Chapter Text
-1998-
Colton Landry was sitting in his chair with his son Jacob. He had the Landry almanac in his hands and was pointing out some of their ancestor to his boy and telling him stories.
"Hey look, there's another Katherine Landry," the little Jacob said, pointing at the words. Colton's daughter, Kat, was walking down the stairs as Jacob said this, and turned to them.
"Yes, there is," Colton said. "Actually, when me and your mother were discussing names for Kat, I suggested Katherine because of this one."
"You never said this before," Kat said, coming over and looking over her father's shoulder at the name on the page.
"You never asked," Colton responded back.
"So, why her?" Jacob asked.
"It's more a family legend," Colton said, looking at his children. "See, it is said Jonathan Landry, Katherine's father, found a woman being attacked by several men somewhere on our land."
"By attacked, you mean raped," Katherine said.
"Yes," Colton added.
"What's that?" The young Jacob asked.
"Just men being mean to her," Colton gave Kat a look at this. Jacob was only 7, so he didn't want his son knowing this so young. "But Jonathan saved her and brought her home. About a month later they married and after that, their daughter Katherine was born. But if you look at the date of their wedding..." Colton pointed out a date in the almanac – wives or husbands were added with the date of their marriage, after all, "and the day she was born, well there's not enough time for a full pregnancy. The story of the day was Katherine was born premature – even their midwife confirmed it, but family legend says otherwise."
"Katherine's real father was one of the men who attacked her mother," Kat guessed.
"That's the legend," Colton said, as Jacob frowned at this, not quite understanding at his young age. "And Jonathan protected both mother and baby by claiming the baby as his. The two then went on to have six other kids. We're the descendants of their second child, and oldest son, Brandon."
"Who inherited the farm," Kat said, and Colton gave a nod. "So, why name me after this other Katherine Landry?"
"Because whether Jonathan was her father or not, she was a Landry, and if the legend is true, she brought her parents together which led to us," Colton said, giving a smile. "I think that deserves to be honored."
"Cool," Jacob said.
"Sure," Kat said with a shrug. "I'm heading out with El and Nick," Kat turned and went out the door as Colton continued to show Jacob some of their other family members.
-The Way Home-
-September 2025-
The Adult Kat was excitedly busying herself in the kitchen, her mom, Del watching on in amusement.
"I can't believe it's opening today," Kat said as she took some breakfast off the table.
"What?" Alice asked, walking down the stairs. "That time capsule thing?"
"The Port Haven Time Capsule. Buried in 1875," Del said to her granddaughter.
"School's been talking about it. It was buried in spring and being opened now. 150 years and a few months. Seems weird…" Alice said.
"That's what was decided at the time for the opening," Kat said with a shrug. "And each founding family put a box it in to be given to their future family. Rumors say each family wrote a letter. I'm covering it in the paper."
"You're the only writer of the local paper," Alice pointed out, bemused.
"It's still exciting," Kat pointed out to her daughter, Del giving a little chuckle at the interaction
"Considering we can time travel, it not so exciting," Alice said, heading for the door.
"Be in the town center for the opening!" Kat yelled to her daughter, who gave a thumbs up and left out the front.
"I can't believe Jacob is going to be missing this," Del said sadly, her son and Kat's younger brother having gone AWOL a few weeks ago.
"You shouldn't have hidden those threatening letters," Kat countered. "Give him a little bit to get his head straight. He's probably with Elijah in 1816. If he's not back soon, I'll go get him and tell him we got those charges dropped using Susanna's Will." Del gave a nod as the two continued eat.
-The Way Home-
The town square was abuzz as people were waiting for the capsule to be opened. The iron case buried in the ground for 150 years was sitting in the middle, the mayor and some of the more official townspeople around it, and so was Del's good friend, Rita Richards. Kat and Del were up front, along with Elliot while Max Goodwin was there to represent the Goodwin family; his dad seemingly not wanting to come down for this.
"Where's Alice?" Kat asked her mother, looking for her daughter.
"Teenagers," Del countered, but was also scanning the crowd.
"I think she took a little… dip this morning," Elliot whispered, being next to the two so hearing the conversation. "I saw her heading that way." Kat sighed, knowing her daughter tended to lose track of time after a jump into the pond. She would have to have a word with her. Kat wondering where her daughter had gone too, though – her time in 1974 seemed to be at an end and she couldn't be going back to the 90s or early 2000s.
"Okay," it was Rita who had a microphone. "We got the capsule open…" the men who had been working on opening up the capsule took out a box. "And this is… for the Goodwins. Max?" The teenager stepped forward taking the box and opening it. "Care to share what's in it?"
"Junk," Max responded, not totally caring for his family history.
"Is there a letter?" Rita asked.
"Yep," Max said but didn't elaborate as he moved off.
"Okay… And now the Augustines. Come here, Elliot," Rita said, and Elliot took the box. Despite the pride Elliot's father had to their family name, he had neglected to turn up for this event. "Well?"
"Seems to be some personal items and a letter," Elliot said, briefly scanning the letter, "from one of my ancestors, talking about forming a friendship with the new Mrs. Landry and being a midwife." Elliot gave Kat a smile at that.
"Well, last but not least, the Landry box," Rita said, and Kat moved up, taking the box. She opened the box and the first thing that she saw was a letter. She took it in her hand and paused as she saw it, seeing the handwriting and freezing for a moment. "Wow, that letter looks big. It's practically a novella! What's it about?" Rita asked.
"Um… farming," Kat said, folding the letter back up and putting it in her bag fast.
"The whole letter is about farming?" Rita said.
"My relatives took farming seriously," Kat said, grabbing Elliot's arm and making him move away, and Del came to follow her. Rita frowned, but turned the attention to the other things being taken out of the capsule, encapsulating the audience while two of the main Port Haven families left the scene.
"What's going on?" Elliot asked as they moved through the crowd.
"Whoa wait," it was Nick running up; he had returned that day to see the time capsule opened, although did live with Elliot when here anyway. "Where's the fire?"
"The letter," Kat said to the three.
"The one about farming?" Nick asked.
"I lied," Kat said, making the group look at her. "It's Alice's handwriting..." Kat whispered and the group of four looked at each other.
"Let's get somewhere more private," Del said.
-The Way Home-
The group of four had headed back to Landry farm, now sitting around the kitchen table as Kat took out the letter again.
"So, Alice left a letter in the time capsule from 1875," Nick said.
"Meaning she's in 1875," Elliot said. "Must have been where she went this morning."
"And why leave the letter?" Nick asked.
"We'd have to read to find out," Del said turning to her daughter. "Katherine?"
Kat hands were shaking as she looked at the letter. Elliot moved over.
"Why don't I read it?" Elliot asked, and Kat nodded, letting Elliot take the letter off of her. Elliot took a deep breath before he started reading.
"Mom," Elliot said. "This must be so surprising. For you, I left the house a few hours ago but for me it's been months." Kat took a sharp breath in. "If you are wondering why the 150 years and a few months, well, I choose the date. I had some help making it happen."
Del got up at that moment.
"Mom?" Kat asked.
"I think we are going to need this," Del said, taking out a bottle of wine and some glasses.
"Can you grab some beers?" Nick asked and Elliot nodded his agreement, Del taking a case of beer out of the refrigerator as well.
"Continue, Elliot," Del said, having poured her and Kat a glass as Nick opened two beers – one for him and one for Elliot.
"It's a long story on why I needed to do this," Elliot continued reading. "For you to understand, I am going to have to go into some extreme details and not all of it is pretty. You might want to take out the wine if grandma hasn't already," Elliot paused there as the group gave a small chuckle.
"She knows her grandmother," Kat said, and Del gave a smile, but gave Elliot a nod to continue.
"We never really talked about when the pond called out to us.; the dreams, the seeing the phantoms around you of people from the past, the feeling you needed to jump. I had been dreaming of the pond for a few nights and that morning I knew I had to go to jump. I didn't know why or to when. Part of me thought maybe the pond was telling me to find Jacob. So, I left that morning to jump. When I got to the other side of the pond it was cold. Very cold. The pond had already started to freeze over. I didn't know what year I arrived but I learned later it was the end of 1874."
-The Way Home-
-1874-
Alice emerged from the pond, climbing onto the rocks. She shivered in the cold and could see some snow on the ground. Whenever she was, it was winter. She walked over the rocks and headed into the woods planning on walking to Landry Farm, to find out why the pond had sent her here.
She was far enough away from the pond that it was out of sight but she was not yet out of the forest when she came into the clearing where three men were. Their eyes turned to Alice and they clearly seemed drunk. She didn't know what time she was in, but the men's clothes were very old fashion; Alice knew she was further into the past than she had ever been.
"Well, Little Miss, what strange clothes you are wearing…" one of the men said.
"Yeah, um… I was just…" Alice went to point, wanting to get away but the men had moved over to her.
"You are all wet. Why don't we dry you up?" One of the men said.
"I'm fine," Alice said, backing up, planning on going back to the pond, but as she backed up she felt hands of a fourth man who grabbed her.
"We insist," the fourth man said as the other three came forward towards her.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
In the present, Elliot paused in his reading, scanning the rest of the page frowning.
"El?" Kat asked.
"I don't know if you want to hear this…" Elliot stated, looking up at Kat now.
"Alice wrote it for me, I need to know," Kat stated.
"Very well…" Elliot sighed. "Mom, when you hear on the news of a woman being attacked you sometimes wonder why they didn't fight back," Elliot read, cautiously. "Trust me, when four big strong men who are somewhat drunk grab hold of you and rip off your clothes, you do not fight back. You know you don't have a chance. You just go limp and let them do what they are going to do."
Kat gave a cry out as she put her hands over her mouth, Del went and grabbed hold of Kat's hands, while Nick tighten his hold on his beer as Elliot paused the reading.
"Kat, she goes into a lot more details here. Do you need me to skip?" Elliot asked.
"No," Kat said shaking her head. "Alice wanted to tell me this. She lived it. The least I can do is listen."
"Okay," Elliot said going back to the letter. "I wish I could say I didn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break, but that wouldn't be true. They were harsh and seemed to thrive on my pain. Whenever I grew accustomed to their torment and stopped reacting, they found new ways to make me respond. I remember one instance when one of them used a belt." Kat trembled as Del approached and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "I shut my eyes to block them out, but their presence was still overwhelming. I could feel their touch, their breath near me, everything they did…"
"I'm going to kill them!" Nick yelled, jumping up. "Kat, take me to that time. We'll kill them."
