Chapter 19
Dylan was waiting for them along with Teddy, who took the horse from Angus.
Edna could barely speak, but a soft meow and the feel of something soft and warm in her arms was just what she needed. “William! Where did ye come from?” She lifted the cat and touched her nose to his. “I thought I’d lost ye,” she whispered in his ear. “Angus, look. ’Tis William.”
“Hello, William. Remember one thing. I am the man in Edna’s life. Doona try to steal me place.” He said this will all seriousness, but then a wink to Edna let her know he was only teasing.
“Teddy,” Edna said, happy to see him. He’d always been a great help to her and he still was.
“It’s good to see ye back,” Teddy said. “One of these days I’d like to travel back to Breaghacraig. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
She smiled and patted him on the back. She was home and that was all she wanted to think about in the moment.
“We’ll talk about it later, okay?” She motioned for Joseph to join her and as he did she introduced him to Teddy.
“This is Joseph Barnes. I hope ye’ll show him around town and help him adjust to our time. ”
“I’d be happy to. What time are ye from?” Teddy asked.
Joseph fell into easy conversation with him and Edna smiled knowing Teddy would do his best to answer all of his questions, which would make his transition so much easier.
Dylan twirled Maggie around in his arms. “I’m so happy you’re back.”
“How are things at the inn?” Edna asked.
“Good. We had some out of town guests, but they checked out this morning.”
“Thank ye for holding down the fort,” Edna said.
“My pleasure. Did you get everything straightened out back there?” Dylan asked.
“Aye. There will no’ be any more trouble on that front,” Edna replied.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
As they walked back to the inn. Edna placed an arm around Angus’s waist. She was still overcome with emotion after all that had happened.
As she thought back on all of her friends in San Francisco and at Breaghacraig, tears welled up in her eyes.
Angus seemed to understand and he gave her a little squeeze to let her know he was there for her.
“Why do ye cry?” he asked. “All ended well. We’re home now.”
“I ken. It’s just that I… I doona ken how to put it into words. I ken I’ll see them all again, but now I’m just a bystander. I will no’ be the one they come to when they need help. I have to let that go. It’s going to be an adjustment for me.”
“I ken it, me love. I’ll do me best to help ye through it.”
Edna was happy to be back at the inn and even happier to have her handsome Highlander with her. She’d hated being parted from him and now she knew that she never would be again.
“I’ve got lunch all ready for you,” Dylan said as they entered the dining room. “Sit down and I’ll get everything.”
“I’ll help,” Maggie said, following him.
***
A few days after their return, Edna and Maggie took a walk down the street to do some shopping.
“I’ve got to get something while we’re here,” Maggie said, checking the items in the basket on her arm.
“I’m just about done. I’ll come with ye.” Edna had a basketful of goodies she was replenishing for the inn. She followed Maggie down the personal care aisle where she picked up a pregnancy test. “Maggie! Are ye?”
“I think I am, but I want to be sure before I tell Dylan.”
“Oh, I’m so excited.” Edna practically dropped the basket as she threw her free arm around Maggie hugging and kissing her.
“Edna,” a man’s voice came from behind them.
“Dr. Ferguson!” Edna was beside herself. She’d forgotten he was in town. They were going to have to explain all the changes to him.
“There’s nae need to be so excited to see me,” he teased. “Is that a pregnancy test I see, Maggie?”
“It is,” Maggie said, glancing over at Edna.
“Edna, I was just coming to see ye. It’s time for me to go back home,” he said.
“Oh, Dr. Ferguson. I’ve got…”
“Why doona ye come with us down to the inn?” Maggie said, steering Edna towards the checkout counter. “We’ll tell him there,” she whispered to her aunt.
“Of course, that would make it easier, wouldn’t it?” Dr. Ferguson said. He waited for them by the door and then they all walked back to the inn together.
“Here we are,” Maggie said, opening the door to the inn.
“I’ve had a good stay this time. I saw all of me usual patients and took care of filling prescriptions, doing physicals and only had one emergency. Have ye told yer man yet?” he asked Maggie.
She put her finger to her lips. “I have no’.”
“I will no’ say a word. Doona worry. I’ll be sure to be back when yer due, so nae worries there.”
