The Highlander's Touch

Page 111

Lisa laughed, as she realized he was pointing at a blue-faced Mel Gibson, storming into battle in Braveheart.
“And Robert doona look like that!” he complained.
“Perhaps you should try writing a script yourself,” she teased.
“They’d never believe it. It is obvious your time has no idea what my time was really like.”
“Speaking of your time and my time, where—or should I say when—will we live, Circenn?”
Circenn pressed the Off button on the remote control like a pro, and turned to her. “Any place you wish, Lisa. We can spend six months in my time and six months here, or go week to week. I know you wish to be near your family. We could take them back too.”
Lisa’s eyes grew wide. “We could? We could take my mom and dad to your time?”
“How would you like to be married in a fourteenth-century ceremony with your mother and father in attendance? Your father may bequeath you to me, and I in turn will grant him a handsome manor, should your parents choose to retire there. Of course Robert, Duncan, and Galan will insist upon being present as well—I’m afraid it may turn into quite a spectacle.”
Lisa couldn’t stop smiling. “I would love that! A fairytale wedding.”
“Provided we are cautious not to change too many things, I see no problem arranging it. I’m beginning to understand what Adam meant when he said if one looks down the timeline, one can discern which things are irrevocable and should not be manipulated, and which things will make little difference.”
“Adam,” Lisa said hesitantly. She hadn’t forgotten for a moment that Circenn hadn’t answered her earlier question.
“Yes,” a voice said behind her, as Adam materialized in their suite. He grinned at Circenn. “So you finally got around to asking her to marry you. I was beginning to despair. Every time I tried to pop in, the two of you were …”
She spun around. “You!”
Adam grinned puckishly, turned into Eirren, then turned back into Adam. Lisa was speechless. But only for a moment.
She advanced on him. “You saw me in my bath!”
“What?” Circenn thundered.
“He visited me the whole time I was in your century,” she clarified.
Circenn glared at his father. “Did you?”
Adam shrugged, the cameo of innocence. “I was concerned you might not be treating her well enough and checked in from time to time. You should be grateful that I decided upon full disclosure—I had considered just telling her that Eirren had run off, when she got around to asking about him. But I’ve decided to try to be a new person henceforth, at least around you and Lisa.”
“Why do you put up with him?” Lisa said, shaking her head.
“Lisa, it’s all right,” Circenn said, moving swiftly to her side. “It’s not what you think.” He scowled at Adam. “Doona think I’ve forgotten you saw her in her bath. We will speak of it later, the three of us, and have the whole story out. But how did you come here by yourself? Has Aoibheal forgiven you?”
Adam preened, casting his silky dark hair over his shoulder. “Of course. I am once again all-powerful.”
“Why are you being nice to him?” Lisa snapped.
“Lass, he helped me do all that I’ve done.”
“He made you immortal!”
“And if he hadn’t, I never would have met you, but would have died over a thousand years before you were born. He helped save your mother and father. And … Adam is … my father.”
“Your father!” She gaped for a moment, as the information sunk in. Heavens, but there was obviously a great deal she still didn’t know about Circenn Brodie. But she was more than willing to learn.
Circenn guided her to a chair and sat her down, then the two men took turns filling in her gaps of knowledge regarding the man who would be her husband. And once she knew, it made perfect sense, and explained everything: his unusual powers, his resentment toward Adam, Adam’s unwillingness to let his son die.
A few moments of silence passed while she pondered all they’d told her, then she realized they were both watching her intently, and it seemed that they were waiting for something.
Adam moved to her side and reached in his pocket, and Lisa watched curiously, wondering what new thing they were going to spring on her next.
“You know now that I am half-fairy, Lisa,” Circenn said gently. “Can you accept that?”
Lisa stood on her tiptoes and kissed him frill on the lips. Yes, she assured him.