A JUMP IN TIME

Nancy, looking to be now in her 30s , had an all-black attire: long black knotted hair, oiled face covered by large black oval sunglasses, dry black lipstick, and a smooth silk gown that was completed with a gold-designed shoe.

She was in a rainbow-colored lush garden, sitting on one of many occupied lemon-colored plastic chairs.

She didn't move, looking at an old priest wrapped in black as he held a gleaming rosemary. She and multiple people in black watched the priest talk, raising the rosemary to a dug hole containing a pink coffin, wrapped in lemon ribbons.

"Miss Eve, despite not being successful in her toothpaste business after her eventful police retirement. And isolating herself in her house, it was obvious she wasn't in the best state. Many of you will know of her single life consisting of no children and no husband, you may disagree with her but she had her reason. One we will never find out about." The priest said in a smooth poetic voice.

"She is resting here, in this fine garden, as brought about excessively in her will. You may call her names but it will be worthless, we can only remember what we can of her. What she went on to experience is what we will all go through, unlike her, it may not be a failing heart. Thank you all for coming through, in her stand, I say thank you." The priest said, tears ran out of Nancy's sunglasses.

"Now, does anyone have anything they like to say about the now-resting Eve?" The priest asked, no one moved.

Nancy removed her sunglasses and wiped her tears, a black cotton gloved hand caressed her shoulder, she looked in the direction with a smile.

It was a man, dressed in a smooth silk suit, looking to be in his 30s with his golden combed hair, and trimmed beard of the same color. He was smiling back at Nancy.

"It's okay, there is nothing wrong. At least she was there for the engagement." The man said, Nancy started crying more. A person stood to talk about Eve, Nancy and the man didn't pay heed to him.

"I shouldn't have let her join that stupid marathon." Nancy put her head on the man's shoulder, who grabbed her hands.

"Let us not talk about it. Please, you know we couldn't talk her out of it. Look at me, it's okay. I am here." Nancy looked at the man with a re-emerging smile. The man wiped the tears away from her eyes.

"It's okay. You can cry, but it's not your fault." The man said, tightening her hands as she steadied her breathing.

"She didn't get shot, Nancy. I think she would have loved that." Nancy gave a small nod to the man's nod.

"Forget this, tonight. We are going to Mason's Swimming Facility." The man offered, Nancy frowned.

"Mason closes by 6," Nancy said.

"I have arranged a lot for tonight, a quick talk and an obvious payment to the manager. And we have the pool for ourselves." Nancy gave a swim to the man.

"Now you are smiling, don't think about saying we should have the wedding in the swimming pool." Nancy rolled her eyes in response.

"It will be unique," Nancy said.

"No Nancy, it won't be. You want all the guests to be in the swimming pool,"

"Wearing crimson swimwear and forming a circle around us in the center as a clown priest says our vows," Nancy said beaming, the man had his mouth opened in response.

"That's from the horror movie." The man said, Nancy shook her head as he rubbed his temple.

"It was colorful. Think about how beautiful it looked, forget the sacrifice part." Nancy pleaded.

"Of course, I will remember the sacrifice part, listen. We will make the wedding beautiful, and not creepy. Listen to yourself, you want to make the priest put on a clown costume. Why would he?" The man asked to which Nancy grinned.

"Just get a guy to do it. It won't be a scary clown, we will make him pink." Nancy said, the man furrowed his brows.

"Most of my friends can't swim." The man said.

"They can learn. It's not that hard, you made a promise that you would listen to me. Yes, I remember." Nancy said, the man's face turned confused.

"When? Oh." The man said, Nancy put her hands on his shoulder.

"This talk will continue. When we get to Mason, don't make fun of me swimming. I want to get more at it." The man pleaded, Nancy pointed to herself.

"When was the last time I made fun of you?" Nancy asked, hiding a smile.

"This morning. Remember, the picture of me sleeping." The man said, Nancy smiled.

"You looked like you were running. Seriously." Nancy said, the man bent his head with a bitter smile.

"You did that." The man accused.

"No I didn't," Nancy replied.

"Don't worry, I will be a great teacher," Nancy said.

"You try anything funny." The man said, not continuing. He had a slight grin.

"You will do nothing. Like I wouldn't do anything to you." Nancy said, caressing the man's shoulder.

They both smiled at one another.

"Everything will be okay, I will make sure of it." The man said.

"I know," Nancy replied.

