'It's a paradox, an infinite loop,' said Rick. 'Don't even try to figure it out.'
'Maybe it started in another version of reality,' said Con. 'One many times removed from our own.'
'Maybe. What I'm curious about is how could you have known about this woman? We're talking over a century be- tween you and her.'
'Never underestimate a strong-willed woman with money. Our children will name their daughters Constance and they'll pass on the story.'
'That you traveled through time?'
'Not that story,' said Con. 'The story about you and me being found and the mines and the family curse.'
'Curse?'
'That if the oldest daughter isn't named Constance or doesn't learn her story, the family will be ruined.'
'Who'd buy that?'
'Daddy did. Rich people can be very traditional; all my girl cousins are named Constance. Besides, there are lawyers involved.'
Rick grinned and shook his head in amazement. 'Con-stance Clements was quite a woman.'
'She sure was,' agreed Con. 'Now that I know she's me, I'm even more impressed.'
'What about her husband?'
'The geologist? He helped discover the mines. Then he retired to collect fossils.' Con kissed Rick. 'They were very happy.'
Rick looked dazed. 'So what now?'
'We won't be found for three days.'
'Three days!' said Rick, in alarm. 'You'll be eating grass!'
'Jane left us a supply of cubes for our honeymoon.'
Rick lay back in the grass to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. Con cuddled next to him. 'First we'll build a cabin, then we'll look for gold. Of course, we won't find much until after Joe is born.'
'Joe?'
'He was my final proof that I'm Constance Clements, the one that clinched it. They tested me.'
'What are you talking about?'
'Joseph Burns Clements, silly. Your son. I'm pregnant.'
'Pregnant?' exclaimed Rick. He looked at Con with an awed, silly grin.
'Yeah. We'll discover The Second Chance two months after he's born. In a year we'll be rich!'
'Con! You're going to drive me nuts if you keep telling me my future. Save a few surprises.' Con giggled. 'That's no problem. I'm probably the most surprising woman in history.'
Epilogue
TOM CLEMENTS GAZED UPON THE CROWD AT THE SYM-
posium, smiling and nodding to whomever he knew. Many of his colleagues were there, along with his students and former students. There were also numerous new faces. One of those belonged to a slender, blonde-haired woman who stared at him in a puzzled way. Thinking perhaps he should recognize her, Tom acknowledged her gaze with a nod. The woman hesitantly approached him. As she advanced across the room, Tom looked at her more closely. She had the sun-darkened face of someone who had spent a lot of time in the field. Her tanned skin set off her light blue eyes. She was clutching a bound manuscript.
