Chapter Twenty-Five

 

It was a new day and Kate felt hopeful. She could smell coffee brewing in the kitchen. Realizing she was alone, Kate quickly got up, dressed and went out to the great room. Her mother sat at the dining room table talking quietly with Drew.

“Good morning.” Kate said and they both looked up, startled, appearing to be in a very serious conversation.

“Kate, did you sleep well?” Drew got up to pour her some coffee.

“Yes, thanks.” She took the mug of steaming coffee in both hands. “Mom, I was thinking about this. Have you checked the telegraph office to see if there are any messages?” She sat down at the pine table.

“It didn’t cross my mind with all that’s been going on. I’ll do it today.” Her mom got up and went back to the guest room.

“I’m so glad you added onto the cabin, Drew. The changes you made are wonderful. We’ll enjoy them so much as the years go by.” Kate smiled at him.

“Of course we will.” Drew came around the table. He kissed Kate on top of her head and sat next to her. “What would you like to do today?”

“Visit the canyon.” She hoped Drew would agree to it.

“Could be risky, but that’s what we shall do. I’ll go get ready.”

Her mom briskly walked through the room, heading for the door. “Katie, Drew’s an upstanding, wonderful man. I love him. He’s the son I never had. I trust him to do the right thing and you should, too.” She opened the door and waved. “Wish me luck.”

That was a little strange. Not the part about Drew being wonderful, but the trusting part. Of course Kate trusted Drew. What were her mother and Drew talking about?

“Drew!” She called out. “No secrets, right? What was that all about? My mom’s telling me to trust you and I found you two huddled together when I got up.”

He appeared in the hallway. “Nothing gets by you, although, this time you are making too much out of nothing. Ready?”

“Yes, but you will tell me before the day’s over.” Kate decided not to ruin the day by pushing him to reveal what the conversation was about.

Drew tossed her a hat and scarf. “Do you like our disguises?” His laugh was muffled by the scarf he wore.

“Yes, I’m sure we could be standing right next to Anna and Daniel. They wouldn’t recognize us.”

The pair bundled up and headed out the door, up the trail and through the woods. Soon El Tovar came into sight. They rounded the corner of the building and there was the canyon, the Grand Canyon, in all its splendor. Even though it was wintertime and very cold, it could not take away the magic Kate always felt. They stood gazing out into the canyon for a while and then Drew said they really should get back.

Suddenly, all the events leading up to this one skipped through Kate’s mind, some good, others not so good. It was like her life flashed before her eyes. She remembered standing at the canyon rim last year, praying for Drew to come back to her. It couldn’t end like this, not like this.

Please, Kate prayed to the canyon, please don’t take Drew away from me again. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she was glad he couldn’t see her cry. Pulling the scarf up over her nose, she took his hand, taking one more glance out at the canyon, hoping it wouldn’t be the very last time.

The couple slowly walked back to the cabin, Drew kicked the door open with his foot, scooped Kate up and carried her in like he did for their honeymoon. She laughed and playfully kicked her legs to be let down. Drew placed her on the sofa.

“Drew, you know what happens after you carried me into the cabin for our honeymoon. You didn’t put me on the couch, if I remember correctly.” She put her arms up for him to pick her up again.

Drew obliged and carried her into the bedroom.

“There! Happy now?” He laughed.

“Not yet!” Kate pulled Drew down on the bed next to her. She laid her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Then she slid on top of him, feeling his heart beat faster. “I love you.” She said as she kissed his mouth.

“Kate.” Drew rolled over onto his side and placed her next to him. “I love you, too. Your mother will be...”

“You said I could do whatever I wanted today, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Drew mumbled. Kate wrapped the quilt of the bed around them. “Let’s stay like this forever.” She murmured as she snuggled closer. His mouth was suddenly on hers, kissing her like it was going to be the last time. It made everything so passionate yet sad. Kate didn’t want to feel sad, not yet. She wanted to remember everything about Drew that she could soak in.

* * * *

As the day wore on, Drew grew restless and began pacing through the cabin, looking out the front window, watching and waiting.

“Will you sit down? You’re making me nervous.” Kate ordered him.

“Can’t.” He continued the pacing. After what seemed like an hour, Kate saw him perk up and rush to the window. “Finally! I see someone coming through the woods.” He placed his hand on the glass. “I see her, Kate.” He went to the door and opened it, waiting for Kate’s mom to grow closer. “She’s waving something in her hand.”

Her mom ran through the door, smiling. “At least he’s alive!” She waved the paper around in the air. “We did get a telegram. Jackson said he was detained due to the flooding in Pennsylvania and is doing everything he can to get here. He ended his message with ‘keep the faith’.” She got tears in her eyes. “We only have one more day to keep the faith, kids. Then we go home, Katie.”

“No, Mom, I’m not leaving.”

Drew stood in front of her. “Your mother and I discussed this. I agree with her. The best thing to do, if your father doesn’t return, is for you to go home.”

Kate couldn’t believe her ears. Drew was sending her home. “Then, you’ll be coming back with us?”

“No, I think it’s best if I stay.”

Kate started to scream and then sob. “No, that’s not the way it’s supposed to end. We still have our whole lives together.”

Her mom and Drew sat with her until she calmed down.

“Kate, your father and I planned everything before he left.” Her mother put her arm around her. “This is what your father wants us to do. If he didn’t make it back, Jackson wanted you and me to stay in the present. Little did he know his stubborn daughter would insist on coming back here to look for him. He agreed it was the safest and maybe the best way to save your life...for you to be home in Ohio. If, for some reason it doesn’t work, then Andrew is better off here. Your father made the best decision...for everyone.”

Drew looked at Kate with tears in his eyes. “I don’t want to do it. Jack knows best. He’s afraid Joanna won’t know who I am if you disappear and her life as she knows it ceases to exist. I would be in a world where no one knows me.”

“Just like I might be in a world where no one knows me if I stay here.” Her mom says gently. “We’re all sacrificing here. Your father’s willing to give up everything to save you. He’s not willing to take a chance with your life.”

“And neither am I.” Drew took Kate’s hand and Joanna’s hand. He placed them together. “Please, do this for me and Jack.”

“If you came back to Ohio, all you’d have to do is use the book to get back here if I disappear.”

“No, Kate. Think about it. I wouldn’t know about the book, even if I had it with me. Jack was the one who told me and your mom about it. I’d wake up and be a stranger in a strange house, not knowing how I got there.”

“Then Maya!”

“Maybe...eventually. She might not recognize me from the canyon because you never met me. There would be no you to connect us all. There are too many ‘what ifs’. Jack doesn’t want me to take the chance.”

Kate nodded through her tears. She couldn’t look at anyone. She didn’t care if she died or faded away or whatever was going to happen to her if Drew wasn’t with her.

“What will be, will be,” she whispered.