessie's face as she fed the young colts and brushed their shiny coats.

  "They're beautiful," she exclaimed over and over.

  "I haven't seen her this excited and animated for three years," Chuck said to Maggie as Jordan led another foal toward Jessie to be brushed and fed. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness and attention to her."

  "Some day I hope to establish a riding school for handicapped children, right here on this farm. I've been researching what it will take to get it off the ground. We've got a lot of work ahead of us… permits, improvements to the farm, including new safety features, and I need to design a saddle that can be used safely, regardless of the child's handicap. It will take some time and money, but I'm determined to do it. Its reactions like Jessie's that fuel my drive to do this," Maggie said.

  Chuck nodded. "She seems to have taken a liking to you. She's hasn't been close to anyone since her mother died in the same accident that put her in that chair. Again, I can't thank you enough."

  "No thanks necessary, Chuck. She's a lovely young lady." Maggie looked at her watch. "We should probably head back. It will be dusk soon."

  Jessie insisted on riding once again, in the saddle in front of Maggie. On the way back Maggie let her control the reins, and she soon learned how to manipulate the direction of the horse by pulling on one rein or the other, all the while receiving direction and reassurance from Maggie that she was doing a good job.

  When they returned to the barn, Chuck dismounted first and gave his horse to Jordan as he put his arms out for his daughter to slide into. Maggie and Jordan put the horses in their respective stalls and walked Chuck and Jessie to their car. Jordan opened the back passenger door, but before Chuck could place Jessie inside, the young girl reached out and wrapped her arms around Maggie's neck and kissed her on the cheek.

  "Thank you, Maggie. Can we do it again some time?"

  "Of course, dumpling," Maggie said.

  Jessie then reached for Jordan and hugged her as well.

  Chuck raised his eyebrows in surprised then placed his daughter inside the car and buckled her in. He closed the door and faced Jordan and Maggie. "I don't have the words to thank you enough. You have made today very special for Jessie."

  "She's a special, girl, Chuck," Maggie said. It was our pleasure."

  "What she said," Jordan said with a crooked smile while extending her hand to Chuck.

  "I'll be in touch over the next few days to set up the paperwork for the foundation, Jordan."

  "T
hank you, Chuck."

  "No need to thank me. You're giving my daughter's life back to her. I'll talk to you soon."

  Jordan draped her arm around Maggie's shoulder as they watched Chuck and Jessie drive away.

  * * *

  "Hollinbeck, you owe me an explanation."

  "It's not my fault, Mr. Robinson. Malone pulled our funding because of that bitch Jordan Lewis," Hollinbeck explained.

  "What exactly did Ms. Lewis do?"

  "She apparently has come up with a cure for complete spinal cord injuries. Don't ask me how she did it. The technology just doesn't exist today. She tricked us."

  "She tricked you? How?"

  "She said she had already tested the device on a human subject, but what she failed to say is that she was the test subject."

  "How exactly does that qualify as tricking you?"

  "Don't you see?" Hollinbeck said. "Never before in the history of SCI's has a complete break been cured. She was walking back and forth across the front of the room like she had never been injured. Never in a million years would anyone believe she had a severed spinal column. She was vague about her credentials and she withheld information we needed to make informed decisions."

  "Yet she was able to convince Malone of her authenticity."

  "Apparently. By the way, did you know Malone is the founder of the JEM Foundation?"

  "Yes, I did know that. It's public knowledge, by the way. If you had done your homework, you would have known it too."

  Hollinbeck fell silent and stared at the floor.

  "Your negligence has cost the institute a significant amount of money, never mind potential future recognition and funding. I hold you personally responsible for this, Hollinbeck. If you know what's good for you, you'll make this right. I don't care how you do it, but you need to fix this. Your reputation just may depend on it. Have I made myself clear?"

  CHAPTER 28

  "Hey Gina, this is Jordan. Are you and Sam up for a cookout and bonfire tonight?" Jordan said into her phone.

  "Hi stranger," Gina said. "We haven't heard from you in about two weeks. We wondered if maybe you transported back to the future or something."

  "Very funny, Gina. Actually, a lot has happened over the past week or so. I'll tell you all about it when you come over."

  "Cookout and bonfire, huh? Hold on a sec."

  Jordan listened as she heard Gina ask Sam if she was interested in going to Jordan and Maggie's for dinner. Jordan smiled as she realized that was the first time she had ever heard the farm referred to as Jordan and Maggie's.

  "Okay, I'm back," Gina said. "Sam wants to know what we can bring."

  "Rumor is she makes a killer strawberry rhubarb crisp."

  "Done. We'll bring the fixings and make it at your place. When do you want us to come over?"

  "Any time you'd like."

  "Well, since you've made me curious about what's been happening with you two, we'll be over in about an hour."

  "Sounds like a plan. See you soon."

  * * *

  "Okay, Jordan, now take the wooden spoon and mix the butter, brown sugar and oats together until it starts to clump, then finish blending it with your fingers," Sam said.

  "You seriously want me to put my hands in butter?" Jordan asked.

  "Yes, it's the best way to make the crisp layer. Trust me. It will be fine."

  "If you say so, Sam."

  "I do. Now keep mixing while I spoon the rhubarb mixture into this baking dish."

  Maggie walked into the kitchen from the side porch carrying the packaging from New York strip steaks. "Steaks are on the grill and Gina is keeping an eye on them," she said.

  Sam looked up quickly. "You're letting Gina cook?" she asked.

  "She didn't do such a bad job on the burgers we had at your place a couple weeks ago," Maggie reasoned.

  "Ah, actually, they caught on fire, but we saved them before they became hockey pucks," Jordan confessed.

