Page 30 of A Promise Through Time

“Does she?” he said, relieved that the conversation may be heading in a different direction.

“She sure does.”

“I’ll take her,” Donal said, scooping her up into his arms. “Are ye hungry?” he asked. “Ye must be, because I am.” He started towards the entry. “Are ye coming?”

“Yes,” Tina said, hurrying to catch up to him.

Chapter 7

Donal couldn’t believe the amount of lying he was doing to keep Tina from knowing the truth of his circumstance. He somehow knew the sympathy and compassion she’d shown him would disappear if she found out that he wasn’t married to Sionaid and in fact wasn’t even sure what she looked like. He’d only lain with her on one or two occasions and then he’d moved on to someone else, whom he also could not remember. His only hope was that she wouldn’t find out.

They entered the kitchen and he almost immediately regretted his decision to bring Tina with him. Mary was about to open her mouth to speak, when she obviously noted Donal’s pleading eyes.

“Good day to ye,” she said to Tina. “I be Mary.”

“Tina,” she said, smiling that bright, sweet smile she had.

“Donal,” Mary’s tone changed. “Ye’ve brought the wee one back and I’ve made her something special.” Pulling the babe from Donal’s arms, Mary danced around the kitchen with her. The tinkling sound of Elena’s giggle brought a warmth to Donal’sheart that he had never experienced before. A deep chuckle burst from his lips as he grasped Tina’s hand, giving it a small squeeze. A moment later he realized what he’d done when she pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry, lass. I was overcome with joy and I wished to share it with ye.”

“It’s alright,” Tina said, looking anywhere but at him.

The room seemed devoid of the kitchen maid he’d been wooing this past week and for that he was grateful.

“Sit,” Mary ordered. She set some food in front of them. “Eat,” this command was directed at Tina who was looking through her food as if there was something hiding in it. “’Twill nae bite ye…at least I dinnae believe so,” Mary laughed. “And ye, my wee lass, sit with Mary and I’ll feed ye. Did ye get her spoon as I told ye?”

“Nae. I didnae have time. I will,” Donal replied.

Mary’s lips pressed into a narrow line as she shook her head at him.

“I will,” Donal insisted. “There wasnae time this morn. I was busy.”

She didn’t seem convinced.

“If you tell me where to go, I’ll get it for you,” Tina volunteered.

“We’ll go together,” Donal said. “After our meal.”

“Okay.”

The sound of her voice was sweet to his ears as was her beauty to his eyes and her kindness to his heart. He felt content sitting here with this lass and his wee daughter.

***

Tina couldn’t help feeling like part of a sweet, little family as she sat next to Donal. It was becoming more and more clear to her that he was the man she was sent here to meet. Hercommon sense battled with her intuition telling her she was wrong. She had to be wrong, but her intuition was winning this war. Sneaking a peek at Donal, she felt her tummy do a little flip flop and not from the food. Her assessment of his bad boy good looks, his larger than life presence and the vulnerability he showed with Elena were all very attractive to her. Never in her wildest imagination did she believe a child would come with this bargain Edna had conjured for her, but she couldn’t be happier about it.

As Donal and Elena finished up their lunch, Mary tsk tsked at what was left on Tina’s plate. She didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings it was just that the food wasn’t what she was used to.

“Shall we go in search of a spoon?” Donal asked.

“I’d love to,” she responded.

“Ye dinnae need to search, Donal,” Mary said, handing Elena back to him.

“I ken it, Mary.” Donal gritted his teeth as he spoke. “I’m nae daft.”

“I wouldnae be so sure,” Mary said, obviously her parting shot as they walked out into the courtyard.

“She doesn’t like you very much,” Tina observed. She felt bad for him. He’d just lost his wife, found out he had a daughter to care for and no one seemed to have any sympathy for him. Well, she did. “I just don’t understand it.”