by Jennae Vale
EIGHT
Cormac rose bright and early, as he always did back at Breaghacraig. He made use of the shower and marveled at the fact that hot water was shooting out of the wall. The bathroom steamed up and he thought this had to be the greatest creation of all time. He made use of the various soaps and when he was done, he felt refreshed and ready to conquer the day and, if he was lucky, Jenna. He found himself, once again, only wearing a towel. He didn’t know what Jenna had done with his plaid and he didn’t have anything else to wear, so he left the room to see if Dylan was up yet. Mayhap he will have something for me to wear.
The smells of breakfast cooking hit his nose and his stomach began to grumble, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten verra much last night and he was now ravenous. He followed his nose to the kitchen and peeking in he saw Jenna, with her back to him, working at the stove. She was singing, and the sound of her sweet voice melted his heart. He walked up behind her and peeked over her shoulder, to see what she was making.
“Oh!” Jenna exclaimed. She appeared frightened by his sudden appearance.
“I’m sorry, lass. I didnae mean to scare ye.”
She was clutching her chest. “The least you could do is make some noise when you come up behind me like that.” She was gasping for breath.
“Are ye well this morning, Jenna?”
“I was fine, until you scared me half to death.” She smiled, letting him know she wouldn’t hold it against him. “I thought I’d make you some breakfast this morning. Are you hungry?”
“Aye. Verra hungry. Ye can cook?”
“Of course. I don’t eat out all the time, you know. I like to cook and I think I’m pretty good at it.”
“I’ll be the judge of that, lass.” Cormac teased her with a wink.
“Sit. I’ll get you a plate.” Jenna reached into the cupboard to get out plates and cups and then opened the silverware drawer to get utensils.
Cormac sat at the counter and watched her every move, appreciating the look of her, with her hair still wet from the shower, and wearing a short robe and barefoot. She caught him watching her and smiled shyly.
“Cormac, it seems I’m forever apologizing to you. I got a text message from Tank this morning. He told me Amy was to blame for the incident in the pool. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, and I’m embarrassed by my behavior. It’s just that I’ve been lied to a lot lately, and I immediately think the worst. It’s not fair to you. You’re obviously not Jonathan, but he’s colored everything in my world and made it a little darker. I guess I’m just not seeing through that darkness very well.”
Dylan had been right about Jenna. He knew her so well and Cormac knew her very little. He would have to start taking Dylan’s advice where she was concerned.
Jenna laid the food on the counter and handed him a serving spoon. “Here you go. Help yourself. And if you don’t mind me asking, why are you still wearing a towel?” She arched an eyebrow and nodded in the direction of his hips.
Cormac helped himself and savored a piece of bacon, closing his eyes as he did so. “I dinna have me kilt and Dylan is not awake yet. I thought to ask him for something to wear.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should have realized that you didn’t have anything to replace the kilt. It was soaking wet last night. It’s wool, so I didn’t want to put it in the dryer and have it shrink on you. It’ll take some time to dry. I put it outside in the sun.”
“Dryer?” Cormac was repeatedly puzzled by these unfamiliar words and items.
“Sooner or later, you and Dylan are going to have to stop pulling my leg,” she laughed and continued eating. “I think Dylan has some clean clothes in the laundry room. After we eat, I’ll get them for you.”
“Thank ye. The food, ‘tis verra good, Jenna.”
“I’m glad you like it. Tell me more about yourself, Cormac.”
“What would ye like to know, lass?”
“The usual. Where you’re from, your family, why you’re really here.”
“Hmmm… I’ve shared some with ye already and I can tell ye more, but I dinnae think ye’ll believe me.”
“You won’t know for sure, unless you give it a try.”
“Fine, then.” He took a deep breath and began. “I be from Breaghacraig in the Scottish highlands. I live there on Clan MacKenzie land with me family, me brother Cailin and his wife, and me sister, Irene. Irene is married to the Laird of Breaghacraig. His name is Robert MacKenzie. ‘Tis a beautiful place. I’d love to show it to ye, Jenna,” he said hopefully.
