Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Jonathan walked into Joe’s Diner and sat himself at a nearby table.
He thought he’d have some breakfast before heading over to Jenna’s to confront her.
He couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to get a restraining order.
He’d show her. No restraining order was going to keep him from getting to her.
She’d ruined his plans when she got the annulment, but what she didn’t know would definitely hurt her and he’d be rolling in the dough soon enough.
“Hi, my name’s Sophia, can I get you some coffee,” the waitress asked.
“Hey, Sophia. Yeah. I’d like that very much.”
“I’ll be right back with that and then I’ll take your order.” She smiled sweetly at him.
He winked at her. He loved to flirt and this waitress was just his type. She might come in handy in his future plans.
Sophia brought his coffee and took his order. “Come back and sit with me.” Jonathan offered.
“Okay. My shift is just about over. You’re my last customer,” Sophia said.
“I hope I can be more than your customer,” Jonathan pretended to be hopeful and he could tell Sophia was falling for it.
She brought his order back and sat down opposite him, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I don’t often get invited to join people at their tables. Thanks for asking me.” Sophia was obviously giving him the once over and he could tell she was interested.
“I’m happy you agreed to it. What are you doing after you’re done here?” he asked.
“Not much. I was just going to go home and do some laundry,” she said.
“Laundry! That’s no fun. Why don’t you come with me, I could use your help.”
“What do you need my help for?” she asked.
Jonathan could see she was intrigued and he wanted to make her feel at ease. “I know you don’t know me, but I’m a fine upstanding citizen. Everyone around here knows me, so if you want to check my references, you can start by asking Joe. He’s known me for years.”
“I’ve seen you here before. I’m not worried about you.”
“Okay. Then let me tell you what I’m up to. You can help me out and I’ll take you to dinner later. How’s that sound?”
“Well, I guess it depends on what you need me to help you with.”
“I just need you to be my arm candy.” Jonathan smiled his most charming smile and he could see Sophia was feeling pretty special. “My ex lives nearby and I’m going to pay her a little visit. I need her to think I’ve moved on … with you. Do you think you could be convincing in that role?”
“Sure, but why do you need her to think you’ve moved on?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little self with the details.
I’m completely over her and I have been for a long time, but she won’t let me near her and I’d really like for us to be friends.
So, I thought if I showed her I had a beautiful lady like yourself, she’d be more receptive to my friendship.
It would make our lives a lot easier if there was no tension. ”
“I can understand that. I’ve got some friends who are divorced and they hate each other. It’s made their lives hell for years.” Sophia said.
“Yeah, so you can see what I mean. Good. You’re not only beautiful, but you’ve got brains. I find that very attractive.”
Sophia was blushing and Jonathan knew his ploy was working.
He finished up his breakfast, making small talk with Sophia and sending her signals that he was interested.
She was eating it up. He paid the bill and then waited while Sophia went in the back and changed out of her uniform and into her regular clothes.
“Wow! Look at you. Even more beautiful out of your work clothes. I’m a lucky guy.” Jonathan was laying it on thick, but again she didn’t seem to notice. “Let’s get out of here.”
They walked the few blocks to Jenna’s house. He used to live there too and the thought that she’d thrown him out and cut him off was a bitter pill to swallow. But he had a plan and this was step one.
They stood across the street while Jonathan checked his watch.
He’d wait a few more minutes. It was still pretty early.
He knew Dylan was there and was sure he’d follow his usual schedule of walking Chester, the devil dog himself.
Once he was gone, he’d be able to talk to Jenna without interruption.
If he could convince her he was over her and he wasn’t angry about the money, then he was home free.
She’d let her guard down and drop the restraining order.
The door opened and Jenna came out holding Cormac’s hand. He heard Sophia gasp when she saw them. “Is something wrong, Sophia?” he asked.
“No. It’s just that I know them. That’s Jenna and that’s Cormac. He was flirting with me at Joe’s and Jenna was pretty jealous,” she said with a catty grin on her face.
