He made another manipulation, then quickly pushed it to the floor and stood and backed away.
We all waited.
He crept forward and nervously looked.
“Two, now just one more. I daena ken if twill get me boom-raging back home, but twill be better than bein’ without kith nor kin in a time ruled by an English king.” He scowled again and picked up the vessel, made a quick turn with his wrists, and rolled it back onto the floor. He nodded, looking down on it. “There tis done.”
I said, cheerfully, “And it didn’t grab you or start a storm.”
“Aye, twas verra civilized in how it behaved.”
He picked it up, tucking it into his sporran as he climbed the stairs.
We all went downthe hall to the kitchen. I poured some more coffee for myself and Cooper, we stood around the table, finishing up the conversation.
Torin pulled on his cloak and adjusted his sword belt, readying to go. “Once I am in Scotland, I will dig a hole in the ground and bury this blasted vessel until I can find Max and he can get it under control. I winna return here, and if I do… och nae, I will do m’best tae land elsewhere.”
Jen said, “I’m going to be kind of bummed, I want to hear how it goes. This place is boring without all your comings and goings. I’ve only got a few days left of spring break?—”
I said, “You could go out again with Mr Passable.”
“Maybe...” She turned to Cooper. “Speaking of dates, did you really cancel your big date with Lexi?”
I shook my head, trying to get her to shush.
She continued, frowning, “What happened, Coop, you were going to take her out fancy!”
Cooper said, “I don’t know, not in the mood, we’ll go some other time — why is everyone all up in my grill about it? It was just a dinner reservation at Falls Landing, come on.”
He narrowed his eyes, “Seriously, why so much grief?”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s no grief, we’re all cool. I was looking forward to it, but it’s nothing, right, Jen?”
“Yeah, nothing, and you should treat Lexi really nicely because she’s the nicest person in the world.”
Torin looked back and forth from all our faces.
Cooper said, completely missing the point, “I promise I’ll take her out to eat soon and we’ll invite you, too. You can bring Mr Passable, whoever that is. Is everyone happy?”
I said, “Of course, that sounds good. Let’s get back on topic, Torin is not going to come back.”
Torin chuckled. “Aye, after this day, if ye see me out on Mistress Lexi’s lands, just lock the door and I will leave as soon as I am able. Twill be, as it has ever been, a misadventure.” He smacked his hands on his knees. “Tis time for me tae go.”
“Wait! Stay there, let me get the shovel I mentioned! Sit down, Torin, one more thing.” I shoved my chair out and rushed away.
33
LEXI
2004 - THE KITCHEN
Ipulled on a pair of socks and my blue, flower-print, short rainboots, that matched my sundress in a way, and went out to the garden shed behind the house to find my folding shovel.
It took a moment, it was behind a stack of pots but then I returned to the kitchen.“Ta da! This, see, a shovel, it’s perfect. I want you to have it.”
I held it out.
He said, “What is it?”
