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Gwen woke alone in her bed in her parents’ home. She closed her eyes and stretched. Every nerve ending in her body still hummed with pleasure from the night before. She hadn’t fully been sure what to expect from her first time with Jack, but what she knew now was she couldn’t be more pleased, and she couldn’t wait for a repeat. Pleasureful memories of the night before had her aching for her fiancé’s touch.
She opened her eyes and glanced around her tiny room then stretched out over the small bed. Soon, she’d be waking up next to Jack in a big, warm bed they’d share for a lifetime.
A quiver raked through her. What a night she’d had and what a day she was about to have. She and Jack made plans to make appointments for the blood tests they’d need to get their marriage license. Then, the second they could, they’d head to the courthouse to get the paperwork. At best, they were probably looking at two weeks, maybe three, to pull it all together. Though she decided to give up the extremely big wedding, she thought she could still pull together a church wedding with a small reception in this timeframe. She hoped her mother wouldn’t be too disappointed about not going all-out.
Staring at the ceiling, she thought about the conversation she and her husband-to-be had last night regarding where they’d live and what he planned to do for a job. Before he went off to war, he’d flown commercial planes. He loved flying and hoped to reconnect with his previous employer.
In any case, a nurse’s salary was adequate. It would do until Jack got on his feet.
Last night, he suggested they live with his parents in their big home overlooking the bay. It wasn’t a bad idea. She loved his parents, and the house was much larger than this one. Though as newlyweds, it would be nice to have privacy. But, if this is what it came to she would gladly do it.
With reluctance, she slid her languid body out of bed, padded off to the bathroom to bathe, and got ready for work.
Like clockwork, she found her parents sitting at the kitchen table, cups of coffee in their hands as they skimmed over the newspaper.
Her mom glanced up. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Gwen leaned over, kissed her on the cheek, then her dad.
“Did you and Jack have a nice evening?” her mother asked.
The thought of her nice evening warmed her cheeks. She hoped her heated face didn’t give her away. She and her mom were pretty close so there wasn’t much she could hide from the woman.
“Yes. It was great. We ate at Eddy’s and then took a drive.”
Her mother’s penetrating gaze stayed on her.
Did she know?
Gwen poured herself a cup of coffee and filled her parents’ cups, then she sat across from her mom. Her dad kept his nose buried in the paper.
“Jack and I had a discussion last night. We’d like to get married soon.”
A hint of disappointment laced her mother’s gaze, and she leaned forward. “No big wedding? Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We’re sure. Jack’s side of the family is so small anyhow, and most of our side, the ones we’re close with, live here anyhow. I think we can pull something nice together in a few weeks, don’t you?”
“But the dress, the hall, invitations?”
“It will be March. As for the hall, there isn’t much for weddings in March.” She looked at her father whose nose was still concealed by the paper. “Maybe Dad can get the VFW hall and one of their regular bands.”
He set the paper down. “Huh?”
Gwen repeated herself, and he nodded. “I’ll call Harold today. See what I can do?”
Her father didn’t seem to mind the rush wedding, but her mother’s disappointed expression let her know she did.
“The dress?”
Being of average size, she hoped she could pluck a dress off the rack, but she’d have to make time to run to a larger neighboring community on her next day off as her hometown didn’t have a wedding shop.
“Maybe you and I can run to the bridal shops in Green Bay this weekend. And, once Dad knows if we can get the VFW hall, we can quickly send out invitations. We can get blank ones and fill them out ourselves since we won’t need that many.”
Her mother’s smile let her know she’d warmed up to the idea.
Gwen rose from the chair. “I need to get to work. Then, Jack and I are going out tonight.”
Her parents nodded, and out the door, she went. The anticipation sifting through her veins caused her steps to be lighter as if she walked on air.
All she had to do was get through her eight-hour shift, and she’d be with Jack.
––––––––
Jack sat at the kitchen table perusing the paper as his parents bantered about the weather. Before he’d left for war, he’d never imagined how much he’d miss the trivial things such as this. What his parents had, lifelong love and commitment, was exactly what he wanted for him and Gwennie. After all these years, the two still stared adoringly at each other.
