Chapter Text
-April 2026-
Alice kissed Max, the boy reciprocating the kiss happily.
"Can't I come with you?" Max asked.
Now that everything from 1974 was over for Alice, she found she had to decide about her love life. It had taken time, but she had finally realized she needed to find out where things with Max were heading.
Thankfully, she no longer believed they were destined to be together. KC had confirmed she was not their mother, and Alice had already tried with Noah before, but somehow, one of them had always backed away. Noah was not the one.
Max, though, had been something new, and he had turned out to be the right choice. Even his father, Lewis, despite not the biggest fans of the Landrys, after Jacob nearly burned his field and they had threatened him with Susanna will had seen how happy Max was and approved of the relationship.
"Come with me? You want to go on a vacation with me, my dad, and his girlfriend?" Alice asked. They had a long weekend off school, and her dad had asked her to meet him and Rachel at a little vacation spot the man knew.
"Ah, good point," Max said. "Fine. Text me and we'll go out when you get back," with that, Max kissed Alice again before going to his car. Alice watched him leave.
After that, she went back into the house where her mom and grandmother were.
"Goodbyes done?" Kat asked with a smirk.
"With Max, yes," Alice said. "But you… I'll see you in a few days."
"You sure you are good to drive yourself all the way there?" Kat asked. Alice had passed her driving test a few months ago, with Brady having bought and sent over an expensive car for her. Kat was kind of glad since this car was top-of-the-line and had all the safety features.
"I'll be fine, mom," Alice said.
"Kat, calm down," Del said, giving a small chuckle. "I know it's hard letting go, but she's a good driver."
"I know mom, but–" Kat began but was cut off when Jacob called from the cellar.
"Hey, Kat! Come, look what I found!" Jacob's cry got all three Landry women down the stairs to see Jacob taking a large trunk out from under a pile of junk in the corner. There was dust on it and, as Jacob cleared the dust, the name 'Fern Landry' was seen on it. "It's Great Grandma Fern's!"
"Okay, that is interesting," Kat said, having been intrigued in her great grandmother since meeting her in the past. Besides, knowing from her comment at the wedding they would meet again when Fern was younger meant that Kat knew her time with Fern was only just starting.
"It's heavy, let's get it up," Jacob said.
"Clean off the dust before bringing it up," Del countered.
"Well, I'm going to go before this thing turns into a whole other thing…" Alice mused, and Kat turned to hug her daughter goodbye, telling her to drive safe. Alice gave an eyeroll at that as she left the cellar
Grabbing one last bag that was left by the door before heading to where her car was parked, Alice had to smile at the vehicle her dad had bought her: it was a nice big white Range Rover and Alice loved it – despite the fact she knew very little about cars. Alice threw the bag in the back seat; the car was packed with a suitcase already and a cooler she was bringing that had some snacks and drinks in it.
Alice went into her pocketbook to grab her sunglasses and make sure she had her key fob, but then paused, looking at the woods. She gave a smile as she closed her car door and then made the familiar trek through the woods, coming to the familiar pond. She put her pocketbook on the floor and threw her cellphone on top of it. She took off her sweater and hung it on a tree.
The pond was unfrozen, but at this time of year was only very recently unfrozen. Alice stepped onto the rocks – she wasn't planning on jumping, but before she left town it had become tradition for her to come here and say goodbye to her friends from the past this way. She knew they couldn't hear her, but it made Alice feel connected to them, regardless.
"So, I'm leaving town for a bit. I'll be back sooner this time," Alice told the water. "Maybe I'll jump in and get to see you again, Kat. The end of summer proved anything was possible," Alice paused. "Evie, maybe we'll hang out again soon, too? You really could have been a best friend." Alice paused. "Heres' the thing though, my dad–" but before Alice could finish the sentence, she felt pressure on her back and then she hit the water, going under.
Alice cried out as the familiar pull of the weeds wrapped around her legs, and she realized she was time traveling again. When it ended, she broke the surface and drew a deep breath.
"You've got to be kidding me!" She shouted at the surrounding forest. "Again! Someone pushed me again…" she muttered this last bit as she swam to the rocks and pulled herself out. "What time am I in?"
She shook her head, figuring she needed to head to Landry Farm and see what was going on. She had to be quick this time, though.
-The Way Home-
Elliot stepped into the Landry home and paused just inside the doorway; Kat had texted him about the trunk, and he had come over as quickly as he could, his mind racing He glanced toward the drive through the front window and frowned.
"Alice left?" He asked. "Her car is gone. I thought she would wait to say goodbye."
