Page 59 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“What do you need my help for?” she asked.
Jonathan could see she was intrigued and he wanted to make her feel at ease. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m a fine upstanding citizen. Everyone around here knows me, so if you want to check my references, you can start by asking Joe. He’s known me for years.”
“I’ve seen you here before. I’m not worried about you.”
“Okay. Then let me tell you what I’m up to. You can help me out and I’ll take you to dinner later. How’s that sound?”
Sophia considered for a moment before she responded. “Well, I guess it depends on what you need me to help you with.”
“I just need you to be my arm candy.” Jonathan smiled his most charming smile and he could see it was making Sophia feel special by the way she sat up a little straighter in her seat and brushed her hair back from her face. “My ex lives nearby and I’m going to pay her a little visit. I need her to think I’ve moved on… with you. Do you think you could be convincing in that role?”
Sophia nodded, but he caught the hesitation in her eyes. “Sure, but why do you need her to think you’ve moved on?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little self with the details. I’m completely over her and I have been for a long time, but she won’t let me near her and I’d really like for us to be friends, after all, we were together for a long time. So, I thought if I showed her I had a beautiful lady like yourself, she’d be more receptive to my friendship. It would make our lives a lot easier, if there was no tension between us.”
“I can understand that. I’ve got friends who got divorced and they hate each other. It’s made their lives hell for years,” Sophia said. She sipped her coffee thoughtfully, and Jonathan was certain she was going to agree.
“Yeah, so you can see what I mean. Good. You’re not only beautiful, but you’ve got brains, too. I find that very attractive in a woman.”
Sophia blushed and Jonathan knew his ploy was definitely working. He finished his breakfast, making small talk with Sophia and sent her obvious signals that he was interested. She was eating it up. He paid the bill and then waited while Sophia went in the back and changed out of her uniform and into her regular clothes.
“Wow! Look at you. Even more beautiful out of your work clothes. I’m a lucky guy.” Jonathan was laying it on thick, but again, she didn’t seem to notice. “Let’s get out of here.”
They walked the few blocks towards Jenna’s house. He used to live there too, and the thought that she’d thrown him out and cut him off was a bitter pill to swallow. But he had a plan and this was merely step one.
They stood across the street while Jonathan checked his watch. He’d wait a few more minutes – it was still early. He knew Dylan was there and was positive he’d follow his usual schedule of walking Chester, the devil dog, himself. Once he was gone, he’d be able to talk to Jenna without interruption. If he could convince her he was over her and he wasn’t angry about the money, then he was home free. She’d let her guard down and drop the restraining order.
The door opened and Jenna came out, holding Cormac’s hand. He heard Sophia gasp when she saw them. “Is something wrong, Sophia?”
“No. It’s just that I know them. That’s Jenna and he’s Cormac. He was flirting with me at Joe’s and Jenna was pretty jealous,” she announced, with a malicious grin on her face.
“Is that going to be a problem? Will you still be able to help me?”
“Sure. No problem. It’d serve her right if she thought I had both of you interested in me.”
Jonathan cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t like her much, do you?”
“No. She’s one of those girls who looks down her nose at people like me. It’ll be nice to get some respect.”
Jenna and Cormac were headed off down the street. Jonathan didn’t know where they were going at this hour, but he was determined to follow them. “Come on,” he said as he grabbed onto Sophia’s hand and pulled her down the street with him. “Looks like they’re heading for the Marina. We’ll hang back a bit and see what they’re up to and when the timing’s right, we’ll approach them.”
“Okay. Whatever you say,” Sophia said.
When they got to the Marina, Jonathan was surprised to see Jenna sitting on the bench, while Cormac looked to be saying goodbye. This was perfect. Jenna was a much easier target without that Scottish bastard in the way. Cormac moved to a spot on the green and just stood there.
“What’s he doing?” Sophia wanted to know.
Jonathan motioned for her to be quiet. The air around them changed. It seemed to be charged with an electrical current. He watched in fascination as Jenna went to Cormac and he embraced her just as a whirlwind of fog began swirling around them. Weird lights were flashing and the wind had picked up. His curiosity got the better of him and he started to head in their direction. Sophia followed along, gripping his hand. As they reached the outer band of the fog, Jenna and Cormac were no longer visible. “Where’d they go?” Jonathan wondered. “I can’t see them.” He pulled Sophia deeper into the fog and before he knew what was happening he felt himself falling. Where there once had been solid ground, now there was nothing but air rushing past as if he was being hurtled through space. He could hear Sophia’s screams as she clawed her way into his arms. “Hold tight,” he yelled, but he really didn’t have to, he was wearing Sophia like she was a second skin. He felt her go limp in his arms, but he held on to her, not sure what would happen next. Fear was lodged in his throat and he didn’t want to go wherever he was headed, alone.
* * *
When the swirling stopped, Jenna found herself still anchored in Cormac’s arms. They hit the ground hard, but Cormac took the brunt of it as Jenna landed atop him.
“What just happened?” Jenna asked, searching the unfamiliar sites surrounding her.
“Jenna, yer not going to like what I have to tell ye, lass.” Cormac looked like a man who was sure he was in trouble.
“What do you mean? Where are we?” She could feel herself losing control of the fragile grip she had on reality.
