Autumn At Sunset: Love Blues, #4

By L Rita St. Claire

Time will either heal their wounds, or rip new ones wide open…

 

When Malik time traveled to the past and vanished, Autumn wasn't sure she'd survive the loss. But somehow, she did. She moved on. Then Malik resurfaced and everything changed. Now, she has to choose between Malik, and her new husband, Chris. The choice would be so much easier if she didn't love them both …

 

Chris isn't going to sit idly by while his world falls apart. He has no intention of losing his wife—not even to her first love. He's willing to do whatever is necessary to keep Autumn by his side forever. And if that means he has to travel back in time to make it happen, so be it …

 

Now that the past and present have collided, only one thing is certain. Someone that Autumn loves will get hurt.

 

Autumn at Sunset, book 4 in the Love Blues Series, is an angsty, standalone, time travel romance featuring a sexy love triangle, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Download today and get ready to fall in love with your new favorite series. 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: L Rita St. Claire
• Release date: Nov 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201162375

Book preview

To Martha Renee Cooper

Enjoy your ever after

Chapter 1

Autumn smiled at Arielle . She was such a beautiful toddler with those expressive blue eyes set in that chubby-cheeked face. She had delivered Arielle when she’d arrived unexpectedly two and a half years ago and felt a special connection to her. Watching her drink apple juice from a sippy cup, she hoped that one day soon she would be holding a sweet baby of her own. She and Chris had decided to start a family. She would put her traveling on hold for a few months once she became a mother.

A time traveler from the twenty-fourth century, Autumn was often in the twenty-first researching and documenting medical practices for a book she was writing on the century’s approach to preventing and curing diseases. Although it wasn’t part of her research, she was curious about the diverse neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. Known as New Douglass in the twenty-fourth after the statesmen, Frederick Douglass, such neighborhoods no longer existed in that all-inclusive society. When she mentioned her interest to Pamela, Arielle’s mother, and her sister-in-law, she offered to take her and Chris, on a driving tour of the Shaw neighborhood, a vibrant African American community located in the city’s northwest quadrant. It was fascinating to view historic landmarks like the Howard Theater where such legendary greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Marvin Gaye had performed. She'd stared in awe at the larger than life statue of Duke Ellington sitting next to a treble clef outside the building.

She had wanted to walk the hall of fame where portraits of James Brown, Moms Mabley, and other legends were enshrined in bronze medallions embedded in the sidewalk. But then she remembered this was 2016, and it hadn’t been constructed yet. She would have to wait a few more years, or she could time travel to when it was completed and view it. She would do that at a later date. Unfortunately, the city had been all but destroyed during the catastrophes of the twenty-third century, and these artifacts no longer existed in her time frame.

After the tour, they had a few hours to kill before Pamela picked up Jay, her five-year-old, from kindergarten so they decided to have lunch at Haikan, a Japanese ramen shop. Seated by one of the wide picture windows, Autumn was able to watch the foot traffic on V street. She liked observing the passersby and the expressions on their faces. Twenty-first-century people fascinated her, and by sitting there she could watch them without being so obvious. She often would wonder about where they were going and what activity they would engage in once they got there. Pamela was a tremendous help and would answer her numerous questions on life in this century just as Autumn did for her when she visited her home in the twenty-fourth. It was invaluable to have someone here who knew her identity.

After placing their orders, Chris excused himself to use the men’s room. Sipping her iced tea, Autumn watched a man approaching. He looked familiar but she couldn’t remember where she had met him. Odd, since she hadn’t interacted with many people doing her short time here. When he came closer and she saw his face, Autumn choked, spitting her tea in Arielle’s face.

Arielle turned red and screamed. Pamela grabbed a napkin and wiped the little girl's face.  

It’s okay, sweetie, Pamela cooed. Autumn, what’s wrong? Are you ill?

I’m sorry. Autumn shook her head and tore from the table knocking over a chair in her path as she ran out to the street. Malik, Malik! she shouted to no avail. Thank god, there weren’t many people out, making it easy to follow him. But no, it couldn’t be him, though she had to find out. When the man continued to ignore her cries, she gave chase.

Malik, stop, she yelled. The man kept walking, though other people stopped and stared. Another man had the presence of mind to stop Malik and nodded back at her. They both eyed her when she reached them, a question in their eyes.

