The Time Capsule by Lurlene McDaniel Read Free Book Online Page A

official champions of the event, and as they climbed out of the water to get their individual plastic trophies, Alexis looked over at the table where Adam had been sitting. His chair was empty.
    Later, in the room, Kelly asked, “Do you think he left because he’s mad at us?”
    “Why should he be mad at us? He had his chance to play,” Alexis said, irritated with her brother all over again. They were getting ready for bed, and Tessa was in the bathroom brushing her teeth.
    “Maybe I should call him,” Kelly said. She kept fidgeting with her hair and looking insecure.
    “Feel free.”
    Kelly grabbed the receiver and punched in Adam’s room number. Alexis tried not to listen while Kelly talked, but when it seemed as if they were about to hang up, she asked Kelly for the phone. “It’s me, your nosy sister,” she said. “You know, the one with the genuine gold plastic trophy for winning at water volleyball.”
    He chuckled. “And this is me, your sorry brother. I shouldn’t have gotten hot with you. Are we straight now?”
    She shrugged, feeling her irritation melting. “I guess so. I didn’t mean to go off on you. I just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t play.”
    “I thought you all were a better team without me. Besides, it gave you girls a chance to show your stuff.”
    His explanation made sense. With him on the team, someone else would have had to sit out. Probably Tessa. “Where did you go, anyway?”
    “I played video games with some kid named Marshall. He was stuck in a wheelchair, Ally. I felt bad for him because no one was paying him any mind, and I know what that feels like.”
    She understood instantly. Adam’s long periods of isolation in the hospital had given him a heightened sense of compassion for others, especially for those who didn’t quite fit into the mainstream. “I hate it when you pull out that kindness card,” she said, feeling contrite. “It makes the rest of us seem so shallow.”
    “Just putting myself in others’ shoes. The guy seemed lonely. I know how that feels. So we went inside and spent some time on the video machines. He trounced me too.”
    “Well, maybe he’ll give you a rematch. We still have all day tomorrow and half of Sunday before we have to return to the real world.”
    “True. Sawyer wants to tell you good night, so don’t hang up. You and Tessa take good care of my girl, you hear?”
    Alexis glanced over at Kelly, curled up on the sleeper sofa reading a teen magazine. Her sleek blond hair caught the lamp’s light, and with her face scrubbed clean, she looked about twelve. “Will do,” Alexis said with a sigh, wishing with all her might that she liked the girl as much as Adam did. “Put Sawyer on.”
    “Hey, babe,” he said when he came on the line. “Dream of me, okay?”
    “And you dream of me,” she answered.
    “I always do, baby. I always do.”

EIGHT
    On Saturday, the group met for an early breakfast in the hotel dining room. The rain clouds were gone, and sunlight streamed through spotless windows looking out onto gardens of colorful hibiscus, roses and creamy white gardenias. Tessa, last through the buffet line, sat down in the booth with a groan.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Wade asked.
    “Every muscle in my body aches. Who knew a game played in water could hurt so much the next day?”
    “I’m sore too,” Alexis said, rotating her shoulders. “I’m sticking with the debate team from now on.”
    “I feel fine,” Kelly said, sipping orange juice and looking bouncy.
    Between mouthfuls of scrambled eggs, Sawyer said, “Take a hot shower and hit the weight room. That’ll work out the kinks.”
    Tessa gave him a sour look. “I’m talking major knots here, Sawyer.”
    “Try a massage.”
    “I could give you a rubdown,” Wade offered.
    “Down, boy,” Adam said.
    “What? My aunt’s a massage therapist.”
    “Good one,” Sawyer said.
    “No . . . really. She is.” He flexed his fingers.
    “Let your fingers do the