Chapter 35

901 D St
Washington DC

November 2011

In the end they spent nearly a month at the inn in Spotsylvania. They spent the time getting healthy in every way. But in some ways they would never heal. Especially Tally, for all that she grew more comfortable with the modern world some part of her would always be stuck one hundred and fifty years ago. She would adapt but she might never fully heal.

Spencer found he could live with that.

Right about the time she agreed with Spencer about having to go back out to the country every night being a pain Dave said his friend had moved out of his condo and the minor renovations were done. Spencer took a deep breath and a big leap of faith and signed the paperwork. The new place was seven blocks from Union Station, further than his old place but still a walkable distance, even with a light dusting of snow on the ground. "So have you heard from the people up north?" Dave asked as they walked.

"We have." Spencer said. "The colony on Wolfe Island has decided to stay there. They've already made arrangements to have a couple of booths at the Farmer's Market in Kingston, Ontario, they've contracted with six restaurants there to provide custom grown heritage meat and organic produce, and they're starting a CSA program. If Housekeeper's projections stay on track they'll be a self sustaining organic farm cooperative within five years."

"They'll stay on track." Tally said. "Even Mother Nature wouldn't dare cross one of Housekeeper's plans." That got a laugh. "What about the others, have you heard?"

"They're hanging in there. I don't think they have a five year plan but with the information the wives' gave us they have enough funds to keep them going while they sort it out." Dave replied. "I don't know if I'm glad Grindstone Island turned out to be US territory or not, it sounds like the other side of the border is more organized."

"I'm sure it will work out for them." Morgan replied. "They're free now, that's the important thing."

Finally they stopped in front of a large, brick building. Spencer and Tally stared at the inscription over the door. "Edmonds School?" Spencer finally asked.

"Opened in 1903, closed in the 70's, when the district decided it was cheaper and safer to open new schools to fit the new building codes than to try to renovate the old ones." Dave replied. "A lot of the old buildings have been converted to condos now."

"You said you wanted to live in a school house." Morgan added.

Tally and Spencer grinned at each other and followed the two men in, practically skipping up the steps. They went up to the second floor unit and marveled at the space. "You're kidding!" Spencer said as he stuck his head in the small office just inside the door. It had all the accoutrements of his classroom, right down to the glassed in bookcase and the teacher's desk.

"You said school!" Morgan insisted.

"Check the living room." Dave said. "There are two bedrooms upstairs. Nothing fancy there, but enough for a family, now that you don't have to worry about Parsons anymore."

They passed through the large kitchen, a space filled with light from the tall windows and done in a way that made it feel like an old-fashioned high school chemistry lab, and then around the corner to the living room. Tally gasped when she saw it. "It looks like my classroom!"

"With a couch." Spencer laughed. It did, from the bins around the walls under the tall bookshelves that held his library, to the spinning wheel off to one side, to the braided rug on the floor. The stove in the corner was electric and there was indeed a couch, but otherwise it was perfect. He turned to the others with a huge smile. "Thank you." He said.

"You're welcome." Dave said.

"This place has great security and a 24 hour doorman." Morgan said. "She'll be safe here when you go out on the road. Any idea when you're coming back?"

"At this point after the first of the year; I haven't quite been cleared yet, and we want to go see Mom and visit CalTech before I come back."

"Going to go see home, huh?"

"No." Tally said, coming up and putting her arm around Spencer's waist. "My magician already brought me home."