Fading With Time

Chapter 8

Life is a Conundrum

                The two of them walked back to the house in silence.  Each lost in their own thoughts.  Annabel plotting and composing her first letter to the future.  Elizabeth however was letting worry build as she tried to figure out a way home.  She didn’t know what she would do if she never made it back to her time.  Not only that but her family’s belongings were on their way to her.  While she was reluctant to receive them, she was also anticipating meeting the woman who was her mother.  At least the parts of her that may still exist.  She was so close to finding out about the woman who had remained a mystery to her her entire life.  If she ended up stuck in the past she would never be able to get past her issues where her mother was concerned. 

                Annabel bounded up the front steps practically vibrating in excitement with all the new possibilities that lay ahead.  She opened the door with enthusiasm turning back to wait for Elizabeth.  The brilliant smile that had broke out on her face dimmed slowly as she watched anxiety, worry, and sadness play across Elizabeth’s face.  Annabel took the moment of Elizabeth’s distraction to observe her.  She couldn’t imagine what it would be like if she were stuck far from home.  She had been so wrapped up in her newest adventure that she had not taken the time to view the situation from the other woman’s perspective.  Annabel moved to Elizabeth’s side wrapping her arm around her in comfort.  Elizabeth drawn out of her endless loop of worries glanced at Annabel trying to give her a reassuring smile.

                “It will all be okay.  You will see.  We will stay up all night if we have to and figure out how to get you home.”  Elizabeth smiled her thanks as Annabel gave her one last squeeze before striding back to the door.  Opening it wide she held it for Elizabeth to enter first.  Bowing low as if she were a courtly gentleman she waited for her to pass by her.  Elizabeth chuckled at Annabel’s antics as a pang of sadness nipped at her heart.  The action had reminded her of Ryan.  It wasn’t like he was in Crystal Springs at the moment anyway, but she couldn’t help feeling the overwhelming need to see him.  Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself as if to keep herself from shattering into pieces.  Moving briskly, she stepped over the threshold not wanting Annabel to notice her sudden drop in mood.  Stepping into the front room Elizabeth was startled by a knock coming from the door she had just stepped through.  Thinking Annabel was messing with her she whirled around to chastise her only to come face to face with a closed door.  She hadn’t heard it closing behind her when she entered the house.  Reaching out she pulled the door open shocked as a grinning Jan stood in front of her.

                “Are you going to let me in or am I just going to stand out here all day?”  She teased.  Elizabeth cried out in relief throwing the door open and giving Jan a bear hug.  Jan looked down at Elizabeth in confusion.  “Are you okay?”  She asked tentatively patting her lightly on the arm to gain her attention.  Elizabeth pulled back in embarrassment realizing too late how her sudden behavior must have seemed.  Wiping away her tears of relief she waved away Jan’s concern.

                “I was just stuck in a dream I wasn’t sure I would ever wake from.”  She stated knowing Jan wouldn’t possibly understand if she told her what had happened.  For all she knew she had been dreaming.  The last thing she remembered doing was getting into bed when she found the hand recorder.  For all she knew she really did fall asleep afterwards and had dreamed the whole encounter up.  Maybe she even slept walked to answer the door hearing it in her sleep and moving towards it before she was completely awake.

                “Are you sure you’re okay?  You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”  Jan pointed out looking her over with concern.  Elizabeth was paler than usual with wide haunted eyes staring out at nothing.  She appeared to be shell-shocked.

                “I’m fine really.  I was sleeping and apparently answered the door in my sleep.  I didn’t come too until just before I opened the door.”  Elizabeth laughed a little shakily not completely believing her own story but needing to more than anything.  The other possibility was just to incredible to fathom.  If she were being honest with herself she kind of felt like if she didn’t start believing in the possibility that she would lose touch with reality.  Jan was watching Elizabeth as she unconvincingly nodded in agreement with her excuse.  She wasn’t exactly sure what was going on with her, but she seemed frailer than usual.  Closer to how she had been when they had all first met her.  The sight made her uneasy enough that she silently made plans to come check on Elizabeth once a day.

                “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”  Elizabeth was momentarily thrown by Jan’s sudden change in subject and had to take a moment to come up with something.  Smiling a thought lit up her mind.  It would definitely take her mind off of things for the day anyway.

                “Well the projects for the art class need to get underway.  I figured while construction was going on and we were missing people to go through the antiques, that this was the perfect thing.”  She stated proudly. 

                “Brilliant.  In the whole new baby chaos, I nearly forgot we were doing that.”  Jan’s enthusiasm was contagious as she took hold of Elizabeth’s shoulders pushing her back into the house.  She didn’t have to shove for very long as Elizabeth hustled her way into the house excited to begin as well.  Moving into the kitchen she retrieved the notebook she had been writing in that day in class.  Turning to the beginning of her notes she turned the book over to Jan.

                “This is all the stuff I want to do.”  Jan looked over each page her eyes shooting up higher with each idea Elizabeth had written.

                “Are you sure about taking all this on?”  She asked her gaze finally meeting Elizabeth’s confident one.

                “I’m sure.  I want to give them something nice as a surprise.”  Jan smiled, still a little leery whether they can get it all done in time.

                “Okay, here’s the plan then.  You go get ready for the day and I’ll start calling people to see if we can round up the pictures that we’ll need.  Once you’re done we can discuss where to set up shop for this massive project.”  Elizabeth agreed as she rushed off to her room while Jan pulled out her phone to begin her phone calls.