Chapter 4
Frank was in the game room moving things around to help Maria, when he saw Sabrina walk by the door. "Why aren't you in here helping?" Frank asked.
"I'm a guest, I don't have to help. Elaina said I could use her computer. I want to send an email to my sister."
"Can't it wait until you get back home?" Frank wondered.
"This is like my second home. Why can't I do it here?" Sabrina giggled.
"This is not your second home, you're just a bug we can't get rid of," Frank joked.
"Hey, you tried to make a joke. You should take lessons from Cody and you might actually be funny," Sabrina countered.
"Get out of here before I squash you, bug," Frank laughed as she left the hallway.
Maria came back in the room and looked around. "This should be enough room to dance. I wish we could have a band here but wouldn't be enough room for them. I guess we'll have to rely on CD's for music." Maria said talking more to herself than to Frank.
"You could just turn the lyric tracks off and you can sing to the music," Frank suggested.
"That's right I could. I can get Derek and Becky to sing too. I wonder if Lainie would like to sing today?" Maria went over to the stereo to organize the CD's she wanted to play.
"You'll have to ask her, but she's been preoccupied with the colt and our guests. So don't pressure her."
"I won't. You can go now. I don't think I need anything else moved," Maria said, leaving the room.
"Thank God!" Frank left the game room and entered the office, finding Sabrina intently reading something on the monitor. He walked up behind her and noticed that she was reading the Donovan family history. He quickly shut the monitor off.
"Hey! Why did you.Oh hi Frank." Sabrina was feeling very guilty at being caught invading his privacy.
"Who told you you could read our private emails?" Frank was a bit angry with her.
"It was on the screen when I came in here. If you don't want anyone reading it, might I suggest that you close it the next time!" Sabrina stood up to him, which was actually something new for her. It was a mystery to her why she did it.
"You are never to use these computers again unless Elaina or I are in here. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir. I would just like to know why you are letting an impostor run around your house?"
"What are you talking about? The man is my cousin and that history proves it."
"You have a dead cousin by the name of Ardeth Bay, he died October 15, 1934. Didn't you read the rest of the history? There is a note of when and how each person passed, if it was known. Here, I'll show." Sabrina turned the monitor back on and showed Frank what she was talking about.
Frank read the description of how Ardeth had died. Ardeth Bay, nephew to Edward Donovan and Asima Bay Donovan. Born November 23,1901 died from wounds suffered in a scuffle with thief at the O'Connell home, where he and his wife Layla were visiting. Ardeth surprised the thief and was shot in the chest. He later succumbed to his wounds October 15,1934.
"Damn. That's today," Frank whispered to himself, but Sabrina heard him.
"What's going on? Sure that's today's date but it happened years ago. Is there something you know that I should know?" Sabrina asked.
"You, no! Elaina, yes! Would you go get her for me please?" Frank asked as he kept reading the story.
"Sure. Maybe she'll tell me what's going on." Sabrina's curiosity was getting to her. She went out of the room to find Elaina.
Elaina came back down with Sabrina. "What's up, Love? You find a rich uncle we should know about?" Elaina joked.
"What I found is not a joke. We may have a slight problem on our hands," Frank said grimly.
"What?" Elaina wondered what had him in this mood.
"Do you want her to know everything?" Frank looked at Sab.
"She read about Ardeth?" Elaina asked.
"She found more about Ardeth than we did. We didn't read far enough into it." Frank pointed to the screen. Elaina went around the desk and sat down to read it. After squinting to read the monitor, she grabbed her glasses from the desk.
"Well if you read this then you might as well hear about what happened last night," Elaina said to Sabrina. "Let's sit down over here and I'll tell you about it." Elaina proceeded to tell her about the events that led to Ardeth and Layla appearing at their home. Elaina knew that Sabrina would have a difficult time believing it and she didn't disappoint her.
"You bought that load of shit? I thought the two of you were smarter than that," Sab said bluntly.
"How dare you question our intelligence? I know the events are hard to believe but we are not stupid," Elaina snapped at her.
"Sorry. I just have a hard time believing that the man you have running around here is the same man that is to die in less than an hour," Sab said.
"What do you mean less than an hour?" Frank asked.
"The time difference. If we are to believe that he is the same person, we should take into consideration the fact of the time change. If he doesn't get back to Cairo in 1934, he is not going to die."
