Chapter Eight
Charlie
Trapped in that cold, dreadful cell, I shamelessly pleaded with the guards to let me see Alex.
They laughed, muttering horrible things in return, joked about a lynching in the morning for my actions against God.
What a fucking mess I’d made and there was no way out of it.
I’d die in the morning, and Alex would be stuck in a life he didn’t belong in.
So much for a trial by jury or even a chance to plead your case before a judge.
I glanced around for anything to pick the cell lock with, not that I’d picked a single lock in my life, but desperate times called for desperate measures. The handful of cells they had were full. Surely they were anxious to have them freed up for the next round of visitors.
And to be rid of a sinner like me.
I couldn’t imagine what Thomas thought of me, and I was sure word of our actions had reached him.
I hoped Alex found my watch. I’d hate for it to fall into the wrong hands.
But if he did, and he brought it to me there was a chance, albeit slim, that we’d survive this mess.
Without it, I’d surely be dead by sunrise.
As I watched the sunset through the bars on the window, tears fell and the darker the night sky got, so did my will to live. I was certain all hope was lost and a life without Alex wasn’t worth living.
Exhaustion overcame me, soon I’d be with my parents again. Heartbroken, but our family would be reunited in the afterlife. Young, na?ve and far too curious, though somehow I know knew the watch had somehow played a part in my father’s death.
“Psst, psst. Charlie? Are you in there?” Someone whispered, but it was far too dark to see.
“Who’s there?” I asked as I wiped my eyes.
“Alex. I have your watch and want to give it back to you,” he said.
I bolted toward the edge of the cell, feeling around for his hand, for anything really. When I reached it, I gripped him through the bars with such force he released an oomph as his body met with the cold, steel bars.
“I’m so sorry, Alex. I didn’t mean to cause problems for you,” I managed through my sobs.
“Don’t cry, Charlie. I’m gonna try and figure out how to get you out of here, but we will have to leave town right away,” Alex replied.
“Where’s my watch?” I frantically pawed at him, grasping around for it.
“Right here.” He patted my shoulder then ran his hand down to mine, placing the it in my upturned palm.
I reached through the bars, grasping his shirt and holding on with all my might as one of the guards yelled, “Stop!” I pressed the pin, praying like I’d never prayed before that it was still set to the day and time we’d left and that we’d land safely in our living room.
We landed with a thud, sprawled out across the hardwood flooring in the center of the room.
It was the one and only time I’d wished we had carpet.
Alex rolled over, sprang to his feet, and sprinted down the hall toward the bathroom.
I heard him retch as I had the first instance that I time traveled before the toilet flushed, followed by the sink water running and the sounds of him brushing his teeth.
And it was such a glorious sound. Not the vomiting, so much, but knowing everything was back to normal.
Kind of.
He stormed out of the bathroom with an angry scowl on his face. I scrambled to my feet, ready to take whatever he was about to unleash. I more than deserved his anger.
“What the fuck! What the actual fuck just happened, Charlie? And why are we dressed like this?” He gestured to our dated attire then balled his fists at his sides and anxiously paced, attempting to get his emotions in check.
“Let me explain, Alex. This,” I held up the watch, “is a time-travel device. My father had been using it to travel through time.” That’s when it hit me. The trips to the doctors and hospitals. “Oh my god.”
“What? Are you okay? Breathe, Charlie.”
“I know what he was doing.” My knees quivered and I dropped to the floor.
“He was trying to find a way to save my mother.” Sadly, all the travel took its toll and drove him to the brink of insanity, and his heart gave out before he found an answer.
I firmly clutched my father’s watch to my chest. “I started traveling back to all the dates I found in his notes, trying to figure it out and it only just hit me. Never once though did I get a glimpse of what my mother looked like. I hate that I can’t remember her face. ”
“Oh, Charlie. You were so young when she died. But this isn’t normal. We have to get rid of that thing.” He was right, as much as I hated it. This watch needed to be in the right hands and that clearly wasn’t mine.
“This is where I’ve been going. Not cheating, not doing drugs. Just trying to figure my dad out.” It was odd how all the notes and times were ones that hadn’t included my mother, though now that I thought about it, had he run into her or himself and risked altering the future.
