Page 73 of A Promise Through Time

He quickly put his pants and shirt on and was at the door before she’d even begun to get dressed.

“I’m hungry,” he said.

“I’ll bet you are.” Tina teased. “I think we both worked up quite an appetite.”

That sexy smile she loved appeared on his face as he watched her dressing. She met him at the door with a kiss that almost sent them both back to the bed, but the sound of his stomach rumbling brought them to their senses.

Entering the dining room, they saw that everyone was seated at the table, including Elena, who sat in a high chair attached to the table.

“Look who’s having dinner with us.” Tina said, giving Elena a kiss on the cheek.

Donal examined the seat. “’Tis quite a useful thing,” he commented.

“You’d be amazed at all the baby stuff available in our time. All to make mom and dad’s life easier. And make baby’s life safer,” Maggie said.

Tina sat on one side of Elena and Donal the other.

Dylan brought the food to the table and everyone helped themselves to the delicious fare he prepared for them.

“So what is yer plan?” Edna asked, passing a bowl of roasted potatoes to Angus.

“Well, we wanted to talk to you about that,” Tina said. She took a quick peek at Donal, who was busy looking over the food. “Donal is worried that he won’t find his place in our time, because he’s been a warrior for so long.”

At the sound of his name Donal glanced up from the food, tipping his head in question.

“Is this true?” Angus asked. “Are ye worried about staying in this time?”

“I cannae allow my woman to take care of me. I must be the one who provides and cares for my family.” The stubborn set of his chin and the gruff tone of his voice were making it clear to Tina that this wasn’t going to be a battle easily won.

“I understand yer concern,” Angus said. “I wasnae sure I could live in this time either, but Edna helped me to see that there is more to life than wielding a sword and dirk.”

“I dinnae ken what that could be.” Donal was dismissing the conversation. Tina couldn’t believe it. It was obvious he had no wish to even listen to what they had to say.

“So are ye saying ye don’t want to stay in this time?” Maggie asked.

“I wish to return to Breaghacraig.”

Tina thought her head might explode. Sure, she knew he was nervous about leaving his world behind, but she thought he loved her and that because he did he’d be willing to take a leap of faith and stay with her. She shook her head and turned to Donal. “And what about me?” she asked.

“You’ll come with me. The other ladies like it there, and ye liked them. So ye will be happy there,” he said.

Tina couldn’t believe her ears. Had he just ignored everything she had said about wanting to live near her family? He thought that just because he said so, she was going to go with him. She clenched her fists in her lap, doing her best to control the panic that was beginning to well up inside of her. She had spent most of her time in the past hungry and wishing she could be home. She had been very clear that she wasn’t going back there. “What if I don’t want to?” she asked through gritted teeth.

There was silence at the table as everyone waited for Donal’s response.

He glanced around at all of them, settling his gaze on Tina. “Then I will go back without ye.”

Tina was shocked. She hadn’t seen this coming and from the looks of the others at the table, neither had they.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Tina got up and ran up the stairs to her room. She couldn’t breathe. She had finally admitted to herself and to Donal that she loved him and now the unthinkable was happening. She didn’t know how to make this right. She wanted to be with him and little Elena, but she wasn’t going to live in another century and desert her entire family. She knew it wasn’t the same, but it felt an awful lot like being tossed aside. Again. This seemed like a hopeless situation. He wasn’t willing to fight for her. She did the only thing she could think to do. She picked up her phone and called her sister.

“Tina, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” Elle asked.

Tina managed to pull herself together enough to answer. “Donal doesn’t want to stay in our time. He wants to go back with Elena. I don’t know what to do.”

“Mom and Dad would be devastated if they never saw you again and so would the rest of us.”

Tina couldn’t seem to stop crying.