by Meg Napier
One of the most important things right now had to do with her work. They were so close to bending spacetime. She had to get back to Switzerland. There wasn’t another second to waste. Vacation was over. Coming to the Bay had been a great way to spend their two-year anniversary, but her brain was focused on a particularly difficult problem. It’d been troubling her for months now and she was certain she had the answer. It was the key to unlocking the mysteries of bending the spacetime continuum.
It’d come to her quite suddenly while she and Ashley were sitting in a café yesterday. Ashley was talking about her latest interview for her blog or a magazine article or something. Rosalind couldn’t keep up anymore.
Rosalind had tuned her out and stared at the waves churning in the San Francisco Bay: a constant state of flowing energy. The idea came slowly, a mere skimming of the surface. Then, as the waves rose higher and higher, so had the idea. The first idea led to better ideas until it swelled into perfection. Or as perfect as she could get it within her mind’s eye. She needed to plug it into the computer system, test it, analyze it.
She had itched to get back to the lab. She’d sent Alden Miller a text immediately. He’d argued with her to stay. It was her anniversary, after all. Eventually, he caved and bought her two plane tickets to Geneva, explaining, if she was going to cut their vacation short, she should bring Ashley.
It’d been a great idea, but Ashley had refused. Not even Alden’s promise of his wife taking her shopping swayed Ash. It was their anniversary. They hadn’t had a vacation since their honeymoon. It was a chance to reconnect.
Rosalind didn’t know what they had to reconnect about. They loved each other and were married. They also had important careers. What more could Ash want?
Wishing Ashley would come too, she left the extra ticket she’d printed off in the hotel office on the small counter with the coffee pot.
Beside the ticket was an envelope. Inside were their ballet ticket stubs. They’d gone to see a ballet right after their afternoon in the café. She couldn’t remember what it had been about. The beauty of the dancers reminded her of the particles she hoped to see soon.
No use in keeping trash. She quickly discarded the envelope.
Her cell pinged from the nightstand. The Lyft driver was on his way. She followed his progress for a few seconds before dressing. Pushing the bright clothes away, she donned a simple pair of jeans and black shirt. Pulling her black hair in a tight ponytail, she went to the edge of the bed to put her shoes on.
There was only one shoe turned upside down. She specifically remembered putting her shoes there. Maybe she had accidentally kicked it in the closet.
“Hey, Ash, where’s my other shoe?” She asked from the closet.
The bathroom door swung open. Ashley stood in the doorframe. Her silk robe slightly open, revealing a perfectly toned and tanned body. Her curly auburn hair framing her face. She raised an eyebrow, her green eyes twinkling, and asked, “You going to join me before you leave?”
Rosalind glanced at her cell. The driver was almost there. “I don’t even have time for coffee,” she said. “I can’t find my other shoe.” She held up the blue canvas shoe.
“Why don’t you forget about your shoe and come join me?” She pulled her robe open a little wider.
Rosalind’s lips curled into a weak smile, “I would love to; you know I would, but this is important.” Her heart ached as she said the words. “Why don’t you come with me, instead?”
“I’m throwing you a peace offering. You should take it.” Ash threw the robe off completely.
Roz’s pulse raced and heat filled her. For an instant she forgot everything. There was only Ashley. Tall. Curvy. Delicious pouting red lips. Seductive green eyes. Willing to forgive.
Her cell pinged, plunging her back into reality. She needed to get to work. “Raincheck?”
“How many rainchecks now? Enough is enough, Roz,” Ashley put the robe back on, tying it tight at the waist.
“I know. And I’m sorry. Really. I’m going to be late. I can’t go to the airport barefoot.” She disappeared between the wall and left side of the bed. “Ah! Found it!”
“I get my results next week,” Ashley said.
“Results? From what?” Rosalind blinked. She tried to recall what her wife was talking about. She shook her head, the problem she was trying to solve was now too prominent. It was time to go. She glanced at Ash, taking in the seriousness of her face and took a half-hearted guess, “I’m sure you’ll get the promotion.”