He was such a kind man. Edna felt lucky to have him as their doctor and she knew that the girls back at Breaghacraig would agree.
He’d delivered all their babies and now he’d be delivering Maggie’s.
Edna was quite sure she was pregnant. She’d had a feeling since just before they left to come back home.
“Dr. Ferguson, I must speak with ye about something. Ye see, I’ll nae longer be the one who sends ye back and forth across the bridge.”
“I see,” he said, glancing at Maggie. “How will I travel then?” He seemed a little worried, but continued smiling.
“I must get back to Catherine. Ye ken I’ve waited me whole life to meet a woman like her.
A woman I could love and who would love me.
And, of course, I’m due to visit with the Mackenzies. I’m their doctor, as ye ken.”
“I’ll be the one handling the bridge from now on, Dr. Ferguson. I hope ye’ll be okay with that.”
“More than fine. For a minute there I thought ye were going to tell me I wouldn’t ever be able to time travel again.” He looked from Edna to Maggie and back again.
“I’m sorry. I did no’ mean to frighten ye. It’s a big change for all of us, but I want ye to ken that Maggie has been helping me for some time now and as she has, she’s been learning all the tricks of the trade so to speak.
“Then I’ll no’ worry. Maggie’s a verra capable young woman.”
“Dr. Ferguson! ’Tis good to see ye.” Angus came down the stairs to greet him. “Will ye be heading back home? Has Edna told ye the news?”
“Aye. Just now. What will ye do instead?” Dr. Ferguson put his bag down on the floor, not appearing in any great hurry.
“I’m to be on the Council of Witches in Edinburg.”
“Congratulations, I think. That’s a good thing, is it no’?”
“A verra good thing.” Angus waived some brochures in the air. “Edna and I are going on a vacation. We’ve no’ been on one before.”
“Well deserved, too.” He moved closer to Angus to see the brochures. “Have ye made a decision yet?”
“Edna, I think I’d like to go to Spain. What do ye think?” Angus pulled out one of the brochures and handed it to her.
“I think I can no’ wait.”
“Well, I should probably get going. Can ye let me family ken I’ll be back soon.”
“Let’s go into the office. I’ll contact them and then we’ll arrange to get ye back to them.”
Once in the office, Maggie conjured a fire and searched for Richard and Angelina. She didn’t think they’d made it back home yet and hoped she could reach them.
“There they are,” she said. “Sir Richard! It’s Maggie, can ye hear me?”
“Maggie, we’re on our way home. What is it?”
“Can ye head back to the bridge? Dr. Ferguson will be coming across the bridge.”
“Aye. We’ll leave now and should be there tomorrow afternoon.”
“Great. He’ll see ye then.” The fire went out and she turned to Dr. Ferguson. “Tomorrow. I’ll see ye back here around lunch time.”
“Until then,” he said. “Take that pregnancy test. I’ll be curious to hear the result.”
“I will. See ye tomorrow.”
The following morning after Maggie took the test and after she’d sent Dr. Ferguson on his way, she sat down at the breakfast table across from Dylan.
“I’ve got some news to share with ye,” she said, her voice serious. Keeping the smile from her face had been difficult, but she wanted this to be a surprise he wouldn’t expect.
“What? Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then what is it?” He spooned some eggs onto her plate.
The smell of them turned her stomach a bit and it showed on her face.
“Are you sick or something?” Dylan’s concern was so sweet as he reached across the table to hold her hand.
“No, of course not.” A huge grin appeared on her face. “You’re going to be a Da! I’m having a baby!”
Dylan hopped up from the table, almost upending the plates and silverware as he did. “Maggie! I…” He looked like he might actually pass out.
Maggie couldn’t help but laugh. He was so excited he couldn’t speak. “I love ye, Dylan. This is the beginning of a new chapter for us.”
He scooped her up out of the chair. “I love you so much! And I’m so excited for our future together.”
“You don’t mind that I’ll be the one in charge of the bridge and the time traveling?”
“Maggie, you’ve made me so happy. I don’t care about the bridge. I only care about you and our baby.”
Edna and Angus peeked their heads into the dining room. “Or babies!”