“I need to talk to you.”
She frowned at the sound of my voice. “Do we need privacy?”
“No. I would like Grace and Julia’s advice, too.”
Julia wasn’t a time-crosser, but she’d heard us talking about it for years. Grace had been a time-crosser, and both of her daughters were time-crossers. They had a wealth of wisdom for me to draw upon, and I would need it now more than ever.
“Start peeling potatoes,” Mama said, handing me a paring knife. “Our minds work better when our hands are busy.”
I took the knife and picked up a potato, but I was too distracted to peel.
“What’s wrong?” Grace asked.
“Does it have something to do with that book you brought in?” Disapproval was on Mama’s face. “It looked like a history book, Ally. Did you go looking for answers?”
“I had to. Bess Kendal changed history, and I want to know why and how. I also wanted to learn more about Sam Kendal, because I’m living and working in his business, and he told me yesterday that he was convicted of killing his brother.”
All three women stopped working and stared at me.
“Did you learn anything helpful from the book?” Julia asked.
“No.”
“What did it say, Ally?” Mama prodded. “You have our attention—and my concern.”
I took a deep breath. “It says that Sam will be killed in a fire on November 3rd and that his wife will die with him. His wife namedAlly.”
None of them moved as they continued to stare at me.
“What?” Mama set down her knife and potato.
“Somehow, unless there is another Ally I don’t know about, I am supposed to become his wife in two months and die in a horrible fire with him.” I shook my head. “That can’t possibly be true. I can’t let that happen.”
They were all silent until Grace spoke. “When I lived in 1692, I learned that I was going to accuse my sister, Hope, of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. I knew it couldn’t possibly be true, and I wasn’t going to let it happen, but then a series of events took place and Hope was the one who forced me to accuse her. I thought history would play out one way, but it completely took me by surprise and played out the other.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means that, one, you shouldn’t go looking for answers, because it will do no good.” Grace’s face was filled with compassion. “And, two, even if you know what history says, you don’t have all the information. Only God knows how it will play out, Ally. You can try to manipulate His plans, but it will only cause more trouble.”
“So I’m supposed to marry a convicted murderer and allow myself to die in a horrible fire?” My voice had risen a notch, and my pulse was thrumming. “That seems ludicrous. I can’t let that happen.”
“Then you’ll need to forfeit your time there and change history,” Mama said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“What about Father and Hazel? And now I have Bess’s son to care for.”
“You’ll need to come up with a plan to help them before you leave.” Mama picked up her potato again and started to peel. “And pray that your father can care for Hazel. It’s really the only option.”
“I’ll need every possible day to make sure that happens.”
“Then don’t change history sooner than you need to,” Julia advised. “Wait until the very last day.”
“What about marrying Sam Kendal?” Horror filled me at the thought of it. “If that’s supposed to happen before November 3rd, how can I stop it?”
All three women looked at a loss.
“I don’t know,” Mama admitted. “But surely that’s something you can control. You don’t know when or how it will happen, but you still have free will, Ally. God won’t force you to marry a horrible man. Wait and see how things play out. I’m sure He’ll make a way for you and things will make sense after a while.”
I wasn’t sure I believed her—but I had no other choice.