"You can't," Elliot said as Kat looked up at Nick.
"Why not?" Nick asked.
"Because if you and Kat went back to the past and saved Alice, then she wouldn't be writing this letter you are reacting to," Elliot stated, and Nick didn't seem to have a response.
"We should finish with what Alice needed to tell us," Del responded and Kat nodded, going to take a sip of her wine. "Elliot… continue."
Elliot took a breath as he looked back down at the letter. "I lost track of how many times they changed places with me. My entire existence had narrowed down to that single moment – those men and the suffering it brought. I was unaware of anything else. When I finally heard a new voice, along with the sound of a horse and a gunshot, it didn't register that I was being rescued."
-The Way Home-
-1874-
The man got off the horse, firing his gun into a nearby tree.
"This is my land!" He yelled at the men, who were already backing off and grabbing their pants. "Get off it now! The next shot goes into you." The four men didn't go to fight the newcomer as they ran through the trees throwing on their clothes.
The new man heard the soft cries and turned to the other person in the clearing – Alice. She had no clothes on and there was torn fabric around her, clearly the torn clothes she had been wearing. There was a lot of blood, and just from where he was he could see several large wounds.
"What did they do to you? I should have shot them…" the man whispered.
As he got closer she started to cry out louder. "No, I won't hurt you," the man said, taking off his coat and putting it around her fast. Her hands pulled the coat closer around her and she seemed to try to disappear into the jacket. "You are safe," the man said as he picked her up.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Elliot sighed as he continued to read aloud.
"I know you are probably thinking as the new man scared away those who had been attacking me I should have run back to the pond," Elliot read. "But my mind wasn't working like that. I couldn't think clearly and, even if I had thought it, I don't think I could have. They had injured me too badly. I was too weak. Even if by some miracle I could have gotten to the pond and jumped in, I don't think I could have swam out and climbed the rocks."
"Yes…" Kat said, nodding thinking on Alice's words.
"When he approached me, I really thought he was just going to take his turn, but he was assuring me I was safe. He put his coat around me and, mom, that coat was everything. I must have looked like a child snuggling into her blankie. He picked me up and I hid my head into his shoulder. I must have gotten so many tears, snot, blood, and other bodily fluids on him, but he didn't complain. I really don't know how he got me to his home. He placed me on a bed and left me alone, but it wasn't long before someone else came about…"
-The Way Home-
-1874-
The door to the small home opened as a pale woman with dark hair came in, pausing as the man within looked up to her.
"You summoned me?" The woman asked, walking in as she addressed the man who had rescued Alice. "Something about an attack? What type of animal attacked who?"
"Not an animal attack," the man said. "I found four men with a young woman in the woods."
The new woman glared that made the man step back.
"Did they violate her?" The woman asked.
"Yes," the man said. "She is badly injured."
"Of course she is. You did right summoning me," the woman said. "Do you know who she is?"
"A stranger," the man said, shaking his head.
"Lead me to her," the woman instructed, and the man nodded, leading her up the stairs and into a room.
There, Alice was placed on top of a bed. She still had the man's coat around her, snuggling into it. The woman approached Alice, putting the bag she had down next to the bed. She went to remove the coat, but the moment she touched it she was surprised by Alice crying out, clearly having a full-on panic attack.
"Go get whatever alcohol you have," the woman said, turning to the man who nodded and went out. "Hello… it's okay," She spoke then softly to Alice. "I am Eleanor Augustine. Can you tell me your name?" Eleanor watched as Alice tried to form the words but was unable to over her cries. "No talking. Just listen to my voice," Eleanor put her hand on Alice's hair and started stroking it, speaking softly. "I want you to think of nothing else but my voice. I want you to breath in and out slowly. In and out."
Eleanor kept directing Alice's breathing and, as Alice did, her breaths slowed down and she stopped panicking – enough so that Eleanor was able to remove the jacket with her one hand while her other continued to stroke Alice's hair. Eleanor moved her hand lightly over Alice's body to take in the damage.
"Woman, sometimes I swear you are a witch," the man said, returning with the requested bottle and seeing Alice had calmed down.
"Common for Augustine woman. My grandmother, Susanna, was accused of witchcraft more than once," Eleanor said, back stepping back and taking the bottle. As she did the man turned. "Stay."
"Eleanor, the young woman is unclothed. It's inappropriate for me to be here," he said.
"You are a gentlemen, but there is time for that – and time when you must put that aside. I am going to need your help," Eleanor said, moving back to Alice with the bottle. "I'm going to need to take care of these wounds," Eleanor spoke softly to Alice again. "And I am afraid it's going to hurt. Take a sip. It will help dull the pain," Eleanor put the bottle to Alice's lip and poured some of the alcohol in, seeing Alice was about to sip it out Eleanor put her hand over Alice's mouth and rubbed her throat to force it down. Alice's cough afterward.
"Good girl," Eleanor said. "Hold her down," Eleanor turned to the waiting man as she said this.
"You sure?" The man asked.
"I am going to need her to remain still," Eleanor said, giving the man a nod and he came up to the side.
He went to put his hands on Alice.
"You are safe," he whispered as he did. "Please remember that."
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Elliot gave a small smile as he skimmed the page of the letter he was on now, continuing to read aloud.
"I understand why they had to clean my wounds, even though it hurt. It felt like I was under attack again. I struggled a bit, but he held me down, whispering that I was safe while Eleanor worked quickly and carefully. Once she finished, the cool compress felt soothing, and she carefully bandaged everything. She checked my whole body, moving me gently to make sure she didn't miss anything. Afterward, I was still in distress, but she managed to calm me again and made me take a sip of that harsh alcohol. It must have been strong, or maybe I was just exhausted, because her soothing voice soon lulled me to sleep," Elliot read from the letter.
"Susanna's granddaughter is taking care of her," Kat whispered. "That makes me feel better. She's in good hands. Susanna has saved both mine and Jacob's lives." Del squeezed her daughter's hand at this.
"Eleanor," Elliot whispered. "She's the one who wrote the letter in my box."
"Well, we know Alice was there when the capsule was buried so not odd," Nick said, looking at his friend and wondering what he was thinking.
"She may have written something from her side of events," Elliot explained, to a nod from Nick there. "Anyway, I'll continue," Elliot said, looking back down at the letter. "Even though Eleanor was there, I must have gotten an infection because a terrible fever struck me. The following days are a blur; I was barely awake and struggled to separate reality from hallucinations. I thought I saw you, Mom, and in that moment, it brought me comfort and warmth.
"Eleanor kept checking on me, forcing medicine down and monitoring my healing. Yet, it was him I remember most," Elliot read. "He was always there, placing a cool cloth on my head, encouraging me to drink warm broth even when I had no appetite. Whenever feverish nightmares haunted me, he would come in, stroke my hair, and softly reassure me that I was safe. His voice could lull me back into peaceful sleep, and in those moments, I truly felt secure."
"I'm really starting to like this guy," Kat said.
"Me too," Del added. "But why hasn't Alice said his name yet?"
"She's about to," Elliot said, and went to continue to read. "It was late at night when I finally got my first real moment of consciousness. My first thought was getting back to the pond and getting home, but I was still very weak…"
-The Way Home-
-1874-
Alice opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. It took a second for everything to come back to her, and she knew she needed to get up and get home. She pushed the blanket off of her, looking down to find herself in some type of nightgown. She could feel bandages on her skin. Alice didn't want to look at them. She just wanted to get to the pond and get to her mom. Then she could deal with everything that happened.
But as Alice went to stand up and get out of the bed, her legs gave way under her weight and she fell to the floor with a bang. She cried out as she felt more pain than she should. She probably damaged one of her wounds.
She heard footsteps enter the room and saw the light of a candle. The candle was put on a counter as two strong arms picked her up and put her back on the bed.
"You're up," the man said, and Alice knew the voice.
"You… you saved me," Alice stated, looking at him. He was older than her but not by much – he was probably older 20s, lower 30s at the most, had jet-black hair, blue eyes and a strong jawline.
"I did," the man said. "Wish I had gotten there sooner."
"Thank you, but I need to…" Alice didn't finish her sentence as she felt lightheaded.
"You are going nowhere," the man said. "You would be too weak to go out in day light, in good weather, but at night in this storm you'd die."
"Storm?" Alice asked.
"Large snowstorm came in this morning," the man said, and Alice didn't respond but her thoughts went to the pond. It had to be completely frozen over and wouldn't unfreeze until spring. She was stuck!
"You seem to be doing better," the man put a hand on her head. "The fever is gone. I know it would be more appropriate for a woman to check on your wounds, but there is no lady of the house. There hasn't been since my mother passed some years ago and I can't summon Eleanor in this weather. Would you mind if I checked?"
"You've seen everything anyway," Alice whispered, letting the man slowly lift over the nightgown. She flinched at first at his touch but when he whispered 'you are safe' it calmed her. She felt him move the bandages a bit to look underneath them.
"Everything seems to be healing," he said, putting the nightgown back down. "Now, you should get some more sleep and, in the morning, we will get some good food in you. Get your strength back and then I will help you get wherever you need to go."
Alice didn't fight as the man led her back into a sleeping position.
"Thank you," Alice said. "For doing all this. We don't even know each other.
"No thanks necessary, miss. It was the decent thing to do," he said. "As for not knowing each other, we can fix that. I am Jonathan."
"Alice," Alice said back.
"Nice to really meet you, Alice. Now, get some sleep and remember, you are safe here on Landry Farm," Jonathan said, helping Alice get the covers back over her and taking his candle as he left.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Both Kat and Del gave a gasp at the reveal of who the man was, with Kat giving a little chuckle as she looked to her mom.
"I should have known I was on Landry farm before Jonathan even said it," Elliot continued to read. "It made sense, after all, but I hadn't realized until he said it. I was at home – but in the wrong century. All I wanted to do was get back to you, mom. I knew you would be mad at first, I was gone so long, but I knew when you heard what happened you would be okay. I wanted your arms around me to tell me everything was okay, that I would be safe from now on, but I knew it wasn't possible. There was over a foot of snow outside. The pond was frozen solid," Elliot read.
"Jonathan Landry…" Del said and, looked at Kat but realized the name didn't ring a bell to her daughter. Kat had forgotten Colton's story.
"Something wrong with this guy?" Nick asked.
"No," Del said. "From what Colton used to say, he was a good man," Del looked over at Elliot and they shared a look, both realizing they were the only two starting to sense something.