Alex gripped my shoulders and shook me. “What the fuck do you want from me, Charlie? For one or both of us to die? I’m positive that the time travel was what killed your father, but his broken heart didn’t help matters, either.
Charlie, we almost just died and I’m fairly certain I was living my great grandfather Alexander’s life.
No wonder the man left and moved to Aberdeen.
It wasn’t until my grandfather got a job in Seattle that the family moved back here.
I wish I could have met him before he died, and I guess I kinda just did. ”
That was a hell of a reality check, but how did he fall into another person’s life, and body.
“I know that look, Charlie. Don’t even think about it. That watch goes somewhere safe as soon as possible. It is not staying here.”
“I know. I’ve also learned my lesson after damn near losing you. Nothing is worth that. Not even the chance to see my family again.”
Alex hugged me and as we parted, held his hand out.
“Let me have it. I’m going to put it somewhere safe until we can donate it to a museum or something.
This is one of those times I wish Indiana Jones was real so we could give it to him,” Alex finally grinned.
“But one way or another, it’s leaving our life. ”
I handed it over. He was mad, and rightfully so. I’d risked our relationship and our lives. Fuck, I almost just died.
“You know it’s for the best, Charlie. I’m sorry your family is gone, but your grandmother left behind so many photo albums for you to sift through. You could have been looking at those for pictures of your mother all this time.” Alex said.
“I never thought of that.” Fuck, I’m such an idiot.
In typical stressed-out Alex fashion, he ran his fingers through his hair, leaving it standing in all directions. “Yeah, well you should have. Do you even know what effect time travel could have on our health? Because I sure as hell don’t.”
“No, I don’t. Based upon what happened to my father, and the way you reacted to how I’ve looked these past few weeks, I’m sure it’s not a good.” This realization hit so hard. How could I do this to him? To us?
“I’m sorry, Charlie. I don’t mean to upset you, but this is seriously fucked up.” He kissed my forehead and left the room for a few minutes. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m tired and hungry. How long do you think we were gone for?”
“From the looks of it, the dial never moved. Even though we spent time in 1917, we never left the present. Like time basically stood still here, but don’t ask me to explain how that happened because I have no idea.
I’m very sorry for the pain and worry I’ve caused you, Alex.
I know you thought something else was going on, but please know there will never be another for me.
I love you more than life itself.” Alex slid his arms around me and held me tight.
I missed so damn much chasing nonsense, just as my father had.
It was time to break that cycle and live in the present with the ones I loved.
“I love you too, Charlie. Don’t ever forget it, and never ever pull another stunt like this again. I have a good mind to donate all your father’s artifacts to a museum, just to be safe.”
“I um, I totally agree with you. First thing in the morning, I’ll start making some calls.” As I pulled away and headed toward the stairs he playfully swatted my ass. “Don’t mark the goods before you own them,” I hollered over my shoulder, wondering if he caught what I hinted at.
“Ha, don’t fool yourself. You know as well as I do I already own that fine ass.” He laughed.
“Not until you sign on the dotted line,” I teased, blowing him a kiss before disappearing inside our bedroom. I knew once he figured it out, he’d come running. And sure enough, I’d barely sat down to slip off my shoes before he barreled in.
“Wait, are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He paused, bracing himself for what he figured would be another proposal refusal.
“Yes, my love, I’m saying yes a million times over. I never should have said— Oomph!” Was knocked out of me when he tackled me onto our bed, covering my face with so many kisses it was hard to breathe.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, Charlie. Fina-fucking-ly. What took you so long? What made you decide to say yes now?” he asked between kisses.
“The thought of losing you. The thought of our lives ending before they really got started. The thought of not having a future as your husband,” I whispered, overtaken by emotion.
He jumped up. “Wait, stay right there.” He rummaged through his dresser drawer. After he found whatever it was he plopped back down beside me. In his hand was a small black velvet box. He opened it, revealing a pair of matching wedding bands.
“Alex,” I gasped. I had no clue he’d already bought these. He took my left hand and slid a beautiful titanium band encrusted with sapphires on my ring finger.