I'll Be Seeing You Through Time (The Dimension Keepers) by Jennifer Conner

you.”
    “I’m sure of that.”

    Hadley reached for the railing and stepped onto the first wood stair that led to the second landing. If he wasn’t allowed to travel by the Ancients, would they stop him now? What would they do? Would they shoot him back to his current time, or would he disappear between dimensions. A shiver traveled up his spine. He’d made it through the front door— a good sign— but what about the next level?
    When he reached the section he was looking for, he spotted Clayton in a long black coat and his hair tied in a queue. His back was turned away from Hadley. Who knew how many years Clayton had been in the bookstore? Had it been over a hundred years like his time, or longer? They’d known each other as children in England and neither he nor Clayton aged. Their fathers were Dimension Keepers . He’d always wondered if Clayton would be his replacement. Now he knew.
    “I never expected to see you again,” Hadley stated.
    Clayton spun around and his mouth dropped open wide when he saw him. “Hadley, what the deuce are you doing here?”
    “I’m just as surprised as you are. I’m back, because I need your help. You took a man through, a Glenn Miller?”
    Clayton looked confused. Hadley realized many years had passed since the travel. He clarified, “It must have been a long time ago. 1942. He said that you were in a hurry and did not ask the Dimension Keeper questions that are required by the Ancients. This man, Glenn, had no idea he was traveling.”
    “I remember now. I’ve fretted over that for a while, but you can’t spend time with all of them.’ ” He shrugged and gave a sideways grin. “What’s done is done.”
    “You arrogant prig. You turned this man’s life upside down.” Hadley stalked toward him and grabbed the lapel of his coat. He pulled Clayton close and glared into his eyes. “You’re lucky right now that I don’t break your jaw. When we were in training, you never cared about your travelers. I’m in 2013 now, hoping to pick up the pieces that you or other thoughtless Keepers left behind. It ends here. I’m going to right a wrong so I can live with myself.”
    “I’m not sure what you want me to do.”
    “There is a young woman still back in 1942. Glenn believes she is going to end her life. You are the guide. You’re going to take me back to 1942 so I can find her.”
    “But…” Clayton looked around in a nervous way. “The Ancients. What if they disagree?”
    “Let them decide. If they keep me, send me to another time, or make me disappear, so be it.”
    “Why are you helping this…Glenn? He’s my traveler, not yours.”
    “They are all our travelers. Don’t you see? He’s a good man. He paid with his life and I owe this to him.”
    “It must mean a lot to you to make such a sacrifice.”
    “It does.”
    “Why don’t you go by yourself?”
    “You’re the current Dimension Keeper. I think that I’ll need you to travel, and also if there’s any chance for me to return to my current time.”
    “I see.” Clayton nodded. He started to walk to a door, and then stopped. “No, this is the wrong time.” He motioned to Hadley and then they moved down the hall to another door. The large planked wooden door stood in front of them.
    “Are you sure about this? That I am the key?” Clayton asked. “What if you are blocked from returning?”
    “I need to try.”
    Clayton pulled it open and took Hadley by the wrist. They stepped over the threshold. Hadley’s ears snapped and the pressure ballooned inside his head. He closed his eyes and awaited his fate.

    A man with an overcoat buttoned tight pushed past him and a large blue car blasted its horn.
    “Every time I return to this era, it is much louder than I remember,” Clayton said his hand still on Hadley’s arms. “Are you all right?”
    “I believe so.” Hadley looked around. He had indeed traveled back in time. He walked over to a corner stand and lifted the top newspaper on the pile.