Placing his hands on either side of her hips, he pulled her to him and planted a tender kiss over her cotton pants. Precisely on the spot that was doing somersaults all morning long.
“Pregnant?” Jack smiled and rubbed his nose against hers. “I like the sound of that, and we can work on it after you hear me out. Are you up to it?”
Taken aback and not knowing how to react to his comment, she fumbled with the phone. “Sure… yeah…just give me a sec to call Betty and tell her I’m alive.”
“Is Jen home from school?” Jack asked, pointing to the television.
“She came home earlier, but she’s having dinner at her best friend’s house. They’re working on a project that’s due on Monday. Why?”
“The weather?”
“They’re at the house. She’s okay. Let me call Betty.”
He stood, put his hands in his pockets and paced the small living room. When she was done, he returned to her side and took her hand. “I have something to confess. Actually, three things. Don’t answer any of my questions until I’m done. Take your time and think of them.”
The persistent roiling in her tummy had her reaching for a new cracker. She didn’t like talks like the one Jack insisted on and prepared herself for the worst. Suspicion placed her guard on full alert and raised the tiny hairs on her spine.
“First, I’m not leaving. This isn’t a two-week thing for me. My mission is complete, and there’s no other place or time I’d rather be, than here, with you. I know, I don’t have anything to offer you right now, and it’s a lot to ask for you to trust in me, but I’ll find proper employment and a way to support us.”
“You have a job.”
“No, the cost of living today is so high.” Shaking his head, he rubbed his forehead. “I need to find appropriate employment.” Reaching for her knee, he pleaded for her to hear the rest before drawing any conclusion.
“It wasn’t by chance that I walked into
Emy’s Place
looking for a job. Well, maybe destiny, but not random luck.” He paused and reached into his pocket. “I followed you from that sale. I needed an excuse to approach you and get the watch you’d bought.”
She was trying to understand his logic but found it difficult. What did one thing have to do with the other?
“The watch is unique and special. It belongs to a friend of mine. He gave it to me and entrusted that I’d take care of it. I have to return it to his family, and then I’m free to continue my life. It’s a matter of honor.”
“How do you know it’s the same watch? You aren’t even from these parts and that watch came with a bunch of old junk a woman was clearing out of her house. It’s real old. Ancient, practically. I’m not even sure it works.”
“It’s the right watch,” he insisted.
“No, the watch is Pops’ birthday present. He lost one like it years ago. I know it’ll mean so much to him.” She knew there was a catch in this too-good-to-be-true man. He wanted Pops’ watch.
“I know, Emily. I spoke to Betty about it. But if it’s a watch your Pops wants, I bought a WWII original for him.” Jack pulled a very similar piece from his pocket and presented it to her.
“His was from the Korean War.”
“You can give him this one. I need that specific one. Look on the back of the watch you bought, it has
Lucky Charm
inscribed on it. Those two words identify it as the exact one I need. This one has no inscription, but is very similar. It works.”
She flipped the piece he’d handed her in her fingers and conceded she would have bought the replacement watch he offered if she’d found it first. Perhaps it wasn’t a big deal to swap the two. It served the same purpose as the gift.
“But where did you find the money?”
“Barter. The oldest form of payment known to man.” The creases in his forehead began to fade, and he rolled his neck as if in relief. “The owner of the Flaming Flamingo used a green plastic bank card to buy it from the computer database. In return, I will be doing some repairs for him in the motel. I appreciate him spending a fortune on it and trusting me to deliver.”
“How much of a fortune?”
“It makes no difference. We have a replacement, and you can give it to your grandfather. I can return
Lucky Charm
to its rightful owner, and we’ll be done.”
He was referring to them as a unit.
We have a replacement, we’ll be done.
It sounded nice. She’d longed for a relationship like this forever, but she’d never believed that she’d actually find one.
“I agree, on one condition.”
Placing a quick kiss on her lips, he gave her a questioning look.
“How much?” She repeated.
“One watch for the other.”
“No. How much did your watch cost?”
He shrugged and lowered his voice. “Two thousand.”
“Two thousand dollars?” She shrieked and jumped from the couch. “I only paid ten bucks for mine.”
