Chapter Thirty-Five
When Katie woke up the next morning she felt a little better. She rubbed her forehead and tried to recall the strange dream she had last night. Tyson was talking to her and telling her all these creepy things. Good thing it was just a dream.
Her parents were already by her bedside, sitting quietly in the room. They both jumped up when they realized she was awake.
“I get to go home today,” Katie smiled at both of them.
“If the doctor says so, honey,” Her mother took her hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, the doctor said not to move around too much. I can do that at home, right?”
“Let’s just wait and see.”
That afternoon the doctor gave the all clear for Katie to go home. She was so excited she couldn’t wait. Her mom brought fresh clothes for her to wear home and helped Katie get dressed.
“Slow down, Katie! We’re just going home, not to the Royal Ball or anything like that.”
If only you knew. Katie slipped her top over her head.
Her dad pulled the car up to the front of the hospital while a nurse pushed Katie in a wheelchair to the front door. Joanna helped Katie into the front seat and jumped in the back and Jackson headed for home. School buses were on the road so that must mean school would be out soon. Katie needed to talk to Lindsey about her plan. She hoped Lindsey would come over right after school.
Jackson helped Katie up the stairs and Joanna was already in the bedroom making things ready. After Katie was in her bed, she said to them, “Your work here is done. Fine job!” She really wanted them not to hover and they respected her wishes.
After awhile there was a knock on the door. Lindsey slowly opened it. “Hey, how’s the princess?”
“Get in here! How was school? Did Tyson go today? Was Erin mad?”
“First things first, you didn’t tell me how you are.” Lindsey sat down on the end of the bed.
“I’m feeling much better, now go ahead.”
“Tyson did come to school today. He was acting like he was the hero who saved your life. All he did was call 9-1-1. Erin was upset at first but is putting on a good show now. She’s standing by her man and all that.”
Typical high school. Kate was glad she wasn’t there to see it. “Wow, I should have guessed. Now, I need your help. When I go to see Drew I won’t be here. Since I was just in an accident my parents are going to keep checking in on me. I need someone to sleep in my bed.”
“And you want me to do that. I’ll have to tell my mom I’m sleeping over here and hope she doesn’t tell yours. We’ll have to make up something so she won’t tell. You were just in an accident so she’d probably say yes. This could work.”
“My parents have to think you’re going home on Tuesday night. Then we’ll sneak you back in,” Katie had planned most of this through while she was still in the hospital.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, after school. I hope you’re doing the right thing. After all, you just had a concussion. What if something happens back in good ol’ 1927 and you don’t make it back?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
“You know I believe all this stuff. You’re really going to the Grand Canyon and I won’t be able to help you. Grandma J is also your friend and she’d never forgive me if I didn’t lecture you.”
“I told you I’ll be fine but thanks for worrying.”
“I’ll let you rest. See you tomorrow. And don’t do anything stupid until I get back.” Lindsey closed the door as she left the room.
It was almost dinnertime and Katie wanted to go downstairs to join her parents. She needed to practice moving around. She picked up the baby monitor which she couldn’t believe her mother still had—you never know when you might need it she had said--and called to them. “Mom, Dad, you there?”
Before she could even finish her request, her father was at her door.
“I’d like to come downstairs. I’m bored up here and need to move around.” Katie looked at him with her pouting face that always worked.
“There you go again with your famous boredom speech,” her father put out his hands. “I’ll help you up.”
Jackson carefully guided Katie down the stairs and put her on the family room sofa. She was happy to be sitting up in a regular seat. It felt pretty good. Katie still had one whole day to get better before she left.
Her mother was in the kitchen making dinner and soon they were sitting at the table eating and talking. Katie planned on being extra good and was on her best behavior. She didn’t want her parents to suspect a thing.
“You guys don’t have to check on me every five minutes now when I go to bed,” Katie teased. “I’m getting much better, really.”
“Then we will check every ten minutes,” her father teased back.
They watched TV together and then her mother helped Katie back upstairs. She gave Katie her phone and the remote control. “No laptop today, it may make you dizzy. No reading for awhile.”
“Okay, Mom, goodnight, or should I say see you in ten minutes?” Katie was feeling a little tired. She planned on sleeping and nothing else.
* * * *
Immediately turning on the TV the next morning, Katie wanted to be distracted until Lindsey came over. She mindlessly flipped channels. She was awake pretty early and most of the channels had news and morning shows. Katie decided to watch the weather channel for awhile because she needed to know what the weather was like in Arizona for some reason. After hearing about the mild November that Ohio was having no snow, not much rain, and temperatures in the high fifties they finally got to the national map. Flagstaff, Arizona was also having high fifties and sunshine. That was the only difference, gray here, sunny there. That’s one thing Katie missed the most, the sunshine and the blue skies. She was starting to sound like her Aunt Lucinda. Ohio didn’t have many sunny days in the fall and winter. Well, she would be there soon enough.
Katie’s phone rang, playing the Anna music. She excitedly picked it up because she would have someone to talk to about her plans.
“Kathryn! Are you alright? Lindsey called me last night and I just about fell off my chair when she told me what happened to you. Here I thought you were busy with school and that’s why I haven’t heard from you. I don’t think I like this Tyson fellow very much. He’s bad news.”
“Anna, take a breath and let me talk! I’m much better today. Tyson’s not a bad guy, just a teenager like the rest of us. Don’t be too hard on him. I really want to discuss my plan with you because I need your help.”