  Maggie grabbed the spray bottle and garlic salt from the cupboard. "I guess I'd better give her a hand then."

  "How does this look, Sam?" Jordan asked as she tipped the bowl of oats toward Sam.

  "Not too bad. Now, go ahead and spread it evenly over the top of the rhubarb, then put it into the oven. I've already pre-heat it to three hundred fifty degrees. Oh, and set the timer for thirty-five minutes."

  "Got it." Jordan followed her instructions carefully then grabbed four wine coolers from the refrigerator and carried them out to the side deck. She passed Maggie on the way out.

  "After you deliver those, do you mind coming back to help me carry out place settings?" Maggie asked.

  "Sure. I'll be right back."

  Over the next few minutes, Jordan and Maggie worked to prepare the picnic table on the side deck for four, and then carried out salads and corn on the cob, while Sam and Gina finished grilling the steaks. Soon, they were all sitting around the table filling their dishes and eating their meal.

  "The steaks are perfect, Sam," Maggie said.

  "We're missing something," Jordan said. She looked around the table for clues. "Ah, steak sauce. I'll be right back." While she was inside, the timer on the oven went off. "Sam, the timer went off. How do I know if it's done?"

  Sam came into the kitchen. "Let me take a look at it." She opened the oven door and peered inside. "Nice and golden brown. Perfect," she said. Sam retrieved the pot holder and removed the baking dish from the oven, then shut the oven off. "We're going to leave it right here on top of the stove to cool. By the time we've finished our dinner, it should be cool enough to eat."

  "So, Jordan, what's the big news you have to tell us?" Gina asked as Jordan settled into her place at the table.

  "Well, I gave my presentation a little more than a week ago to the spinal institute, and within four days, I received a rejection letter in the mail."

  "Seriously? They rejected your proposal? On what grounds?" Sam asked.

  "On the grounds that I didn't provide any evidence of my educational background or experience. The letter indicated that I was too much of an unknown for them to risk investing that kind of money."

  "Well that sucks," Gina said.

  "I thought so too until my cell phone rang just moments after I received the letter. The call was from Charles Malone."

  "Charles Malone… Charles Malone. Where have I heard that name before?" Gina asked.

  "Isn't that the name of the benefactor at the spinal institute? I remember you mentioning him the last time you were at our house," Sam said.

  "Yes, that's him. Anyway, he came to the farm and we had a long discussion about the implant. He wants to set up a private foundation to fund the development. We also talked about his daughter."

  "Thirteen and wheelchair bound," Gina said.

  "Yes. Her name is Jessie."

  "So you two talked about the implant. So what happened next?" Sam asked.

  "Chuck returned a few days later, with his daughter in tow."

  "She is a very sweet young lady, and she took immediately to the horses. We even made time for a horseback ride to check on the new foals," Maggie said.

  "She took immediately to you, Maggie," Jordan said. "It's almost as though she bonded with you instantly."

  "Yes, she did," Maggie agreed.

  "So he came to the farm just for you to meet his daughter?" Gina asked.

  "That, and to bring me something else. Let's say it was an act of good faith to let me know he was serious about funding the foundation."

  "So what did he give you?" Gina asked.

  "Give me a minute and I'll show you." Jordan rose from the table and went into the house, returning a few moments later with a manila envelope, which she opened and dumped onto the table."

  "Holy shit!" Gina said as she picked up the birth certificate, social security card and passport. "These look amazingly authentic. He must have paid some serious money for them."

  "My thought exactly," Jordan said.

  "He's put his neck on th
e line to get these, Jordan," Sam said. "I'd say he's pretty serious about the foundation."

  "So now that we have Jordan's identity problem taken care of, who'd like to help me plan a wedding?" Maggie asked.

  * * *

  Maggie and Sam sat on the front porch swing watching Jordan and Gina toss a baseball back and forth in the barnyard.

  "You do know your life is about to take a drastic turn," Sam said.

  "I suspect it will," Maggie replied. "For starters, once the foundation is established, Jordan won't be around much. She's actually decided to keep the apartment in Burlington until she understands what her work schedule will be like. If she ends up working late into the evenings, it doesn't make sense for her to drive forty minutes home just to get up five or six hours later and drive back in."

  "How do you feel about that?"

  "Are you asking me if I trust her?"

  Sam shrugged. "I guess I am."

  "I trust her implicitly. I'm convinced she wants to keep it for the sheer convenience, and besides, she gave me a key, so I could drop in unannounced at any time. I don't think she would have done that if she had ulterior motives in mind."

  Sam nodded. "I thought as much, but I just want to be sure you're not hurt. You were pretty devastated when you and Jordan split up a few weeks ago, and I don't ever want to see you in that state again."

  Maggie rested her head on Sam's shoulder. "Thank you for looking out for me, my friend."

  Sam kissed the top of her head. "Any time, little sister. Any time."

  They rocked back and forth in silence for the next few minutes.

  "Have you told your parents about Jordan?" Sam asked.

  "Yes, I have. I talk to them weekly. I haven't gone into any detail about her, for example, they don't know she's a research scientist, but they know she's here and that we are in a relationship. They know that I love her."

  "Did they voice an opinion about Jan leaving?"

  "They haven't said a word about Jan."

  "I assume they'll come for the wedding."

  "Yes. In fact, I need to call them tonight and chat about when they can come home so we can get the plans moving."

  "Are you going to tell them about Jordan's unique situation?"

  "I'll tell them about the foundation, but Jordan and I don't think it's a good idea to tell too many people about the time travel thing. Jordan says that her very presence here will have an effect on the future and she wants to minimize that. Hell, just the fact that she saved me from falling off the cliff will have an effect on the future, but we don't know how that will manifest itself at this point."