"My baby…" Kat whispered. "I wish I could take her in my arms. Elliot, you need to continue. Please."
Elliot gave a nod as he went to read. "I didn't know what was going to happen to me. There were months until I could get home. When I told Jonathan I had missed my chance to leave, that I was stuck, I didn't really expect him to offer to let me stay, but he did. He said he could use a housekeeper for the winter. I told him I probably wasn't going to be any good at it. I wasn't the best cook or housekeeper, but he said I could learn."
Kat gave a small chuckle at that, imagining her daughter being a maid in the 1800s. Elliot gave a smile.
"But learn I did," Elliot continued to read. "Jonathan teased me a bit when I didn't know how to do something that should be common, but it was never mean. He's very kind. He helps me. And he loves when I sing. He told me many times I have a voice of an angel. By the way, I think Fynn followed me into the pond. He's not wearing his collar but it's him. Jonathan tells me he showed up at the house the day after he found me and wouldn't leave me alone. I said he was mine. Jonathan's training him to help on the farm more."
The group stopped and turned to look where Fynn the dog was sitting on the floor, not far off from them.
"Different dog that looks like Fynn?" Kat asked but her mind wondered.
"Must be," Del said. Fynn seemed to know they were talking about him as he lifted his head, stood, and came up to get a pet. Del fussed his head, as if on instinct. Elliot looked back down at the note, knowing it was time to continue to read.
"Eleanor comes around to help me a lot, too, and teach me how to keep house and cook. If her grandmother was anything like her, I see why you love Susanna so much, mom. Eleanor is an amazing person. She lives with her younger brother and his wife. Her father never forced her to marry and made her brother promise it as well. She's a healer like Susanna was and also works as a midwife. It brings in enough money for the Augustine family, apparently. She loves to talk about Susanna. In fact, she told me their family myths says Susanna and the White Witch were lovers. Something you forgot to tell me mom? If so I am totally cool with it."
Elliot stopped reading and turned to Kat at that. "Something you'd like to share?" Elliot asked.
"I don't get it," Nick said, seeing Del also looked confused.
"Yeah… I'm the White Witch," Kat said back to that.
"Kat?" Del asked, seeming surprised.
"I had to distract Cyrus and his men so Susanna and Thomas could get Jacob out of the dungeons at Lingermore. I had them chase me to the pond where I jumped in and the White Witch was born," Kat said.
"Oh," Del said seeming to accept it.
"There are dungeons at Lingermore?" Nick asked, turning eyes to him. "Right, not the point, but I think Alice lost the point as well. Why do we need to know this?"
"It does seem she started word vomiting on the page a bit," Elliot said. "Although this is better written then any of her English essays from what I know."
"Continue Elliot," Del said having a feeling she knew where this letter was going.
"As the year turned from 1874 to 1875, I had been there just over a month when morning sickness hit me hard," Elliot read from Alice's letter. "It was Eleanor who connected the dots; when she asked about my last menstrual cycle, it dawned on me – my period hadn't come since my arrival. I scrambled for excuses, trying to blame time travel for my missed period, but deep down, I knew the truth. I was pregnant in an era where healthcare was scarce and women's rights were nearly nonexistent, and the weight of that reality settled heavily on my shoulders."
Kat gasped, putting a hand over her mouth as Dell brought her close.
"I'll kill them!" Nick mumbled, his knuckles going white by how tight he was making a fist.
"Nick, you continuously threatening to kill people who have been dead for over a hundred years is not helping," Elliot said back to that. "Kat, are you okay for me to continue to read?" Kat gave a nod, wanting Elliot to continue.
Notes:
Post-chapter note: This is where we shall stop. How are you all liking the story so far? A lot of detail but I feel like it was needed. How many people can guess where this is going?
Chapter 2: Family in Time
Notes:
Note: Last week we started this interesting tale, today we continue it. I hope you're enjoying it!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
-1875-
Jonathan walked into his home, surprised to not smell dinner being made. He had been doing work on the farm, even though it was winter, there were things to do and animals to tend. He didn't hire farmhands in the winter so it was all on him.
"Alice?" Jonathan called.
"Jonathan," it was Eleanor coming from a back room. Jonathan could see as she opened the door Alice was sitting on the floor crying. Fynn the dog was next to her putting his head on her lap.
"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked, moving forward and Eleanor stopped him before he moved in.
"There is an issue," Eleanor said. "We believe Alice is with child."
"Child? But how…?" Jonathan stopped his question as he thought. "The attack!" Eleanor gave a nod. "Are you sure? Did you test her?"
"There is no real test," Eleanor said. "But the symptoms and timeline make it make sense. Normally, I would tell a young woman to wait until she starts showing to be sure, but in this case we need to make plans."
"Plans?" Jonathan asked.
"Jonathan, the town won't react nicely to a young, unwed, mother staying at Landry farm," Eleanor said to him.
"But she was attacked," Jonathan pointed out.
"No one but we know, and if we say it now it sounds like an excuse. Besides, it wouldn't matter to them. She has no husband and no father or brother to protect her," Eleanor explained. "We could try to hide her, but if one person sees her it will be bad for her – and you."
"I will not throw her out," Jonathan said.
"I am not saying to," Eleanor responded, giving him a glare as if insulted Jonathan would even think that. "But we need to think of a plan now before it's obvious to all she has a child growing."
Jonathan gave a nod and then moved into the room where Alice was still crying. He sat on the floor next to her and brought Alice into his arms. Eleanor stayed where she was, but watched from afar.
"I told you that you were safe here and I meant it. You are safe and I will protect you," Jonathan said as Alice now cried onto his shoulder. Jonathan looked down at her for a moment. "Marry me."
That paused Alice's tears. "What?" Alice asked, looking up at Jonathan. Her eyes were big and tears were still threatening to fall. Eleanor stood at the doorway, watching the scene. Fynn even sat up, giving Jonathan a look.
"Marry me," Jonathan said. "We can go to the church and get married tomorrow. I'll claim the child as mine. We can say he or she was born early. We will use Eleanor as a midwife. She will confirm it."
"I… um… I… what?" Alice asked, seeming too stunned to make words.
"Alice, this is the best option for you," Eleanor encouraged her. "Everything else is too dangerous."
Alice looked at Eleanor and then back at Jonathan.
"Okay," Alice finally said, and Jonathan gave a smile as he wiped a tear away from her eyes.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Back in 2025, Elliot continued reading aloud the letter from Alice, detailing her life since she'd ended up in the 1870s.
"My mind raced. I didn't know what marrying my own ancestor would do," Elliot read "I have been so sure we can't change the past, but at the same time I have never been in the past for so long. Could I? But I also needed to think of my survival. Marrying Jonathan equalled safety for me and for my baby," Elliot read.
"She's marrying that guy?" Nick asked, pulling a face.
"She has to," Elliot said. "The 1800s didn't treat single mothers well. At least ones who were not widowed."
"Even in my time there would be looks and gossip about a single unwed mother; I can't imagine what it would be like in 1875," Del added.
"But… she has no birth certificate or any paperwork. How can she marry him?" Nick asked.
"It's a small town in 1875," Elliot responded. "I am sure it's much easier to make an identity there than here. The world isn't connected like it is now. Besides, once she gets – well, got – a marriage certificate, that would be a form of identity for her."
"She's being responsible," Kat said. "But… our ancestor?" Del patted Kat's shoulder.
"Elliot, continue," Del said again.
"I wore his mother's wedding dress," Elliot read. "Eleanor helped adjust it to me and made sure it hid all my scars from the attack. Mom, I was wearing your ring around my neck the morning I jumped – the men who attacked me only cared about my body, not my jewellery so I still had it. I slipped it on my ring finger so you would be a part of the ceremony in a way. Never really imagined I would get married in a church, but it was honestly a lovely ceremony. Moreover, I didn't picture the excitement the town would have."
Elliot took a breath at this point before continuing to read.
"You know in our time, being part of a founding family seemed silly to me. It was used at times for tourist to get money, but it didn't feel like anyone really cared," Elliot tried not to chuckle as he read this, considering his own father put a lot of faith in being an Augustine, which had put Elliot off as a child. He continued, "In 1875 though, it almost felt like I was marrying royalty. Everyone was excited the only Landry left had finally taken a wife. There was a big party in a large building the town. I think it was the most fun I had since I got here. The music, the dancing, the food, and everyone came, including the Goodwin's of the time…"
-The Way Home-
-1875-
Alice laughed when the song was over and Jonathan led her off the dance floor. She was smiling and it felt like almost like all her troubles were gone.
"It is good to see you so happy," Jonathan said, and Alice turned to him giving him a big smile.
"You have a beautiful bride," a new voice Alice didn't recognize said, as a man walked up with a woman next to him. The two giving a smile.
"Alister," Jonathan said in greeting. "Alice, this is Alister Goodwin and his wife, Judith Goodwin."
"Very nice to meet the new Mrs. Landry. People were starting to think Jonathan would die alone," Alister said.
"Pleasure to meet you," Alice said, not knowing what else to say as she held out her hand. Alister took it, but instead of shaking it, he turned it around and kissed the top of it. Alice shivered at the touch, but Jonathan's arm around her made her feel safe.
"For you," Alister said taking out a small box, "just a little something. If I had known, with more time about the wedding, I would have gotten something nicer." Alice opened the giving box to see a necklace inside.
"It's beautiful, but you didn't have to," Alice said.
"Nonsense, we founding families need to stick together," Alister said, giving Jonathan a smile who nodded.
"It's very thoughtful," Jonathan said, taking the necklace out of the box and then putting it around Alice's neck. "And looks lovely on you," Alice understood. It was better to be friends with the Goodwins than not to.
"You really outdid yourself, Jonathan. A young beautiful wife," Alister said, but then the music turned. "Oh, who decided to play this?"
"Wait," Alice said, seeing Alister was about to get the band to change the song. "I know this song…" before the singer could start the lyrics, Alice began to sing. "This is a tale I'm sorry to tell but draw near and I will tell you. Of when witches were hung for stealing the sun and hung by the light of the moon, my love, and hung by the light of the moon." Alice didn't notice as the eyes turned to her. "She was a healer, or so she had said. My potions and tonics were true, but when fields went a fallow she was led to the gallows that loom by the light of the moon my love that loomed by the light of the moon. When her hanging rope tightened the witch did not look frightened for the night went as dark as a tomb. And when moonlight came back the noose just hung slack. She was gone by the light of the moon, my love. She was gone by the light of the moon."
