Chapter 4 #2
That was the response he’d been hoping for. Smiling, he accepted the gift his mother handed him — and was surprised she had one for Devynn as well, a small box that she gave his fiancée with a smile.
When would she have even had time to buy something for her unexpected guest?
As soon as that thought went through his mind, he wanted to shake his head at himself. Right below them was the store his parents owned; it wasn’t as if Molly couldn’t have gone downstairs after dinner last night and found something she thought would work.
“Thank you,” Devynn replied, also looking a little startled. “I really wasn’t expecting you to get me anything.”
“Nonsense,” Molly said briskly. “You’re going to marry our son. Of course we needed to get you a Christmas present.”
A smile, and Devynn opened the box. Inside was an engraved silver compact, something he’d seen in the store months earlier but hadn’t been sure if his parents would sell anytime soon. Most of the residents of Jerome — the McAllisters included — weren’t big on frivolities.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“I’m glad you like it,” Molly replied, then nodded at her husband. “Henry, open yours.”
He unwrapped the linen handkerchief that had concealed the watch chain, and his eyes widened a little.
Seth could understand why; the chain had been quite expensive in the twenty-first century, and although of course it would have cost much less in the 1920s, it was still something of an extravagant gift.
However, money wasn’t a problem for him and Devynn, and he’d wanted to get something he knew his father would never have bought for himself.
“This is…very generous,” he said after a pause of a second or two. “Thank you, Seth — and you, too, Devynn.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Seth replied. Devynn was smiling…and possibly looked a little relieved as well, as if she hadn’t been quite certain how their gift would be received.
“Your turn,” Molly said, and although Seth wanted to protest, he knew she wouldn’t hear of unwrapping her present until he’d opened his. That had been another tradition in their family — she always went last.
The box his mother had placed by his chair was quite large, and he wondered what could be in it.
Probably not a puppy, he thought with an inner grin. He and Devynn had discussed getting a dog, but they’d both decided it would be better to wait to add to their little family until the wedding was over and everything had settled down again.
No, when he unwrapped the present, he found a beautiful beaver-felt hat inside, a jaunty charcoal gray fedora that he knew must have also come from the mercantile.
“It’s great, Mom,” he said, and lifted it out and set it on his head. Of course, it fit perfectly; his mother knew his hat size as well as she knew her own.
Whether he’d have much need of it in the future was an entirely different matter, but he thought it would probably serve him well the next time he and Devynn went to a vintage dance event.
“Oh, good,” she said, looking relieved, even though she must have known it would fit him without needing even a single session with a hat block and a steamer. “I thought that color would go very well with your eyes.”
Yes, he’d always looked good in gray.
Smiling, he thanked her again, then returned the hat to its box. “Your turn, Mom.”
She pulled away the handkerchief to reveal the small box inside. Devynn had found the vintage leather-wrapped jewelry box at the antique store, and even though the locket was something they’d purchased separately, they’d both agreed the two items went well together.
Molly removed the lid, and, just like her husband’s, her eyes widened for a second. Then she lifted out the gold locket on its slender chain, and the small diamonds and rubies embedded in the engraved pattern twinkled in the firelight.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, although her expression turned stern a moment later. “You really didn’t need to buy me something so extravagant, Seth.”
“Maybe not,” he replied with an easy smile. “But I wanted to.”
Very carefully, she opened the locket to look inside. For a moment, she was silent as she gazed down at the photo he’d placed there, and tears sparkled in her eyes.
“Thank you, Seth,” she said, very quietly. One hand went to her throat, but then she seemed to gather herself as she turned toward her husband. “Henry, could you please put it on for me?”
At once, Seth’s father took the locket from her. A moment passed as he fumbled with the delicate clasp, but then he had the chain placed around her neck and managed to fasten it.
“I think it suits you very well,” Devynn said, and Molly smiled.
“Oh, I think it might be too fancy for a shopkeeper, but that doesn’t mean I won’t wear it proudly.” Again, she looked over at Seth. “I know you don’t want me to say you shouldn’t have, so I won’t. I’ll only say thank you again.”
