As the day went on, Myra became more and more silent. Her blank face stared at the fire or off into space. A pleasant smile surfaced when someone spoke directly to her, but it was forced. When she excused herself from the room, Liz waited a few minutes before following her with Tara and Amber close behind.
The three of them quietly walked into Myra’s room, where they found her curled up in a ball, weeping. Slowly they sat on the bed and each placed a hand on her to tell her they were there.
“I miss him, Lizzy.”
“I know,” she said wiping a tear from her eye.
“I’m sure he misses you, too.”
“Why does it hurt so much?”
“Loving someone is a powerful emotion. Losing that is just as strong.”
A sob broke free and Myra clasped her hand.
“When will this empty pain go away?”
Liz looked at Tara and Amber who both sat quietly. “I don’t know.”
Then Myra cried, cried until the tears dried up.
Only when she had fallen asleep did the sisters leave the room.
The hospital walls sported greeting cards and cheap garland. Someone tacked tinsel on the ceiling and half-eaten boxes of candy and cookies were everywhere. Todd and Jake arrived at the hospital in plain clothes. They were out of their jurisdiction, but that didn’t stop them from flashing a badge when they hit the wall of a nurse who wasn’t willing to point out where Gwen Adams was.
She was sleeping when they entered her room.
The only noise came from the roommate’s television.
Todd lifted the picture he had of Ms. Adams and compared it to the woman in the bed. Even asleep, she appeared younger. Odd, he thought most elderly people looked older without makeup. So this was the woman Myra feared with her life.
Suddenly, Ms. Adams eyes darted open and straight to his. Her instant scowl quickly changed to a knowing smile. “Officers,” she said in greeting.
Jake looked at his partner than to her. “How do you know we’re cops?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, with her eyes never looking away from Todd’s, she said, “Sit, please.”
“Where have you been, Ms. Adams?” Jake asked the minute they were comfortable.
“Well, we old people are quite forgetful at times.”
“You don’t remember where you’ve been for half a year?”
“Bits and pieces. I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.” Moaning, she extended her hand asking for her water. “Please?”
Her eyes shifted to Todd’s again. She’s creepy, Myra. I’ll give you that.
“I fell you see, that I remember. Then nothing for quite awhile. Clearly someone took care of me, since I am not hurt or deathly ill.”
“Are you saying you had some type of amnesia?”
Jake wrote something down. Todd knew he was comparing notes to Myra’s case.
“I suppose you could say that. I remember horses and people dressed in elaborate costumes, but again I may be remembering the Faire players. You do know I manage a Renaissance Faire?”
Todd bit his tongue. Yeah, she could be thinking of the Ren Faire, or she could have been sent back by Myra’s family. Either way she was someone he would have to watch. This old biddy was the reason Myra had to leave when she did. For that, he hated her.
Grainna stared into the eyes and mind of Todd Blakely. The stupid fool had no idea how easily his thoughts and words oozed from his head and into hers. He knew the MacCoinnich’s daughter and wished for her to return. As she peered deeper, he winced and glanced her way. His hand went to his head as if it ached. Then his thoughts shut off.
Grainna’s teeth ground together. Frustrated, she dug deeper, but to no avail. He knew much, this man who watched while the other questioned. Knew of her power and sought to discredit her.
She hated his type, full of himself and the power behind his badge. He looked down on her and wanted to dismiss her.
Look at me as if I’m nothing. Under the sheets, she twisted her fingers and chanted in her head.
“So...” Todd started talking, and then coughed on his words. “Do you remember...” He shook his head and coughed again. His hand went to his throat, and his eyes shot over to the woman in the bed. You question my power and brought this on yourself. She knew he struggled to breathe and tried her best not to smile.
Grainna drew her brows together. “Are you okay? Here take some water, young man,” she handed him her water.
She allowed one quick breath. Once he drank the water, she released her fingers and let her grin slip. His partner tossed him a concerned look, patted him on the back.
They asked a few more questions, which Grainna avoided. Todd’s eyes narrowed.
They stepped out of the room a few minutes later and talked by the door.
“What happened back there? Did you pick up smoking when I wasn’t looking?”
“No.”
“You sick?”
“No.” His voice held a slight tremor.
From inside the room, Grainna laughed.
“It’s always a man.” Lizzy sat across from Tara with her feet up on the table. “Can’t live with ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em.” “Was he good to her?”
“Yeah. He was. There aren’t many men who will take in a stranger like he did.”
“They would for sex.”
“I don’t think it was like that. Don’t get me wrong, I know they had sex, but I truly think Myra meant something to him. He would sit next to her and stroke her hair. What guy does that?”
“Not many.”
“I don’t think Todd really believed Myra was from this century. Jiminy Christmas, this place is something.” Liz tossed her hands to the air and looked around the walls of the Keep. Stone walls with tapestries the size of rooms. Knights in the courtyard below. Shit, she was having a hard time believing it, and Lizzy was sitting smack-dab in the middle of it.
“Or this?” Tara tossed her hand to a candle and lit its wick.
“I can’t get past that!” Her mouth dropped open.
“Do you really think I could learn?”
“Just keep practicing like I showed you. It will come. I couldn’t do it the first few times either.”
Getting back on the subject Tara asked, “So tell me more about Todd.”
“I told you, he’s a cop. Cute. Really cute, his hair is a little long, but after seeing all the men here I guess not so much. By the way, Duncan is to die for.”
Tara swatted her sister’s arm. “He’s mine.”