He sighed and ran his hands over the rumpled quilt, pulling at a few loose threads.
I tried to picture the eight-year-old Dean in his place. I had felt so much closer to my dad as a child than I ever had as a teenager. Would he ever get me? Or was he too far gone, lost in the throes of being a parent instead of waiting to form an opinion based on actually listening to me.
Still, after all, those weeks together in the past showed me what I knew deep down all along. I didn’t want to let him down. I needed him, and I didn’t want to keep living the broken, angry relationship we’d been in for the last few years. I had to let myself trust him and believe he would be there for me when everything was all said and done.
Scenes flashed through my mind, Dad helping me in the barn, saving me from the bull, sharing a Shasta soda, driving home from the fair. Remembering the guilt he carried, knowing about Dave’s violent behavior, maybe I needed to tell the story to relieve him from the pain as well. Maybe then, he could let it all go, and know there was nothing he could have done to stop Dave. He needed healing as much as Sarah needed justice.
I didn’t know where to begin. But when the first words came, the rest flowed as easily as a storybook. Dad never said a word, never interrupted, but his face took on a look of amazement as I related my time spent in the past. The details I recalled could not be made up, as I told him the most impossible things about his childhood. Several times, I saw him open his mouth, ready to interject something, but then he shut it again in astonishment.
When I finished, we sat silent, taking in and weighing every moment. I didn’t notice I had started crying until the tears dropped freely from my cheeks and onto the bare skin of my legs. I wiped them away hastily and sniffled as Dad pulled me in for a hug.
“I can’t explain it. I can’t explain it,” he murmured into my hair, “but you know everything. I believe you, Kate. God help me, I believe you.” And then he laughed, a sort of half sob-half laugh that shook his body. “And I thought you needed therapy.”
We laughed at that, using our sleeves to wipe our noses and the tears from our eyes. The telltale squeak of boards giving under someone’s weight broke us apart with a jolt.
Gran appeared in the doorway, her eyes red rimmed and puffy. “I’m sorry,” she choked out with difficulty. “I didn’t mean to pry. Kate… I’m sorry. Sorry that I doubted you. I was just overwhelmed with all of this coming back up after so long. You really went back? You were Sarah?” She moved into the room carefully as though she were afraid of intruding too far into the story and ruining the ending.
“Gran, it was weird. You had dark hair and everything. You made me wash in an old metal tub.” I paused at their laughter. “I saw the day Bobby went to the hospital. I had to cook on the wood stove!”
At this last remark, a stitch of pain crossing her face as she plainly recalled the dreadful day the family almost lost Bobby.
“Yes, Kate. Times were hard back then.” She nodded, patting my shoulder. Her face brightened. “You are so very lucky you didn’t have to stay there through the winter months – when the upstairs got so cold, the girls’ hair froze to the wall!”
“I could see puffs of breath right in my own bed!” Dad added, confirming Gran’s outrageous statement.
“I don’t know how it happened, but let’s just say, I’m glad to be back. My friends at home will never believe me when I tell them I actually enjoyed my stay.” I paused. “I enjoyed most of my stay.” I sent an apologetic look in Gran’s direction. “You know something,” I said, linking my arm through Dad’s, my eyes traveling to the scrawled letters on the dresser, “I may have helped Sarah get some sort of closure after all these years, but she helped me, too. I learned a lot – some of it about hard work and blisters, but what I really needed to learn was how important it is not to lose sight of your family.”
I laid my head on Dad’s shoulder and he kissed the top of my forehead, something that a few weeks ago, I would have shied away from. “Family is the only real thing you’ve got,” I said. “And every single time I’ve needed you,” I tugged on his arm and thought about the many times he’d saved me in the past few weeks, “you were there for me. I love you, Dad.”
Dad reached out for Gran’s hand, pulling us into an awkward group hug. “Can you repeat that?” He laughed as he ruffled my hair. “I want that on record.”
A loud bang from the kitchen, followed by a hearty squeal from Corey, drew Dad away from the casual embrace. “Be back in a minute,” he said, ruffling my hair for a second time.
Flopping to the bed, I pretended exaggerated exhaustion, throwing my arm across my forehead in the damsel-in-distress fancy.
