Chapter 52: Tale of Two Hearts, Part One

Friday, September 16, 2005:

Josh sat at the dinner table, surrounded by Katie’s family, maintaining an outward composure despite the scrutiny he knew he was under. The dining room was warm and inviting, the scent of home-cooked food filling the air—a blend of roasted chicken, buttered rolls, and rich, seasoned potatoes. Judith had clearly put in extra effort, and the polished silverware and neatly folded napkins only reinforced that fact. Yet, for all the warmth of the setting, the real heat came from Kirk’s eyes as he studied Josh like a drill sergeant sizing up a new recruit.

Katie sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his knee beneath the table, a subtle but effective anchor. Across from them, Hannah leaned back in her chair, watching the proceedings with open amusement, clearly relishing the performance of their father in full “protective dad” mode.

Kirk finally set his fork down and clasped his hands together. “So, Josh, tell me about yourself.”

Josh had been expecting this. He took a measured breath before responding, “Well, sir, I work full-time at the Mini Mart and also help run a dojo. I’ve been training in Aikido since I was ten, and martial arts have played a huge role in my life.”

Kirk raised an eyebrow. “Aikido, huh? You planning on making that your career?”

Josh nodded slightly. “In a way, yes. I want to continue helping Sensei Chang run the dojo, and eventually, when he’s ready to retire, I plan to take over. Same goes for the Mini Mart—I’m planning to buy both businesses when the Changs decide to step away. Ensuring their legacy continues and providing stability for myself is important to me.”

Judith offered an approving smile, but Kirk remained measured, nodding slowly. “That’s admirable. Discipline and focus are good traits. But stability is important, too. Dojo work isn’t exactly the most lucrative career path.”

Josh met Kirk’s gaze, unshaken. “I’ve thought about that. I’ve been making careful financial moves—saving, investing wisely. I’m not chasing wealth, but I am building a solid foundation for the future. I want to make sure I can take care of the people I care about.”

Hannah leaned forward, grinning. “Translation: He’s got his act together, Dad.”

Kirk huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, he let a beat of silence pass before tilting his head. “And what are your intentions with my daughter?”

Josh barely suppressed a grin, knowing Kirk’s personality well enough from his past life to recognize when he was playing up the role. Deciding to roll with it, he leaned back slightly. “Well, sir, I was actually going to ask about the dowry situation. Should I expect an endowment for taking Katie off your hands, or does she come with some livestock and a bit of land?”

For a moment, there was absolute silence—then Hannah choked on her drink, coughing through laughter. Judith pressed a hand over her mouth, trying (and failing) to hide her amusement. Katie groaned, smacking Josh’s arm, though the corners of her mouth twitched in betrayal of her amusement.

Kirk, to his credit, leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin with exaggerated thoughtfulness. “Well now, that depends. You willing to throw in a few goats? Maybe a new lawnmower? I could use one.”

Josh nodded solemnly. “I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t promise top-tier livestock. If you throw in a couple of chickens, I can offer a vintage push mower—slightly rusted, but it builds character.”

Hannah wiped away a tear from laughing too hard. “Oh my God, Dad, just admit it—you like him. You’re bartering livestock instead of cleaning your shotgun. That’s a win.”

Kirk sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “Fine,” he relented. “But if you ever break her heart, just remember—I know where to find you. And I’ll repossess those chickens.”

Josh chuckled, feeling the tension of the night ease. “Understood, sir.” He picked up his glass, taking a sip before glancing at Katie. “Though, I do have to ask—what’s the refund policy on this deal? Just in case she decides she got the short end of the stick.”

Katie rolled her eyes but smirked, leaning into Josh slightly. “Oh please, if anything, you’re the one getting the upgrade here.”

As laughter filled the room, Josh knew the hardest part of the evening had passed. This family, with all their teasing and warmth, was something special. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he truly belonged at the table.

After dinner, the family moved into the living room, the atmosphere shifting from lighthearted to something more solemn. Katie and Josh exchanged a look, silently reaffirming their decision. It was time to tell Kirk everything. The television, which had been left on in the background, now felt like an unnecessary distraction, its faint hum doing nothing to ease the growing tension in the room. Kirk took his usual seat in his recliner, Judith settled in beside him, and Hannah sprawled across the couch, her sharp eyes flicking between Katie and Josh, sensing that something significant was about to be said.

Katie took a deep breath before beginning. “Dad, what I’m about to tell you is going to sound impossible, but I need you to listen until the end.” She glanced at Judith and Hannah, who both nodded in encouragement. Then, she turned back to her father. “I remember my life before this one.”

Kirk’s brows furrowed. A skeptical glance passed between him and Judith, but to his credit, he remained silent, letting Katie continue.

