***
After a quick lunch with Abby, I headed to the office. The moment the elevator doors opened and I stepped into the short corridor leading to the individual offices, Greg from sports section suddenly yelled, “Ryan! She’s here!”
I frowned at him, but he just grinned at me and headed to the copy machine. Only a second later, Ryan stuck his head out into the corridor, and the moment he saw me, a relieved smile appeared on his face. I quickly headed toward him.
“What’s going on here?” I asked as he stepped aside and ushered me into his office. “Something wrong?”
He shook his head. “Sorry for all the drama. I need to talk to you.”
“What’s wrong?” I repeated, still feeling concerned.
“Nothing really.” He shrugged. “Well, not nothing. Just nothing bad. I’ve been trying to call you but…”
I smiled at him apologetically. “Yeah, my battery died on my way over here. Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I just wanted to ask you a favor.”
I shrugged, relieved that it really didn’t seem like anything was wrong. “Okay, shoot!”
He leaned forward in his chair, and I admit I expected something bigger than what he was about to tell me. “You see, Robin has a soccer game tomorrow afternoon, and I promised her to be there and…well, cheer.” He smiled with the pride of a father.
“Okay,” I said. “So far, I don’t see a problem.”
“The problem is that the game was supposed to be today, but they moved it to tomorrow because of some kind of trouble with the assigned soccer fields. And…”
“…and you have some kind of appointment tomorrow,” I finished for him.
He nodded. “There is this interview with Nathan Alexander about his new book. And if I cancelled now, it would seem very—”
“—unprofessional,” I finished once again, and he nodded. “So, you want me to do the interview?” I looked at him, grinning. “I mean, I could also go to your daughter’s soccer game. I bet it’ll be more fun. I’m good at cheering.”
Ryan laughed. “I bet you are. But that’s sorta my job, and I’m afraid I’m kind of irreplaceable on that one.” He looked at me with a big question mark on his face. “So, what do you say?”
I made him suffer a few seconds before I said, “Sure. No problem.”
“Yes!” he said, relief plain in his voice. “Thanks a lot. I owe you.”
I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. So, which author was that again?”
“His name is Nathan Alexander.”
I frowned. “Sounds familiar.”
A corner of his mouth twitched. “It should,” he said. “You once wrote a review on one of his books, remember?”
“Right,” I said, feeling a little embarrassed about my faulty memory. “He’s written another book?” Ryan nodded. “You are aware that I haven’t read it though, aren’t you? I mean sci-fi is not really my thing.”
“I thought so. But maybe you could have a quick look at it tonight. I mean, your review was really good. You seem to understand his writing. So, I thought you might still be able to handle this interview.”
“Is there no one else?”
“Unfortunately, there is not.”
I smiled at him crookedly. “Thanks for that vote of confidence.”
His eyes opened wide. “I didn’t mean it like that. Really! I…”
Laughing, I waved his apology away. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll manage. Really! It’s no big deal! I’ve managed to charm my way through more difficult situations than this.”
His eyebrows rose. “Do I get to hear about those sometime?”
I smiled at him devilishly. “I’d tell you but…”
“…then you’d have to kill me,” he finished for me this time, grinning.
I nodded, grinning back. “If you’re lucky.”
***
Later in my office, I went through the notes Ryan had given me on the author and the book, including a short summary. This new book was called The Life Within and described how an author suddenly finds himself swept away into his own stories. He struggles to return to his own life but is unable to sever the hold his stories have on him and is always drawn back into them.
I picked up the book and looked at its cover. It showed an indistinct number of books piled in a loose heap with some kind of whirlwind rising up from it and seemingly reaching out to the reader holding the book. Letting my eyes glide over it, I turned it around to inspect it further. However, when I looked at the back, the breath caught in my throat and I almost dropped the book.
Like some books did, this one, too, had a picture of the author printed on the back, and from one second to the next, I found myself staring at the face of my mystery guy.
Finally, he had an identity. A name. He was Nathan Alexander.
I probably spent minutes just staring at the picture as though that would bring him here and answer the questions that were still spinning around in my head. Only when I saw Ryan head for the elevator did I rise from my chair and hurry after him.
“Ryan, wait!” I called.
At the sound of his name, he turned around. “Something wrong?”
“No,” I said shaking my head. For a moment, I just stood before him, wondering why I had wanted to speak to him.
“You okay?” he frowned.
I nodded, still not sure what to say.
“Listen, if you changed your mind,” he started. “It’s fine. I can just ask…”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not that. I…eh…I was just wondering, have you done an interview with this…Nathan Alexander before?” It was strange to say his name.
Ryan nodded. “I have, yes. He’s a nice chap. You’ll like him.” He smiled at me reassuringly, probably thinking that I had gotten cold feet.
I smiled back. “I’m sure I will. Good night,” I said. “And tell your daughter ‘good luck’ from me.”
“I will,” he said and headed for the elevator.
