by June Kramin
“Hockey?”
He grinned. “Yeah. That.” He gave her a kiss then stood the bench back up. “Something tells me you’re in the mood for some apple pie a la mode.”
Katie put her hands on her hips. “You know, this really isn’t fair. It’s worse than if you could read my mind. You already know everything we’ve done and everything we’re going to do for years.”
He cupped her face in his hands and gave her another kiss. “Admittedly, yes. Most things are playing out somewhat the same, but we need to make some changes and wing it now. I thought we’d have some memories together of what we did since we couldn’t do anything about Ronald right now. If you don’t want to go for pie, we don’t have to. We can seek out your comfort food.”
“Of course I want to. You know all food…” he joined her as she said, “is my comfort food.”
She slapped him on the arm. “Dammit. That isn’t fair.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Don’t think you didn’t mess with my brain every chance you could, too.”
“Like what?”
“Let’s talk over some pie.” He picked up their skates, then they walked arm in arm to his truck.
“No, I didn’t,” Katie said with a laugh over her generous serving of pie and ice cream.
“Yes, you did. From the minute we met you threw that at me. Just like that you said it. ‘My guess would be you are a writer.’ I thought you were psychic.”
Katie laughed harder. “I can imagine we laugh a lot together.”
“That we do,” he said as he took her hand. “We’ve had our doozies, too.”
“What did you do?”
“See. There you go. Assuming it’s my fault already.” She sat there with her arms crossed, waiting for the story. “Okay. You’re right. Once I came home with a puppy.”
“A puppy? Why would I get so upset over that?”
“The kids were little and you already had your hands full.”
“Still, though. That doesn’t sound like a doozie of a fight starter.”
“It was an Irish Setter.”
She chuckled. “They are very handsome and sweet, but admittedly that isn’t my favorite breed. It’s been said that those dogs can’t find the end of a leash.”
It was Dusty’s turn to laugh. “That’s exactly what you said. You were willing to give it a chance, but then it ate one of about every pair of your shoes.”
“I’m not so materialistic.”
“And the couch.” Katie had to cover her mouth to keep food from flying out.
“Blue never took to him either.”
“Blue?”
“Our cat. I came home with her, too. You didn’t mind her too much. I did that to you twice.”
“We have two cats?”
“No. I showed up with her on two different time trips. She apparently was meant to be ours.”
“Interesting. So, you found the puppy a home?”
“A nice farm right outside of the cities. An elderly couple lost theirs a few months back and were eager to have the same kind of dog again. They agreed that theirs wasn’t the brightest light bulb in the box, but it made up for it in loyalty and love.”
“Were the kids upset?”
“He ate enough of Ali’s toys, she was okay. Alex was too young to care.”
Katie leaned back. “What kind of vet am I if I can’t even handle a puppy?”
“You’re a wonderful vet, Katie, and an even better mother. You actually take a break from your practice to stay home with the kids.”
“I do? Do I close it?”
“You have a friend fill in.”
“Who?”
“I don’t want to tell you an influence your decision.”
She stared at him. “Fine. Play that way.” Returning to her pie she added, “If that’s the extent of our spats, I think we’re okay.”
“Oh, there’s more. Half of the fun is making up, so I’m not giving anything else away. I’m still not sure on the order of things here. I’m not giving up any of those times with you and chancing missing out on the make-up sex.”
“So, if you were given the chance to go back and set things straight, you wouldn’t?”
“Well…most of them.” He innocently sipped his coffee.
“And how many strippers and bachelor parties do these involve?”
Now it was Dusty’s turn to choke on his coffee. “Dammit. You are psychic.”
After Dusty’s coughing spell from choking on the coffee stopped, he cried out, “Shit!”
“Shit what?”
“We still have to get your car.”
“Then double shit,” Katie said.
“Why’s that?”
“I didn’t get a campus parking pass. I totally spaced it.”
“So stay at my place again.”
“I already talked to Court. We were going to stay in tonight.”
“Really?”
“Don’t give me the wounded puppy look, Dusty. I know we’re supposed to end up together and all, but I have to live somewhat of my normal life now until we get this figured out. Especially if what you say about Courtney is true.”
“If? I thought you believed me.”
“I do. What I meant was, if she’s going to die in my future, I want to see her as much as I can in my present. That’s all.”
“She and Dean doing okay?”
“It sounded like it. She just wanted girl time.”
Dusty remembered a text he’d received while he was at the bar. Dean said there was a party at one of the frat houses. Courtney must not have wanted to go. He told Dean no but if he couldn’t have Katie tonight, maybe he’d go after all.
“All right. We’ll get it and park it at my place. The garage is two stall. I’ll call Freeman and tell him to get off his ass and come pick up the Chevelle tonight.”
“You sure?”
“Of course. You know….”
“What?”
“You don’t have to get a parking pass at all. Just move in with me.”
“Are you going to bring this up every day?”
He shrugged. “Probably.”
“Well, unless you’re trying to pre-plan make-up sex for tomorrow, don’t.”
