Stealing Time

by Nancy Pennick

“I know. I feel bad about that. Things have to change. I just love being close to Anna. I can’t tell my cousins that. They have no idea we’re friends from the canyon.” Kate took the watch from its box. “Here, help me put it on.”

  After the watch was in place, she held out her arm, admiring it. “You have such good taste.”

  “I know. I picked you, didn’t I?” Drew laughed and gave her a little squeeze.

  The car pulled up in front of the Hasting ranch. Drew jumped out, helping Kate from the car. Frieda, Carl Sr.’s sister and the Hasting’s maid, was already at the door. She showed them to their room and closed the door as she left. The couple was finally alone.

  “We’re off script now!” Kate laughed and flung herself backward on the bed.

  “Actually, I’d like to stay on script for a bit longer. If I remember correctly, I did this.” He popped the cork on the bottle of champagne chilling on the table. He handed her a fluted glass of the bubbling liquid. Kate quickly downed it.

  “Hey, I don’t remember that!” Drew chuckled.

  “But you do remember this.” Kate stood and turned around. “Help me out of this dress.”

  Drew’s hands were much more confident this year. He slipped the dress over her head and placed it neatly on a chair. Kate slid his jacket off, undid his tie, kissing him the whole time. She had to agree with Drew—this part of script would always remain unchanged.

  Chapter Ten

  The phone call came within a week after the wedding as Kate and Drew returned from campus. She heard the conversation swirling around in her head over and over again. Words she never wanted to hear—Anna had passed away.

  Dead...peaceful...sad...crying...friend...loved. Those were parts of sentences Kate hardly remembered and struggled to piece together. Anna died peacefully. That was one of the things she remembered being told. They found her sitting on her loveseat, book in lap and assumed she was reading. Did Aunt Sue say that? Kate wasn’t entirely sure. When the family realized the truth, there was crying and finally sadness. Deep, deep sadness.

  Sadness hung over Kate, too, like a cold, wet, gray day. The family told her Anna loved her very much and considered her a special friend. If only they knew. Anna, dear, sweet Anna was gone. It was too much to take.

  Overwhelmed, Kate asked everyone to leave her alone, and they respected her wishes. Her mother made arrangements for them to go to Arizona for the funeral. Drew and her father got the luggage down from the attic and ran last minute errands.

  Little did they know she planned to leave for the canyon as soon as possible to straighten the whole thing out once and for all. Anna wasn’t really gone. She was alive and well and living at the Grand Canyon. Silly people, if only they knew what I know. Anna would never leave her. She was waiting for Kate to come back to share another adventure.

  As she settled into bed that night, Kate reached for the black leather bound book. The smooth cover somehow soothed her as she rubbed her hand over the leather, almost like a genie in a bottle, hoping it would grant her wish. Falling asleep almost instantly, Kate was surprised to wake up still clutching the book. She slid it under her feather pillow and felt in her sleeve for the picture of Lindsey. The excitement of seeing Anna at the canyon built inside her. Kate felt like she could burst. This was the place she and Anna first met. It couldn’t be taken away from them.

  Kate knew she shouldn’t be at the boardinghouse this time of year. Everyone thought she and Drew were on their honeymoon. Carefully slipping out her door, she tiptoed down the hall to Anna’s room, hoping no one would see her. Knocking lightly, she let herself in.

  “Kathryn, you startled me!” Anna sat straight up in bed.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

  “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in New York?”

  “Not yet. I forgot something.”

  “Oh.” Anna seemed to relax.

  “It was quite a wedding, wasn’t it?” Kate sat on the edge of the bed.

  “One of the best.”

  “And you were so happy to be there and experience it all.” Kate looked at her knowingly.

  “Of course,” Anna said a little strangely. “You should be on your way now, don’t you think? Andrew’s probably waiting.”

  “No, he’s not. We have all the time in the world. What do you want to do today?”

  “Kathryn, not to be rude, but you just got married. I think you should be with your husband.”

