"Love this." He looked back at Addi and grinned. "Hope Ellie will want to sing this to me one day."
He drove off and Addi rolled her eyes.
Randy watched her for a while, too long in her estimation.
She turned her face firmly to the window, watching the undulating farmlands flash by as Josh drove past.
All of this was built up into a large community in 2017. She felt like pointing out the the area that Randy will build and live in her dream house but she changed her mind.
Already things were changing. Maybe Randy and Kenya would not be a thing? Maybe he wouldn't be living here?
Why did that thought excite her? She glanced at Randy who was still looking at her a hint of laughter in his eyes.
"What year were you living in before you came back here at fifteen?"
She looked at him and growled. "2017."
Josh laughed. Hitting the steering wheel in mirth. "So, in your past life you were what, forty?"
"Yup. The big four-oh," she said sullenly. "Though I didn't actually get to see my fortieth birthday. Technically I was thirty-nine."
Josh slowed to a crawl over a bad patch of road. "So what is Whitney Houston doing in the future?" He asked as another Whitney Houston song, Higher Love, started playing.
"She died in 2012," Addi said without pause. "In a bath tub, drug overdose."
"Stop it!" Josh was not taking her seriously. "I knew you didn't like Whitney. Why would you kill her off?"
"I like her songs." Addi smirked. "I do. I am just answering the question you asked. It's kind of ironic though, me knowing this. Some of her greatest hits aren't even out yet."
Randy cleared his throat. "Told you she was a witch."
Josh looked back at his sister. "So what happens to Michael Jackson?"
"Dead too, 2009. Drugs. I think that one was doctor administered."
"And Kriss Kross. Your little boy group?" Josh kissed his teeth, hating her bleak report.
"Chris Kelly died of a drug overdose too. I mean the song Jump was their main hit. This year was really it for them."
"Boyz II Men," Randy joined in. "What happens to them?"
"They broke up." Addi shrugged. "I have no idea where any of them are but I am sure they are still alive."
"Madonna," Josh said, speeding up over the bumpy road.
"Still alive and still doing shows."
"And TLC," Randy was warming up to what he was thinking was a joke.
"Left Eye died," Addi said, "car crash."
"Stop," Josh said. He looked visibly upset. "I don't think I want to hear anymore about your past made up life. All my favorite artistes are dead."
Addi pursed her lips. "But..."
"We haven't asked her about any local artistes yet." Randy protested. "She can't stop yet."
"But she is so morbid." Josh glanced in the rearview mirror at her, "and so specific, it's kind of scary."
Randy gave her a half smile. "I told you. This guess the future activity was kind of grim."
Addi inhaled. "Well then, I won't say another word."
"At least let us know what happened to Shabba Ranks and Ninja Man." Randy urged eagerly.
Too eagerly. Addi had a suspicion that he was half believing her but didn't want to admit it.
And Papa San and Lt. Stitchie and Tiger. Josh was back on the future game bandwagon but not as enthusiastically as before.
Addi sighed."They are all alive as far as I know. Shabba faded out of the spotlight, Ninja Man was in jail at one point. Papa San and Lt Stitchie became Christians and started doing gospel and Tiger was injured in a bike accident in '94. I remember that because we were preparing to leave Jamaica. Grandma filed for us to go to the States and it came through..."
She stopped talking. She didn't miss the look between Randy and Josh.
Josh slowed down then came to a complete stop beside a house with a huge lawn. The house was a sprawling edifice with a few heavily loaded orange trees. Ellie was waiting on the veranda. A stern faced gentleman of indeterminate age was sitting on the veranda beside a plump, short lady with long wavy hair. Ellie seemed as if she had been arguing with them.
Ellie was a beauty. She had long curly hair, caramel complexion, natural red lips and the kind of breasts women paid big money to get. She had on a red tank top that looked like it was barely holding them together and a white shirt over it that was far from modest.