"Yeah, she's gone to spend the weekend with Brady. She'll be back on Monday," Kat said. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and gestured toward the open trunk nearby. Its lid was propped up, and the faint smell of dust and cedar drifted through the room. "We finally got it up here. There are a lot of books in it, and some other things too."
Elliot's attention shifted immediately to the trunk now.
"Anything about my mom?" He asked. Ever since finding the note, he had wanted more answers than he knew how to admit. Every small discovery seemed to pull him further in, and yet nothing about any of it felt simple. Across the room, Del gave a small cough and muttered an excuse before stepping away, leaving the question hanging in the air.
"Not anything we can see so far. Help us look," Kat said, unfolding a piece of fabric and holding it up to the light. The material was soft with age, edged in tiny beads that caught the afternoon sun. "I think Fern might have been a stylish young woman – someone who really cared about fashion."
Elliot stepped closer, his eyes moving over the trunk's contents. There were old photographs, a handful of yellowing letters tied with ribbon, and a few keepsakes tucked carefully beneath a folded shawl. For a moment, no one spoke.
-The Way Home-
Meanwhile, Alice paused as she got into view of what should be Landry Farm – and it probably was but it wasn't as she had ever seen it. The house she knew was gone and much smaller, while the entire place seemed different.
"Can I help you?" A male voice spoke as Alice wandered onto the farm. "You look like you hit a storm..."
"Um.. sort of…" Alice said, taking the man in, her mind working quickly. "Are you Ellijah Landry?" The man looked exactly as her mother and Jacob had described their ancestor.
"Yes, I am," Elijah said. "And this is my farm," he was leading her to the house anyway. "Do we know each other?"
"No," Alice said. "But you know my mother and my uncle…" Alice felt safe to assume she wasn't here from before her mother had come for Jacob. If she was she was sure Jacob would be here as well. "Katherine."
"You are Katherine's daughter?" Elijah said.
"Yes," Alice said. "I'm Alice."
"Well, then Alice, that makes you family here. Come inside to dry off," Elijah said, going to open the door and Alice followed the man inside the house. "The fire is warm and we have hot food."
"Thank you," Alice said, going towards the familiar fireplace to help dry herself. The heat did feel good. "The place looks good."
"Yes, we rebuilt nicely thanks to Susanna. I don't know what I would have done without her – and your mother helping," Elijah said. "How is your mother and my son? I have not seen them for four years."
"Four years?! That makes this… 1820?" Alice questioned, moving over to the table.
"It is," Elijah said, having put food in a bowl and placed it before Alice, who accepted it.
"It hasn't been that long for them, but they are good," Alice said. "Jacob had a little trouble with the Goodwins of our time, but we worked that out." Elijah shook his head at this.
"That boy… He sometimes acts before he thinks. I tried my best to teach him, but love him for who he is," Elijah said.
"You and my grandmother should meet sometime," Alice said, giving a laugh thinking Elijah and Deliah Landry would definitely have an interesting conversation.
"I would like that," Elijah said. "Now what brings you to us?"
"Honestly, this was an accident. Well… actually, someone sent me here," Alice said; that having been playing in her mind. Who would push her and why? She was really hoping it wasn't herself again so to start this adventure.
Before she could continue there was a knock on the door.
Elijah was surprised as he went to answer it, but Alice saw the smile as he opened the door, so assumed whoever it was, was a friend.
"Thomas," Elijah said. "You're back. I thought you went to New York?"
"Fate, it seemed, called me back here," a male voice replied, and Alice knew from Elijah's comment this was Thomas Coyle – the man Alice knew her mother still loved, even though she said she had to make it work with Elliot, Alice knew her mother's feelings for Thomas had stopped her from moving back in with Elliot or moving that relationship forward.
Thomas walked in and with him was another male who must have only been a few years older than Alice herself. He was white with dark black hair and a very attractive smile. Alice gave a small smile, herself, as his eyes fell on her.
"This is my nephew, Nathan. He's the closest thing I have to a son," Thomas said, patting Nathan's shoulder. "As I came back, I went to the Pond hoping Katherine might find her way here as well but saw you coming out instead," he added to Alice.
"Oh yes. This is Alice," Elijah said.
"Katherine's Alice," Thomas said.
"She's my mom," Alice said, wondering if her mother had ever mentioned that she had a daughter.
"You have your mothers good looks," Thomas said, not seeming so surprised, but Alice wasn't sure one way or the other if Thomas knew about her. "Will she be joining us?"
"Maybe," Alice said, wondering if her mother had realized yet she hadn't left for her weekend with her father and started to wonder why. She figured Kat would come after her again when she realized Alice was, once again, lost in time.
