"Do you mind if I take a look?"
"I don't mind at all," Geoffrey said.
David picked up the documents and gave the ones near the top a quick inspection. He found a birth certificate, a college degree, three train tickets to Chattanooga, and what looked like a rent receipt for a furnished three-bedroom house on St. Elmo Avenue.
"Did you pay our rent too?" David asked.
"I did," Geoffrey said. "I paid your rent for April and May. If you wish to remain in the past for a longer period, just access your savings account."
"It looks like you've covered everything."
"Jeanette and I want you to enjoy your stay."
"Thank you," David said.
Geoffrey smiled.
"You're welcome."
David slipped his papers into their envelope. He paused only to look at a medical record that stood out from the rest of the documents.
"I see I had a physical in 1944. Is something wrong with me?"
Geoffrey nodded.
"As a matter of fact, there is. You have a heart murmur."
"I have a heart murmur?"
"You do. You've had it since at least the seventh grade. You have an impairment that makes you unfit for military service."
"You really think I'll need this?" David asked.
"You might," Geoffrey said. "As a young, unmarried man in 1945, you may draw the attention of people who want to see you in uniform. If you find it necessary to prove your unfitness for military service, bring out that record. It may buy you some time."
"What about Ron?"
"He'll be fine. In the spring of 1945, World War II was rapidly drawing to a close. The military wanted boys out of high school to replace the fighting men overseas, not married thirty-four-year-old businessmen and would-be fathers."
"What if you're wrong?" David asked. "What if things get hot?"
"If things get hot for any of you, then come back to Los Angeles," Geoffrey said. "Come back to this house as fast as you can. You won't need me to return to 2017."
"Won't we need one of your crystals?"
"Yes. You will need that."
Claire looked at her uncle.
"What are you talking about?"
Geoffrey gave David and Jeanette a knowing smile before turning to Claire. Then he reached into his vest pocket, retrieved a small colorless rock, and placed it on the table.
"I'm talking about this," Geoffrey said.
"What's that?" Claire asked.
"It's a gypsum crystal that was harvested from a cave in the Sierra Nevada. It is used to activate the time tunnel."
"A little rock does all that?"
Geoffrey chuckled.
"Let's just say it plays an important role."
"Can I see it?" David asked.
"You can have it," Geoffrey said. "You are the trip manager, after all."
David picked up the crystal and held it up to the bright ceiling light. He noticed that the rock looked a lot like the one he had seen in October. He put the crystal in his pocket.
"What about a key? Won't we need a key to open the outside door?"
Geoffrey nodded.
"You will."
"OK . . ." David said in a puzzled voice. "Do you have one handy?"
Geoffrey reached inside his jacket and pulled out a skeleton key that looked newer than the one he had used on the trip to 2001. He smiled and handed the key to David.
"I made a copy just for you."
David gave the key a quick inspection and tucked it away. He took a moment to ponder his newly assigned responsibilities and then looked at his host.
"Thank you. Thank you for trusting me."
"You're welcome," Geoffrey said. "Just keep the key and the crystal in a safe place. Keep them close and accessible at all times. If you lose either one, you will forfeit the option of coming home before Jeanette and I return from Latin America on September 27."
"I understand," David said.
"Then I think that covers it. Are you ready to go?"
"I'm ready."
Geoffrey turned to the Rasmussens.
"How about you?"
Claire smiled.
"We were ready last month."
Geoffrey laughed.
"Then let's get this show on the road."
CHAPTER 8: CLAIRE
A few minutes later, Claire picked up her purse and followed the Bells, her husband, and her brother to a door that almost blended into an otherwise featureless white wall. She had not paid much attention to the door when she had entered the basement, but she did now. The plain white door was her gateway to the time tunnel, 1945, and motherhood.
Claire watched with interest as Geoffrey opened the door and motioned for the others to step inside. She watched with amusement as Ron and David answered the call.
Ron huffed and puffed as he carried a metal wardrobe trunk into the tunnel, a dark chamber that appeared to be fifteen feet long, eight feet high, and five feet wide. Despite having the size and strength of a college linebacker, he struggled with the task.
David had less trouble managing two large suitcases, but he too had some difficulty. He twisted and turned to get through the door and find a space in the cramped quarters.
"You're next," Jeanette said.
Claire nodded, stepped into the tunnel, and quickly found a place next to her brother. As she gave the chamber an initial inspection, she noticed it was rather drab. She saw walls of limestone bricks and a concrete floor but nothing to suggest the tiny space was anything more than a passageway to the back of the property.
Geoffrey waited for Jeanette to step past him and then followed her into the tunnel. He carried two hard-sided suitcases and lowered them to the floor.
"So when does the magic begin?" Claire asked.
Geoffrey smiled.
"It already has."
Claire started to disagree but stopped when she sensed a change in the chamber. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a row of blue and white crystals, embedded in the limestone, start to glow and flicker like a string of Christmas lights.
"What's going on?"
Geoffrey widened his smile.
"The crystals in the ceiling are interacting with the ones we're carrying."
