Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

S tress flowed through her, the thought of running out of time, of Aiden being lost in time, making Mary tense and even more snappish than usual.

Several days had passed as Mary and Aiden, along with the book club members had searched for the location of the Veil and more information about how to send Aiden home. Mary shivered, pulling her jacket tight around her as she trudged through the sand beside Aiden.

Their flashlights threw narrow beams across the sand. November's chill bit at her cheeks, and the wind carried the sharp scent of saltwater. Each step heavier, the weight of the moment pressing on her chest.

Waves crashed against the shore as they walked side by side. The past few weeks passed in a blur. And now here she was, traipsing along the beach at midnight with a man who claimed to be from the 18th century, gathering ingredients for a magical ritual.

If someone had told her a month ago that this would be her life, she would have laughed in their face and gone back to reading her book.

But she wasn't laughing now.

Aiden walked ahead, his stride purposeful as he scanned the shoreline. The light from her flashlight caught his profile, highlighting the strong line of his jaw and the determined set of his shoulders. Mary's heart clenched. In eight short days, he would be gone forever. Whether back to his own time or lost forever within the tides of time, he'd be beyond her reach.

"This is it," Aiden said, breaking the silence. He knelt in the sand near where the storm had spit him out, letting seawater flow into an old glass bottle Mary had found in the attic. "The gathering of the seas," he murmured, his accent thick with emotion.

Mary nodded, kneeling beside him to take the bottle and then handing him the glass jar. "One ingredient down," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "Now the sand."

When he finished scooping the sand into the jar, he offered her his hand. Mary took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. His hand was warm and calloused, and she found herself reluctant to let go. When she did, the night air seemed even colder as the wind carried a sorrowful tune to them.

As they walked, she looked at the note she'd made in her phone and counted down the items they still needed for the ritual, hoping they were interpreting them correctly based on ramblings in the old journal.

The silver coin she'd found in the back of the John Muir book would represent the Lunar Key. The Tidal Lock, they'd agreed, seemed to be a piece of sea glass. Aiden's cutlass, as it was a link to his own time, could represent the Temporal Anchor. And that left the Cosmic Bridge, which after much discussion with the book club members, was deemed to be an antique mirror from Agatha's home that had belonged to her great great grandmother who'd lost her love to the sea.

Mary's steps faltered as she remembered Aiden's choice for the Heart's True North element. He'd selected a picture of her. The memory of that moment, just before they left for the beach, flooded her senses.

"Mary, lass," Aiden said, his voice low and husky. "I've something to show ye."

She'd turned to find him holding a small photograph. Her own face smiled back at her, a candid shot taken during one of their walks on the beach.

"Where did you get that?" she'd asked, her breath catching.

Aiden's eyes, blue as the ocean he'd sailed, met hers. "Yer mum aided me," he'd said, his accent thickening.

"She took this from yer strange device, then conjured it onto paper for me. ‘Tis a poor likeness of ye, lass, but it serves to remind me of what I canna hold."

He paused, running a calloused thumb over the image. "This... you are my Heart's True North."

"Aiden, I ? —"

"You have been my anchor in this strange new world," he'd continued, his Scottish brogue thickening with emotion. "No matter where—or when—I end up, you'll always be the star I set my course by."

Unshed tears turned everything into an impressionist painting. "You ridiculous, wonderful pirate," she'd whispered, reaching out for him.

Now, standing on the beach, the weight of those words settled over them both. They had everything they needed to send Aiden back to his own time … well, except for the location of the Veil, but they were working on it.

Mary's heart constricted at the thought of parting forever. Aiden's romantic declaration echoing in her mind, a bittersweet reminder of what they stood to lose.

Fighting back the sudden sting of tears, she swallowed hard. "We should get back," she said, her voice rough. "It's late, and we have a lot to prepare."

They trudged back toward town, their silence weighted by the ticking clock neither could stop. Each step felt like it drew them closer to the edge of something final, something neither of them was ready to face.

As they walked, she thought about the legend and the warning. They had all the elements now. The ritual was possible. Only eight days, and then Aiden would be gone, back to his own time, and his old life. It was what they'd been working towards, what they needed to do to keep him from being trapped in time. Though they still hadn't found the treasure.

A quick glance at his profile had her thinking about every moment they'd shared over the past few weeks. His wonder at modern technology, stories of his life at sea, the way he'd charmed her parents and the entire town during the Pirate Jamboree. How he made her laugh, feeling alive in a way she hadn't in years, and most of all, the way he accepted her unconditionally, all of her, even her grumpy bits.

