Chapter 20 #3
To everyone’s surprise, Jake came barreling out of the tower chamber entrance to the hall, his usual sleeping chamber, carrying Aline cradled in his arms. Aunt Jennie followed him out.
The entire group stopped to stare. Jennie hurried over to kiss Alex on the cheek.
“Oh, dear brother, this is quite a day for you.”
She chuckled and patted his shoulder as he stared in excitement at Aline.
Jennie reached up to close his mouth. “She’s a wee bit closer than Caralyn thought. It could be three bairns born on this day.”
Roddy said, “I thought she was sick for the last moon.”
His father chuckled. “Had to keep the secret, lad, though ’twasn’t easy.”
Jennie laughed. “Nay, Aline was just carrying a big belly around that she was doing her best to hide in large gowns.”
Jake grinned at his brother and Finlay. “We only kept her in hiding so we wouldn’t have to listen to you two. ’Twas her choice to stay away from both of you over the last moon. But I could not be more pleased we handled it this way and no one suspected. We’ll see who has the first laddie.”
He carried his wife up the stairs, his shoulders squared, and his deep laugh echoed across the hall.
Finlay and Jamie both ran over to hang onto the railing as Jake carried his wife up the stairs.
“You hid it?”
“You were so afraid of us that you could not tell anyone?”
Jake slowed a bit to reply. “Aye, Aline didn’t want you arguing with us about whether we’ll have a lad or lassie. We do not care what we have.”
A loud boom caught all their attentions. “Lads!” Alex shouted, having just stomped his foot on the floor. “Give the mothers-to-be some peace, please.”
Finlay and Jamie both shrunk back from the stair railing. Jamie blushed a bit and whispered, “My apologies, Aline.”
Aline replied with a long moan, her hands clenched in fists across her belly. “Hurry, Jake. I know Aunt Jennie wanted us all upstairs together since it seems we’re going to have our bairns on the same day, but you need to make haste or I’ll have our bairn on the staircase.
Jake traveled the rest of the way up the stairs, taking Aline to a chamber off to the right. Finlay and Kyla were to the far left with Jamie and Gracie’s chamber in the middle.
Jennie checked on Kyla first, then emerged long enough to lean over the railing.
“Things are progressing well. Maddie and Caralyn have everything under control.”
She moved down to Gracie’s room, then came back out to give them another update.
“Gracie is also progressing well. Brenna and Ashlyn have everything under control. I’m going to stay with Aline. Celestina, would you mind assisting me?”
Celestina jumped with delight. “I’d love to.”
Moments later, Jake came flying down the stairs and charged over to Jamie and Finlay, the two of them still arguing.
He gave Jamie a shove and said, “And that is why Aline and I kept it a secret. I didn’t wish for my wife to have to listen to you two. Lad or lassie, I’ll love both, though I’m quite sure we’ll have the first laddie.”
“Hellfire, Jake, that was underhanded,” Finlay ran his hand through his dark red hair, sweat dotting his brow. “I didn’t know I had to worry about both of you. One is hard enough.”
Alex sat down in his chair and allowed the banter to continue for a few moments, before he finally ground out, “You’re all fools.”
In unison, the three fathers-to-be repeated, “What?”
“Why?” Jake asked, bewilderment clear on his face.
“Because your wee wives are up there working harder than they ever have, and you three are down here acting like having a bairn is naught. If you truly wished to show your wife respect, you’d be by her side mopping her brow and holding her hand. I never missed one of my children’s births.”
The three young men exchanged glances and then took off toward the staircase at the same exact time, shoving at one another along the way.
Brodie said, “They’ll never survive this, Alex.”
It was the longest night Alex had ever been through, though the joyous laughter abounded in the great hall and there was much ale consumed.
He was nearly as nervous as his wee wife, though he’d never admit it to anyone.
Six. He had six clan members to worry about.
Three new ones and three lassies giving birth.
At one point, Rose sighed and said, “I just love Clan Grant, husband. They all love each other so much, though they show it in different ways.”
Finally, about three hours later, Celestina came out of Jake and Aline’s chamber and announced, “It’s a wee laddie!”
The door at the opposite end opened and Maddie came out, leaned over the railing and said, “’Tis a laddie!”
Amid the applause and celebration, the third door opened and Ashlyn came out of the chamber, her face tear-stained. “’Tis a wee laddie.”
Alex’s voice came out as a shout above the others. “Brenna, Caralyn, Jennie!”
All three healers stepped out and Brenna, in the middle of the other two, asked, “What is it, Alex?”
“Which one was first?”
The entire hall turned silent in an instant, awaiting her answer.
Brenna looked at Jennie, who said, “I’d say five minutes ago.”
Caralyn shrugged her shoulders. “I’d say the same.”
Brenna nodded to the group. “There you have it. All three lads were born at exactly the same time. You’ll have to deal with it, Alex. They’re all your grandsons.” The three healers returned to their chambers to finish their work.
Nothing was said in the hall, everyone waiting for Alex to speak and declare who was his first descendant of the next generation, but he never did.
Jake flew out of his room declaring, “Our laddie was first.”
Jamie must have heard him, for he bolted out of his chamber. “Our laddie is the firstborn.”
The door of Kyla and Finlay’s chamber opened, and Maddie and Caralyn, assisted by a maid, dragged Finlay out of the chamber. They left him there on the balcony above the hall. Maddie leaned over the edge and said, “Nicol, come get your son. He fainted.”
Alex beamed with pride. The crowd around him all awaited his pronouncement. “I couldn’t have planned it any better than nature, and I never argue with her.”
He ran a hand through his thick hair and said, “Three laddies all born at the exact same time. What a blessing!”
***
And so the story was told for generation after generation.
Alasdair, dark-haired son of Jake (John) Grant and Aline Carron.
Elshander, fair-haired son of Jamie (James) Grant and Gracie Grant, and
Alick, fire-haired son of Kyla Grant and Finlay MacNicol.
All three were born on the same day, at the same exact time, all descendants of the renowned Alexander Grant, the finest swordsman in all the land.
When their time comes, the three shall lead Clan Grant together to be one of the strongest clans in Scottish history.
Highland Devotion
Gregor and Linet