"My uncle cannot stop talking about your mother," Nathan said, "and if she is as good looking as you, I can see why..." Alice gave another smile and blushed at this. She had to remind herself that she had a boyfriend. Nathan held out his hand, though, and Alice went to shake it, but was surprised when Nathan kissed the back of her hand instead. "If you are staying a while I saw there is a dance in the town tonight?"
"Yes, Susanna holds those for the town every once in a while," Elijah said. "To bring joy to the townsfolk she says. The town enjoys it."
"Would you accompany me, Alice?" Nathan said.
"Smart boy," Alice heard Thomas mumble.
"I don't think I have anything appropriate to wear," Alice said. She knew she should get back but also knew the Pond likely wouldn't send her back until whatever she needed to do in this time period was done.
"I can get you a dress," Thomas said.
Alice paused for a minute but then gave a smile. She had to be in this time for a reason so why not enjoy it while she figured it out. "Sure, sounds like fun," Alice said.
"Excellent," Thomas said.
-The Way Home-
That evening, in 1820, Alice was having a blast at the dance. She didn't know the moves, but Nathan was an excellent lead. She smiled as Nathan brought her off the dance floor after what must have been an hour.
"Have I told you the dress my uncle got you suits you?" Nathan asked.
"You have but it is always nice to be complimented," Alice said; the dress was a nice blue color, and Alice was unsure how Thomas knew her size, but it fit nicely. She didn't even need to wear a corset.
"You two are new," Alice heard a voice and paused to see a woman with dark hair, and Alice knew this must be Susanna Augustine. "I am Susanna Augustine," Alice smiled at being proved right. "What brings you to my town?"
"Here with my uncle," Nathan said. "I'm Nathan Coyle."
"Thomas's nephew?" Susanna asked.
"Yes ma'am," Nathan said. "My uncle is around here somewhere. I know he wants to see you again."
"And I him," Susanna said. "And is this your fiancée?" Alice had remained quiet but coughed at this.
"No," Nathan said. "Just my companion for the evening. She's staying with Elijah Landry." Susanna tilted her head as she looked at Alice.
"I'm Alice," Alice said, and could see the look in Susanna's eyes at the name. "Jacob Landry is my uncle. I came to see the town he grew up in…" Alice knew Susanna understood what she was saying.
"Well then, you two must follow me," Susanna said, and with that, the two followed Susanna outside. Nathan frowned at Alice, but Alice simply looked determined as they reached a quieter place to talk. Susanna then turned to Alice, outside of others' earshot "You are Katherine daughter?"
"I am," Alice said, and was surprised as Susanna hugged her.
"Is your mother here?" Susanna asked.
"Not yet," Alice said, honestly wondering where her mother was. She had expected her here sooner. Maybe the contents of that box were more intriguing than Alice thought?
"The town still thinks of her as the White Witch," Susanna smirked. "But I would welcome her back. If you are here it's for more than a dance…? Katherine had a way of being here…"
"When she was needed," Alice confirmed. "It's sort of a rule of the pond."
"I know very little of this pond, but I am glad it brought you," Nathan said.
"Yes, well, we should be watchful, but if you are staying long, Alice, I would welcome you to Lingermore," Susanna said.
"Thank you, but I think after the dance I'll go back to the Pond and go home," Alice said and Susanna gave a nod.
-The Way Home-
It was late at night when Alice, Nathan, Thomas, Susanna, and Elijah had walked back to the Pond, Alice and Thomas having filled in Nathan as to the nature of the pond, much to the young man's disbelief.
"Well, it was an interesting visit," Elijah said. "Please, give my son my love."
"And give your mother my best," Thomas said.
"And mine," Susanna said.
"Come back soon," Nathan said.
"Maybe," Alice said, letting Nathan press one last kiss to her hand before she climbed onto the rocks and hurled herself into the pond. She braced for the familiar wrench of the weeds as she travelled in time… but nothing happened.
Only cold water closed over her.
Alice burst back to the surface with a gasp, dread crashing through her harder than the shock of the pond. "Damn it," she muttered, fighting her way back to the rocks and hauling herself out, soaked and shivering.
"Something's wrong…?" Thomas asked.
"The pond won't let me leave," Alice said, still breathless. She stared at the dark water as if it might answer her. "It does this sometimes. It shuts us out. Which means…" Her voice faltered for a beat before she forced the words out. "It means I'm not done here yet."
"So, you are staying!" Nathan said and Alice could see the grin on his face. She had to smile at him.
