Hannah's Moon (American Journey Book 5)

by John A. Heldt

  Claire laughed to herself as she watched David and Margaret, the baseball fans in her clan, sigh and frown. She could only imagine their envy as they gazed at three women who had seen two World Series seventy-eight years apart. She taunted her wine-hoarding brother with a grin and then returned her attention to the man behind the mike.

  "Last, but not least, are the Ryans and the McIntires," Geoffrey said. He motioned to the five smiling individuals standing near the fireplace. "They come to us via Alabama and Los Angeles and the Fabulous Fifties."

  Susan turned to face the final group and saw a middle-aged woman and two college-age couples. She guessed they were couples because the older pair wore rings and the younger pair held hands. Each of the attractive brunettes had gussied up for the occasion. The men wore suits and ties. The women donned shimmering dresses.

  "Mark Ryan, the handsome chap in the blue suit, is the only one in this room who traveled for the first time without my assistance or any assistance," Geoffrey said. "He found a hidden letter and two white crystals while rummaging through a desk in March of 1959, a few months after he moved into the Painted Lady with his mother, Donna, and his brother, Ben. The letter, written by Percival Bell on the day he died, detailed the time-travel process and gave Mark the means to go from March 21, 1959, to June 2, 2017.

  "As a visitor to this time, he met Mary Beth McIntire and her sister, Piper. They are the daughters of an old friend of mine and were staying at the mansion on their California vacation the day Mark made his glorious entry into the twenty-first century."

  Claire smiled as she studied the two couples. The older pair appeared as relaxed and laid back as a couple that had been married fifty years. Their siblings looked like insecure teenagers trying to show the world that their ship had come in. The two had displayed their affection throughout the evening with smiles, hugs, and kisses.

  "The young people, as young people so often do, decided to turn a discovery into an adventure. The girls, without the knowledge of their parents or me, traveled back to 1959 and spent six weeks in the age of sock hops and drive-ins. They had a great time, fell in love, and following a few harrowing encounters with mobsters, made their way back to 2017. Thankfully, I was able to go back to 1959, retrieve Donna, and reunite her with her sons before the same mobsters could render anyone a permanent part of the past."

  Claire looked at the family with new admiration. She decided, upon reflection, that Elizabeth, Susan, and Amanda were not the most interesting people at this reunion.

  "Like the ladies from Chicago, the ladies from Alabama decided to return to the future and build new lives with their friends from the past," Geoffrey said. "Mary Beth, a medical student, is now engaged to Mark. Mark is an engineer who currently resides with his mother in Huntsville. The couple will marry this June. Piper and Ben are freshmen at UCLA. They are not engaged, but as most of you can see, they are still fond of each other."

  Claire joined the laughter as Piper and Ben turned a dark shade of red. She loved seeing that even teenagers in her not-so-modest time could be made to blush.

  "Now that I have provided a few tidbits about each time traveler, I would like all of you to mingle and fill in the blanks," Geoffrey said. "The hotel staff has kindly given us this room until midnight. Please make the most of this special evening."

  Claire clapped along with others as her uncle turned off the mike, stepped away from the lectern, and rejoined his smiling wife. She was happy to see him festive and upbeat and in the company of so many people whose lives he had improved. She hoped he got as much out of this incredible reunion as the disparate individuals he had brought together.

  When the applause died down and members of the five groups began to fan out across the room, Claire took her husband's hand and gave him a smile. She noticed that he, too, seemed to be having a good time.

  "Are you enjoying yourself?" Claire asked.

  "I am," Ron said. "I'm happy we came."

  "Are you happy enough to talk about your own experiences? Are you comfortable enough to talk about the Navy and the Indianapolis?"

  "I think so."

  "Then let's go," Claire said. "Let's do more than stand here like potted plants. Let's get out there and fill in the blanks."

  CHAPTER 78: MARGARET

  Friday, December 29, 2017

  The study in Geoffrey and Jeanette's beach house near Shoreline Park was no more a small contemplative space than the house itself was a seaside shack. It was a veritable public library: a plush, brightly lighted, eighteen-by-twenty-foot retreat with hundreds of books on three walls and a picture window facing the Pacific Ocean on the other.

