Prescribed for Love
Page 15
“What happened?” Cat even had trouble forming the words; she had been speaking Gaelic for so long now.
“We were hoping you could tell us. One of the more absurd theories going around is a medieval reenactment murder cult,” said the woman. “But, I don’t believe that. I’m sure it was just an accident. I’ll go tell the doctor you’re awake so he can go over everything with you.”
Cat could not believe this; she was finally back in her own time. This is what she had wanted for so long—but now that she was here—she just felt empty inside.
Although, she did not think she was actually home. By the woman’s accent, Cat thought she was most likely still in Scotland. Remembering the nurse implied they would be asking her questions, Cat began to develop a feasible story.
A knock on the door was followed by entrance of a middle-aged man. “Hello, I’m Dr. MacLean.”
“Of course you are,” muttered Cat.
“Sorry?”
“Of course you are, I saw your name on my chart,” she corrected.
“Oh, well it is very nice to finally meet you Ms…?” prompted the physician.
“MacLean, actually.” She did not want to give her real name in case it flagged the police; she had been missing for almost a year. Plus, she may not have married a MacLean, but she could have.
“How funny!” said the physician. “Were you here visiting the land of your ancestral roots?”
This sounded like a plausible enough story for Cat. “Yes. I was doing the silly tourist thing. I even went all out and got some authentic clothing, I wanted to get the full experience.” There, that should explain the weird dress!
“But I think an arrow through the chest is a little more authentic than you bargained for, aye?” asked Dr. MacLean.
“You can say that again,” she replied.
“Do you know how it happened?” he asked.
“It was just a freak accident as far as I can tell. One minute I was walking, taking in the scenery, the next I woke up to see the nurse I was just speaking to. Probably just one of those wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time things.” Sure Cat, keep babbling like an idiot.
“Hmm.”
Before he could get too suspicious she asked, “So how bad is it?”
“You are actually quite lucky,” said the doctor. “You were hit on the right side, high on the chest, so nothing critical was damaged. But, there was a lot of bleeding. We had to place a drain in your chest, and you will need to have it for another six to eight weeks.”
“That long? But what about the baby?”
“The baby is fine. However, as far as we can tell, you will be due soon after your chest tube is scheduled to come out, so your stay with us will likely be even longer.”
“Ugh,” Cat let out a groan of frustration and wiped her face with her hands.
“Is there anyone we should call? The father maybe?”
“No, I’m afraid he’s out of the picture,” said Cat as a tear rolled down her cheek. More like out of the century.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll let you have some privacy.” As the doctor walked out, Cat finally let her mind fully examine her situation. While this was certainly not ideal, it could be worse. She was alive, her baby was alive—now hopefully she could figure out a way to get back to when Alasdair was alive.
Cat wondered if the fates were playing some kind of cruel, ironic joke on her. She had been trying for months to get back to her own time, but now that she was here, she needed to find a way to get back. She did not know if it was possible, but she damn well was going to try! She needed to get back to the two men she loved most in the world. It had only taken a near-death experience for Cat to realize how much she actually did love Alasdair. Well Cat, you never did like to do things the easy way!
***
Chapter 19
“Do ye think she lives?” Alasdair finally had gained enough courage to ask Keith the question.
“I like to think so. Medicine is much more advanced. You’d be amazed at the things we are able to accomplish in the future.”
“And the bairn?”
“I can’t know for sure, but if Cat lived, it is likely the baby did as well,” replied Keith. The two men had formed a close bond over the past couple of weeks. They were the only two who really knew what had happened to Catriona. To everyone else, they had blamed her disappearance on the Camerons.
“Will ye try to go home now the Castle is back under our control and the Camerons are off MacLean land?”
“No,” replied Keith. “I will wait a little longer. I have a feeling Cat will come back here if at all possible. I don’t want to risk going back to the future only to be left behind again.”
***
“Jesus tap-dancing Christ, this amount of pain is just not natural!” screamed Cat.
