“He isn’t crazy about me.”

“What makes you think that?” Liz opened her purse and took out her cell phone, glanced at it then tossed it back in her purse.

“He hasn’t tried to kiss me since I told him I was a virgin.” Myra moved over slightly to give room for an elderly woman to sit.

Liz’s jaw dropped slightly.

“Don’t look so shocked. ‘Tis expected where I come from.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. Grainna needs a Druid virgin. Man, you and my sister. Are you positive Grainna is in your time?”

“’Tis the only thing that makes any sense. If she is in my time then my life would have been in danger if I stayed.”

“I’ve heard about running from your enemies, but this is a bit far, don’t you think?”

“True. But my coming wasn’t our choice. There are other forces that lead our lives.”

“You mean the Ancients.”

“Yes.”

Liz shrugged. “Well, I think life is what you make it. Both good and bad. I would have stayed and kicked some serious ass.”

Myra laughed. “I bet you could. I however, have never kicked anything.”

“So what are you going to do now? Lose your,”

she lowered her voice, “lose your innocence and go home? Or stay here?”

Myra pushed a long strand of hair over her shoulder, grateful the conversation had come back around to the future. “Best I do nothing at this point.

I have to believe I will know what to do when the time comes.”

“But you will go back, eventually?”

“Aye, I will.” Myra’s eyes leveled with hers.

Liz’s jaw clenched. “If I help you, I need you to promise me something.”

“If it’s in my power.”

“Take us with you. Simon and me.”

Myra felt a rush of air, uncertain of what to say.

“I don’t mean to stay, just a visit. I need to see that Tara is alive and happy with my own eyes.”

“I don’t know—”

“Please. Think about what you would want if you were in my place. I need to see her.”

“We don’t travel for our own personal wishes.”

“And whose rules are those?”

“The Ancients,” she said.

“Have you ever met them? These Ancients?”

“Of course not.”

“Then how do you know they don’t want me to go back with you?” Liz was reaching, and Myra sensed it, but she didn’t blame her. “Maybe it’s all part of some master plan.”

With no one to ask, no family to make the decision for her, Myra searched in her heart for the answers she needed.

She didn’t look far. She knew she would return with Lizzy and her son. There was no reason not to.

“All right. You may both come. But if my family feels you need to return immediately you must.”

“As long as I see Tara.”

“You will see her. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

They both stood and started walking the mall.

“I need to do a little Christmas shopping while we’re here. Simon has been bugging me about some new video game he wants.”

“What is a video game?”

Lizzy squeezed her eyes and gave a very long-winded answer to Myra’s question.

Myra asked about everything she saw. From the teenage boy with spiked purple hair, to the mechanical merry-go-round in the center of the mall.

They talked as if they had known each other for years instead of days.

“Have you spoken to Simon yet?”

They were walking out of the massive building into a sea of parked cars. “I’m going to sit him down tonight and explain what I can.”

“Do you want me to help?”

“No. I can manage. Simon’s a great kid. I don’t know how much of this he’ll believe. Hell, I’m having a hard time believing it myself.”

“I’ll stay one more night at Todd’s then.” Myra’s skin stood up when she thought of how that night would end. Would he even allow her to stay?

“If he gives you a hard time, call me. I’ll come and get you.”

Liz drove Myra to the antique dealer who needed her to sign a few papers for the sale of the candlesticks. As expected, there was a bidding war, and the antiques were sold for over half a million dollars.

Mr. Harrison was very accommodating, and if he questioned why the check for the sale was to be made out to Elizabeth McAllister, he didn’t let on.

He smiled. “If you have anything else you would like to sell, Miss MacCoinnich, please call on me again.”

“That I will, Mr. Harrison. ‘Tis been a pleasure doing business with you.”

He walked them both to the door where a security guard stood to escort them to their car. “Are you certain we haven’t met before, Miss MacCoinnich?”

“Positive.”

“And you, Miss McAllister? Have you been to us in the past?”

“Sorry. I’m not into antiques.”

“Ah well, my mistake. Thank you again, ladies.

And Merry Christmas.”

It wasn’t until they were back in the car that Liz explained exactly how much money half a million was. “So, it’s enough to buy the material I need to bring back with me and all the spices?” Myra fastened her seatbelt and sat back in her seat.

“You could buy out an entire Superstore with that kind of cash.”

“I will spend what I need and leave you the rest.

After I pay back Todd for all he has done.”

Lizzy laid into the horn when another driver cut her off. “I can’t accept that much money.”

“Of course you can. And will. You never know what you might need, family helps family.”

“But—”

“Stop. I won’t hear an argument. Your coin will do me little good in the past. Think of it this way. If any of us need something from you in the future, we will ask for your help without worry that you cannot afford it.”

“Fine. But I’m not spending it.”

“As long as you have it in case of an emergency,”

Myra said smiling. The right decisions were always the easy ones.

Myra walked into Todd’s home, as she had so many times in the last week. Only this time it felt different. After placing the key he had given her to lock up his home on the table, she took a deep breath and proceeded to the living room where Todd sat. Waiting.

His back was rigid. He didn’t move when she entered the room.