The thought of losing all that, of losing him, made her heart ache. But what was the alternative? Aiden wasn't just a man out of time; he was from a world where she didn't belong. No matter how much her heart screamed otherwise, he had a place in history, a path that didn't include her. She could no more hold on to him than she could grasp the sand slipping through her fingers.

If they didn't perform the ritual, he'd be trapped somewhere in time, an endless purgatory.

As they approached the bookstore, she found herself wishing they could just keep walking. Keep moving forward, leaving behind all the complications and impossibilities, all the pain that was surely coming. But they couldn't. They had a ritual to prepare for, a journey through time to orchestrate. No matter how much it might hurt. And underneath it all, a current of fear. Fear of the ritual, of what might happen if it went wrong. Fear of saying goodbye, of losing Aiden forever. Fear of the emptiness she knew would follow his departure.

Tomorrow, she would face everything with clear eyes and a steady heart. She would do what needed to be done, no matter how much it hurt. Because that was who she was, and because Aiden deserved no less.

But tonight, just for tonight, she would allow herself to dream of what might have been. Of a future where time and fate weren't working against them. Of a love that could defy the centuries.

Seven days.

As Mary made her way downstairs to greet Morgan, who was happy to fill in for the morning, she found Aiden already up and about, a determined set to his shoulders.

"Morning, lass," he greeted her, his voice warm despite the tension in his eyes. "A fellow I met during the jamboree needs a bit of aid with his ship."

Mary blinked, surprised. "His ship?"

A hint of excitement crept into his voice. "Aye, it's a replica of an 18th-century sloop. Captain Smith, he calls himself. His crew left after the festival, and he's having trouble with a few of the repairs needing done before he can set sail for home."

That was good. It would keep his mind off the time counting down.

"You take the golf cart and I'll take the bike. Since you put the new basket on the back, there's plenty of room for the orchids. I'm going to pick up the plants." She tossed him the keys as she left.

A while later, after stopping by the harbor to see how Aiden was coming along, Mary pulled up to her parents' house, the familiar sight of her mother's meticulously tended garden greeting her. For a moment, she simply stood there looking out at the water, inhaling the scents coming from the greenhouse. Her mom stepped out, a potted pineapple cradled in her arms.

"There you are, sweetie," Diana called out, her smile warm and knowing. "Come on in. I've got the orchids ready for you."

It was hot and humid inside the greenhouse. The oranges and grapefruit would be ready soon, and her mouth watered at the thought of the delicious citrus. There on the table were three orchids. One white, one purple, and one speckled.

"Thanks, Mom. I don't even know if it will work, so I really appreciate you sacrificing them."

Diana set the pineapple down on a nearby table and pulled her into a tight hug. "Of course, honey. Anything for you... and Aiden."

At the mention of his name, her throat closed up. She pulled back, avoiding her mother's gaze. "Mom, I?—"

"Let's sit for a moment," her mom said gently, guiding her out into the garden where a bench faced the water. The bushes around the perimeter of the yard helped to block the wind. As they settled in, her mom took her hand.

"I've noticed a change in you these past few weeks."

Mary glanced up, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Diana's eyes twinkled. "Oh, honey. You've always been my serious, bookish girl. And I love that about you. But since Aiden arrived... well, I've seen a spark in you that I haven't seen in years. Maybe ever."

"Mom, it's not... I mean, we're not..." The right words wouldn't come.

"You're in love," Diana said simply. "Both of you. It's as plain as day to anyone with eyes."

It was true. No use denying it, at least not to her mom. The truth of the words resonated deeply within her.

"It doesn't matter," she whispered, voice cracking. "He has to go back. We don't have a choice."

Dressed in one of her long flowing dresses with a red cardigan over the top of it, her mom's silver hair glinted in the sunlight.

"There's always a choice. And love... real love is worth fighting for. It's worth taking risks for."

"But what if it's not enough? What if we try and fail? What if he gets trapped somewhere in time, forever and ever?"

She rubbed her hands up and down her black leggings, glad she'd thrown on a thick cream-colored sweater. "I'd never forgive myself."

"What if you succeed?" her mom countered. "What if you find a way to be together? Honey, I've watched you these past weeks. You've come alive in a way I've never seen before. Don't give up on that without a fight."

Her mom tucked a strand of Mary's loose hair behind her ear.

"Do not feel guilty. No matter what happens. Never feel guilty over love."

For a moment, she simply sat there, listening to the garden, the birds in the trees, letting her mother's words sink in. Could they really find a way? Was it worth the risk?

"Your father called," her mom said, changing the subject. "He and Mr. Patterson are out diving again today. They're determined to find that treasure for you. Mr. Patterson is sure it can help Aiden."

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "They're going to get themselves in trouble one of these days."

