Chapter 19

WHEN the light dissipated, the three time travelers found themselves over the familiar night sky of Hill Valley.

As Jennifer steered the car towards Doc’s house, Doc asked “Jennifer. What was that for?”

“Oh, I had to return that wig.” said Jennifer.

“That’s not what Doc was asking.” said Marty, “What he was trying to ask was…”

“Marty.” said Jennifer, “We just got back together. Let’s not do something that’ll get us put back there.”

“I’m not.” said Marty, “It’s just that we’re wondering why you drove back to Florence and materialized the DeLorean in front of all those people.”

“I had to convince Botticelli that I was from the future.” explained Jennifer, “The morning I left 1473, I overheard a conversation between him and the prince about trying to find out about my past which, as far as they were concerned, was the future.”

“Great Scott!” exclaimed Doc.

“Jennifer.” said Marty, “Is that why you called of the wedding with the prince?”

“Yes.” said Jennifer, “Once I heard that conversation, I realized how much of a fool I was allowing such a man to use me like that.” Turning to Marty, she said “The moment I learned about their little plan was the moment I wanted to fall back in love with you again but I didn’t know how.”

“Jennifer.” asked Marty, “What finally brought you back to me?”

“A word I heard the Sunday I was there in church.” said Jennifer, “Forgiveness.”

Marty sat back on the car saying “Jesus!”

“There’s the house.” said Doc.

At once, Jennifer pushed the roof button and prepared for a landing.

Once the car landed, Jennifer and her passengers got out as Marty said “Wow!”

Clara was there with the boys as her husband approached and kissed her.

“Emmett.” she said, “Marty, Jennifer. Did it work?”

“Yes it did.” said Doc, “Look!”

Clara did and there stood Marty and Jennifer in each others arms.

“Hey Dad.” asked Jules, “What is Jennifer wearing?”

Jennifer heard this and looked down. “Oh my goodness.” said Jennifer, “I’d better get dressed.”

“You’d better, Jen.” said Marty.

“Jennifer.” said Clara, “Your clothes are in the bathroom.”

“Okay.” said Jennifer. Turning to Marty, she said “Marty, I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here.” said Marty as they both kissed.

After that, Jennifer went to the bathroom to change.

Then, Doc said “Marty, what happened to her clothes?”

“Oh that.” said Marty, “She was posing for one of Botticelli’s paintings.”

“She was?” asked Doc, “Which one was that?”

“The one that had the naked lady standing on the clamshell.” said Marty.

“You mean ‘The Birth of Venus’?” asked Clara.

“That’s the one.” said Marty.

Turning to the boys, Clara said “Boys I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

“Do we have to?” asked Jules.

“Yes.” said Clara.

“Alright.” said Jules, “Good night, Mom, Dad.”

“Goodnight.” said the parents as mother and father kissed the boys before they left.

Once they were gone, Doc got out the Horizon book from the DeLorean and showed it to both Clara and Marty.

“Jennifer.” said Marty.

“It says Simonetta Vespucci.” said Clara.

“I know, Clara.” said Marty, “But for a week, Jennifer took her place.”

“But then she shouldn’t be looking like Jennifer.” said Clara.

“But she did.” said Marty, “I saw the woman who was supposed to be posing for that painting and she looked a lot like Jennifer.”

Then, he noticed a write up about the day they left 1473. And it had to do with Jennifer’s near rape by Count Tannenio.

“Count Tannenio tried his desire on the other Simonetta only to underestimate his would-be victim when she bit the arm of the count and then put on some moves that has been regarded today as the judo flip and the karate chop. All this occurred after a former suitor of hers named Alexander Dumas gave a speech about not proving courage every time someone called someone a coward. Dumas, too, proved that one doesn’t need swords, only fists, to fight as he laid several blows on the count causing him to land in a car that was hauling manure.”

“Son of a bitch!” said Marty.

Then, Jennifer came back in wearing her own clothes.

“Okay, Marty.” she said, “Your clothes are in there too.”

“Okay.” said Marty, “If you all excuse me, I’ve gotta change.” At that, he left.