Her voice trembled a little on the last word, and Seth got up from his chair so he could go over and give her a hug.
Not for the first time, he thought of how small and fragile she felt when he wrapped his arms around her.
A false impression, he knew. Underneath that delicate exterior, his mother was made of steel.
He hoped that strength would help her when he and Devynn disappeared…this time forever.
After they were finished with presents and did the dishes — Molly protested vociferously and said she could take care of them herself, but Seth and Devynn only told her that was part of her gift — the two of them took a walk around Jerome to work off some of the rich food and give his parents a little time to themselves.
The December air was crisp but not unpleasant, and with the sun shining down on them, it was warm enough that Seth unbuttoned his overcoat.
“Your mother seemed to really love the locket,” Devynn said as they made their way down the steep slope of Hull Street, past what was currently a garage but in the future would be Lawrence Memorial Hall, more commonly known as Spook Hall, the venue for Jerome’s big Halloween dance and many other events.
“She did.” Seth’s throat was a little tight, and he cleared it before he added, “I’m glad we were able to find something she likes so much.”
They walked in silence for a few more minutes, but Seth could sense something shifting in Devynn’s mood. Her steps had slowed slightly, and when he glanced over at her, he could see the tense set of her shoulders beneath the heavy overcoat.
“What time is it?” she asked.
Seth pulled out his pocket watch — another prop they’d gotten as part of their 1926 disguises — and glanced down at it. “Almost noon.”
“We should probably head on down to the bungalow, then.” She paused before taking a breath. “I think it’s time.”
Breakfast flip-flopped in his gut. Even though he’d known this moment would come, now that it was here, he found himself wanting to postpone it just a little longer.
“Dinner at Mabel’s isn’t until five,” he pointed out, although that argument sounded weak even to him.
Devynn’s steps paused, and then she turned to face him. “If we wait too long, your parents are going to expect us to go with them to Mabel’s house. And once we’re there….”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence. Seth knew that once they were at the prima’s Christmas dinner, surrounded by family members, there would be no graceful way to leave.
They’d be trapped, at least until late in the evening, and by then it would be that much harder to get away.
His parents very likely would invite them to the apartment afterward, would want to spend more time with them, and his and Devynn’s window for escape would only grow narrower.
In his mind, he knew that might be a silly way to look at the situation when they had all of time to play with…but he also understood that she had stretched her abilities by bringing them here, and if they didn’t stick to their original plan, that might throw her off too much.
“I know,” he said heavily. “You’re right.”
They walked the rest of the way to the bungalow in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.
Once they were inside, Devynn sat down heavily on the sofa, and Seth could see how tired she truly was, a weariness betrayed by the faint shadows under her blue-gray eyes and the taut set of her full mouth.
He thought she’d slept all right the night before, but he had to admit the mattress had felt thin and lumpy after the luxurious memory-foam one they enjoyed in the future.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” he asked as he settled himself beside her.
“I have to be.” She leaned against him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, wishing he could lend her some of his own magical strength so she wouldn’t have to tax herself so much. “Besides, what choice do we have?”
None, really. They both knew that. While he was glad they’d come here — glad that he was able to get some closure, and at least let his parents know that he was well, and happy — he also understood that this wasn’t his world anymore.
They needed to get back to the place where they both belonged.
Devynn reached over to take both his hands in hers. Not for the first time, Seth wondered what would happen if he let go.
He probably didn’t want to know.
“Ready?” she asked, and he nodded.
“Ready.”
The world dissolved around them, and he tightened his grip on her fingers. At least he knew that this moment of travel was really nothing more than a fraction of a second, less than a tenth of an eyeblink.
When they emerged from that millisecond of darkness, Seth immediately realized something was wrong. The light coming through the windows was different from what they’d left behind in the twenty-first century, gray and subdued. And when he looked outside, he could see snow falling steadily.
Because he liked to know what the weather was doing, he’d checked the forecast before they left. It wasn’t supposed to snow again until after Christmas.
“Damn,” Devynn muttered beside him.