The place went silent and Alice noticed the eyes on her and she felt embarrassed for some reason.
"Voice of an angel," Jonathan said, and that got the public to clap for her.
"Well, Mrs. Landry," one of the members of the band said. "Would you sing another one for us?"
"I don't…" Alice started.
"Go ahead," Jonathan said, indicating for her to approach the band.
"Well… there is one song that's dear to my heart, but you wouldn't know it," Alice said as she came over.
"You insult us. We know many songs," the band member said.
"No insult intended. My grandfather wrote this song and only my family knows it. If I could have your guitar…?" Alice said.
"It's your wedding," he said handing over the guitar and then Alice started to play a familiar tune to her.
"Love your eyes, how they give me a reason. And how they change in the light." Alice sang. "Hope you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life. You're the reason the garden is growing. You keep us calm like the night. And you shine like a passage on the water, in the moonlight. In your eyes there's a horizon. I can find my way back home. And you know when you find it and then you'll never be alone. Love your eyes how they give me a reason. How they change in the light. Hope you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life."
Alice smiled as she finished the song, and the people of the town clapped as she handed the guitar back to its owner.
"You really did do well, Jonathan," Alister said, patting him on the back.
"I know," Jonathan smiled, holding out his hand indicating for Alice to return to him and she did.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Both Del and Kat had tears in their eyes upon hearing that Alice had sung Colton's song at her wedding to Jonathan Landy.
"Singing the song about witches made me feel like you were there, mom, and then getting to sing grandpa's song… it was like I had you all back for a moment," Elliot read.
"Sometimes I wonder if dad really wrote that song or if the tune has been in our family so long," Kat mused.
"Wait, I get why that song makes her feel like you are all there, but why does the creepy song about a witch being hung make her think of you?" Nick asked, looking at Kat, and Del turned to her daughter.
"It's about me," Kat said. "And I wasn't hung – just nearly hung. The song is a bit overdramatic…" Del sighed, clearly wanting more answers but knew it wasn't the time, "Elliot, I need to know more."
Elliot nodded at Kat, going to continue to read. "I didn't want that party to be over – not just because I was having a good time, but because it was my wedding night and I knew what was expected of me on this night. Mom, after everything had happened, I swore I would never date or be with a man again. I was going to come home and hide, but now I had married Jonathan. I knew what a marriage for a woman in 1875 was. I was his. So, that night we went back to the farm and he led me up to his… well, our bed."
"Oh, this guy is not going to force her. I'll hurt him too," Nick said.
"Nick," Kat, Elliot, and Del all said together.
"Sorry," Nick said, taking a sip of his beer to calm down.
Elliot didn't need encouragement to continue. "I perched at the edge of the bed, watching as he slowly undressed, revealing more of himself with each piece he shed. A shiver ran through me as the anticipation of the moment enveloped us. He settled beside me, his hand reaching out, and I instinctively flinched, memories of the past surfacing briefly. But his gentle smile reassured me; he whispered that I was safe, that he would pause if I needed him to—right now, if necessary. Looking into his eyes, I knew he meant it. We could retreat into the comfort of slumber, yet I sensed his yearning. After everything he'd done for me, how could I deny him this connection?"
"You can," Kat murmured softly, wishing to shield her daughter from feeling obligated to share herself with anyone, even her own husband.
"I nodded," Elliot continued, "and allowed him to carefully unfasten my dress. He approached with such tenderness, setting aside each piece until I stood before him, vulnerable yet unafraid. He joined me in our newfound intimacy, and as we nestled into the sheets, the weight of the past flickered momentarily, but the warmth between us eclipsed it. He was a world apart from my previous experience. It was clear we were both stepping into uncharted territory, exploring and learning together. It was beautiful, Mom, we…"
'Ugh," Nick said, getting up and turning around.
"She might have gone a little too far there," Kat said, agreeing with Nick.
"I've read worst," Del said, and noticed as the three turned to look at her. "I've been a widow for a while and just started dating…"
"It good to know Alice won't be joining a nunnery, but Elliot, can you maybe skip a couple of lines?" Kat asked, not wanting her mother to explain the comment further or hear too much of her daughter's sex life.
"Let me skim," Elliot mumbled, and looked over the letter for a moment. "Here we go…" Elliot pointed at a line. "I had fallen asleep, basically on his chest – he was more comfortable than the bed. I was woken up by his hand rubbing my back. Took me a moment to realize he was tracing the scars on my back."
-The Way Home-
-1875-
Alice kept her eyes closed for a moment as she felt Jonathan's hands on her back. She opened her eyes slightly when she realized where exactly Jonathan was placing his fingers. She moved her hand to take hold of his.
"I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Jonathan asked.
"It's been a long time since they have hurt," Alice admitted, looking up at her husband. He was looking at her, concerned, and then Alice wasn't sure why she started to cry. Jonathan pulled her closer.
"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked.
"I'm sorry," Alice said.
"What for?" Jonathan asked.
"You have done so much for me and what do you get in return? A damaged, broken wife," Alice said, crying into Jonathan's shoulder.
"Hey, let's have none of that," Jonathan said. "You are scarred, but you are not damaged. All those scars mean is that you survived. And you are not broken. Since you came here, you have made this house a home again. You have brought life into it. To me. To Eleanor. The pregnancy might have cut our courting short, but do not think I wasn't going to court you. I got exactly what I wanted when you said yes. Do not think I do not love you."
"You love me?" Alice whispered.
"I do," Jonathan said.
"I love you too," Alice said, and Jonathan kissed the top of her hair.
"There now, no more tears. We have wed and we are going to be parents. This is joyous time," Jonathan said and Alice snuggled closer to him.
-2025-
Elliot had slowed his reading now, the letter going into a lot of detail but also many revelations.
"I wasn't lying when I said I loved him. Because I did. Well… I do," Elliot read aloud. "And as the months continued, I fell more and more in love with him. The way he takes care of me, the excitement as the baby grows and starts to move – a baby he knows is not even his. Everything about him. I love him. I guess it makes sense. My best friend was my teenage mother, my first love was her friend, I sang with my dead grandfather in two different eras, and consoled the broken heart of a woman who loved him that he didn't love back. It only makes sense my true love would be my own ancestor."
"Her true love?" Nick asked, taking another sip of his beer.
"Nick," Del shushed the man, who shrugged at this.
"But I am rambling now," Elliot continued to read. "It's hard for me to end this letter – it's a link to you, mom, but end it I must. Jonathan and Eleanor are giving me strange looks. And this baby has decided my bladder is a soccer ball. I've had to pee for the last page I have written."
Del and Kat gave a laugh at that.
"I should be with her," Kat said, sadly. "Be there to help her. And when she complains, tease her she did the same."
"Not all mothers are with their daughters when they are pregnant," Del spoke at this, and Kat rolled her eyes.
"But I agree, Alice is rambling," Kat said. "What we need to know is how long she is in the past, so we can cover her absence. And when she gets out of that pond, I am bringing her into my arms and never letting her go. Her, or the baby… oh, she will have a baby. I'm a grandmother!"
"Kat," Elliot said. "The pond doesn't let people go forward. The child was conceived in 1874."
"But the pond will unfreeze before Alice gives birth. She's from here," Kat said. "The child will come with her."
"This is uncharted territory," Elliot pointed out.
"You think she might have to leave her baby?" Nick asked.
"She won't abandon her child," Kat stated.
"No, she won't," Del said, sharing a look with Elliot as she got up.
"Mom, where are you going?" Kat asked.
"Just… getting something," Del said as she moved off. "Elliot, I think Kat needs to hear Alice's own words."
Elliot gave a nod as he turned back to the letter as Del left to get what she was looking for.
"It's strange, months ago I was just waiting for the pond to unfreeze to get back to you, mom. I was just buying time – even when I said yes to Jonathan, it was about survival until I could jump. But now spring is in the air, the sun is shining as Jonathan works on the farm. The pond is no longer frozen… and I have decided not to jump." Elliot paused as he went to look at Kat. She was staring at him stunned, as if she was waiting for him to say 'got you'. Del had returned and was standing with the familiar Landry family almanac in her hands. Del gave Elliot a nod.
"I can't leave. I can't leave my husband," Elliot continued. "I can't walk away from the life I've built here. It's not the life I envisioned for myself, but it has its merits. Mom, I know this may hurt you, but I wrote this message hoping you would understand and perhaps find a bit of happiness for me. Because I have found happiness, despite the unexpected turns my life has taken. Most importantly, I wrote this to say goodbye. I will always love you. With all my heart, Alice Landry."
"She signed it Alice Landry," Nick said, quietly.
"She's Jonathan Landry wife. It's her name now," Elliot said.
"No," Kat said shaking her head. "I don't know what that girl is thinking but…" she began to stand up at that.
"Katherine," Del said, putting down the almanac and opening it up in front of Kat. "Alice's story matches family legends on Jonathan Landy. Colton always said the story was that he found a woman being attacked by men. Not long later they were married. It is said their oldest daughter, Katherine Landry wasn't Jonathan's but a result of the rape." Del pointed at the name, Kat following her finger. "Alice Landry, married Jonathan Landry in January of 1875. They had seven children. You are the descendent of their second born, and eldest son, Brandon. I'm sorry sweetie. She stays," Del had tears in her eyes as well at this information.
"Wow," Nick said, going over to look at the page himself.
"It's incest," Kat said.
"There's not enough of Jonathan DNA inside Alice for it to matter," Elliot said.
"And her own DNA inside her?" Kat asked.
"Weird but still minimal," Elliot said. "Cousins married cousins back in the day, this is no different, in fact, it better as there's generations of other DNA before you. It's the Grandparent Paradox," Elliot noticed the eyes looking at him. "I have read up on every time travel theory since someone told me my future in 1999. The Grandparent Paradox is common in time travel lore. You go back in time and meet your grandparent, fall in love, thus becoming your own grandparent. Or, in Alice's case, great-great-great-great-great grandma," Elliot paused seeming to be thinking. "Did I add one too many greats or leave one out?"
"Not important," Del said
"No," Kat said, shaking her head and got up, going passed her mother and out the door. Fynn barked and went to follow Kat, but Del stopped him with one call.
"She heading to the pond?" Nick asked.
"Where else?" Elliot sighed, and the three looked at each other. "Nick, go watch her. I doubt the pond will take her anywhere, but let her get it out of her system."
"And if she does go somewhere?" Nick asked.
"Wait for her to come back. Either way, bring her to meet me and Del in the graveyard," Elliot said, and Nick gave a nod going out the door.
