Photographs in Time

by Terry Segan

  “Wife,” said Cecily, “I like the sound of that this time around.” The bright smile on her face said everything.

  “How soon can she go back?” asked Dede. While her voice remained steady, the creases in her brow gave away her concern.

  “If we get the information over to our friend, Daniel, today, I’d say by tomorrow morning, don’t you think, Jimmy?”

  “Yes, he should have them early tomorrow. I’ll run the sheet over to Daniel’s after lunch.”

  “Cecily, I laid your clothes out on the bed upstairs, if you’d like to change.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do that now, so Grandma and I can get out of your hair,” she said with a playful laugh. Standing up she walked out of the room. We could hear her light footsteps bouncing up the stairs.

  “Okay, Dede,” I started in immediately. “What really happened?”

  “Like you, I’m a terrible liar,” she said. “Lionel slipped into the hotel and came pounding on my door in the middle of the night.”

  “Did you change hotels?”

  “No, I should have, but thought he would go off and sulk. He was definitely drunk, by the way he yelled, so I’m sure he spent the better part of yesterday afternoon and evening in a bar.”

  “You should’ve stayed here,” I said.

  “Then he would’ve been pounding on your door instead. No, it turned out okay. One of my neighbors must have called down to the front desk as security came up pretty quickly and hauled him away.”

  “Did they turn him over to the police?”

  “No. After removing him from the hallway, one of the security guards came back up to the room to check on me. He said they offered him one chance to leave the premises and he took it. I don’t know when he went to work on my tires, but that could’ve been earlier.”

  “The offer still stands for the two of you to stay here tonight,” Jimmy offered.

  “Thank you, but while I got my tires taken care of, I checked us out of the hotel. We’ll stay at another one tonight. Once we leave here, I’ll make sure he isn’t following us, then high tail it over to the Hyatt in Redondo Beach. The security there is good, so he won’t get past the front desk.”

  “You’re talking about Lionel, aren’t you?” Cecily stood in the doorway, back in her shorts and blue t-shirt she wore yesterday when they arrived.

  “Yes. I’m not going to lie to you, sweetie.”

  “I appreciate that, Grandma. The sooner I exit this decade the better for all of us. I would hate for him to cause you any more harm.”

  “Oh, shush. I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m concerned about,” Dede said standing up. “Thank you for lunch and everything else,” she added turning my way.

  Standing up to escort them out, we walked to the front door. I could hear the clink of the tea cups and lunch plates as Jimmy remained behind cleaning up the meal. As expected, Dede gave me a big hug at the front door, followed by Cecily holding me in a warm embrace as well.

  Looking back toward the living room, the women must have noticed Jimmy hadn’t followed us. Dede gave me another hug. “This one is for your man,” she said. “What time should we return tomorrow?”

  “I’d say we’ll have everything together by 10:00 in the morning.”

  “Perfect,” said Dede. “See you then!”

  The two women looked cautiously outside before venturing through the door. I followed them as far as the porch, and thankfully the street remained vacant of Lionel’s truck. As they drove away, I watched and hoped there wouldn’t be any more attempts by Cecily’s ex-husband to find her.

  Back in the house, I made a bee-line for the kitchen, where I heard the faucet in the sink running. “Okay,” I said, walking into the room and seeing Jimmy washing the dishes, “they’re gone. Now, what’s going through your head?”

  He turned, and a sly grin spread across his face. “I haven’t worked out all the details yet. Give me some time.”

  Chapter 52

  The next morning Jimmy left early to retrieve Cecily’s new credentials. Daniel understood the urgency of the situation and said they would be ready by 8:00. With the work traffic in full swing, I knew it would take Jimmy about an hour and a half to return.

  Just before 9:00 I retrieved the blue-framed slide for Doug Pendry and the holder from my office. Closing the safe door, I used a little too much force and it slammed with an ominous finality that echoed through the room.