The professor shut the door to the basement. Then he reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a glowing white crystal, and held it up for all to see.
"That's amazing," Claire said.
David pulled out his luminous crystal and laughed.
"I'm impressed."
"How long does this take?" Claire asked.
"It usually takes an hour or two," Geoffrey said.
"Are you kidding?"
Geoffrey chuckled.
"I'm kidding. We can exit shortly."
Claire tilted her head.
"You shouldn't tease would-be mothers, Uncle Geoffrey. They can become irrational and violent on a moment's notice."
Jeanette laughed.
"I've warned him many times."
Claire glanced again at the overhead lights and surrendered to amazement. She could not believe that something so simple and primitive could be so soothing and beautiful.
"I'm afraid to ask what's outside that door."
"You shouldn't be," Geoffrey said. "There is nothing beyond that door except a stairway, a weedy backyard, and the early morning of Sunday, March 25, 1945."
"What if your neighbors see us sneak out of the house?"
"They won't. I scouted the area carefully on previous trips and programmed the crystals to send us to a time when the neighbors are either asleep or keeping to themselves. Planning does wonders in these situations."
"How will we get to the train station?" Claire asked.
"You'll take a taxi. I've already asked a cab company to send two cars to the house at seven. One will take you, Ron, and David to the station. The other will take Jeanette and me to San Pedro, where we will board a private yacht bound for Baja California."
"You really are somethi
ng."
Geoffrey smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," Claire said. "I don't know how we can ever repay you for this."
Geoffrey looked at her thoughtfully.
"You can repay me by letting me spoil your child."
"Get in line," David said. "I'm first."
Everyone laughed.
Claire pondered a witty reply but set it aside when she saw the ceiling lights dim and flicker more slowly. She sensed an important change.
"It looks like the lights are losing their luster. Does that mean anything?"
"It does," Geoffrey said. "It means it's time to leave."
"Should I open the door?" Ron asked.
"Yes."
Ron turned around, put his hands on the door, and turned the knob. He pushed the door open, slightly at first, and stepped back as soft daylight flooded the dim chamber. Then he exited the tunnel, propped the door open with a brick, and returned for the trunk.
He grabbed the large box, pulled it out the door, and picked it up. Then he began a slow procession up a brick stairway that presumably led to a weedy yard and 1945.
"Watch your step," Geoffrey said.
"I'm trying," Ron replied.
Claire held her breath as she followed Ron and David up the stairs. She was excited, anxious, and even a little fearful to see what waited above.
When Claire finally stepped onto the lawn and gave her surroundings a complete inspection, she found the confirmation she sought. No matter where she looked, she saw something she had not seen before. She saw weeds, phone lines, and a Painted Lady that needed paint. She did not see a six-foot fence or a landscaped perimeter or a satellite dish.
She glanced at Ron and David and saw grins on their faces. Each seemed amused that their beloved Claire had come to terms with the impossible.
"This is real, guys," Claire said. "This is real."
"It most certainly is," Geoffrey said as he reached the top step. He followed Jeanette into the middle of the yard. "It's just a taste of what awaits you in this wonderful time."
Claire rushed up to Geoffrey and Jeanette and hugged them. Then she stepped back, gazed at her wonderful relatives with tearful eyes, and smiled.
"I'm really going to be a mother."
"You're going to be a good one too," Jeanette said. She smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing you as a parent. I can't wait to see you with a child in your arms."
Claire paused as she recalled the awful day at the hospital, the last time she had held a child in her arms. She could not believe her son had been gone fourteen weeks.
"Me too."
Ron gave Claire a sad, knowing smile. He did not need to do more to indicate he was taking the same mental journey. He gazed at his wife for a few seconds, smiled at Jeanette, and then spoke to the leader of the group.
"So what do we do now?"
"We carry our luggage to the front of the house," Geoffrey said in a thoughtful voice. "Then we wait for our chariots and go our separate ways."
"Sounds good to me."
Geoffrey paused for a moment, looked at Claire, and smiled at her like a proud father. Then he picked up his suitcases, turned toward the others, and motioned with his head.
"Please follow me."
The others did just that. They grabbed their belongings and followed the leader around the side of the house to the front. They did not stop until they reached the spot where the narrow driveway met an uneven city sidewalk.
Ron plopped the trunk on the sidewalk and sat on it. Claire joined him on the makeshift bench a few seconds later, threw an arm around his waist, and leaned into his side. David and Geoffrey lowered their suitcases to the ground and stood next to Jeanette.
"Does anyone have the time?" David asked.
Jeanette glanced at her watch.
"It's ten till seven."
"Thank you."
Ron looked at David.
"Are you going to survive without your cell phone?"
David laughed.
"I hope so. I admit that's the thing I'll miss the most."
"You won't miss it for long," Geoffrey said. "That's the beauty of time travel. You quickly integrate yourself in your new time and place and mentally leave the future behind."
Claire smiled as she followed the exchange. They would have to leave the future behind, at least for a few weeks, and go native in 1945. They would have to talk like natives, act like natives, and do nothing that might draw unwanted attention.
