“And what of yer father?” Irene asked gently. “Will ye not miss him?”
Molly blinked back sudden tears. “Yes, I’ll miss him always,” she whispered. “He gifted me this necklace on my sixteenth birthday. Told me the knots would bind us together, no matter how far apart life took us.”
Irene reached out and fingered the silver knotwork on Molly’s necklace, her eyes faraway. “Hold tight to those ye love, lass. Sometimes they’re closer than ye think.”
“What does that mean?”
Irene grinned suddenly. She went to the door and flung it open. Beyond, in the space beneath the arch formed by the lintel, the air shimmered. Then, to Molly’s shock, she spotted a familiar figure standing there.
“Da?” Molly gasped. “How...what...?”
He chuckled, blue eyes crinkling. “Surprise, my girl!” He looked at Irene. “What do I do? Just step through? As easy as that?”
“Aye,” Irene said with a laugh. “As easy as that.”
Looking a little scared, her father stepped through the doorway. The shimmering behind him vanished and Molly flew into his arms, laughter mixing with tears. Over his shoulder, she saw Irene’s grin widen in satisfaction.
Molly pulled back to look at her father in wonder. “Da, how are you here? I don’t understand.”
Her father smiled gently. “It seems this fine lady paid me a visit and offered to bring me through time itself to be here today.” He nodded towards Irene.
Molly turned to the elderly woman. “You did this? But how?”
Irene winked. “I have my ways, lass. Couldnae let ye get married without yer dear da now, could I?”
Molly’s eyes welled with fresh tears. She embraced Irene tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Her father put a hand on her shoulder. “Now, what’s this I hear about you marrying some warrior in some old Scottish keep?”
Molly laughed. “It’s a bit of a long story, Da.” She looped her arm through his. “Why don’t I tell you on the way to the great hall?”
Adaira and Annie looked shocked as Molly, her father, and Irene MacAskill stepped out into the corridor. Thankfully though, they kept their questions to themselves as they set off through the castle. As she walked next to her da, Molly recounted the tale of how she came to be in this time and place, and found love with Conall.
Her father listened thoughtfully. At the doors to the hall, he stopped and turned to her. “You really love this lad, then?”
Molly nodded. “With all my heart.”
Her father studied her a moment, then smiled. “Well, I can’t pretend to understand all this time travel business. But any man who puts that look on my girl’s face has my blessing.” He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
Molly took a deep breath as she and her father entered the great hall. Her gaze swept over the familiar stone walls lined with flickering torches, the long wooden benches filled with proud warriors in their plaids and the ladies in their finery.
At the front stood Conall, tall and handsome in his formal attire, next to James who was acting as his best man. Earl Sinclair waited there too, ready to perform the ceremony. Conall’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw Molly on the arm of her father, but his expression quickly melted into a smile of delight.
Molly’s own lips curved up instinctively in response. Though her mind still swirled with wonder at her father’s sudden appearance, in this moment all she felt was a bone-deep certainty that she and Conall were meant to walk this path together.
As they drew near the front, Molly spied Irene slipping quietly out a side door. She nodded to the elderly woman in silent gratitude. She glanced over and saw Conall’s sword-brothers grinning at her from the front row—Kai, Oskar, Emeric, and Magnus. Magnus caught her eye and gave an encouraging wink.
Molly smiled back gratefully. They had arrived a few weeks ago along with Kai’s wife, Caitlin, who also turned out to be a time-traveler. She and Molly had had a lot to talk about.
At last Molly and her father reached the front. Her da kissed her cheek, then placed her hand in Conall’s strong grip before clearing his throat.
“Conall, is it?” he said, eyeing him with a piercing stare. “I’ve only just met you. How do I know you’ll do right by my daughter?”
Conall’s face paled. “I...I give ye my word, sir,” he stammered. “Molly is everything to me. I swear I’ll care for her all her days.”
Molly had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the trepidation in poor Conall’s voice. She knew her father was only teasing, but Conall looked as though he wished the ground would swallow him up.
Her da kept his stony expression a moment longer before breaking into a smile. “Good lad. That’s all I needed to hear.” He clapped Conall on the shoulder.
