Stealing Time (15 page)

Lindsey was brushing Flicka, talking softly
to her. “I’d love to see my grandma, but I don’t want to mess up
any time thingy or history.”

“I think she’d like that.”

“Kates! You’re looking a little better.”

“Thanks for bringing me the letter. It
helped. Anna has this strange idea I can heal the family...I’m
strong or something like that.”

Lindsey set the brush down in the stall. “You
are. You just don’t know it. I agree that we need someone to bring
us together. It should be you.”

“Alright, let’s start with you.” Kate
extended her hand, and Lindsey grabbed on. The two girls headed
back to the house and straight to Anna’s room.

“Anna, don’t get mad, but I’m still here.”
Kate tapped on the door.

The door flew open. “I could never be mad at
my best friend!” Anna laughed and then noticed Lindsey. “Hello. I
think I met you at the wedding.”

“You did. Anna, this is Lindsey, my friend
from back home.” Kate nudged Lindsey forward.

“Nice to see you again.” Lindsey stuck out
her hand.

“Oh, that’s so formal! Any friend of
Kathryn’s is a friend of mine.” She embraced Lindsey in a big
hug.

“We’ll be on our way. Just wanted to say
good-bye.” Kate hugged Anna and took Lindsey by the arm, leading
her down the hall. “We don’t want anyone to see us,” she whispered.
Back in her room, Kate finally turned and saw Lindsey’s
tear-stained face. “We’ll get through this, Linds. We’ll all get
through this. Trust me.”

* * * *

Day planner and phone in hand, Kate sat down
in her business class seat next to Drew. “You guys splurged for the
trip, I see.” She smiled sweetly at him.

He was her rock through these last
twenty-four hours, and she owed him. Never questioning any
decisions, Drew went along with whatever she wanted.

He’s silently grieving and needs to talk.
Maybe I can get him to open up on this long plane ride to
Arizona
. Kate patted his arm and opened the book to October.
She had switched to a locked book and kept things written in code
since Tyson snuck onto her laptop last year. “Things will be tight,
but I think we can make it back to New York City for your parents’
party, the one they had for us after the wedding. Would you like
that?”

“Not really.”

“Okay, can you tell me why?”

“Should we be going to a party so soon after
Anna’s passed?”

“She’d want us to.”

“She was always too nice.”

“Noted.” Kate dug through her bag and
produced the letter. “Here, read this.”

Sitting in silence, waiting for take-off, she
watched Drew read the letter again and again. “I never thought
about you like that before. That’s quite profound.”

“I know. I don’t believe I’m the head of the
family or anything. It’s a big responsibility. I do feel stronger
since I read it though.”

“I noticed. It’s alright to cry, you
know.”

“I think I shed all the tears I can for now.
What about you?” Kate patted his arm again as they lifted off.

“No.”

“Drew, you need to talk about it. Stop being
such a...man.”

She thought she saw a sudden flash in his
eyes for just a second, and then they went back to a muddled, smoky
green, no his usual emerald. “No.”

“Okay, I’m here when you’re ready to talk.
Now back to the calendar. Do you think we can make it to New York
in time?”

“No, we have to leave from Arizona if we’re
going to do it.”

“Not a problem. Anna had a book, and now
Lindsey has one. We just need to get Dad to change our plane
tickets to a flight later in the week.”

“And what do we tell the family? We plan on
vanishing for a few days and will show up for breakfast next
Tuesday?”

“Something like that. Lindsey will help us.”
Kate decided it was time to change the subject. “I have an idea for
the funeral I want to run past you. I need your help.”

Kate continued to keep Drew’s mind occupied
until they landed in Flagstaff. There was no Jenkins clan to greet
them, only the car rental agent. Lindsey’s parents were already at
the ranch. Carl was bringing his mother and the Texas Cook family.
It felt lonely standing with her parents and Drew in the
airport...a place usually filled with so much love. Kate wasn’t
looking forward to the ride out to the ranch or the wake that
followed. She hoped to get through it in one piece and just move on
to the next day.