Claire gazed at the surreal street scene and tried to convince herself that she was not an extra in a movie. A Packard Clipper and a Nash 600 occupied driveways across the street. A Ford station wagon with wood-panel sides hugged a curb fifty feet away.
Then she turned around and took a fresh look at the star of the street. With gables, bay windows, ornate trim, and a blue, green, and gold exterior, the Painted Lady was still the gem of West Adams. Claire could not believe the mansion had ever stood empty. She mulled the matter for a moment and then turned to a more pressing subject.
"Uncle Geoffrey?"
"Yes, Claire?"
"If, for some reason, we decide to spend a few months in 1945 and meet you on your return, where exactly should we meet? Should we meet here?"
"No," Geoffrey said. "We should meet at a café down the street. I left the details on a slip I gave to David yesterday, along with some cash for your trip east. I would prefer to meet before you attempt to reenter this house because there is always the chance it could be occupied. I know for a fact that an Army colonel and his wife purchased the place on September 20, 1945, and moved in the following January."
"I understand," Claire said. "Will we be able to contact you?"
"I doubt it. We will be constantly on the move."
"I see."
"If you need to reach us later this year, send a letter to our post office box," Geoffrey said. "We will check it upon our return."
"Do we have the address?" Claire asked.
Geoffrey nodded.
"I gave it to your brother."
"OK."
"Don't worry, Claire. We will be able to communicate with you. We will send telegrams, letters, and postcards as often as we can. That is one reason I rented a house for you. I wanted your mailing address."
Claire laughed.
"You could have rented a post office box."
Geoffrey grinned.
"Funny you say that. I have rented one. It's here in Los Angeles, right next to ours. I want you to use it in case you return to California before we do. If you want, we can send correspondence to both places."
"Please do," Claire said.
"David has the key to the box and the rental paperwork," Geoffrey replied. "He can fill you in on mailing protocol or anything else."
Claire smiled.
"Then I guess we're set."
Claire burrowed again into Ron's side and imagined the possibilities ahead. She had the opportunity not only to adopt a baby but also to have an adventure. She had the chance to do what only a few people had ever done and do it with ample resources.
She started to ask her quiet husband what he was thinking when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked to the left and saw two yellow vehicles approach.
"It appears our chariots have arrived," Geoffrey said.
Ron and Claire got up from their trunk bench as the taxicabs, matching 1936 Plymouth touring sedans, moved toward the party of five. They stepped back a few feet as the large cars rolled to a stop in front of the Painted Lady.
"I see you passed on the compact models," Claire said.
Geoffrey laughed.
"I didn't have a choice. There are only so many vehicles that can accommodate a case as large as yours. Be sure to request the same when you arrive in Chattanooga."
Claire nodded at Geoffrey and then turned her attention to the uniformed driver of the second car as he stepped out, walked to the rear of the vehicle, and popped open the tru
nk. She smiled as the man, who looked a lot like the comedic actor Don Knotts, stood silently next to the trunk and waited patiently for someone to fill it with stuff.
A moment later, David and Ron carried two suitcases and Claire's big box of belongings to the back of the Plymouth and placed them in the trunk. They rejoined Claire and the Bells as the cabbie closed the hatch, walked to the front of the taxi, and stepped inside.
"I guess this is it," Claire said to the Bells.
Geoffrey smiled.
"I guess it is."
Claire took a deep breath.
"Thanks for setting this up. Thanks for everything. If I get the chance, I'll send you an update and a picture of the baby. I'll do it no matter where you are."
"Just take care of yourself," Jeanette said in a warm voice. "Geoffrey and I will be content just knowing you are taking care of yourself and your family."
"Thank you again. That means a lot."
Claire embraced her aunt and her uncle. Then she stepped aside as Ron and David exchanged handshakes and hugs with the middle-aged couple. She felt sadness, excitement, and exhilaration in equal amounts. She did not want to leave these people, whom she had come to adore, but she was eager to begin her incredible journey.
When the five finished saying their goodbyes, Geoffrey glanced at the driver of the first taxi and saw a man sitting on a fender with folded arms. He raised his index finger, as if asking for another minute, and then returned to his young relatives.
"Have a safe journey," Geoffrey said.
"You too," Claire replied. "I'm looking forward to hearing your stories."
"I'm sure you are."
"Is there anything you want us to do in Chattanooga? Do you have any favors or special requests? We would be more than happy to fulfill them."
Geoffrey took a moment to consider Claire's words before responding. When he finally answered her questions, he did so with a warm smile.
"In fact, there are some things."
"What?" Claire asked. "Just name them."
"Have fun," Geoffrey said. "Immerse yourself in your surroundings and enjoy this special time like you are a part of it. Go to a fair, see a movie, and watch a baseball game. Make a friend. Be an inspiration to someone who needs to be inspired."
The mother-to-be smiled.
"I will," Claire said. She looked at Ron and David and then at the Bells. "We will."
Hannah's Moon (American Journey Book 5) Page 4