Former room soon, as they’d be looking for their own place soon.
He led her to the last room on the left and opened the door. His mother had decorated the entire house, including this room. With a four-poster bed at its center and a large white marble fireplace, his room looked just about the same as it had when his mother left.
No, not left, disappeared. Was pulled back through time.
Was she here? Ian prayed so, but he was trying to mentally prepare himself for the worst.
“Go ahead and explore. I’m gonna grab some clothes.”
Walking into the closet, Ian unwrapped the plaid he still wore and undressed. He’d miss a lot of things about the past, but linen shirts weren’t one of them. Pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, Ian grabbed as much as he could carry. Sweats too in case jeans didn’t fit. They were all relatively the same size, but still.
“Màiri,” he called, needing some help carrying the shoes. “Can you—”
She was already there, behind him.
“Your home is beautiful,” she said, her color finally coming back to normal.
“You are beautiful,” he countered, praying she would never regret her decision to come with him. Having her here, in his room, was unlike any feeling in the world. He’d seen the look in her eye as she said goodbye to her father—he knew how much she’d given up to be here, but he vowed to make her as comfortable and happy as possible here in his time. “I . . .”
“Come, we can talk later. I am well.”
The look in her eyes, sad but understanding, told him she’d read his mind. Again. She knew he thought of her father. But she also knew he was desperate to find out about his own parents.
Without another word, they stepped back into the hall—which was when something occurred to Ian.
“If she came back . . .” He started running before he finished the thought. Just as he got past the staircase, toward his parents’ bedroom, shouts from the bottom of the stairs reached him.
He didn’t have to go to his parents’ room to look for clues. To see if maybe she or Dad had left anything there.
Before his mind even registered Grey’s words, Ian recognized the tone in which they’d been spoken. He dropped the clothes and then fell to his knees. His wife’s arms wrapped around him from above as Ian began to cry like he’d never done in his whole life.
Not when Mom disappeared.
Not when Dad went into the hospital.
Not even when he was reunited with his brothers.
His mother had come up the stairs, was on the floor with him. Ian wrapped his arms around her, tears soaking her shirt.
He was so overcome, he couldn’t talk. Couldn’t even make a sound.
“It’s okay, Ian. I’m here. Dad is awake.”
Over and over his mother said the words, his brother’s screams of joy at the bottom of the stairs joined now by the other McCaim brothers.
Ian didn’t care that he was a blubbering fool. When he was finally able to control himself for a second, he pulled away to look at his mother. And then he pulled Màiri into their embrace, apologizing for his inability to speak.
“You’ve nothing to apologize for, Ian.” Màiri finally stood, pulling them both up with her. His mother was here, alive. Dad was awake.
“Mom, this is my wife.”
How the hell had he gotten so damn lucky?
Epilogue
They could barelyfit in the room.
They’d been shoved out once by a well-meaning but no-nonsense nurse. After that, they’d tended to visit a few at a time, if only to give the staff a break. But they’d all shown up this time, and no one was budging. The nurse threw up her hands. “Fine, you can stay. But I need to listen to your dad’s heart.”
