On Through the Never
Page 31
I smile now, thinking of how Everly talked her mom into moving back to the North American Federation last year, once things finally began to settle down between Gen Mods and Purists. We were thrilled to graduate together.
After President Tremblay was arrested for colluding with General Anderson and others to detonate the bioweapon, they were all Nulled. His VP became president and she worked hard to improve relations throughout the federation. The Responsible Citizen Act was repealed, and biological weapons were banned. She even decided to publicly admit to the existence of Dual Talents. While some people reacted with the same prejudice as Anderson and his conspirators, most people welcomed them. After all, the Dual Talents that existed were already their friends and neighbors; people had just never known the extent of their abilities.
“How are things with you two?” Aunt Grace asks, raising her eyebrows. “You’re in different cities. Is the long-distance thing working out?”
Bridger shrugs. “My family still lives in New Denver, so I fly down once a month to visit. Alora shifts to visit me whenever she wants.”
Aunt Grace looks at me in amazement. “I still can’t get over that. So, you’re allowed to go anywhere you want just by thinking about it?”
“I’m not supposed to. We’re only supposed to bend space while on the job, but I do it anyway,” I say. “A few days ago, I went down to Mexico City to visit some friends who are assigned to the artifact retrieval division there. I had supper with them and was back in time to go to sleep.”
Bridger gives me a side-eyed look. “I didn’t know you visited Elijah and Tara.”
“Sorry, I forgot to invite you. I was too busy planning this trip with your grandmother,” I say.
Bridger and I both look down at the shiny Chronobands fastened to our wrists. Two days ago, Bridger’s grandmother came by to visit me at my apartment. I was happy to see her, but still surprised to see her on her own. I usually only see her when Bridger and I visit her apartment, or when we go out to dinner with our families.
I was shocked when I found out why she stopped by.
Apparently, shortly after she took General Anderson’s place as head of the DTA’s military division, and after Bridger and I officially started dating, she decided to look more into my background. She was especially curious about how Aunt Grace’s house ended up as a perfectly preserved museum in our era. Her investigation revealed that Grace willed the house to the state under the condition that it never be sold—it could only be passed to a direct descendant.
Which means that, in my time, I’m now the legal owner of the house, which I plan to leave as a museum.
When I asked General Creed the exact date that Aunt Grace set this up, she stunned me by saying that it was completed on July 7, 2015. General Creed traveled back in time to determine my aunt’s motivation, and witnessed Bridger and me visiting with Aunt Grace today. From there they were able to figure out the date that we would depart from in our time. General Creed confessed that she was angry at first, then realized that we had Chronobands, which we would never have access to on our own, since the DTA confiscated the ones that Ellis gave to us.
Recognizing that our visit was a part of the timeline now, she knew that she would have to be the one to give us the Chronobands.
“You can’t argue with history,” she had said with a shrug as she handed me the Chronobands.
“Is this the only time you’ll let me visit my aunt?” I had asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she had replied. “I’d prefer not to see this happen again, but I’ve learned that in this profession, you can never say never.”
Aunt Grace suddenly stands, running her right hand along her forehead. “You know what? I think we should go on a picnic to celebrate. Let me get something together and I’ll be right back,” she says.
“No, we’ll help,” Bridger says.
After Bridger and I help her pack sandwiches, several pieces of pound cake, chocolate chip cookies, and lemonade, we head toward the dock at the river.
We spend the next hour laughing, talking, and eating. And oh man, the food is so delicious. So much better than what we have access to in our time. Aunt Grace fills us in on what’s has happened in Willow Creek over the past few years. Of course, nothing much has changed.
“What about Mr. Palmer?” I ask, feeling slightly sick to my stomach.
“He’s dead,” Aunt Grace says in a flat voice. “I’ve been keeping an eye out for him, and I found out that he died in a car accident back in January.”
