Stealing Time

by Nancy Pennick

  Aunt Sue pulled into the driveway. “We’re here! And completely informed on the birthday festivities!”

  Kate waited impatiently for Megan to open the door and slide out, finally slipping out next and running for the door. “Anna!” she called as she ran through the house, heading for the apartment.

  Anna stood at her door, tears falling freely down her face. “Kathryn, my Kathryn.” Anna held onto her tightly. “Come in. How was your flight?”

  “Fine. Now, how are you? Let me look at you.” Kate sat down next to Anna on her loveseat. “You’re beautiful as ever.”

  Anna’s pure white hair was pulled back in the style she wore while working at El Tovar—a simple bun at the nape of her neck. Her brown eyes sparkled with excitement. “Did you bring the book?”

  “Of course.” Kate pulled it from her bag.

  “Is it alright if I keep it?”

  “That’s a strange request.” Drew stepped into the room.

  “Let her explain.” Kate took Anna’s hand.

  “I want to go back, back to the boardinghouse. I want to see everything one more time. I miss it.” Anna wiped a tear from her eye.

  “You’re already there. There can’t be two Annas.” Drew sat down on the other side of her, taking her hand to soften the blow he just delivered.

  “We don’t know until I try. Right?”

  Kate gave Drew a stern glance.

  “No, we don’t. The worst that can happen is there are two Annas of different ages. We’d have to keep them apart for a day.”

  “Then you agree? I can do it? I’ll wait and go whenever you say. I know I won’t be able to return until July with Kathryn. I could help with Tyson, too.” Anna seemed eager for an answer.

  “I can agree to one day as long as you wait until Kate is there.” Drew raised his eyebrows at Kate. “Well?”

  “Agreed.” She took Anna’s other hand.

  Anna pulled them close and put her arms around both of them. “You’re the two best friends a girl could ever have. Now I have something special to show you. Drew, go find my son and tell him it’s time—he’ll know what you mean—and Kathryn and I will be right behind you.”

  After Drew left, Anna turned to Kate. “It’s a surprise for Drew. Help me up so we can join them.”

  Instead, Kate stayed put. “First, I have to ask you something. You don’t have to answer and can tell me it’s none of my business, but what happened to Sue’s husband? The first time I came for a visit, I thought she was married. It was my first visit, and we were here for such a short time. But I remember a man being here. No one ever mentions him.” There was a long pause. Kate felt bad she broached the subject. “That’s alright. You don’t have to answer.”

  “No, there are no secrets between us. I’m just thinking the best way to tell the story.”

  “There’s a story?” Kate settled back, ready to hear more of the family history.

  “Sue was never married. The man you remember from that visit was just a friend.”

  “Brandon? Megan?”

  “Same father. His nickname was ‘The Wild Thing’.”

  “Intriguing. Go on!”

  “Well, Craig, his real name, was something of a ladies’ man, if you know what I mean. I think he dated every girl in his high school class. Sue was always smitten with him. After she graduated from college they dated on and off for a number of years, but he was a wanderer. Never liked to stay in one place too long. Guess he felt the same way about women. Her father and my Daniel were always inviting rancher’s sons over to distract her, but it never worked. Then when she was twenty-eight she got pregnant. We thought we’d be throwing a huge rancher’s wedding, but instead Craig disappeared. He resurfaced about five years later, all apologetic, hat in hand. Sue took him back. He was around for two or three years until Megan was born. And we haven’t seen him since.”

  “Is he still alive?”

  “We think so. The girls mention him once in awhile. They know it’s a sore subject with most of us here at the ranch.”

  “The girls?”

  “Retta and Lucy.”

  Kate had to smile as she heard her third cousins being called girls. They were far from girls, probably in their eighties by now. They were her great-great Aunt Lucinda’s daughters. “What do they have to do with this?”

  “Oh, sorry, I left that part out. Remember Trevor?”

  “I believe Lucy or Retta told me their Uncle Gilbert Hasting adopted Trevor when he was a young boy. He ran the ranch for Lucinda after Gil passed. His family still lives at the Circle H with them.”

