Page 102 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“You must be disappointed that Edna’s not here,” Dylan noted.
Jenna shrugged her shoulders. “Not much I can do about it. At least I know she’s coming back. So I’ll just have to wait.”
Maggie returned with a tray of food, which she placed on the table. “I thought we could all share and if there’s anything ye are particularly in love with, I’ll get more.” There was roast beef with gravy and vegetables, a pasta dish, and chicken with lemon and capers.
“It all looks delicious,” Jenna admitted, helping herself.
“Maggie. Tell me about your Aunt Edna,” Dylan suggested.
“There’s not much to tell. She’s been a fixture in this town forever. She was born here and she opened the inn with her husband, quite a long time ago.”
“She’s a witch, right?” Dylan said, in between bites.
“Dylan!” Jenna glanced apologetically to Maggie, who didn’t seem fazed by his question.
“She is,” Maggie agreed calmly.
“Do you know anything about this time travelling thing she does?” Dylan continued. Jenna kicked him under the table. “Ow! Jenna, what are you doing?”
“I’m so sorry, Maggie. You’ll have to forgive Dylan for being so blunt.”
Maggie shook her head. “No trouble. I’m just curious how ye came to know about it.”
“She sent Jenna back to the sixteenth century with my friend Cormac. Jenna would like to go back.”
Maggie smiled apologetically. “Aunt Edna has been teaching me lots of things, but we haven’t gotten that far yet. Ye’ll have to wait for her to come back. I’m sure she’ll help you.”
“So… you’re a witch, too?” Jenna said, wondering how on earth she’d gone through her whole life without ever meeting one – and now she knew two.
Maggie just nodded and sipped her wine. “It’s a family thing.”
“Wow!” Dylan exclaimed.
Maggie laughed at that and sent Dylan a sweet look.
The caliber of the food was right up there with any five-star restaurant Jenna had dined in, and as a result, they managed to eat everything Maggie had delivered to the table and polished off another bottle of wine. Jenna retired to her room early, leaving Dylan to get to know Maggie better, while they shared dessert. She hoped Dylan would behave himself and not do his usuallove ‘em and leave ‘emthing. Somehow, she didn’t think he would. He had behaved very differently around Maggie. Maybe her cousin was finally growing up. Jenna settled in front of the fire in her room and thought wistfully of Cormac. “I’ll see you soon,” she said, and hoped she was right.
* * *
Jenna awoke feeling more exhausted than when she’d fallen asleep, thanks to her dreams, which were a mishmash of Cormac, Edna, swirling fog and frustration. The last coming from her inability to be seen or heard by anyone in her dreams. She could see and hear the other people clearly, but no matter how hard she tried, or how loudly she spoke, no one looked her way. Cormac was at a different castle – not Breaghacraig. Cailin was with him and they were with Lena and Ewan. It had to be their home she was seeing. Cormac appeared as frustrated as Jenna felt. Above it all was Edna, waving her arms frantically at Lena, who didn’t seem to notice her, either. Jenna wondered what it all meant when she heard a knock at her door. Thinking it must be Dylan, she threw on her robe and padded to the door. She opened it to find a blue haired woman with sparkling green eyes staring daggers at her.
“Edna?” Jenna questioned warily. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“I had no choice in the matter. My daughter, Cormac and Maggie have been pummeling me with messages since yesterday. So, I cut my weekend short, to find out exactly what was going on back here.”
Jenna chewed on her lip anxiously. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to return early. I was willing to wait until tomorrow.”
“Really, my dear?” Edna asked, with a hint of disbelief in her voice. Not waiting for an answer, she continued. “What are ye doing here? I sent ye home because that was what ye wanted!”
“I thought it was what I wanted, but when I saw Cormac arrive at the bridge, I knew I wanted to stay with him. I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble. I realized a little too late that I was being a fool.”
“Aye. I ken that ye were,” Edna responded sarcastically.
Jenna was taken aback by Edna’s stern demeanor. “Would you like to come in?” Jenna opened the door wider and Edna came into the room. She immediately went to the fireplace and snapping her fingers, started a roaring fire.
“That’s better. I hate a chilly room,” Edna explained.
“Thank you. I was a little cold.” Jenna surveyed Edna for a minute and wasn’t certain her request to return to Cormac would be accepted by this woman. She didn’t know what to do except ask, but Edna beat her to it.