She was dressed in tight blue jeans that emphasized her tiny waist and flared hips. She had the kind of shape that people stared at, and she knew it. She walked with a come hither sway that was probably as natural to her as breathing.
She had seductress written all over her. Addi felt like getting out of the car and buttoning up her white blouse all the way to her neck.
Randy and Josh had gone silent when they saw her. A silent male appreciation that had Addi gritting her teeth.
Josh roused himself from his inertia and got out of the car. "We are done with this game," He said to Addi. "No more, you hear me!"
"Sure." Addi growled. "I will not spook your new girlfriend."
Josh nodded, seeming to already forget her predictions. He was eager to meet Ellie's uncle and aunt but Ellie was already walking to the car. She looked almost tearful, but she brightened when she came closer to Josh.
"My uncle is being crazy again," Ellie said sliding into the front seat. "My brother is just ten and he has no place to stay for the summer. My aunt whom he was staying with is leaving for a couple of weeks and my uncle doesn't want him to stay here in Mandeville. Poor Owen. I wish my parents would hurry up and send for him so he can live with them in the States. He can't live like this—being boxed around to different family members like an unwanted piece of luggage.
"Sorry to vent, Josh. Thank you so much for helping me out, my uncle doesn't want Owen here so he decided not to take me to get him. That's like cruelty, isn't it? Owen can't live alone without adult supervision."
She looked back at Addi and Randy. "Hi."
Josh carried out introductions and they nodded politely.
Ellie's problems were quickly put on the back burner as she started talking about something else.
She was so effervescent; it was easy to see why Josh was so fascinated. The girl was sex in heels and had a personality that put you at ease. Josh was a goner and it had barely been a week.
Randy rested his head on the seat and looked at Addi while Ellie and Josh got caught up in their own conversation.
"So are all of the popular artistes now dead in the future?" Randy brought up their previous conversation again.
"No." Addi shook her head.
"Tell me something else that will make me wake up tomorrow and be convinced that you are really a time traveler," Randy murmured lazily. "Something that will make me say, wow. She has to be!"
"I have done a pretty good job so far." Addi chuckled. "Your grandmother called. Your birthmark is where it always was. Your unbelief is tiring."
"World events," Randy said, "Tell me something."
"I don't remember much." Addi squinted and looked through the window. "92...92..."
"Your dad and I were discussing the US Elections. Your dad was speculating about who Bill Clinton would announce as his running mate."
Addi laughed. "Oh, that's easy, Al Gore. And he'll win too. His wife Hillary actually ran in 2016...Forget that. So if you hear that Al Gore is Bill Clinton's running mate you'll believe me?"
Randy looked at her for a long moment. "Reluctantly."
He lowered his voice. "There is no way you could have known about Freda and that mark on my butt without insider information. I am getting there, Addi."
Addi examined him closely his eyes were genuine, pure brown sugar eyes, that looked as if they had a light at the back of it. Eyes that were as mesmerizing now as they were in the future.
She bit her lip and then dragged her eyes from his. "That's a start."
"You are pretty," Randy murmured in surprise as if he wa
s just seeing her for the first time. "And different. And you do act and talk much older than your age."
Addi smiled. "Thanks, I guess."
"One day, you'll have to tell me about us. I mean your future version," he said it quietly and then looked away from her.
****
She headed straight for the kitchen when they got back from Black River. The place smelled really good. She had to stop for a brief moment and inhale the air. Fried chicken, glazed sweet potatoes and orange cake were cooling on a rack on the counter. This was the definition of a nostalgic childhood scent and here she was inhaling it in 1992.
"You guys back already?" her mother was setting the table.
"Yes," Addi whispered, "Josh's girl and her brother are here."
Vicky smiled. "Well, we have enough food."
"Don't you think it is ridiculous how quickly he is taking her here to meet the family?" Addi asked urgently. "He is getting too serious, too quickly. You should see him when he is around her. He is like a love sick puppy."
Vicky looked up at Addi and frowned. "It's just dinner."
