Dad gets mad enough as it is on my first day back. I don’t need more attention than I’ll already have.
“Of course,” he says. “I’ve got something coming in sometime tomorrow afternoon, so make sure you get it before then. Hey, maybe I’ll even get a chance to fix that bumper of yours.”
“Don’t get carried away, old man.”
He laughs and walks back to the house.
It’s only me and Harper, standing in grass that needs to be cut. That was Aunt Holly’s favorite hobby—mowing the lawn. She would do it every Saturday. Listening to seventies bands while driving back and forth across the yard.
A comforting sound that could be heard through my open window if the wind was coming from the west.
Nowadays, the grass grows until it tugs at my ankles. Uncle Jasper always puts it off as long as he can. Like he’ll wake up one morning and Aunt Holly will be out there mowing the grass because he let it grow.
But now I look at Harper and my thoughts of Aunt Holly and her grass drift away. I have to remember not to say anything stupid. But thankfully, she talks before I can.
“I promise I didn’t make any more dents in it driving it here,” she nods toward my car.
A partial laugh escapes my lips. “Not like it would make a difference.”
“That’s what I told Uncle Jasper,” she says.
I feel myself smiling.
Truly smiling for the first time in what seems like forever.
“I’m sorry if I’ve been acting weird lately,” I say. “Or said something I shouldn’t have.”
“I’ve noticed,” Harper says, smiling again.
“You have?”
“Of course I have. I may not have seen you in a long time, but I haven’t forgotten anything.” Then she says, more careful, “You haven’t been yourself, Kale.”
I remember the reasons I’ve become this way. Everything all at once—and none of it I want to think about.
A muttered “yeah” comes from my mouth. I look toward the woods and back to my car, making sure it’s still there. “I should go.” I turn away, but she grabs my wrist. Stopping me. It’s the last thing I expect and my heart jumps from her touch.
It reminds me of the river.
“Kale, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” she says, letting my hand drop. A flash of embarrassment crosses her face, like she didn’t mean to touch me. “Sometimes my mouth says things I don’t want it to.”
I answer, “But it’s the truth.” I back away toward the woods, reluctant to leave her, but already knowing I’m in trouble as it is. “I’ll see you later, Harper.”
Every happy moment is taken away as quick as it comes.
It’s like I’m not meant for this time I live in. Like my body keeps pulling me back to where I actually belong.
But I want to belong here.
I just don’t know how.
12.
Harper
I walk down the road with the wind to my back. It pushes me along, farther away from the house and farther away from thoughts I would rather not have right now. Uncle Jasper isn’t home today, and it’s always too quiet being in the house without him. I always try to get some walking in before playing Xbox—it’s my reward for exercising, so when I turn back to go home, I walk faster knowing what waits for me there.
But something else waits for me besides video games—better than video games. Uncle Jasper’s truck is still gone, but Kale’s car is parked in its place. He sits on the hood, one leg propped up on the bumper, staring off into the woods behind the house. He’s wearing a long-sleeved thermal shirt, a little frayed along the neckline.
Hearing me, he turns, “Hey.”
“Hey.” I stop next to his car, trying not to get too close in case I smell. “What are you doing here?”
“Honestly … I wanted to see if you had any plans tonight.”
I shrug apologetically, “I already have plans.”
He wasn’t expecting that. “You do?”
“Yeah, with you.”
I give him a moment to be confused and then give him a smile.
He visibly relaxes and lets out a breath. “Don’t do that. I thought I was experiencing memory loss or something.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But come on, let’s do something. It’s been too long.”
Kale’s hesitant but I know he wants to say yes. I would pick him over a party any day.
“I could call Miles to see what they’re up to tonight?” he suggests.
“That sounds great. Pick me up at six? Uncle Jasper said your cell phone doesn’t work anymore, so …”
He’s two seconds too late with a response, hiding something again. “Yeah, just the house phone for me these days. But six sounds good. I’ll give Miles a call when I get home.”
I nod and he starts to get into his car, but then he stops, looking back at me. “I’m glad you’re here.”
It’s like he knew exactly what to say and what my heart needed to hear. “Me too.”
And I really mean it.
13.
Kale
When I first traveled back to 1944, I was surrounded by guys in uniforms with packs on their backs, looking like they were headed nowhere good. Then there was me, still wearing my T-shirt and jeans with a surprised expression on my face. I didn’t know where the hell I was.
Then an officer spotted me and asked why I didn’t have my gear.
“They were stolen,” were the first words out of my mouth.
He just shook his head and muttered, “Damn replacements.”
A couple guys nearby laughed, making jokes under their breath. I was just looking for a way out of there. But the officer wasn’t about to let me out of his sight and reminded me along the way of how stupid I was for letting my stuff be stolen.
After that, telling lies became easier and easier. They didn’t have me in the books, but all they did was blame it on some guy who was in charge of the replacements. I was obviously an American and supposed to be there, so they had me fill out the missing paperwork, not thinking twice. Just in need of more soldiers.
So I rolled with it, knowing I would be gone in a few days anyway.
But then I kept coming back, and my dog tags stayed with me through each travel, almost telling me I’d be there for a while.
Two weeks later, after missing most of the training I was supposed to have, I was shipped off to join the 104th infantry division. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, but I caught on fast and was already good with a gun. I listened hard and watched others around me. Lucky for me, the officers like to repeat themselves a lot.
And even though I came here as a replacement, the guys soon forgot I was one.
I think about the beginning a lot. Wondering if I started doing something different to make me go back to the same year, if somehow I was controlling it.
Or maybe it’s just fate screwing with me.
I drive home from Uncle Jasper’s wondering what we’ll talk about when I pick up Harper, and if it’ll be awkward between us.