Torin’s fork screeches against the porcelain plate. “Adi,” he admonishes. “Dinna talk that way.”
She rolls her eyes at him before flicking her gaze at me. “There is so much more to life, Lena, and you need to start living yours. You are important, my love.”
My cheeks bloom with color at her loving words. “Says the grandmother to her only grandchild,” I mumble under my breath.
But she shakes her head, frustration creasing her brow. “No, I mean it. There’s a whole other world out there that needs you.”
Torin coughs and pats a hand on the back of Gran’s, where it rests on the table. “I ken what your Gran is trying to say is, ha’ ye given any thoughts on your future? Do ye plan to go to university or travel?”
Gran glares at him. “Well, of course, she’s going to travel.”
The direction this conversation is headed makes me shift in my chair.
To be honest, I haven’t given any thought to my future. I’ve been barely managing to survive one day to the next. Lachlan grazes his thumb over the top of my shoulder. My eyes drift sideways to see him drawing circles on my exposed skin. The sounds of Gran and Torin’s bickering fade into the background.
Lachlan leans in. “Dinna let them gang up on ye like that,” he murmurs in my ear.
Goosebumps erupt down my arms, and I shiver before turning back towards Gran and Torin. The rest of dinner continues without a hitch and is full of laughter and stories.
Lachlan clears our plates after we finish our meal, and while he’s in the house, Torin turns the music up and leads Gran into a stunning waltz. I smile, watching them twirl around the terrace.
Lachlan comes up behind me and whispers, “Care to join them?”
My body goes hot and cold simultaneously, and I turn towards him. He stretches out a hand in offering. Biting my bottom lip, I nod and take his hand. My pulse races and my skin flushes with heat at the contact.
But he freezes, his eyes locked onto the lip I have trapped under my teeth. His gaze darkens for just a brief moment before he sighs, sweeping me up into his arms, and we float around the terrace.
I’m sad to see Lachlan and Torin go a few hours later, but I’m surprised at how quickly time has passed. As I help Gran get up the stairs, she pauses at the top of the landing.
“That was such a lovely time, dearie. I haven’t had that much fun in ages!” Her smile lights up the hallway.
“Me too. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.”
The ghost of Lachlan’s arms are still embracing me.
“You and Lachlan looked smitten,” she adds, with a tilt of her head.
She watches me with an uncanny stillness. A predator locked onto prey. Times like these make me realize what a force she must have been in her youth.
“It does seem like that sometimes.”
Her smile only grows as she kisses my cheek. “Sweet dreams, dearie.”
Relieved she didn’t launch a full-scale operation for more details, I mumble, “Night, Gran.”
As I turn to head to my room, Gran calls, “Lena.”
I turn around and see her standing at her door, her eyes full of emotion. “Yes, Gran?”
“You are much stronger than you know and meant for so much more than our life here,” she breathes.
Her kindness warms my heart, and I nod. “Thank you.”
4
SECRET TREASURES
An abrupttap, tap, tapsounds from my bedroom window. The noise breaks through my slumber. I blink my eyes open, looking around the room for what had awoken me. Rain is splattering onto the floor from the window I carelessly left open. I rub the sleep from my eyes as I make my way to it. The effects of the very deep sleep have me stumbling. Thunder crashes loudly, and I begin pulling it closed quickly.
