Chapter 18
“Can we please have yer attention,” Edna said. “We’ve news to share with ye.”
Cailin and Cormac exchanged glances with each other and then Edna. She nodded to them as they approached followed by all the others who had been waiting so patiently for a resolution to their separations. Joseph Barnes stood behind everyone seeming very unsure of himself.
Melusina spoke first. “We’ve some good news for ye. Ye’ll be reunited with yer loved ones in a short while, but first we want ye to ken that there will be some changes.”
Concerned looks popped up on all the eager faces waiting to see their loved ones again.
“From this day forward, Edna will nae longer be in charge of the bridge.”
An audible gasp could be heard from those gathered around.
“’Tis no’ a bad thing, we promise.”
“Maggie Sinclair will now be the one to guide ye in yer travels. If ye need anything, she will be the one to help ye.”
“I’ll keep watch as me aunt has done and if ye need me, ye can communicate with me as ye did before.”
“With the snow globe?”
“Aye. And if I need to contact ye I’ll do it through the fire as Auntie has done all these years.”
“Will me mother be able to visit with us?” Lena asked.
“Of course. She will no’ lose her ability to travel across the bridge. She can come and go as she always has,” Daire assured her.
“Now yer Da and I will be able to visit more often.”
Lena ran to her mother and father. Happy tears trailed down her cheeks.
“Doona cry, lass. ’Tis good news.” Angus gave her his hanky.
“Edna, we wish to thank ye for all ye’ve done for us,” Cailin spoke for all the men. “Our lives would be so different if it had no’ been for ye.
"Aye," Brenna added. "I am so happy living with Zeke in San Francisco. Thank ye for that.”
Edna couldn’t speak. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she thought of all the times she had happily meddled in all of their lives.
“I love ye all. Maggie will take good care of ye and this isn’t the last ye’ll see of me.
I’ll visit with ye, although ’twill be in an unofficial capacity.
So this isn’t goodbye. I doona wish to see any sad faces. ”
“We’ve much to attend to back home,” Melusina said. “I would like to get the time travel taken care of. Those of ye who are traveling to the future, please step forward.”
Brenna, Hamish and Donal moved in front of the others.
“To the bridge,” Melusina said.
Hamish and Donal did as requested. Brenna ran to her brother Dougall, who pulled her into a hug. “I’ll miss ye sister.” He kissed her forehead.
“I’ll miss ye. Say goodbye to Helene for me,” Brenna joined Hamish and Donal.
“Maggie, send them on their way.”
The three travelers stood closely together. Hamish put an arm around both Brenna and Donal. The wind began to whip around them and colorful zaps of light appeared. Everyone stood watch as the three disappeared from view.
“I wish we had that orb Evanore gave me. I’d like to be sure they made it back safely.”
“We’ll ken soon enough. I’m going to contact those traveling back to this time.” Maggie walked to the fire and after a few moments called out to Zeke.
“Zeke, get everyone who’s traveling back to the Marina Green. Brenna should be there now.”
“Alright. Is everyone ready to go?” Zeke asked.
The sounds of the women all speaking at once in the background was music to the ears of their husbands.
“We’re on our way.”
Maggie kept watch until they were out of sight. “They’re on their way to the Marina. ’Twill take a few minutes for them to get there.”
When it was time, Maggie closed her eyes and concentrated. “I can see that Hamish, Donal and Brenna have arrived at the Marina. Zeke and the others are just arriving. They appear to have run the whole way. I can no’ imagine why?” she teased before focusing again.
Brenna dove into Zeke’s arms the moment she saw him.
They backed away as Ashley, Jenna, Sara, Sophia and Angelina all held hands and waited.
Once again the wind whipped around them, creating a small vortex of color and light that swept them up and away.
In no time at all they were on the bridge.
It took a second for it to register with them, but when it did, five happy couples flew to each other.
Edna’s heart was filled with happiness for all of them. Melusina explained to the new comers about what had been decided for Edna, Maggie and the time travelers.
“I know this was a tense experience for all of us, but I was so glad to be able to spend time with my brother.” Sara told Logan. “I can’t wait to get back to Breaghacraig and to Lily.”
“At least a few good things came out of this,” Edna said.
“We must go. Edna say yer goodbyes and we’ll all be on our way.”
Edna searched all of the faces now staring back at her.
She loved each and every one of them. They were safe and they had each other again.
She couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.
She’d wanted to find each of them love and she had.
She took the time to hug and kiss each and every one of them.
“Thank you, Edna,” Ashley said. “My life is more wonderful than I ever dreamed it could be.”
“Aye. Thank ye, I doona ken where I’d be if it weren’t fer ye,” Cailin kissed her hand.
“Thank you for knowing Cormac was the one for me even when I didn’t,” Jenna said.
Cormac stood behind her with his hands on her waist. “I’ll take good care of her. Thank ye, Edna.”
“Thank ye for making me a better man and for finding me the love of me life,” Richard said.
“Ye’ve made yerself a better man and happenstance brought Angelina into yer life, no’ me.”
“Thank you anyway, Edna. We love you,” Angelina said.
Each of them thanked Edna for the love in their lives. There were many tears from all, including Edna.
“I love ye all. I will miss ye terribly. Until we meet again.” She saw Joseph standing back away from the others. “I’ve no’ forgotten ye, Joseph. After explaining yer situation to the Council, they’ve agreed that ye’ll be returning to Glendaloch with me.”
Melusina gathered everyone returning to the future on the bridge, including Angus’s horse.
And as Edna dried her tears and held onto Angus for dear life she thought about all that awaited them in their new life.
She felt contentment as the whirlwind began and as it did, an orange blur sped past everyone and into Edna’s arms.