Chapter 18 #2
And then she was gone. How could things work out the way they were meant to?
Jenna was not going to leave with him. She didn’t even believe him.
She most likely thought he was out of his mind.
Amazingly she still wanted to be with him, just not at his home in Scotland.
Taking a deep breath Cormac tried to relax his mind and sleep.
Tomorrow he would have to say goodbye to Jenna.
It would be the hardest thing he’d ever had to do in his life, but he would have to do it.
***
The morning light peeked through the curtains and Jenna stretched her arms over head. She turned to look at the man lying next to her and was surprised to find him wide-awake and gazing at her with the saddest eyes.
“I must go, Jenna,” he said. “I must be at the place where we met verra soon.”
“Oh, no. I don’t want you to leave,” Jenna cried.
“I have no choice. If I dinnae leave today, I willnae be able to go back.”
Jenna was baffled by his insistence that a witch sent him and a witch was going to bring him back to his home.
It went without saying that the fact he thought it was in 16th century Scotland was simply beyond being rational.
She’d humor him and when he was still here later this morning, she’d do her best to help him with this delusion.
“I understand. I’d like to come with you.” At the brilliant smile that broke out on his face, Jenna corrected, “Not back to Scotland, just down to the Marina to say goodbye.”
Cormac’s face fell and she felt terrible to cause him such disappointment. “I’d like that verra much,” he said.
“I guess we should get dressed and get your things together then.”
“Aye.”
Silence descended upon them as they got out of bed and got themselves dressed. Cormac gathered the bags of candy he had purchased and put them in the leather bag slung across his body. It had been a gift from Jenna.
“Come, let’s be off,” Cormac said.
They headed down the hall and into the living room where Jenna was surprised to see her cousin, Dylan waiting for them.
“I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.” Dylan stood and wrapped Cormac in a huge bear hug, which was returned in kind. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you. I wish you could stay longer, but I know you have to get back. I hope I’ll be able to get there for a visit someday.”
“I’ll speak to Edna about it. She may be able to arrange it.
” Cormac said as he clapped Dylan on the back.
“And ye Chester, I will surely miss ye.” Cormac squatted down to pet Chester and the dog practically knocked him over in his attempts to lick his face.
The dog’s body was wriggling left and right as he showed his love for Cormac.
“Yer a good dog. I wish I had one like ye back home.”
Dylan walked with them to the door. Jenna was amazed that Dylan seemed to really think Cormac was going somewhere. She kept her thoughts to herself. This was going to be difficult, but she’d be there to soften the blow once Cormac realized he wasn’t going anywhere.
They reached the Marina and Jenna sat on a nearby bench.
Cormac knelt in front of her and looked so serious, it nearly broke her heart.
He took her hands in his, “Jenna, love, I’m sorry to leave ye.
I wish things could be different, but they cannae.
” He leaned forward and kissed her. The sweet taste of his lips on hers had her almost saying she’d go with him, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
She’d get to kiss him again. She was sure of it.
Cormac said his goodbyes and walked solemnly to the spot where Jenna had first spotted him.
He stood there, very still and waited. Nothing happened, but he stayed put.
Jenna felt so badly for him. He really believed he was going somewhere.
Tears filled her eyes as she thought about how he must be feeling.
His delusions were obviously still firmly in place.
“Edna!” he called. “Edna, are ye there?”
Jenna couldn’t take it anymore and she went to him. “Cormac, it’s all going to be okay.”
At that very moment, the wind picked up and the fog began to swirl around them. “Cormac, I’ll help you.” The next words out of her mouth were impossible to hear. The roar of the wind in her ears was incredible.
“Jenna, ye must get back away from me.”
“No, Cormac. Please, listen to me.” She grabbed onto his hands and tried to pull him in the direction of the bench, but the swirling fog wouldn’t allow it. Jenna wasn’t sure what was happening, but she needed to get Cormac out of there.
“It’s too late, Jenna. Hold on to me. I dinnae wish to lose ye.
” Cormac pulled her in tight to his body and held her in a vise-like grip.
What happened next was too unbelievable for words.
The fog continued to swirl and little pops of light burst around them.
The ground seemed to drop out from under her feet and she felt herself moving at a high rate of speed.
“What’s happening?” she screamed as the wind ate her words and the fog swirled around them like a tornado.