His chest tightened as he studied the wrinkles around his mom’s eyes. Her once long, flaming red hair was now gray and rolled up in a bun fastened to the back of her head. She’d aged in the couple of years he’d been gone. His father, too. But, they were knocking on the door of seventy. They’d had him later in life. His mother once told him they’d given up all hope of having a family, then he came along. Admittedly, she doted on him, or so his dad had said on numerous occasions. He wondered how long he’d have them in his life yet. If they’d ever meet their grandchildren—grandson. The son he knew he’d have one day because of his time travel.
Time travel.
His heart panged. He was about to enter into a marriage with a secret he knew he needed to keep. Hiding something from the person with whom he would share his life gnawed at him. A spouse was the very person one should be able to share everything with, yet, from what his father had told him, secrecy was code among Preservers and Protectors, and sharing that bit of information with Gwennie was forbidden. How would anyone know if he revealed this information to her? What was the risk?
Jack refocused on his mom. Did she know his dad’s secret? Did she know he’d time-traveled to preserve history? He shifted his gaze to his father; he’d ask him the first chance he got. Just to make sure of the boundaries.
The warmth of his mother’s hand to his forearm drew his attention.
“Are you all right, honey?”
She leaned closer, studying him with a loving gaze. It was the same gaze he remembered as a child. The kind that dries tears when you scrape a knee. How did moms always know something was wrong, either physically or mentally?
She lifted her hand and placed it tenderly to his cheek. “What is it?”
“Gwennie and I talked last night. We’d like to get married as soon as possible.”
“That’s great, right?” she questioned.
His dad set the newspaper down and leaned in to join the conversation with the same questioning expression.
“It is great. I love her. But, there’s the little issue of a job and a place for us to live.”
His mother’s gaze darted around the room. “You can live here, of course. This house is way bigger than we need. Plus, someday...”
Her words trailed off. She didn’t need to finish them anyhow as he knew where she was headed. Jack ran his gaze over the kitchen, then he mentally viewed the entire large, beautiful home. It was one of the biggest homes in their small town and on a primo spot overlooking the bay. He loved this house. Yet, it seemed weird that as a newlywed he—they—would live with his parents.
He had some money saved, actually, a decent amount from before he left for war, and then what little he’d made in the service had mostly been saved as well. But, until he had his ducks in a row with a job and all, he didn’t want to risk dwindling it down to nothing.
“Thanks,” he finally replied. “Gwennie and I actually talked about this last night, and I think we’ll take you up on the offer.”
His mother’s smile couldn’t have gotten any larger. She glanced at his dad, drawing out a grin and a nod from him.
“It will be so nice to have sound in this house again,” his mom added.
He knew what she meant. His parents were people of few words. They didn’t need to say anything to each other, it was like they could read each other’s minds. He supposed after forty-five years of marriage that was how most couples were, and he wanted that for him and Gwennie.
She smiled a bit more wickedly. “And the sound of children would be nice.”
Jack raised his hands, palms facing his mother. “Whoa, let’s not rush things.” Though he put the brakes on in terms of rushing into parenthood in front of his parents, he’d love nothing more than to start a family with Gwennie right away.
His dad chuckled, and his mom’s sweet laughter filled the kitchen. God, how he had missed his parents while he was gone.
“Well, I have to go,” his mother said as she scooted her chair back, the wooden legs scraping across the hardwood floor. Her gaze focused on him. “Our Friends of the Library Club is getting the books together for the book sale this Saturday. It’s a little fundraiser we do twice a year now. I should only be a few hours.”
Like a true gentleman, his father stood along with her, walked her out to the entryway closet, and helped her with her coat. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and out the door she went.
Jack watched as she backed out of the driveway in her coupe.
“Well, what are we going to do today?” his dad asked with a knowing look in his eye indicating he already had a plan for them.
“First thing, I want to call my old boss about a job.”
“So, you want to keep flying?”
“Yeah, despite the war. I still love to fly. The freedom of the air.” When he spoke of flying, a sense of independence overcame him.
