by Box Set
Nate sprung out into the street and tackled Sheldon Vance, putting all those years of football mojo into practice. It shocked me so much, I sat momentarily frozen in place. I heard the clank of something heavy hit the ground.
The gun.
My eyes had adjusted to the darkness and there was just enough moonlight so that the metal glinted like a beacon. Nate and Sheldon rolled on the ground, away from the gun. I jumped to sprint for it, forgetting my ankle, and I screamed out in pain. I hopped on one leg. Despite the cool of night, sweat dripped down my brow and into my eyes. I kept my gaze focused on the gun, praying that Nate would be all right. I knew he could hold his own in a fight—I’d seen him do it before. And like this time, he had been fighting because of me. I had put him in danger again.
As I reached the gun, I could hear their heavy breathing and grunts and groans. The pistol was old, well, old for me and my time. I aimed it toward Sheldon, but I couldn’t tell who was who in the shadowy darkness.
“I have the gun!” I yelled.
The guys were dark silhouettes rolling on the ground. The one on top dropped a punch and the lower guy slumped.
There was stillness, and black fear pinned me to the spot. “Nate?”
“Yeah,” he said, breathing heavily. “I’m okay.”
The relief that wooshed through me made me weak in the knees.
Nate lifted himself off Sheldon Vance’s body. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Is he…?”
“He’s alive. I just don’t want to be here when he comes to.”
I inhaled sharply at the sight of Nate’s face. “You’re hurt,” I said. Blood ran from a cut above his eye. His bottom lip was split.
Nate rubbed the blood away with his sleeve. “I’m fine.” He took the gun from my shaky hands and tossed it into the garbage bin. “Are you all right?” he asked me.
“I twisted my ankle,” I said. It hurt to put pressure on it, but at least I could limp along. Nate put his arm under my shoulder, so I could lean on him.
“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” he said. “Why was that guy after you?”
I fudged. “I’m not sure.”
“He knew your name, Casey.” He rubbed his forehead and winced like it hurt him to do so. I didn’t doubt he had a major headache. “How is that possible?”
I’d told Nate about tripping in Hollywood to explain the time reset, but I hadn’t told him everything. There hadn’t been time, really, and truthfully, I was hoping to avoid it. Nate had this belief that I couldn’t trip without getting into some kind of trouble. As if traveling back in time wasn’t its own sort of trouble. It would be nice if I could just trip back, live quietly and uneventfully until the time came, mysteriously as always, to shoot me through the light back to my present.
We kept walking, I wasn’t sure where to, and I told him about the bank robbery.
“We thought it was a legitimate job! A movie set.” Though now, looking back, I could see that a lot had been missing. Like director chairs, and lights, and cameras already inside the bank. I didn’t see the need to mention those details.
“My dear girl. They threw ya in the slammeh, did they?” Nate said with the rushed monotone style of speech of the day.
I nudged him with my elbow. “This isn’t funny.”
His expression dropped. “Believe me, I’m not laughing.”
I groaned. Here I was without a proper dress in the cool evening, a bum ankle, a boyfriend whose face was bruised and bleeding, and nowhere to go.
And I didn’t even have the ten dollars to show for the trouble.
“So, you helped him rob a bank. You’d think he’d be grateful. Why isn’t he?”
I sighed. “All the mob guys wore hose over their heads, making it hard for people who hadn’t seen them without the disguise, recognize him. But Sheldon has distinctive eyebrows. He knows I saw him shoot the teller.”
“He shot someone?” Nate let out an exasperated breath. “Then what happened?”
“Sheldon didn’t get away. I saw them drag him into the jailhouse, and he saw me see him. His gangster family must’ve gotten him off somehow.”
“And now he sees you as a threat to upsetting that.”
“I guess so.”
“You’re a witness.” It was a statement, not a question, and I couldn’t miss the dread in his voice.
I swallowed. “Yes.”
We turned a corner onto another street lined with brownstones and stopped as a blond girl exited a taxi and ran up the steps.
