Chapter 18
The next morning as Elle snuck back to her bedroom, she noticed a text message from Eric.
Call me as soon as you can.
She wondered what that could be about. He hadn’t seemed hopeful that he could get the tour going again. What if he had? She’d have to go. She couldn’t possibly cancel twice. That would surely kill all chances of reviving her music career.
She hurriedly took a shower and got dressed before looking at the time. It was eight o’clock. He should be up by now. She picked up her phone and called him.
“Good morning,” he answered.
“Hey. I just got your text.”
“I sent it pretty late last night. You were probably asleep.”
Or doing something even better than sleeping, she thought.
“What’s up?”
“Well, no promises, but I think if we can get you in front of the right people, we could possibly have a go at another tour.”
“Really?”
“Really. I’ve booked you on a few morning talk shows and I’ve set up some interviews with some music magazines. You’ll have to come to San Francisco and then we’ll fly down to L.A. and to New York. When can you be here?”
“I don’t know.”
“You want this, don’t you?”
“Yes. You know I do.”
“Then you better get here. The sooner the better. I can send a car for you this afternoon.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready.”
“Oh. And leave the boyfriend slash bodyguard home.”
“Why?”
“He’s a little too scary for me and we’re trying to project this nice, sweet pop princess image, right? We don’t need him scaring anyone away. I’ll see you later today.” And he was gone.
Elle put the phone down as she sank onto her bed.
How was she going to tell Hamish she was leaving?
A knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
She’d been so happy a few short moments ago and now she was filled with anxiety.
Her family would be upset with her. She’d just promised she was going to be here with them and now here she was running off the first chance she got.
This was important though. This was her career.
The knot was getting larger as she stood, determined to tell everyone of her plans. They’d understand … she hoped.
***
Hamish was getting dressed when there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find Elle standing there wearing a sheepish expression. Something told him he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear.
“I have to tell you something,” she said, closing the door behind her. “I just talked to Eric. I have to go to San Francisco and then Los Angeles and New York.”
They were going to visit more cities. Maybe there would be adventure for him after all. “When do we leave,” he said.
“You can’t come with me.”
He didn’t say a word. Instead he did his best to control his expression, not wanting to show her what he was really feeling.
“In order to fly on a plane, you need to have an I.D. We haven’t figured that out, or even thought about how to get you one. I guess we’d need Edna’s help for that.”
“We can call her. Zeke told me she lives in Scotland.”
“No. We don’t have enough time to track her down.”
“What do ye mean?”
“I mean I have to leave this afternoon.”
“When will ye be back?”
“I don’t know, a few weeks, maybe a few months. I’m so sorry, Hamish. I know we were just getting started, but I have to do this. It’s my final chance to get my career back.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to that. He thought she wanted to be with him, but now here she was leaving at the first opportunity. He walked to the window and looked out across the field to the place he’d hoped to spend his life with her, and a realization spread over him
“Elle, I dinnae wish ye to leave me. What if ye carry me bairn?” He couldn’t let her go. She was so precious to him already, but the thought of her carrying a child and working as hard as Sara had said would be dangerous for them both. He needed to protect his family.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“How do ye ken it?”
“I’m on the pill. I can’t get pregnant.”
“The pill?”
“You wouldn’t know what that is, but in this time when a woman wants to put off having children, she can do a lot of things, including taking birth control pills, to prevent a pregnancy.
So you’ve got nothing to worry about.” Elle couldn’t have children.
He was shocked and not sure what to think about that.
But he knew he loved her and she loved him. At least, she had said so this morning.
“I’ll be back. I promise.” Elle placed her hand on his back. He could hear the pleading in her voice. “Don’t be mad at me.”
He took her in his arms,. “I love ye, Elle. I ken this is important to ye.”
“I have to go tell my family. Will you come with me?”
He walked to the door and opened it for her, then followed her to the kitchen where her family were having breakfast.
“Good morning,” Bobby said as they sat down at the table. “Pancakes?”
She didn’t wait for them to answer, instead placing plates filled with pancakes in front of each of them.
“You look upset about something,” Joe said.
“I have to tell you all some news I got this morning.”
Hamish took hold of her hand under the table, giving it a squeeze.
