Chapter 10
TEN
I’ve well and truly had my fix of running into ex-husbands, and I don’t want to see anyone else I know either, so I drive slightly north before going as far west as I can.
I’m really starting to wonder about this whole no consequences thing.
And it takes a while to wrap your head around there only being a limited time before you just disappear and go back to your regular life.
I stop along the way to hike in the state forest, which is something I almost never do these days.
The path is deserted, and I’d normally find it a little creepy, but I know if anything happens, I’ll just wake up anyway.
It’s a win-win. Well, I don’t want to get murdered or anything, but at least it would speed up my return.
I start driving again when the sun begins to set, and I admire the sky as it changes from orange to purple to navy. The farmland around me is flat grassland with a few trees scattered about.
It’s funny I came here with preconceived ideas about Frankie and Jarvis, and I found myself a bit surprised today.
With Frankie, the change wasn’t that different.
I mean, I didn’t expect that he used to be a lifeguard, but the rest of his personality is what I remember from all those years ago.
I guess one thing I’d forgotten is that he took himself a little seriously.
And he seemed okay for me to ask lots of questions about him, but he didn’t really ask much about me outside of my opinions of his favourite films.
But really, that’s just being nitpicky. He rescued me from almost drowning, so I should be focusing on that.
And then I look at the transformation between 1999 Jarvis and the one I know in the future, and they’re like two completely different people.
I think about how unfair it is that I got the crappy version.
But it’s too late to do anything about it now. Hopefully after we sort out the inheritance thing, I won’t have to see him in person again. At least I have control over my future.
Or do I?
I pull up at a pub in Murgon and order myself a plate of sausages with mashed potato and peas. I have a feeling the menu would be similar in the future, and it’s kind of comforting.
I sit at a table in the corner and observe my fellow diners. There are a few guys dressed in fluorescent yellow work shirts—possibly road workers or truck drivers, and a couple of families. All of the fashion looks the same as the future, which is also comforting.
My food arrives, and I take a bite. Am I really eating right now? I still can’t get over how this all works. After this trip, I think I’m going to need a pretty good reason to come back again. Maybe I should throw away the rest of the compound to avoid temptation.
I glance out the window. There’s a service station across the street, and an old Jeep is parked at one of the pumps.
I watch as the owner emerges from the shop and gets back in his car, but he doesn’t leave right away.
And then another guy leaves the shop, holding a can of Coke, and I do a double take.
Is that Jarvis?
How?
I jump up, leaving my food and running outside, but by the time I reach the street, the Jeep is already gone. I contemplate following them, but I don’t know if I’d catch up in time. Or what the purpose of chasing them would be. I came here to get away from Jarvis, not see more of him.
I remember Anna saying she kept running into Kurt whenever she revisited the nineties. Is the same thing happening to me? But why? It makes sense for Anna because Kurt was her soulmate. But I already know Jarvis is not mine.
I go back into the pub and finish eating. A quick glance at my watch tells me it’s almost 9pm, and I wonder if I should return to my car or if it would be okay to just pass out here at the table.
No. It’s probably best to go back to my vehicle.
Instead of sitting in the driver’s seat, I lie down in the back and close my eyes.
A moment later, I start to feel dizzy.
Any minute now…
***
The light peeps around the edges of my blinds, and I check the time.
6am? Shouldn’t I have woken up at 9pm?
I text Anna. I used the 12-hour compound yesterday at 9am, and now it’s 6am the next morning! What happened?
I know Anna is an early riser, so I’m not worried about waking her up. She replies within minutes.
That happens if you would normally be asleep here in the future. It just switches over to your normal routine. Did you have fun?
Me: I’m not exactly sure you’d call it fun. I ran into both my ex-husbands. It was weird.
Anna: I can imagine. Wow. You’ll have to fill me in later.
Me: I haven’t even told you about the stranger news from here in the present. Jarvis and I both received letters about an inheritance. I’ll find out today what that involves.
Anna: You HAVE had an eventful couple of days! Keep me posted! I have to do some stuff for my sponsor this morning, but I’ll have my phone near me.
Me: I’ll definitely let you know when I find out what’s going on.
I spend a few minutes gathering my bearings. Unlike a regular dream, every single detail of yesterday remains etched in my brain as if it really happened. It’s strange to think that a twelve-hour block in 1999 replaced my actual life here.
I get up and have breakfast before showering and getting ready for work. Mondays are usually pretty quiet apart from admin, so I’m not worried about being busy—although I think it might be preferable to having too much time on my hands.
Yesterday was supposed to distract me from my encounter with Jarvis, but instead, I got way more of him than I planned.
At eight-thirty, I leave for work and drive to Main Street. I’m lucky I have the use of a dedicated parking space now since it’s still impossible to find adequate street parking.
I unlock the gallery and go inside, forcing my brain to settle—which is normally easy in such a calm and minimalist environment—but today, I’m not sure it’s enough.
The space is painted white with a polished concrete floor and precise lighting highlighting the various artworks, which are a combination of local indigenous pieces as well as other contemporary works.
My boss, Kiva, doesn’t spend much time here, preferring to schmooze with the talent and potential customers at nearby restaurants.
She does have a good eye for what sells, but I like to think I’m equally savvy.
I’m sure Kiva agrees, since she gives me freedom to choose some of the artwork too.
After setting up for the morning, I go through all the new emails.
Ugh. I’m so unfocused today.
And then my phone beeps, and I look at the display.
Eek.
It’s Frankie.
I’d almost forgotten I’d messaged him. Some of the initial enthusiasm I had for getting in touch has worn off, but my heart still races at seeing his name.
Hey stranger! Long time no speak! How have you been? I’m glad you messaged. I’m actually in Brisbane these days, so if you happen to be nearby or are planning a trip into the city, let me know.
He’s in Brisbane? I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Did he not think it was worth telling me?
We only live an hour and a half from each other, and I’m always in Brisbane visiting Anna and Kelsey.
But then, I suppose since I’m the one who left him, he probably didn’t think I’d be interested in his whereabouts twenty years later.
It suddenly occurs to me that I never wondered if he got married or had kids. Is that weird? Did I just assume he was single like me? And what if he does have a wife? Would she be okay with me meeting her husband?
A middle-aged couple enter the gallery, pulling me back to the present.
I put my phone under the counter and smile politely at them. “Hi. How can I help you today?”
“We’re just having a look,” the woman says.
“No problem. Please let me know if you’d like information on any of the pieces. They’re all painted by local artists, and they take commissions if you’d like something customised for your home.”
“Thanks.”
I allow the couple a little space to browse and turn back to the work computer. I’ll need to call the lawyer and find out when I can learn more about the inheritance.
My life had been pretty boring until the other day.
But somehow, I think the craziness has only just started.