Never had a new day felt more full of promise.
35
Eilidh awakened, the world coming to her slowly.
She lay on her side.
Light leaked through the closed shutters.
A warm arm wrapped around her waist, snugging her spine against an even warmer chest.
Memory quickly followed.
Kieran.
Husband.
Lovelovelove.
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, relishing the heady pleasure of waking up in his arms.
How could she have forgotten this?
How could she have come so close to walking away from their marriage?
His breathing quickened behind her.
“Still angry with me?” His voice was a rumble at her back.
“No.” She stretched and turned to him, pushing him onto his back so she could put her head on his chest. “More angry with myself. That I didn’t trust ye more. That I didn’t believe ye sooner.”
“Aye. Ye should always trust my word. I’m going tae remind ye of this moment for years tae come—” He left off in a yelp as she deliberately placed her cold feet on his calves.
“Don’t be too smug.” She cuddled closer, needing to say more. “I am most sorry for the pain I put ye through, Kieran. Though it was born of ignorance, it was still unkind of me.”
Kieran heaved a rather put-upon sigh. “If only there were some way for ye to make it up tae me . . .”
She laughed and closed her eyes, relaxing into him.
He stroked his fingers up her arm.
“Nervous about today?”
Kieran had told her about his confrontation with Cuthie the evening before.
“Terrified. And yet . . .” She paused. “Well, Iamafraid and yet also less so, in many ways. I feel like I have accepted who I was and who I am, and there is a strong measure of peace in that.”
“Have any more memories returned?”
“No. Nothing more. The entire voyage is still patchy. And everything before and after Mr. Chen’s death is missing. From the week we arrived on Vanuatu until I came to in the villager’s hut in New Caledonia is mostly blank. I’m not sure I will ever recover those memories. Or perhaps, my mind will forever protect me from them.”
“Whatever the outcome, I promise to always provide a safe haven.” He pulled her close. “We’ll get through this together.”
The journey toAberdeen was tense.
Eilidh stared out the carriage window, nearly crawling out of her skin with nerves.
Kieran held her hand firmly.