  Kate was shocked. This was not her Anna but decided to check. “Lindsey Campbell.”

  “What?”

  “You know, Lindsey Campbell.” Kate took the picture from her sleeve and showed it to her.

  “She’s a beautiful girl. I think I saw her at your wedding.” Anna nodded.

  “You did. She’s your...” Kate stopped and blinked. This was 1927 Anna, not her friend from the present. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “She’s what, sweetie?”

  “Never mind.” Kate quickly turned away so Anna couldn’t see her tears and fled the room. Bursting back into her little room, she was about to throw herself on the bed, but someone was sitting there. “Lindsey!”

  “I thought you might need a friend.” Lindsey looked up at her with her big brown eyes, the same eyes as Anna.

  Kate fell into her arms, sobbing until she couldn’t breathe. Panting until she was finally able to take normal breaths, Kate leaned back and gazed at her friend. “How did you know I’d be here?”

  “Great minds and all that. Where else would you be?”

  “She doesn’t know the real me.”

  “Didn’t you tell me Carl Sr. doesn’t know anything beyond 1927? He passed away so he only exists here. It makes sense it’d be the same for my grandmother.”

  “You’re right, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

  “None of us do. That’s why the family needs you. I have a letter for you. Aunt Sue found it in Grandma J’s things. I brought it with me, thinking you might like to read it. I’ll leave you alone. Be in the barn if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Linds.” Kate turned the letter over and over in her hands. Did she really want to read it? The sadness and grief were already more than she could bear. If someone could remove the hot poker piercing through her chest, maybe then she could find the courage to open the white envelope in her hand. A small glass of water stood on the table next to the bed. Kate took tiny sips from it, finally gulping the cool liquid down her throat, hoping to put out the fire. The letter felt smooth and warm in her hand, almost calming her.

  Read it. Open it, and read it. It seemed to talk to her. Slowly, hesitantly, Kate finally gave in and slid the letter from its envelope.

  Dear Kathryn,

  If you are reading this, we both know the reason and don’t need to dwell on the fact that I’m gone. I know what you’re thinking. You want to dwell on that fact. Well, I don’t want you to. Your life must go on with no regrets and no grieving over me. You once told me that Andrew said he’d give you the moon and the stars if he could and whenever you two were apart, just look at the moon and know he’s with you. Although I can’t be as eloquent as our dear Andrew, please choose a star and name it Anna. Then every night, we can talk and never be apart. I’ll always be with you.

  I know you’ll be able to see me at the canyon and knowing you, you’ve already been there to check up on me. I’m sure you found out that I have joined Mr. Carl in our 1927 world, but that’s not so bad, is it? Please accept it, and know you have a little piece of me there.

  I want to share a story with you from my past—one I never told you. During the war, World War Two that is, many war movies were made. Daniel and I would have date night, and he would take me out for dinner and a movie, hoping for a little distraction. Well, one movie we went to, I believe it was in 1942, brought back memories of you. I was hysterically crying by the end of it, and Daniel felt so bad that he took me to see it. It wasn’t the movie that made me emotional—it was a tear jerker; don’t get me wrong—i
t was my thoughts of you and missing you so.

  You see, the movie was “Casablanca”. I know you’re aware of the story. Star-crossed lovers find each other only to be ripped apart again. It made me think of you and Andrew. You had such a short time together and then you lost him to the river. No one ever knew what happened to you. My heart broke all over again as the movie reminded me of that time.

  Imagine my surprise when I found you were alive and well and still with Andrew. What a gift! You are my gift, my sweet friend. You brought happiness at the beginning of my life and again at the end. Please fill your heart with that because I have. My family will need you now more than ever. Be strong for them because they’ll look to you for guidance. I truly believe you are the link between the past and present for all of us. Even you are not aware of this power. Without you, this family may have lived their separate lives throughout the country, oblivious to what might have been. You found us all, and we’re all still learning through you.

  Kathryn, know you are my friend across the miles, throughout time, now and forever.

