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IVY
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MY EYES WIDEN. Tell him everything? He wouldn’t believe me if I did. As it is, I’ve already had to watch what I say and think about every word before it leaves my mouth. He probably thinks I’m really shy and quiet.
“I never know what to say when someone says that. I’m better with direct questions. Besides, you don’t want to know about my life. It’s boring.”
“That’s where you are wrong, beautiful,” he says, and my stomach bursts into a field of butterflies, just like it has every time he has called me beautiful today. “My parents always tell me the story of how they met and fell in love. They tell me how it was love at first sight. My dad would say he knew in the depth of his soul that my mom was his. The moment she touched him, he felt her soul burn into his. Soul mates,” he says, staring directly into my eyes.
The field of butterflies multiplies, and my breathing gets heavy. His parents seem to be describing how I felt when we first met. But this can’t happen. My soul mate can’t be in 1957 when my life is in 2009. As if he can read my thoughts, he continues.
“That’s how I felt when I saw you standing across the street today. There is something between us, and I can tell you feel it too, even if you may not want to admit it right now.”
I shake my head. I can’t let this happen. I’m supposed to slip in, get some info for Brian, and slip out. Not make any waves and most certainly not allow the biggest name in rock and roll to think I’m his soul mate. This is not happening.
Oh god, Brian is going to kill me.
“I bet you say that to all the girls. It’s no wonder they all swoon for you.” I try to joke. After all, he does get himself a playboy reputation for a reason, and I’m sure that all starts now.
I glimpse what might be anger crossing his face quickly followed by hurt. My heart clenches. I can’t handle that look, and knowing I put it there is killing me. But I tell myself I’m imagining it because there is no way David Miller isn’t making a play here. Right?
Before I can even speak, he is up and around the table. He kneels on the ground in front of me, so we are eye to eye. He brings one hand to my cheek and just looks into my eyes, searching for something.
His eyes plead with me as though he needs me to believe what he is about to say. It’s as if he’s looking past me and sees me, my soul, and the me I try to keep hidden.
“I haven’t said that to any girl. Ever. It’s okay if you don’t believe me right this moment, but in your heart, you know it’s true, and I will prove it to you. All I ask is that you give me the chance.” He takes in a shaky breath and brings his other hand up to frame my face with his hands.
“I’m going to kiss you now, beautiful, and if you don’t want that, then you need to stop me,” he says barely above a whisper.
My mind races. This is crazy. We’ve only known each other for a few hours. I may know all about him in the future—who he becomes and how his life turns out—but he knows nothing about me. He doesn’t even know my last name. But then I remember my time here is on a deadline of two weeks at most, so why not live a little and enjoy it? When I go back home, I can forget about it and move on, right?
Half my brain is yelling that I can’t do this and it’s a horrible idea. I should get up and walk right out the front gate and never look back. Go find a hotel room and get on with my plans.
The other half of my brain says it’s only two weeks, two weeks out of my whole life. Surely, I can have a little fun? I could be one of David Miller's first conquests. My heart then weighs in like an idiot and wants to believe him. Wants to believe the words are true, that he feels this connection and truly wants to be mine.
My heart wins out, and I lean in to kiss him. I swear at that moment, the world fades away the fact that I am fifty-two years in the past and all my doubts are gone. I just know that nothing that feels like this could possibly be wrong.
When his lips move over mine so softly, sparks shoot from all my nerve endings, and it’s as though our souls are connecting, and my soul is finally at home. He presses his tongue against my lips, seeking entrance, and when I open just a little, he’s right there in the most passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced. I kiss him back with everything I have because there’s no telling if I will ever get this chance again. His hand moves to the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair to angle my head and deepen the kiss.
Grasping his shirt, I pull him to me, and he comes like a magnet that can’t stay away. His other hand grips my waist, and my heart pounds as I grow aware of every little touch of his skin to mine.
When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead against mine, and we both try to catch our breath.
“Tell me you felt that. Tell me it wasn’t just me,” he begs.
I can’t lie to him. Even if it’s scary or I know I should.
“I felt it,” I whisper.
He gives me a soft peck on the lips, then settles himself back in his chair. I can’t take my eyes off him, and his gaze never leaves mine.
“That was one hell of a kiss, Ivy.” His voice is as intense as his eyes.
My skin heats a bit as I look around, trying to break the connection.
“Yeah, it was,” I whisper.