"Graveyard?" Del asked.
"Graveyard," Elliot said, more forcefully and with a nod.
"Oh," Del said, understanding. "We… we should go get some flowers."
"And I want to stop by the archives as well," Elliot said, the two getting their car keys and bags.
-The Way Home-
-1874-
Alice folded the letter as she went over to where Jonathan and Eleanor were sitting by the box that was going to go into the time capsule for future Landry's. Fynn had been sitting by her side as she wrote, and Alice had petted him every so often. It was nice having him in this time with her – one thing she could have from her own time.
"You wrote a lot more than I did for the future Augustines," Eleanor remarked.
"Yes, what has you so wordy, my love?" Jonathan asked.
"Just giving them a lot of details," Alice said; she was wondering if she went too far herself in a lot of what she said, but writing it all down was therapeutic, and it was the last thing she would send to her mom. "Don't future Landrys deserve that?"
"To me, this is all nonsense," Jonathan said. "I don't see why our future family will care about objects or letters 150 years from now."
"They will," Alice said as she put it into the box.
"You were the one with the very specific date to have this opened," Jonathan pointed out.
"Yes, lucky I managed to get my brother to agree and with us, in agreement Alister. All three founding families agreeing and the town had no complaints," Eleanor said. "You never did say why that day."
Alice had thought about telling the two the truth of her for so long, but it felt unimportant for them to know now.
"It's just a premotion call it," Alice said. "They need this on that date."
"May I read the letter?" Jonathan asked.
"No," Alice said, putting her hands on Jonathan. "It's not for you – it's for them." Jonathan gave a nod and a chuckle as he closed the top of the box and called over a young boy; a farmhand he had hired to help. He gave the boy directions to bring the box to town for the time capsule.
"Where are you going?" Jonathan asked, seeing Alice walking a different direction.
"I have to wee," Alice said as she moved off.
"Again?" Jonathan asked as Eleanor chuckled.
"She's with child," Eleanor said, getting up. "And I must leave you. I have work to do," Eleanor walked out of the house as Jonathan went back to his work.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
Elliot and Del were in front of a grave. They had a bucket, soap, and sponge and were cleaning it up. Del had already put flowers in front of it when Nick came in, dragging a soaking wet Kat. He, too, seemed to be completely wet.
"Nick, I said to wait for her to give up, not go with her," Elliot said.
"Well, I just spent the last hour watching her nearly drown herself. I was afraid she would if I didn't drag her out of that pond. Which, might I add, is really cold," Nick said. "What are you doing?"
"We thought this deserved some love," Del said, and moved aside to show the two the grave. There were two names on it. The first was Jonathan Landry with a date of birth of January 3rd 1845 and the death on January 14th 1907. Below him it was added and his wife Alice Landry. Her date of birth was listed as July 8th but instead of the true year of 2008 it said 1858. It was the date of death that had Kat paused.
"No…" Kat said, kneeling in front of the grave and looking at the day of death. "October 28th… 1924." The date was almost like a joke. October 28th had haunted Kat so many times. Jacob disappearance. The party at Lingermore. And now her own daughters death.
"How old would that make her?" Nick asked.
"66 give or take," Elliot said.
"That's not old…" Nick said.
"Got that right," Del said back, being 66 herself.
"Shorter life spans back then," Elliot said, getting down on his knees too. "Kat, you know the archives go all the way back to the beginning of the 1900s? I found this," he took out a piece of paper; in big letters it read 'Town Mourns Founding Family Matriarch'. "She was clearly very loved back then by this town. The article calls her the town's mother," Elliot saw Kat looking at the piece of paper.
Kat was the one to read aloud: "In recent years, Alice Landry wasn't seen much as she took ill. She peacefully died of natural causes surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren."
"Great grandchildren…" Del mused aloud.
"No, no…" Kat now said, shaking her head tears coming to them.
"I'm sorry, Kat. Alice went into that pond and never came back. She died 101 years ago," Elliot said.
Kat broke down and Del came, bringing her in her arms.
"I get it. I am hurting too," Del said, feeling the pain herself but knowing she had to be strong for her daughter. "Your daughter was here this morning. Your baby left the house and disappeared. I know what that feels like. But you got a gift Kat – you know she lived a happy and beautiful life."
"A life that led to you," Nick said. "Without Alice being there, Colton, Jacob, Kat, and Alice herself are never born."
"Not just them," a voice said, and they turned to see KC Goodwin had turned up.
"You? The ring," Kat said. "You were meant to be Alice's child from the future."
"Kat, Alice had the ring," Elliot said. "She mentioned it in her letter. She put it on her finger on her wedding day."
KC took a necklace off her neck and held up the ring. "She gave it to her oldest daughter on the day Katherine Landry married Lionel Goodwin, the younger son of Alister and Judith Goodwin – along with stories of a magic pond that lets you travel through time. When I ran away from home last summer, I went to find the pond. I thought it was stupid but I had to try and I went back to 1876."
"You saw her?" Kat asked, and KC nodded. "Is she really happy?"
"If I ever look at someone the way Alice looks at Jonathan and get the same look back I will consider myself lucky," KC said. "She's very happy. She was surprised to see me. I didn't even know who she was. She was the one who directed me on things to do – to take your internship, and stop the farm from being sold. She even told me to jump into the pond if I was asked about the ring. Now there is one last thing she asked me to do." KC walked over to Kat and put the ring in her hands.
"No, this has been in your family for generations," Kat said, holding it back up to KC.
"But it was yours first, grandma," KC said, closing Kat's hand around the ring as they turned to walk away.
"Grandma?" Nick asked.
"Wait," Kat called to KC, who did stop. "What is your name? I thought it was Casey but I found the initials KC..."
At that, they turned back to Kat, a smile on their face. "Katherine Coyle," KC stated back, taking Kat by surprise that no other question came to her head, allowing KC to leave the scene.
"Yeah, but Grandma?" Nick suddenly voiced again, breaking the silence.
"Well... Kat is technically KC's many times great grandma," Elliot said. "Alice had seven kids – and we only know of the main Landry line. Who knows how many people out there can trace their lines back to Alice? Back to you. I mean… half this town could be a several times great grandkid of yours."
"Including me," Nick now mused, pointing at himself.
"And me," Elliot added.
The group stood in heavy silence, the weight of the moment settling over them like a thick veil. Kat knelt by her daughter's grave, tears now streaming down her face as she struggled to catch her breath. Each sob was a raw testament to her grief, echoing in the stillness as she reached out to trace the letters of her child's name carved into the stone. The sight of the grave, silent and unyielding, magnified her sense of loss, leaving those around her feeling a profound ache in their hearts as they witnessed her sorrow.
-The Way Home-
-1875-
Jonathan Landry came into the house and up the stairs. The dog, Fynn, was running behind him. Eleanor came out of a room, clearly hearing his footsteps.
"How is she?" Jonathan asked.
"It was a long labor," Eleanor said. "First ones usually are, but she's strong. She got through it and is resting comfortably."
"And the baby?" Jonathan asked.
"A beautiful and healthy baby girl," Eleanor said, and Jonathan gave a smile. "A little small, but babies born a month early usually are." Eleanor gave Jonathan a wink; of course, the baby wasn't born early at all, but Eleanor was letting Jonathan know their lie would work. No one would question if the baby was his or not.
As Jonathan moved to go into the room Eleanor put a hand on his chest to stop him. "Where do you think you are going?" She asked.
"To see my wife and daughter," Jonathan said.
"Jonathan Landry, there is a newborn babe fresh out of her mother's womb in there and you are filthy," Eleanor said. "Dirt on your hands, face, clothes."
"Harvest is coming up," Jonathan explained.
"Yes, well no need to bring that into the house. Go, change your clothes and wash off your hands, at least. Then you can come in," Eleanor said.
"Between you and Alice, I feel like I have two wives," Jonathan remarked.
"You might need it – and take the dog with you. He's just as dirty," Eleanor called back as Jonathan went to go, calling for Fynn to follow him. Eleanor walked back into the room where Alice was resting on the bed. In her arms was the baby, wrapped in blankets.
"Did I hear Jonathan?" Alice asked.
"He came to check on you," Eleanor said. "I told him to clean up before coming in. Beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yes," Alice said. She couldn't take her eyes off her daughter. "She reminds me of my mother..." Eleanor gave a smile. The two woman stayed together silently at that, the one sounds being the cooing of the baby.
It wasn't long before Jonathan returned, cleaner than he had been. Fynn was behind him, wet himself, and he jumped on the bottom on the bed. Jonathan kissed Alice's head and then smiled down at the baby putting a hand on her.
"Hello there," Jonathan said.
"Meet your daddy," Alice said to the baby, letting Jonathan take her from her hold and hold her for the first time.
"Does she have a name?" Eleanor asked the two after a moment of letting father and daughter meet.
"Well, I always liked the name Annie," Jonathan said.
"No," Alice said quickly. "Katherine, after my mom. Please, Jonathan."
"Katherine Landry," Jonathan smiled, looking down at the girl. "I like." After a moment, the baby started to cry. "Did I do something…?"
"No," Eleanor said. "I think it's time to feed her."
"Feed?" Alice said and then understood as Jonathan gave the newly named Katherine back to Alice. "Oh, how do I...?" Alice wished more than ever her mother would just walk in, but even if she did, Alice kind of doubted she had breast fed Alice.
"It's alright, most new mothers don't know how," Eleanor said. "Reason why I am here. I've never had a baby but helped many mothers. I will help you too."
"I need to get back to the fields," Jonathan said, kissing Alice again. "Be back soon." Jonathan left the room letting Eleanor help Alice figure out how to feed her daughter.
-The Way Home-
-2025-
The day after the time capsule was opened, Kat walked down the stairs of Landry Farm. She had spent the rest of the day crying and reading Alice's letter over and over again. She already had it memorize now, but she just wanted to look at Alice's words.
She wasn't surprised to find her mother, Elliot, and even Nick downstairs. They had the almanac out as they drank coffee.
"What are you doing?" Kat asked.
"Seeing how much of Alice's life we can piece together from what's written here," Del said.
"She had seven children and all but one of them seem to be somewhat named after us," Elliot said. "It's not so obvious unless you know," Elliot explained. "Katherine is an obvious one, then in order it's Brandon – who we think might be named after Braden – Eli, after me, Annie is the one we assume her husband picked, and then Colette…"
"Colton," Kat said getting that one.
