Page 69 of Time for You
But Anne was eyeing his backpack and clearly not really listening. “Can I see them? You said some are for infections, and I’ve been reading some research coming out of Germany about infections caused by tiny living organisms. Does this kill those organisms?”
“That’s roughly what happens, yes. There’s a book that explains how it works as well.”
Anne nearly shoved him over in her haste to get to the bag. “Really and truly? Can I read it? I promise, I won’t tell a soul.”
Henry laughed, his sister’s brightness reminding him that coming back had been the honorable thing to do. “You may. I won’t be able to explain much, but they taught me the basics.”
“And it’s common for women to be doctors? That wasn’t just you saying so?”
“I personally knew four women doctors, all of them brilliant. And it wasn’t seen as at all unusual.”
Anne sighed wistfully. “I wish I could travel to the future.”
“The portal won’t open for another seven years. But I wish you could; you’d love it there. It’s fun, Annie. So much fun.”
Anne blinked. “Who are you, and what have you done with mywomen should learn to be happy with what they have, lest they risk being miserablebrother?”
“He went to the future and learned he’d been a downright ass to you.”And he was unhappy with his lot in life and terrified you’d end up the same way.
“Did the future also make you forget your manners?” Anne said, looking a little surprised at his crude language.
Henry chuckled ruefully. “It did a little, yes.”
“Well then. Thinking you might be dead was awful, but if you’re back and less of a miserable prat, I guess you falling through a time veil isn’t so bad.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come home sooner,” he said.
“Nonsense, you came as soon as you could manage,” Anne said, digging through his bag to find the textbook from Vibol. “What’sthis?” she added, picking up a small, stiff rectangle that had fluttered to the floor.
It was a photo of him and Daphne on the dance floor at the gala, lost in each other. Ellie had printed it for him, and he’d smuggled it back in between the pages of the book, unwilling to leave all proof of his feelings for Daphne in the future.
“It’s a photograph,” he said around a suddenly tight throat.
Anne studied it closely. “Ahhh,” she said quietly. “I see.”
“She’s one of the doctors I was telling you about,” Henry said, attempting to sound as though he were discussing Brittany or Ellie and not the love of his life.
“Mm-hmm,” Anne said. “She’s pretty.”
She’s beautiful.“She is. Was. Will be? I haven’t quite figured out how to talk about the future, given that it’s also my past.”
“Nice try, big brother. I won’t be so easily distracted. You really left her behind? For us?”
“I had to, Annie. I couldn’t let you all believe I’d deserted you.”
“We never thought that. We grieved, of course. Mama didn’t get out of bed for a week once we realized you wouldn’t be coming home, and Maggie threw herself into running the business but barely slept. But we never thought you’d simply abandoned us.”
“And what did you do?”
Anne smiled sadly. “I went into your room every day to read a book.”
Guilt washed over him. He shouldn’t have stayed just to break his own heart. He should have come home right away, saved them all the pain, himself included. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“I know,” Anne said. “But you’re back, and that’s what matters.”
Across the room, Maggie yawned behind her hand and George stood up. “We should get some sleep and resume our festivities in the morning,” he suggested.
“I’ll have to go check out the docks, see what’s happening,” Henry pointed out.
