Thank you, he said politely. Wonderful, he agreed.
Where in Boston are you? George asked.
Melody couldnt reply quickly enoughnot without spewing sugar cookie over them all.
Im right off the Common, Jake said.
Lovely area, lovely! George applauded.
Shed be a nervous, twitching wreck if this went on too much longer, Melody decided. She had to get him off alone again. She leaped up. Would you two mind if we run out before dinner. Um, Jake hasnt been around here for a while. I was going to take him down to the pond.
Lovely idea! Mona said. Im not sure if youve seen all theyve been up to by the pond. They have some charming shops, and a little barIm sure youll have a nice time. Oh, Keith should be home by supper. Im planning it for around eight.
Thats great, Mom.
Wait a minute. It was snowing so much George began.
I think the snow has stopped, Melody said. Even if there was a noreaster pounding, she was leaving the house.
She grabbed Jakes hand. Jake, lets get going so you can see the pond before dinner. Come on, now, please?
Of course. He stood immediately, trying to replace his cup on the tray, a little awkward since she was tugging at his arm. Thank you so much. This was a truly enjoyable repast.
Lets go! Melody persisted.
Her mother was laughing. Oh, thats wonderful. You must be a fantastic guide. How absolutely charming. Children, do have fun.
Theres skatingweather permitting, her father called out.
Okay, Dad, thanks!
Melody managed to grab two parkas from the hooks by the entry and get Jake out the front door. A pale streak of winters day touched the sky; the snow had come down to just a few flurries.
She thanked God for small favors.
As they stood on the porch and she surveyed the muted light of the late-afternoon December sun, Mona popped out on the porch. Melody hoped that she didnt physically cringe.
Skates! Mona said, holding up two pairs of skates. Keiths shoes fit you all right, dont they, Jake? If so, Im sure his skates will do.
I am more than comfortable and quite grateful, maam, Jake said.
Thanks, Mom. Melody snatched the skates from her mother and hurried to the car. Jake followed her. She was already in the drivers seat when Jake joined her.
Mona called something from the porch.
We have to stop, shes speaking to us, Jake said, sliding in beside her.
Its okayshes just telling you that Im a klutz, Melody said. Before he could ask her what a klutz was, she added, I have no coordination. Im horrible.
He smiled, looking ahead.
You can skate. Youve heard of skates, right?
Yes, I have.
She started to drive, glad then that her home was Massachusetts. They were darned good at snow. Plows were always out in a matter of minutes. The roads were decent.
Your parents are exceptionally kind, Jake said.
Theyreyes, theyre good people. A little crazy, but good people, she told him.
How do you see them as crazy? he asked.
She hazarded a glance his way. Pirate-themed bath-rooms? Sculpted ravens, skeleton art, fairies and ghosts and goblins all overyoull see. Its so strange. I feel like I grew up with the Addams Family or as the normal child niece in the Munsters home.
Pardon?
Never mind. She looked at him again and groaned. How on earth can I give you a crash course in pop culture? Dontdont you dare copy me! Pop culture is whats popular now. Too bad it wasnt my dad who ran into you. He was a professor. Hed have you up to speed in no time.
Up to speed
Oh, God!
No, no, I understand. I find it a charming expression.
Of course you do, she murmured.
Is that a problem?
No. Its just thatoh, never mind. No. Are you always soagreeable?
You wish me to be disagreeable?
No. I wish you tosnap out of it. And dont repeat after me!
All right. He was smiling, studying the scenery as they passed. Its so remarkable. We won the Revolution, and there have been many more wars. So many inventions. Remarkable.
They had reached the pond. There were a few skaters out, and a few children running around the outskirts, laughing, throwing snowballs at one another. The baraptly name the Pond Barwas just opening. Melody parked and stepped out of the car. She wasnt sure what to do. She had driven to the pond because she was afraid she was already lying so much shed start to confuse even herself.
But now
Youve forgotten the skates, Jake called.
I suck.
Pardon?
I wasnt lying, Im awful.
Well, Im a decent skater. Lets give it a try, shall we?
