Chapter Twenty-Five
Rafe
"Oh, we can figure it out, pet. I excel at organization." Does she not believe me? Iona's brows have wrinkled, her nose too, and she bites down on one side of her bottom lip. I pat her arm. "Don't worry. Once we get to my laboratory, everyone on my team will attest to my organizational skills. I might suffer the occasional brief memory lapse, but that's all. You can trust me to coordinate this little foray."
"Oh, I don't doubt your skills." Iona lifts herself onto her tiptoes to whisper into my ear. "For some strange reason, your declaration that you excel at organization has made me randy."
I just manage to stifle a laugh.
She drops onto her feet again. "I'm dead sure you can organize anything, Rafe. But we only have one car."
"Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. Seven people in my car. Not sure how that will work out...Ah, of course." I smirk. "Eric and Toby could ride in the boot."
Before the boys can complain, I wink at them.
"Good one, Rafe," Eric says. "You almost had me."
"Dinnae worry," Maeve says. " I hired a car at the airport for myself and Rowan. Did you think we hiked here from the Norwich airport? Lachlan insisted on paying for our car."
Iona rubs her forehead as if the logistics of it all pains her mind. "How will we split up the drivers and passengers?"
"The answer is simple." I kiss her forehead. "You're with me, darling. And I will drive."
Courtney raises her hand. "Please let me go with you and Iona. Toby and Eric will want to play toddler car games like 'I Spy.' But I'd rather talk to grown-ups."
"You are welcome to join me and Iona in the adult car."
Maeve sides with the adults too, and we now have one full vehicle.
Rowan waves her hand. "I'd like to go with Eric and Toby in the car Maeve hired for us."
The boys concur, and once we climb into our vehicles, we are away. Now I am alone with three women. Can't recall the last time I found myself in a situation like this. Actually, I don't think I ever have been in this situation. Should I worry about what these women might say when they're alone in this car? It might turn into an epic chinwag. Maybe I should've brought earplugs.
For the first few minutes of our journey, the ladies appear to be enjoying the scenery. Norwich is a beautiful city. We drive by the cathedral, and I attempt to tell them a bit about its history, but the women seem more interested in where to find the best shopping. I suppose that's to be expected. Maeve and Courtney are young women, after all. Iona doesn't seem as interested in talking about shopping. I try to start a conversation with her, but the girls in the backseat are having such a good time that I doubt Iona would hear anything I said. Let them have their fun, I say.
The journey from my home to the north side of Norwich takes about twenty minutes. Halfway through the trip, someone's mobile chimes, indicating a new text.
"It's mine," Courtney says. "Ooh, Phillip texted me."
Whilst she browses her message, I turn off the main road. My laboratory is out in the back of beyond on that rather large tract I own. Iona sits forward a bit and studies the landscape. She must approve of my home region since her lips curl into a soft smile.
"Amazing news!" Courtney virtually shouts. "Phillip wants to meet us at the lab, if that's okay with you guys."
"Fine with me," I tell her. "What about you, Iona?"
"I'd love to meet the laddie. He's British like you, but that's all I know."
Courtney emits a softer exclamation of joy this time. "Better text Phillip to let him know it's a green light."
I let out a sarcastic groan. "If our entourage grows any larger, we'll need to rent a caravan to accommodate all of us."
"Will there be tents and camels in your caravan?"
"No, Courtney, there will not. Americans call it an RV."
"Yeah, I know that. I was teasing." Courtney's mobile chimes again, and she claps her hands. "Yay! Phillip should arrive only a few minutes after we do."
I cannot express how excited I am about some bloke called Phillip joining our entourage. Next, Iona's brothers will probably text her to announce they'll be joining us too. Large groups can be difficult to manage. I should know since I lead tour groups through my laboratory. They're always other scientists. I have employees who handle the tourists.
Iona commandeers the car stereo, plugging her phone into the contraption so she can listen to her own music. Maybe I did sort of expect that she'd blast bagpipes for the entire trip. Instead, she offers us a variety of musical styles, everything from classical symphonies to eighties pop tunes to blues music and, yes, even one or two bagpipe songs. I actually enjoy the bagpipe medleys and find myself both tapping my fingers on the steering wheel and humming along softly.
We turn down the gravel drive that leads to the laboratory complex. Within a moment or two, the trees thin out to reveal the large, flat acreage that stretches out behind the building. One car already awaits us. I know it isn't the vehicle with Eric, Toby, and Rowan in it. Just as I shut off the engine, I see a young man getting out of the mystery car.
Courtney leaps out and races toward him, flinging her arms around the gent.
That must be her boyfriend, Phillip.
Eric, Toby, and Rowan have stopped their car, but they seem to be engaged in a discussion---about what, who knows. Courtney leaps out of our car and races toward her young man. When she throws herself at him, he deftly catches her. Then they begin to kiss passionately.
I blare the horn.
"Such a grumpy man, aren't you?" Iona says in a mock scolding tone. "It's been at least eighteen hours since Courtney and Phillip saw each other. That's nearly an eternity."
"Eternity?" I huff. "What rubbish."
"No, it isn't rubbish."
Maeve leans into the front seat and wags a finger at me. "Mam is right. Dinnae act like a grumpy old man, Rafe. I might have to ban you from dating my mother."
I twist my head around to aim a squinty look at the girl. "Dating? Iona and I just met."
"You don't believe in love at first sight? What about lust at first sight? Rowan texted me while we were on the road and told me how loud you elderly people got this morning." Maeve's smile is full of self-satisfaction. "It's about bloody time our Mam got some action."