Jennifer came in and looked at the book that Doc and Clara were sharing and said “That sure looks like me.”

“It sure does.” said Clara.

“After I got out of that sheet I was wearing,” said Jennifer, “I looked myself in the mirror and just knew that I’d be a goddess at heart. I just didn’t know that until my trip to the Renaissance period that I had the look of one.”

“Jennifer.” said Doc, “What about the prince and Botticelli trying to find out about you?”

“Well, I told Botticelli that I overheard them that morning and told him that I was from the future.” she said.

“You did?” exclaimed Doc, “And what happened?”

“He thought I was crazy and told his broom lady to confine me in the changing room until somebody with the rubber truck or whatever they use to get somebody to the loony bin in those days arrive. That’s when Count Tannenio showed up with his men.”

“And what happened when they did?”

“The count mistook me for the woman he was crazy about tried to rape me that’s when Marty came in and then the woman who looked like me came in.”

Clara looked at the Horizon book and said “It did mention that there were two of them for a week.”

“What did the other one do, Jennifer?” asked Doc.

“Doing what I did for a week.” said Jennifer, “Pose for Botticelli.”

Doc nodded in disgust. “You took a job away from someone else.” he said, “Why?”

“To hide from Marty.” said Jennifer, “And after I made up with him, I apologized to Simonetta who told me to think nothing of it. She said she needed a week off to spend time with her husband anyway.”

“She did?” asked Doc as he looked back into his book.

“Yes.” said Jennifer noticing what Doc was doing, “Why? What is it?”

Doc looked up and said “Oh nothing.”

Then, Marty came back in wearing his own clothes.

“Well, Marty.” said Doc, “You seemed to take you time in there.”

“I had to go.” said Marty, “After the second day in the past, I had to hold it in. Just nobody use the bathroom for awhile.”

“We won’t, Marty.” said Doc, “Clara, will you excuse us for a minute?”

“Of course.” said Clara and she left.

Doc set both Marty and Jennifer down and said “I want you two to understand what set off the breakup between you two was that trip to 1978. Since it was your idea, Jennifer, Marty’s concern with Mrs. Jandick did not justify you suggestion about using time travel as a diversion from what was on Marty’s mind even if the best thing had happened.”

“I know, Doctor Brown.” said Jennifer, “And there’s no excuse for my jealousy either.”

“And as for you, Marty.” said Doc, “What the hell were you thinking about when you made off with Jan?”

“About not being called a chicken.” said Marty, “The son of a bitch got on my nerve when he called me that. I didn’t know that being called a chicken would eventually cause a breakup.”

“Marty.” said Doc, “I was hoping to get over this. And I hope this breakup would keep you from losing your judgment every time someone calls you a name. And it better or you’ll wind up into another accident in the future.”

Both Marty and Jennifer looked at each other then at Doc with Marty saying “Doc. What’s wrong with my future now?”

Doc hesitated before saying “I can’t tell you. It’ll make things worse. Marty as much as you were not supposed to intervene with Jim and Jan in 1978, I can’t tell you about the future. You must do what you must do.”

“I understand.” said Marty, “Well, you’re the doc, Doc.”

“Good.” said Doc, “And one more thing: We’re sorry about tricking both of you into coming down tonight. It was the only way we could bring you two back together. If we didn’t try, you two would’ve never gotten married.”

Jennifer closed her eyes. “And I almost made sure we didn’t get married by agreeing to marry a prince.” said Jennifer, “It’s a good thing I came to my senses.”

“Apologies accepted, Doc.” said Marty as he shook hands with his friend and embraced him.

Jennifer followed. And then, Marty said “I think it’s time for us to go.”

“I know it is.” said Jennifer, “I haven’t seen home in a week.”

“Well, good night you two.” said Doc.

“Good night, Doc.” said Marty as he picked up his skateboard.

“Good night, Doctor Brown.” said Jennifer

After that, they left.

++++++

Once outside, Jennifer asked “Marty, can I give you a ride home?”

“Sure.” said Marty and they both got into her car.

On their way to Marty’s house, Jennifer told him about her ordeal in the studio before he showed up. Then, she asked “Hey Marty. How about trip to that new gallery of Jan’s?”