“Hey, that’s…” Nate started.
I called out, “Marlene!”
She turned with a start and frowned when she recognized us. “There you are! Do you know that Barbara wanted to charge me for your costume? Said I brought you in, I should pay.”
“I’m so sorry, Marlene,” I said. “We had to leave quickly…”
She placed a hand on her narrow hips. “Yeah, I saw.”
“Please, do you know of somewhere safe we could go for the night?” I sounded like I was begging, and I was.
Marlene cocked her head and stared at Nate. “You look like you need to get cleaned up. Fine. Come on in.”
I leaned on Nate as we climbed the cement steps and I let out a breath of relief when he shut the door of the brownstone behind us.
The foyer opened up to a living area. One thing I was surprised about was how colorful the decor was. I’d only seen black and white photos of the era, and I hadn’t pictured it like this. There were two armchairs and a short sofa made of emerald green fabric with gold stitching. A brick fireplace in the middle of the wall had a framed panoramic print of Boston Harbor. Interestingly, a small round table with two ladder-back chairs painted blood-orange red sat in the middle of the room. A large yellow area rug lay on the hardwood floors. A writing desk in the corner was painted sagebrush green. Everything was fresh and new. Marlene’s family were enjoying the extravagance of the age.
Marlene motioned for us to sit, then disappeared. Nate sat in on one of the wooden chairs while I plopped onto the sofa and rested my leg on the soft armrest. Marlene reappeared and returned with a chunk of ice wrapped in a towel, a damp cloth and a small first-aid kit. She handed the ice to me, and I winced as I placed the burning cold onto my swollen ankle.
Marlene shifted the second chair close to Nate and began to nurse his face, a task she seemed to enjoy if you could go by her gleeful countenance. “I suppose you could stay here tonight,” she finally said. “My mother will be put out, but I can deal with her in the morning. My sister Shirley left for North Carolina so there’s an extra bed.” She paused to pat her blond bob, and smiled at Nate. “You can take the sofa.”
“That would be great,” Nate murmured.
Marlene opened a tube filled with some kind of ointment and patted it gently on Nate’s face. I cursed my bum foot. I should be the one up front and personal with Nate, not a pretty blond stranger!
“You look like you come from a good family,” I ventured. “So…”
She cut me a wide-eyed look. “So why am I dancing at an illegal club?”
“Yeah?” I thought it was a fair question.
Marlene turned back to Nate and applied a bandage to the cut above his eye. “To make extra money, which I’m not blowing on booze and cigarettes like the other girls.” Marlene threw her shoulders back proudly. “I’m investing in stocks. I’m making heavy sugar!”
“Don’t do that,” Nate said.
I widened my eyes and subtly shook my head, but Nate wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was on Marlene.
She grinned back with a flirtatious glint in her eye. “Oh, bunny, why wouldn’t I?”
“Because the market’s going to crash.”
“Nate!” I shouted. Sheldon’s punches had knocked the sense right out of him!
His expression flattened like he knew he said too much.
Marlene sat back. “Ah, applesauce. The economy has never been stronger. Everyone has a radio, a
utomatic appliances, and most people can afford a car. Well, except the farmers, but most city folk are doing nifty. In fact—” Her eyes glinted with pride, “—with my stock earnings, I’ll be buying an automobile for myself soon, maybe even get my own place.”
Time to change the subject and end this terrible day!
“Thanks so much for your help, Marlene,” I said. “We don’t want to keep you up too late.”
Marlene patted Nate on the knee before standing and I rolled my eyes. She left us alone again and Nate and I fell into an awkward silence. She returned with bedding for the couch. I shifted off and she prepared it with precision. She straightened, patted her blond bob again, and smiled at Nate again. “There, you’re sitting pretty!”
I yawned with an exaggerated effort. “Wow, I’m so tired.” Must get dance-flirt away from my boyfriend! “Can we…”
Marlene nodded agreeably. “Ya, sure. We’re upstairs.”
