Page 169 of A Legacy of the Light

“I am under specific instructions to blindfold you from here,” he replies with a half-smile.

“But the stairs?” I challenge.

“I will not let you fall, my dear,” he assures me.

I sigh and shrug. Finneus secures the scarf around my head and takes my hand in his warm one.

He slowly leads me down the stone stairs to the edge of the shore, telling me to step down every couple of footsteps. I can hear the sounds of the water lapping against the stone and the bonfire crackling twenty feet away from us.

Finneus doesn’t remove the blindfold straight away. He leads me toward the sound of the bonfire. When the heat of its flames lick against one side of my face, he stops me and places a palm on my shoulder.

“Ready?” he asks from behind me.

“Ready for what?” I ask.

The black scarf is removed.

“SURPRISE!”

It takes a few blinks for me to register the scene before me. When my eyes come into focus, my vision is immediately blurred with tears.

Surrounding a long table laden with food, stand the people I have met and formed relationships with while I have been here.

Reyne. Eòghann. Hector. Colin. Alaister. Cait. Pat and Fraser too.

“I-I don’t know what to say.” I smile through the tears now cascading down my cheeks.

Where is . . .

A strong arm wraps around my waist from behind me, and soft lips caress my temple.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Tavish whispers against my skin.

“Did you know she was doing this?” I ask him.

“Who do you think helped her pull it off?” he chuckles.

I laugh out a sob and Reyne bolts in my direction, tears streaking down her own face. Tavish reluctantly lets me go as she approaches and we wrap our arms around each other.

“You didn’t think we would throw you a farewell?”

“I didn’t think anyone would care,” I laugh honestly into her hug.

“We care, Elsie,” Eòghann says as he joins Reyne and slips a comforting arm around her waist when she lets me go, since she can’t stop the sobs wracking her chest.

“Of course we care!” Hector booms from next to the table.

The unexpected display of friendship sends a fresh wave of emotion crashing through me. Tavish slips his fingers through mine while I use the other to wipe my cheeks.

“Come on, Elsie, dear,” Finneus adds from my other side. I thread my arm through his, and they both lead me toward the table.

Long benches have been placed either side. Tavish helps me sit right in the middle with my back to the bonfire before joining me on my left, Finneus next to him. Reyne and Eòghann sit to my right and the rest of the party takes the bench opposite us.

Colin has gone all out with the food. Roasted meats, vegetables, salads, and bread. And lots of desserts.

“You guys really didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” I say as food is passed around with wine and whiskey.

“Nonsense,” Colin replies. “It’s been a pleasure, Elsie. No one appreciates my desserts the way you do,” he jokes.