He clears his throat. “Eat up, this is the best chicken salad sandwich you will ever have,” he says and takes a bite.
I take a bite and look down at my sandwich as I chew.
“Well?”
With a smile, I say, “It’s really good.” I watch a smile cover his face, thinking he won. “But it’s not the best I’ve ever had.”
His face falls, and he sets his sandwich down and wipes his mouth. “Oh, yeah? What was the best one you’ve had then?”
I can’t tell him it is the sandwich at Panera Bread from back home because I’m pretty sure that chain hasn’t even been invented yet. So I go with a version of the truth.
“There is this a soup and sandwich shop near my house, and they have this amazing chicken salad sandwich. It has grapes and almonds, and they mix it with mayo and honey and a few spices. The flavor is amazing. I have the recipe written down back at my house.”
“Where is back home?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
I just shake my head. I’m enjoying myself, so there’s no point in ruining it.
“Okay, so something a little simpler, what’s your last name?”
“Collins.”
“When is your birthday?”
I pause because I’m twenty-one, but I was born in 1988, but I can’t say that, so I say, “October eleventh.”
“What year were you born?” he asks, not missing a beat.
“Well, I’m twenty-one, so you do the math.” I smirk at him.
“Only a year younger than me so 1936.”
I smile at him and keep eating. We talk about simple things like favorite colors, favorite foods, and our families and friends. Before I know it, the sun is close to setting, and I realize I need to find a place to stay while I’m here.
I stand. “Thank you for lunch, David, but I really must be going now.”
He stands up and takes my hand. “Let me drive you home.”
“Well, I actually need to find a hotel. I just got into town this morning.”
He is quiet at first and then looks into my eyes. “I have a guest room, and you are more than welcome to stay here. In fact, I’d love more time with you. How long are you in town?” he asks.
“For the next ten days or so,” I tell him. Why did I say that? I should have just said two days and headed home as soon as I could. Oh, I know because my heart beat my brain to my mouth that time.
“Please, I’d love to spend that time with you. I could sure use your help planning some of the rooms here at the house, and I’d be happy to take you anywhere you need to go.”
I can tell this is hard for him because he isn’t used to begging for something he can just make happen. If he isn’t now, I know he will be anyway.
I take a deep breath. It would make things easier to stay here, for sure, but it could complicate things too. I mean, I do have my cell phone in my pocket, for crying out loud. It’s turned off to save the battery, but still, how would I explain that one?
I figure I can keep it and the rocks hidden, but I do need to get some clothes. “Okay, but I do need to get some clothes. I kind of came here on a whim and didn’t bring more than what I have on me. If you point me to the local clothing store, I’ll get some clothes and be back before dinner.”
“Nonsense. I can take you.” He starts walking with my hand still in his toward what I am guessing is the garage since that area wasn’t on the tours when I went.
Then I hear Brian in the back of my head tell me to keep to the shadows. I know David is photographed every time he goes out. If I am with him, I could end up in one of the photos.
I start to panic a little bit because I need to limit the number of pictures taken of me. It could change history. “David,” I say.
He stops and looks back at me. “Everything okay, beautiful?”
“Well, umm, what are the chances someone would take a picture of the two of us while we are out?”
He looks a bit confused. “There might be one or two taken of us, but I don’t care. I want to tell everyone you are mine.”
“No, David, please don’t. I don’t want anyone to be able to track me here,” I say before I realize I could have said that better because he instantly looks worried.
“What’s wrong? Is someone after you? You have to know I can protect you.”
I need to calm him down.
“It’s not like that. It’s just ...” I’m franticly searching for something plausible to tell him. “This is so new, and I want to keep it ours for a bit.”
He pauses and studies my face. I try not to let my eyes betray me, but it seems he can read me as well as Brian can. “You aren’t a very good liar, are you?” He chuckles.
I sigh. “No, my mom used to say the same thing and so does Brian.”
I watch his body tense. “Who’s Brian?” he almost growls.
He is just so damn cute when he’s jealous, and I can’t help but smile. I walk over to him and place my hand on his chest to calm him. “Brian has been my best friend since we were kids.”
“How much of a threat is he? Do I need to worry about having to put him in his place?” He still doesn’t look calm. I have to admit I’m enjoying this just a bit. It’s been a long time since anyone has cared enough to get jealous over me.
