Chapter 3
The little cottage by the sea, just south of San Francisco, was Angelina’s safe haven and as she sat in her car on the gravel drive, admiring her small slice of heaven, she reflected on what it was about this place that grounded her and made her so happy.
She loved everything about it—the ocean itself, the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach, the fresh scent of the water and the sounds of the many sea birds lining the narrow strip of beachfront.
There was a certain peace to be found here, and she never took it for granted.
It was home to her and had been for quite some time now.
When Jenna and Dylan had gone off on their extended journey to Scotland, they had asked her to move into the family home in the city, but Angelina had never wanted to live there.
She’d had many opportunities in the past, but that wasn’t the life she wanted.
She enjoyed San Francisco well enough on the few occasions that she stayed at the house, however, she wasn’t the party girl she had once been, and she preferred to spend her nights alone here at the little cottage rather than at the much larger house in the city.
Getting out of the car, Angelina inhaled deeply, enjoying the salty air, when a shiver of apprehension ran up her spine.
She spun around and searched the growing darkness, but she saw nothing to make her suspicious.
Again, she had the impression someone was watching her, just as she had when she left Nick and Richard earlier.
She closed the car door and hurried towards the cottage, where she fumbled with her keys, nerves getting the better of her.
The sound of footsteps crunching in the gravel caused her to jump and spin on the spot.
“Angelina,” said an elderly woman as she approached.
“Mrs. Whitcomb!” Angelina held a hand to her swiftly beating heart, trying to calm herself.
“I’m sorry. Did I frighten you, dear?” Mrs. Whitcomb, Angelina’s friend and neighbour sounded quite concerned.
“I’m just a little jumpy, I guess,” Angelina said by way of explanation. “How are you doing, Mrs. Whitcomb?”
“Angelina, I’ve asked you before to call me Estella,” Mrs. Whitcomb admonished. “I’m fine, the husband and I are settling into our new home very nicely.”
“Oh, good,” Angelina responded as she unlocked her front door.
“Please come in, Estella.” She reached for the light switch, and a soft, warm glow lit the room.
Estella followed along behind her. “Would you care to have a seat? I’m going to get a fire started, it’s cold in here.
” It was November and chilly in Northern California, but Angelina preferred her fireplace to the gas heater for keeping her little cottage warm.
Estella took a seat in the cozy living room. “I was wondering if I might borrow a couple of eggs. I’m making a cake for Harry, and I realized after I’d already gotten started that I was all out. It’s a long drive to the grocery store and I don’t see as well at night as I once did.”
Angelina’s soft gaze landed on Estella. “Of course, you can. I’ll get them for you.” She marvelled at how lively and young Estella seemed, despite her age of nearly eighty years. She retrieved two eggs from the refrigerator and handed them to Estella.
“We’re thinking of getting some chickens,” Estella said. She searched Angelina’s face, perhaps waiting for a protest.
“That sounds like a great idea. Where would you put the coop?” Angelina had thought about having chickens herself, but she knew someone needed to be there on a daily basis to care for them. She wasn’t sure she could commit to such an arrangement just yet.
“Out in back by the vegetable garden. There’s plenty of room for a coop and a run.”
“I’d be happy to help you take care of them when I’m here,” Angelina offered. “And maybe in exchange for some eggs, I could help pay for their feed.
“That would be wonderful. Fresh eggs are the best and I know we’d have more than enough to share with you.” Estella smiled warmly and stood to go. “Harry wants to build the coop himself, but I’m not sure he’s up to the challenge.”
“Maybe my friend Nick could help him. I’ll ask him and if he agrees, I’ll let you know so Harry can buy the lumber.” She walked Estella to the door, where they stood for a moment.
“Any help would be a blessing. Thank you so much. I believe we struck gold when we got you for a neighbour.” Estella headed out the door and turned to wave goodbye. “I’ll bring you a slice of cake tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Estella. Be careful walking in the dark,” Angelina stood in the doorway and watched as Estella carefully navigated her way across the gravel drive to the path that led to the house next door.
“Good night!” Angelina called. Closing the door, she suffered the same uneasy sensation she’d had before Estella arrived.
She double checked the locks and made sure all the windows around the house were closed and secured as well.