  “Craig is one of Trevor’s grandsons.”

  “What?” Kate was surprised to learn another Hasting had a life intertwined with the Jenkins side of her family. She referred to the Hasting clan as the other side even though they were all connected through her mother. Amy Hasting, Lucinda’s third daughter, married Anna’s son, Dan Jenkins. That’s when the connection began, and they all became cousins. Kate saw the two families as an intricate design, woven carefully through time, crossing paths intermittently.

  “Lucinda called it a scandal and said the families shouldn’t be procreating.”

  “Tell me she didn’t say that!”

  “I think she said things she didn’t mean, Kathryn. She viewed it as another Hasting/Jenkins connection she’d have to be a part of—something she always longed for herself. First me and Daniel. Then my son and her daughter.”

  “Daniel loved you, Anna. He never led her on. Always remember that. That was Lucinda’s weakness. We all have them. I remind myself of her wedding day. I picture her crumpled on the stairs, so vulnerable when she saw you and Daniel together...”

  “Say no more. You’re right. That’s just the way Lucinda was. Sue was her granddaughter, and Craig was family in her mind. Trevor’s adoption didn’t matter to her. She loved him and always thought of him as family. We all know it wasn’t inbreeding, but it didn’t make Sue feel any better that her grandmother felt that way. Craig Hasting was...is...her only true love. Oh, she’s dated some and came close to marrying once but put the brakes on before it went to that level.

  “Sue’s been good to me and her father, running the ranch and making a perfect home for the family. She has a good life. Dan’s leaving the ranch to her. She’ll always have a home.” Anna wiped a tear from her eye. “Watching her through the years gave me a little insight on how Lucinda must’ve felt. Pining away for someone she could never have.”

  “Do Brandon and Megan know their father?”

  “Only Brandon. When Craig returned Sue thought things would be different and made sure Brandon had a relationship with his father. He was five at the time and seven or eight when Craig left.”

  “And Megan?”

  “She doesn’t know anything about her father and never asks.”

  “Wow! That’s quite a story. Thanks for sharing. I think I better get you outside before the boys wonder where we are.” Kate helped Anna up, waiting for instructions.

  She guided Kate outside to the backyard and headed toward the barn.

  “Is it a horse named Canyon?” Kate guessed. Canyon was Drew’s horse that waited for him back in 1927.

  “No, we have plenty of horses here. Don’t need one more,” Anna laughed.

  They slowly made their way to the barn, and upon arrival Kate saw the doors were wide open. The stables were to the left, but Anna made a right hand turn. “In here,” she pointed.

  They entered another big room where there was a large object covered by a tarp. Drew and Grandpa Dan waited patiently beside it.

  “A car?” Kate couldn’t figure out the connection to Drew and the thing underneath the huge cover.

  “Not just any car,” Anna waved her hand, “Dan, show him.”

  Dan grabbed the cloth and pulled.

  “The Packard? Daniel’s car!” Drew shouted, covering his face with his hands. “I can’t believe it.”

  Kate winced as Drew ran his hand over the hood. H
e gave away too much information and seemed too familiar with the car. She hoped Grandpa Dan didn’t notice.

  “Dad kept this car because it reminded him of good times and friends. It helped him remember a good friend he lost that year, a guy named Andrew. Right, Mom?” In all of the excitement, Dan appeared not to have heard what Drew said.

  “Yes, son.” Anna smiled.

  “I used to help Dad work on this car. We’d polish it up and take Mom for a spin whenever she wanted. Then I moved away, and it fell into disrepair after Dad got sick. For some reason, Drew, Mom wanted you to see the car. She thought you’d be interested. None of the kids are.”

  “I want you to have the car, Andrew.” Anna placed her hand gently on his arm.

  “Oh, I couldn’t, really. This car’s a legacy to the family.” Drew shook his head.

  “Didn’t you hear Dan? No one wants it. Please, Andrew.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be on this earth. I want to know the Packard’s in good hands.”

