by June Kramin
Taking a seat at a tall table by the window, he polished off the scone in a few bites. What the hell am I doing here? Again he pondered what Frank’s part was in this and why he had showed up for Katie all those years ago. He never seemed to be much more than an ear to bend. Dusty wished he was here for him to talk to now. “Who and what were you, you old codger?”
“You rang?”
Dusty was speechless at the man who stood before him. “I…uh…what?” he said in great shock.
“You rang. Quit your shouting, too. I’m old, not deaf.”
“You’re…” Dusty was at a loss for words.
“Here. Now what can I help you with?”
“How did you… why… holy shit.”
“What’s the matter, boy?” Frank asked.
“Am I dreaming?”
“Why? Do I look like I’m the man of your dreams?”
“No…uh… holy crap.”
“Look. You’re the one that showed up looking for me.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d actually show up.”
“Are you ever a nut job.”
“I think you’re right.” Dusty sat back and took a deep breath. “Uh…can I get you coffee or something?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
“This is too weird. We’ve hardly talked about you since Katie stayed put.”
“Afraid I’d show up again?”
“Something like that, I guess.”
Frank motioned his head toward the door. “You want me to go?”
“No!” Dusty stood. “I need to talk to you.”
“Katie’s doing great, isn’t she?”
“She’s perfect.”
“And the kids?”
“You know about…” Of course he knows, dumbass. “Um… they’re great.”
“Your sister Alyson?”
“She’s fantastic.”
“Then what are you jerkin’ my chain for, boy? What’s your pickle?”
Dusty had to laugh. “That is little Alyson’s favorite saying. Katie said you used to say that all the time.” Frank stared back blankly. Dusty finally spoke again. “It’s Courtney.”
“Oh, yes. They finally discovered that. I’m glad no one else had been infected. Between you, me, and the wall, she was a bit of a loosy-goosy, wasn’t she?”
Dusty managed a smile, nodding his head. His eyes widened. “Wait. You know about her health?”
“Everyone in Katie’s circle, so to speak, is on my watch.”
“Your watch? Then why did it happen?”
Frank sighed. “You’re not going to give me that, are you? If I have to do the yin-yang explanation again, I’ll grow old before my time.”
“Old before your time? But aren’t you…” Dusty again was at a loss for words.
“Already dead? Is that what you’re thinkin’?”
“Sort of.”
“I’m not even addressing that. You going to tell me what it is you want or what, young feller?”
Dusty grew frustrated at Frank’s inability to answer anything. He tried to explain it for himself, hoping Frank would hop in and correct him. Avoiding the part about him being dead, Dusty addressed his other comment. “The yin and the yang? Can’t have good without evil, can’t have happy without sad. That kind of thing?”
“Something like that. In any case, we can’t stop what’s going to happen.”
“You can’t say that. What you did kept Alyson alive.”
“That was different. It just played out. Katie didn’t ask for it. It fell into place. The trips were more about you than her.”
“Me? Why me?”
“I don’t make up the rules,” Frank admitted.
“Who does? God?”
“It’s not even that simple.”
“Explaining God is what you call simple?”
“In a matter of the whole picture, yes. Look, I broke a rule being there for Katie and things happened to work out. You were lucky in ways you’ll never know, and probably will never fully appreciate.”
“If you think for one second I don’t know what I have, you couldn’t be more wrong. It doesn’t make sense that Katie could go back and save Alyson, but she can’t do the same for Courtney.”
“I don’t have the cure for AIDS, boy.”
“But you can get her back before it happened. She could prevent it.”
“No.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Kaitlyn isn’t eligible to go back again.”
“Why not!” Dusty said again as he banged his fist on the table.
“Don’t you lose your temper with me, young man. I’m not even supposed to be here now. You had old Frank curious and I thought I’d pop in. I wasn’t going to pop in at the library. The coffee there has always sucked. The stupid mugs are chipped, too. Katie never did complain about them, though. Bless her heart. If you’re going to go postal on me, I’ll split.”
“No! Don’t do that.” Dusty seized his wrist. “You were at the library when I was there?”
“Yup. Saw you call Bill my name. I can’t believe you mistook that codger for me. I’m much better looking. I thought you came to your senses when you changed your mind and left, but here you are hollering for me again.”
“I’m sorry. But I need answers. Why can’t Katie go back again? Help me make sense of this. The only thing more important to Katie than me or the kids is Courtney. You have to know that. You have to let her help.”
“It’s simply not allowed. Her chance to change her present is over. Katie didn’t have an agenda when she went back. It wasn’t of her own free will. If you recall, she didn’t want to do it.”
“But it still worked. Why can’t she go again and save her best friend? You know she’d want to.”
“If she went back to the same time, she could risk hurting your present. It would be like an etch-a-sketch erasing. She’d either be her old self and you two would not meet or the trips would play out the same as they did upon her return and nothing would change for Courtney. She can’t go back with the memories of her present like before. It just can’t be done.”
“This isn’t fair.” Frustrated, Dusty pushed his chair back and stood.
“I never said it was.” Frank turned away and tapped his forefinger to his chin. “There is something, though.”