  Margaret admired the room as she sat with David, Ron, and Claire in front of Geoffrey's contemporary office desk. She found it almost as appealing as Hannah, who sat on her lap and tried to straighten Raggedy Ann's hair with her fingers.

  Geoffrey had called them to the room shortly after giving reunion guests a tour of his home and sending them on a Channel Islands cruise with Jeanette. He spoke to the group as soon as Ron opened a bottle of something called Frappuccino and settled into his chair.

  "Did you all sleep well?" Geoffrey asked.

  "I did," Claire said. She smiled. "For some reason, I find the sound of the ocean more soothing than the sound of hotel guests arguing until two in the morning."

  "Then feel free to stay here for the rest of the reunion. I want you to be as comfortable as possible this week."

  "You don't have to do that. The hotel is fine."

  "I insist on it," Geoffrey said.

  Claire grinned.

  "OK."

  Margaret looked at the professor with fascination and awe. She wondered how many people could manage a house full of relatives, a large reunion, and some academic meetings in the same week and still keep everyone happy. She decided very few.

  Geoffrey Bell had certainly kept her happy. In a little more than five weeks, he had taught Margaret how to use a computer, drive a Lexus, purchase goods with a debit card, and even smoke a salmon. He had done many of the things David wanted to do but couldn't because he lived in Long Beach and not Los Angeles.

  Margaret felt bad for David — but not too bad. She knew that if they married, he would have a lifetime of opportunities to bring her into the twenty-first century. She gave her special friend a supportive smile and then turned to Geoffrey when he started to speak.

  "I'm sure you all want to know why I called this meeting, so I'll tell you," Geoffrey said. "I want to conduct some business."

  "I figured as much," Claire said.

  "What do you want to talk about?" Ron asked.

  Geoffrey paused and smiled sadly.

  "I want to talk about the management and safekeeping of an operation I have built over the past seventeen years."

  "Are you talking about the chamber?" Claire asked.

  "I'm talking about a lot of things," Geoffrey said. "Like Willy Wonka in one of my favorite children's books, I realize I might be better off sharing my secrets now, with people I trust, rather than waiting for fate to force my hand."

  "Why pick us?" Claire asked. "Why share anything with relatives you barely knew when all of this started? Why not consider the others at this reunion?"

  Geoffrey smiled.

  "I already have. I have considered them many times in the past few weeks, but each time I have, I've come to the same conclusion."

  "What's that?" Claire asked.

  "I've concluded that the best people to take over my operation and safeguard this precious resource are the people I consider family."

  Margaret looked at Geoffrey.

  "I'm not family. I'm not even trustworthy. Ask Claire and David how trustworthy I am with an unlocked desk in the house. Aren't you taking a big risk?"

  Geoffrey chuckled.

  "Oh, Margaret, I am going to miss you. You're right in a technical sense. You're not family. You're not even part of my extended family. That doesn't mean I don't consider you family. I do. I will con
sider you family long after David makes the question moot."

  Margaret blushed.

  "What about the other thing? You know I'm not trustworthy."

  "I know no such thing," Geoffrey said. "I know only that you enjoy the confidence and trust of everyone in this room, including the girl on your lap. If I suspected for a minute that I could not trust you with my secrets, you would not be here."

  Margaret nodded in agreement, but she didn't say a word. She didn't have to. In less than a minute, Geoffrey Bell, a powerful man who was still more a stranger than a friend, had told her where she stood. He had invited her into his family and his inner circle.

  Margaret found his words uplifting but also unsettling. Something he had said did not add up. She pondered the matter as the conversation resumed.

  "Can you elaborate more on this?" Claire asked Geoffrey. "I'm delighted that you trust us enough to tell us all your secrets, but I'm still not sure what you want us to do."

  "I want you to run my operation with your brother and Candice Coelho, the other family member in this equation. She and her husband manage a farm that has a storm shelter that is structurally similar to my tunnel. The shelter, like the tunnel, is a portal to both the past and the future and must be managed and safeguarded accordingly."

