"Are you bound to God for life? Shouldn't your words at least matter even a little?" she asked him. "I know you formed a relationship with these people when you were here and came to see them as your brothers. But although you lived like a monk and you were a monk at heart, it's like I always told you. You were never trulyhere."
"Aye, ye are right. Fine, let us go in before I lose my confidence." Owen shook his shoulders as though preparing for confrontation and then pushed open the monastery door, walking in with Charlotte. He looked around. She realized he had missed this place. She had not been here long, but she had missed something about the calmness of it as well. They walked down the large corridor to the dining hall, where Owen told her that the monks would be at this time of the day.
"Uncle Duncan," Owen called out when they reached the hall. Charlotte watched as his uncle turned around, staring at Owen with wide eyes filled with shock.
"Owen, what are ye doing here?" he asked before getting up to meet him halfway. She stood to the side as the two hugged.
"Ah! So, the prodigal son returns. We were beginning to wonder where you were."
"Brother Thomas. I am glad tae see that ye are in good health, as are the rest of ye," Owen said, looking around at the men in the building.
Charlotte stood to the side, aware that the men were staring at her curiously. It was not every day that a woman walked into the monastery.
"First, I would like tae apologize for disappearing on ye all like that. I had tae leave immediately. I… Well… I need tae tell ye that…" Seeing how he was struggling with his words hurt her, so she put her hand on his back discreetly to give him courage. "When I came here, it was nae because I wanted tae be a monk but because I needed a good place tae hide. I was chased by a powerful man looking tae kill me. During my time here, I tried tae be a true monk and I believe in certain ways I accomplished that, but there was another part of me that wanted tae be out there in the world with me family. I am sorry that I lied to ye."
"This is Charlotte." Owen pointed to her, and all eyes turned to her. Charlotte suddenly felt self-conscious and waved at thembefore looking at Owen, hoping that he would divert their attention from her.
"I found Charlotte a few miles from here and hid her in the monastery the night before I left. With time, I-I fell in love with her, and I want tae marry her. I cannae think I can be a monk any longer if it dooms me to a life without her… Yet, I could nae just leave without coming back tae explain and that is why I am here now. And also, tae apologize for to ye for everything."
Charlotte gazed around at the men. They had been looking between her and Owen as he spoke, some with smiles on their faces. Owen had missed it because he had his bent in apology and shame.
"Well, Owen. We wish ye had been honest with us from the beginning, but we understand that ye did nae ken who tae trust. We never really thought ye were fit tae be a monk if we are being honest," Brother Matthews said suddenly.
"What? Why? Was I doing something wrong?" Owen asked, making everyone laugh.
"It is nae that. But ye should look at yerself and then look at the rest of us. Ye are so broad and big, it just did nae seem like yer kind of place," Brother Thomas smiled.
Charlotte smiled when the monks laughed. Owen had a shocked look on his face, as though he could not believe what their reason was.
"All right, that is enough teasing of me nephew. I believe ye will want the rest of yer belongings. Come, let us go pack," uncle Duncan said, taking Owen by the shoulder, before any other man could open his mouth in accusation or question.
"Thank ye all for being so understanding. I am glad tae have met ye and ye will always be me brothers."
"As ye will be ours," Owen nodded and wrapped his hand around Charlotte's before following his uncle. She could tell that he was emotional and so she said nothing.
"Uncle, I am really sorry for using ye for me protection," Owen said suddenly. His uncle hummed.
"It is fine, really. I kenned that ye were nae truly invested and dedicated tae the process from the beginning, but I felt like ye needed it as part of yer journey, which was why I let ye," he said calmly.
Charlotte looked at the man in confusion when he suddenly let out a deep chuckle. She looked at Owen to see that he mirrored her expression. What was so funny?
"I found something interesting after I returned from me trip and I had an idea that this was how things would end. So, I guess I was already prepared for the day ye would come tae say goodbye."
"Huh? What did ye find?" Owen asked, still confused. Duncan walked to the end of the room, where he had kept all of Owen's belongings. He slipped his hand into the bag and brought out a woman's sock, chuckling when Charlotte and Owen turned red in embarrassment. "If I had any doubts before, after seeing this, me doubts were completely cleared."
Charlotte closed her eyes. It was bad enough that he had already seen it, but holding it up in his hands deepened her embarrassment. She panicked, not wanting him to think ill of her and Owen.
"No, sir. It is not what it seems like. You have the wrong idea. That's not what… what I mean is…. nothing ever happened in the monastery." She blushed when he raised a brow, realizing that she had just admitted that something had happened between them outside of there. She cleared her throat and soldiered on. "I was just afraid because there was a spider on me, so I threw my clothes so that it would not climb into my hair or any other part of my body. Owen made me hide in the alcove when we were coming in and a spider got on me and I hate spiders so I–I-" Charlotte stopped when she realized she was rambling and Owen and his uncle had been laughing at her while she was trying to explain the situation.
"Aye, she is terrified of spiders. She screams and jumps around at the mention of one," Owen said, teasing her and causing his uncle to laugh harder.
Charlotte glared at the two of them before breaking into laughter herself at the absurdity of it all. She was glad that everyone hadbeen so welcoming and understanding. Now, everything would be all right.
She and Owen would finally have their happy ending.
BUT THERE’S MORE…
Eager to learn what the future holds forCharlotte and Owen?
