Mirror, The (44 page)

James laughed.

"Ready for what? You have a ray gun in that purse?"

"No. I have a Washington state driver's license. It's not valid in 1964, but it's legit."

"Show me," James said.

Ginny dug the license out of her purse and slid it across the table.

"Go ahead. Hold it up to the light. It's pretty cool."

James did as instructed.

"This is a fake. I know college boys who make stuff like this."

Ginny smiled again.

"Do you know college boys who make fake IDs for people born in 2001?"

James shook his head.

"No," James said. He stared at Ginny with curious eyes. "Why would you do that? Why would you get a fake ID that says you were born in 2001? You'd get busted for sure."

Ginny laughed. It was time for Exhibit B.

"Let me show you something else."

She pulled out a packet of wallet-size photographs and handed them to James.

"What are these?" he asked.

"They're graduation pictures. Tell me what you see."

James examined the color photos closely.

"I see you and Katie holding your diplomas."

"What else do you see?"

"I see words. I see 'Westlake High School, Class of 2020.'"

"Do you think the pictures are fakes too?"

James rubbed his chin and sighed.

"I don't know."

"Let me show you a few other things."

Ginny opened a zippered pouch in her purse. She retrieved a handful of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters from the twenty-first century and spread them across the table.

"How about these? Have you ever seen coins like these?"

Ginny watched James closely as he picked up a Roosevelt dime, a coin whose design had not changed in seventy-four years. She could literally see the skepticism drain from his face.

"Where did you get these?"

"I got them at stores and restaurants in Seattle, fifty-six years from now."

"You can't be serious," James said.

"Let me show you one more thing."

Ginny again reached into her big bag of proof and pulled out a cell phone that she had recharged that morning. She turned it on and gave it to James.

"What's this?"

"It's a telephone," Ginny said. "It doesn't work here because there's no network to support it, but it works where I come from. In 2020, I can call anyone in the world."

James examined the device for about a minute and then put it back on the table. When he looked at Ginny, he looked like a man who had seen a ghost.

"You're for real."

"I'm for real," Ginny said. "Katie and I have been here four months. We went to an exhibit at a fair on our nineteenth birthday, walked through a magic mirror, and came out in 1964. We plan to go back to that same exhibit tomorrow and go home to 2020."

James kept to himself for a moment, as if digesting everything she had said. When he finally returned to Ginny, he shook his head and laughed.

"What's so funny?" Ginny asked.

"I was just thinking," James said. "If you stuck around a few weeks, you could make a lot of money."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you probably know who's going to win the election and maybe the World Series. If I were you, I'd at least make a million or two before going back."

Ginny grinned.

"You're just like my dad. He thinks that way too."

James frowned.

"You're not going to do it, though, are you? You're not going to stick around."

Ginny shook her head.

"No. We're leaving tomorrow. We have to be at the fair when it opens. If the mirror doesn't send us back, we'll keep trying until it does. We have only one shot at this. We can't take any chances by staying here."

"I understand," James said. "I'm going to miss you, Ginny Smith."

Ginny gazed at James and sighed.

"I'm not gone yet, mister."

She got up out of her chair, walked across the kitchen to a radio, and turned it on. When she finally found a station that played easy listening, she set the dial, walked to the middle of the kitchen, and extended a hand.

"You want to dance?" James asked.

"I want to dance."

James met Ginny on the kitchen floor. They danced to a song that their parents had probably danced to and then another and another. The songs were slow, sweet, and eminently satisfying.

They danced for more than three hours. Every now and then, he stole a kiss. Every now and then, she gave him potentially useful information about the future. They talked, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company until eleven, when the station switched from music to news.

James gazed at Ginny for a moment before finally acknowledging the change.

"I should go. Even I can't dance to the news," James said with a laugh. He pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. "It's been a great night, Ginny. I'll never forget this. I'll never forget you."

Ginny heard the words but didn't process them. She was in a different place, a place where dates didn't end when radio stations changed their programming but rather when romance had run its course. So when James stepped away and went for his jacket, she pulled him back and gave him a tender kiss.

"I know it's late and that I should let you go, but I'm not going to do it just yet."

"You're not?" James asked.

Ginny shook her head.

"No. I'm going to move this dance to a different room."

Ginny grabbed his hand and led him down the hall toward her bedroom. She got as far as the door before she felt some resistance. James pulled on her hand and turned her around.

"Why are you doing this, Ginny?" James asked. "You're leaving tomorrow. You're not coming back. You won't see me again."

Ginny sighed, threw her arms over his shoulders, and gave him another kiss.

"You've given me the best summer of my life. That's worth something," she said. "I know I'm leaving. I know I'm not coming back. But that's exactly why I want to do this."

Ginny tightened her arms around his neck.

"If this is it, James. If this is the really the last time I see you and spend time with you, then I want to make it count. I want to leave you with more than a smile."

CHAPTER 78: GINNY

Monday, September 7, 1964

Ginny leaned on a Ford Fairlane station wagon owned and usually operated by Joe and Virginia Jorgenson and watched Nana come out of her house with a large manila envelope. She laughed as the woman almost tripped on a roller skate on the walk that led to the driveway.

"Watch your step, Nana. Joanie's toys are a killer."

"I will be so glad when she gets out of this stage," Virginia said.

"Be careful what you wish for. Boys are the next stage," Ginny said.

"Don't remind me."

Ginny stood up straight, smoothed the wrinkles in her yellow dress, and moved away from the vehicle when Virginia reached the driveway.

"What's in your hand?"

"These are the pictures Joe took on Friday night," Virginia said. She handed Ginny the packet. "They all turned out well, including the ones with the girls. You can look at them now, if you'd like. I didn't seal the envelope."

"I'll wait."

