Page 65 of A Promise Through Time

Chapter 14

“Good morning!” Edna entered the dining room with an arm filled with books and papers. She stopped beside Tina and scanned the room. “Where’s Donal?”

“He’s still upstairs. Maggie’s showing him how to use a disposable diaper. Things are a lot different here, but he wants to learn.”

“Are ye happy with the match I’ve made for ye?”

“It’s been a bit more complicated than I thought it would be.”

“We’re complicated humans. Something, or in this case, someone worth having is worth working for, aye.”

“I think I may have complicated this whole thing more than it’s possible to fix.”

“How so?”

“Donal lied to me. I’ve been lied to so many times by guys I was dating that I finally made it something I simply wouldn’t tolerate. It’s always been a deal breaker for me.”

“I see. So his lie is unforgivable. The moment ye found out he’d lied ye lost all feeling for him then because ye think him a terrible person. ’Tis a shame.”

“He’s not a terrible person. I can see his good qualities. He’s a good father to Elena even though it was sprung on him in the worst possible way. He’s accepted the responsibility of caring for her. I’m proud of him. I know how tough it’s been.”

“Have ye told him that?” Edna tipped her head, raising an eyebrow.

“No. I’m afraid I haven’t.” Tina thought back over their conversations the last couple of days. She had done most of the talking and none of it was kind. In her attempts to convince herself that this match would never work, she had been harsh and judgmental about his past, then dismissed his apologies for telling a lie when he was desperate. What kind of a person was she? No wonder Donal kept his distance last night. “I’ve let my pride get in the way and now I don’t know what to do. What if he thinks I’m not worth fighting for now?”

“So yer going to make him fight are ye? Hmmm…I would think ye might start by letting him know that ye have a foolish idea that the man yer with should be perfect. That he cannae ever make a mistake or you’ll be done with him.” Edna set the papers down on a nearby table.

“That’s not what I said,” Tina protested.

“Perhaps not, but maybe ’tis what Donal now believes to be true. Donal is a warrior. He will fight for what he wants, what he believes in. But warriors are also smart enough to take all the factors into consideration so they can protect themselves. If they know they can’t win, then there’s nae reason to fight. He may believe that at some point in the future he’ll do something to displease ye and ye’ll reject him all over again. And if ’tis what he believes, then why would he fight?”

“Edna are you angry with me?” Tina got the impression that somehow she’d said or done something that was irritating to Edna.

“I’m nae angry with ye,” Edna said and then seemed to rethink it before speaking again. “Well, perhaps a tad. Ye told me ye wanted my help to find the man of yer dreams. I did that, but yer letting yer silly rules prevent ye from finding out what a truly wonderful life the two of ye…the three of ye could have.” She threw her arms in the air out of frustration. “Ye act like love is something that just happens, that ye dinnae have to work for it.”

Tina thought about what Edna was saying. She wanted to tell Edna she was wrong, that she understood love took work. But she knew that wasn’t the truth. Edna was one hundred and fifty percent right. She was the one not doing enough. If she wanted this relationship to work, she was going to have to fight for it. She needed to convince Donal that she wanted him by her side. But after so much time pushing him away, she had no idea what to do.

“Edna please…help me,” even to her own ears she sounded desperate.

“Are ye sure? I dinnae wish to put Donal through any more torture than he’s already been through.”

“I’m sure.” She felt the conviction down to her toes. This is what she wanted, she could be a warrior, too.

“Good. Maggie and I will take care of little Elena today. The two of ye will be spending the day together. Dylan is packing ye some food. For now, sit here and have some breakfast.”

Tina watched Edna hurry from the room. It seemed she already had a plan. Edna knew before Tina did what the outcome would be. Tina thought about what it would be like to be truly alone with Donal and a slow smile spread across her lips.

***

Donal opened the door so that Maggie could leave and was surprised to find Angus standing there.

“Good day to ye, lad,” he said.

“Good day, Angus.”

“Can we talk?”

“Aye. Come in.”