The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 87: Making Amends

Mrs. Steers picked up the shiny silver frame from her office desk and gazed at the face of Albert.

“I hope we are doing the right thing, Albert.  I pray that I have the right descendent.  I pray that all will be well.”  She set the frame back down, just as the telephone rang.

Mrs. Steers rummaged among books, piles of papers, and notebooks on the worktable next to her desk for her old-fashioned rotary telephone.  “I have got to clean up this office.”  Pushing file cabinet drawers shut, she closed several open books and stacked them to one side.   The telephone kept ringing.  “Hold on.  I’m trying to find you.”  Finally, she dug up the receiver.

“Hello.”

“Mrs. Steers, this is Emily.  I’m sorry to bother you.”

“Oh, no bother.  I was just going over some plans... organizing a few things.  I’m at a good stopping point.”  She braced a stack of newspapers with her hip, while holding up another stack with her free hand.

“Oh good.  I have a meeting tomorrow night that run late. My in-laws are out of town and I need someone…”

“I’ll be happy to entertain Sam,” said Mrs. Steers, juggling the receiver.

“Great.  I’ll tell him to check in with you first thing when he gets home.”

After she hung up, Mrs. Steers yelled for Rose.  “Rose?  Are you out there?”  Mrs. Steers’ office was off the dining room, where Rose sat at the dining room table going over some research with Griff Graff.

“Yes, Lottie?” said Rose, without looking up, studying a long list of names, then organized some index cards.

“What do you think about taking Sam to meet Jameson?”  By now, she had levered the stacks against each other, hoping to avoid an avalanche.

Rose paused and started shuffling another stack of papers.  “If you think it’s time, I’ll take him.”

Mrs. Steers stood in the doorway.   “We’ll take him. I think it’s time I try to regain his trust. I’ll message Jameson to find out his location tomorrow night.  We’ll keep it a surprise.”

Without looking up, Rose double-checked a list of names against one book's index, then another, then back to the first.

“Lottie, did you read this?” said Griff, handing her a newspaper clipping.  “Did you take this into consideration?”

Mrs. Steers read the headline and looked at Griff.  “I know. I suspect there is a major connection to Dr. Herkeimer’s mad obsession.”

Putting the clipping back down on the table, Mrs. Steers shook her head and went back to her office.  From there all they heard was "Oh no!", then a crash of a pile of something, and a final "I'm fine.  Just fine."

The next day when school let out, Rose was waiting for Sam.  “Master Henry, I am your escort home.”

Reminded of Rufus Leightstone’s manner of addressing him, Sam grinned.  “Does he call everyone that?”

“Leightstone is a very professional man.  He follows every rule of etiquette to the last.  You should have seen your face when he called you that.”

“Did I have a dumb look?”

Rose laughed.  “No.  You appeared to enjoy being called that.  Anyway, I have a surprise for you tonight.”

“I’m supposed to tell Mrs. Steers that I’m home, but I really don’t want to talk to her.”

His comment gave Rose an opportunity to try to change his mind about what had happened.  “Sam, I hate to push you since I know you had a rough experience, but you really need to forgive her.  It wasn’t her fault. She is extremely concerned about you.”

Sam remained quiet, listening to her words.  He looked up at the clear December sky.  "Holiday break.  I like this time of year the most.  Everyone just seems to get happy," said Sam.  As they walked, Rose remained silent, giving him time to think.  As she was about to say something, Sam let loose on a major rant.

“I have never been slapped before by anyone.   I’ve never been pushed to the floor and held down by someone.  I hurt my shoulder.”  He rubbed his left shoulder.  “I thought he had kidnapped my Mom.”  Sam was getting worked up.   Rose could see his eyes tearing up.  “To make it all even more terrible, I lied to my Mom.  I’ve never really lied to her even when I thought it would keep me from getting into trouble.”

Rose remained silent, letting Sam carry on.  At some point, she knew she would have to interject, but wasn’t sure when.  She was however ready to tell him a part of her past, that might calm him.

“And the other thing is that I was tricked into this club by Mrs. Steers.  She probably left that attic door unlock.  She probably put that box with the newspaper in it where I could find it.  And she scares me.   She knows all this stuff about me and I’m not sure how.” Sam stopped talking.

“Sam, I want to tell you a story.  I know you want to talk, but I also think you need to listen.”  Rose gauged his reaction and felt that she could continue.

“My parents were in the club.  When I was two years old, I was kidnapped by a group in France.   They demanded some of the more dangerous incantations from my parents for my safe return.  Because of this, my parents left the club after I was returned.   Even though I was only two years old, I can still see their faces.   I can still see the place where the kidnappers kept me.”

Rose stared down at the pavement as they continued to walk.   Sam glanced over at her.   Without looking, she knew she had his attention.

“As I got older, my parents wouldn’t allow me to become involved with the Club.  I defied them.  Secretly, I found out the names of club members.  Then, one day, I met Lottie and Albert.  I was sixteen at the time.  They had been traveling in Oslo, studying the city’s history.   I overheard them talking about how the city looked and how “they would be going back to double check facts.”  I realized then that I had been given the chance to get involved.  I heard a lot about the club and met members who had remained friends with my parents.  My parents weren’t as enthused about my wanting to get involved.”

The wind picked up and snow began to fall.  Rose and Sam stepped up the pace.

“What happened?” asked Sam.

“Well, I talked with Lottie and Albert right then and there.  Asking them if they were involved with The Time Travelers’ Club.   At first, they didn’t want to talk to me, but I soon found out that they knew my parents.   Eventually, my parents reluctantly agreed to let me learn from Lottie. This was right after Albert became “The Rescuer.”

Sam jumped in.  “How did he become The Rescuer?”

“That’s a very long story.  I’ll tell you later.  But my point is that I learned that there are people out there in the world who want to do bad things.  We can do our part to keep them doing something really horrible.”

“Dr. Herkeimer is one of the people for what he did to me.”

Rose nodded.  “You got it.”

“Just like the kidnappers treated to you so terrible.”  Sam felt sympathy and empathy.  He took hold of her hand.

“Yes.” She squeezed his hand.

They reached the Steers house.  Heavier snow was now coming down.  The first real sign that winter had arrived and would be staying.

Mrs. Steers greeted them at her front door.  “Rose.  Sam.  Come in here.”  They stepped into the front hall. “Don’t get too comfortable.  I’ve got a surprise for you.  We’re going to Jameson’s.” 

Sam reacted just as Mrs. Steers’ hoped.  “That’s the shop where you got the book, right?  Awesome.  Will I get to see the books bound in human skin?”

“Yes, it is,” said Mrs. Steers.  She prayed that she had hooked him.  “Rose and I have to go and since we’re supposed to entertain you…”

“We thought this would be the perfect time for you to meet Jameson,” said Rose.  “Where are we meeting him?”

“Downtown.  He’s picked an out-of-the-way alley.”

Mrs. Steers slipped on her coat.  “Let’s be on our way.  He's expecting us.  He wants to meet you.  And believe me, you’ll like his shop.  Books bound in human skin and all.”