Page 48 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“Oh, sure. I’ll just be in my office.” Jenna took Cormac by the hand and led him into a large room, beautifully decorated and with an incredible view of the city from the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows. Jenna went and sat behind the desk. She glanced at the mail that was sitting there, waiting for her attention and then opened her laptop to check for e-mails. While she was busy responding to them, Cormac walked over to the windows and stood silently, awestruck by the view.
“’Tis incredible. I can see all the way to the water from here.”
“It’s one of the best views in the city,” Jenna stated proudly.
“Here are those papers, Jenna.” Susan walked in with a stack of folders and placed them on Jenna’s desk.
“What are all these?” Jenna wondered aloud.
“Some contracts, letters, and proposals. Your Dad has already approved all of them. Here’s his e-mail, explaining everything.” Susan pointed to the top piece of paper.
Jenna quickly glanced over the e-mail and then grabbed a pen and went to work signing the various forms. Cormac hadn’t left his spot by the window. Jenna made quick work of the papers and then handed them back to Susan. “Here you go. Thanks, Susan.”
“No problem. Where are you off to now?” Susan asked.
“We’re heading over to Sausalito. Cormac’s visiting from Scotland, so I wanted to show him some of the sights,” Jenna said.
“You should go through Muir Woods, too. It’s so beautiful. Those giant redwoods aren’t found everywhere, you know,” Susan suggested.
“That’s a good idea, I think we’ll do that. Thanks again, Susan. Either Dylan or I will be in soon. You never know.” Jenna got up from the desk. “Cormac, we should go.”
Cormac turned from the window with a look of wonder on his face. A crooked grin lit his face as he headed towards Jenna and Susan. “I cannae wait to tell my family back home about all the wondrous things I’ve seen here.”
“Well, there’s more to see before you go.”If you go,Jenna thought.
The Golden Gate Bridge was unusually traffic-free as Jenna guided the car across. Cormac looked to be enthralled by all that lay before him. The sun was glinting off the water, which was dotted with the tiny white sails of boats slicing through the waters of the bay below the bridge on this beautiful day. Besides the cars, there were pedestrians strolling along and taking in the view, along with those riding bikes and running. Jenna was feeling relaxed and happy. She hadn’t had this feeling for a long time and had almost forgotten how it felt. She was actually enjoying the view. It was fun to see it through the eyes of another. Especially someone who was so obviously excited by it all.
“Ah, Jenna, I feel like a daft idjit every time I open me mouth. This place, this time is so verra beautiful! Words fail me.” Cormac threw his hands up in apparent exasperation at his own lack of words to express his thoughts.
“It is beautiful! I understand completely how you feel,” Jenna said. She removed one hand from the steering wheel and gently laid it on his arm.
“Aye, but no matter how beautiful, ‘tis not nearly as beautiful as Breaghacraig,” Cormac professed.
“Well, I guess I’m going to have to see that for myself someday,” Jenna conceded.
“Ye could see it with me sooner than someday, lass,” Cormac offered quietly.
“Cormac, let’s not go there, please,” Jenna said. She didn’t want to spoil the day and hoped to avoid this discussion for now.
“Jenna, ye’d like to see where I live, ye said so yerself. Why do ye nae come with me when I leave? It may be yer only chance to do so.”
“That may be true, but I’m not going with you when you leave. We’ll keep in touch and maybe in a month or so, I’ll come to Scotland and you can show me around.”
“’Twill be too late. Ye must join me when I leave, or not at all.” Cormac looked utterly dejected by her refusal.
Jenna was starting to feel more like her prickly old self.How dare he tell her what she must do?“Cormac, we’ve been having a really nice time. Don’t ruin it now with all this talk about me going to Scotland! We hardly know one another, I’m certainly not up and leaving to travel to a foreign country with you without giving it some more thought!”
Cormac sat back in the car seat and harrumphed in annoyance, while Jenna removed her hand from his arm and drove on over the bridge in stony silence.
* * *
Cormac wasn’t quite sure how things had gone so terribly wrong in such a short time. He’d merely suggested that Jenna come with him, as she herself had said she would like to see Breaghacraig. Now she wasn’t speaking to him and he felt as if the wall he had worked so hard to demolish was building back up. He needed to do something, before he was back where he started with her.
“I’m sorry, Jenna. I didnae mean to upset ye. Yer right. We’ve been having a lovely time together. Can ye forgive me? I couldnae help meself. I’d be a fool not to want ye to come with me, but I willnae speak of it again. I can see that ye’ve made up yer mind on the subject.”
He sat perfectly still, awaiting her response, and was just about to give up when she looked over at him wearing the saddest expression he had ever seen. His heart hurt. Had he caused that pained expression? If anyone else had dared to cause Jenna to become so sad, Cormac knew he would turn into the caveman Jenna had spoken of, but it was he himself who was making Jenna so unhappy. He didn’t deserve her love. Perhaps ‘twas best he go home and forget about her.
“Cormac, of course, I forgive you. You have to understand why I can’t go with you, not right now. We’ve known each other for less than a week and even though we’ve grown close, it just wouldn’t be smart for me to drop everything and head off with you. I’ve learned some hard lessons recently and I need to be extra careful, especially with you. You do get that, don’t you?” Jenna asked.
