Page 89 of Treachery in the Highlands
"Almost there," he whispers, giving me a reassuring smile and an equally reassuring squeeze of my hand.
When we finally emerge from the underground, the air tastes sweeter.Joey leads me through quieter streets until we reach a vast expanse of green nestled amid the towering buildings.
"Central Park," he announces, pride evident in his voice."Eight hundred and forty-three acres of sanity in this madness.You saw a small part of the park earlier when we popped out into the modern world on Bow Bridge."
"I remember that.It was a lovely location."
"Let me show you more of the park."
Joey kisses my cheek, then begins to lead me onward.I feel my shoulders relax as we walk beneath ancient oaks and maples, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.The din of the city fades to a distant hum.
"I used to come here when everything got too much," Joey says, guiding me to a rocky outcropping overlooking a serene pond."It was the only place where I could breathe."Joey's voice grows softer, almost reverent, as he helps me onto the smooth stone."Sometimes I'd spend whole days just sitting here, watching people live their lives, imagining what it would be like to have a real home."
The sun shimmers on his dark hair, highlighting strands of amber I've never noticed before.His whisky brown eyes seem far away, lost in memories I cannot touch.
"Did ye ever find it?"I ask, "A real home, I mean."
Joey turns to me, his expression unguarded in a way I've rarely seen."'Til now?Not really."
I let those words settle between us, the weight of them making my heart ache and soar all at once.My fingers fidget with the small leather pouch of protection herbs my Great-Aunt Morna insisted I carry.
"Look there," he points to a couple rowing across the pond, their laughter drifting toward us on the breeze."That's what I always wanted.Not just someone to love, but someone who'd choose this crazy world with me."
I watch the couple for a moment, feeling a strange tightening in my chest."They look so happy."
"Yeah," Joey murmurs, his lips curling sweetly."They do look that way.It's beautiful, wouldn't you say?"
"Absolutely beautiful."
We sit in companionable silence, our hands linked, my cheek on his shoulder.The park sprawls out around us like a fragment of the Highlands, though tamer, more sculpted by human hands.Still, 'tis a relief after the chaos of the city streets.
"I never belonged anywhere," Joey continues, picking up a small stone and turning it over in his palm."Foster home to foster home, then the streets, then...well, you know the rest.The bad company I kept."
"The mafia, aye.Forget about that,mo chridhe.It's all in the past, literally."I nuzzle his cheek."Are there any other spots you'd like to show me?"
"Sure thing.But first, feast your eyes on this view."Joey leads me away from the rocks, his arm encircling my waist as we gaze across the park's expanse."This was my sanctuary when everything went sideways."
The tranquility stretches before us like a dream---families sprawled on blankets, children chasing squirrels, lovers walking hand in hand.'Tis hard to reconcile this peaceful haven with the chaos just beyond its borders.
"I can see why ye loved it here," I say, resting my head on his shoulder."Reminds me a wee bit of home---if ye squint hard enough and ignore all the strange contraptions."
Joey laughs, the sound vibrating against my side."Come on, let's keep moving.There's more I want to show you."
Joey and I follow winding paths past street performers who conjure music from instruments I've never seen.One lad creates gigantic bubbles that float through the air like transparent spirits, delighting children who chase after them with squeals of joy.
"Witchcraft," I whisper to Joey with a wink.
"Just soap and water," he replies with a wink of his own."Though I admit, some of the magic in your world makes more sense than the technology in mine."
He leads me deeper into the park, where the trees grow thicker and the paths less traveled.The late afternoon sun filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across Joey's face.I cannae resist studying his profile---the strong line of his jaw, the slight furrow between his brows when he's thinking, the way his eyes hold secrets I'm still discovering.
"This way," he says, pulling me gently off the main path.
We duck beneath low-hanging branches, following a barely visible trail.The overgrown path leads us to a secluded clearing encircled by ancient oak trees.A small, forgotten stone bench sits nestled against a moss-covered boulder.
"Not many people know about this spot," Joey says, brushing leaves from the bench before offering me a seat."Found it by accident when I was running from some guys who weren't too happy about the results of a card game."
"Ye cheated them, did ye?"I ask playfully.
