Page 64 of Only a Breath Away

We all sat down on the back porch, around the table, with a view of the lake.

“We were at Kilchurn, there was a battle, terrible machines from the sky — a war on the walls, and then I was taken, a terrible pain, much like this, and…” Zach slid a pair of sunglasses across the table toward her.

She fumbled with them and then with James’s help got them on over her eyes. “Tis a relief.”

Emma entered the screened porch with the four kids in tow. Archie and Ben sat beside Sophie, Isla climbed up in her lap, and Zoe tugged on her skirts.

Sophie said, “Zoe! Ye are so big! How did this…? Och ye are…” She kissed and hugged them all. “Ye all look so forlorn, yet I was only gone for a verra short time.”

I said, “Finish your story.”

She said, “I was dragged tae a dungeon and was there for a few hours when Lady Mairead appeared and…”

Fraoch said, “Lady Mairead...? She was the one?”

James said, “She poisoned the whole damn castle, nabbed Sophie, and picked up a boy-toy in the process.”

Zach said, “What the fuck? Where was Magnus through all of this?”

“He was waiting with me. Lady Mairead is a force of destruction. ThankGodshe’s on our side.” He put his arm around Sophie and kissed her on the temple.

Emma sighed. “I suppose since you’re back… they’re going to do it, right? How long do we have? When are they going to use the Bridge?”

“Magnus went to the thirteenth century, to be near Kaitlyn, while it happens, in case. And… I left. She was going to activate the Bridge soon after.”

Emma frowned.

Zach said, “Hey kids, who wants a treat?”

Fraoch and the kids yelled, “Me!”

Zach disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with ten bags and four bowls. He began pouring: pretzels, Chex mix, nuts, and M&Ms into the bowls. Then he added sour gummy worms, some Oreos. He poured Doritos on top. “Isn’t anyone going to stop me?”

Emma laughed, “It seemed like you had a plan.”

He used a big spoon to stir the bowls and placed them around the table. He carried the empty bags back to the kitchen and returned with a box of sodas. Everyone popped a soda can. He sat back down.

Emma patted her lap for Zoe to climb up and she wrapped her hand around Zach’s. She said, “Ben, will you come sit in your dad's lap?”

“Why?”

“Just for a moment, just… please.”

Ben sat in Zach’s lap. Isla climbed up in Beaty’s lap. Archie moved to a seat beside Fraoch and Fraoch and I held hands while he put an arm around Archie. Quentin had an arm around Beaty and James and Sophie were embracing. And we sat like this for a long time. Quietly eating, drinking, and holding onto each other. A tear streamed down from Emma’s eyes.

Isla asked, “Why you crying, Aunt Emma?”

“I just love you all so much and this is one of those moments where I want it to be known, I love you all, and if I had my way we would be together forever, and we would have everyone with us.”

We all raised our cans. “Here here.” I tucked my head to Fraoch’s shoulder and he kissed my hair. And then we were quiet, except for the tick tick tock of the clock on the wall.

CHAPTER 51 - KAITLYN

Isat on the straw mattress of the hard bed, really truly freaking out. I was completely alone, but also, the room was cold, the comforting presence absent. What if slowly over the next few days the whole world was slowly chipped away? Bit by bit — how long would I be here doing nothing while it happened? And what else could I do?

I couldn’t leave the castle for Balloch, I would get lost in medieval Scotland — I mean, I was already lost, but that would make me doubly lost, unable to ever be found again.

This harkened back to the lesson I learned a million years ago, or a thousand years in the future:who was lost?

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