by P. L. Parker
"Look at this,” he commanded.
Annalisa took the painting, glancing down curiously. Gone was his likeness, replaced instead by a smiling Granny Jean, looking years younger and happy, the pain lines smoothed away. Annalisa stared, amazed.
"This isn't the painting I had!"
"It is,” he said softly. “It's also the portal. Through it, I listened as you grew up. I heard your dreams, and if I was very lucky, sometimes I saw you."
"That isn't possible!"
"It is possible. And now that you're really here, the portal has closed."
Granny's face jolted her to reality. How grateful she was that they had been blessed with even the few weeks together that they'd had! She wished she'd told Gran goodbye, or she loved her..
"Gran," she whispered, “I love you, and I miss you."
A huge lump grew in her throat. “Granny looks so happy and healthy."
He nodded. “She is happy, and the pain will soon be gone. She'll be free and with Edward. She wanted you to have this to remember her by."
"I didn't need a painting, she's in my heart,” Annalisa sobbed.
Reaching into her shirt front, she eased out the beautiful fan. “She gave me this. She said it was your wife's most treasured memento."
His mouth twisted in amusement. Leaning close, he nibbled her neck, his tongue tracing a hot line down her neck.
"It will be my wife's most treasured memento."
Annalisa tensed nervously. “Should you be doing that?"
"I've done so much more,” he blatantly admitted. “Or have you forgotten?"
"That was just a dream!” she exclaimed. “Wasn't it?"
"It was ... and it wasn't,” he added cryptically. “I didn't always play fair,” he admitted, his roguish grin totally unrepentant. “Sometimes the wait was more than I could bear."
Gathering up her few belongings, he guided her along the dark hallway into the tack room and out the back door. A beautiful bay gelding stood patiently, cropping grass, his tail flicking flies. Alec wrapped her carefully in a long wool coat slung across the saddle, then lifted her up, tucking the long tails of the coat snugly. When he was satisfied, he sprang up, reaching around to take the reins.
"Uh,” she gulped, slightly uneasy, “I've never ridden before."
"Don't worry,” his mouth moved against her hair. “I have."
With a slight nudge, the horse took off. Wind whipped through her hair as he raced across the moor. The ground flew beneath them and with each step, some of her pain eased. It was exhilarating and left her breathless with wonder. As they topped a small rise, the manor house appeared below. Annalisa gasped! The estate was so beautiful!
"This wasn't here before,” she said, turning slightly to see him.
"Jean told me it burned down sometime in the early 1900's.” He sounded so sad.
"What happened?"
She could feel him shrugging. “One of my less illustrious kin was a drunk and a wastrel. During one of his drunken fits, he set the manor house on fire. The then Earl couldn't save it."
"That's terrible,” she cried. “What an awful waste!"
Suddenly remembering something, she asked. “Was it one of your children?"
His laughter burst out. “No, none of our children! The progeny of a disgruntled cousin, left out of the Will I suspect."
The horse clattered into the courtyard and several grooms rushed forward to take the steed. Alec lifted her down, leading her to the huge front doors. Wonderingly, she glanced around. Granny's favorite saying was that it was a long worm that had no turning. What a silly saying! But, if this was in fact reality, the worm had finally turned for her!
Alec rested a hand on her shoulder, bending down to brush a light kiss across her mouth. “Welcome home, sweet Annalisa, welcome home."
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Chapter Eleven
Rose entered the parlor. It was long past lunchtime and, unless she wanted to eat alone, she'd better find out what was taking them so long. The only occupant of the room was Granny, a look of satisfaction resting on her tired old face.
"I thought Annalisa was here,” Rose commented. “Where is she?"
Granny sighed, her eyes focused on the painting above the fireplace. “She went home,” she stated, tears glinting in her watery old eyes.
"Home!” Rose exclaimed. “She went home? Just like that? Without saying goodbye?"
"There wasn't time so I told her I would tell you.” She continued to stare at the painting, her lips curved in a secret smile.
"I can't believe she would just leave!"
It didn't make sense. Rose knew Annalisa too well to believe she would just leave, especially when Jean was so ill. Not Annalisa!
"I wanted her to go,” Granny coughed. “It was time.” Her eyes returned to the painting, a cackle of glee burst forth, drawing Rose's attention to the likeness.
"Where did that come from?” she asked, stepping to the mantle. “What happened to the one of the gentleman?"
"Annalisa took it with her,” Gran confided, smiling broadly. “This is my new one. I just got it."
"From where?” Rose grumbled. “You haven't gone anywhere."
Rose took a closer look, her mouth falling open in surprise. Instead of Alec's likeness, the new one depicted a handsome Alec and a beautiful Annalisa, lovingly draped together and gazing into each other's eyes, dancing amidst the background of another time.
"Well, what do you know?"
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