“Oh, Roz,” Ash sighed, hugging herself. “Never mind. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Yes. I would love to hear all about it. I’ll text you when the plane lands.”
“I don’t see why you can’t stay two more nights. That’s all I ask,” Ashley said.
Rosalind sent a quick text to the driver, letting him know she’d be down in a minute. “This is important, Ash. Just as important as your promotion. I think I’ve figured out how to bend spacetime reality.”
She threw her hands in the air, “Fine. If time travel is possible—”
“I’m not talking about time travel. I’m talking about the possibilities of being able to—”
Ashley crossed the room in four strides and grabbed Roz’s shoulders. Her hands were warm and trembling against Rosalind’s smaller shoulders. “If what you’re doing does create the ability to time travel, then send me a sign. A simple sign in the next two minutes. Something to let me know all of this is worth it. Proof that you care about us.”
Rosalind shook her head, unable to believe her ears. Ash didn’t believe in her or her work. “What I’m doing is important. You can either come with me or stay here. Either way, I have to leave now.”
Ashley grabbed the envelope from the wastebasket, her mouth hanging open. “I can’t believe you’d throw this away.”
Rosalind’s brow furrowed. She was confused about her attachment to the ticket stubs. “It’s trash. I have to go.” Shouldering her carry-on with one arm, she grabbed the suitcase with the other. Giving Ash a quick peck on the cheek, she mumbled, “Love you.”
Rosalind rushed out of the room with the ridiculously bright pink luggage.
Chapter 7
Genève Aéroport
Geneva, Switzerland
26 February 2020
Wednesday 1:00 pm
Rosalind found her bright suitcase among the plain ones on the conveyor belt in the luggage area of Genève Aéroport. Getting to it was more of a challenge than getting through customs. A man coughed in her face as she squeezed around him.
Two policemen glanced their way, unreadable expressions on their faces. One muttered something about “strange viruses” in French and gestured to one of the many posters explaining how to wash hands and warning against travelling to Wuhan. Since she wasn’t planning on doing anymore travelling for a while, she ignored the posters and wiped her face with a shirt sleeve. Grabbing the pink suitcase, Rosalind searched for a restroom to wash her face.
Sweat dripped down her neck, reminding her of the long, stuffy flight. Thinking she’d get most of her work done and ready to go by the time they landed, she’d never anticipated the strange feeling she’d upset Ashley somehow.
The feeling would go away soon. All she needed was some cool air, her office, and the lab. Everything would work out in the end. It always did. Maybe after Ashley got the promotion and stopped worrying, she would be happier for Rosalind’s breakthrough.
The thought was comforting. She found the bathroom and was about to slip inside when a familiar voice stopped her. “Rosalind!” A cheery woman with sparkling blue eyes and blonde hair with wisps of grey grabbed her in a hug and kissed her cheeks.
“Mia?” She was surprised to see Alden’s wife, Mia Miller. Although she was as short as Rosalind, standing at 5”1’, her high-heeled black boots made her taller. She was a little round in the middle and wore a long navy wrap coat with a knitted scarf to match. The coat draped down past her kn
ees, covering most of her dark pants.
“Are you waiting on Ashley?” She pointed to the restroom door.
Rosalind shook her head, surprised at the pain in her chest. “She didn’t come.”
Mia frowned. “I was hoping we could go chocolate tasting and have a bit of girl time. I know how you and Alden get.” She laced her arm around Rosalind’s. “Oh, well. I can’t talk you into enjoying a bit of chocolate and wine before you head off to the office?”
She shook her head. There was too much to do. “Just my room.”
“Nonsense,” Mia laughed. “You can’t work on an empty stomach.”
“I’ll be fine, really. I need to get back to work,” her mind raced.
“Physicists and engineers,” Mia rolled her eyes. “You’ll work until you collapse. You’re coming with me. No arguments.”
Rosalind tried protesting several times on the way to the car, but was doomed to fail. Even her stomach betrayed her.
