Chapter 20 #2
He wondered if ’twas possible? But he was no longer worried about going back to his time. Nay, he decided to make his way here. In this time. When they returned, he would call Evan and tell him that he would teach rich men how to wield a blade.
The air was warm and humid as Daisy drove across the bridge to Roanoke Island.
Seagulls called out, their cries blending with the distant hum of boat engines.
She’d always wanted to visit and explore the Carolinas.
While she’d been to Florida and Georgia, she hadn’t visited North or South Carolina.
Maybe after Callan gave the broken dagger to the Merriweather lady, they could take a week to relax at the beach before going back.
Once they were back in Boston, she’d ask a lawyer she sometimes house sat for if he could help Callan.
They needed to make him legal. Would he want to stay with her?
She loved having him around, but he might not think it was proper.
There had been times during this trip that she thought it was time for a new beginning, time to leave Boston and settle somewhere new. Maybe the beach?
“This place is beautiful,” Callan said, leaning out the window to catch a better view of the shimmering water.
Daisy nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of America’s oldest mysteries.”
With plenty of daylight left, they parked the camper van near the visitor center and set off to explore the island, inhaling the scent of pine trees mixed with salty sea air. The path beneath their feet was covered with pine needles that crunched with every step.
Their first stop was the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. The reconstructed earthworks and the historical markers painted a vivid picture of the past. Daisy could almost hear the echoes of the settlers’ voices, the hopes and fears of those who had once walked these grounds.
“What do you think happened to them?” Daisy asked, glancing at Callan.
Callan shrugged, his expression thoughtful. “Mayhap they all perished.” But he wondered. “Do ye think they could have traveled through time like me?”
“Maybe.” Daisy shrugged.
As they wandered through the Elizabethan Gardens, the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of roses and honeysuckle, while the gentle buzzing of bees lent the space a sense of tranquility.
While they walked, her hand in the crook of his arm, she could picture them together, the holidays, and the next several years. A deep sense of contentment filled her.
When they turned a corner, there were several benches and a fountain. An older couple sat, their hands entwined. They introduced themselves as Marty and Martha.
“We’re celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary,” Martha told her.
As George recounted tales of their travels this past year, Daisy couldn’t help but glance at Callan, who listened with a polite, intrigued expression.
The idea of spending decades with someone, sharing a lifetime of memories, stirred a deep yearning within.
She pictured herself and Callan, weathered by time but still together, still exploring the world side by side.
She smiled at the couple, congratulating them on their anniversary. “Fifty years. That’s an amazing accomplishment,” she said, eyes shining.
“Oh, it is,” Martha replied with a warm smile. “Every year is a blessing when you’re with the right person.”
Daisy felt Callan’s gaze on her, and she met his eyes briefly, a silent exchange passing between them. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing, if the idea of a shared future was something he too was thinking about?
Not wanting to wake Callan, Daisy quietly climbed down from the sleeping platform, careful not to step on the pullout bed where he was sleeping. Frankie, tail wagging, followed her out into the humid morning air. The air here in North Carolina was so heavy, she could almost touch it.
Frankie bounded ahead, leash jingling softly. Daisy followed, letting him go where he wanted, her mind still hazy with sleep.
As they walked through the quiet campground, the world seemed to pause, caught in that magical moment between night and day.
Then, a scent drifted towards her, the salty air and some kind of flower, and suddenly, she was no longer in the campground, but taken away to another time, to a memory long buried.
She was seven years old, staying on one of the small Greek Islands with her parents. The air was warm, filled with the scent of olive trees and the distant hum of cicadas. They were staying in a small rental house near the coast, her parents excited about a new underwater find.
They had left early one morning to go out on a boat, leaving Daisy behind. They told her to stay in the house and not to talk to anyone.
“We’ll be back soon, sweetheart,” her mother said, kissing her on the forehead. “Just stay inside and be a good girl.”
But “soon” turned into hours, and then days.
At first, Daisy wasn’t too worried. She played with her toys, read her picture books, and tried to entertain herself. The house was quiet. The only sound, the birds outside and the distant murmur of the sea.
By the third day, the food was running low. Daisy had found some bread and cheese in the kitchen, but it was starting to mold. She nibbled at the least spoiled parts, trying to stave off the growing hunger.
“Mommy and Daddy will be back soon,” she told herself, voice trembling. “They promised.”
On the fifth day, fear set in. She was hungry, dirty, and scared. She wanted to go outside, but the warning not to talk to anyone echoed in her mind. She peered through the window, watching the people pass by, scared her parents would never return.
A full week had passed by the time her parents finally returned. They burst through the door, sunburned and excited, completely oblivious to the trauma their absence had caused.
“Daisy, we’re back!” her father called, his voice filled with excitement. “You won’t believe what we found!”
Daisy was curled up on the couch, dirty and hungry, her eyes wide and hollow. Her mother’s smile faded as she took in the sight of her daughter. “Oh my God, Daisy, what happened?”
“You left me,” Daisy whispered, tears streaming down her face. “You forgot about me.”
Her parents were horrified, realizing once again they’d gotten so consumed with work that they forgot everything else, including their daughter. They tried to comfort her, but the damage was done. The fear of abandonment had taken root deep within her.
The year she turned eighteen, her mother, tipsy on sparkling wine one night, had confided that she and Daisy’s dad never wanted children, but her mom had been on an antibiotic and the birth control failed, so here she was. They’d tried their best, but they hadn’t cared enough to be good parents.
To this day, the fear of abandonment had been her constant companion. She’d tried talking to therapists, reading books about the issue, and other things, but the deep-seated fear that she wasn’t enough wouldn’t leave her.
As Frankie led the way back to the van, resolve settled deep within her. It was time to embrace the possibility of a future with Callan. And if he went back to his own time, it wouldn’t be because he wanted to leave her, but that he needed the community of family with his half-brother.
She opened the van door, the smell of coffee greeting her. Callan was up, his sleepy smile a welcome sight.
“Morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.
Daisy returned his smile, a newfound determination in her heart. “Good morning,” she replied, stepping inside to a new day, to a future she was finally ready to embrace.
As they drove towards Wilmington, Callan occasionally pointed out interesting sights or made light-hearted comments that brought a smile to her face.
By the time they reached the waterfront, Daisy felt lighter, the heaviness of the memories fading into the background.
Their first stop was the Battleship North Carolina. Moored serenely on the Cape Fear River, the imposing structure was a majestic sight.
They spent hours exploring the battleship, wandering through the decks and corridors, each turn revealing a new piece of history. Daisy found herself caught up in Callan’s enthusiasm, his wonder at the ship infectious.
As they stood on the deck, looking out over the river, Daisy decided she’d make so many new memories that they would crowd out the bad for good.
They ended the day with dinner and a walk along the riverfront, the setting sun casting a golden hue over the water.