Page 48 of When I Found You

Kate stomps her feet and groans. “I can’t tell you what it means even if I wanted to. That’s like the first rule of time travel. No spoilers! I don’t want to be the reason we declare war with Canada and dinosaurs rule the future.”

More gibberish pours from her mouth. “Wait? What the hell are you talking about now?”

She sighs heavily and collapses in one of the dining room chairs. The towel rides up her thigh. I refocus my attention on her face wishing I had told her to put some damn clothes on before we dove into the specifics.

“Haven’t you seen Back to the Future...shit, never mind.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future because it could alter future events causing a rip in the space-time continuum. Or a paradox. Or an alternate timeline. I mean, there are a lot of theories as to what would really happen, but I am not interested in finding out which one got it right.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Well, it may be a bit late for that considering you’ve told me you’re from the future and your dad dies when you’re four.” I push aside the anguish attached to this knowing I’ll have to address this piece of information later, but she’s right, we can’t take the chance of altering the future for personal gain.

“Shit.” She bites her thumbnail. “But if we don’t interfere in any events, then nothing will change, right?”

I laugh. “Kate. The door must have hit you harder than I thought.” The possibilities are too fantastical for me to believe a word out of her mouth.

“You don’t believe me?” The color drains from her face.

“You want me to believe you’re the daughter of my colleague who’s come from the future.” I do the math in my head. “From what year?” I lean forward.

“2020.”

“Ah,” I reply as though it’s obvious. “You don’t know how you got here or why.”

“No idea.”

I nod and slowly rise to my feet. “Maybe I should call Rob and have him see if they can get you in for a scan down at the hospital?”

Kate jumps to her feet and charges toward me. “There’s nothing wrong with my head!”

Those delectable lips and delicious curves I enjoyed only an hour ago distract me from the truth. The girl is delusional. She has to be. None of this makes any sense.

“Sweetheart,” I place my hands on her shoulders ignoring my body’s response to the smooth texture of her skin and the heat simmering between us. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll call Rob, and we’ll get this figured out.”

“You think I’m crazy.” She wrenches herself away. “I’m not crazy.”

“I never said you were crazy.” I reach for her but she’s already sprinting toward the bedroom.

I’m on her heels, but she slams the door in my face. “Kate. Kate!”

Silence reaches me. “Shit.”

I cross the room and pick up the phone. Rob doesn’t answer at his place, so I call the hospital. When the nurse tells me he’s with a patient, I leave my name and ask for her to have him call me right away.

The bedroom door opens, and Kate emerges wearing the same clothes I found her in on New Year’s Day. She crosses to the door and gets her oversized wool coat.

“Where are you going?” I stand between her and the door blocking her exit. “I can’t let you leave. You need help.”

A glare, one I can only describe as murderous, pins me in place. She hisses in a breath. “You have no right to keep me captive here. I’m perfectly sound in body and mind. Now move, before I move you.”

A good six inches shorter than me, Kate poses no threat. I scoff and hold my ground.

“It’s not safe for you out there. I’ve called Rob. He’ll help, just stay here, Kate. We’ll figure this all out.” My pleas fall on stubborn ears.

“There’s nothing for me to figure out.” She jabs her finger in my chest. “You, on the other hand.” Her shoulders shrug with the implication of her words. Determination flashes in her mismatched eyes.

I lift my hands in supplication. “Explain it to me then, Kate.”

She shakes her head and the determination in her gaze fades into sadness. “I tried, Arthur. I bared my soul with the truth.”

“The truth?” I scoff, but sober the moment she scowls. “I’m a practical man, but I’m sorry, your truth goes against all reason.”

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