20. Chapter 20
Mom and Dad stood waiting for us at the airport pickup zone, suitcases at their feet.
We threw our arms around them, breathing in the familiar scents of Dad’s aftershave and Mom’s lavender hand cream.
Mom had on her signature yellow rain gear—a slicker and those rubber boots that always reminded me of puddle-jumping in elementary school.
Dad looked like he’d stepped out of a business meeting and straight onto the plane—pressed slacks, crisp shirt, jacket perfectly aligned at the shoulders.
Caitlin’s cheeks were flushed with excitement. “I can’t believe you’re finally here!”
“I can’t believe you’re getting married!” said Mom. “We can’t wait to see the wedding venue!”
“We can’t wait to show you! It’s a long story, but it’s ours for the wedding,” I said. “If you want, we can drive you there straightaway.”
Dad raised an eyebrow. “Straightaway? You’re already picking up the lingo.”
“I guess I am,” I said, shrugging.
Mom wrapped Caitlin in another hug while Dad admired her ring, tilting it to catch the light. “Just stunning,” he whispered.
We piled into the rental car with Caitlin behind the wheel. Her knuckles were white as she maneuvered through Inverness traffic. “Sorry!” she called each time we lurched around a roundabout, Dad clutching the door handle.
After twenty minutes of winding roads hugging the loch’s edge, the MacAlister Inn came into view—stone walls and a slate roof perched on a hillside, with the banks of Loch Ness below and Urquhart Castle’s ruins visible in the distance.
We found parking easily. Since all of the non-local film crew had packed their bags and headed back to LA, the inn now had plenty of rooms. We helped Mom and Dad with their bags and stepped into the lobby.
It really was a perfect setting. Brick and stone and wood, with lots of wide-open spaces, broken up by antique wooden furniture and blue plaid accents.
Three fireplaces—in the corner, the dining room, and the bar—made the inn feel warm and inviting.
I noticed there was only one small TV in the bar area, unlike the overstimulating sports bars so common back home.
I hoisted Mom’s suitcase up the narrow staircase and glanced back over my shoulder. “Do you want to get settled in your room, and we can meet for lunch downstairs? Caitlin and I can start making lists, and you can join in the planning when you’re ready.”
We sat down for lunch in the MacAlister Inn bar.
My parents arrived first. Mom was dressed as if she’d just stepped onto a reality show set in a Scottish castle—plaid blazer, matching slacks, hair perfectly styled.
Was she expecting to meet with royalty today?
Dad had changed into a navy blue sweater and khakis.
Caitlin appeared in the doorway, freezing when she spotted us, her eyes glistening.
“Are you all right?” asked Mom.
Caitlin’s voice wavered as she joined us.
“It just means the world, seeing you all together like this. Angus and I first sang here in this room, over there by the fireplace. There was a terrible snowstorm, and everyone was stranded here for Hogmanay. The staff couldn’t make it in, so Angus and Drew, the inn’s owner, stepped in to keep things running.
” Caitlin shook her head with a fond smile at the memory.
“They cooked breakfast and organized entertainment for all the guests, and somehow we wound up playing an acoustic set.”
“And that was the first time Angus shared a mic since…,” I said quietly, stopping when Caitlin looked eager to change the subject.
Right on cue, Angus strolled in wearing a Fair Isle sweater and jeans, grinning as usual.
“Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery! What a pleasure!” He embraced my parents with the familiarity of old friends before turning to Caitlin. Her face softened as he bent down and kissed her.
Caitlin gestured to the empty chair beside her while filling a glass from the water pitcher. “Perfect timing.”
She straightened the silverware in front of her. “Now, let’s talk about wedding details! Abby’s agreed to be our planner. After handling events with hundreds of guests, our modest gathering of just one hundred should be a breeze for her.”
Dad’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “And how many of those hundred will be Montgomerys?” His hand instinctively patted his wallet pocket.
Caitlin carefully composed herself. “That’s the thing.
There will be the four of us, of course, Aunt Sarah, and Jen and her family.
Some friends from high school and college are coming too.
Then there’s Melissa, who already lives here, her boyfriend Colin, Colin’s sister Lindsay, and Lindsay’s boyfriend Drew, who is also Angus’s best friend.
And I’d love to invite Colin and Lindsay’s dad, Sandy, and his new wife, Margaret. ”
“That sounds like a small wedding,” Dad said.
“And then Angus’s friends and family, of course,” said Caitlin, worry shadowing her face.
Mom and Dad exchanged one of those silent married-people looks.
