Chapter 21 - 'And Away...We Go!'

Chapter 21 - 'And Away...We Go!'
....A cave. That's it, thought Em: a nice, dark, cool bloody cave~! Way the heck somewhere out, out far from Pankhurst, and time machines and mad scientists....and Jack.
There was a cave! Em remembered...it was on Jethro and Homer's property, "Guano Acres" they'd named it and mined it to build their infernal incendiary devices....
'Alright, Em?'
The next days' bright sunny morning found Jack beside Emmeline in a train car heading west and away from Pankhurst...
Why did it always seem so nice to be leaving it behind?
Emmeline smiled at Jack, inching over to give him room.
'Won't be long, and you'll have your mandolin back.'
Oh, if only that would solve everything! Oh, for the carefree days of being kidnapped and held hostage by bloody Daryl... Em leaned her elbow on the window and stared at the river passing by. At least she and Daryl could converse, as...well, almost as friends would. As equals, more or less...even though he was well her senior. At least he wasn't this brash, eager boy; seemingly
so sure of himself regardless of consequences to others...
Jack at last settled back and took the hint and just gazed at scenery or read that morning's Courier, leaving Em's head free at last. He seemed to be just rather...in need of something to focus on. She feared she wasn't up to the job of being his all-in-all.
Well, best to discover that now than much later, she decided.
The train pulled southwesterly and the Coast Range became suddenly an astonishingly immense reality of gently rolling slopes like the haunches of some great beasts lying amongsts the fields. And just beyond, San Francisco, and Nob Hill House.
Possibly, she could work again for the library there! No reason why not...they always needed extra help, Mrs. Peel had told her.
Oh to see the old gang there again, and Manuel and Rosa! Em felt
more cheerful suddenly. She wouldn't have to run away to a cave after all. Not just yet anyway.
...Maybe when Jack was older...perhaps with age and experience he would at last settle into himself, and not be so...oh, she may as well admit it: needy. Em had spent too much of her young life under some man's thumb, how she ached now for some semblance of freedom...  Yes, surely they got along well enough when not living under the same roof. She realized then that she found life easier for her at Daryl's because, well, he wasn't about all that much. She, Rosa and Manuel had the run of the place, usually. Em sighed softly...yes, perhaps when Jack is older, like Daryl...
Em snapped out of her reverie suddenly with a small soft gasp.
'Em? Paper?' Jack enquired.
'Ah, thank you, Jack,' Em took a section, folded it and began to fan herself. Jack raised a brow, but returned to his reading. Diosa, what was she thinking?  No, no, no...not like Daryl. Daryl, or his residence, was really just a port in a storm right now. She did not plan upon staying there and living with...Daryl. Oh, my no. Josephina's prophecy be buggered.
Emmeline stole a glance at Jack, looking natty in his city clothes, derby at a rakish angle. He was a handsome man. Too bad he was such a kid still--and with a shifty hand on the tiller of Time...utterly mad, these Van Horns. Were Mr. Yeats and Aleister just as barmy 'neath the surface?
Jack caught her looking at him and grinned. Em smiled in return and took Jack's arm, sighing. Poor daft buggers all of them, her father encluded. So what did that make her? Jack was pleased by Em's attentions and kissed her cheek gently. Ah, Isis...help me, she pleaded silently, this isn't going to be easy...
                               . . . . .
'Emmelina! So here you are! It is good to see you!'
Amazingly, Rosa answered the door and ushered them inside. Em wasn't sure why she was so surprised to find the house still here and nothing changed, outwardly at least.
'It is so good to see you too, Rosa,' Em's eyes grew moist as she hugged her friend. 'I have missed you. Is Manuel still here?'
'Of course! He is out and about on errands at present, however.
Senor Jack, yes?' Rosa nodded to him. 'Do make yourselves at home; would you both care for some tea?'
They would. They followed Rosa into the kitchen, Emmeline taking her old stool at the counter. She patted the one beside her for Jack and he attempted a small smile as he sat, staring about him, as if expecting Daryl to pop out of the icebox or cupboard at any moment.
'So, is the master of the house at home?' Em asked tentatively.
Rosa poured their tea, and locked her gaze with Em's. 'But, I just informed you that Manuel was out!' She laughed, and snapped her fingers. Em smiled wide. How she had missed Rosa's easygoing humor. Taking her teacup, Rosa seated herself on Emmelina's other side. 'Don Diego was here, briefly....oh, last week, it was.'