"Frank if that's true this could change history."
"What are you talking about?"
"If Ardeth doesn't die and he and Layla do make it back to their time, they will more than likely have children and everyone that they come in contact with from now on will have their history changed. Including ours in some way."
"You mean it could change my history, just because he was here and I met him?"
"What I'm trying to say is that we may not even exist now, if he doesn't die in 1934," Elaina explained. "I wouldn't know you, Sarah or Cody?" Sabrina was astonished by the possibility.
"I may never meet Frank, either, or have Derek. I can't and won't accept that possibility." Elaina was becoming hysterical.
"There is nothing we can do about it, Lady. Unless you know how to conjure up a storm like last night's in less than a.half hour," Frank said looking at his watch.
Ardeth and Layla walked into the room. "Are we interrupting?"
"Yes, you are." Elaina walked over and smacked Ardeth in the face. "How dare you come here and ruin my life?"
"Ardeth are you alright? She is a crazy woman," Layla said, checking her husband's face.
Frank rushed over and grabbed Elaina from striking at him again. "Elaina, get a hold of yourself. It isn't his fault either."
"Let go of me!" Elaina yelled. "I want them out of my house and out of my life."
"Sabrina, take her out of here and calm her down. Get Sarah and Derek to sit with her a while, she needs them right now." Frank let go of Elaina as Sabrina took her arm, having to pull her from the room.
"Ardeth, I'm sorry. Elaina is very upset and she lashes out at anyone, normally it's me," Frank tried to explain.
"Why is she acting this way? We have no control over being here," Layla raised her voice in anger.
"Please, tell us why she is so upset," Ardeth pleaded.
"I'm not sure if you will want Layla to hear this. It will be very upsetting to her, too," Frank warned.
"Layla, do you want to go back to our room?"
"La, I want to hear what he has to say." Layla walked over to sit down and Ardeth followed her.
"The way we found out how we were related, was through the family history my mother sent. It's a very thorough history. I had only read part of it last night. A while ago I read, more and it's very disturbing news."
"I can see it is very troubling to you to have to say it but I want to know. Please tell us," Ardeth said.
"We found out when and how you passed away." Frank waited for the news to sink in.
"I am hoping I lived a very long and prosperous life. Your face is telling me I did not."
"We did have children, didn't we, before he passes?" Layla wondered if she would be alone after he was gone.
"I'm sorry to say this. You were to die on this day in 1934, at the O'Connell home. A thief breaks into the house and according to the history he shoots you and you die of the wounds." Frank sighed heavily after telling them.
"We are not in Cairo, so he will not die," Layla smiled. Her expression changed when she saw the look on Frank's face. "There is more to this you are not telling us?" Ardeth asked.
"Elaina fears that your not dying when you are supposed to will change history and our lives. That is why she is upset."
"That is why she struck me. I do not blame her. I wish there was a way to change what is about to happen, but I cannot." Ardeth saw that Layla was upset at the possibility of the changes to their family they just met. He held her close.
"I told Elaina there was nothing any of us could do about it. I only hope she calms down and realizes that too," Frank said as he checked his watch. There were only a few minutes left until the time Ardeth would have died. Suddenly he wondered if maybe she was right. "I'm going to go check on her. You can stay in here if you wish."
******
"Mom won't you please tell me why you're so upset?" Derek begged his mother. Elaina just sat on the couch. One hand holding Derek's hand, her other hand was holding Sarah tightly to her.
"Momma sad Bubby," Sarah said patting her mom's face.
"Frank came into the room and knelt down beside the couch where she was sitting. "Elaina, it's going to be ok. You have to believe that," Frank whispered to her. "Are they still here?" She asked in a bitter tone.
"Where would they go? Lady." Frank put his arm around her, "I'm not going anywhere, ever. You and I will always be together." Frank and Elaina both looked up at the clock as it began to chime for the hour. Their eyes fixed on one another. Frank put his hand on Sarah's back and rubbed it. He leaned over and kissed Sarah and then Elaina.
Derek moved so he could touch Frank's arm. He didn't understand what was going on but felt the need to touch his father. "Dad, what's going on? Mom's acting like the world is going to end."
Frank didn't know what to say, he just looked at his family wondering if Elaina's fears would come true.
"I love you all," Elaina said, closing her eyes to say a silent prayer.
"La!" . "No!"