I returned to my office and spent the next hour researching the net, trying to find out as much about Nathan Alexander as I could. However, there wasn’t much to find. For an author who’d written five bestsellers, he led a pretty uneventful life. He lived right here in town, had studied literature in college and had so far refused to sell the movie rights to his books. That was about all I was able to unearth.
When it started getting dark, I decided to call it a day and headed downstairs to the parking lot behind the restaurant. Most of the cars were still there, and it took me a while to find mine. I’d parked it close to the exit. However, I so often parked my car in this parking lot that I sometimes had trouble remembering when I’d parked it where.
Unlocking it, I opened the driver’s door when a shadow suddenly fell on me from behind. I spun around, my heart beating like a jackhammer.
The panic instantly fell from me, though, as I found myself looking into a familiar face.
“Nathan,” I said, feeling that we knew each other well enough for first names, and besides, he’d called me Jena before.
Nathan smiled at me then, openly, like he’d never done before, as though again approving of what I’d done.
“That’s your name, isn’t it?” I asked. “Nathan Alexander.”
He nodded, for the first time showing a direct reaction to something I’d said. I felt exhilarated.
“I found out your name,” I said. “Was that what you wanted me to do? Or is there more?”
He didn’t answer, but I knew there had to be more to it. This couldn’t possibly be the answer to the riddle.
He took a step closer, his eyes drilling into mine once again.
I waited, unable to say or do anything. That by now almost familiar paralysis spread over me, and everything but us seemed to be far away as though it belonged to some other universe that wasn’t ours and didn’t concern us.
Suddenly, he took my hand and squeezed it gently. Leaning closer, he whispered, “You need to hurry
or it will be too late.”
The smile froze on my face as I looked at him, his eyes serious and almost afraid. At first, I couldn’t say anything. Then I started stammering. “W-what? What do you mean?” I asked. “Too late for what?”
He didn’t answer, though. He just looked at me imploringly. Then and there, I would have given him whatever he wanted if I had only known what that was.
Again, he gently squeezed my hand. Then he took a step backward, and releasing his hold on me, he turned and walked away.
Once again, I was alone.
Chapter Seventeen – A Name with the Face
The drive home took all my concentration. However, in a strange way, it was a relief to be forced to let go of all the distressing thoughts that had been occupying my mind lately. When I pulled up the driveway, I felt a little more focused; but tired.
It was already late, and I had to stifle a yawn or two. However, before heading to bed I tried calling Abby. She didn’t pick up though, which was highly unusual for her. Maybe she was out on a date, I thought. I could think of no other explanation for her to neglect her cell phone. Lying down, I started reading The Life Within.
Reading his book though made me think about him even more. I didn’t know what I had been thinking. Pushing on, I tried to compare the man who had filled these page to the man I’d met. I didn’t come to a satisfying conclusion. They seemed like two completely different people, and yet, there was something familiar about both of them.
Reading his book, I realized that the words he’d written stirred the same sense of familiarity I had always felt when he had shown up out of nowhere. There was something there. I just didn’t know what it was.
When I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, I snatched the silver bookmark from Jane Austen’s Persuasion and clapped it onto the page of his book. I decided I would ask him about it the next day. By now, I felt sure that he was the one who had given it to me at some point. Maybe only at some point in the future as Abby had suggested. However, if anyone could tell me what the words engraved on it meant for sure, it was him.
***
The sun rose too early the next morning. I felt drained and ready to sleep for at least another ten hours. However, there was something almost chasing me from my bed; some energy coursing through my veins, kicking me forward whenever I threatened to return to a more vegetative state.
Finally surrendering, I jumped into my clothes, grabbed a pop tart and drove to town as fast as was safely possible under the still icy conditions of the road.
It was around noon when I finally knocked on Abby’s door. I heard her shuffle her feet as she rushed to answer and probably tripped because she suddenly slammed into the door with a loud bang and a muttered ouch. Then she almost tore it open.
When her eyes saw me, her face dropped open as well.
I frowned at her. “You all right?”
She blinked as though shaking off a dream. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m...eh...I’m fine.” She was still looking at me, almost staring. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you but...” She still looked out of it somehow. “But I can come back later if...”
“No. No. No,” Abby said, waving her hand dismissively. She stepped aside. “Come in. What’s up?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” I asked again as we sat down on the couch. “You look...not like yourself.”
“Oh rubbish! So,” she said, “what did you want to talk to me about?”
To be honest, I felt a little rushed; almost like she was trying to get rid of me.
“I tried to call last night,” I started, “but you didn’t pick up. I...”
“I was out,” she rushed to explain, her eyes not meeting mine.
“So I figured,” I said, and my eyes narrowed. “Abby, what’s going on?”
“Nothing!”
I looked at her then, eyebrows raised. “Oh, please! I’ve known you for years. Granted, most of the time you were a little weird–especially compared to other people–but this is unusual even for you. If there is something you don’t want to tell me, fine. Just say so. But don’t give me this crap about everything being all right.”