Anna and Katie talked the morning away. Katie filled her in on everything but was surprised by what Anna said as they ended their conversation.
“Maybe this should be the last time you do your time traveling. Enjoy the here and now. Tell Drew you will always love him and explain you live in the 21st century. I’m sure he will understand.”
Katie could not believe what she was hearing. Anna was a romantic who believed in love. Now she’s telling Katie to just live in the present. She thought Anna understood she couldn’t do that.
“You think I should tell him I live in the future? Won’t he think I’m a little crazy?”
“Maybe not, you need to give him more credit. How is the Jack Wood’s book reading coming along?” Anna completely changed the subject.
“Fine, two down, one to go,” Katie didn’t have the heart to tell Anna she used one of the books as a decoy at Maya’s house.
“Which one is left?”
“The journal, but I have started it.” Just then Katie heard her mother coming up the stairs. She was probably bringing lunch. “It was so nice of you to call, Grandma J, and check up on me. I’m doing fine, really.”
Katie’s mom entered the room and said, “Tell Anna I said hi.”
“Mom says hi,” Katie could just picture Anna’s face after she called her Grandma J.
“Okay, kid, I get your mom is there now. I’ll let the Grandma J go this one time.” Anna was too funny. Then she said, “I will be praying for you. Have a safe journey. Also, Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, and tell everyone there we send our love,” Katie hung up her phone. ‘Thanks for lunch. I think I’m going to rest again after eating.”
Katie planned on conserving all her strength and quickly dozed off after lunch.
* * * *
“What are you doing in here?” the sound of Lindsey’s voice woke Katie up. She opened her eyes and saw Tyson and Lindsey in her room.
“Katie and I are working on a science report for class. It’s done and on a flash drive. I was just looking for it here on her desk. Her mom said it was okay if I came up. It’s due next Monday. Gosh, Lindsey, you don’t have to be such a brat.”
“When it comes to Katie, I can be more than a brat! You’re not one of my favorite people right now, Ty.”
“Sorrr – ry! Geesh! I’m only trying to do her a favor.”
“It’s okay. Ty and I are working on a paper together,” Katie chimed in. She remembered signing up for a certain topic and Ty made sure he did, too. They were assigned to write the paper together by the teacher. Katie made sure they met at school or at the library to work on it. She forgot it was due Monday.
“Thanks, Ty. I think we just need to proofread and print.”
“You’re not supposed to be reading so I thought I’d take it home and do it. Take care and have a good Thanksgiving,” Ty came over and took Katie’s hand. He kissed it lightly and left.
“You’re too nice to him!” Lindsey clenched her jaw. “You need to be a little meaner, cousin.”
She walked over to Katie’s bed. “My mom thinks I’m sleeping over at Jordyn’s. I didn’t want her calling here at all. Jordyn knows I’m doing you a favor and will cover if she has to. I’ll drive over there and she’ll bring me here. Then in the morning she’ll come back to get me. She was great, didn’t ask any questions. Maybe we need to bring her in on all of this.”
“Not yet,” Katie wasn’t up to trying to explain anything to anyone. “Make sure you say good-bye to my parents and they see you leaving. Call me when you are on you’re way back tonight.”
Katie lay back on her pillows. There were butterflies in her stomach and she knew they weren’t all from the concussion. It seemed like hours before she heard from Lindsey. “Finally! I thought you’d never call!”
“It’s only nine o’clock! Are you planning on going to sleep already?”
“Yes, I am! Dusk was over three hours ago. I could’ve been gone already!”
“Well, you better say goodnight to your parents. They’re guarding the nest you know! Almost there, Jordyn’s dropping me off about three houses away.”
“Tell her thanks and I love her! See ya in a minute!” Katie hung up and went downstairs. “Mom, Dad? I’m going to sleep now. I want to get rested up for Thanksgiving.”
“We can come up, honey, and watch TV in our room so if you need us we’ll be close by,” her mom got up. “Come on, Jackson. Let’s go.”
“I’ll be there in just a minute. I want to get a soda,” Katie hoped that would work and they’d go without her.
Her dad walked through the kitchen and said, “See you upstairs.”
Katie tiptoed to the front door. She opened it quietly. Lindsey was already standing there, again wearing her black hoodie. It was hard not to laugh at the sight of her. She slipped in and the two went up the stairs trying not to make a sound.
Katie hid Lindsey in her bathroom. She handed her the soda and closed the door, then put on pajamas and walked to her parents’ bedroom. She climbed in bed with them and hugged and kissed them goodnight hoping it would be enough.
“I’ll be fine tonight, don’t worry about me,” she hugged them one more time and headed back to her room. Lindsey was in her bed when she got back.
“You have to stay in the bathroom until I’m gone. What if you end up going with me?”
“I hadn’t thought of that. This is kind of scary!” Lindsey shivered.
“You don’t have to do this, I’ll understand,” Katie rubbed Lindsey’s shivering arms.
“No, let’s do it. I’ll be fine,” Lindsey walked back to the bathroom and closed the door.
Katie went to the bag and got out her book. Then she walked over to her desk, found all the letters she wrote Drew and tucked them in the book. Climbing into bed, she opened the book to start reading. After a few minutes, Katie felt tired and a little dizzy so she put the book down to rest for a minute.