by Jennae Vale
“Dylan, the food was amazing,” Tina said.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. What about you, Donal?”
“’Twas the best food I’ve ever eaten,” he replied.
“Wow! That’s quite a compliment.” He took their empty plates. “Enjoy the dessert and coffee. Stay as long as you like. It’s just the two of you tonight.”
“I was wondering about that. Where are all your customers?” Tina asked.
“We’re officially closed tonight.”
“Oh, no! And we made you work.”
“I’d be cooking anyway. Edna, Angus and Maggie have to eat.”
“I guess they do. Thank you so much for making my first meal back here so wonderful.”
As he headed back to the kitchen, he called back over his shoulder, “I’m sure Maggie told you, we’re here to help. We’ll babysit for you so that you two can have some time together.” It sounded like they would definitely get a chance to explore the town a bit.
Tina took a forkful of chocolate cake. “You have to try this,” she said to Donal, placing it in front of his mouth. He tipped his head in question. “Go on. I can guarantee you that you’ve never had anything like it before.” He was still examining the fork. “It’s sweet.”
Donal took it into his mouth and began to chew. His eyes closed in apparent delight.
“It’s good, huh?”
“Aye.” He took his own fork and loaded it up with more.
“Here, have some ice cream with it.” Tina put a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. This time his eyes flew wide open.
“Mary must know of this.”
“She couldn’t make it even if she wanted to. She’d need a freezer.”
“Will ye show me?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
Tina gazed across the table at him. Her heart fluttered in her chest remembering the brief kisses they’d shared. She hadn’t had a chance to discuss her situation with Elle, but deep down she knew exactly what Elle would say. She’d tell her to stop being so stubborn and forgive him already.
“Donal, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said.
“There’s nary a thing wrong with ye, lass. Yer perfection,” he said, his eyes reflecting her own lustful thoughts.
“We should go upstairs,” Tina said,
“Yer right, Maggie will wonder where we’ve been,” he said.
She’d almost forgotten that it wasn’t just the two of them. Hope had filled her heart that they might spend the night together, but it wasn’t to be. At the top of the stairs they stopped outside of her room.
“Good night,” Donal said, caressing her cheek, his eyes traveling over her face.
“Good night. I’m so happy we got Elena here and that she’s going to be fine. I’m also happy to share this experience with you.” Was he going to kiss her or not?
Donal removed his hand. “I’ll see ye in the morn.” He opened her door for her and then headed for his own room.
She closed the door behind her. “Damn. No kiss.” She thought her signals had been pretty clear, but still he held back. She knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Finding time to be alone with him was going to be tricky. They had Elena to think about and everyone else at the inn. She climbed into bed feeling frustrated with the way the night ended.
Donal wasn’t sure what to do about Tina. He wanted her and he thought she felt the same, but he was afraid to give her his heart once again only to have his hopes dashed. His main focus had to remain his daughter.
“You’re back,” Maggie said.
“How is she?” he asked.
“She’s better than she was when we first saw her. She actually woke up and we played a bit. That only lasted a little while. Her energy level is a little low, but that’s to be expected.” Maggie headed for the door. “How was dinner?”
“I’ve never had anything like it. ’Twas verra good,” he replied. “Yer husband is a most talented man.”
“And I’m a verra lucky woman. Did things go well with Tina?”
“I’m nae sure. I’m confused by her.” Maybe Maggie could help him. She’d been willing to help with Elena and he could see she was a kind lass. His gut told him she would understand.
“How so?” she asked, tipping her head and giving him her full attention.
“I thought she wanted to be my woman, but then something happened and she told me it couldn’t be.” He shifted uncomfortably and dipped his head ashamed of his behavior.
“What happened?” She encouraged him to continue.
“I led her to believe that I had been married to Elena’s mother. It gained me much sympathy, which I needed at the time.” He glanced up, expecting to see Maggie’s disapproval, but instead he saw a woman who was interested in understanding exactly what had happened.
“I see. Ye would have told her eventually right?”
“I think I would have, but I never got the chance. She said that she forgives me, but there is still something holding her back. I dinnae think she will get past it. I’ve fallen in love with her. I didnae ever expect to be in love.” He went to the crib and placed a hand on Elena’s head. He smiled down at her. “I never thought I’d be a Da and now that I am I can’t imagine my life without my daughter.”
“You’re a good man, Donal. If ye weren’t, Edna never would have sent Tina back for ye.” Maggie’s soft, reassuring voice was like a soothing balm to his wounded heart, but no matter how soothing it was, it didn’t change the fact that Tina no longer wanted to be with him.
“I wish things were different, but Tina will stay here and Elena and I will return to Breaghacraig.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Maggie assured him. “Edna knows ye were meant to be together. She’s not about to give up.”
“She’ll help me?”
“She will. I’ll talk to her. She already knows what’s happened, but we’ll do whatever we can so that ye and Tina can have some alone time, without Elena. We’ll take care of her so ye can work things out with Tina.”
Donal took a moment to think about what Maggie was saying. They would help him get Tina back and then he could return home with her and his daughter. It was exactly what he’d hoped for. When he looked at Maggie again, it was with eyes full of hope and a happy grin.
