Mason glanced worriedly at his brother as they stepped into the hallway and realized the hotel was bustling with life — but not contemporary life. Everything pointed to the fact that they had traveled back in time. The clothes, the music, the atmosphere — the eighties.
People were chatting cheerfully, the staff bowed to them respectfully, but Mason still didn't understand what was happening.
Jake hadn't lied — he had really experienced this time. It wasn't a hallucination. Mason could feel it now, in his own skin.
"James!" someone called. The brunette turned around, frowning. A man was approaching him. "You have to help me. Marie is pregnant, so I would rather not stress her, but my father had a heart attack and I need to leave for the mainland immediately. You've already organized a party for us, so I would rather not cancel it. People are waiting."
"You should tell Marie what happened. She's your wife," Mason replied, surprised that he didn't have control over his own words. It was as if he were just a spectator in his grandfather's memory.
"I would rather not upset her. Please, just tell her I had to leave urgently, and I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Don't you think that will upset her even more? You really want to leave her alone at the party that was organized for you?"
"My family doesn't accept her. I would rather not take her to the mainland."
Mason — or rather, James — sighed.
"Alright, I'll tell her. It's your life, your decision."
"Say hello to your wife from me. I heard she's coming too. Maybe bring her here more often? You live here almost alone. Just like George. Your marriages are a sham."
"We had to marry women we don't love. We have children, and our wives live on the mainland. It's an arrangement. At least you're happy."
"Sometimes it's worth standing up to the family. I'm on their blacklist, but I'm happy," he said, patting James on the shoulder. "Thanks for the help."
Noah furrowed his brow.
"He doesn't see me. Are these just memories? Are we stuck in your grandfather's past?" he asked.
"It looks like it. I can't say anything from myself. It's as if everything is written."
"But why this moment? Maybe something happened then?"
"I have a feeling nothing happens accidentally. This past is connected to the present."
"Just thinking about those bones in the cave gives me chills."
***
Marie didn't seem surprised when Mason — in James' body — delivered the message from Jack. She smiled, almost as if she had sighed with relief.
"Aren't you upset that he left without a word?" he asked.
"His family hates me. No wonder, he would rather not take me there."
"I hope you'll still show up at the party."
"Of course. I'm not going to miss it."
As she left, Mason looked at Noah, who appeared just as confused.
"Shouldn't she be upset? They organized a party for them, and he left her. Why did she seem pleased?"
"I don't know. Maybe she has a lover?" Noah suggested.
"You watch too many dramas," Mason sighed. "Perhaps she's just happy for the freedom."
"Or because she has someone else."
"She's pregnant."
"The baby could be someone else's. There were scandals in those days too."
"She's beautiful, but she looks innocent."
"Olivia looks like that too..."
Hotel guests were gathering in the ballroom. Waiters were serving dishes, jazz music was playing, and Mason — as James — observed everything from the sidelines. George appeared beside him.
"It's difficult to believe Jack left his wife at a time like this."
"And Marie seemed almost happy about it."
George cleared his throat.
"Jack can be possessive. Maybe she's happy to have some peace and quiet."
"Perhaps. But something's off here."
George nodded towards two women with upturned noses.
"The witches are back. They're looking for us." Both of them knew he was referring to their wives.
Marie stood at a distance, smiling at George. When she saw his wife, her face fell. The man shook his head, signaling her not to approach.
"Your suit's poorly pressed," his wife remarked. "Maybe you should change the staff?"
"Possibly, I should change my wife," he retorted. "But it's not that simple."
"You should be nicer to a woman you haven't seen in months."
"George knows very well we live like cats and dogs."
George tried not to laugh.
"What's funny to you? Would you rather I hadn't come?"
"I didn't say anything," he snapped, irritated.
Marie was approaching them. James' and George's wives immediately noticed.
"Marie! Congratulations! We heard about the pregnancy," one of them said with a falsely polite tone.
"Thank you," Marie replied, looking at George. "And if you want to say you're sorry that Jack left, you don't need to. Occasionally, you have to toss the gum when it gets boring."
James furrowed his brow. George looked tense.
Marie looked at George's wife with superiority, then walked away.
"I can't stand that little one. Jack's family is right," the woman hissed.
"And I can't stand you," James retorted. "You're just a name. Nothing more."
Mason sighed with relief as he left the room shortly after his friend. He froze when he noticed George and Marie together behind the doors.
"Not here, someone will see us," George hissed.
"I hate your wife. I can't look at her," Marie whispered.
Noah appeared beside Mason.
"Told you! Marie's having an affair. And with whom? With the best friend of her husband."
"Do you think this led to the tragedy?"
"I doubt it. Something much worse must have happened. But this affair... it could be the start of everything."