The mug Mary was rinsing slipped from her fingers and shattered in the sink. She ignored it to gape at Eva.

  Eva's throat constricted. "I will miss you, Mary."

  Tears filled Mary's eyes. "Then why go?"

  Eva pulled out a tissue from a nearby dispenser and handed it to Mary. She balled it into her fist rather than wipe her eyes.

  "Mary, you know what I do for women and children here, in this Time?"

  She sniffed, blinking back tears so she could carefully clean the broken stoneware out of the sink. "Yes, and you can help them even more once you marry Ofeig. He's rich!"

  "He is rich, I will give you that." Eva laughed. "And I will continue to help, here, or rather, Ofeig will set up a fund for you to donate to any organization that you see fit. A nice salary will be included in the amount, Mary... for you. If you wish to keep my work going."

  Mary rounded the breakfast bar and hugged Eva. She allowed herself to enjoy the moment, and then patted Mary's back and pulled away.

  "Is that a yes?"

  Mary gave her a watery smile. "It's a yes." She sniffed. "I will make sure that the women and children will get the help they need."

  Eva smiled at her. "I knew I could count on you. And whilst back in my time, Ofeig and I will continue with the work I did before coming here."

  Mary looked down, then met Eva's eyes. "I can't even imagine the things you described, Eva. I would never survive in a land as fierce and untamed as the Dark Ages."

  "Mary, you would be surprised at what you can do if you have to." Eva rubbed Mary's arm for reassurance. "I see strength in you. One day, you will see it in yourself as well."

  Mary flushed. "I hope your right, but I really hope I find out right here, in my own Time."

  They laughed together and Eva knew she would miss Mary very much.

  "There's more." Eva said, flopping down onto the couch again. "Mike will tell you all about it, but Ofeig is putting him in control of all his finances. Every profit Ofeig's company brings in, a percentage of that will be Mike's salary. I am not sure of the numbers, but I know it is substantial. "

  Mary dropped into a nearby wingback chair, once again she was gaping at Eva and the color in her face had drained.

  Eva continued, figuring it best to get it all out at once, so Mary would not have to worry about more shocks. "Ofeig has paid his taxes, HOA, and utility's on his penthouse for the next twenty years, and if you and Mike would like to live there, you are welcome to. If not, we just ask that you keep the apartment clean and stocked, because Ofeig and I both believe that there is every chance that one or more of his relatives might make the journey here, to this Time or a Time in the future, and they will need a place to stay and monetary resources, not to mention IDs, Social Security cards and such. Just a few of the things Ofeig is also speaking to Mike about now.

  Mary took a moment to collect herself. "If Ofeig leaves all his money here, how will you be able to help the women and children there?"

  Eva splayed her hands in front of her. "The coin from this Time has no value where we come from," she explained. "Gold, silver, weapons and jewels are what are used to trade within our Time. Ofeig has been buying what we will need to truly be of use to us in our Time. That is one reason he has left his pendant in the bank, we wish to be prepared for our journey back in Time, with plenty of coin so that we can survive without raiding."

  "I'm going to miss you so much," Mary cried, throwing her arms around Eva yet again, and this time Eva's own eyes stung and she embraced her back just as fiercely.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "How did it go with Mary?" Ofeig asked over a candlelit dinner at the very same restaurant they had left in anger what seemed like a lifetime ago.

  Eva smiled, a soft curve of lips. "She was pretty surprised," she said. "But in truth, it did not take much to convince her." She shook her head and the wheat colored locks she wore loose tonight swung and shimmered in the soft light. "Apparently, she had thought on more than one occasion that I was from another Time. She said I was incredibly naïve when we met." She frowned at him. "I am not sure how I feel about that."

  He laughed. Ofeig had never smiled, or laughed, so much in his entire adult life as he had since meeting Eva.

  Her agreeing to marry him had made him the happiest man, in this Time or any other. He wished Leif could be the one to marry them, but Eva had told him in no uncertain terms that she would not become his in truth until they were well and truly wed.

  He knew that she did not have family in their Time, and that she and Mary were as close as sisters. It had only been right that they marry here, where Eva could have those who love her present at her wedding.

  He would receive his family's blessing later.

  And besides that, he thought with an inward chuckle, the sooner they married, the sooner he would have her in his bed.

  All of her.

  Heat worked its way through his body in a lazy wave. "I want you, Eva."

  He was not one for speaking his heart, but looking into her wide, blue-gray eyes, imaging their bodies joined together in a dance as old as time, he could not have held in the words if his life had depended on it.

  She reached across the table to grasp his hand. "And I want you, Ofeig."

  He released her hand reluctantly and concentrated on his meal, trying to calm the passion running amuck through his body.

  "Have you seen Dagmar yet?" he asked.

  She shook her head. "No, and I am beginning to worry about her. Usually she and Kat come in at least once a week. The wedding is only a week away and I really want them to be there."

  "Me, too," he said. "And I wish to ask her about the pendant Leif's Kat retrieved from the safe deposit box." He blew out a breath. "I am beginning to lose track of just how many of those things exist."

