EPILOGUE ~ ABBY ~ TWO MONTHS LATER #2
Over the last two months, I’ve been learning to embrace the uncertainty of not having every moment planned.
Living this way means I’m open to anything, whether it’s random ice cream dates, pints in a pub, rainy days spent wandering in museums or bookstores, or classes like the perfume-making workshop Nancy and I attended a couple of weeks ago.
Last weekend, Graeme and I picked up Fern for a spontaneous road trip that led us south, where Graeme suggested we head into England to visit Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum.
It’s a beautiful feeling knowing that whatever we do and wherever we go, we’ll have fun because we’re together.
“Let’s see where the day takes us,” I say.
* * *
GRAEME
Orange and purple clouds streak across the sky as the sun sinks toward the horizon. Abby stands with her back to me, camera raised as she looks out over the city. I lift my phone and capture an image of the woman I love, cast in a pink and gold glow, and framed by the city that stole her heart.
I move closer when she lowers her camera. “Surveying our kingdom?”
She pivots to face me. The sight of her sweet smile hits me square in the chest. I’ll never grow tired of that smile or the sparkle in her brown eyes, just as neither of us will ever get tired of the view of this picture-perfect city.
Her smile wobbles as she casts a glance around.
“My last night in Edinburgh all those years ago was so bittersweet. I loved the idea of this being our kingdom, but it didn’t feel real.
Even this past April when we all came up here, it felt fleeting.
Now, though...” She looks past me again, this time to where Brodie, Drew, and Fern are sitting on a blanket in the grass.
“Now it feels real. Like you’re my king and I’m your queen, and this really is our kingdom. ”
“We even live in a tower,” I say, and she laughs.
I wrap my arm around her, and we turn to watch the sun’s slow descent.
Despite all the people around us, I can make out my brother’s voice behind us, followed by the sound of Drew’s laughter.
They’ve only been here for a few days, but their arrival felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place.
I don’t for a moment expect life to always be easy, but now that we’re all here where we belong, I’m certain we can get through anything together.
“You know how you suggested I wait the full six months before applying for a visa?” Abby asks suddenly.
“Aye.” Once she made up her mind to stay, she wanted to apply for a visa straight away so she could get a job.
I convinced her to settle into life here and make sure she would be truly happy in Scotland before making any big decisions.
She agreed—although she assured me she would be staying, no matter what—and dove into a few freelance editing jobs.
“I was thinking of getting the ball rolling. Now that Drew and Brodie are here, our family feels complete. Well, at least until they have start having kids.”
“We’re going to be the world’s best aunt and uncle,” I say, kissing her temple.
“We really are. Between us and your parents, Drew and Brodie’s future offspring will be spoiled rotten.
” She laughs to herself, no doubt picturing it just like I am.
She turns to face me fully, resting her hands on my chest. “Anyway, I realized without a visa, being here still feels temporary in a way, and I want it to be official.”
“I understand that. I’ve been looking into it myself because I was curious about the UK Family Visa. It seems as if the Ancestry Visa is quicker and easier, though, so I think you should stick with that.”
“What’s the Family Visa?” she asks.
“For spouses, when one is from here.”
“Oh. Ohh.” Her eyebrows are high on her forehead, but I can’t read her expression.
“That’s what you’ll get eventually, I’d imagine.
We have time to figure all that out, though.
” Without taking my eyes from hers, I drop my hand behind my back and make the signal Brodie and I agreed on earlier.
“But I do understand you wanting the visa and having a legal right to live and work here. Just like I know how badly I want you to be an official member of the Clan MacKinlay.”
Abby’s gaze darts over my shoulder. I follow her line of sight to where Drew and Fern are standing with their arms around each other and tears shining in their eyes. Brodie is beside them with his phone aimed at us.
“What...?” The rest of the words die on Abby’s lips as confusion morphs into understanding. “Graeme.”
I drop to one knee in front of her. In the seconds before my focus narrows solely on her, I hear the murmur of excited voices and laughter around us.
I never imagined making such a private moment public in this way, but I wanted to propose on Calton Hill with our best friends present.
Unfortunately, it’s July in a city full of tourists, and there’s no avoiding other people.
Abby doesn’t seem to notice. Her teary eyes are trained on me, and that wobbly smile has returned. If the way she grips my shoulders tightly is any indication, her smile isn’t the only thing that’s wobbling.
“Abigail Dawn Morton, you’ve made me the happiest man in Scotland.
The only thing that could make me happier would be having you as my wife.
” I put my hand in my pocket and brush my beloved Granny’s ring.
I asked my parents for it last month, and Mum sobbed tears of joy, both then and when she gave it to me yesterday after holding onto it for safe-keeping.
“I’ve loved you for the last sixteen years, and I plan to love you for the next sixteen, and the sixteen beyond that, and all the years we have left together on this earth,” I continue.
Abby’s fingers are digging into my shoulders with bruising force, but they fly to cover her mouth when I pull the ring from my pocket. “Will you marry me, a ghràidh?”
Her hands fall to my shoulders again a second before she surprises me by dropping to her knees in front of me. “There’s nothing I want more than for us to belong to each other forever, Graeme.”
I take her shaking hand in mine and slip the ring on her finger. Giddy laughter spills from her lips as she studies it, turning it so the last of the dying sunlight reflects off the diamonds.
“This was my grandmother’s ring,” I tell her. “It seemed like a fitting choice since you’ll be joining a long line of formidable MacKinlay women.” I stand and help her up, pulling her into my arms and right off her feet.
As she laughs again and peppers my face with kisses, cheers erupt behind us. Abby gasps when I turn us to face the assembled crowd of strangers behind Brodie, Drew, and Fern. Some of them have phones and cameras aimed in our direction, while others are clapping and wiping away tears.
Our friends rush forward, offering congratulations as they hug and kiss us. Drew takes Abby’s hand to inspect the ring, even though I showed it to her and Brodie earlier today.
“It’s gorgeous,” she says. “It suits you. And Abby MacKinlay has such a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“Maybe I should change my name so I’ll be a MacKinlay too,” Fern says. “I don’t want to be the only non-MacKinlay in The Crew.”
“Our parents would happily adopt you,” Brodie says.
I tune out their chatter as I focus once more on Abby. My fiancée. We stare at each other, our grins growing wider by the second.
“Mum and Dad are waiting to take us all out for celebratory drinks,” Drew says, waving her phone and catching our attention.
I take Abby’s hand, lifting it to brush a kiss across her knuckles. “Let’s go celebrate with our people and then return home to celebrate just the two of us.”
“I like the sound of that.” Her gaze sweeps over my face, her eyes reflecting the glow of the sunset.
She looks at her ring, then at our waiting friends before casting one last glance over the city.
Her shoulders lift and fall in a contented sigh.
The love that shines in her eyes when she looks at Edinburgh pales in comparison to the unmistakable adoration and joy written across her face when her gaze returns to me.
Abby looks at me as if I’m her home. I couldn’t ask for more than that.