It felt like they hugged for hours. It was so, so good to be back in her friend’s life again. Back in San Francisco, she’d have killed even for a hint about what had happened to Audrina — to know if she was dead or alive, if she’d been kidnapped or just decided to leave of her own account. If she was happy, and safe, and looked after. To know that she was happier than she’d ever been, with a pair of beautiful baby twins to call her own and a handsome, kind husband to care for her — that was more than Cora had ever dreamed for her friend.

And on top of all that, she’d been able to be there for the birth, just like she’d always promised. It was what she’d always wanted — for her skillset, for the thing she was best at in the world to be of service to her loved ones in their time of need. And that wish had been granted. As she finally released Audrina from her embrace, smiling, she uttered a silent, but fervent prayer of gratitude to God for his mysterious, incredible hand in bringing this reunion about.

Colin joined them again, put a gentle hand on Audrina’s shoulder as he noticed the tears of joy standing in her eyes. He turned his blue eyes to Cora.

“As long as you’re here, you’re welcome in this household. You’ll be our honored guest, and want for nothing. But as my wife here mentioned, we are without a midwife...”

“I’m in. Sign me up.”

He laughed. “So eager!”

“I don’t like lying around. I’ll make myself useful.”

“I told you she was good,” Audrina murmured to her husband, a wide grin on her face. “Always looking for something to do.”

“I’ll help get this one back in fighting shape — and stop her trying to do too much too quickly, more to the point,” Cora added, giving her friend a meaningful look. Audrina had always pushed herself far too hard. “And if you’d like, I can train a few people to replace me once I go home. Midwifing’s a craft that can be learned like any other — there’s no reason your local healers can’t pick up the art themselves.”

“I’ll show you my tower later,” Audrina said brightly. “I’ve been stockpiling herbs for months, figuring out replacements for modern medicine — it’ll be so great to have someone who understands a little better...”

“When you’re rested,” Cora said sharply.

Colin beamed at her. “That’s what I like to hear. I couldn’t ask for a better nurse for my wife.”

“Hear that? I’m the nurse,” Cora said smugly.

Audrina rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

“I’d better leave you to rest. An afternoon nap doesn’t make up for a labor like that, not right away.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Cora let herself out, still smiling. It felt so good to have Audrina back in her life (she’d call her Maeve out loud and in front of the staff, but she’d always be Audrina in her head.) And knowing that she had a useful purpose calmed her nerves considerably, too. She believed, for now, that she was back in time and in Scotland. But if she’d gotten back here, somehow, she could find a way back. And while she looked for it, she could do the thing she did best. Not a bad setup, all things considered.

“Hello, Bellina.”

The Laird’s mother — Mary — had appeared in a doorway, and she was looking right at her.

Cora glanced behind her, a little confused, but the hallway was deserted.

Mary smiled, gestured her over — she did as she was bade.

“I know you’re using a different name now — I absolutely understand, and I’ll call you Cora in front of the servants. But please — tell me how you did it.”

“Did what?”

“We thought you were dead.” Mary was speaking in a low voice, clearly not wanting to be overheard. “We heard from Italy that you’d been burned as a heretic — we grieved for you, Bellina! If only we’d known you survived — and you found your way back to us in our hour of need. You always did have such excellent timing.”

“Madam, I think you must be mistaken,” Cora said, confusion on her face. “I’m not Bellina — I’ve never been to Italy. I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mary hesitated. “You — you don’t?”

“I wish I did, honestly. You’ve all been extremely kind to me, but — but that’s not my name.”

“Interesting,” Mary breathed, thoughts flashing rapidly across her face that Cora couldn’t read. “Very interesting…when Maeve got here, she didn’t remember her true name either...”

“What do you mean? Who’s Bellina?”

A group of servants rounded the corner, chattering amongst themselves and laughing, and Mary broke off from whatever she had been about to say. One of the women in the group stared at Cora as she passed, a look of recognition and shock on her face. As they hurried away, Cora could have sworn she heard the woman murmuring to her friends — “…thought she was dead…didn’t they burn that witch?”

Mary frowned after the servants, then glanced back at Cora, a strange sympathy on her face. “We’ll talk when you’ve got your bearings a little more, my dear.”

The woman strode off down the hallway toward the kitchens, leaving Cora feeling more at a loss than she had since she’d woken up. God, just when she thought she was getting a handle on what was happening, the universe threw her another curve ball. God worked in mysterious ways, that was true, but this was getting steadily more ridiculous and she wasn’t sure how long she was going to be able to hold up under all this mystery.

“I just hope you know what you’re doing,” she mumbled, glancing toward the ceiling and touching her rosary beads.