Alice looked at Kit and opened her mouth but decided not to ask. She put all the papers back together in a pile and finally said, “Well, that’s about it. She later mentioned that this man, George Washington Carver, was visiting them often, mostly when Melvin was gone. He was always bringing presents, especially for Bette. When Bette turned eight years old, he went to Northern California in search of a job and they never heard from him again. I can only presume that this was the time when Melvin began staying home more often. But I’m sure that George is Bette’s father and that definitely explains Bette’s darker skin…she’s half black.”

“God, this is going to be so much for her to handle right now,” Tina said, trying to concentrate and absorb all the information they had learned from Alice.

“I think we should tell her about it, though,” Alice said. “It’s not that obvious that she’s bi-racial but some people might question her and it’s better if she learns the truth from us now.”

“For once I would have to agree with you, Alice,” Kit nodded. “This is something she needs to know now because it’s easier to deal with this situation here, in this time. Think about the possibility of Bette going back and learning about being half black in her own time. It would be devastating to her.”

“Yes, I agree,” Tina said, “I’m gonna take her home and tell her. What should I say about her sister?”

“I’ll leave this decision up to you,” Alice shrugged, “but I should warn you that she might want to go back in time so she could spend it with Katie. I was there…they were best friends, they loved each other dearly.”

“It’s true but it is also a public knowledge that Katie died in 1886 from child birth. It’s written in the ‘History of Orange County’.” Kit voiced her opinion. “What if she finds this book in the library and find this information? Who knows what she will do knowing that she is about to lose someone who is so dear to her and she is powerless to stop it…” Kit paused and Tina could see that she was trying to hold back tears.