Outside the crimson-colored barbed wire walls, with black sprayed words: Kangal Prison.

A detailed painting of a shepherd dog biting on a person's neck, a giant thick black iron gate, with a frowning design of the dog on it opened up. An elderly man, looking to be in his 70s with white tiny stranded hair, and a bushy beard of the same color, in an all-black tight suit swaggered out of the gate.

On the brown long grass ground on the other side of a desolate road of the prison, lay an aqua-blue colored Mustang: with buff jet-black tires, and a streamlined angled body designed with a jet black design of a llama smoking a bit puffy thick cigar.

Resting against the opaque window was a man, looking to be in his 40s: wearing a baggy thin sweater and blue jeans, he had disheveled brown hair, a trimmed goatee of the same color fitted with sleek shaped sunglasses on who was smiling at the elderly man.

"Really Rick, this is it. I thought by the time I got out that you would come and pick me up with a flying car or something." The elderly man with a smile as he was now in front of the mustang.

Rick pulled down his sunglasses, giving the man an exaggerated frown.

"Forgive me James, I actually wanted to bring a jet here but… they didn't allow me." Rick said, holding back a laughter. James hugged Rick in response, laughing.

They both entered the Mustang, now relaxing in a cream colored interior where the radio was playing a sedative drum beat with a serene female French voice singing, at the back seat lay a French bulldog: it had half-lidded blacks eyes on relaxed wrinkled face, low hanging floppy ears, crossed stubby legs on his short stocky body.

"This is Brad." Rick said, rubbing the dog on its head.

"A French bulldog. Really nice, why did you get it." James said, Rick hummed in response.

"French bulldog?" Rick asked, face showing confusion.

"That's the name of the breed. Don't tell me you don't know the breed of your dog?" James asked, eyebrows raised. Rick looked at Brad.

"Hey Brad, what breed are you?" Rick asked, the dog licked its mouth in response.

"See, even Brad doesn't know it's from France. I bet it doesn't know it's a dog." Rick said, patting Brad's head.

"How did you not even know the breed of the dog you bought?" James asked.

"I didn't buy him. He was a gift." Rick said, relaxing his body.

"You were given a French bulldog?" James asked, eyes popping out.

"Yeah, the dude had hounds. Didn't want Brad and asked if I wanted, here we are." Rick said.

"Good friends?" James asked.

"Nah. I took care of his hounds when he went out of town, the first time we met. He is pretty chill, I like that." Rick said.

James giggled in response, looking around the interior.

"Nice ride, how did you get this?" James asked, feeling his leather seat.

"Oh yeah. She gave it to me." Rick said. James frowned.

"Who?" James asked.

"Nancy." Rick responded. James' face morphed into confusion.

"You met Nancy?" James asked, face twitching.

"I drive her." Rick said, James' mouth opened wide.

"You drive Nancy. The girl we were about to sell to whatever his name is, Nancy?" James asked Rick nodded, having not moved from his relaxed posture.

"What happened to you when I was in prison?" James asked, Rick smiled.

"Dude, it was like some years ago. I was blowing for jobs, no answer until I met this man. He is kind of chill too, we talked as he was getting engaged, he got drunk, so I drove him home. Boom, saw Nancy come out of the house… stuff happened and we are here. Anyway, forget about me, how was your experience in your cell?" Rick asked.

"Don't try to change the subject. She hired you as her driver, like she didn't go all cowboy on you?" James asked.

"Yeah man, I mean I am the reason that she didn't get sold. She was chill enough, she is already a grown adult James. This wasn't when she was a kid. Calm down." Rick said, Brad barked after. Rick gave a nod.

"So you drive her. Like you have been their driver for how long?" James asked, Rick murmured numbers after.

"I don't know, like five… Brad, what do you think?" Rick asked, Brad barked in response.

"He doesn't know either." Rick said, giving Brad a rub under his chin.

"And they love your service?" James asked.

"Yeah. I give them the service they want, greet them, ask where they are going, keep quiet as I drive them. They just want a driver, not a car buddy." Rick said.

"So they don't associate with you, like just pure business?" James asked.

"Some occasional talks. But yeah, I just keep it the way they like it, no problem really. Plus this car was like a year ago. Worth it." Rick said, James smiled at him.

"It is a nice car." James said, Rick smiled in response.

"Yeah, had a guy do the design for me. Had a dream of it and I knew that was what I wanted. Feels great too." Rick said, James patted Rick on the shoulder.