Relief floods through me. I’d never wish something like that to happen anyone under normal circumstances, but Palmer was evil. At least I don’t have to worry about him ever bothering Aunt Grace again, or hurting any other girls.
My DataLink chimes, alerting me that our time is up. When Bridger’s grandmother helped set up this trip, even flying Bridger and me to Georgia on a private shuttle so he could shift directly on the property, she said she was only giving us four hours to visit. She said we didn’t need to contaminate the timeline any more than we had to.
Remembering that, I quickly share what happens to the house in the future. Aunt Grace’s eyes grow wide. “I’ve never quite been sure what I should do with the place once I’m gone,” she says. “At least I know it’ll be taken care of, and you’ll get it again one day.”
I find myself growing teary-eyed again. Four hours isn’t nearly enough time. I could stay with Aunt Grace for days.
But I know that’s not possible.
“Don’t forget the drawing,” Bridger reminds me.
“What drawing?” Aunt Grace asks.
I pull a folded piece of paper out of my shorts pocket. Bridger’s grandmother forbade us from bringing anything that could contaminate the timeline from our time to this year. But I thought something simple wouldn’t hurt.
It’s a drawing of me with Vika. I’d caught her up on the situation with Vika while we were eating our lunch.
Aunt Grace’s hands shake as she looks at the drawing. “So this is Nate’s other daughter. I’m glad she’s okay now,” she says.
“Alora, we’ve got to go,” Bridger says gently.
And once again, I find myself hugging Aunt Grace and crying.
“Do you think you can come back again?” she asks.
“I don’t know. I promise I’ll try,” I say in a quivering voice.
Aunt Grace pulls away from me and places both of her hands on my shoulders. Her eyes lock on mine. “I want you to do that. But don’t do anything that can jeopardize your future. I know now that you’re safe. You’re going to even end up with the house, which makes me happy. No matter what, my heart’s at peace knowing that you’re still alive and well.” She lets go of me, and takes a few more steps back on the dock. “Now, you two need to go. I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me,” she says.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you, too, sweetie. Always and forever.”
I take Bridger’s hand and this time I give it a squeeze. “Ready?” I ask him.
“Yes,” he replies. “See you later, Grace.”
“Look after my girl. I’ll haunt you if you don’t,” she says, trying to smile.
We check our Chronobands and close our eyes. As I picture the return date and enter the Void, I push back the sadness I’m feeling. I’m going home, where I belong with my family and friends. But I’ll find a way to see Aunt Grace again. If General Creed doesn’t let me use a Chronoband, I can always free shift.
Even though I never felt like I fit in while I lived with Aunt Grace, that time is a part of me. I can’t pretend that those years never happened, and visiting her today has made me fully realize that. In order for me to move on, I’ll have to embrace both parts of my life. I will always be a product of two different eras. Two different eras that have shaped me into the person I am today.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.
The End
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’ve often h
eard that writing your second book for publication can be a difficult task. Fortunately, I had a wonderful group of people offering encouragement that kept me going. To my editor, Rachel Stark, you are a superstar! Thank you for pushing me to make this book even better. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together! Huge thanks to Adrienne Szpyrka for guiding me through the early days of drafting this book. And thank you to everyone at Sky Pony Press for believing in this book.
Many thanks to my fantastic agent, Suzie Townsend, and to Sara Stricker for the support. I love working with you and the rest of the team at New Leaf. (I miss you, Jackie!)
To the following ladies, thank you for the friendship: Christina Ferko, Melissa Blanco, Robin Lucas, and Jessica Wilde. You guys are the best!
Finally, much love to my family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa E. Hurst is a YA science fiction and fantasy writer, which means she considers watching Star Trek and Firefly research. She dreams of traveling around the world and maybe finding Atlantis one day. You can usually find her with a book in one hand and a Dr. Pepper in the other. Or consuming lots of chocolate. Melissa lives in the southern United States with her husband and three kids.
Visit her online at Melissa-Hurst.com.