Bri was cut off as her mother interrupted her. Her voice shrill and panicked. “What? Bri, you have no business ever entering that room again. It’s already taken you from me once. Besides, I like it here. I don’t want to have to follow you back if it sucks you back through time again.”
Bri rolled her eyes at the expected melodramatics. “It isn’t just a big wormhole that’s going to suck me in with some sort of magnetic pull. It’s all based on Morna’s spells. And there are others that can work, that could bring us back and forth as we please. I’m sure there are risks, but I think that they might be worth taking.”
“What for? I didn’t keep Blaire from returning here, Bri. She suggested that I go in her place. She didn’t want to come back here. She chose to stay.”
Bri nodded. “I know all that, but why did she not want to come back? Did she ever tell you? I think she was heartbroken.”
Adelle’s face blanched and her eyes widened with surprise. “She never spoke of it, but I think you might be right. She said that there was no longer anything here for her, as if she lost something dear.”
“Have you noticed the way Arran avoids me at almost all cost? When we do run into each other, the look in his eyes breaks my heart. Did I ever tell you about what happened with Arran?” Bri smiled as she watched the color spread to her mother’s face once more, the anticipation of a juicy story exciting her mother immediately just as Bri knew that it would.
“No, I’ve never noticed. And no, you never told me! But, I expect you to right this instant.”
“The night of my wedding to Eoin, Arran came to our bedchamber door thinking it was his own. He was very drunk. Anyway, Eoin was helping put out a small fire at the reception, so I had to help Arran down to his own room. To make a long story short, he kissed me. Granted, he thought I was Blaire, but it was clear that the two of them had been involved. And he loved her very much.” Bri readjusted herself on the edge of the bed, reaching for a cushion to prop herself up more comfortably while she waited for her mother’s response.
“Oh, wow. So you’re telling me that you’ve kissed both of them?” Adelle paused and waved her hand in the air in dismissal. “Never mind, that’s beside the point. But you know, I do remember that Arran seemed upset the day I arrived and told you that Blaire chose to stay.”
“Yes he was, and I’m worried about him. Each day he drinks a little more than he did the day before. He’s broken. I want to go and talk to Blaire, let her know that Arran is still in love with her and see if she would want to come back. Do you think that she would, Mom?” Bri sat patiently while her mother thought about the question. Finally, Adelle looked up and into Bri’s eyes.
“I don’t know, honey. She was very private. The two of you may look alike, but you are quite different. She was curious about modern things and did her best to keep conversation on that. She didn’t ever want to talk about herself.”
Bri shifted uncomfortably, her resolve on her decision to meddle shaky. “Do you think it would be a pointless effort? There is another reason why I’d like to go back as well—some unfinished business that I feel I must take care of.”
Adelle’s eyebrows rose, nearly reaching the top of her hairline. “What’s that, dear?”
“Several things actually. School, Mitsy, and to put an end to the missing persons report, I’m certain Mitsy has filed. I need to go clear things up with her and stop whatever police departments are searching for me.”
“They won’t be searching for you. While Blaire and I were at the inn, the police called searching for you. I instructed Gwendolyn and Jerry to tell them you were fine but did not wish to speak to them. I called the station back later pretending to be you so they’d close the missing persons report. I also falsified reports from the dig and scheduled them to be sent out at different intervals for the next three months. Most likely, the grant committee is just now starting to realize that something is off.”
“Well, that’s good to know. I’m glad my disappearance didn’t make national news.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? Eoin will never let you go.”
“Eoin isn’t going to keep me from going anywhere. I’m sure he will be against it, but it’s something I must do. Arran needs her, and Mitsy needs to know what happened to me. It’s only weeks until her wedding. I won’t have her worry over me ruin her big day.”
Adelle stood, and Bri remained on the bed as her mother made her way to the bedchamber door. “Well, I know you will do what you feel is right. Good luck telling this to Eoin. You are far braver than I.”
*
Austin, TX
Present Day