There was no question for her. It was him. How could she ever forget that face? A face she had loved and cherished for most of her life. A face she had buried years ago.

I think this lady wants you, the stranger said.

Malik stared at her with a wide-eyed expression. Me? You know me?  

Autumn shivered—she had left her coat in the restaurant. But it wasn’t the cold of the February day that chilled her. This man did not know her, but she was sure of his identity. He was Malik, her long lost husband.

Well, I’ll leave you two to sort this out, the stranger said and hurried away, obviously not wanting to get involved in this drama.

Autumn wrapped her arms around herself to control her shakes but couldn’t say a thing as she gazed upon the old familiar face. The same deep, brown eyes, the square jaw, the high cheekbones. Memories of being held in his arms and feeling their hearts synchronized rhythm flooded her mind.

Malik grabbed her by the shoulders. You know me? Please, lady, tell me.

You don’t remember, do you? How could that be? How could he forget? Where had he been for the past eleven years? She had believed him dead, for he would have never willingly left her. She knew that just as sure as she knew her name. Their love had been much too strong for that to happen.

Malik released her. You look frozen. Where’s your coat? Come, I think we both could use a drink.

They were standing in front of a bar and grill, and he ushered her inside and guided her to a booth in the back. The odor of stale beer and fried food made her already churning stomach cry out in protest. She stumbled into the cracked leather seat and gawked across the table at him. There was not a doubt in her mind that he was her husband, but so was Chris.

Lord help her.

Please, tell me, how do you know me? Malik removed his cap, revealing his black hair, now streaked with gray and braided in the twenty-first style and pulled back into a ponytail. Fine lines etched the corners of his eyes that had not been there when she knew him from before.

Autumn shook her head. I can’t believe you don’t recognize me. I don’t understand how this is possible. How can you be here in this time and space?

Time and space? Lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I sure would like to. I lost my identity years ago and have no memories of my life before then. If you can help me in any way, please enlighten me. Do you know who I am?

Her bygone days with him paraded through her mind. The day they decided to marry. The quick service in front of the magistrate. The cozy little house they had shared. The long nights spent in each other’s arms. He had forgotten all of it.

A medical doctor, Autumn knew that it was rare for an amnesia victim to forget his identity. Most had problems with short-term memories, mainly recent events. But Malik appeared to have retrograde amnesia in which memories of his identity and life before his disappearance were gone. Could it be the result of an accidental brain injury or had this been something deliberate? Neuroscience was advanced enough in the future to erase his memories, but who and why would someone do such a thing? Memory removal had been used in the twenty-third as a form of punishment for criminals but banned in the twenty-fourth as cruel and unusual.

Hello, may I take your drink order? The waiter laid two laminated menus on the table. Our lunch special today is our house special burger and cheese fries.

Autumn looked at the waiter standing by their table, forcing her thoughts back to the presence.

Bourbon for me, Malik said.

Of course. That had been his drink whenever he was upset. Water, please, Autumn said. Alcohol was the last thing she needed. A clear head would help her deal with wherever this conversation was headed. She and Malik continued to stare at each other as if they were trying to decide what to say next. She had a million questions, but if he didn’t know his identity how could he answer them?

The waiter returned with their drinks. Ready to order?

Malik took a deep gulp of his drink. Give us a few more minutes. He waited until the waiter retreated then asked. Are you going to answer my question? How do you know me?

Autumn sighed before answering. You’re my missing husband, Malik Setmayer. Should she reveal more? If he didn’t remember who he was, he wouldn’t know he was also a time traveler. And if he were immersed in this century and culture, would he even believe her? Few people in the twenty-first thought time travel was possible, and timelers kept their identities secret. As far as she knew, Pamela and her mother were the only people in this time frame who knew of their existence, and that was because Hunter, Chris’s brother and also a timeler, met and fell in love with her while doing research here. And because he wanted to marry her and knowing a good marriage had to be based on honesty, he had revealed his identity to Pamela, who had later revealed it to her mother.

Malik searched her face. "Your husband? I wish I could say I remember you, but I don’t. And if I’m your husband that would create serious problems for me. I’m married—though I’ve been afraid something like this would happen. I would regain my memory and discover I have a wife and children who must have thought I’d abandoned them—something I don’t think I would ever do.

