Chapter 1
KAITLYN
Iwoke up and squiggled over and put my head on Magnus’s chest and felt him shift. I whispered, “Are you sleeping?”
He chuckled, “Aye, fast asleep.”
“Good, because one of us needs to be getting some rest.”
There were the muffled sounds of someone down in the kitchen.
“I think Sophie is up again.”
He said, “Aye, when there is a new bairn in the house there is always a great deal of activity, at all hours.”
“I had already forgotten, I think.”
“Ye will be reminded soon enough.”
“Very funny, Mister, I am not pregnant, and I am not taking a pregnancy test because I am so sure of it.”
He laughed. “Tis one way tae prove me wrong, I suppose, but we shall see.”
He pushed me over and put his head on my breast, his hand on my stomach.
“Dost ye hear that, bairn, yer ma is tryin’ tae prove me wrong, tis her great weakness that she haena figured out yet that she daena ken what is happening with her own body, that I will be right in it.”
I said, “My great and only weakness.”
He was quiet, so I batted his shoulder. He chuckled.
I said, “You ought to agree, my only weakness.”
“Nae, I canna, because tis nae true, mo reul-iuil, ye and I hae been married now for many long years, we both hae many weaknesses and we both ken them well. Tis part of being a family, we canna deny them. Ye ken all of my weaknesses and so ye are there tae help me when I am confronted with them. I ken all of yers, tae deny that is tae dismiss m’love for ye. ”
“That’s a very good point, you love me despite my faults.”
“Aye, if ye think on it, the more faults ye hae, that means the deeper m’love. Shall I recount yer faults so ye can see how much I love ye?”
I laughed. “You’re being very funny tonight.”
“Aye, all is well, ye ken, the bairn is here, Lochinvar has fallen for the maiden Ash—”
I said, “He hasn’t been home in days.”
“Aye, he has become trapped in her sweet peach pies.”
We both laughed.
He said, “He told me he is coming back in the morn, he has chores and he wants tae see the bairn.”
“You Campbell boys love the babies.”
“Tis true, ye see a bairn and ye ken ye are winning.”
I raised my head and looked down on him. “Winning what?”
“All the things, ye are winning all the things when there is a bairn.”
I put my head back down. “I do like to win, we are winning a lot right now, what do you think Sean and Lizbeth are up to?”
“They are preparing.”
“Frantically, I bet, packing everything they think they need. It’s kind of hard to explain that they don’t need anything.”
He raised his head. “We ought tae take them some chests tae pack in. Twill be comforting tae hae plenty of room — they can bring everything they want, it daena matter, they daena hae tae be concerned.”
“That’s a great idea, we could go visit for a few days. They might have a lot more questions, they might have worries and concerns, we can drop off the luggage.”
“Aye, we will go as soon as James, Quentin, and Zach return from colonial times.”
I grinned. “Perfect. Man, I can’t wait to hear their stories.” I looped my finger in one of his long locks and twirled it around, becoming sleepier as our whispered conversation drew to a close.
He said, “Aye, the message in the… what was it called?”
“Poor Richard’s Almanack.”
“It said they were havin’ a verra good time.”
“Yeah, it was wild to see James’s handwriting there.” I yawned. Then asked, “Middle of the night, what are we going to do?”
“Ye seem tired, but I think I am up for good, I could go tae night-watch on the walls.”
I said, “You know what I would love to do? Watch tv like we used to, in bed.”
He said, “Sounds good tae me,” and began fluffing his pillow to lean on while I reached over to the nightstand, pulled the remote from the drawer, and powered it on.
“Let’s see… what should we watch?”
I turned on the Roku and began scrolling through the streaming channels, picking an episode of Friends.
Magnus said, “There inna a talking yellow sponge in this one?”
“Nope, they’re a group of friends…” the television glow flickered on our bed in the darkness.
“Hence the name… ought I tae ask Chef Zach tae bring us some popcorn — och nae, he inna here.” His eyes went wide.
“Is this the first you’ve noticed?”
“He has been gone for so long, how much longer must I suffer?”
“I know, it’s been three days. It’s amazing how strong you’ve been.”
“...and selfless. I can withstand anything as long as he returns on the morrow.” He shifted down under the covers and put his head on my shoulder. “Friends would be much friendlier with cookies though.”
“Want me to go get them?”
He chuckled. “Och it sounds like a great deal of work for either of us, we will hae tae suffer in silence.” He watched for a moment.
“But the silly fellow has ordered a muffin, och nae, I must hae something.” He tossed the covers aside and lumbered from the bed.
“Make sure ye tell Zach of it, so he kens what I had tae deal with.”
“Oh I will, he will be horrified. Get me some cookies while you’re down there, please, and a glass of milk.”
He padded from the room and I heard him go down the steps, have a whispered discussion with…? It was Beaty. That was good, she wouldn’t let him come upstairs with the full gallon of milk. Probably.
A few moments later Magnus returned. He had a half-full half-gallon carton of milk and a box of brownies. “Madame Beaty said ye canna hae the cookies as Sophie has a cravin’ for them and she canna eat the chocolate.”
“Perfect, brownies are my next most favorite. I don’t mind.”
He put the carton down and climbed into bed again. He curled up beside me and put a brownie on my stomach. I giggled. “You sir, are going to get crumbs in the bed.”
He chuckled, breaking off a piece and stuffing it in his mouth. “Tis too late, there are crumbs everywhere and I dinna bring napkins.”
I ate a brownie and we passed the milk carton back and forth and drank directly from it. “Zach would be furious.”
“Aye, we must keep it a secret or he will never go on vacation again.”
Our focus turned to the show. I said, “This one is about how none of the friends are ready on time for something… I can’t remember.”
He nestled his forehead against my throat. His cheek on my chest. “Tis verra funny.”
“Do you have any idea what is happening?”
Just then Joey came into the apartment wearing all of Chandler’s clothes. We both watched and then after a few moments Magnus said, “Tis verra funny.”
“That is perfect, this is a perfect night, eating brownies in bed, watching Friends. Jack didn’t wake up once.”
He nestled his mouth up against my throat. “Aye, tis a perfect night, I think I ken how tae make it even more fun.”
We made love on sheets sprinkled with brownie crumbs, with an episode of Friends playing in our Florida home.