HIDDEN IN TIME

by Longley, Barbara

  “Yes you have.”

  A wave of disappointment radiated to Grayce from her twin. “Why did you ask if you already knew the answer, Mere?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I wanted to see if you’d trust me with the truth. I’m sorry I told Mom and Dad about your husband, but—”

  “You can’t keep a secret, that’s for sure.” Grayce snorted.

  “Yes I can. I’ve kept plenty of secrets, but Mom and Dad aren’t stupid. They could see you weren’t happy to be back with us, and they took it personally. Can you imagine the hurt and confusion that caused? You should’ve been the one to tell them about Brian, not me.”

  Her father had pretty much implied the same thing. Not telling them stemmed from old habits, from feelings of shame and guilt, which was ridiculous. Why on earth should she feel guilty or ashamed about marrying a man she adored? It was time to quit those old habits. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I’ve told them everything since then.”

  “Do you remember how the two of you supported me when I believed Fáelán had died?” Regan asked.

  “How could I forget?” Now her stupid eyes were tearing up. She’d desperately wanted to help her sister when Regan was grieving.

  “Meredith and I want to be here for you the same way you were there for me, Grayce,” Regan said. “I understand why you want to return to the place where it all began. Why don’t the three of us hike to Mahon Falls together?”

  To agree was to let go of another bad habit. She’d always tried so hard to be independent, strong enough to deal with her issues all by herself. This time, she’d allow her sisters to help. Admitting she needed her family didn’t make her weak; she knew that now.

  “All right.” Grayce rose from the table. “Let’s pack lunches and water.”

  By midday, Grayce once again faced the thunderous roar of Mahon Falls. A slight drizzle had joined the misty spray from the falls, and she was glad she’d worn a sweatshirt under her rain gear. Was it also drizzling in the hidden valleys?

  Regan stood on one side of her and Meredith on the other. “Do either of you sense any atmospheric disturbances, like maybe a tear leading into a hidden world?” She looked at one, and then at the other. Both shook their heads. “Me either.”

  No denying the truth. She’d expected something. “Damn.” Disappointment took a chunk out of her already torn heart, and frustration added to the misery. She jammed her hands into the pockets of her raincoat and surveyed the area.

  “We know everything that happened after you fell through, but tell us about that day, Grayce. What happened here?” Meredith asked. “We found your backpack over there by that jutting slab of sandstone.” She pointed. “Maybe talking about things will help.”

  “Maybe.” Probably not. “The place where you found my pack is where I fell through.” She started walking toward the spot, and her sisters trailed her. Grayce leaned over and placed both palms on the surface.

  “I was eating my lunch, enjoying the sun on my face and the warmth of the stone at my back.” She swallowed a few times. “This boulder was solid one minute and gone the next.” She went on to describe what had happened to her, and how Brian had found her, muddy, bruised, and scraped. She explained how she’d believed he was fae, and that he’d been the one to bring her through that awful tunnel. “I was a mess, and scared witless. You know how irritable I get when I’m scared.”

  “A magic coin and a hellish gumball machine?” Regan grinned. “That’s pretty good. I wasn’t nearly so articulate when my shit hit the fae fan.”

  “You and Fáelán were so lucky,” Grayce said. “I’m probably never going to see my husband again, and it’s like a part of my heart has been ripped from my chest.”

  With that declaration, the dam broke and the ugly crying began. Meredith and Regan put their arms around her. Neither said a word, but they didn’t have to. When she finally stopped blubbering, Meredith placed a wad of tissues in Grayce’s hand and patted her back.

  Grayce drew in a huge gulp of air and wiped her eyes. “I’m better now,” she said, her voice quavering. Not even close to the truth, but at least she could breathe. “Let’s say goodbye to this place, and head back.”

  “You’re sure?” Regan asked. “We can stay as long as you want.”

  “No, I’m good, and it’s kind of nasty out.” Grayce blew her nose and straightened her shoulders. “It’s the helplessness that gets to me the most. The utter lack of control is hard to bear. I can’t get to him; he can’t get to me.” She drew in a long shaky breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll never be the same, but eventually I’ll be all right.”

