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Charlie was as rapt as the other listeners and when it was over, she found herself wiping a tear from her cheek. The words 'she went to find herself' resonated within her heart.

She stood up, pushing her chair back. "I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom."

Sinclair looked up at her, distracted. The song had affected him too. "There and back. Don't wander."

In the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face. She should have worn the dress instead of the jeans. Even though they were a size too big, the waistband was rubbing her scars. The door opened, and Amy came in.

Charlotte gave her a smile. "The band was good," she said to the pretty redhead.

"Aye. They dinna sing the selkie song often, but when they do there is nae a dry eye." The girl eyed her narrowly. "There was a man in earlier looking for ye."

"Looking for me?" she asked, her heart sinking.

"Aye. Normally, I would nae get involved but Sin is a childhood friend. He's a good lad."

Her heart rate picked up. "H-how do you know he was looking for me?"

"He had a picture of ye." The girl bit at her fingernail." And he said ye were his fiancée."

Michael. He was here looking for her. He must have followed them from the art gallery. "He was. He's not anymore."

"Aye. Just dinna hurt Sin," Amy said, leaving. Charlie followed her out.

"What's wrong?" he asked when she returned to the table.

"Nothing," she lied. She looked around, nervously expecting Michael to make an appearance at any moment.

"Charlotte, you're as white as a ghost. Something's happened," he said, concerned.

"Do you mind if we go back to the cottage?"

"No, not at all." He stood up and said goodbye to Jock before leading her out to the car.

"What happened?" he questioned as they drove off.

"I told you, nothing."

"Something's wrong." He looked over at her.

"My jeans are rubbing my stomach. It was getting uncomfortable."

"I'll look at it when we get back." He pulled off the main street and turned onto the dirt road, taking them home. William was waiting for them at the front door, eager to get inside. "Go change," Sin said to her, locking the door behind them. "I'll get a fire started."

Charlie went into the bedroom. She peeled her clothes off and put on the blue nightgown, adding a sweater over it to keep warm, then she went back out.

Sin was just finishing with the fire. He held his hand out for her. "Come here."

"I'm fine, really." She crossed her arms in front of herself, holding her elbows.

"Look, I know something is wrong. I won't press you to tell me, but at least let me look at your stomach." He spread a blanket down before the fire. "Come lie down."

"It's not necessary," she said, but she knelt down on it anyway. The intimacy of his kiss from earlier and the news of Michael had left her nervous and apprehensive. He knelt down too until he was eye level to her and ran his thumb over her cheekbone. "I won't hurt you."

"I-I know," she stuttered as he helped her on her back.

He lifted the hem of the nightgown. The soft heat of the fire warmed her bare skin but was not strong enough to take the chill from her blood. His finger traced the outside of the crest. "It's inflamed in parts but not raw. I'm glad we came home when we did. You should have told me right away you were in pain."

"It's fine," she said, starting to sit up.