“But that’s why you went back, isn’t it?”
Bree wiped the last wetness from her eyes and thought of her time in the past. Horland’s image emerged through her sadness. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth.
“Why are you smiling? Are you glad you never got the chance to meet your father?”
“No, yes, oh, I don’t know. I did meet someone though.”
Laura grinned. “Who?”
“A knight.”
“Isn’t your father a knight?”
“Yeah, and this knight is Garlain’s friend.” She frowned. “At least he used to be his friend.”
“His friend? You have lost your heart to a man old enough to be your father?”
“What? No. He’s maybe four or five years older than me is all.”
“So Garlain is more like a father to him?”
“No, they’d been friends since they were children.”
Laura shook her head frantically. “You are not making sense, Briana.”
Garrett knocked and pushed the door open wider. “Hey Bree, what are you doing back so soon? Did you meet your father?”
Laura shot him a be-quiet look. “No, she didn’t and now she isn’t making any sense at all.”
Bree laughed. “I know I sound insane but as it happens, I landed in the past all right, but only a couple of years afterMom and Dad went to Mom’s time. When I tried to tell the knight, I was Garlain and Patricia’s daughter, he didn’t believe me.” Bree screwed up her nose. “He thought I was crazy.”
Laura hummed. “So, the knight and all the people of that time think Garlain was only gone for about two years and they would expect Garlain’s daughter to be about one-year-old. Then you turn up as an adult saying you are Garlain’s daughter.”
Bree bit her bottom lip and nodded.
Garrett tilted his head to the side. “That would have been awkward, but it still doesn’t answer why didn’t you see your father?”
“He’s hiding in some old ruins with one of the princesses and we were close, but I fell into a ridiculously deep trap and had to use the orb to get out.”
“What sort of trap?”
“They could have been animal traps I suppose, but I really think they were set for humans.”
“Nice place,” Garrett said. “Are you going back then?”
“I don’t know.” Horland once again made his appearance in her mind, and the thought of never seeing him again had her chest aching. “I’ve got a bit of thinking to do about that.”
Laura hadn’t said anything; instead, she was looking out the window. Bree followed her gaze. The sun was shining and the blue sky, dotted with white fluffy clouds, was huge.
“When?” Garrett asked.
“Wait,” Laura said. “So Garlain is still young and he’s probably still grieving. As far as he’s concerned, you’re still a child of five or six.”
“I was six when he left,” Bree said.
“Right. So, he also doesn’t know about your Aunt Di and Uncle Mark’s accident. He would still be thinking they will bring him back for you.”
Bree scrunched up the tissues and rubbed her nose. Shewas right. “Of course. You’re so smart, Laura, why didn’t I think of that?”
