“Far faster than this in certain conditions,” Bonnie said.
“We covered all this ground on the ride out of town earlier,” Carol said. “You are going to be able to spot some things that are from the past, but not that many I’m afraid.
“Is the Idanha still here?”
“It is,” Carol said, “But it is apartments now and the main floor has been remodeled a number of times. It does not have its original glory I’m afraid.”
“That is sad,” Megan said as she watched the buildings and sites go by outside the window. It was all just amazing, simply amazing.
Finally Bonnie turned the automobile into a large paved area with other cars and stopped, shutting off the machine.
“How are you feeling?” Carol asked from the back.
“In awe of this stunning world,” Megan said. “And not feeling light or faint at all.”
“Wonderful,” Carol said, then showed Megan how to get out of the seat belt harness and then open her door.
As they walked around a corner, Megan could see that the sidewalks of the now large city were covered with people going about their business. All were dressed in the same fashion she had on, or in suits and different forms of dresses for the women.
They went into a restaurant that seemed crowded and smelled heavenly of garlic and fresh bread. Somehow plants seemed to grow from everywhere, even though there were no real windows that Megan could see.
A young girl smiled and greeted them, then led them through the restaurant full of tables and plants and people smiling and laughing as they ate.
Megan decided right there that she was going to like this time even more because people seemed to really enjoy themselves while eating. In one hundred years it seemed that eating in a restaurant had gone from a serious affair to a social fun time for people to do.
And as a baker, that made her happy.
And holding Carol’s hand as they walked through the restaurant following Bonnie made her even happier.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
March 6th, 2019
Boise, Idaho
AFTER A WONDERFUL dinner, Carol and Megan decided they could just walk to Carol’s condo. It was about six blocks and after the fun and very filling meal, that seemed like a good idea.
At that moment in time, Carol wasn’t so worried about Megan’s health. She seemed to be doing fine. But she was very worried about what Megan would think about staying in the same bed with Carol for the night. If that was too uncomfortable for her, they would work something out and get Megan her own condo tomorrow.
But no amount of worrying would answer that question at the moment, so they would cross that problem when they got to it.
They walked hand-in-hand, with Carol explaining some things about basic traffic safety rules and Megan asking very smart questions about different things they saw. Carol just was amazed at how well Megan was adjusting to such a culture shock.
Carol was not convinced she would be doing so well. In fact, the little bit of time she had spent in 2119 had shocked her more than Megan seemed to be shocked by all this.
As they reached the park area and started along the river, Megan held up Carol’s hand in hers. “We would never be able to walk like this in my time. What has changed?”
“When it comes to women,” Carol said. “Just about everything. But it took a very long time. Almost every year of the time from your time to now, actually.”
Megan looked puzzled, so Carol went on. “Women got the right to vote by a constitutional amendment in 1920 and then slowly started becoming equals to men both under the law and in the eyes of society.”
“Okay,” Megan said, nodding. Carol could tell that concept still wasn’t sinking in.
“As I said, it took a very long time. Slow changes over the last one-hundred-plus years. And along the way the marriage laws changed as well. Men can now marry men and women can marry women.”
That stopped Megan in the middle of the sidewalk.
“You are not playing a joke on me?”
Carol smiled and looked into the large brown eyes of the woman she loved, then shook her head. “You and I are free to marry if we decided to do so. Just as you married your former husband.”
Megan shook her head and they kept walking in silence for a short time. Then Megan said softly, “I like your time.”
“And I like your time as well,” Carol said. “So it seems once we get your heart fixed up, we can live in both.”
“Together?” Megan asked, looking over at Carol.
“Together,” Carol said, squeezing Megan’s hand. “We’ll just have to be more careful in your time.”
“Much, much more careful,” Megan said. They walked the rest of the way to the condo in silence.
Inside, Megan was impressed at the fantastic kitchen and huge fridge.
“Where is the ice?” Megan asked, opening the freezer door.
“It makes its own cold,” Carol said.
She took a glass out of the cupboard. “If you want some ice for your drink, just put the glass here and push.”
Megan stepped back slightly shocked as ice clattered into the glass.
“And if you want cold water, just put the glass here and push.”
Water filled the glass on the ice.
“That is miraculous,” Megan said, shaking her head. “And you don’t have to stoke the stove either I would guess.”
Carol turned on a burner on the flattop stove and a moment later it showed orange and was generating heat.
Megan just shook her head again and moved out of the kitchen into the living room area.
“This is a beautiful place,” Megan said.
Carol felt very, very proud that Megan liked it. She had hoped she would.
Then Megan went to the large orange and brown patchwork quilt tossed over the back of one couch. “This looks similar to mine.”
“It is yours from another timeline,” Carol said. “I brought it with me after you died the last time.”
Megan looked at Carol, clear sadness in her eyes. “I hate that I put you through that.”