"Nicholas," Elliot said, and Nick gave a smile, "and last is Rose, who we think might be a hint to Del – both flower names after all."
"Delilah, Rose…" Del explained, to a nod from Kat.
"Yeah," Kat said, remembering she gave the fake name of Rose at the support group, too. Had she ever told anyone that? She didn't think so but it made her smile. "Seven pregnancies in the 1800s. I don't know how she did it. I barely got through one and needed all the pain killers."
"People had more kids in those days," Elliot said. "Kids could die more easily. Case in point, Eli died when he was 7," Elliot pointed out the date, "and Rose died the day she was born…"
"My god," Kat gasped.
"There's a note here that she lived for five minutes in her mother's arms," Del said.
"Sucks," Nick mused.
"My poor baby. Losing two children," Kat said, moving over, her hand tracing the names in the book.
"Still leaves five," Nick said. "We know Katherine survived, married and her line lives to today. A date of marriage is written in the almanac but not who her husband was or any children."
"Woman joined the husband families back then," Del said and Kat nodded.
"And Brandon is obvious," Elliot said. "Collete and Annie both have dates of marriages but like Katherine, nothing else. Nicholas' wife was added along with three children, but after that they stopped being added. Either moved away or just weren't on Landry farm anymore."
"The almanac belonged to Brandon's family. They might not have wanted to add the distance cousins," Del said.
"I'd like to know what happened to Nicholas family. If they are alive," Nick said. "She named a son after me. It… well, I feel honored."
"I'll need to see if I can track her children and grandchildren," Kat said. "It will be hard learning about her life like this, but I need to know."
"Oh sweetie, the hard part hasn't even started yet," Del said, and gave Elliot a look. Elliot gave Kat her cell phone and Kat was surprised he'd had it. "You weren't in the headspace yesterday to plan, so we have been texting Alice with your phone."
"We've also been making calls around town asking if anyone has seen her," Nick said.
"Why?" Kat asked, confused. They knew where – or better wording, when - Alice was.
"Oh honey, you need to report Alice missing," Del said, and Kat's stomach dropped. She hadn't thought of that. Alice might be safe in the past, but her life in the present needed to be finished. It would be another circus of a missing child in the Landry family.
"You should probably call Alice's phone and leave a message," Elliot said. "Just so police can track you tried."
"Oh…" Kat's hand was shaking as she dialled her daughter's number, knowing no one would answer. She almost cried when she heard Alice's voice message, her own daughter's voice. "Alice, sweetie, I love you. I wish you would come home," Kat said into the message before hanging up. It was all true, even if Alice would never get the message.
Her mother was right. The hard part was just starting, and she didn't even know what to tell Brady, but she would need to be strong and deal with this.
Notes:
Post Chapter Note: Well then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was just something in my head I needed to get down, but I do have one more chapter to come, so look for that next!
Chapter 3: My Love, My Life
Notes:
Note: Originally this was going to be a 2-chapter story, but the idea for this chapter came around after discussions with my co-writer. I hope you enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
-2026-
Kat Landry stood in the graveyard looking at the gravestone; this old grave was the cleanest one, even at over a hundred years old. Since the time capsule, she had made sure to take care of it, made sure to put fresh flowers over it – she even tried to talk to it like she was talking to her daughter, but part of her couldn't connect to her daughter here. Maybe because it was the grave of the woman she became and not the girl Kat knew.
The search for Alice had ended after a few months. The only thing found of her was her cellphone in the dirt on their land. Brady had hired some private investigators who had also given up once the fee got too high. Brady, though, had his focus redirected when Rachel told him she was pregnant; Kat pushing him to focus on the child and she would let him know if Alice returned.
Kat couldn't tell him the truth. That Alice had been dead for 101 years. She tried, but it all sounded so crazy and she knew her ex wouldn't believe it. Even the media craze over another Landry disappearing was all but gone. The town had started to move on – even her own family had, but Kat felt stuck.
She left the graveyard, heading for the farmer's market where her mother and Jacob were. Her brother had returned a couple of weeks after Alice went missing on his own accord, and now the season was starting for Port Haven. Tourist were coming back and it was time for the locals to get their money.
Her mind wasn't on selling their goods, and even conversations with some of the other locals and tourists didn't do anything to distract her.
"Mom, I'm going to head home," Kat said after only half an hour.
"Are you sure, sweetie?" Del asked.
"I am," Kat said, about to move off when her focused got directed to the stall next to Del, where Rita was with her signs. There was also a large poster in front of it advertising her ghost tour. "Rita is doing that again…?"
"She says she will make a fortune," Jacob said, coming back over, a sly look on his face Kat ignored. Kat could see a crowd forming around as Rita was talking.
"The White Witch is part of this tour?" One tourist asked.
"I have expanded the White Witch section," Rita explained, and Kat nearly rolled her eyes, remembering when she took the tour herself.
"I heard the White Witch abducted a girl recently. Disappeared without a trace," one woman said, and Kat's hand went into a fist.
"Kat," Del said, trying to stop Kat as Kat stormed over to Rita's stall, tearing down one of the posters.
"Kat!" Rita said, but Kat didn't stop as she moved away, also knocking Rita flyers on the floor.
"That was rude," another tourist said. "Who does she think she is?"
"She's the mother of the girl who disappeared!" Del yelled at the tourist, who seemed put off by that as Jacob went to pick up what Kat had knocked over. "Sorry Rita."
"It's nothing, Del," Rita said giving Del a nod. "I know she's hurting," she didn't seem bothered as she continued talking about the tour.
-The Way Home-
Kat was in the cellar of the Landry Farm. She had once made this a place to try to figure out what happened to Jacob, but now she had been tracing Alice's children and grandchildren. It was slow work, but as a reporter she was used to looking into clues.
"Katherine Landry!" It was Del coming down the stairs. "That wasn't nice. Rita didn't start the rumors the White Witch took Alice..."
"She's profiting off them," Kat said back.
"Well, let her. Someone should make something from all this," Del said. "And this," Del pointed at Kat's research, "is not healthy. You need to move on."
"Like you did when Jacob disappeared?" Kat asked back. "I can't forget her."
"No one is asking you to, but Kat, you know she lived a good life. You said goodbye with the letter," Del said.
"No, Alice said goodbye," Kat said. "I didn't."
"Then figure out a way. Because this isn't working," Del said, moving back up the stairs, and Kat groaned as she looked at the letter Alice had sent in the time capsule. She kept it close, always rereading it.
"Goodbye?" Kat said it more as a question, her eyes going to the words of Alice. Kat looked at a long white cloak sitting on the back of a chair. Nick had bought it for her as a joke present for her birthday to try to cheer her up. Kat frowned, taking it and putting it around her. The cloak was long and went down to her feet. She put the hood up, it covering her face.
Kat went up the stairs, noticing her mom in the kitchen with Jacob and Elliot, the three talking, but Kat not listening as she went out the side door. The only person who noticed her was Fynn, who ran after her and followed her as she made the familiar track down to the pond.
She hadn't been here since the day she had received Alice's letter, when the pond refused to take her back. She knew Fern, who she realized was Alice's grandson's wife, had indicated they had met before, so Kat knew she would have to go back, but she hadn't had the heart to take a trip.
She stood on the rock, looking over the pond.
"Okay," Kat said to the pond, "I get it. She belongs there, but I need to see her. Please bring me to my girl..." with that, Kat jumped into the pond and even Fynn the dog jumped after her. This time, she felt the pond take her and knew she was traveling.
-The Way Home-
Rising from the water, Kat coughed up some of the water that got into her lungs before crawling upon the familiar rocks. She paused, looking back at the pond; most of it was frozen solid, and there was only a little water free – what she had just came up from. The cloak around her had kept her clothes under her dryer than normal, and Kat had to wonder if Nick's present was actually practical.
As she moved off, she heard a bark and saw Fynn climbing on the rocks and chasing her, moving past her.
"Oh, you stupid dog," Kat said, the dog now running ahead of her, she following the dog towards the house and grabbing him by his collar as they approached the house. "Quiet!" Kat told him after he barked again. Fynn, for his part, listened.
She saw a handsome man walking out of the house and there was a cloaked woman inside just out of sight.
"A storm is approaching, I can tell," the man that Kat assumed was Jonathan spoke. Was he talking to Alice? Kat looked closely at the same person who was both her ancestor and her son-in-law; he was definitely handsome, a little older than she pictured the guy Alice would marry, but not as bad – almost as if Alice had actually gotten with current Nick. "I am going to go into town and get supplies. Thank you for coming to watch the girl."
"She is in my care," the woman said back. "Don't worry about her."
"We need to be able to call her something else," Jonathan said.
"Until she's conscious and can say her own name, I fear we do not know. I made some inquiries to see if anyone knew of newcomers to town but got nowhere," the woman said, and Kat was assuming this had to be Eleanor Augustine, but she still couldn't see a face from her position. "But while you are in town, collect these – they are ingredients for the medicines I am giving her. As much of each as you can. If it snows too much, I fear we will be blocked from town."
"Will do," Jonathan said, taking the list and then getting on his horse, which was connected to a carriage. He rode off and Eleanor closed the door.
"Come on…" Kat said to Fynn, knowing she had a limited chance here as she approached the house. Fynn followed her calmly; the house wasn't exactly what they had currently, but it was bigger than what she'd known in 1816 – it has been extended, for sure, in the past 60 or so years since her visits. Kat looked through the window, but didn't see Eleanor just beyond the door so opened it, letting her and Fynn in.
The house was empty as Kat quietly went through it; going up the stairs, she grabbed Fynn again and ducked into a room when she saw Eleanor leave another room. Kat was curious how she looked, but stayed hidden, not wanting Eleanor to see her so she only got a glimpse of her from the back.
Kat release Fynn and the dog ran into the door Eleanor just left. Kat following him to see he jumped up onto the bed and made a small moan. There was a person on the bed and Kat knew who it was before she even approached – as she got closer she saw the face she had wanted to see for so long: Alice.
Her daughter was in the bed, laying on her side and her eyes were closed. She was covered in sweat.
Kat put a hand on her head to feel she was very hot. "Fever…" Kat said, remembering Alice's letter. How after the attack, something had gotten infected and she spent the next few days with a fever. She realized that the pond didn't just bring her to Alice, as Alice had barely been gone. It must have only been a few days from Alice's perspective. Kat sat on the chair on the side of the bed as she moved some hair out of Alice's face.