“No, I assure you, this amount of pain is perfectly natural. You are the one that refused all of our offers of an epidural,” said the only nurse who was still willing to stay long enough to talk with Catriona. Cat liked the nurse when she was not being so obnoxious—she had sass.
Cat had wanted to prove she could have a child naturally. After all, if she was able to get back to the past, she needed to prove she could do this if she was going to have any more kids, but she could hardly explain that to the nurse. “Are you sure there’s only one in there?”
“I’m sure. Here comes another contraction. Now stop talking and start pushing.”
Catriona had threatened to quit at least ten times, but each time the nurse just laughed at her. Luckily, things progressed smoothly and the doctor was finally called in for the final push. As Catriona welcomed Alexander MacLean into the world, her only regret was that the boy’s father could not be with her to share in the joy.
A week later, Cat left the hospital after some inventive lying. She still had no idea what she had said to finally convince the hospital she had a home to which she and Alexander could return.
But, it was not as if Cat did not have a plan. Finding the first ATM she could, Catriona dug her wallet out of the secret pocket in her purse. She was lucky the hospital had not found her ID. She took each one of her debit cards and withdrew the maximum amount of cash. She was fortunate rent was so expensive around Boston. The three-month’s worth she had saved should be able to sustain her for a while here.
Catriona inserted the first card—she knew she would likely only have one shot with each before they were shut down as a precaution against fraud. She was surprised at how much she was able to withdraw. She had even purposefully withdrawn more than some of her accounts had in them. Ha ha, take that banks! You’ll never get the overdraft fees back from me. Ethics be damned!
Catriona then went from store to store, stocking up on all the supplies she would need. She even bought the biggest backpack she could find without looking suspicious. She retired her red purse for the completely unfashionable (but very practical) bag. She loaded all of her supplies in the bag and then found a cheap bed and breakfast for the evening.
Laying Alexander down, she began to map out her plan. She was going to find Elspeth’s hut, and see if the book was there. Cat seemed to get the impression the book always returned there eventually. She would not go right away, Alexander was too small. But once he got a bit stronger, she would see if she could find the hut.
***
“Ye look concerned,” said Alasdair to Keith.
“I am. I was sure Cat would have been back by now.”
“Do ye think she decided to stay in the future?” asked Alasdair.
“I wish I could say yes, but I can’t.” replied Keith sadly.
“I see,” said Alasdair. He had taken some ease knowing Catriona was well in the future, but now it seemed he could not even hold onto that small comfort. “What will ye do?”
“I’m not sure, but I thought I should at least see if the book is back at Elspeth’s hut—see if I at least have the option to go back.”
“I will go with ye,” offered Alasdair.
This was it, the moment of truth—over the next bend was Elspeth’s hut. Cut broke out into a loud guffaw and she drove the rental car into view of the building. Before her was a sign that read ‘Elizabeth’s Books.’ Let’s just hope they have the one book I really need. She exited the vehicle and then grabbed Alexander from his car seat.
“Hello,” greeted the woman at the front counter. “Can I help you with anything? Baby books maybe?”
“Yes, but I’m not interested in baby books. Do you have any old texts that would contain information on medicinal uses of herbs?”
“Ach, I ken. I would not want to ingest all these modern chemicals either if I had such a small one. The books you are looking for are just over there—in the back row,” pointed the woman.
“Thanks!” said Cat as she followed the directions. Her heart began to race as she peered through the shelves. There it is! Cat could not believe it; it should not have been this easy. She was worried something would go wrong—the way everything was falling into place had her nervous. She hurried to the counter to cash out, but had a hard time not just ripping the book out of the clerk’s hand as the girl boxed the item. With another quickly muttered another ‘thanks’ Cat raced to the solitude of her car.
Getting back into her rental, she hugged Alexander closely to her, ensuring she also had a good grip on her backpack. She double checked to make sure she was wearing sneakers and jeans; she had no desire to go back into the past without practical clothing. Holding the book in her free hand she closed her eyes and said, “Please send me back to Alasdair—I love him so much. I need my family to be whole again.”