  Grayce set her suitcase on the bed. Her clothes were in folded piles on the bedspread, ready to be packed. She’d just put the first pile in when she heard a commotion downstairs. The doorbell, then voices, many voices. Probably some of Fáelán’s relatives, coming to say goodbye.

  Heavy footsteps racing up the stairs brought her to a halt. Frowning, she straightened. A wave of emotion hit her—excitement, nervousness … love. She gasped, spun on her heels and flew to the bedroom door. Swinging it open, she came face-to-face with Brian, his hand poised to knock. As if seeing him wasn’t shocking enough, he wore jeans and a sage-green Henley. God, he looked good. Frozen to the spot, she drank in the sight of him, reveling in the intensity of the feelings flowing between them.

  Brian reached out and ran a finger over one of the fading bruises around her eye. Then he touched the splint on her nose. “Rebecca did this to you,” he rasped out. His concern and anger were plain to see.

  “Yes, but it’ll heal. You’re here!” Grayce launched herself into his arms, laughing, crying, her emotions off the charts. “How?” she cried. “How did you leave the valleys? How did you find me?”

  Then his mouth covered hers, and all thought left her. She kissed him back with everything she felt for him. She needed to be close, to feel his warmth, to take in his scent, and feel him solidly against her. Tears of happiness and relief trickled down her cheeks. Brian cradled the back of her head tenderly and deepened the kiss.

  “You were to fetch your wife to the family room, not devour her in the hallway, “Boann said from behind him.

  He broke the kiss. “Gods, I’ve missed ye,” he whispered, ignoring Boann. “My life has desolate without ye beside me.”

  “Boann, you did this, didn’t you? You brought us back together.” Grayce refused to leave Brian’s arms, and he wasn’t letting go either. “Thank you.”

  “Your husband is the one to thank. He convinced our kings and council by claiming he had the right of kinship to me, Fionn MacCumhaill, and Alpin. The fae council couldn’t deny him; it’s our law. The clan’s future is now in our hands. Come, we have much to discuss, and your kin await.”

  “My kin?” Grayce sent Brian a questioning look, and he only shook his head and smiled.

  “Come see for yourself.” He clasped her hand in his and led her to the stairs.

  The hum of voices, along with the sense of excitement, washed over her as they made their way to the first floor. She glanced at Brian and leaned close. “I love you.”

  “And I love you,” he answered. “Together, you and I will build a future for ourselves and for our clan.”

  “We will?” Her brow rose. “How so?”

  “All will be explained shortly.”

  “Ah. We’re back to being cryptic.” She wiped her eyes and stepped into the family room. “Brianna, Sloan!” she cried as her in-laws rushed to her. They too wore contemporary clothing. After fierce hugs and more tears, Grayce looked around the room.

  Her parents sat on the sectional, holding hands and looking a little stunned. Meredith had settled on a chair by the hearth, smiling broadly when Grayce caught her eye. A strange man, also sitting on the sectional, bounced Conan on his knee. Her nephew seemed fascinated by the stocky man’s beard and gripped it with both chubby fists. Fáelán sat beside the stranger, and Regan took up the spot next to her husband. A tall, slender man
with long hair the color of moonlight stood off to the side. She sensed his otherworldliness. Clearly he was one of the Tuatha.

  “Grayce, this is Fionn MacCumhaill, and the man standing over there is his cousin Alpin,” Brian said. “Alpin is the man who hid our valleys.”

  “Ceann Carraig believed you two were gone from this world.” She studied the legendary pair.

  “Ah, well the rumors were greatly exaggerated. You see, I—”

  Brian groaned.

  Alpin stepped forward. “Perhaps that’s a tale best told another time, cousin. We’ve more important things to discuss at present.” He, too, took a seat then and gestured for her and Brian to do the same.

  “Na Baiscne’s council of elders decided to allow the magic hiding the valleys gradually disappear,” Alpin explained. “Over time, small groups of three or four at a time will assimilate into the outer world. Boann, Fionn and I will provide aid during the transition.”

  “Does that mean we’re staying on this side of the barrier for good?” she asked Brian.