Skate. Maybe while she was falling on her ass shed figure out how shed gotten into this mess.
All right, all right, bring them.
There were benches by the pond. They sat down. The skates might have been somewhat modern compared to what hed thought he had in the 1700s, but they were still basically skates. When they had both laced up, he stood, testing the way they fit, testing his own ability to walk in them.
Arent you going to say remarkable, marvelous, fantasticor something of the like? she asked.
Theyll do. Come on. He stretched out a hand to her.
You go. Ill sit for a minute. Please.
He watched her for a moment, then went out on the ice. At first, he moved slowly, testing the skates and then the ice. He picked up speed.
She watched him, feeling blank.
Keith picked up strange creatures. She picked up crazy ones.
A moments panic set in. What if he was really hurt? If his head had been badly bruised? Was she doing the wrong thing, keeping him away from the hospital?
She thanked God that Mark wasnt due until Friday. Hed have given Jake the third degree by now, and the police might have even been called in. Mark wouldnt have gone against her parents wishes; hed have done it on the sly, certain that he knew what was best for everyone else.
So, great. What was she going to do? This wasnt like Keith, bringing in strays when he was younger. Can we keep him, Mom, can we keep him?
She was going to have to figure something out.
A spray of ice brought her back to the moment. Jake was stretching a hand out to her again. Will you join me?
Ill make you fall.
No, you wont.
She was unsteady as she teetered out to him. Look, Im usually all right if Im just going forward, she said.
You will be fine, no matter what we do, he assured her.
And they were. If she hesitated, he was sure. He was so comfortable on the ice that his balance and support leant her a steady hand. He didnt try to do anything outrageous; he just kept moving, picking up a decent speed, one hand supportive on her back, as they glided along.
Gliding. She was gliding!
The icy coolness of the air rushed at her face, and felt delicious. The world danced by them. She could hear the sound of their skates upon the ice, and it was exhilarating.
Backward? he suggested.
No! she protested in panic.
You were born here, and you grew up here? he asked curiously.
Yes, I actually did.
Its all right, you dont even have to move your feet, he said.
But
Trust me.
I do trust youon the ice, she said.
And he did prove to be trustworthy.
She didnt have to move her feet.
He twisted and turned, they skated backward, forward and backward again.
Want to try a spin?
No!
He laughed. All right. Were good for the day, I imagine.
He slid effortlessly to a halt. She was looking into the green-and-gold sparkle of his eyes and didnt realize at first that they had come back to the bench. He was still supporting her.
Oh, yeah, well, yeah, you know, next time, maybe, she said. She tried to draw away, certain she could at least make the steps to the bench on her own.
Her legs started to split. She was about to go facedownor butt-side down, if she overcompensatedon the ice.
But he caught her. Without making any kind of big deal out of it. She smiled. I told youno coordination on skates!
It will come. Its all in learning to trust your instincts.
She cleared her throat, made her way to the bench and took off her skates. As she did so, she saw the bar across the pond. Time for a drink.
Really?
Oh, yeah.
You drink?
Right now? You bet. Anything wrong with that?
No. Pop culture, I assume.
She stood, shaking her head. And look, keep your story straight. I know a lot of people around here.
As you wish.
Dont keep telling me that.
As youall right.
When were out, and you dont know, just let me answerplease.
Of course.
As they walked toward the bar, he was thoughtful.
What? she asked, exasperated.
Eventually, you will believe me, he said quietly. Somehow, I have to get back to my ownplace.
At the end of a hangmans noose? she asked sharply.
No. Right here. But when Im supposed to be here, he said quietly.
She studied him for a moment. You need a drink worse than I do, she told him.
If you dont believe in magic, couldnt you even stretch a bit and try to believe in a miracle? he asked. What Im telling you is the truth. Serena loves me, and she tried to save my life. Obviously, since I do seem to be flesh and blood, she did save my life. And maybe her magic worked because it was like a prayer for the innocent or the righteous, whichever way you want to see it.
Serena? she said. Yourwife?