  “Then it’s my pleasure to accept this wonderful gift. May I?” Drew offered Anna his arm and walked her to the car, placing her in the passenger side. He appeared to know what he was doing as he jumped in the driver’s side.

  “Open the door, Dan,” Anna directed.

  A garage style door lifted up right in front of the Packard, exposing a dirt road that led to the main one.

  “Start it up!” Anna called out.

  Drew looked at Dan for confirmation. Dan nodded and said, “She had me working on this thing all year. Mom was determined to have it up and running for your birthday, Katie.”

  My Roaring Twenties Birthday, a gift to all of us, complete with car. Tears filled Kate’s eyes as she watched Drew and Anna drive the shiny crimson and cream automobile out of the barn. It was a convertible so the top was down. Kate could see the two friends talking and laughing. Anna turned around happily waving. For just a second Kate thought she saw her young friend, throwing her head back with laughter, enjoying a beautiful summer day. Drew made a turn and headed back to where Kate and Dan stood watching.

  “Anna insists you get a turn.” Drew hopped out and ran around to the passenger side, lifting Anna out and placing her on the ground.

  “It’s in good shape, Dan.” Drew shook hands with him.

  “It’s a six-cylinder, eighty-one horsepower engine. I learned a lot from Dad and was able to get the parts I needed on the Internet.”

  “I believe this is the Packard Fourth Series Six that came out in 1927.” Drew continued the car talk.

  “I see you know a little about cars.” Dan patted him on the back.

  “You two stop talking all this mumbo jumbo, and let Andrew take Kathryn for a drive.” Anna put her cane between the two men, making everyone laugh. “I take it my little great-granddaughter already spilled the beans about the birthday party theme so you can see why I wanted this ready to go.” Anna winked at Kate.

  Kate ran over to the Packard and stood on the running board, peering in. “Wow, this is so cool!”

  “Kathryn, you and Lindsey are going to be driven to the party in this car,” Anna shouted over the noise of the engine.

  “Drew, can you believe this? Daniel kept this car all these years.” Kate ran her hand over the dashboard as she sat down. “Drew, did you hear me?” She looked over and saw tears welling up in his eyes as he desperately fought them back. “Start driving,” she commanded.

  He drove to the other side of the barn, stopping where they couldn’t be seen. “Kate, I’m overwhelmed. I need a minute.”

  “Sure.” Kate knew when Grandpa Dan said his father kept the car to remember good times and old friends that Drew was affected. She put her hand on his shoulder and rubbed his back as he slumped over the wheel of the car. “I love the car. We should probably keep it here because the weather’s better than Ohio. Less wear and tear. Don’t you agree?”

  Drew sat up. “Yes, that’s a good idea. If anyone in the Jenkins family wants to drive it, see it, it will be here. Good plan.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Happy Birthday, Mrs. Martin.” He started up the car and drove back to where Anna and Dan stood waiting outside the garage. As they traveled along the little dirt road, Kate filled Drew in on Aunt Sue’s story.

  “Another connection between the families!” He parked the car in the garage, and Kate helped cover the Packard with the tarp.

  The couple joined Anna and her son, as they slowly made their way back to the house.

  “What a great birthday present, Anna.” Kate wrapped her arm around the small woman’s shoulders. “What a great friend I have.” She whispered so only the two of them could hear.

  “Remember these days, Kathryn. There may not be many left.” Anna broke Kate’s happy mood.

  “Don’t say that!”

  “I need to keep reminding you. You look at me as if I were still eighteen.” Anna smiled slightly. “And I like that. The rest of them treat me like an old woman who needs constant help. You don’t. But I have to help you now. You need to let go a little, accept that I may not be in your life much longer.”

  “Never,” Kate answered. “I will never accept that as long as I live.”

  Chapter Five

  The birthday girls were whisked away to an upstairs bedroom for the day of the party, banned from coming downstairs. The party would start early, for Anna’s sake, and go into the night. Kate and Lindsey played with their hair and tried on each other’s dresses to pass the time. The moment finally arrived to get ready for the party. They helped each other dress, picking out the right shoes and jewelry. Then, the finishing touches of their outfits—the flapper headbands—were put in place.