“You had no choice, my love,” Carol said, moving over and holding Megan.
They stood like that for a moment, then Carol said, “Let me show you my bathroom upstairs. You think the kitchen is miraculous, just wait. And then we can get a cold drink and go sit on the patio and enjoy the evening.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Megan said.
Of course, they never made it to the patio. They ended up taking off each other’s clothes and tumbling into Carol’s huge bed.
And then two hours later, they scrubbed each other’s backs and entire bodies under the wonderful shower.
A perfect evening as far as Carol was concerned.
Megan said the same.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
March 7th, 2019
Boise, Idaho
AFTER A WONDERFUL night together with Carol, Megan had almost forgotten she was in the future. It wasn’t until she got out of the huge, soft bed and wandered into the bathroom that she suddenly remembered.
And she remembered why Carol had brought her forward in time.
So when Megan went back to bed and cuddled with Carol, she asked simply, “Are we going to the hospital today?”
Carol nodded. “I don’t think we dare wait any longer. But you don’t need to worry, I will be there with you every step of the way.”
“If it means I don’t die suddenly on you,” Megan said, trying to push down the fear, “then I am ready.”
Carol kissed her and then smiled. “You are the most amazing and bravest woman I have ever met. Have I told you how much I love you?”
“Not in the last few minutes,” Megan said, laughing and kissing Carol again.
After a time, it was hunger that drove them to get dressed.
Both of them took another shower, something that Megan knew she could come to really enjoy, especially the fact that she didn’t have to heat the water to h
ave it warm. It just came out of the tap that way like magic.
Carol gave Megan some clean underwear that felt wonderful, not at all like the ones she normally wore. And another sports bra, as Carol called it. After Megan was standing there in her underwear, Carol just stared.
“You get that look and we’re never going to get something to eat,” Megan said, laughing.
“Food is so underrated when it compares to sex,” Carol said.
“True,” Megan said, and stepped toward Carol, who retreated with a giggle.
Then the two of them went through Carol’s closet to find Megan a nice blouse and some socks to wear with the tennis shoes she had gotten from the Institute the day before.
Finally, both dressed, they made it downstairs to make breakfast.
Carol showed Megan the modern choices of her kitchen. There was cereal with milk and juice, eggs with toast and juice, or a nearby restaurant.
“The lack of food choices comes from being too focused on my work far too much.”
Megan decided she would rather spend the time alone with Carol and went for a flake-like cereal that was sweet, covered in milk and then some orange juice out of a container.
Surprisingly, it all tasted pretty good and she had two bowls.
Then they walked hand-in-hand along the river to the Institute, a walk Megan felt she could come to treasure.
On the second floor of the big building, they found Director Parks in his office and Carol introduced Megan to him. Director Parks smiled and asked how Megan was doing getting used to a strange new world.
“I have so much to learn,” Megan said.
“Actually,” Director Parks said, smiling, “any of us who travel into a different timeline and time have a lot to learn, no matter which way we are going. So you are very much at home here with us.”
“Thank you,” Megan had said.
Then Director Parks turned serious. “Are you ready for the hospital?”
“I think so,” Megan said, her stomach twisting.
“You can’t say anything about when you are from,” Director Parks said.
Megan nodded and glanced at Carol, who was looking very serious. “Carol told me all about that.”
“Good,” Parks said and turned to Carol. “What’s up first today, Doctor?”
Megan was shocked slightly that Carol was referred to as Doctor. Carol had told her she was, but Megan hadn’t really thought about it.
“Bone marrow to get the growth of the new heart going in 2119,” Carol said.
“Growth of a new heart?” Megan asked.
Carol nodded. “We are going to take some cells from your body today to grow you a brand new heart one hundred years from now. Then when it is ready in three months, we will go there and they will replace your damaged heart with a very healthy one.”
“That is all possible?” Megan asked, stunned and scared to death of the idea.
“Very possible and very normal one hundred years from now,” Carol said. “And after that you will be healthy and we can go where and when we please together.”
Director Parks nodded, which Megan was glad to see. “I wish we could just take the bone marrow there to grow the heart and then jump forward in time three months until it is ready. But the crystals are on one-hundred-year limits jumping forward from here. So we have to wait.”
“Can we jump another hundred years forward from there and then back ninety-nine years?” Carol asked.
Director Parks nodded. “We could, but then if the operation fails, Megan would end up a hundred years ahead still with a bad heart. Remember, when you jump back into another timeline, you are only gone for two minutes no matter what happens. We don’t dare set Megan in a time until she is cured of this problem. Otherwise, she will always have a bad heart.”
“Damn,” Carol said.
Megan nodded, just trying to imagine all that and failing completely. But she was glad Carol understood.
“So today will be an easy day,” Carol said, turning to her. “Then all we have to do is live here and enjoy life for three months.”
