“We had a deal. You can’t back out now.”
It’s difficult to make out the words, and I can’t tell if it’s Ned
speaking or another man.
“I need more time,” a different, indistinguishable voice says.
“You’ve had your time.”
The voices lower to an indecipherable level. I put my ear
to the door and then suddenly feel ashamed of standing here
eavesdropping. With a frown, I turn to go. Perhaps a stroll
around the hotel lobby. Give Ned some time to finish up his
meeting. I’ve only make it halfway down the length of the hallway, however, when I hear the door open behind me. I turn toward the nearest door, pretending to be just leaving a room.
A short, broad man passes without so much as a glance. He’s
well-dressed and older, but there’s a hardness in his eyes. I have
no idea what business he has with Ned, but something about
it troubles me.
When I open the door to our suite, Ned is sitting on the
plush sofa, smoking a cigarette and staring at a stack of papers.
His whole body tenses as I enter.
“Lonnie?” His surprise quickly becomes a scowl. “What are
you doing back?”
My mind is still buzzing with everything that’s happened in
the past hour. When I don’t immediately respond, Ned stamps
out his cigarette in the little glass tray.
“Dammit, Lon. Why aren’t you with Fay?” His anger throws
me off completely.
“Where is she?” he demands. “I was told you’d taken her back
to the Ritz.”
“I did. She’s in her room.”
“And you didn’t stay?”
“I…”
“You what?”
“I just felt like coming back, that’s all.”
“What’s wrong with you, boy?” Ned growls.
I’ve never seen him lose his temper like this. I’m not sure
if the meeting I overheard put him in a foul mood, or something else.
“Is Fay not good enough for you?” he demands.
“N-no. That’s not it at all.”
“Then what is it, pray tell?”
His tone rankles me. “What’s it to you, whether or not I go
with Fay?”
He scoffs and scrapes a thick hand through his hair. “I don’t
think you quite understand what’s expected of you, Lon.”
“You’re right. I don’t. What is expected of me?”
“You and Fay will be married. It’s all been discussed.”
I stare at him for a moment, not sure if he’s kidding around
or crazy. “Discussed? With whom?”
“Your father approves of the match. As do Fay’s parents.”
“I haven’t heard a word from my father this whole summer.”
“That’s because he trusts my damn judgment,” Ned says,
slamming his fist on the coffee table.
A charged silence fills the room. But before I can grasp what
I might say, Ned releases a shaky breath and rubs his face. He
stands. His expression calms.
“You’ve had a long night. Both of us have.”
I nod, still trying to understand what’s gotten into him, but
I’m too tired pursue it. “I’ll turn in.”
Ned calls my name as I reach the door to my room. I pause
in the doorway.
“You must use your head about these things,” he says. “You’re
a smart lad. A lot of people expect great things from you.” His
brow lowers. “You will marry Fay Cartwright. By the end of the
summer. Set your mind on that fact.”
Chapter 15
Cassandra
should have seen this coming. The ultimate test of my
I
resolve. After all my big talk about preserving the timespace continuum, now I find myself sitting on the back porch in the early morning, staring at the pathway to the beach.
I know I shouldn’t do it. I should stand my ground. Telling
Lawrence what I know might set off the butterfly effect. And
who knows what could happen next? What if the next person
to vanish from existence was Mom or Frank or Eddie?
It’s nearly dawn. Above me, the clouds are a swirl of silver,
steely blue, and watered pink with the early light. Closing