Chapter 5
KAITLYN
EVERYONE IS WHISPERING
When I got up in the morning Magnus was out on the deck with the kids, Jack in his arms, Archie and Isla beside him. A moment that took my breath away — oh how I loved him, them, all of it. I slid open the glass door and he turned to me with a dazzling smile, the crinkle at the corner of his eyes.
“Hello, all the loves of my life.”
Jack put out his chubby wet hands to dive into my arms. “Good morning, baby cakes.” I kissed him then said, “I think I keep asking this, but what are you talking about?”
Isla said, “Nothing. It’s a secret.”
Archie said, “Isla!”
“It is, I didn’t tell her.”
Magnus shook his head. “Och nae.”
I laughed. “It sounds like there’s a secret and it involves me, and it sounds like I can get it out of at least one of the people here if I tried, so instead I will just ask, will I like it?”
Isla nodded, solemnly, “You will like it, Mammy, we are going to—”
Magnus said, “Isla, wheesht, or it winna be fun.”
She clamped her lips between her teeth and also clapped her hands over her mouth.
I said, “I love surprises and I won’t ask anything else about it.”
Magnus said, “Good, ye can see what I am dealin’ with. M’soldiers arna keeping the mission quiet.”
I asked, “Did you tell them…?”
“Aye, I told the bairns that we are goin’ out of town for the night, dinna I tell ye, Archie and Isla?”
Archie said, “Yep, Da told me.”
Isla kept her hands over her mouth and nodded her head.
I said, “Archie, I want you to know that there is nothing to worry about, we will be right back.”
“I know.” He put out a fist to fist bump mine. I laughed. “Okay, so everyone is just going to take this in stride?”
Jack sucked his fingers.
Archie and Isla nodded.
I said, “Good, my love, look at us, going on a vacation.”
He said, “That we are.”
Every time I walked into a room it felt like people were talking secretly, whispering and shutting up when they saw me.
I narrowed my eyes at Magnus. “What are you up to?”
He shrugged. “What?”
“Everyone is whispering!”
The corner of his mouth went up. “Dost ye think everyone is talking on ye, that is a lot of self-importance.”
“Ugh, you’re being an arse.”
He grinned. “Am I? It sounds as if ye are bein’ overly suspicious, hae ye considered ye might be imaginin’ things?”
I huffed. “I’m packing my stuff. What clothes do I need for… whatever you’re planning?”
“I think ye need all the regular stuff.”
“Such a man-answer, you are no help… you said we will have horses? We are going on a horse ride… I imagine we will have dinner, maybe a couple of nice feasts? I’m also guessing there will be some days spent helping Lizbeth work… But also some visiting?”
“Aye, it all sounds right.”
“So that’s going to be seven dresses.”
“Och nae, I was thinkin’ one!”
“Magnus, I will need at least seven dresses for that much, luckily I have them, and I will tell you this, if I get there and find out that I need an eighth dress for whatever you’re planning I will be very grumpy.”
He chuckled. “If ye hae a fine dress, an ordinary dress, and a ridin’ dress, ye will hae what ye need.”
I joked. “Seven dresses it is.”
The day was busy, we packed and loaded and stacked and ran out more than once for things we had forgotten. It was exciting and as the day progressed I felt kind of bad for making everyone help us plan and prepare for a vacation they wouldn’t be going on. So I found myself inviting them to come.
Lochinvar and Ash said they were going to stay in case anyone needed them.
James said he and Sophie and Junior needed some down time.
Zach and Emma were taking care of the kids.
Quentin had to stand guard over the family. Beaty wouldn’t dream of leaving the children.
And Hayley and Fraoch said they were vaguely busy.
That’s where my eyes narrowed again. “Are you up to something?”
Hayley said, “I can’t believe you would ask me that, no, I’m just busy doing stuff, can’t come, and why are you asking us to come on your romantic getaway with your husband, you don’t like him anymore?”
“God, everyone is being insufferable.”
It was after dinner, but still pretty light out. Fraoch and Lochinvar had brought us to the beach. We were surrounded by chests, some packed with my clothes, one packed with presents, a cooler packed with treats, and some empty chests and suitcases lashed together.
I had said goodbye to the kids and it had been… suspicious. Jack had no idea what was going on, he would sleep and wake up in the morning and I would be back later. He would likely not notice, but if he did Emma and Beaty could comfort him.
But Archie wasn’t nervous about our leaving at all.
Isla kept giggling.
She said, “See you soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes, tomorrow. That’s what you mean you little trickster.”
She giggled again.
So here we were, on the beach, going over the last list. I asked, looking down the beach at the deck of our house, “How long are we going to be there?”
He said, “As long as we want, we are the king and queen of time.”
I said, “True, but let’s not be gone for too long, our babies will miss us. Like a week?”
“Whatever m’lady wishes, and none will be the wiser.”
“Because officially we’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Aye. I am looking forward to a night in the old drafty castle, I missed it.”
Quentin checked his watch. “Ya leavin’, Boss?”
Magnus chuckled. “Ye telling me tis time tae go?”
“Yes sir, I gotta get back, Beaty is scrolling through instagram looking for another chicken to keep Saddle company—”
“Och nae, we already hae a flock!”
“Them’s the wrong kinds, ‘Saddle needs a friend, not just an acquaintance,’ so, you know, Boss, gotta get back and be the voice of reason.”
Magnus said, “Aye, we must go then.”
I said, “Remember when I used to climb in your lap and hold on?”
“Aye, ye haena done that in a long time.” He wrapped the strap around his arm, lashing all the chests to us. “Dost ye need me tae sit down so ye can ride m’lap?”
“For old times sake? No, this is fine, but I am going to hold on.” I pressed against his chest and his arms went around. “You have the horses and the chests?”
“Aye, mo reul-iuil, just hold on.”
He twisted the vessel and that old familiar horrible pain spread up my arms.