* * * *

A radiant sun shone the day of the funeral,
not a cloud in the sky. Grandpa Dan decided to hold the services at
the house, his mother’s beloved home. From there they would drive
to the cemetery. Kate and Drew were already dressed and in the barn
getting the Packard ready for its surprise grand entrance. Kate
wanted the car driven in front of the hearse to Anna’s final
resting place.

“Will it start?”

“Dan’s kept it in good shape so it should.”
Drew threw the tarp in the corner of the garage. “I’ll slip out at
the end of the service, drive around and park in front of the
limousine. It’s a great idea, Kate.” He put his arms around her and
held on like he’d never let go. She thought she felt a tear spill
onto her arm, but continued to hold him in silence.

“Well, that should do it. Let’s go.” Drew
wiped his face and took her hand as they walked up the drive to the
main house.

People were beginning to arrive, and the
funeral director was calling out orders on where to place the
casket and set up the chairs. Although the family planned to keep
it small, more and more people called to see if they could attend.
It was standing room only by the time the service started.

Anna had been right. The family looked to
Kate for direction. They asked if Anna liked this or wanted that.
Kate was prepared to take on the role for the week but would gladly
surrender the title after it was over.

“Katie, can I sit with you?” Megan’s face
gazed up at her with such admiration and love. Maybe one day she
would introduce her little cousin to the wonders of the book, and
she could continue the family tradition.

“Sure, you can, sweetie.”

“You and me were Grandma J’s favorites,”
Megan whispered.

“Oh, don’t say that. She loved us all.”

“But we were her friends. She said it all the
time.”

Kate gave her a little squeeze.
If only
she knew!

She glanced around, observing all the people
who came to pay their respects. At the front door a tall, handsome
cowboy talked to Brandon. From where she was seated, Kate could
tell he was about her father’s age, tanned with an easy smile. That
smile could take a girl’s breath away.
Craig Hasting!
Kate
let out an accidental gasp, and Megan tugged on her arm.

“Is everything okay?” Her innocent smile was
more than Kate could bear.

“Yes, everything’s fine.” She put her arm
around the girl and pulled her close. It wasn’t her place to say,
“I think your father just walked in the door.”

Kate tried to peek over her shoulder without
drawing suspicion. Sue joined the duo, and the group of three
walked outside. The cowboy tried to put his arm around Sue, but she
shrugged it off. Kate didn’t know if it really was Craig or not.
Only Anna would be able to tell her. Tears filled her eyes, knowing
she could never have a conversation with her friend again. Closing
her eyes, Kate tried to breathe slowly and calm herself. As she
did, the answer gradually came to her. The man was Craig. Kate felt
the answer penetrate through her body as if someone whispered in
her ear. He came to pay his respects. Beyond that, there were no
other answers as to why he was there.

The service began, and Drew snuck out at the
appropriate time. Kate had found a hat that she knew was called a
cloche in Anna’s apartment. She grabbed it to wear on the car ride
over to the cemetery. It was a simple black round felt hat that
pulled on and fit close to the head, worn low over the brow. Anna
may have worn it to church back in the day, but Kate definitely saw
them in the 1920s fashion magazines. Now she slipped it on her head
as the service ended, walked to the closed casket and ran her hand
over the top. It was the last time the two of them would be in the
house together. Kate didn’t know how to stop it from happening.

One lone tear dripped onto the top, landing
on the shiny surface, glistening in the light.
I can’t... I
won’t say good-bye, my friend.

Kate felt like something gripped her throat
and was slowly squeezing it. It made its way down to her chest and
into her stomach, making it hard to breathe. She fought back the
tears she felt coming. Today she needed to be strong. Strong for
Anna, and now as she stood there, she realized she had to be strong
for herself.

Drew appeared in the front doorway and
motioned for her to come outside. People were still mingling after
the service, and she got away unnoticed. The Packard was freshly
cleaned and polished, gleaming in the morning sun. Kate could
almost picture Anna sitting in the passenger seat, talking and
laughing, enjoying the beautiful day. Kate heard a gasp and turned
around to see Aunt Sue...alone.

“What a wonderful idea. I forgot about
Grandpop’s car. Katie, it’s perfect. Grandma J would love that you
and Drew are leading the procession.”