Gran sat beside me, her face taking on a serious, more subdued look, and she glanced furtively out into the hallway, as if to make sure Dad had descended the stairs.
“Kate,” she said, her soft tone edged with sobering reality. “There’s something we need to talk about. There’s something I need to tell you.” She gripped my hand, urging me to pay attention.
Curious, I sat up, smoothing the worn quilt nervously between my hands. “What is it, Gran? Is everything OK?”
The stillness in the room sent tight knots of anxiety to my stomach. What could she possibly need to say?
Clearing her throat, Gran squeezed my hand and said, “I wasn’t sure you had it. I mean, it made sense and everything. But I didn’t want to scare you, and I was sure you would never believe me.”
My eyebrows arched in confusion. What was she talking about?
“The link, Kate. You have the link.”
“What are you talking about, Gran? What link?”
“The time travel link.” She stopped as though this were enough. When I didn’t respond, she stood and faced me. “The birthmark above your eye. It sort of resembles – an – ”
“A butterfly?” I interrupted.
“No,” she said, “an hourglass. I had one long ago, but it’s long since faded.” She pointed to the corner of her right eye and, sure enough, I could make out the faint outline of an hourglass against the pale, translucent skin.
“It happened to me, too, Kate. Long ago. I went back in time almost one hundred years! I never told a soul. There were times I just thought I dreamed the whole thing. They would have thought I was crazy and locked me away in some nut house if I ever said anything. But as soon as I saw you dressed like Sarah, I knew. You had gone back in time, just as I did when I was a girl.” Gran rubbed her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut. “You were lucky, Kate, to find your way back. This time.”
I felt the moment my heart stopped; her words sinking into my soul as heavy as an anchor in the ocean. Slowly… slowly… Stuttering and stammering past the icy fingers that laced my throat, I leaned forward in morbid curiosity. “What do you mean, this time?”
The End?
About the author
Jessica Tornese’s debut novel Linked Through Time was inspired by her home town Baudette, MN. She graduated from high school there and continued her education at Minnesota State University-Moorhead where she earned a degree in education. She spent several years coaching in the Junior Olympic volleyball program for Lake of the Woods and taught fifth and sixth grade for two years before becoming a stay-at-home mother in 2003.
Jessica is married and has three children. Her family recently relocated to the town of Jensen Beach, FL, where Jessica hopes to continue her career in writing.
To find out more about the author and books she has written, visit www.jessicatornese.com .
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Editor in Chief Nik Morton for supporting my first YA novel, and for his kindness and understanding in helping me through the process.
I would like to thank my editor, Candy Stone, for her hard work, help, and encouragement. She made the whole process smooth and easy!
I would like to thank Doc and Rose, and the original eleven – Louise, Jerry, Sharon, Rodney, Dad, David, Patrick, Mike, Joyce, Janice, and Janet. Yo
u all have been my support system for years, and I love you and thank you for inspiring me to create.
I want to thank my original “book club”, the first readers and critics of Linked – Mom, Kristin, Erika, and Carrie. You helped me believe it could happen!
Other Young Adult adventures from Solstice Publishing
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Not only is she freakishly tall, Lola’s a big girl and when forced to wear a bathing suit at her summer job as a camp counselor, Lola’s only escape from deep embarrassment seems to be to literally vanish. Soon after, she discovers the roots of her new “ability”.
Slowly, with Charlie’s help, Lola learns to control the new super power. The possibilities are endless. Yet power can be abused, too…
Then, when tragedy strikes, Lola must summon her inner strength, both at home and at school. She has to stand up for herself, despite the temptations and possibilities of her newfound super power.
A coming-of-age story that will warm the heart.
THE SHADOW TWINS
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After 185 immortal years of traveling the world, the teenage twins Thea and Kane and their adoptive mother, Caroline, want to settle down in a nice, quiet town, away from their restless government. Ashville, Oregon, seems like the right place…
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When they meet, horrible things happen…
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But just as Mallory’s starting to adjust to this impossible phenomenon, disaster strikes. When the neighboring city, Langstone, receives anonymous funds to boost their police force, the local gangs and criminals migrate to the unsuspecting Ashville and soon control the small town. Kane and Thea decide to do something—they’re Vampires, after all, legend’s most powerful predators, and they like Ashville—even if it means blowing their cover and moving again.