  “Aye, including my parents.” He led her to the chairs opposite the sectional. Gratefully she sank down, and her husband sat beside her, once again reaching for her hand. “We are the first to leave. The question is, what do we want to do? Are ye willing to stay here in Ireland?”

  He studied her, his gaze searching. “If it weren’t for our people, I’d relocate to anywhere ye want, but our clan needs our help. Each of them will have to acclimate, become educated, learn trades so they can earn their way. It’s up to us to provide them with a safe place to stay in which to accomplish the feat.”

  “None of them are in the system.” She frowned. “They can’t do any of that without being able to prove who they are.”

  “Boann says she and Alpin can magically produce whatever documents we need, and they can even file them wherever such things are kept. To any who care to look, it’ll be as if the documents have always been there. That’ll include our marriage …” He looked to his mother. “What is it we need again?”

  “A marriage license and certificate, along with citizenship papers for Grayce,” Brianna said. “And a birth certificate for you, Brian.”

  A little stunned, Grayce shook her head as if that might clear her thinking. “When were you born?”

  “Shortly after Beltane, six and twenty years ago.”

  “Beltane?” A nervous giggle escaped. “I don’t think we can put that on a birth certificate.”

  “We’ll say May fifteenth.” Brianna grinned. “That is as close as we can get.”

  “I’ve a thought,” Fáelán said. “I’ve had my eye on an archaeological site known only to me, and it so happens it lies within the boundaries of a farm that is for sale. The farm includes a rather large old manor house. The home is fairly derelict at present, but it could be rehabbed and brought back to its former glory. I want to start a dig there. I know for a fact a village and a fort once stood on that land, and I believe I can find them. When I was a lad, the ruins were still visible.”

  He grinned. “It’s been for sale for a while, so the price has dropped recently. I was thinking I’d do my doctoral thesis on the site. If I buy it, you two could make something out of the manor house, and ye’d be free to farm so long as ye don’t disturb my dig site.”

  “Having an active dig on-site would bring in tourists, other archaeologists, and anthropologists. They’ll need a place to stay. What if we turned the home into a bed and breakfast or a boutique hotel?” Excitement thrummed through her veins as a plan took shape. “Where is it, and does it happen to have a view? Is it near other popular touristy spots? Are there any outbuildings?”

  “Aye, there are several outbuildings, and they’re in better shape than the house, since the land is still farmed. You can’t be anywhere in Ireland that doesn’t hold tourist attractions, and there’s a lovely ocean view. It’s just north of Waterford in County Wicklow. You’d only be a short distance away from us, which would be grand, aye?”

  “That would be nice.” Grayce blew out a breath and turned to her parents. “Will you be all right with me staying here? You’d have two daughters and a grandson living an ocean away.”

  “Oh, Grayce,” her mother said. “We’re just thrilled to have you back. Your father and I are happy beyond words that you and your husband have been reunited, and that we’ll have the chance to get to know him and his parents. We’ll visit as often as we can, and once you two are on your feet, you can come visit us as well.”

  “How about you, Mere?” she asked her twin.

  “I’ll be fine, Grayce. I have a great job and people who need my help as a ghost whisperer. I’m close to Mom and Dad, the grandparents and our extended family. It’ll be an adjustment, but a much easier one than we would’ve faced had Boann not found you in time.” She grinned, but her eyes grew misty. “I’ll visit, and we can Face Time with each other as often as we want.”

  Grayce sensed her twin’s ambivalence and sadness, but they’d work things out with time. “It’s settled then. When can we go look at that property?”

  “Alpin and I will fund everything, Father. We’ll provide all of you and each subsequent group a living until everyone is established. You and Brian shall own the farm outright,” Boann said. “We need only to transform and transmit some of our wealth from Tir na nÓg to your realm. Since I had been spending so much time here to be close to my kin, I already have accounts set up.”

  “Wealth? Accounts?” Fáelán arched a brow. “Why have ye not mentioned this to me before, daughter?”

  “Because I know how much it pleases you to pay for things for me,” Boann said, smiling affectionately at her father. “I did not wish to deprive you of the pleasure.”

