“What?”
“I don’t want to say. I don’t want to put thoughts in your head that maybe shouldn’t be there.”
“You’re not going to tell me?” Tina was confused. “Do you know who he is?”
“Not really. I’m probably just…well, let’s just say, I’m not Edna.”
“Whoever it is you’re thinking of is someone you don’t care for, isn’t it?”
“Edna wouldn’t match you to him.” She muttered, looking down at the floor. “Don’t worry. I’m sure whoever he is, he’ll be everything you ever dreamed of.”
“As if my curiosity wasn’t piqued before…If you change your mind and decide you want to tell me who you think it is, I’m all ears,” Tina said as she rocked a happier Elena back and forth in her arms.
“You’re really good with her,” Ashley said, obviously changing the subject.
“Thanks,” Tina replied. “I feel so bad for her. She has no Mom and Donal seems stunned to be left alone with her. Her whole life changed today and now she is surrounded by strangers. She must be so confused.”
Elena contentedly sucked on her fingers, her eyelids heavy with sleep. Tina sighed. She loved her little niece and nephew and she’d love Elle’s baby as well, but as much as she enjoyed her role as Auntie Tina, she wanted someone to call her Mom. Hearing little Elena call her mama touched her heart in a way that brought tears to her eyes. She’d quickly blinked them away, of course. She didn’t want the people she was meeting for the first time to think her an emotional mess. At home on the ranch, she was as tough as nails. No one, but no one, messed with her and she had a tendency to take that same attitude into her dating life. She had pretty high standards and a guy didn’t get a second chance with her if he fell below them. Edna had her work cut out for her if she thought it would be easy to match Tina with just anyone. He was going to have to be pretty close to perfection if this was going to work.
Chapter 5
“If there’s anything you need while you’re here, just ask.” Ashley said.
“You’re so sweet. I can’t wait to meet the other ladies from my time.”
“Tonight, at dinner. They’ll be excited to meet you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me who Edna has in mind for me?” Tina ventured. She’d always hated surprises. As a child she’d badgered her mother and father to tell her what gifts she was getting for Christmas and her birthday. When they refused, she’d sneak into their bedroom and snoop until she found what she was looking for. So not knowing who this man was, would drive her crazy and she’d probably drive Ashley crazy trying to find out. “Or do you really not know who it is?”
“I really don’t know. One thing’s for sure, there are a lot of single men here. The barracks are full of them. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. If I know Edna, she picked the perfect man for you and you’ll know it when you meet him.”
She knew Ashley’s reassuring smile was meant to put her at ease, but she was worried she’s made a mistake. “I hope I did the right thing. I agreed to it on a whim. Elle is so happy with Hamish and I haven’t had a lot of luck in the dating department, so when Edna suggested time travel, I have to admit it didn’t take too much convincing on her part to get me here.”
“I was surprised to find myself in the sixteenth century,” Ashley laughed, “but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I know you have at least one child, right?” Tina asked.
“I have two. A boy and a girl.”
“I want a family. I want my children to grow up with Elle’s. You know, be around the same age.” The clock was ticking. Her brother’s kids were already too old to be playmates for any children Tina might have someday. If she didn’t have a baby shortly after Elle, that dream was going to go down the drain.
“I know what you mean. It’s great that Jenna has a little one now. It’s so much fun to watch them playing together. I know they’ll be as close as Jenna and I are. We’re best friends, she has always been the person I could depend on to make me laugh or have my back. I could never have imagined we would get to be sisters, but we love it.”
“Do you worry about your children growing up in this time? I’d be so worried about them getting sick.” Tina couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to live without doctors and hospitals nearby.
“Edna is only a shake of my snow globe away,” Ashley said, brushing her hair back behind her shoulders.
“Snow globe?” What on earth could she be talking about?
“Yeah, she gave me one for Christmas because I was worried about my baby. I was having some postpartum anxiety.”
“I think I would, too.” Tina chewed on her lower lip, feeling anxious at the thought of it.
“Edna told me if I ever needed help, or ifanyonehere ever needed help, I could call to her through the snow globe. And so far it works like a charm.” Ashley tipped her head and threw her hands up on either side of her head with a shrug. “Go figure.”
“Good to know,” Tina said. Her puzzled expression drew a giggle from Ashley.
“Let’s go for a walk. I’ve shown you around the castle, so let’s go outside to the courtyard,” Ashley suggested. She grabbed a plaid and wrapped it around Tina and Elena, creating a makeshift baby carrier. “There, she’ll be nice and snug.” She stood back, admiring her work.