“Tabitha, it’s late,” he said, gently. “Actually, it’s dinner time. Let’s go out and get some Chinese food. What do you say?”
“Ugh. Time is bigger than me. It wants to crush me in an overwhelming wave…” Tabitha turned and looked at him through bleary eyes, then covered her face with her hands in a defeated gesture.
“You must eat something, dear. At least try.” Milt looked at her, concerned. Yes, time got away from her. She obviously wasn’t feeling well.
“Oh, just order in,” she replied, rubbing her eyes. She got up and went into the bathroom, taken aback by her stringy, dirty looking hair and the bags under her eyes.
Milt was already on the phone. “Yes, two medium. Chicken lo mein. Thank you.”
Tabitha went and lay down again.
“Are you okay?”
“You asked me that this morning. Yeah. I’m just gonna lie down until the food gets here.”
She heard Milt pushing play on the answering machine. Oh, that’s right. The gallery called.
“Hi, Tabitha. We just thought we’d hear from you today. We still need call backs on the RSVPs for New Year’s. It’s okay if you’re not up to it. Can you just give us a call, let us know?”
Milt went to the bedroom door and paused. It was odd that she didn’t go in to the gallery as planned or at least call back.
There was really nothing he could say though. He’d already asked if she was okay, and she had told him all she was going to tell. Anything else would simply provoke her, and he knew not to do that today.
A silent dinner, with one interruption from Peter. Tabitha still hadn’t showered, Milt noticed. This could be a bad sign. Things seemed to be getting worse for Tabitha, but he wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.
“So, did you ever call the gallery?” he asked.
“No. Maybe I’ll go in there tomorrow. Maybe I’ll take Peter with me. Or I should call the baby sitter. I don’t know; I’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
“Either way, Tabitha, it’s your choice. I just thought you were anxious to get back there.”
Tabitha got up and went to bed early. Milt didn’t say anything, but he would make sure to urge her to shower before he left in the morning. Whether that was or was not the right way to approach it, he didn’t know, but maybe a little prodding was all it would take.
The next morning, Milt urged Tabitha to shower as planned. He had breakfast cooked again, but, not surprisingly, she had none. After her shower, she was ravenous though, and devoured what he had cooked.
After Milt left, Tabitha phoned the babysitter. “I’m sorry, I know it’s last minute, but they need me at the gallery. I’ll pay you extra. One to two hours, tops.”
“No problem. I’m just amazed that you’re doing all this for them, with the baby and all.”
“Oh, Natasha, I’m not back to work yet, just planning the New Year’s party. See you soon.”
Upon arrival, Natasha greeted a red-eyed Tabitha at the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“Would everyone stop asking me that? I just need some sleep. Okay, here’s the plan. I changed my mind, I’m not going to the gallery. I need you to drive Peter around town for a while, maybe an hour. I’ll put his car seat in the back for you.” She meandered over to the garage and came back with it. “I need a nap. That’s it. That’s all I need. I am paying you double…It should more than cover the gas.”
Natasha couldn’t argue with that.
“I’m sorry if it was something I said, Tabitha. But I’m glad to do this. You do need your rest.” She carefully secured the car seat into her vehicle under Tabitha’s watchful, albeit, haggard eyes. Armed with an extra bottle of formula and Peter secure in the car seat in back, she set out for a leisurely drive. Tabitha kept telling herself what a safe driver Natasha was.
Once Natasha had left with Peter, Tabitha’s thoughts started racing again. An hour to herself. She could get in the Envo again and be back before anyone knew it. Who was she kidding? She had no business chasing down Mahoney. Odds were, she’d return to an entirely different 2047. Better to just live in the present. That is, if lying here even counted as living. Still, once down, she didn’t have the energy to get up. Obviously, she needed this rest. After a few minutes, she drifted off.
The knocks on her door startled Tabitha back into reality, and she had to throw on a coat to go wrestle the car seat out of Natasha’s car. She was glad to see the girl and her son returned unscathed.
