September 5, 1905
4:50 PM PDT
Marty felt amazed, as William pulled up in front of a large red house. He wondered if Annette was home. He felt a pang of sadness, as he realized that Annette would be dead by 1925. He had already met Annette White, but for real briefly. It was during the time that he and Jennifer visited 1903, and William met her at the Harvest Ball.
"We're home, everyone!" called out William, as he pulled up by the stable. "Verne and Michael, why don't you two go inside - and make yourselves really feel at home. If my wife is sleeping, just try not to wake her up. Doug and I will go unhitch the horses."
"Thanks for everything, Will," replied Verne. As he turned to Marty, he added, "Hey, Marty, there's... Well, there's a little something that I need to tell you." Marty smiled encouragingly, as Verne continued, "I think Linda and I are... Well, we're in love!"
"You... Linda... in love?" Marty stammered, as he was shocked. "I mean, I suppose I feel real happy for you. It's really that... Well, the two of you actually belong to two different time periods. Granted, you were quite born in this time period - but..." As a sudden sadness crept over Marty, he added, "Anyway, she won't be alive for long."
"She wouldn't be..." Verne gasped, shocked. "Oh, yeah, I forgot all about it! I guess she's destined to die of cholera, right?" Marty only nodded. "It really doesn't have to happen, Marty. After all, in the future, they can cure cholera. Maybe we could..."
"I really don't know, Verne," Marty replied, as tears filled his eyes. "I suppose you do have a point, and it's sure not like your father didn't prevent your mother from falling into the ravine. She's my ancestor, too - and I sure would like to prevent her death."
"Why shouldn't we help out those that we love?" pleaded Verne. "I mean, maybe she could go just live in 1997. That way, we could still be together - and it wouldn't cause much of a destruction to the space-time continuum. Please, Marty, think about it. It's not fair for her to die young." Verne began to cry, as he added, "I really love her!"
"Listen, Verne," Marty replied, as the two stepped into the house. "I understand how you feel. I don't quite want to say 'no', and it maybe could be a possibility. Why don't we discuss this later? The thing is, Verne, she might not want to live in the future."
"I guess you have a point, Marty," Verne replied, as he wiped his eyes. "I'm sure she really feels the same way about me. Actually, she quite came right out - and she told me that she was in love with me. I really think this is it, Marty. I found my soulmate."
"I simply hate being placed in this position," Marty commented, sighing. "I suppose we should do the moral thing, though. If we have the ability to prevent Linda's death, it's sure better that we take advantage of the oppurtunity. If it turns out that the two of you are in love, then I'll help you. I promise, Verne. I sure would like to support you."
"Thank you, Marty!" Verne gushed, as he simply threw his arms around Marty. "Why don't we head into the living room? I must say, this is sure a nice house. It was quite awesome for William to invite us to stay here. It's so strange that he looks like you."
"How do you two enjoy my home?" William asked, as he and Douglas stepped into the house. "Well, are either of you feeling pretty thirsty? I have some Pepsis." Marty and Verne both nodded. "I must say, it's sure wonderful that the two of you showed up."
"William!" called out a lilting feminine voice. Marty turned around, and saw Annette. "I declare! It's like I'm seeing double! I simply wish I could've joined you at the festival. I sure felt sick, all day. I simply never realized how hard being pregnant could be. Now, I wish I was more patient with my mother - when she was pregnant with Charlotte."
"Oh, honey, you should just keep relaxing," William replied, as he began to massage Annette's shoulders. "We brought back some cream puffs for you. I know how much you really enjoy them. Well, these are my friends: Michael J Fox and Verne Brown."
"Well, it's quite a pleasure to meet the two of you," Annette replied, as she extended her hand. As Marty shook her hand, she added, "I rather can't believe how much you resemble my husband. The only difference that I can notice, is with your eye colour."
"I just couldn't believe it, either," replied William, flashing a lopsided smile. "Anyway, I hope you don't mind that I asked them to spend the week with us. It's real strange to think of how Verne has grown. I simply remember him, as a small boy. His mother was the schoolteacher, and his father was a blacksmith. They were friends of the family."
"Anybody who's a friend of yours, Will," Annette replied, smiling, "is certainly a friend of mine. Of course, they can stay. I can see that you quite take after your father. It certainly is one trait that I like about you. We should be hospitable to one another."