Rosalind sent a quick text letting Ash know she’d made it and was being forced to stop for lunch. She smiled, imagining the chuckle the last part would get as Ash read the text.
Mia pulled into the crowded Café Restaurant de l'Aviation, her smile wide. “I love the atmosphere here.”
“You always say that,” Rosalind said. It was a great place to eat, especially for CERNies.
“And I mean it every time,” Mia said.
They ordered their usual: the crisp goat cheese salad as a starter and the caravelle.
Rosalind said “hello” to a few CERNies she recognized as the group sat down behind them.
Mia gasped.
“What is it? Are you okay?” Rosalind immediately stood.
Mia nodded, “I’m fine, dear. Really. One second. I’ll be right back.” She went to the table behind them. Mia spoke to them in German.
Heat rose in Rosalind’s face. She would never think of interrupting someone else’s conversation; however, she did strain to listen in on them.
“I don’t know how you and Ash do that,” she said, as soon as Mia sat down.
Mia laughed, “You love particles and whatever else it is you do at CERN, and Alden loves fixing and creating machines. Ashley and I love people. We can’t resist interesting or important conversations.”
“Makes sense,” she admitted. “What was important about their conversation? Something about viruses?” Her nose scrunched up, “I heard the police in the airport mention viruses, too.”
Mia shook her head, “There is a new coronavirus.”
Rosalind had heard about a pneumonia-like virus similar to SARS. The news in America reported the flu-like virus wasn’t bad, as long as people washed their hands. Neither she nor Ashley had paid much attention to the reports.
“It’s spreading,” Mia said.
“Should we be concerned?” The thought of anything hindering her work sent her thoughts into a panic.
Mia shrugged unnaturally. “I don’t know.”
Before Rosalind could ask more questions, her salad arrived. She was a few bites in when her cell pinged. A text from Ash. She couldn’t wait to see what funny thing Ash said about Mia dragging Roz away from her work. The corners of her mouth twitched as they formed a half-smile half-frown. The response she received was confusing.
“Glad you respect Mia enough to stop working.”
The crispy goat cheese salad no longer looked appetizing. A rock dropped in the pit of her stomach. What did Ash mean?
“What’s wrong, dear?” Mia asked. Most of her salad was already gone.
“I don’t know.”
“Come now. What is it? Ashley isn’t with you and you cut your anniversary vacation short. What happened? Did you get into a fight?” Mia patted her hand.
“No, there was no fight. I don’t understand this,” she showed Mia the text.
Mia chuckled. “You’re just like Alden. According to this text you’re in a fight. You—” she pointed to the younger woman—“don’t realize it. Yet.”
Rosalind’s frown deepened, “Are you sure?”
“Better tell me what happened, dear.” She gave Rosalind another pat. “I’m all ears while I finish this salad. Don’t leave anything out.”
Rosalind told her everything. By the time Rosalind was finished, their main course had been placed in front of them.
Mia blinked several times and shook her head. “Oh, dear. You are in trouble. I can make a couple of suggestions, but I can’t really help you. Send flowers. Send chocolates. Call her before you go to the office. Apologize.”
She scratched her head. “Apologize for what? I didn’t do anything wrong. I think it’s great she’s getting a promotion.”
“You and Alden are exactly alike. Except, we’ve been together twenty-eight years and he finally stopped asking what he did wrong and sends me flowers and chocolates when he realizes I’m upset. I don’t know if it’s going to be enough in your case, though. A little groveling might help. Might,” she shook her head and stabbed into the steak. “And I don’t think it has anything to do with a promotion.”
Mia was surprisingly quiet for the rest of their lunch, except for an occasional “tsk tsk” or “simply hopeless” every time she glanced up.
Rosalind managed a few bites under the pitying looks Mia gave her.
If Ashley wasn’t worried about a promotion, what could it be? She played with her wedding band all the way to her room.
