Chapter 2 #3
The following afternoon, they saw Elle and Hamish off. She hugged and kissed them both.
“I’m so happy you’re doing this, Tina. You’re glowing. I mean it, I haven’t seen you this happy in ages.”
“I’m really looking forward to it. You two have a safe trip home and take care of my little niece,” she said.
“Nephew,” Hamish said. This was a debate the two of them had been having ever since they found out Elle was pregnant.
“I hope you’re not disappointed when I’m right,” she teased, poking him in the ribs.
He put an arm around Tina’s shoulder, pulling her in to give her a hug. “I’ll miss yer sassy talk,” he said.
Her relationship with Hamish was one filled with teasing jabs at one another, but also genuine love. She had brothers and felt lucky to be close to them, so she never expected Hamish to worm his way into her heart the way he did. They were all very lucky to have him in their lives.
Their limo pulled up to the curb and once everyone said their goodbyes, they were off.
Tina felt a sense of freedom as she watched the car drive out of sight.
She’d never traveled alone before and she felt those butterflies again, something exciting was happening and she could not wait.
Finally, she would be able to go somewhere on her own where no one would think of her as just Elle’s sister.
There were a lot of unknown factors, but for once she was willing to just embrace the adventure of it and she was feeling pretty proud of herself.
Turning to Edna, she said, “Let’s talk time travel.”
“Am I hearing ye right, lass? Are ye going to do this?” Edna’s smile revealed she knew all along that Tina would go.
“I am. I’m a little nervous. Damn, who am I kidding? I’m a lot nervous, but I’m also excited.” Her hands were shaking uncontrollably and so she tucked them under her arms.
“You won’t regret it, I promise,” Edna assured her.
“When will I go?” she asked. Now that she’d made up her mind, it couldn’t be soon enough. She had to do it before she changed her mind.
“Tomorrow. We have to get ye some appropriate clothing to wear and I’ll send ye with a basket of goodies for yer hosts.
Oh, and some scones for my Wallace. I can’t forget that.
” Edna was busy rattling off a never ending list of things Tina would bring with her.
Before she knew it, she was following Edna around the little village stopping in stores for treats and snacks for her journey, and a few mystery items as well.
When they were out of earshot of other shoppers, Edna would tell her about the bridge and the fog, the castle and some of the residents there.
Edna kept up the commentary and then steered them back to the inn with Tina’s head spinning.
When they got back she must have looked a bit dazed because Maggie only shrugged her shoulders and directed her back into the inn where Dylan and Angus were sitting at the bar having an ale. “Can I get ye something to drink, lass?” Angus asked.
“I think I’m going to need something stronger than wine tonight,” Tina said taking a deep breath.
“And why would that be?”
“I’m going to time travel,” she said.
Angus looked from her to his wife. “Edna! What have I told ye?”
“I ken it, Angus, but there’s someone waiting for her. Ye wouldnae deny her the chance at true love, would ye?”
He let out a breath, shaking his head as he went behind the bar and pulled out a cocktail shaker. “Would ye like a martini, lass?”
“Yes, please.”
“I make a good one,” he assured her.
“Good. Extra olives, please?”
“Yer wish is my command,” he said, bowing at the waist.
She liked Angus. They hadn’t had much of a chance to get to know each other, but he had a nice calming effect on her. She imagined he did the same for Edna who seemed a high energy lady. He placed a very large martini on the bar, winking at her as he did.
Tina hoped it was going to relax her enough so she could sleep later.
“Enjoy yer drink. I’m going to prepare yer things for the trip,” Edna said.
“I’m sure ye already know this, but just in case, ye won’t need yer suitcase or yer phone. They’ll be of no use to ye there,” Maggie said.
“Oh, okay,” Tina replied. She hadn’t really thought about the fact that she would be cut off from everything and everyone.
“I’m leaving this all up to you and Edna.
Whatever you say goes.” That was not how she usually operated and she could feel the panic starting to build inside her.
“You know, I’m used to always being the one taking care of everyone else’s travel plans, it’s nice to leave it all to someone else. ”
There must have been something off about her voice because Angus reached over and patted her arm kindly, “Edna will take good care of ye lass. There is nothing to worry about.” And just like that, she felt the panic subside.
She didn’t know if Angus was magic, too, but there was definitely something calming in the touch of his giant hand.
She raised her glass in a toast and the others did the same. “To time travel.”