tenderness that permeated her every sense. He couldn ‘t believe she remembered. He had nearly abandoned hope, deciding it would be enough to be a peripheral part of her life. Content to be near her, he had resigned himself. And from nowhere, this! His heart was close to exploding with the unexpected rapture of it.
―Caitriona.‖ Carrick gently lifted his lips from hers.―Do ye truly recall? Everything?‖
― Yes, Carrick,‖ she answered, tears glittering in her eyes.―I am so sorry about the way I treated you...‖
―No apologies, mo cridhe. ‖ He touched her cheek.―‗Tis God‘s own mystery, this life. But I am relieved and joyful ye remember. I have missed ye more than I can explain.‖
―And I, you.‖ Cat laid her head on his chest. She suddenly couldn‘t get close enough to him.―I remembered every single thing when you danced the Fling. I remember helping you choreograph those steps. I remember dancing it with you. It all came back!‖
―Truly?‖ He pushed her away a little to look at her.―You devised most of that dance. I performed it for the first time...‖
―When your cousin hosted Prince Charlie at the castle, just before Culloden,‖ Cat finished for him. ―Yes, I remember it. And I remember your mother, Molly, and your brother, Ian. While you were dancing, it was if they were right there in the room with us.‖
―They loved ye, Cat, nearly as much as I. They, too, were devastated by yer death,‖ Carrick reflected, instantly somber.―They are all gone now, I s‘pose.‖
Suddenly sad, Cat dropped her hands from Carrick‘s shoulders.―I‘m so sorry. Of course, they would ne gone now. I suppose we are going to have to tell you everything that has happened to Scotland since Culloden.‖
―Aye, ye must,‖ Carrick agreed.―Although yer grandda did speak some of it to me. There will be time for that.‖ Trying to cheer them both, he said, ―For the now, let‘s take joy in our reunion and share our happiness, shall we?‖
―There you are, bad Cat!‖ Olivia teased as she joined them from the ballroom, followed closely by Hamish.―You missed my Seann Triubhas...‖ Olivia broke off as Hamish put his hand on her arm to stop her.
―Caitriona,‖ Hamish began.―What is it, lass? You seem...‖
Cat smiled through her tears, a smile that lit the night.―Oh yes, grandda,‖ she beamed. She inserted herself under Carrick‘s arm and reached a hand to her grandfather, who took it and squeezed with affection. ―I remembered! Everything. Well, nearly everything. There are some big holes in my memory. But enough to know I was, indeed, Lady Jenny MacDonell. I remembered when Carrick was dancing the Fling!‖
Olivia‘s eyes widened in stunned acclimation. ―You remember being Jenny? Oh, my God! I never knew the Fling could have such an effect!‖ she laughed happily.―Is this real?‖
―Of course it is,‖ Hamish replied, tightening his hold on Cat‘s hand.―I knew ye would recall in time,‖ Hamish assured her.―Such a miracle this is!‖ Extending the other hand to Carrick with a warm, knowing expression. ―Congratulations to ye, Carrick.‖ He shook his hand.―Welcome to the family.‖
―Thank ye, sir.‖ Carrick accepted the welcome.―I am most honored and verra happy to be part of such a fine clan.‖
‗About time, too,‖ Olivia exclaimed.―Everyone could see it but you, Cat. Oh hell.‖ She sighed and went to her sister, hugging her tightly. ―I am so thrilled! This is so great, I can hardly believe it! Welcome, brother Carrick! So when‘s the wedding?‖ Olivia blurted, leaving the question hanging between three other startled souls.
Silence reigned among the four as Carrick reached into his sporran and retrieved something, tightly hiding it in his hand.
―Olivia,‖ Cat broke the silence.―That is not necessary.‖
―Aye, Cat.‖ Carrick turned her to face him.―I‘m afraid yer wee sister is correct. We are no married in yer time.‖
―But, Carrick…‖ Cat
―Caitriona.‖ Carrick gently lifted his lips from hers.―Do ye truly recall? Everything?‖
― Yes, Carrick,‖ she answered, tears glittering in her eyes.―I am so sorry about the way I treated you...‖
―No apologies, mo cridhe. ‖ He touched her cheek.―‗Tis God‘s own mystery, this life. But I am relieved and joyful ye remember. I have missed ye more than I can explain.‖
―And I, you.‖ Cat laid her head on his chest. She suddenly couldn‘t get close enough to him.―I remembered every single thing when you danced the Fling. I remember helping you choreograph those steps. I remember dancing it with you. It all came back!‖
―Truly?‖ He pushed her away a little to look at her.―You devised most of that dance. I performed it for the first time...‖
―When your cousin hosted Prince Charlie at the castle, just before Culloden,‖ Cat finished for him. ―Yes, I remember it. And I remember your mother, Molly, and your brother, Ian. While you were dancing, it was if they were right there in the room with us.‖
―They loved ye, Cat, nearly as much as I. They, too, were devastated by yer death,‖ Carrick reflected, instantly somber.―They are all gone now, I s‘pose.‖
Suddenly sad, Cat dropped her hands from Carrick‘s shoulders.―I‘m so sorry. Of course, they would ne gone now. I suppose we are going to have to tell you everything that has happened to Scotland since Culloden.‖
―Aye, ye must,‖ Carrick agreed.―Although yer grandda did speak some of it to me. There will be time for that.‖ Trying to cheer them both, he said, ―For the now, let‘s take joy in our reunion and share our happiness, shall we?‖
―There you are, bad Cat!‖ Olivia teased as she joined them from the ballroom, followed closely by Hamish.―You missed my Seann Triubhas...‖ Olivia broke off as Hamish put his hand on her arm to stop her.
―Caitriona,‖ Hamish began.―What is it, lass? You seem...‖
Cat smiled through her tears, a smile that lit the night.―Oh yes, grandda,‖ she beamed. She inserted herself under Carrick‘s arm and reached a hand to her grandfather, who took it and squeezed with affection. ―I remembered! Everything. Well, nearly everything. There are some big holes in my memory. But enough to know I was, indeed, Lady Jenny MacDonell. I remembered when Carrick was dancing the Fling!‖
Olivia‘s eyes widened in stunned acclimation. ―You remember being Jenny? Oh, my God! I never knew the Fling could have such an effect!‖ she laughed happily.―Is this real?‖
―Of course it is,‖ Hamish replied, tightening his hold on Cat‘s hand.―I knew ye would recall in time,‖ Hamish assured her.―Such a miracle this is!‖ Extending the other hand to Carrick with a warm, knowing expression. ―Congratulations to ye, Carrick.‖ He shook his hand.―Welcome to the family.‖
―Thank ye, sir.‖ Carrick accepted the welcome.―I am most honored and verra happy to be part of such a fine clan.‖
‗About time, too,‖ Olivia exclaimed.―Everyone could see it but you, Cat. Oh hell.‖ She sighed and went to her sister, hugging her tightly. ―I am so thrilled! This is so great, I can hardly believe it! Welcome, brother Carrick! So when‘s the wedding?‖ Olivia blurted, leaving the question hanging between three other startled souls.
Silence reigned among the four as Carrick reached into his sporran and retrieved something, tightly hiding it in his hand.
―Olivia,‖ Cat broke the silence.―That is not necessary.‖
―Aye, Cat.‖ Carrick turned her to face him.―I‘m afraid yer wee sister is correct. We are no married in yer time.‖
―But, Carrick…‖ Cat
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