  Sloan and Brianna will live with us, of course,” Grayce said, squeezing Brian’s hand.

  “Aye, and ’tis glad I am to hear we’ll be on a farm. That means we’ll be able to bring our livestock here and continue farming.” He put his arm around Brianna’s shoulders. “We’ll also help with the inn any way we can.”

  Conan had fallen asleep on Fionn’s lap, and he handed the baby to Regan. “Our council and the druids decided that your home—wherever that might be—would be the hub of our clan’s gradual transition. Ye understand this will take a few generations. It’s a huge undertaking and requires your commitment. Very likely your children and grandchildren will be involved as well. I will bide in the hidden valleys for the duration, and I have resumed my role as head chieftain to oversee everything to its completion. Alpin and Boann will divide their time between the fae realm and the valleys. They’ll be the ones bringing groups to ye.”

  “This is a lot to take in,” Grayce muttered, suddenly overwhelmed.

  “I’m hoping you might help me find my brother, and hopefully my parents are still living. They’d be in their late seventies now,” Brianna said, her eyes shining. “Is there a way to do that?”

  “Of course. Oh, my God, there’s so much to do,” Grayce said.

  “I’ll call the realtor, and hopefully we can look at the property on Monday. We’ll stop there on our way back to Dublin. You four will come with us for the week, of course. Regan, love, we’ll have to take both cars.”

  “It’s good to have all of ye here together. We’ve much to celebrate, aye?” Fáelán paused and gazed around at each of them. “I’ll see if my cousin Dan can fit us all in for dinner at his restaurant this evening. Fionn, Alpin, please bide with us for the weekend.”

  “We’re glad to stay with ye a while, laddie,” Fionn said.

  Regan stood up, Conan draped over her shoulder. “I need to put Conan down for his nap. Carry on without me.”

  Her mother also rose from her spot. “Since we’ll be going out this evening, I believe Meredith, Gene and I should get most of our packing done now. We’re leaving early in the morning for the Dublin airport.” With that, her family also filed out of the room.

  That brought on a stab of sadness, but Grayce would save her goodb
yes for tomorrow morning. Right now, all she had on her mind was alone time with the love of her life.

  “Sloan, Brianna, I’ll show ye to your room,” Fáelán said. “Did ye bring anything with ye?”

  “Aye, Boann and Alpin procured wardrobes for us, and we’ve a few …” Sloan’s brow furrowed.

  “They’re called suitcases, love.” Brianna also rose. “Thank you for your hospitality, Fáelán.

  As her in-laws followed Fáelán to the stairs, Grayce turned to Fionn. “Will you and Alpin be all right on your own for a bit?”

  “We’ll be fine,” Fionn said. “Go on with ye. I know ye two are needing a bit of privacy to become … reacquainted, aye?” He winked and waved them away. “I’d like to peruse some of the books on the shelves here. I wish to see what’s what these days, and ’tis certain Fáelán’s hospitality extends to libations.” He nodded toward the bar. “After all, he certainly partook of my hospitality a time or two.”

  “Until dinner then.” She smiled. “I’m assuming you also have a suitcase, Brian?”

  “I do indeed.”

  “We should get you settled as well.” A delicious heat suffused her at the thought of exactly how she meant to settle him.

  A very large suitcase stood beside the stairway, and Brian hefted it to his shoulder as if it weighed nothing at all. He started up the stairs. “I’ve never owned so many garments in my life.”“Ah.” That’s all she could manage, because her nerves were tingling with anticipation, and her heart was full to bursting. She opened the bedroom door for him, and he preceded her inside. He leaned over to set the suitcase on the floor, and his jeans tightened over his very fine backside in a most enticing way. Is he doing that on purpose? She grinned. Of course he was.

  “Grayce, do ye remember when I told ye I’d have the blacksmith make ye a fine wedding ring if ye became my wife?” He unzipped the suitcase and rummaged around the interior.

  Her breath caught. “I remember everything, Brian.”

  “I commissioned the work shortly after we became betrothed, but the rings weren’t ready until recently. I opted for gold. I hope that suits ye.”