"That's where it starts." Addi moved closer to her mother. Knowing that this was a long shot. Her parents liked everybody.
They were neutral on all their friends. She could not in all her life remember either parent saying anything negative about anybody. Even after the whole Ellie debacle with Josh they hadn't said a bad word about Ellie though she deserved it.
Her mother stopped fixing the table. Put her hand akimbo and glared at Addi.
"You are to be hospitable and nice to Ellie and her brother, what's his name again?"
"Owen," Addi said reluctantly. The little boy had not said a word on their way from Black River. He looked unhappy and withdrawn, which made her feel bad for him but he was besides the point. His sister was the evil Ellie—the woman who derailed her brother's life.
Her mother passed her and walked to the stove. "You are going to be hospitable and the sweet girl we know you are Addison Porter."
Addi felt like stomping her foot when a feeling of impotence assailed her. History was going to repeat itself. She couldn't very well blurt out to her mother that she was a time traveler and knew how all of this was going to end.
Though to be honest none of this happened before. She had never met Owen, nor had Ellie ever come to Sunday dinner. Maybe meeting the family had changed Ellie from a two timing hussy who tricked her brother into marrying her and accepting another man's child as his.
Fat chance of that happening.
She left the kitchen and headed to her room. She didn't want to hear about how hospitable she should be to Ellie. She didn't want to watch the introductions to the parents either. Her parents would love her. Ellie had a genuineness about her that even Addi after knowing what she did, loved. It would be like hating a kitten. You know you are a monster if you hate kittens.
She sat on the bed with her chin in her hand. If she blurted out at dinner that she knew what Ellie did, she was going to be in big trouble.
Firstly, because it had not happened yet and secondly, it would be the heights of being impolite. Her parents would punish her. She hadn't gotten a spanking since she was twelve, she didn't want them to rethink that mode of discipline now. It would be undignified.
Her brother would probably never speak to her again and Randy...maybe Randy would help. He did say he was slowly becoming a believer.
But if he took her side when everyone else thought she was crazy. His summer here would probably be terminated early.
She inhaled and stood up. She had no plan. Not even a ghost of a plan. She needed one and fast.
Chapter Nine
Her mother gave her a sharp warning look when she sat the dining room table with the rest of the family. It was a clear message to behave herself, one which she would gladly heed. Being the sullen quiet sister was not going to accomplish what she wanted.
Ellie was seated to her left, Randy to her right and Josh was seated beside Ellie on the other side of the table. He was grinning from ear to ear like the cat who got the cream. Spoiled cream, Addi corrected herself.
Her mother served the food buffet style, in their good China. The ones with the blue and red grape designs at the edge. She still had them in 2017. They were still only taken out for Sunday dinners.
She had threatened to leave them to Addi in her will. Addi dearly hoped not. She didn't have the same tastes in floral designs as her mom did.
"So Ellie," her mother was the first to open the conversation to Ellie when they had all taken their share of food. "Tell us about you. Up until now we only knew that you were drop dead gorgeous and worked at Mack J's."
Ellie laughed. A tinkling sound. Infectious. She had the whole table laughing with her except her father. Addi noted. He was not even looking at Ellie directly. He was trying to hide it but he wasn't pleased that Ellie was there.
Addi felt a little kick of elation. Her dad could be a potential ally in getting Josh to see Ellie differently.
"I go to the Culinary Training School," Eliie said in answer to Vicky's question. "The one on Ward Avenue. I hope to get certified and then move on to the training hotel in St. Ann. I want to be a chef."
"Ah," her father piped up. "That sounds good. My sister-in-law, Ivy Porter, is the principal of that school."
"Yes, I know." Ellie nodded. "I like Mrs. Porter. She sometimes teach the advanced culinary classes. She is awesome. She does everything so effortlessly."
"So you are doing classes this summer?" Her mother asked.
She was playing detective.