Kat moved some of the covers off of her – she had to see what had been done to her daughter. Alice was in a nightgown that was easy to move, and there were bandages on her. Kat noticed Eleanor must have been applying more medicine to the wounds.
"Oh, my poor girl," Kat whispered. She understood why they had Alice laying on her side, as putting her on her back would probably hurt too much. Part of her really wanted to get Nick and let him find the men who did this to kill them. "My poor baby…"
"Mom…?" The familiar voice said lowly. Kat hadn't realized Alice had opened her eyes. Kat pushing the nightgown back over Alice and put the covers up. "Mom?" It was a little louder and Kat thought if she continued it would draw Eleanor here, which is not what Kat wanted.
"I'm here," Kat said putting a hand on Alice's cheek. "Hey there, kiddo."
"Mom, I'm so sorry," Alice said, confusing Kat.
"Sorry? For what, sweetie?" Kat asked, rubbing Alice's head.
"I didn't fight. I let them. I… I just let them," Alcie said, and tears were coming to her eyes.
"No, no," Kat said, bringing Alice closer to her and rocking her silently. "No baby. None of that is your fault. You couldn't fight back even if you tried. It would have been worse..." Alice cried as Kat held her.
"Take me home. Take me to the pond," Alice whispered, and Kat wanted more than anything to do this, but her eyes went to Alice's stomach. The original Katherine Landry was being formed already and Alice needed to stay. She needed to have Brandon and the others. The pond wouldn't take Alice anywhere.
"I can't," Kat said.
"Please," Alice said.
"I can't take you home because you are home," Kat said to Alice, and Kat didn't notice the shadow in the doorway. "Baby, listen to me. I know this doesn't feel like home, but it will be. You will be happy here. You will be loved and live a good life, but… that life won't include me anymore," Alice gave a soft cry, something that Kat held back as she said it. "I'm sorry baby, but we're going our separate ways. I want you to be strong and brave, though, and know I love you. We'll never be truly separate because you will exist in my heart and I exist in yours," Kat remembered her and Thomas talking about carrying a piece of each other. "We'll carry that piece of each other forever – and you always remember I love you, my precious baby girl."
Kat could see Alice was about to drift off again and Kat knew Alice would never remember this was real. She had said it in the letter – she had hallucinated Kat, but now Kat knew she hadn't. And what Kat had just said would help her. Help her adjust to her life here. She knew it would exist in her.
"Rest now, you need your strength," Kat said, placing Alice down and covering her, a song coming to her head as she began to softly sing: "Love your eyes how they give me a reason. How they change in the light. Don't you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life." Kat had to sing the song to Alice one last time, to lure her into a pleasant sleep. "You're the reason this garden is growing. You keep us calm through the night. And you shine like a passage on the water in the moonlight. In your eyes there's a horizon where I can find my way back home. and you know when I find it then you'll never be alone. Love your eyes how they give me a reason how they change in the light. Don't you know your everything I wanted in my whole life…"
Kat saw Alice was back to sleep and Kat kissed the top of her head. "Goodbye, my baby," Kat whispered getting up, holding back tears, and turning towards the door but paused when she saw the woman standing there.
Kat knew instantly this was Eleanor Augustine.
"Good to know music can calm her," Eleanor said. "The White Witch, I presume?"
Kat knew the cloak of white is probably why she said it, but she was right. "Eleanor Augustine," Kat said back.
"You really are magic. We have never met but you know my name," Eleanor said.
"You look so much like Susanna…" Kat said back to that, and she could see the resemblance between the two – both had dark hair, the same color eyes, the same shape of face and body.
"I have been told that before. I was a very small child when she passed," Eleanor said. "Your daughter…?" Eleanor nodded towards Alice. Fynn was still laying on the bottom of the bed.
"Yes," Kat said.
"But you are not taking her?" Eleanor said.
"I can't," Kat said. "We witches… we have rules. I have read her letter."
"Her letter?" Eleanor asked.
"She hasn't written it yet," Kat said, and was surprised as Eleanor merely nodded, not questioning the information. Kat wondered how much Susanna had told her family. "But I know her destiny and I can't change it, no matter how much I want to. But I needed to say goodbye, to see her again. She can never know I was really here though. It will be harder for her to adjust if she knows I came and left her."
"Then this will be our secret," Eleanor said. "You should go."
Kat nodded, moving passed the bed, away from Alice as Eleanor moved towards her.
"Eleanor?" Kat said, making the woman pause as she turned around to face Kat. "I taught her to be strong. I taught her so much about life. But she doesn't know how to be a woman of this time. She needs someone to guide her, someone to teach her and show her… She needs a friend. I have asked so much of your family over so many timelines. I feel terrible for asking it again, but she needs you to be that person. Please, watch over her."
"You meant so much to my grandmother. Whatever she gave you, she did it willingly," Eleanor said. "As I will take care of her willingly. She shall be my sister in all but blood. I will watch out for her as if she was my own kin. You have my word."
"Thank you," Kat said, "and Susanna means a lot to me. When I see her again," Kat had no doubt she would one day see Susanna again, "I will tell her she has a wonderful granddaughter."
"Thank you," Eleanor said once again, not questioning how Kat would see someone who was dead. "White Witch?" This time Eleanor stopped Kat from leaving. "You say she will be happy here..."
"She will," Kat said, knowing that as fact. Anything she found since of Alice's life in this time showed she lived a good and happy life.
"Then find a way to be happy without her in your own world. Do it for her, because a daughter wants their mother to be happy as much as a mother wants their daughter to be," Eleanor said.
"I will," Kat said, giving a nod.
"I am curious," Eleanor stated, before Kat could move. Kat paused. "It was rumored my grandmother and the White Witch were lovers…"
"It is?" Kat paused, not sure whether to smile now, or not.
"Indeed. I never got the chance to ask her myself, as I was too young when she died, but you are here," Eleanor pointed out.
"You want to know?" Kat asked, frowning. "Well, there is a time and a place to learn this and, well, this is neither," Kat stated, glancing back to her daughter in the room beyond.
"Very well," Eleanor didn't protest as Kat finally began to move. "But, White Witch, do not forget your dog," Eleanor said and Kat now chuckled, realizing the dog was still on the bed.
"Fynn!" Kat called, but the dog didn't move. "Fynn…?" Kat paused. "Fynn followed me into the pond," Kat remembered. Alice said she had Fynn! Kat walked over to the dog and took the collar off him. She gave him a pet. "Take care of our girl, Fynn."
"…or you leave the dog here," Eleanor chuckled, understanding what Kat was doing. Kat gave Eleanor a nod and left down the stairs. Eleanor went to the window and watched as Kat ran through the fields until she was out of sight.
Eleanor turned to Alice, taking a seat beside her and taking a rag to clean the sweat off her head. "You are lucky. Your mother loves you very much. It takes a lot to let someone you love that much go for their own happiness," Eleanor whispered, knowing Alice would not remember the words.
She stayed in the room with Alice, talking to her and taking care of her until she heard the door open.
"Eleanor?" Jonathan called out.
"I'm with her!" Eleanor called, back and heard Jonathan head up to the room.
"I got everything on your list and supplies needed," Jonathan said, and then paused. "Where did the dog come from?"
"Arrived not long after you left. Ran into the house and right here. Won't leave her. I think he belongs to her," Eleanor said, not mentioning the White Witch at all.
"Well, at least someone came looking for her…" Jonathan said, petting the dog as he looked at Alice. "I can't believe someone so young and beautiful has no one coming for her."
Eleanor looked at the look in Jonathan eyes and gave a small smile. She understood now what the destiny was.
"Trust me, someone out there loves her very much," Eleanor said. "Let me go make sure you got the right ingredients." Eleanor got up, leaving Jonathan there with Fynn and Alice.
-The Way Home-
-2026-
Kat swam to the rocks back in her time and climbed up it, resting on the rocks for a moment. The hood of her cloak was over her head, still, and she was looking down as she heard the familiar voice of Rita.
"…now legends from the time say the White Witch used this pond –" Rita stopped as they came up and people saw Kat there and they screamed.
"What are you doing here?!," Kat yelled making them scream more until she got up and put the hood down.
"Kat, what are you doing?" Rita asked.
"This is Landry land," Kat said to that. "What I am doing doesn't matter. Get your tour off my land!"
"Del said I could use the land if needed back when I first made the tour," Rita responded.
"That was two years ago! Have you asked again?" Kat snapped, and Rita paused. "Didn't think so. Get off our land and if I see anyone come near this pond again, I will call the police on trespassers."
"I will talk to Del," Rita said, but directed her group away from the pond. Kat watched them for a moment until she saw them heading out of her family land. She then headed for the house.
-The Way Home-
Ever since Kat had left, it had slowly dawned on the others that she had gone missing, too, and the search was on to find her.
"Well, she's not in the cellar," Del said as she came up to the kitchen, surprised to not find her daughter there. "Elliot? Any idea?"
"Kat and I haven't really been anything for months," Elliot said back to Del; whatever relationship he and Kat had had, seemed to deflate and disappear since Alice. Kat hadn't even wanted to talk about his mom, which he had tried to get Kat distracted with.
"I can go…" Jacob didn't finish as the door opened and Kat came in. She was wet and wearing the white robes Nick had gifted her. Elliot and Del shared a look at this.
"Katherine…" Del began.
"Did you give Rita permission to use our land for her tour?" Kat asked in a loud voice.
"Years ago," Del said, frowning now.
"They saw me coming out of the pond," Kat stated.
"I'll take care of it," Del said, knowing she had to tell Rita she wasn't allowed to use their land anymore, although wondering how this would affect the White Witch tour.
"You've been in the pond," Jacob spoke now. "Where did you go?"
"1874," Kat said softly.
"You saw her?" Elliot asked.
"I saw her," Kat said, giving a small smile. "She'd been there for a day or two, three at the most. She was so sick. She never remembered I was really there and thought I was just a dream. But I got to talk to her, I got to hold her and sing to her one more time."
"Her letter. It made her feel safe and loved," Elliot said. "You gave her the strength to live through it all."
"And I got to say goodbye," Kat said, tears in her eye.
"Which is exactly what you needed. The pond gave Alice what she needed and you what you needed," Del said, put a hand on Kat's shoulder.
"Oh, and mom, I'm sorry," Kat said, and Del looked confused as Kat put the collar she was holding on the table. "I left Fynn with her."
"Of course," Elliot mumbled; Alice saying Fynn was with her when he had been with them.
"Fynn was my companion when I had no one," Del said. "But I have you back Kat and Jacob has returned. Alice needs him more. Come, dinner is ready. Sit and tell us all about your trip to the past."
