Chapter Thirty-Three
As they headed into the marquee, Clem saw that she was seated next to Rory and the two of them chatted through the food as she and Rory began to swap family stories. Rory mentioned that he came from a big family and Clem rolled her eyes, declaring that unless it was larger than five siblings she won. He laughed and raised her seven brothers.
‘Seven!’
‘Mum was trying for a girl. Sounds like our mothers should have got together and swapped some over. How many bathrooms did you have?’
‘Just the one,’ laughed Clem as she remembered the fights it used to provoke.
‘One bathroom between five lasses?’
‘And Mum and Dad. Some days it was out and out warfare. So, how many bathrooms did you have?’
‘There or four.’
‘Wasted on boys,’ declared Clem.
‘That is a seriously sexist statement. However, it is also accurate. Some days, Mum wouldn’t serve food until everyone had had a shower.’
Clem laughed some more and passed a plate of canapés to Rory.
‘So who are all your brothers then and what do they do?’
‘There’s Hector, he’s an architect; Callum helps me on the farm; Thomas is a solicitor down in London; John is currently cycling across Kurdistan, and Jamie is rock climbing in the Dolomites.’
Clem counted through the names, and Rory realised he’d missed one.
‘You said you had seven brothers?’
Rory took a deep sigh and poured Clem another glass of champagne.
‘Rabbie. He’s a whole other conversation.’
Clem sensed his discomfort and took pity. God knows, she understood the need for family secrets.
‘So I assume you are the eldest?’
Rory arched his eyebrow. ‘Because…?’
‘Because you’re so bossy and you expect everyone to do exactly what you say.’
‘I think that’s a rather uncharitable thing to say. I am not bossy.’
‘You are so. You have that air. People notice you when you enter a room and wait to see what you will say. They lean in. And when you do make a suggestion, you don’t even check to see if it’s done. That first night in the pub with the sheep, you were instantly in charge. Same again the following day. And all day today, you say something and those listening nod their heads.’
‘That’s just running things in an orderly fashion.’
‘You could just let people make up their own minds.’
‘But why, when I already know the solution?’
‘To let people learn?’
‘That’s all well and good, but sometimes the most efficient thing to do is to just get on with it.’
‘See. Bossy.’
‘You’re just a troublemaker. Clearly not the eldest in your brood?’
As the pair of them chatted about families, the food was removed and the floor was cleared for dancing. Ollie took Mari’s hand and led her onto the dancefloor. As Rory and Clem watched, Rory leant over to Clem and commented.
‘They’ll make a good match; she’s a lovely lass and he has a good business and stability to offer her.’
Clem snorted inelegantly. ‘Yeah, because that’s what every lass looks for when she falls in love, financial security. How romantic.’
‘It might not be a factor if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but for a lot of women they are grateful for the solid stability that a sound financial basis can offer.’
Clem rolled her eyes. ‘No silver spoon, remember? We were the black sheep of the family. But no, I think when it comes to knowing what women want, I’ll be the better judge of it than you.’
‘I like to think that what I can offer a wife will be more than desirable.’
‘Says the single man!’ grinned Clem, although honestly, she had no idea why he wasn’t married. He was incredible to look at and he seemed to have a lovely personality as well. Maybe it was him that was fussy, but she decided to tease him, nonetheless. ‘And at your age as well. You’d think they’d be lining up for your solid offering.’
‘I have been busy,’ he said with a slightly defensive tone.
‘Busy being solid and dependable. Is that a lot of fun?’
‘We can’t all run around making dresses and playing in classes.’
Clem took in a deep breath. ‘That is completely harsh!’
‘Oh but painting me as a “Solid and dependable Old McDonald” wasn’t?’ asked Rory with a raised eyebrow.
Dammit, thought Clem, this was one of those many occasions where the conversation was getting out of her control. She had only meant to tease Rory and had ended up offending him.
‘I wasn’t being rude!’
‘No, it sounded positively gushing.’ But Rory smiled and took the sting out of his words. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t propose to me on the spot.’
‘You’d be lucky,’ laughed Clem, and she jumped up to join some of the other dancers. Rory watched after her as she continued laughing, singing along with the others and waving her arms in time to the music.
As he watched her, he spoke softly to himself, ‘Yes. I think I would be.’
***
As the party moved on to the dance floor, people were laughing and twirling, until the band took over from the DJ and the caller stood and announced the first dance would be somewhat modified given the bride’s limited capacity. All couples formed a corridor facing their partners and then each pair would dance and promenade down between the corridor of dancers. Naturally, Mari and Ollie led the procession. Just as Ollie gently spun Mari for the first time, she suddenly stopped and buckled over. The music and the dancing screeched to a halt as Mari’s gasp of pain filled the silence. Ollie held her hand as she groaned in agony, panting deeply. Then as quickly as it had started it passed, and gradually she stood upright and smiled sheepishly at the worried crowd.
‘I think I’m about to have the baby!’
Clem looked at her in horror and before she could engage her brain her mouth jumped in.
‘Not in my dress!’
‘Bo!’ shouted Rory, amused and exasperated.
Clem looked at everyone’s astonished faces and realised that that might not have been the best thing to say, even if she one hundred per cent meant it.
‘I mean “Congratulations!”’ she shouted out with a big cheer, and everyone laughed. ‘Now, shall I call an ambulance?’
Mari grinned at Clem. ‘Would that be okay? Oh bloody hell.’
She broke off and started to breathe deeply, grimacing as she tightened her hand around her husband’s. Ollie tucked her hair behind her ear as he whispered softly to her, unfazed by the fact that his knuckles were as white as hers.
