Page 71 of Time After Time
I could hear Mr. Marley and Robert laughing heartily, joined by several passers-by who were amused by the scene unfolding before them.
“Why did you bring him?” I shrieked, wrapping my arms tighter around Sebastian’s neck while being careful not to jostlehis injured arm. My legs clung to his waist, inching higher with each movement or sound that Cooper made.
“He needed some fresh air,” Mr. Marley answered with a chuckle, standing right in front of us.
“He lives on a damn farm. He’s always outside,” Sebastian retorted, scowling as Cooper let out a loud shriek. The pig backed up and charged at him with its massive head, like a bull ready to strike.
“Certainly not as much fresh air with the other pigs,” Robert said, crossing his arms and watching the spectacle with amusement. He seemed to finally believe us—seeing first-hand just how fascinated the pig was with me and how much it disliked Sebastian. When we had told our parents about our first encounter with Cooper, they had dismissed it as too funny to be true. So, I was relieved that Robert was here to witness it for himself.
“Not any more. He stays in the house with me,” Mr. Marley said, causing my eyes to widen in surprise as I stared at him. At my wide-eyed, slightly horrified expression, he simply grinned. “He’s a very tranquil pig,” he added, which only left me in greater shock. I turned to look at Sebastian, whose face was now extremely close to mine, and noticed he had the same bewildered look.
“You call this tranquil?”
Mr. Marley tried to call Cooper over, but the pig continued to show his annoyance toward Sebastian. “I think he just loves you too much,” He said with a chuckle. I noticed that he wasn’t using a cane for support any more, though his hand rested on Robert’s crossed arms.
I knew Mr. Marley well enough to understand that he had likely asked Robert for support at times, but always in a way that didn’t make him seem frail. I also knew he was keeping Cooper inside the house because it felt too empty and lonely withoutMrs. Marley. Cooper had been her favourite farm animal—she had loved and cared for all the animals, but the demon pig held a special place in her heart.
“C’mon, Cooper. Come here. I have a banana,” Mr. Marley called out, trying to coax him with a treat.
The pig quickly trotted back to his owner, giving us a brief moment to catch our breath.
Sebastian carefully lowered me back to the ground, his concerned gaze locked onto mine. I managed a smile and a nod, hiding my true urge to hold him tightly and cover him with passionate kisses. As if he had been able to listen to my thoughts, he pressed a kiss on my forehead and then grabbed a box with his left arm. Despite my silent disagreement, he was set on carrying them into the town hall himself.
I watched Sebastian’s retreating figure and sensed someone approaching me, making me turn around to be met with Robert and a small smile on his face that didn’t really reach his eyes. “Did something happen?” I asked, turning my head back to where Sebastian had disappeared. “At the doctor’s appointment?”
I hated that I hadn’t been able to accompany him for this check-up.
Robert sighed, and I pictured him scratching his beard in frustration. “His mum took him, and we decided to meet here since I was with Mr. Marley and he wanted to see you. He didn’t say much, and his mother mentioned that the doctor saw him alone. He left the hospital, sighing and quiet.” I turned to look at him, my heart aching for Sebastian. “Cora didn’t press him for details because she knew he needed time. Maybe he’ll open up to you.” Robert’s hand rested briefly on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
I hoped so.
“I have to leave now, okay?” I tilted my head and met his soothing gaze. “Cora heard that Denise is closing her jewellery store, and she’s been thinking about opening her own place. She wants to restore and sell vintage furniture.” My eyes widened with excitement at the news. Robert shook his head with a smile, the glint in his eyes and the distant look revealing just how deeply in love he was with her, and how much he supported everything she did. And to be honest, it was a fantastic idea.
“We’re going to check out the space, see if she likes it and if she really wants to commit.” With that, he glanced at the table where I was resting my hip and then at the boxes and the town hall building. “Need help with those?”
I shook my head, signalling that I was fine as I clutched one of the boxes, grunting slightly under its weight. “Is Mr. Marley staying here?”
At my question, Robert and I both turned to look at the old man. He was seated on a bench, rubbing Cooper’s head while someone with their back to us talked with him. Mr. Marley grinned, his eyes squinting against the sun’s glare.
“No, we’re taking him with us,” Robert replied, raising an eyebrow with a chuckle that was kind of infectious. “He insisted he’s old and knows better than we do about this.” The humorous tone of his response was especially amusing given Robert’s extensive business expertise. “I’ll let you be,” he continued. “Do you need us to come pick you up when you’re done so you don’t have to walk home?”
With a soft hum escaping my lips, I tilted my head and fixed my gaze on the town hall door, waiting for Sebastian to appear. “I’ll let you know,” I said. Although I wanted to keep scanning the building for any sign of him, I made an effort to focus on Robert instead. “Maybe Sebastian will feel better if we take a walk back home.”
Chapter 21
Geneviève
SEBBIE
Need to cancel. Mum needs help with her new furniture.
Sebastian’s message had me furrowing my brow first thing that morning. We were supposed to go to the beach and have a picnic, but with his arm injured, I’d ended up taking charge of buying sweets from Mermaid’s Mug and grabbing milkshakes from Rob’s Diner. We were supposed to head to our usual spot in a few minutes, so I was already wearing sunscreen, my bikini, and a dress over it.
“This is so weird.” I walked into the kitchen, eyebrows furrowed, still not looking up from my phone, as though staring at his text would somehow change his response. “Sebastian cancelled our plans at the last minute.”
I glanced up as I sat down on one of the barstools, ignoring the university brochures scattered around. My sister sat across from me, phone in one hand and her other arm resting on her cheek, elbow on the table to keep her head upright. As soon as my words reached her, her hands moved quickly—her phone dropping with a soft ‘thud’ against the table as she grabbeda piece of cake from the basket I’d prepared and one of the milkshakes I’d picked up from the diner.
“Why?”