  Eve drew in her brow. "Well, there is yours, and mine, which apparently belong to Leif and Kat." She used her fingers to tick off the pendants. "Then you said that another set was made to assist Davyn to go to Rosie's Time and retrieve her. And, according to Kat, there is one more. Or, would the one you took from her, before you came here, and the one in the safe deposit box now, count as the same pendant?"

  He knew he was gaping at her, but he really could not help it. His head started to hurt trying to determine whether Kat's pendant he had, and the one in the safe now, were indeed one and the same, or were they now, because of Eva and he slipping through the fabric of Time, become two separate pendants?

  "Is your head hurting also?" she asked with a grin.

  "Aye, my head is spinning."

  She patted his hand. "Mayhap we should not think so hard on it."

  He grinned at her. "I like the way you think, my lady warrior."

  *****

  "Order up!" Sam called from the kitchen, his spatula punctuating his words.

  Bob's was busy today and Eva had not had a chance to take a break since she arrived at six am. Ella, the swing shift waitresses, had called in sick right at three, so Eva was half way through a double shift. It was almost seven and she missed Ofeig so much it made her heart squeeze.

  She took a moment to gaze at the nearly three carat princess cut diamond engagement ring on her left ring finger as it winked in the diner's harsh florescent light, and she felt better.

  She smiled. Mary had actually suggested that she not wear it to work, in case someone thought to steal it from her. Eva harrumphed, and Mary thought she was naïve? Please!

  A would be thief would be lucky to come out with all his body parts intact if he were to try such a thing with her.

  She grabbed the order, two hungry men platters, expertly balanced onto each forearm, and a bottle of tabasco sauce securely between her thumb and forefinger and snaked her way through the tables to the booths.

  The barrel shaped man she set the first platter in front of gave her a smile and wink then invited her for drinks at the local bar, earning him the laughter of his three equally barrel shaped friends.

  She smiled good-naturedly and moved away, wondering what their reaction would be if they knew she could slay the lot of them without even breaking a sweat.

  She was going to miss this Time, and more conveniences than she had at first outlined to Ofeig.

  But she was looking forward to going home, to meeting Ofeig's family, especially Leif's wife Kat.

  After all, she had known her as a toddler.

  Eva could not help but marvel that when Kat was here, as a young adult, she did much the same work Eva has done, with almost the exact same resources available to them. Or rather, lack of resources. From what Ofeig had told her, she had even lived in a rundown building and worked in a two-bit diner like Eva.

  How odd was that?

  The object of her thoughts and her grandmother walked into the diner and Eva smiled at them and sat them at a booth that had just become free.

  She ruffled Kat's glossy black hair. "Hey, squirt. I missed you guys." Eva laughed and glanced at the clock. "I don't think I have ever seen you ladies here for dinner."

  Kat giggled and gave her a hug.

  Dagmar slid into the booth and smiled fondly at her granddaughter. "She came down with a nasty cold, I had to keep her indoors until she felt better." She winked at her granddaughter. "We took a cab this evening, as an adventure."

  Eva motioned for Kat to have a seat, then knelt to eye level with the little girl. "A cab? How exciting," Eva said. "I am glad you're feeling better, sweetie, but I sure did miss you."

  Kat caught sight of Eva's ring and her blue-green eyes became as wide as saucers. "Wow, I want one!" she said.

  Dagmar's gaze followed that of her granddaughters and both brows shot up. "Is that what I think it is, dear?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye.

  Eva felt herself flushing, even as her heart did a pleased little flip. "If you think it is an engagement ring, then yes, it is," she said. "Ofeig asked me to marry him, and I said yes."

  Dagmar smiled so wide, Eva almost had to shield her eyes from the brightness.

  Kat danced in place, wiggling her little bottom on the leather seat and pumping her arms into the air. "You're getting married," she chanted, clearly pleased by the news.

  "Yes, and there's more," Eva told her in a stage whisper, winking at Dagmar. "We want you and your Amma to come to the wedding, and we would like you to be our flower girl."

  Kat squealed, clapping her little hands together and her grandmother had to shush her.

  "What's a flower girl?" she asked, the smile never leaving her face.

  This time Eva and Dagmar laughed.

  "A flower girl is someone who walks up the aisle with a basket of fresh rose petals and drops them onto the floor so the bride, or I, can float over them."

  Kat frowned, clearly not understanding the purpose of such a thing then shrugged her shoulders and grinned. "Okay, I can do that." She turned to her grandmother. "Can I, Amma, can I be the flower girl? I want to see Eva float."

  The customers in the booth directly behind Dagmar and Kat chuckled and Eva winked at them.

  Out of the mouths of babes!

  Dagmar patted Kat's hand. "Of course you may, dear, as long as the wedding is not on a weekday when you're at school."

  Kat turned stricken eyes to Eva.

  "Saturday morning," she was quick to assure the child. "This Saturday, as a matter of fact."

  The relief in the little girls face was instant and complete.

  "That's just..." she thought for a moment, "this many more days." She held up three chubby fingers.

