by Bess McBride
“I do not know. The public health department will determine that. If so, I am afraid Jack will not be able to work until he is well and tests negative.”
“I hope he gets well,” Annie said.
“I hope so too. One never knows. As you are well aware. You were right to warn people at the drugstore, Annie. You may have saved some lives.” He changed the subject. “I do not feel any broken bones in your hips or knees, though I am certain you will have some bruising and you might limp for a few days. Can you move your fingers for me?”
Annie managed to splay her fingers while Dr. Mallory explored them.
“No, I don’t feel any broken bones there either,” he said.
Annie heard the chatter of the children in the dining room next door.
“They’re sitting down to dinner!” she exclaimed, her heart pounding. “The ice cream!”
“Dessert comes after dinner, but I take your point. I did instruct Belinda. That is all I can do.”
“You can tell them about Jack and his typhoid fever, that it’s likely he contaminated the ice cream!”
“I will, Annie. I will. Let me see if I can extricate Belinda and Monroe from their parental duties.” Dr. Mallory patted her hand, rose and left the parlor.
Annie, feeling disadvantaged by her position on the couch, tried to swing her legs over, but every nerve, ligament and muscle in her body screamed. She fell back against the couch and waited, closing her eyes and listening intently at the murmured adult voices in the next room.
Danny’s face materialized. She could only imagine how stressed he must be at her disappearance. She wanted to get back to him, to reassure him that she was all right, to share her fantastical experiences with him, but she couldn’t leave yet. Not yet.
The adult voices faded, and Annie craned her neck to see over the edge of the sofa, but the high back prevented her from seeing into the dining room. She waited, still listening. She thought she could hear Claire’s voice.
“Nooooooo...” Yes, that was most definitely Claire’s voice in a high-pitched wail. Annie’s heart leapt to her throat. What had happened? The ice cream? Had someone already eaten the ice cream?
Harry’s voice started fussing, and a small voice cried. Annie thought it might have been Charlie.
She struggled to get off the sofa again to find out what was going on. Trying to ignore the burning pain in her hip, she grabbed each leg by the thigh and manually pushed them over the edge of the sofa. Bracing herself, she rose to a standing position, teetering dizzily.
“I want ice creaaaaammmmm....” someone howled from the dining room. Harry? Teddie? Annie couldn’t imagine quiet Teddie fussing like that, but what did she know. She turned and looked into the dining room.
It was indeed Teddie who sobbed. Annie limped into the dining room, wanting to ask what was going on. She suspected she knew. Monroe could be seen through the kitchen door, talking, Annie imagined, to the other adults.
“Mama says we can only have the apple pie for dessert,” Claire explained somberly. “That’s why Teddie is crying. Ice cream is his favorite food. He’s usually not this noisy.”
Annie nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
“Did you know?” Claire asked. “That we couldn’t have the ice cream? I thought you didn’t hear.”
“I do know,” Annie replied.
“Did you tell Mama we shouldn’t eat ice cream? Papa brought it home, but Mama says that someone told her it wasn’t safe. You didn’t say that, did you, Cousin Annie? Because we’ve always had ice cream with our pie!”
Annie looked at the accusing faces around the table, with the exception of the baby. Monroe had brought the ice cream home. Had he stopped by Goodie’s Drugstore? The timing was close enough. This must have been how Belinda and Teddie had gotten sick.
“I did,” Annie said with a nod, “and so did Dr. Mallory.”
“Oh, Cousin Annie.” Claire sighed.
Teddie sobbed even louder. Harry shook his head with a grim expression. Cathy pressed her lips together and toyed with her food. Toddler Charlie’s face crumpled, as if he was ready to start crying. Again, only Robbie beamed at Annie.
“Let me go talk to the grown-ups,” Annie said, on the point of escaping.
“Are you going to tell them the ice cream is all right to eat?” Claire asked.
“I can’t. It’s not. I’m sorry.”
Annie escaped, albeit with a limp, into the kitchen.
“Annie!” Dr. Mallory said from across the room. “You shouldn’t be up. You need to rest.” He guided her toward a chair.
