Why She Married Luke

Finally, her uncle had agreed to let her be the one, the one to go through the door. He had brought her up to be strong and adventurous, but he was also protective. She had lost her parents young. He had always been there for her, before and since the accident, but he was busy, more like obsessed, with his work; her Uncle Frederic, the crazy scientist. That's what her best friend, Trudy, called him. He was conducting a study on subtle changes to the environment and needed a traveler to go one month into the future to take photographs of a particular area of Bleecker Street. She finally convinced him to let that traveler be his niece.

You know the Drill.

Yes.

Tell me the Drill.

I don't even glance at a newspaper. I don't look at TV or listen to the radio. I say nothing to anyone but Hi. I do not do or say anything that could alter any future events.

That night in bed, she and Luke discussed their own plan. Her Uncle would be sure to check her purse beforehand to make certain that she didn't carry any items that would upset the Portal. Her first stop would have to be the drugstore to buy a notebook and pen, and the newspaper, of course. This was all far too important to rely upon memory. After, she would hurry over to Bleecker Street to complete her assignment, and then back to the portal.

She hugged Luke ecstatically. No more junior accountant for you. No more continuous college and working at Frederick's lab for me. It's painting for me and music for you. And, a nice house and nice cars, and no more worries.

A wedding in the Park?

His eyes were brighter than any star in the sky, and she wanted to say YES, God, YES, but the answer stuck in her throat.

The next morning, Frederick gazed deeply into her niece's green-gray eyes and asked her if she was quite sure.

Totally. She picked up the camera from the diminutive steel chair with wooden seat near the window in her office and followed him to the lab.

It was overwhelming, dizzying. What in the world was that smell; a smoky, acrid odor. She looked to the sky. No smoke. Then, she noticed the decor. Wow, she thought, is this a holiday? Why are there so many flags being displayed. But, no time to observe further or ponder. She was on a mission, to get to the drugstore as quickly as possible.

There were only a few shoppers inside, plus a slow moving employee stocking cosmetic shelves. I need a notebook, she exclaimed in what could only be described as a nervous, breathless voice.

A young woman with bright red hair looked up. What kind?

Any kind.

There's a little back one in front, by the candy bars.

I'll take it And, a pen. And, the local paper.

She was handed a plastic package containing three pens. The newspapers are over there.

How much? I'm in a hurry.

She was treated to a slow, bored response. $12.65.

She was determined to obey most of her Uncle's directives and not even glance at the headline, but it took her by storm. She stared at it She couldn't take her eyes of of it. She started to read the accompanying story, but then shook herself back to the present. No. She had spoken the word out aloud. The clerk glanced over. She headed to the door with her purchases, found a bench to sit on not far from the store and eyed the newspaper again, but this time, she ignored the front page and opened it up to the second page, concentrating on a section at the very bottom. With trembling hands, she tore open the plastic container that held the pens and wrote the number down in the little black notebook. She then tossed the newspaper and pens into a nearby trash barrel and walked briskly over to the specified section of Bleecker Street. She snapped 12 photographs and was back at the portal in plenty of time.

Her uncle was sweating with worry. How did it go.

Fine. No issues. Her voice came out hoarse and breathless again. She handed over the camera. The little black notebook remained in her purse.

It can be overwhelming, he was concerned, and curious.

It was difficult to hold back the tears.

I'll take you home.

That night in bed, she and Luke mulled over the details, such as when to buy the ticket. Three days before the drawing, he thought.

Right, she said, but her thoughts were far away in future headlines.

She didn't tell him about that headline.

She didn't tell her uncle.

She didn't tell anybody.

She waited.

She called her uncle at 6:00 A.M. that Tuesday morning.

I can't come in to work today.

Why not, he was in a grumpy state. He didn't like being awakened out of a sound and restful sleep.

She hesitated. It's that time of the month. I'm in a bad way. I'm not up to it.

Okay, he said, more gently.

He called her at 9:30. Turn on the TV.

Luke called at 9:45. Turn on the TV.

Trudy called just before 10:00. Turn on the TV.

She didn't turn on the TV all day. Instead, she cleaned the apartment from top to bottom. Luke showed up around 4:00. She was organizing the kitchen cabinets.

I left early He kissed her hard and then rushed to the living room to switch on the TV. But, he quickly retraced his steps, his right arm stretched out, bearing a precious gift. Oh, I have the paper. I think, and maybe I'm wrong, but I think that you had one number wrong.

What??? She grabbed the newspaper from him. Oh, My!!! Reading that headline had rattled her to the core. She had actually written down an incorrect number.

Oh, my God, instead of 20 million, they would only receive a mere 20 thousand. She shared the bad news with Luke.

Enough for a down payment on a house. He was unconcerned and turned back to the TV to take in the devastating images of that day. Luke's reaction to her costly mistake is why she agreed later that night to marry him.