Married? Oh no. He had truly forgotten her. But hadn’t she moved on too? No, you wouldn’t. That was not in your character. She wanted to add you do have a family who loves and grieves for you to this day. But it was best to go slow and where would she even begin?

Malik inclined his head, a gesture she was all too familiar with. And what is your name?

Autumn Joyner.

Joyner? If you are my lost wife, why don’t we have the same last name?

Autumn grimaced; Malik didn’t remember anything about their culture. "When we married, I kept my maiden name. She wanted to add very few women in the twenty-fourth took their husband’s surname when they married, if they married at all. She was one of the few who cherished the old custom. Many thought it sexist and archaic. But under the circumstances, she didn’t mention it.

Malik nodded. Oh, so you’re a feminist. Now tell me everything you think you know about me. Who am I? Where did I come from? Those questions have plagued me for years.

Autumn pressed her lips together in a slight grimace. She would give him the basics without going into too much detail. She didn’t want him to think she was a lunatic and scare him away. You were a history professor and the author of several textbooks and historical novels. You went to a conference in Berlin and never returned. The authorities searched for you for years, but they, along with the private detectives I hired, couldn’t find a trace of you. It was as if you had vanished off the face of the earth. We had been married for three years and had a happy life. It took me years to accept the fact you were never coming back.

Malik slumped back against the booth. If what you said is true, that explains why I have a love of history. I'm an assistant professor of history at the University of Maryland. But I don’t see why your detectives couldn’t locate me. My story was in all the papers and news outlets. I was found severely injured on the side of Allentown road and taken to a hospital where I was in a coma for weeks. When I woke up, I didn’t know who I was or where I came from. Surely, you would have put it together from all the media stories about me and realized I was your missing husband.

No, she wouldn’t have put it together. They never thought to search this time frame for him. He was a time traveler researching the twenty-third century not the twenty-first. As far as she knew, he never visited this century. It would have been illegal for him to do so because he was not certified to travel here.

We didn’t think to look here. We lived in Germany, and how you got here is a mystery to me too.

Germany? I must have known German but can’t speak the language now. And amnesia victims don’t forget their language. Are you sure you have the right person?

Yes, and you didn’t speak German. English is the official language in Germany in the twenty-fourth. How in the world was she going to explain this all to him? But he had a right to know the truth. And his family and the authorities had a right to know he had been located. He was his mother’s only child, and she’d never gotten over his loss. His disappearance had been the first time a timeler had vanished in the past. It had led to an intensive review of time travel protocols along with an overhaul of the devices.

Autumn? I have been searching up and down the street for you.

Chris stood by the booth with her coat draped over his arm and a quizzical look on his face. Of course, he would have searched for her after her quick departure. She took a deep breath. His presence further complicated matters. She looked at him then Malik.

Two husbands. How on earth was she going to deal with this? Sit down, Chris, she said.

Chris slid into the booth next to her. Who’s this man?

Before she could answer, Malik spoke. I’m André Langston. At least that’s what I call myself. But this lady doesn’t think so and says she knows my real identity.

Chris raised his eyebrow. What’s going on here, Autumn?

Look at him, Chris, Autumn said. He’s eleven years older, but you were his teacher and mentor. Don’t you recognize him?

Chris stared at Malik then gasped. My God, Malik Setmayer. We thought you were lost forever in the past. What are you doing here?

That’s what I would like to know. How in the world could I have been lost in the past? Will both of you stop speaking in riddles and enlighten me?

Autumn touched Chris’s arm. He’s lost his memory and has no recollection of who he is. I thought it best to go slow and gave him the bare minimum.

But Chris had no such qualms. Being a lawyer, he was always direct and never minced words. He needs to know, Autumn. Malik—eh, André, you’re a time traveler from the twenty-fourth century. You went missing while during research in the twenty-third century.

You have got to be kidding. Malik took another deep swallow of his drink. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but let me assure you I have no money for you to scam me out of.

We’re not after your money, Autumn said. How ridiculous. Chris was one of the wealthiest persons on the planet in the twenty-fourth. His family owned Reese Industries, the inventors of teleportation and time travel. They were the equivalent to Steve Jobs and Apple, and Bill Gates and Microsoft in the twenty-first. The fact Malik didn’t know that was further proof he had amnesia. We just want you to know the truth. And return you to your rightful place in time.

Malik scowled. And I suppose both of you are time travelers. You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?