“‘Night, Nate,” she said with a little wave. Nate waved back, then gave me a sheepish look. I wished Nate would approach me, kiss me goodnight or at least hug me, but he turned to the washroom and disappeared behind the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
I followed Marlene up the steps and she pointed to the empty bed in her room. “I’d like the dance clothes back, but help yourself to anything in my sister’s closet,” she said. “There’s a nightgown in the dresser.”
“Thanks,” I said, hoping the irritation I felt didn’t seep out into my voice.
She grabbed her nightclothes and walked down the hall to the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on.
Marlene’s bedroom was another color sensory blast. Pink walls, green carpet, yellow dressing table. The single beds had metal pipe headboards and footboards and wine-color comforters. Framed black and white photos hung on the wall. One was of Marlene and a girl who looked a lot like her. Must be the sister Shirley. Beside it was one of Marlene laughing with another pretty girl who had a dark bob, big eyes and a bright smile. A best friend, maybe?
I changed into the nightgown, and pulled the pins out of my hair, letting it flow long, down my back.
I climbed into Shirley’s bed, was so relieved to be safe and warm in comfortable sheets, I feel asleep immediately.
* * *
I awoke to the smell of bacon and fried eggs. Voices floated up the stairs. I recognized Nate’s but couldn’t decipher what he was saying. Marlene’s giggle was hard to miss, too.
I scrambled out of bed. Had I slept in? I really didn’t like the idea of Nate and Marlene eating breakfast together without me, especially since it smelled like she was also a pretty good cook. I hurried as fast as I could in the washroom, washing the makeup off my face and rinsing my mouth. I didn’t know what to do about clothing. I didn’t have anything except the granny nightgown I was wearing. Good enough. I headed down the steps, favoring my bum ankle, but thankful that it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as it had the night before.
“Good morning,” Marlene said when she spotted me. Unlike me, she looked as fresh as a daisy and wore a clean, flattering, flapper-style dress. She sat next to Nate.
I forced a smile. “Good morning.” I kept my gaze on Nate as I drew out the chair on the other side, kitty-corner from him. “It smells great.”
“Help yourself,” Marlene said. She pushed the half-empty dishes toward me. I accepted them and filled my plate.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“Yes, thanks.” I glanced at their empty dishes. “Too well, it seems.”
I turned to Nate, keeping my expression calm. “How was the sofa?”
“Slept like a baby.”
Marlene rested her palm on Nate’s arm. “I’m so glad!”
I had long arms, but not quite long enough to swat her hand off my boyfriend’s arm. Before I could do anything I would likely regret later, I was startled by a matronly voice.
“So, there is a female companion.”
A woman I presumed was Marlene’s mother stood at the opposite end of the room. Her salt-and-pepper hair formed a large, loose bun on the top of her head. Her long-sleeved blouse was buttoned to the top in a cuff around her neck. Her dark skirt dragged on the floor. She didn’t look at all pleased to see me.
“Yes, Mama,” Marlene said with a slight roll of her eyes. “I wouldn’t invite a single man to spend the night in our house.”
Mrs. Charter frowned at me as her eyes scanned me from head to toe. “Have you nothing decent to wear to breakfast?”
“I… Um.. I…”
“Her garments were ruined yesterday by a car driving too fast through a puddle,” Marlene said. “I’ll lend her something of mine.”
Mrs. Charter huffed. “I said something decent.”
Marlene leaned toward Nate and me and spoke in a faux whisper. “Ma thinks I dress inappropriately.”
“I can hear you, Marlene. I may be growing older, but my ears are in fine condition.” She pointed a finger. “Young people today have no respect for their elders. They have too much time and money, wear too much makeup and not enough clothing. And don’t get me going on those wretched automobiles!”
Marlene’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “The modern automobile is an excuse for unchaperoned debauchery.”
“Marlene!”
“Sorry, Mama.”
