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Kat realized her mistake. She needed to return to 1816. She hoped Thomas hadn’t left for New York, yet. Kat knew Elliot would want to go with her, so she lied to him and told him she was going to work. She needed to be away from him. Ever since they’ve returned, he’s been very apprehensive and controlling, wanting to know where she was every second. Kat did let Alice know, though. Kat jumped, hoping the pond would take her where she wanted to go. Kat emerged from the pond, but she wondered if the pond had taken her to the wrong time, because instead of Thomas, she found her father waiting for her. “You know, don’t you?” “Yes. We will talk about that, later. You’re in the right time. He hasn’t left yet.” “You know about Thomas and I?” “Yes. Once he learned I was your father, he told me all about it. How he helped you rescue Jacob and fell in love with you.” “I hope you’re okay with this? I know how much you and mom loved Elliot, but Dad, he’s not the one for me. I know you and Mom tried being there for him, so he didn’t turn out like Victor.” “I’m sorry, Kat. I just want you to be happy and loved. If Thomas is the right guy, then I will give him my blessing. The ship leaves in a few hours, so you have a little time. He’s at the homestead.” Colton and Kat ran to the homestead.
Alice was so happy her mother moved back in. Lately, she had been getting an uneasy feeling from Elliot . She was also glad she didn’t have to deal with him at school, since there is a substitute for the remaining of the year. Elliot needed help.
Colton and Kat entered the homestead. Kat ran straight to Thomas and kissed him. “I’m sorry. I thought being with you couldn’t happen since we live in different times, so I made the only decision I thought I had. That was wrong of me. I am going to find a way to be with you. You get me. As soon as I got back home, I felt uncomfortable and incomplete. There was a hole in my heart where you belong. Now, I’m here and it’s full again. I won’t leave you again, I promise.” Kat looked at her dad and asked him “Is there any way I can bring him forward? I want to be with Thomas, but there’s Alice to consider.” A few minutes later, Jacob arrived. He had a happy reunion with Colton. They told him of their plans. He was on board.
Alice was at the pond. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to jump in. She did miss her friends in 1974, but she wanted to be home when her mother returned. Unfortunately, Elliot showed up. “Take me to Kat.” “I’ve never been to that time. If I go in now, the pond will either take me to 1974,1999 or 2000.” “Take the chance!” “How do you know mom went into the pond?” “ Well, she’s not at her office like she said she’d be! She went back to him, didn’t she? She can’t stay there. She’ll have to return, eventually.” Just then, Nick showed up. “Hey guys, how’s it going?” “Nick, this isn’t the time.” Alice took the opportunity and ran back to the farm. About an hour later, Nick showed up at the farm. He was concerned about Alice. He had noticed she was distressed. It was the real reason he interrupted her encounter with Elliot at the pond. His interrogation of Elliot revealed that Kat had feelings for someone else. Nick wanted all of his friends to be happy, so he didn’t know what to do. “You okay?” “Yeah. Mom just isn’t in love with Elliot. I know he’s your best friend, I used to want them to get together, but not anymore, so please stop trying to make that happen. I want mom to be happy. She’s found that, but not with Elliot.” “I see that, now. Elliot never should have divorced Emma and came back here.” “That’s my fault. In 1999, I never should have told him that I was Kat’s daughter.” “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known what would happen.” “Thanks, Nick.” Alice has decided to stay away from the pond, for the time being. She didn’t want Elliot traveling with her. Nick realized he needed to talk to Elliot.
Nick walked back into the Augustine home, “Elliot, I need to ask you something, and please tell me the truth. Did you marry Emma knowing you would divorce her, because you knew Kat and Brady were going to divorce and Kat would return to Port Haven?” “Yes, but I had second thoughts about proposing to Emma. She saw the ring, and I couldn’t tell her the truth.” “So you hurt a perfectly nice girl? You should have either told her the truth from the beginning and not married her, or you should have stayed married to her. She obviously still has feelings for you. God knows why.” “After Colton, I didn’t have a positive male role model.” “Elliot, I was raised by two women, not much of a male influence and I’m fine. Don’t use that as an excuse.” “Kat can never put me first.” “Good. She shouldn’t. What kind of mother would she be if put you before her child?” “Yet, she’s gone back to the 1800s leaving Alice here.” “I’m sure she will return and when she does, do yourself a favor and end this obsession you have with Kat, for good. It will be better for everyone in the long run.” “It’s not an obsession.” “It is. If it wasn’t, you would have allowed yourself to move on a long time ago. And you would want Kat to be happy, even if it meant not with you.” Nick hoped he had gotten his message across.