"Well, you know just what the Bible says," William replied, "about entertaining angels unaware. My mother hasn't always been that appreciative of my father's hospitality, though. She sure is a good-hearted person, but she tends to be very supersticious."
"Yeah, that sure isn't right," agreed Annette. "I wonder what our children will turn out to be like. It's still quite scary for me. I mean, when you simply think about it, I have a person growing inside of me. It certainly an awesome feeling, Will. I'm sure going to be bringing a new life into this world. I'm quite nervous about becoming a mother."
Marty actually felt a pang of sadness, as he realized that Annette's third pregnancy would end in tragedy. It just seemed like Annette was quite a wonderful mother. As he thought of Agnes and Anita, he felt real sorry that the girls grew up motherless.
oooooooooo
Linda felt a little nervous, and she and Sarah stepped into Holt's Diner. She was real nervous of what her best friend would think of her falling in love with their childhood friend. She had already confided her feelings to Verne, and it didn't seem quite right to keep secrets from Sarah. She couldn't remember the last time she felt in love.
"Are you all right, Linda?" Sarah asked, concerned. "You've sure been quiet, since we left the festival. This certainly isn't like you. I mean, I guess you're real excited about seeing Verne. It's been ten years, since we last saw him. Still, I'm so worried that..."
"I need to tell you something, Sarah," Linda replied, nervously. Sarah simply nodded, as they grabbed a table. "I simply can't began to tell you just how happy I am, about seeing Verne. Here's the thing. I think I'm..." In a whisper, she added, "I'm in love."
Linda blushed, once the words came out. It was a little hard to register the look that came over her friend's face. Would she think it was wonderful, or would she be very dismayed? Would her friend simply be horrified by how managed to fall in love with a boy that they knew from early childhood? Would her friend think it was disgraceful?
"Well, I'm not sure what to say," Sarah replied, softly. "I have to admit that I'm quite, well, surprised. Still, if that's how you feel... Have you talked to Verne about this? It's just a little... Linda, are you sure that it's true love? Have you thought about it?"
"I've been thinking about it, all afternoon," Linda whispered. "I actually did tell Verne how I felt, and... Well, he seems to feel the same way. We sure had so much to talk about, and we couldn't keep our eyes off of each other. I really think he's the one."
"Well, I will admit that he's a very handsome young man," replied Sarah. "I can quite see a lot of his father in him. I certainly am not one to judge. It's simply that... Well, I'm sure he's not planning to stay in town. I mean, if you were to move away, I sure would miss you. Well, in the meantime, I suppose we should get something to eat."
"I could go for the three-piece chicken dinner," Linda replied, swallowing. "I'll have a chocolate milk." With a dreamy sigh, she added, "I'd really be happy to move to San Francisco with Verne. I mean, I think it would be worth it. You could move with me."
"Well, I don't want to leave town," Sarah protested. "I really enjoy living in Hill Valley. The big city life is just not for me. I sure can't leave my family. I love my mother - and Emory and Emma really need for me to be around. I simply need to stay here, Linda."
"Well, I do admire your devotion," commented Linda. "I don't want you to think that I don't care about my family, too. I would definitely keep in contact with them. I simply love Verne, too. You know, I was quite shocked by how tall he's become. We used to be the same height. It's amazing to think of how much can change within ten years."
"It certainly is," Sarah replied, softly. "I just want to be careful, Linda. I mean, you're only seventeen years old. You didn't even graduate, yet. I don't want you to... Well, I'm just concerned about you making a rash decision. Please, Linda, think about it."
"You're right, Sarah," Linda agreed, reluctantly. "I guess you're really just trying to be a good friend, and I certainly do appreciate that. It's just that... Well, I've sure never been this much in love before. The moment that I laid eyes on Verne, I just felt so..."
"I understand how you feel," replied Sarah. "Well, maybe not quite - but I could really imagine how you would feel. Anyway, why don't we just order something to eat - and we could discuss this a little later. I sure hope to find my match, as well. I don't think I feel ready to move out on my own, though. I think I'll have the chicken dinner, too."
Linda smiled at her best friend, as she thought of Verne. In all honesty, she felt rather nervous about leaving Hill Valley - as this was the town she lived in all her life. She also felt as though she wasn't ready to move out. Still, she was really in love with Verne!
