“Yes, I’m fine. I don’t eat those slimy things if you noticed.” Maggie could see that Harriet was not looking happy.
Joe nodded his head. “I’m okay… we better get you home, Harri. Maggie, would you take Martin home after dropping us off?” They headed back to Maggie’s car.
You can go back to your hotel and stay. We should be all right in our own apartment. If we are in danger, we’ll call you. Joe didn’t feel all that threatened in the middle of the city.
Okay, but you know I’m less than five minutes away if you need me. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you.
Joe looked over at Martin and gave him a wink.
The four of them piled into Maggie’s car and she drove them the ten minutes back to their apartment. “I hope you’ll feel better soon, Harri. We’ll call you tomorrow.” Maggie had stopped in front of their door.
“Thanks, Mugs, getting out of that stuffy pub air helped, I’m feeling a little better already. Joe will make me drink a gallon of water when we get inside. I’ll be fine, see you soon, Maggie. Goodnight, Martin.”
“See ya later.” Joe helped Harriet out of the car and stood at the curb as their two friends drove off toward Martin’s hotel.
Once inside their apartment Joe made sure they locked all the doors and windows and closed the drapes. “We’ll be okay here—I can’t imagine them trying to break in. But it looks like they’re watching us. So we have to stay alert.”
Harriet nodded. There was nothing she could add to that. They were aware that life as they knew it had changed as soon as they’d felt that first tingle.
Chapter 18
The Countdown
Over the next three months, a lot happened. They prepared for the end of their school year and during their free time, they planned for their wedding. As the day drew nearer, they began to feel a little panicked.
Joe put on a brave face for Harriet. “Everything is coming together okay, so try to relax.”
She sighed “I can’t help it—so much is going on with school, and the wedding. It’s just me, worrying that we’ll forget something.”
“You know we have nothing to worry about with our marks. When haven’t we finished first in our classes?” Joe said, grinning, knowing full well that Harriet needn’t worry about anything related to school.
Harriet would get her engineering diploma to go along with the Bachelor of Science degree she’d received the previous year. Her concurrent course load was complete unless she decided to pursue her master’s degree.
She heaved a sigh, hating it when he analyzed her and got it right. “Ya, I know, it’s just me. I keep worrying about the commander coming after us from the future. It creeps me out every time I think of that little weasel and his crazy breeding plan. But I can’t shake the feeling we’re being watched. I guess I worry too much. It’ll be all right, I’m sure.” Harriet realized she was acting like her mom, and she had to stop it.
School had become a way of life for them and since they seemed to breeze through it, Harriet figured a master’s degree would only advance her career in biomedical engineering. Her folks were more than willing to foot the bill and she would continue to contribute what she could. Married or single, it wouldn’t much matter. School, because of their scholarships, had not cost them much, so one more year wouldn’t put anyone in the poor house.
“I think once the wedding is behind us, we can make plans for the future. If that damned commander would back off and leave us alone, we could get back to normal.” Harriet found it a pain in the butt—one more thing to worry about.
The end of April came and went and the university advised both of them they had made the Dean’s List. That’s about as high an honor as they could achieve. Their grade average was close to perfect and they were ready to move on. Harriet had a long conversation with Joe and he agreed that while he was still in school she should also continue and get her master’s degree and think about her PHD the following year. That would leave only a year or less for Joe to write his bar exam. He would be a full-fledged lawyer by then and once he passed the bar, he could join his dad in trial work. But in the meantime, he would continue to work at the law offices to gain experience and earn a salary. Harriet was planning on getting into research.
May was hectic. Dress shopping and completing plans. They both couldn’t wait for it to be over.
They were only two weeks away from the big day and Harriet had butterflies every time she thought about walking down the aisle. All they could do now was to pray for good weather.
Meanwhile, they’d had two more warning tingles that the commander’s agents were nearby. It was driving Harriet nuts. “I feel sick, Joe. Is it the wedding or am I scared that those goons will grab us again? Shit, I wish we had waited.” She headed into the bathroom and lost her breakfast.
“No, I’m not pregnant,” she reassured Joe, even though she had the symptoms. Wiping her forehead with a wet towel, she sat on the sofa.
“I wish those guys would show themselves. This waiting is killing me.” No matter how they tried, they were always waiting for the other shoe to drop. They weren’t sure how long they could go on with this cat-and-mouse game before someone snapped. It was beginning to affect their relationship. Harriet felt edgy and snapped at Joe more and more. He tried to be patient, but at times, he’d grab his jacket and go for a walk until he cooled down. He understood what was happening. It was as hard on him as Harriet.
They had been out of school now for almost three weeks and loved having the free time. Harriet had agreed to work full time at the pub, and Joe carried on at their dads’ law firm. This helped to take their minds off all that was going on. It would be Harriet’s first summer where she didn’t have to spend at least a month taking extra courses to get her degree. Head-hunters from several research facilities had already scouted her and made two job offers, one from the USA, which knowing the tumultuous future there, was immediately off the table and one from Toronto. Her preference was to go to work in Halifax even though the money would be less with fewer choices. Her main target was Bio-Tech Research in Dartmouth. She could see the irony. This was the same company from which the SPA would spring. She was praying to hear from them, although any job would have to be part time until she achieved her master’s degree.
