Later that evening, Timothy walked down the stairs. His family was gathered in the lounge. "So," He said, sitting down gently on the other sofa. "You can see the future."
"Timothy." Shelagh protested. She was sitting on the floor, playing with Angela.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I can't predict the future. I'm from the future. There's a difference."
"But you know the future."
"I know some things, yeah."
"Well?"
"What?" Emma asked, starting to get annoyed.
Patrick intercepted. "Tim, stop bothering your sister."
"Tell us some things." Timothy continued. "Come on, dad. Aren't you curious too?"
"I don't know if I should." Emma hesitated. She hadn't missed the way Patrick had referred to her. She put it in the back of her mind to be examined later. "I don't want to change the future." She took a deep breath. "I don't want to risk changing things, if I ever get back."
"You think you'll be able to get back?"
Emma sighed. "I have to try, right?"
Shelagh smiled softly. "And we'll help you, any way we can." She stood up, lifting the toddler up into her arms. "I think it's time for Angela's bedtime." She used Angela's arm to wave at her family. "Goodnight."
The others waved back.
Shelagh walked down the stairs. She smiled, looking at her family gathered in the lounge. She joined her husband on the sofa, and turned to Emma. "What did you used to do, on evening like this?"
"I'd be with friends. We'd talk." Emma smiled sadly. "About anything but ourselves. We were so different, and yet, we fit together so nicely." She cleared her throat. "It's funny, but, what I miss most is the music." Emma shook her head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's true. I miss the music. And my phone." She snorted. "Gosh, talk about being addicted."
Shelagh smiled kindly. "It's okay to miss your friends."
"It's not going to bring them here, is it? Until I find a way, if I ever find a way, to get back, I have to put them out of my mind. It's only going to make me sad."
Shelagh put her arms around the teenager.
Emma froze before leaning into the touch.
Shelagh squeezed her shoulders and Emma smiled. Maybe she could get used to this instead.