Page 28 of A Promise Through Time

“She seems fine, but I can’t believe Donal would just leave her here all alone.”

“It’s probably because he doesn’t know any better,” Sara said. “She’s so cute.” She placed Elena’s hand in hers and began babbling away to her. “Who’s a little cutie pie?”

“If he had any common sense, he’d know,” Tina growled. “There he is.” She pointed into the groups of men just as he turned to see her. Donal, being apparently none the wiser, smiled and waved to her. “He’s such an idiot! She could have choked on those rocks. She could have crawled away when he wasn’t looking! Grrr!”

Donal broke free from the man he was sparring with and headed towards them with a huge grin on his face.

“Are you out of your mind?” Tina shouted. “She could have been hurt! You never leave a baby alone like that!”

Donal seemed to have lost the ability to speak as he stood there, face frozen somewhere between the grin and wide-eyed shock at Tina’s berating him.

“Well, don’t you have anything at all to say for yourself?” she asked.

“I, I…Nae.” he said, looking forlorn.

“Donal, you should have found someone to sit with her while you were out here,” she scolded.

“I didnae know. I used to watch the men practice when I was a lad. I thought she would like it.”

Tina put up a hand, stopping him from speaking. He didn’t have baby books to read and at least he was trying, she had to remember that. “I’m sorry, Donal. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You are new at this. It’s just that it scared me to think what could have happened to her. A baby her age tries to put everything in her mouth, including rocks and dirt. She could have choked, or she could crawl away before you knew she was gone. They are faster than you think.” Donal went pale and Tina felt bad. Donal really was clueless. She hugged Elena closer to her chest. “I’ll take her. You go back to whatever it is that you’re doing. Come find us when you’re through.”

He reached out and touched her elbow, “Thank ye, Tina. Yer a blessing to us both.” He was so close she had to crane her neck up to look into his eyes. They were the bluest she had ever seen. He bent toward her and she couldn’t move. He was going to kiss her right here in front of everyone. She felt her heart nearly beat out of her chest as he placed a gentle kiss on Elena’s little head and said, “Goodbye sweetling, Da will see ye later.” Then he turned and headed back towards the men.

“Shall we go inside, ladies?” Ashley said.

“Lets,” Sara agreed.

Tina turned to join Ashley and Sara as they headed back through the courtyard, thankful no one needed her to speak just yet.

“Remind me not to ever make you mad at me,” Ashley teased.

“You were kind of ferocious with him,” Sara said.

Tina was grateful for the teasing as it helped her refocus. “Only because I was afraid for Elena,” she said. “I’m not usually like that.” Who was she kidding? She could certainly be like that and had been on many an occasion. It was one of the reasons they made her tour manager. She had a pretty high setof standards as anyone who knew her would say, but she’d been learning that it wasn’t always for the best when it came to her relationships. People had flaws. She had flaws. Accepting that about them and herself wasn’t always easy for her, but she was trying.

As they entered the great hall, they were greeted by a group of children, who were introduced to her as Irene and Robert’s. Sara settled herself in a chair by the hearth and motioned for Tina to do the same. “Now you get to see what Ashley does with her spare time.”

A few moments later more children entered the hall and joined Ashley at one of the large dining tables set about the room. From the sounds of it, Ashley was teaching them some basic math skills. The children were all eager to learn and sat as still as could be with their full attention on Ashley.

“Does she do this every day?” Tina asked.

“Almost,” Sara answered.

They spent the next hour or so listening to Ashley as she worked with the children and then finished up with a story. The children all hugged her before dashing outside to the courtyard.

“You were so good with them,” Tina said.

“I used to do some teaching in my other life. I’ve always loved working with children.”

“It’s nice to have a purpose in life, isn’t it,” Tina said.

“It is. I’d go nuts if all I had to do was sit around doing needlework. Don’t get me wrong. I like doing that kind of thing, but I love seeing the delight in the children’s eyes when something finally clicks for them.”

“I’m still amazed that a girl from San Francisco has managed to fit in so well in this time and place.”

“Don’t forget me,” Sara said.

“You, too. And Jenna and Sophia, was it?” Tina tipped her head in question.