Iona's eyes flare wide, and her jaw drops. But when she tries to speak, the only sound she can make is spluttering.
That leaves it up to me to set the wee lassie straight. "Yes, your mother and I have shagged several times. But you shouldn't embarrass Iona by discussing our sex life."
Maeve's brows lift. "You're protective of her, aren't you? Good. That means you won't let that scunner harass her anymore."
"I will do anything to protect Iona. That's why I agreed to your uncle's plan. That 'scunner' will never get close enough to harass her, not as long as I'm alive."
Maeve studies me for a moment. Then she nods. "I give you my permission to marry Mam."
Iona slaps her daughter's arm. "Haud yer wheesht, ye smuilceag ."
The young lassie laughs. "Oh, you're definitely in love. Why else would you call me a chit? In Gaelic, no less."
Maeve sits back in her seat. But her self-satisfied smile deepens.
Oh, yes, children can be quite annoying. But I wouldn't give up my son for anything, and I'm sure Iona feels the same way about her daughters.
Courtney waves at us, flapping her arm vigorously while grinning. She must want us to go over there, so I step out of the car. Then I lean over to tell Iona, "Don't move. I will open your door for you."
Iona smiles sweetly.
And Maeve smirks.
I hurry round to the other side of the car, pulling the door open, and offer Iona my hand. She accepts it. But as she steps out of the vehicle, she pauses to kiss my cheek.
"Thank you, gràidh ."
"Ah, yes, you're welcome."
Maeve leaps out of the car and slams the back door shut. And of course, she grins. "A wee bit embarrassed, eh, Rafe? Dinnae fash. Mam doesn't feel comfortable with showing affection either."
"I am not embarrassed."
How did I wind up saddled with a gaggle of women? I suppose I've just mixed a few metaphors, but I don't give a toss.
Toby and Eric finally got out of their car. My son helped Rowan climb out, and she smiles shyly. If my son wants to date a Scottish lass, I won't stand in his way. But Rowan lives and works in the Highlands whilst Toby has a job in England. That's the same dilemma Iona and I will face if we want to continue this...whatever it is between us.
I did vow I would protect Iona at any cost.
That doesn't mean...Oh, bollocks. Who am I fooling? Only myself, most likely.
I lead the youngsters across the gravel drive, heading for Phillip's car. Iona clasps my hand, threading her fingers with mine, and I curl my fingers to clasp her hand. I didn't even think about what I was doing. It felt right, and so I did it.
A realization hits me like a bolt of positive lightning, and I stumble to a halt. Iona halts too, since I'm still holding her hand. The younger ladies and gents trot onward. Why have I frozen? Because my epiphany stunned me, though only for a moment. But I can't share it with Iona, not yet. It's much too soon.
"What's wrong, Rafe?"
I smile down at Iona. "Nothing, pet. Everything is perfect."
She seems bemused but doesn't question me.
We finally approach the rest of the gang.
Courtney wraps her hands around Phillip's palm. "Everybody, this is Phillip Marlowe. Phillip, meet everybody---Iona Buchanan, Rafe Knight, Maeve Buchanan, and Rowan Buchanan. You already know Toby Knight and my brother Eric."
I clear my throat deliberately. "Now, shall we all go inside? I texted my team earlier to alert them to expect visitors. Follow me, ladies and gents."
When our group reaches the glass doors, Toby and I swing them open and hold them there until everyone has moved inside. Then I ask the group to wait so I can explain what we do here.
"On its face, the building seems rather nondescript," I say. "That was a purposeful choice. The location of this facility is kept secret. We have two primary reasons for doing that. Firstly, this building houses a good number of potentially dangerous ongoing experiments. Secondly, we don't want an outsider to slip inside and learn too much about our work."
Phillip raises his hand. "Is all your work top secret? I mean, do you work for the government?"
"I can't tell you that." I wink. "It's top secret. If I told you who pays the bills, I'd have to kill you."
Several people chuckle.
"I'm sure you lot are wondering what sorts of jobs my team have." I lean back against the U-shaped desk where a receptionist always waits. "The lovely woman behind the desk is Helena Goodheart---and yes, her surname is quite appropriate. Say hello to my mates, love."
Helena smiles. "Good morning. It's wonderful to see such a large group of Rafe's mates coming to visit his pride and joy, otherwise known as The Knight-Whitherington Center for Storm Research."
Eric raises his hand. "I thought you were a lightning researcher."
"I am. But lightning never comes out of nowhere. Atmospheric conditions lead to the storms that often trigger lightning."
"You should be a teacher, Rafe. The lecture you're giving us could be something you'd see at a university."
"That's kind of you, Eric. Thank you." I claim Iona's hand, then lead the group down the longest corridor in the building. "Follow us, ladies and gents. You're about to meet my crack team of researchers."
Toby jogs up beside me. "What kind of jobs do they have? You're my dad, but even I don't know exactly what goes on in this place."
"I'm sorry, Toby. I should have shared this part of my life with you much sooner, but your mum didn't want me to do that. Still, it's my fault. I shouldn't have gone along with what she said."
"Never mind that. I'm chuffed to see what you and your people do."
I halt a little ways down the corridor, reluctantly releasing Iona's hand so I can face the group. "The men and women who work here have various types of specialties. Precipitation remote sensing, controlled lightning experiments, thermal imaging, spectral analysis, post-strike analysis, computer modelling and simulation, transient luminous events, lightning mapping, and many other related topics."
"When can we see your Tesla coil?" Toby asks.
"Right now. Follow me."