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Amy took a deep breath and met her sister’s eyes. They were blue like hers, but Jenny was dark haired like Mom, whereas Amy had Dad’s coloring.
“Okay, before I begin, just please know that I’m well aware of how insane all this is going to sound.”
“Okay…” Jenny said slowly.
“Okay.”
And Amy began. She told Jenny about Sìneag, about the rock, about the siege, and about Craig. And everything that had happened to her. They asked for another round of drinks, then another. Night settled behind the window, and the pub began filling with people, many of whom greeted Amy.
They were on the fourth round of drinks when Amy finally finished telling how she’d gotten back. It felt good to tell all of this to someone, to stop pretending like nothing extraordinary had happened to her.
It had. And it had changed her. In fact, this would almost certainly be the greatest event of her whole life. How sad would it be if she couldn’t share it with the person she was closest to?
Sad and smart, judging by the wide-eyed expression of disbelief on Jenny’s face. She gulped her beer, already a little tipsy, and simply stared at Amy.
“Do you have any proof?” Jenny said finally.
“Proof?”
“Yeah. That you didn’t imagine it all or hallucinate. I mean, I totally understand that you believe it happened. But, I’m sorry, hon, it’s just really hard to imagine time travel being real.”
Disappointment coiled in Amy’s stomach. She shrugged. “I don’t have proof, Jen. I get that you don’t believe me. Had I heard a story like that, I wouldn’t have either. So I don’t blame you. And you have no idea how I wish this were a hallucination and not the truth.”
Jenny frowned. “Why?”
“Because then Craig would be a product of my imagination. And I would be able to stop wondering if I made a mistake by leaving.”
Jenny swirled her beer in the glass. “You love him, huh?”
Amy slowly nodded. “Yeah. Unfortunately, I do.”
“You loved Nick, too.”
“Exactly. That’s the point. I did. I had the most perfect guy in the world, who wanted to be married to me. Who didn’t live hundreds of years in the past.”
“No kidding. But is this different? With Craig?”
“If I say it is, will you think it’s wishful thinking? Like, I wish it were different, but really, it’s the same? That even if I’d stayed with him, I’d have ended up escaping the marriage just like I did with Nick?”
“I don’t know, hon. Somehow, I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
Jenny looked out of the window for a moment. “Because you are different.”
“I am?”
“I think so. You are calmer, and…happier.”
“Happier?” Amy cried. “I don’t think I’ve been more miserable in my entire life.”
“Well yeah, you’re sad. But the haunted look you’ve had ever since you were ten—like you’re a wild animal being hunted, and all you need is your safe cave—it’s gone.”
Amy shook her head, looking into her glass. “I had no idea I had a haunted look.”
“Whatever that Craig did—in reality or in your head—he changed you.”
Amy raised her brows and kept silent. Maybe she’d feel that change if not for the constant pain in her heart and soul. But wasn’t that what Sìneag had said?