“Good. Then when we average the cost of both watches, they come to just over a thousand each. We’re ahead of the game. Both timepieces will appraise at a much higher value.”
He was crazy! He wanted her ten-dollar watch for his two thousand dollar one. “I can’t. It’s not fair,” she said and went to turn up the volume on the television.
“You can. You agreed. You also agreed not to say anything until I’m fin—”
“Shit.” She covered his mouth with her hand and stared at the screen. “That’s where Pops lives.”
Jack pivoted and saw blown out windows in a tall building featured on the television. A tornado had blown through Key Largo.
“Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” She grabbed the phone and started dialing. Her face lost its color, and he helped her sit back down. “The lines are out. I hope he has his cell phone on. He never turns it on.”
She punched in a new series of numbers but just stared at the black handset as if it would magically materialize her grandfather. Jack took the phone and placed it against his ear. He rubbed the back of her hand.
“There’s no answer. A mechanical voice says to leave a message.”
She jerked the phone from his hands and put it back to her ear. “Pops. Pops, call me as soon as you get this message. If I’m not home, I’ll be on my cell. Please Pops, please call me.”
Jack went into the bedroom and retrieved her slicker. He knew she’d want to go looking for her grandfather, and the rain was coming in buckets now. “Emily, take a moment to get ready. I’ll run up to the restaurant and borrow Betty’s car.”
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
They headed north on US1, the Overseas Highway, through a sheet of rain. Jack had figured out how to drive the Buick and was intrigued at how easy it was to operate the modern vehicle. Daring to take his eyes off the road, he glimpsed Emily dialing again.
“Phone service is still down. They said it was minor damage to the top floor of the building. Windows and planters, but the television coverage made it look bad. And if it was so minor, why isn’t his phone working?”
“Try to keep the line open so he can get through when he calls.” He increased the speed of the wipers and lowered the radio volume. Then in an attempt to calm and reassure her, he patted her shaking knee. “I’m sure Pops is fine. Like you said, nothing happened to the second floor and the news said no one was injured. Maybe he went to visit a friend or something, and he wasn’t even there when it hit. He might not even know about it.”
“Maybe, but unlikely.” She crossed her legs and squeezed her hands between her thighs. “He rarely goes far on late summer afternoons because of the storms. It can come out of nowhere. Torrential downpours with no warning are common. He’s agreed not to venture out in the afternoons.”
“The storms are tricky in this area.”
“Yeah. He should be at home. You see, two years ago it was decided that his vision was deteriorating and he shouldn’t drive anymore. He gave me his car and promised to use taxis or the shuttle for his errands. For any long trips, we’re usually together. That’s why I took the Caddy in for service. It sits most of the time, but when Pops visits, we do Key West, Marathon or Largo once or twice a day. He likes to try new fishing spots all the time, but he always ends up at the dock in the backyard.”
“He sounds like a fun guy. I can’t wait to meet him. Maybe we’ll drop a line in the water together.”
Her phone chirped, and she immediately touched the screen to activate it. “Where are you?…Islamorada…”
Jack heard one end of the conversation, but the relief in her voice was unmistakable. He smiled, and at the same moment the rain let up and the sun peeked through. A rainbow crossed over the road ahead of them.
“No. Stay put and let Marty go home. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes… Don’t argue. I’m already on the road… It’s okay, Pops. Glad you thought to check the car when you realized you dropped it… Okay, wait ten minutes and order us two coffees.”
Amazed with the love and adoration her voice held, he stole a quick glance at her. There were tears in her eyes, but she sounded sweet and understanding to her grandfather.
“Say hi to Marty and Joan for me. I’ll see you in a bit… Love you, too.”
“Better?” He asked.
“Much,” she said and slid along the seat to cozy up against him. “I don’t know what came over me, but I was terrified I’d lose him. I overreacted. He decided on coming in early to surprise us and save me the trip up to Largo to pick him up.”
“Who’s Marty?”
“Marty is his fishing buddy. They live in the same building and spend much time together. His daughter, Joan, has a place in Big Pine, and they were driving down for the weekend. Pops came along for the ride. You’ll meet Marty at the cocktail party.”
