Bruce and Harri were parked outside of Madame Twyla's shop early. There were about ten minutes left before her shop closed and Bruce was supposed to go in. Bruce was surprised at how quickly Harri had agreed to go with him but he could tell she was not there to support him. She was angry.
"We have a few minutes," he said, making conversation. She had been quiet the entire drive over and sat with her arms crossed.
She turned her head to look at him for a few seconds and then went back to looking straight ahead.
"Harri listen," he said. "I'm not crazy. I know what she is offering..it does sound crazy and I'm entirely open to the possibility that it might be a hoax..But-"
"Look," Harri said raising a hand, stopping him. "We don't have to talk about it. Let's just wait..quietly."
Bruce pressed his lips together. A tactful and polite way for her to tell him to shut up.
They waited in silence until Madame Twyla put the Closed sign on the door. After walking across the street silently, Harri knocked on Madame Twyla's door. They went in once she answered.
"Oh," Twyla said. "You bought company, I see."
"Yes," Bruce said. "This is my sister-in-law, Harri-"
"How dare you?" Harri asked Twyla.
"Excuse me?" Madame Twyla said, with an amused smile.
"My brother-in-law is grieving, and you're taking advantage of him. He's told me how much you're being paid and I think this is disgusting. He wants his money back now-" Harri said, surprising Bruce.
"No problem," Madame Twyla smiled. "I can initiate the refund transfer tonight."
Harri was shocked at how easy it was.
"That's not something we discussed," Bruce said. "I don't need a refund. We're here for your services."
Harri blinked slowly, looking at Bruce with a combination of fury and sympathy. She looked at him like he was a desperate soul with no hope.
"That can be done as well," Madame Twyla said.
"Bruce.." Harri said. "I can't tell you what to do but..I don't trust her."
"You don't need to trust me," Twyla said smartly. "He does."
Bruce didn't want to take sides. He just wanted his wife.
"What do you have for me?" Bruce asked, ignoring both of their comments on trust.
Madame Twyla pulled out a sheet of paper and a small rock. She handed them both to Bruce. He unfolded the paper, looked at it, and then looked back at her.
"Coordinates?" he asked. "To..the middle of nowhere? Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic?"
"And a rock shaped like a vanilla wafer," Harri wasn't impressed. "Worth billions?"
"You must have a very high IQ," Twyla said to Bruce, ignoring Harri. "You looked at those coordinates for less than two seconds and knew immediately where they lead to."
Bruce wasn't sure what to say.
"Tell me what this is," he said about the coordinates.
"That is where you go," she said.
"And this pebble?" he asked.
"Take it with you," Twyla said.
"And that's it?" Bruce said. "There must be more...I'm paying you a lot of money for...a small stone and coordinates?"
"Those exact coordinates are priceless," she said. "And the rock..yes its ..unimpressive. But it's very rare. Trust me, I have earned every penny. You must go by boat."
"And if ...I go an there's nothing there and this..unimpressive rock is useless?" Bruce asked.
"I'll refund every penny you've paid me so far," Twyla said as though she knew she would be keeping her money.
Bruce looked down at the rock and the coordinates, which he had already memorized.
"Good luck," Twyla said. "Remember...this is just your opportunity to change the past. Doesn't guarantee change, doesn't guarantee your life will be any better or easier. In fact...reliving your life in a different way can be..quite taxing on the mind. You will almost certainly have a tough time."
"Will it be difficult to change the past?" Bruce asked. "I need to know that I can save my wife."
"Based on how she died, you will have one of the easiest trips back to save a life," Twyla said, almost laughing.
"Okay," Bruce said. "If it doesn't work..I'll be back.
"Mhmmm.." Twyla said.
"Let's go," Bruce said to Harri.
"You'll be hearing from his lawyer," Harri said before they left.
.
.
.
"I'm going tomorrow morning," Bruce told Harri when they were back at home.
"There's nothing I can do to stop you..or reason with you is there?" Harri asked.
"I'm afraid not.." Bruce said.
Harri was shaking her head.
"We'll leave around 4," Bruce said. "I'll take my Numarine yacht."
"When we get there and..." Harri said. "Nothing happens...I need to know you're going to be alright."
Bruce looked her in the eyes. She was so concerned for him..but as he considered her words, he thought about the unimaginable let down. Being in the middle of the Atlantic, hopeless to get Adriana back.
"I'll be alright," he lied, trying to convince both Harri and himself. "I know it's a long shot."
.
.
.
Bruce went into Arsenio's room at 3 a.m. Bruce hadn't slept all night and the night had gone by so slowly. He and Harri would be leaving in an hour. He went over to Arsenio's crib and placed the tips of his fingers onto his left foot, wanting to touch him before he left. What if it was real? What if he did go back in time? Even worse..what if he couldn't? What if he got out there and the whole thing was a hoax? He had already given Madame Twyla enough money to disappear.
Of course, with his resources and skills he would be able to find her, but the disappointment would be great. The only thing that he knew for sure would keep him living, and would give him a reason to come home and get on with his life without Adriana, was Arsenio.
Arsenio's closed eyes squeezed shut even tighter before he opened them and looked at Bruce.
"Oh..." Bruce whispered. "I'm so sorry, little man. I didn't mean to wake you."
Arsenio looked sleepy and confused but when he saw Bruce's face he began to smile. The most beautiful, innocent and pure smile of recognition and happiness.
"I love you," Bruce said and Arsenio reached his arms up for Bruce to hold him.
Bruce held Arsenio in his arms for several minutes, waiting for him to go back to sleep. As he held his son, he began to think. He loved his son more than anything in the world. Nothing in his life brought him more joy than Arsenio. The thought of putting him down and going out into the dark, early morning waters...looking for a time machine in the middle of the ocean..it was depressing. It felt hopeless. He wanted to stay home..to spend and savor every second with his son.
"I'm...doing the right thing," Bruce whispered, mostly to himself. "That's what I think at least...but it could be a lie...the biggest scam of my life. Maybe I shouldn't...I should stay here...spend the day with you...my sweet boy. I miss her... your mommy.."
Arsenio, who seemed like he was nearly asleep seemed to perk up.
"Mommy?" Arsenio asked.
Bruce suddenly felt guilty. Bruce hadn't said the word 'Mommy' at all since Adriana had passed. He had shown Arsenio pictures of Adriana, held and comforted him, used her name..'Adriana' regularly..but he had never said 'Mommy' in front of Arsenio. He had only ever said it when she was alive.
"Mommy?" Arsenio said again.
Bruce fought tears.
"I miss her," Bruce said, unable to stop his tearful confession to the baby. "I miss your mommy."
"Meeees," Arsenio said. "Mommy...?"
Bruce looked him in the eyes and rubbed his back.
"Mees...mommy?" Arsenio said again Bruce realized he was asking him a question.
"Yes," Bruce nodded.
Arsenio pushed his lips forward and kissed Bruce on the cheek. Bruce held him and tried to fight his emotions and prevent them from completely spilling over.
"Meees...mommy...toooo," Arsenio said and Bruce was shocked. He had formed a sentence. He remembered his mother. He missed her.
Bruce knew he had to go, he had to try.