Em and Jack exchanged glances. 'Truly? He is well?' Rosa nodded.
'Did he...mention me at all, or where he had been?' Em was oddly more anxious about Daryl than she cared to admit.
Rosa shook her head. 'Ah, no, he didn't share all that with me, you know; just the usual: allowance for household accounts, picking up messages...he often comes and goes for weeks, months at a time.' She sipped her tea. 'Ah, but I believe he did mention that if you came by, he left a note for you on his study desk.'
At last! She was anxious to read that note, but was somehow reluctant to do so around Jack. She acted casual and as though it wasn't important. 'Ah, I see. Well, when we, ah, left, I realized later that I still have some things here I wished to enquire after...?'
'But certainly! Mi casa es su casa,' Rosa winked. 'I have the key to the study, I'll just show you in, and unlock your bedroom door for you as well.'
Excellent, Rosa...thought Em...and just maybe we can have a wee chat without Jack hovering. 'I'll just have a look about, then. Jack? You could wait in the parlor, if that's more comfortable? I shan't be long.'
Jack nodded and kissed her hand in farewell, then stood and took his tea into the parlor, as Emmelina and Rosa headed to the back of the house and Daryl's study. 'I'll leave you to it, and go open up your bedroom,' Rosa told her as she opened both doors of the study for her.
Em entered gazing about marvelling that it was all really here, all still the same. It had indeed really happened...she had been living here, with Daryl, Rosa and Manuel...she briefly thought of Madame Yvanna and Mrs. Peel and the Library Ladies, and young Sophie, wondering how they all were faring. Then she looked to the big blond wood study desk and saw a sealed envelope upon it.
As she advanced toward it in the cool blue-tinged light from the rice paper shades, she felt as though the envelope was nearly a live thing. Her throat was suddenly dry and her pulse was up in anticipation. She reached a hand out for it and saw, written in a tight script on the front, the name: 'Josephina'.
Well, well. Em bit her lip, feeling altogether too clandestine all of a sudden. She took the envelope and slipped it into her skirt pocket, and exited the study, softly shutting the door. She quietly made her way upstairs to her old room, hoping that she could do so without alerting Jack to her footsteps.
As she stepped down the hallway, she saw her door was open and she slipped inside, exhaling at last. Everything looked just as she had left it! So far so good. The mandolin Daryl had given her was still sitting in the chair, looking lonesome, she thought. She went to the closet and found her old skirt and purple flowered shirt that he had bought for her in the marketplace in Mexico that day...  Reaching into her old skirt pocket, she found Josephina's bottle of oil. Em clasped it and unstoppered the top, relishing the scent with eyes closed. Diosa...how long ago and far away it all seemed now, her gypsy sister and friends, old Carlos and Esperanza...  Emmelina put some oil on her wrists, behind her ears, and then one last drop upon her third eye, where Axelis had touched her : 'The Jewel in the Lotus,' he'd said...
Em blinked her eyes open. What was that? Where did that memory come from? Axelis...the tall man, her father...and...she had a sister as well, a redhaired woman who looked strangely much like Emmelina herself...Ann-something...why couldn't Em recall now? And when and where had she met these people?
Reaching into her other skirt pocket, she both hoped for and feared what she may or may not find, but did--the artefact! But, Em frowned, hadn't she...brought that back with her when she and Jack timewalked back to Crowley Place? Oddly, she didn't recall having the thing when they had arrived in the parlor there. ...Forgotten in the strangeness of the moment? It was all very peculiar.
At last, Em sat upon her narrow bed and extracted the envelope, turning it over. It was sealed with some old-fashioned red sealing wax with an odd stamp sealed upon it which appeared to be a coat-of-arms of sorts. Couldn't quite make it out, but it looked to be a griffin or small dragon. Em stole a glance at the door, reached out and shut it. She then took out the note.
"Josephina," (it read):
"If you are reading this, then you have safely returned. I hope that you and Jack are well. Yes, I saw that you both had returned for me, and for that I am grateful and furious. You ought not to have done so. I wished nothing more from this life than to see you and Jack both home somewhere safely together." (Em sighed again, frustrated), "...However, should you ever have the need, this house remains a refuge for you, or you and Jack both, at any time. Please feel at home here, if ever you wish. Trust Rosa and Manuel to run the place with efficient expertise. I have returned to my duties in the Constitutionalist army but should you ever need to contact me..."