Opening her eyes, Catriona almost cried when she saw she was still in the car. I must not have done it right! She reached for the book again—but it was gone. All the blood drained from Catriona’s face as realization came over her. She recognized the box the book had been put in. Finding the receipt, she looked at the date, May 11, 2012. “Oh my god—I was the stupid ass that wished myself back into the past!”
***
Alasdair was not surprised to see the witch waiting to greet the two men as they arrived. “I wondered when ye would be back,” she greeted.
“You expected us?” asked Keith.
“Well of course I did, especially after hearing tales of Catriona being taken by the Camerons,” answered Elspeth. “Of course, I ken that to be false since this came back to my home some weeks ago,” said Elspeth as she held of the book that had brought Alasdair his greatest joy and greatest sorrow. “Here,” said the woman as she handed Alasdair the book.
“Thank ye, but he is the one who needs the book. My need to have Catriona returned to me will go unfulfilled—nay matter how much I may wish otherwise.” He tried to hand the book to Keith, but it vanished from his grasp. Keith’s shocked gaze met his own. “Do ye think?” asked Alasdair.
“I don’t know,” said Keith.
***
Cat was having trouble processing what she had just come to comprehend. The whole time she had been in the past she had been trying to figure out what need she had to fulfill. She never would have thought it would be to find love and a family. The fact that her current-self wished her past-self into the past blew her mind. She still had trouble understanding all of the nuances.
But then what was the point? Why would she be sent to the past, only to then send herself to the past, but then not be able to get back to the past? It makes no freakin’ sense!
Cat’s whirling thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the window. “Excuse me miss, you forgot this!” The store clerk was outside her window.
Cat opened the door so she could take the proffered item from the clerk. Cat’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground when she realized it was the book. Can it be? She was so unsteadied by her shock, the weight from Alexander and all the other items she had attached to her arms pulled her back into the car. She hit her head on the doorframe as she fell. But rather than landing in the driver’s seat, she landed on the ground.
“Son of a!” Cat sputtered as she landed with a thud. She tried to rub the pain from her head. Moving her hands from her face, Cat finally took in her surroundings. But seriously? Are the blows to the back of the head really necessary for the initial jump through time?
***
“Son of a!”
“I think it is,” said Keith just a moment after his last uncertain statement. Alasdair nearly took the door off its hinges as he ran outside. From the sounds of it, Keith must have completed the destruction.
“Catriona?”
“Well don’t just stand there Mac—help me up!” Both he and Keith went to help her. “Here, you take Alexander,” said Catriona as Alasdair approached. She handed him a small ball of cloth that immediately started to wail.
“Is this?” Alasdair question lodged in his throat as he became overwhelmed with emotion.
“Yes, that’s your son, Alexander Keith MacLean,” said Catriona as she took her brother’s hand to help her up. “Can’t you tell? He has your devastating blue eyes.”
“Catriona love, are ye back, are ye truly back to stay?”
“Well Mac, that depends,” she said.
“On what?” asked Alasdair.
“Do you really mean what you just said?”
“What did I just say?” asked Alasdair
“That you love me?”
“Aye, of course I mean it,” he replied. “I had thought I wouldnae ever have the chance to tell ye.”
“Good, because I would hate to think I travelled back to the past to the man I love, only to be rejected,” said Catriona.
“Ugh, can you guys lay off the sappy stuff? You’re making me sick!” teased Keith.
“Oh shut up Keith!” said Catriona, as she walked into Alasdair’s embrace to welcome his kiss.
“Seriously guys! Get a room!”
About the Author
Mallory Moutinho grew up in Massachusetts, but now resides in Connecticut with her high school sweetheart turned husband. There is nothing she loves more than curling up with a good book and a piece of chocolate. You can find out more at mallorymoutinho.com, or feel free to email her at mallory.moutinho@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading my book, I hope you had a good laugh!
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If you feel so inclined, please leave a review for my book. This will help any new readers decide if this is the type of book for them!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
About the Author