Page 14 of Stolen Time

She managed to smile in return, although he thought he detected something forced about her expression, that she wasdoing so only because she’d realized she wasn’t in a position to argue. And that was the terrible thing about the whole situation, wasn’t it? Left here with no resources, without even a penny to her name and only the utterly inappropriate clothing on her back, what else was she supposed to do except rely on the support of those around her?

He went out the front door and then immediately around to the side yard, where he was sheltered by several luxuriant holly bushes and could allow himself to disappear without anyone seeing him. Directly afterward, he appeared at Aunt Ruth and Uncle Timothy’s house, again choosing a spot to emerge in their side yard that was hidden from the street. Their neighbors on either side and across the way were also McAllisters, and therefore, he could have probably emerged right in the middle of the front walk without any real repercussions, but he’d learned as a child at his mother’s knee that members of the witch community had to be circumspect at all times.

Even though he was following Helen’s advice — and even though he knew logically that it wouldn’t look at all appropriate to have Deborah stay with him — he also hated the thought of fobbing her off on his relatives. He was the one who’d found her, and he believed he should have been the one to give her a place to stay until they could sort out the mystery of who she actually was and where she had come from. After all, his was probably the most familiar face in town to her.

But none of those arguments would hold up against the weight of societal disapproval, which was why he resigned himself to walking up the steps to Aunt Ruth and Uncle Timothy’s house and rapping twice with the brass knocker affixed to the front door.

Aunt Ruth was the one who answered. She looked only mildly surprised to see him; the McAllisters were always running back and forth between their clan members’ varioushouses, whether it was to ask to borrow a cup of flour or possibly deliver some news.

“What is it, Seth?” she asked, stepping aside so he could enter the foyer. Like cousin Helen’s house, this one was also large and well-appointed, although the furnishings had been purchased before the turn of the century and everything was beginning to look a bit old-fashioned. And Ruth was a little old-fashioned, too, with her graying blonde hair piled up into a pompadour rather than the low buns most women sported these days if they hadn’t bobbed their long locks. Her daughter Daphne had been the youngest of her children and the last to leave the nest, and Ruth already had her first grandchild on the way.

As quickly as Seth could, he explained how he’d found Deborah Rowe in the mine the evening before, and how Helen had determined that she seemed to be just fine physically despite the loss of almost all her memories.

“It wouldn’t look right for me to put her up at my place,” he concluded. “So we were hoping you and Uncle Timothy might let her stay in Daphne’s old bedroom.”

Ruth had listened to the story with alternating surprise and worry, but she nodded at once after the true reason for his visit had been revealed. “The poor girl,” she said. “This must have all been a terrible shock for her.”

“It was,” he replied. “But she’s handling it pretty well, despite everything. I just want to make sure she has a safe place to stay until we can try to get this figured out.”

“Well, one thing we have is plenty of room,” Ruth said, which was only the truth. Their big Victorian had four bedrooms, and now only one of them was probably in use. Seth had heard Timothy comment about wanting to change one of the extra bedrooms into an office, but even if he’d carried out those plans, that still left two spares, either of which should be fine for Deborah. “You just send her along whenever you like. Timothy’sout working in the garden, but otherwise, we didn’t have any plans for today.”

It definitely didn’t sound as if Deborah was going to impose on them too much. Still, Seth found himself wondering if there was some way he could keep her at his house just a little longer.

He wanted to spend as much time in her company as he could.

Ruth came to his rescue then, adding, “And why don’t you come over for dinner after she’s settled? That way, she can have a familiar face around her this first night. It might make things easier for her.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” he said, even as he hoped he didn’t sound enthusiastic to the point where his reaction might raise suspicions. “What time?”

“Oh, six as usual,” she replied. “You can bring her over whenever you like, though.”

Well, he thought he might as well get this over with, especially now that he knew he’d have a chance to see Deborah again soon enough. “Within the hour, probably.”

“We’ll be expecting her.”

With the matter settled, he thanked Aunt Ruth, told her he’d be back soon enough, and then disappeared so he could meet Helen and Deborah at his own house. Everyone in his clan was used to his magical comings and goings by now, so he knew she probably hadn’t even batted an eye.

Now he just had to let Deborah know where she was going.

5

ANY PORT IN A STORM

When Seth reappearedafter about a ten-minute absence, I did my best not to show how relieved I was. Sure, his cousin Helen — who looked like a porcelain doll come to life — had been friendly enough, doing her best to keep me entertained with stories about Jerome and its various points of interest, including the store Seth’s parents owned and the English Kitchen — known in later days as Bobby D’s, an awesome barbecue restaurant — which served authentic Chinese cuisine.

“You’ll have to try it after you’re settled,” Helen said. She’d sat on the sofa while I perched in a side chair. It felt a little strange to make ourselves so comfortable when he wasn’t even home, but she didn’t appear to have a problem with the situation. “Perhaps Seth can take you.”

Was she trying to set us up?

Not that I thought I would mind too much, but still, I shouldn’t be thinking about hook-ups or even having dinner with a guy while I was here. No, I needed to be figuring out how the hell I was going to get back to the twenty-first century.

I made a noncommittal sound, and luckily, Seth walked in the front door of the bungalow only a minute later, saving me from further awkward conversation.

“It’s all set with my Aunt Ruth,” he informed us. “You’ll just need to pack up the things I brought you.”

The thought of having to stay with strangers didn’t appeal to me very much, but I did my best to remind myself that they were McAllisters, and even though they weren’t strictly family, they were still witches, which meant we had more in common than they might think.

“Thank you so much for arranging that,” I said, wearing a smile I hoped looked genuine. “But I’m not sure how I can pack when I don’t have a suitcase.”

---