“If things work out the way I know they will, ye’ll be able to stay here in this time with Tina and Elena.”
This stopped Donal in his tracks. He never said he wanted to stay here. It was an exciting adventure, but there were so many things he didn’t know or understand. He’d be completely out of his element. He preferred living where he knew his position and worth.
“I can see from the look on yer face that this is all a little scary for ye,” Maggie said.
“I fear nothing,” Donal said, puffing out his chest and raising his chin.
“Well, that’ll make staying here a lot easier for ye. Tina lives on the other side of the world, as does her sister and Hamish.”
Donal was excited at the prospect of seeing his old friend once again, but he remembered that Tina said they lived near her family. He didn’t know those people. The Mackenzies had been his only family for a long time. He had visited other clans but always felt lucky he had a good home to return to. “Will they welcome me… and Elena?”
“Hamish is pretty happy there. I think they’ll love ye both. I’ll see ye in the morning,” Maggie said, closing the door behind her.
Donal didn’t know what to think. He knew he wanted Tina back but there was precious little else he was sure of. He stood a long time staring down at Elena, watching her chest rise and fall and thanking his lucky stars he had her in his life.
Chapter 14
“Good morning!” Edna entered the dining room with an arm filled with books and papers. She stopped beside Tina and scanned the room. “Where’s Donal?”
“He’s still upstairs. Maggie’s showing him how to use a disposable diaper. Things are a lot different here, but he wants to
learn.”
“Are ye happy with the match I’ve made for ye?”
“It’s been a bit more complicated than I thought it would be.”
“We’re complicated humans. Something, or in this case, someone worth having is worth working for, aye.”
“I think I may have complicated this whole thing more than it’s possible to fix.”
“How so?”
“Donal lied to me. I’ve been lied to so many times by guys I was dating that I finally made it something I simply wouldn’t tolerate. It’s always been a deal breaker for me.”
“I see. So his lie is unforgivable. The moment ye found out he’d lied ye lost all feeling for him then because ye think him a terrible person. ’Tis a shame.”
“He’s not a terrible person. I can see his good qualities. He’s a good father to Elena even though it was sprung on him in the worst possible way. He’s accepted the responsibility of caring for her. I’m proud of him. I know how tough it’s been.”
“Have ye told him that?” Edna tipped her head, raising an eyebrow.
“No. I’m afraid I haven’t.” Tina thought back over their conversations the last couple of days. She had done most of the talking and none of it was kind. In her attempts to convince herself that this match would never work, she had been harsh and judgmental about his past, then dismissed his apologies for telling a lie when he was desperate. What kind of a person was she? No wonder Donal kept his distance last night. “I’ve let my pride get in the way and now I don’t know what to do. What if he thinks I’m not worth fighting for now?”
“So yer going to make him fight are ye? Hmmm… I would think ye might start by letting him know that ye have a foolish idea that the man yer with should be perfect. That he cannae ever make a mistake or you’ll be done with him.” Edna set the papers down on a nearby table.
“That’s not what I said,” Tina protested.
“Perhaps not, but maybe ’tis what Donal now believes to be true. Donal is a warrior. He will fight for what he wants, what he believes in. But warriors are also smart enough to take all the factors into consideration so they can protect themselves. If they know they can’t win, then there’s nae reason to fight. He may believe that at some point in the future he’ll do something to displease ye and ye’ll reject him all over again. And if ’tis what he believes, then why would he fight?”
“Edna are you angry with me?” Tina got the impression that somehow she’d said or done something that was irritating to Edna.
“I’m nae angry with ye,” Edna said and then seemed to rethink it before speaking again. “Well, perhaps a tad. Ye told me ye wanted my help to find the man of yer dreams. I did that, but yer letting yer silly rules prevent ye from finding out what a truly wonderful life the two of ye… the three of ye could have.” She threw her arms in the air out of frustration. “Ye act like love is something that just happens, that ye dinnae have to work for it.”
Tina thought about what Edna was saying. She wanted to tell Edna she was wrong, that she understood love took work. But she knew that wasn’t the truth. Edna was one hundred and fifty percent right. She was the one not doing enough. If she wanted this relationship to work, she was going to have to fight for it. She needed to convince Donal that she wanted him by her side. But after so much time pushing him away, she had no idea what to do.
“Edna please… help me,” even to her own ears she sounded desperate.
“Are ye sure? I dinnae wish to put Donal through any more torture than he’s already been through.”
“I’m sure.” She felt the conviction down to her toes. This is what she wanted, she could be a warrior, too.
“Good. Maggie and I will take care of little Elena today. The two of ye will be spending the day together. Dylan is packing ye some food. For now, sit here and have some breakfast.”
Tina watched Edna hurry from the room. It seemed she already had a plan. Edna knew before Tina did what the outcome would be. Tina thought about what it would be like to be truly alone with Donal and a slow smile spread across her lips.
Donal opened the door so that Maggie could leave and was surprised to find Angus standing there.