  Dagmar nodded. "Yes, only three days." She slanted a look at Eva, making her fidget on her heels.

  Eva stood from her crouching position and pushed her hands into the pocket of her apron. "Um, it is rather sudden, but we have known one another for about five years, or, at least, known of one another."

  Dagmar nodded her silver head. "I see, dear."

  And the look in her wise old eyes made Eva wonder exactly what she could see.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ofeig scanned the full diner until he found Eva placing platters of food onto a customer's table. His protective instincts went into overdrive when he noticed the weariness bracketing her mouth and the dark smudges under her eyes.

  It was almost nine and Ofeig knew that she had started her shift at six this morn. He glared at Sam as he shouted out that another order was ready.

  She had not noticed him as yet, and he made his way to an empty stool at the counter.

  Sam stuck his balding head out of the window between the kitchen and dining room. "Eva, I said order up!"

  Ofeig stood and strode behind the workstation until he faced Sam.

  Sam's face turned an angry red. "Hey, you can't be back here."

  Ofeig easily took the waving spatula from him and leaned close, until his nose almost touched Sam's.

  "Why is my fiancé the only waitress working tonight?' he asked, his voice calm and controlled despite the fact that he wanted to shout at the man.

  "You're fiancé is my waitress and she's the only one here because the two other girls have the flu. Now get out from behind that counter before I call the cops."

  Ofeig reached through the opening and grasped Sam by his sweaty collar. The urge to smash his face was strong, but he resisted it with all he was worth.

  For some reason Eva had a fondness for this overbearing fool and he did not wish to upset her.

  A gentle hand on his shoulder calmed him instantly.

  "Sam," Eva said conversantly, "this is Ofeig, my fiancé. Ofeig, this is Sam, my boss."

  She patted his shoulder now. "You might want to let Sam get back to the oven. Customers get cranky when their food is burnt."

  Ofeig released him with only the smallest of shoves. "If you don't have another waitress to come in within the next half hour, you will have to close your diner for the night because Eva is off duty."

  Sam's mouth dropped to his greasy tee shirt and Eva's brows rose almost to her hairline.

  She chuckled. "I love a man who takes control."

  She gave his cheek a quick kiss and went back to her customers.

  Sam glared at her back, then after flipping the patties on his grill, he grabbed the phone and began dialing numbers from a list that was tacked up on the wall next to it.

  Satisfied, Ofeig returned to his seat, flushing as some jokes and approving comments came from some of the other customers.

  Ofeig sipped a cup of coffee he had poured himself and within twenty-five minuets Eva's replacement rushed in the door, making the bells jingle.

  It was Nancy, a cute little red head who had a way of looking at him like he was on the menu and she was buying.

  "Have you been here all day by yourself?" she asked Eva.

  "Everyone is sick." Eva said.

  Sam poked his head out and glared at them. "This isn't a reunion!" he shouted. "Nancy, get your apron on and get to work. Eva, your fiancé was so all fire anxious to get you out of here, so get!"

  Eva and Nancy rolled their eyes.

  "Have a good night." Eva said, shrugging into her threadbare jacket.

  Ofeig frowned as he put his hand to the small of her back and guided her out into the chilly night. "Don't you have a heavier coat than this one?"

  She glanced at him. "Ofeig, it hardly gets cold enough here to warrant a coat at all. I only wear one so people will stop asking me why I am not freezing."

  "I suppose you're right," he murmured, opening the back door to the limo for her.

  She slid in and wiggled her bottom against the seat. "Although, there is definitely something to be said about heated seats!"

  He laughed and slammed her door, opening the other door a moment later and winding his long legs into the car.

  "To Eva's," he instructed his driver then raised the tinted privacy window between the front and backseats.

  Eva ran her hand over the butter soft leather and shook her head. "You are so going to miss this," she teased.

  He thought about protesting, then grinned. "Aye, I suppose I shall. My brothers were only in the future a short time each, yet to this day they still talk about the modern wonders."

  She faced him, their knees touching. "So, you really don't know how much time will have passed when we return?"

  "Nay," he answered. "It seems that Time has no rhyme nor reason when it comes to its passage. When Leif came, a whole year had passed in his Time before he and Kat returned. Yet to him, only a week had gone by. Same basic thing with Davyn, he had only been gone a short time to him, yet Rosie had been left behind in our time for much longer than she was happy about."

  "Odd."

  He nodded and laced his fingers with hers, thumbing the stone on her ring finger. "Can you imagine Mary being worried that someone could take this from you?" he asked.

  They both broke into gales of laughter.

  "I thought for certain that you would have speech with me for demanding Sam call in another waitress," he said.

  She pursed her lips. "Ordinarily I would have taken offense at your show of dominance, but frankly, tonight I'm tired and was glad for the rescue." She leaned into him, placing her palm against his chest. With her lips just a tantalizing breath away from his she whispered, "Just don't get into the habit of it."

  He laughed, a surprised burst of air, then he claimed her lips.

  Crackling air from the intercom had them pull apart, a moment later the driver announced that they had arrived at Eva's.

 

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