“I’m sorry,” she said to the room in general. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what, dear?” Monroe asked.
“For the ice cream?”
“Whyever for?” Monroe asked again.
Annie, confused, looked at Dr. Mallory.
“I told Belinda and Monroe that at least one ice cream worker at Swenson’s Dairy Farm is sick with typhoid fever, that the public health department will have to examine all their products, but that the ice cream is unsafe to eat. Monroe said that the ice cream he purchased is from Swenson’s Dairy Farm.” Dr. Mallory gave her a conspiratorial glance.
“What I still don’t understand is how you knew about this, Annie?” Belinda asked. “How could you know ahead of time? Monroe picked the ice cream up at the Swenson’s Dairy Farm stall at the market where he works, so this ice cream did not come from Goodie’s Drugstore. Isn’t that where you claimed the...?” She turned to Dr. Mallory. “Bacteria? Where that came from?”
“The ice cream at Goodie’s Drugstore is also supplied by Swenson’s Dairy Farm, Belinda,” Dr. Mallory explained. “All ice cream products from the farm will have to be tested and most likely pulled from stores and destroyed.”
Teddie’s wailing grew louder, and Belinda tsked.
“Monroe, will you take care of Teddie, please?” Belinda said.
Monroe left the room, and Belinda stared at Annie and Dr. Mallory.
“I still do not understand why you knew about the typhoid even before the dairy farm worker went to see Dr. Mallory.”
Cathy and Claire entered the kitchen. Cathy spoke. “Papa says we’re to serve the pie immediately—anything to make Teddie stop crying!”
“Yes, that is fine,” Belinda said. “The pie is cut. Get the plates and hand out the pie.”
The adults remained silent while the girls loaded up plates. As soon as they left the room, Belinda started asking questions again. Annie hoped she wouldn’t have to dazzle her ancestors with her magical time traveling trip, not if they believed Dr. Mallory, not with proof of the outbreak.
Monroe returned to the kitchen in time to hear Belinda ask again.
“How did you know about the typhoid, Annie?”
Annie sighed heavily, looked at Dr. Mallory and opened her mouth to speak.
Chapter Ten
“We discussed it in my office earlier in the day, Belinda,” Dr. Mallory said. “I do wish we could eradicate the disease, but we simply have not yet been able to do so. Maybe in the future.”
Annie closed her mouth. She had been on the verge of disclosing all, that she had come from the future to warn them, but it looked like Dr. Mallory was going to give her cover. She welcomed it. She really didn’t want to have to see the disbelief in her ancestors’ eyes...any more than she already had.
“But you seemed to know yesterday,” Belinda began.
Monroe interrupted her and it seemed intentional. “Shall we have pie?” he asked, turning toward the kitchen counter.
“Yes, please,” Annie said.
“How about you, Dr. Mallory?”
“Yes, that would be lovely. I missed my dinner.”
“We all have, it seems,” Monroe said. He dished pie onto plates and set them on the kitchen table.
Belinda eyed everyone in the room skeptically, but she said no more.
Annie wanted to know the disposition of the ice cream, but she dared not ask Belinda the question. She hoped t
o ask Dr. Mallory before he left if he knew what happened to it.
Teddie’s wailing had calmed, and the adults ate in the kitchen in silence for a few moments. Annie started ruminating about how she could get back home. She thought the situation might have been resolved, but she absolutely had to know before she even tried to leave. Beyond that, she couldn’t just disappear and worry the Sellers.
“At the risk of offending anyone, can I ask what happened to the ice cream?” Annie ducked her head.
“I put it in the garbage outside,” Monroe said in a low voice with a glance toward the dining room. “Per Dr. Mallory’s instructions, we will avoid ice cream for the foreseeable future until the public health department issues a notice.”
Relief flooded through Annie at Monroe’s words. Tired and sore, she felt as if she had come to the end of a long journey. Though only a matter of days, it was as if she had been in 1913 for a lifetime.
Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw Belinda staring at her.
“You knew ahead of time,” Belinda stated flatly. “Somehow you knew.”