Milt came home again to a house in disarray. He’d pretty much expected that. He heard Tabitha in the nursery changing Peter’s diaper.
On the coffee table lay her drawing pad. Sketched on it were modern style buildings, a playground with a padlocked gate, and a girl with elfin ears. It seemed like a memory of their time travels.
“Tabitha, this sketch is very good!” he called through the door of the nursery. “You haven’t drawn in a little while. This is wonderful. Imaginative.”
“Oh, that was from last week. It seems so long ago. Imaginative? Yes. Okay. I suppose so.” She gave a half-smile. “Thanks.” What Milt didn’t know was that she drew this while in 2047 again. She’d never have drawn it here.
“You ought to do more. It’s good to see you get back at it again.”
“Don’t hold your breath, Milt. You see what’s keeping me busy.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it. Can I take over for you?”
“Really, don’t bother. I’m almost done.”
Milt left the room with conflicted feelings, wondering why she was still acting so cross with him. He obviously hadn’t said the wrong thing this time.
On the counter was a Tyson’s chicken box, and the microwave was running. Well, at least dinner was in the works. A simple dinner, yes, that was smart. She was at least thinking ahead. He heard her voice in the next room.
“No, you’re entirely wrong. I don’t attract negative energy to me. Life doesn’t work that way. What about all the little innocent kids who have gotten bombed in wartime, did they attract that to themselves like negative energy? Did they deserve that to happen to them?”
A pause, perhaps listening to the person on the other end.
“No, I just disagree with you. Bad things happen to people. Not because they deserve them or invite them. You’re just being ridiculous. I was just trying to explain why I’m too busy. Yes, I know you thought it would help, but really, no. Not right now. I’ll talk to you some other time.” She hung up the phone.
“I think the food in the microwave is done. You okay?” Milt asked.
“Milt, I’m tired of hearing that. Okay? Please. Stop.” Tabitha walked into the room looking disheveled and perturbed.
“You would tell me if it wasn’t, okay, Tabitha?”
“Oh! Just stop!” She walked past him with the baby in her arms. “Come and dish up this food, will you?”
“Who was on the phone?”
“It was Jeanie, with her metaphysical positive thinking crap. You know what she asked me?”
Milt shook his head.
“She asked me, ‘Are you okay?’ And as you know, I’ve already heard that enough today.” Her eyes shot daggers at Milt.
“Yes. I’m sorry. It was just true concern, probably from your friend as well. She always had that metaphysical way of looking at things.”
“Well, if she calls in the next few days, just tell her I’m not here. I can’t take that right now. Oh, and I’m going in to the gallery tomorrow.”
“I thought you went today.”
“That…fell through.”
This surprised Milt, as he had just spoken to the neighbor when he got out of the car. Mr. Wesley had a liking for the baby sitter and told Milt how nice it was to see her today, how he hoped she’d be a real regular. Oh well, maybe it was just a social visit. He dismissed it, not wanting to upset Tabitha any further.
“Oh, dang! We’re out of formula! You go ah
ead and eat. I’ll be back.” She grabbed the car keys and went out to the car en route to the store.
Milt sighed and dished up a plate of chicken and potato salad. Peter watched him from the baby swing.
The store was bustling with activity. Tabitha quickly found the formula and selected the largest canister available. A long line loomed in front of her. The line in the next lane, not the express lane, had dwindled down. Tabitha scurried over there.
“That is so rude,” a caustic voice announced. It was a large woman wearing a billowy t-shirt and leggings. “Just cuttin’ in front of me. I’d like to give her a piece of my mind.”
Tabitha clutched the formula canister and looked straight ahead. She didn’t need a knock-down, drag out in the middle of the supermarket.
The woman kept on cursing and muttering. Finally, Tabitha had to say something.
