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SOPHIA LOOKED up to see who knew her name and couldn't believe her eyes!
"Richard! Where's Jennie?" Sophia asked him. He was her brother-in-law that had disappeared with her sister in Egypt some time ago.
"She's back at our tent, come on she won't believe this." He said excitedly taking her hand and pulling her in the direction of his tent.
"How did you get here?" He asked looking back at Sophia again. “Hi Kanani,” he said looking at her.
Hey, Richard nice seeing you. Kanani thumped her tail.
"I'd like to ask you the same thing," Sophia answered.
"Here we are, we'll exchange stories when we get Jennie's attention."
Then he stopped in front of a woman. Sophia couldn't believe it was her big sister Jennie.
"Jennie, look what I brought you home," he said.
"Now what did my handsome Knight bring me?" she asked him playfully turning around.
Jennie screamed, dropped the dish of food she was preparing and ran over hugging Sophia so tight she didn't think she could breathe. Kanani was jumping on Jennie trying to get her attention too.
"My Sophia, how did you get here? Where's Leila?" she asked her.
"Leila is home in Luxembourg and Kanani and I are here by accident." Sophia told her. “Sir Lamorak found me and I’m staying with him and his family. I've been here only a short time."
“Well it’s amazing to find you here! Hi, Kanani you came with Sophia too I see. Good girl,” Jennie rubbed Kanani’s ears.
I like that!
"Sophia!" She heard her name and looked around. She saw Lamorak walking her way looking for her.
"I'm over here!" Sophia shouted loud enough for him to hear her over all the noise. Lamorak walked over to her.
"Hi, I'm sorry I didn't make it back but I ran into my Sister and Brother-In-Law. Let me introduce you." Sophia said taking his hand and introducing him to her family.
"Does everyone time travel in your family?" He asked shaking their hands.
"No, just my family." Sophia said laughing. She was thrilled to have her sister back into her life again.
"Tonight, is free time, let me go tell my family we ran into Sophia’s family. I will be back with some food and drink then we can talk. Don't start telling any good tales without me," he turned hurrying off into the direction of their camp.
"Ok, we won't, hurry back," Sophia called after him.
"Sophia he's handsome! I think he likes you." Jennie said.
"I know but, it hasn’t been that long since I lost John,” she replied.
“What do you mean, you lost John?” Jennie was shocked. “What happened, did he leave you?”
“No, he was killed in a rescue mission. I’ll tell you about it later. He was a good man and good to me, I miss him terribly.” Sophia told her getting misty eyed.
“Oh Sophie, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,” Jennie was sad for her. “I want you to know something about history regarding Lamorak. He supposedly was in love with a lady from a distant place. She left him and he was so devastated he never married and ended up getting killed looking for the Holy Grail a short time after she left him.” I found this years ago when I was studying King Arthur for deposition when I went for my Doctorate. Maybe that was you! You have the ability to change all of that.” Jennie said earnestly.
"Wow,” Sophia was speechless. “Shh, here comes Lamorak now."
"Is Leila alright, is she here too?" Asked Jennie.
"No, she’s not here. You weren't listening and yes she is alright. Leila is the reason I'm here, she insisted on going caving. She's back in Luxembourg with Susan and Kimo." Sophia answered.
Jennie was holding her hand as Lamorak walked up to them. He had a servant following him with a tray of good smelling food.
"Is it alright to place this tray here?" Lamorak asked Jennie.
"Yes, that's fine, let me make room for it. How nice of you to feed us tonight Lamorak.” Sophia told him.
"No problem at all, I get to spend the evening with my favorite Lady and learn more about her from her sister. What more could I ask for?” He was grinning from ear to ear like a little boy.
Sophia could picture him as child getting his way with everyone with that boyish grin and good humor.
"Your favorite lady?" Sophia asked.
"Did I say that? Yes, I believe I did say that my Lady!” He then bowed in front of her. "You look so lovely this evening Lady Sophia, may I be so honored as to sit next to you?”
"How could I resist your request my Lord and Knight!” She answered bowing back at him laughing.
"Well then let us all sit down and begin,” Lamorak had his servant pour us some delicious red wine.
"I would like to know all about you, Lady Sophia,” Lamorak took her hand and kissed it.
"I will do my best kind Sir. Jennie and I grew up moving all over the world as children. We lived with our mother in Hawaii when our father was killed in the Vietnam War. Shortly afterwards our mother died from a broken heart. Jennie and I were little so our father’s grandparents took us in. Grandpa was a spy during the cold war for the United State Government. Then he worked co-op missions on special assignments. We lived in Luxembourg as children with them. That is where I was living before, I came here, in grandfather’s house. Now I know you are wondering what is the Viet Nam war, what is a co-op mission, I will explain that at another time."