As people filed out of the house, they stood
in awe or silence or made a quick comment. Kate’s dad gave a salute
as he went by, showing his approval. She pulled the brim of the hat
a little farther down over her eyes as Drew started the engine. The
sound of the engine drowned out the moan that came out of her,
surprising both of them. He grabbed her hand and raised it to his
mouth, kissing it. That simple gesture helped Kate pull herself
together. Sitting straight in her seat, she motioned for Drew to
start driving. Kate wanted the trip to last forever because once
they got to their destination she knew it was the final
good-bye.

The cemetery entrance appeared almost out of
nowhere. Kate wasn’t expecting it so soon. The family was going
through the motions, getting out of cars, walking to the grave,
forming a circle around it. The pall bearers brought the casket and
laid it to rest above the dark pit Kate stared into.
This is it,
Anna, my friend. So final.

Not hearing the minister’s words or paying
attention to the others around her, Kate just followed their lead.
Flowers were placed on the casket. Someone handed her a white rose,
Anna’s favorite. Waiting for everyone to leave, Kate walked up and
placed the flower on the very top, right where her teardrop had
fallen.

“Kate, everyone’s waiting. They want us to
lead them back to the house.” She felt Drew’s hand on her back.
Guiding her to the Packard and placing her in the passenger seat,
he slowly drove back to the ranch.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Kate
was relieved when all the guests finally left. Carl and his family
were staying at Ericson’s Bed and Breakfast while the others were
at the ranch. Lindsey walked out to the backyard with her, the
first time they were alone all day.

“I’ll meet you at the boardinghouse whenever
you want,” Lindsey said softly. “Maya’s letting me keep the book. I
guess that means she trusts me.”

“Definitely! What’s not to trust?” Kate
smiled at her friend. “This may seem strange to you, but Drew and I
are going back tonight. We need your help.”

“You’re planning on going to New York? For
the second reception?”

“I think it would be good for Drew, but we
have to leave tonight to catch the train and make it in time.”

“Well, looks like you two are going back to
college with me tonight.”

“Would you mind saying that? We’ll go into
Anna’s apartment and leave from there. No one’s going in there for
awhile. I suggested leaving everything as is for now.”

“And when you return?”

“We’ll just say we had a great time with you,
and what’s for breakfast?”

The two girls hugged and watched the sun set
in a blaze of golden streaks across the sky. Drew eventually joined
them. They sat outside on the deck until the sky faded to a velvet
black. Stars began to appear, one by one, filling the night like
tiny jewels. It was the perfect night to pick a star.

“Anna.” Kate pointed up at the sky.

Lindsey seemed confused, but Drew filled her
in. “In the letter you delivered, Anna told her to choose a star
and name it Anna. Which one, Kate?”

“See the Big Dipper? It’s the last star in
the handle. I’ll always be able to find her.”

“I don’t think Alkaid will mind sharing its
name with Anna.”

“Drew, stop being an astronomer for a second,
and don’t ruin my moment. I’ll be able to find the Dipper wherever
I am, in the city or even another country.”

“Good choice.” Lindsey hopped up from her
chair. “I’m going to see if the parents are bedded down and be on
my way. I’ll wait until everyone’s asleep to leave so they’ll think
we left together.”

As Lindsey went back into the house, Kate’s
dad came out to join the couple. “I made arrangements for you to
come home next week. Your mother and I are flying out tomorrow, and
then I’ll head for the canyon. I’ll be a little late this year, but
won’t miss the reception.”

“You don’t have to do that, Dad.”

“I know, but I want to. Anyway, you may need
me. Isn’t there someone named Gia we have to deal with?”

“Don’t remind me! At least I’m prepared this
year.” Kate faintly smiled as she remembered the mixed emotions
when Nicolas introduced Gia, Drew’s ex, and her family. Shock,
jealousy, surprise, anger.

“I’ll take care of her, Jack.” Drew put his
arm around Kate and kissed her cheek. “I won’t let anything happen
to her.”

“I’m holding you to that, Andrew.” Her dad’s
voice sounded stern as he turned and went back into the house.
“Don’t stay up much longer,” he called over his shoulder.