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"I’m here because of him Here in this situation and here in this town Because of Jack" When I didn’t answer, her hands dropped limply to her sides "Why would any of you keep that a secret?"

"Because we don’t know anything for certain" I couldn’t answer her truthfully I didn’t want to give her any inforoes into rewind, it could affect me"

"If you’re here because of hirandmother would be, too" I heard the realization dawn in her voice "Possibly my extended family"

"Possibly"

"This throhole different perspective on things" She took a deep breath, and I could feel herto accept the truth "I really a Jack"

"No If my dad can re-create the formula needed to ti Jack at a known place in his past would be the fastest way to find hi out?" she asked, her eyes steady on mine

I frowned "It’s not, exactly"

"His past," she mused "What about his past?"

"If they o to find hi about the formula Jack’s stirred up all this trouble because he wants soed He wants a ticket back to his past" She almost bounced as she asked her next question "Has anyone ever asked why?"

I sat at our table with ned as the lookout for Abi Even so, Lily stood with an order pad in her hand, leaning against the table instead of sitting doith randmother made me a little afraid Abi appeared to be the kind of woranddaughter break a huge rule

I wished I could see enough to keep an eye out for Abi, too

"We’ve never tried to figure out why he wants the past changed," I said, continuing our conversation froe his past himself, and why he needed Em to do it for him"

"No one knows the reason?"

"There are a couple of theories Em thinks maybe there’s some reason he didn’t want to mess with his own ti rules Michael thinks it’s because the exotic matter forh to do what he wanted"

"I have no theories Time travel makes my head hurt" She bit her bottom lip "How old is Jack?"

"Midthirties"

"Your dad is in his midforties" She made a note on the order pad "And Jack’s known your dad how long?"

"About fifteen or sixteen years That’s when Jack beca ti "And a lot of memories Not to mention how hard it would be to keep track of who knehat Lots of people are involved at the university level Staff, students, colleagues at other schools"

"Keep going"

"I agree with you I don’t think Jack cares about rules, which ed didn’t happen recently I think it happened way before he cae at Bennett"