“Eric is trying to get the tour back on track and I have to leave this afternoon for L.A. and then New York. Hamish is going to stay here with all of you while I’m gone.”
“I knew it,” Tina said, rising from the table and walking away.
“I’m sorry. I really thought this was it for me.”
“So, the only reason you came to visit was because you thought your career was over?” JJ asked.
“No. It’s not like that. I love you guys and I realized that I wanted to spend more time with all of you.” Her voice broke and tears spilled down her cheeks. The same black tears Hamish remembered from the day they met. “Please, don’t be mad at me. I’m only doing what I have to do.”
“We’re not mad with you,” Bobby said.
“Your mother’s right,” Joe added. “We just love having you here with us and, well, we miss you so much when you’re gone.”
“How long are you going to be away?” asked Matt.
“That’s just it. I don’t know. If all goes well, it could be months. I would hope I could get back here before the tour started, but I’m just not sure.”
“I, for one, am happy for you, sis. I know how much you want this and how much music is a part of your life.” Matt got up to give her a hug. “Don’t worry about Hamish, we’ll take good care of him. I think he’s got a future as a musician.” He clapped Hamish on the back. “I’m here for you, man.”
Everyone finished their breakfast and went off to attend to their daily chores, saying their goodbyes to Elle before they went. Bobby and Joe stayed behind.
“You’ve hardly touched your food,” she said noticing the uneaten pancakes on both their plates. “They’re your favorite, Elle.” She got up to retrieve the coffee pot and filled Joe’s cup. “Things will all work out the way they’re supposed to. I’ve always believed that.”
“Thanks, Mom. I believe it, too.”
“And Hamish, you’re family now. So you’ll stay right here with us.”
“Thank ye fer yer kindness.”
“You’ve been a big help to me in the short time you’ve been here. I’ll keep you so busy you won’t even notice she’s gone,” Joe said.
Hamish knew they were trying to cheer him. It wasn’t working. He felt a deep sadness in his chest. He wasn’t sure what to expect. What if she never came back? Could he stay here with this family and live as he’d lived with the MacKenzies? It wasn’t as he’d wished. He had much to think on.
***
The car arrived to pick her up and Elle had a sinking feeling in the pit of her belly.
She’d never felt this way before. Anytime she’d ever left the ranch, she’d always been excited to get away.
Not this time. She was leaving too much behind this time.
I’m only doing what I have to do, she told herself.
“I’ll miss ye,” he said.
They stood alone in the circular drive. Joe and Bobby already said their goodbyes and stepped inside to give them their privacy.
“I’ll miss you, too. I promise I’ll call as often as I can. I asked my mother to take you out to get a phone. We can video chat.”
“I dinnae ken what that is.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out. Matt can help you.”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss him goodbye. Hamish held her close, refusing to let her go.
“Hamish. I have to go. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Nae. ’Tis not okay. I have nae choice. Ye must go.”
She quickly kissed his cheek again. Her heart was breaking at having to leave him here. She got into the back of the car and the driver closed the door. As they drove off, she looked out the back window to see Hamish standing there watching as she left.
***
He stood there until the car was out of sight.
“I’m so sorry, Hamish,” Bobby said, coming up behind him. “For your sake, I hope she’ll be back soon.”
“I know how you feel. I’ve felt that way every time she’s ever driven off and left us.” Joe joined them, standing beside him.
Hamish put on his warrior face. Not a hint of sadness was to be seen. “Joe, what have ye fer me to do today?”
“We’ve got more fences to fix and I think that contractor is coming to put in your driveway. We’ll want to make sure he’s doing a good job.”
“I’ll go check on Aylwen first, if ye dinnae mind.”
“You go do that. Maybe take him out for a ride, just like we did the first day he was here. I’ll go get the ATV and meet you back here.”
Hamish stalked into the barn. Every one of his emotions competing for his attention.
Sadness and anger being the most acute. He was devastated that Elle had left and he was also angry he could not join her.
What if she were hurt and he wasn’t there to save her?
He couldn’t imagine he would have done the same if they were still at Breaghacraig.
Men with wives and families were not forced to spend weeks away.
But there were many things about her life that he didn’t understand.
Perhaps if he did, this would be easier to take.