'--Emmeline?' It was Jack, he was in the hallway. Oh, bugger-all!
Em quickly stuffed the note back into the envelope and into her pocket.
'In here Jack!' Em called, as she stood and opened the door.
'I...was just wondering if everything's alright?' He poked his head within, eyebrows up enquiringly as he looked about her room. He noted with satisfaction the single bed...although mischief could be had elsewhere...
'Yes! Yes, fine! Just some last minute details...I'd already packed you see, except for a few articles...' And indeed Em's valise and carpetbag were still there upon the floor where she'd left them the night of the solstice. She couldn't recall now why she hadn't packed the clothes she'd arrived in...or had she? If so, why were they now in the closet? She rubbed her forehead
...too much to deal with just now...
'Shall I take these for you Em?' Jack made a move toward her bags.
'No!' Em started. 'That is, ah, not just yet Jack. Must we head back so soon, really? You haven't pressing business back in Pankhurst?'
'Noooo...not as such.' Jack had hoped this would be a quick pickup and headout, though. He didn't care much for hanging around Daryl's digs, tony though they were. He wanted Em out of here at last, and home, with him, as she ought to be.
'Well, it's just...I did hope to see Madame Yvanna as well whilst we're here. Oh, do let us just have lunch at her tea room Jack, please? It's just over on Russian Hill... Let's just leave all this until after lunch, what say?'
And so Jack was reluctantly persuaded and after assuring Rosa that they'd return soon, the two hailed a hansom to take them to Madame Yvanna's.
                          . . . .
'Eh, not much to it, is there?' Jack asked, looking narrowly at the front of Yvanna's cluttered shopfront.
Emmelina felt offended on her friend's behalf, although she herself had had the same idea of the place her first visit. 'Oh, it's different inside, come on...' She put an arm through Jack's and led him within.
Em was pleased to note the same welcoming delectable scents coming from the restaurant in back of the shop, as they entered and set the door's bell to ringing. As they headed for the counter in back, she was delighted to see Madame emerge through the beaded curtain to greet them.
'Eeeemeleeeena!' She called, arms open to Em, who hugged Yvanna and was crushed against her tall friend's bosom. 'And Chack,' she added somewhat less effusively. 'Come! You must take tea with me, no?' She slipped an arm through each of theirs and escorted them within the tea room proper, not too crowded, as lunchtime was nearly over.
They were ushered to a corner table surrounded by a sort of curving couch with comfortable cushions, upon which Madame seated herself between Emmelina and Jack; which pleased Em and annoyed Jack...(which was partly why Em found herself so pleased).
'Zo. You must tell me all you haff been up to, yes? But first, some food!' Madame clapped her hands and a waiter appeared from the swinging doors at one end of the room, and stood at attention beside their table. 'Zum wine, yes, or champagne?'
'Oh, just a glass of wine, perhaps...' Em looked at Jack, who shrugged, but was smiling, at least on one side of his face.
'Nonzenze. A bottle of ze riezling, Sergei, on ize, and zum oysters and artichokes to begin...merci.'
Em looked about her, grinning. 'It is so good to be back here, Yvanna, and so good to see you!' Em was surprised at how much she truly felt at ease and at home here. Maybe it was the good wholesome smells of freshly baked breads and roasted meats, '...And artichokes! Asparagus too?'
'Of courze! It is spring after all. Ze equinox is tomorrow.'
Madame was right. It was the 21st already...Em had been losing track of Time lately.
Their waiter, Sergei, reappeared bearing a bucket of 'ize' with  a mellow golden riesling nestled within. Opening the bottle he passed the cork to...Madame, who gestured then with a nod to Jack. Sergei offered the cork to monsieur, and Jack took an appreciative whiff and smiled.

Sergei pours with a serious flourish and presents the table, voila!
And Madame proposed a toast:
 'To Emmeleena and Chack...and to Don Diego...May we all have the courage to face our futures with strength and spirit, and hopefully also with some laughter and song as well!'
Amidst 'Cheers!' and 'Salud!' they drank of the cool crisp golden
wine tasting of flowers and apples. 'This is excellent!' Jack
enthused.