Peeking through the front windows, she realized there was no way she was going to see anything at all out there.
The fog had rolled in and the moon was no longer visible, leaving the surrounding area pitch black.
She closed the blinds and went to the kitchen to make herself a quick dinner from the contents of the freezer.
As she waited for the microwave to beep, she sent a text to Nick.
I’m home. Sorry for the delay texting. My new neighbour stopped by and we were talking.
The microwave signalled that her food was done and as she removed it, the phone vibrated, letting her know that Nick had answered.
I’m happy you’re home safely. Richard and I are catching up on lost time. Will we see you tomorrow?
I’m not sure. I have some things to do, but if I finish early enough, I’ll stop by.
Angelina loved Nick like a brother. She’d never had one, but she imagined if she had, he would have been just like Nick.
At first, he’d come on to her, trying to convince her he was the one for her, but after a brief period of suffering Angelina’s gentle rejections, Nick had seen reason in her arguments about not wanting to get involved and they had become the best of friends.
She found it amusing that wherever they went, women jealously eyed her, as if she were their competition in the contest for Nick’s heart.
He loved all the attention and deservedly so.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered Scotsman, with an adorable accent.
Handsome was an understatement in his case.
He possessed smouldering good looks, all the way from his mop of wavy brown hair to his aquiline nose and very masculine chin.
His eyes were a tawny gold, with flecks of green and brown and his lips were perfectly formed and a prize many women coveted.
Angelina’s phone buzzed again.
Good enough, then. I hope to see you tomorrow. Good night.
Good night
she texted back. She wished she could shake the uneasy feeling that had followed her since leaving the city.
Angelina poured herself a glass of wine and settled into the overstuffed sofa that faced the fireplace.
Reaching into the gap between the arm of the sofa and the cushion she rested on, she found her dirk and placed it within easy reach, just in case she needed it.
***
A shadowy figure stood watch, hidden amidst the shrubbery surrounding Angelina Lawson’s home. Satisfied that he had gone unnoticed, he silently headed back the way he’d come. As he reached his car, which he’d parked in a darkened area around the corner, the man made a phone call.
“Well,” asked a voice at the other end. “How’d it go?”
“Fine. She never even noticed me. When the time is right, this should be easy.” The man started his car and holding the cell phone to his ear, he began to drive off.
“As long as we can get at her when that big highlander isn’t around, I’d agree.”
“And if we can’t?” The man merged his car onto the freeway, heading back towards the city.
“You’ll have to get rid of him.”
***
“Explain to me what you’re doing with that,” Richard said, pointing to the cell phone.
“It’s called ‘texting’. I’m sending and receiving messages from Angelina.
With this phone, I not only can keep in touch with everyone I know, but I can access any information I might need.
The answer to any question ye could think of, is right here in this phone.
” Nick handed the phone to Richard so he could examine it more closely.
“I find that hard to believe.” Richard was turning the phone every which way. “How can something so small contain the answers to every question? It seems impossible.”
“Here, I’ll show ye.” Nick took the phone back and said, “Ye’ll enjoy this, Richard.” He pressed the button on the front of the phone and said, “Medieval martial arts.” A woman’s voice came from the phone and responded, “This is what I found on the web for medieval martial arts.”
“Who is that?” Richard was astounded. The shocked expression on his face must have been amusing to Nick, because he burst into laughter.
“Here, see what she found for me.” Nick handed the phone back to Richard who nodded seriously as he examined the phone.
“Will she answer any question?” he asked.
“Most of them. What will the weather be like tomorrow?” Nick asked as he retrieved the phone from Richard once again.
“The weather in San Francisco will be sunny, but cool, with temperatures in the high fifties.”
Richard couldn’t believe that the phone could talk. “What magic is this?”
“Nae magic. Modern technology,” Nick said.
“Modern what?” Richard was becoming more and more baffled with each passing moment.
“I’ll tell ye more about it tomorrow, Richard. Let me show ye to yer room.” Nick threw an arm over Richard’s shoulder, “I’m happy to see ye once again, my friend.”
“As am I,” Richard responded. He wondered how he was going to survive in this world he found himself in. There was much to learn, and he’d better get used to it, because going back didn’t seem as if it were a possibility at this moment in time.