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I added, “I don’t know who I’m kidding though, Magnus is going to make a giant speech no matter what. He may cry too, so be ready. He’s such a romantic.” My eyes moved across the room to the tv. The weather channel flickered large on the main wall, the satellite imagery was clear.
Emma and Zach met eyes. Emma said, “We already discussed this. We didn’t really come to an agreement, but I’m playing the Bride Card so I win. I think, if it’s really okay, that Magnus should pay for the wedding. Nobody believes anything we say in regard to Zach’s worth, hopefully they’ll listen to Magnus on it.”
I glanced at Zach. He looked surly.
I patted the back of his hand. “This is a gift. Magnus and I want to do this. This is not you asking, or needing, or because you can’t do it. This is us giving you something and you can’t turn us down.”
“Fine.”
“So we should call about the rental, go ahead and set the date.”
Emma said, “What about Quentin, should we wait for him to come home?”
“I really don’t think you should wait. You know what Quentin would say? He would say, 'It’s about time.'” We’ll go get him soon and we can celebrate it together, but he won’t mind that you got married when you had the chance. Let’s book it the earliest we can. Preferably before Magnus’s ribs heal all the way, because once they do we’ll need to begin planning our return to the past in earnest.”
Emma said, “Okay, perfect. I’ll call to book the space.” While we had been talking, she raised her shirt to nurse Ben and was gently rocking him back and forth in the sling. I smiled at him as his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell asleep suckling right in the middle of our conversation.
“It’s pretty amazing how that kid can go from a hundred to zero in three seconds.”
“Don’t I know it.”
5 - KAITLYN
Magnus came home. I knew he would. Mostly. But I was also really nervous that he wouldn’t. I was watching through the French doors in our bedroom and as soon as I saw him I raced down the boardwalk to the beach and arrived at the dunes breathless and over-excited. “You made it. And please don’t think I was being overly needy by watching for you.”
“Twas necessary, for many miles I was considerin’ ye might be lost tae me again.”
“So we are a fine mess, huh? Freaking out when we’re apart, freaking out when we’re together?”
“Aye. Better tae do it together.” He dropped from Sunny’s back.
“How was your ride?”
“Twas beautiful. Walk with me to the stable?”
“You haven’t asked me that since 1703.” I grinned.
That night’s dinner was pasta Puttanesca, a meal Zach hadn’t made in forever. Magnus talked about his day, the wind on the ocean, the houses he had seen. He asked us about Main Beach and the round house he passed. Zach and I did our best to explain how solar panels worked. He had seen them on a roof as he passed, but all the concepts were so foreign that our explanation got pretty silly, until we finally came up with “it’s magic.”
He shrugged. “It makes more sense that the sun’s heat would warm us, than the wee holes in the wall.” He pointed to the electrical socket. We agreed without mentioning that solar power also powered those “wee holes.” He also asked about the palm trees and we had to google whether they were indigenous. We had such a nice dinner, talking and laughing and teaching Magnus about his small piece of the modern world.
It reminded me of those first days with Magnus, getting to know him, showing him the Island, falling in love. The scent of the sauce and the memories of that time, all conspired, causing me to feel like I was falling in love all over again.
6 - KAITLYN
Thanksgiving was upon us and our chosen family was pulled in different directions. Zach and Emma and Ben planned to eat with Zach’s family, joining Hayley and Michael. My mom and dad were the only parents who had other plans: a cruise they booked, which was absolutely fine by me. Someone needed to eat with my grandmother, also fine by me.
Magnus and I were invited to come after to the Greenes to eat with Zach’s parents, but ultimately Zach was bummed he didn’t get to cook. We made a deal, we would all eat early at other places, apart, and Zach would cook us our own Thanksgiving dinner together at about seven.
When we woke up that morning and I was putting on mascara, one eye closed, winking at the mirror, I asked, “Magnus, are you ready?”
“For the feast?”
“Not a feast, the biggest feast of the year, American-style. Wait until you try Green Bean Casserole — Zach is going to make it full of organic beans and portobello mushrooms and other things I couldn’t talk him out of, but at Grandma’s home they’re sure to have the one from cans. We’ll eat both and convene back here tonight to decide which one we liked better.”
“I canna believe we are goin’ tae have two feasts.”
“Two turkeys, two big piles of potatoes, so much gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, any of this sound familiar?”
