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knew that as much as he. “Milk the moment” was an established right—nay, duty—of every person or organization in the public eye.
    “To aid you in your wait, I would like to introduce one of last year’s winners, Dr. Cheryl Nickolby, who will have the honor of picking the winning tickets.”
    Cheryl burst from the wings, hands waving like an Olympic gold medalist come home. They exchanged a proper hug and as the applause continued, Cheryl offered a curtsy and a by-your-leave sweep of her hand. “Keep it up and I’m apt to forgive you for all the meddling you’ve done in my life this last year.”
    “You love it!” yelled a man in the third row.
    Cheryl smoothed her long black jacket over her very short skirt. She had wonderful legs… “Let’s say I’ve accepted it as a necessary evil.” She winked at them. “You are evil, you know.”
    “We try!” yelled one reporter.
    “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” added another.
    “Watch it, bucko,” Cheryl said.
    Once again, Mac was amazed at her affinity for banter. Even during such an auspicious occasion, she drew shouts from the audience. It was impossible not to feel at ease in her presence. No wonder she was such a successful doctor.
    But if he didn’t step in, Cheryl would banter them into the next hour. “Are there any questions for Dr. Nickolby?”
    “Do you wish you were going again?”
    The shake of her head was vehement. “Been there, done that. I am very happy with my current state of affairs, thank you.”
    “You mention affairs. How is your love life?”
    She shook a finger at them. “I walked into that one, didn’t I?” She glanced at Mac but revealed nothing. “To bring you up to date, for those of you who’ve been covering such insignificant news as terrorism or the lack of world peace, you should know that I have recently taken a position at St. Agnes Hospital here in Kansas City and am enjoying my job immensely. There is currently no Mr. Wonderful in my life, so keep those cards, resumes, and expensive gifts coming.”
    “When are we going to read a book about your Time Lottery travels?” a reporter asked.
    Mac knew both Cheryl and Phoebe Thurgood—the other winner who’d returned—had been offered huge sums to share their stories. Neither had succumbed.
    Cheryl answered by putting her hands on her hips like an exasperated mother. “Oh, that would be smart, wouldn’t it? Letting you in on more of my life? I think not. I need to keep a few secrets to myself.”
    “That’s not fair!”
    “Chicken.”
    Cheryl waved their comments away, then took a step closer to the edge of the stage and waited for their silence. “Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, what I will tell you is that this phenomenon, this Time Lottery, is a scientific wonder bordering on miracle. It deserves the utmost support and respect of all. I ask you, I beg you, to do nothing to undermine the good it’s doing. Cherish this opportunity and this organization. Because if you don’t, you’ll have me to contend with.”
    “Promise?”
    She took a deep breath and looked at Mac. “With my threat properly in place, I now pass the ball back to Mr. MacMillan, who will take us one step closer to the all-important moment we’ve been waiting for.”
    She moved aside, offering him center stage. He began his spiel. “The Time Lottery is the culmination of twenty-two years of scientific research spurred by the ageless questions of what if? Before the inception of the Time Lottery, humankind traveled through life making mistakes, having regrets, leaving hopes unrealized. But then a miracle. The discovery of the Loop and a way to tap into an alternate reality—the Alternity.”
    It was a wonderful word…
    “You’ve all experienced it. Those memories and dreams that seem real enough to grasp and hold on to. Moments. Fleeting instants visited but then lost when the sights and sounds of the present push them away. In just a moment, three lucky people will be chosen to