She started from the beginning, detailing her life growing up, the struggles she faced, and the pivotal moments that shaped her. She spoke about Aunt Pam’s battle with cancer, her voice thick with emotion as she described the helplessness she had felt watching her fade away. Kirk’s expression darkened. The mention of Judith’s sister’s illness struck a deep chord, and his jaw tightened as memories of his own parents’ battle with cancer surfaced. The late nights spent in hospital rooms, the helplessness of watching them deteriorate, the way grief had hollowed him out before he even had the chance to say goodbye—it all came rushing back, unbidden and raw.

Judith, however, stiffened in shock, her eyes widening as she turned to Katie. “Wait ... Pam’s sick?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion and concern. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

Katie hesitated, guilt flashing across her face. “Because it hasn’t happened yet. And I wasn’t sure how to bring it up ... until now.”

Judith swallowed hard, gripping Kirk’s hand more tightly. “My sister...” she murmured, trying to process the revelation. “How much time do we have?”

Katie took a deep breath before answering. “Aunt Pam passes away in 2015,” she said gently. “But I’ve already told her what’s coming, so she can work with her doctors to keep a closer eye on things. She’s getting regular check-ups now, and they’re monitoring everything more carefully.”

Judith exhaled, her grip tightening. “So ... we have time to help her. To make sure things turn out differently.”

Katie nodded. “Yes. This time, we do.”

Then she hesitated before saying the words she knew would hit the hardest. “Dad ... I remember when you died.”

Kirk stiffened slightly, his grip on the armrest tightening, but still, he didn’t interrupt.

Katie pressed on, watching him carefully. “You passed away years from now, but I remember it like it had already happened. I remember Mom grieving, I remember what it did to all of us.” Her voice faltered slightly, but she forced herself to continue. “After you were gone, I had to navigate life without you, and it wasn’t easy. But there was one thing that kept me going—Josh.”

Josh glanced at Kirk, watching as he absorbed the information. Katie continued, recounting their life together—the love they shared, the home they built, and the child they lost. When she spoke of the car crash, her voice cracked, and Josh instinctively reached for her hand, squeezing it in reassurance.

Kirk sat completely still, his usual expressions of amusement or teasing completely absent. The weight of the conversation had settled fully onto his shoulders. The only movement he made was a slow exhale as Katie described waking up in her teenage body again. She told him about seeing Josh at the first football game, the overwhelming emotions of realizing he existed in this timeline, the desperation to find him again. She detailed how she had confided in Aunt Pam, how they had tried to track Josh down that weekend, and the moment everything had changed at the second football game.

Kirk’s expression remained unreadable, but his unwavering focus told Katie he was taking in every word.

Then, she described the revelation at Pizza King—the moment Josh realized she remembered, the emotions that played out between them, and the intense conversation that followed at their house. She didn’t soften any details, didn’t hold back for the sake of making the story easier to hear. She owed her father the full truth.

When she finished, Judith and Hannah added their own accounts. Judith spoke about the doubt that had lingered at first, the skepticism she had struggled with, and the undeniable proof that had forced her to believe. She detailed the list of future events Josh had given her—news stories, political shifts, each of which had come true exactly as he described. She specifically mentioned the United Nations World Summit on September 14, 2005, which had gathered over 170 world leaders in New York City. She recalled President George W. Bush’s speech in New Orleans on September 15, acknowledging the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and pledging federal support. And then there was the bombing at a Shia mosque in Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq, on September 16, an event that underscored the ongoing sectarian violence in the region. Each of these had unfolded exactly as Josh had predicted, leaving no room for doubt.

Judith then spoke. “There was no other explanation, Kirk,” she said softly. “Everything lined up too perfectly. Things that no one could have known. Things that shouldn’t have been possible.”

For a long moment, Kirk said nothing. His gaze flicked between Katie and Josh, his fingers drumming absently against the armrest of his chair. Then, slowly, he exhaled and rubbed a hand down his face.

“So,” he said, his voice measured, his tone carrying the weight of all he had just heard. “You’re telling me that my daughter traveled through time back to her childhood. She knows the future about me, Judith, Hannah, Pam, Barry—all of us? That she died in a car crash and came back in time to her childhood?””

Katie nodded. “Yes. And I know it’s hard to believe. But it’s true.”

Kirk studied her, then turned his gaze to Josh, scrutinizing him as though searching for an answer that made sense. Finally, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

“Alright, Josh,” he said, his voice steady but laced with expectation. “Tell me your side of the story.”

Josh straightened slightly, meeting Kirk’s gaze head-on. “Yes, sir.” He took a breath, knowing that the next words he spoke could change everything.

Josh took a steady breath, bracing himself as he prepared to recount the hardest moments of his life. He met Kirk’s gaze, his expression solemn. “The accident that took Katie and our child ... it destroyed me,” he began. “I sat next to her hospital bed, holding her hand, praying for a miracle that never came.”