“Is that going to be a problem? Will you still be able to help me?”
“Sure. No problem. It’d serve her right if she thought I had both of you interested in me.”
“You don’t like her much, do you?”
“No. She’s one of those girls who looks down her nose at people like me. It’ll be nice to get some respect.”
Jenna and Cormac were headed off down the street.
Jonathan didn’t know where they were going at this hour, but he was going to follow them.
“Come on,” he said as he grabbed onto Sophia’s hand and pulled her down the street with him.
“Looks like they’re heading for the Marina.
We’ll hang back a bit and see what they’re up to and when the timing’s right, we’ll approach them. ”
“Okay. Whatever you say,” Sophia said.
When they got to the Marina, Jonathan was surprised to see Jenna sitting on the bench, while Cormac looked to be saying goodbye. This was perfect. Jenna was a much easier target without that Scottish bastard in the way. Cormac moved to a spot on the green and just stood there.
“What’s he doing?” Sophia wanted to know.
Jonathan motioned for her to be quiet. The air around them changed.
It seemed to be charged with an electrical current.
He watched in fascination as Jenna went to Cormac and he embraced her just as a whirlwind of fog began swirling around them.
Weird lights were flashing and the wind had picked up.
His curiosity got the better of him and he started to head in their direction.
Sophia followed along gripping his hand.
As they reached the outer band of the fog, Jenna and Cormac were no longer visible.
“Where’d they go?” Jonathan wondered. “I can’t see them.
” He pulled Sophia deeper into the fog and before he knew what was happening he felt himself falling.
Where there once had been solid ground, now there was nothing but air rushing past as he was being hurtled through space.
He could hear Sophia’s screams as she clawed her way into his arms. “Hold tight,” he yelled, but he really didn’t have to, he was wearing Sophia like she was a second skin.
He felt her go limp in his arms, but he held on to her, not sure what would happen next.
Fear was lodged in his throat and he didn’t want to go wherever he was headed, alone.
***
When the swirling stopped, Jenna found herself still anchored in Cormac’s arms. They hit the ground hard, but Cormac took the brunt of it as Jenna landed atop him.
“What just happened?” Jenna asked as she looked around at the unfamiliar sites surrounding her.
“Jenna, yer not going to like what I have to tell ye, lass.” Cormac looked like a man who was sure he was in trouble.
“What do you mean? Where are we?” She could feel herself losing control of the fragile grip she had on reality.
“We’re back in Scotland, in my time. There’s the bridge right over there.”
Jenna looked in the direction he was pointing and was surprised to see the bridge he spoke of was not the Golden Gate Bridge, but a small stone bridge spanning a stream.
Panic filled her and she wanted to run, but where.
She had absolutely no idea why she wasn’t on the Marina Green.
The only answer was standing right in front of her.
Cormac had gotten to his feet and he was holding out his hand to help her up. She batted it away. “You, you kidnapped me. I don’t know how you did it, but you brought me here against my will.”
“I’m sorry, Jenna. I didnae mean to bring ye. Ye grabbed on to me just as the fog arrived. I was afraid if I let go, ye might end up in another time and place all alone. I wasnae willing to take that risk.”
“I can’t believe this. Am I awake? This isn’t possible.” She was losing it. “You need to bring me back right now.”
“I’m afraid I cannae. I don’t know how to do it. Edna will have to help ye.”
“Edna!” Jenna called. “Edna! Where are you? When I get my hands on you …”
“Jenna, I know this is a shock, but try to be reasonable. Look, over there, Edna left my horse. We can ride to Breaghacraig and try to contact Edna once we’re there.”
“No. I’m not going anywhere with you. This is beyond ridiculous. I can’t believe you did this to me.” She got up and started walking towards the bridge. Maybe if she crossed the bridge she’d be able to get back.
“Jenna, where are ye going? Ye must come with me. This is not San Francisco and ye willnae be safe on yer own. Please, listen to me. I ken yer angry with me, but ye must understand that I didnae mean for ye to come with me.”