Beth was on her way to join us for lunch at Betsy’s. She had recently moved to Williamsburg to settle in before the fall term. I remember the day I left. She said she was going to move. I didn’t think about everyone’s life continuing without me. I wanted to invite Maggie to lunch, she said she wasn’t sure she could stay, but she would stop by. I spent most of the car ride thinking about what I was going to tell everyone and if they were going to commit me to a psych ward, if I told them the truth. They needed to know I was safe and alive. The details would be given in a small dose.
We pulled into the driveway at my house. I could smell the fresh cut grass. The gardener must have just left. I wanted to touch it all. It was a dream to be home. Hannah unlocked the door. The house needed airing out.
“Quick shower and change. I’ll be right back.”
First stop, the toilet. Again! My bladder felt as though it would burst. No chamber pot, no outdoor privy, but a flushing toilet and soft toilet paper. Bliss. Next stop, a shower. The hot running water cascaded down my body. I could stand in the shower forever. I missed flushing toilets and hot showers. Teeth brushed, hair brushed and put in a bun, and the struggle to find clothes that fit. Everything was a couple of sizes too big. I hopped on the bathroom scale. 139 flashed on the screen. I lost twenty-seven pounds. Until I could rebuild my wardrobe, I would have to pick up a few outfits. I slipped a light green sundress on over my head and a pair of sandals. The dress was oversized but would make do. It felt odd to wear underwear again.
“Beth is almost at Betsy’s.” Hannah said as she knocked on the door to my room. “Are you ready?”
Hannah and I met Beth in front of Betsy’s Biscuits in downtown Fredericksburg. We found a table in the corner and sat down with our menus. “Is Maggie coming?” No sooner had I asked, but Maggie’s voice trilled across the room, causing everyone in the restaurant to turn their head and look at her.
“Amelia,” she squealed from the front door. She ran over and slid onto the bench next to Hannah, giving me a hug along the way. “I can’t stay long. I must get back to the bookstore. Now that you're back, I wanted to see you. Come, say hi to Pom and Fritz when you get a chance. Hugs and kisses.” With that, she flittered out the door.
“I don’t think she took a breath that entire time.” Beth said as we laughed. The waitress took our order.
“Tell me what’s been going on since I’ve been gone.” I wanted to break the ice without delving into my whereabouts.
Hannah and Beth took turns tell me the story of what happened when I disappeared. Hannah had gone to the hotel in Winchester to meet up with me like we had planned. I had never checked in. They found my SUV in the Fort Ashby parking lot, but I was nowhere to be found.
A few days later, in Williamsburg, Kyle was arrested for vandalism. He had taken a knife to a portrait in the Henry Spencer House. One of the historic interpreters tackled him on the way out and the police took him in for questioning. They discovered he knew me and was a person of interest in my disappearance. They searched phone records and found out that he was at Fort Ashby at the same time I was supposed to be there. He could not explain what had happened to me, so they monitored him as a suspect in my disappearance. They believed he kidnapped me and could have murdered me. With no concrete evidence or confession, they couldn’t hold him. I should start a new series on crime fiction based on my crazy life. They had dogs out in the area looking for me, but there was no sign of me. The story was juicy.
“Now that you know what has been going on here,” Beth began. “We would like to know where you were. You had us worried.”
“I’ve talked to Detective Perez while you were in the shower,” Hannah interjected. “I told him you were fine and didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. He said you can come in next week to give your statement. He also recommended that we take you to the hospital for a health and wellness check.”
“I will call him after lunch, no problem. To be honest, I’m not sure what to tell him.” I stopped talking when the waitress brought our food out to us. I ordered was a barbecue chicken salad with extra greens. I missed the taste of tomatoes. While in 1754, people were still under the belief that tomatoes were deadly. I devoured the greens and extra tomatoes. I took a sip of my soft drink. My eyes were getting heavy. I needed to get through this meal and crawl into bed.
“Did you need time for yourself? Was the research too much to handle?” Beth took my hand. I stopped mid-bite and put my fork down. “We were worried about you.”
