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She gave him the chocolates she’d bought at the airport and chatted with him about how he and Mandy had been doing.

When she entered her bedroom, it smelled like wood and dusty blankets and old books. The scent brought the sense of anxiety back to her chest as she thought of her usual dull life, a life without Ian. She put the luggage in the corner and lay on her bed. Even her limbs felt like she didn’t know what to do with them.

And inside, she couldn’t help feeling like she were a splinter that had caused inflammation. When she’d gone to Scotland, the splinter had been removed, and the system had healed itself. And now she was back, trying to fit into the old wound.

But she was unnecessary. External. Harmful.

They’d been fine without her. And, surprisingly, she’d been fine without them. More than fine.

She’d been so happy there. So deliriously happy with Ian, in that world full of danger and castles and war. And medieval cooking that she enjoyed more than she could have ever imagined. There, Ian had appreciated her dishes like no one ever had. Here, she wasn’t needed. In fact, under Mandy’s supervision, the restaurant was doing better than it ever had under Kate’s.

Why was that? Was it because Kate had always tried to implement something new, something unusual when all people wanted was traditional cooking? Was it because Kate had always thought she wasn’t good enough and the feeling had created negative energy? Or maybe it was her demeanor? She’d never had a smile on her face like Mandy did. Maybe the customers had felt some distance with her, whereas they absolutely loved Mandy.

In any case, Kate couldn’t imagine herself here anymore. She supposed she needed a bit more time to adjust to modern life. Her chest throbbed, her head and throat ached. It was as though she was hungry for Ian. Her hands itched to find him, to touch him, to feel his powerful presence near and around her. She longed for Dundail and Cadha and even grumpy Manning.

Over the next few days, Kate tried to adjust to her new reality. She went to work in the restaurant and was amazed to see how much smoother everything ran under Mandy’s control. While Kate was cooking, Mandy managed the restaurant. She negotiated better prices with the supplier, something Kate had never been able to do. She reduced the number of dishes on the menu.

“People never ordered some dishes, so I left only the most popular ones.”

That allowed Kate and Rob to precook certain things and serve dishes faster while maintaining their quality. Mandy suggested a new system of order placements that was much quicker and clearer for the waiters and the cooks.

There were more customers, higher tips, and more profit. And while she saw a big smile of satisfaction on Mandy’s face as her sister directed the staff confidently and chatted to the customers, Kate felt more and more out of place.

In the beginning, it had felt like Kate was doing Mandy a favor by letting her help in Deli Luck. Now it felt like Mandy was the one doing the favor.

While it was great to be back with her family, dissatisfaction grew stronger and stronger inside Kate. What was the point of her even being in the restaurant? Rob cooked as well as Kate. Mandy had gotten the place back on its feet.

And then she realized. By not taking care of Mandy and Jax, she’d allowed them to flourish and become independent.

Was it possible they didn’t need her anymore?

A week after Kate had returned, she sat in the living room one evening with Mandy and Jax. Her family, the two people she was closest to in the world. The two people she’d lived for.

Was it time she tried to live for herself? Now that the restaurant wasn’t struggling, she could finally think about what she wanted.

What she wanted was for Ian to love her. For them to be together. But that wasn’t possible.

So she had to do something in this century. And that something didn’t lie in Cape Haute anymore.

“I’m thinking about leaving,” she said.

Mandy’s face fell. Jax’s eyebrows rose to his hairline and he climbed onto the couch to sit next to Kate.

“Aunt Kate, don’t you want to live with us anymore?”

“Well, your mom has been doing so great without me, I think I’ll only be a burden.”

Mandy frowned. “No, sweetie, never. It has always been the two of us against the world.”

“Yes. But I don’t think you need me to take care of you anymore. You’ve actually been doing much better on your own.”

Mandy bit her lip and picked at her fingernails. “I’ve been enjoying running things… But it doesn’t mean I don’t need you. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”

“I know.” Kate smiled. “I love you, too, Mandy. But I’ve always felt out of place in Cape Haute. And you fit much better here. I think I’m going to leave and start something of my own.”

“Really?”

Kate’s smile broadened. Now that the words were out, lightness filled her body. It felt right, like a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.