“You know what? Let’s talk. I think we might be able to work something out.”
The couple were more than happy to follow Daisy to her mechanic. Dave looked over the van and then checked out her car for the couple. A few hours later, it was done.
As they exchanged keys and paperwork, Daisy’s heart was aflutter with a mix of emotions. She watched the couple drive away in her Kia, 60s music blaring, a pang of nostalgia hitting her. As she turned to their new camper van, excitement filled her at the prospect of spending the summer on the road.
The van had been lovingly cared for and was immaculate inside and out. The couple had updated the front seats, replacing them with swivel captain’s chairs. There was a tiny kitchen space with a small refrigerator, a cooktop and a tiny sink with a tank for the water underneath the cabinet. There was a table and benches that converted to a bed, and the top of the van popped up so when it was open, they could comfortably stand up inside the van. There was a sleeping platform in the pop up part, and the sprayer from the sink reached outside so they could take outdoor showers. The woman showed them how she attached the shower curtain with a rod and magnets.
It would be a tight fit with Callan and the dog, but Daisy could easily imagine waking up in new places, meandering along, seeing the sights and then traveling to the next place when the fancy struck her.
It had been so long since she’d had a vacation. The money she’d saved up for taking a trip to California with Shawn was still tucked away, so she could afford to take some time off and go with Callan. See what these supposed relations to this Lady Blackford had to say. If they believed his story about time travel.
Callan stuck his head in the small refrigerator, then opened all the cabinets and drawers in the compact space. “It’s like a wee house on wheels,” he exclaimed.
“It is,” Daisy laughed, sharing in his excitement. “It will be our little home for the road. Remind me to show you all the van life videos when we get home after breakfast.”
The next afternoon,Daisy sat curled up in her favorite chair, a patchwork quilt draped over her bare legs. The soft light from the lamp cast a warm glow, giving the room a cozy feel. The scent of chamomile tea lingered in the air, calming yet doing little to ease the storm of emotions brewing inside her.
Was she really doing this? Following some guy down the coast? So much for trying to take things slow. But when Callan opened the door, Frankie running to greet her, the worry eased.
He sat across from her, sliding a check across the table. “I sold the rest of the coins, except for three. I will give one to Lucy’s kin, and I will keep two in case I have need of them to aid me in returning to my own time.”
After all this time, he still planned to leave her. Daisy watched him, her heart tangled in a mix of emotions.
No sense in worrying about what hadn’t happened. Not this time. The new Daisy was not going to cling. She would take a vacation, have fun, and if, and it was a big if, Callan really was from the past, and could go back to his own time, she would happily see him off. Even though it would break her heart into a thousand pieces.
With a deep breath, she nodded to herself.
“So, North Carolina, then?”
“Aye,” Callan grinned, his deep voice filling the room.
She pulled at a loose thread on her cutoff denim shorts. “I’ll ask Mrs. Henderson next door to water the plants. I think she said her granddaughter was looking for a short-term place to stay while she job hunts. And with her covering the rent while we’re gone, it’s one less expense.”
Her words were bright, but inside, a knot of anxiety tightened as she thought about how empty the apartment would feel with Callan gone.
And if he isn’t a time traveler?The voice snarked. Well, then there was no reason to worry, other than the fact he was probably suffering from some kind of delusion that he was a medieval Scottish warrior. At least he seemed harmless.
Callan’s gaze met hers, green eyes earnest. “Are ye sure about taking a long trip with me? What about all your jobs?”
Daisy masked her hesitation with a practiced ease.
“Of course, I’m sure. We have the van now. It’s like the universe is giving us a sign. I have a friend, Sam, we cover for each other, and I know he’d appreciate making some extra cash pet sitting and house sitting for my usual clients.”
She rose to make another cup of tea, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. As she busied herself in the kitchen, she thought about time travel. What would it be like to travel to another time?
Personally, if given the choice, she’d prefer to go to the future, see what the world would be like. From what she’d read in books, the past was dirty, smelly, and dangerous.
When Daisy handed Callan a cup of tea, their fingers brushed briefly as he tracked her every movement.
“Under the stars,” she said softly, looking out the window. The night sky was clear, the stars twinkling like distant beacons. “We’ll be able to see so many stars when we’re out of the city and away from all the light pollution.”
It took far lesstime than she’d thought it would to organize everything. They’d been to the bank and instead of cashing the check, Callan asked her to put the money in her account so they could use her card to pay for their expenses. When she said no, he told her that he’d pay for their road trip. It was the least he could do after everything she had done for him.
Mrs. Henderson said she’d have her cleaning service come clean Daisy’s apartment tomorrow, and her granddaughter would move in the day after. She planned to stay through Labor Day weekend, but was happy to stay longer if things worked out for both of them. That would give Daisy plenty of time to enjoy the trip and linger at the southern beaches. She’d always wanted to visit the Carolinas.
When she got in touch with Sam, he was delighted to take over her dog walking duties, and happy to water the plants for two of her clients. She told him it was possible there would be a house sitting gig in July if he was interested, and that the owners were extravagant tippers.
As to the job of managing social media for the small business, they had coincidentally texted her last night, saying an intern would be taking over the account. It was a flashing neon sign for her to go and for the first time in three years, take a nice long vacation.