  "Aren't they already doing that?"

  "They are," Geoffrey said. "They are doing a splendid job of managing the property in 1926, but they do not own the property today. I do. I bought the farm a few months ago. It is unoccupied and literally collecting dust as we speak."

  Claire sighed.

  "I think I see the reason for this meeting. You want Ron and me to move to Indiana, safeguard the shelter, and operate the contemporary end of the portal. Is that it?"

  "That's one reason," Geoffrey said. "If I cannot find someone I trust to manage the shelter, I'll have to destroy it. I would prefer not to destroy one of the two known time portals on the planet — a portal that, to my knowledge, cannot be moved or duplicated."

  "Does this farm have a house on it?"

  "It does not. If you accept my proposal, I will build and finance the house of your dreams. I will make life in southwest Indiana as appealing as I can."

  "Can Ron and I talk it over?" Claire asked.

  Geoffrey nodded.

  "Take all the time you need."

  As Margaret followed the conversation and tried to connect the dots between California and Indiana, she thought again of something Geoffrey had said. It seemed as out of place then as it did now. Something was wrong. She looked at her host.

  "Can I ask you a question, Geoffrey?"

  "Of course."

  "You said a minute ago that you are going to miss me. Why?" Margaret asked. "I'm not going anywhere. Even when I move out of your house, I will remain in this area."

  Geoffrey smiled sadly.

  "I see you are as perceptive as you are beautiful."

  Claire leaned forward.

  "Geoffrey? What are you saying?"

  "I'm saying it's time to move on to the main agenda item," Geoffrey said. He took a deep breath. "We have much to discuss."

  CHAPTER 79: DAVID

  Sunday, December 31, 2017

  For the fifth time in five nights, David Baker watched Geoffrey Bell walk to a lectern, test a microphone, and smile at an assembly of time travelers in the El Camino Room. For the first time in five nights, he did so with watery eyes.

  He did not want to reveal his sadness, particularly in the presence of so many upbeat, joyous, and festive people, but he found it difficult not to. At nine o'clock on New Year's Eve, he did not feel upbeat, joyous, or festive. He felt lousy.

  David glanced at his family, who stood with him near the front of the room, and then turned his eyes to the man of the moment. If he did nothing else on this bittersweet evening, he would give his uncle an audience.

  "Good evening," Geoffrey said. "I hope you all enjoyed tonight's dinner and today's trip to Disneyland. I know I did. I did a lot. If I leave this reunion with only one memory, it will be of ten-year-old Anna Beck, a girl from 1901, enjoying the splendors of Splash Mountain."

  Several people laughed.

  "I have enjoyed these five days. I have enjoyed every moment I have spent with each of you and hope I have the opportunity to see you again. It is not every day a man gets to spend time with a group as diverse, talented, and creative as the one assembled here tonight. You are all truly remarkable people."

  As Geoffrey waxed poetic about his guests, their adventures during the week, and their plans for the future, David put his arm around Margaret and pulled her close. He smiled when she did the same and sighed when she kissed him on the cheek. He appreciated the attention. He appreciated almost everything she did.

  If there was a silver lining to this distressing weekend, it was that he and Margaret had drawn closer as a couple. They were no longer just friends heading in a romantic direction or a pair of teachers with a lot in common. They were a unit. They were two adults who finally realized that their destinies in life were one and the same.

  As Geoffrey continued his lighthearted remarks, David scanned the crowd and noticed a smile on every face. He wondered what was going through the minds of the guests as they listened to a man who had changed their lives. Were they satisfied? Were they grateful? He hoped so. He certainly was. He owed a debt to his uncle he could never repay.

  David looked at his sister, who returned a tearful smile, and concluded she was thinking the same thing. That made sense, he thought. Geoffrey had done a lot for her too.

  David pondered that fact for a moment and then returned his attention to the speaker, who had shifted from playful observations to more substantive commentary. He took a breath as his uncle proceeded toward his most important remarks.

