Page 55 of Awakened By Time
If she was surprised by this question, it didn’t show. She merely nodded as she wiped up the table.
“Do ye ever miss it?”
“I do. Not so much that I’d leave here to go back, but there are some things I miss,” Sophia admitted.
“Such as?” Brenna asked.
“The food,” she quickly glanced at Mary, who Brenna noted gave Sophia a hurt look before winking and laughing. “The music, the beauty of the place. I also miss how quickly one can travel there.”
“What do you mean?” Brenna asked.
“I’d better not say,” Sophia answered.
Brenna guessed Sophia wasn’t sure she could speak about time traveling with her.
Helene entered the kitchen. “There ye are. Ye left the house so early this morn, I was afraid something might be wrong. I can see it must have been the aroma of Mary’s fresh baked bread that lured ye.”
Mary chuckled at that.
“Do I get a slice, Mary?” she asked, winking at Brenna.
“Aye. Of course, ye do. Ye dinnae need to ask. Sophia, cut a slice fer Helene.”
While Sophia cut the bread, Helene joined them at the table, sitting next to Mary.
“Tea?” Mary asked.
“Please.” Helene took the mug Sophia handed her and placed it in front of Mary who poured her tea. “This is the best way to start the day, dinnae ye agree, Brenna?”
“Aye.” Brenna answered, thinking it might be even better if she started it with Zeke.
The ladies ate and talked while more servants joined them for their morning treat of bread and tea. Soon word came to them that the MacKenzies were ready to break their fast. Helene and Brenna left the kitchen so Mary and Sophia could get back to work.
“Why did ye come here so early this morn, Brenna?” Helene asked.
“I couldnae sleep and I didnae wish to disturb ye or Dougall.”
“Dougall was already up and gone. I woke to an empty house,” Helene said.
“I’m sorry. If I’d know, I would have waited for ye.”
“No need for apologies. Did ye get what ye came for?”
Brenna smiled warmly at Helene. She obviously knew something was up with her. “Nae. I’m afraid not. I think Sophia was worried about speaking to me.”
“Whatever for,” Helene asked.
“I wanted to ask her about San Francisco. Jenna and Ashley werenae awake yet, and I remember hearing that she also came from the future.”
“I see. She probably doesnae ken that yer aware of it.” Helene put a hand on Brenna’s arm and stopped in the passageway. “What do ye wish to ken about the future? Ye ken I’ve lived there. Ye could ask me.”
Brenna gazed at her shoes. She didn’t want anyone to know what she was thinking about. It was obvious Helene wasn’t going to let her go until she told her everything. “I thought mayhap Zeke would ask me to go with him to the future and I want to ken what ’tis like there. ’Tis all.”
“Ye dinnae wish to stay with us? With Dougall?”
“I love ye both,” Brenna said, “but I need a place I can call me own. Everywhere I look here… none of it is mine. ’Tis yer home, yer bed, yer chairs, yer garden. Ye have work to do here at the castle and I can follow you around, but I wouldnae have me own purpose. I want that too.”
“I cannae argue with you on that,” Helene said. “I know how ye feel. I felt the same way meself - before I married Dougall.” She put an arm around Brenna and continued walking with her. Do you love Zeke?”