“You mean go back there?” asked Marty, “Jennifer, that’s where we broke up.”

“I know.” said Jennifer, “But there’s someone else I want to apologize too.”

Marty knew who that would be and said “Okay.”

“Oh, Marty.” asked Jennifer, “About that statement, ‘He will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight.’ Where did you get that from?”

“From watching ‘Star Trek the Next Generation’” said Marty, “I was watching it with my family when Doc called and put it into good use when I confronted Tannenio.”

“I see.” said Jennifer, “Here we are.”

Jennifer pulled the car up to the driveway. Before he got out, Marty said “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” said Jennifer, “See you then, love you.”

Being glad to hear that word from Jennifer, Marty said “Love you too.” And they both kissed.

After that, Marty took his skateboard and got out of the car. After one final wave, Jennifer pulled away and drove off as Marty went in via the side and through his bedroom window.

When he came out, he saw his family looking out the living room window.

“Mom.” asked Marty, “Dad, Dave, Linda. What the hell are you looking at?”

Everyone turned around to see Marty.

“Marty.” said Lorraine, “Was that you getting out of a car? I thought you were in the bedroom on the phone to Doctor Brown.”

“What?” exclaimed Marty.

“Marty.” said George, “That looks like Jennifer’s car.”

“You and Jennifer are back together again?” asked Linda.

“Jennifer was here?” asked Marty. He knew that he just made up with her but had to pretend that it hadn’t happened yet for fear of explaining to them about time travel.

Then, the McFly’s gave Marty a peculiar stare. “Marty.” said Lorraine, “You’re acting like you haven’t been home for a week.”

“Believe me.” said Marty, “I…never mind.” He turned and went back to his bedroom.

++++++

Jennifer arrived home just in time to see that she and her parents had a guest. It was another look-alike of her.

“Jennifer.” said Jerry, “Your cousin from Italy is here.”

Jennifer looked at her look-alike exclaiming “I’ve got a cousin from Italy?”

“You know me.” said her look-alike. She spoke with an Italian accent, “Cousin Simonetta.”

“Cousin Simonetta?” exclaimed Jennifer.

“You know her, Jennifer.” said her father, “She’s the direct descendent of Marco and Simonetta Vespucci. You know, the woman who posed as the woman on the clamshell in Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’.”

Jennifer felt faint. “Oh my God.” she said.

“Jennifer.” said her mother, “Are you alright.”

“I will be.” said Jennifer, “Excuse me.”

She turned and went off to her bedroom. But not before she picked up the cell phone and took it with her.

Before she entered her room, she could hear her mother say “You’ve got to forgive my baby. She’s been having it rough lately. She just broke up with someone she’s been seeing for years.”

“I see.” said Simonetta.

Closing the door, she called Doc.

“Doctor Brown.” she said, “I think I’ve just tampered with history.”

“What is it?” asked Doc.

“About that week off that Simonetta took off while I was posing for Botticelli.”

“What about it?”

“I think they made a baby.” said Jennifer, “I’ve got a cousin from Italy that I never knew I had.”

“Well, at least there was no harm done.” said Doc.

“I hope not.” said Jennifer, “Good night, Doctor Brown.”

“Good night, Jennifer.” said Doc.

After hanging up, Jennifer looked at the wastebasket. It was full of pictures of her and Marty that she threw away when she was angry at Marty for flirting with Jan. Putting down the phone, she decided to fish out the photos for reframing. As she did, she noticed something else.

It was the CUSCO fax sheet she brought from the future. The one that once read “YOU’RE FIRED”. That too was thrown away when she was mad at Marty. She looked at it and to her horror the words “YOU’RE FIRED” were back.

Jennifer remembered the dream she had the morning she left 1473. It was the dream about her trip to 2015, except the accident didn’t occur 30 years earlier, it was 28 years, this year. And it wasn’t the accident with the Rolls-Royce but Jan’s gallery.

Jennifer pressed her hands to her mouth in horror. Oh no! she said to herself, It’s going to happen again.

All of the sudden, the worst was yet to come.

End of Chapter 19

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