Chapter 30

Two Scottish seasons down, Ivy mused as she rested her head on Edwards shoulder. I think summers my favorite.

Dont rush into that decision, he warned her. Not until the Harvest feast, at least.

Are you honestly telling me not to rush things? Ivy grinned up at him, her eyes twinkling. Remind me — how long was our engagement, again?

Thats an entirely different matter, Edward said with dignity.

Weeks? I think it was two weeks? Maybe three?

I knew you were the woman Id marry the moment I saw you fighting with that Kelpie in the Loch, so really it was at least few months.

Ivy laughed, unable to resist pressing a quick kiss to his cheek… which led her to his lips, which quickly distracted them both from the conversation. Eventually, though, she pulled away, grimacing reluctantly as she did. Come on, were going to miss the best race of the whole festival.

The two of them left their shared quarters — a big step up from the cramped guest room in which theyd spent so much of their early courtship. Theyd moved in shortly after their late spring wedding… a decision that had surprised and delighted their friends. By modern standards, Ivy knew she was rushing things. Theyd barely known each other for a couple of months… it seemed mad to rush headlong into marriage. But he was perfect for her — after everything theyd been through together, there was no denying that. Besides, the fact that supernatural Fae creatures had played a hand in their meeting had to count for something. The Sidhe knew what they were doing… and Maggies unexpected blessing of the wedding in the form of a gifted bottle of incredibly potent mead was more evidence that the supernatural world smiled on their union.

In the end, the Gilroys had stayed a few weeks after the dramatic confrontation with Mary. After everything that had been revealed, it was decided to leave some time for the dust to settle… and for the young family to recover from their ordeal. Ivy had been grateful to get some time with the couple now that theyd finally accepted who their son was. Both Anna and Brian proved to be excellent students, listening intently to everything she had to share with them about autism and neurodiversity, and even surprising her with a few of their own observations. Annas side of the family had more than a few stories about eccentric family members that had been handed down and shared for years… but their strange behavior made a lot more sense when considered in the light of what they now knew about neurodiversity.

The shadow over everything, of course, had been Mary Gilroy. Nobody was quite sure how to feel about what shed done… Ivy in particular wrestled with a lot of anger with the woman for what shed done, not only to Colin but also to her own lost son. But it was hard to be angry with someone who was so clearly broken. Mary confessed everything shed done to Laird Donal that very afternoon, declaring herself willing to accept any punishment he saw fit to give without argument. In the end, hed ruled that she be kept away from Colin and any other young children… and left it for her own Sept to decide how to handle the situation going forward.

And so the Gilroys had finally left in late Spring… and a few days later, Ivy and Edward had been married by none other than Father Caleb, who found the wedding a much more pleasant reason to visit the Keep. It was a simple, beautiful ceremony, followed by a raucous night of dancing and drinking… after which the happy couple spent at least a week in bed, celebrating their union and getting very little sleep.

And now it was late summer, and Scotland was even more beautiful than it had been when shed arrived. The Gilroys were back, staying at the Keep again for their annual summer sporting games. Needless to say, Mary Gilroy had not accompanied them. Ivy made a few discrete enquiries after the Clan had welcomed their guests and learned that Mary was remaining at the Gilroy Sept indefinitely. In the light of the circumstances, her full confession and complete repentance, theyd decided against punishing the woman for what shed done… but she wasnt allowed to be around children ever again.

How are you feeling about it? Edward asked her that night, clearly sensing that she was uneasy about the judgment.

Angry, she said with a shrug. But … I mean, it makes sense. Punishing her wont bring back her lost child, or undo what she did to Colin…

Colin is safe and well thanks to you, Edward told her, giving her shoulder a little shake.

I wish Id come back earlier, she said softly. If the Sidhe had brought me back an extra forty years or so, I might have been able to save Colins uncle, too.

You cant save everyone, Edward had reminded her. Then a flirtatious glint had come into his eyes. Besides, if youd come back to a different time, I wouldnt have had the chance to be your man.

And here they were… sitting in the courtyard of the Keep on a bright summers day, the warm sun beating down on their shoulders as they readied themselves for the main event. The Gilroys had arrived a few days earlier, and theyd be staying for another week at least… though Chieftain Brian had joked about making sure they didnt outstay their welcome this time. Shed been glad to see the big man was in good spirits, especially after everything that had happened with his mother. Fatherhood suited him — there was a touch more gray in his dark hair perhaps, a natural result of all the stress, but the difference between the man shed met in early Spring and the man standing here now was enormous.

Anna, too, had clearly taken well to motherhood after a difficult early start. Ivy had loved spending the last few days with her, hearing all about how well Colin was doing and how the strategies theyd talked about putting into place were going. Theyd been terrified that little Colin would be traumatized by what hed been through at the hands of his grandmother, but to their great relief, hed made a full recovery… and with a newly supportive family around him, he was thriving.