Yes, we’re time travelers too. Autumn is a medical historian here researching medical practices in this century. I’m a legal historian and analyst and research the twenty-second century. Chris reached for Autumn's glass of water and took a swallow.

Chris, that’s enough, Autumn said. We can’t expect him to believe us.

Well, we can prove it, Chris said.

Malik stood. No, you can’t, and this conversation is over. He took out his wallet, withdrew a twenty, and threw it on the table.

Chris stood. Look, I know this is hard to believe. Just take time to think about what we’ve told you. Take my wife’s number and call her after you have had a chance to do so.

Your wife? She said I was her husband.

Autumn bowed her head, sighed deeply, reached for her purse, and the notepad she always carried, but her purse wasn’t there. She had left it at the restaurant. She took a napkin and wrote her cell number on it. Please take this. Call me when you’re ready to discuss this. She hated to let him go, but there was no other way.

Malik took the napkin from her with a frown on his face. He nodded and left. At least he had her contact information. Whether or not he would get in touch with her was another story. Fortunately, she had his new name and place of employment and could track him down. And she would do just that if she didn’t hear from him.  

Chris scowled as he watched him leave. Autumn, let’s go home and discuss this.

She rose, and Chris helped her into her coat. She followed him out of the restaurant, her mind in a whirl. Chris led her halfway down the block to where Pamela’s car was parked. He got in the front passenger seat, and Autumn took a seat in the back next to Arielle in her car seat.

Are you okay, Autumn? Pamela asked.

Yes, I just saw someone from my past, and it startled me, Autumn said.

Here in the twenty-first? I thought you, Hunter, and sometimes Chris were the only timelers doing research here.

Supposedly. Autumn was too much in a daze to discuss it further with Pamela who started the engine and drove away.

Chris turned around to face Autumn. I can’t imagine how you must feel, but we’ll sort this out.

Autumn nodded. They rode in silence. Pamela seemed to sense that whatever had happened, Autumn and Chris didn’t want to discuss it. She was always considerate of other people’s feelings, and Autumn was grateful for that.

Ok, Auta, ok? Arielle broke the silence, reaching out her chubby little hand as if she knew Autumn needed some comfort. Autumn patted it in turn, happy to see that she had forgiven her for spitting in her face.

I’m fine, baby. Autumn managed to smile at her and was rewarded with a big smile, but her thoughts quickly returned to Malik. They would have to report his discovery to the authorities and his family, but she also wanted to give Malik time to process the information. It would be traumatic to just transport him back to the twenty-fourth. Though it was outside her skill level, neurosurgeons there could restore his memory, and they would discover what had happened to him. But they shouldn’t do that without his permission. There was also the possibility that he may not want to return.

When they reached Hunter’s house, Pamela pulled the car into the driveway. He and Pamela maintained two homes in Prince George’s County just outside DC. Hunter had moved into Pamela’s house in Upper Marlboro after they’d married but had kept his house in Camp Springs to time travel from. The house had a hidden safe room, making it the ideal place to come and go from the twenty-fourth. Hunter had graciously allowed Autumn to stay there on her extended visits here.

I’ve got to pick up Jay from school, so I’m dropping you all off here, Pamela said. Please let me know if you need anything.

I’m sorry to have scared you and Arielle, Pam. We’ll be fine.

As long as you’re okay. Pamela nodded then pulled off.

Autumn and Chris went into the house and to Hunter’s book-lined study where the safe room was located. Chris removed The Egyptian Book of the Dead from one of the shelves, and the bookcase swung open revealing a room. They stepped in and touched their watches housing their t-travelers. The midnight wind whisked them to their living room in the twenty-fourth in minutes. Autumn collapsed on the couch while Chris hurried from the room. He was back in minutes with a steaming cup of chamomile tea and handed it to her. She looked into his worried eyes as she took the cup of tea. He had been her rock for so long, always there for her while she struggled to put her life back together after Malik’s disappearance. And she loved him deeply, not only for being her rock but for being the best human being she knew—kind, loving, supportive.

Thank you, she said, taking the cup, inhaling the calming aroma, and hoping it would quiet her mind long enough for her to pull herself together.

Chris took a seat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. I know Malik’s appearance is a shock to you, but we should report this. The Institute will probably want to rescue him as soon as possible and restore his memory. Are you ready for that?

Autumn sighed. "The real question is he ready? He