Chapter 40 - The Same but Different

Albin had looked on with delight as Kwasi begun dating Melody. It was one benefit of being from the future, he could watch events unfold.

He knew that they would get married and have a little baby boy called Einstein. 

Still, it was quite exciting watching it all happen. Before he hadn't paid much attention. He had been too wrapped up in his work, but now reaching the top level of the police force seemed less important than his family.

Albin remembered that it had been on Kwasi's birthday that Kwasi had proposed to Melody. So he organised a big birthday party and had some champagne on stand by. Kwasi was late home as he took Melody out to dinner first and Albin waited with a smile creeping on his face as he imaged the scenes at the restaurant.

When Kwasi did come back he was quiet and subdued and there was no Melody with him. Albin began to feel worried. Kwasi soon retreated to his bedroom and Albin went to talk to him. His brother took out a ring and showed it to him.

"I was gonna ask her tonight" said Kwasi quietly, "then we started arguing, can't even remember what about, something so silly. She got in one her tempers and stormed out telling me she didn't want to see me again. I do love her but sometimes I wonder if we really are mean't to be together."

Albin sat in silence not sure what to say to Kwasi and in shock that history was not repeating itself. 

Kwasi and Melody continued to date after that, but seemed no closer to getting married than they were before.

This unexpected development led Albin to feel very depressed. He felt at sea and very lonely again. It had started to feel like home but now he felt like a stranger and missed his old life.

Then a week later Albin walked into his study to find Evelyn talking to think air.

He knew then that she must be talking to her imaginary friend Lance. Albin began working furiously to prepare the golden potion that Lance would need to turn into a real boy. Somehow he felt that if he could bring back Lance perhaps everything else would follow. It made no logical sense, but it was good to have a purpose. He began to spend entire evenings trying to recreate the potion he needed.


Two weeks later he had success.

He took it to Evelyn, silently praying that this would bring back Lance. He had entertained some doubts that perhaps Evelyn's friend who appeared might be called something else or be a different Lance than the one he remembered.

Evelyn took the potion and passed it to her imaginary friend who swallowed it in one gulp and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

When it cleared there stood Lance, just as Albin remembered him.

It was such a relief and Albin could have laughed out loud. Instead he welcomed the little boy into his home with much more warmth and less suspicion than the first Lance had received.

Then Kainda announced she was pregnant. Albin spent the pregnancy wondering what the baby would look like and what they would name it. Lance had given him hope but he still felt very nervous until the little one was finally born.

When it was born it was named Lois and Albin breathed a sigh of relief. 

Perhaps things were working out after all, just in a slightly different order. Whilst Kwasi and Melody were still dating there was still a chance they would get married and little Einstein would be born. If that was the case perhaps one day he would see little Gwen again.