Boann, and Fionn are under constant surveillance by the fae council since they were granted permission to assist Brían’s clan. That’s why Boann said she couldn’t get involved. If she helped and the council found out, she’d be banished from our dimension. Fáelán, Conan and I are much too important to her to take that risk, and she’s important to us as well.”
“I get it, but Alpin doesn’t have the record of interference Boann has, does he? He doesn’t have a human family either. Maybe he’d be willing to risk a slap on the wrist if—”
“He does have a record of interference. He was involved in Fáelán’s rescue, and he’s the fae who wove the magic hiding Fionn’s valleys. I don’t believe he has a human family, but I can’t say that with any certainty. You can’t count on his help.” She sighed.
“I know what you’re going through, Meredith. I’ve been in those shoes. Here’s what you need to ask yourself: Is Daniel worth the risk? If you choose not to travel back in time, you can still help him cross into the light.”
Could she? He’d tried to cross numerous times, only to encounter a barrier, and he wanted to cross. “I don’t suppose Grayce has had any visions about my situation.”
“No. She would’ve contacted you immediately if she had”
“I know.” She bit her lip. “I guess I have a lot to think about.”
“That’s for sure,” Regan said. “Whatever you decide, you have my support. I love you, Mere.”
That did it. Meredith’s bit her lip harder to gain control over her roiling emotions. “I love you too. You have no idea how difficult it’s been for me now that you and Grayce are so far away.”
“Yes I do. Don’t you think it’s hard on us too? You, Mom, Dad, and the rest of our extended family are an ocean away. It really bothers me that Conan will hardly know his Auntie Meredith, or his only grandparents. This is not at all how I envisioned things when I thought about having a family. I wish all of you would move here.”
“Or, you and Fáelán could move here.”
“After what he’s suffered? I couldn’t ask that of him. I wouldn’t. You know his history, and you know what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He has all this knowledge about Ireland’s past, and he wants to be the one to uncover those ancient sites for the rest of the world.”
“Yeah, I know.” She sucked in a much-needed breath. “I should get going. I have a few errands to run before I head back to Garretsville.”
“All right. Call me as soon as you decide what to do.”
“I will.”
Meredith ended the call and tossed her phone into her backpack. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, she rested her forehead on her knuckles and closed her eyes. Her longing to help Daniel warred with the fear that something would go horribly wrong. Several moments passed with no clear winner before she snatched her phone from her pack again and called her twin. “Hey, Grayce,” Meredith rasped out the moment Grayce picked up.
“I was just calling you when my phone rang,” Grayce told her. “Even from Ireland I can feel your turmoil.”
“I’m … not happy, and it’s not all about my present dilemma. It’s … well, it’s everything.”
“I know.” Her twin’s sigh came through loud and clear. “I’ve known since the day Boann returned me to Regan and Fáelán’s house. You feel as if Regan and I have abandoned you.”
“Yes, and I’m not adjusting well at all.” Meredith let loose a mirthless laugh. “This is the first time I’ve said that out loud,” she squeaked as tears filled her eyes again.
“Listen, I know you want to start working toward your PhD. You could switch to medieval or world history and apply to Trinity College in Dublin.” Grayce’s voice held a note of enthusiasm. “Maybe you’d meet a nice Irishman who—”
“I’ve already met a nice Irishman, and he’s—”
“Dead.” Grayce snorted.
“Yep. Very. Has been for more than a century.” Meredith swallowed and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Anyway, if I did do my doctoral program in Ireland, I’d be abandoning Mom and Dad. How would they cope with having all three of us so far away?”
She and Grayce both went quiet for several seconds, no doubt hoping an easy solution might pop into their heads. That was what she hoped anyway, but nothing came to her.