“The USS Constitution that we visited in Boston is the only older commercial ship built in America that’s still afloat,” Daisy read from one of the tiny white signs.
They enjoyed walking through Seaport Village, the breeze keeping them cool as they wandered from shop to shop. At the shipyard, Callan watched as men worked to preserve the old ships, a reminder of what came before. ’Twas good to remember, to never forget.
A sudden commotion had a man pointing. Frankie, who had been quietly enjoying a dog biscuit, was now engaged in a tug-of-war with a bold seagull. The biscuit, unfortunately, was proving a prize too tempting for the bird to ignore.
“Frankie! No, leave it—oh, dear…” Daisy laughed as the gull, triumphant, made off with the biscuit, leaving a bewildered Frankie to stare after it with betrayed eyes.
Callan couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene. “Seems you’re not the only pirate around these parts, Frankie.”
Soothed by attention and another biscuit, Frankie forgot the gull as they continued exploring.
As the afternoon wore on, turning to dusk, they made their way back to the van after enjoying dinner at a place on the water. The sight of the ships growing distant in the side mirror left him with a sense of contentment. He had enjoyed seeing parts of this vast country.
Callan would miss this world … and her when he went back to his own time. She made him laugh, her beauty at times made it hard for him to breathe, and his heart told him to stay here. With her. But if he did, he would not have a chance to know his half-brother.
Not ready to try driving the metal beast at night, he switched places with Daisy.
“Tell me more about this New York City,” he said.
She handed him a bag of pumpkin seeds, crunching away. “It’s around two and a half hours from here. I thought we’d go ahead and get there tonight. We’ll find a spot to camp and then explore tomorrow.”
Frankie was curled up in his bed asleep, worn out from the hike and sniffing everything in Mystic. Not to mention his encounter with the seagull.
“I’m so glad we decided to take this trip together. It’s like we’re in our own little world, far away from everyone else.”
Callan blinked. “There are people everywhere we go.”
She pursed her lips. “Not exactly what I meant, but okay.”
After they had been on the road a while, Daisy pointed.
“I need to stretch my legs and use the facilities. We’ll stop at the rest area. I think they still have paper maps. You’ll like looking at one.”
Callan looked puzzled as she explained the concept.
“So, ’tis a place to stop and... rest?” he asked, his Scottish accent making the words sound almost like a song.
Daisy nodded. “You can grab a snack, use the restroom, and stretch your legs.”
Callan followed her out of the van, looking at the people coming and going, and eyeing the vending machines.
They found a spot for Frankie to run around, the dog eagerly trying to make friends with everyone passing by.
As they resumed their journey, he saw lights in the distance. The buildings looming against the sky, much taller than the towers at Blackford.
“’Tis like nothing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured. “Such tall buildings.”
The traffic increased as they neared the city, the sounds of honking horns and the hum of engines filling the air, making Callan blink as one taxi driver swore at another, honking and waving his arms out the window.
CHAPTER 17
The next day, Daisy drove into the city, Callan’s excitement rubbing off on her. It wasn’t long before the bustling traffic and towering buildings surrounded them, a stark contrast to the serene landscapes they had passed earlier.
“The buildings are so tall, much larger than in Boston or at Blackford,” Callan remarked as he craned his neck to look up and up. “How do they keep them from toppling over?”
Like she knew? Daisy shrugged, glancing at the high rise to their left.
“I guess they have pretty solid foundations. Welcome to New York City. First stop Times Square.”