Frank was in the game room moving things around to help Maria, when he saw Sabrina walk by the door. "Why aren't you in here helping?" Frank asked.
"I'm a guest, I don't have to help. Elaina said I could use her computer. I want to send an email to my sister."
"Can't it wait until you get back home?" Frank wondered.
"This is like my second home. Why can't I do it here?" Sabrina giggled.
"This is not your second home, you're just a bug we can't get rid of," Frank joked.
"Hey, you tried to make a joke. You should take lessons from Cody and you might actually be funny," Sabrina countered.
"Get out of here before I squash you, bug," Frank laughed as she left the hallway.
Maria came back in the room and looked around. "This should be enough room to dance. I wish we could have a band here but wouldn't be enough room for them. I guess we'll have to rely on CD's for music." Maria said talking more to herself than to Frank.
"You could just turn the lyric tracks off and you can sing to the music," Frank suggested.
"That's right I could. I can get Derek and Becky to sing too. I wonder if Lainie would like to sing today?" Maria went over to the stereo to organize the CD's she wanted to play.
"You'll have to ask her, but she's been preoccupied with the colt and our guests. So don't pressure her."
"I won't. You can go now. I don't think I need anything else moved," Maria said, leaving the room.
"Thank God!" Frank left the game room and entered the office, finding Sabrina intently reading something on the monitor. He walked up behind her and noticed that she was reading the Donovan family history. He quickly shut the monitor off.
"Hey! Why did you.Oh hi Frank." Sabrina was feeling very guilty at being caught invading his privacy.
"Who told you you could read our private emails?" Frank was a bit angry with her.
"It was on the screen when I came in here. If you don't want anyone reading it, might I suggest that you close it the next time!" Sabrina stood up to him, which was actually something new for her. It was a mystery to her why she did it.
"You are never to use these computers again unless Elaina or I are in here. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir. I would just like to know why you are letting an impostor run around your house?"
"What are you talking about? The man is my cousin and that history proves it."
"You have a dead cousin by the name of Ardeth Bay, he died October 15, 1934. Didn't you read the rest of the history? There is a note of when and how each person passed, if it was known. Here, I'll show." Sabrina turned the monitor back on and showed Frank what she was talking about.
Frank read the description of how Ardeth had died. Ardeth Bay, nephew to Edward Donovan and Asima Bay Donovan. Born November 23,1901 died from wounds suffered in a scuffle with thief at the O'Connell home, where he and his wife Layla were visiting. Ardeth surprised the thief and was shot in the chest. He later succumbed to his wounds October 15,1934.
"Damn. That's today," Frank whispered to himself, but Sabrina heard him.
"What's going on? Sure that's today's date but it happened years ago. Is there something you know that I should know?" Sabrina asked.
"You, no! Elaina, yes! Would you go get her for me please?" Frank asked as he kept reading the story.
"Sure. Maybe she'll tell me what's going on." Sabrina's curiosity was getting to her. She went out of the room to find Elaina.
Elaina came back down with Sabrina. "What's up, Love? You find a rich uncle we should know about?" Elaina joked.
"What I found is not a joke. We may have a slight problem on our hands," Frank said grimly.
"What?" Elaina wondered what had him in this mood.
"Do you want her to know everything?" Frank looked at Sab.
"She read about Ardeth?" Elaina asked.
"She found more about Ardeth than we did. We didn't read far enough into it." Frank pointed to the screen. Elaina went around the desk and sat down to read it. After squinting to read the monitor, she grabbed her glasses from the desk.
"Well if you read this then you might as well hear about what happened last night," Elaina said to Sabrina. "Let's sit down over here and I'll tell you about it." Elaina proceeded to tell her about the events that led to Ardeth and Layla appearing at their home. Elaina knew that Sabrina would have a difficult time believing it and she didn't disappoint her.
"You bought that load of shit? I thought the two of you were smarter than that," Sab said bluntly.
"How dare you question our intelligence? I know the events are hard to believe but we are not stupid," Elaina snapped at her.
"Sorry. I just have a hard time believing that the man you have running around here is the same man that is to die in less than an hour," Sab said.
"What do you mean less than an hour?" Frank asked.
"The time difference. If we are to believe that he is the same person, we should take into consideration the fact of the time change. If he doesn't get back to Cairo in 1934, he is not going to die."
