Page 101 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“My aunt doesnae carry a cell phone with her, but she may check in with me later. I’ll tell her ye wish to speak with her. She’s had a trying time of it lately and Uncle Angus thought she could use a break.”
“Thank you.” Jenna felt deflated. She had hoped to meet Edna and then be on her way back to Cormac immediately. Now she knew she was going to have to wait.
Dylan finished the paperwork and Maggie handed them the keys to their rooms. “They’ll be at the top of the stairs. Let me know if I can be of any help. Dinner is served in the dining room shortly, if ye’re interested in a meal.” Jenna noticed that Maggie was speaking to Dylan again, as though he were the only one in the room.
“Thank you,” Dylan said. “I’m sure we’ll be down once we get settled in. I’ll need to take Chester for a short walk. Is there a pet store here in Glendaloch?”
“Aye. It’s right up the street,” Maggie said. “I’d be happy to show ye where, when ye’re ready.”
“I’d like that,” Dylan answered warmly.
Jenna stood back and watched the exchange taking place and thought Dylan was seeming awfully interested in this girl. She took one of the keys from his hands and wearily made her way up the stairs to her room.
Once Jenna got herself settled in, she tapped on Dylan’s door to see if he was ready for dinner. No response.He must have taken Chester for a walk,she thought, as she headed downstairs. Maggie didn’t seem to be in the lobby anywhere and Jenna was just about to walk into the dining room when the door to the inn opened and a laughing Dylan and Maggie walked through.
“Hey, Jenna. Maggie just walked down to the pet store with me. I picked up some food for Chester.” Dylan held out the bag of dog food as proof.
“I was wondering where everyone was. I was going to go in to get something to eat. Are you hungry?” she asked Dylan.
“Yeah. I’ll take Chester upstairs and I’ll be right back down. Would you care to join us, Maggie?” To Jenna’s eyes, Dylan seemed very hopeful that Maggie would say yes.
“I’d like that,” Maggie answered. “Jenna, if ye’ll follow me, we’ll get ye seated and pour ye some wine.”
“Wine would be amazing,” Jenna agreed, as she followed Maggie into the dining room and the young woman led them to a cozy booth near the window.
“I’ll be right back, then,” Maggie said, making her way over to the bar. Jenna’s view was of the quaint little main street through the window. The streetlights glowed and reflected off the damp sidewalk. It had started to drizzle since their arrival, and the few people she saw had their collars turned up and umbrellas out. The dining room was only partially filled with guests. There were empty tables here and there, and only the slight murmur of voices, giving the room an almost churchlike atmosphere. Maggie headed back Jenna’s way and stopped to exchange a few words with some of the diners.
“Thank you,” Jenna said, accepting the glass of wine Maggie presented. “Have you worked here long?”
“Not really. I was working at my family’s teashop in the next town over, but Auntie needed me here. Ye see, she doesnae get much time off, what with all her responsibilities. So she asked me if I would come to work here and she’d teach me what I need to know in order to take over for her.”
Jenna wasn’t sure she should ask Maggie about Edna being a witch. Maybe Maggie didn’t know. She decided to keep that information to herself. Maggie’s face lit up and Jenna saw that Dylan had just entered the dining room. He lifted his hand and waved, making his way over to sit with them.
“Would ye care for some wine?” Maggie asked.
“I’d love some. This is a great little place. So unlike the places back home. Isn’t that right, Jenna?”
“Very different,” Jenna agreed.
Maggie retrieved two more glasses – one for herself and one for Dylan – along with a bottle of wine. “I decided to bring the whole bottle,” she winked and smiled.
“Good plan,” Dylan said, with a wink of his own.
What the heck is going on here?Jenna almost laughed aloud. She couldn’t recall ever seeing Dylan wink at anyone.
“I’ll go see what chef has going on in the kitchen and I’ll bring back his best dishes, if ye don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Jenna said, before Dylan could wink at Maggie again. He sat transfixed by the young woman. Jenna had to wave her hand in front of his face to get his attention.
“Hello… anyone home?” she teased.
“I’m sorry, did you say something,” Dylan managed to focus on Jenna for the first time since he’d sat down.
“No. Just wondering where you’d gone off to.”
Dylan chuckled at that. “Isn’t she something?” he asked.
“Yeah. She seems like a lovely girl,” Jenna agreed.