Jenna was listening carefully. “Did you say your brother’s name is Cailin?”
“Aye, I did. Why do ye ask?” Cormac hoped he hadn’t said too much.
“That name sounds familiar to me, that’s all. I don’t know why though.” Jenna looked perplexed. “Oh well, go on with your story. It’ll come to me.”
“Well, there’s nae much more to tell.”
“Why are you here? You didn’t answer that part of the question.”
“Ye willnae like me answer, Jenna and I dinnae wish to make ye angry with me again.”
“I’m trying to be open minded this morning. I won’t get angry, I promise.”
She looked to be telling the truth, so Cormac said, “I’m here to find ye, Jenna. I told ye that the first time I saw ye. Ye see, I wanted a wife and Edna said she could help me, but that I’d have to travel to San Francisco to find you.”
“So, this Edna said I was the one you were looking for?”
“Aye.”
“And she knew my name?”
“Aye.”
“So, if I’m to believe you, I have to believe that a woman named Edna, whom I’ve never met, knows me by name and she somehow sent you here through the fog to find me.”
“That be true. Dinnae forget that Edna is a witch.”
“That’s right and you’re also from the sixteenth century, correct?”
“Aye. I know it seems daft, but do ye nae believe in magic?”
“Not really. I need proof, I have to see it with my own eyes.”
Cormac took another forkful of pancakes. “I’ve never eaten anything like this before. I like it verra much indeed.”
Jenna smiled at him as if he was a daft fool. How was he ever going to make her believe him? He’d need to ask Edna. Dylan believed him and Cormac didn’t even have to work verra hard to convince him. Dylan believed in magic - that was the difference. How sad that Jenna’s world was so black and white. Cormac knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was starting to believe she could be worth it.
“I know ye believe that Dylan is playing a trick on ye, but try to think differently of it. What if it were true? Do ye not see that I am different from the people of San Francisco?”
“Wow! That’s a loaded question. You’re not from around here, obviously, but if you spent any time in San Francisco, you might know enough not to use the people here as your guideline to what’s normal.” She giggled at her own words and then sipped her coffee. “I’m okay with the Scotland part of your story, but the rest of it is just too weird. However, I am willing to go along with it, just to see how far you two will take this.”
Just then the flat box that Jenna always kept with her, buzzed on the counter. She picked it up and laughed. She poked at it with her fingers and then put it down.
“Jenna, what is that?” Cormac asked pointing at the object.
“Testing me already, I see. Okay. It’s a cell phone. Dylan just texted me from his bedroom to see if I made enough breakfast for him and his overnight guest. They’ll be down shortly.”
“Everyone has these cell phones?” Cormac asked curiously. “Are they important?”
“I guess you could say that. Most people walk around with them in their hands all the time, or at the very least in a purse or pocket.”
“What do they do?”
Jenna raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “Seriously? They keep us in touch with each other. Don’t you have cell phones or land lines where you com
e from?”
“Nae. We visit with each other, or write letters and send messengers with them. They can take days or weeks to reach their destination.”
“Wow. Sounds like a lot of work, if you ask me.”
“Are ye using sarcasm? I believe Dylan said it was your weapon of choice.”
At that, Jenna burst out laughing and couldn’t seem to stop. Tears formed in her eyes and Cormac wasn’t sure how to respond. He hadn’t seen her enjoying herself this much since he’d met her. She came to a hiccoughing stop and Cormac reached out to brush a happy tear from her cheek and then continued caressing her skin with the back of his hand.
“Ye are a beauty, Jenna, and even more so when yer happy.” He hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing, because she stopped smiling, stood up abruptly and began removing their dishes from the table. She rinsed them off in the sink and put them in what Dylan had called the dishwasher.
“Dylan says we’re going to head to the beach today. Let’s go find you a pair of board shorts to wear and then I’m going to pack some lunch to take along.”