Jack nodded, secretly relieved himself. The thunderstorms had been fierce and had lasted longer than on other afternoons. When they couldn’t reach the old man on the telephone, he’d grown concerned that Emily would have more to deal with.
Five minutes later, she told him to make a left into a lot with a large building sporting a bass as a mascot. They parked and walked on a wooden deck running along the bay to the large shop. Nurse sharks and tarpon swam in the water beside them, and people leaned over the railing to watch them. Jack whistled as he saw the long wooden bars under the tiki where the daily catch was displayed.
“A fishing haven.”
“Pops seems to think so.” She looped her arm through his and led him indoors. “He’s waiting in the restaurant.”
The place was full of fishing gear and gadgets. There was a huge aquarium, boats and even clothing in the store. Obviously a one-stop place for fishing enthusiasts. Jack could imagine getting lost in here for a few hours.
Emily dropped her hold on Jack and went into the outstretched arms of a man standing by a corner table. Hugging and kissing in greeting, they were completely absorbed in each other. Then the older man looked at Jack and waited for his granddaughter to introduce them.
“Jack, this is my Pops, John Mitchell.”
There was a familiar gleam in those blue eyes, but Jack couldn’t place it. He offered his hand. “Jack Carter. Pleased to meet you, sir.”
The old man just stared, said nothing, then nodded as he sat and gestured to the coffee. The threesome sat, and Jack added sugar to his drink to busy himself and give Em some time with her grandfather.
Recognition played on his mind, unsettling Jack each time he met the old man’s gaze. Who was he? Where did he know him from?
“You gave me such a scare. I thought you were home when the tornado hit.” Emily brought Pops’ hand to her cheek and placed a kiss in the center of his palm. “I thought my life would change today and never be the same again.”
Pops chuckled and kissed Emily’s hand in turn. “How many times have I told you, my silly girl, that I’m too lucky to have anything like that happen?”
Jack’s head snapped up, and he once again caught the old man’s gaze. Pops gave him a knowing smirk and raised his brows in warning not to reveal what he’d just realized.
John Kelsey Jones! Mr. Lucky Charm himself.
“All this excitement has me in need of the ladies’ room. Again.” Emily shrugged, dropped her napkin and stood. She squeezed the weathered hand on the table and placed a quick kiss on her grandfather’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
As they watched her walk down the corridor, Jack moved his chair closer and cleared his throat. “Jones?”
“In the very flesh, Captain.”
He rubbed his forehead and shook his head. “I can’t believe this. What are the chances this could happen?”
“You should know better than to ask me that question. It’s not about chances. It’s about luck—”
“And you are the
Lucky Charm.”
Snapping his fingers and grinning ear to ear, the old man did a jig in his seat. “Hot diggity! We did it. You traveled through time, sir. I knew it had worked for you. I just didn’t know how. I guess in a different way, but it still worked. You look the same as the day we jumped from the plane. When did you come through?”
“A few days ago.” Jack was astounded by the enthusiasm Jones exhibited. He was as giddy as the day he’d learned he’d been chosen for the mission.
“Grey?” A look of concern crossed his comrade’s aged face.
“He’s fine. We came through together—in Marathon.” Jack glanced down the corridor, but there was no sign of her. “The fucking triangle spit us out a few miles from where we started.”
“It spit me out in the middle of Central Park, in the early of the nineteen fifties. I made it to the lieutenant’s house down here, and he arranged for my new identity. Any traces of John Kelsey Jones are gone. I’m a Korean War veteran, as far as my paperwork is concerned. That was Jensen’s doing so I could retain my benefits. You know he made it all the way to Admiral?”
“I do,” Jack said, rubbing his hand over his forehead. “But I don’t know anything about a Korean War.”
“We have time, sir. I’ll get you up to speed. Guess fate didn’t want us to change history, after all.”
“By choosing the 1936 Olympics, we made every effort to minimize our influence in events,” Jack reminded Jones. “We wanted to prevent loss of life, not change the future.”
“I may be old, but I remember the arguments. I remember how the superiors had weighed our interference, and I remember the need to stop the senseless massacre. But, Jack, it wasn’t for us to decide. There are greater forces at work.”