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feelings and happenings might stem from nothing more than a
series of coincidences. It was just a shock to find they both had the
same blood group, that’s all.
    “You don’t look too well,
Laura. Would you like me to drive? I have the same car, it’s
even the same colour,” Xandra said with a smile.
    Well it would be, wouldn’t it.
    “I chose a Micra because it was
assembled in Britain,” Xandra said. “I’m not yet
resigned to the loss of the Empire.”
    Laura smiled; she had chosen her Micra
for the very same reasons. She couldn’t possibly have a French
car; Napoleon was French. “I’ll be fine, I really will.”
She unlocked the car and removed a paperback from the passenger seat.
    “‘On Chesil Beach,’
Xandra commented. “I’ve been meaning to read that.”
    “You’re welcome to borrow
it.”
    “Thomas Hardy called Chesil Beach
Dead Man’s Cove – such an evocative name for a place
which caused so many shipwrecks,” said Xandra. “I was
reading, just the other day, The Alexander was wrecked there at
Easter, 1815. Only five people saved and none of them spoke English
so none could give an account of what really happened. Imagine being
washed ashore and not being able to explain.”
    “Frustrating, to say the very
least. Life-changing, that’s for sure.” Laura shuddered
as she sat behind the wheel. Somehow she must keep going. “You
read a lot, don’t you Xandra?”
    “Yes. I wish Jane Austen had
written more. I immerse myself in her world.”
    Laura put the key in the ignition and
started the engine. The radio came on.
    “I love this one,” said
Xandra.
    The Byrds’ old hit was playing,
with its quotes from Ecclesiastes. “To Everything There Is a
Season.”
    “And a time to every purpose
under the heaven,” continued Xandra.
    Laura felt quite sick but could not
stop herself voicing her thoughts in an inappropriately portentous
tone, “The Word of God.”
    “I am reminded constantly,”
Xandra said lightly.
    “What?”
    “The words of God. I live next to
a church with one of those notice boards that carries what they hope
will be eye-catching quotations or messages. I’m afraid I’m
a lost cause. The current one has me mulling over past times rather
than anything godly. The pace of life seemed more leisurely and
occasionally I wish I’d been born… I’m not sure
when – certainly not in Biblical times but perhaps in the
Regency era. But, here we are, trapped in our busy lives, in a time
of plenty – even in a recession – yet so short of time.”
    They were still stationary in the car
park. Laura knew that somehow, with enormous effort, she must put
everything else out of her mind and drive this suddenly spirited
Xandra home.
    As they pulled up outside Xandra’s
flat, Laura could see the church notice board. There was a picture of
the latest Doctor Who on the left side of the poster with the
caption, ‘The Current Time Lord’. On the right hand side
was a picture of Jesus with the caption, ‘The original Lord of
Time’. If confirmation were needed, this was it, thought Laura.
Something strange was happening. If she could get off this train, she
would, but it had gathered too much speed now.

Hide in Time ~ Anna Faversham

CHAPTER FIVE

    It was September 26th, the day of the
Pirates’ Party, and the last thing that Laura wanted was to be
dealing with bookings from people who were not even clients. Yet,
here she was with a persistent man on the phone pressing her to allow
him to attend.
    “I’m sorry, but it’s
for clients only.”
    “I’ve completed the form
you sent.”
    “What did you say your name was?”
    “Barry, Barry Bolton.”
    Laura was puzzled. She was absolutely
sure she had not had an enquiry from a Barry Bolton. “Where did
you obtain it from?”
    “I rang. Long time ago now,
perhaps you’ve forgotten me.”
    It wasn’t a question; it was a
forlorn statement. Indeed, she had forgotten this man. Perhaps
everyone did. “Ok then Barry, if I give