Page 74 of A Promise Through Time

Elle let her cry for a while then gently said, “Come home to us. It’ll be alright. I promise. Maybe if you tell him you’re leaving he’ll change his mind. But no matter what, just make the reservation and get on the plane.”

“Alright.” She hung up from Elle and immediately made a reservation on the first flight home the next day. Then she locked her door, got into bed and cried herself to sleep.

***

Donal knew he was being unreasonable, but this was a big step for him to take and the fearless warrior was afraid. He was afraid of leaving everything he knew behind and heading into a future full of unknowns. Maybe he wasn’t as brave as he thought he was, but if he couldn’t at the very least take care of a wife and child then he had no business staying. He hadn’t bothered Tina last night. He had a lot to think about and he knew she would be very upset with him. He hoped that when she came down to breakfast this morning she would understand that this was the only way and she would consent to going back with him.

He sat alone in the dining room unable to eat the huge breakfast Dylan set before him. They’d all tried to convince him things would work out if he’d only stay, but he’d put up a wall to the notion that it was alright to let Tina take care of him.

He heard Tina speaking with Edna in the lobby and he got up to see what they were talking about. To his surprise, she stood there with a small, strange looking trunk and he heard Edna say, “I see yer packed and ready to go.”

“Where are ye going?” he asked.

“I’m going home,” she said. “I won’t go back with you and you won’t stay here with me, so there’s no point in my being here anymore.”

He felt as though he’d been stabbed in the heart, but Tina was right. It didn’t seem that they were going to come to any agreement here.

Edna glanced back and forth between the two of them. “I dinnae know how to fix this. Ye ken ye belong together.”

They both shook their heads in agreement.

“Kiss Elena goodbye for me,” she said.

“I’ll get her, ye can kiss her yerself,” Donal said. Maybe if she saw Elena, there’d be a chance she’d change her mind. He turned to leave them, but Tina halted him before he even took a step.

“No. It would hurt too much.”

“Why do ye do this then?” he asked.

“I told you already. I love you Donal and I’ll never forget you or Elena, but I won’t go back there with you.”

A horn honked outside. “That’s my ride,” Tina said. “Goodbye, Edna. Thanks for a wonderful adventure.”

“You’re welcome, dear. I’m so sorry things didn’t work out.”

They followed her out the door, where a car waited. The man driving got out and took her trunk and then Tina got into the car. She looked out the window at them, tears streaming down her cheeks and she waved as the car sped off.

“Ye daft idjit!” Edna said to Donal as they stood together on the sidewalk. “What were ye thinking? She is the perfect lass for ye. And more importantly the perfect mother for Elena. I dinnae know what to say.”

Donal knew she was angry with him. He was angry with himself, but it made no sense that he could see for him to stay and not be able to be the man he wanted to be. He stood there heartbroken, watching the car disappear in the distance.

“I’m sorry, Donal. I know ye love her,” Edna said, taking him by the arm.

They walked into the inn together and were met by Maggie, holding Elena, Dylan and Angus. They all wore expressions of sadness that only served to make Donal feel worse.

“When can we go back?” he asked Edna.

“I think in a day or two. Dr. Ferguson wanted to see Elena one more time to make sure she was completely well. After that I’ll send ye home.” The resignation in Edna’s voice, echoed his own mood.

Donal took Elena from Maggie and went back upstairs wondering if he’d made the right decision.

***

“What can we do Auntie?” Maggie asked.

“I’m nae sure,” Edna said. Everyone was a little teary eyed after seeing what had just occurred. “There must be something.”

“We know Donal just wants to be the provider for his family. How can we make that happen?” It was obvious that Maggie was determined to fix this problem.