Chapter 13 #2
“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.