Look at him go! Ivy leaned over to elbow Nancy in the ribs, pointing out at the middle of the courtyard, where half a dozen children of various ages were solemnly lining up. This was the sporting event Ivy had most been looking forward to — affectionately called the Baby Race, it was a catch-all running race for any children of the Keep who werent yet big enough to compete in any of the other athletic events. There were no real rules — there was a rough starting place, as well as a finish line, but every child would be awarded a prize for participating no matter how long it took them to complete the race.

And Colin, to Ivys immense delight, was taking his place among the other children. He was the smallest one there, but hed been walking for a couple of months now, and though he was still a little unsteady on his feet, Anna and Brian had both been delighted that he wanted to participate in the race. As theyd anticipated, hed continued to exhibit autistic traits as hed gotten older… but armed with that knowledge, Anna and Brian had been able to support him every step of the way. Hed even started smiling and making short bursts of eye contact — Brian and Anna had been working tirelessly to find new ways to communicate with him that didnt make him uncomfortable. It was clear to Ivy that he was a happy, healthy child.

Cant believe hes walking already, Ivy murmured, sitting back in her seat. Nancy and Elena were exchanging knowing glances with each other, and Ivy frowned at them. What? What do those looks mean?

Nothing, nothing, Nancy said innocently. Its just sweet, how much you love Colin. Almost maternal, you know? I mean, obviously youre not his mom, but?—

She wants to be nosy, but Ive told her to be polite, Elena put in drily, cutting across Nancys hedging and winning a laugh from Ivy in the process. Youve been married for barely three months, so of course she wants to know when youll be having babies.

Elena! Nancy elbowed Elena hard in the ribs, but it didnt stop the woman grinning. Now whos being rude! You dont have to answer if you dont want to, she said quickly, turning back to Ivy. I know it annoyed me to no end when Malcolm and I first got married, everyone interrogating us about when we wanted kids?—

Oh, no, we dont mind the question, Ivy said, trying to hold back the grin that threatened to split her face wide open. She leaned against Edwards shoulder for a moment, and her husband smiled down at her, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before returning his attention to the race in the courtyard. In terms of kids, the timeline is… hmm. How would you put it, Edward?

Yesterday, if not sooner, he said cheerfully, his eyes not leaving the race.

Nancy squeaked with delight… then cleared her throat, clearly fighting to regain her composure.

Cool, cool, she said, failing utterly to seem casual. No, thats great, very cool. She gave up almost immediately. Oh my gosh, Ivy, I cant wait. Youre going to be such an incredible mother.

And youll be a good father too, Im sure, Edward, Elena said softly, her eyes twinkling as she interrupted Nancys irrepressible stream of questions.

Do you know whether you want a boy or a girl first? Or how many you want total? Names? Do you have a shortlist yet? This is too many questions, isnt it? Nancy took a deep breath, and Ivy laughed, pulling her into a sideways hug. Sorry. But Im excited. And glad that youre here, all things considered. I mean… She hesitated. Can I be grateful that the Sidhe brought you here without also being grateful for… why it had to happen?

I think so, Ivy said thoughtfully. Her eyes strayed across the courtyard again, to where little Colin was steadfastly making his way from the start line to the finish line — where both his parents were waiting, their faces alive with joy as they called his name. Id be lying if I said I didnt miss my old life sometimes, but… God, theres just so much here that Im happy about.

Are you talking about your husband, or the fact that youre developing a reputation as the local expert on autistic children?

Cant it be both? Edward asked, putting an arm around her shoulder and grinning at their friends.

It was true — after the story of what had happened with Colin had spread to the surrounding area, Ivy had heard from more than a few curious parents who wondered whether the eccentricities theyd noticed in their own children, and often put down to some kind of supernatural cause, might be due to a neurodiversity. It was a far cry from the kind of work she was used to doing back in her practice back home… but the calling was the same, at the end of the day, wasnt it? It all came down to helping people understand each other… and as she gazed across the courtyard to where Brian and Anna were joyfully celebrating Colins victory in the baby race, she knew that the work shed been put on the planet to do could take place here just as easily as it could back where shed come from.

Id say Im grateful, she said finally, feeling the warmth of Edwards arm around her shoulder and relaxing a little into his embrace. Not just for the Sidhe saving my life, but for all of it. Even the bad stuff.

Im grateful too, Edward said, pulling out of the embrace just enough to meet her eyes. I cant imagine a life without you, Ivy. And if I owe that life to the Sidhe… well, its a debt Ill never be able to repay.

And ignoring the good-natured teasing of their friends around them, Ivy leaned into her husbands embrace and claimed his lips in a long, tender kiss.

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