Chapter 4 #3
Tina was feeling lucky to have Ashley to show her the ropes.
They’d been on a tour of the castle and Ashley had introduced her to the servants who’d be caring for her during her stay.
She now felt she could find her way around with little trouble, which would go a long way to easing some of the anxiety she’d been feeling from the time she arrived.
As they walked around the castle, they chatted and laughed like old friends.
Tina felt very comfortable with Ashley and knew that if she were staying in this time, which she wasn’t, their friendship would continue to blossom.
“Edna said there were more ladies here from San Francisco,” Tina said.
“Two more. Sophia works in the kitchen helping Mary. And then there’s Sara. You’ll love her. She’s so fun. She’s married to Logan and she’s expecting around the same time as Helene, which means any day now.”
“That seems scary to me.” She thought about Donal’s poor wife. Being sick in this time was so dangerous. “If I ever have children, I’m planning on doing it in the hospital.”
“We’ve got a twenty-first century doctor, Dr. Ferguson. He’s from Glendaloch. He’ll be arriving soon.”
“Does he live in this time?”
“Uh-huh. He lives in England. He’s probably on his way right now. Edna would get word to him that he was needed. She makes sure we’re all okay healthwise.”
“That’s a nice bonus.”
“It is. I was so worried about having children in this time, but so far everything’s been just fine. Of course, if there’s ever an emergency, Edna will whisk us back to our own time right away.”
“I don’t know how you do it. I can’t imagine living here for the rest of my life.”
“Like I told you, we’re one big family. Without them I couldn’t do this either.” She tickled Elena under the chin and was rewarded with a giggle. “So tell me what your sister’s doing.”
“She’s got her own band now with Hamish and my brothers.” Tina felt the old pangs of jealousy that came up whenever someone was more interested in talking about Elle than anything else Tina might have to say.
“Singing the music she loves?” Ashley asked.
Tina nodded. “She’s very happy. Happier than I’ve ever seen her.”
“You’ll tell her we all said hello and we’re rooting for her?” Ashley tipped her head in question.
“Of course.” Something she’d done seemingly a million times before and probably would do a million times more.
“I wonder who it is that Edna has in mind for you,” Ashley said.
Tina was a little surprised at the change in topics. “You don’t know?”
“She didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“Oh,” Tina said, her disappointment showing.
“It’s always a surprise when someone arrives from the future,” Ashley assured her. “I wouldn’t worry too much about figuring out who the guy is. Whoever he is, he’ll be perfect for you.”
Ashley’s confidence helped, but Tina wasn’t sure how she could be so certain. “How do you know?”
“Because Edna is an amazing matchmaker. She loves love. It’s her mission in life to find people’s soulmates and she’s pretty darn good at it.”
“I’m excited and a little nervous. What if I don’t like him or he doesn’t like me?”
“Love doesn’t always come easy, but when it does, you’ll know it and so will he.”
“I’m glad you’re so sure.”
Elena began to whimper. “Mama.”
“What’s wrong little sweetness?” Tina soothed, picking her up and holding her close.
She swayed a bit and patted her back, which seemed to settle Elena.
She burrowed her little head into Tina’s neck and played with the neckline of her dress with one hand.
“My niece used to do that when she was a baby.” She looked up and noticed that Ashley was eyeing her with a curious mix of wonder, curiosity and something else.
From the furrowed brow and narrowed eyes, Tina didn’t think it was good.
“I wonder …” Ashley began, tapping one finger on her lips.
“What?”
“I don’t want to say. I don’t want to put thoughts in your head that maybe shouldn’t be there.”
“You’re not going to tell me?” Tina was confused. “Do you know who he is?”
“Not really. I’m probably just … well, let’s just say, I’m not Edna.”
“Whoever it is you’re thinking of is someone you don’t care for, isn’t it?”
“Edna wouldn’t match you to him.” She muttered, looking down at the floor. “Don’t worry. I’m sure whoever he is, he’ll be everything you ever dreamed of.”
“As if my curiosity wasn’t piqued before … If you change your mind and decide you want to tell me who you think it is, I’m all ears,” Tina said as she rocked a happier Elena back and forth in her arms.
“You’re really good with her,” Ashley said, obviously changing the subject.
“Thanks,” Tina replied. “I feel so bad for her. She has no Mom and Donal seems stunned to be left alone with her. Her whole life changed today and now she is surrounded by strangers. She must be so confused.”
Elena contentedly sucked on her fingers, her eyelids heavy with sleep.
Tina sighed. She loved her little niece and nephew and she’d love Elle’s baby as well, but as much as she enjoyed her role as Auntie Tina, she wanted someone to call her Mom.
Hearing little Elena call her mama touched her heart in a way that brought tears to her eyes.
She’d quickly blinked them away, of course.
She didn’t want the people she was meeting for the first time to think her an emotional mess.
At home on the ranch, she was as tough as nails.
No one, but no one, messed with her and she had a tendency to take that same attitude into her dating life.
She had pretty high standards and a guy didn’t get a second chance with her if he fell below them.
Edna had her work cut out for her if she thought it would be easy to match Tina with just anyone.
He was going to have to be pretty close to perfection if this was going to work.