Page 16 of Love Beyond Wanting
Maddock smiled, his hope resurfacing.“If she isna married, she isna taken.Besides, ye said nothing of this man coming back.I canna see how anyone can maintain a relationship with one of them living in our time and the other living hundreds of years in the future.”
“Fair point.I guess with everything that’s been going on, I’d not given much thought to what Kate might do about Dillon.But, you don’t even know her.How can you be so sure that you’ll like her so much?”
“I canna be sure, but if she’s anything like ye, I shall like her verra much indeed.”
Laurel smiled and leaned in to hug him.“Oh, Maddock, you’re my favorite, too.Be careful, okay?And don’t tell Paton what I said about thefavoritething since he’s already agreed to go with you.”
His smile disappeared at the realization that she’d not asked him first.“Favorite, ye say?Surely, if ’twas true, ye would’ve spoken to me before Paton.”
“I only spoke to Paton first because I saw him first.I couldn’t find you.So, listen.I really am sorry I have to ask you guys to do this anyway.Sydney had originally told me she and Callum would see them here, but she just received the happy news that she’s pregnant, and I don’t want her to travel that far while she’s expecting.You do know the way to Cagair, don’t you?”
He’d not traveled nearly as much as Raudrich, but his knowledge of Scotland was still wide.
“Aye, lass.I know where ’tis.Do ye mean for us to meet them in the Cagair of this time or theirs?”
Laurel shrugged.“That’s up to you, really.Sydney and Callum will still be there and will help introduce them to everything, but if you’d like to go forward while you’re there and see what it’s like, I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t.”
He definitely wanted to go forward.
Boston—Two Days Later—Present Day
Just as we were getting ready to head to the airport, Laurel called with a huge piece of news that she somehow neglected to tell me during our last phone call—she was engaged to Raudrich.
While I was genuinely thrilled for her, my own relationship status had me about ready to pull my hair out.
For days, Dillon had been trying to get ahold of me.For the last ten days, his name had popped up on my phone.Each time I sent it to voicemail.
“Don’t you want to answer that?You were the one to end it, weren’t you?What could he have done to cause you to be so cold to him?”
With all of our bags loaded in the car downstairs, there was just one thing left for me to do before we headed to the airport—doctor up the coffees I’d picked up with the potion Morna had sent with Mr.Crinkles’ travel documents.
“I don’t want to talk about it, Mom.It’s over and nothing good would come from Dillon and me rehashing things.Here.”I quickly swirled her coffee and extended it in her direction.“You carry this.I’ll grab Mr.Crinkles.Let’s get out of here.”
With any luck, we’d arrive in Edinburgh with both Mom and David fully onboard with the concept of time travel.
Chapter 10
Edinburgh, Scotland
Despite Laurel’s insistence that there were people at Cagair Castle who would welcome us whenever we decided to show up, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was very bad manners to just show up at someone’s home unannounced.So, as Mom and David waited for our suitcases at baggage claim, I moved away to connect to the airport wi-fi so I could look up the number to call Cagair Castle.
A man’s voice answered on the second ring.“’Ello.”
“Hi…um…” I hesitated and my cheeks warmed as I realized I really should’ve planned what I was going to say before dialing.“This is going to seem like a very strange phone call.Do you mind if I ask who I’m speaking with?”
“Certainly, lass.My name is Orick.Might I ask ye the same question?”
“Yes, of course.My name is Kate.Is there…would it be possible for me to speak to either Sydney or Gillian?”
“I’m sorry, lass, but I’m afraid they’ve gone out for a bit.”He paused, and I couldn’t help but wonder if what he couldn’t say was that they’d gone into the past using the castle’s stairwell.“And they are unreachable at the moment.Are ye certain that I canna help ye?”
“Sure.Maybe.Do you know Morna?”
It seemed to me that was the most important question I could ask him.If he did know Morna, then surely he knew about the magic, and I could speak freely with him without sounding like a lunatic.
The man laughed, and his tone changed to one of recognition.
“Ah.I thought it strange that the phone was ringing.Rarely happens.Ye must be Laurel’s sister, aye?Sydney told us to be expecting ye.Come on then.The lassies should be back by evening.If they are not, I’ll see that rooms are ready for ye.How many others are with ye?”