He shook his head, smiling. My sister. Adopted, as a child, by my parents, when hers were killed in an Indian attack. She was my only sibling, and we were close. She shouldnt have been in New Yorkshe should have been here, in Gloucester. I was so afraid for her. Am so afraid for her. And I have to make sure that she did make it home, that. I mean, good God, you really cant imagine what it iswaslike. Some believed the Revolution was a deadly and tragic mistake. Others saw it as a right to freedom. There were fine British sympathizers and soldiers. But those capable of cruelty come in all uniforms. Im very afraid for her. She is my family, you see. Somehow, I have to find a way back.
Melody stared at him blankly, unable to believe for a moment that what shed felt at first was actually jealousy. Of an unknown woman.
His sister.
Adopted sister.
Was she crazy herself? Was that jealousy again?
Insane. The whole thing was insane.
Look, Jake, we do have the Internet now, planes that fly at supersonic speedsbut as far as I know, there is no pathway that leads to years gone by. No time travel. We just havent gotten to that yet.
Maybe its time to get to it, he said. There has to be a way.
She hesitated. We can go and try to check through some of the church records. And this area does live in the past sometimes. So many of the houses are really olddiaries and the like are always being found. Maybe we can research and find out what went on. My mom might have some old books that will help us. She hesitated. My momshe thinks her ancestors were pagan healers, or Wiccans. Shes always researching the past for what was really going on when the British came over. She has the entire trial records from the Salem witchcraft mania.
Really? They never did hang any more witches, did they? he inquired.
Not that I know about.
I really need your help. Im most grateful. We have to discover a way for me to get back.
She shook her head, exasperated. He was crazyand persistent. I really need a drink.
And with that, she headed for the bar.
Chapter Three
The Pond Bar was neighborhood friendly and pleasant. It was a quiet night so farprobably because it was fairly early and the days weather had been so bad. More people would come out later, Melody was certain, glad to escape their houses or the harrowing drives they had made during the day. But at the moment, the little place was quiet.
She chose a small table next to the cast-iron potbellied stove, and pulled her gloves off as they sat. Jake Mallory was once again looking aroundthen he focused on one young woman in the place who was wearing stiletto boots and one of the miniest minidresses Melody had ever seen.
His shocked gaze moved to her and he lowered his head to whisper, Is that. I mean, is that woman a. lady of the night?
Melody moved closer in, as well. College student, probably, she said.
One goes to college for that occupation now?
She laughed, shaking her head. No, no. Her outfit is moderndaring, especially in winter. But I dont think shes a hooker. Sorry. I believe the term hooker came from the Civil WarHookers girls. Never mind. I dont believe shes a prostitute. Thats called a minidress. Shes got the youth and the body for it, looks pretty cute.
Ah. Im sorryit wouldnt be considered decent at all in myworld, he said.
Thank God you didnt fall to earth on Miami Beach, she said.
He gazed at her, refraining from asking her about Miami Beach. She was glada waitress warmly clad in corduroy jeans and a turtleneck sweater came to the table. Melody opted for a totally fattening Kalhùa and hot chocolate, and Jake said that hed have the same.
The waitress had just moved away when Jake came to his feet, a frown on his face, his posture defensive. Melody felt fingers come over her eyes and a teasing voice said, Guess who?
She grabbed the hands and quickly drew her brother around to introduce him to Jake, ruing the fact that Keith had already made it home. She really needed more time to figure out something to do about Jake.
Jake, she said quickly, this is my brother, Keith. Keith, Jake Mallory.
Keith was a good soul. Sure, hed been a pain-in-the-ass baby brother at times, playing the usual stupid pranks like leaving the saltshaker lid on loose and going off into gales of laughter when she wound up with a white mountain on her French fries. But he had matured into a good-looking young man with an open mind, an easy humor and not much in the way of a temper. She thought of him often as a little mini-me of her father, because they were so into science. He had finally learned the difference between a Monet and a Picasso for her sake, and for himand her fathershe had tried to understand the basic concepts of physics. As a brother, he was coming along nicely. They both loved a lot of the same music, and that had always helped them along.