The man nodded with understanding.
“When you’re done with that, I want to show you something. I’ll be in the study.”
“Okay.” The playful grin on his father’s face sparked his curiosity.
Jack called his prior boss from the kitchen phone. A sense of relief washed over him as the man offered him employment, though with a minor stipulation. His boss noted he wouldn’t be starting him flying right off, but rather, he’d have to complete a few hours of training over the next several weeks to re-assimilate him to civilian flights again. Though he was disappointed he couldn’t get in the air right away, he respected the man and his decision, and continued the conversation to discuss salary.
After disconnecting the call, he headed toward the study on the opposite end of the house to see what his father wanted to show him. As he entered the wide hallway lined with family history, he paused to view the first photo on the wall. It was of two teenagers with their arms slung around each other—his great-grandpa Ben Cornelis and his cousin Simon Dupont taken before the two snuck off to join the Army to fight in the Civil War. Photos were scarce from back then, but this one survived the years.
Slowly, Jack worked his way to the study where his father waited, taking the time to ponder every photo along the way. Photos of his ancestors, then photos of his parents, then him. Reminders of what mattered most—family. His heart filled with joy at the thought that someday, pictures of Gwennie and their children would line this wall, too.
“That one is my favorite,” his dad said, pointing to a photo of his wife standing in front of the ambulance she drove during the first world war.
Jack supposed it would be his favorite since that was where the two met.
“Brave beyond what she should be. She scared the dickens out of me a few times during our runs to the front to pick up wounded.”
The father’s tone held as much pride as Jack felt when he thought of his mother’s service, and his father’s, too. He couldn’t have asked for better role models.
Jack swung his gaze down one side of the hallway wall and then back up the other. He couldn’t be prouder of his family’s military history. A lump lodged in his throat at the thought of not only the Duponts stealing it, but more importantly, what that maneuver could do to the present and future—how it could impact the greater good. There was far more at stake here than the impact to his family. The world relied on them, though most didn’t know it.
The weight swelling in his throat grew to the point of nearly choking him off when he recalled the secrecy of his role as a Preserver. How could he possibly keep this from Gwennie? How had his dad kept it from his mom all these years?
“There were times I wanted to tie her to a chair to keep her out of harm’s way,” his father said pulling him away from his private thoughts. “But you know her. She probably would have got the upper hand and hogtied me first.”
He and his father shared a laugh at the true statement.
Somberness soon pushed aside his joy. “Dad, I was hoping to ask you some questions today about our duty as Preservers.”
His dad nodded. “I figured you would. Let’s go in the study and talk while I show you something.”
Jack’s jaw nearly hit the floor when he entered the room. The train set they’d put together when he was a kid, and took down when he was a teenager, had been reassembled and expanded. The track wove around the entire room, low on the floor, and then up among the bookshelves lined with periodicals. There was even a bridge built above his large, mahogany desk. Even more spectacular was how he managed to wrap the track to go around the freestanding globe that stood in front of the large bay window.
With his hands on his hips, his dad eyed his handiwork. “I finally finished what we’d set out to do when you were a kid.” He laughed. “I wanted to wait for you to come home so we could work on it together, but I couldn’t help myself. I got the boxes out, and before I knew it, I was done.” A melancholy look overtook his father. “I think doing this helped me get through you being gone. I can’t begin to tell you how much your mother and I worried about you.” His father’s voice cracked, and his eyes watered.
His father was the strongest and most genuine person he knew.
Emotion overtook him, and he pulled his dad into a firm embrace.
It felt like a couple of minutes passed before his father pulled away and wiped his face with his sleeve.
“Let’s turn this thing on, shall we,” his dad offered as he stepped over to the train station and pressed the power button.
Jack wasn’t sure how long they stood there in silence watching the train make its revolutions, but he welcomed the tranquility it brought.
The horn blew, knocking him out of his serenity, but his dad’s laughter kept the harmony alive. Who would have thought this well-reserved man, at almost seventy years old, would enjoy playing with trains?
