Page 83 of Beyond Dreams

“Pizza?” Gabby questioned, grinning. “Pizza is not a luxury. Pizza is a necessity.”

Cora agreed. “A divine necessity.”

“I thought I’d miss my phone,” Kayla commented, “but I don’t.”

“Gosh, not at all,” said Cora. “Not for a minute. But I’d like a good book. I’ve reread the few I have like ten times now.”

“My parents,” lamented Gabby.

“No,” said Gabby quickly. “Nope. We said we wouldn’t do that. We’ll only break our own hearts.”

Gabby nodded. “I know. Sorry.” She made a comically sad face, which prompted Kayla to give her a hug. “We’ll figure it out one day, how to tell them.”

Talk moved on then, to things that modern women should not have been discussing, crop yields and the warp threads in weaving, the war in their backyard. They spoke at length of recipes, Gabby sharing her new favorite one, which quite frankly did not sound appetizing—a leg of mutton stuffed with white herrings and sweet herbs.

In one of the armchairs, facing the warming fire, Holly smiled, bemused but only half engaged.

Whyever had Duncan come? They, these folks at Newburn, hadn’t yet decided how they tell him about Graeme—or if they even would. They’d been hoping that Sidheag could bring him back, that Duncan would never have to know. The husbands of her new friends were not the shady type though, not one of them comfortable with keeping the news from Duncan, whether Graeme returned or not. They dealt in truths and facts, deception not something that came easily to them.

Yesterday, after the weakened Sidheag had been attended, moved to the cottage of an old woman in the village, Cora had shyly suggested to Holly, “Maybe she didn’t take Graeme away on purpose. Maybe she really did mean to move you, but...maybe you are in love with Duncan and so she could not?”

Impossible, had been Holly’s initial reaction, but she’d since realized that was only pride and pain speaking. But...she’d just met him, hadn’t known him more than two weeks. Certainly that wasn’t enough time to have developed feelings for a person. Or so she thought. Truth was, her heart had hammered with excitement and yes, hope, inside her chest when Gabby had come barreling into the chamber hours ago to say that Duncan had come.

Just as the waiting began to wear on her, when she began to fidget in the comfy chair, when several hours had passed by now, the door finally opened. Aedan had come, his gaze going first to Gabby, the look exchanged warm and heartfelt, before he addressed Holly.

“Do you prefer the conversation to be had in mixed company?” He asked politely. “Or...alone?”

She didn’t fear Duncan. But, “Does he know...everything?”Does he believewas what she should have asked.

“Aye, lass,” Aedan said, “and grappling well, for what it’s worth.”

A laugh erupted from her at this, his wording. “Grappling, I’m sure.”

“To be expected, aye?”

She nodded and looked at Cora. “Might we speak here? Privately?”

“Of course,” Cora readily agreed, rising form her seat. “Absolutely. C’mon, girls. Holly, take all the time you need and remember, we’re here with you, whatever you need.”

Aedan held the door as the three women filed out of the room. With a nod at Holly, he left the door ajar and moved away, presumably to advise Duncan of the meeting place. Riddled with a fresh anxiety, Holly leapt to her feet and went to the narrow window, pushing aside the flimsy but very pretty curtains. Her heart beat loud and steady inside her chest. She didn’t know what Duncan might say, but she was prepared with what she knew she would have to say.

She waited now only a moment and wondered if Duncan had been close, just outside the door.

“Holly,” came his voice, turning her around from the window.

He was somber, nearly pale, looked...really awful in fact.

“Duncan?” She rushed forward, alarmed by his dreadful countenance.

He held up his hand. “I’m fine. It’ll settle,” he predicted, perhaps speaking of the very fantastic things he’d learned today. His green eyes bore into her until he blinked and stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind him. He showed her then a sheepish grin. “Let’s sit. I feel my knees are still weak.”

Without a word, but swallowing down a gulp of anxiety, Holly returned to the chair she’d occupied a moment ago. Duncan assumed the matching arm chair three feet away. He settled against the arms and back and blew out a long breath.

“Did they...?” She started, stopping when he began to nod.

“Aye, according to Michael, I ken all that they do.”

“Duncan, I am so sorry about Graeme,” she rushed out. “I feel like that’s all my fault. I can’t stop thinking about him, what he must be going through, where he could be, what—” she stopped when he lifted his hand off the arm of the chair.

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