“Good day to ye, lad,” he said.
“Good day, Angus.”
“Can we talk?”
“Aye. Come in.”
Maggie waved goodbye as she left them.
“How’s yer wee lassie?”
“She’s better today.”
“Good. We’re going to babysit today so that ye can spend some time with Tina.”
Donal was quite surprised. First that they were willing to watch Elena all day and second that he’d be spending the day with Tina. “I dinnae ken what to say.”
“Nae need to say anything, lad.”
“And she wishes to spend the day with me?” Donal was a bit skeptical. They were getting along better, but he still wasn’t sure what she expected of him.
“She does, but ’twill be yer job to woo her. We cannae do that for ye,” Angus chuckled.
Donal sat on the edge of the bed. He looked up at Angus who stood there, hands on hips and looking like the toughest of Highlanders. “How did ye get here, Angus?”
“Edna. I was her first time traveler,” he explained, a happy twinkle in his eye. “I knew from the first moment I saw her emerge from the fog that she was going to be mine. It was love at first sight for me and I can say with some certainty that she felt the same.
“Have ye ever made her so angry that she didnae wish to see ye again?” Donal asked.
“Nae. I cannae say that I have. She gets angry with me, but we always talk things through. ’Tis what ye must do with Tina. She’s a stubborn one from what Edna tells me, but worth the effort.”
“I believe yer right.” He’d known it all along he supposed. From the first moment he saw her, something told him Tina was a woman worth knowing.
“Edna has arranged for ye to have the day to yerselves. Ye should go downstairs and have some breakfast. I’ll stay here with the little one until Maggie comes for her, but before ye go, I’ll show ye one of the modern conveniences ye’ll love.”
“What would that be?” Donal wondered. Everything he’d seen so far had left him speechless.
Angus led him into the space they called the bathroom. “This is the shower. Now if ye’d rather, ye can bathe in the tub, but the shower is an experience nae to be missed.” Angus showed him how it worked, gave him soap and towels and then left him.
Donal couldn’t believe how kind these people were. They didn’t know him and yet they had opened their home to him and his daughter and now they were going to help him get his woman.
After the most amazing bathing experience of his life, Donal made his way to the dining room to find Tina breaking her fast. “Good morn,” he said, he sat across from her feeling quite a bit more sure of himself than he’d been in days.
“Hi. How did you sleep?” she asked.
“Verra well. The bed was even more comfortable than the big bed at Breaghacraig.”
“Everything’s more comfortable here,” she laughed and the sound gave him hope. “Ye could be right. I havenae seen everything yet, so I cannae say. Angus showed me the shower this morning.”
“I’ll bet you loved that.”
“I did.”
“I thought you looked all clean and shiny,” she teased.
He ran a hand through his wet hair. “Angus tells me that they’ll care for Elena today.”
“Yes. It’s so nice of them.” Tina said, glancing at him with appreciative eyes.
This shower must have magical powers. “We havenae spent much time together, just ye and me.”
“I guess we really haven’t,” she agreed.
“I’m happy to spend the day with ye.” He wanted her to know that despite the fact Edna had arranged their day together, he wasn’t protesting.
She smiled the sweetest smile. One that melted his heart.
Dylan arrived with some breakfast for Do
nal and a basket of food for their day. “Here you go. Edna’s going to tell you what she’s got in store for you. She’ll be back soon. I hope you like the breakfast, Donal.”
He looked at the plate filled with things he wasn’t familiar with.
“Those are Belgian waffles, strawberries and whipped cream. There’s even some maple syrup. It looks delicious,” Tina said.
The aroma wafting up to Donal’s nose was all it took for him to know he would love it.
“I wonder what’s in the basket,” Tina said.
“Don’t look now,” Edna said, entering the room. “Let it be a surprise.”
“Alright. Where are we going?”
“Finish yer breakfast and meet me out in front of the inn. I’ll explain it all to ye then.”
Tina and Donal exchanged interested glances.
“Curiosity’s got the best of me,” Tina said.
“I’d have to agree,” Donal said. “Do ye wish to go now?”
“No. Finish your breakfast.”
He did just that and enjoyed every bit of it. When he was done he quickly finished his orange juice and then wiped his mouth. Standing, he put a hand out to Tina, who thankfully took it. His hopes for this day were great, but somehow he knew that with Edna on his side everything would work out for them both.
“I’m a little nervous,” Tina said as they headed for the door.
He took her hand in both of his. “I’m here with ye. I’ll take care of ye. Dinnae fear.”
She took a deep breath and released it. “Okay. I won’t.”
“There ye are,” Edna said. “Donal, here’s a map. I’ve marked the spot where yer to go. Tina we put the destination into yer phone.”
Tina patted herself down searching for something.
“I’ve got it here, dear. Don’t worry. We didn’t touch anything else.” Edna handed the phone to Tina. “The two of ye will navigate yer way to the spot we’ve chosen. I think ye’ll be quite pleased when ye arrive. There’s nae hurry to return. Elena will be fine here with us, so I dinnae want ye to worry about her. Have ye got on good shoes for hiking?”