"When I was compiling them, I noticed the envelope you gave me last week. What would you like me to do with it?"

"Burn it," Ginny said.

"You want me to burn it?"

Ginny nodded.

"Or throw it in the sound. Just don't let anyone see it."

"Are you at least going to tell me what it contains?"

Ginny pondered the question. Part of her wanted to tell not only Nana but also the rest of the
Sun
staff and Seattle's major television stations. She wanted Richard Carrington to simmer in his own juices, but she didn't want to alter history any more than she already had.

"No. I think it's best I take the Fifth on this one."

Virginia laughed and gave Ginny a hug.

"What am I going to do when you're gone?"

"You're going to light a candle every night in my memory."

Virginia smiled.

"I may just do that. I am going to miss you. I'm also going to miss that sister of yours. Have you seen her?"

"No. I've been looking too. She called this morning to say she'd be back by two. It's three fifteen now. It's not like her to be late," Ginny said. "Katie is the most punctual person I know."

Virginia put a hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"Give her some time, dear. I know she's very fond of the Hayes boy. I imagine that leaving him will be difficult."

Ginny stared blankly at the street.

"You have no idea."

Virginia peeked inside the station wagon.

"I don't see any luggage or belongings. Are you sure you don't want to take anything with you? I'd be happy to give you a suitcase if you want to pack your dresses."

Ginny smiled.

"No, thank you. You can keep them. Give the shorter ones to Cindy and Joanie when they're older, if the dresses are still in style. I suspect at least one of them will wear them."

"I'm afraid to ask which one," Virginia said.

Ginny laughed.

"Let's just say I know my grandma well."

Ginny raised a hand to her forehead and looked down the street. There was still no sign of her AWOL sister.

"What about money? Do you have enough for cab fare and other expenses?"

"I think we're set. Katie and I closed out our bank accounts on Friday," Ginny said. "We have more than enough money for a taxi, though I don't think we'll need it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I expect things to be just as we left them. That's how time travel works. When we walk through the mirror, we'll pop out at exactly the same time we left. My car will still be in the parking lot. We'll just drive it home."

"Well, if there's anything you need, just holler. It's not too late to run to the bank or a store."

"Thanks, Nana, but I think we'll be fine," Ginny said. She peered into the distance. "I have everything I need, including my sister. There she is now."

Ginny stepped forward as Mike Hayes approached in his white Impala and turned into the driveway of the duplex. She stopped when he got out of the car and escorted Katie across the street to the Jorgenson house. She could sense that something was wrong.

Ginny's heart sank when she got her first close look at Katie's face. She could see that her sister, no stranger to tears, had been crying hard.

She also looked at Mike and saw that he appeared no happier than Katie. He wore the face of a man who had just had his world taken away.

Ginny walked slowly toward her twin and gave her a hug. She could feel Katie shake.

"Are you OK, sweetie?" Ginny asked.

Katie looked up at Ginny with vacant eyes and shook her head.

"No," Katie said softly.

Ginny glanced at Mike and then at Virginia, who stood about fifteen feet away. Each had given the sisters space to discuss whatever they had to discuss.

"Katie?" Ginny asked. "I have to ask a question."

She put her hands on her sister's shoulders.

"Ask," Katie said.

"Is Mike coming with us?"

"No."

"I didn't think so," Ginny said. She tightened her hold on Katie's shoulders. "I know this is hard, but you have to say goodbye now. Nana is waiting to take us to the fair."

Katie stood motionless and stared blankly at the house. A moment later, she gently removed Ginny's hands from her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"I'm not going," Katie said in a voice barely above a whisper.

Ginny paused for a moment as her stomach began to twist.

"Did you just say you're not going?"

Katie nodded.

"I'm not going to the fair, Ginny. I'm not leaving Mike."

Ginny forced a smile and looked at Virginia and Mike.

"Can you give us a moment?" Ginny asked. "We need to discuss a few things."

"Take all the time you need," Virginia said.

Mike nodded but didn't speak.

Ginny grabbed Katie's hand and led her away from the others to the side yard. When they reached a patch that was free of roller skates and dolls, she let her sister have it.

"What do you mean you're not going?"

"I mean I'm not going," Katie said.

"Oh, yes you are," Ginny said in a heated voice. "You're getting in Nana's car right now and going to the fair."

"No. I'm not."

Ginny looked at the sky and threw up her hands.

"Are you nuts?"

"No. I'm very sane," Katie said.

Ginny looked at her twin and saw a stranger. She couldn't believe she was having this conversation with someone who shared her DNA. She took a deep breath, collected her thoughts, and tried again to reach a sibling who had abandoned her senses.

"You don't have to leave Mike. I've told you that a hundred times. He can come with us. I'll help him adjust. He'll be fine. You'll be fine. We'll all be fine. But we have to leave now."

"He won't leave his mother."

"So bring her along. We can pick her up on the way."

"She won't go," Katie said. "I asked her to come this morning. She won't budge."

"That's her choice," Ginny said. "
You
don't have a choice. You have to go."

Katie hardened her stare.

"I won't leave them."

Ginny stiffened as her anger started to rise.

"I've got news for you, Katie. Mrs. Hayes is going to die. She's going to leave
you
. She's going to leave Mike. He won't have a mother no matter where he is, so he might as well come with us."

"He has a sister too," Katie hissed.

Ginny exploded.

"
You
have a sister! You have two sisters and three brothers and parents who love you and miss you. Do they count, Katie? Do they? Do they?"

"Of course they count," Katie said. She burst into tears. "Do you think this is easy for me?"

"No. I don't think it's easy. It wasn't easy for me to say goodbye to James last night. It was hard, but I did it. I did the right thing and said goodbye. Now, you have to do the right thing and say goodbye to Mike."

"I can't."