Madame held her glass to the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains. 'It comes from a Sonoma vintner.' She drank in the wine and smiled like a cat. 'I enjoy California vines. Diego gave me a taste for them...'
A large tray loaded with silver serving dishes was borne their way then by the efficatious Sergei who presented the appetizers to Madame. She served them dates ala chevre', cold peeled shrimp, oysters on the half shell, a glimmering dish of caviar, artichokes and asparagus done to perfection with a basket of hot herb and onion rolls.
'Well, Diego certainly has a taste for Russian cuisine...' Emmelina was thinking that coming here had been a spur of the moment stroke of genius. Even Jack appeared to be dropping his guard somewhat. She had noticed that he had been rather prickly
since coming to Daryl's. 'This is wonderful, Yvanna!'
Just then soft strains of a violin could be heard inside the shop and stepping through the beaded curtain came a violinist who strolled to the small stage and took a seat, casually playing Mozart almost distractedly but beautifully.
Emmelina looked over at Jack, who had been intently appraising the violinist. He turned to her and smiled, raising his glass.
Em did likewise and Yvanna leaned back against her cushions.
'Pavel can play the wiolin in his sleep...' she commented between bites of date. She looked at Em then. 'Diego told me to expect your return.'
'You saw him?'
'Da. Last week, it was.' She picked up an asparagus stalk and twirled it in garlic butter, then snapped it's tip with her big strong teeth. She gave her head one slow shake, left, to right...
'He iz alright, but crazy now you know! Filled with the fire of revoluzion!' Yvanna flung a hand in the air, as if abandoning it to the wind. 'Iv he gets himzelf kilt, I shall never forgif him!'
Madame drank off her glass of wine.
Jack poured more for all. 'He is, not injured?'
Yvanna took her glass. 'Nyet, he is still in von piece! Uf, but for how long? Oh, he drives me to deestraction!' She sat up and clapped her hands once, twice! Summoning the solicitous Sergei,
'Tea, Sergei, speciba...' she ordered, and sighed, scooping
up the remaining caviar with a cracker. Madame certainly knew how to drown her sorrows...
Em discerned that Yvanna actually did care for Daryl, though. They had to be more than dear friends, she believed. And, she had to admit, she seconded Yvanna's wish for Daryl to remain in 'von piece.'
A large samovar was wheeled to the table with the accompaniment of Russian Tea Cakes, Emmelina's favorite. The violinist began playing what Em would call a gypsyish tune and as the strong tea took effect, she felt she could take heart and perhaps gain some control over her own life at last.
And she and Jack could still see each other, spend time together...if he still wished to be with her after all this. She regarded him, and felt torn. How she loved seeing him. Living with him, however, was rather somewhat different.
Jack felt her eyes upon him and his gaze shifted back from the musician. He smiled at her and Em noted a dusting of powdered sugar on his lower lip. How sweet it would be to lick that off...
'So...who is Anara?' Jack piped up suddenly.
Em sat up. That name sounded familiar...  To her surprise, Yvanna answered. 'Ah, you zaw the painting in ze parlor...' she sighed, 'yez...zhe is the luff of hiz life, Diego's...!' Again she flung an arm loftily in the air as if to dizmizz all zat. 'Zhe iz nuzzink but a dream within a dream...' she trailed off.
'"And all that we may see or seem is but a dream within a dream"'
quoth Jack. 'I saw the name plate upon the picture frame...who is she? She could be your sister, Em.' He looked at Madame then, 'After studying the portrait, I could tell that the woman was not Emmeline. I do apologize, Madame Yvanna, for my outburst the night of the solstice...' Madame waved it away, patting Jack's arm.
'That's just it...I believe she is my sister...in another, timeline.' Emmelina looked at Jack. She wasn't sure how Yvanna was taking all this but the wine had loosened her tongue. In vino veritas... But once again surprising them, Madame agreed.
'...Da, da, that is vat Diego says too. Mad, all of it. But, perhaps zumtimes I vonder...life is stranger than we know.' Yvanna poured herself more tea. 'Diego is an odd vun. An odd duck, as you say. But, in  Llrraaahssia, back home, I have zeen zum wery strange zings...' She nodded, her eyes wide. 'Zo, iv zat iz vat keeps Diego happy, zo be it! Ve all need our fantasies, nyet?'
                              . . . .
