Suspended in Time

Chapter 6 - A Little Kiss in Excitement Results in Big Feelings

It was Darina's turn to do the sleuthing, and she was at it for four days until she uncovered something. She bounced into my room as I was reading another war book to pass the time. It was about seven in the evening Wednesday night.

"Kyle! I found something!"

I put the book down and went into a sitting position on the bed, and she sat next to me, her face lighted with excitement. "That's great, Darina. What'd you find out?"

"Well, I'm certainly not as good at this as you are, and that's why it's taking me so long, but I finally tracked down someone who knew the family from the early forties. It was one of the neighbors over near the house! You know that I went to a few of them and had the door slammed in my face once I mentioned the war, but the people I went to after work today invited me in and told me that they knew the Franks!"

If only we went knocking doors in the first place. We would've found out the story a lot faster. Excitement started coursing through me. "That's awesome! What'd they tell you?"

Her pretty face was flushed with happiness, and her infectious smile didn't leave her face, and it was making me smile. Her happiness was oozing onto me. "They were this sweet older couple. Well, not too old, maybe about my parents' age. Anyway, they invited me in and told me that they talked with the Franks sometimes. The Franks kept to themselves a lot, but when these people, Ila and Ed Howser, went knocking on their door to invite them over dinner, the Frank politely declined. Back then, the property wasn't overrun by those bushes. The trees were there, and there was even a drive going up to the house, but it's since grown over."

"Did the Howsers ever try again? Inviting them to something or talking to them?"

"They did a few times, and the very last time they did was in 1945. As we both know, Hiroshima happened, and everyone was so fearful because of that and the war in general. The Howsers wanted to see how the Franks were doing, but... no one was home and the car was gone. But... there was a note left on the door."

My heart jumped and started speeding. "Wait a minute, a note? The Franks left a note before they high-tailed it?"

"M-hm. The Howsers showed it to me, and I wrote it down word-for-word. Here."

She gave me a folded piece of paper, and I unfolded it to see her handwriting—I had been here for about a week and a half, so I knew what her writing looked like. "Wow, would you look at this." I started reading it, and my mouth opened in shock. "Oh my God..."

"I know! I was so excited when they showed me this! Really, you could've gone there and got the whole story rather than spending hours in the public record's office and the library."

"I know. I was thinking the same thing." I met her blue eyes as I held up the letter she re-wrote. "This is huge. It actually says where they went! They're in Texas!"

"They are! Houstin, at least that's where they said they were headed. The Howsers said that the Franks mentioned that they had family in Texas, so it makes sense. I just need to figure out if they're still there. I really want to get in contact with Annabelle at least."

"Maybe call the public record's office there in Houstin?"

"I was thinking that. I just really want to get the full story and know what the family is up to now, if Annabelle is married or is in college, if her parents are alive and well..."

"I want to get the full story, too. I say tomorrow we can get to it. While you're at work, allow me to track down a phone number."

I suddenly found myself in a hug that smelled of that nice perfume. My heart jumped. "Oh, thank you, thank you! You can even swing by the hotel once you find it, and I'll call on a break at work." She let me go, her whole face lighted with glee. "This is great! I can't wait to see this through!" She let me go, and she hopped off the bed and pranced to the door. "Thanks again, Kyle. This is so fun! I can see why you love what you do, other than for adventure's sake."