"Please continue I am very interested." Lamorak answered.
"I ended up moving over to Maui when I turned twenty and that's where Kanani was born.
Kanani heard her name and perked up.
I love to hear stories about me.
“From there I had enough money from our father's estate to buy a small market in Lanai. John, my deceased husband, was a retired Ranger with Special Forces when I met him a long time ago. Kanani and I had a previous adventure on Maui, so the F.B.I. was called in. John did work for them too and that is how we first met. He retired and bought a small boutique hotel on Lanai to be near me. I was not aware that I had bought a hot property though. There was a map hidden in the storeroom of the market, which showed where smugglers were storing diamonds, and gold for shipment out of caves on Lanai and Molokai. Jennie and Richard's daughter Leila, Kanani, my friend Susan, and I were caught up in the middle of capturing them. My shop was torched and my yacht was totaled, then John asked me to marry him. Our friends, Susan and Kimo joined us in a double ceremony. Then we bought houses in Port Townsend, WA. Which led us into another crazy adventure. It started with the antique shop I owned. A woman came into my shop one evening towards closing. She brought me a mysterious violin from our grandfather. That violin took all of us on an adventure through France, Germany and Luxembourg. After the case was solved, we ended up with Grandpa’s house in Luxembourg, so Susan, Kimo, John, Kanani, and I moved there. Grandpa also left a lot of money for Jennie and myself.” Sophia looked at her sister. Jennie’s eyes were as round as saucers with astonishment.
"Jennie, we have a lot of money in a bank for us to use, I got the house in Luxembourg and the Stradivarius.” She looked at Jennie, "Can you handle me continuing?"
"Yes! Yes please go on, I'm listening. What happened to grandpa?” Jennie asked.
"Well, grandfather is in a monastery near Luxembourg and he told me briefly something we didn’t know about our ancestry. Our last name is not Anderson, Jennie, it's Stradivarius!”
At that Jennie jumped up from the table knocking her plate of food onto the ground.
"Oh, I’m so sorry," she said. "Let me clean it up." Then she got up and grabbed a rag.
"No, sit,” said Richard, "Sophie, please continue dear I can’t wait to hear the rest of this tale!”
The servant took the rag out of Jennie’s hand and cleaned up the mess as Sophia continued.
"I got a call from Leila in Egypt! She was at the Consulate and told me of her ordeal with the two of you vanishing on her. I had her flown to Luxembourg, that’s where we picked her up and took her to Echternach. Then John and Kimo went back to Port Townsend to settle affairs and sell my shop, I took Leila, Susan, and Kanani to Egypt to see if we could find the two of you. We found the door you went through and Kanani and I found your notes left for Leila. I ended up here because Leila wanted to go caving in Luxembourg. We bought tickets for Egypt the following week, we were going back to go through time and look for you guys. You see, I lost John a year ago, there was never a body, but his chopper went down when he opted in a mission to go in and save some woman and children in Afghanistan. Grandpa wanted me to have something to do to take my mind off the loss of John.”
“Oh, Sophia I am so sorry,” said Richard grabbing her hand.
“It’s ok, Richard, thank you. I’m getting over it.” she said.
“How did he die on a mission if he was retired? What happened Sophia?” asked Richard.
“He was asked to re-enlist just for a special mission. The first trip in went well, and then they went back. Their helicopter was shot down and they could find no survivors. Finally, the military had the funerals with no bodies in D. C. There was a 21-gun salute using artillery and battery pieces. There were bagpipers too playing Amazing Grace. All of us widows were given medals and flags. Then an envelope was given to the other widows. I could see the look of amazement and joy when they opened them. It was money I arranged for them to have to help with expenses now that they were on their own. It was the least I could do.” Sophia finished and looked around and everyone one was sitting there in disbelief.
So, after a time she continued. “Grandpa is a bit of an inventor and he gave me a phone that will work through time. Lucky for me Susan packed the phone, because the next thing I knew I fell through a secret door with Kanani landing on top of me; that is when Lamorak found us.”
“Then things started happening to me and my phone was stolen at Lamorak’s, I came here with him and that is when I ran into you. That's the short version.” She took a deep breath and asked, “Shouldn’t we go back and get Leila? I gather the two of you want to stay in this time?"
"Yes, if we can get Leila to come back with us we’ll stay,” Jennie told me taking a bite of food off her new plate the servant put down in front of her.
"What a tale," Lamorak added.
"Yes, great story, Sophie," Richard said taking a drink of his wine.
"What do we do now?" Sophia asked.