Page 14 of Hearts Bound By Time

“After that I think Edna said something about shopping,” Ashley said.

Ewan entered the dining room alone. “Good morning.”

“Where’s Lena,” Maggie asked.

“She’s gone to breakfast with an old friend.”

Dylan noted from Ewan’s tone and demeanor that he wasn’t terribly happy about it. “Is everything okay, Ewan.”

Ewan harrumphed and got himself a plate.

The others all exchanged concerned glances.

“I can see yer troubled, brother,” Robert said.

“Aye. I am.” Ewan filled his plate and then returned to the table. “Lena has gone to breakfast with a man. She says he is an old friend, but I get the feeling there’s more to it than that.”

“Lena loves ye verra much, Ewan,” Irene added. “She must have many old friends here. This is where she grew up.”

“I ken it, but I saw the way this man looked at her.”

“She did have a life before she me ye,” Maggie said. “He’s probably an old boyfriend.”

Ewan practically dropped his fork on hearing this.

“Don’t worry, Ewan. Don’t ye have any old loves that Lena doesn’t know about.”

He thought about this for a moment. “Aye. I do. But I would never place myself in the position of dining alone with them.”

“Did ye tell her how ye felt?”

“Nae. I didnae.”

“So ye expect her to be able to read yer mind?”

“I see yer point, but she’s gone now and I cannae tell her.”

“She’s just having breakfast, she’s not planning to leave ye and move back to Glendaloch.”

Ewan looked miserable and Dylan felt his pain. Maggie was right though. “She’ll be back soon, man. Ye’ll see. Everything will be fine.”

***

Lena met Michael at Sarah’s Bakery and Tea Shop just down the street from the inn.

“Lena, it’s so good to see ye.” Michael leaned in and kissed her cheek.

She felt a little awkward about the meeting. She could tell that Ewan was not at all happy about it, but she had promised to meet Michael and so here she was.

“Thank ye for being open to breakfast instead of lunch or dinner. I’m visiting with my husband and children and this works better for me.”

“I’m happy to see ye, Lena.” Michael was staring at her and it was making her quite uncomfortable.

“Michael, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I walked away that day all those years ago and left ye without a word.”

“Why did ye go, Lena?”

“Curiosity. Glendaloch is the perfect place to grow up, but I wanted more. I wanted to have an adventure and that’s exactly what happened.”