Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
WHERE ARE YE?
Ally
A knock rattled my castle bedroom door. This past week, I’d alternated between sleeping at the loch house and sleeping in my bed here.
I’d got the nursery painted, and the floorboards sanded, all my brothers had popped by when they had a free hour or two, and the kitchen now had working plumbing.
Next week, a new boiler would be installed. We’d have heating!
I didn’t mind the cold, but the bairn might object. Scarlet might as well.
Strange that I hadn’t heard anything from her after mid-afternoon yesterday, but no doubt she was busy. She worked long hours, so clearing another weekend to come see me and my bairn probably left her hustling.
I grabbed my crutches and hobbled to the door, my adrenaline already up and excitement high. The bairn was on her way. Scarlet, too. Today was going to be epic.
One twist of the handle, and Callum loomed in the frame. “What’s the bairn’s ETA?” he barked.
My grin came readily. “The Edinburgh social worker was picking her up at eight, so I’d guess eleven. I gave her detailed directions.”
“Good.” He clapped my shoulder. “I’ve set up a Moses basket in the great hall, in case it’s easier to put her down for a nap there. Then Mathilda and I might have bought her a gift or two.”
My heart squeezed. “Ye did?”
“Aye. Come and see.”
He led the way, and I crutched after him. My leg ached. I’d been overdoing it, working my arse off to get the loch house ready, even if the lass would only be glimpsing it today. After she left, I wanted to wrap myself up in Scarlet then sleep the sleep of the dead.
“Ye know Scarlet is coming?” I said to Callum, needing him to be in on the latest.
“She is? Why—?” He stopped and closed his mouth. “Oh. You and her are an item?”
“Ask me later.” We’d reached the stairs, and I turned to the side, taking the bannister to lower myself one step at a time.
Callum followed, but he didn’t say anymore. If he approved or not, it didn’t matter. After a period of losing at every turn, I finally felt like I was winning.
Where are ye? I texted Scarlet. The bairn was due in twenty minutes, and the morning’s flight had touched down in Inverness well over an hour ago. If she hadn’t been on that one, the next would make her miss the bairn’s arrival.
No answer came, and I stowed my phone.
Never mind. The social worker had promised me a couple of hours for the visit, so it was no big thing.
My three brothers, their lasses, and the five-year-old twins had congregated in the great hall.
Each had given me gifts over the course of the morning, including tiny, pretty clothes, a soft blanket made of our tartan, and wee soft toys for her to hug.
Mathilda sat in a chair, her hands on the enormous swell of her stomach.
Amid the air of excitement, she was the only person not smiling.
Instead, her forehead creased into a frown, and she kept shooting me looks.
A kernel of worry temporarily suspended my happiness, and I pictured her sister telling her she wasn’t coming but swearing her to secrecy so not to worry me.
No, Scarlet wouldn’t do that.
More likely, Mathilda’s pregnancy bothered her.
The rumble of tyres on the gravel had multiple heads turning.
“It’s them!” Skye yelled from the door. She hopped on the spot. “There’s a woman! She’s getting a baby seat out of the car. Our cousin is here!”
My hopes that Scarlet had arrived in a taxi dissolved, and I snapped into Dad-mode. I crossed the hall and reached the door at the same point Dee Forsyth, the Edinburgh social worker, arrived in the frame.
“Welcome,” I managed, but my attention was all for my lass.
“Hello, sweetheart!” I’d seen her yesterday but I examined her face for differences.
At ten weeks old, she was getting so strong, and she lifted her head at my voice.
“Ye clever girl! Look, you’ve come to see Daddy.
There’s so many people waiting to meet ye! ”
The social worker placed the car seat on the floor. “What a special day. I’ll leave you to it.”
My jaw dropped. This wasn’t the deal. We hadn’t yet reached a stage with the courts where I could have unsupervised access. “Are ye serious?”
The woman stifled a smile then nodded. “I saw a café on the way so I’ll go there and get stuck into work. But this has to be our secret. I’ll return in three hours.”
My social worker wouldn’t allow this, so the secrecy was no problem. I beamed and gave her an impromptu hug. “Thank ye.”
“Have a lovely time.” She left, pulling the door closed behind her.
My family stood in the great hall, all big-eyed and staring at the lass. Callum held his twins by a shoulder each, and a poignant moment grew.
“Let me introduce ye to your family,” I said, a lump in my throat.
Except I had no way of carrying her to them.
I juggled my crutches, but Wasp darted over and gave me a look. He stooped to pick up the car seat, and I threw my crutches down. I held his shoulder, and together, we loosened the bairn’s restraints. I collected my daughter, taking her to my chest.
She squeaked, snuffling into my neck.
My twin put the carrier on the floor and ran an arm around my back. Then we advanced on the group, me limping in my cast, but never so proud or so happy.
“Everyone, this is my wee lass.” Then her name came to me in a burst of inspiration.
I’d battled with myself over her having her ma’s name but wanting to make it her own.
I’d searched baby naming sites, and I’d thought through my family’s history.
