Chapter 14 #2
“I do,” she said, smiling sweetly and fighting the melting sensation overcoming her lower extremities. She cleared her throat, “When do you expect Zeke will be back?”
Brenna surprised both Elle and Hamish by picking up a cell phone. “Soon. He told me he’d be back by six.”
“Good. That gives me time to get ready,” she said. “I’ll be back in a few.”
***
“What time do you expect to leave tomorrow?” Zeke asked.
“I’ve got a car coming to pick us up at around one,” Elle answered.
“Ye’ll come back to visit with us again, won’t ye?” Brenna asked.
“Of course,” Elle replied. “I’m so happy to have met you both, especially since you travelled through time, too. I haven’t told anyone where I was. They’d never believe me and I’m certainly not going to tell any of this to the press. They’d think I had lost my mind.”
Hamish was listening, but Elle could see he was fascinated by everything from the food on his plate, to the actual plate, the wine glass and the decor of the restaurant.
He was now staring at a woman who was dressed in a rather skimpy dress.
Elle reached over and grabbed his hand, focusing his attention back on her.
“Should she be out dressed like that?” he whispered.
Elle stifled a laugh. “You’ve got to remember you’re in a different time. People dress very differently now.”
He tried to turn his head to look again, but she caught his chin in her hand and kept him from gawking. “No staring,” she said.
“Aye.” Hamish glanced over at Brenna who wore a knowing smile.
“Ye’ll get used to it,” she laughed.
“You’ve done pretty well,” Elle said to her. “You’ve only been here, a couple of weeks and you fit in like you’ve been here your whole life.”
“Thank ye,” Brenna said. “Zeke has helped me.”
Zeke leaned over and kissed her temple, “You’re a quick study.”
“I dinnae always understand what he’s saying,” she laughed.
“I just mean you learn quickly.”
“I thought as much,” she replied.
The waiter came to clear their table, “Dessert?” he asked.
“We’ll take a look at the menu,” Elle said.
“Coffee?”
“Zeke?” Elle asked.
“Coffee all around,” Zeke said.
“I’ll be right back,” the waiter said.
They decided on two desserts that they would share. Zeke and Elle let Hamish and Brenna choose. Hamish wanted to try the sundae and Brenna wanted the chocolate cake.
“This is nice,” she said to no one in particular. She hadn’t done much socializing with people outside the music industry in quite some time. She felt relaxed and completely at ease with Zeke and Brenna, and especially with Hamish.
The dessert and coffee arrived. She loved watching Hamish and Brenna enjoying things they’d never eaten before. She and Zeke dipped their spoons into the sundae, but it was far more satisfying seeing Hamish close his eyes and savor the ice cream, fudge sauce and whipped cream.
“What do you think?” she asked him before he could get another spoonful into his mouth.
“I think I dinnae wish to share any more with ye,” he teased.
“And what about you Brenna? Are you a chocolate fan?”
Brenna tipped her head in question.
“Do you like chocolate?”
“Aye. ’Tis delicious.”
“It’s fun watching the two of you discover something new.”
“We tend to take these things for granted,” Zeke explained. “I’ve never known a life without chocolate or ice cream.”
“Neither have I,” Elle said.
Brenna and Hamish silently finished up the last bits of dessert.
“I don’t think they care,” Zeke laughed.
“No. They don’t.” Elle agreed.
The waiter brought the check and Elle handed him her credit card. He took a quick look at it. “You are Elle Carrera! I thought it was you.”
“It’s me,” she smiled.
“Oh, my gosh! Can I get a picture with you?”
“Sure.”
“Let me go take care of this and I’ll get my phone.”
“Does everyone ken who ye are?” Hamish asked.
Brenna looked like she wondered the same thing.
“Not everyone, but sometimes it feels that way.”
The waiter scurried back with the credit card and his phone. Elle stood and put an arm around his waist and he put one around her shoulder. She could hear Hamish clearing his throat. “Let’s make this quick before the big guy gets mad,” she said.
“Oh, right.” He snapped the picture, thanking her profusely.
“You’re welcome.”
“I loved, loved, loved your first album,” he said as he hurried away.
“Hmmm … I wonder what he thought of the second album.”
***
Hamish had never been in a bed so big and comfortable. The bedding was soft and silky to the touch and it smelled fresh and clean. He couldn’t place the scent, but it was pleasant to his nose. He glanced over at Elle, who was smiling brightly at him. She propped herself up on her elbow.
“Why do ye smile at me that way?” he asked.
“I thought we were only going to have one night together. We’ve gone from a dirt floor to a luxurious bed in twenty-four hours.”
“I like this. Will there be a bed like this at the ranch?”
“Not exactly like this, but I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m happy to be here with ye,” he said, turning towards her for a kiss.
