“And this does?”
“Absolutely. One tiny adjustment and voilà”—she rolled her hands with a flourish—“more time.”
I knew her ambition stemmed toward Broadway and not quantum physics; but there were so many things wrong with that statement, I couldn’t help but respond. “Uh, you know time’s not really adjustable, right?”
“Sure it is,” she replied as she scooped up an armload of socks and dumped them into my middle drawer with my shirts and sweaters. “Haven’t you ever heard of leap year?”
I shook my head with a laugh, chalking it up to Kenna’s special brand of logic. After removing the rest of my books, I zipped my suitcase and then shoved it under the bed, nearly hitting my head on the four-poster frame as a knock sounded on the bedroom door. I peeked over the edge of the mattress as the door swung open.
“Hi there!” A girl with blonde, curly hair and a huge smile walked into the bedroom. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. My mum sent me over to welcome you to the cottage, since we’re of an age.” Her lilting brogue and open expression caused me to like her instantly as she extended her hand to Kenna. “I’m the caretaker’s daughter, Allyson Dell. Ally for short. You must be Gracie’s niece.”
“Hi. Call me Kenna.” The girl shook hands with my BFF, and I noted the sun reflecting off the silver and rhinestone piercings in her nose, upper lip, and left eyebrow. The sparkling jewels coordinated with her outfit, making her look less Goth and more chic. “And this is Veronica Welling.”
Ally turned her vivid green-eyed gaze on me and I waved from the other side of the bed. “Nice to meet you, Veronica. Would you girls be up for some local culture tomorrow night? I’d like to take you someplace special and buy you your first ale.”
“That sounds perfect.” Kenna clapped her hands together enthusiastically just as my cell vibrated from the nightstand.
Janet’s picture popped up on the screen. I didn’t want to answer—no sense ruining my first day in Scotland. But maybe she was worried and calling to make sure I arrived safely. Excusing myself, I snatched up the phone and walked over to the window.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Punkin, you aren’t going to believe what’s happened!” She was practically jumping through the phone with excitement.
No interest in how I’d survived my first flight ever—across an ocean, no less—or what my plans were in a foreign country. Typical Janet. “What’s that, Mom?”
“Bob asked me to marry him and I said yes!” All the blood drained from my head and I gripped the phone so hard I heard a cracking sound. “We’re getting married as soon as we can get the license, and then he’s takin’ me to the casino for a whole week! Can you believe it?”
“Uh … uh,” was the only response I could manage, since my vocal cords seemed to have dried up and turned to ash. No way would I live in the same house with my new step-daddy.
“Well, is that all you’re going to say?” A hard note crept into her voice.
I swallowed, stiffening my spine defensively. “Congratulations?” It was more of a question than a statement.
“Thanks, darlin’! When you get back all your stuff will be waitin’ for you in the shed. Bob’s boxing it up now, so he can use your room for an office.” Bob the redneck pervert was boxing up my stuff? Including my underwear? I clenched my teeth with a snap.
“Since you got the Purdue scholarship, darlin’, we figured you would want all your stuff boxed up anyway.”
It was only a partial scholarship and she knew I’d had to defer until I’d saved up enough money to cover the rest of the expenses. We’d agreed I’d live at home while I taught extra classes at the dance studio—a plan she’d conveniently forgotten in lieu of her own self-centered interests. “I gotta go, Mom. I’m losing the signal.”