Once the orchids were securely belted in the basket, her mom hugged her tight. "Remember, sweetie. Love is always worth the risk."

The light turned green, and she turned right towards home. As she locked the bike in the rack outside Read Between the Tides, she spotted Mr. Johnson hurrying towards her, an excited gleam in his eye.

"I'm so glad I caught you," he called out. "I found something I think might help."

"What is it?" She shaded her eyes as she waited for him.

He held out a weathered piece of paper, covered in faded handwriting. "It's an old sailor's song," he explained.

"About time and missing ships. I think... I think it might be the Chant of Anchoring we've been looking for."

Mary's heart raced as she took the paper, scanning the words. It did indeed seem to fit the description of what they needed for the ritual. She looked up at Mr. Johnson, a mix of gratitude and renewed hope in her eyes.

"Thank you," she said earnestly. "This could be exactly what we need."

As he beamed with pride, a small flicker of hope ignited in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work after all.

As Mary settled into the apartment above the bookstore that evening, she heard the heavy tread of Aiden's boots on the stairs. He appeared in the doorway, covered in sawdust and smelling of sweat, tar, sea air, and... she sniffed. Something dead. Ick.

"Ye wouldn't believe the day I've had, lass," he said, dropping three pizza boxes on the counter. "That old ship's been givin' us more trouble than a kraken in a bathtub."

"I'm glad you picked up dinner." Mary wrinkled her nose. "But you've brought the entire ship's smell home with you. Go shower, you reek."

Unfazed, he grinned. "Aye, aye, captain. Don't be eatin' all the pizza while I'm gone."

As the sound of running water filled the apartment, Mary's phone buzzed with an incoming call. Lily's smiling face lit up the screen.

"Hey," she answered, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice.

"Oh my gosh, I have so much to tell you!" Lily's excitement was palpable even through the phone. "Alex took me to this amazing restaurant in Beaufort, and then we went on this moonlit boat tour, and?—"

As Lily gushed about her romantic getaway, a familiar tightness spread through her chest. She was happy for her friend, truly, but she couldn't shake the nagging fear that had been growing since Lily started dating Alex.

"That sounds amazing," Mary said when her friend paused for breath. "I'm so happy you're having a good time."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. "Is everything okay? You sound... off."

Mary sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm fine, just tired. It's been a long day."

"Are you sure? Is it about Aiden?" Lily's voice softened with concern.

"No, it's not... well, not entirely." Mary hesitated, then decided to voice the fear that had been gnawing at her. "You're not... thinking of moving to the mainland, are you?"

"What? Where is this coming from?"

"It's just... you seem so happy with Alex, and he's always traveling for his work, and I thought maybe..."

"Oh, sweetie." Lily's voice was gentle. "I'm not going anywhere. Ocracoke is my home. You're my best friend. No guy, no matter how great, is going to change that. Anyway, he thinks he's going to get a grant for a project here on the island, so he'd be here for a year at least, hopefully longer."

Relief washed over her, but it was quickly followed by a wave of guilt. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm being so paranoid. You should go with him. See the world."

"Hey, it's okay. I get it. With everything going on, I'd be the same way." Then she laughed. "I think Aiden is a good influence on you with the whole ‘see the world' thing. Who knows, maybe you two will travel the world?"

Mary nodded, even though Lily couldn't see her. "One thing at a time," she laughed.

"Speaking of Mr. Dashing, how are things going? Any luck with... you know, the whole time travel thing?"

Mary filled Lily in on their progress, the ritual preparations, and the looming deadline.

"Wow," Lily breathed when Mary finished. "That's... intense. How are you holding up?"

"Honestly? I don't know," Mary admitted. "Part of me wants to just enjoy the time we have left, but another part is terrified of getting any closer, knowing he has to leave."

"Oh, honey," Lily said sympathetically. "I wish I was there to give you a hug right now."

"Me too," Mary said, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. "When are you coming back?"

"We'll be back in a few days. How about I come over for dinner when we're back? We can open a bottle of wine and you can tell me everything."

"That sounds perfect," Mary said, managing a small smile.

After they hung up, she sat for a long moment, staring out the window at the darkening sky. She felt a little better after talking to her best friend. With a sigh, she stood up and headed to the kitchen to set out plates for dinner.

She lifted the pizza boxes, but something slipped from beneath them, fluttering to the floor like a moth beating against a light. Mary bent to retrieve it, expecting a coupon from the shop, but when she unfolded the crumpled paper, her blood ran cold. Her hand shook as she read the hastily scrawled words.

I have what you've been looking for. Meet me at the hidden beach at midnight. Come alone. -Jake