“Mmm … I’m happy, too. Did you have fun today? Was it an adventure?”
“Aye. ’Twas.”
“What did you like the best?”
“Hmmm. ’Tis a difficult choice, but ’tis either you or the ice cream,” he teased and she giggled. He’d made her laugh. If it were possible to spend all the days of his life making her happy, he couldn’t ask for anything more.
“Kiss me again,” Elle said and he happily obliged.
One kiss turned into twenty or more, but he wasn’t counting.
“Hamish, I know I thought it would be better to leave you behind, but I’m so happy I didn’t.”
Her admission touched his heart. “Not happier than I. Now, shall we see what it feels like to make love in this big soft bed?”
***
The car arrived for them the next afternoon at one on the nose. They’d already said their goodbyes to Zeke before he left for work.
Brenna made them lunch and they relaxed around the counter until Elle’s phone buzzed telling her the car was waiting.
Hamish fit all his clothes into the suitcase Elle had purchased him the day before and she gathered up her shopping bags and headed for the door, followed by Brenna. Elle gave her a big hug, “It was truly so nice to meet you.”
Hamish took Brenna’s hand and kissed it. She did a slight curtsy to him. “Please come and stay with us again,” she said.
“We will. I promise,” Elle said. She meant it too.
She’d had a wonderful time with them and felt very much at home.
Thinking of home, her mind wandered to her family.
It had been months since she’d seen them.
She hoped it wouldn’t be awkward. Her sister had been angry with her when they’d spoken yesterday.
Elle had tried to explain things to her, but she wasn’t having it.
Since Elle couldn’t tell her about the time travel, her sister thought she was just being thoughtless and self-centered, as usual.
Ouch. She had let Elle know exactly what she thought of her and her career and how disappointed they all were with her.
Maybe this surprise would set things right. She hoped so.
On the drive to the ranch, Hamish was full of questions about everything he was seeing, from the bridge to the endless city, to the thousands of cars. The driver, to his credit, had either tuned them out or had a very good poker face.
“Why have we stopped,” he asked, looking out the window at the cars stopped alongside them.
“Traffic,” Elle said.
“What is traffic?”
“It’s when lots of cars are on the road all going in the same direction. The least little thing can slow everyone down to a complete stop.”
“Where are they all going?” he wondered.
“Mostly home, but some people are going to work, or shopping.”
“And what are these?” he pointed to the huge semi’s that were now on either side of the car.
“Those are trucks. They deliver all kinds of things to stores and businesses. The smaller trucks, like that one,” she pointed to a brown van further ahead, “deliver packages to people’s homes.” Elle patiently answered all of his questions, enjoying the opportunity to explain it all to him.
The scenery changed from city to country as they approached the exit to the ranch.
“Hamish, my family can’t know where you came from. You understand, right?”
“Aye. Dinnae fear. I shall be careful.”
“Thanks. I’m going to have a hard enough time explaining where I’ve been for the last several months.”
“Ye havenae been gone that long.”
“I don’t mean with you. I mean I’ve been busy and I’ve kind of ignored my family. I’m afraid they may be angry with me.”
“They’re yer family. They love ye, dinnae they?”
“I guess so,” she said.
“All will be well. I’m with ye,” he said with confidence.
She couldn’t help but laugh. She believed him. If he was with her, she would be fine, no matter what happened.
“Why do ye laugh?”
“No reason. I’m happy you’re with me.”
The car drove down the long, driveway and around the courtyard fountain before coming to a stop in front of a large, Spanish-style ranch house.
She was home. The cream colored stucco and clay tile roof looked the same as they always had.
Her mother kept the grounds around the house in impeccable shape.
A long, covered Spanish tile patio bordered the entire front of the house.
The driver opened the door for them and as they exited, they were greeted by four large dogs doing a terrible job of guarding the property.
Tails wagging, they surrounded Elle and Hamish, barking excitedly and in the case of Boggle the beagle mix, howling loudly.
Hamish took the time to pet each of them and then burst into laughter as the family cat squeezed through the dogs, hissed at each of them, and sent them scurrying out of the way so she could rub up against his legs.
“Elle, is that you?” her mother, Bobby stood in the doorway.
“It is,” Elle said, waving to her. “I thought I’d surprise you for your birthday.”
“Tina said you couldn’t make it.” Her mother was across the drive and throwing her arms around Elle.
“Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she knew what I was up to, now would it.”
“I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me, too. I love you, Mom.”
“And who have we here?”
“This is Hamish.”
“I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance,” he said, bowing in her direction.
Her mother giggled at his gesture. “I’m Roberta. Everyone calls me Bobby.”
“Bobby,” Hamish repeated.
“Come in. Come in. She hooked her arm through Elle’s and headed towards the house. Hamish followed along behind them.