Marlene didn’t sound sorry. In fact, I thought she enjoyed teasing her mother who obviously had not adjusted to the changing times.
Mrs. Charter spun on her heel and Marlene grinned at Nate. “In fact, I think I’m going shopping for an automobile today.”
I choked on a piece of bacon. Did Marlene not understand that Nate and I were together? By the way she was overtly flirting, apparently not. He did nothing to set her straight, just grinned back at her. I kicked his leg under the table.
“Ow. What the heck, Casey.”
“Oh, sorry.” I faked a look of concern. “Did I hurt you?”
He rubbed his shin. “It’s fine.”
“Would you like more coffee, Nate?” Marlene asked.
“No, I’m good,” Nate said. “I’m nice and full. The breakfast was fantastic.”
“I wouldn’t mind a cup,” I said. Thanks for asking.
“Oh, sure.” She lifted the pot and wrinkled her nose. “It’s empty. I’ll go make another pot.”
She left for the kitchen and Nate and I were finally alone.
“I think this is your new family, Casey,” he whispered.
Was that why he was being so friendly? To make sure I was “in” with them?
“Maybe,” I said. I wasn’t ready to commit to anything, but beggars couldn’t be choosers and Shirley’s bed was warm and comfortable. The whole idea of me having to reprogram my alternate reality to this era and these people made me feel dizzy.
Dizzy!
I gripped Nate’s hand as I stood sharply. “We need to go!”
“What? Oh!”
We hurried out the front door and closed it behind us before Marlene could return and witness our disappearance. I was thankful that I always had lead time before tripping back to my present. I held on tightly to Nate’s hand. No way did I want to leave him behind with Marlene, not even for a moment!
With a tumble through a flash of light, we were back in the present at the exact same spot at Boston University from where we’d left. I no longer wore Marlene’s sister’s nightgown and Nate was out of his trousers and back in his jeans.
We were back, but it only took a split second to register that something was very, very wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The dorm towers were gone. The campus lights were out. A quick tour confirmed my worst fears. Most of the recognizable buildings in the area had disappeared and there were a few in place that hadn’t been there before.
A heavy dark pit spread through my churning gut. “Oh no,” I said.
Nate’s expression was pure panic. “What happened?” He looked like he was going to collapse in on himself. I’d never see hi
m look so stricken.
“We must’ve changed the timeline,” I whispered. I felt hollow and helpless. What other changes lie beyond the campus grounds?
“But, I thought…” His voice was weak and thin. “It never…”
He was speechless, and I understood why. I’d traveled back in time a myriad of times and no matter what happened, no matter what I did, or even what Nate or Tim had done, the timeline never changed when we got back to our present. Everything was always exactly the same, and no one ever knew anything extraordinary had happened to me. They were sometimes baffled by a sudden change in my hair, pulled up when it had been down, for example, or they might notice dark rings suddenly appearing under my eyes, but that was it.
My theory was that since I’d already lived through the past, whatever I was going to do there, had already been done, so there was no way for me to change the future, because my future was a result of the past I’d already lived through—even if I hadn’t done it yet to my knowledge.
It was twisted logic that made my head hurt, but my theory had held tight.
Until now.
“It must be a result of the reset,” I said. “I was born to go back to the 1800s. It was my natural loop. This loop to the 1920s wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Nate ran a hand through his hair. This was the first time I’d ever seen him look so scared and it scared me. He had dark rings under his eyes—I knew I had them too—but they were worse than I’d ever seen them before. He had a black eye and a split lip and he hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours. I worried he was going to crack on me.
“We need to find a place to rest,” I said. “We need time to think.”
Nate shook his head. “I don’t know where. I don’t know this place anymore.”
“Maybe we should go home,” I said. “Back to Cambridge.”
He shot me a look. “We don’t know what we’ll find there either.”
Nate was right. If Boston had changed, it stood to reason that Cambridge had as well. I felt heavy with anxiety and fatigue, and on the verge of tears. I needed to lie down and think.
