65. Chapter 65 - Lochinvar
CHAPTER 65 - LOCHINVAR
FLORIDA - MAY 16, 2025
W e got back early in the day, so I had tae wait before twas time. I dressed in a kilt and m’uniform coat. I shaved and washed and Madame Emma did my hair so that they all agreed I looked handsome enough. Fraoch said, “For a pasty pale ginger.”
But then twas early afternoon, and I was dressed way too early so I sat on a stool at the kitchen island, swinging around back and forth until Chef Zach told me I had tae go away because I was making him crazy.
I sat in the living room with Jack and Noah on my lap, readin’ them a picture book, when James came intae the living room. “Sophie needs to go to the hospital, like the ol’ gal predicted, the baby is coming.”
And everyone was rushing around, grabbing their things, preparing tae go with her.
Zach said, “Lochie, you staying with me and helping with the kids?”
“Aye, of course.” I ran my hand through my hair.
And then they were out the door, headed tae the hospital and I sat back down on the couch tae watch the boys play Fortnite.
But then Magnus stuck his head in the door, “I haena forgotten ye, Lochinvar. Fraoch and I will come back in a bit and we will drive ye over.”
“Thank ye, Magnus.”
And so I kept waitin’, growing even more nervous.
Fraoch and Magnus walked in later.
Chef Zach said, “No bairn yet?”
Magnus said, “Twill be hours still, but I dinna want tae wait. I daena like those places.” He grimaced.
Zach said, “The hospital is the only place I’ve known you to be afraid of.”
Magnus said, “Och tis a terrible place, I daena like it at all. Hae ye smelled it? Tis bleak.”
Then he focused on me. “Kaitlyn will call when the bairn is born, so Fraoch and I want tae drive ye tae the bar, ye ready?”
I shook my head. “Perhaps I ought tae go on another day, tis raining and?—”
Fraoch said, “Och nae, Og Lochie, ye canna back out. How many days hae ye been waitin’ for this moment?”
“My whole lifetime.”
“Aye, yer whole lifetime. Ye gonna put it off more?”
“What if she daena like me, what if she daena believe me and daena want tae see me?”
Magnus said, “Then ye will ken she is gone tae ye, but I canna believe that will happen. How could that happen? Ye are Lochinvar! Look at ye, yer hair is the color of fire.”
“Do they like it, ye think?”
“Who?”
“The lasses, I daena think tis regular.”
“Of course they do, or… I daena ken, what do I ken, I am an eighteenth century highlander. All the lasses in Scotland like a ginger man, but we are off topic.”
Zach said, “The lasses will love you, it’s got nothing to do with your hair or your freckles, it’s got to do with the back of your hands and the knees.”
Fraoch said, “Aye, we hae established this.”
I looked at the back of my hands. “I daena understand lasses.”
Zach said, “None of us do. But we just roll with it. You look great, Lochie, go get your girl.”
I gulped. “My girl? I haena even spoken tae her.”
Fraoch said, “Aye, tis time, ye speak tae her and then ye will ken.”
I sat in the back seat of the truck staring out at the rain coming down the windows. The steady thump of the windshield wipers swishing the water off the front window tae the side.
“What if she inna there?”
Magnus said, “Then ye will ask when she will return, and ye will try again on the morrow.”
I met his eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Tis likely if I get her tae listen tae me, she winna believe me.”
Magnus nodded. “Tis likely.”
I muttered, “Och nae,” and went back tae looking out the window.
Fraoch asked, “Dost ye remember her at all? Anything ye can tell her tae help yer case?”
“Tis hard tae ken, because I hae read the letter. I hae been reminded of things, but aye, I can see an image of her skin under my hand.”
Magnus said, “Maybe daena tell her that at first, ye daena want tae scare her.”
We pulled up in a parking spot near the front door.
I picked up the umbrella, Fraoch zipped up the front of his raincoat.
Magnus pulled the hood over his head. The rain thrummed on the windshield.
I asked, “Ye are coming in?”
Fraoch said, “Aye, we need an ale, and I daena want tae miss it.”
Magnus said, “Daena worry, Lochinvar, we are goin’ tae sit in the corner, we will help in case ye need it.”
“I hae been thinking on it, I hae tae tell her about time travel first thing.”
“Aye, ye ought tae commence with it, or none of it will make sense.”