Annie nodded. “I did. That’s really all I can say. I really love this pie.” She applied herself to her plate again and said nothing more. When they finished, Dr. Mallory rose and helped Annie up.
“Let’s take one more look at you before I go. If at all possible, I think you should avoid the stairs and sleep on the sofa tonight.”
“I will bring down some bedding,” Belinda said.
The adults filed out of the kitchen. Belinda and Monroe handled the children and cleanup while Dr. Mallory escorted Annie back to the sofa.
“How is your head? Your vision?” He held up several fingers and moved them around.
“I can see your fingers,” Annie said. “My head hurts, but other than that, I guess I’m okay.”
Dr. Mallory ran his hands along her head. “It’s not swollen. Would you like me to get some ice from Belinda?”
Annie shook her head.
“I’ll come back and check on you in the morning before I start seeing patients.”
Annie shook her head again. “I don’t think I’ll be here, Doc. I think this is goodbye. If my job here is done, then I’m going to try to go home.”
His eyes widened. “Just like that? You’re leaving? Without telling Belinda and Monroe? Or the children?”
Annie’s throat ached. “I’ve thought about that. I’ll tell them I’m going south to Baltimore first thing in the morning.”
Dr. Mallory took her hand in both of his. “This seems too soon. What about your injuries? Are you fit to travel? Is it arduous?”
Annie shook her head. “No, I just sort of fainted on my way here. I don’t think I fell out of my chair, but I woke up outside near the basement. I’ll probably go back down there, close my eyes, do some wishing and off I go! I really, really hope that’s how it works.”
Dr. Mallory sighed. “And you do not want to tell them the truth?”
“No, not if I don’t have to. Thank you so much for covering for me.”
“Of course. It was a privilege to earn your trust. I treasure the knowledge that, for some, time travel is possible. And from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the information regarding antibiotics. I cannot wait until 1928.”
Annie smiled and clung to his hand.
“Thank you for being here. I’m so glad to have met you.”
“And I you. I still wish to look in on you in the morning. What time do you intend to leave...if that is what you might call it?”
“Early. I don’t know what time the train leaves, but I’ll tell them I’m taking the train.”
“I have no idea either. I will come by at six a.m. Would that be all right?”
Annie nodded and sighed. “I doubt I’ll sleep a wink tonight.”
“Wait for me. I wish to see you ‘leave.’”
“It might be weird...or we might end up just hanging out together early in the morning.”
“I am prepared.”
“Okay, six o’clock sharp. Do you mind if I say that you’re loaning me the money for a ticket—I don’t need money—and that you’re accompanying me to the train station?”
“Yes, that would be fine.” He rose. “Good night then.”
“Good night.”
Just as he left, the children filed out of the dining room, heading for upstairs.
“Mama says we’re not to bother you,” Claire said.
“Wait!” Annie called out. “Come here, everyone. I want to say good night to all of you!”
Claire blinked in surprise but shepherded all the children toward the sofa. Cathy held the baby.
“Can I give Robbie a squeeze?” Annie asked.
“Of course,” Cathy said. She held out the baby, and Annie took him onto her lap. Too bruised to bounce him, she held onto him while she told the other children good night, all the while truly meaning goodbye. The easygoing baby grinned contentedly.
“Good night, Charlie,” Annie said as Claire drew the two-and-a-half-year-old forward. Annie leaned over and gave him a hug.
“Say good night now, Charlie,” Claire prompted.
“Night-night,” he said sweetly.
Annie swallowed, fighting tears.
“Good night, Cousin Annie,” Harry said. Not shy, he voluntarily leaned over and wrapped his arms around Annie’s neck. The tears sprang to her eyes, and she blinked them back.
“Good night, Harry. It was so nice to meet you...I mean, thank you. Good night to you!”
“Good night, Cousin Annie,” Cathy echoed. She leaned over and took Robbie from Annie’s lap.
“Wait! Let me hug you, Cathy,” Annie said. Cathy, baby in her arms, leaned over and allowed Annie to hug her. She patted Annie in a kindly maternal fashion on one shoulder.
