assure you,” she added dryly, before joining in the laughter. Christina’s sense of humor was infectious. Rather than being upset, as most women would be, she was finding the humor in the situation.
56
In spite of everything, Kathryn found herself liking Christina. And that made her feel doubly guilty about what she and Marc had done last night.
“What was the book called?”
“Christina’s Tapestry. It’s actually quite a beautiful book. I cried near the end when I thought you were leaving.”
“Imagine that.” Shaking her head, Christina pinned Kathryn with her pale blue eyes. “What year do you come from? You said you thought we were from much different times.”
“If the book is correct, and it seems to be accurate so far, then we’re a little over one hundred years apart. It was 2133 when we left. September to be accurate.” Christina’s mouth was wide open and she closed it abruptly. “I don’t know why I’m so shocked. I mean the tapestry came into my life and brought me here. Why shouldn’t it go to other times? It’s just so…” She waved her hand around as if searching for the right word.
“Weird,” Kathryn offered.
Christina laughed. “Exactly.” She sobered, straightening the skirt on her long, fitted dress. “So you know that the tapestry will be back tomorrow night. You’ll have to decide if you’re staying or going.”
“I’m going.”
Christina’s eyes widened. “I thought that after last night…” she glanced at the tangle of bedclothes behind her.
Kathryn felt embarrassed to the tips of her toes. So Christina did know what had happened last night. “That was an aberration. I mean, I know that Marc is technically yours, even though he isn’t your husband.” God, she hadn’t even thought about that last night and the guilt was overwhelming her. As far as she was concerned, Marc was a free agent but that wasn’t quite how things worked here.
“No, Marc is not mine. Not anymore. I’m not sure he ever was,” she sighed. “He hasn’t been with me in over a year. He’s pulled away from us because he knows that I love Jarek.” Christina rose and began to pace. “I tried to embrace the customs of this world but it felt strange. I mean, I love Marc but not in the way I love Jarek.” Kathryn nodded, not quite knowing what to say.
Sadness emanated from Christina as she continued her restless pacing. “There is no need for you to feel bad about what happened between you and Marc. Our relationship is complicated, but it’s not sexual. Not anymore. Marc is a good friend, a brother-in-law.”
The other woman seemed so distressed that Kathryn reached out to her. “I understand. You can’t just throw off your own background and upbringing.” She wanted to do something to help but didn’t quite know what to do. She’d never had a female friend before. “Would you like some chocolate?” she offered. “I’ve got a half a bar and its kinda squashed but you can have it.” Now how lame was that.
57
“Chocolate.” The tone of Christina’s voice bordered on reverence as she sidled up alongside Kathryn. “You have chocolate?”
“Ah, yes.” Going over to her bag, she dug around inside but couldn’t find it.
Upending it once again, she dumped everything on the bed. The bar tumbled out along with everything else. A small leather-bound book fell out. Kathryn frowned. That hadn’t been there a few minutes ago. Picking it up, she gasped as she realized it was the journal she’d found in the attic. She glanced at Christina but the other woman was staring raptly at the candy bar.
“Help yourself.” Kathryn casually tucked the book under her purse, not quite sure why she felt the need to hide it but she did.
“I haven’t had chocolate in years.” Peeling back the wrapper, Christina sank down on the edge of the trunk took a delicate bite and moaned. “Oh God, this is so good.
Thank you.”
Kathryn laughed. Seemed that some things didn’t change
56
In spite of everything, Kathryn found herself liking Christina. And that made her feel doubly guilty about what she and Marc had done last night.
“What was the book called?”
“Christina’s Tapestry. It’s actually quite a beautiful book. I cried near the end when I thought you were leaving.”
“Imagine that.” Shaking her head, Christina pinned Kathryn with her pale blue eyes. “What year do you come from? You said you thought we were from much different times.”
“If the book is correct, and it seems to be accurate so far, then we’re a little over one hundred years apart. It was 2133 when we left. September to be accurate.” Christina’s mouth was wide open and she closed it abruptly. “I don’t know why I’m so shocked. I mean the tapestry came into my life and brought me here. Why shouldn’t it go to other times? It’s just so…” She waved her hand around as if searching for the right word.
“Weird,” Kathryn offered.
Christina laughed. “Exactly.” She sobered, straightening the skirt on her long, fitted dress. “So you know that the tapestry will be back tomorrow night. You’ll have to decide if you’re staying or going.”
“I’m going.”
Christina’s eyes widened. “I thought that after last night…” she glanced at the tangle of bedclothes behind her.
Kathryn felt embarrassed to the tips of her toes. So Christina did know what had happened last night. “That was an aberration. I mean, I know that Marc is technically yours, even though he isn’t your husband.” God, she hadn’t even thought about that last night and the guilt was overwhelming her. As far as she was concerned, Marc was a free agent but that wasn’t quite how things worked here.
“No, Marc is not mine. Not anymore. I’m not sure he ever was,” she sighed. “He hasn’t been with me in over a year. He’s pulled away from us because he knows that I love Jarek.” Christina rose and began to pace. “I tried to embrace the customs of this world but it felt strange. I mean, I love Marc but not in the way I love Jarek.” Kathryn nodded, not quite knowing what to say.
Sadness emanated from Christina as she continued her restless pacing. “There is no need for you to feel bad about what happened between you and Marc. Our relationship is complicated, but it’s not sexual. Not anymore. Marc is a good friend, a brother-in-law.”
The other woman seemed so distressed that Kathryn reached out to her. “I understand. You can’t just throw off your own background and upbringing.” She wanted to do something to help but didn’t quite know what to do. She’d never had a female friend before. “Would you like some chocolate?” she offered. “I’ve got a half a bar and its kinda squashed but you can have it.” Now how lame was that.
57
“Chocolate.” The tone of Christina’s voice bordered on reverence as she sidled up alongside Kathryn. “You have chocolate?”
“Ah, yes.” Going over to her bag, she dug around inside but couldn’t find it.
Upending it once again, she dumped everything on the bed. The bar tumbled out along with everything else. A small leather-bound book fell out. Kathryn frowned. That hadn’t been there a few minutes ago. Picking it up, she gasped as she realized it was the journal she’d found in the attic. She glanced at Christina but the other woman was staring raptly at the candy bar.
“Help yourself.” Kathryn casually tucked the book under her purse, not quite sure why she felt the need to hide it but she did.
“I haven’t had chocolate in years.” Peeling back the wrapper, Christina sank down on the edge of the trunk took a delicate bite and moaned. “Oh God, this is so good.
Thank you.”
Kathryn laughed. Seemed that some things didn’t change
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