The Archivist

by Christy Sloat

  “Okay.”

  “Can we talk once a week? Can I have another chance at being your mom?”

  I nodded and set down my tea. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  When we hugged I felt like I was hugging my mom and not the cold woman that she was the past several years. I had already lost my dad, so losing her had killed a part of me. Even as tough as I had acted when it happened, it did kill me. I liked to hide my feelings, but I decided, since meeting and falling for Eoin, that I wouldn’t do that anymore. There was no need to hide any longer.

  Twenty-Five

  Eoin and I left my mother’s and headed for the airport. As much as I hated to fly, I had to be strong for Eoin. He had never even seen an airplane before. As we drove closer to it, Eoin grabbed my hand and yanked, getting my attention.

  “That? We’re going on that?” He pointed to a large plane landing on the tarmac. I nodded and took his fingers in mine.

  “We’ve been over this and over this. You will be fine, Eoin. We can have some beer once we’re up in the air if you like, to calm your nerves.”

  He looked at me and nodded. “But we aren’t of age yet. Are we in this time?” The last part he whispered. He was getting used to laws and rules and always said, “There are too many rules to follow.” While I agreed, I knew there were reasons for them.

  “In Scotland the drinking age is 18, so we’re okay.”

  “Ah, good, ‘cause I need a drink. Ye know, to calm my nerves.”

  We both laughed, hiding our nerves and our driver pulled up in front of the airport. We got out and got our bags from the back. Placing mine on the sidewalk, I told him, “Stick with me, Eoin and this should go smoothly.” Whenever we entered busy places Eoin tended to get lost or confused. This was air travel with a man from a time long ago. I bought illegal IDs for him and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. The man who sold them to me assured me that it would be fine, but he wasn’t the one about to show them to the ticket agent. Nerves raged through me, but I remained calm on the outside.

  “Hello,” she said. “Do you have your boarding pass and IDs?”

  We both handed them to her, in unison and smiled. I began praying she didn’t find anything odd. Eoin gripped my hand and I did the same. I knew we were both anxious and would be fine once we got passed security.

  “Okay, everything looks good. Enjoy your trip!” Thanking her, I took the tickets and IDs before she changed her mind. Security was next. No matter where I traveled I always got nervous going through security. Perhaps it was the roughness of the way they talked to me or handled my bags, but they were never nice.

  “Oh this part,” Eoin said, biting his lip.

  “Just do as I do and you’ll be all right.”

  I walked up and put my carry on onto the belt and removed my shoes. Eoin copied my moves and walked barefoot behind me. He looked at me and didn’t look away. His nervousness was apparent, and that was never good in this situation.

  “You to the left,” the guard told Eoin, staring at his kilt and shaking his head. I swallowed nervously as Eoin went to the left of the line. He had to be wearing his kilt today, of all days. I couldn’t tell him what to wear and what not to wear, but the security guard looked at him strangely.

  “What’s under that?” he asked, pointing to his kilt.

  Eoin smiled. “I get asked that a lot. But if ye like, I can show ye?”

  The guard didn’t laugh instead he said, “That’s okay. You can come this way with me.”

  “Ma’am!” I looked up to see an impatient female guard waiting for me to walk through the metal detector. I did what she said and hoped Eoin was behaving himself. He tended to make jokes that people didn’t get. One, because they weren’t Scottish and two because they weren’t from the middle ages.

  I grabbed my stuff from off the belt and put my shoes on quickly. I found Eoin talking with the security guard, as he patted him down. He was telling him about Scotland and how bonnie it was. The guy didn’t care, but Eoin kept talking on and on. Finally, the guard made Eoin walk through the body scanner. Freaked out didn’t describe the horror on his face as he put his hands up and the machine whirled around him.

  “Okay, you can go,” the guard told him. “And a word to the wise, don’t wear a kilt to the airport if you don’t wish to be questioned, ‘kay?”

  Eoin nodded and took his things. We had made it and were ready to embark on our final destination together.

  As we boarded the plane I couldn’t help but wonder what life in Scotland would be like with him. We had spent every waking moment learning about one another, and I wondered if it was enough to keep him loving me. As we sat down I asked him the question that had been bugging me all day.

  “What if you regret your decision? What happens?”

  His eyes went big and his excited smile faltered. “Regret you? How could that be?”

  “No, I’m serious. Living together, alone, in a foreign country could put a strain on any relationship. With us, it’s still fresh and new. And I’m worried that it will hurt us, moving in together and well… it’s a big step.”

  He took my hand in his. “Do ye not want to move with me? If not, well we can go back to your home for a while. I can get a job and we can spend more time there.”

  I shook my head. That wasn’t what I wanted, at all. I had already told him that. But just the fact that he was so willing to do what I wanted made me feel secure. I should have felt fine about this.

  “I want to be in Scotland, with you. I do. I am just worried. I’m scared Eoin. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Bending his head closer to mine he said, “I understand now. You’re afraid of the very thing that keeps me up at night. I watch you as you sleep and wonder if the book will suck me back in if I close my eyes. I worry that you’ll tire of me. But nothing, at all, could drive me back. I chose you Savannah. You and your time. I don’t want to go home, because my home is where you live and whatever time you reside.”

