Free 15 Minutes: A YA Time Travel Thriller (Rewind Series) by Jill Cooper Page A

other. But I was so excited about seeing Mom that I didn't even
think about that.

 
    ****

 
    I
follow Delilah into a private room and try to relax in the overstuffed
recliner. She busies herself around the room before slipping a heart rate
monitor on my finger. She spins a few dials on a computer and speaks without
looking up.
    “The
past can see you, even talk to you, but you’re like a hologram projection in
their minds. You aren’t able to touch them, take a bus, or even open a door.”
She gives me a sad, haunting smile. “I know why you want to see her, but you
won’t be able to touch her.”
    I
nod. “Dad told me.”
    “Good.”
Her smile is back, pushing up her cheeks and exposing her dimples. “If you
tried, you'd set off alarms, and we would pull you out. I’m not saying we’d
arrest a kid, but we can’t make exceptions.”
    “I
get it.” I bite my lip as my nerves flitter around inside me.
    She
places electrodes on my forehead. “Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
You’ll be dizzy when you get there. Remember, all you have is fifteen minutes.”
    Laying
my head back, I think of my mother. I can barely remember her face. If it
wasn’t for pictures, I would have no memory of her at all. Her voice was once
sweet, and her laughter pure, but now it’s almost as if I’m watching a silent
film in my head. All I want is to recapture that, and thanks to Dad, I can.
    “Happy
birthday,” I whisper to myself, and the chair begins to spin. When I open my
eyes I’ll be with my mother again, like magic.

 
    ****

 
    I
open my eyes and see my homework laid in front of me. My nose feels wet, and a
few drops of blood splatter to the pages. I can’t remember the last time I had
a nose bleed. Rummaging through my desk for a tissue, I notice my hand is laced
with traces of blood. I guess I’ll have to work faster if I want to free Dad
before my brain hemorrhages.   I glance at
the clock. Where did the last three hours go? I can’t remember.
    Swallowing
my fear back to the furthest corner of my mind, I run to the bathroom and get a
washcloth. As I’m running it under the tap, I hear footsteps. I hold the cloth
to my nose, and a light knock comes at the door.
    “Just
a second—”
    The
door opens anyway. Mom, still dressed for work, enters with an alarmed
expression.
    “When
did this start?” She takes the washcloth from me and orders me to sit down on
the toilet.
      I do as she asks and tilt my head up, staring
into her warm eyes. She keeps my nose clasped tight and pats some cool water on
my cheeks. This is what I missed growing up. I love my dad, but he was always
making sure I was self-reliant, which means if I was hurt, I patched myself up.
He was probably working anyway.
    “A
few minutes ago, while I was doing my homework.”
    Mom
twists her lip and chews on it while her eyes stare off at the wall. When I
straighten my head, she releases my nose. The bleeding has tapered off, but she
won’t let me go yet. She washes my face clean and then plants several small
kisses on my forehead. I put my arms around her waist and bury my head in her
stomach. It’s the first real moment we’ve had together. She strokes my hair,
seemingly incapable of keeping her lips to herself. Her hugs are urgent, full
of worry. “Tomorrow, I’ll call your doctor, make sure everything’s okay.”
    “Mom—”
    She
holds up her hand.
    I’m
not going to win this battle.
    “Get
some sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” One more kiss on my cheek and she’s
off.
    I
look back at my reflection in the sterling encased mirror. I’m not ready to
give her up. Not ready at all.

 
 

Chapter
Nine

 
    In
the morning, I leave early to avoid questions and end up in an
expensive-looking blue sedan. We head toward the prison where Dad has lived for
the past ten years. Mr. Grayson seems okay enough, with a face that looks more
like a warm grandfather than a ruthless lawyer. I wish Dad had the best council
money