Timeless (20 page)

“How
dare
you do something so unforgivable, and without even consulting us!” came an enraged voice that Michele recognized as Philip’s uncle’s.

“With all due respect, sir, you are not my father,” Philip retorted.

“You may think nothing of my wishes, but to completely disobey your own mother? What kind of a son are you?”

Michele angrily balled her hands into fists as she listened outside the door. If only Philip’s uncle could see her … She would have loved nothing more than to barge in there and tell him off.

“Mother, I do apologize if this causes you any pain. But marrying Violet would have been a lie,” Philip entreated. “I can’t stand up in a church and lie, and I cannot commit myself to a fraudulent life. Can you really not understand that?”

“I understand that you do not know your duty to this family,” a woman’s chilly voice spoke up.
Philip’s mom
, Michele
realized. “You know that this scandal could be damaging for the family business, yet you acted of your own accord anyhow.”

“Mother, you really think my breaking off with Violet affects the real estate market?” Philip replied, with an incredulous laugh.

“Ah, but your boy has no regard for the family business. In fact, today’s
Town Topics
hinted that he plans to attend music school next fall,” Philip’s uncle spat.
“Music
school, not Harvard. Is that true, Philip?”

There was a shocked silence. Michele squeezed her eyes shut, in agony for Philip.

“Yes. It is true,” Philip admitted. “Mother, I’m sorry if I am not what you expected of your son. But the Institute of Musical Art is the finest conservatory in the country, the hardest to get accepted into, and after hearing me play, they offered me a spot. I have to follow this opportunity. I
am
gifted, Mother, and music is what I am born to do. Please, let me have your blessing on this.”

“You are not my son.” Mrs. Walker said the words so sharply, Michele drew back as if she had been slapped.
“My
son made a promise to marry Violet Windsor. My son is due to start work at the Walker Company this summer. If you want to be my son, this is what you must do.”

There was another long silence, and Michele held her breath. When Philip finally spoke, his voice sounded heavy, but brave. “Very well. If your regard for me is so conditional that it rests solely on whom I marry and what I do for a living, then you clearly don’t love me. And I don’t wish to have a mother who can’t love her own son. I’ll settle my affairs and be out of
this house by graduation. You won’t have to see me again after that.”

With that, Philip swung open the door—nearly colliding with Michele. He looked weary and beaten, but his eyes still warmed at the sight of her. She took his hand and followed as he led her upstairs to his room. It was a spacious bedroom in the Empire style, with wood trim and mahogany furniture. Dark maroon curtains hung above his bed, and opposite was a striking desk in the Louis XIV style, made of gilded mahogany. Her first time in Philip’s bedroom should have given her a thrill, but Michele was too sickened by all she had just seen and heard.

Once the door was closed behind them, Philip sank dazedly onto his bed. Michele sat beside him.

“Did you hear everything?” he asked dully.

Michele nodded. “And I also … I saw what happened with Violet. I was on the third floor. I got there in the—the middle of it.”

Philip winced. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Philip, I can’t stand this,” Michele burst out. “I can’t stand watching your life go up in flames because of me when I don’t—I don’t have anything to offer you instead.”

Philip looked at her, clearly astounded. “What do you mean, you don’t have anything to offer me? Since my father died, you’re the only person in this whole world who has brought any happiness to my life.”

“But I’m not
real
in your world. Violet is real. She can give you an actual family and a home—” Michele broke off, suddenly in tears. “You have to marry her.”

Philip pulled her face toward his. “Look at me. You are real
for me
, and that’s what matters,” he said intently. “Do you think I could ever be happy married to Violet, knowing you’re out there, somewhere in time? And besides, I know I’m not the one she really wants. She wants a businessman, like my father, like her father. She’s embarrassed by my music. She doesn’t really want
me
.”

Michele looked up at him tearfully. She wanted so badly to believe him, to believe that her involvement in the past wasn’t wrecking everything.

“I really ought to thank you,” he said quietly. “If it weren’t for you, perhaps I wouldn’t have had the courage to go after what I really want in life. I know I can make my mark on this world, and not because of my last name—but because of my own talent.”

Michele smiled through her tears. “I know you will. And, Philip?” Her smile faded as she took his hand. “I’m so sorry … about your mom and uncle.”

Philip looked straight ahead, his expression dark. “I hate them.”

“You don’t—you don’t really mean that,” Michele said awkwardly.

“Of course I do,” he said harshly. When he looked back at Michele, his eyes were pained. “I’ve always despised my uncle. He’s a vile opportunist who made no secret of his delight at being head of the house when Father died. But I tried to love my mother. I
wanted
to love her. How could I, though, when I saw the way she hurt my father?”

“What?” Michele stared at Philip. “What are you talking about?”

“I watched her as she made Father miserable during those last years of their marriage—and I was powerless to stop it,” Philip burst out, his voice breaking. “He was always infatuated with her, but it was clear she didn’t feel the same way, that she had married him out of duty rather than love. Her flirtations with other men broke his heart. And even when he had the stroke, she couldn’t show the love that a wife should. Maybe if she had, Father would have rallied. I’ll never forgive her for it.”

“Philip … I’m so sorry,” Michele whispered. She wrapped her arm around him.

“They want to control and ruin my life the way they did his, but they won’t,” Philip said determinedly. “I’ll be stronger and I’ll fight back, starting by leaving here.”

Michele nodded. “I know. You’re doing the right thing.”

“I’ll never forget the day when Irving Henry—Father’s lawyer—came to read the will,” Philip began, but Michele’s shocked expression caused him to break off midsentence. “What is it?”