  Epilogue

  I watched from the bed as Eoin dressed for the day. He put his shirt on first, then his kilt, and finally the tartan across his chest. It was a sight that I’d never tire of. His smile was broad and bright. He was happy. I was happy. Living in Scotland for the past year had been amazing. Granted it was an adjustment on both our parts. Shocking, too. Eoin had seen the major difference that had taken over what he thought Scotland was. His home was gone and in its place was a Scotland that I could fit in, but he had to learn to love. The hills, moors, and beauty of his home hadn’t changed, but we had to travel to see those parts. We settled in a small town that was calm enough for Eoin to adjust, and also had enough that would keep me used to what I had known in life. Like a big library, a school, and a few quiet pubs. My dream of working in an archive had to be put on hold until I found the right schooling for it. But until then I enjoyed my job in the local library. I was near books, like I wanted to be, and still able to finish school. The college was nice and so were the students. Making friends with my classmates allowed me to see so many things about Scotland, and this town.

  It had taken me twenty years to actually be able to say that I was indeed happy; all my life. My birthday had been spent here in Scotland and with Eoin beside me. But there wasn’t a day that went by where I regretted my decision. I had left it up to Eoin, and he helped me make my choice as well.

  “Must you go?” I asked as he grabbed his things. “Don’t you want to snuggle up in bed with me by the fireplace?”

  Pulling aside the blanket I revealed myself to him, to entice him to come back to bed and fall asleep with me.

  He came over to me and sat on the edge of the bed. “Lass, all I want to do is stay here in this bed with ya. But I cannot. I must go and you know that. It’s a serious matter and they’re counting on me.”

  I rolled my ey
es jokingly. “Oh sure it is. But laying here with me in bed is a serious matter as well!”

  He growled and pulled me into his arms, lifting me from the bed. “You’re making this hard for me, Savannah. I cannot resist your beauty, but the men, they count on me.”

  He placed me back on the bed and covered me up. “I’ll see you there?”

  I nodded and planted my face into my pillow. “After my nap.”

  “Nap? It’s ten o’clock woman.”

  I grumbled and he left. I hated when he did that. Tired was not the correct word for what I was. Staying up late to study for finals and traveling after was making me exhausted. Jessa said that I was doing too much. She was right. I shouldn’t be preserving during finals but I was getting so close to finding answers on my latest historical study.

  I traveled last night, after a full night of studying, and got all that I needed. Eoin pulled me back in time and we celebrated with a bottle of champagne and chocolates as I readied the book for sealing. It would be sent to the Historical Society of Libraries tomorrow. Getting up, I pulled on my robe and watched as Eoin got into his car. He had learned so much so fast. It was crazy that he had only been here for a year. It wasn’t always this easy. Some days were a struggle. He would mourn the friends and family he lost; especially around the holidays. For Christmas, we flew home and spent it with Jessa, who also flew in, and my mother. It made it easier when Eoin had people around him; which explained why he stayed at Malcolm’s castle so long after telling Ainsley he had died. He didn’t like being alone.

  So when we got home from that trip, I made it my mission to get him a job. We found a tour guide position that was perfect for him. He spent the days going over the history of a time he lived through to visitors from all over. Living that history made him the perfect tour guide. And some days, like today, he was part of the town’s historical celebration. He was playing the part of the Scottish Highlander for a reenactment ceremony. People from all over would attend and that made him nervous, so I did my best to support him.

  I dressed in a new plaid dress that Eoin thought would match his father’s tartan, which he wore today. Little did anyone know, Eoin’s costume was not costume at all? It was all authentic and only Eoin and I knew that information.

  I still hated dresses, but for Eoin, I would wear anything; funny how we change for our significant other. After curling my hair and throwing on a little lipstick, I was out the door.

  Our town was quaint and small enough that walking down the cobblestone paths to the park where the ceremony was being held, was easy for me. Besides, it wasn’t raining today; yet. Scotland rained so much that everywhere I went I brought an umbrella. Getting used to the wet weather wasn’t hard, just another adjustment.

  I could hear the cheering of the crowd as I crossed the bridge over the river. The people of our town got excited when festivals occurred and I could see why. They were proud of their heritage and history. Today though was different. They were celebrating a man who had saved many lives in the 14th century, Sir Malcolm Walsh. And though I had only met him a few times, posing as a servant, I thought he was a genuine man who would do anything for his people. Unfortunately, due to the tumultuous times he was thrown into hiding, and he wasn’t the best father to Eoin. But even Eoin would say his father was brave for leading the armies against the British. They fought many battles that prevented more death from spreading across Scotland.

  I could see Eoin now as I entered into the fray. The crowd roared as he rode in on his black stallion. He held up the Scottish flag, portraying none other than his father. When they asked him to take the role, he battled with the decision.

  “I am not sure I can be him in front of all of those people,” he had said.

  “Eoin,” I told him. “There is no one who could bring honor to your father’s memory better than you. Can you imagine anyone else doing the role?”