AUTUMN MAGIC, PLAYGROUND SKY
Edward T. Keller
What if you met the girl of your dreams – inside your dreams?
Would this be enough for you?
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THE BULLY SQUAD
Tony Jacks
Bullies prey on the weak. Essentially, they’re cowards. Public exposure hurts them.
When Jack finds out his little sister is being bullied by three girls from his class, he is shocked. He’s also worried about his father, who is in the early stages of dementia. Determined to stamp out bullying in his school, Jack attempts to set up a Bully Squad network to aid the victims and expose the perpetrators.
After being beaten up by two older male friends of the three bullies, he ends up in hospital, but he’s undeterred. And all the time his father's health is deteriorating. Will Jack win out in the end and set up his Bully Squad and help stamp out the scourge of bullying in his town?
HIKE UP DEVIL’S MOUNTAIN
Penny Estelle
Ten-year old Andy Thompson disobeys his mother and sneaks into the basement of an old abandoned house that’s due for demolition. He stumbles upon a mysterious box under an old cabinet.
And his troubles begin when he looks inside.
The Crew brothers, twelve-year old Jason, and ten-year old Danny, also find their way to the basement. New to town, Jason has established himself as the school bully.
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SOUL
Erika Lindsen
Blood runs across the floor like a winter’s creek. It always puts a smile on his face. As a Taker – a demon sent to entice humans to commit suicide in order to gain their soul for Lucifer – Drebin is at the top of his game. He has already claimed 421 souls and there is no sign of him slowing down. Much like a fine wine, Drebin gets better with age.
Alexia Downer is just a few months into her freshman year of college and still undecided about a career. Ally is more than eager to meet new people and live up to the college stereotypes. But her gentle nature may cause her to put trust in the wrong person.
The stage is set, the hound is released, but Drebin begins to have second thoughts about his next victim, Alexia, his 422nd victim. Her beauty is mesmerizing and her spirit is captivating.
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MONARCH
Capt. H. C. Loetzerich
Chris Young makes a living as a trapper in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. He finds a bear cub cuddled to the dead body of its mother and takes it into his care and gives him the name Jack. However, not long afterwards, his canoe capsizes in the rapids of a river and he loses all his possessions, and the bear cub.
Abandoned, the little bear must learn to survive in a violent wilderness. Using his wit and lots of luck, over the years the bear grows into a powerful monarch of the forest...
To survive, Jack attacks ranchers’ cattle. But he always escapes the hunters. Eventually, the ranchers hire an experienced hunter and tracker, Chris Young.
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A moving parable about the relationship between man and beast. A cry from the heart.
THE SILVER-GRAY MUSTANG
Capt. H. C. Loetzerich
Tekumsee, son of the great chieftain White Raven of the Pawnee Indians, explores a valley whose entrance is blocked by a waterfall and mystically veiled. The Indians believe this is a holy place dedicated to Manitou and avoid it.
Beyond the veil, Tekumsee discovers a herd of mustangs led by a marvelous stallion with a silver-gray coat. Tekumsee discloses his discovery to his father and the chieftain dispatches a party of his warriors to capture the mustangs. With the arrival of the Indians, the peaceful and carefree days for the mustangs are over.
All save the lead stallion are caught, but the silver-gray constantly outsmarts them.
Disillusioned at his unthinking betrayal of the mustangs, Tekumsee hikes the mountains, stalking and observing all kinds of game. One day he discovers the cave of a puma where the cubs play. Suddenly the puma returns and surprisingly spares Tekumsee. Perhaps his life was spared for a reason?
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Tekumsee spends all his time at the stallion’s coral but the horse remains sovereign and unapproachable.
At risk of severe punishmen
t, Tekumsee decides that the silver-gray must be set free. Yet his decision goes against all that he has been taught. Must he answer to his family and tribe – or to his heart?
A novel about nature and the majestic bond between man and horse.
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