“David, Brian is zero threat. He is...” I think how to put this because I can’t for the life of me remember how the gay community is viewed during this timeframe, but I guess I can take my chances. “Brian is gay,” I say and watch him very closely.
He looks over my shoulder for a moment in thought, then he relaxes under my touch. “Okay well, let me introduce you to Nancy. She is my housekeeper and cook and the only staff I have here at the house right now. You tell her what size you are, and she will get you some clothes.”
I decide to have a little fun with him. I just can’t resist.
“And this Nancy, how much of a threat is she? Do I need to put her in her place?” I ask but can’t keep a straight face if I tried because the corner of my mouth tilts up.
He turns all serious for a moment, then softens when he looks in my eyes. “No, beautiful, she is more like a grandma to me. If you feel threatened by anyone on my team, you tell me.”
I tear up. “David, I was just playing around with you.”
“I know you were, but I want to make my stance very clear, and I’m trying to do it without scaring you off.”
What’s scaring me is how intense this connection between us is. I have to laugh, though, at how dating or courting has changed through the years.
“If anything, it will be me scaring you away,” I say just above a whisper.
“I doubt that, but we’ll take it at your pace.”
“David, you should be more guarded. You don’t know me! I could be here after your money or just trying to get into the spotlight. You just met me. You really have to be more careful!” I pretty much scold him.
“That’s how I know you aren’t, Ivy.” He laughs. “You don’t want your photo taken with me, and you were more interested in my house than trying to climb me like a tree today. You hold your own in a conversation and aren’t afraid to tell me when I’m wrong. You’re a horrible liar, so I know you aren’t here for my money or fame. I honestly think you are here for my house instead of me.”
Shaking my head, I say, “It started off with the house, but the owner isn’t half bad.” I know a light blush hits my cheeks.
“Now that we both know where we stand, let me introduce you to Nancy.”
I nod, and we walk inside and find Nancy in the kitchen. She’s a short lady who reminds me a bit of Alice from the Brady Bunch TV show. She has curly blond hair that is set just perfect.
“Nancy, this is Ivy. She will be staying with us for the next two weeks.”
“Of course, David! It’s about time you have some guests. Oh, Miss...?” she questions.
“Please call me Ivy.”
“Okay, Miss Ivy, you are the first guest here at the house, and the first guest David’s had in his home in the two years I’ve been working with him. I am so happy to have someone to else to cook for in the house!”
I can’t help but smile and look up at David. His eyes soften when they meet mine and then he turns back to Nancy.
“How do you two know each other?” Nancy asks.
“Well, we met today. She’s new in town,” David says, but I notice the slight shift in Nancy. It’s like the protective side of her just came out.
“Nancy, Ivy needs some clothes, toiletries, and well, basically everything. Would you be so kind to run out and get them after dinner?” he asks.
“Of course!” She opens a drawer and grabs a pen and paper. “What size are you, dear?” Nancy ask me.
“Oh, a size four,” I tell her, and she drops the pen.
“Dear, my niece is a size four.” She looks me over and pulls out a tape measure.
“Okay?” I say a bit confused.
“She’s twelve.” Nancy starts taking a few measurements, moving me how she wants me.
“I’d say you’re a size ten. I will grab a few bigger things, and we can always have them resized.” Nancy nods and starts writing again.
I’m not sure I like the sizes in the 1950s. I tell her I just want comfortable clothing, and I’m not picky on toiletries, but I do love anything rose scented.
“Dinner will be ready in two hours, and then I will run out while you eat.” She nods and walks off.
David takes my hand and leads me to the stairs. I hesitate just a moment, but he picks up on it.
“Let me show you to your room. The makeshift living room is also currently up here until I finish renovations downstairs.” He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand, sending sparks to my belly and completely distracting me so all I can do is nod and follow him up the stairs.
He shows me to a beautiful guest room. The walls and carpet are white, but the bedding and curtains are a deep royal purple, and there are silver accents. I gasp before I can stop myself.
“David, who decorated this room?”
“Well, I did. I don’t know, it just felt right. Do you like it? I can change anything you don’t—”
“No, I love it,” I cut him off. “David, this room is what I would have chosen down to the smallest details.” I walk around, taking it all in.
“Maybe I was decorating it for you, and I just didn’t realize it yet,” he says with a shy smile on his face, taking my hand. “Let me show you where the living room is.”
“Um, do you mind if I use the restroom first?”
“You have your own. It’s right through that door.”