The sun was sinking over the hills surrounding the bay as Emmelina and Jack stood outside Yvanna's. Jack yawned. 'Sorry Em! All that good food and wine...it's rather later than I'd thought...'
'I know the feeling...' Em attempted to rally her mental briefs to present her 'case', as it were, to Jack.
'Shall we hail a hansom?' Jack stepped into the street, gaze searching.
'Actually...let's walk awhile, Jack...? There is always a later train...'Em didn't mention that only one of them would be returning then.  They fell in step together as they headed back over the hills. Em took Jack's arm and he smiled at her.
'You are fond of Madame Yvanna...' He began.
'Oh, yes, she helped me purchase my solstice gown,'...Now long since torn half to bits by the revolucion...well, there was a certain truth evident in that bit of metaphor; the revolucion was meant to tear apart class distinctions. That was what our own American revolution was about, in part.
'...and, I'm sure you miss her, and your friends here...' Jack continuted.
'I do, Jack, but...it's more than that.'
Ah. Jack knew it. Emmeline had been troubled ever since they had arrived back in Pankhurst.
'Pankhurst is no longer home to me. It seems, in fact, a  hostile territory meant to only be avoided.' Em's gaze was grim as she stared down the street, noting shops beginning to close for the day and grocers and the like rolling down their awnings.
Jack looked into the distance as well, not wanting to meet Em's gaze. 'You wish to return here?'
Em said nothing at first. Then, 'I thought I did...but, Jack, it goes far beyond that; I'm beginning to discover more all the time that begs answers to certain questions requiring closer investigation.'
'Indeed,' Jack inhaled sharply and looked about, anxious to distract himself from what he suspected was coming.
'Yes. In fact, now that the weather is fair, I'm considering a trip back east...well, southeast...'
They stopped. Jack regarded her. 'Truly? Why, Em you are a box of mysteries. What prompted this? Where would you go?'
Em sighed, and began walking slowly again, disengaging from Jack, who followed slowly as well. 'Lately some things have come to light that I wanted to take time to research even before the solstice...I simply hadn't time, what with all the...'
'--Right. What sort of things?'
'Well...family things, Jack. Information I'd gleaned from Daryl and elsewhere. Why, for instance, did my mother go to live with the Pages as a young girl, and leave her home? I want to investigate this Welsh Prince Madoc as well...'
'You wish to head back to the South, now?'
'...I was contemplating just that, yes. To try to track down the Pages, and any Bowens still left in Mobile...' Em looked at Jack then. 'I know it's rather a surprise, as well as probably a great disappointment to you, Jack.' She put a hand on his arm.
Jack had somehow rather anticipated something of the sort, knowing Em, skittish filly that she was... He sighed in turn. 'Ah, Em...' He patted her hand. 'I can't blame you. I've tied myself in knots trying to understand my own family mysteries.
And, well...the way things have been of late, with these odd bursts of unhinged time jaunts from out of the blue, I really cannot account for them, and actually...I was planning upon  putting heads together with Aleister and Yeats, when he returns to see if we could discover why this was happening now...'
'So, it's not the usual sort of...behavior, in time travel, these bursts?'
'No, it isn't. Something seems out of control, to us at least. There may be a method to the madness somewhere. Or someone else may have a hand on the controls of Chronos and we know not whom.'
Emmeline wondered about that, and if her odd 'dreams' had something to do with it. Well, at least Jack seemed inured to her changes of mind. 'Actually, until I leave, now that Daryl is not here, it would aid my investigations greatly if I could stay there awhile and look about the house.'
Jack grimaced to himself. Yes, he feared as much. Well, at least, as she said, Daryl was not here. 'I see.'
They walked in silence awhile. 'Yes. But I don't plan to remain there and live with Daryl; I still do not trust him, not really.
Although I feel I've gotten to know him a little.'
'Something I've never been able to do.' Jack sounded rather put-out.
'Jack, could that be your prerogative? It isn't as though he has never made himself available to you, especially recently.'
Jack made a low growl.
'Jack...Daryl wishes nothing more than to know you better, to somehow hold onto what little family he has left. Something I would think you both have in common.' She sighed, looking down. 'He also wants nothing more than for us to be together, you and I. He is no threat to you.'
Jack clenched his teeth, thinking that for most of his life he had considered Daryl just that: a threat. His uncle certainly hadn't done much in the way of good for his parents. But he refrained from replying.