  With that he shook his head and his mind was made up. Seeing him now as he rode bareback on this beautiful horse, gave me chills.

  He rode around screaming, “For Scotland, we fight! For Scotland we are brave!”

  In that moment I saw his father for the first time. There were many times I had searched for Sir Malcolm in his face, but when he was yelling and screaming for his country, I saw it. We all cheered and it felt for a moment like we were back in the middle ages with the real Malcolm.

  “Aye, he’s got the blood all right,” a lady said next to me. “You can tell he’s a Walsh. I bet he brings his ancestors great honor.”

  I nodded as tears of pride welled in my eyes. I had changed Eoin’s fate by bringing him here, but I didn’t change a thing for Sir Malcolm. The English never saw how Malcolm had actually died but they reported that they had killed him with the help of a Scottish man by the name of Finn. Finn was an outcast and hated all throughout Scotland, harsh yes, but he shouldn’t have stolen from me, and he did go against Sir Malcolm by doing so.

  There were rumors that they lied and that Malcolm lived peacefully avoiding English patrol altogether. I wished that were how it really did play out. I wondered if Ainsley ever told anyone the truth, but with the rumors that were spread this far into history I could only guess at yes.

  Seeing Eoin ride on that horse, I didn’t care what history reported. We didn’t hurt history even though we did change it.

  After he went on to finish his speech and his ride across the park, Eoin came up to me on the horse.

  “What a beautiful lass ye are. Fancy a ride?” He held out his arm and I took it as he pulled me in front of him. I shrieked not expecting him to so easily place me on the stallion.

  “Wow, you are strong,” I teased. “What did you say your name was?”

  He laughed and nestled his nose into my hair, “My name is Eoin Walsh, but you can call me yours. What’s yer name, lass?”

  “You can call me whatever you want.”

  “How about bhean?” I looked down as Eoin presented me with a freshly picked thistle. Tied to it a ribbon. I took the flower, not remembering what bhean meant. I played with the ribbon and as it hit the sun, it shined brightly. It wasn’t alone, it held a diamond ring.

  “Eoin, what?”

  “Wife. Bhean means wife. Will you?”

  Shocked and completely surprised, I said, “What?”

  I knew full well what he was asking me but I couldn’t think straight. Was this really happening to me, to us? Were we ready for such a step in our relationship?

  “Lass, I love you. This ye know. I know we are but young, but there is no one but you. I want you forever and I know you want me forever, too. Do me the honor and marry me?”

  I turned around, hating that I couldn’t see his face. For a moment I paused, trying to imagine a life without Eoin in it. We had been through so much together and we came out of it alive and in love. We had one another, moved across time, and across the world together.

  I nodded and kissed him as hard as I could. When I pulled away my lips were swollen and tingly.

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes, it’s a yes. Of course I’ll marry you.” We were ready for this step.

  We rode up the hill to overlook the town that was now our home. I was happy and still shocked when Eoin got off his horse and pulled me into his arms.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and he worked the ring free from the ribbon.

  “Here,” he said, pulling my left hand free. He placed the ring on and it fit snugly. “We are now one.”

  “Well, not until the wedding, officially. Besides, don’t you feel like we’ve been one since the day you gave me that first thistle? Like that peace offering was the thing that bonded us?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I suppose that’s true. I never looked at it like that. But that flower was what brought us together.”

  “And a flower is what sealed
our fate. Forever.”

  Eoin looked at his watch and cursed lightly. “Lass, you’re going to be late for work. And we must get that book sent off, do we not?”

  He was right. I had my shift at the library. With Eoin as my guide now, I was always on time for work, and traveling. And I was always safe. I enjoyed my job, but nothing was coming between this moment.

  “I think I can call off work and we can celebrate tonight instead. Besides, I would much rather be with you instead of all those amazing tomes. There is something so much hotter about a Scotsman who proposes to you. We are going to enjoy celebrating this momentous occasion.”

  He nodded. “Aye, I agree. But you’re giving up your books for me then, are you?”

  I laughed. “I didn’t say that. Don’t go crazy. Just for tonight. We have plans for a wedding to discuss and phone calls, too. Jessa is going to scream so loud.”

  I laughed and Eoin nodded. “I’ll stay clear of the phone when ye tell her the news.”

  The first drop of rain hit my nose and Eoin searched for something to cover me. I had left my umbrella on the ground when he rode up to me. Oh well. The rain came and it poured on us there on that hill. As it drenched us we were safe in one another’s arms. This country could throw whatever it wanted at us, nothing would dampen our news or tear us apart. Not even the duty that I had to live up to as a Librarian.

  I was thankful for my gift for different reasons now. I used to love the fact that it allowed me to travel through the most incredible times in history, and still did, but I was thankful to Harold Lockhart for writing the formula for a much different reason now. Even though I broke all the rules, I was thankful because without my gift, I wouldn’t have Eoin. And I wouldn’t have found my true self. That might be the most important thing. Getting lost in time was the best thing that ever happened to me. Sometimes you need to become lost in order to be found.