"Looks like you got things all figured out." James said with a bitter smile.

"James, come on man. What happened to you, happened. You have every right to be sad but bro. You just got out of prison, that's a celebration right." Rick said.

James within a blink, tears started flowing down his eyes, he started gagging and Rick hugged him.

"Come on." Rick pleaded.

"I don't know what to do." James said.

"It's okay, many people don't know what to do. It is okay." Rick replied.

"She is gone Rick. She is actually gone." James said, crying even harder onto James' shoulder.

"I heard, she told me about it. She wasn't in the right mental place when you went to prison, I tried to comfort her but she wanted to move on. I am sorry." Rick said.

"No, it is not your fault." James said, wearing away his tears as he stopped hugging Rick.

"I did sign the divorce papers when she brought it inside with a lawyer, you should have seen her. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, she was a mess, I felt so bad." James said, Brad barked after which James smiled at, he gave him a pat on its head.

"She took Angel with her. Come on, what's the latest news about them while I was inside?" James asked, Rick gave a bitter smile.

"In France, she is married to a farmer. Things are normal over there, her and Angel created this mother and daughter restaurant. They are going well." Rick said, James closed his eyes in response.

"Let's not talk about that, speaking of marriage. How are things with you and your girlfriend in the police?" James asked, a smile emerging from his face.

"About that, is there something I have to ask you?" Rick asked, he took off his glasses and switched off the radio. James frowned.

"I am scared." Rick said.

"Of what?" James asked.

"She is pregnant. Twins. I am going to be a father." Rick said, looking at the steering wheels.

James laughed. Slapping Rick in the back.

"Congratulations." James said, Rick gave a bitter smile in response.

"Yeah, dude. I am going to be a father, me." Rick said, scratching his hair.

"Like, I have responsibilities now. I am now expected to do a good job." Rick said.

"Rick, this is what you are scared of?" James asked with a smile.

"Like I get it. You will have kids, financial pile-ups, you become a role model, you have to make sure they don't go through a hard time, talk to them not to do this cause it will ruin their lives, you will introduce them to entertainment, and such. Rick, I get it." James said, placing a hand on Rick's shoulder.

"Can you be helping me along the way?" Rick asked. James patted him on the back again.

"I don't have a house anymore, no job, I am flat broke, so yeah. It won't be easy as I don't want to rely on you, but know that I will try my best." James said, Rick gave a bitter smile in response.

"You are really broke?" Rick asked.

"Lawyers, my now ex-wife and daughter, yeah." James said with a slight grin, Rick raised his eyebrows in response.

"Funny, always had something somewhere." James said.

"It's okay, we will find something. Beg some people, ask Nancy for some additional stuff to do. If we try, something should work." Rick said, tears then came out from his eyes.

"Rick, you are crying." James said, Rick wiped the tears off his eyes.

"I miss Edward man, I don't like this stuff you know. Everything just complicates itself." Rick said, putting on his sunglasses.

"Glad you are out. That plea deal was sweet you have to admit." Rick said, James relaxed on his seat.

"Yeah, I owe your girlfriend a lot for helping me." James said grinning.

"How was prison?" Rick asked, switching on the radio.

"You really asked that question." Rick rubbed his goatee in response.

"It wasn't good. Like what else do you want to hear?" Rick raised his hands at the question.

They stared at one another, both of their faces revealed smiles. Brad barked with a roughened paper dangling out of his mouth, Rick cursed and put on his seatbelts.

"She said I should buy her ice-cream and some stuff." Rick said, pulling out the paper out of Brad's mouth before patting it.

"You mean you forgot what your pregnant wife sent to get?" James asked, mouth opened wide.

"Yeah, I wanted to pick you up then go to the store." Rick said, checking the contents of the paper.

"And is ice cream even safe for pregnant women?" James asked, Rick smiled.

"Yeah, perfectly safe. Not perfectly but in a limited amount." Rick said, changing gears before driving the Mustang along the road.

"I am in so much trouble, see what I mean by my fear." Rick said.

"Simple, apologize the moment you see her and say nothing, accept every scream. Trust me this is foolproof stuff, just don't do this thing again." Rick, sweat already forming on his fore-head nodded to James' words.

"Wow Rick, you looked stressed." James said, grinning.

"Yes I am." Rick said, increasing speed.

The Mustang sped through the road.