Cormac stood and followed Jenna into the next room. It was lined with shelves and there were stacks of neatly folded clothing everywhere.
“One of these days, Dylan is going to put his clothes away, but I guess we should be happy he hasn’t yet, because now we can find you something to wear.” Jenna went through the stacks and pulled out an armful of clothing which she handed to Cormac. “Hopefully they’ll fit, because even though you’re looking pretty good in that towel, we don’t want to have the women around here fainting at the sight of you.”
He stood there, staring at the pile in his arms, and when it occurred to him that Jenna had just said she liked the way he looked, a satisfied grin lit his face.
“Is something wrong?” Jenna asked.
“Nae. Will I wear them all?” he asked with a puzzled expression.
“You’re pretty funny,” Jenna laughed. “I’ll play along. Here, put these on, and this.” She handed him the board shorts and a t-shirt. “I guess you need shoes, too. Dylan will have to get those for you. A pair of flip-flops should do. Go get dressed and then come back. By then Dylan and his lady friend should be here.
***
Jenna was proud of herself. She had managed to apologize to Cormac without kissing him again. The sight of him in that towel this morning had put thoughts into her head that shouldn’t be there. Thankfully, she hadn’t embarrassed herself by accidentally causing the towel to drop to the floor. A surge of warmth covered her from head to toe and she didn’t need a mirror to know she was quite red from blushing. She hurried down the hallway to her room where she found her sexiest bathing suit. She put it on and looked at herself in the full-length mirror that created her closet doors. Not bad, Jenna. This one will work nicely. She checked herself out from all angles and when she was satisfied, opened the closet to remove a pretty flowered sundress. She finished her look with a pair of sandals, a floppy hat and sunglasses.
She wasn’t sure whom she was trying to impress, but the one thing she knew for sure was - it was not Cormac MacBayne.
Arriving back in the kitchen, as predicted, Dylan was sitting there with a pretty brunette woman.
“This is Samantha. Samantha, my cousin Jenna.” Dylan made the introductions and Samantha looked a bit embarrassed.
“Nice to meet you, Samantha,” Jenna offered.
“You, too.” Samantha said. “Dylan, I really need to go. Would you mind walking me to my car?”
“Sure,” he said as he put an arm around her shoulders.
As they got up to leave, Cormac returned. He looked amazing in Dylan’s shorts and t-shirt. Jenna gulped and quickly turned to open the refrigerator and stick her head inside. She needed to cool off. Spontaneous combustion seemed like a distinct possibility.
“Good morn to ye, Dylan,” Cormac said, as he smiled at Samantha.
Jenna pulled some things out of the fridge and watched as Samantha gawked at Cormac. Put your eyes back in your head, was what she wanted to say, but instead she just stood there and watched the show.
Dylan reluctantly introduced Samantha to Cormac, who bowed in her direction.
Who does that? Jenna thought, as she slammed her refrigerator finds down onto the counter. Everyone turned and looked her way. “Sorry. They slipped out of my hands,” she lied. Jenna stood there like a zombie as Dylan and Samantha left the room. What am I getting so worked up over? I already decided I wasn’t interested in Cormac, right? Wrong. She was more than interested.
“What are ye thinking in that pretty wee head of yers?” Cormac was right beside her, touching her forehead with his finger and burning a hole in it.
“Nothing. I… just…” she stammered. “I was going over the list of things we need to take with us.” She pressed an unopened package of cold cuts to her face. “Whew! It’s warm today. I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to the beach.”
“‘Tis nae so warm,” Cormac said. “Are ye well?” He reached out to lay a hand on her forehead.
“I’m fine.” Jenna dodged his hand, before he managed to make contact. “Would you mind coming with me into the garage, to get the cooler?”
“Aye. I’d be happy to help ye.”
“Follow me,” Jenna ordered as she made her way from the kitchen to the garage. Cormac was right in step behind her. She pointed out the cooler, which he picked up. “Bring it over here to the freezer, so we can fill it with ice.”