  I carried the items to the small table at the end of my studio and depressed the button on the holder for the last time. This second trip back for Cecily, would be the completion of our quota. Its significance weighed heavily on me—more than I ever expected.

  As anxious as Jimmy and I were to fulfill our obligation, I felt a tinge of sadness. It would be finished forever. Despite all the tragedy connected to this process, the thought of placing several couples successfully filled me with joy.

  Hesitant to leave the studio just yet, I walked around the cushioned bench and sat down. Viewing all the portraits that lined the walls, I felt tears trickling down my cheeks. So much had happened over the last thirty years. Now here I sat, ready to complete our final match.

  Wrenched out of my reverie by the front doorbell, time had slipped away quicker than I realized. Giving my face a quick swipe with both hands to dry the moisture, I ran for the entryway, anxious to greet Dede and Cecily.

  Swinging the door open, my happiness turned to horror. Lionel shoved me out of the way, knocking me to the ground. Stunned by the blow, I sat there a moment as he stepped over my body into the house.

  “Cecily,” he yelled. “Where the hell are you?” Without waiting for an answer, he ran into the living room. His footsteps could be heard stomping their way to the kitchen.

  Regaining my senses, I pushed myself up off the floor and tried to remember where I left my phone. I had it in my hand while getting coffee earlier. It must still be on the counter.

  As I ran for the kitchen, Lionel came out the door.

  “Where is she, old woman?”

  I cringed and braced myself for another blow as his body came full force at me. Instead he stopped and brought his face close to mine. “I know she’s here. Tell me where she is before I get angry.” His voice seethed with sheer malice.

  I stood firm and said, “She isn’t here. I told you that yesterday. Get out of my house!”

  Pushing me aside as he went past, I slammed into the wall. My elbow took the brunt of it with my shoulder following. A piercing pain raced up my arm. Somehow, I stayed on my feet. Holding my sore elbow, I continued into the kitchen. My phone sat on the counter. I swiped it up and hit the speed dial for Jimmy.

  His phone rang several times. Pick up I mentally transmitted. Thundering footsteps barreled down the stairs. As I was about to dash to the dining room, Lionel came in and snatched the phone from my hand.

  “Who are you calling, old woman? Trying to warn that meddling grandmother of hers?”

  Jimmy yelled my name through the phone, just before Lionel threw it across the room. It smashed against the wall with a crackle of breaking glass. Dragging me by my uninjured arm, he pulled me into the hallway.

  “Lionel, let her go!” Cecily screeched from the open doorway.

  Once again, he shoved me into the wall, as if discarding my usefulness. He took a step toward her.

  “Stop right there!” Dede stood beside her granddaughter with a .38 Special in her hand. The hammer was cocked and ready to fire. “You know I’ll use this, you son-of-a-bitch, so don’t test me.” Her stance was rock solid. Even I believed she would lay him dead where he stood if he didn’t obey her commands.

  “Don’t play with me, foolish woman,” Lionel said to Dede, taking a step toward her. “I know you won’t shoot.”

  The gun went off and now it was Lionel’s turn to hold an injured arm. From the hole in the wall behind him, I knew he’d only been grazed.

  “Need any more proof?” Dede’s hand never wavered as she cocked the gun for a second
shot. Shifting her eyes my way she added, “Sorry, Sami, I’ll pay for the damage.”

  Blood seeped out between the fingers Lionel clasped on his arm. His eyes were wide and face a bit pale. “You’ll pay for this too,” he said to Dede.

  “I don’t think so, Lionel. With a witness saying you broke into her house, and the bruises I see forming on Sami’s arm, I’d say it would be ruled self-defense. Don’t turn this into a situation where they’ll need a coroner instead of an ambulance.”

  As Dede talked, I quietly edged along the wall until I stood beside the two women. Recovering my voice, I said, “Don’t worry about the mess, Dede, that can be easily cleaned.” Turning to look at my abuser, he appeared to grasp the situation by the way his face struggled for composure. The color had returned, but his eyes were still wide.