  "This has been a satisfying reunion," Geoffrey said. "I have enjoyed reconnecting with all of you and learning about your lives. I hope you feel the same. When I welcomed you to Santa Barbara on Wednesday, I had two objectives. The first was to show you a good time. The second was to explain my motivations, update you on some changes in my life, and let you know what you can expect from me in future."

  Here it comes.

  "Two years ago, on my birthday, no less, I was diagnosed with a disease that has no cure. Called Lou Gehrig's disease by some and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by others, it is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. My doctors tell me that if I'm lucky, I'll go quickly. I will pass in another year or two. If I'm not 'lucky,' I could linger in a paralytic state for many years."

  David scanned the room and saw an instant change. He saw heads shake, smiles vanish, and tears form. He saw what he had expected to see: shock, dismay, and sadness.

  Susan Peterson and Amanda Schmidt seemed particularly moved, for a reason that made all the sense in the world. They had been in Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, when Lou Gehrig announced his retirement from baseball and gave his disease a name.

  The Coelhos handled the disclosure a little better, for a reason that also made sense. Like the Rasmussens, David, and Margaret, they had been tipped off in advance. Like the Tennessee contingent, they would be part of Geoffrey's master plan.

  The reunion host showed little emotion. He instead plunged ahead matter-of-factly with a speech he had no doubt rehearsed in his head for months.

  "When I learned of my condition, I had to rethink my life," Geoffrey said. "I had to abandon dreams, make adjustments, and plan for an uncertain future. I had to protect my wife's interests and my own legacy. More to the point, I had to find someone to safeguard a time portal."

  "I considered Jeanette, of course. I had assumed for years she would continue our work in the event I died first, but I assumed incorrectly. She wanted no part of managing a priceless resource we had revived and developed. So I looked elsewhere."

  David offered his uncle a supportive smile.

  "With no children or friends I considered ideal for the jo
b, I turned to strangers," Geoffrey said. "I used my lectures as a recruitment tool and quickly discovered the Townsends and the Petersons. Then Cameron and Candice came to me with maps of lost caves, boxes of gypsum crystals, and news of a time portal in Indiana.

  "By the time the Ryans, the McIntires, and my niece and nephew came along, I found myself swamped with suitable candidates. So I quickly went about winnowing them down. In the end, I decided the most prudent course was to stick with family."

  Once again, David turned away to look at the others. Once again, he saw people in various states of distress. Even tough, no-nonsense men like Chuck Townsend, Wyatt Fitzpatrick, Kurt Schmidt, and Mark Ryan battled tears. This was tough stuff.

  "Since the Chattanooga clan returned last month, I have looked for a way to protect everyone's interests," Geoffrey said. "Thanks to recent decisions by my niece, her husband, my nephew, and the Coelho family, I believe I've found one.

  "Beginning March 1, David Baker will move into my Los Angeles mansion and oversee the portal that all of you have used. Starting June 1, Ron and Claire Rasmussen will manage the portal in southern Indiana. Cameron and Candice Coelho will continue to operate that same resource in 1926. These individuals will serve as executives and guardians of the time travel enterprise begun by Percival and Henry Bell in 1898.

  "The rest of you will serve as trustees, with unlimited access to both portals for as long as you live. It is my hope that you will take your rights and responsibilities seriously, maintain all necessary confidences, and do what you can to preserve these resources."

  Geoffrey stopped and allowed a silence to settle over the room. In just a few minutes, he had turned a festive occasion into a moment for reflection.

  "Are there any questions?" Geoffrey asked.

  No one spoke out or raised a hand. No one did a thing.

  "In that case, I will move on to the last order of business, one that I hope will turn some of the frowns in this room into smiles," Geoffrey said. He took a deep breath. "On April 1, after my nephew moves into the mansion and assumes control of the Los Angeles portal, Jeanette and I will take a trip. We will take a trip to 2025 and seek a cure for ALS. If we do not find one in 2025, we will try 2030 and so on. We will do everything in our power to defeat this horrible disease and then return to this time and the people we love.