Page 65 of A Keeper of Time

“I’m just about done. I’ll come with ye.” Edna had a basketful of goodies she was replenishing for the inn. She followed Maggie down the personal care aisle where she picked up a pregnancy test. “Maggie! Are ye?”

“I think I am, but I want to be sure before I tell Dylan.”

“Oh, I’m so excited.” Edna practically dropped the basket as she threw her free arm around Maggie hugging and kissing her.

“Edna,” a man’s voice came from behind them.

“Dr. Ferguson!” Edna was beside herself. She’d forgotten he was in town. They were going to have to explain all the changes to him.

“There’s nae need to be so excited to see me,” he teased. “Is that a pregnancy test I see, Maggie?”

“It is,” Maggie said, glancing over at Edna.

“Edna, I was just coming to see ye. It’s time for me to go back home,” he said.

“Oh, Dr. Ferguson. I’ve got…”

“Why doona ye come with us down to the inn?” Maggie said, steering Edna towards the checkout counter. “We’ll tell him there,” she whispered to her aunt.

“Of course, that would make it easier, wouldn’t it?” Dr. Ferguson said. He waited for them by the door and then they all walked back to the inn together.

“Here we are,” Maggie said, opening the door to the inn.

“I’ve had a good stay this time. I saw all of me usual patients and took care of filling prescriptions, doing physicals and only had one emergency. Have ye told yer man yet?” he asked Maggie.

She put her finger to her lips. “I have no’.”

“I will no’ say a word. Doona worry. I’ll be sure to be back when yer due, so nae worries there.”

He was such a kind man. Edna felt lucky to have him as their doctor and she knew that the girls back at Breaghacraig would agree. He’d delivered all their babies and now he’d be delivering Maggie’s. Edna was quite sure she was pregnant. She’d had a feeling since just before they left to come back home.

“Dr. Ferguson, I must speak with ye about something. Ye see, I’ll nae longer be the one who sends ye back and forth across the bridge.”

“I see,” he said, glancing at Maggie. “How will I travel then?” He seemed a little worried, but continued smiling. “I must get back to Catherine. Ye ken I’ve waited me whole life to meet a woman like her. A woman I could love and who would love me. And, of course, I’m due to visit with the Mackenzies. I’m their doctor, as ye ken.”

“I’ll be the one handling the bridge from now on, Dr. Ferguson. I hope ye’ll be okay with that.”

“More than fine. For a minute there I thought ye were going to tell me I wouldn’t ever be able to time travel again.” He looked from Edna to Maggie and back again.

“I’m sorry. I did no’ mean to frighten ye. It’s a big change for all of us, but I want ye to ken that Maggie has been helping me for some time now and as she has, she’s been learning all the tricks of the trade so to speak.

“Then I’ll no’ worry. Maggie’s a verra capable young woman.”

“Dr. Ferguson! ’Tis good to see ye.” Angus came down the stairs to greet him. “Will ye be heading back home? Has Edna told ye the news?”

“Aye. Just now. What will ye do instead?” Dr. Ferguson put his bag down on the floor, not appearing in any great hurry.

“I’m to be on the Council of Witches in Edinburg.”

“Congratulations, I think. That’s a good thing, is it no’?”

“A verra good thing.” Angus waived some brochures in the air. “Edna and I are going on a vacation. We’ve no’ been on one before.”

“Well deserved, too.” He moved closer to Angus to see the brochures. “Have ye made a decision yet?”

“Edna, I think I’d like to go to Spain. What do ye think?” Angus pulled out one of the brochures and handed it to her.

“I think I can no’ wait.”