With a smile, I head in and close the door. The counter is very simple, but under the sink is a cabinet and to the side are several drawers. I open the bigger one on the bottom, and it’s full of towels. Perfect. Taking the rocks and my cell phone from my pockets, I put it between the bottom two towels, figuring with over six towels in this drawer, they will be safe. I then use the restroom and step out to find David standing in the doorway between the bedroom and the hall.
Smiling, I take the purse with the money Brian gave me and decide to put it in the nightstand by the bed. I then turn to David, who holds out his hand.
My eyes never leave his while I take his hand. He gives me a real smile the kind that lights up his eyes. I watch as he points at the room across the hall.
“That’s my room,” he says.
“Can I see it?” I ask without thinking and immediately realize in 1957 that probably isn’t a normal thing like it is in 2009.
But when I look up at David, he’s still smiling. He opens the door and steps back, letting me walk in and take a look around.
His room’s walls are gray, and the rest of the room is done in black with red accents. The bed is a centerpiece and large with a big canopy and all. This is the first time I’ve seen his room because he died in his bed, so the family never opened this room to the public.
It’s like a slap in the face to know that this is the room he takes his final breath in, the room his body is found in. While it’s always been a sad thought during the tours of his house in the past, the truth now grips at my chest and makes it hard to breathe.
David, of course, who can read me so well after knowing me for such a short amount of time, is at my side instantly. “What’s wrong?” he asks concerned and puts his arm around my waist.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I say yet again barely above a whisper.
He studies my face, and then says, “Come on.” He walks me out of the room and into a room down the hall that is set up like a living room.
He sits down on the couch and pulls me down right next to him. After studying my face for a moment, he speaks.
“You have to give me some credit. You keep saying I won’t believe you, but you forget I can also tell when you’re lying. I don’t want anything between us, so please open up and trust me,” he whispers. He presses his forehead to mine, placing his lips inches from mine.
I think this through quickly. With money for a hotel room if I need it, I can go back tomorrow night at worst case because that will be close to the forty-eight-hours mark. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking it will be easier if he walks away now. If I just push him away and go home and forget about all this.
Figuring this might be the last time I ever see him look at me like this, I lean in and kiss him. I kiss him like it might be our last time because it may very well be.
He instantly takes control of the kiss by wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and pulling me in close, and it takes my breath away. He’s tender and passionate, and I don’t ever want this kiss to end, but before I’m ready, he’s pulling away.
“I could kiss you all night, but please open up to me,” he says. With a deep breath, I wonder if this is really what I want to do? If I lie, maybe he will get angry and walk away. I’m trying to figure out where to start when his hand caresses my cheek ever so lightly.
“Please, Ivy, nothing between us. Please open up to me and trust me. Let me help you,” he whispers while kissing down the side of my neck.
“I want you to know I never lied to you today. Everything I said was the truth, but I just left out some details or let you believe some things that weren’t exactly true. Please remember that.” I take his hand because I need the connection.
When he nods, I continue, “Things like my birthday. It is October eleventh, and I am twenty-one. I just wasn’t born in 1936,” I say and watch his face.
“But the math says 1936?” he asks, a little confused.
With a deep breath, here goes nothing. “I was born in 1988. When I woke up today, it was the year 2009. When you found me, I had been here in 1957 for about an hour.” I wait for him to tell me I’m crazy or it’s a nice joke or to stop playing around while he stands up and walks away.
Shocking me, he just studies my face and says none of that. “You aren’t lying, are you?” he says. I shake my head and decide to go for broke. I launch into the story about Brian and all the details leading up to me landing here this morning.
He’s silent for a long time, just watching me, and then he nods. “Okay, so I have ten days with you, and then I never see you again?” he asks, his jaw clenching.
I’m stunned, and then I just laugh because I think I’m in shock. “Just like that, you accept what I say? You aren’t secretly planning to kidnap and take me to a mental hospital, are you? Please, just tell me if you are, and I’ll leave you be, and you will never hear from me again.”
“What reason do I have to doubt you? The only thing I’m worried about is that I really won’t ever see you again.”
“Well, I’m here now. I don’t know what comes next, and I can’t make you any promises.”
He gives me a half smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Why did you look like you saw a ghost when you looked at my bedroom?”
I hesitate, not planning to say anything.
“Please don’t hold anything back now.”
“I don’t know how much I should tell you about the future to come because I don’t want to have any effect on history. Brian kept drilling that into my head,” I say, and he just keeps waiting for an answer.
