Owen looked at her, then at Sean, and back at her. “Kenna?” He took a few faltering steps forward. “Kenna!”
“Owen!” Kenna cried, running to him.
“Wait, Owen!” Sean called as Owen started down the slope, afraid he’d fall. “Stay there. We’ll come taeye.”
Sean followed Kenna, watching as Owen engulfed her in his arms. He kissed her cheek, touched her face, and hugged her again, all the while uttering nonsensical sounds of sheer joy.
“I thought I’d lost ye,” Owen finally said as Sean joined them. “I thought—” His face fell as he looked at her tattered clothing. “What happened tae ye lass?”
Before Kenna could answer Owen shook his head. “It doesnae matter. Ye’re here now, and ye’ve made me the happiest man alive.”
“Mayhap the second,” Sean teased, putting his arm around Kenna.
Owen smiled; his eyes filled with hope. “Ye’ll stay?”
“Aye.” Kenna kissed Owen’s cheek before leaning into Sean’s embrace. “It took a journey back tae where I came from tae learn my family was right here, all along.”
Epilogue
Five years later…
The bellsabove the art shop door, chimed softly. Sean looked up from the picture he’d just framed to watch his beautiful wife enter. Ahead of her, the light of his life sprinted into his arms.
“Da! Are ye comin’?”
Sean ruffled his son’s golden curls. “Let’s see. What day is it, again?”
“My birthday,” the boy giggled.
“Ah, yes. Ye’re turnin’…ten, is it?” Sean teased.
“Nae, Da.Four. Remember?”
“Aye, I remember, ye wee sprite.” He set the boy down and gave Kenna a lingering kiss. “Ye’re the prettiest thing I’ve seen all day.”
“Good tae hear from the man I adore. What’s that?” she nodded at the overturned picture.
Sean smiled and turned it so she could see.
“Oh, Sean,” she whispered. “ ’Tis stunning. ’Tis everything ye wanted tae capture, that first day at the kirk. I knew ye could do it.”
“Better than that single dark line ye saw?”
Laughing, Kenna kissed his cheek. “Aye. Ye always make everything better.”
She studied the drawing for several more seconds. “I love how ’tis just the suggestion of spirits. Ye dinnae see them at first, but the more ye look, the more they take form. Like finding shapes in the clouds. I dinnae ken how ye captured such a strong sense of peace and reassurance, but ’tis there. I feel it.”
Tipping her head, she smiled. “Ye’d think ’twould be sad. Instead, ’tis comforting. A promise that separation in time doesnae separate us forever. That there’s even more joy tae come.” She looked up at him. “Ye willnae sell this one, will ye, Sean? I’d like tae hang it in our home, once ’tis finally complete.”
Sean laid his palm on Kenna’s belly, hoping to feel the new bairn move. “If that house doesnae get finished before this feisty lass arrives, she’ll have no place tae sleep.” He glanced down at his rambunctious son. “This one fills our wee apartment all by himself.”
The lad grinned up at him. “Grandda Owen is makin’ me a special cake and he’s goin’ tae write on it.”
“Is he? And what will it say?”
“ ’Twill say, Happy Birthday to Brodie Owen McCulloch.”
“All that? It must be a verra big cake,” Sean laughed along with Kenna. “We’ve yer party tae get tae, but how do ye feel about openin’ a present early?”
