A Highland Family Affair (Highlands #3)

Chapter 14

14

Olivia stood under the stream of hot water in the shower, daydreaming about Brodie’s quirky, but oh-so-romantic proposal. She had tried to guess on many occasions how it would come about but the actual event was nothing like any of the scenarios she had imagined. After going through the emotional and physical abuse that his ex-wife Mags had subjected him to, she admired him for being willing to give marriage another chance and was so honoured that he had entrusted her with his heart. She knew from deep within herself that she could never hurt him and it was clear that he knew that too.

She was a little concerned about her mother’s wedding dress and whether it had been rescued from the part of the attic where the leak had sprung in the roof; something that she couldn’t possibly know until she took herself up there to look. All she could do was hope.

‘Morag has brought us a breakfast tray,’ Brodie told her from the doorway to the en suite. ‘She said as a newly engaged couple she thought we might prefer that to joining the other guests in the dining room.’

‘That’s sweet of her. I’m famished,’ Olivia replied, realising her stomach was growling. She turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around herself before wrapping another around her hair.

Brodie had placed the tray on the bed and the smell of fresh coffee and pastries infiltrated her nostrils, reminding her that she had been too excited to eat the night before.

Once breakfast was finished and Olivia had got ready, they left the guest house and headed along the road towards the police station. Harris’s bike was parked outside, as was Fifi, Bella’s ancient red Citro?n 2CV. A wave of excitement came over her as they approached the door of the little white-painted house that had been built on to the side of the police station when the former bothy was converted fairly recently.

Olivia pressed the camera doorbell on the front door and waited. She heard a squeal and thunderous footsteps running from another part of the house and then the door was flung open. Bella launched herself at Olivia, almost knocking her from her feet.

‘Oh my God, you’re actually here!’ Bella yelled excitedly, hugging Olivia tightly. ‘When I saw you on my doorbell camera I thought I was hallucinating! But you’re actually here, in person! On Skye!’ She turned to Brodie and hugged him. ‘Thank you so much for coming! Come in, come in!’

Bella gripped Olivia’s hand and they followed her inside. The entrance hall of the house was still a blank canvas with magnolia walls and scant artwork, but Olivia reminded herself that Bella hadn’t been here quite long enough yet to put her stamp on the place.

‘Welcome to our humble abode. Harris is on his way back from picking Isla up to bring her and Maeve down for a visit and some lunch so you couldn’t have timed it any better.’

‘So Harris isn’t working today?’ Brodie asked brightly.

‘Nope. PC Cain is on duty just now.’ She grinned at Olivia and hugged her again. ‘I’m just checking you’re really here and I’m not dreaming.’

‘You’re not dreaming, and we have news.’

Bella pulled away and instinctively picked up Olivia’s left hand. She gasped. ‘No way!’ She pulled her into yet another hug. ‘Absolutely amazing!’ She then hugged Brodie. ‘It’s about time, MacLeod!’

‘I know, I know, I just wanted everything to be perfect.’

Olivia sighed dreamily. ‘And it was, Bells. You should see the painting he commissioned from Reid Mackinnon.’ She took out her phone and showed Bella a photo she had taken of the painting.

Bella took the phone and examined the screen. ‘Oh, Brodie,’ she said as tears welled in her eyes. ‘This is beautiful. What an incredibly thoughtful thing to do. It’s wonderful to see you on your wedding day with your mum and dad,’ she said with a waver to her voice. ‘And you in that dress, Liv. You look just like your mum in her wedding photos.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s uncanny. I’m so happy for you guys.’ She hugged them both tightly again.

Bella made fresh coffee and showed them through to the small but cosy lounge. A stone hearth with a large gnarled oak mantle beam took up most of one wall and two tan leather chesterfield sofas faced each other at either side. The floor was made of thick oak planks, but a large gold-coloured rug covered the majority of it. A real Christmas tree stood in one corner of the room complete with warm white twinkling lights and traditional ornaments in red, green and gold. It was a very homely room and appeared to be the only one that Bella had put her design skills to work in so far.

‘So, when are you getting married then? Have you already got a date planned?’

‘I think April or May would be good,’ Brodie said, squeezing Olivia’s knee.

Bella widened her eyes. ‘Wow, that doesn’t give you much time. It’s only five months away.’

Olivia shrugged. ‘The bonus of having our own wedding venue, I suppose. There are no weddings booked in for May yet so it could definitely work. You’ll be a bridesmaid, though, won’t you?’

‘Try and stop me! Right, I had better get it on my phone’s calendar. Let me know as soon as possible what date in May. But I’m making zero plans for the whole month until I know,’ Bella said with a grin, picking up her phone from a side table.

The door to the house opened and voices could be heard. ‘I’ve never believed JFK’s shooter was in the book suppository though,’ Isla could be heard saying. ‘All the documentaries have got it wrong in my opinion.’

‘Oh, God, it sounds like they’ve been watching the JFK documentary that was on last night,’ Bella said. ‘Suppository, pfft .’ She giggled.

‘I still think it was an inside job,’ Maeve replied. ‘He had such a nice head of hair too, JFK.’

‘He did indeed, Maeve. Such a shame, even after all these years.’

As the two octogenarians rounded the corner into the living room, Isla’s eyes widened. ‘Olivia! Brodie! What a lovely surprise.’ Both of them stood and hugged the purple-haired matriarch.

‘You’re looking as effervescent as ever, Isla,’ Brodie told her as he kissed both cheeks.

‘Why, thank you, young man, you can visit again,’ Isla replied with a pat to her hair. ‘Maeve, you remember Lady MacBain and Brodie, don’t you? From the castle?’

‘Oh, I do. It’s lovely to see you again,’ Maeve said as she shook hands with both of them.

