Hourglass (Hourglass 1)

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?” Her voice hit a higher pitch than usual as more of her composure slipped. She held up her hand. “I need a minute.”

Michael had chosen the restaurant as the place to spill the beans. He’d hoped being in view of the public would help curb the intensity of any strong reactions. Didn’t look like it was working for Dru.

Smoke from the extinguished candle drifted over to our table, briefly covering the smell of tomato sauce and baking bread coming from the kitchen. My stomach growled, and I thought about asking for a basket when it came out of the oven.

Instead, I stuck to the business at hand. Hoping I’d given Dru enough time, I tried to explain more clearly, realizing again how unbelievable it all sounded. “The fact that I can see time ripples is a symptom that I’m a time traveler. I mean an indicator.”

Her gaze jumped from me to Michael. “And you can time travel, too?”

“Yes.”

“Uh-huh.” She slumped back in her chair, checking out of the conversation.

“Could Dru or I see rips?” Thomas asked.

I looked over at the jazz trio and answered for Michael. “No.”

“So when you met Emerson the first time, when she came to you from the future, how did you know she was a time traveler instead of a time ripple?” Thomas asked, leaning closer to us over the table, keeping his voice low. At least he seemed to be following.

“Rips disappear if someone touches them. Time travelers know exactly what and where they are. And they’re solid.”

I sat up straighter in my chair. “How solid?”

“The same as we are now.”

An uneasy thought crowded my mind. If rips were vapor and time travelers were solid …

What was Jack?

The thought disappeared when Thomas asked Michael his next question. “What would happen if someone who wasn’t born with the ability to travel attempted it? Assuming they could come up with exotic matter and something made of duronium. Could Dru or I do it?”

“Only people born with the innate genetic ability can travel without serious consequences.”

“What kind of consequences?” Thomas asked.

Michael’s face was grim. “Death by disintegration.”

“Ouch,” Thomas said, sitting back and loosening his tie.

“What have you seen? When you’ve traveled to the future?” Dru interrupted. She’d been so quiet I’d almost forgotten she was at the table. “What kind of world do we live in?”

I knew she was thinking of the baby.

“I can’t say. I have to keep what I’ve seen a secret. But babies were still being born, every day”—Michael gave her a comforting smile—“and then going on to lead spectacular lives.”

“What’s the next step for you two?” Thomas asked, but not before reaching out to wrap his hand around Dru’s. “Do you have a plan?”

“I’ve got to fill Dr. Rooks in on what I want to do,” Michael said, turning serious eyes to my brother. “If she agrees and Emerson has your permission, we’re going to try to save Liam Ballard.”

Thomas looked at me with concern. “Are you on board with this?”

I nodded.

“If—really, really big if—all this is … true,” Dru said, worry clouding her expression, “I hope you’re completely aware of what you’d be risking.”

“I am fully aware.” I searched my gut once more to make sure the words I spoke were true. The answer came back the same. “I know I’m doing the right thing.”