Donell nodded and they all braced themselves. Nothing happened. To the last, they looked at him for direction.
“Och, ye’ll have to be taking the car back to Dunskirk first, aye?” He waved a hand petulantly. “Time, no’ space, aye? Besides ye dinnae want to go back dressed like that!”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Emmy complained.
Why would he, Scarlett thought, when he so enjoyed having another hoop for them to jump through?
Scarlett
It was dark by the time they made it to Dunskirk.
They’d waited for the baby to be officially released from the hospital and Hugh as well so he could join in their goodbyes. And they’d retrieved a few belongings from the hotel, including their original clothing and car seats for the baby and Hermione.
They’d stopped at a secluded spot along the way to change their clothing. Donell was right, it wouldn’t do to shock everyone at home with her showing up in pants.
Their two cars pulled up side by side in the empty parking lot. At least there wouldn’t be an audience to witness their coming and going this time.
A moment after their arrival, Donell joined them, having preferred his peculiar method of travel to their more primitive one.
“Ready then?” The question wasn’t really much of a question. More a move for action.
Emmy embraced Claire, kissed her cheek and smiled at her affectionately. “I’m so proud to know I’ll have such a kind and wonderful great-great granddaughter.” She turned to Hugh and kissed him, too. “Take good care of her.”
“I will,” Hugh vowed and returned her kiss. He shook hands with Connor.
More farewells, tearful yet joyous, as they all hugged and kissed one another. No impossible promises to write. To call.
Scarlett held on to Hugh the longest, thanking him again for all he’d done for her girls. She knew she’d leave a piece of her heart here when she returned home. That was okay. She’d learned there were more rewards than risks in caring deeply.
Emmy even hugged Donell.
The cantankerous old man backed away, glassy-eyed. “None of that. Are ye ready?”
“Yes—no, wait!” Scarlett ignored Donell’s impatient eye roll and turned to Rhys. What was in her mind would be difficult for her heart to accept. “Rhys, I think you should stay here.”
Shock hardened his handsome features. “What? Why would ye suggest such a thing?”
Why? Fate had been unkind to Rhys. First putting him an intolerant time when it came to homosexuality. Then taking the life of the young man he’d anticipated sharing the rest of his life with. In the twenty-first century, he’d thrive free of societal confines and have a chance to truly be himself for the first time in his life. He deserved it.
Besides, he loved it here. More than any of them, he’d fit perfectly into the time. Maybe better than she ever had in her whole life. A little old-fashioned, perhaps, but adaptable.
She tried to explain it to him but he shook his head, jaw clenched. “I want nae part of a world wi’ a jackanapes like Jack Prescott in it.”
He was hurt now. Stubborn, but he’d move on eventually with or without Jack.
“I want you to have a future worth living, Rhys,” she said quietly, looking up at his beloved face. “I want you to be able to love freely. Openly. I want to know you are truly happy.”
He shook his head again, every line in his body set. “Are we no’ friends any longer? The verra best of them?”
A tear splashed hot on her cheek. “We always will be. Always. I love you, Rhys. I always will.”
“Then why push me away?”
“Sometimes we need to sacrifice for the welfare of others. I only want what’s best for you.”
“Scarlett’s correct, brother.” Laird’s burr was weighted with emotion, his eyes suspiciously wet, but he nodded in agreement. “Ye hae a chance for the life ye deserve here. A better life. I’m sure Hugh and Claire will be happy to guide ye through it, aye?”
The couple nodded in unison, their joy at the possibility of retaining a slice of the friendship that had grown amongst them obvious.