  Love from your best friend,

  Anna

  Kate hugged the letter to her chest. Her thoughts jumbled together, trying to make sense of the letter. There was no way she was the link or leader of the family. She was just a teenage girl doing the best she could. Still, reading that made her feel better. Kate felt strong enough to find Lindsey and spend time with her before they had to go back to the present. Walking out to the barn, Kate continued to feel better and, as she opened the door, knew she could do as Anna asked.

  Lindsey was brushing Flicka, talking softly to her. “I’d love to see my grandma, but I don’t want to mess up any time thingy or history.”

  “I think she’d like that.”

  “Kates! You’re looking a little better.”

  “Thanks for bringing me the letter. It helped. Anna has this strange idea I can heal the family...I’m strong or something like that.”

  Lindsey set the brush down in the stall. “You are. You just don’t know it. I agree that we need someone to bring us together. It should be you.”

  “Alright, let’s start with you.” Kate extended her hand, and Lindsey grabbed on. The two girls headed back to the house and straight to Anna’s room.

  “Anna, don’t get mad, but I’m still here.” Kate tapped on the door.

  The door flew open. “I could never be mad at my best friend!” Anna laughed and then noticed Lindsey. “Hello. I think I met you at the wedding.”

  “You did. Anna, this is Lindsey, my friend from back home.” Kate nudged Lindsey forward.

  “Nice to see you again.” Lindsey stuck out her hand.

  “Oh, that’s so formal! Any friend of Kathryn’s is a friend of mine.” She embraced Lindsey in a big hug.

  “We’ll be on our way. Just wanted to say good-bye.” Kate hugged Anna and took Lindsey by the arm, leading her down the hall. “We don’t want anyone to see us,” she whispered. Back in her room, Kate finally turned and saw Lindsey’s tear-stained face. “We’ll get through this, Linds. We’ll all get through this. Trust me.”

  * * * *

  Day planner and phone in hand, Kate sat down in her business class seat next to Drew. “You guys splurged for the trip, I see.” She smiled sweetly at him.

  He was her rock through these last twenty-four hours, and she owed him. Never questioning any decisions, Drew went along with whatever she wanted.

  He’s silently grieving and needs to talk. Maybe I can get him to open up on this long plane ride to Arizona. Kate patted his arm and opened the book to October. She had switched to a locked book and kept things written in code since Tyson snuck onto her laptop last year. “Things will be tight, but I think we can make it back to New York City for your parents’ party, the one they had for us after the wedding. Would you like that?”

  “Not really.”

  “Okay, can you tell me why?”

  “Should we be going to a party so soon after Anna’s passed?”

  “She’d want us to.”

  “She was always too nice.”

  “Noted.” Kate dug through her bag and produced the letter. “Here, read this.”

  Sitting in silence, waiting for take-off, she watched Drew read the letter again and again. “I never thought about you like that before. That’s quite profound.”

  “I know. I don’t believe I’m the head of the family or anything. It’s a big responsibility. I do feel stronger since I read it though.”

  “I noticed. It’s alright to cry, you know.”

  “I think I shed all the tears I can for now. What about you?” Kate patted his arm again as they lifted off.

  “No.”

  “Drew, you need to talk about it. Stop being such a...man.”

  She thought she saw a sudden flash in his eyes for just a second, and then they went back to a muddled, smoky green, no his usual emerald. “No.”

  “Okay, I’m here when you’re ready to talk. Now back to the calendar. Do you think we can make it to New York in time?”

  “No, we have to leave from Arizona if we’re going to do it.”

  “Not a problem. Anna had a book, and now Lindsey has one. We just need to get Dad to change our plane tickets to a flight later in the week.”

  “And what do we tell the family? We plan on vanishing for a few days and will show up for breakfast next Tuesday?”

  “Something like that. Lindsey will help us.” Kate decided it was time to change the subject. “I have an idea for the funeral I want to run past you. I need your help.”