“What?”
“You could go.”
“Me? I can’t leave. What about the kids? I’m watching them while Katie’s visiting Courtney.”
“Dusty, you of all people should know how this works. They’ll never know you’ve been gone for more than a trip to the library.”
“What if this takes a few days?”
“It most certainly will. The outcome here will still be the same.”
“Or not. What if I really screw something up?”
“That’s the chance you’ll have to be willing to take. You were willing to make your wife do it a moment ago.”
“Which Katie will she be?”
“I have no way of knowing. You could be winning her over again for the first time or you could meet the Katie trying to convince you she’s time traveling.”
“Could I tell her what I’m doing if it’s the first one?”
“And how well did you take the news when she did that to you?”
Dusty sighed. “I see your point. I guess this is one of your pickles again, isn’t it?”
“As pickled as it gets.”
Dusty paced the area in front of the tall table. How could he make a decision like this? He wanted to talk to Katie, but he knew he couldn’t. She loved Courtney, but she wouldn’t risk their lives and especially not their kids. If there was a chance their present would be altered, there was no way Katie would chance it. Not even for Courtney.
Dusty knew he had to make it right, though. He could do this. Katie had risked everything to save his best friend. He had to do the same to save hers.
“I have to do it. When can I go?”
Frank smiled. “
I knew you’d see it that way.” He rested his hand on Dusty’s shoulder and pointed out the window. Dusty saw Kaitlyn jogging toward them.
“Holy crap. I’m there? I went back?” His attention hadn’t moved from watching Katie. “So when it’s done, how do I—” He turned around, but Frank had already disappeared.
“Well, shit.” He took a second to straighten himself up, or rather, grunge himself down. He mussed his hair to be more like his more unruly college hair look, and discovered it was now longer. His dress pants had been replaced with jeans and his dress shirt was now a Vikings sweatshirt. He looked over to Art, who had instantly dropped fifteen pounds. Turning back around, Dusty tried to catch his reflection in the window. He flashed his killer smile at himself, then he saw Katie approaching the door. “Showtime.”
Chapter Four
Katie walked in the door and stopped when she saw Dusty. “Fancy meeting you here,” he said to her. She promptly fainted. “Oh, crap. I forgot this part.” He caught her before she hit the ground, then made his way over to the couch, cradling her in his arms.
Dusty hollered to the owner. “Art, get me a cold washcloth, would ya?”
“What the hell happened to her?”
“Just get it, please.”
He settled on the couch at her side while Art rushed over. As he placed the washcloth on her forehead, her eyes fluttered open. She tried to sit up. he promptly pushed her back down.
The words he’d spoken to her came back to him as if he were reading a script. “Just lay back down there, cupcake. Take a few minutes to gather yourself.” He turned to Art who, more than likely, was worried there would be a lawsuit coming. Dusty remembered how he and his law school friends always razzed him about one thing or another. He tried to put Art at ease. “You can go. She’s fine.”
“Was it the shop’s fault?”
There was fear in Art’s voice. Dusty wished he hadn’t teased him so much. Hot coffee lawsuits. One of the many things that chased Dusty away from becoming a lawyer.
“She just fainted. I’m a witness. You’re in the clear there, Art. Now scram.”
“You law boys have me scared to death,” he said as he shook his head and walked away.
The dialog played out word for word as it had before. Dusty began to think this was going to be easier than he thought. He turned back to Kaitlyn. Damn. His victory was short lived. He couldn’t remember what he’d said to her. “Uh…you overdo your run or something?”
“Cupcake?”
He smiled wide. It was coming back to him. “I had to call you something. You blew me off last night outside of Tricky Dicks.”
“Last night?” Dusty wasn’t ready to re-cap the whole scenario. If things were playing out like this, she had to be the one that went back in time. She’d fainted at the shock of seeing his younger self. She had to know what was going on. He smiled. “I lied to you just now.”
“You weren’t there last night?”
“No. I was there, but I…uh…I know your name.”
“So why did you call me ‘cupcake?’”
He flashed his killer grin. This was already fun. “Because you like it when I do that.”
“Excuse me?” she said as she sat upright.
“Katie…I need your help here. Courtney is in trouble.”
“How do you know my roommate’s name? What kind of trouble? Where is she?”
Shit! She wasn’t who he thought she’d be. Dusty knew he had to backtrack fast. “Wait a minute… I’m sorry. We’re getting off on the wrong foot here. Can I buy you a coffee? A double caramel latte?”
“Caramel is my weakness. But no. Wait. What’s this about Courtney?”
“Um…sorry. I...uh…it came out wrong. I meant she must be hurting this morning. You two looked in bad shape last night.”
“She was still sleeping when I left.”
“Well, there you go. So, can I buy you that coffee?”
“Did I even get your name?”
“Dustin. You can call me Dusty though. I like it when you…I mean…you and my sister are the only ones that…uh…you kinda look like my sister. She calls me Dusty.”
“I remind you of your sister?”