It had to be Scottish, too. A variation, Scarlet had suggested.
Aye, it was perfect.
“Her name is Cait,” I said. “Short for Caitriona.”
Kah-tree-nah.
Similar enough to Kaylee’s name, but distinct and individual, too.
Smiles lit up the room.
Callum stepped up. “Welcome, Cait. I’m your uncle Callum, and I am so happy to meet you and honoured to bring you into Clan McRae.”
“Welcome, darling girl,” Mathilda said.
“Welcome, Cait, welcome, sweetheart,” sounded from everyone else.
I choked. Wasp’s arm tightened around me, and I leaned on him.
“Well done,” he murmured into my ear. “Next stop is making this permanent.”
Over the next hour, Cait went from cuddle to cuddle, gurgling at Mathilda and crying at Callum. Taylor, Wasp’s lass, cried as she held her, and my stomach knotted, hurting for her. She was so desperate for a bairn of her own, but they’d get there, and she’d make a wonderful aunt in the meantime.
Ella and Gordain took her for a walk around the great hall, talking softly between them. Skye and Lennox followed her every move, squealing in excitement at everything she did. Lennox eventually sat with his sketch pad, drawing his new cousin, his serious expression fixed in a frown.
It was all so perfect. The love and security of my kin never ceased to amaze me. I knew I was lucky. I’d taken it for granted my whole life, but this moment, this pure acceptance, could never be unheeded.
Cait had a loving family and would want for nothing.
Yet my happiness was incomplete. Scarlet still wasn’t here.
One hour turned into two, and Wasp, Taylor, and I drove to the loch house to show Cait around.
“This will be your bedroom,” I told her.
“I know it’s plain, but it’s only just been painted.
We’ll have bunnies and books and toys everywhere.
” I had a whole tree full of animals to paint across one wall.
Taylor had carried Cait’s gifts from the family and helped me put away the clothes in the new chest of drawers and the toys on the shelf, though neither of us lived here, yet.
Cait wriggled on the soft nursery rug, nearly rolling over in the process. The three of us clapped for the wee clever lass.
Every bit of today was special. Every minute, every look, every word.
Back at the castle, the social worker arrived bang on time.
“I don’t want ye to take her,” I said to the woman.
“Of course you don’t. But it won’t be long until you’re taking her for overnight stays.” The woman checked Cait in her car seat—like I’d leave her unstrapped, but I was glad she cared so much—and returned her gaze to me. “When do you expect to hear about that?”
“Any day now. The paperwork is in. Hopefully by the time I see you next.”
She waved and left, taking Cait with her. I stood at the door and counted the minutes until I’d see my bairn again.
“How long until she comes to live with us forever?” Skye slipped her arm through mine, and together, we ambled back into the great hall.
My family, sitting by the fire, all looked up.
“In a couple of months, with any luck.” I fell heavily in a chair, and my niece draped herself over my shoulder.
“Tomorrow is crucial, aye?” Wasp asked.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” Mathilda rubbed her belly.
“Hospital for more x-rays. With any luck, they’ll take my cast off, which means I can drive. Which in turn means I can take the job I’ve lined up. Then the solicitors will file as I’ll have a strong case.”
I could barely think about it without pinching myself.
After modelling, working as a driver at the distillery was a real comedown, but I could manage the shift work around looking after Cait, and I’d have money coming in to buy us what we needed.
My case hinged on me being employed, so I’d done what I needed to do.
“I can’t wait to babysit. She’s absolutely adorable,” Taylor said.
The conversation shifted to how beautiful and braw Cait was—all facts I fully supported—then Mathilda struggled to her feet and came to my side.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked.
“Aye.” I leapt up and followed her to the far wall, distance enough away that we had privacy. I’d planned to grab her to ask if she’d heard from her sister, and tried to hold back the sheer hurt that threatened to eclipse the happier emotions the day had brought.
It wasn’t just that Scarlet hadn’t shown up, she hadn’t even sent a message. Not even a ‘Sorry, can’t make it’.
We weren’t a couple, I knew, but her actions today showed me exactly how high Cait and I were in her priorities.
“Callum said you were expecting Scarlet today.” Mathilda pushed a blonde ringlet behind her ear.
“Aye. We discussed it.”
My sister-in-law drew a breath. “I called Mom this morning. She told me Dad had brought forward the Hong Kong trip. They left last night.”
“They? Including Scarlet?”
“Yes. It was last-minute, but they’ve gone and they won’t be back until midweek.”
Shite. “Thanks for telling me,” I managed.
Mathilda palmed my shoulder. “Sorry that she missed today.”
“Thank ye, but it’s the wrong person apologising. She should’ve contacted me.”
“I agree.” Mathilda watched me, her eyes so similar to her sister’s.
I had to look away.
“I guess I was wrong about… About everything,” I finished.
Done, overwrought, and tired, I gave Mathilda a semblance of a smile, then left my family and hobbled my way to my room.
I had a plan, I had focus and goals. For the first time in my life, I was ahead of the game. Scarlet didn’t want to be part of it. That was fine with me.