Page 90 of Only a Breath Away

“There were many a night that I dreamed of them.”

We opened the bunk house door and Zach dropped Ben into the top bunk, Archie climbed up into his top bunk, Magnus took a bottom bunk, and I lay down beside Isla. Zach said, “Light on or off?”

I said, “Off, and Zach, we need toothbrushes and stuff, can you add it to the list?”

“Absolutely.”

He turned off the light, throwing the room into darkness except for a nightlight-glow coming from the bathroom.

I curled on my side and looked at Magnus across the floor. I put my hand out, but it was four feet away, close, but not quite close enough. He reached out his hand and we entwined our fingers for a moment and then withdrew. “Feels familiar, like that horrible time in the past.”

“I ken.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t opt for one of the bedrooms.”

He said, “I dinna want tae pull m’king card. But I do regret leaving the kingdom afore I had a chance tae wander in yer gardens.”

I grinned. “There will be plenty of time for that. And I’m glad you did. I didnotwant to stress anyone out with changing rooms, making beds, I just want to sleep.”

He whispered, “Aye, we are home, we are on vacation in Maine, and the bairn hae needed us, our long lingerin’ meander through yer gardens will hae tae wait.”

I whispered, “A long lingering meander? How long, like really long, like longer than I can handle? And by lingering do you mean… likereallylingering, like excruciatingly long lingering, and… meander, oh how I love meanders. You’re being so sensible and humble and it’s actually kind of hot and...”

He laughed, “Och, ye hae turned the words long and lingering and meander intae foreplay.”

I whispered, “Maybe,if you’re lucky, we can find a place with a locking door in the morning for a bit of Good-Morn Master Magnus.”

Through the dark room, the comforting sound of his voice whispering, “A night in a bunk, under m’son as he snores, a Good-Morn Master Magnus awaiting me from m’wife, who I hae missed terribly, and then a bulgin’ waffles breakfast? I am the luckiest king in the world.” There was a bonking noise from the foot of his bed.

He chuckled. “The bed is verra short.”

I giggled, and then yawned and curled up around Isla and fell asleep.

* * *

The following morning Isla woke up, climbed on me, looked down, and said, “Mommy I am glad you here.”

“I’m glad I’m here too.”

She climbed off the bed and climbed up Archie’s ladder, “Archie!” She called to the other top bunk, “Ben! We have to wake up now, it’s morning.”

Archie groaned. “It’s early Isla.”

“If we don’t get up we will miss the loons and we have to see the loons. Beaty said it’s magical, the loons only laugh in this one place in the whole wide world.”

Archie and Ben climbed down their ladders. Archie said, “Morning Da, Mammy.”

“Good morning,” we said.

Ben and Archie went into the bathroom.

Isla said, “I go get Zoe and Beaty.” I glanced over at Magnus, his eyes twinkling.

I whispered, “They are almost all out…”

Finally the door clicked behind them, Magnus said, “I hae missed them terribly and I thought they would never leave.”

I jumped up from the bunk and accidentally bonked my head, “Ow! Holy moley, that hurt!” I rubbed the spot as I locked the bunkhouse door. I climbed over onto Magnus’s bed and sat astride him, hunched because of the low bunk above me.

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