  Kate continued to keep Drew’s mind occupied until they landed in Flagstaff. There was no Jenkins clan to greet them, only the car rental agent. Lindsey’s parents were already at the ranch. Carl was bringing his mother and the Texas Cook family. It felt lonely standing with her parents and Drew in the airport...a place usually filled with so much love. Kate wasn’t looking forward to the ride out to the ranch or the wake that followed. She hoped to get through it in one piece and just move on to the next day.

  * * * *

  A radiant sun shone the day of the funeral, not a cloud in the sky. Grandpa Dan decided to hold the services at the house, his mother’s beloved home. From there they would drive to the cemetery. Kate and Drew were already dressed and in the barn getting the Packard ready for its surprise grand entrance. Kate wanted the car driven in front of the hearse to Anna’s final resting place.

  “Will it start?”

  “Dan’s kept it in good shape so it should.” Drew threw the tarp in the corner of the garage. “I’ll slip out at the end of the service, drive around and park in front of the limousine. It’s a great idea, Kate.” He put his arms around her and held on like he’d never let go. She thought she felt a tear spill onto her arm, but continued to hold him in silence.

  “Well, that should do it. Let’s go.” Drew wiped his face and took her hand as they walked up the drive to the main house.

  People were beginning to arrive, and the funeral director was calling out orders on where to place the casket and set up the chairs. Although the family planned to keep it small, more and more people called to see if they could attend. It was standing room only by the time the service started.

  Anna had been right. The family looked to Kate for direction. They asked if Anna liked this or wanted that. Kate was prepared to take on the role for the week but would gladly surrender the title after it was over.

  “Katie, can I sit with you?” Megan’s face gazed up at her with such admiration and love. Maybe one day she would introduce her little cousin to the wonders of the book, and she could continue the family tradition.

  “Sure, you can, sweetie.”

  “You and me were Grandma J’s favorites,” Megan whispered.

  “Oh, don’t say that. She loved us all.”

  “But we were her friends. She said it all the time.”

  Kate gave her a little squeeze. If only she knew!

  She glanced around, observ
ing all the people who came to pay their respects. At the front door a tall, handsome cowboy talked to Brandon. From where she was seated, Kate could tell he was about her father’s age, tanned with an easy smile. That smile could take a girl’s breath away. Craig Hasting! Kate let out an accidental gasp, and Megan tugged on her arm.

  “Is everything okay?” Her innocent smile was more than Kate could bear.

  “Yes, everything’s fine.” She put her arm around the girl and pulled her close. It wasn’t her place to say, “I think your father just walked in the door.”

  Kate tried to peek over her shoulder without drawing suspicion. Sue joined the duo, and the group of three walked outside. The cowboy tried to put his arm around Sue, but she shrugged it off. Kate didn’t know if it really was Craig or not. Only Anna would be able to tell her. Tears filled her eyes, knowing she could never have a conversation with her friend again. Closing her eyes, Kate tried to breathe slowly and calm herself. As she did, the answer gradually came to her. The man was Craig. Kate felt the answer penetrate through her body as if someone whispered in her ear. He came to pay his respects. Beyond that, there were no other answers as to why he was there.

  The service began, and Drew snuck out at the appropriate time. Kate had found a hat that she knew was called a cloche in Anna’s apartment. She grabbed it to wear on the car ride over to the cemetery. It was a simple black round felt hat that pulled on and fit close to the head, worn low over the brow. Anna may have worn it to church back in the day, but Kate definitely saw them in the 1920s fashion magazines. Now she slipped it on her head as the service ended, walked to the closed casket and ran her hand over the top. It was the last time the two of them would be in the house together. Kate didn’t know how to stop it from happening.

  One lone tear dripped onto the top, landing on the shiny surface, glistening in the light. I can’t... I won’t say good-bye, my friend.

  Kate felt like something gripped her throat and was slowly squeezing it. It made its way down to her chest and into her stomach, making it hard to breathe. She fought back the tears she felt coming. Today she needed to be strong. Strong for Anna, and now as she stood there, she realized she had to be strong for herself.