Jack moved with efficient ease, retrieving two plates from a cupboard. He scraped the now-fluffy, pale-yellow eggs onto each one before slipping on a cloth glove to retrieve the bacon from the oven.
He plated several sizzling strips on each dish before setting one in front of me, the other across from him. Finally, he placed two forks down.
I hesitated, then took a bite of the soft, warm, savory eggs. It was different from what I was used to, but full of flavor.
Then, the bacon—crisp, salty, smoky.
Jack watched me as I ate, a quiet curiosity in his gaze.
I chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed.
“What should I call you, Jack?” I asked.
I met his gaze, unflinching.
“Father?”
“Jack will do,” he said with an easy sweep of his hand.
“Thank you for the food, then, Jack.”
“You’re welcome.” He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “I’m so glad you’re here, son.”
Something stirred in my chest at that word—son—an ache I couldn’t quite name.
Jack hesitated. “Do you mind if I call you that? What should I call you?”
I straightened. “Roman, if you don’t mind.”
He nodded as if committing it to memory.
“So, tell me, Roman—what period are you from? And how did you come to meet Olivia?” His face brightened with curiosity as he dug into his breakfast.
I set my fork down, considering where to begin. “I’m from the 1700s, but Olivia and I met in ancient Rome.”
Jack’s chewing slowed. “Ancient Rome?”
I nodded. “I time traveled there and became a gladiator.”
His expression shifted from amusement to fascination as I recounted my past—my childhood in the Americas, my years in England, and the brutal life of the arena under Emperor Severus.
Jack sat across from me, his gaze locked onto mine, absorbing every word.
“When I met Olivia,” I continued, “she had already killed some of the emperor’s men. She was… an oddity in ancient Rome. No one knew what to make of her. So, the emperor gave her to me.”
Jack let out a short laugh. “Oh, I’ll bet she didn’t take that well.” His eyes twinkled with knowing amusement. “She’s always been independent.”
“She is.” A small smirk tugged at my lips. “At first, we butted heads constantly. She was often rude to my housekeeper, Amara, and me. We had to… battle out our differences.”
Jack’s smile faltered. “Rude?” He shook his head. “She was raised with good manners.” A shadow crossed his face. “I’m sure she was just frightened. Alone. She didn’t even know she was a time traveler until it was too late.”
Regret filled his voice. “I should have told her sooner when she was young. But I was afraid. I didn’t want to scare her. So I waited—too long.”
I let his words settle between us.
“I understand,” I said finally. “It’s a bewildering experience.”
Jack nodded but didn’t look at me.