“You do become very popular. Umm, well, the bedroom is where you died, and they found you there. Your house was then turned into a museum. This part of the house isn’t open to the public, but the rest is.”
He stares over my shoulder at the wall behind me.
I continue. “I’ve toured the house, and I’ve seen how you finally chose to decorate it. I also know a lot of what is to come your way. I wish I didn’t, but I do.”
“When do I die? And how?”
“I can’t tell you that. Just know you have at least ten years before you need to worry. As far as how”—I can’t help the small shiver that runs through me—“it’s best you don’t know.”
He nods, and I’m a little shocked he believes me. I study his face, and when he turns to look at me, I see a hint of doubt, but he’s doing his best to believe me. I can tell he wants to.
I take his hand. “Come here, I want to show you something.”
Leading him into my bathroom, I open the drawer where I stored my cell phone and pull it out.
“This is a cell phone. It’s a phone that doesn’t require wires; the signal runs off towers in 2009 anyway. It’s like radio towers but for phones.” I turn it on and show it to him. The date shows today's date just in 2009 on the front screen. I look at him and see him staring at the phone. I keep going, showing him the icons on my screen.
“These are called apps, that means applications, and they are kind of like programs, I guess. These are minicomputers.” He gives me a strange look. “Are computers a thing here?”
“Some guy at the University of Pennsylvania created one, but it’s as big as a house.”
“Ahhh well, in fifty years, they will fit into the palm of your hand. Each of these apps does something different. Oh, it even has a camera. Here are some photos. This is one of Brian and me taken just last weekend.”
He reaches out his hand, and I notice the slight shake in it as he holds my phone and stares at it. I take in the photo he is looking at. My hair is down in beachy waves that day. I’m in jeans and a flowy purple top and a long dream catcher necklace. Brian is in jeans and a polo shirt and has his arm around my shoulders. We have an ice cream cone in our hands and are standing in what is now known as Honky Tonk Row in downtown Nashville. There are people all around us and cars on the street.
I reach over and swipe to the next photo. This one is a selfie of me and my dog, June. I smile “That’s my dog, June. I keep joking I need to get a male dog and name it Cash to complete the pair.” Then I slap my hand over my face. “Shit,” I whisper.
“I take it I shouldn’t know who those people are?”
“Well, Cash as in Johnny Cash. Have you met him yet?”
“Yeah, he and his wife, Vivian, are really nice.”
“Ahh, let’s just say that Vivian isn’t his soul mate,” I say and force a smile. He looks at me and smiles.
“Oh, I could have told you that. I’m pretty sure June Carter is.”
My jaw drops, and he chuckles. “I guess I’m right, huh?”
I just nod. Then he swipes to the next photo. “You picked up on that pretty fast.” I look at him as he smiles proudly.
He takes my hand and walks over to the bed. His cheeks turn a slight pink when he lies down, and he tries to sit back up. “I’m sorry, that is highly inappropriate of me. In fact, I shouldn’t be in here. I keep forgetting I met you just today.” He starts babbling. Kneeling on the bed, I put my hand on his chest and push him back down.
“David, a lot changes in the next fifty-two years. Women are a lot more forward, and I love that you are a gentleman, but if you want the real me, you will find a lot of what I will do will also be inappropriate in this time.” I lie down next to him and place my head on his shoulder.
“This is a normal thing where I come from.”
“I want the real you, not the you that you think you need to be.” He puts his arm around me and pulls me even closer to him. “Promise to give me the real you, even if it’s not appropriate.”
I can’t help but smile. “I promise.”
We spend the next hour going through the photos on my phone. Everything from pictures of me around town to my last trip with Brian to Florida where we saw the Weeki Wachee Mermaids and even photos around my house. I even try to explain the internet to him.
“Think of the internet as a wealth of information. Anything you want to know is there. It’s like the biggest library reference section there is, but it’s all digital like the photos,” I say. He nods, but I can tell he still doesn’t grasp it.
By the time we were done, my phone is at 51%.
“I need to turn it off and save the battery because I don’t have the charger with me,” I tell him as I put it in the nightstand where I put my purse and money.
Snuggling back up to him, I wrap my arm over his stomach and just relax into him. He stares at the ceiling in silence and plays with my hair with one hand.
“If we were a normal couple in your time, and we just met today with this type of connection, what would be normal?” he asks.