“I’m just in a hurry, trying to buy this formula for my one month old baby, who is probably screaming for it at home right now. I am sorry if you think I cut you in line.” She looked over the loaded cart the woman had been pushing.
“Oh, the little princess can’t be made to wait. Better not leave that husband alone with the baby too much,” another woman in line said. She had long hair parted down the middle, and a long ankle length skirt with flowery blouse. That familiar voice…”You don’t wanna keep doing that. He might give up on you like mine did me.”
What was the potato woman doing here? Well, she looked younger and thinner, but that had to be her.
“Ellie?”
“Don’t you try to act like you know me. ‘Cuz you don’t. I’ll tell you what, don’t worry about me, you better be minding yourself, get home to that man because you sure haven’t been too kind to him lately. Have you?”
Oddly, Tabitha noticed, the woman had a sack of potatoes in her hands and nothing else. As if she was placed there to mock Tabitha.
She shook her head. There was no way it could be Ellie. How could this stranger know so much? And she was right. Tabitha had shown very little regard for Milt and his feelings lately.
Tabitha got to the cashier, who was a little slow on the register and had trouble keying in the product. Finally, it went through.
“$8.99, ma’am.”
Tabitha threw a ten dollar bill at him and ran out of the store, not even waiting for her change or a bag.
“She’s got important business to tend to,” the woman with parted hair called. The larger woman laughed hideously.
“Stop messing with me!” Tabitha shook her head as if to shake off a bad dream.
Once she got to the car, Tabitha slammed it into reverse, almost running over a woman and a child. “I’m sorry!” She called out of the open window. She couldn’t be seen or followed by the potato woman. A sack of potatoes! What was this? I’m going out of my mind, she thought. Tabitha felt like a pawn in someone’s game.
Lights flashed behind her. Oh, great. She slowed and then pulled over.
“Ma’am, license and registration, please. Did you know you were going 50 mph in a 35 mph zone?”
“I’m sorry. I just bought formula for the baby. He’s hungry, probably screaming my husband’s ear off right now. I guess you could say I’m in a hurry.” She tried to give her most charming smile. Never mind that her hair was greasy and she probably still had sleep lines on her face. At 6:30 in the evening.
“Okay, we’re going to run this information. You are getting a ticket for speeding. Give me a couple of minutes.”
“But I told you, my baby’s waiting.”
“Just a few minutes, okay. We’ll put you on the expedited ticket system.”
Expedited ticket? Yeah, that was a good one.
The officer returned. One hundred thirty dollars. That’s what the ticket was going to cost. And a lecture: please learn your lesson and don’t do this again. As if. Didn’t everybody speed? She made a mental note to look for a fuzz-buster.
Arriving home late, she walked in sheepishly, head down. “I got a ticket. I’m sorry.”
“A ticket? For what?”
“Speeding.” She slammed the ticket and the formula down on the kitchen counter and went into the bedroom. “It seems I don’t get along too well with the law these days!” she called, turning back as she was walking and almost running into the closed bedroom door, leaving Milt quite befuddled.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Going to bed. It’s been an exhausting day.” She didn’t tell him how she’d hired a baby sitter just to watch the baby while she slept. She didn’t tell him much of anything, when she really thought about it. She couldn’t even tell him about the potato woman. This was making things very awkward. All she knew for sure right now was that Milt was going to feed Peter his bottle, and she was no longer needed tonight. Thank goodness. She lay back on the bed and before long was sound asleep.
#
Another morning. Sunlight through the cracks in the blinds. The smell of, what was it, French toast? The scent was delicious. What was he doing? Breakfast three days in a row? Normally, they were both so hurried, she’d settle for pop tarts with her coffee.
“Tabitha. Wake up, honey.” Milt gently nudged her shoulder.
“Breakfast again?”
“Well, why not?” He grinned at her. “But you’ve got to get up. By the way, I’m taking the day off. It’s only one day. What could it hurt?”
“Okay. Just give me a few minutes.”
