Luke thought for another few seconds about this possibility, but he couldn’t wrap his head around it. Deciding he’d already been gone too long, Luke returned to the table with Pat and tried to act as normal as possible. He started to say something, but Pat beat him to it.

“So, this is about what that madman was trying to fix, isn’t it.”

“What?”

“The guy Louissa was working for. Thickton? This is about him, ain’t it.”

Luke was at a loss for words. Of all of them, Pat knew about Thickton?

“Yes, it is. I’m helping him.”

“He’s alive?”

“I believe he’s been dead for a while, but as you said he was researching the science of time.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll bet that old man has had you running around the world for him.”

Pat pointed her body back towards the counter and took a drink after staring into her cup for a second. She seemed to be reminiscing.

“Not… around the world. I’ve been around town a few times though.”

She smiled and gestured with her cup.

“Time, right?”

“Right.”

“So, what’s left? How does one fix the clock?”

“You know the issue?”

“Louissa told me a little bit, most of the numbers went over my head but I do know that time keeps resetting.”

She certainly knew more than he expected.

“That’s right… To fix it I have to resolve people’s issues.”

“Their issues! That’s a very interesting method! No massive technological behemoths, no gadgets, just helping people until the clock works again? Really doesn’t sound that bad to me!”

“I just wish I’d been given an instruction book from the beginning.”

“Haha, well I don’t think you’re alone. If someone had an instruction book for life they’d be king of the world! The reason there are people like you and me is that we have no idea what the hell we’re doing every day and making the best of our mistakes, isn’t it?”

“That’s… true-”

“So am I one of those people whose issues you need to resolve?”

“You are.”

“How do we know when it’s resolved?”

“Not really sure, most of the problems have been big and out in the open. I’m not sure about yours at all.”

Pat sat her mug down on the counter and thought for a minute before smiling and taking another drink.

“Then how about this. You promise to help around the apartments and have a meal with me now and then and we’ll call it solved, eh?”

“C-can you just do that?”

“No idea! But if I don’t see a problem, there shouldn’t be one.”

“But-”

“No buts! I relieve you from your commitment to me, and add another! Will you agree to my terms?”

Pat sat her mug down and stuck her hand out towards Luke. Could it be this easy? He wanted to believe it but… it seemed like there had to be more for him to do.

“Lexa…”

He whispered to himself as he thought about her. No… he would accept this. He didn’t have time, he only had three days left and three people’s problems to solve. Including his own! He had to move on.

“Absolutely. This beats breaking into Thickton’s old house any day.”

“Hahaha! Then it’s settled.”

Pat raised her mug, and Luke did the same. After they clinked together, Luke and Pat dug into their meals talking the night away.

When Luke finally arrived back home he looked at the bracelets. Nothing was changing. Was something supposed to? Were they supposed to say “approved” like they had for Crash and Sayuri? No… Crash said it himself… His anxiety was beginning to build on whether Pat’s way worked… but he didn’t have time for that. He sighed and sat down on the bed. Tomorrow was going to be a hell of a day.