  “Why can’t you just leave me alone,” Cecily said. “Our marriage and life together is over.”

  “No. You belong to me. You always will.”

  “You never understood,” she continued quietly, “I’m not a possession. You don’t own me.”

  “I love you, Cecily.”

  “That’s not love, Lionel.”

  “Sami,” Dede cut in, “is it time?”

  I looked down at the watch strapped to my wrist. The timer would have reached full power five minutes ago. “Yes, but Jimmy isn’t back yet with her…,” I hesitated, not wanting to say too much in front of her ex-son-in-law. “He’s not back from Daniel’s.”

  “That can’t be helped. My baby is resourceful,” Dede said, still aiming the gun firmly at her target, “they’ll have to make due.”

  “Grandma, not like this. We should wait.” Cecily’s eyes began to tear up.

  “It’ll be alright. I don’t like long good-byes anyway.”

  “Cecily, what is she talking about? Where are you going?” Lionel demanded.

  The young woman turned toward her grandmother. Wiping away tears, she put on a brave smile. “I know, Grandma. I love you very much.”

  “Then make me proud and be happy,” Dede gave a quick smile and glance before shifting her gaze back toward Lionel.

  Wrapping her arms around the older woman’s waist, Cecily gave a firm squeeze. Dede wrapped her free arm around her granddaughter and returned the hug.

  “Now go, sweetie. It’s time.”

  Pulling back, Cecily gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and I heard her whisper one more time, “I love you, Grandma.” Looking past Dede to me, she said, “I’m ready, Sami.”

  Noticing Cecily carried the same bag as yesterday containing her period clothes, she also had a small back pack. I assumed it contained the few possessions she chose to take with her.

  “Go ahead into the studio. I’ll give you a few minutes to prepare,” I said nodding toward the bag of clothing.

  “All right.” Going toward the open doorway, she went through without a second glance at Lionel, closing the door behind her.

  “Cecily!” Lionel yelled taking a step toward the studio.

  “Stop there,” Dede said, with enough force to get his attention.

  He halted but continued to yell. “Cecily, what are you doing? You get back out here.” Not getting the result he expected, he called again louder. “Cecily. Cecily! If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get out here now. Cecily!!”

  It was almost comical watching this man get flustered as his face reddened with anger. I could tell he wasn’t used to being denied anything he demanded.

  “Ok, Sami, go do your thing,” Dede said after a couple minutes. “I’ll just babysit out here until it’s done.”

  Lionel snapped his head back in our direction as he seethed, “You’ll pay for this, old woman. Both of you.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” Dede remained calm and in charge. “Go on, Sami. Lock the door behind you, please. Just in case.”

  I nodded and walked behind Dede so as not to block her line of sight. At the studio door I opened it just enough to slip inside then closed and locked it. Cecily stood in front of her grandparents’ portrait, already dressed in her 1950’s garb and her backpack slung over one shoulder. She didn’t turn around when I entered.

  “It’s time, dear,” I said.

  Answering me while still looking at the picture, she said, “I’m ready.” With that she turned around with a sweet smile across her face. “I just wanted to burn that picture into my memory. They look so happy together, as I’m sure Doug and I will be in our life as husband and wife.”

  “Yes, I believe you will,” I said with confidence. “I’m sorry Jimmy isn’t back in time with your credentials.”

  “No worries, Sami. Like Grandma said, we’ll make due. Now I believe it’s my turn to travel.” Walking over to the cushioned bench, she waited for me to join her.

  Before stepping behind Cecily to depress the button, I gave her one last tight squeeze. “This is from your grandma,” I whispered into her ear. “And me,” I added, “be happy.”

  I felt her nod against my shoulder as she returned the hug. We released, and she took her seat. Stepping around the bench to the table, I activated the 30-second timer, then retreated to my spot behind the camera.