"I'm staying," Alice said, getting up. "And I am wet again. Story of my life."
"You are welcome to stay at Landry Farm," Elijah said and Alice was thankful for her ancestor.
"I will send clothes for you," Susanna said. "And you shall come to Lingermore in the morning."
"Thank you," Alice said to them as she went to follow Elijah back to Landry Farm; part of her wondering what the Pond wanted her in this time for and also still curious as to who had pushed her.
-The Way Home-
In the present, Kat, Jacob and Elliot had spent two days going through everything in Fern's trunk and were halfway through a third.
"This seems to be about the Pond," Kat said; they had gotten to the bottom of the trunk and Kat took out a small book with a hard cover. Flipping it open, the first thing written on it was: 'the amount of time you are there equals amount of time you are gone'.
"Some type of rule book?" Jacob asked glancing at the words from his position.
"Wish we had that three years ago," Elliot mused, causing a chuckle from Kat.
"I'm more interested in this," Jacob said, taking out the last thing. It was old. "Dated… 1820."
"That's in…" Kat stopped as her cellphone rang. "I wonder if it's Alice telling me she's on her way back?" Kat grabbed her phone to see it was Brady. She answered "Hi Brady. How was the weekend?" Kat had gotten several texts from Alice since she'd left; they'd been a little generic, but she was glad her daughter was okay.
"Great," Brady said. "It really sucked Alice had to cancel."
Kat froze for a second there. "Yes… it's awful Alice had to cancel," Kat said repeating the sentence more for Elliot, Jacob – and Del who had walked in, all three pausing as she said this.
"I was thinking of me and Rachel coming up to see her," Brady said. "If everything is fine there? I know there was some emergency she cancelled for."
"We're good here," Kat said. "All fine now."
"Great, I'll be by tonight or tomorrow," Brady said.
"Great," Kat said. "Bye!" Kat hung up the phone and looked at the group. "Alice never went there. But… she's been texting me…." Kat looked over the text messages, but it all seemed normal.
"Before we freak out, she's a teenager with a boyfriend. Maybe she cancelled on Brady and made you think she went so she and Max could have a weekend alone together?" Del pointed out. "I'd bet you find her at Lingermore in her underwear."
"Mom!" Kat said shaking her head.
"It's not a bad theory," Elliot pointed out.
"Well, we'll find out," Kat said, going into her phone. "That car has a tracking device installed so me and Brady can find Alice whenever. I'd never use it unless it's an emergency and this qualifies."
"Yeah… very trusting parents," Jacob mumbled as Kat typed on her phone.
"Well," Kat said. "Her car is nearby, but not at Lingermore. Elliot, come with me. Let's go see where this is. Jacob, mom wait here in case Alice comes back and hold her here if she does."
"We'll keep an eye out for her," Del, said but gave Kat a smile as Kat and Elliot left the house. Kat threw Elliot her car keys for him to drive them as they got into her car, Kat then giving Elliot directions.
Alice's car's location wasn't far off. In fact, Kat figured they could have walked there easily enough. It was parked just passed Sam's farm, where a lone house was half hidden by the trees.
"I don't remember this place…" Kat said as they parked the car in what appeared to be a long, winding, driveway. She hadn't been this way since coming back to Port Haven but had been here several times as a kid and she only remembered open fields. It was completely different now.
"A lot of land was bought over here maybe right before you moved back," Elliot said. "House has been being built for years. Seems to be done. A lot of mature trees have been planted, by the looks of things. A great looking house, though. Rumor has it the same people who built this are the ones renovating that building in town, but no one knows who yet."
"And there's Alice's car," Kat said, seeing the familiar white car on the side of the house parked on some grass. With that, Kat and Elliot got out of their car and over to Alice's car. The car was still packed with Alice's stuff inside. Kat tried the door, but it was locked.
"Well, at least she got it washed, finally. I was about to offer, with how dirty it was," Elliot said looking at the car.
"Still think she's on a romantic weekend with Max?" Kat asked, ignoring the comment.
"If she knew about the tracking device, maybe she left it here in an empty house and went in Max's car," Elliot reasoned. Kat took out her phone. "What are you doing?"
"Texting Alice a question only she would know the answer too," Kat said, and Elliot looked over her shoulder.
"Who's your best friend?" Elliot asked, reading the text aloud.
"The correct answer is me," Kat said, and saw the dots of someone typing.
"You are, mom," Elliot read when the text came through. "See? Worry gone?" Kat texted something back. "Where are you? I know you are not with Brady?" Elliot read as Kat sent the text; there were the dots of someone writing back. "Well game over. You should go home."
