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Then Willow’s voice echoed from the hallway. “I’ve got her!”
She came through the broken door with Imelda in tow. The two women were hugging each other and Imelda was crying.
Sunny could see Imelda’s eyes were bright and lively, unlike earlier, her posture growing stronger, as if she’d been freed from more than a physical burden, but a spiritual one. As Sunny watched, Imelda sought her out in the crowd and nodded her way, her eyes glistening with grateful tears. Sunny lifted her hand, acknowledging her.
Willow ran to Celeste’s side and hugged her.
Celeste patted her hand, smiling. “This matchmaker’s error has always been where she placed the love in her own life.”
Cullen did not let go his grip on Sunny.
When she met his gaze, he said two words. “Marry me.”
Sunny nodded at him, smiling. “Now that rude interruption has been dealt with...yes, Cullen. I happily accept your proposal.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cullen Thaine was content by her side.
Home is where the heart is, and that was in 2020, with Sunny.
He wasn’t completely free of his demons yet though. The shadows lingered at the edge of their world. One glance across the horizon was all it took to remind Cullen the Lord of the Dark Tides was still out there, waiting with hand out, expecting a delivery.
Many times a day he scanned the horizon, looking for that black vessel, that demon crew, just as each day when he awoke he sat bolt upright and checked he hadn’t been taken back in time, taken away from his lady love.
But while the threat was not close, he wanted to bind together with her, and thankfully she agreed. Together they made their way to the cliffs on midsummer’s morn, to make their commitment in the ancient way, hand fasting to one another in the pagan style. Celeste was to be their witness. She was the one to give them their bond. How could it be anyone else?
As the sun rose, the mist trailed their footsteps, blurring the horizon and masking the telltale signs indicating where they were in time. Cullen thought they could be anywhere, and it didn’t really matter, as long as they were together. As long as he was with Sunny.
It had taken a while to get used to being alive in Cornwall in the millennium, but he had. His old life began to wither away from him, like last year’s growth in the natural world. Home is where the heart is, and that was with Sunny—he could never go back, not without her.
She looked so beautiful, and he couldn’t get his fill of her. His mother’s favorite gemstones shone at her neck, a simple design of intertwined silver hearts set with small rubies. Sunny had picked it as her favorite, too, and that made him happy. Her hair was adorned with meadow flowers and her white muslin dress floated about her form so delicately, he thought she looked like an angel.
“My angel wench,” he whispered possessively.
“My lusty time-traveler.” She chuckled as she said it and cuddled up against his side, stroking his cotton shirt, for she’d insisted he wore the clothes he traveled through time in.
Heavens above, he loved her. This beautiful woman had come through time for him, to give him this life and her love, at home in the land he cherished. Surely no man had ever felt luckier than he did?
“Am I late?” Celeste called over to them as she and Willow climbed out of Willow’s bright yellow carriage.
“No,” Sunny answered.
“We’ve got all the time in the world,” Cullen added and kissed her forehead.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Celeste said as she walked over to where they stood on the cliffs. “I wore my favorite dress. It’s ancient, but I do love it.”
“It’s beautiful,” Sunny replied admiringly.
Cullen stared at the garment, a robe of white silk, many centuries old. Would they ever know just how long Celeste had been making merry with the hearts of Cornish folk? Her white-streaked flaxen hair was loose about her shoulders, her strange green eyes shining. A silver chain hung at her throat, adorned with a pearl and a piece of carved jet. She was clutching a red velvet cushion and a wicker basket in the other hand.
“Let me carry the basket,” Willow said, easing it from Celeste’s grip. “You don’t have to do everything.”
“I do. It’s my job to see this through,” Celeste responded.
“We remembered everything,” Willow said as she set down the basket, which contained a bottle of champagne, glasses, and a camera.
“Stop bickering, you two,” Sunny laughed. “You’re like an old married couple.”
