Wiping a tear from her own cheek, Abby paused the program and then turned to find the others staring in shock at the now blank computer monitor. It was a full minute before anyone spoke.
“Sometimes you find out more than you want to know when you go rummaging around in the past,” Abby whispered at last.
“When we were investigating Eulah and Beulah’s ancestor,” John said, “we saw a house burn down with a woman in it.”
“I can’t stand to hear them tell their stories,” Merri said, putting her head on the table.
“Keep your voice down, kiddo,” Abby said. “Don’t wake Ryan.”
There was no need to caution Kate, because she still sat, eyes wide but mouth shut, staring at the computer. Finally, she said, “So this is what you’ve been trying to tell me about all this time? Oh, Abby, I am so sorry for not believing you.”
“That’s all right, roomie. Who could, without seeing it in person?”
“It’s really not a genealogy program, is it?”
“Nope.”
“So, the way you found the Old Dears’ ancestors for their family tree was by going back in time?”
“Only virtually.” Merri lifted her head and wiped at her eyes with her T-shirt sleeve.
“So why don’t we want to wake Ryan?”
“Because until we know what to do with this, we’re not telling anyone else about it. Even Merri’s mom doesn’t know.”
“The media would blast the story all over the world,” John said. “And what if someone really evil got a hold of it? For that matter, what if our own government got a hold of it?”
“Why not?” Kate said. “Just think how this could revolutionize history classes. At last we could finally know what it was really like way back when. And…and…think of it! Police detectives could easily follow up on leads. They’d never prosecute the wrong person. And schools and daycare centers could check out applicants so they wouldn’t hire some child molester. And…and—”
“I know, Kate. We’ve thought of all that,” Abby said. “But what about privacy? You’d never know if someone was snooping around in your most private moments, watching you in your home—in your bedroom or bathroom.”
“But they couldn’t. The Constitution guarantees our privacy.”
“Actually, there’s some question about that,” John said. “But even if you’re right, once people see all the good applications for this, with this kind of power—well, it would only be a matter of time before Big Brother began using it to keep us all in line.”
Kate was quiet for a moment and then said, “So what are you going to do with it?”
“We don’t know,” Abby said, looking at John. “But we’d better start thinking about it, now that it’s working again.”
“Maybe the safest thing is to turn it over to the government. At least they’d have the resources to keep our enemies from getting their hands on it. My dad works for the state. Actually, one of his friends knows the governor.”
John’s face registered alarm. “No offense to your dad, Kate, but letting Illinois politicians get their hands on it is almost as scary. You know the state motto. Illinois: where the governors make the license plates.”
“So are you saying you won’t use it to help me?”
“I know we used it to help Eulah and Beulah, but—”
“I promise not to tell anyone. Even Ryan, if you insist, although I hate keeping things from him.”
“Anyway, I can’t just leave Merri here alone and go off to Equality with you.”
John laughed softly. “Look at her.”
Merri was conked out, snoring softly, her head on the computer table next to the keyboard.
“She’s got the right idea,” Abby said, rising from her chair. “Let’s sleep on it.” She yawned and then shook Merri’s arm to wake her.
By the time they had settled back into their beds it was three-thirty. Merri went back to sleep instantly. Actually, Abby wasn’t sure she’d even been awake when they walked her back to the bedroom.
And Abby had no difficulty falling back asleep this time. Midway during her prayer for God to help her know what to do, she too conked out.
Pat was making pancakes while patiently listening to Merri’s steady stream of chatter about their girls’ night. Grinning, Abby set the table and then poured orange juice into six blue glasses.
“Thanks,” Kate said when she got to her place at the table. “I wish you’d let me help.”
“Don’t be silly,” Abby said. “You’re our guest. Right, Merri?”
“If you want, me and Abby will let you help us wash the dishes,” Merri offered graciously.
“And,” Pat said from the stove, “I’ll let you come get your own pancakes. I’ve got three hot ones here with your name on them.”
“Gladly.” She took the plate Pat handed her and stood for a moment looking at her outdated, avocado green stove.
“Do you need more?” Pat asked.
“Oh, heavens no. This is plenty. I was just thinking how lucky we are to have modern conveniences like electric stoves.”
Abby saw that Merri was grinning at the expression her mother wore. Pat had no idea how different her kitchen was from when Charlotte had cooked in it so many years before.
“I don’t mind at all that we don’t have a dishwasher,” Merri said. “At least we have running water.”
Pat smiled at her. “You’re right, honey. We all should count our blessings more often.”
John came in sniffing the air. “Do I smell coffee?”
“You sure do,” Pat said. “Help yourself.”
John assigned himself the job of pouring cups for everyone except Merri.
“Hey, how come I don’t get any?”
“Because you’re just a pipsqueak, that’s why,” John said, ruffling her hair.
“Oh, there you are, Ryan.” Pat smiled a welcome.
He stood uncertainly in the doorway. He was probably starving. As far as Abby knew he hadn’t had anything to eat since fruit salad at the reunion the day before.
“Do you want bacon with yours?” Pat asked.
“Sure,” he said, eagerly taking the plate. “Thanks.”
Abby smothered a smile. It just went to show that if a person got hungry enough they’d eat anything.
After they had their fill of pancakes, Pat went to dress for work. Abby, Merri and Kate cleaned up the kitchen, Abby washing while they dried the dishes. With two to one, Abby had to work fast to keep them busy.
Merri took a plate from the drainer and began wiping it dry. “Abby, I think you should go with Kate.”
“We, my dear student, have work to do.” After a moment, she added, “And besides, I can’t just leave you here alone.”
“Don’t worry. I already called the Grandmas. They said I can stay with them.”
“Why would you do that, kiddo?”
“Like I keep saying, Beautiful Houses wouldn’t be working after all this time for no reason. I think it wants you to help Kate. So you better go with her to Equality and see what’s going on.”
“Really?” Kate said. “You wouldn’t mind, Merri?”
“Mom said she’d drop me off on her way to work.”
“Kathryn, I got the bedding folded and the sleeping bag put away,” Ryan said from the doorway where he stood with John.
“I see you don’t need any help here,” John said.
“You’ll come back though, right, Abby?” Merri said, ignoring John’s attempt at humor.
“Of course I will.” Abby hung up her dishtowel and gave Merri a hug. “But we probably won’t get back until tomorrow or maybe Monday. It’ll take almost three hours to get there, and I doubt we’ll find out much today with it being Saturday.”
“Where are you going?” John asked.
“Equality,” Abby answered. “I’m going with Kate and Ryan.”
“But I thought we’d given up on that idea,” Ryan said. “If the program’s not working properly—”
Kate darted a glance at Abby. “But it might work in Equality,” she said. “And Abby’s an expert with genealogy. She can—”
“No, I’m not,” Abby said, “and there’s no guarantee we’ll find anything.” Then seeing the look of desperation on Kate’s face she added, “But I’m going to try.” Although she didn’t know how on earth she was going to get the chance to time-surf without Ryan seeing it.
“That is if John will let us borrow his laptop.” At the confused look on Ryan’s face Abby added, “John’s friend Timmy Tech copied the program onto it.”
“Sure,” John said. “I’ll just run home and shower and pack a few things.”
Abby felt like doing a happy dance but managed with effort not to. “You’re coming too?”
John smiled at her, his eyes bluer than ever. “You bet. I wouldn’t miss the fun for anything.”
She caught a frown that appeared briefly on Ryan’s face. Either he didn’t want to make the trip to Equality, or he was annoyed that John had invited himself along. Probably both. No doubt he regretted he hadn’t driven Kate down in his own car.