“Oh,” Megan said, feeling slightly relieved. “I thought the surgery was today.”
“Not yet,” Carol said, smiling. “First we have to grow you a healthy heart.”
“Will it still love you?” Megan asked, smiling.
Director Parks snorted and Carol laughed.
“I’m having them build in even more love for me,” Carol said.
Megan shook her head. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
All three of them laughed and Carol kissed Megan.
Then they all headed for the stables that held the big automobiles for a ride to the hospital.
Megan would have preferred to walk, but Carol said it was just too far.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
April 17th, 2019
Boise, Idaho
THE FIRST MONTH after the bone marrow procedure went wonderfully as far as Carol was concerned. Megan and Carol had grown comfortable living together and they had explored many restaurants and a few of the bakeries around Boise.
At one point as Carol and Megan were sitting on the back deck watching the river, Carol had asked Megan if she ever thought of opening her own bakery. And not only supplying customers coming through the door, but other restaurants around town.
Around them the evening air was crisp, but not cold and the river was running strong and loud.
Megan had given Carol one of her not-understanding blank stares, then asked, “Would something like even be possible?”
“Very much so,” Carol said, smiling.
“It would be so expensive,” Megan said.
“Expense is not an issue,” Carol said. She had told Megan that the Institute paid for her condo and all expenses, but she didn’t remember telling Megan that before the Institute, Carol had been very comfortable when it came to money. Her parents were rich and they had set her up with enough money to do most anything she had wanted. She had even come out of medical school without an ounce of debt.
“Not an issue?” Megan asked.
“We will never worry about money no matter in what time we live,” Carol said. “But I am sure with your art at baking, the bakery would be a success from the first moment forward.”
Megan smiled and clearly seemed to be thinking.
After a moment she said, “I had never dreamed of such a thing before this very moment.”
“Think about it and we can talk after you have a new and strong heart,” Carol said.
“It sounds wonderful,” Megan said, standing up and moving over to Carol’s chair and kissing her.
After that the cool night air forced them back inside to the couches and Megan’s new obsession with television and computers.
They were halfway through a new sitcom when Megan said softly, “Carol.”
Carol glanced over to see Megan sweating and holding her chest.
Carol instantly grabbed her cell phone that she kept with her at all times and dialed 911. Then she went to Megan and had her stretch out on the couch.
“I’m sorry,” Megan said, tears forming in her eyes.
“We’ll get you through this one,” Carol said. “You just relax. Help is on the way.”
Megan nodded, then whispered. “I like the bakery idea.”
“I do too, my love,” Carol said.
Then as she held Megan’s hand, she directed the ambulance to the right condo. Less than five minutes later, Carol sat beside Megan as they sped toward the hospital.
“Stay with me, Megan,” Carol said softly as she and the ambulance attendant did everything in their power to keep Megan alive just a little longer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
April 17th, 2019
Boise, Idaho
MEGAN AWOKE TO the sounds of strange beeping. Her chest hurt worse than she could ever imagine, but at least she was still alive.
Or at least she hoped she was.
She opened her eyes slowly. Th
ey felt like they had been glued shut at one point, but she finally managed to stare at a very white ceiling that seemed to have a lot of tiny holes punched in it.
She blinked twice and the ceiling with the tiny holes did not go away.
This new world was a very strange world.
She was as thirsty as she could ever remember being. And there was a sour taste of almonds in her mouth.
Something was stuck up her nose, but she didn’t have the energy to see what it was.
Beside her the beeping continued like nothing she had ever heard before.
She tried to turn to see what the infernal beeping was, but the pain made her moan.
She heard movement and Carol suddenly appeared in her line of sight. She was smiling and yet had that worried look on her face that Megan had come to love.
“Welcome back,” Carol said. “We thought we lost you there.”
A woman in a white uniform appeared to Megan’s left and gave her an ice chip that she could suck on.
The ice chip felt like heaven. Wow.
“I’ll tell Doctor James she is awake,” the nurse said.
“Thank you,” Carol said.
Then she turned to Megan and squeezed her hand.
“I love you, you know,” Carol said.
Megan nodded.
At that moment a man came in. He had dark thick hair and wore black-rimmed glasses. He was thin and his white smock sort of hung on him.
“Glad you are awake, Miss Taber. You gave me and Doctor Kogan a scare there for awhile.”
Megan said nothing as the man in the white coat shined a tiny light in her eyes, then listened to her heart for a moment through an instrument, then nodded and looked at Carol.
Megan could tell that wasn’t a good look.
“We want you to just rest,” the man said. “Doctor Kogan will take good care of you.”
Megan nodded. Then through her cracked and dry throat she said, “Thank you.”
He smiled, nodded, and then turned and left.
“What’s happening?” Megan asked, turning her head to look at Carol.
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