"I'm not hungry," Kat said. "Maybe later." Kat stated, and then went up the stairs to her room.
Once upstairs, Kat's hand went to Alice's guitar. She hadn't packed up any of Alice's stuff yet, but she knew she had to. She didn't want to tell the others she had spoken to Eleanor, but Eleanor's words spoke to her: "Find a way to be happy..." An idea formed and Kat took out her computer. Alice wrote a letter to say goodbye, while Kat had gone to see her, yet writing was Kat's passion and there was a story to tell.
-The Way Home-
-A Month Later-
The family was gathering in Landry farm, this time upon Kat's request.
"Did Kat say what she wanted us all here for?" Jacob asked as he came to the table and took his normal seat. Elliot came into the house as well but shrugged at Jacob's question.
"She seemed excited when I spoke to her," Nick voiced, having been invited as well, obviously.
"Well, what do I know? After seeing Alice I thought she would be fine, but she's been more isolated," Del said. "Always doing something with her computer and the archives."
"Which I am explaining now," the four hadn't noticed Kat come to them. In her arms were three big stacks of paper. "Sit," everyone took their normal seats and Kat put one in front of all of them.
"Landry Farm?" Del read off the cover. "What is this, Katherine?"
"I wrote a book," Kat said, and noticed the surprised look. "It's about our family – about five different time periods. The tragedies that happened and the people who showed up to make it better. And about the love."
"Five time periods?" Del asked.
"The late 1700s to early 1800s, 1874, 1974, 1999 to early 2000s, and current time," Kat said.
"What are you going to use as proof…?" Elliot asked.
"The almanac with the story of Jacob, and I managed to find some mention of Jacobs in the things Evelyn left to the archives; enough I can use them and family legends to tell Jacob's story – obviously with no time traveling. Alice's letter. I made a copy of it for us and, with the original made it look like age erased things no one else can see. There's enough we can show the world to tell her story plus all the research I did into her life. After that, I can use stories dad and mom told for 1974 and the rest is my personal experience," Kat said.
"And you are showing us this?" Jacob asked.
"You've already got a book deal, haven't you?" Nick asked, a smirk on his face.
"Yeah," Kat said. "The same publisher who helped me republish Susanna's book is interested. They are offering me a big advance. They think this story can be big, but I won't accept it if all of you are not on board. This is as much your story as it is mine."
"It's not really mine…" Nick frowned.
"You're as much part of the family as Elliot," Del stated before Kat could.
"Sweet," Nick smiled at that.
"Although you need to share with Elliot," Kat pointed out, having only three copies, not four. Nick and Elliot both nodded at that, but the group was silent after.
"I need to give an answer soon, so please read it and let me know," Kat backed away and moved off, leaving them alone.
-The Way Home-
Kat was in the cellar, looking over her research when Jacob found her.
"You still doing this?" Jacob asked, pointing at the board.
"I'm not going to let it get obsessive, but I still want to know," Kat said, seeing Jacob had the book on him. "Have you started?"
"I finished," Jacob said.
"Really?" Kat asked.
"My father and Susanna would be proud. They always wanted me to read more but I was never fond of it," Jacob said, and Kat could picture that. "But this… I couldn't put it down. I love it, Kat."
"You did?" Kat asked.
"I did," Jacob said turning the page to start to read a passage: "As for whatever happened to the original Jacob Landry, the boy who appeared out of nowhere, stopping Elijah and Rebecca from leaving the town – the boy responsible for our family legacy here in Port Haven. From documents left to the Port Haven Archives from one Evelyn Goodwin, we know he worked on the Port Haven Lighthouse, and was the designer on it. And we know Cyrus Goodwin hired him to deliver a ship to the British during the War of 1812. After that, it is unknown. There is no record of him ever coming back to Port Haven from delivering the ship, but there is an old family myth: Jacob was working with an infamous rum smuggler named Thomas Coyle.
"There are records of Thomas Coyle coming into Port Haven on a ship on the first day of harvest in 1814, but other records show him in the town," Jacob continued reading aloud. "Was the one who came on the ship really Jacob? After, there are no more records. Thomas Coyle is listed as being executed by the British in 1814 but other records show him alive and well afterward. Was the Thomas Coyle executed really Jacob Landry? Or did Jacob escape using Thomas's name? We may never know these answers, but I prefer an old family legend. My family always said during the time Jacob was away a woman appeared looking for her long lost brother. When Jacob came back and was wanted by the British, it is said his sister whisked him away from danger and back to the people and family who waited so long for him. Some even claim this sister as the original White Witch of the town."
Jacob stopped his reading. "I love the way you did this," Jacob said. "So much heart as you tell the real story. My father and mother, Susanna, and Thomas. You have my permission Kat. Use my story."
"Thank you," Kat said, giving her brother a smile.
"I hope this does bring you peace, Kat," Jacob said and moved off as Kat gave a small smile.
-The Way Home-
Kat was in The Herald, working. Since Alice's disappearance, she had let her job go to the wayside a bit. She got a lot of understanding as to why, but she knew she had to continue.
She heard the door open and saw Elliot; he had Kat's manuscript under his arm.
"You finished?" Kat asked.
"Between grading papers, setting up classes and trying to get this off Nick," Elliot chuckled, taking a seat. He opened the book himself, and Kat figured like Jacob Elliot was about to read a section. "I left town that day in 2007 and only came back once, in 2008 to try to reconnect with my mom, but she wasn't there. After that, I didn't think about Port Haven for years. My concentrate was on my daughter who I named after my long lost friend, Alice. As for my friend Alice, Elliot told me after Lingermore she never returned to Port Haven again. Over the years, Alice has felt more like an energy to me than a real person. Looking back, I wonder if my friend Alice was herself related to Alice Landry? To one of the other four kids who grew up and had families of their own. When her family was falling apart, did she come to the farm looking for something and found us? I might never know but Alice changed my life that summer. I don't know if I would have gotten through losing Jacob and my dad without her."
"I decided to give them some type of plausible explanation on why there is more than one Alice in the story that's not time travel," Kat said, smiling at the sentence herself.
"It's well written," Elliot said. "And this book. It shows a friendship between our families through so many generations. Susanna to Elijah and Jacob. Eleanor to Alice. Rick with Colton. Me and you."
"Our families will always be friends," Kat said.
"The way you talk about Thomas and Brady in this book… the passion and the love. It's not the same as you talk about me," Elliot said and Kat gave a nod. As she was writing she knew she didn't love Elliot the way she does Thomas or the way she did Brady. "We'll always be friends."
"Of course," Kat said.
"Nick loves it. And I do too. Take the deal Kat. This is beautifully written and Alice's story deserves to be told," Elliot said, giving Kat a smile.
-The Way Home-
Kat found her mother sitting at the table with the manuscript in front of her when she got home.
"Did you finish it?" Kat asked.
"I did," Del said. Kat knew her mother would be the hardest to say yes. She had been opposed to Kat writing about Jacob's disappearance for years, after all. "You changed Alice's name for 1974."
"Well four Alice's in the story seemed like too much. And the only one who can confirm or deny it is you," Kat said.
"You know I have been against you telling Jacob's story in the past," Del said, and Kat waited. "But Jacob home. And it's your baby who is missing now, not mine. This was written so beautifully. If this is what you need, I give you my permission. Tell our stories."
"Thank you, mom," Kat said.
"And Kat, you are a good writer," Del said, giving her daughter a smile.
"You really liked it?" Kat asked.
"Every part was well done," Del said, and opened a page she had bookmarked. "That summer was a love story for my father and mother, but not everyone got a happy ending. Evelyn Goodwin left town and rarely returned, her friendship with my dad was never the same. As for my dad summer friend, Lisie, the one who came in and helped dad and Evelyn through Rick's death, dad never saw her again. He always said she was one of the summer folk. Easy in and easy out to never return. He always wondered what happened to her though, and was thankful for that one summer of their life. The summer that gave him his dream."
Kat waited as Del closed the page. "I love it. You told my love story but didn't ignore everything else. It's as I remember but also extra," Del said, closing the page. "Good luck."
Del got up, leaving Kat with the manuscript.
She opened it to the last page. The page everyone had ignored.
This book doesn't end in happily ever after, Kat read off the page. Our Jacob Landry has returned but we missed 24 years with him. My friend Alice is still nowhere to be found and now my own daughter, Alice, has disappeared with no trace. While overall this was a story of tragedy and love and the people who came and disappeared just as easily, Landry Farm has provided for my family for generations. Through all the ups and downs and it will continue to do so for generations to come.
Kat turned then to the dedication: For my daughter Alice, find your way home.
Notes:
Post Chapter Note 1: This was a different take to the first two chapters, but as I mentioned earlier, this continuation wasn't originally going to happen but then my co-writer, Sigma, pointed out that Alice's hallucination could have actually been Kat going to see Alice and I decided I loved it, then I decided to give Fynn to Alice since the show seemed to have forgotten the dog anyway. If you're expecting more, this is it for this story, but expect more random The Way Home stories from myself in the coming weeks.
Post Chapter Note 2: so this was only supposed to be 2 chapters originally and then got expanded into 3 but thanks to a lovely reviewer an idea got sparked last night that me and my co writer have plotted so there will be a 4th chapter eventually, but I have several other The Way Home stories already written to post first.
whatifweaver on Chapter 1 Sun 17 Aug 2025 01:52PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 1 Sun 17 Aug 2025 02:15PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 1 Sun 17 Aug 2025 03:12PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 1 Sun 17 Aug 2025 03:16PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 1 Mon 18 Aug 2025 05:05PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 1 Mon 18 Aug 2025 05:31PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 2 Sun 24 Aug 2025 01:23PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 2 Sun 24 Aug 2025 01:40PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 10:02AM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 11:21AM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 01:52PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 04:05PM UTC
Last Edited Mon 25 Aug 2025 04:05PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 09:17PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 2 Mon 25 Aug 2025 10:04PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 2 Wed 27 Aug 2025 07:36PM UTC
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Jashcraft (Guest) on Chapter 2 Sun 31 Aug 2025 01:10AM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 3 Tue 02 Sep 2025 06:40PM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 3 Tue 02 Sep 2025 07:58PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 02 Sep 2025 08:54PM UTC
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whatifweaver on Chapter 3 Wed 03 Sep 2025 03:56AM UTC
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KarryMaster on Chapter 3 Wed 03 Sep 2025 11:18AM UTC
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