"What does that mean?" Kat asked as another text message came through. "I'm not who you think I am. Turning off phone. Don't bother to track. See you in another time," Kat went to text back, asking who it was, but the message stayed on sent. Whoever it was had turned off the phone. "Should I worry now?!"
"Another time…" Elliot said, and both got what that meant. "We need to get back to the farm."
The two left Alice's car where it was and jumped back into Kat's car – even though the drive was short, Elliot swore he sped as they got to the farmhouse; Del was waiting outside.
"What's with the speed?" Del asked.
"Someone has Alice's phone," Kat said, jumping out of the car, turning the text messages to Del. "Still think we will find her at Lingermore?" Kat added as Del read the messages and her eyes got wider.
"Kat," Jacob now ran out with the old book he had from 1820 in his hands. "This… it's about Elijah's death!"
"Jacob, not the ti…" Kat began.
"This is important! It seems like this was written for the town by Susanna as a warning about witch hunts," Jacob said.
"Elijah was killed as a witch?" Kat had to ask; it seemed so strange.
"No, he and some young man were killed by the town for defending a witch who, according to the text, breathed life back into a man and brought him back from the dead," Jacob said.
"Sounds like I will be there when Elijah dies," Kat said.
"That's the thing, Susanna included drawings and the drawing of the witch is not you," Jacob said turning the book around to see a drawing of a familiar face in an old timey dress.
"Alice?!" Kat said looking at the book.
"This is no coincidence. Alice is gone. She's in this book," Elliot said.
"Pond!" Kat said, giving the book back to Jacob and heading fast, away from the house and in the direction of the pond. She knew Elliot, Del, and Jacob were following her, but when she got there she found Alice's pocketbook on the ground and her sweater hanging on a tree branch. Kat looked through the pocketbook, but her car keys and phone were missing. She heard the other three catch up with her.
"She's in the past," Elliot said.
"In some type of danger," Del said.
"I'm going to go find her," Kat said, turning to her family. "Jacob, look through that book and the pond rule book. See if there is anything that could help us, and then come join me," Jacob gave a nod. "Mom, Elliot, see if you can figure out who owns that house where Alice's car was. Either it was just a good place to dump the car or whoever owns it is involved, but I want to know."
"On it," the two said together as Kat got up on the rocks. She didn't wait even a moment before jumping into the pond and disappearing.
-The Way Home-
Del knew that the best way to get information on the new home where Alice's car had been found was to talk to the town gossip, her good friend Rita.
"…well, keep me informed if you hear anything, Rita," Del said on the phone, nodding along as Rita talked. "Thanks, I got to go." Del hung up the phone before Rita could say more.
"You really thought town gossip would help?" Elliot asked; he was on the computer, searching for records himself.
"Well, the town is sure on one thing: whoever owns that house is the same people renovating that old building," Del confirmed. "But no names."
"It's not just that building... They own the Roxy as well," Elliot said, surprising Del. "The person running it, who we thought was the new owner, is just a manager..." Del came around to see what Elliot had on the computer, "but whoever owns all this went through a lot of trouble to keep their names hidden. I'm trying one more thing… will just take a bit for it to load."
Then, Jacob came running in. He had been in the other room, looking through both books; he had the pond rule book that Kat had discovered. "I can fix it!" Jacob said running around the kitchen and grabbing a mixing bowl. He started grabbing things and mixing them together.
"Jacob, what are you doing?" Del asked.
"It's so simple…" Jacob said. "I can change it… No one has to die. And with just simple ingredients in any kitchen..." Jacob used a spoon to mix together whatever he was working on and then grabbed the mixing bowl and ran out.
"Jacob!" Del yelled.
"Jacob, wait!" Elliot called and jumped up to follow the man. Del sighed and ran after the two herself, finding them at the pond.
Jacob had thrown what he had made into the water, and the water glowed, Jacob not waiting a second before jumping in and disappearing, the glow leaving the water at the same time.
"Jacob…" Elliot moaned, leaning on a tree as he did. "This isn't good."
"What's wrong?" Del asked, knowing Kat had asked Jacob to come after them when he discovered something.
"The house… the companies…" Elliot said. "I was able to get one name that's attached to it. There are others still hidden, but this isn't good."
"What's the name?" Del asked.
"Alice Augustine," Elliot said, making Del pause.
"So… either the biggest coincidence in the world or…?" Del paused.
"Or someone is messing with us," Elliot said. "I think Alice, Kat, and Jacob just jumped into some type of trap and there is nothing we can do help them," Elliot and Del stood before the pond looking at it for a moment as they let this news sink in.