Jenna opened the freezer and Cormac’s eyes grew wide. “This is just a bigger version of the one in the kitchen,” Jenna pointed out. “You look like you’ve never seen one before.”
“I havnae. We have none of these things at Breaghacraig.”
“Sounds like you live in the Stone Age,” she teased. “Can you grab those two bags of ice and we’ll put them in the cooler.”
Cormac hesitated for only a second and then did as she asked. Jenna signaled him to follow her again and he brought the cooler into the kitchen.
“Set it here by the sink, please,” she requested. “I’m going to make some sandwiches. Do you like tuna, egg salad or cold cuts?” From the expression on his face, she figured it might be all, or none, of those. “I’ll just make some of everything,” she suggested.
Dylan entered the kitchen looking happy. “Jenna, I’ll get the chairs into the truck. Anything else you want me to grab?”
“The beach bag, towels… the usual. Cormac, why don’t you go help him with that?”
Cormac nodded and followed Dylan back into the garage.
Jenna got to work making the sandwiches and filling the cooler with water, sodas and beer. She had some nice, late season peaches she had purchased at the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building when they had been in the city and she packed those as well. Jenna looked in the refrigerator for anything else that might be good to bring along. She knew Dylan was a big eater and she assumed that based on the size of him, Cormac was as well. She didn’t want anyone to go hungry. As the final items were placed in the cooler, Dylan and Cormac reappeared to take it to the truck.
“What have you got in here, Jenna?” Dylan grunted as he picked the cooler up and Cormac grabbed the other end to help him.
Jenna just rolled her eyes at them. “You know how much food you eat, Dylan. I wasn’t sure even that was going to be enough.”
They finished loading the truck and Dylan secured his surfboard to the roof. Chester, who had been out in the backyard, was barking at the sliding door to be let in. As soon as Jenna opened the door, he made a beeline for the truck, beating everyone as he dove into the backseat.
“Well, Chester, it looks like you and I will be sharing the backseat again,” Jenna said. Chester answered by licking her face and panting heavily in her ear. “Thanks for that,” Jenna laughed.
“We’re outta here,” Dylan hooted. “Dude, I can’t wait to teach you how to surf.”
Cormac was looking apprehensive and Jenna teased, “Don’t worry, dud
e, you’ll probably be a natural.” She smiled to let him know she was joking.
“She’s right, Cormac. I’ll bet you pick it right up,” Dylan said, as he backed the truck out of the garage. He hit the button in the truck to close the garage door and Jenna watched the wonder on Cormac’s face as he reached for the button and sent the door back up. He pushed it again, closing it and looked like he might give it one more try, when Dylan stopped him. “It opens and closes the garage door, bro. Let’s leave it closed, okay?”
“Dylan, did you set the alarm? We still need to get the locksmith out here, you know.”
“Don’t worry, my friends and I got the key away from Jonathan when we tossed his ass last night. He’ll have to break in, if he really wants to get in and I’ve got the alarm set. Besides, the neighbors know that if they see him around they need to call the police.”
Jenna was relieved. She had worried he would come back while they were out. Their neighbors were the best and she could always count on them to keep an eye on things when they weren’t around. She let out a long sigh. Now she could relax and enjoy her day at the beach. She just hoped she didn’t do anything stupid, where Cormac was concerned.
NINE
Cormac still couldn’t believe the pace at which they were travelling. The scenery was whizzing past them so fast he could barely take it all in. Back home it would have taken them days to travel this distance. The hills they had been travelling past on their journey were a velvety golden brown and had obviously not seen rain in quite some time. There were many other cars and trucks travelling the roadways with them and he wondered, were they all going to the same place? The truck left the flat black road and they climbed uphill through densely forested land. It was the first real greenery he had seen since his arrival. Cormac couldn’t believe his eyes when they drove past two eight-foot tall cat sculptures guarding an entry gate. His head whipped back to catch another glimpse as they swiftly faded from sight. Jenna must have noticed, because she was quick to explain their presence.