Page 39 of Awakened By Time

“How is Milly?” asked Helene.

“She’s fine. She misses you,” Zeke said. “When I come home at night she looks past me to the door, expecting you to follow me in.”

“Who’s Milly?” Brenna asked.

“She’s my cat. She grew very attached to Helene while she was living with me.” Was that the right thing to say? Would that be frowned upon here among these people? He took a quick peek around the table and no one other than Brenna seemed to be interested.

“Milly’s a verra good listener,” Helene laughed. “She heard all about me troubles and never seemed to mind.”

“She’s heard all of mine too,” Zeke admitted. “You got her into quite a bad habit. She expects treats the minute I walk through the door at night.”

“She deserves treats,” Helene laughed. “I always loved the way she’d follow me, rubbing on me legs and weaving between them until she got one. Or two.”

“Try three or four,” Zeke chuckled.

“Aye. ‘Tis true. I miss the sound of her purring at me side as I slept,” Helene said.

“I imagine Dougall does that now,” Zeke teased.

Helene laughed out loud. “That he does.”

Zeke was pleasantly surprised that this evening had not been as difficult as he’d thought it would be. In fact, he was really enjoying himself and happy to see Helene. She’d always hold a very special place in his heart, but she wasn’t his. She never had been.

* * *

Brenna was feelingsomething she’d never felt before. Jealousy. She was jealous of the easy way Zeke and Helene spoke with each other. She wondered just how close they’d been when Helene had lived with him. Had he kissed her? Had they done more? She was watching them closely and every time one or the other would look her way she quickly looked to Dougall, who didn’t seem at all bothered by their interaction. She wondered why? Shouldn’t he be jealous? Zeke’s sister, Sara tried to engage her in conversation and she did her best to oblige.

“So you’re Brenna. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Sara said.

“Have ye?” Brenna replied, wondering what Zeke had said that made Helene laugh. She watched as she then reached across the table and touched his hand. Brenna felt the jealously stir in her gut. How was Dougall not jumping from his seat to stop them?

“Yes. Logan has told me all about how he would get into all kinds of trouble with you and Dougall. I think he had a crush on you,” Sara giggled.

“A what?” Brenna had no idea what that meant.

“A crush. It means he liked you,” Sara explained.

“Och. Nae. Logan is like a brother to me,” she corrected.

“At one time, he hoped to be more,” Sara said.

Brenna squirmed nervously in her seat. She was sure that Sara would be angry with her and lash out, as was always the case with Greer and Gillian. She really had no idea what to expect. Would she hate her? Her life had been so sheltered at Castle Treun. She had no women friends and wasn’t really sure how Sara might be feeling about her right now, but nothing happened. Sara didn’t get angry with her. She didn’t laugh at her. She didn’t appear to be upset in the least bit. Brenna stole a peek at Logan to see if she might find a clue there, but not seeing any she returned her attention to Sara.

“This doesnae bother ye?” Brenna was confused.

“No. Not at all. It was a long time ago and he’s mine now,” she shrugged and smiled at Brenna.

“So, ’tis possible for ye and I to be friends and for Logan and I to be friends and ye willnae be jealous?” Brenna wasn’t quite sure how to respond to Sara’s friendly warmth. She thought about her time back at Castle Treun. She had not been friends with any of the women her age there. Since Greer and Gillian arrived, she was always worried that someone would lash out at her or make her feel unwelcome. It had been a long time since she sat and enjoyed a meal.

“Of course not. I’m hoping we’ll be good friends, like I am with Helene.”

Brenna smiled. She liked Sara, who was doing her best to make her feel welcome here. “It would be good to have a new friend,” she said.

“Good.”

Logan who had obviously been listening, put an arm around Sara and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Brenna took a bite of her food and watched as Dougall, Zeke and Helene smiled and laughed and Logan and Sara gazed lovingly at each other. She wondered if she’d ever fit in here. They were all being very welcoming and kind to her, but she felt something lacking. Something she hadn’t thought she wanted. She wanted to be part of a couple and she wanted the other half of that couple to be Zeke.