June 22, 1933
Later that evening...
Thomas walked up to Ma's expecting a lecture for missing dinner. Since losing Anet back in '28, and after his period of not being himself, he'd made it a point to make it to dinner at her boardinghouse every Sunday night. She was the only person he'd had left that cared about him in a way that didn't agitate him. He needed to make time for Ma before he lost her too —if she didn't lose him first.
Nearing the kitchen door, he heard peels of laughter inside. One in particular that always sent him. He walked in to find Ma and Anet.
"There he is now!" Ma said. "Thomas, Thomas." she shook her head. "You missed dinner."
"Sorry, Ma." he found it hard not to focus on Anet beside her.
"Well, I'm sure you have your excuses, so why don't you be a gentleman and do me a favor."
"Sure, Ma."
Ma Fran picked up an apple crate filled with dry food boxes and fruit. "Help take these rations to Anet's new apartment."
"Oh, Ma!" Anet began, "It's—,"
"Nonsense! You can't carry these two crates by yourself, and now you don't have to call a cab since Catarina had to leave earlier and you have no one to split the fare with. So it all works out!"
Anet looked to Thomas, "Only if it's alright with you."
"Of course it is." Ma stated.
Anet looked to Thomas for his answer. "Sure."
~•~
Driving ...
Thomas wouldn't do for silence. He wouldn't sit wondering what was on her mind.
"You looked happy to see Ma again."
"Yeah, I told Ma I was looking for an apartment when I visited the other day. She said Mr. Tibideaux would be moving back to Louisiana in a few weeks. Today, I assured her I would only be staying in my new apartment until then! I just needed to get out of that hotel." She laughed awkwardly.
Awkward silence followed.
"You always loved living at Ma's." he said.
"Yeah... It always felt like home."
They pulled up in front of the building where the old drugstore was, where the Daisy-Chain operated below, and little stacks of studio apartments nestled above.
Anet unlocked the door to her studio. The kitchen area to their left in the corner. Her little bed by the large, curtain-less window. A claw foot tub and shower head out in the open. The kamode the only thing to have its privacy in the whole place. They set the apple crates on the small table.
"You sure you're gonna like living here?"
"It's only temporary. It'll be interesting." she started unloading the crates. Looking for places in the tiny cabinets and cupboards.
"Where would you like the flour?"
"Oh, you don't have to help, I got it."
"It's Jake, Anet. I don't mind."
She conceded.
Together they emptied the apple crates. Awkwardly bumping into each other now and then. The unrelaxed laughs and comments lessened 'til it was near silent.
Now he was wondering what she could be thinking. If only she knew his thoughts, how time did nothing to change how he felt about her. She had to be feeling the same. He could feel their connection. But why? Why did she fight so hard to hide it?
YOU ARE READING
Through Time Again
Science-Fiction((SEQUEL to Through Time She Came)) "Our family was always important to the Maggios, Anet. In your timeline, we had managed to stay well-hidden. Something changed and brought us back out into the game." 2010 is not how she left it. The Maggio and th...