  We waited in silence. With a burst of light from behind the young woman, the bench was empty. To my surprise, the fireworks weren’t over. A second burst of light from the holder blinded me for a moment. When I could see clearly again, the used slide lay flat on the table amongst a scattering of ashes. The holder had incinerated.

  Holding my breath, for fear something had gone wrong, I swung my gaze over to Doug’s portrait. Letting out a sigh of relief, it now contained an image of both Cecily and Doug holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes.

  A shot rang out in the hallway. Barely a moment later, someone banged on the door and rattled the knob.

  Chapter 53

  “Open this door!” Yelled Lionel. “Open the door, you damn bitch.”

  I heard scuffling in the hallway. The noise stopped, then I heard a renewed assault on the door. With a splintering of wood, it was forced open as Lionel fell to the carpet, the latch torn from the frame.

  Jumping up he said, “Cecily, now you…” He stopped dead in his tracks as he looked around the room. “Where is she? I saw her come in here.” Spinning around, he took in the long studio with confusion on his wrinkled brow. “Where’s the other door?”

  Worry for Dede concerned me, until I saw both her and Jimmy standing in the doorway. The gun remained in Dede’s hand, which hung down by her side. With her granddaughter gone, there was no more threat.

  “What are you talking about, Lionel, Cecily isn’t here,” Dede said calmly.

  Looking in her direction, he said, “What are you talking about. I saw her come into this room.”

  “You’re crazy. I’m here visiting my friend, Sami. Cecily is in Europe.”

  “Don’t even try that, old woman. I watched her go through that door,” he said pointing at the shredded entry.

  “Well,” Dede continued, with so much composure she could have been an actress, “do you see her now? There’s only one door into here and no windows. So, unless Cecily just,” she hesitated, giving me a sly grin, “vanished into thin air, she’s not here.”

  Lionel continued turning around looking at every corner of the room. Spying the newly formed couple in the portrait, he ran over to their picture. Pointing at it he said, “She was here at some point. How else could you have her picture. Who is that man?”

  Taking up the pretense, I asked, “Don’t they make a cute couple?”

  Glaring at me with narrowed eyes, he took a step in my direction.

  “I don’t think so,” Jimmy said. “It’s time for you to leave. Your ex-wife isn’t here. Go now and I won’t call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.”

  “Prove it,” Lionel said menacingly.

  “That broken door is proof enough. Now do you need an escort, or will you go quietly?”

  Lionel’s hands balled up in
to fists, then relaxed. Taking one more look around the room, he stormed out of the studio. Moving toward the doorway myself, I saw him leave. Footsteps echoed across the boards on the porch as he stomped away like a spoiled child having a tantrum.

  “Sami, Jimmy, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about all this…and how eternally grateful both Milton and I are,” she said throwing her arms around me.

  “You’re most welcome. Can you put the gun away now?”

  She released me as we all laughed. “Sorry, almost forgot I still had it out. About the bullet hole, well, now there’s two…”

  “Not another word about it,” Jimmy chimed in. “Besides, I feel responsible for the second one as I startled you.”

  “Is that what spurred Lionel to action?” I asked.

  “Yes. I got distracted and he lunged. The gun went off and I was knocked off balance. Your man here, caught me from going over.”

  “What do you think he’ll do now?” I asked her.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. What could he possibly say? He saw Cecily go into a locked room and never come out?” She grinned.

  “People will think he’s crazy,” Jimmy said, “which doesn’t appear to be far from the truth.”

  Dede slipped the gun back into her purse and walked over to her granddaughter’s portrait. She looked up at the couple. “See how happy they are?”

  “Yes, their match is a success, like yours,” I added walking up behind her.

  Without turning around, Dede said, “I just want to burn this image into my memory.”

  Taken aback, I told her, “That’s exactly what Cecily said as she gazed at yours and Milton’s portrait.”

  “She’s always been my favorite,” she said turning to me. “Don’t get me wrong, I love all my children and grandchildren. But there was always something special about Cecily that set her apart.”