Addi relaxed somewhat. Her parents may be accepting and look unassuming but they knew how to do their due diligence. To an extent.
"Yes." Ellie answered her question. "I go to classes in the mornings. Then I work at my uncle's place for the lunch and dinner crowd."
Her mother nodded and smiled. "So you are an industrious girl."
So much for due diligence Addi almost groaned aloud. Her mother was positively brimming with acceptance. She could see the wheels turning in her mind, Ellie was responsible—she had a job and wouldn't be leaching after Josh. Ellie was pretty and warm and was quite the conversationalist. And the list would go on.
Addi almost missed Ellie's answer as she watched her mother fall under Ellie's spell.
"I have to be industrious." Ellie smiled, "my parents instilled a work ethic in me from day one. Besides, I have to help my little brother here with pocket money."
Addi looked at Owen when she said that.
The kid was as mousy and quiet as it was possible to be. She wished that she had known about him in the past. She wracked her brain trying to come up with even a hint of Ellie Dunn's family history. She was coming up with nothing. Owen wasn't around when Ellie and Josh got married. Not that she could remember.
All she knew of Ellie was that she was a pretty girl who Josh sneaked into the house at night. In August of 92 she had actually met her exiting the bathroom. Mid August, Uncle Stan had died. Josh had gone back to university. Nobody really knew anything about Ellie. Everybody had been distracted and grieving. October in the last timeline she hadn't cared about Josh's love life.
He had come home one weekend in October excited about a scholarship offer to attend MIT, and then he had gone out Saturday night and returned subdued and sad looking. He had spent most of that month locked in his room.
Maybe that was when Ellie had told him of the pregnancy.
That November he had announced to them, at a Sunday dinner similar to this, that he was going to marry Ellie. The parents had been shocked. Addi could remember it now as clear as day. Her father had gone stone cold still. Her mother had looked like she had swallowed something distasteful.
"Why?" She had been the one to ask.
"Because she is pregnant," Josh had replied flatly.
Her mother had gasped her mouth hanging open like a fish. "Pregnant!"
Josh had stared down at his plate like a prisoner about to be exe
cuted.
And then her father, the voice of reason. "You don't have to marry her, we can help her through the pregnancy. You take up your scholarship with MIT and we will help her. When you are done with school then you can think about marriage and all of that stuff."
Josh shook his head vigorously. "She is not well. Her uncle and aunt kicked her out of the house yesterday, she's staying with friends."
Her mother's sigh had been loud enough to shake the house.
"Do you love this girl, Josh?"
"Yes!" Josh had nodded definitively. "Yes I do! I really do and I can't just sit around and watch her suffer as she carries my baby and not do the right thing. The right thing is to marry her and let us be a family. I can quit school for a semester, work at the store or even work with Dad since Uncle Stan is no longer around."
Her father had leaned back in his chair, a no nonsense look on his face. "You are finishing college."
Josh nodded. "Yes sir."
"You should take that scholarship," he said again.
"I have to see how well Ellie is doing first," Josh had insisted. "I can't just leave her."
Both parents had gotten up from the table almost as if they had rehearsed it. She could hear her mother crying through her closed bedroom door that Sunday.
In the week, Josh had taken Ellie to the house for the first time to officially meet his family. It had been a tense, awkward meeting, quite unlike now.
Ellie had looked slimmer, almost emaciated, her cheekbones sunken, dark circles under her eyes. She had rushed to the bathroom every other second.
Her mother had burst into tears and was inconsolable. Her father had sat stiffly in the settee, making eye contact with no one.
After Nelson was born, tensions between the parents and Ellie had evened out somewhat. They had quietly paid all of Josh's bills and he had graduated university getting his first teaching job. Ellie had also returned to school. She left Nelson with her in laws while she finished her culinary degree.
Life went on until Nelson had developed severe anemia. Josh had readily offered to donate his blood, but they weren't compatible.
Never Too Late (Resetter Series Book 1) Page 7
