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I felt a lot better actually.

Fuck Braden. Fuck his girlfriend and their whole sordid mess. I was a rich, mature, married woman. I was beyond sex tape drama. Whatever.

Music started and Hayley rushed me. “Dance with me?”

“Yes! I thought you’d never ask. But how did Ed Sheeran end up on Zach’s playlist?”

“I think Emma decided there was too much Blink-182 for this crowd.”

I kissed Magnus on the cheek and turned to the dance floor as the doors at the far end of the room opened, our security guard stuck his head in, and gestured for Magnus. Magnus crossed to the door.

I watched him while the world slowed down around me.

Hayley had a full-blown dance floor wiggle happening. The aunts, an uncle, a few cousins, and Emma were dancing while I stood stock still watching Magnus approach the security guard and, oh crap, their faces intent, their discussion fast and serious. Magnus looked over his shoulder at me as he stalked out the door.

I followed.

17 - KAITLYN

When I made it to the front hallway of the Ocean Club, the door at the far end was closing. “Where’s Magnus?”

Jimmy, the security guard, said, “Lady Mairead is here, he went into that room to speak to her.”

“Oh no, oh no, oh, crap.”

I timidly knocked. “Magnus, it’s me.”

Magnus opened the door.

“She’s here?” I could see her over his shoulder. The room was a sitting room that Emma had used for dressing. Her dress-bag, makeup kit, and Ben’s diaper bag were on the coffee table.

Lady Mairead said, “Good evenin’, Kaitlyn, I see ye are barging in where ye are nae wanted.” She dropped a raincoat to the ground and leaned a dripping umbrella against the wall. “I was hoping tae speak tae Magnus alone.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s... no. I want to hear what’s happening, it involves me.”

She raised her brow and smiled, her greasy, malevolent, twisted smile. I used to think it was a condescending smile, a little overly pretentious because of her placement in life, but now I knew it was a true ‘bitch smile’. And I wanted to knock it off her face.

Magnus had a sword. I could yank it from its scabbard and swing it at her.

She said, “Not really, but suit yourself.”

Magnus wasn’t speaking. He looked like he was trying to get on top of his fury.

“How did you find us?” I asked.

Her outfit came from the future: filmy material, slacks, a jacket with fur at the collar and wrists. It was punctuated with diamonds at her ears, twice as big as mine. She looked regal and wealthy, pilfering from history was paying off very well for her.

Another knock on the door, I opened it. Zach was standing there. His eyes flitted around the room and fell on Lady Mairead and stayed there though he spoke to Magnus. “How’s everything, you cool?”

Magnus didn’t take his eyes off her. “Aye. I am sorry for the trouble, we will keep it confined tae this room.”

Lady Mairead rose. “Chef Zach, I was verra pleased tae hear of your wedding today. I have brought ye and Emma a gift.” She leaned over a burlap sack, ran her fingers over five different frames, eyeing them, then pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper. She held it out for Zach.

He said, “I don’t think...”

“Daena argue, Chef Zach. Whatever your feelings for me, tis a once in a lifetime drawing and ye should accept it in the manner tis given, with your best future in mind.” She untied the piece of twine and unfurled the paper. It was blank. “Tis one of Leo’s invisible maps. You will see if ye shine it under a light.”

Zach held it up to the lamp in the room and tried to look through the paper.