Isla pointed to Olivia’s hand. ‘And what’s that I see on your finger, Olivia? Does this mean what I think it means?’

Olivia held up her hand excitedly. ‘Well spotted, Isla. Brodie popped the question yesterday and I said yes.’

Isla clapped her hands together. ‘Wonderful! I love a good wedding. I hope I’m invited!’

‘Granny! That’s a bit rude,’ Bella said with a giggle. ‘You should wait to be invited.’

Isla rolled her eyes. ‘Och, away with you, Olivia knows me well enough to know I don’t pull any horses.’

‘I think you mean punches, Granny.’

Isla’s nose crumpled. ‘Why would I punch horses?’

Bella pursed her lips. ‘Never mind.’

Harris called from the hallway. ‘I’m here, sorry about that, got sidetracked by Caitlin dropping the cakes off.’ He walked into the living room holding two white cardboard cake boxes and his eyes brightened. ‘Hi, you two! What a brilliant surprise.’ He shook Brodie’s hand and hugged Olivia. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you when I got home. Did you know they were coming, Bella?’

‘Not a clue. Total surprise,’ Bella told him. ‘But they’re engaged!’

Harris grinned and placed the cake boxes down on the oak coffee table. ‘Well done, pal,’ he said as he hugged Brodie and slapped his back. ‘And Olivia, congratulations on bagging this ugly lout.’ He kissed her cheek.

Once the tea and cakes had been consumed, Bella disappeared to the kitchen and returned a few moments later with a tray, and on it stood a bottle of champagne and glasses. ‘I knew we’d have an opportunity to crack this baby open soon,’ she said, placing the tray on the coffee table.

Harris popped the cork and poured the fizzing liquid into the glasses before handing them out. ‘To Olivia and Brodie!’ he announced, holding his glass aloft.

‘To Olivia and Brodie,’ the rest of them said in unison.

‘Oof, the bubbles have gone up my nose!’ Isla said with a giggle. ‘I’ll be getting arrested for being drunk and other-worldly at this rate! Eh, Harris?’

‘We’re used to you being spaced out, Isla,’ Harris replied with a chuckle and no attempt to correct her.

Later that day, Olivia video-called Harper at work.

‘Hey, Liv, how are you doing? I miss you,’ Harper said, smiling into the camera.

‘I miss you too. But I’m great, thanks. Better than great, actually!’

Harper narrowed her eyes. ‘Spill it, MacBain. I can tell there’s something.’

Olivia simply held a ringed finger up to the camera and Harper squealed and suddenly there was a crowd of people behind her, Nina included. Everyone shouted their congratulations; the screen was filled with smiling faces.

‘That’s amazing news, la mia cara ragazza! When is the big day?’ Nina asked.

‘We’re not totally sure yet, we need to check diaries but we’re thinking possibly April or May.’

‘So soon? Okay, please let us know as soon as you know. And I’m happy to design a dress for you, extra special, my darling.’

‘Thank you for such a kind offer, Nina, but I’m hoping to wear my mum’s dress.’

Nina nodded. ‘Oh, yes, you should! I’ve seen the photos and that was such a beautiful gown. You’ll be a stunning bride.’ She blew kisses at the camera. ‘ Congratulazioni! Mando il mio amore! I’ll leave you to talk to Harper. Come on, everyone, torno al lavoro adesso! Back to work!’ Eventually the faces of Olivia’s former colleagues disappeared from sight, and it was just Harper and Olivia again.

‘I can’t believe you’re getting married. But at the same time, I totally can. I’ve never seen you so happy, babe, and I’m crazy happy for you.’

‘Thank you. I’m still kind of floating but I really am happy. Anyway, how are things with you and Summer?’ Harper had met Summer a year earlier and Olivia had never known her have such a long-lasting relationship. When she shared an apartment with her in New York, Harper was known for her flings and one-night stands but this had been going on a long time.

Harper’s smile said all Olivia needed to know. ‘I know this may sound crazy coming from me but… I think she’s the one, Liv. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. We’re so… in synch. And we have enough stuff in common to have plenty to talk about but enough not in common that we’re always learning about each other. Plus, she’s beautiful and funny… and my God is she sexy.’

‘Says the woman head over heels in love,’ Olivia replied, surprised at her ‘love ’em and leave ’em’ friend.

Harper grinned and her cheeks flushed. ‘I think I can safely say, for the first time ever, that I really am.’

Olivia wished she could hug her friend. ‘I’m so happy for you. You deserve this.’

‘We’ve even talked about kids; can you believe it? Me a mom!’ Harper’s eyebrows shot towards her bobble hat. ‘I mean, who even am I?’

At this bolt out of the blue, Olivia gasped. ‘Really? Oh, my word, that’s amazing.’

Harper nodded. ‘I know, right? I’ve never been remotely broody until her. The other night we were discussing how your old room in the apartment would make a beautiful nursery.’

‘Wow, yes, I suppose it would.’

‘I mean, she already pretty much lives at my place so I’m thinking of asking her if she wants to move in, you know, make it all officially official.’

‘You definitely should ask her. She clearly adores you.’

Harper placed her hands under her chin and fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Well, that’s because I’m adorable. Well, I suppose I should get back to work. I’m shooting accessories today and they’re kinda fiddly. Nina has designed some jewellery pieces and getting the shots just how she wants them is driving me crazy.’

‘Okay, it’s been so lovely to chat to you. Tell Nina I said thanks for letting me steal you for a while. Speak soon. Love you.’

‘Love you too, congratulations again. I’m so damned happy for you.’

The call ended and a wave of emotion washed over Olivia. She missed her friend terribly and saying goodbye was always hard. As if reading her mind, Brodie enveloped her in his arms and held her.