Free Time Slip by ML Banner

own question, in a snarky tone. “No, let me guess, he’s jumped back into the future in his trusty Delorean?”
    Monty chuckled too, picturing Dr. Ron dressed like Michael J. Fox in the 1980s hit. “I know this is hard to believe. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.” He pulled out the portable hard drive. “However, I have all of the research and test data here. Let me show you and any of your scientists the proof.”
    ~~~
    July 1st
     
    “Dr. Gregory Mendelson,” he said, extending his hand. “Preston says you know me and wanted to see me.” He glanced over at Betsy and Dr. Vasquez and pumped Monty’s hand.
    “No, we’ve never met but I have a story to tell you that affects you—well, all of us. I believe you’ll want to sit down before I share it.” Monty motioned Mendelson to the same conference table where they had shown Preston the same message not long before. Monty slipped the pages across the table.
    Mendelson took the news in stride, and after seeing his unique handwriting and speaking with Betsy and Dr. Vasquez, he knew the story to be real. He told them about the miracle cure that never made it to trials, as they were interrupted by the Event. He told him he was one of the scientists chosen for Cicada because he had suspicions that the world’s end would come as a result of genetic manipulations to fast-growing cancer cells. It was for this that he received funding from Cicada.
    Next, they had to convince Mendelson to go, but he was the one that posed the question back to them. “The bigger question is what would happen if I didn’t go? This would cause an enormous paradox, because if I don’t go, how could I have written that message to begin with? And if I didn’t write that message, Betsy wouldn’t be alive and you wouldn’t be here.”
    Mendelson agreed and then excused himself. His daughter Victoria had made it two days earlier, with her family, and he wanted to spend a little time with them before leaving the next morning. Betsy stopped him before he left and said, “May I ask you a big favor?” Her eyes begged him.
    “For you, of course.” He smiled a genuine smile that reached clear up to his eyes.
    “Would you leave this note for my husband below your message?” She thrust a piece of paper that was folded in quarters and stapled. On the front she had written in cursive, “To my Dearest Husband Ron.”
    “I would be honored.” He took the note and kissed her hand. Then he looked up at her and said, “You know I’m going because of you? Your being alive is the culmination of my life’s work. I told my wife long ago, before she died, that if I could save just one person with my work, it would be worth it. Besides, I’m hopeful that your husband will find my message and now your message and will make it to Cicada and you. Maybe you both will get the second chance I never did with my wife.”

Chapter 28
    Sometime Later
     
    He pedaled at breakneck speed, almost losing his balance twice on the loose gravel, fueled by excitement and adrenaline. In spite of his muscles screaming in pain, he wasn’t about to relent now. It had taken him almost a month, although it felt longer, to bike the eight hundred miles. He was aware that his body showed the effects of all of those miles, not the least of which was that for the first time in his life, he was skinny—probably too skinny. But after a long journey and not eating at all some days because he couldn’t find food, that was to be expected. None of that mattered today as he steadied himself once more, almost going down again. He had somehow made it this far, and soon, maybe in a few minutes, he would see his wife.
    His mind repeated the words from her note, left for him below the white board, with Greg Mendelson’s Sharpie attached to it—he almost didn’t see it with all the other debris, “I will watch and wait for you, that day you come back to me. That day will be the happiest day of my