Peter was crying, but she heard Milt comforting him; crisis averted. She shut her eyes again. The garage door opened. Was he going somewhere? Suddenly, she remembered the scratch on the Envo that she’d desperately hoped would not be noticed for another few weeks. Rarely did he go and look that thing over, but today, of all days?
“Tabitha, we need to talk,” Milt’s stern voice spoke through the bedroom door, then he opened it. It was a voice he did not use often. “I need you to get up now.”
Chapter 16
Facing the Music
Tabitha came out and sat on the couch. Milt had placed Peter back in the crib. He was making noise, but it was nothing that couldn’t wait.
“I need you to tell me where you took the Envo, and when.” There was an edge to his voice.
She took a moment to process his request for information. Then it dawned on her. This was about the scratch. This could totally change their relationship, and it was a little rocky already. She tried to think up a story. Couldn’t she just tell the truth? It would be so good to tell him, to talk about these things plaguing her. About Mahoney, the male to female ratio in 2047, the calming mist which basically drugged 80% of inhabitants in a city because of what seemed to be nothing other than fear. She took a deep breath.
“Milt, I did take the Envo for a little ride the other night.”
“A little ride? Where did you go? And why?”
“Well, I couldn’t sleep. Thoughts were racing through my mind. I needed some different scenery. I just drove toward the city, past the river. The sky was beautiful.”
“Okay, so where did the scratch come from? Was it your fault?”
“Don’t worry about that. No one will know.”
“What do you mean? It sounds like it was your fault. You never know if someone might have seen you. They could’ve taken your license number.” He was unwittingly raising his voice. “And you said, ‘I don’t get along well with the law lately.’ What was that about?”
Tabitha hated lying. Now she had to convince him there would be no repercussions.
“Believe me, no harm came to the other vehicle.”
“Apparently it was a parked car?”
She nodded. “Yes, no signs of injury to it.”
“You were part of a hit and run! You realize that’s what they call it?”
“Harmless, Milt. No harm, no foul.”
“Why did it happen?”
“Well, I was kind of, going fast.” She had trouble looking him in the
eyes.
“Was there any good reason for that? You know, you’ve got me really concerned with this reckless behavior.”
“I had to be reckless; someone was following me.”
Milt’s eyebrows shot up. “Tabitha, who was after you?”
“Listen, Milt. I wasn’t sure I could tell you, but I can’t lie. Please give me credit for that. I took the Envo to the year 2047 two nights ago.”
His eyes got wide and he shook his head. “That was very risky. I can’t believe…And who was following you?”
“It’s a long story. Do you mind if I make coffee?”
“I already did. Go pour yourself a cup. Come right back. We’re not done here.”
She got her coffee and returned to the couch. “Thanks,” she said, sheepishly taking a sip.
“You know you could have come back to ice on the roads! I haven’t changed the tires on the Envo yet. That was a horrible risk!”
“Why would there be ice? There was no ice when I left.”
“What you don’t understand is that, there are so many contingencies in time travel. You can’t ever do this again!”
“Well, I won’t, but why would it be different when I came back? That makes no sense.”
“Coming back to a past that is somehow changed may not be probable, but it is still possible.”
“Okay, just stop there. You can’t explain this so I can understand it. Look.” She lowered her voice. “I know you’re upset with me. I’m sorry about the scratch. I was chased by police officers the first day I got there.”
“First day?”
“Yes. I was there two days. However, I didn’t want either of you to miss me or need me, so I programmed the Envo to return me to one minute after the time I had originally left. Believe me, I didn’t plan on two days; it just happened. And I slept like a baby in that jail, when the crazy woman next door wasn’t babbling.” She shuddered. That crazy woman, Ellie, who seemed to have followed her here by sending a version of her past self. No, that sounded crazy. Was it any crazier than the thought of George Mahoney following them to 2047 or showing up in 2047 again to test his Stein Blaster?
Undercurrents in Time Page 14