All was ready, their wedding was tomorrow. Tonight was their rehearsal and it went without a hitch. They left in separate cars after the mock ceremony, driven home by their parents. The next morning they rose early to a sunny, bright but cool day, that would no doubt warm up later.
Harriet was too nervous to eat much, but her mom insisted she have something in her stomach. She helped her daughter into her form-fitting, rich cream, silk wedding gown. It was reminiscent of a dress that movie queen Jean Harlow wore in the nineteen-thirties—not that many of Harriet’s friends knew who she was. Joe and Harriet loved old movies and Harriet thought the platinum blonde actress was the epitome of beauty and class.
Maggie’s gown mirrored the bride’s but was pale green silk with a matching cloche hat. Harriet carried a bouquet of lily of the valley and tiny yellow roses.
They arrived at the church where her dad helped her out of the car. He looked into her sapphire eyes and smiled. “I’m so proud of you, darling, and I know this is what you want, but if you’ve changed your mind, you and I can get back in the car and I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Oh, Dad, my knees are knocking, my stomach’s churning and I may throw up, but I want this more than anything else in life.”
Bill looped his arm and Harriet put her hand through it and they went up the steps into the cathedral.
Harriet walked slowly up the aisle almost overwhelmed by the cloud of incense and burning candlewax, shot through with a mix of perfumes from the guests. She focused on Joe who stood, smiling at her, encouraging her to put one foot in front of the other on this final journey out of a single life.
The ceremony was beautiful—Father Markel’s voice, eloquent. Tod
ay she didn’t see the young priest’s chronic acne. They exchanged Joe’s great- grandparent’s wedding rings which their beaming, young ring bearer handed over. Then each recited the vows they had written.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the cathedral as Joe finished his vows, “We have already spent a lifetime together, and I look forward to many more decades with you, my soul mate, whom I love today… tomorrow… and forever.” He kissed her looking deep into her beautiful, adoring, eyes.
At the end of the ceremony, the newlyweds turned to face their friends and family to a burst of organ music.
An hour later after all the photos, they sat in the back of the limo on the way home, relieved that it was over. It felt like a dream.
“How do you feel, Mrs. Flemming?” Joe had been waiting a lifetime to say those words.
“I feel wonderful, Mr. Flemming.” She looked into his crystal blue eyes. Loving his pale blond abundant eyebrows and his smattering of freckles, “It’s great to be home.” This was the most relaxed either of them had been in weeks.
Neither had slept well the night before and the tension and excitement had caught up with them. Harriet had plopped on the couch while Joe got the bags from the Jeep with the things they’d taken to sleep over at their parents’ homes the night before
“C’mon, I’ll help you get out of your dress.”
As tired as they both were, there was nothing romantic going on in their heads at that moment. Harriet went into the bathroom and removed her makeup and then flopped down on their bed face first. “Wake me at two.” Her words were muffled by the pillow.
Joe was laughing. He had taken off his tuxedo and crawled in beside her. “Okay, two it is, but I want at least one wedding day kiss before we sleep.”
“Do I hafta?” she whined into the pillow.
“Yes you hafta.” He tickled her ear.
Harriet rolled over with a mock huff and puff. “Okay plant a wet one right here.” She pointed to her cheek, without opening her eyes.
He rolled toward her and propped himself up so he could lean down and kiss her cheek. Then he kissed the end of her nose, then her mouth.
“Mmmm… that’s not fair, how am I supposed to get to sleep if you keep doing that?” Her protests were only half-hearted.
“You’re not supposed to sleep. This is our wedding day… can’t we have a quickie to seal the deal?” He’d recovered fast once he got out of his formal clothes and watched his wife returning to her day-to-day look. He loved her as a bride, but he loved the un-made-up Harriet even more.
“This isn’t the dark ages… no one’s waiting for us to toss-out stained sheets,” she giggled. “Jeez, stud, it’s not like we haven’t done this a thousand times in the last four years.” Her exaggerated reminder made him laugh.
Joe won out and finished what he’d started. After, they snuggled up and went sound asleep until the alarm that Joe had set jarred them awake.
They got up and stumbled around until they came to. A cup of coffee finished the process and the two of them headed to the bedroom to get dressed for the reception.
Leaving their carry-on bags for morning, Joe carried their large suitcases around to the back and stowed them in the car. As he closed the back hatch he felt a slight tingle. “Fuck!” He swore as he looked around before getting into his Jeep. He backed out of the driveway and brought the aging vehicle around to the front of the building where Harriet was waiting. She got in and judging by how calm she was, he suspected that she may not have felt the tingle. If not he figured, he wouldn’t add any stress to their day by telling her, but he would be on his guard. Whoever it was, he was not that close by.
Maggie and Martin were at the reception as a couple. They were spending a lot of time together. They’d hit it off and Joe and Harriet talked about it wondering how Martin would work it out without breaking Maggie’s heart. The time would come when he had to return to his century.