‘Ollie,’ called out Rory, ‘my car is by the exit. I’m not blocked in and I haven’t been drinking. Help Mari get to it. We’ll be in hospital before an ambulance can get here.’
‘Change of venue everyone,’ panted Mari weakly, ‘thanks Rory.’
As they headed to the car, Rory grabbed Clem and Louise. ‘You two with me. If Mari gives birth along the way, you can help your sister and Bo, you can try and save the dress.’
***
The five of them pulled up at the emergency department that had been warned to expect them, and Mari was whisked away by waiting midwives with Ollie walking alongside. Clem, Louise and Rory sat down in the deserted waiting room.
‘What now?’ said Clem.
‘Now we wait,’ said Louise, and Clem felt instantly contrite. Here she was, worried about a stupid dress when this girl’s sister was about to face the biggest challenge of her life, without her sister by her side.
‘She’ll be fine. I promise.’ Rory made to say something but Clem hushed him and continued. ‘My sister had twins and she’s a rake. The body knows what it’s doing and that little one will come out dancing. Mari said that to me a few months back and it looks like she was bang on the money.’
Soon the waiting room began to fill up with more of the wedding party. Some had smuggled in a few bottles of fizz and were now distributing paper cups from the water dispenser.
‘We need music!’ cried Mari’s father.
‘No, you don’t,’ called out one of the nurses. But there was no real censure in her voice. It was a quiet night. They hadn’t seen a soul all evening and it was lovely to have a waiting room full of happy people for once.
‘How about a song?’ asked Clem.
‘A song will be fine,’ replied the nurse to the cheers of the room.
‘Okay I’ll go first,’ said Clem, ‘join in if you know it.’ And then she proceeded to tell them all about ‘Paddy McGinty’s Goat’ with everyone singing along at the chorus. Clem moved on to ‘The Rattling Tree’ another of her dad’s favourites, and then gave the floor over to Rory, who sang a song that went back and forth between different groups in the room. Even the nurses joined in.
A lovely deep bass voice rang out loudly with the final line and everyone turned towards the new voice. Dr McFarlane stood in the corridor and smiled at the assembled room.
‘Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I do love a good singsong.’
Everyone stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.
‘Mari and Ollie have a beautiful bonny boy and both mother and baby are in good health.’
The crowd cheered and it took a bit of shouting before Dr McFarlane could get them to pay attention again.
‘Now, they are looking forward to seeing you all, but not together, please, in the morning. John and Louise, if you want to come through?’ He smiled at Mari’s sister and father. ‘Oh and I have this.’
He held up a large linen sack.
‘Apparently someone is quite concerned about the dress?’
Once again, the room cheered and Clem had to accept a lot of mickey taking, which she did with good grace, but she didn’t let go of the bag.
‘Come on then,’ said Rory as he came over to her, ‘I’ll take you home.’
Clem was suddenly overwhelmed with a confusing sense of euphoria. She was sure it was the champagne and the good news, but something about Rory’s presence made her blood fizzy. A small part of her brain reminded her that she didn’t have time for a highland fling. Her last relationship had been a disaster, so she shouldn’t rush into anything, especially when she was sozzled. Besides which, he was far too sensible for her. She took in a deep breath.
‘Taxi. I am getting a taxi.’
Rory looked at her closely. ‘No, no you’re not.’
Honestly, thought Clem, that just proved her opinion of him as a bossy, sensible, know-it-all was right. She drew in another deep breath. Just how much had she had to drink? Nevertheless, she continued to try and make her point.
‘Yes, I am, actually. I have the number here,’ and she pulled out the card for a local taxi driver from her handbag with a flourish. ‘See, I am all prepared.’
‘Alan’s Cabs,’ mused Rory, looking around until he saw who he was looking for. ‘See that chap over there, the one that Sheila is helping out through the doors?’
Rory pointed to a man who had just walked into a glass wall and then reversing, apologised to a wastebin.
‘That’s Alan.’
Clem looked at her taxi driver in annoyance. She didn’t have a Plan B, and it seemed that even her Plan A hadn’t been properly thought out. If she had booked ahead, she’d have discovered he wasn’t available. Her head was swimming and her blood was fizzy, and Rory was incredibly handsome and strong and in control. Oh to hell with that little voice in her head.
‘Well then, you’d best drive me home after all.’
***
As Rory’s Land Rover pulled up in front of Ruacoddy, he got out of the car and walked around to help the singing and giggling Clem down from the seat. There was no way he wanted to be responsible for her falling flat on her face. As he opened the door, he looked at her small face, framed with her unruly red curls, relaxed with booze and happiness and thought how much her silly songs cheered him up. Before he knew it, she leant forward and kissed him on the lips, and for a second, he wanted to kiss her back as ardently as she had kissed him. Instead, he lifted her down and placed her carefully on the ground. He smiled, remembering the last time he had done that in the snow and she had been so angry at him. Now she was looking up at him like an offended maiden aunt.
‘What? No return kiss. Am not I worthy of a night-good kiss?’
Looking down at her swaying, with her hands on her hips and her upturned face, Rory was sorely tempted but he stepped back from her.
‘I don’t kiss drunk lasses, not when I am sober.’
‘How dare you! I’m not sober! I mean.’ Clem paused, trying to work out what she meant and lost her train of thought as she looked up at the stars. ‘Scotland is lovely, isn’t it?’
Rory laughed. ‘It is very lovely. Everything I am looking at right now is very lovely.’ And gently pushing her in the direction of her front door, he got into his car, only pulling away when he saw that she was safely inside.
Humming ‘Flower of Scotland’ to himself, he drove home, thinking that was probably the finest wedding he had ever attended and wondering why he was always driving away from Clem.