“Are ya saying I still don’t have the whole truth?”
He grabs a mug and winks at me. “Aye.”
With that, he turns and walks away. Frustrated, I return to my task of filling beer mugs. Now I’m angry because he’s withholding information from me.
I don’t realize I’m slamming things around until Cole comes over with a concerned look on his face. My face heats with embarrassment. He crowds my space and cups my cheek.
“Are ya all right?”
“I’m fine,” I say softly and bury my face in his chest.
He wraps me in his embrace, and I melt into him. Just as I relax, my phone rings. I pull away and look up at Cole with my brows furrowed.
I’m not expecting any calls. Val and Uri are helping Sam out with his kids. Val and I spoke earlier and she said we’d talk in the morning.
Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I see it’s a call from Scotland. My breath catches in my throat. I shake my head, not wanting to answer this call.
I already know what’s coming. It’s like a stone settles in the pit of my belly. I suddenly can’t breathe.
Tears are running down my cheeks, and I haven’t even answered the call. I feel so sick. Cole pries the phone from my hand and answers for me.
“Hello.” His deep voice rambles.
It should comfort me, but I can’t find any comfort in the sound right now. I cover my mouth as my stomach turns. It feels like I’m in a box with no air.
“Aye, Ken, it’s Cole. She’s standing right here with me. What about ye?”
I look up into his face as sadness covers it and he closes his eyes, nodding as if Uncle Ken can see him. Grabbing me by the back of the head, he pulls me into him.
I can’t help the sob that rips from my throat. Gran is gone. I’ve lost my great-grandmother.
“No,” I cry into Cole’s belly as I double over in pain, clinging to the back of his shirt.
It is one thing to know this day was coming and another for it to be here. I will miss her dearly. We just spoke this morning.
I thought she sounded great. She joked a bit and made me promise to come to Scotland to bring her flowers, which I thought was odd at the time. Now I get that she was saying goodbye.
“Aye,” Cole’s voice cracks. “I’ll make sure she’s there in time for the service.”
That’s the final straw. My knees buckle and I drop to the floor. Cole sits down on the floor with me and wraps his arms around me.
At some point, I end up in his lap as he rocks me and murmurs soothing words. Another chapter is closing and I’m still not sure of my path.
CHAPTER 42
Words of Gypsies
Deja
“What are ya up to?”Cole asks as he enters my bedroom at the castle.
I never spent much time here, but the uncles have always made sure I’ve had my own space. I love Cole for coming to Scotland with me for this. I’ve been lost in my thoughts more times than I can count.
“I’m going through some things to see what I want to take with me. Uncle Duncan brought some boxes over from the cottage,” I reply.
“You still don’t think you’re ready to go over there for yourself?”
“No, I know she told me to leave, but I still feel like I abandoned her. I would have so much guilt if I stepped foot into that house. I want to remember the place for my happy memories with Gran.”