Everyone was doing research. Jacob had jumped back to 2025 and told Alice what was going on. They did research in their home and Kat’s office. Kat and Susanna looked for information in Susanna’s store. Thomas and Elijah looked through the homestead, and Colton jumped back to 2000, and did his research at Lingermore. He told Evelyn he just needed to use her library for a few hours. She didn’t question it. Everyone was determined to find a way to send Thomas forward with Kat. Jacob found a leather bound book, similar to the family almanac in the Landry attic. It had been in a hope chest that had belonged to Colton’s Grandma Fern. Her diary. Fern did seem to know a lot about the pond. Alice helped Jacob find a waterproof container for the book. At Lingermore, Colton saw his old copy of Through The Looking Glass, he had given Evelyn on that fateful night back in 1974. It brought back the memories. Meeting Del and Rick’s death. Colton took a moment to remember his friend, before continuing his search. Colton was hoping maybe Susanna had brought some of her books when she moved to Lingermore after marrying Cyrus. He found a book with a blue cover. It wasn’t titled. The pages were handwritten. Backwards. He needed a mirror to read it. He took the book, telling Evelyn he found a book he wanted. Susanna and Kat didn’t have much luck, about to give up, they came across Susanna’s sketchbook. Susanna said she remembered writing random formulas, recipes, and other information in it. She decided it might contain something useful. Elijah and Thomas didn’t have much luck, considering most of what Elijah owned had burned in the fire. He had made new furniture, to replace what was needed. A few hours later, everyone met back at the homestead and poured over their findings. Colton and Jacob were just glad the books they found had traveled. Susanna told Colton the backwards handwriting was hers. It was a log of Kat’s visits to 1814 and 1816. Kind of like the one Elliot kept of Alice’s travels in 1999 and the early 2000s. Kat found Fern’s diary the most interesting. Maybe why Fern kept telling her to ask the right questions or the little rhyme she kept reciting. Kat’s instincts told her those were clues to the answers they needed. She told everyone her thoughts about Fern’s diary, and how she met Fern in 1974, and that Fern called her Kitty Kat. Colton told Kat that Fern died in 1979. After a while, they’ve decided they had to try.
Everyone walked to the pond, Colton gave Thomas his blessing and asked him to take care of his family. Colton then hugged his daughter. Kat recited Fern’s rhyme, took Thomas’ hand, and said, “I love him. Please don’t keep us apart. Make an exception for the future.” With that, they both jumped in. Their hands were still entwined when they emerged. “Did it work?” Thomas asked. “I think so. See that path? It’s not there in 1816.” They got out of the pond and walked hand in hand towards the farm. It had worked. Alice was sitting on the porch swing reading a book. She looked up, when she saw Kat. They hugged. Then Kat said, “Thomas, this is my daughter, Alice. Alice, this is Thomas.” “Nice to meet you, Alice. Kat talks about you all the time.” “Nice to meet you, too. Thanks for making my mom happy.” The three of them went into the house. Kat introduced Thomas to Del, and told her all about how Thomas and Susanna had helped her rescue Jacob, all those months ago. Alice told them about Nick’s visit, and that Elliot finally did the right thing, and took Nick’s advice. Elliot went to track Emma down in St. John. Jacob and Susanna both arrived in the present day, shortly after. Susanna told them that Cyrus had passed, and even though he left Lingermore to her, his sons didn’t honor that, so she risked it and came to the present with Jacob. Thus learning her headstone was a fake. Everyone in 1816, believed she just left town. Elijah knew the truth, though. They all lived happily ever after.