I could practically see the math happening behind their eyes—thousands of dollars for a wedding where they’d know almost no one, plus another reception back home for all our relatives who couldn’t make it to Scotland.
Their retirement fund was about to take a serious hit.
Before they could say anything, Caitlin leaned forward. “So we were thinking of trying something a little less traditional…”
Angus continued for her. “Most of the people attending the actual wedding here in Scotland will be on my side. My family’s quite keen to host the celebration here, with your blessing of course.”
Dad quickly began to protest, but Caitlin cut him off.
“Dad, you and Mom can host a reception back home instead. We’d rather not burden you with hosting duties at the actual wedding.
When we have the Boston celebration, the out-of-town guests can stay with you, we’ll do breakfast that morning, and then have the party at the Iron Brew. ”
“Oh. That would be lovely,” Mom said, looking over at Dad and nodding to get his agreement.
Dad gave a tight nod, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “Great idea.”
Dad cleared his throat and straightened his posture slightly. “Well, that seems like a reasonable arrangement,” he said, reaching for his glass of water.
“Okay, so now that that’s out of the way. Angus and Caitlin have already chosen the menu.” I slid the menu across the table to my mother, whose eyes lit up as she scanned the offerings.
“Drew has offered an open bar as his wedding gift,” said Angus.
Caitlin’s jaw dropped. “No!”
“Yes!” Angus grinned back. “And we’ll be sure there are taxis available for guests who need them.”
“What about ribbons, table cloths, flowers, and cake?” asked Mom.
“Lindsay will make the cake. Melissa knows a great florist. We were thinking of thistle bouquets,” I replied.
“You want to carry weeds down the aisle?” asked Dad.
“Thistle is an important Scottish flower,” said Caitlin. “It symbolizes resilience, protection, and pride.”
Angus opened his phone to some photos he’d saved from wedding websites. “Something like this. White flowers, thistle, baby’s breath, and some other purple flowers.”
Mom raised an eyebrow. “Purple? I thought you were a blue girl through and through.”
“We’re going with the Scotland Forever tartan colors,” Caitlin explained.
I was already pulling up images on my phone. The tartan’s rich purples and blues against the dark background made my heart skip. “Oh wow, look at this! It’s perfect for you two.”
“I’m glad you approve,” said Caitlin with a grin.
Angus shifted in his seat. “My Mum wondered about a church ceremony,” he said.
There was an awkward silence as we waited for Caitlin to respond.
“Were you thinking of holding just the reception here?” she asked him.
“I wasn’t thinking that, but that’s what they were thinking.” Angus looked a little defeated.
I started thinking about the logistics. “Then we’d need transportation. We’d need to meet with a minister or priest…” I realized I didn’t even know what religion Angus’s family was.
“When did this come up?” asked Caitlin.
Angus raked a hand through his hair. “This morning. Mum pointed out this would be the first wedding in the family to not take place in the church where we were all baptized. It’s… just something she thought of.”
Sydney walked into the bar. “Hey, everyone!”
She passed out hugs and sat down. “So how’s the planning going?”
Caitlin looked at Angus, and Angus sighed. “It’s brilliant. We nearly have everything sorted. The only problem is… Mum wants a church wedding.”
Sydney didn’t bat an eyelash. “Mum had a church wedding. I’ve seen the photographs. It was lovely.”
Angus laughed. “You know what I mean.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Aye, I do. But this is your wedding. And Caitlin’s. And it sounds like you’ve dreamed of an outdoor wedding at the MacAlister Inn with the reception here afterwards. So I think that’s what you should do.”
Angus took a deep breath. “It’s definitely what I want to do. But you know how Mum is.”
Sydney laughed. “I know very well how Mum is. Why do you think I waited until I was twenty years old and already at uni before I came out to her?”
She leaned forward, her voice dropping. “You know what I’m up against if Elspeth and I ever want to get married.
Even if new laws don’t block us, there’ll still be people refusing us service, venues turning us away, relatives sending back their RSVPs with little notes about sin.
” She reached across the table and squeezed Angus’s wrist. “You blazed the trail, big brother. Every argument with Mum and Dad about curfews, every detention slip they had to sign—it all wore them down for me. So please, fight for your outdoor wedding with this Yank of yours.”
She flashed an exaggerated wink at Caitlin. “Because otherwise, Elspeth’s making plans for a midnight elopement to avoid the whole bloody mess.”
The tension dissolved as we shared a laugh, and Angus reached across the table to pull Sydney into a clumsy, heartfelt embrace.