“Shit. Sorry…I mean…” Dusty ran his hands down his face in frustration. In all his years, he never stammered as much as he had in the last few minutes. Things were getting destroyed before he even started. He was here five minutes and he’d already pretty much made sure he’d never be having sex with Kaitlyn again in this lifetime. “Can I start this over?”
“Have a little too much last night yourself?”
“Apparently. That and a beautiful woman always leaves my tongue in knots. And I’ve never met anyone more striking than you.” He sat next to her and leaned in for a kiss. What the hell. It had worked the first time.
His kiss had to have taken her by surprise, because she didn’t fight him. But when his tongue entered her mouth, she quickly drew back and slapped him.
“What on earth are you doing?”
He grabbed her hands. “I’m so sorry.” He tried to kiss them but she pulled them away and stood. He hurried to his feet as well. “Please stop. You’re—” he held her arms, supporting her weight as she went slightly limp. “You’re not ready to storm out of here. Come sit back down.”
Dusty helped her back to the couch and hollered to Art, “Two regulars over here, Art. Stat.”
“You’re taking law, not medicine. Don’t bark at me, law boy.”
“Please, Art. Add a scone to that. She looks low on blood sugar.” He turned his attention back to Katie whose eyes were still closed. “You shouldn’t have gone out running before you ate something.”
“How do you know I didn’t eat something?”
“You never eat break—” She opened up one eye. “You’re shaking. Seems to me you need some food in you. You did pass out. Have you forgotten already?”
“I haven’t forgotten that you sent your tongue probing my tonsils without permission.”
“I said I’m sorry. I lost my mind.” He accepted the coffees from Art and handed her one. A waitress was behind him with a scone for her. “Thanks, Nikki. Can these go on my tab?”
“We need to talk about that tab, Dustin. Art wants you to catch up.”
He glanced over at Kaitlyn. She was grinning. Now he was embarrassed. “I told him I get the check from my dad on the first. I’ll catch up with interest.”
“He’s not going to like it.”
“It’s just a few more days.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a five. “Here’s an advance tip. Okay?” He motioned for her to go away. Katie was grinning at him when his attention returned to her.
“So, you’re into attacking older women and you have no money. Does this tactic work on many ladies?”
This was not at all going how it should have. “I have plenty of money. I just didn’t plan too well this month.”
“Let me guess. The heat went out on your car.”
“It is you!” he said as he held her face in his hands. “You little minx!” He gave her a hard kiss.
Her knee quickly went to his crotch. He slid off the couch, landing on the ground in a moan. “I asked you to stop doing that!” She ran out of the coffee shop before Dusty could blink.
Dusty lay in a ball on the floor, holding himself in the most dignified manner he could. “That went well,” he groaned with his eyes pinched shut.
Someone stepped over Dusty and sat on the couch. “Well, if she’s not going to drink it.” The cup rattled across the table. Dusty rolled over and opened his eyes. Frank smiled down at him, cup in hand.
“You son of a bitch,” Dusty said as he rapped him in the knee. His finger cracked. He yelped and pulled it back between his legs.
“It ain’t broke, you puss,” Frank said. He sipped Kaitlyn’s coffee. “I told you this wasn’t going to be easy.”
“Well, I thought it was her. She passed out just like before. Last time it was the shock of seeing me.�
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“Maybe now it was from overdoing her run. I hear she has a hangover to boot.”
Dusty pulled himself onto the couch. “Look. If you know how this is going to go, can you please give me some pointers? She’ll kill me if I screw this up and something happens to the kids.”
“Not if she doesn’t know you, she won’t.”
Dusty pulled Frank by his shirt. “Look, you old geezer. This isn’t funny! Not only am I not making her fall for me, I’m pretty sure she’s getting a restraining order right now!”
Once again, everyone’s attention turned to Dusty. “Everything here okay, sir?” Dusty looked up. Art was standing there with his shoulders firm. “Mr. Andrews? Do we need a time out?”
Dusty let go of Frank. “We’re fine.”
“Sir?” he asked Frank.
“We’re fine, Arthur. Thank you, though.”
Frank stood. “You got yourself in this pickle. You fix it.”
Dusty reached for the scone. When he leaned back, Frank had disappeared again.
“Ah, hell.” Shutting his eyes, Dusty leaned back, wishing he could fall asleep, wake up, and do this all over again. That’s what worked for Katie, but somehow he felt those rules were not going to apply this time.
Kaitlyn slammed the dorm room door shut. Courtney promptly threw a pillow at her.
“Damn, Katie. I’m hanging here. Keep it down.”
“You’re supposed to be in class.”
“Well, so much for your early birthday celebration. Could have left the celebrating for today. Happy birthday, by the way. What has you pissed off so early?”
“Some guy I didn’t even know tried to cram his tongue down my throat.”
“Where?”
“All the way to my tonsils.”
Courtney laughed. “Where did this happen? I want to go. Maybe he’s still there.”
“At the coffee shop and I wouldn’t bother. You’d be robbing the cradle. Wait a sec…he said he saw us at Tricky Dick’s last night.”
“That hottie with the wavy brown hair?” Courtney sat up and lowered her feet to the ground. “You turned that down again?”
“It’s not like he asked for a date. He just fucking kissed me.”
