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“I boarded a plane to Scotland instead.”

Heart hammering at the implication, she finished chewing the last of the bacon, and said, “Holy sweet Jesus.”

“Pretty much. I found myself back at Bowden Castle.”

“Found yourself?”

“Well, not exactly. It’s almost as unreachable now as it was back then, although it would seem the tourists have found it. I’d say I very deliberately went home. It was time. Past time.”

“And?”

“And they turned Alec’s bedchamber into a goddamned store, complete with replica swords and books about the Scottish Highlands, despite the fact that Bowden is most certainly not in the Highlands.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that.

“What did you expect, exactly?”

He shrugged. “I thought perhaps it would be in ruins. But I certainly didn’t think to see my broadsword on display—”

“No, it wasn’t?”

“Indeed, it was. As was a necklace of Anna’s. Although my favorite part of the tour was the story of the disappearing Derricksons and the legends of our family still being alive—”

She burst out laughing. “No!”

“I assure you it took me by surprise as well. But yes, it appears we’ve managed to cheat death in more ways than one.”

Her smile dying, Toni didn’t want to push him, but she nearly burst with anticipation.

“Either way, I found his gravestone. At least that had not been touched.” His shoulders lifted and lowered. “And said goodbye.”

Toni had a feeling that wasn’t all he’d said. Even though Lawrence had nothing to apologize for, he’d have done so anyway.

His compassion, his devotion to the people in his life. It was one of the things she loved best about him.

“What made you do it?”

Lawrence took a drink of his coffee before answering. “I couldn’t very well continue preaching to you about letting go of your guilt if I couldn’t bring myself to do the same, now could I, lassie?”

Oh dear Lord, that accent.

“I took my promise to Alec so seriously, I nearly lost you. And Laria was beyond pissed, thinking I didn’t trust her to handle the Cheld.”

“And do you? Trust her?”

His puckered lips served as an answer.

“You better not admit it to her. She’ll get the wrong idea.”

“That it’s because she’s a woman? Too late. I tried to tell her it had nothing to do with her.”

“Let me guess . . .” Toni swung her legs around to face him. “She didn’t believe you?”

He inclined his head.

“So what happened? Have you spoken to them? Or did you lose your phone?”

“Actually, I did.”