“Why not, baby? Come on. I love when you wake up next to me. I don’t want to wait.”
“Give me a little more time. Okay?”
“If I’m remembering correctly, you moved in with me by now last time.”
“Well, that me had a year with you already.”
“But I only knew you for a few days and I knew what I wanted.”
“Dusty, please. Just a couple of days. I know I’m not seeing that much of you so you can’t possibly understand how much this situation with Court is killing me.”
“Trust me. I know you; I get it.”
“Do you? In between the sex, the food, me throwing up, and you fighting with your dad, that doesn’t really leave a lot of time for shit to sink in. Within days you’ve convinced me you’re from”—she lowered her voice and looked around—“the future and told me more than I should have probably heard about my life. You have to give me a couple of days or you can forget about me moving in with you. You’ll be checking me into a padded room.” Her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears.
Dusty rushed to the other side of the table and held her tight.
“Hey…shhhh. I’m sorry. Of course you can take all the time you need.” He let up only enough to kiss the top of her head, then pulled her tight to his chest again. “I’m sorry. I suppose I’m not thinking straight.”
“Because you’re spending your days and nights in a beer-induced stupor watching this Ronald. Maybe you can lay off the drinking and get busy, Dusty.” She leaned back and gently stroked by his eye. “You didn’t win him with booze. Now you have to figure it out. Now that I know about Courtney, I can’t live with myself if we don’t do something about it.”
“You have to promise me you won’t tell her.”
“But why not? Don’t you think if she knew she would never sleep with him again?”
“Let’s reverse this, shall we? Tonight Courtney says to you, ‘I just met a guy. He’s young and a little bit crazy, but I believed him when he told me he’s from the future. He told me to tell you not to sleep with Dusty again ’cause you’re going to catch something from him and die.’ What do you think you would do?”
She sighed. “Check to see what kind of drugs she was on.”
“Exactly.”
“Well then, Andrews. You’d better do something and you’d better do it quick.”
“I’m working on it. You’re with her tonight so we’re okay there. I have tomorrow to start another plan of attack. I’m not going to let you down, babe. I swear.”
They didn’t talk much more after that. After picking up her car and driving it to Dusty’s, he took her back to her dorm then went home. He stood in his driveway waiting for Dean to show up with their friend, Freeman, who was picking up the Chevelle.
It was in the high forties that night, but he wore only a heavy sweatshirt. By Minnesota winter standards, forty was warm. Dusty wanted some fresh air, hoping to clear his head and have an idea pop into his mind about what to do. He was drawing a blank just staring at his fireplace. Within ten minutes, the unmistakable rumble of Dean’s engine approached. He had a huge diesel truck with oversized tires. Dean had been a farm boy and the master of farm equipment. He said he needed the truck so he didn’t get homesick for a tractor. Dusty bought him a huge stuffed pig for it and said its name was “Bacon” like the one in the movie Varsity Blues. The pig remained in the truck ever since as their mascot. Over the years they’d added to it. It now sported a Viking’s jersey, a Twins hat, and the latest addition, a brandy keg around its neck, like those found on a St. Bernard in cartoons.
The rumble of the diesel engine was now masked by AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.” After pulling to a stop on the street, Dean turned the music down. Dusty’s landlords were nice enough; Dean was always careful to be respectful of them when he showed up. He spent too many drunken nights on Dusty’s couch not to be friendly to the old people as he dragged his ass to school the next morning.
The men shook hands and exchanged the usual pleasantries, guy style, and Dusty took a razzing for the black eye. After a few “ugly bastards” and “dickheads,” Dusty handed Freeman the keys. “The pink slip is in the glove box. Take good care of her, friend. She’s been good to me. I really hate to give her up.”
“I would have thought your old man would have wanted to fix her up for his collection.”
“Dad doesn’t mess with any of that. He likes to buy ’em already restored.”
“Well, you keep your eye on Hot Rod Magazine. She’ll be in there someday.”
“I thought you were broke.”
“I didn’t say anytime soon,” he said with a laugh. “Shop class is kind of excited to have her there, though. We’ll get her guts purring great for starters.”
“Glad to hear it.” After shaking hands again, Freeman was on his way.
“We hitting ‘I Felta Thigh?’” Dean asked with a nudge to Dusty. Dusty laughed. Dean always found a way to mess up a sorority name. His favorite was “Kappa Tappa Kegga.”
“You’re not on a hunt, are you? Aren’t things going good with Court?”
“They’re fine. She wanted to stay in so, I figured we’d have guy time. I’m not looking for a girl, just a night out. Court has me covered in the sex department. As a matter of fact, and if you tell anyone this I’ll kill you, I needed a night off. So does the Major,” he said as he pretended to adjust himself. “Besides, we’re too young and handsome to get tied down every night already.”
“I don’t know. I kinda like it.”
“Geez, Dust. You seriously ready to cash it in at your age?”
“My age? You have three years on me, assface. And what’s wrong with being happy?”
“I don’t know, man. I feel like there’s more to be had before I call it quits.”
“You stringing Katie’s friend along? She’s going to have my balls if you piss off Courtney.”