Chapter 8
Miller Residence
Geneva, Switzerland
28 February 2020
Friday 6:00 pm
Rosalind stood outside the door to Alden’s house. Not even the smell of homemade bread eased her mind. She’d done everything Mia told her to do. She’d sent Ashley flowers, wine, and chocolates. She also called Ash to apologize.
The first fifteen times, she had to leave a voicemail. She finally sent a text begging Ash to call her. Apologizing via text didn’t seem appropriate. When Ashley finally called back, she said she was getting ready to go to a gala in California and demanded Roz not call again unless it was to say she was coming home.
As if Ash’s call hadn’t been discouraging enough, Rosalind’s experiments yesterday were inconclusive. Today’s calculations had the same results. If Mia hadn’t begged her to come over, she’d have hidden in her room working on new calculations.
Alden opened the door with a flourish, his arms as wide as his smile. “How long were you standing there?” He asked in between kisses and hugs.
“Not long,” she said.
He rolled his eyes, “Right. So, you weren’t pacing for ten minutes trying to decide if my Mia’s cooking is better than cardboard bars and cafeteria food?”
“You leave her alone,” Mia waltzed into the foyer with a flowery apron wrapped around her robust waist. Sweat ran down her temples and she coughed into the crook of her arm.
Rosalind hugged her and kissed her cheeks. “Are you okay?”
“Just a cold,” Mia said, waving her hand in the air. “Nothing to be alarmed about.”
“I’ll set the plates,” Alden offered.
Rosalind helped. Although it was the three of them, Mia insisted they use the good plates and silverware. There was a loaf of homemade bread along with homemade jams and local honey. Alden brought out a platter of various meats, cheeses, and pickles. In addition to their light meal, or Znacht, Mia placed bowls of soup at their places.
In a coughing fit, she dropped the last bowl of soup. The bowl shattered, splattering hot soup everywhere. Her fist gripped her chest. “I can’t breathe,” she said. The walls and chairs dripped red as Mia collapsed.
“Mia!” Alden rushed to her side.
Her eyes fluttered.
Without looking up, Alden shouted, “Call an ambulance!”
Surprisingly, Rosalind wasn’t trembling as she dialed 144 and calmly told the person who answered what was going on and where they were.
As her friend was loaded into the ambulance, Rosalind stayed and cleane
d up. Mia had always been proud of her house. The activity helped. She was doing something useful for her friends. After ensuring nothing would stain from the soup, she put the bread, cheese, meats, and jam away.
She’d been over enough times to know where everything went. Once she was finished, she called Ashley. She didn’t care about Ash’s rules. This was important. She had to leave a message.
Uncertain of what else to do, she went to the hospital to wait with Alden. He was pacing the length of the waiting room.
“Any word, yet?” She asked.
He shook his head. His eyes were red and he suddenly looked tired. “I can’t lose her,” he said.
“You’re not going to. It’s probably the flu or something,” Rosalind assured him.
“Ashley called me,” he said. “Thanks for letting her know.”
Rosalind nodded. The stone came back. Ash had called Alden, not her. At least she called, Rosalind reminded herself.
“You can go. I’ll be okay,” Alden said.
“I want to stay and make sure Mia’s all right,” Rosalind said. She also didn’t want to be alone thinking about her failures as a wife and physicist.
After hours of waiting, someone came for Alden.
When Alden came back, he combed his fingers through his hair. The overhead hospital lights made him look a sickly pale. “She had a heart attack,” he said. “She’s awake now. I’m going to stay with her tonight.”
Rosalind watched him leave. Somehow, knowing all would be well with stubborn Mia gave her hope about her own marriage. She caught a ride back to her room and did the only thing that made her feel better. Work.
Everything was in a constant state of flux. She knew her calculations were correct. She knew they were. There was something amiss. She had the entire weekend to figure it out.
Pushing everything else from her mind, she set to work the moment she closed her door. She worked forty hours straight. While she worked, Mia took a turn for the worse.
She was diagnosed with pneumonia. Three days later she tested positive for the new novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. It was suspected she’d been exposed at the airport.