Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 21

Riley walked past the mailman as he left the newspaper at the front door.

Wednesday June 3, 1963.

The front page was about a topic that didn't interest Riley at all.

They picked up the newspaper and brought it into the house.

"Where have you been?"

Maggie and Chip stood at the stairs and looked less than thrilled.

"Looking for my family." (Breaking into another government building to get information)

Maggie scoffed and Chip crossed his arms over his chest.

That was the explanation Riley always gave when they were out all night.

The Adams couple didn't like this at all.

And at first they didn't say because they thought it would stop eventually– it didn't.

An argument broke out about Riley not telling the truth and that they should finally tell Maggie and Chip everything.

"Listen, you are a child. We just–"

"I am 58 years old," replied Riley. "I don't need someone to look after me."

They stopped and Maggie and Chip looked at them confused.

The teenager sighed and decided to tell them everything. From the first time travel accident ro the first apocalypse, the commission, the second apocalypse and the second time travel accident.

"– and since then I've been stuck here in 1963."

At first, Maggie and Chip didn't seem to believe Riley.

Riley understood that. When they talked about it, the teenager thought he was crazy– which, to a certain extent, they were.

"Superpowers?"

~~~~

July 6th was Maggie and Chip's anniversary.

The two drove away for the weekend. It was their 10th anniversary, so they planned this little trip long before they took Riley in.

And that was okay. Chip and Maggie deserved the weekend together and Riley was glad they had some time alone.

It was already get4ing dark outside and Riley sat down on the sofa when the theme song of their favorite series started.

It became something of a habit for Riley to sit in the living room with Chip and Maggie every Saturday and watch as the two main characters didn't dare confess their love to each other.

This week was no exception.

As the credits rolled, Riley turned off the TV and shuffled off to bed, disappointed at having to wait a week for a new episode.

~~~~

On August 17th, Riley was sitting on a bench watching 'the alley'.

The teenager did this several times a week, always careful not to be noticed.

"Hey," Maggie said and sat down.

She had to run a few errands and Riley waited on the bench for the young woman.

"You know, I thought about it. What if your siblings are already here?"

"I left a message," Riley replied.

Maggie nodded and pointed out that it was possible that Riley's siblings didn't read the message.

Riley and Maggie stayed there for a while before the young woman stood up.