“Irving Henry,” Michele repeated, feeling a chill run up her spine. “That’s my father’s name, only backwards.”

“That is an odd coincidence,” Philip agreed.

Michele nodded, trying to take in this new information. “But go on. What were you saying?”

“When Mr. Henry came to read the will, he and I both knew then that Uncle had won,” Philip continued. “You see, when my grandfather died, his will stipulated that his eldest son, my father, should inherit the majority of the wealth—but if Father died before my thirtieth birthday, then Uncle would have it all. My inheritance is in a trust, which I’m to receive in
two parts, when I turn twenty-one and then when I turn thirty. Meanwhile, Father left this house to Mother and she knows Uncle controls the finances now, so she invited him to live here and sucks up to him like a leech, hoping he’ll continue providing for her in the same manner Father did. I’m just a pawn in their game—marry Violet Windsor and add to the family fortune through her dowry and marriage settlement.” Philip shook his head in disgust. “I won’t play their game anymore, and I’m sickened that I did for so long. I’d gladly forfeit my inheritance now, just to know I’m not like them.”

Michele touched Philip’s cheek. “Listen to me. You are nothing like them.
Nothing
. You couldn’t be. I told you—you’re ahead of your time.”

Philip managed a laugh. “And you’re behind your time, here in the past. No wonder we’re a … a perfect fit.” He leaned in to kiss her. Michele closed her eyes, as the feel of his lips against hers never failed to send sparks throughout her whole body. She loved the way his kisses were both tender and urgent, the way he traced every inch of her mouth with his lips as he cradled her in his arms. She felt safe and protected in his arms, yet she had the same excitement and butterflies that came with taking a great leap.

When they had broken apart, Philip said quietly, “Father was proud of my music. I know he would have supported my decision. He was the only true family I ever had. I miss him every day.”

Michele nodded sadly. “I know. I miss my mom constantly too. It’s like there’s always this hole in me—but remember what you said? You’re my family now, and I’m yours.”

Philip looked at her for a long moment. “I love you, Michele Windsor.”

Michele sucked in her breath. “You do?”

Philip nodded, smiling at her. “You know I do.”

“I love you back,” she whispered. And suddenly his arms were holding her tight and they were kissing passionately. Barely able to control her thoughts, Michele fell back onto the bed, pulling him down on top of her. She wanted to feel his weight on her, to run her hands through his hair and down his back. He was all she had in the world, and it felt like she couldn’t get close enough to him. And then he was kissing her neck, his hands exploring her, as she started to unbutton his shirt—

Philip suddenly rolled off her and sat up abruptly. “I’m sorry,” he said, flushing as he tried to catch his breath. “I shouldn’t have—”

“What do you mean?” Michele asked, hurt. “You don’t … want to?”

“Of course I do,” he said, laughing in surprise at her question. “But we’re not married.”

That was when Michele remembered: in 1910 anything beyond a kiss before marriage was considered scandalous.

“But we’re together, aren’t we? That’s all that matters to me,” Michele said softly.

Philip tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Michele, I want you more than you can imagine. But to … 
have
you … before we’re married is disrespectful and dishonorable. I can’t do that to you.”

Michele tried to imagine a teenage guy in 2010 saying those
words to her, and she couldn’t help chuckling. Time had definitely changed things a lot in this department.

“Okay. If that’s what you want. But how could we ever get married when I don’t exist in your time? I hate that there are all these normal things we can’t do or have together.” She bit her lip anxiously. “And … I’m scared, Philip. I still don’t have total control over my time traveling. What if I … What if I can’t always get to you? Especially with you leaving home, how will I find you?”

“I promise you that I’ll never go so far where you can’t find me,” Philip said seriously. “I’ll still be here in New York, attending music conservatory. And even though Time may have made a mistake by placing us in different centuries, we still found each other—we’re together now. So I have to trust in Time. Don’t you agree?”

Michele gazed at him. “When you talk about it, I feel … like it makes some sort of sense.”

Philip grinned and wrapped his arm around her. “Good. Now let’s try not to worry anymore today, not about anything. Let’s just be here, together.”

Michele smiled and snuggled into him. “Sounds like a plan.”

That Saturday, Michele woke up to a text message from Caissie.
Are you free today? Need to talk to you. Want to meet at Burger Heaven for lunch?

Michele raised her eyebrows, wondering what this could be about.
Sure, see you there
, she typed back.
Let’s say noon
.

As she walked the several blocks to the diner, breathing in
the cool autumn breeze, she marveled over how much her life had changed since she’d arrived in New York a month earlier. She had been sure that her life was ending then—but now, with Philip, Michele realized that it had actually been the beginning of a destiny she was meant to fulfill.
If only Mom were still with me
, Michele thought wistfully. She ached to talk to her, to tell her all about Philip, to hear her reaction, see her smile.

Michele arrived to find Caissie already seated at a booth in the back of the diner, her head buried in a scientific-looking book with a picture of Albert Einstein on the cover.

“Hey, girl,” Michele greeted her. “Did I miss the memo that we’re studying for something today?”

“Hey.” Caissie grinned. “You’ll see in a sec why I brought this. But let’s order first. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

Once they had ordered, Caissie placed her Einstein book between them on the table so that they were both staring at his black-and-white wrinkled face.

“Okay, please explain why you brought Albert to lunch,” Michele said as the waiter brought their drinks to the table. “Science is totally not my subject, FYI.”

“Well, lucky for you, it’s mine.” Caissie took a sip of her soda and then continued. “Okay, so I have to admit that even though you did have a little evidence of your time traveling that night, and even though I got caught up in your story, after you left, I told myself that there was no way you had actually gone back to 1910. You
had
to be delusional.”