The rest of the guests soon flooded into the hall, and before long, the bridal couple were up to their necks with family and friends.
Chapter 19
Off to a Bad Start
The bride and groom had their first dance as husband and wife then Harriet danced with her father. Harriet had threatened the DJ they’d hired with death if he even thought about playing the Chicken Dance. He assured her it wasn’t on his playlist. It was a great party for a great day and Joe soon forgot about the goons from the future who were no doubt lurking not too far away.
They planned on leaving about eight the next morning to drive to the airport. Their flight to Quebec City left at ten and they didn’t want to make the trip dead tired.
So at nine, Joe gave Harriet a nod and they started their round of goodbyes with promises of visiting and writing and all the other promises that families make to each other at such occasions, but seldom keep. Then they were out the door and in the car on their way home by ten—tired, happy and relieved. Their big day was winding down. The nap they’d had had rejuvenated them and when they escaped the party, they were both still wired. They could have stayed to the end of the reception, which was still going strong at eleven- thirty, but their trip tomorrow would not go well if they didn’t get enough sleep.
Before he took the car around to the back of the building to park, Joe dropped Harriet at the front door
Now home in their own living room they kicked off their shoes and plopped down hard on their little couch.
“So, Mrs. Flemming, what do you think? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a glass of wine.” They’d only had one glass of champagne all day, used to toast each other at the reception.
“Sounds good, I think there’s a bottle in the fridge we opened yesterday.” Kicking off her shoes and wiggling her cramped toes, Harriet looked around their tiny living room at the gifts still piled on tables and the floor. Groaning, she knew they still had to open them and send thank you cards. About half the gifts were envelopes and no doubt contained checks or cash.
Joe returned with their drinks, interrupting her thoughts. Handing one glass over, he plopped down beside her. “Your mind is off somewhere,” he said, snapping her back.
“Oh, just thinking about how great everything went and how much I’m looking forward to relaxing for the next few days.” She decided there was no sense reminding Joe of the chores ahead.
“I’ll drink to that.” They touched glasses.
“So, it looks like we have our work cut out for us when we get home,” he said, laughing at the pile of gifts in front of them.
“Maybe we could open the envelopes. I suspect they contain cash and maybe we shouldn’t leave them lying around while we’re gone.” Aware that they were being spied on, Harriet figured this would be one less thing to worry about.
“You’re right, how long can it take?” He got up and grabbed the box with the envelopes and brought it over. They spent the next hour opening envelopes and making note of the amount and from whom. They kept going with the other gifts, once they were on a roll. The room looked like a paper bomb explosion. By then it was close to midnight and the day had caught up with them.
“We’ll have a hard time getting up in the morning if we stay up much longer,” Harriet yawned. She gathered their glasses while Joe dumped envelopes, wrapping paper and debris into a bag to deposit with the recyclables in the cellar until next pick-up day. By the time Joe finished, Harriet had the kitchen and living room tidied. They headed for bed at twelve thirty, managing only a hug, a kiss and a cuddle before they were out like lights. They would laugh at their ‘wedding night’ for years to come.
The alarm jarred them awake at seven. Dragging out of bed, Harriet headed for the kitchen to make coffee and Joe headed for the shower. He was awake and alert when he emerged from the bathroom to finish dressing. Not so his still groggy wife, who staggered past him handing him a cup of coffee and disappeared into the bathroom. Joe put together a light breakfast, then they cleaned up the kitchen and were ready to take off.
J
oe added their light carry-on bags to the rest of their luggage, grateful that he didn’t have to juggle heavy bags this early in the morning in their small parking space. “You all set, Slick?” He looked around checking to see if they had left anything important behind.
“I’m ready.” She followed him out carrying her shoulder bag and a sweater. The forecast was for a hot day and air conditioning was always an issue for her.
Joe brought the car around and Harriet hopped in. It was a forty-minute drive to the airport with the light traffic on this Sunday morning.
Despite their late night, they felt refreshed. The sunshine and warmth added to their good mood. They were chatting about nothing in particular when Harriet got the first warning they were being followed.
“Oh, crap, crap, crap! I just felt a tingle. Shit!” She’d known that it had to happen, but she didn’t want it now at the start of their short honeymoon.
Joe knew if she felt it he wouldn’t be long. Sure enough, before he finished the thought, he felt it too. It was unlike any he had felt from Brian or Martin. The earlier tingles he had detected were too short to imprint on his memory. But he didn’t doubt that this one was from the same source. It was strong and nearby. He looked in his rear-view mirror and could see two vehicles behind.
“We knew it was inevitable.” His mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan. They were less than halfway to the airport and he recognized that once they were in the big public parking lot there, they would be easy prey. He didn’t know what to do, “Any ideas?”
“Not a clue. There’s little protection once we get to the airport. There’s no way we’ll ever get close enough to the doors to make a run for it and not with our bags, for sure.” She’d been thinking along the same lines as Joe.
“We’re coming up to the Fall River turn off, what do you think of ducking in there and going to my parent’s house?” He was desperate and hadn’t thought it through.
Return From the Future Page 13