There was a hint of guilt on her face, and she looked like she was about to confess…whatever it was that she was clearly hiding from me…when another knock sounded on the door.
Instantly, Abby’s eyes widened into plates.
Again, I frowned at her, and my eyes narrowed even more when she didn’t rise from the couch to answer the door but just sat their staring ahead wide-eyed.
Whoever was outside the door, knocked again, with a little more vehemence this time. However, when Abby still remained frozen on the couch, I rose to my feet, curious to see who on this planet could put Abby into a comatose state simply by knocking.
Opening the door, my jaw dropped slightly open as I suddenly found myself face to face with my brother.
Granted, I was rather surprised to see him there. However, upon seeing me, his face took on the same expression I had seen on Abby’s just a moment before. Whatever was going on, he was in on it. That much was clear.
“C’mon in,” I said to him. “Maybe you can shed some light on this.”
As he entered, the two of them eyed each other nervously, their eyes now and then flashing to me. Both of them looked nervous and slightly uncomfortable. I knew that since their breakup, it had been difficult for them to be in the same room with each other. However, it had never been this bad, and after all this time, they should have been able to deal with it a lot better.
“So?” I said, looking from one to the other. “Who wants to go first?”
As though her mind had suddenly resumed its work, Abby sat up, blinking somewhat erratically. “Well,” she started, her eyes flickering to my brother. “I think I’m going to have to plead the fifth on that one,” she said, imitating me with a superior grin on her face.
“Really?” I said, a little surprised. “And what about you?” I turned to my brother.
There was a faint grin on his face as he looked from Abby to me. “Yeah, I’m afraid I have to second that.”
Looking at them now, I thought they looked really pleased with themselves.
“All right,” I said, reminding myself of why I had come there in the first place. “Since neither one of you is willing to come clean about what is going on here, will you at least listen to what I have to say?”
“Sure,” they both said, obviously relieved that the attention was moved from them to me.
We all gathered around the kitchen table, and I found myself looking into two faces that held more than just normal curiosity. Something was going on; but it had to wait. I would deal with their weird behavior later.
“Abby, we already talked about this,” I started and turned to my brother. “But you might need a little reminding.” I took a deep breath, bracing myself for him not to believe me yet again. “Do you remember what I told you about time shifts that I was experiencing? I know it’s a lot to ask but...”
He nodded his head, smiling. “Yeah, I remember. You said it might have something to do with that guy that kept showing up at the restaurant and places.”
Now, it was my turn to stare disbelievingly. He had taken to all this much too fast. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d even mentioned my suspicion to him about how my mystery guy might have something to do with my time shifts. Had Abby spoken to him?
I frowned at my brother. “Okay,” I said slowly. “I didn’t know you were this open-minded about all this. I always thought you didn’t believe a word I said.”
Again, he nodded. “Well, that was yesterday. Today is today.”
My eyes narrowed at this explanation, but I decided not to dwell on it. “Fine,” I said. “What I want to talk to you about is....” Taking a deep breath, I realized I didn’t know what to say. For a second, I felt completely confused. All the time shifts, all the things that had happened and were still happening. I wondered when all of this
would finally end.
“Did you find out something new?” Abby asked, taking my hand. “Did you see him again?”
I nodded. “I did. But it’s more than that. I know his name now.”
Their eyes opened wide in surprise. “But that’s a good thing, right?” Andy said. “Now, you can find out why he keeps showing up like that.”
“Theoretically, yes,” I said.
“What does that mean? Theoretically?” Andy asked, confusion on his face. “I thought you’d be thrilled. Didn’t you always want to know who he was?”
I nodded. “Yes, but knowing his name doesn’t mean I know who he is.”
Abby held up her hands. “Okay, let’s start somewhere. What is his name?”
“Nathan Alexander,” I said, my eyes on Andy.
His eyebrows shot up at hearing the name just as I had expected. “You’re not talking about that author, are you? The one you wrote a review about.”
I nodded.
A frown appeared on Abby’s face. “Hold on. If you already knew who he was when you wrote the review, then I’m confused.”
“Well, I didn’t,” I started.
“Not making it better,” Abby interrupted.
“Would you let me finish?” I asked indignantly.
“Sorry. Go on.”
“Okay, I knew the author by name but I didn’t know what he looked like. I just wrote a review on one of his books and didn’t meet him or anything. And I never knew what the guy from the restaurant’s name was. I never brought those two together. I never made a connection. I mean, how could I have?”
Abby nodded, finally understanding. “Okay, then how did you find out that they are the same guy?”
I told them about Ryan passing the interview to me and my surprise at seeing the guy’s picture on the back of the book.
Abby glowed, a big smile on her face. “Okay, that’s like fate!”
Andy snorted, and she elbowed him. However, instead of getting mad at her, he laughed good-naturedly. I eyed them curiously. This looked awfully familiar.
“But that’s perfect, isn’t it?” Andy said. “During the interview you can ask him everything you’d like to know.”