His dad blew the horn one more time before he shut the train off, walked over to his desk, and took a seat behind it.
The serious spot.
Throughout his entire life, whenever anything serious needed to be discussed. That’s where his father sat to do it.
Jack took a seat in the leather chair opposite the desk and watched as his dad adjusted his glasses and then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the surface of the desk. It was the same maneuver he’d seen countless times.
“I’ll answer your questions, but I’m afraid I won’t have all the answers you desire. This Preserver and Protector time travel business is complex and appears to be a work in progress. I’ve yet to come across a book of answers. One would think I’d have answers to everything since I’ve been at it for almost forty years, but it’s just not that easy. I didn’t get much prep from your Grandpa Charles. He’d spoken very little of it before he passed away, so it was kind of sprung on me. Luckily, I was able to rely on my Protectors for some guidance. Truth be told, if I knew my old body wouldn’t let me down, I wouldn’t have relinquished my power to you yet. Just to save you the grief.”
“So, it’s all bad?” he questioned.
“No. I shouldn’t have said it like that. The physical work is hard. I guess emotionally it can be hard as well. But, it’s also a blessing in disguise, too. Not many people get to see and spend time with loved ones who’ve passed on, and ancestors we never met in real life. I can’t begin to tell you the things I’ve witnessed and learned, and the impacts it has had on my life.” His dad paused and stared off into space for several beats.
“But?” he questioned, bringing his father back to their conversation at hand.
“But, with great rewards come great risk. Think about what happens if we—Preservers—fail at a mission. One little change of the past can affect so many things in the future.”
“The Butterfly Effect.”
“Exactly. With as much of a privilege, it is to be a time traveler Preserver, it’s equally a burden that bears vast responsibility. Once in, you have to stay the course which requires unremitting vigilance.”
Jack nodded in understanding. He’d already seen firsthand how difficult and dangerous a mission could be when he was plucked out of his life, right in front of Gwennie and her parents, and tossed into the midst of WWII. He still wondered if his father knew for sure he’d already been on a mission. And his mother. Did she know about her husband being a Preserver?
“Do other people know about us?” he asked.
His dad’s gaze landed on Jack’s ear—the stitches on his lobe, and he studied them for a moment before responding. “No. The code is secrecy. That was one of the first things my father told me, and my Protector reiterated. She said the Gods frown upon non-compliance, and bad things can happen to those who don’t follow the rules of engagement. I believed her, so I’ve lived by her warnings. Plus, I guess I didn’t want to find out the hard way if she was right or wrong.”
“So, even Mom doesn’t know?”
His dad shook his head. “I’ve never told her, never actually came out and said the words...but somehow I think she knows.” His dad’s gaze returned to his stitched earlobe. “Most missions tend to leave little clues that are sometimes hard to explain.”
Jack placed his fingertips to his ear and caressed the ragged stitches. “A life of lies with the one person you should be able to share everything with,” he said.
His father nodded. “It’s all part of the sacrifices Preservers make to preserve history. The alternative is worse. Don’t you think? Imagine if I, my father, grandfather, and so on, had allowed even the tiniest of details to change. We may not be sitting here today. You may not be preparing to marry Gwendoline. Your mother or I could have died on the Italian Front. Or worse, imagine the potential impacts to others—the American people if we fail to preserve history. Imagine if you will, the potential consequences if your grandfather, who fought with Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders to take Kettle Hill, was suddenly not there, and one of our Dupont nemeses was. Would the outcome have been the same? Imagine if Roosevelt had died on that hill because Edgar Dupont stole your grandfather’s life and took his place during that battle. Who then would have been the twenty-sixth president? As a consequence of that, how would America look today? I know that sounds like an extreme example, but we just don’t know the outcomes of a change, even the slightest of modifications, which is why it is so important to keep history on track. Do you understand?”
Jack nodded. He understood all right. His lungs drained and his shoulders slumped from the weight of responsibility bestowed upon him to preserve history and carry such a significant secret; thereby, lying to the one person he wanted to share everything with. From the beginning, he’d be lying to Gwennie.