  “Can you believe the week’s over, and you’re going home?” Lindsey did her little pout which cracked the two girls up. Nothing could spoil the festive mood in the room.

  “No, I can’t believe it. I don’t want to go home, but you know there’s important business to take care of,” Kate reminded Lindsey.

  “I know...the book.”

  “Exactly. Tyson can make me so mad at times! Just when I think he’s out of my life, he jumps right back in. Is this how my whole life’s going to be?” Kate applied red lipstick from the make-up bag Anna gave her. She twirled around, watching the fringe of her black dress flash in the mirror.

  “I hope not. That would be awful.” Lindsey spun around, too, making the fringe of her white dress fly in all directions. “I love that Grandma J chose black, white, and red for the color scheme. She has a sense of style, don’t you think?”

  “Of course, remember my wedding? She gave us make-up bags there, too.”

  “How could I forget? I had to sneak back in time to go. Plus isn’t that when Carl got Rachel pregnant...on your wedding day? Bet you’ll never forget that!”

  “Well, at least this year, we’ll know what he’s doing... Oh, you know what I mean! Not like last year.” Kate giggled with her friend.

  There was a knock at their door. “Katie? Lindsey? You guys ready?”

  Kate opened the door to see Megan standing there in a red flapper dress, wearing a touch of light red lipstick and pink blush. “Oh, sweetie, you look so grown-up!” Kate lightly hugged her so as not to mess up their make-up.

  Megan came dancing into the room. “I have to take you to the car. You have to follow me and do as I say. Remember, Grandma J’s orders.” Kate knew Anna wanted their entrance to be the first time they saw the house decorated for their birthday.

  “We’re ready. Let’s go.” Lindsey took Kate’s hand and let Megan lead the way.

  They walked down the back staircase leading straight to the kitchen and down the hall to the laundry room and garages.

  “Don’t look around,” Megan commanded. She opened the door to the garage. Parked in one of the spaces was the Packard.

  Grandpa Dan was waiting and opened the passenger door for the girls. “Ladies, your carriage awaits.” He bowed to them.

  “Grandpa, you look grea
t!” Lindsey flung her arms around him as she stepped into the car.

  Kate agreed. He looked like he stepped out of the 1920s. His black suit with white pinstripes complimented his black shirt and white tie. Kate thought she saw white suspenders under the jacket. “You do look great.” She took the hand he offered as she stepped into the car.

  “Hope you can squeeze into the seat with Lindsey. This is only a two-seater.” Grandpa Dan gently closed the door.

  “We’ll make it work.” Lindsey called out as she took the remote and opened the garage door.

  The sun shone brilliantly in the azure sky. A hot, dry day greeted them, but that didn’t matter to the girls. The party would take place throughout the main floor of the house and spill onto the deck as day turned into evening. They’d make their grand entrance on that back deck now. The friends held hands as Grandpa Dan started the car and slowly pulled around the garage heading to the back of the house.

  Kate strained to see who stood on the deck, but they weren’t close enough to see clearly. A loud yell went up, and the guests began to hoot and clap wildly when they spotted the Packard. Black, red and white balloon bouquets were everywhere. White twinkle lights were wrapped around the posts and railing of the deck. Tables covered in black linen were scattered across the floor. Red and white roses popped out of crystal vases on each table. Dan stopped the car at the bottom of the stairs, and the crowd parted. Drew and Charlie stepped through the makeshift aisle down to the waiting girls.

  Kate let out a small gasp. They both looked like gangsters of another era—especially Drew—as both wore black fedoras. That could have been his fate if he had stayed in the past.

  No, his father had clientele that were in the mob. Nicolas wasn’t in it himself. Kate reminded herself of that fact.

  Drew reached the door first and gave Kate his hand. She stepped out of the car to chants of “Happy Birthday” and other greetings. Everything became one big blur.

  Focus, she thought. Remember how you missed out on your wedding because you were overwhelmed. Enjoy the moment.