Time and Again

hand as she sat on the sofa beside him. "If you don't, you'll hurt Daddy's feelings."
    "Of course." He glanced up at William again and caught his narrowed-eyed, speculative look.
    The phone in William's back pocket rang. He ignored it. Recognizing the gleam in her father's eye and wanting to delay the questions for the time being, Sunny dropped the banana peel in his hand. "I'd just love some, Daddy. How about Oriental Ecstasy?"
    "Fine. I'll take care of it."
    He disappeared through a doorway, the phone still shrilling in his pocket Sunny chuckled and put her hand on Jacob's again. "I suppose I should warn you-" She tilted her head, curious. Jacob was gawking-she couldn't think of another word for his expression-at one of her mother's wall hangings. "J.T.? Would you like to tune in?"
    "Yes. What?"
    "I was going to warn you, my father's nosy. He'll ask you all kinds of questions, most of them personal.
    He can't help it."
    "All right." He couldn't resist. Rising, he walked over to the rectangle of cloth and ran his fingers over the soft material and bleeding colors.
    "Beautiful, isn't it?"
    "Yes, it's very beautiful."
    She got up to stand beside him. "She's become a very well respected artist."
    Respected was a mild word for Caroline Stone. Her work was found behind glass in museums. It was studied and revered by art students throughout the settled universe. And he was here, running his fingers over an exquisite piece of it.
    "She used to sell blankets and things for grocery money."
    "That's a myth."
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "Nothing." He dropped his hand, shoved it into his pocket. For the first time since he had stepped off the ship he felt totally disoriented. These were people he had learned about from study disks. Historical figures. Yet he was here, in their home. He was in love with their daughter. How could he be in love with a woman who had lived, and died, centuries before he had been born?
    Panic. He tasted it. Turning, he gripped her arms. Reality, solid and warm. He was holding it in his hands. "Sunny."
    "What's wrong?" He was so pale, and his eyes were so dark. "What is it?"
    He just shook his head. There was nothing he could say. No words he knew to explain it. Instead, he brought his mouth down on hers and let her flavor chase away the fear.
    "I love you."
    "I know." Moved by the desperation in his voice, she lifted a hand to his cheek. The urge to soothe and ease was still new to her. "We'll both get used to it eventually."
    "Hello."
    They drew apart to see Caroline standing in the doorway. Her dark, straight hair skimmed her shoulders. Beaded columns swung at her ears. There was a small smile on her face, a quietly lovely face that was animated by large, amused eyes. She was wearing a baggy man's shirt, trim denim pants and beaded moccasins. In her arms she held a gurgling baby.
    "Mom." Sunny dashed across the room to hug both woman and child. She was taller than Caroline and had to bend slightly to give her the same enthusiastic kiss she had given her father. Laughing, she took the baby. Then, holding him above her head, she began to turn in a circle. "Hi, Sam! How's it going? Oh, you're getting so big!"
    "He has his sister's appetite," Caroline pointed out.
    Grinning, Sunny planted the giggling baby on her hip. "J.T., this is my mother, Caroline, and my brother, King Samuel."
    "J.T." Caroline's artist's eyes had already seen the resemblance and made the connection. "You must be Cal's brother."
    "Yes." The sense of unreality came back as she crossed the room. Rather than offering a hand, she kissed him.
    "We were hoping we'd finally meet some of Cal's family. He's very proud of you."
    "Is he?" A trace of resentment came through in his tone.
    Caroline noticed it, let it pass. "Yes. Did your parents make the trip with you?"
    "No. They weren't able to come."
    "Oh." The disappointment in her eyes was brief but sincere. "Well, I hope we can get together one day.
    Where's Will?" she asked Sunny.
    "Making tea."
    "Of course. Please, sit down. You're an astrophysicist?"
    "That's right." He settled back on the sofa, with Caroline Stone opposite him and Sunny on the floor with the baby.
    "J.T.'s into time travel at the moment."
    "Time travel?" Caroline smiled and crossed her slender legs. "Will'll go crazy. Though I think parallel universes are his current interest."
    "What happened to reincarnation?"
    "He's still a staunch disciple. He's convinced he was a member of the first Continental Congress."
    "Always the