'I'm not sure exactly what my plans are, beyond this. But, I hope to be able to see you, as much as possible, Jack. You are dear to me, you know.' She stopped then and made him face her.
Jack just looked at his shoes. 'Emmeline...you are more than dear to me. You know how I feel.' He gazed into her eyes then, with determination mingled with slight pain and disappointment. He sighed, looked about. 'I don't know what we might make of our relationship...what with all the timebursts, and, oh, everything else! Daryl, etcetera...' he put a hand to his forehead, blinking. 'I hardly know what to think! But, I'll always love you, Em. You'll always have a place with me, wherever I am. But...well, possibly, I might just make my exit from Pankhurst as well...'
It was Emmeline's turn for surprise. 'Jack, truly?! What prompted this?'
'Well, I might have to return to my lab back in Massachusetts to furthur probe this investigation into the timebursts. And, well, Crowley Place is near to being refurbished. It wouldn't take much more to get it in shape for sale.'
This was a monkey wrench in Em's plans. She and Jack would then be on separate coasts. Quite a distance, if one hadn't the wherewithall of timetravel. 'We would be so...far from one another...'
'Oh, Em, it would take probably a year, or maybe less to get the place ready for sale. Nothing so immediate. Maybe...well, perhaps by then we'll both have things sorted to our mutual satisfaction. Time, again. You know--time to think. Time to at last find some answers.'
Em strolled on, pondering Jack's own surprising news. Jack, hands in pockets, walked beside her. 'Well, then! Yes, I can see how having to deal with two properties could be a challenge.'
'Exactly. I'd like to collar Daryl sometime and get some answers from him about the Massachusetts place. Oh, it's 'mine' I know, but dash it all, I don't want the thing!'
'Possibly he gave it to you for a very good reason, Jack. But, yes, do speak with him, calmly and reasonably and maybe the two of you will find some common ground.'
Another short growl from Jack.
'Well! Here we are at the trolley stop!' Em smiled tentatively, facing Jack. She took his hand. 'You're disappointed in me, aren't you?'
Jack closed his eyes, briefly, then looked at Em. A slight grin ghosted his mouth as he gathered her into his embrace, and stroked her hair. 'You, are not a disappointment. Ever. If I had never met you, Em, that would be disappointing indeed.' He kissed her lips once, softly, gently.
'Thank you, Jack. I think perhaps we just have tried to accomplish too many challenging endeavors all at once, and then, to have so many variables send us reeling off-course...' Em was interrupted as Jack kissed her again. '...but, we'll always be together, won't we, Jack? I'd like to think that, somehow, in some way, we will be...' she returned his kiss and as the sun set behind them, a golden glow surrounded the two, as if gilding their embrace in radiance.
'Well, I guess I'll be off then. Good journey, Em.' Jack tried to seem robustly eager for departure. 'Do let me know when you'll be leaving for the South.'
'Of course! Oh, it won't be for awhile yet...I want time to investigate Daryl's first. I will be seeing you before I go...? When will you leave for the east?'
'Not sure. Depends on Yeats. No idea of his whereabouts or plans at present. I'll be in touch.'
Em couldn't blame him for not wanting a long drawn-out farewell. They'd had so many already...'Jack, dear--do take care! I so hope our plans won't entail having to rescue one another for a change!' She smiled.
Jack leapt upon the trolley step, and leaned over for a goodbye kiss. 'I'll be careful. And you will stay out of trouble, Em!' He kissed her once, and held her cheek in his hand until the trolley bell clanged and it started off back down the hillside. 'Adieu, Em, adiosa!' He held his hand up in a farewell salute.
'Take care, Jack!' She blew him a kiss goodbye, and watched as the trolley continued it's way down to the Embarcadero and ferry terminal. Well, that actually went better than she had hoped, Em thought to herself, feeling both pleased and bereft.
Em forced her gaze away from Jack's retreating figure, and turned instead to admire the sunset. And so a new chapter seemed to be beginning for them both...separate yet together, still. She bit the inside of her cheek in thought; she didn't really hold Jack to any promises this time. She wasn't such a naiive kid to think that he would be waiting for her, always. If he found another, she'd have to accept that. But, for her, Jack would always have a special place in her heart. She did love the mad man...but it simply was never the right Time.
Emmelina set her steps back toward Nob Hill house and the mysteries that awaited her there.
                           . . . . .