I took a deep breath. “The reason I’m not sure what to tell him is… well… I can’t tell him the truth.”
Hannah shot daggers from her eyes at me. Beth squeezed my hand. “You can tell us the truth.”
“I… you see…” I hesitated to gather my thoughts. Then, like a fountain, it all started coming out of me. So much for giving it to them in small, measured doses. I explained how I slipped through time, was taken by the French, and my escape. Hannah looked at me like I had two heads. Beth just sat there and listened.
“I met Captain Lord Henry Spencer. Yes, the same Henry Spencer whose home I was in this morning in Williamsburg.”
Hannah threw her hands in the air. “This is unbelievable. Please, mother, tell us the truth.”
“I am.” Her accusations hurt me. “Jumonville had my notebook and was going to use the information in it to find out where Washington would be and attack him. He thought it would bring glory to his mediocre career.
I told them the story about taking the child to Tanaghrisson’s people and the skirmish at Jumonville Glen. Tanaghrisson killed Jumonville to keep my secret and get my notebook back. If it wasn’t for his actions, the French could have killed Washington.
The defeat at Fort Necessity brought me, Henry, Washington, and a few others down to Williamsburg.
“Are you going to eat those fries?” I pointed across the table at Hannah’s plate. She slid her plate over to me. “Beth, I met one of your ancestors.” I shoved a fry into my mouth. “She had to be your ancestor. Her name was Elizabeth Woods, and her house was still standing here in Fredericksburg. I met Hector’s ancestor as well, a young Lieutenant Hector Bennet.” I grabbed another lukewarm fry. “Hubba-hubba. He was a cutie.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and shoved the fry in my mouth. “I last saw him taking the troops to Alexandria to restock supplies while we headed down to Williamsburg.”
“Really?” Beth seemed more interested, rather than doubtful. It was refreshing to be believed.
“Last night, we went to a celebration at the governor’s palace. Henry and I were joking about saying we were engaged. We were going to spend the night together. I had gone to my room to freshen up, and I woke up this morning and you know the rest.”
“You’re trying to tell us you time traveled two hundred sixty-five-ish years into the past, got kidnapped, escaped, found a baby and gave it to a guy called Tanaghrisson, got a man scalped by the same guy you gave some random baby to, started a war between England and France over territory boundaries, met George Washington, met Beth and Hector’s ancestors, got engaged to a Lord who is also a Captain, and then you just traveled back through time to now?” Hannah was upset. I understood why she was so angry. The truth sounded like the biggest fantasy of all time.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I grabbed another fry. “And that is why I can’t tell Detective Perez the truth. He will look at me like I’m crazy, worse than you are looking at me right now. You believe me, don’t you, Beth?” I searched for sympathy and understanding from my friend. Hannah wasn’t going to give it to me, and I needed someone on my side.
“Actually, I do. It all sounds so farfetched, but I believe you.” Beth seemed amused with revelation. “In fact, it is like I remember meeting you in seventeen fifty-four, but I couldn’t have, obviously. It must be a family memory passed down somehow. It just all makes sense to me.”
“You both are crazy.” Hannah threw her napkin on the table. “I think they should commit you both to a psych ward.”
“Hannah, please, give me some time to prove it to you before you commit either of us.”
After lunch, we drove by the house where I met 1754 Elizabeth Woods on the way to the police station so I could give a statement to Detective Perez. I told him I had lost my phone and ended up staying in a cabin for the past few months while I worked on my book. A writer’s retreat. He only half-believed me. He warned me that there was something strange about Kyle, and that he would recommend, as a friend, for me to stay clear of him. I agreed.
Beth planned to take me to her house in Williamsburg for a few days so I could figure out what would happen next for me. We stopped by my house, picked up my gown and a few extra clothes. I would have to come back to Fredericksburg to get my car and my belongings out of police custody. Here I was, again, dependent on someone else for my wellbeing and transportation. I had become so independent since Todd died, that I had forgot what it was like to put my trust in people. First Henry, and now Beth. Both proved to be good friends that I could rely on.