“She’s not looking to settle down, either. She’s the one making that clear. We’re having fun and that’s it. She lets me know every time we’re together that I should keep my options open.”
“Maybe she’s trying to make sure she doesn’t get hurt.”
“I don’t know. I think she means it. She keeps going on about this internship in Seattle coming up. I’m not going to follow her there. Especially not at this stage in the game.”
“But wouldn’t you—”
“We going to stand in your driveway and write up my wedding invitations or are we going to ‘I Eta Pi?’”
“I don’t know. I’ve done more than my share of drinking this week already.”
“Come on, you pussy. Afraid your vet school girlfriend will neuter you? Or has she already?”
Dusty gave him a shove. “Eat me. Let me go grab my wallet.”
“Get a jacket too, dickweed. It’s supposed to chill off here soon.”
“Well, that was a nice few minutes of weather.”
“More than we usually get this time of year. Now hurry up.”
The night went pretty much as every frat kegger party went. Dusty might have his current time memories, but apparently there was no convincing his younger body to behave. He cursed the fact that he couldn’t turn down the egging on and partook in the beer bong that was passed around.
They stumbled back to his place well after midnight. Dean claimed the bed and Dusty took the couch. He stared at the ceiling and wondered how he’d fare in tomorrow’s adventure with Ronald with a black eye and a headache. He thought about getting up to take aspirin as a precaution, but couldn’t drag his ass to the bathroom. Putting his thoughts to his happy place, Katie, he finally fell asleep.
Chapter Sixteen
Dusty woke up to the phone ringing. He slapped around on the nightstand until his hand found it. He lay back flat on his pillow and mumbled a groggy hello. His eyes opened suddenly when he realized where he was. He wasn’t on the couch in his cottage. He was back home.
“Dusty!” His wife’s hysterical voice caused him to care about nothing else.
“Babe! What’s wrong?”
“She’s gone!”
Who’s gone? Is what he wanted to say, but he was sure he should know this if she was this upset. He quickly stood, wanting to check on the kids. He knew he had to say something before he reached their rooms.
“Honey, I’m so sorry.”
“She wasn’t supposed to go yet. Dammit! We had years left.”
“Shhhh. I’m here, babe. Talk to me.” He had gotten Ali’s door opened, and was relieved to see she was sound asleep. Ali was the same age. Katie was calling from Seattle. What happened now?
“She OD’d last night. She…” Katie’s sobs took over and she could no longer speak.
Dusty waited until she gathered herself. While he waited, he went to Alex’s room. He was sleeping as he always did. Sprawled out with his arms over his head. Even with the sadness in Katie’s voice, he took comfort in the fact that his kids were here and safe. His mind raced to what happened. How could he have traveled back to his present when he didn’t get a chance to fix things yet? Everything had been moving along nicely, or so he thought. He wasn’t screwing things up so badly that he was forced to be done without being given the chance to make it right. Was he? He rushed back into their bedroom and looked in the mirror. No black eye.
“I can’t believe she’s gone,” Katie finally continued. “We had such a good couple of days. I really thought I was getting her to come around.”
“Do you know what happened? What set her off?”
“I don’t think you should have told Dean for starters.”
“Dean? What does that have to…” Dusty’s mind was racing. Had he told Dean in “this” time? He had to cover fast. “Um…sorry, babe. I thought
he’d want to know. We talked and he asked about her.”
“I’m not going into how furious I am with you about this. You should have known she’d be sensitive about it. I trusted you to keep this between us.”
“Babe—”
“I’m angry, but I still need you.” She started to cry again.
“I’ll get the kids to Mom and Dad’s. You know May will be thrilled. I’ll get out there as soon as I can.”
“They’re taking her away. I have to go.”
“I love you.” She hung up without another word. “Fuck.” Dusty hung up, then called Dean.
“Hey, asshole. What are you doing calling me so early?”
Dusty ran his hand down his face. He didn’t even know where to begin. “What did you and Courtney talk about?”
“Just the good old days. Told her I wish we had a real shot at things. You know…crap chicks like to hear. I thought she was down and could use some cheering up. Why?”
“I just hung up with Katie. Courtney OD’d last night.”
Now Dean sounded wide awake. “You’re shitting me!”
“Wish I was. Katie’s pretty messed up. I’m going to fly out there on the next available flight.”
“You need me to watch the kids?”
“No. I’m going to call May.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“I’m not so sure that’s such a good idea. Katie’s pretty upset.”
“Tough shit. I’ll be there in thirty minutes, ready to go. I’ll get the company car to drop us off at the airport. As a matter of fact. I’ll get my secretary to make the reservations. You deal with calling May.”
Dusty was too upset to fight with him. What had he done wrong? “I’m not going to fight you. See you in a bit.”
When Dean arrived, Dusty was still hurrying around the house, trying to gather what he thought the kids would need to get by for a few days. He still wasn’t exactly sure how long they would be. Dean caught up to him in Ali’s room, stuffing a bag with Barbie and Polly Pocket toys.