"Frank if that's true this could change history."
"What are you talking about?"
"If Ardeth doesn't die and he and Layla do make it back to their time, they will more than likely have children and everyone that they come in contact with from now on will have their history changed. Including ours in some way."
"You mean it could change my history, just because he was here and I met him?"
"What I'm trying to say is that we may not even exist now, if he doesn't die in 1934," Elaina explained. "I wouldn't know you, Sarah or Cody?" Sabrina was astonished by the possibility.
"I may never meet Frank, either, or have Derek. I can't and won't accept that possibility." Elaina was becoming hysterical.
"There is nothing we can do about it, Lady. Unless you know how to conjure up a storm like last night's in less than a.half hour," Frank said looking at his watch.
Ardeth and Layla walked into the room. "Are we interrupting?"
"Yes, you are." Elaina walked over and smacked Ardeth in the face. "How dare you come here and ruin my life?"
"Ardeth are you alright? She is a crazy woman," Layla said, checking her husband's face.
Frank rushed over and grabbed Elaina from striking at him again. "Elaina, get a hold of yourself. It isn't his fault either."
"Let go of me!" Elaina yelled. "I want them out of my house and out of my life."
"Sabrina, take her out of here and calm her down. Get Sarah and Derek to sit with her a while, she needs them right now." Frank let go of Elaina as Sabrina took her arm, having to pull her from the room.
"Ardeth, I'm sorry. Elaina is very upset and she lashes out at anyone, normally it's me," Frank tried to explain.
"Why is she acting this way? We have no control over being here," Layla raised her voice in anger.
"Please, tell us why she is so upset," Ardeth pleaded.
"I'm not sure if you will want Layla to hear this. It will be very upsetting to her, too," Frank warned.
"Layla, do you want to go back to our room?"
"La, I want to hear what he has to say." Layla walked over to sit down and Ardeth followed her.
"The way we found out how we were related, was through the family history my mother sent. It's a very thorough history. I had only read part of it last night. A while ago I read, more and it's very disturbing news."
"I can see it is very troubling to you to have to say it but I want to know. Please tell us," Ardeth said.
"We found out when and how you passed away." Frank waited for the news to sink in.
"I am hoping I lived a very long and prosperous life. Your face is telling me I did not."
"We did have children, didn't we, before he passes?" Layla wondered if she would be alone after he was gone.
"I'm sorry to say this. You were to die on this day in 1934, at the O'Connell home. A thief breaks into the house and according to the history he shoots you and you die of the wounds." Frank sighed heavily after telling them.
"We are not in Cairo, so he will not die," Layla smiled. Her expression changed when she saw the look on Frank's face. "There is more to this you are not telling us?" Ardeth asked.
"Elaina fears that your not dying when you are supposed to will change history and our lives. That is why she is upset."
"That is why she struck me. I do not blame her. I wish there was a way to change what is about to happen, but I cannot." Ardeth saw that Layla was upset at the possibility of the changes to their family they just met. He held her close.
"I told Elaina there was nothing any of us could do about it. I only hope she calms down and realizes that too," Frank said as he checked his watch. There were only a few minutes left until the time Ardeth would have died. Suddenly he wondered if maybe she was right. "I'm going to go check on her. You can stay in here if you wish."
******
"Mom won't you please tell me why you're so upset?" Derek begged his mother. Elaina just sat on the couch. One hand holding Derek's hand, her other hand was holding Sarah tightly to her.
"Momma sad Bubby," Sarah said patting her mom's face.
"Frank came into the room and knelt down beside the couch where she was sitting. "Elaina, it's going to be ok. You have to believe that," Frank whispered to her. "Are they still here?" She asked in a bitter tone.
"Where would they go? Lady." Frank put his arm around her, "I'm not going anywhere, ever. You and I will always be together." Frank and Elaina both looked up at the clock as it began to chime for the hour. Their eyes fixed on one another. Frank put his hand on Sarah's back and rubbed it. He leaned over and kissed Sarah and then Elaina.
Derek moved so he could touch Frank's arm. He didn't understand what was going on but felt the need to touch his father. "Dad, what's going on? Mom's acting like the world is going to end."
Frank didn't know what to say, he just looked at his family wondering if Elaina's fears would come true.
"I love you all," Elaina said, closing her eyes to say a silent prayer.
"La!" . "No!"