Edwina’s heart was motionless—or at least that’s what it felt like. She was standing at the gate, Cecelia at her side, and they were both tearless, at least for the moment. And then Spencer ruined everything when he came running up.
“I thought I’d missed your takeoff.” He was still trying to catch his breath. Edwina noted his silky blond hair was hanging loose over his collar a good two inches, and he was Brad Pitt cute today in his tan trench coat.
Her heart skipped a beat, then started again. She remembered his kiss—her fourth. The last two from the same man.
Edwina stood there as though she were going to the gallows. She had made her first substantial life decision and stepped out into the unknown, and these two were standing there looking at her as though she were going to die.
“Look, you guys. Don’t make this hard on me. I’m step- ping out here, trying something new. The least you can do, the both of you, is send me off smiling.”
“You’re right,” Spencer said immediately. Cecelia gazed somewhere over her shoulder.
Silence surrounded them. Edwina felt like she was a butterfly in a jar with holes poked in the top. There was just enough air to stay alive.
At that moment the call came over the loudspeaker, sealing her decision. Flight 463 to Edinburgh.
Jumpstarted, she picked up her carry-on. Spencer looked like he wanted to kiss her again, but she kept her distance. The last thing she needed was a third kiss from the same man. And if it was as nice as the last one, she’d surely lose her nerve.
“Sis, I love you.”
Cecelia said, “I love you too,” but her lips were pressed together.
“You’ll visit?” She was looking into her sister’s eyes.
“I will visit. So don’t do anything foolish or get yourself in trouble, Edwina, because I won’t be there to get you out of it.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Bye, Winnie.” Spencer hugged her, and she squiggled from his embrace as the second call to board sounded.
She made her way down the corridor, barely able to see the floor. She wanted to turn around and throw herself at the two of them, but she couldn’t look back. She just couldn’t.
Once she was settled on the plane, she fell asleep. It was lunchtime before the male flight attendant tapped her shoulder gently. She thought about Bertie who’d carried the candle into the room that night to wake her softly.
Once the plane landed in Scotland and, tired from the flights, Edwina waited for her baggage. This time, she reminded herself, she was here to stay. The thought over- whelmed her. What had she been thinking leaving her family, her country?
The Scot had called her twice. Once to tell her the flight numbers and times of departure and arrival, and now.
“Yes, thank you. We just arrived. Slight delay in Chicago, but not long. How many bags? Just one and my carry-on.”
“One?” The Scot was good at one-liners. “Yes.” Edwina thought he might not have heard her. “Reardon will bring you to the farm. I shall meet you
there and introduce you to Paige, leave you instructions, then I must be off. I will return as soon as I can. The Gillespies will see to your needs.”
“Thank you. Oh, your man Reardon is here. I’d best be going.”
“Aye,” the Scot answered and was gone.
Reardon was off a ways, but he had seen her. What should she say to him? She’d had the distinct feeling that he had no use for her.
Well, the only way was to hit it square on. She was on her own. Cecelia couldn’t offer a suggestion, and the Scot wasn’t here to defend her.
“Miss Blair.” He bowed slightly and reached for her carry-on.
“I can take it. Thank you. My purse is inside,” she explained.
“As you wish,” he stated, then lifted the handle on her bag and led the way.
Uh-oh, he was stuffy. What to do?
She took the seat in the back of the black car. He got in and, sitting ramrod straight as his position required, pulled into traffic.
“Sir,” she called from the back. “May I speak with you while you’re driving?”
“As you wish.”
“Never mind.” She said quietly. Edwina rolled her eyes, then hoped Reardon hadn’t seen her do it in his mirror. This was not a good way to begin her new life with the Scot’s man.
Edwina sighed as she settled into the seat and remem- bered the last time she’d ridden in this car. Had it been only four months? Life sure had strange twists. It had all been a fluke. The Scot standing behind her at the hotel. The castle visit. Now this?
It was evening yet she could still see the hills. Soon she would meet her charge.
She’d packed some children’s learn-to-read books in her book box, but they would not arrive for another week, maybe longer. Soon she would be a teacher. A mentor. Someone who would look after a little girl who had no mother.
Her breath came in short gasps at that last thought. She’d be someone’s surrogate mother. At least for a time. Edwina began to think of other books she would need. She must first be well read herself before she could teach the child. And teach she would.
If the Scot believed in her, then she would not let him down.