Claire pushed the bashful Teddie forward. His swollen eyes and red nose looked very much alive. Annie hoped and prayed that the handsome little boy would grow up to father his own family, that he would live a long life.
“Good night, Teddie,” she said in a husky voice. “I’m so glad to see you well.”
Claire nudged him. “Say thank you, Teddie.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled. He turned away and ran up the stairs.
Monroe emerged from the kitchen.
“Up you go, children,” he said. Cathy and the rest of the children went upstairs.
“Good night, Cousin Annie,” Claire said. She bent down and hugged Annie. Despite her best efforts, Annie started crying. She gave her thirteen-year-old great-grandmother a tight embrace. She didn’t know if and how Claire’s life might change if her mother lived, but Annie hoped her life was happier than the liquor bottles under the bed indicated it had been...or was to be. If Annie made it back as she hoped, she would find out.
“Upstairs now, Claire,” Monroe said.
Claire extricated herself from Annie’s arms and went upstairs.
Monroe sat down in one of the easy chairs. “What’s all this?” he asked as Annie sobbed and hiccupped.
“I’m leaving in the morning. I didn’t want to tell the children, but I need to tell you and Belinda. I’m going to take the train down to Baltimore first thing, probably before you’re awake.”
He blinked in surprise behind his glasses. “In your condition? I don’t think that is a good idea, Annie. Can you not wait a few days until you’re on the mend?”
Belinda entered the parlor at that time. “Wait until what? Dr. Mallory suggested you might want some ice for your head, Annie. Do you want me to get a compress?”
“No, thank you. I was telling Monroe that I’m going to leave in the morning. I’m going to take the train down to Baltimore.”
“Baltimore!” Belinda exclaimed. “But how will you get there? You don’t have any money, do you? You’re injured, Annie! How can you possibly travel tomorrow morning?”
“Belinda, dear, let Annie answer one question at a time!” Monroe interjected.
She gave her husband a narrow-eyed look.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry, Annie.” She sat down and laced her fingers together in her lap. “Please tells us about your plans.”
“But answer all your questions, right?” Annie said with a grin. The muscles in her face felt unaccustomed to such an expression. She hadn’t felt a desire to smile for days.
Belinda and Monroe returned her smile.
“Okay, I was going to go down to Baltimore tomorrow morning to do some more family research. Dr. Mallory is going to loan me the money, and he’s going to go down to the train station with me.”
Both Belinda and Monroe opened their mouths to object, but Annie held up a hand. “Wait, wait! I know you have thoughts, but let me finish. I was going to return to Washington, and I might still. Who knows? I might change my mind overnight. I haven’t bought my ticket yet, so I still could. I know I’m hurt, but that will just slow me down a bit. Dr. Mallory doesn’t think I have any permanent or serious injuries.”
Annie paused, gauging their reactions. She could see that she hadn’t really eased many of their questions or protests. Surprisingly, it was Monroe who began.
“Annie, I really do think I should give you the money for your journey, wherever you choose to go. I will take you to the train station.”
Belinda didn’t wait. “I really think it’s a terrible mistake for you to leave so soon. Is it because you fear typhoid? We have thrown the ice cream out. We won’t purchase ice cream until Dr. Mallory says we may, and we will allow him to guide us in our selection of milk. There are other dairy farms. Is that what you fear, Annie? I simply don’t understand why you are leaving in the dead of night like this.”
“Belinda, dear,” Monroe protested. “Annie wishes to leave in the morning, not the dead of night.”
“It is not much different. She has already said goodbye to the children!”
“Good night, actually. I just told them good night. I wasn’t up for goodbyes,” Annie said, her throat aching. “No, Belinda, I don’t fear catching typhoid fever from the ice cream you threw out. I’m so very grateful that you did get rid of it, so very grateful that you were able to believe Dr. Mallory.”
“Of course we believed Dr. Mallory. Annie, I didn’t doubt your fears. There was just no proof. And now there is in that unfortunate dairy worker who has taken ill. I still wish I knew how you predicted this outbreak!”
